| Dates: 7 September 2023-7 January 2024 |
| BBC protection: Hearken to dwell commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports activities Additional and the BBC Sport web site each Sunday. |
The street to the Tremendous Bowl will undergo Baltimore and San Francisco after the Ravens and 49ers secured the 2 high seeds within the AFC and NFC, and residential benefit within the play-offs.
The Ravens seem like the unstoppable power within the NFL after hammering the Miami Dolphins 56-19 within the massive sport of the New Yr’s Eve schedule to assert high spot within the AFC, with Lamar Jackson once more showcasing his most dear participant (MVP) claims.
San Francisco’s 27-10 win over the Washington Commanders gave them the primary seed within the NFC after the Philadelphia Eagles suffered an enormous upset defeat at house to the lowly Arizona Cardinals.
The Buffalo Payments continued their play-off push with a 27-21 victory over the New England Patriots whereas the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs received their division for the eighth 12 months working.
Rampant Ravens destroy Dolphins
Ravens quarterback Jackson threw 5 landing passes as Baltimore received a sixth sport in a row to assert high spot within the AFC in model.
Jackson could now sit out the ultimate sport of the season subsequent week together with his job completed, because the Ravens can have house benefit all through the play-offs and likewise a first-round bye after dominating one other play-off facet.
It is the second-most factors the Ravens have ever scored in a sport within the NFL – simply behind the 59 Jackson additionally engineered in his 2019 MVP season, which additionally, paradoxically, got here in opposition to Miami.
“I do not know if I’ve seen a extra spectacular efficiency in a sport,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh stated of Jackson. “I am undecided I’ve seen a extra spectacular efficiency in a season thus far.”
Whereas the Ravens are firmly the workforce to beat, the Dolphins have work to do regardless of already being within the play-offs, as they host the Buffalo Payments subsequent week with the AFC East title, and crucially a house play-off sport, on the road.
Shock Eagles loss palms NFC high spot to 49ers
The 49ers responded to their brutal loss to the Ravens with a snug win in Washington, then watched on as a dramatic late Arizona Cardinals victory in Philadelphia meant San Francisco locked up the highest seed and play-off bye with every week to spare.
“Thanks, Cardinals,” stated 49ers linebacker Fred Warner. “The truth that we had been in a position to get it with one sport left within the season is massive.”
Few gave the 3-12 Cardinals any hope in Philadelphia, however James Conner’s late landing run gave them a 35-31 victory that continued the Eagles’ hunch from 10-1 in the beginning of December to 11-5 with one sport left to play.
The Eagles tumbled from second to fifth within the NFC play-offs standings, leaving the Dallas Cowboys in pole place to win the NFC East division as Philadelphia continued to wrestle on either side of the ball.
“Now we have to get issues mounted,” stated Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni. “And we’ve got to get them mounted quick.”
Chiefs make it eight in a row
Harrison Butker kicked six discipline targets because the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs claimed the AFC West title for the eighth time in a row – with their 25-17 victory over Cincinnati additionally ending the Bengals’ play-off hopes.
The Chiefs’ defence was once more the catalyst as they locked within the third seed within the AFC, which means it’s doubtless they should go and win in Baltimore to get again to the Tremendous Bowl.
“Now you are within the play-offs it is one sport, single elimination – and I believe we are able to play with anyone,” stated Patrick Mahomes, who had a cross dropped for the fortieth time this season, probably the most within the NFL and one thing the workforce might want to clear as much as stand any probability of defending their title.
Something is feasible within the wide-open AFC South, the place the Jacksonville Jaguars lead after a dominant 26-0 victory over the Carolina Panthers and can take back-to-back titles with a win subsequent week.
The Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans each received, although, in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans respectively, to hitch the Jags on 9-7 earlier than their crunch final-day assembly when a division title or wildcard spot could possibly be up for grabs.
Steelers keep alive – Rams again within the post-season
The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Seattle Seahawks 30-23 to not solely guarantee head coach Mike Tomlin made it 17 straight seasons with a successful file but additionally preserve their play-off hopes alive, whereas the Seahawks will want quite a lot of assist to sneak in.
The Los Angeles Rams, the Tremendous Bowl champions in 2022, are again within the play-offs after beating the New York Giants 26-25, however the Denver Broncos had been eradicated regardless of beating the Los Angeles Chargers 16-9.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers nonetheless lead the NFC South however solely on a tie-breaker after dropping 23-13 to divisional rivals the New Orleans Saints, whereas the Atlanta Falcons are additionally nonetheless alive regardless of dropping 37-17 on the Chicago Bears.
The Inexperienced Bay Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings 33-10 within the primetime sport and for the second 12 months working they are going to play the ultimate sport of the season needing a win to ebook their play-off spot, in what might be a dramatic closing Sunday of the marketing campaign.
