Overview
- New England secured its first AFC East title since 2019 after a 42-10 win over the Jets and the Bills’ 13-12 loss to the Eagles.
- Denver clinched its first AFC West crown since 2015 following Houston’s win over the Chargers and will lock up the top seed with a Week 18 victory.
- The NFL set Patriots-Dolphins and Broncos-Chargers for Sunday, Jan. 4 at 4:25 p.m. ET, with both kickoffs aligned to determine the conference’s No. 1 seed.
- Drake Maye threw five touchdown passes in the Jets rout as first-year coach Mike Vrabel capped a turnaround from back-to-back 4-13 seasons.
- If the Patriots fall to Miami and the Jaguars win, Jacksonville would take the No. 2 slot via tiebreaker and drop New England to the third seed.