Seth Romsa

Heading into the final two weeks of the regular season, nearly every playoff position is up for grabs, with five teams locked into the playoffs in the AFC and four locked in for the NFC.

Somehow after only losing two games all year the Philadelphia Eagles are struggling down the stretch to secure the No. 1 seed, needing only one win from their final two games without starting quarterback Jalen Hurts.

The Minnesota Vikings and the San Francisco 49ers have won their divisions and will host a playoff game, while the Cowboys have already locked up a playoff spot and have an outside chance to take that No. 1 seed from the Eagles.

All of the NFC South is alive for a division title outside of the Atlanta Falcons, while there are five teams fighting for the final two playoff spots.

In the AFC the Buffalo Bills have a huge game against the Cincinnati Bengals this week to help determine the No. 1 seed, while the Kansas City Chiefs are also vying for the top spot.

Those three alongside the Baltimore Ravens and the Los Angeles Chargers have already locked up playoff spots.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have surged into the AFC South lead ahead of the Tennessee Titans, while there are still six teams alive for the final playoff spot in the AFC.

These two weeks will be key for nearly every organization, in hopes of either sneaking into the playoffs or locking up the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft (looking at you Houston Texans).

After that it should be an absolute slugfest in the AFC with potentially half a dozen top quarterbacks fighting to get to the Super Bowl.

The NFC feels more straightforward if the Eagles have a healthy Hurts, but he is yet to return while Gardner Minshew leads the attack in his absence.

I think that the New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Detroit Lions will sneak into the playoffs for the NFC’s final spots, while the Jaguars and the New York Jets will make it in the AFC.

MVP RACE

This Most Valuable Player race has been like no other for various reasons.

So many players started out the season hot, with Josh Allen looking like the frontrunner early.

Since then so many players have had different stretches where they have been the best in the league, but it appears to be down to three or four at this time.

I believe the leader should be Patrick Mahomes, who has put up 4,720 yards to date alongside 37 touchdowns and 11 interceptions after losing his best receiver in the offseason.

Second should be Hurts whose passing numbers aren’t as impressive despite better talent, but he has a better record and better rushing statistics with 747 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns to date.

Third would likely be Allen, who fell behind in the middle of the season but has finished strong to throw his name back in the conversation.

Fourth with a far outside chance has to be Joe Burrow, who is on a tear with the Bengals as they have surged towards a potential No. 1 seed in the AFC.

My super dark horse/outside shot would be Justin Jefferson, who most likely won’t come close but should due to him potentially passing 2,000 receiving yards for the first time in NFL history. He will likely have to settle for offensive player of the year, but a year of history is likely to occur.

A tight playoff battle will likely ensue, with the MVP not being decided until later in the year.