SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Arizona Cardinals went deep into the playbook on the second play from scrimmage on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
On second-and-7 on their first drive from their own 23-yard line, David Blough — Arizona’s fourth starting quarterback of the season — took the snap in the shotgun and tossed to wide receiver Pharoh Cooper, who was lined up behind Blough and broke to the right. Cooper ran a few steps and then turned and threw back to Blough.
Blough stepped up around the 12-yard-line and launched a deep ball as he got hit.
A.J. Green went up and took the ball away from 49ers defensive back Deommodore Lenoir in a contested play at around the 38-yard line and then Green rumbled his way into the end zone to complete the 77-yard score.
Cardinals kicker Matt Prater missed the extra point and Arizona had a 6-0 lead.
It was Green’s second touchdown of the season — in what may end up being his last NFL game — and his longest since another 77-yard score in 2017.
With the January transfer window now open around Europe there’s plenty of gossip swirling about who’s moving where. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!
While speculation has run rife over the centre-back’s future, Romano states that they have been denied by all parties involved and that there are no talks or negotiations ongoing. He also says that the current position remains very clear: Maguire will be staying at Old Trafford for now.
This update comes despite the 29-year-old having struggled for minutes since manager Erik ten Hag’s arrival at the Red Devils.
So far this season, Maguire has managed just 13 appearances and 621 minutes across the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup this term. Just seven of those appearances have come in the league, with four of those being starts.
Maguire impressed at the heart of Gareth Southgate’s defence as England reached the World Cup quarterfinal before being knocked out by France, but that doesn’t seem to have convinced Ten Hag, who has preferred to play Luke Shaw at centre-back at times.
There might have been some encouragement when Maguire played the full 90 minutes in Man United’s 3-0 win over AFC Bournemouth last week, although he was then reduced to a seven-minute cameo in Friday’s FA Cup win at Everton.
If the lack of game time continues then speculation around Maguire’s future could too, but it seems as though the move to Villa won’t be happening.
– After renewing Ismael Bennacer‘s contract, which will now last until 2027, AC Milan are focusing on extending Rafael Leao‘s deal, according to Tuttosport. The Rossoneri expects their latest offer to be the one that keeps the Portugal international with them beyond his current deal that expires in 2024 and discourage any potential suitors in the summer transfer window.
– Atalanta attacking midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi is expected in Marseille on Monday ahead of a loan move to Les Olympiens with the option to make the move permanent, reports L’Equipe. The option is said to be worth €10 million and an added €3m in bonuses and would keep the Ukrainian with Marseille until 2026.
– Florian Plettenberg has suggested that a deal between Hoffenheim and Leeds United for the transfer of Georginio Rutter could be finalised by Wednesday. The Premier League outfit is pushing for the move and could be set to spend around €30m to €40m on the Frenchman. Rutter will not be training with Hoffenheim or take part in their upcoming friendly.
– Dango Ouattara and Terem Moffi have both impressed for Lorient this season, with Foot Mercato suggesting they are now drawing interest from the Premier League. Everton are said to have made a €20m offer for Ouattara with the two clubs in negotiations, while Southampton have offered over €10m for Moffi, who wants to leave but will not force an exit after Lorient turned down the offer as they want more for the striker.
They included Carolyn Markowski, 52, of Buffalo, who bought a pair of tickets on Friday with her fiancé, Dan Keleher, 54, for $1,000. She was not a football fan, she said, but felt compelled to attend her first game.
“We saw this man go down — I’m getting emotional thinking about it now — and I’ve been emotional about it ever since,” said Markowski, who had crafted a homemade No. 3 out of blue felt and pinned it to her coat. “I said, ‘I want to go to that football game.’ I never wanted to go to a football game, never in my life.”
In the Bills’ team store, a clerk said it was the first time he had ever seen the jersey of Hamlin, a little-known second-year player, sold amid the other inventory. The No. 3 shirts appeared on a rack behind a security rope, where another employee enforced a one-per-customer limit.
Fans in the parking lots nearby tailgated next to signs that read, “Prayers for Damar,” “Love for Damar” and “We Are Damar.” Another sign propped up on the bed of a pickup truck read, “Learn CPR, because you never know” — a reference to the procedures that helped save Hamlin’s life.
“It’s very emotional, and it should be,” said Lisa Bubel, 44, a firefighter emergency medical technician from Rochester, N.Y., who was wearing Bills-themed sandals and who had made the CPR sign. “It’s a heartwarming tragedy, I guess, is one way to put it. It’s united everybody. And in a world where we see bad news all the time, it has been great to see people come together as human beings.”
A few hours before the game, Hamlin’s account posted a greeting on Twitter. His condition has been improving in increments over the past several days, and the account showed him in his hospital bed at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
“Nothing I Want More Than To Be Running Out That Tunnel With My Brothers,” wrote Hamlin, who also posted a picture of himself with his parents, Nina and Mario. “God Using Me In A Different Way Today. Tell Someone You Love Them Today!”
The Texans battled all game long against the Colts on Sunday. They held a lead for most of the game but lost the thread at the end, falling behind by 31-24 in the fourth quarter. The “right” thing to do, from the front office’s perspective, would be to let the game stay out of reach, but clearly none of the players felt that way.
Quarterback Davis Mills strung together a couple of miracle throws during a drive over 2 minutes 43 seconds, lobbing a prayer on fourth-and-20 to score a touchdown with 50 seconds left. The Texans successfully went straight for the finish with a 2-point conversion that gave them the 32-31 win — and the second overall pick, behind the Chicago Bears, who lost to the Vikings on Sunday.
With the first pick, the Texans could have grabbed the quarterback of their choice from a group that includes Alabama’s Bryce Young and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud unimpeded. Now, the Bears have that choice.
On the one hand, the Bears don’t necessarily need a quarterback. They can stick it out with the uber-talented Justin Fields for another year. But plenty of other teams would surely like to take a swing on a quarterback, and the Bears could hold the first pick for a king’s ransom and put the Texans in danger of losing out on who they want.
Nobody wants to settle for their second choice when it comes to drafting quarterbacks, but that’s where the Texans might be. It’s the same place the Jets were two years ago when they won meaningless Week 15 and Week 16 games to lose the right to draft Trevor Lawrence. There’s no clear star like Lawrence in this class, and the Texans may end up with their guy anyway, but now the off-season comes with all sorts of headaches.
Around the N.F.L.
Saturday
Kansas City 31, Raiders 13: Kansas City cruised right through Las Vegas to finish the regular season. Its front seven, led by the star defensive tackle Chris Jones, had an uncharacteristically great day against the run. To slow down Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, Kansas City loaded the box, a strategy that resulted in a lot of long down-and-distance plays for Las Vegas quarterback Jarrett Stidham. That defensive performance paired with quarterback Patrick Mahomes’s usual offensive greatness made for a straightforward affair.
Jaguars 20, Titans 16: After quarterback Trevor Lawrence carried Jacksonville over the back half of the season, its defense paid its debt to him in this game. Lawrence had an up-and-down night — natural for a young player in his first professional playoff-ish game. But after the Jaguars’ defense allowed a field goal to open the second half, it held the Titans to a punt, a turnover or a turnover on downs on five straight possessions. That stingy run included a strip sack that defensive end Josh Allen scooped up and returned for a touchdown with less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter. That score made the difference between the Jaguars hosting a playoff game or going on an early vacation.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the president of PSG and chairman of Qatar Sports Investments, met Daniel Levy, the executive chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, last week in London; the owners of Manchester United and Liverpool are known to be seeking investors or buyers for their clubs.
Sean McVay’s immediate future as the Los Angeles Rams‘ head coach is in limbo, sources told ESPN on Saturday.
Those sources believe McVay will take some time after Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks to determine whether he will return in 2023.
McVay has gone back and forth on the decision and needs time to get away to process all that has transpired over the past year: winning a Super Bowl, being courted to work in television, getting married, watching his wife’s home country of Ukraine invaded, losing his grandfather and then coaching a team that has fallen short of its expectations.
Los Angeles is 5-11 — the first time since the Rams hired him in 2017 that McVay will have a losing record. The defending Super Bowl champions have been decimated by injuries, and sources believe it has taken its toll on McVay. Sources believe McVay needs time to recharge and determine whether he has the energy to continue coaching next season.
The Rams have some of their own changes to make. They are without their first-round pick. They are tight against the 2023 salary cap. And their offensive coordinator, Liam Coen, is planning to return to his offensive coordinator job at Kentucky, sources told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen last month.
McVay, as always, is expected to have options: He could draw interest from networks — as he did last offseason from Amazon — but many of those jobs already have been filled.
McVay, 36, told reporters Friday that interest from the networks comes in part because he hasn’t “run away from the fact that down the line, or whenever that is, that’s something I’ve been interested in.”
He is under contract to the Rams through the 2026 season, but if McVay were to step away, the contract would toll and he would remain under contract to Los Angeles, just as Sean Payton remains under contract to the New Orleans Saints.
Through a Rams spokesman, McVay declined comment to ESPN on his future or his plans for 2023.
McVay will close out his season in Seattle against a Seahawks team that needs a win to have a chance to make the playoffs, with one of the irony of ironies: All season long, since the Lions own the Rams’ 2023 first-round pick, Detroit has rooted against Los Angeles. But the Lions need the Rams to beat the Seahawks on Sunday to give Detroit a chance to advance to the postseason.
Former Lions quarterback and current Rams signal-caller Matthew Stafford was eligible to come off injured reserve Saturday, but Los Angeles opted against activating him.
The final weekend of the NFL regular season is upon us, and players are extending a “finish strong” mentality to the pregame tunnel. The fits? They’re as fashionable as ever. Which is fortunate, because for some fan bases, it’s the last showing they’ll get to enjoy for a while.
The fashion choices also hold special meaning in Week 18 as Buffalo Bills players and beyond join together to rep Damar Hamlin. The Bills safety — who remains in critical condition after suffering cardiac arrest during a Week 17 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals — took to Twitter to comment on his QB Josh Allen rocking his number.
Meanwhile, T.J. Watt and Derek Watt seized the opportunity to honor their brother, J.J. Watt, who announced this season would be his last.
In Cincinnati, Joe Burrow brought out his signature Cartier frames.
Here are the best looks from NFL Week 18. Soak ’em up while you can.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Bills safety Damar Hamlin continues to make progress in his recovery as he still is breathing on his own and his “neurological function is excellent,” according to physicians at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center via a statement from the team Saturday.
Hamlin remains in critical condition, the statement said, but he is progressing after having his breathing tube removed overnight Thursday to Friday.
Hamlin, 24, expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support he has received in an Instagram post Saturday evening.
“When you put real love out into the world it comes back to you 3x’s as much,” Hamlin wrote. “The Love has been overwhelming, but I’m thankful for every single person that prayed for me and reached out. We brung the world back together behind this. .. If you know me you know this only gone make me stronger. On a long road keep praying for me!”
He still has a long road to recovery, with doctors from the UC Medical Center saying Thursday that there were many steps ahead for Hamlin, although he accomplished the first by having the breathing tube removed.
“From our standpoint, we would like to see him continue to improve, to be completely breathing on his own,” Dr. Timothy Pritts said Thursday. “And then to be ready to be discharged from the hospital. So those are the immediate next steps as we go for his care. His family has been with him at his bedside, as have members of Buffalo Bills organization, really since this all began, and we really want to get him home to them, so those will be the immediate next steps and then we’ll talk about potential plans for the future.”
Hamlin was able to speak with teammates on a Zoom call Friday during the Bills’ team meeting. He told his teammates, “Love ya boys,” made a heart with his hands, gave them a thumbs-up and even flexed for them. Teammates reacted to seeing Hamlin by standing up, clapping and yelling in excitement.
“We got our boy, man, you know what I’m saying,” left tackle Dion Dawkins said. “It’s all that matters. We got our boy. The excitement was beautiful. It was amazing. It has given us so much energy, so much bright, high spirits, whatever you want to call it. It is giving it to us. To see that boy’s face, to see him smile, see him [flex his muscles] in the camera, it was everything. And then to hear him talk to us. It was literally everything. And that’s what we needed. Literally, that’s all we needed.”
CPR was administered to Hamlin on the field at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Monday night for multiple minutes after he suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed following his tackle of Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.
Dr. William Knight IV, also of the UC Medical Center, credited the quick medical response with saving Hamlin’s life. He said a physician was by Hamlin’s side within a minute of him collapsing and recognized that the defensive back did not have a pulse.
There is no definitive answer to what caused Hamlin’s cardiac arrest.
The Bills and the NFL will honor Hamlin in a variety of ways this weekend, with every team allowed to outline the “3” in each 30-yard line 3 in a Bills color. Bills players will have a “3” patch on their jerseys when they face the New England Patriots at home Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
“It’s going to be a celebration of life and an ongoing life,” Bills general manager Brandon Beane said Friday. “Just a celebration that this is not only going to be a celebration in Buffalo but the whole country and I’m sure people internationally that have watched this situation. I’m sure it’s going to be a great seat if you’ve got a ticket to come here and just to be a part of this atmosphere. The hair on the back of my neck is standing up right now thinking about it.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to attend Sunday’s game in Orchard Park, a source told ESPN’s Dianna Russini.
Zinedine Zidane rejected an approach from the U.S. Soccer Federation to take over as head coach of the U.S. men’s national team, sources have told ESPN.
Zidane, via his agent Alain Migliaccio, was asked if he would be interested in succeeding Gregg Berhalter on the U.S. bench, to which the Frenchman politely declined.
The 1998 World Cup winner, who turned 50 last June, has been without a club since the end of his second spell in charge of Real Madrid in the summer of 2021, but he has his eyes firmly set on the France job at some point.
But it will not be with the U.S. team, nor will it be with the national teams of Brazil or Portugal, who were also keen on the three-time Champions League-winning coach.
Berhalter’s contract as USMNT coach expired Dec. 31, with the federation announcing this week that assistant coach Anthony Hudson would take charge for friendlies against Serbia on Jan. 25 in Los Angeles and against Colombia three days later in Carson, California.
As well as undertaking a review of the USMNT program following the 2022 World Cup, U.S. Soccer has commissioned an investigation into a domestic violence incident from 1991 involving Berhalter and his now-wife, Rosalind.
Berhalter released a statement Tuesday revealing that he had kicked his longtime partner during an argument when they were dating.
U.S. Soccer sporting director Earnie Stewart, speaking at a news conference this week, allowed for the possibility that Berhalter could be rehired as coach upon the conclusion of the external law firm’s investigation and U.S. Soccer’s own internal review of the men’s program.
“It’s about being able to take that next step and the next step is doing something that no U.S. team has ever done and that’s get to the semifinals and see what happens from there,” he said while appearing as a guest on “The New World of Work,” an online streaming show produced by the Harvard Business Review.
“So, there’s a lot of great challenges involved,” Berhalter said. “Of course, I’d like to continue in my role.”
The U.S. will jointly host the 2026 World Cup, alongside Canada and Mexico.
SAN ANTONIO – Elite high school prospects from across the nation gathered in San Antonio this week for a week of practices that culminated with the All-American Bowl on Saturday. Here are three offensive players from each position group that shined.
QUARTERBACK
The UCLA signee was hard to read through a week of practices as he was still adjusting to the timing of his receivers routes, and although it was obvious that he had talent, there were questions on his overall arm strength and ability to throw the deep ball with precision. Then the game lights turned on and any questions on Moore’s ability to be a game change disappeared as quickly as they arose. Bottom line is Moore is a gamer and he put that on display for the whole nation to see on Saturday. There is so much to like about this quarterback and his unique style of leadership leads me to believe that he has every tool to become a game changer at the next level.
The Oregon State signee may have played second fiddle to Moore during the game, but you cannot sleep on his performance throughout the week which was capped off with the second best quarterback showing during the game. Chiles has so much upside and proved to be a better passer than advertised during practice. While I hoped to see him put his dual-threat capabilities on display during the game, the ability to be a running threat is a much more transferable skill than accuracy as a passer and the future Beaver signal-caller passed that test with flying colors. Chiles proved to have every skill one needs to be a successful quarterback at the college football level and I’m excited to see how he fares in Corvallis.
I am fully aware that Novosad’s performance was not up to par when it comes to a top three quarterback at the All-American Bowl, but during a week when the quarterback group as a whole struggled, it was Novosad who likely had the third-best showing. The future Oregon quarterback showed flashes of greatness throughout the week and it would be foolish to base his entire evaluation off one game opposed to his entire body of work. Novosad has some things to clean up, but at the same time he also has every tool to thrive at the next level.
Haynes’ performance throughout the week is going to stir plenty of debates come our final rankings meetings. Should there be a five-star running back or should there not be a five-star running back is the question. If the answer to that question is yes, then I have seen enough from Haynes this week to say that he is likely the guy. The Alabama signee’s skillset is so diverse and he appears to have few if any weaknesses to his game. Everything we thought after a week of practice proved to be true come game time as Haynes was unstoppable.
Owens didn’t shine to the level many had hoped during the game while making his biggest impact on special teams with two kickoff returns totaling 47 yards. The future Texas A&M Aggie did shine throughout the week during practices and continues to show why many consider him one of the top runners in the 2023 class. Owens has every measurable to be standout at the college level and beyond and combines his verified speed and explosiveness with a very football specific skillset that was evident throughout the week.
Fletcher is a big back who did big things throughout the week and capped his early practice showing with a big play during the game. While I hoped to see the Miami signee to show off his ability to be a physical runner during the game, he was limited to two carries for nine yards during the game so it was still hard to get a read on that portion of his game. He did however continue to show that despite being a bigger back, he has an all-purpose skill set which was emphasized with his 81 yard catch and run for a touchdown during the game. There are still some questions on Fletcher after an impressive week, but I believe he has a very bright future in South Beach.
*****
RECEIVER/TIGHT END
Brandon Inniss
Inniss did what Inniss does and that is win any potential doubters over via his performance by the end of the week. There is a ton to like about the Ohio State signee and although he may not be the tallest or fastest receiver on the block, you can comfortably say that he will continue to have success no matter the level he is playing at. Inniss has a gift that few receivers have and that is feeling the way his defender will react with each move he makes. His route running style may be unorthodox, but it is also undefeated over the course of a week in the sense that defenders can never get a read on what his next move will be. He catches everything that comes his way, is always open, and like Moore, he is the ultimate gamer.
Ohio State is lucky that they don’t have to choose between Inniss and Tate because the Buckeyes were somehow able to land two incredibly special receivers in the same class. While Inniss may be a safer bet, Tate probably has the most NFL upside when looking at projectable skillsets from pass catchers on the East team. You cannot help but love everything about his abilities when it comes to the next level and beyond. This is a tall receiver with the length, ball skills and want-to to be a special player. Tate was spectacular throughout the week and finished with an impressive performance in the game.
The tight end group as a whole was up and down during the week, but you couldn’t help but love the rawness and upside from Pimpton. The best part was seeing him grow as a player and capitalize on that growth come game time. The LSU signee only finished with one reception for a 43 yard touchdown during the game, but that was enough to make him the West’s leading receiver during the game. This is a player who is only scratching the surface of what he can be in the long-term and should he continue to get better the way he did over the span of this week, the Tigers could have a special player in the making.
Offensive lineman typically struggle early in the week due to the format of these events as it is the one offensive position that is forced to react rather than be reacted too. It takes a special player to thrive in the practice and 1-on-1 setting and a special player is exactly what Proctor proved to be The 6-foot-8 Alabama signee is a mammoth of a player and combines his dominant size with a level of athleticism that doesn’t allow the setting to dictate his performance. Proctor is currently the No. 1 overall prospect at his position and may be hard to knock from his throne after this weeks’ impressive performance.
Lomu continued to play stronger than his size suggests and once he gains mass in a college weight program he has the talent to be a special player at the next level. The Utah signee continued to impress with his ability to anchor down and stop defensive linemen in their tracks when he put hands on them while also displaying incredible upside as a run blocker as well.
The Georgia signee may have the most impressive frame in terms of upside out of the entire offensive line group at the All-American Bowl. Not only does Freeling have special physical upside, he also proved to be one of the most athletic offensive lineman in attendance as well. Freeling is ahead of the curve when it comes to frame and length complementing overall body control and football skillset. Whether it be 1-on1’s or overall performance throughout the week, the future Bulldog was definitely one of the best offensive lineman in attendance.
Under-pressure Chelsea head coach Graham Potter says he has to be respectful to “stupid” questions from the media and insists he retains the “full support” of the club’s owners.
Potter, who left Brighton to replace the sacked Thomas Tuchel in September, has come under scrutiny in recent weeks after overseeing just one win in eight Premier League games.
Chelsea’s sixth defeat of the season at the hands of Manchester City on Thursday evening – a fourth loss in six league games – has left them in 10th place, but the 47-year-old came out fighting as he prepares to face the Premier League champions again in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
“There are times when you get cross and you get angry. But my responsibility is to speak [to the media] in as respectful a way as I can, even though some of your questions are stupid,” Potter said.
“I have got to answer them as best I can and as respectfully as I can, because I represent a fantastic football club and I have got that job to do.”
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FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Manchester City’s win against Chelsea in the Premier League
Asked whether there has been too much negativity around Chelsea in recent weeks, Potter replied: “I do not know. I do not read the newspapers. I stay away from social media.
“I am not naive to know that when you are having the results that we have, there is not going to be criticism and negativity – that would be strange for me to think that. And, again, I am not sitting here as some egomaniac that has all the answers and gets everything right – of course, that is not the case.
“But, at the same time, there are some challenges that we face. There are some margins in the Premier League that are difficult. We have had a massive transition (with new owners at Chelsea), problems in terms of injuries do not make it easy to be stable.
“But it is sort of blah, blah blah, isn’t it? People want to see results and say ‘shut up Graham, what are you talking about? We need to win.’”
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The Soccer Saturday panel discuss whether Chelsea’s recruitment is to blame for their poor recent form
Chelsea’s prospects of winning silverware this season were damaged when they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by City in November, although they remain in the Champions League and will face Borussia Dortmund in the last 16.
Potter highlighted the beginnings of Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta’s managerial reigns at their respective clubs before insisting the Chelsea board remain supportive of the work he is doing at Stamford Bridge.
“I think Pep was there a year before they won anything, and then obviously Mikel and Jurgen took a bit of time,” Potter said. “Obviously, it is maybe different for me for some reason, but I do not put a timescale on it.
“I know the responsibility we have here, but also I know that I am capable and I know the quality that I have, and I have the full support of, certainly, the owners, the players and the staff here.”
When is the FA Cup fourth-round draw?
It will take place from 4.05pm on Sunday before Chelsea’s third-round tie against Manchester City.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers extended their winning streak to a season-best five games with a 136-134 victory over the Kings on Saturday, but not without some controversy.
Sacramento guard De’Aaron Fox was called for a foul on the Lakers’ Dennis Schroder with 3.1 seconds remaining, with the score tied at 134-134. The foul was on the floor, with Fox hitting Schroder in the hip with his thigh as the L.A. point guard attempted to drive to the hoop. Since Sacramento was already in the penalty, the foul meant two free throws for the Lakers.
The Kings challenged the call, but after a video review, the ruling was upheld and Schroder made both free throws to cap a 27-point night on 8-for-11 shooting from the field and 7-for-7 from the foul line.
Schroder’s foul shots ended up deciding the game, as Fox’s 43-foot heave from near half-court hit the back rim as time expired.
Fox, who led the Kings with 34 points and nine assists, left the arena without speaking to reporters. However, he offered his thoughts on the final sequence in a since-deleted tweet, writing that the team thought they were supposed to “let the players decide the game.”
Schroder admitted that the nature of Fox’s foul will often go uncalled in late-game situations, but said it was the right call according to the rulebook.
“If you foul, you foul,” Schroder said with a laugh. “It’s unfortunate, because of course the game is on the line, and it’s like for free throws to win the game. I understand that point, for sure. But I mean, end of the day, you can’t foul.
“Especially when you’re in the bonus. He had a hell of a game, was hot, played great. For me, an All-Star with that team in fifth place, he’s doing a great job with that team.”
Schroder and Thomas Bryant have been playing like stars in their own right after they both missed a chunk of the start of the season, as they coincidentally both required surgery on their left thumbs in the preseason.
L.A. is 16-11 since the pair made their season debuts, including Saturday. Bryant was extremely effective playing in Anthony Davis‘ absence once again, scoring a season-high 29 points on 12-for-14 shooting with 14 rebounds.
“Thomas Bryant, I mean he plays like an AD right now, close to it,” Schroder said. “Doing a great job being ready, staying ready. We’re finding him, getting second possessions for us — offensive rebounds, clutch buckets. He’s playing great.”
The Lakers had four players score 20 or more points in the same game for the first time all season on Saturday, with LeBron James (37 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists) and Russell Westbrook (23 points, 15 assists) also doing damage.
“Just trying to figure it out and just trying to play for one another and not give in,” James said. “We don’t really care what everybody else says about our ballclub or what’s going on on the outside. We just want to play the game. When you play the game the right way, I think the Basketball Gods kind of give back to you.”
A defense that had been battered around all night finally came up with the big play: Jenkins’ strip sack of Tennessee Titans quarterback Joshua Dobbs and Allen’s 37-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown finally gave the Jaguars the lead with 2:51 to play. That gave the Jaguars (9-8) the AFC South title with a 20-16 win and sent them to the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
The Jaguars defense made two big plays earlier in the second half — Tyson Campbell‘s interception to set up a field goal and Roy Robertson-Harris‘s sack to stall another Titans drive — but could only manage three points. The defense finally came up big when it mattered most.
Jenkins was untouched on a blitz and hit Dobbs’ arm just before he released the football. Allen fielded it on one soft bounce and went untouched into the end zone. It was the team’s 27th forced turnover of the season. They’ve scored 111 points off those turnovers, which is tied with the New England Patriots for the most in the NFL, per ESPN Stats & Information research.
It was the second time Jenkins has saved the Jaguars this season. He intercepted Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and returned it for a touchdown in overtime to beat the Cowboys on Dec. 18.
This was the fourth time the Jaguars have rallied to win in the fourth quarter. They also trailed the Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders and the Cowboys.
play
0:28
The Jaguars pull within three after Christian Kirk hauls in a touchdown catch.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Troubling trend: The Jaguars turned the ball over on a failed trick play — Trevor Lawrence‘s pitch to Jamal Agnew was high — and that was the team’s 13th lost fumble of the season, which is tied with the Indianapolis Colts for the most in the NFL. Lawrence was tagged with his NFL-leading ninth lost fumble of the season.
“Obviously we’ll make an emphasis of it,” coach Doug Pederson said this week about turnovers. “We’ve got to protect the football. Just like each week you try to create takeaways, but you’ve got to keep the football as well. We all understand the magnitude of what turnovers can do in games like this.”
QB breakdown: Lawrence missed two potential touchdowns with an overthrow and an underthrow. Lawrence overthrew a wide open Zay Jones in the end zone. Per NFL NextGen Stats Jones had 10.2 yards of separation from the nearest defender. Lawrence was pressured on the play but the miss forced the Jaguars to settle for a field goal to cut the Titans’ lead to 13-10.
On a third-and-3 early in the fourth quarter Lawrence underthrew Christian Kirk in the front corner of the end zone. He was pressured again when corner Roger McCreary was able to catch up to Kirk, who had a step, and break up the pass. That forced the Jaguars to settle for another field goal to cut the Titans’ lead to 16-13. That possession began with Tyson Campbell‘s interception of an underthrown pass by Dobbs. A touchdown in either situation would have given the Jaguars the lead and put pressure on the Titans.
Buy on…Jamal Agnew: The Jaguars’ returner had a big day, with 125 yards on four kickoff returns and 33 yards on two punt returns. He jump-started a stagnant Jaguars offense with a 54-yard return that set up the Jaguars at midfield. That turned into the Jaguars’ only offensive touchdown. That makes up for the fumble earlier in the game. Agnew has been close to breaking several returns for touchdowns in the last month, and now he’ll have at least one more week to try and get one. — Michael DiRocco
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Derrick Henry stiff-arms a Jaguars defender to the ground on a run near the sidelines.
Tennessee Titans
The Titans’ loss ended the season and cost Tennessee the AFC South Division title. The Titans led for most of the game but two late turnovers doomed them. Tennessee’s defense held the Jaguars to three yards on seven plays in the fourth quarter, not counting the two times Jacksonville downed the ball to run the clock down.
Tennessee’s seven-game losing streak paired with the Jaguars’ five-game winning streak was the difference in the season. The Jaguars swept the Titans for the first time since 2014.
Describe the game in two words: Nail-biter. OK, maybe that’s one word. But the Titans dropped their sixth one-score game of the year, despite holding a lead into late in the fourth quarter.
Troubling trend: Rookie cornerback Roger McCreary gave up another touchdown catch pushing his season total to seven. This time Christian Kirk beat McCreary for the score. He should’ve had safety help over the top but Joshua Kalu was late to the party. McCreary almost gave up another touchdown when he got caught in traffic, and Zay Jones was open in the back of the end zone. Fortunately for McCreary, Trevor Lawrence overshot Jones, and the Jaguars had to settle for a field goal.
QB breakdown: Dobbs finished with 20 completions on 29 pass attempts for 179 yards, one touchdown and an interception. In just his second start, Dobbs performed well against the blitz, where he completed seven of nine passes for 73 yards and a TD in the first half. But a Rayshawn Jenkins blitz in the fourth quarter led to a Dobbs fumble that was returned for a touchdown. At one point, Dobbs completed nine straight passes including a very well-placed throw to Austin Hooper on an out-breaking route on third down. Dobbs also made a perfect drop-in-the-bucket throw to Chigoziem Okonkwo for a touchdown. — Turron Davenport
Covered Chiefs for 20 seasons for Kansas City Star
Joined ESPN in 2013
LAS VEGAS — The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Las Vegas Raiders 31-13 to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC on Saturday. The Chiefs clinched their seventh straight AFC West title with a Week 15 win over the Houston Texans and locked in a first-round bye with Saturday’s regular-season finale.
The Raiders, meanwhile, will enter the offseason with questions at the quarterback position. Jarrett Stidham went 0-2 in place of Derek Carr to close out the season, while Carr stepped away from the team. The 6-11 Raiders finish a disappointing season on the heels of last season’s playoff berth.
Kansas City Chiefs
This might sound odd for a team that has won five straight games, finished 14-3 in the regular season and clinched the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed, but the Chiefs finally played the game they were looking for.
No close game against a sub-.500 opponent. No helping that opponent with turnovers, missed kicks or penalties.
Instead, the Chiefs were solid in all phases in their win over the Raiders. The Chiefs haven’t played a complete game like this since a Week 7 win over the San Francisco 49ers — and it happened just in time for the playoffs.
Buying Kadarius Toney’s breakout performance: Toney isn’t Tyreek Hill, but he’s as close a player that the Chiefs have since trading Hill. Toney, when he’s healthy, looms as an important player, much as he was against the Raiders, when the Chiefs found multiple ways to get him the ball and use his quickness in the open field. Look for the Chiefs to continue to put Toney in a similar role in the playoffs.
Under-the-radar stat that matters: The Chiefs were last in the league in field goal percentage and near the bottom in PAT percentage heading into the weekend, so it’s no small thing that Harrison Butker made all of his kicks, including a 44-yard field goal and four PATs. That may not sound like much, but it provided some confidence for Butker heading into the playoffs.
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The Raiders get their first touchdown of the day as Jarrett Stidham finds Hunter Renfrow for the 11-yard touchdown.
Las Vegas Raiders
Flat, uninspired and not playing smart football is no way to end a season and yet, the Raiders accomplished all three in the loss to the Chiefs. The defeat came just a week after playing perhaps their most inspired game of the season, albeit in an overtime loss to the 49ers.
On a day the Chiefs were literally playing “Ring around the Rosie” in a red zone huddle in the first half, the Raiders had little to no answers on either side of the ball. The season began with high expectations thanks to the addition of All-Pro receiver Davante Adams and a new offensive scheme with the arrival of coach Josh McDaniels. A playoff team a year ago at 10-7, the Raiders saw their roller-coaster season — which included the benching of franchise QB Carr — come to a merciful end with a 6-11 record.
The Raiders, as McDaniels’ mentor Bill Bellichick might say, are into the 2023 season.
QB breakdown: All eyes were on Stidham, making his second career start, to see if he could replicate last week’s showing of 365 yards passing yards with three touchdowns against the 49ers’ top-ranked defense. The Chiefs watched the tape, too, and planned accordingly. Kansas City’s defense harassed Stidham, whose right (passing) elbow was black and blue this week, sacking him five times and forcing him into two turnovers. Stidham, who will become a free agent and could be in the mix to replace Carr next season, finished with 219 yards passing in completing 22 of 36 attempts with one touchdown and an interception.
Pivotal play: It happened so early for the Raiders that it probably wouldn’t have mattered, but given the number of ridiculous highlight reel catches Adams had had this season, Stidham’s deep jump ball in the end zone going right through Adams’ gloved hands on their opening drive was strange. Instead of answering the Chiefs’ initial touchdown drive with one of their own, the Raiders had to settle for a 54-yard field goal.
Silver lining: Sure, Josh Jacobs, who missed practice this week as he was back in Oklahoma with his sick father, was held to just 45 yards rushing. But he stretched his lead for the NFL’s rushing title to 205 yards over the Cleveland Browns‘ Nick Chubb. Entering Sunday, when the Browns play the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacobs has 1,653 yards and Chubb has 1,448 yards. Stay tuned. Adams caught five passes, giving him his third straight 100-catch season. And don’t forget about edge rusher Maxx Crosby, who had a sack to give him a career-high 12.5.
Eye-popping NextGen stat: The Raiders had multiple eight-minute drives on offense in a game for the first time this season. Those two drives resulted in … a field goal. That’s not going to get the job done, obviously, and whoever the Raiders’ QB is next season has some work to do to fix this in concert with McDaniels.
The Week 18 NFL schedule for the 2022 season is stacked with great matchups, and we got you covered with what you need to know heading into the weekend. Our NFL Nation reporters bring us the biggest keys to every game and a bold prediction for each matchup.
Additionally, ESPN Stats & Information provides a big stat to know, playoff clinching scenarios and a betting nugget for each contest, and our Football Power Index (FPI) goes inside the numbers with a game projection. Finally, Seth Walder and Eric Moody give us final score picks for every game. Everything you want to know is here in one spot to help you get ready for a loaded weekend of NFL football.
Let’s get into Sunday’s Week 18 slate, including the Packers hosting the Lions with a playoff berth up for grabs and an AFC showdown between the Bengals and Ravens.
What to watch for: It is a win-and-in scenario for New England with the final wild-card spot on the line. But to get to the playoffs, they have to take down a Bills team coming off an emotional week following Damar Hamlin‘s collapse on the field due to cardiac arrest on Monday night. The Bills dominated the teams’ meeting earlier this season, almost doubling the Patriots’ time of possession and holding New England to just 60 rushing yards. — Alaina Getzenberg
Bold prediction: Patriots running back Damien Harris will be an unexpected breakout player, rushing for more than 100 yards against a Bills run defense that ranks 13th in the NFL in average yards allowed per carry (4.3). Harris’ return from a four-game absence due to a thigh injury was an important boost to a New England offense that was relying too heavily on fatigued Rhamondre Stevenson. — Mike Reiss
Stat to know: The Bills could match the franchise record for most wins in a season (13), done three times previously in 1990, 1991 and 2020.
What’s at stake: The Patriots are playing for the playoffs, needing a win to clinch the final AFC wild-card spot. But they can also make it with a loss, as long as both the Dolphins and Steelers lose and Jacksonville wins. ESPN’s FPI is giving New England a 33.2% chance. The Bills are already AFC East champs, and they can become the 1-seed — and gain home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs — if the beat New England and the Chiefs lose on Saturday. See playoff picture.
What to watch for:Justin Fields‘ second NFL season ends 64 yards shy of the single-season quarterback rushing record after he was ruled out against Minnesota with a hip injury. Nathan Peterman will start for Chicago. Meanwhile, the NFC No. 2 seed is still in play for the Vikings so long as they win at Soldier Field and the 49ers lose to the Cardinals. — Courtney Cronin
Bold prediction: The Vikings’ defense will have its best statistical day of the season with Fields sidelined. Even with Fields on the field, the Bears managed just 230 yards last week against the Lions’ woeful defense. The Vikings enter this game giving up 396.8 yards per game, No. 31 in the NFL. Their season low for yards allowed was 263 in Week 9 at Washington. They’ll hold the Bears below that threshold. — Kevin Seifert
What’s at stake: The Vikings are locked in as NFC North champs but do not have a shot at the No. 1 seed. They are most likely to be the third seed, setting up a wild-card matchup with the Giants. The Bears have been eliminated but are right in the mix for the No. 1 draft pick, which ESPN’s FPI currently gives them a 48.4% chance to land. They would have to lose and see the Texans beat the Colts. See playoff picture.
What to watch for: The Texans would own the No. 1 overall draft choice if the season ended today, but that could change with a win. The Colts, who are angling to acquire a franchise quarterback, currently own the fifth overall pick (per ESPN’s FPI projections) but could slide with a win. Every spot on the draft board is precious when you’ve endured the kind of quarterback morass they have in Indianapolis. — Stephen Holder
Bold prediction: The Texans win this game and lose the No. 1 overall pick. Colts quarterback Sam Ehlinger has started two games this year, and the Colts are 0-2 in those starts, as he’s averaged 152 yards passing with zero touchdown passes. They also averaged 9.5 points per game under Ehlinger. The Colts haven’t been great at running the ball either since Jonathan Taylor landed on IR. The Texans won’t need to score much to beat the Colts, and getting to 17 points should be enough. — DJ Bien-Aime
Stat to know: The Colts are currently on a six-game losing streak, their longest since losing six in a row in 2017.
What’s at stake: Both teams are eliminated from the playoffs, but there is something big on the line. The Texans can secure the No. 1 draft pick for April if they lose or the Bears beat the Vikings. ESPN’s FPI is giving Houston a 51.6% chance to clinch. See playoff picture.
What to watch for: The all-time regular season series between the teams is tied at 56-56-1, so the Jets could not only take the series lead with a win Sunday, but they would also secure their first season sweep of the Dolphins since 2015. Interestingly enough, the Jets have never beaten QB Tua Tagovailoa but will not have faced him in either of these teams’ matchups this season, as Skylar Thompson is expected to start for the Dolphins on Sunday. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Bold prediction: The Jets will fail to score an offensive touchdown for the third straight game. They’re in a serious funk, having produced only four touchdowns in the past five games (58 possessions). They’re averaging 1.0 point per drive over that span, the lowest in the league. This feels like a slump that will carry into the offseason. — Rich Cimini
Stat to know: The Dolphins have lost five straight games since an 8-3 start and are hoping to avoid ending a season with six straight losses for the first time in franchise history.
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Stephen A. Smith says with a healthy Tua Tagovailoa and top receiving corps, the Dolphins can beat anybody in the NFL.
What’s at stake: The Jets might be eliminated (projected to pick at No. 13 in the draft, per ESPN’s FPI), but the Dolphins still have a lot to play for in Week 18. They need a win and Patriots loss to clinch the final AFC playoff spot. They have a 49.5% chance, per ESPN’s FPI. See playoff picture.
What to watch for: Saints coach Dennis Allen has been firm about not making major changes to the lineup with no chance of reaching the playoffs, but injuries could tweak that a bit. First-round pick Trevor Penning could get his first start at left tackle in place of James Hurst, and rookie cornerback Alontae Taylor could get back into the starting lineup due to Paulson Adebo‘s hamstring injury after playing no defensive snaps last week. — Katherine Terrell
Bold prediction: The Panthers will rush for at least 250 yards against a New Orleans defense that gives up 127.9 yards a game, including 145 to Carolina in a Week 3 loss. D’Onta Foreman will lead the way with 150 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries to send interim coach Steve Wilks off with a 6-6 record. — David Newton
Stat to know: Panthers receiver DJ Moore is 122 receiving yards away from a fourth straight 1,000-yard season.
What’s at stake: Neither team will make the playoffs. And while ESPN’s FPI projects the Panthers’ draft pick to be No. 9, the Saints do not have a first-rounder this year. See playoff picture.
Betting nugget: Eight of New Orleans’ past nine games have gone under the total, including five straight. Carolina has gone over the total in four straight games. The past four meetings between these teams went under the total. Read more.
Moody’s pick: Saints 28, Panthers 24 Walder’s pick: Panthers 24, Saints 13 FPI prediction: NO, 59.3% (by an average of 2.7 points)
What to watch for:Tom Brady has never lost to the Falcons in his career — 10-0 in the regular season and 1-0 in the postseason. Should Brady start Sunday, he’ll have a chance to extend that streak. Atlanta hasn’t beaten Tampa Bay since 2019 and hasn’t won at home against the Buccaneers since Oct. 14, 2018. — Michael Rothstein
Bold prediction: Last week might have belonged to Mike Evans, but Russell Gage, who has quietly come on in recent weeks, will finish with 75 receiving yards and a touchdown after missing the first matchup against his former team in Week 5. — Jenna Laine
Stat to know: Brady has 477 completions this season and is nine shy of breaking the single-season completions record set by himself in 2021.
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Stephen A. Smith lays out why the Buccaneers should not sit their starters vs. the Falcons in Week 18.
What’s at stake: The Buccaneers are in as NFC South champs and will be the No. 4 seed in the playoffs. The Falcons are eliminated and looking at the No. 8 spot in the draft, per ESPN’s FPI. See playoff picture.
Betting nugget: Tampa Bay is a league-worst 4-11-1 ATS this season, including 2-11-1 ATS in its past 14 games and 1-5 ATS in its past six games. It is also 0-5 ATS in its past five road games. Read more.
Moody’s pick: Falcons 23, Buccaneers 17 Walder’s pick: Falcons 27, Buccaneers 17 FPI prediction: TB, 62.8% (by an average of 3.9 points)
What to watch for: Fueling the Steelers’ late surge is a clutch rookie quarterback and a turnover-happy defense. But the Browns aren’t an easy win. The offense turned in its best performance since Deshaun Watson‘s return last week, thanks to Watson’s three touchdown passes, Amari Cooper‘s 105 receiving yards and Nick Chubb‘s 104 rushing yards. — Brooke Pryor
Bold prediction:Kenny Pickett has delivered so far in the clutch to keep Pittsburgh’s playoff hopes alive. Yet again, the rookie QB will be down a score late and start a possession with the chance to win the game in the final seconds. — Jake Trotter
Stat to know:Najee Harris is 46 rushing yards shy of a second consecutive 1,000-yard season to start his career (1,200 rush yards in 2021). Harris would be first player in franchise history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons.
What’s at stake: Pittsburgh can still make the playoffs, but it needs help. It would need to win and get losses from the Patriots and Dolphins. ESPN’s FPI is giving the Steelers a 15.6% chance. The Browns have been eliminated and do not have a first-round pick. See playoff picture.
What to watch for: The stakes of this game were unclear early in the week, but the Bengals are now AFC North champions. Cincinnati had a much tougher schedule than Baltimore, which has been without quarterback Lamar Jackson down the stretch and lost three of its past six games. We could see a rematch of these two teams in the wild-card round, too, with the location of that matchup being determined by a coin flip. — Ben Baby
Bold prediction: The Ravens will give up more than 30 points. Since Week 3, Baltimore is one of two defenses to hold every opponent under 30 points (Jets). But since the Ravens held the Bengals to 17 points in Week 5, Joe Burrow and Cincinnati have averaged the third-most points in the league (28.3 per game). — Jamison Hensley
Stat to know: The Bengals could match their franchise record for most wins in a season (12), done three times previously (1981, 1988 and 2015).
What’s at stake: Both teams are in, and the Bengals are AFC North champs. If the Ravens win Sunday and are matched against Cincinnati in an AFC wild-card game, the site would be determined by a coin flip. If Cincinnati wins or if the two teams are not matched against each other after a potential Ravens win, regular scheduling procedures would be used. See playoff picture.
Betting nugget: Baltimore has not been more than a three-point underdog this season. Since 2018, Baltimore is 16-3-1 ATS as an underdog, including 6-2 ATS without Jackson. Read more.
Moody’s pick: Bengals 24, Ravens 13 Walder’s pick: Bengals 27, Ravens 10 FPI prediction: CIN, 58.2% (by an average of 2.3 points)
What to watch for: Washington will start rookie quarterback Sam Howell, the eighth different starter in coach Ron Rivera’s three seasons and the 33rd to start for the franchise since it last won the Super Bowl after the 1991 season. He’ll get to face the NFL’s 10th-ranked pass defense, which has recorded the third-most sacks and is tied for the sixth-most interceptions. — John Keim
Bold prediction: The Cowboys will win the NFC East with a win and become the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, with the Eagles losing to the Giants. They will become the first team to repeat as NFC East winners since the Eagles won four straight from 2001-04. By being the No. 2 seed, the Cowboys will get at least one home game at AT&T Stadium, but it’s also possible they will face Aaron Rodgers if the Packers beat the Lions on Sunday night. Wouldn’t that be a matchup for Cowboys fans to dread, knowing Rodgers’ history against the Cowboys? — Todd Archer
Stat to know: The Cowboys are seeking their 13th win this season, which would tie their franchise record for a single season (1992, 2007 and 2016).
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Dan Graziano and Mike Greenberg discuss whether the Cowboys should play their starters with only a small chance at the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
What’s at stake: Washington is out, but Dallas is in — and still in contention for the NFC East and the conference’s No. 1 seed. A win and an Eagles loss clinches the division title, and an additional 49ers loss would also hand the Cowboys the first-round bye in the playoffs. ESPN’s FPI is giving Dallas a 14.9% chance at the division and 1.6% chance at the NFC’s top seed. Washington, meanwhile, is projected to pick at No. 14 in the draft and has a 1.1% chance to slip into the top 10. See playoff picture.
What to watch for: All eyes are on whether quarterback Jalen Hurts (sprained throwing shoulder) will play for the first time since Dec. 18. If not, it will be Gardner Minshew for a third straight week. The Giants are locked into the No. 6 seed, meaning they have the opportunity to rest key starters in this one if they choose. — Tim McManus
Bold prediction: The Giants keep this game close, despite resting some of their top players. This has been a pesky bunch for the most part, minus the 26-point loss to the Eagles in their previous meeting. Who cares if the Giants are 14-point underdogs in this one? They will give the Eagles fits with that fourth-ranked rushing attack. — Jordan Raanan
Stat to know:A.J. Brown is nine receiving yards shy of breaking the Eagles’ single-season record set by Mike Quick in 1983 (1,409).
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Adam Schefter would be surprised to not see Jalen Hurts playing in Week 18 given what is at stake for the Eagles.
What’s at stake: The Giants are locked into the No. 6 seed. But while the Eagles locked up a playoff spot weeks ago, they still have something to play for here. A win gives Philly the NFC East title and the top seed in the conference. But if the Eagles lose, they’d need a Dallas loss to win the division and an additional 49ers loss to still take the conference’s top seed. ESPN’s FPI is giving Philadelphia an 85.1% chance to win the NFC East and an 82.4% chance to hold off Dallas and San Francisco for the first-round bye in the playoffs. See playoff picture.
What to watch for: The Seahawks need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. But before beating the Jets last week, the Seahawks had lost five of their past six games. The Rams were the only team they beat during that stretch, and the Seahawks needed a late Geno Smith touchdown drive to do it. — Brady Henderson
Bold prediction:Bobby Wagner will break the Rams’ single-season record for tackles (142) against his former team. Wagner needs 10 tackles to break the mark. In the first game between Seattle and Los Angeles this season, Wagner had seven tackles, two sacks and an interception. — Sarah Barshop
Stat to know: The Seahawks haven’t missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons under Pete Carroll.
What’s at stake: ESPN’s FPI is giving Seattle a 20.7% chance to make the playoffs. The Seahawks need to win and then have the Lions beat the Packers on Sunday night. The Rams are out and do not have a first-round draft pick. See playoff picture.
What to watch for: Keep an eye on which Chargers lineup takes the field against the Broncos. Los Angeles could have its playoff seed locked in by kickoff, and if that’s the case, some starters might rest. If so, Broncos QB Russell Wilson, who is on track for a career-low in touchdown passes and already has a career-high in sacks (53), has a better chance at ending the season on a high note. — Jeff Legwold
Bold prediction: The Bolts will do everything possible to get running back Austin Ekeler the ball in the red zone to give the undrafted sixth-year running back a chance to join elite company. Ekeler needs two touchdowns to join LaDainian Tomlinson, Shaun Alexander, Priest Holmes, Marshall Faulk and Emmitt Smith as the only players in NFL history with 20 touchdowns in consecutive seasons. — Lindsey Thiry
Stat to know:Justin Herbert already has the most passing yards (13,816) through his first three seasons of anyone in NFL history.
What’s at stake: The Chargers are locked into a wild-card berth, while the Broncos are eliminated (and do not have a first-round pick). See playoff picture.
What to watch for: San Francisco enters Sunday’s game with a nine-game winning streak and a chance to claim the No. 1 seed in the NFC. The last time the 49ers entered the playoffs with a winning streak of nine or more games was in 1984, which ended with a Super Bowl XIX victory. — Josh Weinfuss
Bold prediction: There’s nothing to play for, injuries have riddled the roster and the Cardinals are trotting out their fourth staring quarterback of the season in David Blough. But Blough will have the best game of his career, throwing for 300 yards, two touchdown passes and an interception. One of those scores will go to A.J. Green, who might be playing the last game of his career, and the other will find Marquise Brown on a deep ball. — Weinfuss
Stat to know: The 49ers’ nine-game winning streak is their longest since winning 11 straight in 1997.
What’s at stake: The NFC West champion Niners still have an outside shot at the No. 1 seed in the conference. They need to win and see the Eagles lose. ESPN’s FPI is giving San Francisco a 16.1% chance. Arizona, meanwhile, is eliminated and looking at the No. 4 draft pick (97.6% to end up in the top five). See playoff picture.
What to watch for: The last time these two teams played, the Lions picked off Aaron Rodgers three times. Only four other times in Rodgers’ career has he been picked off that many times in a game. Lately, it has been the Packers’ defense that has been producing takeaways. It has eight in the past two games and 12 total in the current four-game winning streak. — Rob Demovsky
Bold prediction:Jamaal Williams will break Barry Sanders’ franchise record for most rushing touchdowns in a single season (16). The former Green Bay running back needs just one to tie Sanders and two to own the record. He currently leads the NFL in rushing touchdowns (15) and is coming off a season-high 144-yard rushing performance against the Bears as he prepares to face his old squad. — Eric Woodyard
Stat to know: Both the Packers and Lions lost five straight at one point this season. The winner of this game could become one of the rare teams to lose five-plus straight games and still recover to make the postseason.
What’s at stake: If the Packers win, they clinch a playoff spot. ESPN’s FPI says there is a 66.7% chance. But if the Lions win, they clinch — as long as Seattle loses earlier in the day. Detroit has a 12.5% chance. See playoff picture.
What to watch for: The winner takes the AFC South title while the loser almost certainly misses the playoffs. The teams are streaking in opposite directions: The Jaguars have won four in a row, and the Titans have lost six straight. The Titans are starting journeyman QB Joshua Dobbs, while the Jaguars have Trevor Lawrence, who leads the league in completion percentage since November began. The Titans haven’t scored more than 14 points in their past three games, while the Jaguars have only given up six combined points in their past two games. It seems like an easy Jaguars victory, but the Jags haven’t swept the season series with the Titans since 2005. — Mike DiRocco
Bold prediction: The Titans will score at least 24 points. That’s a lot considering how Tennessee has broken the 20-point mark only once during its six-game losing streak. The Jaguars have allowed only 13.3 points per game over the past three weeks, but Dobbs will bring balance to the offense by passing for 250 yards, while Derrick Henry will have a 150-yard rushing performance. — Turron Davenport
Stat to know: Lawrence needs 99 yards to become the third 4,000-yard passer in Jaguars history (2015 Blake Bortles, 1996 Mark Brunell).
What’s at stake: It’s win-and-in for both teams here. The winner of this game will take the AFC South. But while the Titans would be eliminated with a loss, the Jaguars could still make the playoffs if they fail to win Saturday. Jacksonville would need losses from the Patriots, Dolphins and Steelers. See playoff picture.
Betting nugget: Tennessee is 0-5-1 ATS in its past six games. Ten of Tennessee’s past 13 games have gone under the total, including three straight. Read more.
Moody’s pick: Titans 27, Jaguars 20 Walder’s pick: Jaguars 31, Titans 7 FPI prediction: JAX, 85.2% (by an average of 12.4 points)
What to watch for: Time to see if Jarrett Stidham‘s first-ever NFL start against the 49ers’ top-rated defense was a one-off now that the Chiefs have game film on him. Stidham, who will be the first Raiders QB other than Derek Carr to start against Kansas City since Matt McGloin in 2013, has a pair of high-powered assets to work with. Running back Josh Jacobs has rushed for 1,608 yards and could be the Raiders’ first rushing champ since Marcus Allen in 1985, while receiver Davante Adams needs five catches for his third straight 100-reception season and is averaging a career-best 15.2 yards per catch while leading the league with 14 touchdown receptions. — Paul Gutierrez
Bold prediction:Patrick Mahomes and Stidham will combine to throw for more than 700 yards. The Chiefs and Raiders feature two of the NFL’s worst pass defenses, tied for 30th in opposing QBR (55.0). Both teams are also in the bottom 10 in opponent completion percentage and touchdown-to-interception ratio. — Adam Teicher
Stat to know:Travis Kelce is one receiving touchdown shy of becoming the first tight end with 10,000 receiving yards and 70 receiving TDs within their first 10 seasons.
What’s at stake: The Chiefs have already secured the AFC West title and they can lock up the 1-seed in the AFC with a win or a loss by the Bills. The Raiders have been eliminated and are projected to land the No. 7 draft pick in April. See playoff picture.
Betting nugget: Kansas City is 4-10 against the spread (ATS) as a road favorite of at least seven points under Andy Reid (4-8 ATS with Mahomes, including five straight ATS losses). Read more.
Moody’s pick: Chiefs 32, Raiders 24 Walder’s pick: Chiefs 27, Raiders 20 FPI prediction: KC, 90% (by an average of 15.9 points)
The final NFL Sunday of the regular season sees the Patriots travel to the Bills, needing a win to book a playoff spot; the Eagles can clinch the NFC No 1 seed with a home win over the Giants and the Packers host the Lions as part of a ‘wild card’ battle – live on Sky Sports NFL from 6pm
Last Updated: 08/01/23 1:53am
Isiah Pacheco celebrates his rushing touchdown for the Kansas City Chiefs as they secured the No 1 seed in the AFC
The Kansas City Chiefs secured the No 1 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye in the playoffs with a 31-13 road win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday night.
Story of the Game
Given the NFL’s decision to cancel the Monday night game between Buffalo Bills (12-3) and Cincinnati Bengals (11-4), after Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on the field, the Chiefs knew coming into Saturday’s contest that a win would clinch the top seed in the conference.
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A penalty for holding denied the Kansas City Chiefs’ a touchdown on their ‘carousel’ trick play, but they scored on the very next play anyway!
A penalty for holding denied the Kansas City Chiefs’ a touchdown on their ‘carousel’ trick play, but they scored on the very next play anyway!
There was a moment’s applause held for Hamlin ahead of the game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, with players from both sides seen in ‘Love For Damar’ t-shirts, showing their support.
The Chiefs then wasted no time in getting out in front in the game, as Patrick Mahomes hooked up with receiver Justin Watson for a 67-yard reception on just the second play from scrimmage before the QB then threw a short touchdown pass to Jerick McKinnon three plays later.
Ronald Jones, Kadarius Toney and Isiah Pacheco each tacked on TD runs for the Chiefs, while Harrison Butker kicked a 44-yard field goal, as the visiting side put up 31 on Las Vegas.
“Getting that bye, it’s like winning a playoff game,” Mahomes said after the game. “Now we just have to focus on watching tomorrow and then this next week to see who we play and come out with out best football.”
The Chiefs defense repeatedly harassed Raiders quarterback Jarrett Stidham, particularly in the first half, as they sacked him four times – one of which led to a fumble – and picked him off once.
Stidham, making just his second NFL start after the Raiders benched Derek Carr, threw for 219 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 50 yards.
The Raiders (6-11) trailed 14-3 early in the second quarter when they drove 74 yards to the Chiefs two-yard line. However, consecutive incompletions on third and fourth down by Stidham saw them turn the ball over on downs.
Kansas City then drove 98 yards on 12 plays, capping the series with an 11-yard score from Kadarius Toney. Stidham fumbled on the Raiders’ next possession and, two plays later, Butker kicked a 44-yard field goal in the final seconds of the first half to see the Chiefs up 24-3.
Las Vegas opened the third quarter with a 13-play drive but had to settle for a Daniel Carlson 38-yard field goal.
Pacheco scored early in the fourth quarter for KC, while the Raiders finally found the end zone for nothing more than a consolation score midway later in the fourth as Stidham found Hunter Renfrow for an 11-yard TD.
Passing: Jarrett Stidham, 22/36, 219 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Josh Jacobs, 17 carries, 45 yards
Receiving: Davante Adams, five catches, 73 yards
Hunter Renfrow, seven catches, 63 yards, 1 TD
What’s next?
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January 8, 2023, 5:00pm
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The New England Patriots (8-8) need to win to ensure a playoff place in the AFC as they travel to the Buffalo Bills (12-3) on the final NFL Sunday of the 2022 regular season – live on Sky Sports NFL from 6pm.
The game will be the Bills’ first following the cardiac arrest suffered by Damar Hamlin on the field during their game against the Bengals on Monday night. Hamlin tweeted on Saturday for the first time since, saying he was “thankful for everyone who has reached out and prayed”.
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Neil Reynolds, Jason Bell, Phoebe Schecter and Jeff Reinebold reflect on an emotional week following the cardiac arrest suffered by Damar Hamlin on the field in the Bills’ game against the Bengals on Monday night.
Neil Reynolds, Jason Bell, Phoebe Schecter and Jeff Reinebold reflect on an emotional week following the cardiac arrest suffered by Damar Hamlin on the field in the Bills’ game against the Bengals on Monday night.
Following the action in Buffalo, we head to Philadelphia for the Eagles‘ (13-3) season-ender against the New York Giants (9-6-1) – kick-off, 9.25pm. The home side need to win to wrap up the No 1 seed, a first-round bye and home-advantage through the playoffs. The Giants, meanwhile, are already assured of the No 6 seed in the NFC.
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January 8, 2023, 9:15pm
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January 9, 2023, 1:10am
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Rounding off the Sunday evening triple-header, we join our friends at NBC for Football Night in Americaand a massive game at Lambeau Field as the Green Bay Packers (8-8) host the Detroit Lions (8-8) – kick-off, 1.20am, Monday. The Packers clinch a playoff spot with a win, while a Lions victory would see them claim the last remaining wild card place in the NFC, provided the Seattle Seahawks lose their earlier game to the Los Angeles Rams.
As well as the live action over on Sky Sports NFL and Main Event, you can keep up-to-date with the events in all of the other games via NFL RedZone on Sky Sports Mix (from 6pm) as playoff places are won and lost on the final day of the regular season.
Sky Sports NFL is your dedicated channel for NFL coverage through the season – featuring a host of NFL Network programming. Don’t forget to follow us on skysports.com/nfl, our Twitter account @SkySportsNFL & Sky Sports – on the go!
SAN ANTONIO — The All-American Bowl has wrapped up so it’s time for the Gorney Awards. Here is a look back at the week as we hand out some hardware.
LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE
Miami is getting a big-time playmaker in Joseph because the four-star receiver, while being undersized, can run by anybody and has special playmaking ability. Get the ball to him on a screen pass and the Miami (Fla.) Edison can make people miss or he can stretch the field and put tons of pressure on defensive backs trying to keep up. He should be a big-play threat for the Hurricanes.
Time and time again during the week of practice, Niblett showed his ability to simply be faster than the person defending him as he has incredible athletic ability and it should be a huge weapon in coach Steve Sarkisian’s offense. The Texas signee who got pressured by Houston late but ultimately stuck with the Longhorns can be used all over the field and Sarkisian should be able to draw up plays to get him the ball in a variety of ways.
Simpson-Hunt has steadily moved up in the rankings in recent months but it still might not be enough. The Ohio State signee was absolutely outstanding all week at the All-American Bowl and his consistency as a shutdown corner really stands out. Simpson-Hunt is not going to blow anyone away physically but he’s a baller, defends so well without being too handsy and does a phenomenal job trusting his instincts when the ball is coming his way. It’s hard to believe there are 10 better corners in this class.
We’ve seen Parker at the Rivals Camp Series and other events over the years but it seems like he’s really blossomed in his senior year and his upside still remains pretty remarkable. The Clemson signee was just as dominant as some other really impressive defensive linemen at the All-American Bowl as he used his size, length and speed to beat offensive linemen regularly throughout the week. In a loaded class for the Tigers along the defensive line, Parker could end up being one of the best.
Keeley backed up his five-star ranking all week and the Alabama signee could have a special future ahead. The Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep is more on the quiet side but when he straps on his helmet he brings an ultra-aggressive style off the edge, he won basically every rep he took during 1-on-1s in practice and his length is really special. Whether it’s using his hands to gain an advantage or to knock down passes or his impressive burst off the edge, Keeley showed why he might be the best defensive end in the class.
Hall said when he was presented with his All-American Bowl jersey that he wanted to prove he was one of the best defensive tackles in the country. He did that and more in San Antonio by being a complete physical force and basically unstoppable all week. The Georgia signee played with an edge all week, never relented against anybody and staked his claim as arguably the top defensive tackle in the class.
Inniss did what Inniss has done for years. He gets open basically at will and then catches every single pass thrown his way. The Ohio State signee and current No. 1 receiver in the 2023 class has been so consistent for so many years and that continued at the All-American Bowl where Inniss just has a knack for getting open and getting the ball in his hands.
*****
CHANGE OF PACE
Malachi Coleman
Coleman is one of the most interesting prospects in this class because he’s a true physical specimen at 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds and played receiver this week but could also easily flip to the other side of the field and play any number of positions. From defensive end to outside linebacker to safety, the Nebraska signee was recruited all over the place and should find a position that works once in Lincoln.
One of the best-looking prospects in the 2023 class, Vernon was either very hot or very cold during the All-American Bowl week. The Notre Dame signee would either completely dominate the rep and explode past the offensive tackle to win or if the linemen got his hands on Vernon then he would give up too easily and not have a counter move. Vernon has all the physical tools in the world but a second move will be needed to be elite in South Bend.
Moore is a five-star quarterback who was in a massive recruiting battle that UCLA won as the former Oregon commit flipped to the Bruins and it now looks like a major win after his performance at the All-American Bowl. Moore is not going to blow anyone away from a physical standpoint but he has pinpoint precision as a passer, makes smart decisions on almost every snap and never gets too high or too low. The Detroit (Mich.) Martin Luther King standout is like a surgeon on the field and he even showed that during the game with an incredible four touchdown passes.
There were some phenomenal cornerbacks in San Antonio and Lee, who flipped late from Ohio State, could make an argument as the best one throughout the week. The four-star from Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove is physical at the line of scrimmage, can flip and run with any receiver and then he does an excellent job of poking the ball away at the last second. Rated No. 26 at cornerback, it would be easy to see how the Auburn signee could move way up in the position rankings.
If Simpson-Hunt and Lee were standouts at cornerback all week, Vickers was completely in that conversation as well as the Oklahoma signee did everything he could to prove he’s one of the best players at his position in the 2023 class. There was talk earlier in his career that maybe the Tallahassee (Fla.) Robert F. Munroe Day School standout would grow into a safety but at 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, Vickers is perfect as a long and rangy corner.
There were two other 6-foot-8 offensive tackles in the All-American Bowl in Texas A&M signee Colton Thomasson and new Florida commit Caden Jones but neither were as big as Proctor, who checked in at 345 pounds. It was almost all good weight as well as the Alabama signee (who had been committed to Iowa for months) carried himself well, showed off a dominant physical presence and backed up his No. 1 ranking at the position.
*****
EDGE SPECIALIST
Keldric Faulk
There were plenty of impressive defensive linemen in San Antonio but Faulk continued his dominant offseason by showing he should be in the five-star conversation in the last rankings release for the 2023 class. After dominating the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game, Faulk performed well all week at a national all-star event and the Auburn signee who flipped late from Florida State is one of the best physical specimens in the class.
*****
EDGE SPECIALIST II
Bai Jobe
Jobe was one of the biggest surprises all week. The Michigan State signee is the top-ranked prospect in the state of Oklahoma and the No. 12 weakside defensive end so he was already well-respected but his explosiveness, ranginess and ability to pressure the quarterback really stood out. Having such an elite player slip away from Oklahoma could hurt the Sooners but it’s a big win for the Spartans who did a great job recruiting him.
