Buffalo Bills quarterback raised eyebrows with comments at the team’s end-of-season news conference this week when he suggested his team would be in the Super Bowl had it beaten the Denver Broncos.
The Bills fell just short of Denver in a 33-30 overtime loss in the divisional round Jan. 17. But even if the Bills won that game, they would have had to beat the New England Patriots in the AFC championship to reach the Super Bowl.
But Allen didn’t seem to account for the possibility of losing to the Patriots when he made those comments.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen speaks at a news conference after a game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Dec. 14, 2025.(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
“I’d be lying to you if I’m sitting here saying that I feel like I had part in it because if I make one more play, that game in Denver, we’re probably not having this press conference right now,” Allen told reporters. “We’re probably not making a change. In all honesty, we’re probably getting ready to play another game.”
That prompted criticism on social media.
“Josh Allen the king of what if’s,” one user wrote on X.
One X user wrote, “Guy who has never made a Super Bowl thinks he would’ve made Super Bowl if he hadn’t failed yet again to make Super Bowl.”
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) passes against the New England Patriots during the second half in Foxborough, Mass., Dec. 14, 2025.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Another user wrote, “And if Tom Brady lost all those Super Bowls he wouldn’t have won them. I mean the hypothetical game is nice and all but back in the real world Allen has never come through and taken his team to a Super Bowl. It’s who he is.”
Allen had four turnovers in the playoff loss to the Broncos but seemingly made a play that could have won the game in overtime when he delivered a deep pass to wide receiver Brandin Cooks that looked caught at first. But after Cooks hit the ground, the ball was pulled away by Broncos defensive back Ja’Quan McMillian, and officials ruled it an interception. The call created controversy among fans.
Allen then sobbed in front of reporters in the postgame news conference that night, choking up as he said, “I let my team down.”
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye warms up before the AFC championship game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Now, after eight seasons and no trips to the Super Bowl, Allen can only watch from home as the Patriots play in their 11th Super Bowl with second-year quarterback Drake Maye.
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
Bills’ coaching search gets interesting as Philip Rivers jumps into conversation
FanDuel Canada offers Bills’ coaching market
Brian Daboll seeing most of the betting action, followed by Joe Brady
FanDuel Canada has a market out on who the next Buffalo Bills’ coach is going to be, and Philip Rivers just made it all very interesting.
Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills shakes hands with Philip Rivers of the Los Angeles Chargers after a 2018 game in Buffalo. Rivers has been interviewed for the Bill’s head coaching job. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
After the Bills fired Sean McDermott last Monday, stories started dropping on who his replacement might be, with candidates like Brian Daboll, Joe Brady, and Jesse Minter on that list.
Daboll has had the shortest odds, soon after the McDermott news broke. Then Friday news broke, led by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, that the Hall of Fame candidate Rivers, who had come out of retirement in December to quarterback the Indianapolis Colts for three games after Daniel Jones went down with an Achilles injury, was interviewing for the Bills’ job. The Bills later confirmed on social media that they had interviewed Rivers.
Ian Rapoport in NFL Gameday today reported that the Bills are serious about Rivers as their next head coach.
Daboll Betting Favourite for Bills’ Coach
Bills’ QB Josh Allen, who’s being consulted by team management as the coaching search plays out, was said to be excited at the prospect of bringing in Rivers.
“I do think, as humbly as I can say it, that I could coach at this level,” said Rivers in December. “I know enough about the game and about the guys, and from a leadership standpoint, camaraderie, all that comes with it. But again, that’s not something that I’m sitting here pursuing.”
Rivers is 44, and played 18 seasons in the NFL, 16 of those with the Chargers. At FanDuel Canada, Daboll is at -125, then Rivers jumps right in at No. 2, at +210, followed by Klint Kubiak at +500, Brady +650, Davis Webb +750, Mike La Fleur at +850 and Anthony Lynn at +900.
Brady No. 2 in Betting Action
Bill Belichick is on there, at +1100. So is Mike Tomlin, at +2700.
A spokesperson from FanDuel Canada told Casino.org: “Opening odds and early betting action showed Canadian-born Brian Daboll as the favorite and this continues as nearly 25% of bets have been placed on him to take on the head coach role. A close second is Joe Brady with over 15% of bets.”
Daboll was also interviewed by the Las Vegas Raiders for the head coaching job there. Yahoo also reported that two other offensive-minded coaches (Daboll was the Bills’ offensive coordinator, where he was then hired by the New York Giants as head coach, then fired this past fall) are under consideration for the Raiders: Webb, a quarterbacks coach with the Denver Broncos, and Kubiak, who is offensive coordinator with the Seattle Seahawks.
It does not seem like Philip Rivers wants to stay away from professional football.
Just as he became a Hall of Fame semifinalist, Rivers pushed back his eligibility for Canton to return to the NFL after nearly five years away, playing three games for the Indianapolis Colts this past season.
But now, in his second retirement stint, Rivers is reportedly interviewing for the vacant Buffalo Bills coaching job.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers stands on the sidelines during the first half against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
The Bills fired Sean McDermott on Monday, two days after a controversial loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC divisional round. Owner Terry Pegula said the loss resulted in McDermott’s firing.
Rivers is currently the head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama. He announced his official retirement just before the new year.
“I am (done),” Rivers said at the time. “I got a son who will be a senior, and I got that St. Michael football team ready to go. We got beat in the semifinals two years in a row,” he added. “So, it’ll be his senior year. My second son will be a ninth grader. They’ll be on the same team together.
“So, it’ll be fun to get back with the boys back home. The school has been really excited. A lot of them came to the game last week. It’ll be fun. It’ll kick-start our offseason program, to say the least. Maybe the things I say to them they’ll take it a little more seriously now that I was just out there playing.”
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Rivers returned amid an injury to Daniel Jones, while Anthony Richardson was also not healthy.
“Everything just lined up,” he said. “It was a place I’d been, a team I was familiar with the offense was exactly the same. The coach I knew. It was all those things that made it kinda the perfect storm.
“I’m back to the sideline. This was a fun three-week blur that nobody saw coming, including myself, and that will be it.”
He sure is back to the sideline, but perhaps it will be an NFL one.
Rivers had 544 passing yards, four touchdown passes and three interceptions in those three starts. He co his NFL playing career with 63,984 passing yards and 425 passing touchdowns.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers throws during the first half of an NFL game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Dec. 28, 2025.(Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
The Bills’ defeat marked another crushing blow to McDermott’s tenure as the Bills’ head coach. McDermott took the job before the start of the 2017 season, and Buffalo finished under .500 only once since then. He helped guide the Bills to the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons. The team made the conference title game twice but never got back to the Super Bowl.
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott didn’t seem to like his assessment of the 2025 season after losing in the AFC Divisional Round over the weekend, according to multiple reports.
McDermott was fired on Monday just two days after a crushing overtime loss to the Denver Broncos on the road.
WGRZ reported that Bills general manager Brandon Beane and team owner Terry Pegula were not “pleased with McDermott’s assessment” after he “pointed out what the roster lacked to win a Super Bowl.” This reportedly came weeks before the team’s loss in Denver.
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott looks on before the game against the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium on Jan. 4, 2026. (Mark Konezny/Imagn Images)
NFL Network supported something similar, saying that “McDermott himself had some questions about how much talent the Bills had.”
“I’m not sure that sat well in the building,” the report added.
The Bills did have their stars on the roster, especially 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen and the league’s leading rusher this season, James Cook.
But the lack of receiver talent on the roster since the team moved on from Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs has been a storyline for the past two seasons. Beane was hoping that Keon Coleman, who he took No. 33 overall in 2024, would develop into Allen’s top passing target.
Instead, Coleman found himself a healthy scratch at times this season, and he finished with 404 yards on just 38 catches through 13 games (six starts).
General manager Brandon Beane of the Buffalo Bills speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 27, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Bills did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital regarding these reports about McDermott.
While McDermott is out, Beane was promoted to president of football operations, a move that baffled many as much as the coach’s firing.
McDermott helped the Bills reach the playoffs in eight of the last nine seasons, though they couldn’t get to the Super Bowl as intended. The Bills made the AFC Championship twice, including the 2024 campaign, but the Kansas City Chiefs beat them in both matchups.
In fact, the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs knocked the Bills out of the playoffs in four of the last five seasons.
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Rey Del Rio)
Buffalo joined the head coaching search late compared to other teams, so they’ll need to move quickly to keep up with the top candidates for next season.
Meanwhile, McDermott should be a top candidate for those other teams, including the Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Buffalo Bills have fired head coach Sean McDermott after nine seasons.
It’s a move that caught many by surprise: McDermott is out as the head coach, while Brandon Beane has been promoted to president of football operations and general manager.
Brandon Beane has been promoted to President of Football Operations/General Manager. #BillsMafia
McDermott had great success in turning around an organization that had a 17-year playoff drought, which he broke in his first season in 2017.
McDermott had a record of 98-52 in the regular season and was tied for the longest tenure of any coach before he was let go. His run included eight playoff appearances in nine years and five consecutive AFC East division titles, which came to an end with the New England Patriots taking the crown this season.
As good as the Bills had been, winning the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal, especially when you have an MVP quarterback like Josh Allen as the face of the franchise. McDermott was 8-8 in the postseason, making the conference title game twice, but never able to get over the hump with a number of heartbreaking playoff losses.
Bills owner Terry Pegula said in a statement, “Sean has done an admirable job of leading our football team for the past nine seasons. But I feel we are in need of a new structure within our leadership to give this organization the best opportunity to take our team to the next level. We owe that to our players and to Bills Mafia.”
Pegula also thanked McDermott and wish the best for Sean, his wife Jamie and their family.
The new leadership structure has Beane in charge of all football operations and leading the search for a new head coach. It’s an interesting development since Beane arrived shortly after McDermott and the two worked together with the Carolina Panthers. They were often seen as a package deal. There was even growing sentiment among observers that Beane might be in trouble; instead, he assumes even greater control in the front office.
McDermott’s final news conference after the playoff loss to Denver on Saturday included an impassioned and somewhat out-of-character criticism of the officials after a controversial interception call in overtime, saying “I’m standing up for Buffalo, I’m standing up for us.”
DENVER — For Broncos fans, 2026 has the energy of 2016 as the team advances to the AFC Championship.
It’s been ten years since the Broncos last hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.
“It definitely reminds me of that year we won the Super Bowl,” said Matthew Tomaine, who traveled from Atlanta to attend the game with his brother Ryan.
The Tomaines were still buzzing from the playoff win on Sunday morning.
“It was just so loud. The whole stadium was shaking. I don’t have a voice,” said Tomaine. “We were trying to affect the game as much as we could.”
Tens of thousands of fans brought the noise and energy to Saturday night’s overtime thriller against the Buffalo Bills.
Denverite Mario Macias was also in the stands at Empower Field on Saturday night, where the Broncos secured victory with a three-point lead.
“It was loud. It was really, really loud,” said Macias. “We were up pretty big. And then they came back to get everything all tied up, and then we had to tie it up. I was nervous, honestly.”
The victory, however, came with a sobering reality – a season-ending ankle injury for quarterback Bo Nix.
“We’ve been walking out of the stadium a lot of times when they win, you kind of hear, ‘Let’s go Broncos!’ chants. Everyone’s kind of getting pretty rowdy,” said Ryan. “We were about 15 minutes into our walk back to the hotel, and the news started spreading like wildfire. It just kind of quelled down the emotions.”
Despite the setback, Broncos fans still “Bo-lieve” backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham can get the job done in the AFC Championship game.
“I think he’s gonna play like the rent is due next week and we’re gonna make it a Super Bowl,” said Tomaine.
At Tom’s Watch Bar on Sunday afternoon, fans were split on who they’d rather face in the title game.
“If I need to pick my poison, it’d be the Patriots,” said Macias.
“I’d probably lean towards the Texans,” said Ryan.
The staff at Tom’s is already preparing for another high-energy playoff weekend.
“The staffing, the execution, the product, the prep for food, the prep for alcohol,” said Lorna Clark, operating partner at Tom’s Watch Bar. “We had the entire patio activation [Saturday] with McGregor Square, so we’re looking to do the same thing for the next week, seeing if we can get that approved, so that we’ll have more space for everyone.”
One thing remains certain – Broncos Country is ready to make 2026 the new 2016.
“I’m like, let’s get up early, maybe beat the rush to the store and get the [Stidham] jerseys, right, because we got to support the team no matter what,” said Ryan.
Broncos fans: This feels like 2016 all over again
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CBS Sports color commentator Tony Romo has faced plenty of criticism this year, almost every week, for his work alongside play-by-play partner Jim Nantz.
Yet on Saturday night, during the Divisional Round playoff matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium, Romo delivered one of the most memorable moments of the first half.
With the game tied 10–10 late in the second quarter, Romo noted on 2nd-and-10 that it would be a good opportunity for Broncos quarterback Bo Nix to take a shot toward the end zone from 29 yards out.
Just seconds later, Nix rolled slightly to his right and threw across his body to wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey, connecting for a touchdown—exactly as Romo predicted.
“I always felt like you could take a shot to the end zone here,” Romo said. “If teams play sideline defense, they don’t want you to get it out of bounds. I’d send someone right downfield. If the safety’s there, make the out cut.”
“What a call!” Nantz exclaimed after the TD. “Big props to you, Tony, for taking that shot on second down. You said you always felt like you could do it, they did it, and they were rewarded!
“He’s on fire tonight. Called the Broncos TD right before it happened and then said Bills should take a knee before half time,” a fan said.
Someone else added, “He’s back.”
Another person wrote, “Funny how the narrative changes.”
“I’ll never understand the hate for Romo. He explained this perfectly and literally happened the next play,” one more fan commented.
Romo joined CBS in 2017, shortly after retiring from the NFL, where he spent his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys and earned four Pro Bowl selections.
Early in his broadcasting career, he quickly became a fan favorite for his football knowledge and his knack for predicting plays before they happened.
While some repetitiveness has frustrated viewers over the years, there’s no question that Romo was on top of his game on Saturday.
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Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) -rtb for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
The opening fight in the NFL playoff scene on Sunday brings together the six-seeded Buffalo Bills and the third-seeded Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in North Florida on early Sunday afternoon. The winner of this matchup will scrap with the victor of the two-seed New England Patriots and seven-seed Los Angeles Chargers matchup on Sunday Night Football.
Buffalo’s one-point loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17 handed control of the division to New England and relegated the Bills to a road matchup for Wild Card weekend. Buffalo has been stopped by Kansas City each of the last two seasons, but there is no Mahomes lurking around the postseason this year. The Bills might have to pull off some road stunners during the Sean McDermott era and the roadmap is there for an appearance at Super Bowl LX with their schoolyard bully on the sidelines in 2025.
It seemed like it would be another wasted year in Jacksonville in mid-November with the Jaguars sitting at 5-4 following a divisional loss to the Houston Texans. Since that loss on Nov. 9, Jacksonville has been the best team in the NFL behind eight straight victories with most of those victories 10+ point wins for the jungle cats.
AFC Wild Card: (6) Buffalo Bills at (3) Jacksonville Jaguars
The Bills enter the postseason with a losing record against the spread (7-10) but positive marks versus the moneyline (12-5) and over-under (9-8) during the 2025 regular season. Jacksonville has A+ marks against the sportsbooks with winning records in all categories: the spread (12-5), the moneyline (13-4) and the over-under (10-7).
ESPN Analytics has this game a nearly split right down the middle with the Jaguars earning the slight edge at home with a 51% chance of advancing past Buffalo.
Best bet: Josh Allen 250+ Passing Yards
If there were ever a year for Josh Allen and the Bills to make a run at the Super Bowl, this postseason would seem to be that year with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs watching from home (or some lovely tropical location) for the first time in quite a while. The 29-year-old QB has been his typical All-Pro self in 2025 with 3668 passing yards and 25 touchdown passes. Buffalo has won at least one postseason game every season since 2020, including a three-point loss to those Chiefs in the 2024 AFC Championship Game.
Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) -rtb for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Jacksonville’s defense placed 21st against the pass game at the conclusion of the regular season. The Jaguars allowed an average of 218.1 passing yards per game and just north of 300 yards total per contest. The ballclub from Duval County will have their hands full against a powerful offensive attack from Buffalo, but the squad from North Florida has risen to tough challenges all season long. Perhaps head coach Liam Coen has one more trick up his sleeve to slow down Allen to secure a win in the Wild Card round this weekend.
The first contest on Sunday’s postseason schedule should provide an entertaining clash between teams that have a lot to prove in the playoffs. Can Buffalo lean on its postseason pedigree to earn another massive playoff win or will Jacksonville finally secure the win that earns them some respect as they chase their first Super Bowl appearance in franchise history?
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The Minnesota Vikings now know the teams they’ll be playing during the 2026 regular season.
The National Football League announced each team’s complete list of opponents on Monday, one day after the Vikings defeated the Green Bay Packers 16-3. Minnesota finished the 2025 season third in the NFC North with a 9-8 record.
The Vikings will battle all teams from the AFC East and NFC South, the Indianapolis Colts, Washington Commanders and San Francisco 49ers, along with their six divisional games against the NFC North.
Here’s a look at the team’s home and road opponents.
Home opponents:
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
Washington Commanders
Indianapolis Colts
Road opponents:
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New England Patriots
New York Jets
San Francisco 49ers
The team’s full schedule, including playing dates and times, will be released in the spring, the NFL said.
Next season will mark Kevin O’Connell’s fifth as head coach for the Vikings. He’s compiled a 43-25 record in 68 games with the team.
Minnesota will have the 18th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which is scheduled to take place April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. The Vikings said they’ve selected from that spot three times in franchise history, selecting defensive back Dewayne Washington in 1994, defensive end Erasmus James in 2005 and center Garrett Bradbury in 2019.
NOTE: The attached video first aired on Dec. 18, 2025.
The Buffalo Bills may have had a fierce defense during their years of being at the top of the AFC when the Eagles visited them for that thrilling shootout in December of 1990 — but on Sunday night it was the Eagles who brought the suffocating defense against those Buffalo Bills — while at the same time holding one of the best running backs in the league to just seventy-four yards in James Cook III.
For the Bills — the rain and sleet was the least of their worries. Buffalo was the latest NFL offense to be totally stymied by the Eagles yards-denying defense. In the first quarter — Bills quarterback Josh Allen fumbled while attempting to avoid a hit by Jaelen Phillips. Jihaad Campbell recovered at mid-field for the Eagles. Philadelphia then scored on a one-yard pass play on a Hurts to Goedert connection after a couple of pass connections between Jalen and AJ Brown.
The Eagles pulled out to a 13–0 lead at halftime. In the second half though — fortunes would change as Philadelphia was held to just sixteen yards of total offense.
In the third quarter — Buffalo began to mount a furious comeback. After Josh Allen was stopped on 4th and Goal from the three-yard line — he then ran for a score from the 2-yard line with just over five minutes left in the game but the extra point blocked by Jalen Carter. With eight seconds left— Allen pushed in again from the the one — and then missed on a connection with Khalil Shakir for the two-point conversion.
A fight broke out after Eagles Defensive Tackle Jalen Carter poked Spencer Brown in the eye — leading to a scuffle between the teams that continued into the tunnel after the game.
Nick Sirianni also let his emotions be known — all caught on video.
(CNN) — It’s been a long 2025 NFL season so far with twists, turns, shocking injuries, surprising contenders and disappointing years from preseason favorites.
As we come off another intriguing week of action across the league and approach the end of the season, the playoff picture is becoming more and more clear.
With just one week of the NFL regular season left, who’s in, who’s out and who still has a shot at making a postseason run for a spot in Super Bowl LX and a chance to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Who’s in?
(All teams listed by current seeding in each conference)
AFC
1. Denver Broncos (13-3, 1st AFC West): The Broncos already qualified for the postseason but still beat the Patrick Mahomes-less Kansas City Chiefs 20-13 on Friday. A win against the Los Angeles Chargers at Mile High in Week 18 will earn Denver top seed status in the AFC.
2. New England Patriots (13-3, 1st AFC East): New England will be lurking should Denver fail to wrap up the conference and the Pats will play the Miami Dolphins to close out the season.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4, 1st AFC South): The Jags are also still in the running for the first-round bye after beating the Indianapolis Coltsin Week 17. They now host the Tennessee Titans in Week 18.
5. Houston Texans (11-5, 2nd AFC South): Houston’s sensational defense has fired the franchise into the postseason for a third straight year. The team confirmed its place in the playoffs with a 20-16 win against the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5, 2nd AFC West): The Chargers will be happy to have already locked up a postseason spot as they face a motivated Denver squad in the final week of the regular season.
7. Buffalo Bills (11-5, 2nd AFC East): After losing in dramatic circumstances against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bills close out the year with a home game against the Jets having already secured their berth in the playoffs.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker hits Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix during the second half at Empower Field at Mile High on December 21. Credit: Ron Chenoy / Imagn via CNN Newsource
NFC
1. Seattle Seahawks (13-3, 1st NFC West): After missing the playoffs in the last two campaigns, the Seahawks are back in the postseason and tightened their grip on the No. 1 seed after beating the Carolina Panthers 27-10 in Week 17. Seattle now faces the San Francisco 49ers in its last regular season game.
2. Chicago Bears (11-5, 1st NFC North): Da Bears haven’t made the postseason since 2020, so some celebration in the Windy City is merited, but Chicago has only made the playoffs twice since 2010 – and lost in the wild card round both times. After spending so many years in the proverbial wilderness, the team won’t be content with just making it. The Bears take on the Detroit Lions in Week 18.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, 1st NFC East): The defending Super Bowl champions are back in the postseason to defend their title, but with hopes of a first-round bye now over, Philly may look to rest players ahead of a game against the Washington Commanders in Week 18.
5. San Francisco 49ers (12-4, 2nd NFC West): After missing the postseason last year, the Niners are back and looking dangerous. Starting QB Brock Purdy is back and playing incredibly as they host the Seahawks in Week 18 with the No. 1 seed in the conference at stake.
6. Los Angeles Rams (11-5, 3rd NFC West): The Rams round out an incredible NFC West, which has three teams in the playoffs. Los Angeles, though, suffered a surprise defeat against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17 and closes out the regular season with a game against the Arizona Cardinals.
7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1, 2nd NFC North): The Pack lost to Baltimore in Week 17 but still secured the NFC seventh seed heading into the playoffs. Off the back of three straight defeats, Green Bay heads to Minnesota in Week 18 to take on the eliminated Vikings.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) scrambles with the ball in Monday’s win against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski / Imagn via CNN Newsource
Who’s still got a chance?
AFC
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, 1st AFC North): The Steelers only had to beat the Cleveland Browns on the road last Sunday to secure their place in the playoffs, but blew the opportunity after losing 13-6. Pittsburgh now faces a winner-takes-all clash against its bitter rival, the Baltimore Ravens, in Week 18. Pittsburgh currently has a 40% chance of making the playoffs, according to the NFL.
9. Baltimore Ravens (8-8, 2nd AFC North): The Ravens had Super Bowl aspirations before the year kicked off with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and star running back Derrick Henry, but it all seemed to fall apart with Jackson missing significant time due to injury. But results went their way on Week 17 andthey beat the Packers 41-24. It all means that the NFL says the Ravens now have a 60% chance of reaching the postseason still.
NFC
4. Carolina Panthers (8-8, 1st NFC South): Carolina is still sitting first in its division despite losing to the Seahawks in Week 17. The Panthers still have a chance of reaching the postseason as they face a win-or-go-home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18. The NFL says Carolina has a 72% chance of making it to the playoffs.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9, 2nd NFC South): The Bucs lost to the Miami Dolphins in Week 17 and now everything hangs on the final game of the regular season against the Panthers. We’ll see what happens but the NFL gives Tampa Bay justa 28% chance of progressing.
If I told you that one of the longest and most dynamic and longest pass plays in Eagles history happened during a December visit to Buffalo twenty-five years ago in 1990 — and that that play was proceeded by yet another score by Philly — you’d probably assume that I was suffering from some type of temporary amnesia.
But the only problem with the longest pass play in Eagles history resulting in a touchdown was simple — it didn’t happen at the end of the game.
On a frigid, winter December afternoon at Rich Stadium — it was the AFC Champions who jumped out to a 24–0 lead on the Eagles. But with Randall at the helm and a devastating Gang Green Defense — the Eagles were never out of a game.
After an eighteen-yard strike from Cunningham to Keith Jackson — Randall dropped back in his own end zone, moved to the left and ducked under Bruce Smith. He then heaved the ball to Fred Barnett who out-jumped the Bills J.D. Williams to secure the ball. From there it was off to the races for ninety-five yards with just over a minute left until halftime. After the break — Randall connected with Keith Byars for a one-yard scoring pass. It was the closest that the Eagle would come in the eventual 30–23 loss.
The 1990 NFL season would turn out to be a lost opportunity for both the Bills and the Eagles. Buffalo would advance out of the AFC and made the playoffs for the second straight year — only to lose the Super Bowl to the New York Giants. Philadelphia would also make the playoffs — only to lose in the NFC Wildcard Round to a Washington Team that they had beaten at the Vet earlier in the year during what would become another famous game.
Tune into NBC Sports Boston at noon ET for Patriots Pregame Live with Tom E. Curran, Phil Perry and Michael Holley. Come back right after the game for Patriots Postgame Live.
A win would give the Patriots a perfect season on the road (8-0). The only teams in franchise history to do this were the 2007 and 2016 squads.
The rivalry between the New England Patriots and New York Jets resumes Sunday afternoon with a Week 17 matchup at MetLife Stadium.
These two teams are headed in opposite directions.
The Jets are still one of the NFL’s worst teams and headed for another top 10 draft pick. The Patriots, meanwhile, are again one of the league’s top teams and still have a chance to earn the AFC’s top seed. They can also clinch the AFC East crown Sunday for the first time since 2019 if they beat the Jets and the Buffalo Bills lose to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Will the Patriots win their third straight game over the Jets?
Follow our Patriots-Jets live blog below for video highlights, analysis, playoff picture updates, injuries and much more:
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Nick Goss, Darren Hartwell, Justin Leger and Phil Perry
Injuries have ravaged NFL teams throughout the 2025 season, and on Thursday night, the issue struck NFL officials during the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans game.
Head referee Adrian Hill pulled up lame during a play on a Texans drive in the third quarter. He was seen in the end zone watching a play unfold. As he started to move, Hill grabbed his left leg.
Referee Adrian Hill on the field during a game between the Chicago Bears and the New York Giants at Soldier Field on Nov. 9, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.(Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
Hill was helped off the field and needed to be carted to the locker room. Umpire Roy Ellison took over as the head referee for the rest of the game.
Hill has been an NFL official since 2010, making his debut on Sept. 12, 2010, in a game between the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys as a line judge. He was promoted to a referee in 2019 after Pete Morelli and Walt Coleman retired.
Ellison is a longtime official himself and has some controversy attached to his career in the NFL.
Buffalo Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard (8) is attended to by medical staff after suffering an unknown injury in the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Houston.(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
In 2018, he had a run-in with Bills defensive lineman Jerry Hughes. The NFL player confronted Ellison in the tunnel following a game between the Bills and Miami Dolphins. Hughes accused Ellison of calling him an expletive. Ellison was reportedly fined one game check for the incident.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen had to check out after being roughed up on a play. Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir, defensive back Maxwell Hairston and offensive lineman Dion Dawkins were each evaluated for a concussion. Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard suffered an elbow injury and was out for the rest of the game.
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Since falling to 3-5 on the season back in Week 9, it’s been the same battle cry for the Houston Texans before each game — “This is the biggest game of the year, a must win.” And for the third straight week, the Houston Texans walked off the field victorious in said “must win,” this time getting their most legitimate win of the season, a 23-19 street fight versus the Buffalo Bills.
The difference with this game, compared to the wins over the Jaguars and Titans the previous two weeks, is that the Texans came into this one a relatively substantial underdog. The Bills were favored by six points, which may have been mildly disrespectful toward a Texans team whose defense is unquestionably elite.
Now, the Texans sit at 6-5, over .500 for the first time all season. They have the next ten days off, and they should be getting C.J. Stroud back from the concussion protocol. In other words, things are looking up! Let’s look at winners and losers from a tense, “battle red” Thursday night:
WINNERS
Will Anderson had 2.5 sacks and two tackles for loss in the Texans’ win. Jack Gorman Credit: Jack Gorman
4. Will Anderson
One of the best things about this game being on national television (or whatever word we are using for the Amazon streaming medium) is that the nation got a taste of what 2025 Will Anderson has been all about — fierce, physical, consistent dominance. In this game, Anderson had 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, and a ton of quality time terrorizing Josh Allen all night long. Anderson sits at fourth on the odds board right now for Defensive Player of the Year at +1200.
3. AFC playoff contenders
We take a break from the Texans-Bills game for a moment to acknowledge the return of quarterback Joe Burrow in Cincinnati this week. After missing two months with a toe injury, Burrow is back practicing, and while the Bengals are out of the playoff race with a 3-7 record, the Bengals next four games are against the Patriots, Bills, and Ravens (twice). Burrow may not be able to help the Bengals make the playoffs, but he sure can help teams like the Texans who are in the mix with these other teams.
Calen Bullock caused three turnovers to lead the Texans to a win on Thursday. Jack Gorman Credit: Jack Gorman
2. Calen Bullock
I think Bullock is the player I was most excited for after last night’s win. It’s always fun to see a young player announce his presence with authority on a nationally televised game, and Bullock did just that, causing three turnovers (two interceptions, one fumble), two of which led to points, and the third one closed out the game. Afterwards, Bullock was doing interviews with multiple national outlets. The recognition was fun to see.
Davis Mills finished with a 3-0 record in this crucial stretch of the season. Jack Gorman Credit: Jack Gorman
1. Davis Mills, high level backup
Mills’ 3-0 record in the last three games, games that allowed the Texans to crawl back to above .500, will garner a lot of attention around the league. Mills will not be supplanting C.J. Stroud as the Texans’ starting quarterback — Mills himself knows this, and said as much after the game — but his ability to step in and win games could have teams calling Nick Caserio after the season with trade offers to use Mills as a bridge starting quarterback for a team drafting a rookie quarterback.
LOSERS
Tommy Townsend was a bright spot on a suspect Texans special teams unit. Jack Gorman Credit: Jack Gorman
4. Texans special teams (again)
When you have a team with an inconsistent offense, like the Texans, it’s imperative that the other two sides of the football, defense and special teams, be clicking on all cylinders. The Texans’ defense is obviously elite. However, for the second time in three weeks, the Texans special teams units gave up a return for a touchdown, this time a kickoff return that gave the Bills a 16-13 lead late in the first half.
3. Dameon Pierce
The Dameon Pierce era came to an end just hours before Thursday’s game, as the Texans waived the fourth year running back to accommodate some roster moves. Pierce burst on the scene as a rookie in 2022, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards. However, once DeMeco Ryans got to the building, Pierce had trouble grasping whichever offense the team was running. In some ways, it feels miraculous that he was still on the team after this year’s training camp. Pierce will find a home somewhere else, but ultimately his run with the Texans ends in disappointment.
Nick Caley was pushing the wrong buttons in the second half on Thursday. Jack Gorman Credit: Jack Gorman
2. Second half Nick Caley
Maybe some of this is a function of having the backup quarterback start the last few games, but the Texans’ offense has been very schizophrenic. Davis Mills has generally done most of his damage in these games in one particular quarter. Thursday night, it was the second quarter, where the Texans went into halftime with a 20-16 lead. Unfortunately, offensive coordinator Nick Caley seemed to get super conservation in the second half of the game, and the Texans generated just 35 yards of total offense. Just when it feels like the Texans are turning some sort of corner under Caley, a half like that happens.
Josh Allen was running for his life on Thursday night. Jack Gorman Credit: Jack Gorman
Josh Allen
Thursday night continued NRG Stadium’s run as a house of horrors for the reigning MVP of the league. After Thursday night’s loss, Allen’s record now sits at 0-4 in NRG Stadium, and he’s lost games in a variety of fashions. In 2018, his rookie season, Allen left the game with an injury. In 2019, he watched the Texans come back in a playoff game from being down 16-0. Last season, he set a career low with a 30 percent completion percentage. Finally, last night, he threw two picks and was sacked eight times. If you happen to see Josh Allen today, give him a hug.
The Houston Texans defense looked elite on Thursday Night Football during the game against the Buffalo Bills. The Texans sacked 2024 MVP Josh Allen eight times over the night. Cornerback Calen Bullock shone as he had a forced fumble and two interception. The Texans next play AFC South leaders Colts in Indianapolis on November 30. (Photos by Jack Gorman)
Jackson is a freelance photographer and writer covering a variety of music and sporting events in the Houston area. He has contributed to the Houston Press since 2013.
More by Jack Gorman
The Buffalo Bills were upset by the Houston Texans on Thursday night, 23-19.
The game came down to a game-deciding Bills drive in the final two minutes. The Bills extended the drive by converting on a 4th and 27 with a lateral pass to Khalil Shakir. But the Bills could not convert on a 4th and 6 in the Texans red zone, when Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen threw a game-ending interception.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws a pass under pressure from Houston Texans defensive tackle Tommy Togiai (72) in the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
The Texans have now beaten the Bills for the second year in a row, and pulled it off with backup quarterback Davis Mills under center. Mills has improved to 3-0 as the team’s quarterback this year in place of the injured CJ Stroud.
Mills had one of his better games as a pro Thursday, passing for 153 yards with two touchdowns.
Meanwhile, the Texans’ defense had eight sacks on Allen, and even forced him out of the game temporarily with a wrist concern in the first half.
With the win, the Texans move to 6-5 on the season and remain in the hunt for the AFC wild card race. The Texans are now just half a game behind the Jacksonville Jaguars for the final wild card spot.
Houston Texans’ Will Anderson Jr. (51) and Denico Autry (96) celebrate after Anderson sacked Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
The Bills fell to 7-4 and lost ground to the New England Patriots in the AFC East race.
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
The Houston Texans are set to face off against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football as the team attempts to extend its winning streak to three games and get back in the thick of the AFC playoff race.
Houston will be led by quarterback Davis Mills, who is getting the start for the third straight week as starting quarterback CJ Stroud remains out of the lineup due to a concussion. As the Texans made their final preparations for the game, though, the team received some unfortunate news regarding running back Joe Mixon.
Reports emerged revealing that Mixon likely won’t play at all this season as he recovers from a foot injury.
That’s not the only running back news for the team, though.
Just three hours before kickoff of Thursday night’s game, the Texans announced the team signed corner Ajani Carter to the active roster from the practice squad. Houston also elevated defensive back Jalen Mills and linebacker Jackson Woodward via a standard practice squad elevation.
The Texans also signed former Ohio State star Damon Arnette to the practice squad. In order to make room for Arnette, the team waived former starting running back Dameon Pierce.
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Pierce burst onto the scene as a rookie, racking up nearly 1,000 yards on the ground. However, in the past three seasons combined he’s run for only 731 yards while seeding work to Mixon, Nick Chubb and rookie Woody Marks.
After the Eagles barely made it out with a victory in Green Bay Monday Night. It was time to start preparing for another PrimeTime spotlight against the Eagles 3rd NFC North opponent of the year.
The Detroit Lions
Sundays match against Detroit will be the 2nd time the Sirianni/Hurts led Eagles will play the Campbell/Goff Lions. Previously, the Eagles won both matchups that took place at Ford Field. Winning 44-6 in 2021, and 38-35 in 2023.
And while this matchup won’t have nearly as much excitement as the NFC Championship Game that could have been last year. The winner and loser of this game could see a huge impact on playoff seeding within the next 5-6 Weeks.
The Cluttered NFC Race
Luckily for the Eagles. The NFC East is the only division that isn’t filled with multiple contenders, or teams just outside the wildcard bubble. Like the 49ers(6-4), Panthers(5-5) & Vikings(4-5). However, with two games left against NFC North opponents. The Eagles will be able to pull ahead in the division, and from the rest of the NFC.
Already having victories against the Rams(7-2), Buccaneers(6-3) and Packers(5-3-1) currently gives the Eagles the head to head tiebreaker against the current 5th, 4th and 7th seed in the NFC playoff race. While the odds of the Eagles dropping into a wildcard spot are low with a 4 game lead on the NFC East race. It has happened before. Being able to chain together wins during the toughest stretches of the schedule will help the Eagles lock up the division race as fast as possible, while still being in the thick of it for the Bye Week, or as much home field advantage as possible in the playoffs.
Schedule Down The Stretch
Following the Lions this weekend, the Eagles will see a total of three more teams in the current playoff picture, including:
6-3 Bears (Week 13)
7-3 Chargers (Week 15)
6-3 Bills (Week 17)
There will also be a gutsy game against the 3-5-1 Cowboys, who for some reason decided to be buyers at the deadline. Acquiring Quinnen Williams and Logan Wilson.
With some more breathing room between playoff opponents, the Eagles will also see the following teams who’s season is approaching an ugly finish:
2-7 Raiders (Week 15)
3-7 Commanders (Week 16 & 18)
Both teams will most likely be playing for a top 5-10 pick come December. The wins might not matter that late for the Eagles depending how the rest of this “gauntlet” unfolds.
With an impressive 7-2 run to start the season. How many wins will it take to clinch the NFC East?
Amid a handful of significant needs across the roster ahead of the NFL‘s Nov. 4 trade deadline, the Buffalo Bills are honing in on a No. 1 wide receiver for superstar quarterback Josh Allen.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported on Saturday, that Buffalo has someone in mind and has made recent overtures as to his availability.
“The Bills were one of the teams that inquired in recent weeks about Saints WR Chris Olave,” Russini wrote. “New Orleans is still expected to retain its top wideout.”
New Orleans is 1-7 with four of its next five games on the road and recently made a switch under center from Spencer Rattler, who has played competently this season, to rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. All of that points to the Saints embracing the notion that their 2025 season is going into the tank ahead of next year’s draft.
Olave is in the fourth and final year of his $19.3 million rookie contract, though New Orleans exercised its team-option on that deal for a fifth season in 2026 that will pay Olave $15.5 million — upping his five-year NFL earnings to just shy of $35 million total.
Following the 2026 campaign, Olave will hit unrestricted free agency unless the Saints employ the franchise tag to keep him around for another season at what would be an impossibly high number, even despite his level of talent.
Thus, Olave is a reasonable trade candidate over the next few days. If the team doesn’t move him before November 4, there will likely be talk of trades during the offseason and ahead of next year’s mid-season deadline, unless the Saints have a New England Patriots-like turnaround in just a single cycle.
Olave, 25, is probably worth an early Day 2 draft pick, even despite multiple concussion issues and missing nine games in 2024. He tallied more than 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first two NFL seasons and has produced 52 catches for 503 yards and three touchdowns through eight games this season.
