Did the Chiefs simply doink their solution to a section identify?
Type of.
Did they reinforce their top within the race for the AFC’s lead seed?
Completely.
Regardless of how Matthew Wright’s 31-yard grassland purpose discovered its method during the purpose posts overdue Sunday evening at Arrowhead, the Chiefs’ ridiculous stretch of good fortune in one-score video games endured with a 19-17 win over the Chargers — that’s now 15 directly wins relationship to ultimate season.
Los Angeles made it a contest within the 0.33 quarter, scoring consecutive touchdowns to speed a 14-13 top, and used to be in entrance 17-16 overdue within the fourth till, smartly, Patrick Mahomes came about. Next riding the Chiefs i’m sick the grassland, the two-time MVP crash trusty goal Travis Kelce on a important third-and-7 deep in L.A. range to arrange Wright’s 31-yarder as pace expired.
All at once, the Chiefs are two video games forward of everybody within the AFC.
GO DEEPER
NFL Hour 14 takeaways: A pink flag for Expenses protection? Must Falcons bench Cousins for Penix?
That’s since the Expenses are beatable. Using a seven-game win streak — together with consecutive victories over every of ultimate season’s Tremendous Bowl groups — Buffalo were given six overall touchdowns from MVP front-runner Josh Allen and nonetheless couldn’t drop Los Angeles with a win. That’s as a result of Puka Nacua used to be unstoppable, and the Rams create their preferrred time out of the season in a 44-42 victory, maintaining their playoff hopes alive moment slowing the Expenses’ pursuit of the AFC’s lead seed. It used to be the NFL’s highest-scoring contest of the season, and Allen changed into the primary participant in historical past with 3 passing touchdowns and 3 dashing touchdowns in the similar contest.
Sticking with the contenders, the Eagles weren’t at their preferrred however nonetheless held off Bryce Young and the Panthers 22-16 for his or her 9th directly win. At 11-2, they’re the fourth crew to clinch a place within the playoffs, becoming a member of the Chiefs, Expenses and Lions. “They did a good job, and we did a bad job,” Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts mentioned upcoming the sport. “That starts with me.” Hurts completed with simply 108 passing yards. Requested what the crew must do higher shifting ahead, famous person wideout A.J. Brown mentioned, merely, “Passing.”
At the glorious aspect, Saquon Barkley changed into the Eagles’ all-time chief for dashing yards in a season. He has 1,623 and is on generation for two,122, which might eclipse Eric Dickerson’s NFL report of two,105, prepared long ago in 1984. Barkley may have a just right shot at historical past, too: 3 of Philly’s ultimate 4 warring parties rank twenty seventh or worse in speed protection.
The Steelers beat the Browns in Pittsburgh for the twenty first directly season. Sure, that’s an actual stat — now not since 2003 has Cleveland gained a regular-season contest within the Metal Town (even though the Browns did defeat the Steelers in a 2020 wild-card playoff contest in Pittsburgh). With the victory, Mike Tomlin’s crew strikes to 10-3, two video games forward of Baltimore within the AFC North race. In terms of the most efficient training selections of the season, Tomlin’s name to walk with Russell Wilson as his launch quarterback seven weeks in the past must be proper up there. The Steelers are 6-1 since.
In Miami, the Dolphins escaped with a 32-26 extra time win over the Jets to book their playoff hopes alive and formally seal Fresh York’s 14th directly season with out a go back and forth to the postseason. Tua Tagovailoa led a game-tying grassland purpose power within the ultimate moments of legislation, next neglected only one throw right through an eight-play, 70-yard landing power in extra time. The Dolphins have gained 4 of 5, respiring hour right into a season that regarded misplaced in mid-October.
The Jets’ playoff-less streak is the longest such energetic drought within the league. Possibly firing Robert Saleh 5 video games into the season wasn’t the most efficient concept? Fresh York has dropped seven of 8 since.
In San Francisco, the 49ers appeared like perennial Tremendous Bowl contenders of years hour in a very simple 38-13 victory over the Bears. This one used to be traditionally one-sided within the first part: San Francisco outgained Chicago a staggering 319 yards to 4. The Niners, all however written off upcoming 3 directly losses, are 6-7 and one way or the other nonetheless alive within the NFC West. The Bears had been as soon as 4-2. They’re now 4-9.
In Arizona, the Seahawks reinforced their NFC West top with a fourth directly win, 30-18, over the Cardinals. Geno Smith has gained 5 directly begins as opposed to Kyler Murray, and Seattle is heating up once more upcoming losing 5 of six via Hour 9.
Right here’s what stood out from the NFL’s Hour 14:
Chiefs book discovering techniques to win
The film helps to keep repeating itself, at all times with the similar finishing. If it’s a good contest, the Chiefs have the option. It’s why Kansas Town unearths itself 12-1 and two video games up at the extra of the AFC.
Due to some other game-winning power from Mahomes, and that 31-yarder from fill-in kicker Wright — a kick that banged off the left upright prior to ricocheting via — the Chiefs earned a negligible break-up within the race for the AFC’s lead seed and lone bye.
Mahomes threw for 210 yards and a landing, not anything electrical. Kelce had simply 45 receiving yards however the important catch overdue. Led via cornerback Trent McDuffie, Kansas Town’s protection pitched a shutout within the first part. Two fourth-quarter grassland targets from Wright had been plenty.
It used to be some other bankruptcy within the Chiefs’ ordinary season. Such a lot of wild finishes. Such a lot of shut wins. However as improper and unconvincing as Kansas Town has been every now and then, the effects are plain: The Chiefs at the moment are 10-0 in one-possession video games.
For the Chargers, the grief continues: It’s their tenth directly loss in video games made up our minds via 3 issues or fewer. And it’s their eleventh loss to the Chiefs in 13 tries since Mahomes took over the launch process in 2018.
Official separation in wild-card race
The playoffs are 5 weeks away. Right here’s the place we arise.
Within the AFC, the Chiefs, Expenses, Steelers and Texans top their respective categories. The Ravens, Broncos and Chargers are all 8-5, solidly within the playoff grassland with 4 video games to walk. Of the ones 3 groups, Baltimore owns the tiebreaker, having defeated Denver and L.A. this season.
The Colts and Dolphins, each 6-7, are two video games again of the 7th and ultimate playoff spot, even though Indianapolis has a splendid alternative to snip into Denver’s top after while when the groups sq. off at Empower Farmland at Mile Top.
Within the NFC, the Lions, Eagles, Seahawks and Bucs recently top the categories, with the Lions and Eagles having clinched playoff spots. The Vikings (11-2) and Packers (9-4) are in a splendid place to earn two of the wild-card spots — this is, if Minnesota doesn’t overtake Detroit for the NFC North crown (the groups meet in Hour 18.) Washington is recently within the 7th spot, with a one-game top over the Rams (7-6).
However 3 groups are only a contest in the back of L.A: the Falcons, Cardinals and 49ers are all 6-7.
The NFC West left-overs the tightest section in soccer; all 4 groups are inside of two video games of every alternative.
Vikings cross some other take a look at
In July, the Vikings weathered the gruesome lack of fourth-round draft pick out Khyree Jackson, who died in a automobile strike. They had been pummeled with accidents in coaching camp, together with a torn ACL for cornerback Mekhi Blackmon and a torn meniscus for first-round pick out J.J. McCarthy. And this used to be upcoming their launch quarterback of the ultimate six seasons, Kirk Cousins, bolted for Atlanta in loose company.
Sam Darnold — on his fourth crew in 5 years — would step in. Would a misplaced season in Minnesota practice?
“There’s been some things that … test your culture and foundation and locker room and building,” Vikings teacher Kevin O’Connell mentioned in August.
4 months next, the decision’s in: O’Connell’s crew used to be up for the take a look at.
Following Sunday’s 42-21 rout of Cousins and the Falcons, the Vikings are 11-2, join for the second-best report within the NFC, and only a contest again of the one-loss Lions. Minnesota left-overs one of the most extra noteceable tales of this NFL season — and most probably probably the most underappreciated.
Beneath the tutelage of Kevin O’Connell (proper), Sam Darnold has flourished in Minnesota. (Stephen Maturen / Getty Pictures)
It begins with O’Connell, who’s carried out as just right of a task as any alternative teacher in soccer. He’s weathered each offseason and in-season demanding situations (launch left take on Christian Darrisaw is on IR, and launch nook Stephon Gilmore has been sidelined with a hamstring shock). He’s guided Darnold to the most efficient season of his profession. And he’s lifted the Vikings into reputable playoff contenders.
“Y’all need to start talking about us,” cornerback Byron Murphy advised NFL Community upcoming the sport. “Talk about the Vikings, because we on one right now.”
Darnold threw for 347 yards and a career-high 5 touchdowns Sunday, outplaying his Vikings predecessor, who completed with 344 passing yards however refuse touchdowns and two interceptions. Darnold’s 28 touchdowns are simply probably the most he’s ever thrown in a season, and there are nonetheless 4 video games left. The purple-clad fanatics at U.S. Deposit Stadium introduced out the “M-V-P!” chant on the finish of this one, and Darnold stood at the sideline, waving a towel in acknowledgment.
“That was a lot of emotion for me,” he mentioned next. “It was pretty fun, man.”
Darnold, on a measly one-year, $10 million agreement, merits plethora of credit score for the Vikings’ awe season. So does defensive coordinator Brian Flores, whose unit hasn’t allowed greater than 30 issues since Hour 8. So does normal supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who didn’t panic upcoming Cousins left within the spring and reinforced his roster with the kind of intensity items which might be paying off in December.
In the meantime, the Falcons are in a free-for-all. As soon as 6-3, Atlanta has misplaced 4 directly and trails the Bucs via a contest within the section.
Cousins is amid one of the most worst stretches of his profession: He’s thrown 8 interceptions in his ultimate 4 video games, and of the 13 he’s thrown this season, 8 have come within the fourth quarter. With first-round pick out Michael Penix Jr. ready within the wings and Atlanta’s NFC South top formally historical past, it’s a must to miracle how for much longer teacher Raheem Morris can keep on with his suffering starter.
Giants, Raiders in race for lead general pick out
Sooner than the Giants kicked off Sunday’s contest in opposition to the Saints, a aircraft flew over MetLife Stadium towing a banner that said to the sorry situation of the franchise.
“MR. MARA ENOUGH — PLZ FIX THIS DUMPSTER FIRE,” it learn.
Mr. Mara — that may be Giants proprietor John Mara — has some noteceable selections looming over the after few months, launch with whether or not to book normal supervisor Joe Schoen and teacher Brian Daboll for 2025. (Mara has mentioned lately he intends on maintaining each.)
Every other heavy choice may practice in overdue April. The Giants have a shot to earn the franchise’s first Negative. 1 pick out in 60 years.
Sunday’s 14-11 loss to Fresh Orleans dropped Fresh York to 2-11, which is join with Las Vegas — 28-13 losers to Tampa Bay on Sunday — for the worst report within the league. Every other of the league’s two-win groups coming into Sunday, the Jaguars, beat the Titans to travel to 3-10.
So this may well be a race between the Giants and Raiders i’m sick the stretch. The Giants will see 4 groups with playoff aspirations: the Ravens, Falcons, Colts and Eagles. The Raiders will face the Falcons, Jaguars, Saints and Chargers.
Quarterback is an clear want for each the Giants and Raiders coming into 2025, however The Athletic’s draft guru Dane Brugler categorised this yr’s magnificence “maybe the most polarizing” he’s studied in 20 years. Is Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders the lead pick out? Or his teammate, large receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter? Or Miami quarterback Cam Ward?
What turns out sure, a minimum of at this juncture: In terms of taking a QB, this isn’t the Magnificence of 2024. Or 2023. Or 2020. That’s unholy information for 2 franchises determined for some hope on the maximum noteceable place at the grassland.
The Raiders haven’t had the primary general variety since 2007, and lacking on that pick out — they went with JaMarcus Russell, be mindful — prepared the franchise again years. The Giants haven’t picked first since 1965 (Fresh York picked fourth in 2004 however traded with the Chargers for Eli Manning, who went first general).
(Picture of Patrick Mahomes: Jamie Squire / Getty Pictures)
