In some of the final NFL games before the new year, there’s a three-matchup slate today that includes a win-and-in potential for the Denver Broncos when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals, who need a win to avoid postseason elimination. In the penultimate weekend of the 2024 NFL regular season, much of the playoff bracket has already been cemented (the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC on Christmas Day, for example), but there’s still key pieces to be determined across the final nine days of action.
The day kicks off with the Los Angeles Chargers (9-6) taking on the New England Patriots (3-12). While the Patriots have been eliminated from playoff contention, the Chargers have a chance to lock up a spot with a win (or with losses from the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins on Sunday). Then it’s the Broncos and the Bengals — with a win, Denver would have its first playoff berth since the 2015 season, which they capped with a win in Super Bowl 50. Joe Burrow and the Bengals need to win out and also have some other results fall their way to have a shot at the playoffs, but Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase have done everything they can to keep the team in contention: Burrow leads the NFL in passing yards (4,229) and is tied for the lead league with 39 passing touchdowns, while Chase is at the top of the league in receptions (108), receiving yards (1,510) & receiving TDs (16) this season. He has a chance to become just the fifth receiver since the merger to win the “triple crown,” ie finish the regular season leading the NFL in all three of those statistical categories.
Finally it’s an NFC West matchup to end the day when the Arizona Cardinals visit the Los Angeles Rams. The 7-8 Cardinals are out of the postseason, and the Rams path to the playoffs got a bit more complicated with the Seahawks win over the Bears on Thursday Night Football. The Rams need a win tonight and to clinch the strength of victory tiebreaker over the Seahawks, meaning they’ll need four wins, or at least three wins and a tie, from some combination of these six teams: Vikings, Bills, 49ers, Commanders, Bengals, Browns.
For full information on today’s games, including schedule and network information, see below.
NFL Playoff Picture 2024: Updated AFC and NFC standings, bracket, tiebreakers for Week 17
What NFL games are on today?
*All times listed are Eastern
Los Angeles Chargers vs New England Patriots — 1:00pm on NFL Network
Denver Broncos vs Cincinnati Bengals — 4:30pm on NFL Network
Arizona Cardinals vs Los Angeles Rams —8:15pm on NFL Network
Week 17 NFL schedule
Sunday, December 29th
Indianapolis Colts vs New York Giants — 1:00pm on FOX
New York Jets vs Buffalo Bills — 1:00pm on CBS
Tennessee Titans vs Jacksonville Jaguars — 1:00pm on CBS
Las Vegas Raiders vs New Orleans Saints — 1:00pm on FOX
Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 1:00pm on CBS
Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles — 1:00pm on FOX
Miami Dolphins vs Cleveland Browns — 4:05pm on CBS
Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings — 4:25pm on FOX
Atlanta Falcons vs Washington Commanders — 8:20pm on NBC and Peacock
Monday, December 30th
Detroit Lions vs San Francisco 49ers — 8:15pm on ESPN and ABC
