Tag: postseason

Seahawks’ postseason odds plummet following Packers setback

Seahawks’ postseason odds plummet following Packers setback

The Seattle Seahawks entered Sunday’s primetime contest versus the Green Bay Packers in pole position in the NFC West. Having enjoyed a four-game win streak, Mike Macdonald’s club went into Sunday possessing a 55.5% chance to make the playoffs, according to ESPN’s Analytics department. Their predictive model gave Seattle a 51.8% chance to win the division title.

Unfortunately, the Seahawks were swept aside 30-13 by the Packers on Sunday Night Football. That setback had a dramatic impact on Seattle’s updated postseason odds. The Los Angeles Rams have moved into first place in the NFC West. Seattle’s latest playoff now stands at 37.2% to win the division, and 35.1% to make the postseason, per Brady Henderson and ESPN Analytics.

It’s rare that a team possesses a better opportunity to win the division than claim a wild-card spot, but that’s the situation the Seahawks find themselves in. As Henderson laid out above, the Washington Commanders currently possess a one-game lead for the third-and-final wild card spot, and have two more NFC wins for tiebreaker purposes. Whereas the Seahawks still possess a potentially NFC-West-deciding showdown with the Rams during Week 18’s regular-season finale.

Macdonald’s attention now shifts to a difficult matchup with the surging 12-2 Minnesota Vikings in Week 16. The Seahawks must stay within one victory of their arch rival Rams to increase their chances of Week 18 being a win-and-in scenario. Seattle must quickly recover from Sunday’s setback to keep their postseason dreams alive.

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Seahawks vs Packers: Playoff Preview on Sunday Night Football

Seahawks vs Packers: Playoff Preview on Sunday Night Football

The Seattle Seahawks are playing their best football of the season, and it’s coming at the right time, as they are about to enter their toughest stretch of the year. First up will be a Sunday Night Football showdown against an old foe… the Green Bay Packers.

If the 2024 season were to end today (and I am well aware there is still plenty of football left to be played!) the Seahawks would own the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. As the No. 3 seed, they would host the No. 6 seed in Wild Card Weekend, which is currently occupied by the Packers. Sunday night at Lumen Field, in prime time, is going to feel like a playoff game… because this certainly could end up being one!

At 8-5, Seattle is in first place in the NFC West. Meanwhile, Green Bay is in third place. However, they are not like other third place squads. With their 9-4 record, the Packers would be in first in three other divisions this year. Unfortunately for them, they are trapped in the NFC North with the 12-1 Detroit Lions and the 11-2 Minnesota Vikings. The Packers have already been swept by Detroit, and lost once to Minnesota already. Their chances of winning the NFC North are already a longshot, and a loss in Seattle would likely sink them for good.

On the other side, the Seahawks are in first but they have the Los Angeles Rams hot on their tail. LA has an easier path moving forward than Seattle does, which means the margin for error for the Hawks is near zero. The Seahawks need a win on Sunday night to help keep the Rams at bay and remain in first place.

No, the stakes are not quite as high as “your season will be over if you lose” as a normal playoff game would be. But the Packers and Seahawks have plenty on the line nonetheless for prime time.

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Patrick Mahomes unsatisfied by Chiefs’ playoff berth: ‘We have a long ways to go’

Kansas City #Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes isn’t satisfied with postseason berth: ‘We have a long ways to go’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes didn’t appear pleased after another close game victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Black Friday. The three-time Super Bowl MVP spoke with reporters after the game, giving a temperature check on his team over 13 weeks.

“I think you clinch a playoff spot, that’s your first goal is to get into the playoffs and give yourself a chance to go for that Super Bowl,” Mahomes explained. “But, we know we have a long ways to go. We [have] got to continue to work to get better and be a better football team going into the playoffs.”

Mahomes finished the game with over 300 yards passing and a touchdown while also becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in touchdown passes, overtaking Len Dawson.

“I mean, we just hold ourselves to such a high standard that we don’t feel like we’re playing our best football all together,” said Mahomes. “It seems like every game [our] offense does good, the defense does good, and vice versa. We [have] got to find a way to build up so we can play great as a full entire team.

“It’s awesome that we’re finding ways to get wins. At the end of the day; that’s what you’re going for, but our goal is to get to that Super Bowl. So, we’re going to try to continue to get better and better so that we’re playing our best football.”

The Chiefs are finding ways to win close games but are cutting it close and raising concerns among critics while pursuing a three-peat.

Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo reveals defense’s ramp-up process during the postseason push

Kansas City #Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo reveals defense’s ramp-up process during the postseason push | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has handled this time of year well throughout his career in the NFL. He knows how to get his team ready for the end of the season in time for the playoffs, and he discussed it with reporters on Thursday.

“Well, one of the things (that) we try to do is simplify at times. I think sometimes, when you simplify, you play faster. There’s been a little bit of that direction this week.” said Spagnuolo. “We’re always going to be multiple because we believe in putting pressure on the team that we’re playing, but if everybody can just be on point and just stay in their lane and do their job – we talk about that all the time. When we play our best is when the unit chemistry is like that (meshed hands together), not anybody trying to do their own thing. We haven’t had a lot of that this year, so if we can get back to that and not make those mental errors, I think we’ll be okay.”

The Chiefs defense has earned the praise it has received this season, but it knows it needs to improve in pass rush and takeaways if it wants a realistic chance at a three-peat.

Golden Tate believes the Seahawks can ‘shock the world’

Golden Tate believes the Seahawks can ‘shock the world’

It is simply amazing the world of difference even a single win can mean in the NFL. The Seattle Seahawks likely saved their season from going under with their 20-17 upset win over the San Francisco 49ers. It may only be a single win, but it was the difference between falling to 4-6 or improving to 5-5, which puts them right back in the middle of the NFC West hunt.

Folks around the league are noticing it, such as former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate. On Good Morning Football, Tate explained how this team can potentially “shock the world” given the opportunity presented to them in the near future.

Namely, the Arizona Cardinals, who Seattle faces twice in the next three weeks. Including this weekend, for a crucial divisional showdown.

When Tate says the next few weeks could “make or break” the Seahawks’ season, he is not exaggerating. Arizona is the only team in the NFC West with a winning record, but they are only 6-4. Seattle, Los Angeles and San Francisco are all close behind with identical 5-5 records. In fact, the NFC West is the only division in football where not one team is below .500 on the year.

Facing the Cardinals twice in a three-week span is a tall order, but an excellent opportunity to potentially find a way to get back into first place.

Right now, the NFC Playoff picture looks like the North is going to send three teams to the postseason – Detroit, Green Bay and Minnesota. In the East, the Eagles look back to their usual winning ways, but the Washington Commanders are perhaps the shock team of the conference. Should all those teams qualify for the playoffs, then the only path for a West team to get in the dance would be to win the division outright.

So, why not Seattle? Like Showtime Tate said, it’s make or break time.

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Former Warrior Donte DiVincenzo tallies 17 pooints in Knicks’ Game 6 loss vs. Pacers

The former Golden State guard tallied 17 points during the Knicks’ Game 6 loss against the Pacers on Friday.

After falling down 3-2 and facing elimination in Game 6 at home, the Indiana Pacers battled the New York Knicks to force a Game 7 with a 116-103 win on Friday night in Indiana.

In Game 6, former Golden State Warrior Donte DiVincenzo played 39 minutes while recording 31 points on 11-of-26 shooting from the field to go along with two assists and four rebounds against the Pacers.

The Knicks didn’t have an answer for Pascal Siakam. The former Toronto Raptors All-Star forward notched 25 points on 11-of-21 shooting from the field to go along with seven boards, five assists and two steals in 31 minutes.

Watch highlights from Game 6 via YouTube:

With Indiana’s win on Friday, the series will shift back to New York for a highly-anticipated Game 7. The win-or-go-home Game 7 is slated for Sunday at 12:30 p.m. PT at Madison Square Garden.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! 

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Former Warrior Donte DiVincenzo tallies 8 points vs. Pacers in Game 5

Donte DiVincenzo and the Knicks are just one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.

After two straight losses in Indiana, former Golden State Warrior guard turned New York Knicks wing Donte DiVincenzo returned to the Big Apple on Tuesday for a highly anticipated Game 5 in front of a fiery crowd.

In Game 5, DiVincenzo recorded eight points on 4-of-14 shooting from the field with seven boards, four assists, three steals and a block in 30 minutes against the Indiana Pacers. DiVincenzo wasn’t able to knock down a 3, shooting 0-for-6 from deep in Game 5 at Madison Square Garden.

The interactions between DiVincenzo and Indiana center Myles Turner turned chippy in the third quarter. Following a big dunk by DiVincenzo, the pair had a heated exchange and had to be separated on the other end of the court.

Via @NBA_NewYork on X:

Despite DiVincenzo’s cold shooting night, the Knicks cruised to a dominant 121-91 win over the Pacers behind a fiery effort from Jalen Brunson. The Knicks All-Star point guard notched 44 points on 18-of-35 shooting from the file to go along with seven assists and four rebounds in 43 minutes.

Watch highlights from Game 5 via YouTube:

Through the first three games of the series, DiVincenzo tallied 25 or more points, including a playoff career-high 35-point outburst in Game 3. However, DiVincenzo has been quiet over the last two games, scoring in single figures against the Pacers.

DiVincenzo and the Knicks will be back on the court for Game 6 with a chance to close out the Pacers and punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and X! 

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Former Warrior Donte DiVincenzo scores playoff career-high in Game 3 loss vs. Pacers

The former Golden State guard dropped a new playoff career-high in Game 3 against the Pacers.

During the 2024 postseason, former Golden State Warriors guard Donte DiVincenzo has helped the New York Knicks surge in the second round in the Eastern Conference.

After dropping 28 points in Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers, DiVincenzo doubled down with another fierce performance on Friday evening in Game 3 against the Indiana Pacers.

DiVincenzo led the Knicks with a team-high 35 points on 12-of-26 shooting from the field, including seven made 3-pointers. DiVincenzo’s 35-point performance was a postseason career-high. DiVincenzo added three rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal in 44 minutes against the Pacers.

While DiVincenzo dropped 35 points, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton matched with 35 points of his own on 14-of-26 shooting from the floor with six made 3-pointers.

Behind Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, the Pacers were able to get on the board in the series with a win in Game 3, 111-106. Following Game 3, the Knicks hold a 2-1 lead over the Pacers

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and X! 

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Andy Reid ranks second in NFL history for most playoff wins

Andy Reid has the second-most playoff wins in NFL history after guiding the #Chiefs to a Super Bowl LVIII victory.

Andy Reid has lifted the Kansas City Chiefs to new heights since joining the team in 2013 and has put together a sterling resume that is sure to get him enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he retires.

The Chiefs’ ability to win games in the playoffs is a testament to Reid’s genius as a head coach who has earned Kansas City three Super Bowl rings in the last five years.

After the team’s playoff run earlier this year, Reid now ranks second all-time for the most postseason wins in NFL history.

This remarkable accomplishment wasn’t achieved without significant effort on the part of Reid and the Chiefs’ players who have committed themselves to creating the NFL’s next dynasty.

With expectations at an all-time high heading into Kansas City’s 2024 campaign, Reid should be expected to do everything he can to help the Chiefs complete a three-peat next season.

Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce made NFL history in win vs. Bills

#Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce earned their place in NFL postseason history against the #Bills after linking up for two touchdowns.

The Kansas City Chiefs relied on the connection between Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce to score points against the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs on Sunday night.

While the outcome of the matchup was ultimately decided after an untimely missed field goal by Bills kicker Tyler Bass in the game’s final minutes, the efforts of Mahomes and Kelce accounted for nearly half of Kansas City’s 27 points on offense.

Mahomes found Kelce in the end zone for two scores in the game, earning the pair a place in the NFL record books as the quarterback-receiver duo with the most postseason touchdown connections in league history with 16.

While the outcome of the game may be marred in the eyes of some fans because of Bass’ brutal miss, the unbelievable history made by Kansas City’s star quarterback-receiver tandem won’t be outdone any time soon.

This outstanding feat only took the dynamic pair six years to achieve, and with the AFC Championship Game on the horizon, Mahomes and Kelce may be destined to add to their totals.