The NFL regular season ends Sunday, and then comes what is expected to be a hotly contested, intrigue-filled postseason.

Twelve teams (six in each conference) have punched their tickets to the playoffs. Five teams are fighting for two remaining places. Several other teams need wins to set the seedings. The rest of the 32 teams have nothing but pride at stake.

Here are five of Week 18’s biggest storylines to follow on Sunday. (Find the full schedule here.)

1. Fight for the number 1 seed in the NFC

Sunday night’s game between the Minnesota Vikings and host Detroit Lions will feel like a playoff game. There is so much to do in this game that the intensity of any other competition will pale in comparison.

Both teams are 14-2. The Vikings have won nine straight, while the Lions have won two straight and 13 of their last 14 games. Sunday’s winner will take first place in the NFC North And the NFC as a whole. This conference’s top seed carries significant weight as it carries with it home-field advantage and a first-round bye. So the winner of this game will essentially be two home games away from reaching the Super Bowl.

The loser, on the other hand, will drop to the fifth seed in the conference as the division winners will receive the top four spots. Since they are a wild card team, they would likely have to travel the entire postseason. It’s a much more difficult path, and that’s why this game means so much.

The last time these teams met in Week 7 in Minnesota, Detroit won 31-29. The Lions took a 28-17 lead in the fourth quarter, but the Vikings rallied to take a 29-28 lead with 5:50 left when linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. returned a fumble 36 yards for a touchdown. Then Detroit answered with a 44-yard field goal from Jake Bates with 15 seconds left to seal the deal. Minnesota lost to the Los Angeles Rams the following week and hasn’t lost since.

Can Sam Darnold (one touchdown, one interception last time out against Detroit) and the Vikings turn the tables this time? Or will Jared Goff (280 yards, two touchdowns) complete the sweep and bring momentum into the postseason? (Vikings at Lions, 8:20 p.m. ET.)

2. NFC South winner

The Atlanta Falcons were sitting at the top of their division and could have secured the crown last Sunday with a win and a Buccaneers loss. That didn’t happen after Jayden Daniels marched the Commanders 70 yards in 13 plays and completed a 2-yard touchdown strike to Zach Ertz in overtime to put his team over Atlanta.

That 30-24 loss and the Buccaneers’ 48-14 win over Carolina resulted in a swing in the NFC South standings. Now it’s the Buccaneers who have a chance to clinch the division and a spot in the playoffs with a win or a draw. Tampa Bay hosts the New Orleans Saints and the Bucs are heavy favorites to win. Last week, Baker Mayfield rushed for 359 yards and five touchdown passes to carry Tampa Bay to victory. Now he’s hoping to deliver another standout performance to help the Bucs win the NFC South for the fourth straight year.

The Falcons will be hoping for an upset from the Saints while also trying to defeat the Panthers. If both happen, Atlanta wins the division and makes the playoffs, and Tampa Bay is eliminated. If the Falcons lose or tie, the Bucs are there. (Saints at Buccaneers and Panthers at Falcons, 1 p.m. ET.)

3. The AFC’s final playoff spot

The Denver Broncos had a chance to clinch a playoff spot last week, but instead suffered a painful loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. On Sunday they will try again to keep their season alive. If they beat Kansas City, which is resting a number of starters (including Patrick Mahomes), they will join the Chiefs, Bills, Ravens, Texans, Steelers and Chargers in the AFC playoff field.

However, the Broncos aren’t the only ones looking for the postseason. Cincinnati and Miami are also still in the hunt. The Bengals defeated the Steelers 19-17 on Saturday night, remain in playoff contention and will spend Sunday awaiting their fate.

If the Broncos beat the Chiefs, Sean Payton and his players will qualify for the playoffs. But if Denver loses and the Dolphins beat the Jets, Miami will overtake the Broncos and take the seventh and final spot. However, the Dolphins’ path to the postseason remains rocky as they may be without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (hip injury). Cincinnati needs losses to Denver and Miami to make the playoffs. (Chiefs at Broncos and Dolphins at Jets, 4:25 p.m. ET.)

4. Aaron Rodgers’ swansong?

Aaron Rodgers was supposed to be the Jets’ savior. The Packers’ four-time league MVP was expected to lead the Jets to a long-awaited Super Bowl victory. But nothing went according to plan. The ruptured Achilles tendon derailed plans last season, and all manner of misfortune, dysfunction and poor play from Rodgers and many of his teammates have left the Jets with another season of double-digit losses – New York’s fifth straight loss and 10th in the last 13 seasons .

Rodgers, 41, said this week he was unsure whether he would play in 2025. He said he had already thought that Sunday’s game against the Dolphins could be the end of his career. However, Rodgers added that he will need some time to recover mentally and physically before deciding to return for season 21.

Regardless of what Rodgers ultimately decides, he wants to end the season on a positive note. Last week, he threw for just 112 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in a 40-14 loss to Buffalo. Can he and the Jets, who have lost six of their last seven games, muster enough fire to overcome a desperate Dolphins team? Can Rodgers, who had a three-touchdown game this season and only threw for 300 yards once in 2024, put together a top-notch performance or has the magic run out? (Dolphins at Jets, 4:25 p.m. ET.)

5. Coaches in the hot seat handle final cases

The futures of six head coaches are uncertain as the regular season draws to a close. Doug Pederson and the Jaguars should return to the playoffs after an absence last season. Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys were supposed to compete for the Super Bowl. Antonio Pierce’s Raiders should build on last season’s strong performance when he served as interim coach. Brian Daboll hoped to finally help Daniel Jones and the Giants reach their potential. Shane Steichen’s Colts were supposed to threaten the Texans’ place at the top of the AFC South. Jerod Mayo was supposed to lead the Patriots’ rebuild in his first season since taking over for Bill Belichick.

Instead, all of these teams significantly underperformed. The Jaguars, Raiders and Giants all have 10 or more losses. McCarthy’s Cowboys are struggling with serious injuries and are limping toward the finish line at 7-9. Steichen’s Colts, who were embarrassed by the Giants last week and eliminated from playoff contention, are also 7-9. If Mayo and the Patriots lose on Sunday, they will be 3-14 and have the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft.

In some cases, owners may have already made up their minds about the future of their head coaching positions. Others may be undecided about the direction of their franchises. Sunday gives these coaches one last chance to get their teams to perform well. Otherwise, they could end up on the dreaded Black Monday layoff list. (Commanders at Cowboys, Jaguars at Colts, Giants at Eagles, Bills at Patriots, all at 1 p.m. ET. Chargers at Raiders, 4:25 p.m. ET.)

(Top photo by Justin Jefferson: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)