Mike McCarthy has seemingly been on the hot seat every offseason since the Dallas Cowboys hired him to be their franchise’s ninth-ever head coach ahead of the 2020 NFL offseason.

Once again, that appears to be the case as the NFL’s ‘Black Monday’ arrives.

McCarthy is in the midst of a disappointing fifth season with the Cowboys. Dallas struggled to win consistently early in the season, and many wrote them off after Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons.

However, the Cowboys played well over the final seven weeks of the NFL season. That, along with Dallas owner Jerry Jones’ steadfast praise of the veteran coach, gave McCarthy some momentum going into the offseason.

Another complicating factor in Dallas’ decision is that McCarthy is in the final year of his contract. Therefore, Jones and Co. will need to work quickly to extend him if they want the 61-year-old to continue coaching in Dallas.

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Here’s what to know about McCarthy’s status as the 2024 NFL season winds down.

Will Cowboys fire Mike McCarthy?

McCarthy’s status with the Cowboys appears to be murky, but not necessarily due to a lack of confidence from Dallas’ ownership.

Jones has often endorsed McCarthy throughout the 2024 NFL season. The most recent example came during his weekly interview on 105.7 The Fan ahead of Week 18.

‘Well, I feel good about Mike McCarthy,’ Jones said, per Cowboys.com. ‘The main thing is, I like the job that he’s done, it’s unfortunate we’ve had the year that we’ve had, but I feel good about Mike.’

That doesn’t sound like an owner eager to move on from McCarthy. That said, the bigger question appears to be less about whether the Jones’ want McCarthy to return and more about whether the veteran coach would prefer to work elsewhere in 2025.

Numerous reports, including CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, have indicated that McCarthy could be among the top coaching candidates on the market in 2025 if he doesn’t stay in Dallas. This could uniquely position McCarthy to decline an offer from the Cowboys if he believes he could land a spot with a team like the Chicago Bears or New Orleans Saints, where he was an offensive coordinator from 2000 to 2004.

That’s part of the reason The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports that the Cowboys ‘are already doing their homework on potential head coaches.’ They don’t want to be left in the lurch if McCarthy leaves for greener pastures in 2025.

Mike McCarthy contract details

McCarthy signed a five-year contract with the Cowboys when he agreed to be the team’s head coach in 2020. That contract will expire shortly after the 2024 NFL season on Jan. 14, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

That will give the Cowboys a nine-day negotiating window to agree to a new deal with McCarthy.

Will the two parties agree to an extension in that window? Rapoport and Pelissero report that ‘there have been no substantive talks yet about an extension for McCarthy in Dallas,’ which could complicate the process.

As CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports, the other concern is whether McCarthy would settle for a four-year deal if offered an extension. A source told Jones that it wasn’t clear whether the veteran coach would be willing to accept that deal.

Either way, the Cowboys will have a lot of work to do in short order if they want to keep McCarthy. If they can’t agree to a deal right away, it could allow the Super Bowl 45 winner to see what he’s worth on the open market – and potentially leave on his own accord.

The Cincinnati Bengals are making at least a few changes after their late-season push fell short of the playoffs.

The Bengals are firing defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, according to multiple reports. Offensive line coach Frank Pollack, linebackers coach James Bettcher and defensive line coach Marion Hobby have also been dismissed, according to The Athletic.

Anarumo, 58, had been one of the most highly regarded defensive architects in the NFL the past few seasons. He was a finalist for the Arizona Cardinals’ head coaching job that eventually went to Jonathan Gannon after the 2022 season.

But the Bengals’ defense came undone this past season, with the unit proving to be a major hindrance in a season in which Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase helped keep the team’s playoff hopes alive into the final week. Despite defensive end Trey Hendrickson leading the NFL in sacks with 17 1/2, Cincinnati finished 25th in total defense (348.3 yards allowed per game) and scoring (25.5 points allowed per game).

The Bengals missed the playoffs and finished 9-8 for the second consecutive season.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars are once again back in the market for a head coach after firing Doug Pederson on Monday.

Now, what direction will owner Shad Khan turn after making clear prior to the season that he believes this is the ‘best team’ ever assembled in franchise history?

Since buying the franchise in 2011, Khan has not had any coach last more than four seasons. The turbulence hasn’t let up much in recent years, with Pederson not making it past his third season after Urban Meyer was axed prior to the conclusion of his lone campaign.

But brighter days might be ahead, with the organization potentially better positioned than it was in previous searches to land a top candidate.

Despite finishing just 4-13, the Jaguars’ roster is dotted with young talent – starting, of course, with quarterback Trevor Lawrence, but extending to rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. and edge rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker, among others. There should be sufficient cap space (currently $42.8 million for 2025, according to Over The Cap) and draft capital, with a top-five pick and extra selections in the third and fourth rounds ahead.

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With that in mind, here’s a look at the most sensible candidates for the Jaguars’ head coaching vacancy

Jaguars coach candidates after Doug Pederson’s firing

Ben Johnson

He’s the architect of the NFL’s highest-scoring attack. He’s only 38. And he’s a critical part of what has become the league-wide model for building a winning culture. It’s easy to see why Johnson, the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator, is seen by many as the big prize – at least among the pool of coaches who have never held a top job in the NFL before – of this year’s hiring cycle. But Johnson has been exceedingly discerning in evaluating other openings, bowing out of proceedings the last two years to return to the Lions. Reeling him in would be a massive victory for Khan, but there no doubt will be heated competition for his services – and no guarantee he leaves at all.

Mike Vrabel

The former Tennessee Titans coach certainly knows his way around the AFC South after claiming two division titles and three playoff trips from with the Jaguars’ rival from 2018-23. His brand of smashmouth football might not be what many envisioned for Lawrence, but putting together a sturdy run game and defense could prove critical to his development given the lack of support on both fronts this year. Given his track record, Vrabel figures to be a hot commodity this cycle. Ultimately, however, the Jaguars could have a hard time contending with the New England Patriots given Vrabel’s ties to the organization.

Anthony Weaver

Could the Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator emerge as a top candidate for Khan? The 44-year-old interviewed with the Washington Commanders and Atlanta Falcons last year when he was assistant head coach and defensive line coach for the Baltimore Ravens, and he now has coordinator duties on his résumé. The Dolphins finished the year ranked fourth in yards allowed (314.3) and 10th in points allowed (21.4 per game), and Weaver helped the team turn the page on last year after multiple players clashed with Vic Fangio.

Liam Coen

Perhaps no candidate has done as much to boost his profile this season as Coen, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator who replaced Dave Canales and has delivered sterling results. In Coen’s scheme, Baker Mayfield enjoyed a career year that included 4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdown throws, and the rushing attack has gone from the league’s worst to a top-five ground game. That output helped keep Tampa Bay afloat despite injuries to Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, among others. Even if Coen, 39, doesn’t land a top gig this year, he’s done enough to put himself on the interview list for several teams. But three years after things fizzled out with Byron Leftwich, could the Jaguars link up with another prolific offensive architect for Tampa Bay?

Todd Monken

For some teams, the Ravens offensive coordinator’s age (58) might be a strike against him. For the Jaguars, it could be a selling point, as his extensive experience at both the collegiate and pro level have helped him develop an ability to connect and teach with young players. Monken’s attacks have proven to be highly adaptable, and he built on last year’s MVP campaign for Lamar Jackson by integrating Derrick Henry into a unit that leads the NFL in yards per game at 424.9. He served as the Jaguars wide receivers coach from 2007-10, a run that predated Khan’s arrival but still gives him some degree of familiarity with the franchise.

Kliff Kingsbury

As someone with former head coaching experience and a track record of bringing along young quarterbacks, Kingsbury could check several boxes for Khan. In his first year as offensive coordinator for the Commanders, the former Arizona Cardinals coach has put himself back on the radar for top jobs by helping develop Jayden Daniels into the Offensive Rookie of the Year front-runner. Kingsbury acknowledged he’s interested in returning to the head-coaching ranks with the right opportunity, and he should get a chance to make his case on the interview circuit this year.

Kellen Moore

Moore, 36, interviewed with Jacksonville and was a finalist for the Dolphins’ opening in 2022, when the then-Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator was a hotshot candidate. His stock has since cooled considerably, but it could be on the rise again. The Eagles surged all the way to the NFC’s No. 2 seed after making adjustments coming out of their bye. His mentorship of Dak Prescott should be a strong selling point for an organization that has struck out multiple times in finding the right person to bring along Lawrence.

Joe Brady

Still only 35, the Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator has already interviewed for head coaching jobs with the Los Angeles Chargers, Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets. In his first full season leading Josh Allen and Co. after taking on the position in an interim capacity last November, Brady has kept the unit among the league’s highest-scoring outfits despite the loss of receiver Stefon Diggs, while Allen has mounted an MVP-worthy campaign. The Jaguars are familiar with just how potent his attacks can be after Buffalo scorched Jacksonville for a 47-10 win in Week 2.

Frank Smith

Winning over the locker room should be no problem for Smith, the Dolphins offensive coordinator who finished first in a NFL Players Association poll of the top assistants at his position. Smith has been touted as a top-notch teacher and communicator. How he would handle play calling as a head coach looms as a potential question mark given coach Mike McDaniel handles those duties in Miami, but that doesn’t have to be a deal breaker.

Brian Flores

The Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator showed great ability to compensate for personnel shortcomings last season, and he’s created further havoc in 2024 with one of the league’s best groups at creating pressure. Yet Tua Tagovailoa’s critical comments about how the former Dolphins head coach treated him might draw special scrutiny from Khan after the Meyer ordeal, and it’s unclear exactly how Flores’ lingering lawsuit against the NFL might affect his candidacy with any team.

Aaron Glenn

Rebuilding morale would be a lot easier with the leadership of someone like Glenn, the Lions defensive coordinator who has learned under the likes of Sean Payton and Dan Campbell. Glenn has an impressive track record of getting results, helping lift Detroit’s defense to rank seventh in scoring despite the loss of Aidan Hutchinson. He’s also widely respected, as he was the leading vote-getter for the top defensive coordinator in an NFLPA poll. The three-time former Pro Bowl defensive back also made a one-year pitstop with the Jaguars as a player in 2007. But he figures to be in demand elsewhere, with potential interviews with the Jets, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints.

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The frontrunner, the colossus, the team no opponent should want to face in College Football Playoff, hid in plain sight. No hiding now, Ohio State.
Money talks. Talent follows. Ryan Day built Ohio State into nation’s most talented team, thanks in part to NIL investment.
Buckeyes will carry frontrunner mantle into Cotton Bowl game against Texas.

The front-runner, the colossus, the team no opponent should want to face in this College Football Playoff, hid in plain sight.

If we ever didn’t see it, then we let ourselves look past the 300-pound gorilla. We either allowed an unsightly loss to a bitter rival cloud our judgement, or we ignored college football’s history that tells us the most talented teams enjoy the best shot at national titles.

Coaches can make college football sound pretty complex, but when you boil it down, the coiner of the phrase “Jimmys and Joes beat X’s and O’s” was one smart cookie.

Ohio State, its first two playoff games, combined an unmatchable amount of “Jimmy and Joe” talent with shrewd X’s and O’s.

The result: Back-to-back blowout wins against teams that had combined for a 23-2 record. That included its 41-21 Rose Bowl rout of No. 1 Oregon.

No more hiding in plain view, Ohio State. No more playing opossum against Michigan and getting to spend a few weeks as a doubted squad.

We see you clearly now, Buckeyes. You’re the monster. You sit in the catbird seat. You’re the team that, on your best day, performs as well as 2019 LSU or 2020 Alabama or 2022 Georgia. You’re the front-runner, not only against Texas in the Cotton Bowl, but against whomever comes next.

UP AND DOWN: Winners and losers from college football bowl season

Ohio State investment pays off in College Football Playoff

Ohio State spent a reported $20 million in NIL investment to assemble this team, and you don’t need to be an NFL scout to spot the Buckeyes’ obvious advantages.

“You guys keep talking about a $20 million roster,” former Alabama coach Nick Saban said on “College GameDay” before the Buckeyes’ season opener. “If you don’t pay the right guys, you’ll be (crap) out of luck.”

Well, Nick, they paid the right guys, and that’s what made the Michigan loss so inexplicable, because the Buckeyes are loaded.

The College Football Playoff semifinals feature four premier defenses, but Ohio State’s ranks as the best, a unit that’s not surrendered more than 17 points to any opponent other than Oregon.

More, the Buckeyes built the most complete team, featuring the nation’s most elite receivers, a backfield tandem as good as any, an improving offensive line and a quarterback who only muddled through one truly bad game. Will Howard’s lone stumble just so happened to occur when the most eyes were upon him, while Ohio State continued its cursed streak against Michigan.

Saban could tell us all about the value of talent acquisition. College football’s existence before NIL collectives and transfer free agency was one of a few teams, headlined by Saban’s Alabama, stockpiling the deepest wealth of talent, emerging as juggernauts and ruling with a strong grip.

Saban did a lot well at Alabama, but his persistent ability to magnetize, unify and develop the most talented players ranked as his super skill, unlocking his six national titles in Tuscaloosa.

The playing field leveled somewhat these past few years when donors from coast to coast started buying players with deals doled out through organized collectives rather than an under-the-table bagman.

Although NIL spending is not open record, nobody would deny Ohio State paced the spending war for this season. Money talks. Talent followed. Ohio State coach Ryan Day put together the best roster, Buckeyes fans knew it, and they fumed after Day lost twice during the regular season, including to the dreaded rival up north.

And because of that loss to Michigan, the CFP selection committee got heavy-handed with the Buckeyes’ seeding. The committee placed a No. 8 next to their name, after they’d built a résumé worthy of the No. 5 seed, awarded to the top at-large team.

Against Texas, how will Ohio State react to front-runner’s mantle?

That seed and the accompanying bracket placement dealt the Buckeyes the toughest path to the national championship game among teams seeded within the top eight.

No matter. Talent prevailed.

Asked to explain the 187-yard receiving day from Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State’s freshman wide receiver, in the Rose Bowl, Oregon coach Dan Lanning said: “The guy is NFL-ready.”

So are many of Smith’s teammates. Lanning’s Ducks trailed Ohio State by 34 points long before the sun began to sink beyond the San Gabriel Mountains.

The NFL must wait on Smith – he’s a 19-year-old performing like a multi-time All-Pro – but plenty of Buckeyes will hear their names called by Roger Goodell three months from now.

The easy narrative became that losing to Michigan motivated the Buckeyes or refocused them or forced the coaching staff to remove guardrails from the game plan. A serving of truth probably could be found in each idea, but the other reality is, Ohio State spent much of the season performing like a top-tier squad, wilted on one November day against a rival, then resurrected as the behemoth it is.

By smashing Tennessee and splintering Oregon, Ohio State showed its cards, and there’s no hiding it now. The Buckeyes wrested away favorite status. Are they strong enough to carry that mantle?

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer. Subscribe to read all of his columns.

SEC fans, are you feeling bummed about how the football season played out? Don’t worry, because the league has decided to completely take over men’s college basketball.

It was an historic non-conference slate for the SEC with every team emerging with three losses or fewer and nearly every team stacking up plenty of Quad 1 wins that will come in handy if in the mix for the NCAA men’s tournament. The success in the first two months set the stage for the conference that expanded to 16 members to have the opportunity to set a record with 12 teams in the field.

Now that conference play has arrived this weekend, the carnage of teams knocking off each has begun.

It’s going to be a wild next two months of conference play as teams fight for their tournament spots and potential high seedings in March. The chaos already kicked off this weekend with two undefeated teams going down − Florida losing to Kentucky and Alabama dominating Oklahoma.

That’s just the beginning of what’s going to be the SEC cannibalizing itself. Unlike what happened in the race for the College Football Playoff, losses in the league aren’t going to be damaging. No game is going to be easy. How bad will it be? Look at Auburn’s schedule as an example: The Tigers already have a Division I-high six Quad 1 wins, and 13 of their remaining 17 games would fall in the Quad 1 category.

With so many strong contenders, going 13-5 or 12-6 may be enough to win the SEC, and an 8-10 conference record should be good enough to make the tournament. By the time we get to March, there will be no need for those hypothetical scenarios.

What are the other storylines coming out of the weekend? We take a look.

The Big Ten mystery

While the SEC is overflowing with tournament and title contenders, the other mega conference can’t say the same.

No real threat has emerged from the Big Ten quite yet, and while they should be near the top of conference with the most tournament teams, there’s a possibility no team will earn a top-three seed. Entering the week, it was the newcomers Oregon and UCLA leading the pack, but the Ducks gave up 109 points to Illinois in a 32-point loss and the Bruins couldn’t buy a bucket in a defeat at Nebraska. At the moment, it’s Michigan and Michigan State standing as the long unbeatens in conference play..

It’s a troubling sign for a conference that hasn’t won a national championship since 2000,.

Cooper Flagg looking like a No. 1 pick

There was plenty of hype with the arrival of Cooper Flagg, and so far he has delivered.

Duke is riding an eight-game win streak, and Flagg has played a big part of that, showing that he has settled in the college game. During this run, he has scored at least 20 points in six of those games, including an impressive start to ACC play.

Flagg’s productivity can be seen all over the court, and it appears he can just pick and choose how he attacks. He’s scoring at an elite rate, dishing the ball out and helping set the tempo defensively. He played a huge role in the blowout wins against Georgia Tech and SMU, finishing the week with 48 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists, five steals, and three blocks. Not so bad for the projected No. 1 pick in next year’s NBA draft.

UConn continues win streak without Liam McNeeley

The two-time defending champions had to play their first game without their star freshman, and they did it in dramatic fashion.

Liam McNeeley is expected to be out for some weeks due to an ankle injury, and early against Providence, it was evident Connecticut was missing its second-leading scorer. The Huskies were down by 14 points in the second half, and showed resilience with a 17-2 run as the game headed toward the home stretch to beat the Friars 87-84.

Now 4-0 in Big East play, Dan Hurley’s squad is in prime position to continue its hold on the conference.

The turnaround at West Virginia

Darian DeVries continues to completely change the trajectory of West Virginia with the Mountaineers winners of seven in a row, including a big road victory over Kansas earlier in the week. That win snapped the Jayhawks’ streak of 33 consecutive home wins in conference home openers and was West Virginia’s first in Allen Fieldhouse.

Javon Small has taken the scoring load in the absence of Tucker DeVries to become a star for West Virginia. He leads the Big 12 with 19.5 points per game while the Mountaineers continue stopping opposing offenses, ranking in the top 20 in several defensive categories.

Conference play has just started, and West Virginia has already surpassed last season’s win total of nine, generating plenty of optimism in Morgantown.

Teams to watch out for: Washington State and Georgetown

Opportunity awaits for a pair of teams that are flying under the radar.

Last season was a dream for Washington State as the Cougars reached the second round of the tournament. Then nearly everyone left when the Pac-12 was disintegrated, including Washington State coach Kyle Smith. But incoming coach David Riley came into Pullman and brought some of his players from Eastern Washington to provide a solid foundation. Playing as a member of the West Coast Conference this season, the Cougars have started off with a 3-0 start in the league after a defeat of San Francisco. Awaiting Washington State on Saturday is a trip to Spokane to face Gonzaga, a test that could determine if the Cougars are legit enough to contend in the WCC and make a run at the tournament field.

Georgetown has been spending the past decade trying to maintain relevance in the sport, and the Hoyas have a big opportunity to do so. The Hoyas at 12-2 and 3-0 in conference play, but don’t have any impressive wins so far. This week, they travel to Marquette and host Connecticut in a pivotal stretch for second-year Ed Cooley. One victory would do wonders for the resume, and two would boost them into the tournament conversion.

With 272 regular-season games now in the books, the NFL playoff picture is complete.

Week 18 wound down with the Detroit Lions vanquishing the Minnesota Vikings 31-9 on ‘Sunday Night Football’ – the game was much closer than the final score – to retain their NFC North crown while also securing the conference’s No. 1 seed for the first time in the franchise’s history.

But a lot of other matters were resolved on Sunday, the final two teams gaining entry into the 14-team playoff field, while seeding and scheduling were also sorted out.

USA TODAY Sports had live updates throughout the day to explain what happened while also setting the stage for the Super Bowl 59 tournament. Here’s how everything shook out:

NFC playoff picture

yz – 1. Detroit Lions (15-2), NFC North champions: It took all 18 weeks and most of four quarters on Sunday night, but they successfully defended their divisional throne while obtaining a No. 1 seed for the first time ever. A battered team that was further bruised by Minnesota can definitely use the extra rest before resuming the quest for its first Super Bowl appearance. Playoff schedule: BYE

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y – 2. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3), NFC East champions: They locked down the division crown in Week 17 and the NFC’s No. 2 seed. They won a meaningless game with their reserves defeating the Giants on Sunday but got to rest many prominent starters ahead of a wild-card showdown with Green Bay. Playoff schedule: vs. Packers

y – 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7), NFC South champions: They’re division champions for the fourth consecutive season after coming back to beat a game New Orleans squad in the regular-season finale. They climbed to the third seed after the Rams’ loss by virtue of a two-game advantage in NFC games (8-4). Playoff schedule: vs. Commanders

y – 4. Los Angeles Rams (10-7), NFC West champions: Like Philly, they wrapped up their division in Week 17 and mostly wanted get through Week 18 intact before preparing for their playoff opener. But their loss to Seattle dropped LA to the fourth seed and a tough matchup against the salty Vikes. Playoff schedule: vs. Vikings

x – 5. Minnesota Vikings (14-3), wild card No. 1: They couldn’t quite finish off the quest for the No. 1 seed … meaning they now must become road warriors, whose reward could be a return trip to Ford Field if they can handle the Rams first. Playoff schedule: at Rams

x – 6. Washington Commanders (12-5), wild card No. 2: A last-second victory at Dallas provided a nice end to the regular season, Washington’s first with 12 wins since 1991. Green Bay’s earlier loss conferred the sixth seed. Playoff schedule: at Buccaneers

x – 7. Green Bay Packers (11-6), wild card No. 3: Getting swept by Detroit and (eventually) Minnesota relegated the Pack to wild-card status even before Week 17. Sunday’s loss locked them into the seventh seed and a wild-card rematch in Philadelphia with the Eagles, who beat the Pack in Week 1 in South America. Playoff schedule: at Eagles

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AFC playoff picture

yz – 1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2), AFC West champions: By crushing Pittsburgh on Christmas, they secured home-field advantage and a first-round bye – and two-plus weeks off in actuality with many starters resting in what was a meaningless (for K.C., anyway) Week 18 contest at Denver. Playoff schedule: BYE

y – 2. Buffalo Bills (13-4), AFC East champions: They locked up the No. 2 seed in Week 17, meaning the road to Super Bowl 59 could go through Western New York if the Chiefs lose their playoff opener. Playoff schedule: vs. Broncos

y – 3. Baltimore Ravens (12-5), AFC North champions: Catching fire? Probably an understatement as they blazed their way to the division crown and No. 3 seed Saturday afternoon by smoking Cleveland. Next up? A trilogy rubber match with Pittsburgh. Playoff schedule: vs. Steelers

y – 4. Houston Texans (10-7), AFC South champions: They rule a weak division for the second straight year, but the fourth seed means a tough wild-card matchup (albeit in Houston) against the Bolts. Playoff schedule: vs. Chargers

x – 5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6), wild card No. 1: They moved up to the fifth seed courtesy of Pittsburgh’s loss and secured the wild-card matchup with Houston by beating Las Vegas on Sunday. Playoff schedule: at Texans

x – 6. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7), wild card No. 2: They’ve lost four in a row (by an average of 13 points) to close out the regular season, dropping them from the AFC North lead and No. 3 seed down to sixth and a trip back to Baltimore. Playoff schedule: at Ravens

x – 7. Denver Broncos (10-7), wild card No. 3: The third time was the charm as they finally secured the AFC’s final wild-card berth, ending a nine-year postseason absence, by rolling over the Chiefs’ backups 38-0. Next week’s assignment in Western New York will be much tougher. Denver went 0-3 against the Chargers and Steelers this season, hence the Broncos could never do better than the seventh seed coming into the weekend. Playoff schedule: at Bills

x – clinched playoff berth

y – clinched division

z – clinched home-field advantage, first-round bye

First-round order for 2025 NFL draft (projected)

(Team records in parentheses)

Tennessee Titans (3-14)
Cleveland Browns (3-14)
New York Giants (3-14)
New England Patriots (4-13)
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13)
Las Vegas Raiders (4-13)
New York Jets (5-12)
Carolina Panthers (5-12)
New Orleans Saints (5-12)
Chicago Bears (5-12)
San Francisco 49ers (6-11)
Dallas Cowboys (7-10)
Miami Dolphins (8-9)
Indianapolis Colts (8-9)
Atlanta Falcons (8-9)
Arizona Cardinals (8-9)
Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)
Seattle Seahawks (10-7)
*Houston Texans (10-7)
*Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)
TIE *Denver Broncos (10-7)
TIE *Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
*Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
*Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
*Green Bay Packers (11-6)
*Washington Commanders (12-5)
*Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
*Buffalo Bills (13-4)
*Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
*Minnesota Vikings (14-3)
*Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)
*Detroit Lions (15-2)

(*Note: Spots 19 through 32 determined by playoff results)

Lions emblematic of a breakthrough postseason?

With Detroit now cruising toward its first-ever No. 1 seed, it’s worth wondering how far the Lions – the only team to never reach the Super Bowl despite playing for the entirety of the Super Bowl era (since 1966) – can go. They’re among a number of teams who could hoist the Lombardi Trophy for the first time this season, a list that also includes the Bills, Texans, Chargers and Vikings.

Low-scoring affair

After the Vikings failed to convert on fourth-and-goal there, the clubs have only combined for 16 points tonight little more than halfway through the game. Minnesota and Detroit scored fewer than 20 points in a game this season twice – once per team. The Vikings and Lions have teamed to score at least 30 points 14 times during the 2024 campaign.

Rams not a team Minnesota or Detroit should want to see

While earning the NFC’s No. 1 seed – plus the bye and home-field advantage that come with it – would be a self-evident advantage for the Lions or Vikings in Sunday night’s regular-season finale, there’s another immediate benefit to prevailing: Avoiding the Los Angeles Rams.

LA will host the loser of the NFC North title game, yet neither team is going to intimidate the Rams. They beat Minnesota 30-20 on Oct. 24 at SoFi Stadium, which happens to be the Vikings’ most recent defeat entering Week 18. But Los Angeles coach Sean McVay has unique insight into the Vikes, who are coached by Kevin O’Connell, his former offensive coordinator. On the flip side, the Lions beat the Rams twice in 2024 – a 24-23 victory last January in the wild-card round and a 26-20 overtime triumph in Week 1 of this season, both games at Ford Field.

The Rams finished 10-7 and will almost certainly be a home underdog regardless of their opponent, particularly since SoFi doesn’t offer much of a home-field advantage. But McVay and Co. are battle-tested and generally peaking. Don’t count them out a week from Monday night – the Lions or Vikings certainly won’t.

Playoff schedule unveiled

While the 2024 playoff matchups aren’t quite set, the schedule almost is – the Los Angeles Rams waiting to learn whether they’ll host the Lions or Vikings in the ‘Monday Night Football’ wild-card game that caps postseason’s opening weekend. Here’s the (almost finalized) lineup.

What’s at stake in Sunday night’s Vikings-Lions game?

The final contest of the 2024 regular season, Minnesota at Detroit in the 272nd game of the campaign, comes with beaucoup implications:

A Lions win or tie means they get the NFC North title, a first-round bye and home-field advantage for the first time in franchise history plus a club record 15 regular-season victories. The Vikings would then travel to LA to play the Rams in the wild-card round.

A Vikings win means they get the NFC North title, a first-round bye and home-field advantage. Minnesota could also notch 15 regular-season wins for the first time since 1998. The Lions would then travel to LA to play the Rams in the wild-card round.

Chargers to visit Texans in wild-card round

The opening round of the playoffs in the AFC will feature one of its hotter teams, the Los Angeles Chargers, against one of its disintegrating ones, the Houston Texans. The Bolts secured the conference’s fifth seed – and a ticket to NRG Stadium next weekend – by thumping the Las Vegas Raiders. The victory also means the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers will meet for the third time this season in their postseason opener at Baltimore.

Rams suffer potentially costly seeding slip

The NFC West champion LA Rams rested their primary players Sunday, including QB Matthew Stafford. They wound up dropping a 30-25 decision to the Seattle Seahawks, and that could cost them dearly. Instead of hosting the sixth-seeded Washington Commanders in the wild-card round, SoFi Stadium will instead welcome whomever loses tonight’s NFC North title game between the 14-win Vikings and Lions … though important to note the Rams did vanquish Minnesota in LA in Week 8, which was also the Vikes’ most recent defeat.

Broncos earn final NFL playoff berth, some seeds still undetermined

Denver’s 38-0 rout of the Chiefs’ junior varsity squad – K.C. QB2 Carson Wentz threw for 98 yards – completes the league’s playoff field for the 2024 season. The Broncos earn the AFC’s final wild card, its No. 7 seed … and a wild-card trip to Buffalo to face the Bills. The Bengals and Dolphins were both eliminated by that result. Some seeds in each conference remain up for grabs as the late-afternoon window winds down.

Vikings-Lions will be historic … on top of its huge stakes

By now, you probably know the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions will meet tonight in Ford Field with so much on the line for both teams: namely the NFC North title and the first-round bye and home-field advantage that come courtesy of the conference’s No. 1 seed.

But some history will also be made Sunday night. The game will be the first in the NFL’s 105 seasons to feature a pair of 14-win clubs. It will also have the highest combined win total (28) of any regular-season matchup in league history. The previous mark was 25 total wins entering a game – including the famous contest to end the 2007 regular season, when the New England Patriots completed the only 16-0 regular season of all time.

Broncos removing all drama as AFC field comes into focus

Denver needed wins each of the previous two weeks to clinch a wild-card berth that would end their nine-year playoff absence. The Broncos failed in both Weeks 16 and 17 but are having no trouble against the Kansas City Chiefs backups Sunday, leading at halftime 24-0. If they hang on, they acquire the conference’s final playoff spot and seventh seed, which would mean a trip to Buffalo next weekend.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins, who are losing to the New York Jets, and Bengals – they won in Pittsburgh on Saturday night – can only hope for a miracle. Miami advances with a win and Denver loss. Cincinnati qualifies if the Broncos and Dolphins both lose.

AFC’s No. 5 seed hangs in balance

One of the few remaining facets yet determined in the playoff picture is the fifth seed of the AFC’s side of the playoff picture. It would seem to be desirable as it would present a matchup with the AFC South champion Houston Texans, who have struggled for most of the past two months. The Los Angeles Chargers would get the spot by beating the Raiders in Las Vegas, but the Bolts currently trail. If they lose, the spiraling Pittsburgh Steelers would travel to Houston next weekend.

Aaron Rodgers hits rare milestone at Miami’s expense

It’s been a lost season for the New York Jets, but QB Aaron Rodgers hit a meaningful benchmark during what might be his final game with the team and maybe in the NFL. A 5-yard TD pass to TE Tyler Conklin was Rodgers’ 500th in the regular season, which is his 20th in the league. He becomes the fifth member of an exclusive club led by Tom Brady (649). It also includes Drew Brees (571), Peyton Manning (539) and Brett Favre (508), Rodgers’ former teammate with the Packers.

The score also gave the NYJ a 7-6 lead over the Miami Dolphins, who must win Sunday to have any shot at reaching the playoffs.

No. 1 pick of 2025 NFL draft clinched

Like the New York Giants last week, the New England Patriots played some of their best football when it mattered the least … and coughed up the top pick of this year’s draft in the process. The Pats’ Week 18 defeat of the Buffalo Bills transferred the No. 1 selection this year to the Tennessee Titans. Here are the top five spots as they currently stand (scroll down for the full Round 1 lineup):

Tennessee Titans (3-14)
Cleveland Browns (3-14)
New York Giants (3-14)
New England Patriots (4-13)
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13)

What’s at stake in 4:25 p.m. ET NFL games?

Dolphins at Jets: Miami needs to win (and hope Denver loses) in order to earn the AFC’s final wild-card spot and No. 7 seed. Fins QB Tua Tagovailoa was ruled out earlier this afternoon, so Tyler Huntley will start in his place for the second straight week.

Chiefs at Broncos: Denver must win or tie against a Kansas City team that’s sitting most of its notable players – the reigning champs secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed on Christmas – to lock up the conference’s final wild-card berth after failing to do so the past two weeks. A loss ends the Broncos’ season shy of the playoffs for the ninth straight year. If Denver and Miami both lose, the Bengals swipe the AFC’s last wild-card spot.

Chargers at Raiders: A win by the Bolts would move them up from the sixth seed to the fifth seed and a wild-card matchup with the Texans.

Seahawks at Rams: A Los Angeles victory would cement the NFC West champions as the conference’s No. 3 seed. A loss would drop them to fourth behind the Bucs.

Who gets NFC’s third seed?

The Los Angeles Rams would by beating Seattle today. But a Seahawks win would move the Buccaneers up to the No. 3 spot since Tampa Bay has a better record in NFC games than LA. The third-seeded team will host the Commanders in the wild-card round. The No. 4 seed will draw the loser of the Sunday night clash between the Lions and Vikings.

Bucs win NFC South

It was certainly tougher than many would have expected, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won their fourth consecutive division title by coming back to beat the New Orleans Saints 27-19. WR Mike Evans also achieved his 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season on the final play, tying Jerry Rice’s league record.

NFC’s No. 7 seed decided

A 51-yard field goal at the gun by Chicago K Cairo Santos sent the Bears to a 24-22 victory that relegated Green Bay to the NFC’s No. 7 seed and a wild-card trip to Philadelphia. Washington made the result moot thanks to Terry McLaurin’s TD catch from QB2 Marcus Mariota in the final seconds, which beat the Cowboys in Dallas.

Falcons in desperation mode

Atlanta has the ball at the two-minute warning but trails 38-31 following Panthers QB Bryce Young’s 10-yard TD run on Carolina’s previous possession. A Falcons defeat gives the NFC South crown to Tampa Bay, which leads New Orleans 20-19.

Packers go up

Green Bay took its first lead over the Chicago Bears on Sunday thanks to a 55-yard Brandon McManus field goal inside the final minute. With Washington losing, the Packers are currently in line for the NFC’s sixth seed.

Everyone want the NFC South?

A wild sequence of events of making the race to the NFC South title must-see TV as both the Bucs-Saints and Falcons-Panthers games wind down. Tampa Bay took its first lead of the day thanks to a 32-yard touchdown catch by Jalen McMillan, whose reception two snaps earlier converted a fourth-and-8 for the Buccaneers but also cost them 15 yards after he made an unsportsmanlike gesture. As Tampa Bay went up 20-19, shortly thereafter up north, Atlanta tied its game 31-31 courtesy of a 21-yard TD strike from rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. to WR Drake London.

Anyone want the NFC South?

With both the Bucs-Saints game in Tampa and Falcons-Panthers game in Atlanta now in the fourth quarter, both the Buccaneers and Dirty Birds are losing with the division crown still on the line. If New Orleans and Carolina both win, the Bucs take the division.

Tua Tagovailoa officially out for Dolphins

Miami needs to beat the New York Jets today and hope the Denver Broncos lose in order for the Fins to qualify for the postseason field as the AFC’s final wild card. But the Dolphins will again be without QB Tua Tagovailoa due to a hip injury and will hope QB2 Tyler Huntley can engineer a win for the second straight week. Miami has beaten the Jets four straight and 12 times in the AFC East rivals’ past 14 meetings.

Commanders pull Jayden Daniels

Washington has started cycling its backups into its Sunday afternoon matchup in North Texas against the Dallas Cowboys, notably subbing in QB2 Marcus Mariota for Offensive Rookie of the Year frontrunner Jayden Daniels. The Commanders are currently slotted as the NFC’s sixth seed and would remain there with a win or Green Bay loss. Whichever club finishes with the No. 7 seed will travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in the wild-card round. The sixth seed will play either the Rams or NFC South champion on the road.

Who gets No. 1 draft pick if Patriots win?

One of the more intriguing developments in Sunday afternoon’s 1 p.m. ET window of games is the strong showing by rookie QB Joe Milton and the New England Patriots, who would secure the top pick of the 2025 NFL draft with a loss to the Bills. However the Pats lead 14-10 at the half – AFC East champion Buffalo has nothing to gain today in terms of playoff positioning – thanks to a TD pass and run from Milton, a sixth-round pick last April out of the University of Tennessee who arguably has the strongest arm in the league.

If New England wins – and Patriots fans can at least be buoyed by the fact that the apparent quarterback of the future, Drake Maye, was selected third overall in the 2024 draft – then the Tennessee Titans, who are losing to the Houston Texans in Nashville, would have the inside track on the top pick. The Cleveland Browns, who already lost Saturday to clinch a 3-14 campaign, currently sit atop the board by virtue of playing the extra game. The Pats could fall out of the top four by prevailing.

Injuries mounting for Packers

Green Bay could be experiencing something of a nightmarish Week 18, when all the Pack have at stake is a possible elevation to the NFC’s sixth seed – which would mean avoiding the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in the wild-card round. However amid that apparent pursuit, oft-injured WR Christian Watson was carted off with what appeared to be a non-contact injury to his right knee (not the one that had him on the injury report during the week), while QB Jordan Love has been absent from the game against Chicago since banging his throwing elbow. Both players are technically questionable to return.

The last time Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn’t win NFC South?

The Bucs’ reign is often overlooked and underappreciated, likely because of the division’s low profile and fact that quite often it doesn’t require 10 wins to finish in first place. Nevertheless, the last time Tampa Bay failed to finish on top was 2020 … which, ironically, was when Tom Brady captained them to victory in Super Bowl 55 via a wild-card pathway in a year when the New Orleans Saints won the NFC South during what proved to be QB Drew Brees’ final season.

The last time Atlanta Falcons won NFC South?

Try the 2016 season, when the Dirty Birds infamously lost Super Bowl 51 – after coughing up a 28-3 second-half lead – to Brady’s New England Patriots. Dan Quinn, who will take the Washington Commanders into the playoffs next week, was Atlanta’s coach in 2016. The Falcons are seven years removed from their last postseason appearance.

What’s at stake in 1 p.m. ET NFL games?

Panthers at Falcons: Atlanta needs to win to have a shot at the NFC South championship. A victory coupled with a Buccaneers loss gives the Falcons the division title.

Saints at Buccaneers: Tampa Bay wins its fourth straight NFC South throne with a win (or Atlanta loss). In addition, seeding has not bee determined for the division winner or the NFC West champion Rams, though those two teams will be in either the third or fourth spot before ‘Sunday Night Football’ tonight.

Commanders at Cowboys: Washington locks in the NFC’s sixth seed with a win.

Bears at Packers: Green Bay can obtain the NFC’s sixth seed with a win and Commanders loss. Otherwise, the Pack slot in as the No. 7 seed.

Bills at Patriots: A New England (3-13) loss puts them back atop the first-round order for the 2025 NFL draft. The Cleveland Browns (3-14) are presently No. 1 after Saturday’s loss to Baltimore.

Bucs catch a few breaks on injury front

Saturday wasn’t great for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, S Jordan Whitehead involved in a car crash and sustaining serious enough injuries that he won’t be able to play again this season. He’s expected to be OK over the long term.

However, from a pure football perspective, the Bucs caught a few breaks Sunday, when a win will confer their fourth consecutive NFC South crown. Their opponent, the five-win New Orleans Saints, will not have star RB Alvin Kamara (groin) or backup RB Kendre Miller, meaning their backfield will again be stocked with updates given QB Derek Carr had already been ruled out. Elsewhere, the Atlanta Falcons, who are trying to win the NFC South themselves, won’t have WR2 Darnell Mooney (shoulder) in a game they must win against the Carolina Panthers to have any shot at reaching the postseason.

Did Bengals lose season in Week 1?

If Cincinnati fails to qualify for the postseason, the team can blame another slow start – 0-3 or 1-4 or 4-8 or however you want to look at it – for the premature demise that is likely coming. The Bengals’ eight losses have come by an average of 6.1 points. Throw out a 20-point drubbing from the Eagles, and Cincinnati’s average margin of defeat in its seven other setbacks was 4.1 points.

In the Bengals’ defense, it’s been a tough schedule. Seven of their losses came against teams that will compete in the 2024 postseason. But it’s the one that didn’t – a 16-10 loss to the lowly New England Patriots, who will likely ‘earn’ the top pick of the 2025 draft on opening day at Paycor Stadium – that still has to hurt. Cincinnati scored its fewest points of the season (its next-worst output was 17 points, which would’ve beaten the Pats) while the distraction of WR Ja’Marr Chase’s contract still hung in the air. Why the Bengals routinely struggle in September is a problem coach Zac Taylor must figure out going forward.

If he and his team had figured out how to beat New England, which is 3-13 – its other wins coming against the Jets and Bears – then the Bengals would have already clinched a wild-card berth.

Bengals playoff scenario: Two more opponents’ losses and in

The Bengals took care of business in their 19-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night. Now, they’ll be firmly rooting for a pair of outcomes in the late window to complete their improbable playoff push.

Cincinnati needs both the Broncos to stumble against the Chiefs – who will be resting Patrick Mahomes and many other starters – and for the Dolphins to trip up against the New York Jets. Denver would make the postseason with a win, while Miami would be next in line with a win and Broncos loss.

Steelers playoff scenarios: AFC North rematch or showdown with Texans?

Pittsburgh is smarting after dropping its fourth consecutive game heading into the playoffs. But even after Saturday’s loss to the Bengals, there’s a chance for the Steelers to end up with a favorable playoff matchup.

With a Los Angeles Chargers win over the Las Vegas Raiders, the Steelers will slink to the No. 6 seed and a rematch against the Ravens in Baltimore just three weeks after falling to the Ravens there, 34-17. But if the Chargers falter, Mike Tomlin and Co. would get a wild-card matchup against the Houston Texans.

Houston has lost its last two contests and is the only team currently in the AFC playoff field with a negative point differential on the season (-9).

NFC North scenarios: Lions, Vikings put everything on line for division title, home-field advantage

Despite limited overall drama in the playoff chase down the stretch, the NFL ended up with a high-stakes showcase for the spotlight of its final game of the regular season.

A Lions win would keep Detroit atop the conference and give Detroit the No. 1 seed for the first time in franchise history. The Vikings, meanwhile, also can claim home-field advantage – but only if they can beat Dan Campbell and Co. after dropping their last four in the series.

No matter the outcome, the drop to the first wild-card spot will be precipitous. And the potential opening matchup could provide reason for concern, as the Vikings fell to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 8 and the Lions slipped up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2.

NFC South scenarios: Any chance for a late surprise for Buccaneers, Falcons?

After squandering their division lead in Week 17 in a loss to the Washington Commanders, the Atlanta Falcons need a substantial break to end their six-year playoff drought.

The Buccaneers will seize the NFC South crown for the fourth consecutive year on Sunday simply by beating the New Orleans Saints. If they slip, however, the Falcons could capture the division title with an accompanying win over the Carolina Panthers, as they would prevail based on a head-to-head tiebreaker.

But the outlook for Atlanta is daunting. The Saints became the first NFL team to be shut out this season when they fell 34-0 to the Green Bay Packers two weeks ago, and Tampa Bay rolled to a 51-27 win in the first meeting between the two teams in Week 6. Quarterback Derek Carr has been ruled out, and running back Alvin Kamara is doubtful.

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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis

The final pieces of the NFL’s playoff picture came together Sunday with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers securing their fifth consecutive playoff berth. On the other end of the spectrum, the Denver Broncos return to the playoffs for the first time since 2015 when they won the Super Bowl with Peyton Manning at quarterback.

The Broncos join three other teams newly qualifying for the postseason: the Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders and Minnesota Vikings. All four will be back on the field Jan. 11-13 with eight other teams in what the NFL calls ‘Super Wild Card Weekend.’

How the NFL bracket sets up for Super Wild Card Weekend

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How NFL playoff format works

After next weekend’s games, the records of the remaining four teams in each conference determine how the divisional championships set up Jan. 18 or 19:

No. 1 seed hosts the lowest remaining seed.

The next highest remaining seed hosts the other wild-card winner.

Odds for wild-card weekend games

BetMGM, as of Monday morning, set its opening betting lines for the six wild card games. A plus before the number signifies the amount a bettor would win on a $100 bet. A minus signifies the amount a bettor must bet to win $100.

AFC wild card games

Chargers (-160) favored by 3 points at Texans (+135)

Steelers (+425) at Ravens (-600) favored by 9.5 points

Broncos (+400) at Bills (-550) favored by 8.5 points

NFC wild card games

Packers (+185) at Eagles (-225) favored by 4.5 points

Commanders (+150) at Buccaneers (-185) favored by 3 points

Vikings (-135) favored by 1.5 points at Rams (+110)

Best offenses and defenses of the 2024 NFL season

The Chiefs finished the regular season with the league’s best record, but did so with the lowest scoring differential among the top playoff teams. They outscored their opponents by just 59 points. Sunday’s 38-0 loss didn’t help, but less than a third of the NFC-leading Detroit Lions. Both the Lions and the Buffalo Bills scored more than 500 points this season – a milestone only the Dallas Cowboys hit in 2023.

In his first season back in the NFL, head coach Jim Harbaugh turned up the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense, cutting their ‘points against’ to 301 – almost than 100 points fewer than 2023 and leading the league in the category. The five-seed Chargers and Houston Texans will open Wild Card Weekend on Saturday afternoon. Interestingly, the underdog 10-7 Texans scored exactly as many points as they gave up this season.

Final NFL standings for the 2024 season