The playoff picture became a little clearer after another interesting week.
It was a week where there was more than one playoff team from a year ago knocked out of the 2020 postseason. There were division titles clinched at New Orleans, Pittsburgh and Seattle. There was a record-tying performance by a running back at the Superdome. And the defending Super Bowl champions set a franchise record for regular-season wins.
Make it 14 consecutive losses for a club that has now cemented the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Doug Marrone turned back to quarterback Mike Glennon and midway through the second quarter, the Jaguars had forged a 10-10 tie with the visiting Bears.
The veteran signal-caller threw for two scores but was also picked off twice. Jacksonville played without rookie running back James Robinson and was limited to 76 yards on the ground.
Interim head coach Darrell Bevell and several member of the Lions’ staff would be unavailable for the Saturday clash with the Buccaneers (via John Bowden of The Hill). And when it was all said and done, Detroit was on the wrong end of a 40-point loss in which the team was outgained by over 400 yards (588-186).
Matthew Stafford started the game but was banged up coming in and didn’t last long. The team has allowed 482 points this year.
It’s been a very long year for the dethroned AFC South champions, who dropped their fourth consecutive game on Sunday. The defense was gouged for 540 total yards and once again, the Texans failed to come up with a takeaway and have forced only eight turnovers in 15 contests.
David Johnson ran for 128 yards and one score and Deshaun Watson threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns. But he also fumbled twice and lost one of those miscues.
Apparently Adam Gase’s club enjoyed last week’s upset of the Rams and built on that victory by holding off the Browns. A balanced attack that saw its 69 offensive players basically equally divided between runs (34) and passes (35) and the Jets were a very-respectable 7-of-18 on third-down conversions.
The defense shut down Cleveland’s ground game to the tune of 45 yards on 18 attempts. And the Jets’ pass rushed dumped Baker Mayfield four times.
The Birds were in position to sweep the rival Cowboys for the first time since 2011. And things looked good early as Doug Pederson’s club opened up an early 14-3 advantage.
But Doug Pederson’s club would be outscored 34-3 the rest of the way and rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts had his issues. He threw for 342 yards and one score and ran for 69 yards. But he served up two interceptions, was sacked three times and lost one of his two fumbles.
The team headed south to Houston for the first time since 2016 and the teams engaged in an entertaining affair. Brandon Allen was back at quarterback for Zac Taylor’s club and Cincinnati took advantage of the NFL’s 31st-ranked defense.
The Bengals rolled up an impressive 540 total yards and Allen threw for 371 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Cincinnati’s much-maligned offensive paved the way for 169 rushing yards and did not allow a sack.
Vic Fangio’s club was in position to sweep the rival Chargers for the second consecutive year. It was a rough outing for second-year quarterback Drew Lock, who barely completed 50 percent of his passes (24-of-47), was sacked twice and served up a pair of interceptions.
Vic Fangio’s team would rally from a 16-3 fourth-quarter deficit to tie the score. But the Denver defense couldn’t come up with a big play late and dropped its 10th game of the season.
The club suffered its 10th loss last Sunday and now battled the defending Super Bowl champions at Arrowhead Stadium. Raheem Morris’ squad held the Chiefs’ offense in check, limiting Kansas City to a season-low 17 points.
The failure to get any real heat on Patrick Mahomes cost the team. Matt Ryan threw for 300 yards and two scores but was sacked four times. And Younghoe Koo missed a game-tying 39-yard field goal in the closing seconds.
An improved Giants’ defense figured to have their hands full at Baltimore when they took on the surging Ravens and red-hot quarterback Lamar Jackson. Big Blue was pounded to the tune of 249 yards on the ground and 432 yards overall.
It was also a rough afternoon for quarterback Daniel Jones, who didn’t commit a turnover and did throw a touchdown pass. But he was sacked six times and the New York offense was limited to just 269 total yards.
It would be a short week for Mike Zimmer’s disappointing club as they headed south to the Big Easy for a Christmas afternoon showdown. And Minnesota’s defense allowed 326 total yards in the first half and 583 total yards by game’s end.
The Vikings allowed seven rushing touchdowns (6 to Alvin Kamara) after giving up just 10 TDs on the ground in their first 14 games. The team lost its third straight and was eliminated from playoff contention.
Losers of three straight games, the team made its way up the East Coast to face Washington. It was far from pretty but the Carolina special teams got a touchdown on a muffed Washington punt.
The Panthers were outgained by over 100 yards (386-280) and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was not only sacked four times but committed both of his team’s turnovers. But Matt Rhule’s team got stops at the right time and put an end to a three-game skid.
The Niners were back in Arizona for the third time in four weeks and they were the visiting team this time around as they looked to avoid being swept by the Cardinals.
C.J. Beathard got the start behind center and was sacked three times and lost a fumble. But the 49ers’ offense rolled up 398 total yards – including 227 yards on the ground. Jeff Wilson had 183 of those rushing yards, Beathard threw for three TDs and San Francisco held off a late rally.
Bill Belichick’s club won’t be in the postseason tournament for the first time since 2008 and the club also won’t finish with a winning record for the first time since the head coach’s debut campaign in Foxborough in 2000.
There is plenty of blame to go around as quarterback Cam Newton never looked the same after missing time (COVID-19). The defense had season-long issues vs. the run (27th in NFL), which actually began during the second half of ‘19.
Las Vegas’ defense had been abysmal in its previous five games and not much better on Saturday night at home against the Dolphins, allowing 383 total yards to an offense that used both Tua Tagovailoa and Ryan Fitzpatrick. But the crushing blow came after Jon Gruden’s team took a two-point lead with 19 seconds to play.
A 34-yard pass play and a roughing the passer penalty enabled the Dolphins to steal a win and end the Raiders’ playoff hopes.
Ron Rivera had an opportunity to face his former employer when his club hosted the Panthers. And with the Giants losing earlier on Sunday, the Washington Football Team could wrap up the NFC East with a win.
Dwayne Haskins had his off-the-field issues this past week (via ESPN’s John Keim) and was awful on the field Sunday. He was picked off twice, lost a fumble and eventually gave way to Taylor Heinicke. Rookie Chase Young had a big game in the loss.
Off the team’s first divisional win since 2018, the Chargers hosted the Broncos looking to avoid a sweep in this series. Just 10 seconds into the fourth quarter, Anthony Lynn’s team owned a 16-3 lead. But Denver would score the next 13 points and even things up with 2:42 to play.
Justin Herbert would drive the team 56 yards in seven plays in just over two minutes and Michael Badgley’s 37-yard boot with 41 seconds to play was the difference.
Mike McCarthy’s team not only had a chance to win its third consecutive game but could dethrone the NFC East champion Eagles with a victory.
The Cowboys reached the 30-point mark for the third straight game and amassed 513 total yards against Philadelphia’s shoddy defense. Ezekiel Elliott ran for 105 yards, Andy Dalton threw for 377 yards and three scores (1 interception) and both Michael Gallup (2 TDs) and Amari Cooper had 121 receiving yards.
(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
Dating back to 2012, the Rams had gotten the best of the series with Russell Wilson and the Seahawks, owning a 10-7 edge in 17 previous meetings. And a victory would put the team in the playoffs.
But Sean McVay’s offense was stifled in the Pacific Northwest to the tune of three field goals while quarterback Jared Goff served up another interception. Los Angeles limited the explosive Seattle attack to 292 total yards but failed to force a turnover.
The Cards were at home for a Sunday afternoon clash with the 49ers and in position to sweep this NFC West rivalry for the fifth time in six years dating back to 2015.
The defense was gashed for 227 yards on the ground while Kyler Murray had 75 of his team’s 125 rushing yards. He was also sacked three times and while he threw for 247 yards, the Cardinals’ offense managed only one touchdown. And Murray was picked off in the end zone late in final moments.
With the Cardinals’ loss on Saturday, the Bears were now in control of their playoff fate and two wins would put them in the playoffs. And rejuvenated quarterback Mitch Trubisky again led the way as the team totaled 30-plus points for the fourth straight week.
Trubisky threw for 265 yards and two scores (one interception) and also ran for one touchdown. Tight end Jimmy Graham had both touchdown grabs and a hustling defensive unit picked off Mike Glennon twice.
Brian Flores’ club headed west to Sin City and hoped to gain further ground in grabbing a playoff berth. The Dolphins were limited to a pair of field goals in the first half and the head coach turned to veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick in the fourth quarter.
Down by two points with 19 seconds to play, the ageless hurler found Mack Hollins for 34 yards, Miami benefitted from a roughing-the-passer penalty and Jason Sanders hit the game-winning field goal.
Bruce Arians’ team made easy work of the depleted Lions on Saturday afternoon at Detroit. The Buccaneers owned a 34-0 halftime lead and gained 410 total yards in the first half.
Tom Brady threw for 348 yards and four touchdown passes before intermission and gave way in the second half to Blaine Gabbert – who would throw for two scores. The Bucs did not allow an offensive touchdown and clinched their first playoff spot since 2007.
Winners of their last three outings, the surging Colts headed to the Steel City to take on the slumping Steelers. Indianapolis owned a 24-7 lead in the third quarter with 9:23 to play and never scored another point as Frank Reich’s club was burned for three unanswered touchdowns.
Veteran quarterback Philip Rivers threw for 270 yards and one TD but he was also sacked a season-high five times and also committed two more turnovers in the loss.
The team was looking for its fourth straight win as they hosted the Giants. The Ravens outgained their guests, 147-13, in the first quarter in taking a 14-0 lead.
Lamar Jackson would throw for only 183 yards but struck for scores to Marquise Brown and Dez Bryant. But the third-year quarterback would run for 80 yards – part of a ground attack that finished with 249 yards. Baltimore’s defense sacked Daniel Jones six times and allowed just 54 rushing yards.
The team had quite the challenge ahead of them as they headed to Lambeau Field to take on the NFC North champions. And with the Colts losing earlier on Sunday, the Titans could wrap up their first division title since 2008.
Mike Vrabel’s team trailed 19-0 early, narrowed the deficit to five points in the third quarter and was then outscored 21-0 the rest of the way. Ryan Tannehill threw for one score and ran for another but was picked off twice.
Pete Carroll’s squad had an opportunity to clinch the NFC West if they could avenge an earlier season loss to the Rams. Each team wound up with a pair of field goals after 30 minutes of play. And Seattle’s defense would keep Sean McVay’s team out of the end zone all afternoon.
As usual, Russell Wilson took his lumps vs. this defense and was sacked five times. But he also threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score in the division-clinching win.
The club was at MetLife Stadium for the second consecutive Sunday as the Browns clashed with the Jets.
But Kevin Stefanski’s club was a bit shorthanded – especially at the wide receiver position (COVID-19 issues). That put more pressure on Baker Mayfield and while he threw for 285 yards, he was sacked four times and lost two of his three fumbles. The Cleveland defense didn’t come up with any takeaways and was burned for 131 yards on the ground.
Losers of two straight contests following a nine-game winning streak, the Saints hosted the Vikings. Alvin Kamara and the New Orleans’ offense put on quite a show as Sean Payton’s club rolled up 583 total yards (264 rushing) and 52 points.
Kamara ran 22 times for 155 yards and tied an NFL record with six TDs in a game. The defense settled down after a shaky start. The team clinched a fourth straight division title (via NFL.com’s Grant Gordon).
Owners of an ugly three-game losing streak, the reeling Steelers hosted the rejuvenated Colts. And the visiting team owned a 24-7 third-quarter lead before quarterback Ben Roethlisberger caught fire. He finished the day with 343 yards through the air and three scores as Mike Tomlin’s team played turnover-free football.
T.J. Watt had two of the club’s five sacks of Philip Rivers. With the comeback win, Pittsburgh clinched its division title since 2017.
The Titans (436) and Packers (436) ranked first and third, respectively, in points score entering this prime time clash at Lambeau Field. And Aaron Rodgers and company made it look easy throughout the majority of the night, outgaining Tennessee, 448-260, in total yards.
Rookie running back A.J. Dillon ran for 124 yards and two scores and three of Rodgers’ four touchdown passes (one interception) went to Davante Adams, who totaled 11 grabs for 142 yards.
It’s been a banner year for Sean McDermott’s club, which will be in the playoffs for the third time in four years. The Bills are also AFC East champions for the first time since 1995 and a lot of the credit must go to improved quarterback Josh Allen.
The turnovers (15) continue to be a bit of an issue, but he’s hitting on 68.7 percent of his throws, good for 30 scores. He’s also run for eight TDs. And the team has needed that production in a big way.
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The defending Super Bowl champions looked to extend their nine-game winning streak and wrap up the top seed in the AFC playoffs when they hosted the disappointing Falcons. But Andy Reid’s team got all they could handle and were held to a season-low 17 points. Patrick Mahomes threw for 287 yards and two scores but was picked off once.
Kansas City’s pass rush did corral quarterback Matt Ryan four times and held Atlanta to 90 yards rushing.