8 groups are in. 13 are out. 11 are clinging to wish — some with less attackable grips than others.
With two weeks to exit, the NFL’s 14-team playoff image is rising. The Incorrect. 1 seed has but to be determined in both convention, however the front-runners have put themselves in top positions.
Within the AFC, it’s taking a look just like the playoffs will run thru Kansas Town. One win from the Chiefs of their ultimate two they usually’ll clinch the convention’s supremacy seed.
The NFC, in the meantime, residue up for grabs. A age then the Lions noticed their 11-game win streak finish, the Eagles’ 10-game streak was once snapped. And because of Philadelphia’s loss, it seems like the convention’s supremacy seed will to descend to 2 NFC North groups, Detroit (13-2) and Minnesota (13-2). If each win after age — the Lions are on the 49ers, and the Vikings host the Packers — upcoming their Generation 18 assembly in Detroit would make a decision it.
Discuss a delectable regular-season finale.
GO DEEPER
NFL Generation 16 takeaways: Must Niners nonetheless pay Purdy? Did Jayden Daniels clinch Rookie of the Era?
In Washington, enthusiasts at Northwest Stadium witnessed some other wild end. Simply 1:58 clear of a section name, Philly watched Jayden Daniels pressure the Commanders 57 yards in 9 performs and join with Jamison Crowder for the game-winning landing with six seconds left. Washington’s 22 fourth-quarter issues had been simply plethora to thieve the 36-33 victory.
It was once a signature efficiency from Daniels, who residue some of the well-known applicants for Offensive Rookie of the Era. He completed with 5 touchdowns and 339 all-purpose yards towards some of the absolute best defenses in soccer. And the Commanders turned into simply the second one workforce all season to win a contest in spite of 5 yieldings (the Lions did so in Generation 10 towards the Texans).
The Eagles (12-3), who misplaced quarterback Jalen Hurts early within the contest because of a concussion, can wrap up an NFC East name with a win after age over the Cowboys. However Sunday’s loss most likely price them their shot on the NFC’s supremacy seed.
In the meantime, the Rams inched nearer to an NFC West crown then beating the Jets 19-9. What a task from Sean McVay and his workforce — this workforce was once 1-4 and battered through accidents 5 weeks into the season. The Rams have received 8 in their terminating 10 and are two wins clear of McVay’s fourth section name, which might ship L.A. to the playoffs for the 6th future in his eight-year tenure.
In Atlanta, Michael Penix Jr. inspired in his first NFL get started, well-known the Falcons to a much-needed 34-7 victory over the lowly Giants. Atlanta is now 8-7, and due to Tampa Bay’s loss in Dallas Sunday night time, again in entrance within the NFC South. Latter age’s benching of Kirk Cousins was once a gutsy travel, however Raheem Morris would possibly have stored his workforce’s season.
In Charlotte, the Panthers ended the Cardinals’ playoff hopes with a 36-30 additional time win. Bryce Younger’s benching long ago then Generation 2 seems like a life-time in the past — since his go back to the launch lineup, the 2023 Incorrect. 1 select has piled up 3 wins, which is greater than he did all of terminating season. Arizona has now ignored the playoffs 3 instantly seasons and 8 of the terminating 9 years.
In Cincinnati, the Bengals ruled the Browns 24-6 to stick alive within the AFC wild-card race. One of the crucial groups they’re connect with at 7-8, the Colts, bounced again from terminating age’s embarrassing loss in Denver to overcome the Titans 38-30. Jonathan Taylor ruled for Indianapolis, speeding for 218 yards and 3 ratings.
Because of to some other wonderful past from Sam Darnold (246 passing yards, 3 touchdowns) and Justin Jefferson (144 receiving yards and two ratings) the Vikings held off the Seahawks in Seattle 27-24. Detroit beat Chicago 34-17 thank you to a couple orchestrated stumbling from Jared Goff in some of the extra ingenious play games designs you’ll see. The Lions’ thirteenth win additionally eager a franchise document.
The Expenses passed the Patriots their twelfth lack of the season, 24-21, and the Dolphins saved their slim playoff hopes alive with a 29-17 win over the 49ers, who had been eradicated from rivalry previous within the past. Similar is going for the Cowboys, who will formally attend to the postseason from house for the primary future in 4 years.
Right here’s what we discovered throughout Generation 16 within the NFL:
AFC most likely runs thru Arrowhead
The AFC playoff image isn’t slightly eager, however the supremacy seven groups like the place they’re at.
The ones already clinched: the Chiefs, Expenses, Steelers, Ravens and Texans. In the meantime, the Chargers and Broncos are in finest positions to fasten up wild-card berths.
AFC Standings
| Category | Group | Report |
|---|---|---|
AFC East | 12-3 | |
7-8 | ||
4-11 | ||
3-12 | ||
AFC North | 10-5 | |
10-5 | ||
7-8 | ||
3-12 | ||
AFC South | 9-6 | |
7-8 | ||
3-12 | ||
3-12 | ||
AFC West | 14-1 | |
9-6 | ||
9-6 | ||
3-12 |
For Kansas Town to clinch the Incorrect. 1 seed, the Chiefs need to win simply one in every of their ultimate two video games: at Pittsburgh on Christmas Generation, or at Denver in Generation 18.
The Expenses’ best trail to the supremacy spot will require two instantly Kansas Town losses, one thing that hasn’t took place since terminating December. At 12-3, Buffalo seems like the Incorrect. 2 seed.
The Steelers and Ravens — each 10-5 — are in a dogfight for the AFC North crown, the winner of which most likely finally ends up because the Incorrect. 3 seed. For the reason that two crack their regular-season layout, Pittsburgh has the brink because of a rather higher convention document. However the Steelers have the harder two-game end: They host the Chiefs, upcoming face a surging Bengals workforce clinging to wish.
The Ravens, in the meantime, are on the Texans on Christmas Generation, upcoming host the Browns in Generation 18.
As for the extra wild-card spots, another win from the Broncos locks up the grassland: The Chargers will be the Incorrect. 6 seed and Denver could be Incorrect. 7 (the AFC North runner-up would most likely finally end up because the 5 seed). The Broncos are in Cincinnati after weekend, upcoming end with the Chiefs, who may really well have the supremacy seed wrapped up and would possibly believe resting some starters forward of some other playoff run.
A victory in both in their two ultimate video games would give the Broncos the franchise’s first playoff berth because the 2015 season, when the workforce went directly to win Tremendous Bowl 50.
The 3 groups hoping for a surprise? The Colts, Dolphins and Bengals, every 7-8 and short of a bundle of assistance to put together it into the grassland.
14 wins, opening at the street?
Image this: A Generation 18 contest through which the Lions-Vikings winner no longer best earns the NFC North name but in addition the convention’s supremacy seed and playoff bye. And the loser — a 14-win workforce — would fall to the 5 seed and not hidden the postseason as guests.
It’s taking a look all of the much more likely then the Eagles’ loss on Sunday. However bear in mind, the Vikings beating the Packers after age is not any positive factor. If Minnesota had been to lose, Detroit would clinch the supremacy seed with a win over San Francisco.
That leaves Philadelphia (12-3) within the Incorrect. 2 spot, most likely webhosting seventh-seeded Washington on wild-card weekend.
The Rams are the amaze of the convention; their late-season surge has them in place to say some other NFC West name and wrap up the Incorrect. 3 seed. Win their ultimate two — house video games towards the Cardinals and Seahawks — and Los Angeles will clinch it.
The Seahawks are nonetheless alive within the NFC West race, however they’ll want some assistance to sneak date the Rams. And even though L.A. loses its Generation 18 contest towards Seattle and each groups end with similar information, the Rams would all however veritably win the tiebreaker because of energy of victory. (The Rams additionally received the season’s previous assembly.)
The NFC South champ — both the Bucs or Falcons — will most likely end with the Incorrect. 4 seed. Inexperienced Bay (10-4), in the meantime, can clinch a playoff berth with a win Monday night time towards Pristine Orleans.
Presen nonetheless alive within the NFC East through importance of Sunday’s win over the Eagles, the Commanders, on the very least, have a stranglehold at the NFC’s Incorrect. 7 spot and are similar to locking up what will be the franchise’s first playoff berth in 4 years. Washington’s 10 wins this season are also connect for the membership’s maximum since 1991.
Will late-season surge save McCarthy?
Because the Cowboys spherical into circumstance in past due December, you need to marvel: Presen it’s too past due to earn a playoff berth, is it too past due for Mike McCarthy to avoid wasting his activity?
Proprietor Jerry Jones has been adamant that he’s but to put together a choice on McCarthy, whose five-year promise ends then the season. If this yr was once intended to be about playoff luck, McCarthy hasn’t helped himself on that entrance — the Cowboys had been eradicated from rivalry Sunday afternoon. However Dallas, besieged through accidents for many of the yr and plagued through a spotty protection, turns out to have in any case discovered its substructure, even with big name quarterback Dak Prescott gazing from the coaches’ sales space. Jones mentioned just lately he hasn’t dominated out a promise extension for McCarthy and wired the season’s ultimate stretch will weigh weighty in his choice.
And Jones, in spite of community belief, has in reality turn into slightly affected person with head coaches. Be mindful, he saved Jason Garrett for 9 seasons.
“I don’t think that’s crazy at all,” Jones instructed a Dallas radio station in past due November when requested a couple of doable McCarthy promise extension. “That’s not crazy. Listen, Mike McCarthy is an outstanding coach. … This is a Super Bowl-winning coach.”
Incorrect hesitancy, this workforce is enjoying neatly and enjoying crisp for McCarthy ailing the stretch.
Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys have received 4 of 5 and will play games spoiler to section competitors ailing the stretch. (Ron Jenkins / Getty Pictures)
Tug Sunday night time’s wild win over the Bucs. Tampa Bay threatened to erase a nine-point shortage within the ultimate 3 mins, however Cowboys cornerback Daron Lifeless swiped the soccer out of Rachaad White’s arms then a lunatic of entirety from Baker Mayfield with 1:40 left. That sealed Dallas’ 26-24 victory, the Cowboys’ fourth win in 5 weeks. McCarthy’s executed it with a spare quarterback in Cooper Accelerate.
Dallas is 7-8 and can end with a couple of section video games towards Philadelphia and Washington.
Giants visible Incorrect. 1
The Giants would possibly quickly be at the clock.
Pristine York’s 34-7 stinker Sunday in Atlanta, coupled with the Raiders’ house win over the Jaguars, method the Giants have sole ownership of the league’s worst document. With two extra losses, they’d reserve the franchise’s first Incorrect. 1 draft select since 1965.
The Giants will host a Colts workforce after age preventing for its playoff past, upcoming will end the steady season in Philadelphia, the place the Eagles will perhaps be jockeying for postseason place. At 2-13, the Giants are a contest unclouded of the Raiders, Jaguars, Titans, Browns and Patriots, all of that have received 3 video games.
It’s been an abysmal season for Pristine York: Sunday’s loss was once the workforce’s tenth in a row, a franchise document. A Generation 18 loss in Philly would shed the Giants winless of their section for a whole season — one thing that’s by no means took place within the workforce’s 99 years of life. And no longer since 1965 have the Giants completed with the league’s worst document.
The comfort prize appears to be like to be some of the two supremacy quarterbacks within the draft: Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward.
(Picture of Justin Jefferson: Steph Chambers / Getty Pictures)
