As the thrilling conclusion to the NFL regular season approaches, the Washington Commanders delivered a nail-biting overtime victory against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night, significantly impacting the playoff landscape in the NFC.

This pivotal win secured the Commanders a spot in the postseason as a wild-card team during rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels’ first season. Not only did this outcome secure Washington’s place, but it also created ripple effects for their rivals, benefiting the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Rams clinched the NFC West title, edging out the Seattle Seahawks thanks to their superior strength of victory tiebreaker. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay now faces a critical Week 18 matchup—just one more win against the Atlanta Falcons will guarantee them the NFC South title.

Currently, 13 out of 14 playoff spots have been locked in, with only the final wild-card spot in the AFC remaining up for grabs. The Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, and Cincinnati Bengals are all in contention for this coveted position.

Division Leaders in the AFC:

1. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1) 2. Buffalo Bills (13-3) 3. Baltimore Ravens (11-5) 4. Houston Texans (9-7)