
“I will see you in two weeks.”
That was Lions head coach Dan Campbell’s post-game message to Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell as the 2 bench bosses met at centre area following Detroit’s 31-9 victory Sunday night time.
As decided by the night’s end result, the subsequent two weeks will look very totally different for these divisional foes.
The Lions, whose win in Sunday night time’s regular-season finale clinched Detroit the division for the second straight 12 months and booked them a bye week because the NFC’s No. 1 seed for the primary time in franchise historical past, the subsequent two weeks might be spent resting, recovering, and readying themselves for his or her Divisional Weekend foe — Vikings or in any other case.
Minnesota, in the meantime, should pack its luggage for a visit to L.A. to tackle the Rams subsequent Monday night time because the winningest fifth seed the NFL’s ever seen. The proper to nonetheless be enjoying soccer in two weeks — a attainable rematch with Detroit, if Campbell’s playoff predictions come true — should but be earned.
Right here’s what we realized on a busy closing Sunday of the NFL’s common season.
Regardless of accidents, Detroit’s defence steps up
Sam Darnold. Justin Jefferson. Jordan Addison. Aaron Jones. T.J. Hockenson. The Minnesota Vikings have one of many best teams of offensive place gamers within the league, and but Detroit’s defence had a solution for each single one in all them.
Darnold’s numbers had been pedestrian: 18 of 41, 166 yards, no touchdowns. Jefferson had simply three catches. The one factors scored got here on a trio of area targets made by kicker Will Reichard.
It was a shocking flip of occasions, not as a result of Detroit’s defence isn’t proficient however as a result of it merely hasn’t been wholesome. It’s a unit that allowed greater than 30 factors in three of 4 December matchups.
The return of linebacker and defensive chief Alex Anzalone, who broke his arm in mid-November however was cleared to return towards Minnesota, introduced a serious enhance to the group, and a reminder of what this unit can do. Their near-constant stress of Darnold, forcing him out of the pocket (and method outdoors his consolation zone), was a stroke of genius by coordinator Aaron Glenn, whose cellphone might be ringing with interview requests from groups looking for the subsequent nice head teaching candidate.
When wholesome, Detroit’s defence can cease nearly anybody. However well being has not been on their facet.
Now, this unit has every week to relaxation — good factor, too, contemplating the lengthy checklist of names on injured reserve, and the truth that extra names could also be added, together with rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold who left Sunday’s recreation with a foot harm.
Gibbs’ profession recreation drives Detroit to high seed
We waited all day for Sunday night time, and even when the NFL’s extremely anticipated grand finale of the common season kicked off, we needed to wait a little bit longer for the scoring to warmth up.
For a recreation billed as a high-octane battle between two of the league’s most prolific offences, this one was largely outlined by its defence — till Lions operating again Jahmyr Gibbs received the ball, that’s.
Gibbs scored all 4 of Detroit’s touchdowns Sunday night time — three on the bottom, plus one other by way of the air — to make up for what was, at many occasions on this recreation, an offence that regarded out of sync.
Gibbs ran for 139 yards on 23 carries and had 170 whole yards, and in doing so he reminded everybody simply how dynamic Detroit’s offence is. Even when the passing recreation isn’t working at full velocity, they’ll nonetheless trounce you on the bottom.
Gibbs finishes the common season because the league chief in whole touchdowns this season, with 20.
Evans’ historic achievement makes Buccaneers’ playoff-clinching win much more particular
The ultimate week of the NFL season introduced loads of particular moments — profitable ones, too, contemplating all of the contract incentives in play — however none really feel fairly as celebratory because the one which noticed Mike Evans embraced by each single Tampa Bay teammate because the clock wound all the way down to victory.
With their win over the New Orleans Saints, and their standing as NFC South champs, in-hand late in Sunday’s matchup, the Buccaneers selected to not take a knee however reasonably run a play — a small one, however a major one. As a result of whereas Baker Mayfield’s brief completion to high goal Mike Evans didn’t do a lot for the sport’s end result, it did write Evans’ title into the historical past books.
Evans completed the 2024 common season with 1,004 receiving yards, marking his eleventh consecutive marketing campaign with 1,000-plus yards. That ties him with the good Jerry Rice for consecutive such seasons. Evans stands alone in carrying out the feat in his first 11 NFL seasons, nonetheless — a web page within the historical past books all his personal.
It was a dangerous play, certain — one mistaken transfer might’ve led to a decide or fumble to open the door for the Saints to get the ball as soon as extra. (That every one this was taking place whereas the Falcons had been pushing for extra time towards the Panthers solely raised the stakes even additional.) But it surely was by no means in query:
QB1? Playoffs? Broncos have each
Since successful Tremendous Bowl 50 and sending Peyton Manning into retirement a two-time champ in February 2015, the Denver Broncos have been on the lookout for their subsequent franchise quarterback — and their subsequent playoff run.
After 9 years of looking, it appears like they’ve discovered each.
Rookie QB Bo Nix, Denver’s 14th totally different starter since Manning’s championship swan tune, was almost excellent towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ B-Group on Sunday to formally e book the Broncos’ journey to the post-season.
Nix accomplished 26 of 29 passes for 321 yards and 4 touchdowns and led his membership’s speeding efforts, too, with 47 yards because the Broncos blanked the Chiefs 38-0. His efficiency was not solely a rallying cry for Denver’s shiny future however a reminder of the significance of persistence. Nix’s rookie marketing campaign began off shaky, in any case, however his development all season — each on his toes and thru the air — beneath Sean Payton’s steering has seen Denver climb the standings week after week because the defence discovered its footing, too. Nix now wraps up his first common season as a professional as the primary rookie QB to take the Broncos to the post-season since John Elway did it in 1983.
Denver entered the season finale in win-and-you’re-in mode, with a little bit further stress to take action contemplating the Cincinnati Bengals — the squad that saved its playoff hopes alive with a win towards Denver every week in the past — topped the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday to fire up further intrigue heading into Sunday’s slate.
Burrow & Co. wanted each the Broncos and the Miami Dolphins (vs. Jets) to lose to be able to sneak into the AFC’s seventh seed. And whereas the Jets did their friends in stripes a stable, defeating the Dolphins 32-20, Nix wasn’t going to let one other alternative move him by.
Again in September, it was exhausting not to take a look at the Carolina Panthers’ rebuild as something apart from disastrous. Regardless of bringing in famous QB guru Dave Canales because the workforce’s new head coach, second-year quarterback Bryce Younger nonetheless regarded incapable of operating an NFL offence. He was benched early on, with commerce hypothesis following quickly after, whereas his future was very a lot in query — not simply in Carolina, however within the NFL.
However over the course of the second half of the season, issues have actually come collectively for the 23-year-old. He’s connecting together with his weapons, throwing touchdowns in 10 straight matchups, whereas maintaining interceptions to a minimal. He’s enjoying with confidence, with poise, and — most significantly — with a smile, too, clearly having enjoyable on the soccer area once more.
And Sunday’s extra time victory towards the Atlanta Falcons — a workforce determined to win to be able to preserve its playoff hopes alive — regarded like a blast. Younger accomplished 25 passes (one shy of his season-high) for 251 yards and three touchdowns, plus one other two on foot, in Carolina’s 44-38 extra time victory.
Canales praised his quarterback post-game, saying “We’ve received our man.” Regardless of a shedding season for the 5-12 membership, the emergence of Younger because the unquestioned beginning QB of this squad marks a serious victory that’s larger than the scoresheet.
Now the rebuild round him can actually start.
Submit-Belichick Patriots nonetheless on the lookout for his successor
Robert Kraft referred to as it “one of many hardest selections” he’s ever made.
It was definitely a swift one. A mere hour after the Patriots’ season concluded with a Week 18 victory over Buffalo’s backups, New England’s proprietor introduced the firing of head coach Jerod Mayo after only one season. The timing suggests this name wasn’t primarily based on the workforce’s 4-13 report alone — the identical report Belichick’s Patriots posted final 12 months — or the victory that noticed the workforce lose the primary total decide in 2025’s draft. (New England’s win, mixed with losses for all three of the Titans, Browns, and Giants, means the Patriots now decide fourth.)
Mayo’s received loads of historical past in New England. The previous participant turned assistant was on the high of the group’s succession plan and the workforce handed him the reins final low season. The leadup to his hiring turned out to be longer than his head teaching tenure, elevating a couple of eyebrows about what, precisely, prompted Kraft to make the change and why he didn’t give the rookie bench boss extra time to develop with a workforce that’s clearly not constructed to win but.
Rodgers registers historic No. 500. What comes subsequent?
Wire to wire, the 2024 New York Jets had been a large number. However in a season of frustrations and head-scratching selections, Sunday’s Week 18 win over the Miami Dolphins introduced a uncommon cause to have a good time.
Halfway by way of the second quarter, Aaron Rodgers threw a five-yard landing move to tight finish Tyler Conklin — the veteran QB’s five hundredth profession NFL landing move. Rodgers, 41, is simply the fifth quarterback to succeed in the milestone, becoming a member of Brett Favre (508), Peyton Manning (539), Drew Brees (571), and Tom Brady (649).
Rodgers completed the sport with 4 landing tosses — the very best whole of his Jets tenure, which has seen Gang Inexperienced’s offence wrestle mightily — to deliver his profession whole to 503.
If he has an opportunity so as to add to that whole, it’s secure to say it gained’t be with the Jets. The failed experiment has put Rodgers’ future doubtful, with hypothesis circulating that Sunday marked the ultimate recreation of his profession. Was this in truth his closing act?
It’s not the playoffs, however Bears’ win over Packers nonetheless means one thing
Just like the Jets, little or no went proper for the Chicago Bears this season. However just like the Jets, the Bears closed out the 2024 marketing campaign with one thing to have a good time — as a result of for the primary time since 2018, the Bears beat the Packers. And so they did it at Lambeau, with a walk-off area aim, in addition.
The 24-22 victory marked Chicago’s first win since they defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars throughout the pond in London in Week 6 to move into the bye 4-2. It additionally served as a spoiler in Inexperienced Bay’s hunt for the sixth seed. The Packers’ loss, mixed with Washington’s win over Dallas, means Inexperienced Bay falls to the seventh seed — and a date with the Eagles in Philadelphia.
The stage is ready. Who you bought?
Eighteen weeks of normal season soccer now brings us to the second we’ve all been ready for.
It’s playoff time, people. With all 14 seeds locked in and matchups now set, right here’s what the 2024 NFL playoff image appears like as we sit up for Wild Card Weekend:
AFC: 1. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs; 2. Buffalo Payments; 3. Baltimore Ravens; 4. Houston Texans; 5. Los Angeles Chargers; 6. Pittsburgh Steelers; 7. Denver Broncos.
AFC Wild Card Weekend matchups:
Chiefs: bye
Chargers at Texans: Saturday, Jan. 11 at 4:30 p.m. ET
Steelers at Ravens: Saturday, Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. ET
Broncos at Payments: Sunday, Jan. 12 at 1 p.m. ET
NFC: 1. Detroit Lions 2. Philadelphia Eagles; 3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 4. Los Angeles Rams; 5. Minnesota Vikings; 6. Washington Commanders; 7. Inexperienced Bay Packers.
NFC Wild Card Weekend matchups:
Lions: bye
Packers at Eagles: Sunday, Jan. 12 at 4:30 p.m. ET
Commanders at Buccaneers: Sunday, Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Vikings at Rams: Monday, Jan. 13 at 8 p.m. ET
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