Tag: NFC

2019 AFC and NFC playoff scenarios for Week 13

Here’s a look a which teams in the AFC and NFC can clinch 2019 playoff spots Week 13 of the 2019 NFL regular season.

The Seattle Seahawks have just five more regular-season games on the books as they continue the hunt for a coveted playoff spot.

The NFL has now released the official playoff scenarios for Week 13. Here’s how things are shaping up for the postseason – below is a copy of the league’s press release.

AFC

CLINCHED: None

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-1) (at Houston (7-4), Sunday, 8:20 PM ET, NBC)

New England clinches playoff berth with:

  1. NE win + OAK loss or tie OR
  2. NE win + PIT loss or tie OR
  3. NE tie + OAK loss + PIT loss OR
  4. NE tie + OAK loss + IND loss OR
  5. NE tie + PIT loss + IND loss

​NFC

CLINCHED: None

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (9-2) (at Atlanta (3-8), Thursday, 8:20 PM ET, NBC)

New Orleans clinches NFC South division title with:​

  1. NO win OR
  2. NO tie + CAR loss or tie

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (10-1) (at Baltimore (9-2), Sunday, 1:00 PM ET, FOX)

San Francisco clinches playoff berth with:

  1. SF win + LAR loss or tie OR
  2. SF tie + LAR loss

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PODCAST: Can Bills carry consistency vs. Broncos into Cowboys meeting?

Buffalo Bills podcast following Week 12 in over Denver Broncos, ahead of Thanksgiving meetings vs. Cowboys.

The Buffalo Bills won their second straight game to improve to 8-3 on the season for the first time since 1996. It was a remarkable game, with the team displaying proficiency in all three phases of football that put up points and yardage on a top defense, halting a strong run offense, and did it’s job on special teams.

Denver had played much better than it’s record until this point, and they hit an absolute brick wall at New Era Field. The Bills defense only allowed 167 yards of total offense in Week 12. Buffalo downed talented running backs Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman. In fact, it seemed that Broncos play calling didn’t aim to target Buffalo’s sketchy run defense in the second half, as they became very pass happy and one-dimensional.

In the Broncos closest venture towards the end zone, they could not get the job done as Tre’Davious White was essentially handed an interception and a broken route intended for Courtland Sutton, who was held for one catch in the outing.

The offense did well, aside from a bad Josh Allen interception that gave Denver some of the best field positioning that they had all day. 244 yards on the ground, again dominated by Devin Singletary.

However, the big news was that, Frank Gore, the journeyman running back, passed Barry Sanders to become third all-time in rushing yards. A tremendous accomplishment, and extra satisfying that it happened with him wearing a Bills jersey.

Buffalo prepares for Dallas on a short week for this Thursday, as the Bills play their first Thanksgiving game in several years. The quick turnaround has affected many teams this year, not being allowed to play to their full potential. Everyone is already hard at work at One Bills Drive to ensure the Bills are prepared for their latest National Spotlight opportunity.

Podcast Hosts Matt and Jeremy examine the win over Denver, and the road to Dallas:

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Seattle Seahawks defensive player of the game: CB Tre Flowers

Flowers led the team with three passes defended while also racking up seven combined tackles, third on the team behind Kendricks and K.J. Wright.

The Seattle Seahawks defense was excellent on Sunday morning against the Philadelphia Eagles, forcing Carson Wentz into multiple mistakes and making up for an ugly game from the Seattle offense, ultimately leading to the team’s 17-9 victory.

While there were multiple players who could have been named defensive player of the game, including Ziggy Ansah, Shaquem Griffin, Mychal Kendricks, and Bradley McDougald, the award goes to cornerback Tre Flowers.

Flowers led the team with three passes defended while also racking up seven combined tackles, third on the team behind Kendricks and K.J. Wright.

Most importantly, he had a crucial interception late in the fourth quarter, which ended up icing the game.

Flowers has had his ups and downs this season, his second as a starter after getting drafted out of Oklahoma State – where he exclusively played safety.

He fits the bill as a lengthy, physical outside cornerback in Pete Carroll’s system, and his performance on Sunday proved he is coming into his own.

While it hasn’t always been pretty, Flowers may be taking the route of other late-round cornerbacks turned stars in Seattle, a staple of the Carroll/John Schneider/Legion of Boom era in the Emerald City.

The Seahawks are now 9-2 on the season, although the rest of their schedule will require a lot of work if they want to be more than a wild card team in the crowded NFC.

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Seahawks take NFC West lead if Cardinals beat 49ers on the road

The Seattle Seahawks could take the lead in the NFC West if the Arizona Cardinals defeat the San Francisco 49ers on the road today.

The Seattle Seahawks can take the lead in the NFC West for the first time since October 2017 if the Arizona Cardinals defeat the San Francisco 49ers on the road in Week 11.

Seattle has fought valiantly through 10 weeks of football, compiling an admirable 8-2 record through that span, but the NFC is absolutely stacked this year. The Seahawks will have their work cut out for them if they want to make the postseason, let alone compete in it.

The 8-1 49ers are their biggest obstacle, as they share a division with Seattle. Despite their loss to the Seahawks in overtime last week, the 49ers have repeatedly proven they are not to be taken lightly by rattling off eight straight wins in the first half of the season. In addition, the Seahawks narrowly edged them out and barely escaped Levi’s Stadium with a victory. Both teams made critical errors, but the 49ers refused to let up at any point. Seattle will need all the help it can get from San Francisco’s opponents while capitalizing on any opportunities presented.

However, like the Seahawks, the 49ers have a difficult second-half schedule that could hinder their chances of claiming the division crown. Most notably, San Francisco still has to play the Saints and Ravens, the two teams that beat Seattle.

The Seahawks have a good chance to make the postseason and even claim the NFC West crown, but they will likely need to count on some assistance from other teams. It starts with the Cardinals today at 1:05 p.m. PT.

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NFC Playoff race heading into Week 11

The NFC Playoff race doesn’t have much drama with the wildcard. The teams that don’t win the North and West will most likely make it to the tournament. There are a ton of interesting divisional races. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) NFC …

The NFC Playoff race doesn’t have much drama with the wildcard. The teams that don’t win the North and West will most likely make it to the tournament. There are a ton of interesting divisional races.

(Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images)

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys 5-4

Dallas blew a winnable game against Minnesota, but that’s what the Cowboys have been doing all year. Blowing winnable games. Now they are in a tight race with the Eagles. They could shoot for a wild card if they slip up in the NFC East, but the Vikings now have the tiebreaker and it will be difficult to catch the loser of the NFC West race between the Seahawks and Niners. The Eagles game in Week 16 could decide the division.

Remaining Games: @Lions, @Patriots, Bills, @Bears, Rams, @Eagles, Redskins

Philadelphia Eagles 5-4

The Eagles need to split their next two games at worse. If they don’t all isn’t lost though. Their schedule is pretty easy after Week 12. Those NFC matchups outside of the Cowboys game are cakewalks. Their record looks like 10-6 at the worst.

Remaining Games: Patriots, Seahawks, @Dolphins, Giants, @Redskins, Cowboys, @Giants

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Seahawks DE Jadeveon Clowney named NFC Defensive Player of Week 10

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has been named the NFC’s Defensive Player of Week 10 for his play against the 49ers.

Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was a huge part of Seattle’s win over the 49ers Monday night. Against San Francisco, Clowney logged five hits on the quarterback, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery that resulted in a defensive touchdown.

Clowney’s performance was exactly what coaches and fans had been waiting for this season.

“It was a breakout game,” coach Pete Carroll said in his postgame press conference. “I thought he was so impressive all night long. I don’t know how, I thought they were tackling him, he was just penetrating so fast and so furiously. And what a fantastic game.”

For his efforts Monday night, Clowney has been named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week. This marks the second time in Clowney’s career he has earned the award, the first time being last year when he was still a member of the Texans.

It’s no surprise Clowney was also named Seahawks Wire’s Player of the Game.

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Seahawks vs. Eagles in Week 12 flexed from Sunday night to early slot

The Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles will no longer meet Sunday night in Week 12, with the game slated to start at 10:00 a.m. PT.

The Seattle Seahawks’ matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12 has been flexed out of prime time.

The NFL announced the schedule change on Tuesday, which will now feature the 49ers and Packers in the 5:20 p.m. PT time slot, pushing the Seahawks and Eagles up to a 10 a.m. PT kickoff — Seattle’s fourth early game of the season.

The Seahawks were initially slated for four straight prime-time games. Seattle is now entering its bye week.

 

Seattle is 5-0 on the road for the first time in franchise history and 3-0 in 10 a.m. start times this year, so perhaps this news isn’t as daunting as it seems.

The Eagles were the Super Bowl champs two years ago but went just 9-7 last season and are only 5-4 in 2019, perhaps a factor in moving the game.

Additionally, the 49ers and Packers are two of the strongest teams in the NFC, and their matchup should be a good battle for supremacy in the conference.

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