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Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are headed again to the playoffs, assured they’re nonetheless able to making this a particular season.
Brady threw for 432 yards and three lengthy touchdowns to Mike Evans, and Bucs (8-8) erased a double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit for the second week in a row to clinch their second straight NFC South championship with a 30-24 victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.
“Yearly you attempt to win the division and we received the division. It doesn’t matter the way you win the division. My coronary heart ain’t obtained a lot left in it, however it feels nice,” coach Todd Bowles mentioned. “We’re in a single spot we should be. We are able to’t get the place we wish to be until we win the division. We received the division.”
Evans completed with 10 catches for 207 yards, scoring on receptions of 63, 57, and 30 yards and changing into the primary participant in NFL historical past to start a profession with 9 consecutive seasons with 1,000-plus yards receiving.
The TDs have been first for Evans since 2 October – a stretch of 12 video games – and hiked his season whole to 6 after scoring 14 instances in 2021 and 13 two years in the past, when Tampa Bay received the Tremendous Bowl.
“We’ve battled by means of a variety of robust issues this yr,” Brady mentioned. “Completely satisfied to win the division. It’s at all times robust to do it. NFL video games are robust to win and we at all times work out a strategy to preserve them someway thrilling. I want they wouldn’t be as thrilling as we made them.”
The Panthers (6-10) led 14-0 early and 21-10 after Sam Darnold’s third TD move of the day, 10 seconds into the fourth quarter.
It was all Bucs from there, with Evans beating cornerback CJ Henderson for touchdowns twice and Darnold dropping a fumble on a sack inside his personal 10. That turnover arrange Brady’s one-yard TD sneak, which put the sport out of attain with 1:58 left.
The Bucs can end the common season with a profitable report by beating Atlanta on the street subsequent weekend. As division champs, they’re assured of starting the playoffs with a house sport in two weeks.
“The playoffs begin a clear slate for everyone,” Bowles mentioned. “You’ve obtained a three-game elimination event. Doesn’t matter the place you might be. … Not less than we all know we’ll be within the video games. We simply have to chop down on the errors with the intention to win them.”
Minnesota Vikings 17-41 Inexperienced Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers abruptly are only a win away from an unbelievable playoff berth.
He has his protection to thank for persevering with Inexperienced Bay’s reversal of fortune.
Rodgers threw a landing move and ran for a rating, and the Packers shut down Kirk Cousins and star receiver Justin Jefferson in a 41-17 blowout of the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Keisean Nixon scored on a 105-yard kickoff return and Darnell Savage had a 75-yard pick-six of Cousins — considered one of 4 turnovers by the Minnesota QB. The Packers (8-8) will attain the playoffs in the event that they beat the Detroit Lions at dwelling of their regular-season finale.
A fourth straight postseason berth appeared out of the query after a 1-7 stretch dropped the Packers to 4-8, however they haven’t misplaced since and have benefited from favorable outcomes across the league. Inexperienced Bay’s newest bit of fine fortune got here earlier Sunday when Washington fell 24-10 at dwelling to the Cleveland, placing the Packers answerable for their postseason destiny.
“I nonetheless imagine in myself and felt prefer it simply takes one typically,” mentioned Rodgers, who went 15 of 24 for 159 yards. “It’s unusual, however after we have been sitting at 3-6 and regarded on the subsequent three, on the time Tennessee was enjoying very well, clearly the Cowboys have been enjoying properly and Philly was No 1 within the league.
Indianapolis Colts 10-38 New York Giants
The Gatorade bathtub for the pinnacle coach returned. Followers counted down the ultimate seconds and there have been fireworks above MetLife Stadium on the closing tick. Tears have been shed within the locker room.
Sure, the New York Giants are lastly again within the playoffs.
Daniel Jones threw two landing passes and ran for 2 extra and the Giants routed the Indianapolis Colts 38-10 Sunday to return to the postseason for the primary time since 2016.
“It’s a fantastic factor and I’ll be trustworthy,” mentioned operating again Saquon Barkley who carried the staff to a 6-2 begin. “Nobody exterior the women and men in that facility gave us an opportunity.”
Coming into the season the Giants have been among the many least possible groups to make the postseason.
That they had 5 straight dropping seasons, together with a four-win season in 2021 that led to the firing of coach Joe Decide and basic supervisor Dave Gettleman.
Buffalo assistant Joe Schoen was employed as basic supervisor and he selected Payments offensive coordinator Brian Daboll to be the coach, his first head teaching job.
Taking a younger staff, Daboll obtained them to focus one week at a time and to imagine in themselves. It paid off because the Giants (9-6-1) overcame accidents and a 2-4-1 slide in November and early December to change into the third NFC East staff to qualify for the postseason, becoming a member of Philadelphia and Dallas.
San Francisco 49ers 37-34 Las Vegas Raiders (OT)
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned his staff has been in playoff mode for a number of weeks because it fights for a high seed within the NFC, and Sunday had a postseason environment.
Taking part in in entrance of a raucous pro-49ers crowd as guests in Las Vegas, San Francisco was pushed prefer it seldom has been throughout what’s now a nine-game profitable streak.
Tashaun Gipson intercepted Jarrett Stidham in time beyond regulation and returned it 56 yards, organising Robbie Gould’s 23-yard discipline aim that gave the Niners a 37-34 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
“It’s robust to win 9 in a row,” Shanahan mentioned. “We pulled it out. We obtained some guys who caught with it. Nobody obtained pissed off and so they simply saved battling regardless, and the Raiders answered so many instances.”
The victory was particularly necessary for the 49ers (12-4), who can clinch the No 2 seed within the NFC with a win towards Arizona subsequent week or a loss by Minnesota. San Francisco additionally has a shot on the No 1 seed and a bye if Philadelphia loses to the Giants in Week 18.
San Francisco overcame a uncommon off day from what was the league’s top-ranked protection getting into the sport. The 34 factors have been probably the most the 49ers have allowed since their most up-to-date loss, 44-23 to Kansas Metropolis on 23 October.
Los Angeles Rams 10-31 Los Angeles Chargers
On a day when Austin Ekeler achieved a receiving milestone, it was his operating that paved the best way for the Los Angeles Chargers to maintain rolling towards the postseason.
Ekeler rushed for 122 yards, scored two touchdowns and have become the fifth operating again with 100 receptions in a season because the Chargers cruised to a 31-10 victory Sunday over the Los Angeles Rams in a matchup of SoFi Stadium co-tenants.
The playoff-bound Chargers improved to 10-6 and have received 4 straight video games.
“I believe we’re trending the proper course,” mentioned Ekeler, who had the third 100-yard speeding sport of his six-year profession and second this season.
Ekeler, who has an NFL-leading 18 touchdowns (13 speeding, 5 receiving), additionally had a career-best 72-yard TD run halfway by means of the second quarter to increase the Chargers’ result in 14-3.
The operating sport had 192 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry, the second-best efficiency of the season in each classes. That allowed the offense to be balanced because the Chargers had 31 run and 31 move performs.
“I believe it’s nice for our offense. That’s the balanced assault that we’re going for,” mentioned Justin Herbert, who accomplished 21 of 28 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns. “We predict extremely of our offensive line and operating backs. To see that at present, we’re not stunned by the success in any respect.”
New York Jets 6-23 Seattle Seahawks
Geno Smith completed off a really private sweep. And by him doing so, a season that began with low expectations for the Seattle Seahawks will attain Week 18 with the playoffs as an actual chance.
Smith threw two first-half touchdowns, Kenneth Walker III rushed for 133 yards and the Seahawks saved alive their postseason hopes with a 23-6 win Sunday that eradicated the New York Jets from playoff rivalry.
Seattle (8-8) snapped a three-game dropping streak and ensured its Week 18 matchup towards the Los Angeles Rams can be significant. The Seahawks should win and hope for a loss or tie by Inexperienced Bay towards Detroit to succeed in the postseason.
Smith additionally accomplished a three-game sweep of his former employers this season with earlier wins over the Chargers and Giants. The final piece of the trio was getting one of the best of the Jets the place he was drafted and spent two seasons as a starter.
“Actually it doesn’t imply something exterior of the actual fact we gave ourselves one other probability to go to the playoffs,” Smith mentioned. “I’m truly grateful for being drafted into the NFL by the Jets and though issues weren’t good there, there have been some good instances.”
Smith’s numbers weren’t flashy, however he did sufficient to make the ultimate week of the common season related. Smith completed 18 of 29 for 183 yards and was particularly good within the first half. Smith threw touchdowns of 12 yards to Colby Parkinson on the primary possession of the sport and seven yards to Tyler Mabry early within the second quarter.
Jacksonville Jaguars 31-3 Houston Texans
With a lot on the road subsequent week, it could have been simple for the Jacksonville Jaguars to miss the lowly Houston Texans on Sunday.
It was clear from the beginning they weren’t waiting for their showdown with the Tennessee Titans for the AFC South crown.
Travis Etienne ran for 108 yards and a landing earlier than halftime, Tyson Campbell returned a fumble for a rating and the Jaguars snapped a nine-game skid towards Houston by routing the Texans 31-3 for his or her fourth straight victory general.
Jacksonville (8-8) are in first place within the AFC South and would win the division for the primary time since 2017 with a victory at dwelling over slumping Tennessee subsequent Sunday within the regular-season finale. The Titans (7-9) have dropped six straight.
“It was a singular scenario in a sport that, certain, it won’t have meant an entire lot,” coach Doug Pederson mentioned. “I don’t suppose I’ve been in a scenario the place you may have a sport like this heading right into a sport for the whole lot. I inform you, it’s a credit score to the blokes within the locker room, the coaches simply to remain centered.”
Trevor Lawrence threw for 152 yards, however performed only one possession within the second half, and Etienne didn’t carry the ball after halftime with the Jaguars up 28-3 in what can be the staff’s first win over Houston since 2017.
Miami Dolphins 21-23 New England Patriots
His staff clutching a two-point lead, the ball on the one-yard line and the season within the steadiness, Mac Jones determined to improvise.
Going through third-and-goal, the Patriots quarterback regarded to his left and noticed a Dolphins protection guarding towards a run and linebacker Duke Riley unfold out protecting Jakobi Meyers. Jones made eye contact along with his receiver, took the snap and tossed a brief fade the place solely Meyers may attain it. He did, falling into the top zone for a landing.
It could show to be the play that saved the Patriots’ season.
Jones added one other landing move to Tyquan Thornton and Kyle Dugger intercepted Teddy Bridgewater and returned it 39 yards for a go-ahead TD late within the third quarter because the New England saved its playoff hopes alive by rallying to beat Miami 23-21 on Sunday.
“We made some huge performs in some huge moments and that’s what the NFL’s all about,” Jones mentioned.
The Patriots (8-8) snapped a four-game dropping streak to their AFC East rivals and might earn a playoff berth with a win at Buffalo subsequent week. Jones completed 20 of 33 for 203 yards.
“We’re nonetheless alive,” heart David Andrews mentioned.
The Dolphins (8-8) entered with an opportunity to clinch a postseason berth with a victory and loss by the New York Jets at Seattle. As an alternative, Miami misplaced its fifth straight sport and might want to win subsequent week towards the Jets and Buffalo to beat New England to qualify for the postseason for the primary time since 2016.
New Orleans Saints 20-10 Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts held a clipboard, wore a headset and paced the sideline with the identical the look of consternation on his face as livid Philly followers within the stands as their stress tightened in one other Eagles loss with out the franchise quarterback.
Hurts and the Eagles didn’t like what they noticed – and now, totally wholesome or not, the banged-up, show-stopping QB may need to come back to the rescue with the whole lot he helped construct on the point of unraveling with one sport left within the season.
“If Jalen’s capable of go,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni mentioned, “he’ll go.”
That’s little bit of a purpose to exhale after the Eagles misplaced their second straight with out Hurts, placing their hopes of securing the NFC’s high seed in jeopardy. Marshon Lattimore returned an interception 11 yards for a late landing, and the New Orleans Saints beat Philadelphia 20-10 on Sunday.
The Eagles must beat the New York Giants subsequent week to safe the highest seed. A loss by Philly and a win by Dallas would give the Cowboys the NFC East title. Hurts is recuperating from a sprained proper shoulder.
“His well being is the No 1 precedence,” Sirianni mentioned.
The Giants can relaxation their starters after clinching a playoff berth with a 38-10 win over Indianapolis. The Eagles can’t relaxation simple on the considered a 3rd straight begin by backup QB Gardner Minshew.
Denver Broncos 24-27 Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes moved into the rarest of firm Sunday, becoming a member of Tom Brady and Drew Brees as the one quarterbacks with a number of 5,000-yard passing seasons, and the Chiefs overcame one other sloppy begin to beat the Broncos for the fifteenth consecutive time and keep alive for the No 1 seed within the AFC.
So the whole lot should be good in Kansas Metropolis, proper?
“There’s not loads satisfying for me,” Mahomes mentioned shortly after the 27-24 victory.
There was the decide he threw in the long run zone and the mechanics that went awry within the second half. There was the fumbled punt return that led to a Denver landing, a sloppy snap on a point-after try and even a blocked discipline aim.
But the Chiefs (13-3) nonetheless managed to flee a 17-13 third-quarter deficit and rally for his or her fourth consecutive win.
“Once I don’t have my finest stuff and guys step up and we nonetheless win soccer video games,” mentioned Mahomes, who however completed with 328 yards passing and three touchdowns, “that’s an excellent factor.”
Jerick McKinnon had two landing catches whereas Blake Bell and Isiah Pacheco additionally scored for the Chiefs, who started the day tied with Buffalo for one of the best report within the AFC; the Payments play Cincinnati on Monday evening.
Chicago Bears 10-41 Detroit Lions
Jared Goff has performed practically mistake-free soccer for 2 months and his decision-making, together with a much-improved protection, has put the Detroit Lions ready that appeared unfathomable on the finish of October.
Goff threw three landing passes, together with two within the first half to Brock Wright, and Detroit routed the Chicago Bears 41-10 on Sunday to stay within the chase for an NFC wild card.
The Lions (8-8) have received seven of 9 to offer themselves a shot at incomes a postseason spot for the primary time since 2016 going into their regular-season finale at Inexperienced Bay. They want a win over the Packers and a loss or tie by Seattle towards the Los Angeles Rams.
“It’s the place we wish to be, enjoying within the final sport of the season meaning one thing,” mentioned Goff, who was 21 of 29 for 255 yards and didn’t throw an interception for an eighth consecutive sport.
Detroit received simply three video games in 2021 throughout coach Dan Campbell’s debut and began 1-6 this season, testing his management and the religion possession had in him.
Campbell by no means wavered, publicly or privately, and his reward is having a playoff berth probably at stake towards the Packers.
“It’s simply so particular,” he mentioned. “It’s nearly as good as it might get.
“I imply, severely, you get to go to historic Lambeau — the place the tops on this division has been Inexperienced Bay for years — to go earn your proper, doubtlessly.”
Cleveland Browns 24-10 Washington Commanders
Followers booed Carson Wentz and chanted for Taylor Heinicke to no avail whereas it was changing into abundantly clear Ron Rivera’s quarterback change backfired on the Washington Commanders.
It snowballed so badly, it was a loss and the top of their playoff possibilities.
Wentz threw three interceptions after getting the beginning job again, defensive miscues added up and the Commanders misplaced in embarrassing style Sunday, 24-10 to the Cleveland Browns, who had nothing to play for. Inexperienced Bay beating Minnesota eradicated Washington from playoff rivalry, one thing Rivera didn’t know was potential.
“We could be eradicated?” Rivera requested in his postgame information convention. “(If it occurs), it’ll be disappointing.”
It has been a disappointing run to say the least for the Commanders (7-8-1), who’re winless of their previous 4 video games after Wentz’s newest late-season letdown.
“I’ve excessive expectations for myself and this staff, and we underperformed — I did, myself, as properly,” mentioned Wentz, who was 16 of 28 for 143 yards. “That’s not what I had in thoughts and what we had in thoughts as a staff. Not the efficiency I envisioned. Lots of stuff I need again. Yeah, that was a tricky one.”
The offense gained simply 260 yards – 96 on Washington’s solely landing drive – not precisely the spark Rivera hoped for when he went again to Wentz. Followers making up the sparse crowd booed and chanted early on for Heinicke a number of instances after Wentz missed open receivers or lobbed the ball into the palms of a Cleveland defender.
Pittsburgh Steelers 16-13 Baltimore Ravens
Kenny Pickett threw a 10-yard landing move to Najee Harris with 56 seconds remaining, giving the Pittsburgh Steelers a 16-13 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday evening and improbably holding their playoff hopes alive for an additional week.
It was the primary landing allowed by Baltimore at dwelling in 4 video games, and the Steelers (8-8) wanted it to keep away from elimination. Identical to they wanted Miami to lose to New England earlier within the day, which additionally occurred.
Pittsburgh can now make the playoffs by beating Cleveland subsequent weekend – if Miami and New England each lose. Rather a lot nonetheless has to go proper, however loads went proper Sunday.
Down 13-9, Pickett drove the Steelers 80 yards in 3:20 towards their rivals with the season on the road. On third-and-8 from the ten, the rookie scrambled away from stress and threw a perfect pass to Harris, who had slipped behind linebacker Roquan Smith alongside the left sideline.
The playoff-bound Ravens (10-6) now want Buffalo to beat Cincinnati on Monday to maintain their hopes of profitable the AFC North alive.
Tyler Huntley threw a landing move to Isaiah Probably late within the first half for the sport’s solely different landing.
The Steelers need assistance to make the playoffs, however they’ve full management of one other streak. They haven’t had a dropping report since 2003 – and so they by no means have underneath coach Mike Tomlin, now in his sixteenth season.
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