A couple of attainable Tremendous Bowl previews. Soar-frogging section leaders. Lengthy photographs scuffling with for his or her playoff lives. And, in fact, there’s at all times the Kansas Town Chiefs, who input NFL Past 15 taking a look to proceed their march towards what they hope ends with a 3rd instantly Lombardi Trophy.
Ultimate presen, the Chiefs advanced to 12-1 then turning in but any other nail-biting win — their fifteenth consecutive victory in one-score video games. Is that this but any other Chiefs group of future?
With latter Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Chargers and the Buffalo Expenses’ loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Kansas Town added to its top within the race for first park within the AFC, a end result that may store them home-field merit all through the AFC playoffs.
This presen, the Chiefs face the Cleveland Browns, who at 3-10 to find themselves amid a gravely disappointing marketing campaign. At the floor, it’s by no means that attractive of a showdown. The Browns, on the other hand, indubitably have confirmed themselves able to enjoying above their list. They disillusioned any other AFC front-runner, the Pittsburgh Steelers, 3 weeks in the past.
The Browns already are eradicated from postseason rivalry, however they may be able to do the Steelers, Expenses and Baltimore Ravens a partial via frightening the Chiefs and fighting them from extending their top within the race for the AFC’s Disagree. 1 seed.
Can Cleveland rock on Sunday? Or will Patrick Mahomes and corporate to find but differently to tug off a reputedly miraculous victory?
That’s simply some of the many storylines on faucet for Past 15. Listed below are 5 extra to stock an visible on. (In finding the total time table right here.)
The Dolphins’ playoff hopes are alive due to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. (Sam Navarro / Imagn Pictures)
1. Crunch occasion for the Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins confronted the chance being eradicated from playoff rivalry early then falling right into a 2-6 hollow. However a wholesome Tua Tagovailoa has led his group to victories in 4 of its week 5 video games, and Miami is now 6-7 with an out of doors anticipation of preserve its season. The chances nonetheless aren’t superior. In step with our NFL Projection Fashion, the Dolphins have just a 15 % anticipation of achieving the postseason. However a victory Sunday in opposition to Houston may just nearly double the ones odds.
The Dolphins are coming off an exciting comeback victory over the Unutilized York Jets. Then trailing 23-15 past due within the 3rd quarter, Miami outscored the Jets 17-3 in the back of two landing passes from Tagovailoa, together with a 10-yard hit to Jonnu Smith in additional time to store the 32-26 victory. This presen, the Dolphins will aim to proceed the momentum as they face the Texans’ top-10 protection. Tagovailoa latter presen turned into the primary participant in NFL historical past to put up a minimum of 40 go makes an attempt, 300 passing yards and incorrect interceptions in 3 instantly video games inside a unmarried season. Houston’s protection, which is 2d within the NFL with 16 interceptions and fasten for 3rd with 24 overall takeaways, will do its ideal to finish that remarkable streak.
The Texans have persevered a rocky 2d part of the season, going 2-3 earlier than getting into latter presen’s bye with an 8-5 list. Now well-rested, DeMeco Ryans’ group goals to begin construction some momentum of its personal in those ultimate 4 weeks of the common season. With a win Sunday and a loss via Indianapolis (at Denver), the Texans can clinch the AFC South for the second one instantly time. Ryans may just tie Jim Caldwell, Jim Harbaugh, Matt LaFleur, Sean McVay and Mike Tomlin as the one coaches in NFL historical past to win a section in every in their first two seasons. (Dolphins at Texans, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
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2. Steelers-Eagles Keystone Circumstance strike
The Pittsburgh Steelers consult with their cross-state rival Philadelphia Eagles for a showdown which may be a Tremendous Bowl preview.
Mike Tomlin’s Steelers are some of the NFL’s maximum well-rounded groups, boasting a top-10 protection and an offense able to dominating at the field or during the wind. Quarterback Russell Wilson goals to strengthen to 7-1 as Pittsburgh’s starter, however for a 2d consecutive presen he’ll be with out zenith huge receiver George Pickens, who’s nursing a hamstring harm. Wilson has averaged 254 passing yards a tournament, however latter presen threw for best 158 yards with out Pickens. He did, on the other hand, list two landing passes. Going through an Eagles protection that boasts gifted younger defensive backs and ranks 2d within the NFL in opposition to the go may just provide a steep problem. Search for the Steelers to paintings to determine a speeding assault that averages 132.1 yards in step with tournament.
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Talking of speeding assaults, the Eagles boast a league-best 190.5 speeding yards in step with tournament, and Saquon Barkley leads the NFL with 1,623 speeding yards. Pittsburgh’s protection items a stiff take a look at, on the other hand, having restricted fighters to simply 91.5 speeding yards in step with match.
If the Steelers be triumphant, that may put extra power on quarterback Jalen Hurts, who’s averaging 200.2 passing yards in step with tournament (a profession low as a starter) and has best 16 landing passes. Hurts has come below scrutiny then experiences of friction between him and zenith huge receiver A.J. Brown surfaced this presen. Brown has grown annoyed via the lessen within the passing assault. Then averaging 9.3 objectives and six.2 catches in step with tournament latter season and receiving double-digit objectives 8 instances, Brown hasn’t won double-digit objectives since Past 1 of this season and is averaging 6.6 objectives and four.8 catches in step with tournament.
Professor Nick Sirianni stated previous this presen that Hurts and Brown are running additional time to enhance their connection at the discipline. Brown and Hurts each downplayed any reason for fear however expressed a want to in combination top their group to superior heights. Are they in for a step forward this presen? Or will a Steelers protection that has restricted opposing quarterbacks to a 79.2 score (2d lowest within the NFL) lengthen their frustrations? (Steelers at Eagles, 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday.)
MVP applicants face off as Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions welcome Josh Allen and the Buffalo Expenses to Ford Ground for a sound attainable Tremendous Bowl preview. Goff and the Lions have a franchise-record 11-game win streak and top the NFL with 32.1 issues in step with tournament. Buffalo ranks 2d, scoring 30.5 issues in step with tournament, and hopes to rebound from latter presen’s loss to the Rams. The Expenses had gained seven instantly earlier than that loss.
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Goff ranks 2d within the NFL with a crowning glory share of 72.4, and he directs an offense this is zenith 5 in passing and speeding. It’ll be attention-grabbing to peer which Expenses protection he faces: The unit that entered latter presen ranked 3rd within the NFL with 24 takeaways generation restricting foes to simply 18.7 issues in step with tournament, or the squad that were given gashed via Baltimore for 35 issues and via the Rams for 37 issues. (L.A. additionally scored any other landing on a prohibited punt.) Buffalo’s protection has struggled in opposition to the run, surrender 4.7 yards in step with raise, which might translate right into a heavy presen for Detroit’s tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David 1st viscount montgomery of alamein.
Detroit, in the meantime, performs an competitive emblem of ball on protection and boasts a blitz charge of 36.4 % (fourth very best within the NFL). Alternatively, Allen is simply as unhealthy along with his legs as he’s his arm. He has thrown for 23 touchdowns and in a rush for 9 extra. There’s a accumulation of power on Allen. Can he lift his group by contrast elite opponent? (Expenses at Lions, 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday.)
Quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Bucs have gained 3 instantly video games to enter the the NFC South top. (Kim Klement Neitzel / Imagn Pictures)
4. Bucs surge, Chargers wobble
That is the presen of sturdy interconference matchups, as a result of right here comes any other one: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers consult with the Chargers as each fight to stay in sizzling playoff races.
Then an injury-plagued 0-4 stretch in the midst of their season, the Buccaneers have rebounded generation additionally regaining energy. Tampa Bay (7-6) has gained 3 instantly to leapfrog the reeling Falcons for first park within the NFC South. Chief the best way is quarterback Baker Mayfield, who’s fasten for 3rd within the league with 28 landing passes generation directing a Buccaneers offense that ranks 3rd in overall offense with 379.2 yards in step with tournament and 5th in scoring (27.9).
The 8-5 Chargers boast the NFL’s stingiest protection, on the other hand, maintaining groups to fifteen.9 issues in step with tournament. L.A. has restricted fighters to twenty issues or fewer in 11 of 13 video games this season. That powerful struggle has eased power on quarterback Justin Herbert, who this season has 14 landing passes and just one interception. Herbert can change into on Sunday the primary quarterback in NFL historical past to steer clear of throwing an interception in 12 instantly video games. (Tom Brady had an 11-game interception-free streak in 2010.) The Chargers will want Herbert and their protection to play games at a top stage for them to regain the remarkable mode that helped them win 4 instantly halfway during the season. Since after, on the other hand, L.A. has long gone 1-2, dropping to Baltimore and Kansas Town.
The Bucs input this presen within the NFC’s fourth spot and a tournament forward of Atlanta within the section race. They effort to increase their streak of successful the NFC South to 4 seasons. The Chargers, in the meantime, hope to proceed their rebound from latter season’s 5-12 marketing campaign via going back on the playoffs for the primary occasion since 2022 and best the second one occasion since 2018. Professor Jim Harbaugh’s group ranks 6th within the AFC in the back of Baltimore and forward of AFC West neighbor Denver. (Buccaneers at Chargers, 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday.)
Packers operating again Josh Jacobs is unhealthy when the ball is in his palms. (Jeff Hanisch / Imagn Pictures)
The Seattle Seahawks picked up a heavy win latter presen as they knocked Arizona i’m sick a notch and join sole ownership of first park within the NFC West. Now QB Geno Smith and corporate, winners of 4 instantly, will aim to stock this factor rolling and go back to the playoffs then lacking the shorten latter season.
Since Past 11, the Seahawks protection has ruled, restricting foes to just 15.5 issues and 297.3 yards in step with tournament. This presen’s take a look at: Holding Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs and the Packers in test. Inexperienced Bay is raring to get issues again on the right track following a 34-31 loss latter presen to Detroit. Earlier than that defeat, the Packers had gained 3 instantly and 7 in their latter 8 (with that one loss additionally to the Lions). Jacobs tallied 3 touchdowns latter presen and has fond reminiscences of enjoying in opposition to the Seahawks. The latter occasion he confronted them (with the Raiders, on Nov. 27, 2022), he all set profession highs in scrimmage yards (303) and speeding yards (229) and ripped off an 86-yard, game-winning landing run in additional time.
For the season, the Seahawks have allowed 126.5 speeding yards in step with tournament, and they’ve allowed foes to hurry for 130 or extra yards six instances. So, slowing Jacobs may just pose reasonably the take a look at. A capability to run the soccer has translated into good fortune for Inexperienced Bay, which is 8-2 in video games it crowned the 100-yard mark. Inexperienced Bay ranks 6th within the NFC playoff race and desires a win to stay forward of the Washington Commanders, who’re 8-5 and face the battered Unutilized Orleans Saints. (Packers at Seahawks, 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday.)
(Supremacy picture of Jahmyr Gibbs: Alex Slitz / Getty Pictures)
