The crazy reality created by this unusually bloated season is that the team that earns the No. 5 seed in the NFC playoffs might just be the second-best team in the NFL.
It depends on whether you prefer NFC or AFC.
The winner of Sunday night's battle between the Lions and the Vikings will clinch the NFC North title, the No. 1 seed, a first-round bye and home-field advantage for the entire NFC playoffs.
The loser will become the No. 5 seed and could travel during the playoffs.
That's fitting for a season where a very thin line separates the NFL's best five teams.
Both the Lions and Vikings, listed below, are unlikely to finish in the top two in the Post's Week 18 NFL Power Rankings, but who knows how things will turn out after the final 16 games? .
1. Chiefs 15-1 (1)
The regular season has come to a close, and the two-time Super Bowl champions are starting to get better.
After 11 one-score wins, they fell just short of the Steelers' 29-10 loss.
Patrick Mahomes threw three touchdowns, including one to Travis Kelce, and set a franchise record with 77 receptions, helping secure the AFC's No. 1 seed in the playoffs.
2. Proposal No. 13-3(2)
Josh Allen became the first NFL player to score 40 touchdowns in five consecutive seasons, throwing two touchdowns and running for another in a 40-14 win over the Jets.
The Bills scored three touchdowns in a 5:01 span in the third quarter to end the game, en route to setting franchise records for points (509) and touchdowns (63).
3. Lions 14-2 (3)
In a rematch of the 2023 NFC Championship Game, the Lions flipped the script and came from behind in the second half to beat the 49ers 40-34.
Jared Goff threw for 303 yards and three touchdowns.
Jahmil Gibbs scored the winning point with a spectacular 30-yard touchdown run.
Jameson Williams scored two points, including one on a lateral shot from Amon-Ra St. Brown.
4. Vikings 14-2 (4)
What a record for Sam Darnold to throw for a career-best 377 yards.
Darnold scored a touchdown on three different receivers against the Packers, winning 27-25 and sustaining the Vikings' hopes of catching the division-leading Lions.
He also completed two first-down passes on his final drive to run time.
5. Eagles 13-3 (5)
Saquon Barkley joined the prestigious 2,000-yard rushing club in a 41-7 win over the Cowboys, coming 101 yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson's all-time single-season record.
After starting the game without Jalen Hurts and losing Kenny Pickett to their third quarterback, the Eagles got two touchdown passes from Tanner McKee to clinch the NFC East championship. .
6. Packers 11-5 (6)
With the sweep by the Vikings, the Packers went 0-5 against the best three teams in the NFC (Lions, Vikings, and Eagles).
In the fourth quarter, Emmanuel Wilson scored a touchdown on the ground and Malik Heath scored a touchdown off a pass from Jordan Love to cut the deficit to 27-10, but the Packers couldn't get the ball back. Ta.
Josh Jacobs scored a touchdown but lost a fumble.
7. Ravens 11-5(8)
Lamar Jackson's 48-yard rushing touchdown was the highlight of a memorable day in which he set the NFL career rushing record for a quarterback in a 31-2 rout of the Texans.
Jackson also threw touchdown passes to both of his top two tight ends (Mark Andrews and Isaiah Riley).
A win this week will clinch the AFC North title.
8. Steelers 10-6(7)
With a soft schedule, the Steelers have dropped three straight, losing their lead in the AFC North by at least 14 points each time.
Russell Wilson had an early end zone interception against the Chiefs, but couldn't make up for it with a late rushing touchdown.
The defense had no sacks or takeaways.
9. Commanders 11-5 (9)
Overtime was needed to end the game, but the Commanders overcame a 10-point halftime deficit on Jaden Daniels' walk-off touchdown pass to Zach Ertz to defeat the Falcons 30-24.
Daniels' third touchdown pass of the game clinched a playoff berth — made possible by the Falcons' missed 56-yard field goal at the end of regulation.
10. Charger 10-6 (10)
Two of Justin Herbert's three touchdown passes in the Patriots' 40-7 win went to rookie Rad McConkie. His 94 total yards was over 1,000 yards for the season.
The Chargers qualified for the playoffs in head coach Jim Harbaugh's first year back in the NFL since 2014.
JK Dobbins ran for 76 yards and a touchdown.
11. Rams 10-6 (13)
12. Broncos 9-7 (11)
13. Buccaneers 9-7 (14)
14. Bengals 8-8 (18)
15. Texans 9-7 (12)
16. Seahawks 9-7 (15)
17. Dolphins 8-8 (17)
18. Falcons 8-8 (16)
19. Cardinals 7-9 (19)
20. Cowboys 7-9 (20)
21. 49ers 6-10 (22)
22. Colts 7-9(21)
23. Panthers 4-12 (23)
24. Raiders 4-12 (28)
25. Saints 5-11 (24)
26. Jaguars 4-12 (29)
27. Jets 4-12 (25)
The Jets replaced Tyrod Taylor with Aaron Rodgers, and in the loss to the Bills, he threw two garbage-time touchdowns and fell behind by 40 points.
Rodgers threw two interceptions and earned a safety.
In gaining 120 yards, the Jets committed a mind-boggling 16 penalties, including five personal fouls.
The defense allowed five touchdowns, including four in the second half.
28. Bears 4-12 (26)
29. Giants 3-13 (32)
Where was this performance hiding?
The NFL's lowest scoring offense exploded in a 45-33 victory over the Colts.
Drew Lock threw four touchdown passes, the first by a Giants quarterback since 2019, and also ran another touchdown pass.
Ihimir Smith-Marsette returned the kickoff for a touchdown.
And all of that puts the Giants out of position to hold the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft.
