| Dates: 7 September 2023 – 7 January 2024 |
| BBC protection: Take heed to dwell commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports activities Further and the BBC Sport web site each Sunday. |
The Baltimore Ravens despatched an enormous Christmas Day message to the remainder of the NFL with a dominant victory on the San Francisco 49ers within the heavyweight assembly of the league’s prime two groups.
Baltimore ended an thrilling triple-header of video games on Monday with a convincing 33-19 win as San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy, a number one most beneficial participant candidate, endured his worst recreation since becoming a member of the league.
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs – watched by Taylor Swift – earlier missed the possibility to win their division as they had been surprised 20-14 at house by the Las Vegas Raiders after making a number of errors all through.
After three straight defeats, the Philadelphia Eagles acquired again to successful methods, though they needed to work laborious for his or her 33-25 success over the New York Giants.
Purdy picked off 4 instances in Ravens rout
It’s uncommon for the NFL’s two greatest groups to fulfill so late within the common season – and the Baltimore Ravens gained decisively as Lamar Jackson charged forward of opposing quarterback Purdy within the race to be most beneficial participant.
The San Francisco 49ers’ Purdy had been virtually good this season however had by far his worst outing within the league as he threw 4 interceptions earlier than leaving the sport with a shoulder damage within the fourth quarter, as a rampant Ravens defence dominated.
Against this, Jackson threw two touchdowns in simply 18 seconds both facet of a Purdy interception and added an important 45 yards dashing to his 252 passing yards within the sort of all-action show that made him the league’s unanimous MVP in 2019.
“I believed Lamar had an MVP efficiency tonight,” stated Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. “It takes a workforce to create a efficiency like that, but it surely takes a participant to play at that stage, to play at an MVP stage. Lamar was everywhere in the discipline.”
San Francisco nonetheless lead the NFC however solely by the use of a tie-breaker as they’re now stage at 11-4 alongside the Eagles and Detroit Lions, who each have renewed hope of pinching that coveted prime spot – which comes with a first-round bye and residential benefit within the play-offs.
The Ravens are out on their very own at 12-3 however face their closest challengers, the 11-4 Miami Dolphins, subsequent week in one other large recreation the place they’ll clinch the AFC primary seed.
“We play a model of soccer that individuals do not need to play,” stated Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen. And with Baltimore now 6-1 towards groups at the moment within the play-offs, it’s laborious to argue with him.
Catalogue of errors prices Chiefs
With pop celebrity Swift watching on at Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs had a match to overlook – as two large errors on consecutive performs allowed the Las Vegas Raiders to attain two defensive touchdowns in a uncommon win over their massive rivals.
A fumble and an interception had been each returned for touchdowns by the Raiders on back-to-back Chiefs performs, earlier than the hosts then missed a discipline objective and had a couple of extra receivers drop passes from an more and more disgruntled house quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Vegas quarterback Aidan O’Connell threw for simply 48 yards whereas the Raiders grew to become the primary facet to win a recreation regardless of not throwing a accomplished move after the primary quarter since 2000 – and simply the fifth away facet to win at Arrowhead Stadium with out scoring a landing from their offence.
The upset defeat not solely signifies that Andy Reid’s males have to attend to clinch an eighth AFC West title in a row, but it surely additionally ends their possibilities of claiming the highest seed within the play-offs and the one bye obtainable.
It’s now additionally extra possible that Mahomes must play his first profession play-off recreation on the street if he and the Chiefs need to get again to the Tremendous Bowl – however he’s remaining optimistic that they’ll clear up their sloppy play.
“I nonetheless consider that we will go do what we need to do,” stated Mahomes. “If we clear it up, we will beat anyone. I really consider that, however we acquired to show that we will do it.”
Eagles finish three-game dropping streak
Jalen Hurts scored on one other ‘tush push’ one-yard speciality run from the Philadelphia Eagles to seize a report fifteenth dashing landing of the season – essentially the most by a quarterback in NFL historical past – and assist his facet finish a three-match dropping run.
Philadelphia, crushed on the Tremendous Bowl in February, defeated the New York Giants to enhance to 11-4 and prime the NFC East, as they appear to pip the Dallas Cowboys to the divisional title.
Hurts threw for 301 yards and one other landing but in addition threw a decide six – when an opposing defensive participant intercepts the ball and it’s returned for a landing – because the Eagles nearly let a 17-point lead slip. Regardless of the much-needed victory, the Eagles nonetheless have points to resolve.
“We’ve got 11 wins however we’re not taking part in good soccer proper now,” stated broad receiver DeVonta Smith after the sport. “As an offence, we’re not the place we need to be. And we’re nowhere close to that. So no, I am not comfortable.”