| Dates: 7 September 2023 – 7 January 2024 |
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The San Francisco 49ers clinched their division and some extra play-off locations had been determined within the NFL, however the Buffalo Payments made maybe the most important assertion with their demolition job on the Dallas Cowboys.
Outcomes elsewhere meant Dallas clinched a play-off spot earlier than their sport in Buffalo, however they had been outmatched and outmuscled by the Payments, who shall be an actual menace if they will battle their approach into the post-season.
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs bounced again after two straight defeats however nonetheless had issues with dropped passes, whereas the Miami Dolphins shut out the New York Jets 30-0 because the Jets’ long-running play-off drought went right into a thirteenth yr.
The Chiefs nonetheless path the Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens, who beat the Jacksonville Jaguars to keep up prime spot within the AFC standings forward of their enormous Christmas Eve showdown with Miami which may settle who will get a first-round play-off bye.
Harmful Payments dominate Cowboys
They need to have overwhelmed the Eagles in Philadelphia, they did beat the Chiefs in Kansas Metropolis and on Sunday the Payments crushed the Cowboys 31-10, displaying a bodily dominance within the trenches we’ve got not seen from them earlier than.
Defensively, Buffalo held the very best scoring assault within the league in examine with a season-low of 195 yards, coupled with an influence run sport as James Cook dinner had a monster day with 179 yards and two touchdowns.
Payments quarterback Josh Allen had solely 94 yards from 15 move makes an attempt however nonetheless had his moments because the Payments moved to 8-6, nonetheless simply exterior the play-offs on tie-breakers however firmly wanting the crew everybody will need to keep away from within the submit season – if they will get there.
Dolphins finish Jets’ season
Signing Aaron Rodgers was alleged to herald a brand new period for the Jets, however the struggling goes on as their heavy loss in Miami means it’s now 13 years since they made the play-offs – not solely the longest streak within the NFL however in all 4 main sports activities within the USA.
Rodgers might effectively have made a miraculous restoration from Achilles surgical procedure, however there isn’t any approach he shall be risked this season as that summer time of hope has been changed by a well-known feeling of failure round New York.
For 10-4 Miami, in the event that they win their final three video games they are going to get the AFC prime seed, a bye and residential benefit all through the play-offs – however it’s as powerful because it will get with ultimate fixtures in opposition to the Cowboys, Ravens and Payments.
San Francisco seal NFC West title
Operating again Raheem Mostert scored twice for Miami to achieve 20 touchdowns for the season, which was then matched by Christian McCaffrey because of hat-trick in San Francisco’s 45-29 victory on the Arizona Cardinals.
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy took a giant hit within the sport however hardly missed a throw, along with his 4 touchdowns and 242 yards passing serving to his crew to a sixth straight win that gave them a second successive NFC West title.
They’ve received all six by no less than 12 factors to steer the NFC, with the unflappable Purdy a significant MVP candidate and team-mate McCaffrey maybe his largest challenger as they drive the 49ers juggernaut on to 11-3 and searching nearly unimaginable to cease.
Chiefs win however drops nonetheless a difficulty
Tremendous Bowl champions the Chiefs responded to successive defeats with a 27-17 victory on the New England Patriots, however quarterback Patrick Mahomes nonetheless has issues discovering receivers who can catch the ball.
At 9-5 and with Denver shedding to Detroit on Saturday, the Chiefs have some respiratory room and nonetheless an outdoor likelihood of getting that coveted prime seed as they chase a fourth Tremendous Bowl look in 5 years.
The Patriots had been the NFL’s earlier dynasty however that has definitely come to an finish as Invoice Belichick’s tenure is seemingly ending on a extreme low level – along with his 3-11 aspect so unappealing that this fixture was the primary to be moved out of the coveted Monday Evening Soccer prime time slot.
One other unappealing crew, in keeping with their very own followers, are the Carolina Panthers, who beat the Atlanta Falcons 9-7 to say solely their second win of the season, however, in heavy rain, solely a smattering of followers had been there to see it.
Overwhelmed-up Browns hold discovering a approach
The Cleveland Browns are on their fourth beginning quarterback of the season and have a listing of accidents, but veteran Joe Flacco led them to a late 20-17 comeback win over the Chicago Bears that moved them to 9-5 and fifth within the AFC play-off standings.
Flacco, a former Tremendous Bowl winner with Baltimore, needed to overcome three interceptions to assist Cleveland to a fifth sport they’ve received inside the ultimate two minutes, and a sixth win by 4 factors or much less.
They’re doing it the laborious approach, however the Browns are getting it finished someway.
The Houston Texans are usually not far behind on 8-6 as they managed to beat the lack of rookie sensation CJ Stroud to beat the Tennessee Titans 19-16 and eradicate Tennessee from the play-offs.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield produced an ideal statistical passer score to fireplace the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 34-20 win on the Inexperienced Bay Packers and prime spot within the NFC South forward of the New Orleans Saints, who beat the New York Giants 24-6.
The Los Angeles Rams, Tremendous Bowl champions two seasons in the past, occupy the seventh a ultimate spot within the NFC play-offs after they ran out 28-20 winners over the Washington Commanders.