After 10 games, the Tennessee Titans were 7-3, while the Jaguars were 3-7.
At that point, no one gave the Jaguars much of a chance to win the AFC South, but eight weeks later, the tables have turned.
The Jaguars(9-8) won the AFC south and will make playoffs for the first time since 2017 after defeating the Tennessee Titans 20-16 at TIAA Bank Field on Saturday night to win their fifth straight game.
Tennessee(7-10) finished the season with a seven-game losing streak.
Jacksonville trailed the Titans 16-13 in the fourth, and their defense made the play of the game. DE/OLB Josh Allen scored the first touchdown of his career on a 37-yard fumble return after safety Rayshawn Jenkins’s strip sack of Titans QB Josh Dobbs.
In his first season as Jaguars head coach, Doug Pederson won nine games, the second-most in franchise history by any coach in their first season with the team.
Jacksonville trailed for most of the of the contest, but found a way to win, and according to Pederson, this game epitomized the season for the Jaguars.
“It’s like I told the guys a second ago, that this game tonight kind of symbolizes our season,” Pederson said. “There were some struggles. There were some highs, some lows, but in the end, we had the victory. I’m so proud of the guys for the way they have just all season long just hung together and, you know, through the face of adversity at times and even through some of the high moments, you know, we just stayed the same.”
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who completed 20-32 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown on Saturday night, said the team kept the faith.
“Just how this year has gone,” Lawrence said. “The ups and downs and just the belief that we’ve had the whole time. You kind of saw it all come together today. And even just how we had to win the game, it wasn’t always pretty, but [we] just found a way to win.”
After the game, Lawrence and Pederson embraced on the field, which Lawrence discussed.
“You know, just told him I loved him,” Lawrence said. “I’m appreciative of him, just what he has done for this place. Obviously, it takes more than just a coach, but what he has been able to do for this organization has been incredible, and just excited for the future. We get another opportunity to play next week. That’s all that means is we get to play again next week, and there’s not many teams that get to say that at this point.”
Pederson won a Super Bowl in 2017 with the Eagles, so he knows what it takes to win at the highest level. According to Pederson, Jacksonville’s 27-20 win over the Raiders in Week 9, where they came back from a 17-0 deficit, was the moment he realized this team was special.
“Listen, we knew that it was going to be about what we did, you know,” Pederson said. “When we turned the ball over, that’s us. When we don’t make tackles, that’s us. When we miss field goals, that’s us, right? It’s about us, and it’s always going to be about us. I think that’s when we realized that, hey, we’ve got a pretty good football team if we could just eliminate those mistakes. We got into the bye. Obviously, you think — go back to the Raider game. You’re down 17 points in that game, and there was no flinch. Really at that moment, I think, is when we realized that this football team is a special team. We can make a run at the end of the year and see what happens.”
Jacksonville’s season would still have been a success if they had lost against the Titans, but they buckled down and got a big win. Now, they get a home playoff game against the Chargers, who they routed in Los Angeles during the regular season, so they have a good shot at advancing in the postseason.
The NFL announced today the Week 18 schedule for Saturday and Sunday, January 7-8.
The regular season will conclude with Detroit at Green Bay on Sunday Night Football on NBC.
The Week 18 Baltimore-Cincinnati game will be played on Sunday at either 1 pm ET or 4:25 pm ET, depending on the result of tonight’s Buffalo-Cincinnati game.
If Buffalo wins, the game will be played at 4:25 p.m. ET. If Cincinnati wins, it will be played at 1 p.m. ET.
Here’s the schedule below:
Saturday, January 7, 2023
|
Kansas City at Las Vegas
|
ESPN/ABC
|
4:30
|
|
Tennessee at Jacksonville
|
ESPN/ABC
|
8:15
|
|
Sunday, January 8, 2023
|
|
Tampa Bay at Atlanta
|
FOX
|
1:00
|
|
New England at Buffalo
|
CBS
|
1:00
|
|
Minnesota at Chicago
|
FOX
|
1:00
|
|
Houston at Indianapolis
|
CBS
|
1:00
|
|
New York Jets at Miami
|
FOX
|
1:00
|
|
Carolina at New Orleans
|
FOX
|
1:00
|
|
Cleveland at Pittsburgh
|
CBS
|
1:00
|
|
Baltimore at Cincinnati
|
CBS
|
1:00 or 4:25
|
|
Los Angeles Chargers at Denver
|
CBS
|
4:25
|
|
New York Giants at Philadelphia
|
CBS
|
4:25
|
|
Arizona at San Francisco
|
FOX
|
4:25
|
|
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle
|
FOX
|
4:25
|
|
Dallas at Washington
|
FOX
|
4:25
|
|
Detroit at Green Bay
|
NBC
|
8:20
|
In last week’s win over the Green Bay Packers, the Philadelphia Eagles(11-1) ran for 363 yards. Hurts had a team-record 157 yards rushing. The running game led the way for Philadelphia.
This week, against the Titans(7-5), Hurts and the Eagles found a different way to win. Hurts was 29/39 for 380 yards and four touchdowns, including one on the ground, as Philadelphia rolled over the Titans 35-10 at Lincoln Financial Field to move to 11-1.
“Nothing good ever gets done if every man doesn’t do their job and dominate their box, and that’s what we strive to do. I come up here, and I give these analogies about steakhouses or whatever, but that’s our reality,” Hurts said after the win. “We work really hard, and we prepare really hard, and sometimes it just looks different. Regardless of how we’re attacking a defense, we just want to execute in whatever it is we’re doing.”
The offense scored 35 points and had 453 yards of total offense. Conversely, the defense was relentless as they recorded six sacks, held the Titans to 209 total yards, and limited Derrick Henry to just 30 yards on 11 carries.
However, Philadelphia did have 12 penalties, despite that, the Eagles played a complete game for the first time this season.
“Obviously, we played well at every phase of this game: offense, defense, and special teams. Offensively, we have things we have to clean up, some pre-snap penalties,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said. “So, we’ll get better from that. There are some ways we can do that and clean that up. I have to do a better job coaching it, and we’ll clean that up.
“But that was a pretty complete game for us, and I think that is a really good football team. I have a lot of respect for the players and coaches over there, and I just think that is a good football team.”
A subplot of this game was A.J. Brown going against his former team. Brown got revenge after catching five passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns; the two touchdown receptions were 40 and 29 yards.
“This one meant a lot to me,” Brown said. “Early on, I had mixed emotions about the trade and everything, and I’d be lying to you to say I didn’t circle this game.”
Before his first touchdown, Brown appeared to have caught a touchdown, but he was ruled out of bounds. On the next play, after a collision with Titans corner Kristian Fulton, Brown broke wide open and Hurts connected with him to give the Eagles a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.
“Yeah, I think that was huge,” Brown said of the touchdown. “I just think that shows the faith [Eagles QB Jalen Hurts] has in me. Just to come right back to me. I had regular out, but Jalen told me when I was leaving the huddle, he said, ‘pump it.’ So, I was like, ‘let’s do it.’”
Regarding the defense, they held Titans running back Derrick Henry in check, which, according to Eagles DE Brandon Graham, was the defense’s attitude coming into the game.
I felt like everyone’s attitude was to stop [Titans RB] Derrick [Henry]. That is all we kept hearing. That is what they are going to do. They are going to run the ball, screen us, and play quick ball with play-action and deep shots. That is exactly what we got, and I feel like we started from the jump with meeting them at the line and making tackles.”
The Eagles hope to keep the winning going next Sunday at MetLife Stadium against the Giants.
Notes:
Philadelphia (363 rushing on 11/27/22 vs. Green Bay; 386 passing on 12/4/22 vs. Tennessee) is the first NFL team to throw for 350+ yards after rushing for 350+ yards the previous week since the 1987 Los Angeles Raiders (356 rushing on 11/30/87; 360 passing on 12/6/87).
Overall, the Eagles produced 453 total yards (386 passing; 67 rushing), marking the second time this season that they registered 450+ total yards in consecutive games (also 9/11/22-9/19/22). Philadelphia is one of only three NFL teams to have at least 4 games with 450+ total yards this year, joining Kansas City (5) and Miami (4).
The Eagles have scored 35+ points in back-to-back games for the first time since 11/5/17-11/19/17 (also 2).
For the first three seasons of his career, Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown was a member of the Tennessee Titans. During his time with Tennessee, Brown established himself as one of the better wideouts in football, including making the Pro Bowl in 2020.
During this year’s draft, Brown was traded to the Eagles from the Titans and signed a four-year, $100 million contract with Philadelphia.
This Sunday, Brown can show the Titans what they are missing as Tennessee travels to Philadelphia to battle the Eagles.
On Wednesday, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni discussed what he would say to Brown as he prepares to face his former team.
“What I said to [WR] Zach Pascal before we played Indianapolis is going to be similar things in my message to [WR] A.J. [Brown] this week,” Sirianni said. “He doesn’t have to do any more than just go out there and be himself. He doesn’t have to press. He just has to go out there and do his job to the best of his ability with the attention to detail, and to go out there — because if you allow yourself — every week, you can do that to yourself.
“I know there is no team for A.J. to go home to in Mississippi, but I’m going to New Orleans, and I am going to treat that bigger because I’m playing in front of them. Or now I’m going to play my former team here. Oh, now I’m going to play — I’m thinking of Ole Miss guys — now I’m going to play this team, and that was my college roommate, and so now I have to get up for this one.
“If you just treat everyone the same, right? That’s the way to go. And then you don’t allow yourself to ride these waves of the season, because there is always going to be different schedules, there is going to be Thanksgiving one week, and then there is going to be Christmas one week.
“You got to stay true to your process, and that’s the key. Because every game, the next game is always biggest game. We don’t want to let each other down, and so you got to prep for every game the same. But naturally, human nature will take over, and that’s my job as a coach to make sure that he knows he doesn’t have to do anything more than just be A.J. Brown. That’s why he’s here. That’s why we traded for him, that’s why we paid him, because he’s a phenomenal player. Just go be yourself. You don’t have to do anything special because you’re special enough to go out there and play.”
After 11 games, Brown, to no one surprise, has established himself as the team’s number-one wide receiver, as he leads the team in receiving yards(831) and touchdown receptions(7). He’s been as advertised.
Expect Brown to be pretty hype for the Titans.
A complete list of home and away matchups for the 2022 regular season was issued Thursday by the NFL.
Each team will play 17 regular-season games (and three preseason games) as follows:
-
Home and away against its three division opponents (six games).
-
The four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating, three-year cycle (four games).
-
The four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating, four-year cycle (four games).
-
Two intraconference opponents based on the prior year’s standings (two games). These games match a first-place team against the first-place teams in the two same-conference divisions the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place and fourth-place teams in a conference are matched in the same way each year.
-
One interconference opponent based on the prior year’s standings on a rotating four-year cycle (one game). These games match a first-place team from one division against a first-place team in an opposite-conference division that the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place and fourth-place teams in each division are matched in the same way each year.
The home conference for this game will rotate each season, with the NFC teams hosting the game in 2022.
The scheduling formula implemented in 2002 with realignment guarantees that all teams play each other on a regular, rotating basis.
The 2022 schedule, with playing dates and times, will be announced in the spring.
The following are the 2022 scheduling rotation and team-by-team opponents.
2022 SCHEDULING ROTATION BY DIVISION
AFC
EAST
|
Intraconference
|
AFC NORTH
|
Interconference
|
NFC NORTH
|
17th game
|
NFC WEST
|
|
|
|
AFC
NORTH
|
Intraconference
|
AFC EAST
|
Interconference
|
NFC SOUTH
|
17th game
|
NFC EAST
|
|
|
|
AFC
SOUTH
|
Intraconference
|
AFC WEST
|
Interconference
|
NFC EAST
|
17th game
|
NFC NORTH
|
|
|
|
AFC
WEST
|
Intraconference
|
AFC SOUTH
|
Interconference
|
NFC WEST
|
17th game
|
NFC SOUTH
|
|
|
|
NFC
EAST
|
Intraconference
|
NFC NORTH
|
Interconference
|
AFC SOUTH
|
17th game
|
AFC NORTH
|
|
|
|
NFC
NORTH
|
Intraconference
|
NFC EAST
|
Interconference
|
AFC EAST
|
17th game
|
AFC SOUTH
|
|
|
|
NFC
SOUTH
|
Intraconference
|
NFC WEST
|
Interconference
|
AFC NORTH
|
17th game
|
AFC WEST
|
|
|
|
NFC
WEST
|
Intraconference
|
NFC SOUTH
|
Interconference
|
AFC WEST
|
17th game
|
AFC EAST
|
2022 OPPONENTS
AFC EAST
-
Buffalo Bills: Home: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets,Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans
Away: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams
-
New England Patriots: Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts
Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers
-
Miami Dolphins Home: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers
Away: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers
-
New York Jets Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars
Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks
AFC NORTH:
-
Cincinnati Bengals Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins
Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans
-
Pittsburgh Steelers Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles
-
Cleveland Browns Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, Washington Football Team
-
Baltimore Ravens Home: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins
Away: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
AFC SOUTH
-
Tennessee Titans Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants
Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Football Team
-
Indianapolis Colts Home: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Football Team
Away: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, New England Patriots
-
Houston Texans Home: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Football Team
Away: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants
-
Jacksonville Jaguars Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants
Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Football Team
AFC WEST
-
Kansas City Chiefs Home: Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans
Away: Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
-
Las Vegas Raiders Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers
Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans
-
Los Angeles Chargers Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins
Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers
-
Denver Broncos. Home: Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers
Away: Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans
NFC EAST
-
Dallas Cowboys Home: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Football Team, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Away: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Football Team, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans
-
Philadelphia Eagles Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Football Team, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans
Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Football Team, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
-
Washington Football Team Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans
Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers
-
New York Giants Home: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Football Team, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
Away: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Football Team, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans
NFC NORTH
-
Green Bay Packers Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Los Angeles Rams, Tennessee Titans
Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Football Team
-
Minnesota Vikings Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets
Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Football Team
-
Chicago Bears Home: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Football Team, San Francisco 49ers
Away: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets
-
Detroit Lions Home: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Football Team
Away: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets
NFC SOUTH
-
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks
Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers
-
New Orleans Saints Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks
Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers
-
Atlanta Falcons Home: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers
Away: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Football Team
-
Carolina Panthers Home: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers
Away: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks
NFC WEST
-
Los Angeles Rams Home: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders
Away: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
-
Arizona Cardinals Home: Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Away: Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings
-
San Francisco 49ers Home: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Football Team
Away: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders
-
Seattle Seahawks Home: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, New York Jets
Away: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The NFL announced Sunday night the schedule of sites, dates, and times for the Divisional Playoffs on January 22-23.
Saturday, January 22:
AFC: 4:30 PM (ET) Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans (CBS, Paramount+)
NFC: 8:15 PM (ET) San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers (FOX, FOX Deportes)
Sunday, January 23:
NFC: 3:00 PM (ET) Arizona Cardinals or Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(NBC, Peacock, Universo)
AFC: 6:30 PM (ET) Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs (CBS, Paramount+)
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
|
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)
|
We have reached the end of the regular season, and 11 of the 14 possible playoff teams have clinched, and now there are three more teams who will attempt to do the same in Week 18.
The Green Bay Packers have clinched the number one seed in the NFC, while in the AFC, the Bengals, Chiefs, Titans, and Patriots have a shot at the number one seed. However, if Tennessee defeats Jacksonville, they would be the number one seed and get a first-round bye.
Below are the playoff scenarios for Week 18:
AFC
CLINCHED (5 of 7):
-
Cincinnati Bengals – AFC North division title
-
Kansas City Chiefs – AFC West division title
-
Tennessee Titans – AFC South division title
-
Buffalo Bills – playoff berth
-
New England Patriots – playoff berth
BALTIMORE RAVENS (8-8) (vs. Pittsburgh (8-7-1), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Baltimore clinches playoff berth with:
-
BAL win + LAC loss + IND loss + MIA loss or tie
BUFFALO BILLS (10-6) (vs. New York Jets (4-12), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, CBS)
Buffalo clinches AFC East division title with:
-
BUF win OR
-
NE loss OR
-
BUF tie + NE tie
CINCINNATI BENGALS (10-6) (at Cleveland (7-9), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
Cincinnati clinches AFC’s No. 1 seed, only first-round bye and homefield advantage with:
-
CIN win + TEN loss + KC loss + NE loss or tie OR
-
CIN win + TEN loss + KC loss + BUF win
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (9-7) (at Jacksonville (2-14), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Indianapolis clinches playoff berth with:
-
IND win or tie OR
-
LAC loss + BAL-PIT tie OR
-
LAC loss + PIT loss + MIA win
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-5) (at Denver (7-9), Saturday, 4:30 PM ET, ESPN/ABC)
Kansas City clinches AFC’s No. 1 seed, only first-round bye and homefield advantage with:
-
KC win + TEN loss or tie OR
-
KC tie + TEN loss
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (9-7) (vs. Los Angeles Chargers (9-7), Sunday night, 8:20 PM ET, NBC)
Las Vegas clinches playoff berth with:
-
LV win OR
-
LV tie + IND loss OR
-
IND loss + PIT loss or tie
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (9-7) (at Las Vegas (9-7), Sunday night, 8:20 PM ET, NBC)
Los Angeles Rams clinch playoff berth with:
-
LAC win or tie
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-6) (at Miami (8-8), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, CBS)
New England clinches AFC’s No. 1 seed, only first-round bye and homefield advantage with:
-
NE win + BUF loss or tie + KC loss + TEN loss
New England clinches AFC East division title with:
-
NE win + BUF loss or tie OR
-
NE tie + BUF loss
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8-7-1) (at Baltimore (8-8), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Pittsburgh clinches playoff berth with:
-
PIT win + IND loss + LV-LAC game does not end in a tie
TENNESSEE TITANS (11-5) (at Houston (4-12), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Tennessee clinches AFC’s No. 1 seed, only first-round bye and homefield advantage with:
-
TEN win OR
-
TEN tie + KC loss or tie OR
-
KC loss + CIN loss or tie + NE loss or tie OR
-
KC loss + CIN loss or tie + BUF win
NFC
CLINCHED (6 of 7):
-
Green Bay Packers – NFC North division title, No. 1 seed, only first-round bye and homefield advantage
-
Dallas Cowboys – NFC East division title
-
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – NFC South division title
-
Arizona Cardinals – playoff berth
-
Los Angeles Rams – playoff berth
-
Philadelphia Eagles – playoff berth
ARIZONA CARDINALS (11-5) (vs. Seattle (6-10), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)
Arizona clinches NFC West division title with:
-
ARI win + LAR loss
LOS ANGELES RAMS (12-4) (vs. San Francisco (9-7), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)
Los Angeles Rams clinch NFC West division title with:
-
LAR win or tie OR
-
ARI loss or tie
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (8-8) (at Atlanta (7-9), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)
New Orleans clinches playoff berth with:
-
NO win + SF loss
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (9-7) (at Los Angeles Rams (12-4), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX
)San Francisco clinches playoff berth with:
-
SF win or tie OR
-
NO loss or tie
With two weeks left in the NFL season, six of the fourteen possible playoff teams have clinched. The Kansas City Chiefs clinched the AFC West division, while in the NFC, the Cowboys(NFC East division title), Packers(NFC North division title), Buccaneers (NFC South division title), Cardinals(playoff berth), and Rams(playoff berth) are all in the dance.
There are eight spots left, and in the AFC, the Bills, Bengals, Colts, Patriots, and Titans can punch their tickets for the playoffs this week.
In the NFC, Philadelphia and San Francisco can clinch as well.
Read below the playoff scenarios for Week 17:
AFC
CLINCHED:
-
Kansas City Chiefs – AFC West division title
BUFFALO BILLS (9-6) (vs. Atlanta (7-8), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
Buffalo clinches playoff berth with:
-
BUF win + BAL loss or tie OR
-
BUF win + LAC loss or tie + LV loss or tie OR
-
BUF tie + MIA loss or tie + LAC loss + LV loss OR
-
BUF tie + MIA loss or tie + LAC loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie OR
-
BUF tie + MIA loss or tie + LV loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie OR
-
BUF tie + NE loss or tie + LAC Loss + LV loss OR
-
BUF tie + NE loss or tie + LAC loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie OR
-
BUF tie + NE loss or tie + LV loss or tie + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie OR
-
BUF tie + LAC loss + LV loss + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie
CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-6) (vs. Kansas City (11-4), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Cincinnati clinches AFC North division title with:
-
CIN win OR
-
CIN tie + BAL loss or tie OR
-
BAL loss + CLE-PIT tie
Cincinnati clinches playoff berth with:
-
CIN tie + LAC loss + LV loss + MIA loss or tie OR
-
CIN tie + LAC loss + LV loss + NE loss OR
-
CIN tie + LAC loss + LV tie + MIA loss or tie + NE win OR
-
CIN tie + LAC loss + LV tie + NE tie + MIA tie + BUF win or tie OR
-
CIN tie + LAC loss + LV tie + NE loss + MIA win + BUF win or tie
NOTE: There are other clinching scenarios for Cincinnati that involve multiple tie games.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (9-6) (vs. Las Vegas (8-7), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
Indianapolis clinches playoff berth with:
-
IND win OR
-
IND tie + BAL loss + NE loss or tie OR
-
IND tie + BAL loss + MIA loss or tie
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (11-4) (at Cincinnati (9-6), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Kansas City clinches AFC’s No. 1 seed, only first-round bye and homefield advantage with:
-
KC win + TEN loss or tie OR
-
KC tie + TEN loss
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (9-6) (vs. Jacksonville (2-13), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
New England clinches playoff berth with:
-
NE win + MIA loss or tie OR
-
NE win + LV loss or tie OR
-
NE tie + MIA loss + LV loss + LAC loss or tie OR
-
NE tie + MIA loss + BAL loss or tie OR
-
NE tie + LV loss + LAC loss + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie OR
-
NE tie + LV loss + LAC loss or tie + BAL loss or tie + MIA win + BUF win
NOTE: There are other clinching scenarios for New England that involve multiple tie games.
TENNESSEE TITANS (10-5) (vs. Miami (8-7), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Tennessee clinches AFC South division title with:
-
TEN win OR
-
IND loss OR
-
TEN tie + IND tie
Tennessee clinches playoff berth with:
-
TEN tie OR
-
LAC loss or tie + BAL loss or tie OR
-
LAC loss or tie + NE loss or tie OR
-
BAL loss or tie + NE loss or tie
NFC
CLINCHED:
-
Dallas Cowboys – NFC East division title
-
Green Bay Packers – NFC North division title
-
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – NFC South division title
-
Arizona Cardinals – playoff berth
-
Los Angeles Rams – playoff berth
GREEN BAY PACKERS (12-3) (vs. Minnesota (7-8), Sunday night, 8:20 PM ET, NBC)
Green Bay clinches NFC’s No. 1 seed, only first-round bye and homefield advantage with:
-
GB win + DAL loss or tie OR
-
GB tie + DAL loss + LAR loss + TB loss or tie OR
-
GB tie + DAL loss + LAR tie + TB loss
LOS ANGELES RAMS (11-4) (at Baltimore (8-7), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
Los Angeles Rams clinch NFC West division title with:
-
LAR win + ARI loss or tie OR
-
LAR tie + ARI loss
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8-7) (at Washington (6-9), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
Philadelphia clinches playoff berth with:
-
PHI win + MIN loss or tie + NO loss or tie OR
-
PHI win + MIN loss or tie + SF win or tie OR
-
PHI tie + MIN loss + NO loss + ATL loss or tie OR
-
PHI tie + MIN loss + NO tie + ATL loss or tie + SF win or tie
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (8-7) (vs. Houston (4-11), Sunday, 4:05 PM ET, CBS)
San Francisco clinches playoff berth with:
-
SF win + NO loss or tie OR
-
SF tie + MIN loss or tie + NO loss + ATL loss or tie
It’s that time of the year when teams start to fight it out for the seven playoff spots in each conference. Patriots and Titans can clinch spots in the AFC, while the Buccaneers, Cardinals, Cowboys, Packers, and Rams can punch their tickets for the playoffs in the NFC.
Here are playoff scenarios for Week 15 in the NFL:
AFC
CLINCHED: None
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (9-4) (vs. Indianapolis (7-6), Saturday night, 8:15 PM ET, NFLN)
New England clinches playoff berth with:
-
NE win + MIA loss or tie + CLE loss + BAL loss + CIN loss + KC loss OR
-
NE win + MIA loss or tie + CLE loss + BAL loss + DEN loss + LAC loss OR
-
NE win + MIA loss or tie + CLE loss + PIT loss or tie + DEN loss or tie + LAC loss OR
-
NE win + MIA loss or tie + CLE loss + BAL loss + PIT loss or tie + CIN loss OR
-
NE win + MIA loss or tie + CLE loss + BAL loss + CIN loss + LAC loss OR
-
NE win + MIA loss or tie + BAL loss + LAC loss + LV loss + CIN-DEN tie
NOTE: There are other complex scenarios for New England that involve multiple ties and strength-of-victory permutations.
TENNESSEE TITANS (9-4) (at Pittsburgh (6-6-1), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Tennessee clinches AFC South division title with:
-
TEN win + IND loss
NFC
CLINCHED: None
ARIZONA CARDINALS (10-3) (at Detroit (1-11-1), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
Arizona clinches playoff berth with:
-
ARI win or tie OR
-
NO loss or tie + MIN loss or tie OR
-
NO loss or tie + PHI-WAS tie OR
-
NO loss or tie + PHI loss + ATL loss or tie + GB win or tie OR
-
NO loss or tie + SF tie + LAR loss OR
-
MIN loss or tie + PHI-WAS tie OR
-
MIN loss or tie + SF loss OR
-
SF loss + PHI-WAS tie OR
-
SF tie + LAR loss + PHI-WAS tie
DALLAS COWBOYS (9-4) (at N.Y. Giants (4-9), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)
Dallas clinches NFC East division title with:
-
DAL win + WAS-PHI tie OR
-
DAL win + WAS loss + DAL clinches strength-of-victory tiebreaker over PHI
Dallas clinches playoff berth with:
-
DAL win + NO loss or tie OR
-
DAL win + SF loss OR
-
DAL tie + MIN loss or tie + NO loss or tie + ATL loss or tie OR
-
MIN loss + ATL loss + NO loss + PHI-WAS tie OR
-
MIN loss + ATL loss + NO loss + DAL clinches strength-of-victory tiebreaker over PHI
GREEN BAY PACKERS (10-3) (at Baltimore (8-5), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)
Green Bay clinches NFC North division title with:
-
GB win or tie OR
-
MIN loss or tie
Green Bay clinches playoff berth with:
-
NO loss or tie + SF loss OR
-
NO loss or tie + PHI-WAS tie OR
-
NO loss or tie + LAR loss + SF tie OR
-
SF loss + PHI-WAS tie OR
-
LAR loss + SF tie + PHI-WAS tie
LOS ANGELES RAMS (9-4) (vs. Seattle (5-8), Sunday, 4:25 PM ET, FOX)
L.A. Rams clinch playoff berth with:
-
LAR win + NO loss or tie + MIN loss or tie OR
-
LAR win + NO loss or tie + PHI-WAS tie OR
-
LAR win + MIN loss or tie + PHI-WAS tie OR
-
LAR tie + MIN loss + NO loss + ATL loss or tie
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (10-3) (vs. New Orleans (6-7), Sunday night, 8:20 PM ET, NBC)
Tampa Bay clinches NFC South division title with:
-
TB win or tie
Tampa Bay clinches playoff berth with:
-
MIN loss or tie + SF loss OR
-
MIN loss or tie + PHI-WAS tie OR
-
SF loss + PHI-WAS tie