Kansas City Chiefs:
Another week, and another one score victory for Kansas City. They defeated the Texans 27-19 on Saturday. They now find themselves 14-1 with two weeks to go, yet they still haven’t clinched the no.1 seed and a first-round bye.
Los Angeles Chargers:
Through three quarters, it was starting to look like the same old Chargers. But a 15-3 fourth quarter propelled them to victory over the Broncos, leapfrogging them from the seventh seed to the sixth seed in the AFC.
Baltimore Ravens:
The Ravens handled the Steelers and have clawed back to even with them. Each team is sitting at 10-5, but the Ravens have won two in a row, while the Steelers have lost two in a row. Each team has now clinched the playoffs, but Pittsburgh still controls their own destiny.
Indianapolis Colts:
The Colts are now 7-8, tied with the Dolphins and Bengals, and currently the eighth seed in the AFC. They defeated the Titans 38-30 and have a 14% chance at reaching the playoffs.
Cincinnati Bengals:
I said it when it happened. The Bengals losing to the Patriots in wk. one was going to kill them this season. They are now 7-8 after their 24-6 win against the Browns. They have improved their playoff odds to a whopping 7%.
Detroit Lions:
The Lions are clinging to the no.1 seed in the NFC. The Eagles losing to the Commanders helped their chances dramatically, but ultimately, their head-to-head matchup against the Vikings will determine who wins their division, with the loser being the best no.5 seed in history.
Washington Commanders:
The Commanders outscored the Eagles 22-6 in the fourth quarter to complete the most miraculous comeback in memory. It didn’t hurt that Jalen Hurts went down early with a concussion, but even still, it was a fantastic comeback by Jayden Daniels. He threw two interceptions but also threw five TDs.
Atlanta Falcons:
Fortune favors the bold. Benching a veteran QB for a rookie, making his first NFL start, with only three weeks left in the season, and a playoff spot in the balance, is the dictionary definition of bold. So far, so good for the Falcons and Michael Penix Jr. Granted, it was only against the Giants, and Penix wasn’t exactly Joe Namath out there, but he did enough. He was 18-27 with 202 passing yards. The running game was dominant, gaining 127 yards and scoring two TDs.
Los Angeles Rams:
Don’t sleep on the Rams. I’ve been saying it all year. The entire NFC West lost on Sunday, giving the Rams a bigger cushion. The Cardinals and 49ers are now out of the playoffs, and only the Seahawks can catch them. The Rams are sitting with a 9-6 record, while the Seahawks are 8-7.
Minnesota Vikings:
All the Vikings do is win. All Sam Darnold does is have solid game after solid game. They won a tough game in Seattle 27-24, with Darnold throwing three TDs, with Justin Jefferson catching two of them to go along with 10 total receptions and 144 passing yds.
Miami Dolphins:
The 49ers had already been eliminated, but the Dolphins still had something to play for. They won 29-17 to keep their chances alive. They are now sitting with a 9% chance of making the postseason.
Buffalo Bills:
The Bills were a two-touchdown favorite at home against the Patriots. But the Pats went out to a 14-0 lead and went into halftime up 14-7. The Bills were able to wake up in the second half, took a 10-point lead, and had the game well in hand. A last minute meaningless TD made the game closer than it was. The Bills were due a letdown game, and they had it.