It all worked out perfectly for NFL fans when it comes to intriguing postseason matchups.
Matthew Stafford will return to the Motor City for the first time to face the Detroit Lions in a wild-card matchup next week. The Los Angeles Rams took the sixth seed in the NFC and punched their tickets to Detroit after defeating the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Football fans can thank Carson Wentz for producing a rally in Santa Clara, Calif., to give us Stafford vs. his former team in the playoffs.
Darren Yamashita/USA TODAY Sports
Also, it’s fitting that the Dallas Cowboys will face the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round. Aaron Rodgers’s Packers gave Dak Prescott and the Cowboys multiple postseason heartbreakers; Dallas has an opportunity to flip the script on the Jordan Love–led Packers.
The AFC matchups also took a chaotic turn after the Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the Tennessee Titans, allowing three other teams to benefit.
Here’s what we learned from a busy Week 18 Sunday in the NFL.
Cowboys clinch NFC East while Eagles have disastrous Week 18
The Cowboys clinched their division and the NFC’s No. 2 seed after defeating the Washington Commanders, 38–10.
Dallas is now well positioned to make it past the divisional round for the first time in nearly three decades; if the Cowboys beat the Packers in an intriguing wild-card matchup next week, they could have two postseason home games. The Cowboys have a 16-game winning streak at AT&T Stadium, making this an ideal scenario for Prescott to finally go on a lengthy postseason run. It won’t be easy, but the Cowboys (12–5) are favored against the Packers (9–8) and could be the favorites against any team in the divisional round if they get that far. It’s now or never for Prescott and coach Mike McCarthy to make noise in the playoffs.
The Philadelphia Eagles, on the other hand, made noise for the wrong reasons during their final stretch of regular-season games. The Eagles were embarrassed in Sunday’s blowout loss against the New York Giants, handing them their fifth loss in the past six games. To make matters worse, A.J. Brown exited with a knee injury and Jalen Hurts was pulled after a finger injury. Regardless of whether the Eagles get positive news on Brown, it appears the defending NFC champions could be one-and-done next week, with a road wild-card matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Lions lose key players to injury vs. Vikings and will face Stafford’s Rams in postseason
Lions coach Dan Campbell will likely catch heat for playing his starters during Sunday’s 30–20 win against the Minnesota Vikings after rookie tight end Sam LaPorta exited early with a knee injury.
It’s unfortunate that LaPorta was carted off the field, but Campbell shouldn’t get criticized for playing his starters, with the NFC’s No. 2 seed still up for grabs at the time. Yes, the Lions (12–5) were banking on the Commanders beating the Cowboys and the Giants defeating the Eagles to take the No. 2 seed—only one upset occurred. But there have been so many upsets this season, it wasn’t that far-fetched, and therefore it wouldn’t have made sense for Detroit to not at least hold their end by defeating the Vikings. But the gamble didn’t pay off, and now the Lions might need to possibly prepare for a wild-card game without LaPorta. Wide receiver and punt returner Kalif Raymond also exited early with a knee injury.
Also, let’s not forget all the right decisions Campell made in the regular season to guide the franchise to its first 12-win season and first division title in 30 years. The Lions are hoping for the best regarding LaPorta’s injury status, but either way, they have enough weapons to get by the Rams (10–7), who defeated the 49ers’ backups to take the sixth seed.
Stafford also has plenty of weapons with Cooper Kupp, Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua, who set rookie records for most receiving yards and receptions in a season. The No. 3 Lions hosting the No. 6 Rams might be the best matchup of the postseason.
Justin Fields’s future in doubt after Bears fall in Green Bay
It’s hard to believe Sunday’s outcome in Green Bay will determine Justin Fields’s future with the Chicago Bears, but it could have at least helped his case.
Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY Network-Wisconsin
Fields struggled to get the offense going against Joe Barry’s Green Bay defense, while Matt Eberflus’s defense failed to contain Love and his Packers’ offense in the 17–9 loss. Also, Fields took a nasty hit to the helmet and was pulled to be evaluated for a potential concussion during a crucial play in the game. It was a sour ending to a promising second half of the season for the Bears (7–10). Now the organization needs to decide whether to stick with the positive results Ryan Poles has generated in his two seasons as the general manager.
Do the Bears use the Carolina Panthers’ No. 1 pick to draft Caleb Williams or Drake Maye in the 2024 draft? It might be too enticing for Chicago to pass on the QB prospects. The Bears could also stay the course with Fields and Eberflus to gain a boatload of draft picks by trading the top pick. All eyes will be on the Bears during draft season in the NFL.
Jaguars help Texans, Steelers, Bills after upset loss
The Jaguars’ disappointing 2023 season ended with a 28–20 dud against the Titans, paving the way for the Houston Texans to clinch the AFC South. With the loss, Jacksonville will miss the postseason, allowing the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills to clinch the final two playoff spots in the AFC.
Those two teams likely erupted in cheers after the Titans’ goal-line stand against the Jaguars kept it an eight-point game with 7:14 left in regulation. The Titans (6–11) also had a fourth-down stop in the final two minutes of regulation after Trevor Lawrence overthrew a pass intended for tight end Evan Engram. Credit to Titans coach Mike Vrabel for having his team embrace the role of spoiler and getting revenge for the Jaguars knocking them out of the postseason last year.
Jacksonville (9–8) never recovered after Lawrence exited the Week 13 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals with an ankle injury. It didn’t cost Lawrence the season, but the quarterback did continue to get further injured, and his poor performances hurt the Jaguars down the stretch. Jacksonville lost four consecutive games in December and five of their final six games of the season. It’s clear that coach Doug Pederson will need to shake up his coaching staff to help Lawrence and his talented offense get back on track in 2024. The Jaguars will also need to add defensive help for edge rusher Josh Allen, a bright spot throughout the roller coaster season.
With the Jaguars’ loss, C.J. Stroud and the Texans will host Joe Flacco and the Cleveland Browns for one of the most intriguing wild-card matchups. Stroud and Nico Collins had monster performances in Saturday’s win-and-in game against the Indianapolis Colts. But the Texans are going to need more offensive contributors against the Browns’ stout defense. Plus DeMeco Ryans’s defense will have its hands full against Flacco.
What’s more, the surging Steelers with Mason Rudolph won three consecutive games—not many saw that coming—and now will get to face the Bills in the playoffs.
It’s safe to say many were happy to see the Jaguars fall in Tennessee.
Buccaneers handle business vs. Panthers, clinch NFC South
It was ugly, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers, 9–0, and wrapped up the NFC South title for a third consecutive season. Tampa Bay’s victory also helped eliminate their divisional rivals, the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, from playoff contention.
Jim Dedmon/USA TODAY Sports
The Baker Mayfield–led Buccaneers (9–8) are one of the most surprising playoff teams this season, but they have struggled recently after falling to the Saints last week and then failing to find the end zone vs. the two-win Panthers. To make matters worse, Mayfield is dealing with a ribs injury and played on one bad leg after sustaining an apparent ankle injury Sunday. But the Buccaneers will get to play at home against the slumping Eagles.
There will be time to analyze the Buccaneers’ wild-card matchup, but they did plenty right to continue winning in their first season without Tom Brady. Mayfield might have found a long-term home in Tampa Bay because of how dynamic he was throwing in Mike Evans’s direction. Also, offensive coordinator Dave Canales helped the Bucs fix the offensive line and running game issues that plagued the team during Brady’s final season. Todd Bowles has gotten mixed results from his talented defense, but helping the Buccaneers win the division might give him another year in Tampa Bay. There could be other coaching changes in the NFC South, however, with Dennis Allen and Arthur Smith possibly on the hot seat in New Orleans and Atlanta, respectively. The Saints crushed the Falcons, 48–17, on Sunday, but the game was punctuated by Smith shouting at Allen for adding an extra touchdown in the final minute.
