Tag: Playoffs

Broncos players showing no quit under coach Vic Fangio

Broncos players are displaying great effort under coach Vic Fangio.

The Broncos haven’t been officially eliminated from playoff contention but their chances of reaching the postseason are less than one percent. With only three games left this year, Denver has little to play for.

With that being the case, it wouldn’t be surprising to see players pack it in early and look ahead to the next season. One could argue that some players appeared to do that under former coach Vance Joseph in 2017 and 2018. It’s not happening under Vic Fangio this season.

The Broncos went into Sunday’s game against the 8-4 Texans with just four wins of their own but they looked like the better team, claiming a 38-24 win. Denver might not reach the postseason, but Broncos players aren’t going down without a fight.

“I’ve gotten comments from a lot of people throughout the league, and I have a couple really good friends on this staff here, guys that wouldn’t BS me, and they’re really impressed with how hard our guys are playing and the energy, the intensity,” Fangio said after Sunday’s victory.

“And it’s not a bunch of BS. These guys have played their asses off all year from an effort, focus, try hard. [I’m] really happy to see them get rewarded.”

Denver would be unlikely to make the playoffs even if it won its final three games and ended the year with an 8-8 record. But closing out the season on a high note would be a positive going into the 2020 season. Up next for the Broncos is a road game against the Chiefs in Week 15.

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How Seattle Seahawks can clinch a playoff berth in Week 15

The Seattle Seahawks can secure a spot in this year’s playoffs under a number of different scenarios in Week 15.

The Seattle Seahawks could have clinched a spot in this year’s playoffs with a win or tie last week over the Los Angeles Rams but instead saw their first road loss of the season.

However, Seattle can still clinch a playoff spot berth Week 15 based on a number of different scenarios.

Here are this week’s official AFC and NFC playoff scenarios per NFL Communications.

AFC

The Kansas City Chiefs have clinched the AFC West Division and the Baltimore Ravens have secured a playoff berth.

BALTIMORE RAVENS (11-2) vs. N.Y. Jets (5-8)

Baltimore clinches AFC North division title with:

  1.   BAL win or tie OR
  2.   PIT loss or tie

Baltimore clinches a first-round bye with:

  1.    BAL win + NE loss OR
  2.    BAL win + KC loss or tie OR
  3.    BAL tie + KC loss

Baltimore can clinch home-field advantage throughout AFC playoffs with:

1)     BAL win + NE loss + KC loss or tie

BUFFALO BILLS (9-4) at Pittsburgh (8-5)

Buffalo clinches playoff berth with:

  1. BUF win

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-3) at Cincinnati (1-12)

New England clinches playoff berth with:

  1. NE win or tie

NFC

The New Orleans Saints have clinched the NFC South Division.

GREEN BAY PACKERS (10-3) vs. Chicago (7-6)

Green Bay clinches playoff berth with:

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

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (11-2) vs. Atlanta (4-9)

San Francisco clinches playoff berth with:

  1. SF win or tie OR
  2. LAR loss or tie OR
  3. MIN loss + GB loss

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (10-3) at Carolina (5-8)

Seattle clinches playoff berth with:

  1. SEA win + LAR loss or tie OR
  2. SEA win + MIN loss OR
  3. SEA win + GB loss + MIN tie OR
  4. SEA tie + LAR loss

The Seahawks are set to square off against the Panthers this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. PT.

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Bears receive no help on Sunday when it comes to playoff push

As the Bears look to make a push for a Wild Card spot, they didn’t get any help on Sunday as the Vikings and Rams both won.

The Chicago Bears kept their slim playoff hopes alive on Thursday when they defeated the Dallas Cowboys 31-24 and improved to 7-6 on the season. Their playoff odds stood at 5% following the win, but that percentage won’t improve following Sunday’s game results, however.

Trailing the sixth seeded Minnesota Vikings by two games and the Los Angeles Rams, the first team out, by one heading into Sunday’s games, the Bears needed a loss by either team to gain ground in the race for the final wildcard spot. Unfortunately, both teams beat their respective opponents to keep the Bears at bay and lowering their chances of making the postseason to 3%, according to fivethirtyeight.com.

The Vikings took care of business at home against the Detroit Lions, winning 20-7 to improve to 9-4, while the Rams are suddenly surging, winning their second-straight divisional game as they grounded the Seattle Seahawks 28-12 and remain a game ahead of the Bears statistically at 8-5, although Los Angeles holds the tiebreaker after defeating the Bears last month.

To make matters worse, the NFC North-leading Green Bay Packers were also victorious, beating the Washington Redskins 30-15. The win keeps them atop the division and all but eliminates the Bears from repeating as division champions.

The Bears are still “in the hunt” with three games to go, but the window is closing. Assuming they win their final games against the Packers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Vikings to finish 10-6 (a feat unlikely in itself), the Bears will need the Rams and Vikings to lose two out of their final three games to secure the final wildcard spot. Below are the remaining schedules for each team.

Los Angeles Rams Remaining Schedule:

  • @ Dallas Cowboys (Week 15)
  • @ San Francisco 49ers (Week 16)
  • Vs. Arizona Cardinals (Week 17)

Minnesota Vikings Remaining Schedule:

  • @ Los Angeles Chargers (Week 15)
  • Vs. Green Bay Packers (Week 16)
  • Vs. Chicago Bears (Week 17)

At this point, the Bears can only control what they can control by winning their final three games and putting themselves in the best position possible to make the playoffs. There’s still hope the pieces can fall into place, but this weekend’s results severely put a damper on the excitement following their win on Thursday.

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Buccaneers beat Colts, but still eliminated from the playoffs

Despite a big comeback win against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 14, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were eliminated from playoff contention.

In what became a shootout in Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers were able to comeback from a 35-21 deficit in the third quarter and secure a 38-35 win behind Jameis Winston’s 456 yards, 5 touchdown (4 passing, 1 rushing) and yes, 3 interceptions.

Despite getting the win, to keep their playoff hopes alive, the Bucs needed the Detroit Lions to beat the Minnesota Vikings today, which, unfortunately, didn’t happen.

It’s tough to be eliminated from the playoffs, let alone following a win. This late in the season if you’re not a division leader, that’s the name of the game. Don’t expect the Bucs to let off the gas though, with the second youngest roster in the league, this is very much needed experience for the team going forward. The playoffs may be out of the picture for this season, but there is a lot to build on towards next season.

With the Colts scoring 35 points, it would appear that the Bucs defense was gashed, which really wasn’t the case. Jacoby Brissett was held to 256 passing yards and two touchdowns, while the defense only allowed the Colts to generate 66 yards on the ground.

The Bucs will travel to Detroit next week to take on the Lions in an effort to earn their fourth-straight win and hopefully finish this 2019 on a high note.

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Seahawks can clinch playoff berth with win or tie in Week 14

With a win or a tie over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14, the Seattle Seahawks can clinch a berth in this year’s playoffs.

The Seattle Seahawks earned a huge win over the Minnesota Vikings Monday night to take the lead in the NFC West over the San Francisco 49ers and jump up to the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

Seattle will square off against the division-rival Rams on Sunday and could clinch a spot in the playoffs with a win or a tie Week 14.

Here are this week’s official AFC and NFC playoff scenarios per NFL Communications.

AFC

CLINCHED: None

BALTIMORE RAVENS (10-2) at Buffalo Bills (9-3)

Baltimore clinches AFC North division title with:

  1. BAL win + PIT loss or tie OR
  2. BAL tie + PIT loss

Baltimore clinches playoff berth with:

  1. BAL win OR
  2. BAL tie + HOU loss or tie OR
  3. BAL tie + TEN loss or tie OR
  4. HOU loss + IND loss or tie + OAK-TEN tie

BUFFALO BILLS (9-3) vs. Baltimore Ravens (10-2)

Buffalo clinches playoff berth with:

  1. BUF win + OAK loss or tie + HOU loss + IND loss or tie

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (8-4) at New England (10-2)

Kansas City clinches AFC West division title with:

  1. KC win + OAK loss

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (10-2) vs. Kansas City (8-4)

New England clinches playoff berth with:

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

NFC

CLINCHED: New Orleans Saints – NFC South Division

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (10-2) at New Orleans (10-2)

San Francisco clinches playoff berth with:

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

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (10-2) at L.A. Rams (7-5)

Seattle clinches playoff berth with:​

  1. SEA win or tie

The Seahawks will be featured this week in primetime once again, with kickoff against the Rams set for Sunday night at 5:20 p.m. on NBC.

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Seahawks jump to No. 2 in Touchdown Wire’s Week 14 power rankings

The Seattle Seahawks advanced to the NFC West division leaders and the No. 2 seed in the NFC after beating the Vikings Week 13 Monday night.

The Seattle Seahawks advanced to become the NFC West division leaders and the No. 2 seed in the NFC after beating the Minnesota Vikings Week 13 on Monday night.

For their efforts, they have also jumped all the way up to No. 2 in Touchdown Wire’s NFL power rankings entering Week 14.

“The Seahawks came into Monday Night Football against the Vikings with a 5-0 record in games decided by four points or less, and an average margin of victory of 5.4 in their nine wins,” writes Doug Farrar. “And given the fact that Seattle and Minnesota are about as similarly designed as two NFL teams can be, you knew this was going to be a tight one. Things went a bit off the rails with this bizarre pick-six for safety Anthony Harris off a Russell Wilson deflection.”

“But the Seahawks were able to swing back from that 14-7 deficit with the dual rushing attack of Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny, and Wilson’s own ability to exploit Minnesota’s vulnerable outside cornerbacks, especially Xavier Rhodes, in a 37-30 win,” Farrar continues. “Wilson didn’t advance his own MVP argument against Lamar Jackson (who may have the thing wrapped up at this point), but he did take back the lead in touchdown passes on the season from Jackson with his two on the night. Perhaps the most important thing for Pete Carroll’s team as they look to make a dent in the playoffs is a secondary that, aside from the occasional busted play, has shown a great deal of improvement in the second half of the season.”

The Seahawks continue their hunt to remain at the top of the NFC West with a contest against the division-rival Rams next Sunday on the road.

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Seahawks take lead over 49ers in NFC West after beating Vikings

After the Week 13 win over the Minnesota Vikings, the Seattle Seahawks have leaped the San Francisco 49ers for first place in the NFC West.

The Seattle Seahawks beat the Minnesota Vikings Monday night at CenturyLink Field in an NFC game of epic proportions. With the win, the Seahawks have leaped over the San Francisco 49ers to take the lead in the NFC West and the No. 2 seed in the conference.

San Francisco lost a close game Sunday to the Ravens and stands at 10-2 on the year. Seattle, also 10-2 this season, has already beaten the 49ers and thus advanced to first place in the division.

The Seahawks have also drastically changed their potential playoff position. Here’s a look a the two possible outcomes from Monday night.

 

Had Seattle lost, the Seahawks would have dropped to the No. 6 seed, below both the 49ers and the Vikings and San Francisco would have remained at the top of the NFC West.

There is plenty of football to be played this season, however, including the Seahawks Week 17 matchup against the 49ers at home, which could prove to be the team’s most important game of 2019.

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Seahawks can take lead in NFC West with win over Vikings

The Seattle Seahawks will move into the lead in the NFC West and 2nd place in the NFC if they defeat the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night.

The Seattle Seahawks got a big boost to their potential playoff picture on Sunday, and they didn’t even have to step on the field to do so.

The 49ers lost a close battle to the Ravens, 20-17, after Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker nailed a 49-yard field goal as time expired to give them the win.

The loss dropped San Francisco to 10-2 on the season.

Should Seattle defeat Minnesota on Monday night, they would also be 10-2 on the season, and in first place in the NFC West and second overall in the NFC. They currently hold the tiebreaker over their NFC West rivals after defeating them in overtime in Week 10.

As great as a win would be for Seattle’s fortunes, a loss would put them 9-3 on the year and all the way down to sixth place in the NFC.

Minnesota would hold a tiebreaker over them for the rest of the year, and they are currently locked in a tie for the NFC North title – with Green Bay holding the tiebreaker over them.

So, without question, Monday night’s battle will have huge playoff implications in the crowded NFC.

However – San Francisco will get a chance to even the score against Seattle in Week 17, in what promises to be one of the most exciting finishes of any NFL season in recent memory.

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Saints beat Falcons 26-18, clinch third straight NFC South title

The New Orleans Saints overwhelmed a last-minute Atlanta Falcons comeback effort to improve to 10-2 and win the NFC South division title.

The New Orleans Saints shut down an Atlanta Falcons comeback bid to improve to 10-2 on the year so far and clinch their third consecutive NFC South division title, punching their ticket for the playoffs. It was an impressive win filled with big plays on offense from do-it-all fireplug Taysom Hill and a punishing defense that sacked Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan nine times.

Sure, it wasn’t perfect. The Saints left too many points on the board with dropped passes and three failed onside kick recoveries down the stretch. Penalties plagued the team throughout the game. They obviously have plenty to clean up in the next week-and-a-half before their next kickoff.

But for now, it’s time to celebrate. The Saints won big over a divisional rival that embarrassed them once this year already, and did so on a national stage in Atlanta’s building (the other Mercedes-Benz-sponsored NFL venue). They’re locked in to host a playoff game and the Falcons are mathematically eliminated. Celebrate, New Orleans.

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