Overview
- Denver clinched its first AFC West crown since 2015 and will lock up the conference’s top seed with a Week 18 home win over the Chargers.
- New England secured its first AFC East title since 2019 after a 42-10 rout of the Jets and the Bills’ 13-12 loss to the Eagles.
- The NFL slated Patriots–Dolphins and Broncos–Chargers for Sunday, Jan. 4 at 4:25 p.m. ET to decide the No. 1 seed.
- The Patriots can claim the bye only with a win over Miami and a Denver loss, while Jacksonville remains a long-shot contender needing a win and losses by both Denver and New England.
- Key results set up the finish: Denver beat Kansas City 20-13 on Christmas, Drake Maye threw five touchdowns to move New England to 13-3, and the Chargers—already in as a wild card—defeated Denver earlier this season.