| Dates: 7 September 2023 – 7 January 2024 |
| BBC protection: Hearken to stay commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports activities Additional and the BBC Sport web site each Sunday. |
The San Francisco 49ers made an enormous assertion of intent within the massive sport of week 13 as they beat the Philadelphia Eagles 42-19 in a bruising NFC Championship rematch.
The 49ers pressed their claims to be Tremendous Bowl favourites with a dominant show towards the workforce that pipped them to the showpiece final season, and also you get the sensation these two will meet once more come play-off time.
Invoice Belichick’s New England Patriots had one more nightmare as they misplaced 6-0 to the Los Angeles Chargers, elevating extra questions over his future.
The Detroit Lions roared again after a disappointing Thanksgiving loss and moved to 9-3 with a 33-28 win over the New Orleans Saints.
The Miami Dolphins are additionally 9-3, for the primary time in 22 years, after thrashing the Washington Commanders 45-15 and so they moved above Kansas Metropolis into the AFC’s prime spot after the Chiefs misplaced 27-19 on the fast-improving Inexperienced Bay Packers.
Niners stun Eagles to shut on prime spot
The 49ers had minus six yards as they struggled within the first quarter in Philadelphia, however turned it round from then on to overrun the Eagles with touchdowns on their subsequent six possessions.
A feisty, hard-hitting, chirpy contest between two heated rivals had a number of altercations, loads of trash speak and two ejections – Niners participant Dre Greenlaw and Eagles safety man Dom DiSandro have been each dismissed after a conflict on the sideline.
Again on the sphere, San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy buried the demons of being injured in final season’s NFC title sport at Lincoln Monetary Discipline by throwing 4 touchdowns with receiver Deebo Samuel dominant with three scores.
After 4 straight second-half comebacks, Philadelphia (10-2) had no reply this time and now have San Francisco (9-3) sizzling on their heels within the race to complete as prime seed within the NFC – which not solely means residence area benefit within the play-offs but in addition the one first-round bye accessible.
And simply so as to add to the intrigue, subsequent up for the Eagles is a visit to Texas to face the 9-3 Dallas Cowboys, their enormous divisional rivals, and a house win would throw the NFC broad open.
Time up for Belichick after one other poor Patriots loss?
Belichick can be a Corridor of Fame coach as soon as he retires, however regardless of being probably the greatest of all time it appears like his days could possibly be numbered in New England after the Patriots suffered an embarrassing 6-0 residence defeat by the Los Angeles Chargers.
The freezing chilly and driving rain might have contributed however not with the ability to rating is now the norm for the 2-10 Patriots, who’ve solely conceded 10 factors or fewer in three straight video games but misplaced all of them – no different workforce has managed that since 1938.
It isn’t the kind of report Belichick is used to breaking after touchdown six Tremendous Bowls with the as soon as dominant Patriots, who additionally suffered a second shutout residence defeat in a season for the primary time ever and are at risk of ending because the worst workforce in your entire NFL.
Proprietor Robert Kraft appears unlikely to let Belichick go throughout the season, however as soon as the mud has settled on what has become a dismal marketing campaign it appears like a tough dialog might need to happen.
Hill’s report tempo, Mahomes loses at Lambeau
Miami receiver Tyreek Hill scored two touchdowns and had 157 yards because the Dolphins hammered the Washington Commanders 45-15 to maneuver into prime spot within the AFC play-off standings.
With 1,481 receiving yards Hill has essentially the most ever after 12 video games of a season and is on tempo to interrupt Andre Johnson’s report and in addition turn out to be the primary ever receiver to interrupt the two,000-yard mark.
Miami’s high-powered assault nonetheless has query marks towards the easiest groups, however with thrilling rookie operating again De’Von Achane getting back from harm to attain two touchdowns they could be a menace to anybody in a shootout.
Patrick Mahomes misplaced his first begin at Lambeau Discipline as Jordan Love loved one other spectacular outing for the Packers, the youngest workforce within the NFL, as they beat the defending Tremendous Bowl champions.
Love threw three landing passes and the Inexperienced Bay defence held Mahomes underneath 20 factors in a mature efficiency that confirmed they might but be a play-off hazard if they’ll sustain this way, whereas Kansas Metropolis’s hopes of clinching the AFC prime spot took a success.
Panthers out however play-off race hots up
The Carolina Panthers had the primary choose of the latest NFL Draft, however they’re the primary workforce to formally be dominated out of constructing the play-offs after shedding 21-18 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A 22-17 victory over the streaking Denver Broncos retains the Houston Texans and spectacular rookie quarterback CJ Stroud proper within the play-off hunt at 7-5 – the identical report as their divisional rivals Indianapolis after the Colts beat the Tennessee Titans 31-28 in time beyond regulation.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are one other 7-5 facet however they suffered a shock 24-10 residence loss towards the Arizona Cardinals and in addition misplaced beginning quarterback Kenny Pickett with an ankle harm.
An unpleasant 13-8 defeat for the New York Jets towards the Atlanta Falcons appears to have ended their faint post-season hopes, and possibly any probability Jets followers had of seeing Aaron Rodgers again in motion this season.
A 3rd win in a row for the Los Angeles Rams, a 36-19 victory over the Cleveland Browns, has them within the hunt for a play-off spot (6-6), and whereas the Browns (7-5) are nonetheless within the AFC image, they’ve misplaced their previous two matches so can be nervously trying over their shoulders as crunch time approaches.