Tag: CHARGERS
NFL announces schedule for Super Wild Card Weekend
The NFL announced Sunday night the schedule of sites, dates, and times for Super Wild Card Weekend on January 15-17.
With the addition of a Monday night game to the 2021 playoffs, Super Wild Card Weekend will now have two Wild Card games on Saturday (4:30 PM and 8:15 PM ET), three on Sunday (1:00 PM, 4:30 PM, and 8:15 PM ET), and one on Monday (8:15 PM ET).
SUPER WILD CARD WEEKEND
Saturday, January 15
AFC: 4:30 PM (ET) 5 (Las Vegas/New England) at 4 Cincinnati (NBC, Peacock, Universo)
AFC: 8:15 PM (ET) 6 (Los Angeles Chargers/New England) at 3 Buffalo (CBS, Paramount+)
Sunday, January 16
NFC: 1:00 PM (ET) 7 Philadelphia at 2 Tampa Bay (FOX, FOX Deportes)
NFC: 4:30 PM (ET) 6 San Francisco at 3 Dallas (CBS, Paramount+, Nickelodeon, Amazon Prime Video)
AFC: 8:15 PM (ET) 7 (Las Vegas/Pittsburgh) at 2 Kansas City (NBC, Peacock, Telemundo)
Monday, January 17
NFC: 8:15 PM (ET) 5 Arizona at 4 Los Angeles Rams (ESPN/ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes)
The Divisional Playoffs schedule will be announced next weekend.
The 2021 NFL Playoff field:
American Football Conference |
National Football Conference |
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1. |
Tennessee Titans (12-5), AFC South champion |
1. |
Green Bay Packers (13-4), NFC North champion |
2. |
Kansas City Chiefs (12-5), AFC West champion |
2. |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4), NFC South champion |
3. |
Buffalo Bills (11-6), AFC East champion |
3. |
Dallas Cowboys (12-5), NFC East champion |
4. |
Cincinnati Bengals (10-7), AFC North champion |
4. |
Los Angeles Rams (12-5), NFC West champion |
5. |
Las Vegas Raiders or New England Patriots (10-7) |
5. |
Arizona Cardinals (11-6) |
6. |
Los Angeles Chargers or New England Patriots (10-7) |
6. |
San Francisco 49ers (10-7) |
7. |
Las Vegas Raiders or Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7-1) |
7. |
Philadelphia Eagles (9-8) |
Buccaneers’ owner: ‘Vincent(Jackson) was a dedicated father, husband, businessman and philanthropist’
Former Chargers and Buccaneers WR Vincent Jackson was found dead in a hotel in Brandon, Florida, on Monday. He was 38.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Jackson, who is a South Tampa resident, checked into the Homewood Suites on January 11, 2021, and had been staying in a room since that date.
On February 10, members of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office spoke with Jackson’s family members, who called to report that he was missing. A formal report was filed on February 11. The following day, February 12, HCSO located Jackson at the Homewood Suites and spoke with him. After assessing Jackson’s well-being, the missing persons case was canceled.
Jackson was located deceased at approximately 11:30 a.m. on February 15 in his hotel room by a housekeeper. There are no apparent signs of trauma and an investigation into Jackson’s death is on-going.
In 12 NFL seasons, with the Chargers and Buccaneers, Jackson finished his career with 540 receptions with 9080 yards and 57 receiving touchdowns. The three-time Pro Bowler ended his career with the Buccaneers after the 2016 season. He officially retired in 2018.
On Monday, Buccaneers owner Bryan Glazer released the following statement:
We are shocked and saddened to hear the terrible news regarding the loss of Vincent Jackson. During his five seasons with our franchise, Vincent was a consummate professional, who took a great deal of pride in his performance on and off the football field. Vincent was a dedicated father, husband, businessman and philanthropist, who made a deep impact on our community through his unyielding advocacy for military families, supported by the Jackson in Action 83 Foundation. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection for his accomplishments on the field, but his greatest achievements as a Buccaneer were the four consecutive nominations he earned as our Walter Payton Man of the Year. Our deepest condolences go out to his wife, Lindsey, and the entire Jackson family.”
Our thoughts and prayer go out to the family of Vincent Jackson.
HOF Roaf on Rivers: ‘You gotta know when it’s time to say when’
Los Angeles Chargers QB Philip Rivers has had a great run. In 16 NFL seasons, Rivers has thrown for over 58,000 yards, which is sixth in NFL history, and his 394 touchdowns passes are also sixth in NFL history.
However, 2019 has been a struggle for the 38-year-old Rivers. In 13 games, Rivers has thrown 20 touchdowns, but he has 15 interceptions, and the Chargers(5-8) are struggling through another disappointing season.
Some believe that Rivers should call it quits after this season, including Hall of Famer Willie Roaf.
“He’s a gunslinger. He’s had a great career. He’s been in the league a long time,” Roaf recently told the Go4it podcast hosted by Paul Gant. “Look what’s going on right now, Big Ben(Roethlisberger) is done this year, Eli’s done. I think all three of them are done. I don’t know if Philip wants to walk away. I know Big Ben and Eli are probably done. So, I would say that Philip should retire.
“I think they’re gonna draft a quarterback. I think this is the last year on his contract,” Roaf continued. “If he does try to come back, he’s not getting a new, big contract, so I think walk away. He’s had a great career. I think all three of those are potential Hall of Famers. I know Big Ben is. I think Big Ben and Eli are a little bit ahead of him(Rivers) as far as Hall of Fame because Eli got the rings. Philip has a chance to get in. Big Ben is a lock, and Eli will get in eventually, so all of them have the potential to go into the Hall. But, I mean you’re 37-years-old(38), you can’t play football forever…
“If you’re not throwing the ball well, and they are looking at all these stats about what areas do you need to fix. You look at it every week, what do we need to fix? Where’s our problem. Well, if you are apart of the problem, and you are not being productive as you used to do, then they are going to find somebody else to do it. That’s just the way the business works. You gotta walk away with your pride, and I think Philip has made over $200 million, so you gotta know when it’s time to say when. He’s had a great career, and it’s time to go.”
Rivers can become a free agent after this season, so it should be interesting to see if the Chargers bring him back, or Rivers decides to play for another team, or he retires. If Rivers does retire, based on his numbers, there is a good possibility that he could end up in Canton one day.
Listen to the complete interview with Roaf below at the 41:40 mark:
Fournette: ‘There are days that I am upset, mad as hell, but just trying to finish the season on a positive note’
The Jacksonville Jaguars may have had their worst performance of the season after getting thumped by the visiting Chargers(5-8) 45-10 on Sunday.
After the Jaguars went up 3-0 in the first quarter, the Chargers would score the next 31 points. Los Angeles QB Philip Rivers threw for three touchdowns and RB Austin Ekeler rushed for 101 yards and had 112 receiving yards and a touchdown in the contest.
“Like I told the players, obviously I’m responsible for wins and losses, so that’s on me and we made too many mistakes,” Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone said after the game. “There were mistakes all over the place. That goes on coaches and players and everyone, so we’ve got to take a good look. We’ve got three games left, and no one is coming to help us.”
Even though the jaguars are 4-9, and currently on a five-game losing streak, RB Leonard Fournette is trying to do everything in his power to stay positive.
“It’s tough when you have days that you come in angry, and you don’t feel like practicing or being in meetings, but you just got to choke it up,” Fournette said. “That’s all I can say. That’s what I do. Don’t get me wrong, there are days that I am upset, mad as hell, but just trying to finish the season on a positive note.
“If that’s coming in and try to spark some energy for the team during the week, just getting prepared for the game, whatever it takes,” Fournette continued. “It’s hard. Once again, you have to try to put your emotions to the side, also your pride too because we are all men in here. I know as far as for me, I hate losing, so it’s difficult for me to come in here and fake it like everything is all good when it’s not.
“I think it’s a part of growing too. I think I’ve been trying to do a good job of that this whole year, just showing my team that no matter what goes on, I still care for them, and just trying to be the leader I know I can be through going through tough times. I have to put my pride to the side sometimes just to get the results that I need out of my team. It’s probably just growing pains at the same time.”
The Jaguars have three games left, but based on what happened this season and their performance against the Chargers on Sunday, there will probably be a lot of changes in 2020.
NFL announces matchups for the five international regular-season games in 2019
The National Football League today announced the matchups for its five 2019 international regular-season games – four in the UK and one in Mexico.
The quality of the 2019 international offering is apparent in three division games and five playoff participants, including the NFC Champion Los Angeles Rams. Two of the four London Games will feature teams playing in the UK for the first time, while Mexico City will host a meeting of long-time AFC West division rivals.
The 2019 international games:
| Country | Visiting Team | Home Team |
| Mexico | Kansas City Chiefs | Los Angeles Chargers |
| UK | Carolina Panthers | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| UK | Chicago Bears | Oakland Raiders |
| UK | Cincinnati Bengals | Los Angeles Rams |
| UK | Houston Texans | Jacksonville Jaguars |
Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium will host a matchup between the AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers. Both teams, who finished the 2018 regular season with identical 12-4 records, will be playing in Mexico City for the first time.
The AFC South champion Houston Texans – who face the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars – and the Carolina Panthers – who face their NFC South foes the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – will both make their London debuts. It will bring the total number of NFL teams to have played in the UK to 31 in 28 regular-season games by the end of the 2019 season. The Jaguars will be playing a home game in London for the seventh consecutive season.
The Rams, who will face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII, will host a London game for the fourth time when they take on the Cincinnati Bengals, while the Oakland Raiders will return to London for the second straight year, facing the NFC North division champion Chicago Bears.
The NFL will play two games at Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium, with two at Wembley Stadium.
Dates, kickoff times and venues for all international games will be announced in conjunction with the release of the full NFL schedule this spring.
Coaches from Chargers, Cowboys selected to lead Pro Bowl teams
The coaching staffs of the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS and DALLAS COWBOYS were selected to lead the 2019 Pro Bowl teams in Orlando, Florida, the NFL announced today.
The 2019 Pro Bowl presented by Verizon will be played on Sunday, January 27, at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. Tickets to the game, which kicks off at 3:00 PM ET and will be televised live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and Disney XD and simulcast on ABC, are on sale now at NFL.com/ProBowlOnSale.
ANTHONY LYNN and the coaches from the Los Angeles Chargers and JASON GARRETTand the coaches from the Dallas Cowboys will lead the AFC and NFC teams, respectively.
Each conference will also be led by two Legends Captains – one offensive and one defensive. Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback JIM KELLY (offense) and linebacker DEMARCUS WARE (defense) will lead the AFC, while Pro Football Hall of Fame running back EMMITT SMITH (offense) and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker BRIAN URLACHER (defense) will lead the NFC.
NFL announces Wild Card and Divisional Playoff Schedule
The NFL announced tonight the schedule of sites, dates and times for the National Football League Wild Card Playoffs on January 5-6 and Divisional Playoffs on January 12-13.
NFL WILD CARD PLAYOFFS
| Saturday, January 5 | |
| AFC: 4:35 PM (ET) | Tennessee-Indianapolis winner at Houston (ESPN, with simulcast on ABC) |
| NFC: 8:15 PM (ET) | Seattle at Dallas (FOX) |
Sunday, January 6
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| AFC: 1:05 PM (ET) | Los Angeles Chargers at Baltimore (CBS) |
| NFC: 4:40 PM (ET) | Philadelphia at Chicago (NBC) |
NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS
Saturday, January 12 |
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| AFC: 4:35 PM (ET) | Baltimore/Los Angeles Chargers/Indianapolis or Tennessee at Kansas City (NBC) |
| NFC: 8:15 PM (ET) | Chicago/Dallas/Seattle at Los Angeles Rams (FOX) |
Sunday, January 13 |
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| AFC: 1:05 PM (ET) | Houston/Baltimore/Los Angeles Chargers at New England (CBS) |
| NFC: 4:40 PM (ET) | Dallas/Seattle/Philadelphia at New Orleans (FOX) |
In the Divisional Playoffs, the division champion with the best record in each conference will host the lowest seeded Wild Card survivor. Once teams are seeded for the playoffs, positions do not change:
American Football Conference |
National Football Conference |
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The NFC (FOX, 3:05 PM ET) and AFC (CBS, 6:40 PM ET) Championship Games will be played on Sunday, January 20.
The 2019 Pro Bowl (ESPN, with simulcast on ABC, 3:00 PM ET) will be played on Sunday, January 27 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida and Super Bowl LIII will take place on Sunday, February 3 (CBS, 6:30 PM ET), at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
*NOTE: Should the Indianapolis-Tennessee game end in a tie, Pittsburgh will be the AFC No. 6 seed and play at Houston in the Wild Card playoffs.
Chargers-Chiefs is 2nd most-watched Thursday Night Football Game this season
Capped off by the Los Angeles Chargers defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 29-28 last night, the 2018 Thursday Night Football Presented by Bud Light season delivered an average audience of 14.9 million viewers, including FOX, NFL Network, FOX Deportes, NFL digital, FOX Sports digital, Amazon and Yahoo Sports, up +4% versus the 2017 10-game Thursday Night Football average (vs. 14.2 million).
The Nielsen-measured audience averaged 14.3 million viewers (8.7 HH RTG), up +3% versus the 2017 10-game Thursday Night Football average (vs. 13.8 million viewers; 8.4 HH RTG).
Across all digital platforms (FOX Sports app, NFL.com, NFL app, Amazon Prime, Twitch, Verizon, Yahoo!) through eleven games this season, Thursday Night Football produced an average minute audience of 728K, up +66% over last year’s 10-game Thursday Night Football average (vs. 439K). Through eleven games this season, Amazon Prime Video and Twitch delivered an average minute audience of 499Kviewers, up 52% versus the 2017 10-game Thursday Night Football average (vs. 328K).
The 2018 finale matchup on Thursday Night Football Presented by Bud Light on Thursday, December 13 was seen by an average audience of 18.1 million viewers across all platforms, including FOX, NFL Network, FOX Deportes, NFL digital, FOX Sports digital, Amazon and Yahoo! Sports, making it the second most-watched Thursday Night Football game this season. Last night’s 18.1 million viewers is up +67% versus last year’s comparable Week 15 matchup (vs. Denver @ Indianapolis; 10.9 million viewers).
The Nielsen-measured audience for last night’s game was 17.4 million viewers (10.5 HH RTG) – up +64% versus the 2017 Week 15 Thursday Night Football game (vs. 10.6 million viewers; 6.5 HH RTG).
Digital streaming across Amazon Prime Video, Twitch, NFL digital platforms, FOX Sports digital platforms and Yahoo Sports for last night’s game produced an average minute audience of 897K – an increase of +104% versus the 2017 10-game Thursday Night Football average (vs. 439K) and up +209% versus last year’s Week 15 Thursday Night Football matchup (vs. 290K).
Amazon Prime Video and Twitch reached a total of 2.4 million combined viewers worldwide for the FOX NFL Thursday pregame show and the Chargers-Chiefs game. For the Chargers-Chiefs game alone, 2.2 million worldwide viewers initiated a stream on Prime Video or Twitch. The average worldwide audience watching Thursday Night Football for at least 30 seconds on Prime Video or Twitch was 622K.
NFL playoff scenarios for Week 14; Saints, Chiefs, Pats, Chargers, Texans can clinch playoff spots
Another week in the NFL, another week where more teams can clinch playoff spots.
Here’s who can clinch playoff spots in Week 14 of the NFL:
NFC
CLINCHED: Los Angeles Rams – NFC West division title
LOS ANGELES RAMS (11-1) (at Chicago (8-4), Sunday night, 8:20 PM ET, NBC)
Los Angeles clinches a first round bye with:
1) LAR win
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (10-2) (at Tampa Bay (5-7), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
New Orleans clinches NFC South division title with:
1) NO win or tie OR
2) CAR loss or tie
New Orleans clinches a playoff berth with:
1) MIN loss + PHI loss or tie + WAS loss or tie
AFC
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (10-2) (vs. Baltimore (7-5), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Kansas City clinches a playoff berth with:
1) KC win or tie OR
2) MIA loss or tie + IND loss or tie + TEN loss or tie
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (9-3) (at Miami (6-6), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
New England clinches AFC East division title with:
1) NE win or tie
HOUSTON TEXANS (9-3) (vs. Indianapolis (6-6), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Houston clinches AFC South division title with:
1) HOU win + TEN loss or tie OR
2) HOU tie + TEN loss
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (9-3) (vs. Cincinnati (5-7), Sunday, 4:05 PM ET, CBS)
Los Angeles clinches a playoff berth with:
1) LAC win + MIA loss or tie + DEN loss or tie + IND loss or tie + TEN loss or tieOR
2) LAC tie + MIA loss + DEN loss + IND loss or tie + TEN loss or tie as long as both IND and TEN both don’t tie