The Baltimore Ravens scored their most spectacular victory of the season Monday night time, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 33-19. Together with making them seem like worthy Tremendous Bowl contenders, the victory places them in a unbelievable place within the AFC. At 12-3, they’re a recreation forward of Miami and have an opportunity to clinch the highest spot subsequent week in a recreation towards these very Dolphins.
In the meantime, the 49ers’ loss sends them to 11-4 and a three-way tie atop the NFC with the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. The 49ers personal the tiebreaker over each, however with two video games to go, there’s nonetheless time for the Eagles or Lions to make a transfer.
As for the remainder of the NFL, Week 16 noticed loads of motion within the playoff image. Let’s check out the place issues stand as we enter Week 17.
Listed odds to make the playoffs, safe the No. 1 seed and win the Tremendous Bowl are all through The Athletic’s NFL betting mannequin, created by Austin Mock.
AFC playoff image
| Seed | Crew | File | Week 16 end result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
x–1 |
12-3 |
W vs. SF |
|
|
x–2 |
11-4 |
W vs. DAL |
|
|
3 |
9-6 |
L vs. LV |
|
|
4 |
8-7 |
L vs. TB |
|
|
5 |
10-5 |
W vs. HOU |
|
|
6 |
9-6 |
W vs. LAC |
|
|
7 |
8-7 |
L vs. ATL |
x — Clinched playoff berth | z — Clinched division title
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens delivered a message in San Francisco, not simply on the scoreboard with their blowout of the 49ers however with the best way they initiated the physicality all through the night time. Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald may need labored his means onto some quick lists for groups with head teaching vacancies.
Remaining schedule: vs. Miami Dolphins, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 69.5 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 17.2 p.c
The Ravens’ protection vs. the 49ers on Christmas:
◻️ 5 INT
◻️ 9 QB hits
◻️ 4 sackshttps://t.co/Hh2mfOm6AZ pic.twitter.com/XF8vaN0tuT— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) December 26, 2023
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins simply earned their first marquee victory of the season Sunday towards the Cowboys, they usually received it with a clutch, game-winning drive simply earlier than the buzzer. That’s enormous, not only for a workforce angling for seeding however because the Dolphins work to construct confidence earlier than the playoffs. Now they’re ready to snatch the No. 1 seed if they will win Sunday in Baltimore.
Remaining schedule: at Ravens, vs. Buffalo Payments
Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 28.9 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 13.2 p.c
DOLPHINS CLINCH A PLAYOFF BERTH ON A WALK-OFF FIELD GOAL!
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/ynIkpoMfGt
— FOX Sports activities: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 25, 2023
The Chiefs have misplaced 5 of eight, they usually’re 2-3 this season towards groups that at the moment have successful data. Whereas it could really feel reckless to jot down off quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs’ resume isn’t consultant of a workforce that’s able to win 4 consecutive playoff video games.
Remaining schedule: vs. Cincinnati Bengals, at Los Angeles Chargers
Odds: To make playoffs: 98.1 p.c | To earn bye: 0 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 9.1 p.c
The Jags are reeling with 4 consecutive losses, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s accidents are mounting by the week. Their offensive points over the previous two weeks may be defined by accidents and Lawrence’s scarcity of observe time, however the protection can also be leaking by surrendering 29.5 factors per recreation through the skid. Then once more, the Bucs scored three touchdowns off turnovers, so it’s grow to be a widespread meltdown.
Remaining schedule: vs. Carolina Panthers, at Tennessee Titans
Odds: To make playoffs: 65.9 p.c | To earn bye: 0 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 1.2 p.c
GO DEEPER
NFL Week 16 takeaways: Browns, Joe Flacco do it once more; time to contemplate Lions contenders?
Quarterback Joe Flacco, who was sitting on his sofa watching soccer 5 Sundays in the past, has three consecutive 300-yard video games for the primary time in his profession. He hasn’t had a trio of 300-yard video games all through a whole season since 2016. Only a outstanding run.
Remaining schedule: vs. New York Jets, at Bengals
Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 1.6 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 2.9 p.c
telling my youngsters that is Santa Claus pic.twitter.com/eTloAPK2EK
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 24, 2023
Buffalo Payments
The Payments began their three-game successful streak in Kansas Metropolis, they usually’re shaping as much as be as harmful as any workforce within the AFC. There’s additionally a chance we see the following chapter of the Payments-Chiefs mini-rivalry within the wild-card spherical.
Remaining schedule: at New England Patriots, at Dolphins
Odds: To make playoffs: 90.3 p.c | To earn bye: 0 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 4.7 p.c
QB keeper!
📺: @peacock#ProBowlVote | @JoshAllenQB pic.twitter.com/uy9yYWjbiJ
— Buffalo Payments (@BuffaloBills) December 24, 2023
The Colts laid an egg with a 29-10 loss in Atlanta, and now they’re in a four-way tie with the Texans, Steelers and Bengals. The Colts will nearly actually should win out and hope the tiebreakers work of their favor to succeed in the playoffs for the primary time since 2020.
Remaining schedule: vs. Raiders, vs. Houston Texans
Odds: To make playoffs: 66.4 p.c | To earn bye: 0 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 0.9 p.c
Within the hunt
• Houston Texans (8-7)
• Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7)
• Cincinnati Bengals (8-7)
• Denver Broncos (7-8)
• Las Vegas Raiders (7-8)
Eradicated
• New York Jets (6-9)
• Tennessee Titans (5-10)
• Los Angeles Chargers (5-10)
• New England Patriots (4-11)
NFC playoff image
| Seed | Crew | File | Week 16 end result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
z–1 |
11-4 |
L vs. BAL |
|
|
x–2 |
11-4 |
W vs. NYG |
|
|
z–3 |
11-4 |
W vs. MIN |
|
|
4 |
8-7 |
W vs. JAX |
|
|
x–5 |
10-5 |
L vs. MIA |
|
|
6 |
8-7 |
W vs. NO |
|
|
7 |
8-7 |
W vs. TEN |
x — Clinched playoff berth | z — Clinched division title
San Francisco 49ers
Quarterback Brock Purdy’s 4 interceptions will dominate the highlight within the wake of the 49ers’ one-sided defeat to the Ravens, however don’t ignore one other key side. After falling behind 23-12 with 12:07 remaining within the third quarter, Purdy was simply 8-of-14 passing for 107 yards and one interception over 4 scoreless possessions earlier than leaving with an damage. The 49ers’ concern has been their incapability to erase late deficits, they usually didn’t make a lot of a dent once they fell behind Monday night time.
Remaining schedule: at Washington Commanders, vs. Los Angeles Rams
Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 74.3 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 25.5 p.c
Philadelphia Eagles
It’s well-established by now little or no will come straightforward for the Eagles, who haven’t received a recreation by greater than 8 factors since Week 7. Whereas their ultimate two regular-season tilts are towards non-playoff foes, they are going to be private towards former defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon and the Arizona Cardinals earlier than a rematch with the Giants. The standard of the opponent received’t be elite, however they’ll be robust video games that can function good playoff tuneups.
Remaining schedule: vs. Cardinals, at Giants
Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 22.4 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 7.8 p.c
GO DEEPER
Eagles maintain off Giants to snap skid as DeVito benched
Detroit Lions
The Lions have lastly received the NFC North and can host a playoff recreation for the primary time in 30 years. They’ll even be looking for their first postseason victory in 32 years — and simply their second within the Tremendous Bowl period. And in a sadistically becoming means, they might should undergo fan favourite Matthew Stafford to get it finished.
Remaining schedule: at Dallas Cowboys, vs. Minnesota Vikings
Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 2.9 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 5.2 p.c
What was as soon as an aspiration is now a actuality in Detroit.
This Lions workforce is aware of the way to win. It is aware of the way to shut video games. It is aware of higher than to depart issues to likelihood, writes @colton_pouncy.
And it doesn’t cease right here.
🔗: https://t.co/yXLvQCEtl4 pic.twitter.com/p5dDdcb35l
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 25, 2023
The Bucs have received 4 in a row however hadn’t essentially crushed a top quality opponent till delivering an announcement with a blowout towards the Jaguars. There received’t be excessive expectations for the Buccaneers — or whoever wins the NFC South — towards the NFC East runner-up, however a playoff berth in a rebuilding 12 months after a 4-7 begin ought to be seen as an enormous success in Tampa.
Remaining schedule: vs. New Orleans Saints, at Panthers
Odds: To make playoffs: 89.1 p.c | To earn bye: 0 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 1.7 p.c
Baker and the Bucs have received 4 consecutive video games.
The NFC South standings:
◻️ Tampa Bay Bucs (8-7)
◻️ Atlanta Falcons (7-8)
◻️ New Orleans Saints (7-8)
e — Carolina Panthers (2-13) pic.twitter.com/TLyT0EalC4— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) December 25, 2023
Dallas Cowboys
With the loss Sunday in Miami, the Cowboys fell to 2-2 this season in one-possession video games, they usually’ve solely received a single time (Week 13 towards the Seahawks) once they’ve trailed after the primary quarter. Their lack of success in tightly contested video games will once more be a priority within the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: vs. Lions, at Commanders
Odds: To make playoffs: 100% | To earn bye: 0.5 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 7.8 p.c
GO DEEPER
Cowboys insist confidence is excessive after second consecutive loss — each on the highway
Los Angeles Rams
There was little purpose to imagine the Rams can be on this place once they have been 3-6, however they’ve received 5 of six since their bye week and have a shot to play the position of spoilers if they will proceed this march into the playoffs.
Remaining schedule: at Giants, at 49ers
Odds: To make playoffs: 68.2 p.c | To earn bye: 0 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 1.1 p.c
GO DEEPER
Puka Nacua exhibits why he is in Offensive ROY dialog in prime time as Rams maintain rolling
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks don’t rack up many model factors, however they’ve confirmed their potential to win shut video games, together with game-winning drives from quarterbacks Geno Smith and Drew Lock within the final two outings. If they will get more healthy for the playoffs, this bodily workforce that simply endured a stretch of robust opponents goes to be an unenviable opponent.
Remaining schedule: vs. Steelers, at Cardinals
Odds: To make playoffs: 70 p.c | To earn bye: 0 p.c | To win Tremendous Bowl: 0.9 p.c
Within the hunt
• Minnesota Vikings (7-8)
• Atlanta Falcons (7-8)
• Inexperienced Bay Packers (7-8)
• New Orleans Saints (7-8)
• Chicago Bears (6-9)
Eradicated
• New York Giants (5-10)
• Washington Commanders (4-11)
• Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
• Carolina Panthers (2-13)
(High picture of Lamar Jackson: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Pictures)
“The Soccer 100,” the definitive rating of the NFL’s greatest 100 gamers of all time, is on sale now. Order it here.
