| Dates: 7 September 2023 – 7 January 2024 |
| BBC protection: Take heed to dwell commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports activities Additional and the BBC Sport web site each Sunday. |
The Philadelphia Eagles confirmed why they’re the hardest group to beat within the NFL as they got here from behind but once more to pip the Buffalo Payments 37-34.
Quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen produced two of the excellent shows of the season in an time beyond regulation basic.
And it was Hurts who made the decisive contribution as Philadelphia turned the primary group to win 10 video games this season.
Patrick Mahomes led the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs as they got here from behind to beat the Las Vegas Raiders, whereas the Jacksonville Jaguars joined the Tremendous Bowl champions on 8-3 with victory over the Houston Texans.
Issues went from unhealthy to worse for Invoice Belichick because the New England Patriots misplaced once more after a late missed kick towards the New York Giants left them because the second-worst group within the NFL, with their worst file for 30 years.
Hurts breaks Payments hearts in time beyond regulation
The Eagles have now been behind at half-time of their previous 4 video games, however have gained all of them – with the newest victory coming after a fourth-quarter burst from Hurts and a giant 59-yard kick from Jake Elliott 20 seconds from the tip compelled time beyond regulation.
Buffalo dominated for almost all of the sport with Allen enjoying out of his pores and skin – however his one interception proved essential as Hurts turned it into the second of two fast scores that turned the sport of their favour.
Allen additionally missed a throw into the tip zone that might have gained the sport – and for all his brilliance, he now has an 0-6 file in time beyond regulation video games. At 6-6, the Payments are up towards it – particularly as they subsequent go to the Chiefs after a bye.
“By any means we are going to discover a approach, that is simply the mentality now we have,” stated Hurts after a win that encapsulates Philadelphia’s season – not at all times firing, whereas making loads of errors, however practically at all times discovering a technique to win.
That mentality shall be examined subsequent week as they face a showdown with the San Francisco 49ers.
The Chiefs fell 14-0 behind on the Las Vegas Raiders however got here roaring again to a 31-17 victory within the stadium that may host the Tremendous Bowl in February. Mahomes and his facet will hope that is a superb signal.
To get again to Vegas for the massive recreation, although, the Chiefs will doubtless must undergo the Baltimore Ravens, who personal the AFC’s finest file at 9-3 after they took care of the Los Angeles Chargers 20-10 within the late recreation.
Unhealthy to worse for Belichick
There isn’t any respite for Invoice Belichick, whose once-mighty Patriots now have the league’s second-worst file at 2-9 after kicker Chad Ryland missed a easy 35-yard subject objective on the end – handing the New York Giants simply their fourth win of the season with a turgid 10-7 victory.
Belichick once more needed to bench beginning quarterback Mac Jones throughout a recreation after two first-half interceptions, and alternative Bailey Zappe was not that a lot better as they received outplayed by undrafted Giants rookie Tommy Devito, who famously nonetheless lives at residence along with his dad and mom.
With the season gone and the group in disarray, the Patriots will already be taking a look at subsequent season, however whether or not the person who led them to their six Tremendous Bowl titles remains to be the person for the job is the massive query proprietor Robert Kraft has to reply.
What makes it particularly troublesome is the very fact Belichick has a lot management of the group – he’s additionally the final supervisor so is in command of recruitment in addition to teaching. However with a lot work to do, the Patriots look unlikely at this stage to belief him with both subsequent season.
Jaguars difficult for AFC high spot
With seven straight one-score video games, the Houston Texans are at all times a superb watch, however they had been on the unsuitable finish of 1 as Matt Amendola’s late kick hit the crossbar to present the Jacksonville Jaguars a 24-21 victory.
Rookie CJ Stroud was wonderful once more with three whole touchdowns for Houston however Trevor Lawrence nearly received the job accomplished because the Jaguars earned an important win towards their divisional rivals and moved to 8-3 to sit down proper in among the many race for high seeds within the AFC.
With 304 yards, two passing touchdowns and one speeding rating, Stroud remains to be placing collectively one of many nice rookie seasons, however at 6-5 the Texans dropped to 3rd within the division, simply outdoors the play-off locations.
The Indianapolis Colts moved above Houston within the AFC South after a 27-20 success over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made it three wins in a row – with former speeding champion Jonathan Taylor scoring twice as he begins to seek out his finest kind simply in time for a play-off push.
Steelers get a spring of their step
Just some days after the Pittsburgh Steelers fired their offensive co-ordinator Matt Canada following some lukewarm shows this season, they promptly had their first 400-yard recreation for greater than three years of their 16-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Steelers had not made a giant teaching change like that in a season since 1941, and so they nonetheless needed to lean on TJ Watt and the defence after failing to show all these yards into factors – however at 7-4, they are going to be a menace if they’ll get extra manufacturing and factors on the board.
With Joe Burrow misplaced for the season, Jake Browning turned the fiftieth quarterback to begin a recreation within the NFL this season and he did throw a landing, however was additionally sacked 4 instances – and with out a run recreation to talk of, it’s exhausting to see the Bengals making the play-offs from right here.
The Cleveland Browns even have quarterback issues however they’re nonetheless within the play-off hunt regardless of a 29-12 defeat to the red-hot Denver Broncos, who’ve now gained 5 in a row after beginning the season 1-5 to energy into play-off competition.
Elsewhere, the Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints 24-15, the Tennessee Titans had been 17-10 winners over the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Rams comprehensively beat the Arizona Cardinals 37-14.
