Tag: NFL capsules

Nov 17, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) at the line of scrimmage during the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Week 14 NFL Capsules

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New Orleans Saints (4-8) at New York Giants (2-10), 1 p.m. ET, FOX
The Giants lost their seventh game in a row last week and New York is mathematically eliminated from the playoff race. New Orleans won its first two games under interim head coach Darren Rizzi before losing to the visiting Los Angeles Rams 21-14 last week. The Saints must prevail in each of their last five games in order to finish with a winning record, but Rizzi is hopeful because no one has taken control of the NFC South. Injuries are a major storyline in both camps with DT Dexter Lawrence (elbow) out for the Giants and Saints playmaker Taysom Hill out with a season-ending knee injury sustained against the Rams. Hill is a team captain, special teams leader, backup quarterback, running back, fullback and tight end. On offense, the Giants are giving another start to QB Drew Lock, who made his first start of the season at quarterback, drove his team to a touchdown on the first possession of the game and produced the Giants’ first lead in seven games. He might not have dynamic rookie WR Malik Nabers, the Giants’ leader with 75 receptions this season. He received an MRI to determine the severity of the hip injury that he sustained in practice on Thursday.

New York Jets (3-9) at Miami Dolphins (5-7), 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Tua Tagovailoa insisted the Dolphins can still crash the playoff party, and he’s never lost to the Jets (5-0). Tagovailoa is rolling since Week 8, leading the NFL in completion percentage (77.3) and passer rating (116.3) and ranking second in the league during that span with 1,642 passing yards. The Jets would love to play spoiler, but predicting what product the team puts on the field hasn’t been easy this season. On Aaron Rodgers’ 41st birthday week, he’ll try to put up multiple TD passes against the Dolphins after completing that mission against the Patriots and Bills already this season. RB Breece Hall could be the one to help him get there. He’s third among AFC running backs with 1,093 scrimmage yards (692 rush, 401 receiving). Dolphins counterpart De’Von Achane is one TD shy of becoming the second player in franchise history with 10 or more TDs in each of his first two seasons.

Atlanta Falcons (6-6) at Minnesota Vikings (10-2), 1 p.m. ET, FOX
For a chance to “win now” and a few dozen extra million, Kirk Cousins chose to bolt Minnesota and signed with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. His return to the Twin Cities on Sunday comes in the midst of one of the worst stretches of his career: zero touchdowns, six interceptions, 36 total points scored in the past three games. Cousins ranks second in Vikings history with 171 touchdown passes and third with 23,265 passing yards in 88 starts. But he’s going to be on the sideline with NFC leading receiver Justin Jefferson is on the field. Atlanta and Minnesota are two of five NFC teams that missed the postseason last year that enter Week 14 with a .500-or-better record. Arizona, Seattle and Washington are the others. As Cousins experienced, there’s not a lot of panic in head coach Kevin O’Connell. Since he was hired in 2022, the Vikings are 24-9 in games decided by one score — eight or fewer points — which matches the Steelers (2021-23) for the most such wins in a three-year span.

Las Vegas Raiders (2-10) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6), 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Rookie RB Bucky Irving has been a revelation in the Buccaneers’ backfield and helped Tampa Bay survive a brief stretch without Baker Mayfield last week at Carolina, turning in his second consecutive game with 150-plus yards from scrimmage. He had career-high 185 scrimmage yards (152 rush, 33 receiving) at Carolina, and Mayfield has been masterful at home with 24 TD passes in 14 starts in Tampa with the Bucs. The Raiders are puzzled by the loss at Kansas City on Black Friday, when the game ended due to a fumble initially thought to be a penalty with Las Vegas driving for a possible game-winning field goal. The constant for the Raiders has been their youngest playmaker. TE Brock Bowers had 10 catches for a career-best 140 yards at Kansas City and leads all tight ends with 84 receptions with five games to play. Head coach Antonio Pierce credited Aidan O’Connell’s fearlessness against the Chiefs for keeping Las Vegas close. He had 340 yards and two TD passes.

Carolina Panthers (3-9) at Philadelphia Eagles (10-2), 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Philadelphia is the No. 1 defense in the league since Week 6 and minus a few garbage-time touchdowns, the Eagles are allowing closer to 12 points per game in that time. They’ve won eight consecutive games, the second-longest active winning streak in the NFL, and have multiple rushing touchdowns in seven consecutive games. With the Detroit Lions bagging a win on Thursday, the Eagles must continue to stack victories to have a shot at home-field advantage in the conference. QB Jalen Hurts has been a noteworthy streaker with two 11-game winning streaks on his record already. He could become the first quarterback since 1950 to register three winning streaks of at least nine games in his first five seasons by beating the Panthers this week. Carolina has seen signs of fight from their own former Alabama quarterback. Bryce Young might not be surrounded by a likely 2,000-yard back — Saquon Barkley is already at 1,499 through 12 games — or big-play receiver, but his offensive line is helping light a fire under the Panthers in consecutive competitive games against the Chiefs and Buccaneers.

Cleveland Browns (3-9) at Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3), Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The Steelers lost at Cleveland 24-19 on Thursday Night Football in Week 12 and couldn’t block DE Myles Garrett (3.0 sacks), who has 98.5 for his career and can become the fifth player since 1982 to record 100 in his career. Garrett is within shouting distance of Steelers LB T.J. Watt (106), who had 2.0 sacks last week against the Bengals. Expecting a season sweep of the Browns would be most surprising given the Browns have lost 20 consecutive regular-season road games in Pittsburgh. It was 2003 behind Tim Couch that the Browns last beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh in the regular season. QB Russell Wilson threw for three touchdowns and had a season-best 414 passing yards against Cincinnati. Cleveland has been playing better on offense with Jameis Winston at quarterback instead of injured Deshaun Watson (Achilles). The Browns have scored 24 or more points in three of Winston’s five games as starter. The highest output with Watson was 18.

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-10) at Tennessee Titans (3-9), 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Jacksonville is positioned to compete for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after placing 2021 No. 1 pick Trevor Lawrence (concussion) on injured reserve, where an additional shoulder surgery could end his season. While Lawrence heals from his sixth injury since the start of the 2023 season, Mac Jones will take over under center. The former New England Patriots’ starter completed 20 of 32 passes last week for 235 yards with two touchdowns in one of his better performances this season. But it wasn’t enough to snap the Jaguars’ losing streak, one that both sides of the ball have contributed to equally. Jacksonville, which has lost five straight games, resides 25th in scoring (19.0), is tied for 29th in scoring defense (28.3) and ranks 28th in total offense (297.7 yards) and 31st in takeaways (eight). The Titans could enter the passing lane for No. 1 overall in the draft chase by losing Sunday. Tennessee was smacked 42-19 at Washington last week, a major step backward for a team coming off a 32-27 upset win the previous week at AFC South-leading Houston.

Seattle Seahawks (7-5) at Arizona Cardinals (6-6), 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
The Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 16-6 in Week 12, which was the game that put Defensive Player of the Year candidate Leonard Williams in the spotlight for awards season. He registered 2.5 sacks and safety Coby Bryant returned an interception 69 yards for a touchdown. Williams was at it again last week with a 92-yard pick-6, 2.0 sacks and a blocked extra point attempt in five-point victory against the Jets. The Cardinals were in first place when the teams last met and Arizona is trying to return to the top of the NFC West with a win. They’ll lean on TE Trey McBride, who had with 12 receptions in Week 12 against Seattle and 12 more at Minnesota last week to become the first tight end in NFL history with at least 12 receptions in consecutive games. Arizona’s offensive line has produced multiple-game stretches without allowing a sack this season, but the Cardinals are under fire against Williams & Co. on Sunday at a time when the running game has been neutralized. RB James Conner had seven carries for eight yards in the first meeting with the Seahawks and totaled 109 yards on 36 carries in his past three games combined.

Buffalo Bills (10-2) at Los Angeles Rams (6-6), 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
Buffalo has climbed to a level of sustained success experienced by few franchises, and head coach Sean McDermott would become only the fifth coach ever — joining Bill Belichick, Andy Reid, Tony Dungy and Tom Landry — with 11 wins in five consecutive seasons if he gets another on Sunday. The Bills clinched their fifth consecutive AFC East division title in Week 13, becoming the first team since the 2009 Indianapolis Colts to clinch a division with five weeks remaining in a season. The Rams aren’t worried about making history so much as fighting their way into the NFC wild-card picture. They’re on the bubble and chasing multiple teams entering Week 14. Josh Allen called Rams counterpart Matthew Stafford “one of the best quarterbacks, in my opinion, to play the game of football” this week. Allen has 20 touchdown passes this year, while Stafford has thrown for 17.

Chicago Bears (4-8) at San Francisco 49ers (5-7), 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
The Bears haven’t secured a losing season but Chicago is running out of time to right the ship. A coaching change planted Thomas Brown as interim head coach and ended Matt Eberflus’ run that began with a win over the 49ers in 2022. Almost everything has changed for Chicago since then, except the disappointing results. QB Caleb Williams vows to change that and brings a run of 232 consecutive passes without an INT into this matchup. The Bears might have RB D’Andre Swift and WR DJ Moore on the field but both were hampered by injuries this week. That’s a theme on the other side in a grand kind of way. RB Christian McCaffrey and understudy Jordan Mason landed on injured reserve this week, pushing rookie Isaac Guerendo into a starting role. The former track star is averaging 5.9 yards per carry and scored his second career rushing TD last week. The 49ers are crossing their fingers LT Trent Williams (ankle) and DE Joey Bosa (oblique) can contribute soon.

Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (11-1), 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Head coach Jim Harbaugh said the Chargers can’t beat themselves if they want to have a chance to leave Kansas City with a win. QB Justin Herbert has definitely done his part to avoid self-inflicted wounds with 10 consecutive games without an interception dating to Week 2. Only Tom Brady and Derek Carr pulled that off in NFL history. Herbert could make more history Sunday night. He has 19,774 career passing yards and can join Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (20,618 passing yards) as the only two players with 20,000 passing yards in their first five NFL seasons. But Kansas City has owned the Chargers — and the West — with Chiefs coach Andy Reid holding a 20-6 record against the franchise. The Chiefs have won six in a row in the series and Mahomes is 9-2 all-time against the Chargers.

–Field Level Media

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) warms up during the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at State Farm Stadium on Nov 3, 2024, in Glendale.

Week 10 NFL Capsules

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Week 10 NFL Capsules

New York Giants (2-7) vs. Carolina Panthers (2-7) at Munich, Germany, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network
A change of scenery awaits two teams tied for the NFL’s worst record as embattled quarterbacks Bryce Young of the Panthers and Daniel Jones of the Giants meet in Munich. New York has lost four in a row but both of its wins were in road settings at Cleveland and Seattle. Carolina is coming off its first victory since September, just the third in 20 career starts for former No. 1 overall draft pick Young. Young’s best weapon this week could be running back Chuba Hubbard, who signed a $33 million extension Wednesday and faces a Giants’ run defense that ranks 28th in the league. Hubbard has rushed for at least 50 yards in eight straight games. Jones completed a season-high 76.9 percent of his passes last week with two touchdowns, not enough as Washington completed its season sweep of New York. Giants pass-rusher Dexter Lawrence had a sack against Green Bay in 2022 in his only previous international appearance in London. Lawrence ranks second in the NFL with a career-high nine sacks.

Buffalo Bills (7-2) at Indianapolis Colts (4-5), 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Buffalo may be closing in on an AFC East title before Thanksgiving, but it has concerns to address in the meantime, namely on defense. Last week the Dolphins carved up the Bills for 26 first downs and 373 total yards, allowing Tua Tagovailoa to complete 25 of 28 passes in his second game back from a concussion. One concerning note might be that Miami rushed for 149 yards, considering Indianapolis is a run-first offense with Jonathan Taylor at running back. The Bills are also down two defensive linemen, leading them to sign tackles Jordan Phillips and Quinton Jefferson this week. The Colts trail Houston by two games in the AFC South and already have lost that season series, making every win matter more down the stretch. They are sticking with Joe Flacco at starting QB after benching Anthony Richardson for Flacco before last week’s 21-13 loss to Minnesota. Indianapolis has a big shortcoming on the offensive line as Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly (knee) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday. These teams haven’t met since 2021, when the Colts scored a 41-15 road rout behind Taylor’s 185 yards and four touchdowns.

Minnesota Vikings (6-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7), 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Sam Darnold has one statistic on his mind ahead of the Vikings’ trip to Florida: turnovers, and how to limit them. The quarterback had three touchdowns but mixed in two interceptions and a lost fumble in Minnesota’s 21-13 win over the Colts last Sunday night. “At the end of the day, I need to make smarter decisions,” Darnold said. Despite Darnold’s giveaways, the Vikings ended a two-game losing streak and remained in the thick of the NFC playoff race; they have outscored opponents by 59 points this year. By comparison, Jacksonville owns a minus-57 point differential and is looking to rebound from back-to-back losses to Green Bay and Philadelphia. Trevor Lawrence hurt his non-throwing shoulder and was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday, adding a wrinkle of uncertainty. Jacksonville signed veteran C.J. Beathard as insurance for Lawrence, but Mac Jones likely would make his first start in a Jaguars uniform if Lawrence can’t play. It doesn’t help matters that the Vikings own the second-best rushing defense in the league (81.9 yards per game) and the Jaguars gained just 60 on the ground in the loss to the Eagles.

San Francisco 49ers (4-4) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5), 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Christian McCaffrey appears primed for his first game since the Super Bowl, returning from calf and Achilles issues that kept him out of practice since August. The 49ers’ running game did just fine without him, but Jordan Mason — fourth in the NFL in rushing this season — lacks McCaffrey’s every-down dynamism in the open field. McCaffrey began practicing on Monday. It’s unclear how much of the game plan would include the 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year on Sunday, but head coach Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey is ready to go against the Bucs. Tampa Bay is completing a brutal back-to-back on a short week. The Buccaneers fell to 4-5 after a 30-24 overtime loss at Kansas City on Monday. Another defeat could drop the Bucs further behind the Falcons (6-3) in the NFC South. Tampa Bay has lost three in a row and is off next week. Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is third in the NFL with 23 passing touchdowns and is fourth in passing yards with 2,389 despite numerous injuries to his wide receivers. Mike Evans (hamstring) has missed the past two games and Chris Godwin is on injured reserve with a season-ending ankle dislocation. Mayfield said the key on Sunday will be working around a 49ers pass defense led by edge rusher Nick Bosa.

New England Patriots (2-7) at Chicago Bears (4-4), 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Sacked nine times with zero touchdown passes during a two-game losing streak since the bye week, Bears QB Caleb Williams rolls out the red carpet for the Patriots in a matchup with No. 3 pick Drake Maye. Maye has pumped new life into the Patriots’ offense with six TD passes and four interceptions in four games since being named New England’s starter. Maye owns a 1-3 record as a starter while Williams is 4-4. The Bears risk falling out of the NFC North race led by the Lions (7-1) with a third consecutive loss. Chicago was blown out 29-9 by the Cardinals last Sunday after falling 18-15 to the Commanders on Oct. 27. New England nearly pulled off a miracle last Sunday, forcing overtime against the Titans when Maye escaped multiple defenders to lob a game-tying 5-yard touchdown pass to Rhamondre Stevenson on the final play of regulation. But in OT, Maye was intercepted to end the game following a Tennessee field goal.

Denver Broncos (5-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (8-0), 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Patrick Mahomes tweaked his ankle in Kansas City’s overtime win Monday night and insists he’s good enough to take on the Broncos on Sunday. The Chiefs showed signs of renewed life in the passing game to take down the Buccaneers. WR DeAndre Hopkins had eight receptions for 86 yards and two touchdowns in his second game since being acquired from the Titans; TE Travis Kelce enjoyed his biggest game of the season, catching 14 passes for 100 yards. Kansas City carries a 14-game winning streak into Week 10 and has only one loss to the Broncos since 2015 with a record of 16-1 in that span. The loss came last October at Denver. The Broncos will be led by a different cast in the first of two meetings with the Chiefs this season. Rookie QB Bo Nix will try his hand at solving Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. Since 2019, Kansas City is 11-1 versus first-year starters, losing only to the Chargers’ Justin Herbert during that run. Denver has three wins on the road — at Tampa Bay, New Orleans and the Jets — but didn’t fare well in a 41-10 loss at Baltimore last week. A common opponent with the Chiefs, the Ravens, lost to Kansas City 27-20 in Week 1. That is one of the Chiefs’ six victories by a one-score margin in 2024.

Atlanta Falcons (6-3) at New Orleans Saints (2-7), 1 p.m. ET, FOX
The Saints are desperate for a reset after losing seven straight games following a surprise 2-0 start to the season. They fired coach Dennis Allen on Monday and traded former All-Pro cornerback Marshon Lattimore to the Commanders for draft picks at the deadline. “I don’t think anybody has lost hope,” interim coach Darren Rizzi said, “but right now the product is unacceptable. We have to improve in a lot of areas.” Derek Carr will remain New Orleans’ quarterback, however, for this divisional game against an Atlanta team trying to run away with its first NFC South title since 2016. Atlanta is 5-1 in its past six outings, and a Falcons win Sunday would make them 5-0 against division opponents; they already defeated the Saints 26-24 in September on a last-second 58-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo following a pass interference penalty on Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo. Kirk Cousins didn’t throw a touchdown pass in that meeting, but he is tied for fourth in the NFL with 17 TDs entering the weekend.

Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) at Washington Commanders (7-2), 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Rookie of the Year favorite and MVP contender Jayden Daniels and the Commanders are 4-0 at Northwest Field and looking to hang on to first place in the NFC East. With a win, Daniels would become the fourth rookie QB since 1950 to win his first five home starts and Washington would be 8-2 for the first time since 1986. He faces a typically stingy Steelers defense that is allowing just 14.9 points per game, second-fewest in the NFL (Chargers, 12.6). Russell Wilson has energized the Pittsburgh offense, throwing for 542 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in two wins since replacing Justin Fields. Both teams fortified their rosters at Tuesday’s trade deadline, with Pittsburgh adding wide receiver Mike Williams from the Jets and edge rusher Preston Smith from the Packers, and Washington acquiring former All-Pro cornerback Marshon Lattimore from the Saints. Both teams enter with three-game winning streaks. Washington snapped a six-game losing streak in the series with a 23-17 win in the most recent meeting in 2020 in Pittsburgh.

Tennessee Titans (2-6) at Los Angeles Chargers (5-3), 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX
Defense is carrying the conservative Chargers. Los Angeles leads the NFL in scoring defense (12.6 points per game) and the Titans lost their past two road games by an average of 31 points. Tennessee shares the NFL’s worst record with multiple teams but could get a boost from the anticipated return of QB Will Levis. Levis led Tennessee to its only road win of the season at Miami on Sept. 30 but spent the past month recovering from a shoulder injury. He rejoins a huddle that subtracted WR DeAndre Hopkins at the trade deadline. RB Tony Pollard had 154 yards from scrimmage last week and has been the main consistent threat on offense. Chargers QB Justin Herbert has become more comfortable behind a polished offensive line and a growing rapport with rookie WR Ladd McConkey (four-plus catches in six consecutive games) and second-year WR Quenton Johnston. Johnston had 118 yards last week in his first career 100-yard game. Herbert could feast on the Titans’ secondary as Tennessee shuttles in new faces to help survive a rash of injuries.

Philadelphia Eagles (6-2) at Dallas Cowboys (3-5), 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
Saquon Barkley went viral with a backwards hurdle over a Jacksonville defender last weekend as Philadelphia won its fourth straight game. The NFL’s second-leading rusher (925 yards) is hoping for forward progress this weekend against a bitter NFC East rival after going 0-10 against the Cowboys during his career with the Giants. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts has split his six regular-season starts against Dallas but arrives in Arlington on a heater, accumulating 14 touchdowns (eight rushing, six passing) and zero turnovers during the current win streak. The Eagles, under former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, rank sixth in the NFL in total offense (377.1) and face a Dallas D that has struggled without All-Pro Micah Parsons, ranked 30th against the run (147.8) and 31st in scoring defense (28.1 points per game). Parsons is expected to return from an ankle sprain but QB Dak Prescott is out with a hamstring injury and backup Cooper Rush is in. Rush can lean on CeeDee Lamb, who has 32 catches for 450 yards and three TDs in his last four games against Philadelphia.

New York Jets (3-6) at Arizona Cardinals (5-4), 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
The Cardinals are in position to win four consecutive games for the first time since starting the 2021 season 7-0, then losing to the Aaron Rodgers-led Packers. Rodgers comes to Glendale on Sunday afternoon with the Jets driving for a dramatic revival. A five-game losing streak ended last week when Rodgers turned in a vintage effort against the Texans, connecting with Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams on TDs and letting the Jets get to work attacking the opposing quarterback. That plotline could be significant again Sunday. The Jets have 31 sacks, the team’s most through nine regular-season game since the NY Sack Exchange single-season record (66) more than 40 years ago. Arizona went three consecutive games without allowing Kyler Murray to be sacked, but the Bears got to him three times last week. That’s when the Cardinals shifted into a run-focused attack with James Conner — he had his fourth 100-yard game of the season last week — and Murray (averaging 8.1 yards per carry) are capable of moving the chains with their feet. Wilson and another former Ohio State wide receiver, No. 4 pick Marvin Harrison Jr., meet in the NFL for the first time.

Detroit Lions (7-1) at Houston Texans (6-3), 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Houston comes off a clunker last Thursday at the Jets, who sacked C.J. Stroud eight times and checked the Texans like few have since DeMeco Ryans arrived at the start of the 2023 season. The Lions own the best record in the NFC and stand second overall in the NFL behind only the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs. Houston shared the fourth-best mark in the AFC with the Ravens before Baltimore’s Thursday night comeback to beat the Cincinnati Bengals. While Ryans would debate whether this is a “big game,” Detroit has ripped off six straight victories and views the Sunday primetime contest as a significant midseason test in the spotlight. “This is one we’re looking forward to,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said. Only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2 have figured out how to slay the Lions. Since then, QB Jared Goff has been nearly flawless in setting a record for accuracy during a just-completed five-game stretch. Houston opened the season with five wins in six games but has slumped by losing two of its past three games. Stroud was sacked a season-high eight times and completed a campaign-worst 36.7 percent of his throws (11 of 30). Detroit acquired pass rusher Za’Darius Smith at the Tuesday deadline and he’ll be part of the defensive line rotation chasing Stroud on Sunday night.

Monday’s game:

Miami Dolphins (2-6) at Los Angeles Rams (4-4), Monday 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
The Rams are on a three-game winning streak and have both Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) back in the fold at receiver. Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford entered the week 10th in the NFL with 246.1 yards passing per game. Running back Kyren Williams has 602 yards on the ground with eight TDs, though he just saw his 10-game regular-season touchdown streak (dating back to last season) end in last week’s 26-20 overtime win against the Seattle Seahawks. Edge rushers Byron Young (four sacks) and rookie Jared Verse (3 1/2 sacks) have opposing quarterbacks under relentless pressure. They’ll be chasing Tua Tagovailoa, who has played two games since returning from his most recent concussion and was an impressive 25-of-28 passing for 231 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 30-27 loss at Buffalo. His presence has allowed the running game to improve with De’Von Achane delivering 160 yards on the ground and a TD over the past two games. Tyreek Hill has 10 receptions for 152 yards over the past two games after he had 11 catches for 100 yards in three games with Tyler Huntley at QB.

–Field Level Media

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) returns to the sidelines after a play against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Week 2 NFL Capsules

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Buccaneers at Lions, 1 p.m. ET
Another playoff rematch awaits the Lions, who went to overtime to knock off the Rams at home in the regular-season opener (26-20). QB Jared Goff isn’t fretting the matchup, especially if safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is out. Goff has at least 350 passing yards and multiple TD passes in his last two games against the Buccaneers. Baker Mayfield started out strong in Week 1 and has multiple TD passes in five of the last six games. Neither passer is lacking for a supporting cast. Lions RBs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery both scored in the opener and WR Jameson Williams busted out with a career-high 121 receiving yards in Week 1. Mayfield went to trusted WR Mike Evans, who caught two TD passes for the 21st time in his career last week.

Colts at Packers, 1 p.m. ET
All indications out of Green Bay are QB Jordan Love (knee) is out for at least a week, which thrusts Malik Willis into the crosshairs of the Colts. Indianapolis has won three games in a row in this series, but the cast of characters has changed dramatically since the last meeting in 2020. To say the Packers will be run-heavy with Willis at the helm is an understatement. He had 234 passing yards in three career starts with the Titans, who traded the 2022 third-rounder to the Packers prior to the start of the regular season. Willis has wheels, but the Colts are going to load up to stop the ground game that now features former Raiders RB Josh Jacobs. The Colts dropped the Week 1 game against Houston Texans. QB Anthony Richardson and RB Jonathan Taylor drive a strong running game that sets up WR Michael Pittman Jr. for one-on-one matchups outside. He had at least seven catches in all seven road games in which he played last season.

Seahawks at Patriots, 1 p.m. ET
The NFL’s youngest head coaches scored victories in their debuts last week. The Patriots stunned the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday, holding them to 13 first downs and 224 yards of total offense in a 16-10 win. Rhamondre Stevenson shined for New England, rushing for 120 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. Mike Macdonald coached the Seahawks to a 26-20 victory over the Denver Broncos. Like New England, Seattle leaned on its rushing attack, getting 103 yards and a TD on 20 carries from Kenneth Walker III. Quarterback Geno Smith also ran for a score. Walker might struggle to get going against the Patriots, though, as New England allowed the third-fewest rushing yards in the league last week (70). That is if Walker plays, as the 23-year-old is dealing with an oblique injury. The Patriots’ offense is being steered by Jacoby Brissett, who makes his second career start against Seattle — the last was in 2017. Brissett has few established weapons on the outside.

49ers at Vikings, 1 p.m. ET
QB Sam Darnold’s third start in the calendar year comes against his good friend Brock Purdy and former teammates with the 49ers. Darnold threw two TD passes in his debut as the QB1 for the Vikings last week in his first start since Jan. 7, 2024, in the regular-season finale with the 49ers. Christian McCaffrey is optimistic that he will make his season debut Sunday in Minneapolis. But McCaffrey suggested the same things a week ago before he sat out the opener because of a calf injury and Achilles tendinitis. Second-string running back Jordan Mason appears ready to stand in. He had 28 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown in a 32-19 win over the visiting New York Jets. Vikings RB Aaron Jones had a team-high 109 scrimmage yards (94 rush, 15 receiving and a rush TD) in his first game with Minnesota. Vikings WR Justin Jefferson is chasing a landmark Sunday. He has 396 career receptions and at 25 years, 91 days old on Sunday, could become youngest player in NFL history with 6,000 career receiving yards with 42 against the 49ers. He could also become the third-youngest to reach 400 catches.

Jets at Titans, 1 p.m. ET
Week 1 was the one that got away for QB Will Levis and the Titans, who dropped a 24-17 decision at Chicago. Tennessee allowed scores on a pick-six and blocked punt while holding the Bears’ ballyhooed offense to 148 total yards. The Titans blew a 17-0 lead and a chance to get a leg up on AFC South division foes who lost Week 1 (Colts, Jaguars). The Jets came up short at San Francisco on Monday night. Aaron Rodgers completed 13 of 21 passes for 167 yards with a touchdown and a deflected interception but showed some rust, missing throws he made over and over during his 18 years with the Packers. A bigger concern for Jets fans might be a defense that was shredded by the 49ers for 401 total yards and 24 first downs. San Francisco possessed the ball for more than 38 minutes. Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins is back to full strength and has a strong history in this matchup with 21 career catches and five TDs in three games vs. the Jets.

Saints at Cowboys, 1 p.m. ET
Derek Carr and the Saints smacked the Panthers 47-10 in Week 1. Carr tossed three TD passes against Carolina and leads New Orleans into Dallas in the midst of a dynamite six-game run: 17 touchdowns, two interceptions and a 123.0 passer rating in his past six starts. But the Cowboys roughed up the Browns thanks in large part to an NFL-best 24 pressures on QB Deshaun Watson, including six sacks. Dallas has won 16 in a row at home in the regular season, the longest active streak in the NFL. Missing training camp didn’t impact chemistry between WR CeeDee Lamb (five catches, 61 yards) and QB Dak Prescott. Lamb could get more work in Week 2 with Pro Bowl TE Jake Ferugson (knee) hobbled last week.

Browns at Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET
A rematch of a back-and-forth game last December won by the Browns, 31-27, pits teams attempting to avoid an early 0-2 start in competitive divisions. The Jaguars dropped a 20-17 decision to the host Miami Dolphins for their sixth setback in the past seven regular-season games. The Browns were beaten 33-17 by the visiting Dallas Cowboys as Deshaun Watson was intercepted twice and sacked six times while passing for 169 yards and one TD. The big challenge for the Jaguars is rebounding quickly. They open the season by playing four consecutive 2023 playoff teams. The following two games are both on the road, against the Buffalo Bills on a Monday night and the Houston Texans. The Browns will be without tight end David Njoku, who injured an ankle in a loss to the Cowboys. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said the Browns are hopeful Njoku can avoid being placed on injured reserve.

Bengals at Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. ET
Here they go again. Joe Burrow and the Bengals limped out of the gate with a Week 1 loss, setting up an important rebound opportunity. While Burrow is 2-0 in the regular season against the Chiefs, this isn’t what Cincinnati had in mind when coach Zac Taylor said he emphasized a fast start. The Bengals saw their offense sputter in a stunning 16-10 home loss to the rebuilding New England Patriots, with Burrow completing 21 of 29 passes but only for 164 yards and no touchdowns. The Chiefs and Bengals are meeting for the sixth time in the last four seasons, with the Bengals winning three times, including the AFC Championship Game after the 2021 season in Kansas City. The Chiefs returned the favor in the AFC title game the following year, quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ first win over Burrow in four meetings. K.C. survived a scare from the Baltimore Ravens in a 27-20 win in the Thursday night NFL Kickoff game last week. Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely landed fractions of an inch out of bounds on what would’ve been a TD catch to make it a 27-26 game. There are some new names with big games behind Mahomes. Veteran receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown could be back for Kansas City to join Rashee Rice, rookie first-round pick Xavier Worthy — who had two TDs in Week 1 — and Travis Kelce in the passing attack. Brown missed the opener due to a shoulder dislocation sustained in the preseason.

Steelers at Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh has an NFL-high 49 wins against rookie quarterbacks since 1970 and as fortune would have it, the Steelers take a swing at No. 50 on Sunday at Denver. First-round pick Bo Nix led the Broncos in rushing last week in Seattle, when he was intercepted twice and took a handful of other chances that could’ve ended in the same result. In a home environment, the Broncos are counting on better execution and pass protection, which coach Sean Payton described as “average at best.” But Payton might find out his playmaker options are no match for a Steelers pass rush that kept Kirk Cousins on the run in Week 1. In what was originally viewed as a possible Russell Wilson revenge game, the Broncos’ former quarterback was relegated to reserve duty in Week 1 and appears headed the same direction Sunday afternoon due to a calf injury. Justin Fields thrived on play-action with nine completions in 13 attempts at Atlanta and ran 14 times for 57 yards.

Bears at Texans, 8:20 p.m. ET
The Bears rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat Houston’s AFC South rival, Tennessee, 24-17 in Week 1. Now No. 1 pick Caleb Williams makes his first road start in the NFL in a hostile and noisy atmosphere. The Texans will host the Bears in a showdown on Sunday highlighting the standard Williams is charged with meeting. That’s reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud, who thrived in a 29-27 road victory over the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday, passing for 234 yards and two touchdowns with a 115.9 rating. Williams conversely, averaged 3.2 yards per attempt, threw for only 93 yards, posted a 55.7 rating and helmed an offense that didn’t score a touchdown. Chicago’s defense has ranked as one of the NFL’s best in takeaways since the middle of last season and scored on a punt block and pick-six last week. Houston’s upgraded roster was on full display last week. RB Joe Mixon had 178 yards from scrimmage and WR Stefon Diggs caught two TD passes.

–Field Level Media

Nov 5, 2023; Frankfurt, Germany; A general overall view as Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws the ball against the Miami Dolphins in the second half during an NFL International Series game at Deutsche Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Playoff capsules: Saturday wild-card games

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NFL Wild Card Saturday capsules

Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans: Rookie head coach DeMeco Ryans and No. 2 pick C.J. Stroud led the Texans to the AFC South title as Houston returns to the postseason for the first time since 2019. They are on home turf for a rematch of their 36-22 Christmas Eve loss to the Browns, who rode a December surge on the arm of revived QB Joe Flacco to an 11-win season and wild-card berth. Stroud didn’t play in the first meeting and makes his postseason debut against Flacco. Flacco isn’t just seasoned. He’s tied with Tom Brady as the most successful quarterback in playoff road games with seven wins, a mark he can break Saturday. Flacco is starting in the playoffs for the 17th time and will be the same age as Ryans when he turns 39 next week. Cleveland gets significant juice from its defense under first-year coordinator Jim Schwartz. A crucial matchup on the edge pits Browns DE Myles Garrett against Texans LT Laremy Tunsil, one of three players remaining on the roster from the 2019 postseason. A matchup Ryans is fretting is Browns WR Amari Cooper against Houston’s hyperaggressive secondary. Cooper caught 11 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns and was subbed out midway through the fourth quarter in the teams’ December meeting.

Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs: Frigid temps await the Dolphins in Kansas City with the possibility of a dangerous a real-feel mercury reading near 30-below, according to the Weather Channel. That’s a stark contrast to the 75-degree temperatures the Dolphins experienced for their outdoor practice to start the week. But Chiefs head coach Andy Reid warns not to assume weather is an advantage for anyone, quipping “we aren’t having a snowball fight.” The Chiefs beat the Dolphins 21-14 in their International Series game in Germany on Nov. 5 and feature the No. 2 defense in the NFL. Miami is No. 1 in total offense, but throwing the ball in gusting winds and wintry conditions might require modification from head coach Mike McDaniel. Including the Miami win, the Chiefs surrendered 20 points or fewer in 13 of 17 games this season. The Dolphins aren’t certain what they’ll get from RB Raheem Mostert, who shared the NFL lead with Christian McCaffrey with 21 total touchdowns this season. Mostert has an ankle injury, and WR Tyreek Hill is also hobbled in his first game in Kansas City since he was traded to the Dolphins prior to the 2022 season. Miami beat Kansas City in three previous playoff matchups in 1994, 1991 and 1971. The win in ’71 has held up as the longest game in NFL history, a double-overtime game in the divisional round.

–Field Level Media

Oct 22, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) passes the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Week 18 NFL Capsules

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Saturday

Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) at Baltimore Ravens (13-3): Baltimore can rest key players, including Lamar Jackson, after the Ravens thrashed the Miami Dolphins 56-19 last Sunday for their sixth straight victory, clinching the AFC North and a first-round playoff bye in the process. Jackson threw more touchdown passes (five) than incompletions (three) as public support grew for the quarterback to win his second NFL Most Valuable Player award. The Steelers don’t mind facing Baltimore’s backups in Week 18. After staying in the AFC wild-card hunt with Sunday’s 30-23 win at Seattle, they have five paths to earn a playoff berth but no guaranteed ticket win or lose at Baltimore. The Steelers continue to place their hopes on the shoulders of Mason Rudolph, their third starting quarterback this season. In Rudolph’s two starts, two Pittsburgh wins, he has completed 68.6 percent of his passes for 564 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Pittsburgh star T.J. Watt is tied for the league lead with 17 sacks. He recorded two sacks and recovered a fumble when the host Steelers defeated the Ravens 17-10 in October, Pittsburgh’s sixth win in the past seven meetings with Baltimore.

Houston Texans (9-7) at Indianapolis Colts (9-7): C.J. Stroud and DeMeco Ryans led the Texans to their first winning season since 2019. Now, they want a playoff berth. Indianapolis also would wrap up a postseason berth with a win. In addition, the Houston-Indianapolis winner would capture the AFC South title and get a home playoff game if the Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) lose their Sunday road game against the Tennessee Titans. Indianapolis enters Week 18 with the AFC’s final wild-card spot in hand. While Stroud has breathed new life into the Texans as a rookie, the Colts are without Anthony Richardson, drafted by the Colts No. 4 overall last April. Richardson provided a tantalizing glimpse of his vast potential during a 31-20 thumping of Houston on Sept. 17, running for two first-quarter touchdowns before leaving due to a concussion. Backup Gardner Minshew helped steer the Colts and their own rookie head coach, Shane Steichen, into this position with a 23-20 win over the Raiders last week. The running game is crucial to the Colts’ success. Jonathan Taylor, in his second game back from thumb surgery, piled up 96 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries last week. Both defenses are in the top 10 in the NFL in sacks. Texans’ sack leader Jonathan Greenard (12.5) was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Sunday

Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) at Los Angeles Chargers (5-11): With no ground to gain in the AFC playoff picture and locked into the No. 3 seed for next week’s wild-card round, the Chiefs aren’t risking QB Patrick Mahomes’ health at Los Angeles. Blaine Gabbert will start and be surrounded by mostly backups while staring down a Chargers’ team with four consecutive losses and defeats in seven of its last eight games. Easton Stick, serving as the Chargers’ starting quarterback since Justin Herbert was placed on injured reserve with a broken finger Dec. 12, is tasked with getting the Chargers their first win in the past five games. Los Angeles is 1-7 since Nov. 6. Stick could be taking the field again without leading receiver Keenan Allen. He’s dealing with a heel injury and hasn’t played since Dec. 10. Allen has 108 receptions for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns. Among Gabbert’s goals for the game: get tight end Travis Kelce over 1,000 receiving yards for the eighth consecutive season. He’s at 984 through 16 games. Kelce, who was inactive Week 1 with a knee injury, had a season-best 12 catches and 179 yards in Kansas City’s win over the Chargers in Week 7.

Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) at New York Giants (5-11): Philadelphia hasn’t won on the road since before Thanksgiving, and the Eagles didn’t beat anyone in December — except the Giants. After losing to the Arizona Cardinals last week, the road is the likely path for Philadelphia in the postseason. Despite a 1-4 December, a win still could give Philadelphia its second straight division title if the Dallas Cowboys (11-5) should stumble at Washington (4-12). Otherwise, the Eagles could be looking at the NFC’s No. 5 seed and all road games for the postseason. Philly’s failures have been on both sides of the ball. That includes a secondary that has surrendered 34 touchdown passes (only Washington has given up more with 35) and an inconsistent offense propped up by the overwhelming red-zone success of the “Brotherly Shove.” For the first time in franchise history, Philadelphia has lost three games where it held double-digit leads. The Eagles led the New York Jets 14-3 and lost 20-14 (Week 6), led the Seahawks 10-0 and lost 20-17 (Week 15) and built a 21-6 lead against the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday before falling 35-31. The Giants did put a scare in the Eagles in the first meeting with Tyrod Taylor coming off the bench for a near comeback. The Giants are on a three-game losing streak, including a 33-25 decision at Philadelphia on Christmas Day. New York has lost its past five meetings with the Eagles, including last season’s divisional playoff game. Taylor starts again Sunday after he passed for 319 yards with one touchdown and one interception in last Sunday’s 26-25 loss to the visiting Los Angeles Rams. The Giants are 3-4 at MetLife Stadium, where they have been outscored 139-86 this season.

Buffalo Bills (10-6) at Miami Dolphins (11-5): The Bills were three games behind the Dolphins in the AFC East with five games remaining, but are now thriving in playoff mode, one win away from four consecutive division titles. The Dolphins can block Buffalo’s path and snag the AFC’s No. 2 seed and a home playoff game next week by winning Sunday night — and claiming the division for the first time since 2008. The Bills own the tiebreaker by virtue of their 48-20 home beatdown of Miami in Week 4. The Dolphins were annihilated in every facet of the game against Baltimore last week while missing running back Raheem Mostert (franchise-record 21 total touchdowns) and receiver Jaylen Waddle (1,014 receiving yards). Waddle is fighting an ankle injury and Mostert is dealing with ankle and knee soreness. Back-to-back wins over two playoff teams — the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys — ignited Buffalo’s dynamite December, which also included wins over the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots. Last weekend’s 27-21 home win over the Patriots was achieved behind Josh Allen’s two rushing touchdowns. He had a poor game against New England’s stingy pass defense, throwing for 169 yards and one interception. But Allen has fared well against Miami with a 10-2 starting record (including last season’s playoff victory). He has 34 touchdown passes and seven interceptions in those 12 games. Buffalo has clamped Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill in recent matchups — a season-low three-catch game earlier this season and two receptions for 33 yards when the Bills visited South Beach in 2022.

Los Angeles Rams (9-7) at San Francisco 49ers (12-4): Playoff-bound NFC rivals roll into a regular-season finale neither team wants to lose, but the blatant priority is avoiding injuries. With a wild-card spot clinched, the Rams take a nine-game regular-season losing streak to the 49ers to San Francisco, where Carson Wentz replaces starting quarterback Matthew Stafford. San Francisco clinched the No. 1 seed and homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs and plans to keep Pro Bowl quarterback Brock Purdy on the sideline this week in favor of backup Sam Darnold. Los Angeles clinched the NFC wild-card berth by winning six of its last seven games. The Rams will either be the No. 6 or No. 7 seed in the postseason.

Rams head coach Sean McVay wasn’t swayed by the seeding uncertainty and is resting Stafford and some other key players: RB Kyren Williams (1,144 rushing yards), WR Cooper Kupp (59 receptions), DT Aaron Donald (16 tackles for loss) and LB Ernest Jones (career-high 145 tackles). Wentz is making his 93rd career start. He appeared in mop-up duty once since joining the Rams in November, just days after a 20-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Los Angeles then went on its 6-1 surge. Though the Rams have their long streak of regular-season futility against San Francisco, they did beat the 49ers in the NFC Championship following the 2021 season en route to winning the Super Bowl. NFL rushing leader Christian McCaffrey (1,459 rushing yards) is out with a calf injury. No rest is planned for Rams receiver Puka Nacua, who has 101 receptions for 1,445 yards. He needs four catches to break the NFL rookie mark set by Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins in 2021, and 29 yards to surpass the rookie record held by Bill Groman of the Houston Oilers since 1960.

Denver Broncos (8-8) at Las Vegas Raiders (7-9): An eight-game winning streak over the Broncos that dates to 2019 is providing motivation on both sides of an otherwise insignificant game. Las Vegas beat Denver 17-16 in the season opener on Sept. 10. Since then, major changes have altered each team. Among those impacted by the in-season overhaul were both starting quarterbacks in Week 1. Jimmy Garoppolo took the field for the Raiders in the season opener, but injuries and ineffectiveness opened the door for rookie Aidan O’Connell to get a shot when head coach Josh McDaniels was fired. The Raiders have gone 4-4 over the past eight games. Russell Wilson started the first 15 games for Denver, but the Broncos decided to bench Wilson for Jarrett Stidham in a contract-related squabble similar to the drama that unfolded involving Derek Carr at the end of last season. At that time, Stidham was with the Raiders and was pushed into a starting role for the final two games of the regular season. The season finale is an ongoing audition for O’Connell, but also for interim coach Antonio Pierce, who took over after McDaniels was fired on Nov. 1. Las Vegas won its first two games under Pierce, but has gone 2-4 since, most recently losing to the Indianapolis Colts 23-20 last Sunday.

Chicago Bears (7-9) at Green Bay Packers (8-8): If the Packers win for the sixth time in eight games, Green Bay is playoff bound behind first-year starting QB Jordan Love. But no defense has been stingier against opposing quarterbacks than the Bears in the past seven weeks, leading the NFL in defensive passer rating during that time while also holding the league lead in interceptions for the season. The Packers went 8-9 a season ago and missed a chance to reach the playoffs after losing the regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions. Love draws a much-improved Chicago defense than the one he lit up in Week 1 back in September. Since Week 11, the Bears have 16 takeaways and allowed fewer than 20 points four times. Chicago would love to spoil the playoff hopes of their biggest rival in the NFC North. Despite losing eight of their first 11 games, the Bears have continued to battle under coach Matt Eberflus and won four of their past five games. But the Packers are 5-0 against Chicago since quarterback Justin Fields took over at quarterback. The regular-season finale will offer another chance for Fields to try to clarify questions about his future.

Seattle Seahawks (8-8) at Arizona Cardinals (4-12): Seattle reaches the finish line of the regular season as it did last year — needing a Week 18 win and a big assist. A loss last week left the Seahawks in the same predicament they were in a year ago. They need a victory over a division opponent and a Green Bay Packers loss to make the NFL playoffs. Things worked out for the Seahawks last season, but can they go 2-for-2? The Seahawks needed a victory in Week 18 against the visiting Los Angeles Rams and for Detroit to win at Green Bay in the Sunday night game that added to the season-ending drama. This time Seattle will need to win on the road while rooting for the Packers to lose again at home, this time to Chicago. There will be some scoreboard watching with the games kicking off at 4:25 p.m. ET. The Cardinals rallied from a 15-point deficit to shock the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday. Now 3-4 since Kyler Murray returned from surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament, the Cardinals were thrilled with his second-half performance. Murray completed 25 of 31 passes for 232 yards and a season-high three touchdowns. Running back James Conner played a starring role, including the game-winning TD, which could be cause for concern after the Seahawks were demolished by Pittsburgh’s previously stagnant ground attack to the tune of 203 yards.

New York Jets (6-10) at New England Patriots (4-12): Coach Bill Belichick might be unsure what the future holds, but he’s not showing much emotion entering Sunday’s possible curtain call at Gillette Stadium. Belichick has patrolled the New England sideline for the past 24 seasons, but doubts have doubled that he’ll return for a 25th as the Patriots prepare to face the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon in Foxborough, Mass. But Belichick (333 victories) plans on coaching next season as he chases Don Shula (347) for the all-time wins record, raising the question of whether he can find the right fit elsewhere. For now, Belichick maintains he’s only focused on the Jets. The Jets have split their past four games following a five-game skid, most recently falling 37-20 to the Cleveland Browns on Dec. 28. Trevor Siemian completed 32 of 45 passes for 261 yards with a touchdown and an interception in his second start of the season for New York, which has never fully recovered from losing Aaron Rodgers to a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1. Siemian will start again on Sunday, when the gameplan is likely to be turning to Breece Hall. He leads the Jets in rushing (186 carries, 816 yards, four TDs) and is second with 74 receptions for 579 yards and four TDs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8) at Carolina Panthers (2-14): Even without a playoff spot clinched, the Buccaneers know there are worse predicaments to be in entering Week 18 than a win-and-in gig against the NFL’s worst team. Tampa seals the NFC South on Sunday with a win at Carolina. In their first season since Tom Brady retired, the Buccaneers are aiming for their third consecutive divisional title. The Panthers entertain their opening starter from last season — Baker Mayfield — and have some confidence of late. They nearly took down Tampa Bay in the first meeting, a 21-18 loss on Dec. 3. And Carolina knocked the Falcons out of a share of first place in the division last month in a rain-soaked 9-7 home victory. In the first matchup, Panthers QB Bryce Young was sacked four times and intercepted once. Carolina’s offense is averaging 167.1 yards per game for the second-worst mark in the league.

Atlanta Falcons (7-9) at New Orleans Saints (8-8): Winning this NFC South showdown in New Orleans won’t be enough to put either team in the playoffs. That requires a Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ loss at Carolina or, for the Saints, a win and losses by the Packers and Seahawks. Innumerable variables are in play with a whopping 20 of the NFL’s 32 teams still alive entering Week 18. New Orleans kept its playoff hopes alive and prevented the Bucs from clinching the division title when it won at Tampa, 23-13, last Sunday. The Falcons, who lost at Chicago, 37-17 in Week 17, defeated the Saints 24-15 on Nov. 26 in Atlanta. Atlanta ranks eighth in the NFL in rushing (130.1 yards per game) and had the most rushing yards by a New Orleans opponent (228) in the first meeting. The Falcons’ 41 attempts were the most by a Saints opponent this season and their average (5.6) was the second highest.

Minnesota Vikings (7-9) at Detroit Lions (11-5): The Lions have faint hopes of moving up to the No. 2 spot, but coach Dan Campbell says he’s not resting his regulars in the regular-season finale against Minnesota on Sunday afternoon. Detroit (11-5) needs a win, while the Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles would have to lose or tie in their games on Sunday in order for the Lions to snag the No. 2 seed. The Lions are still smarting from the 20-19 loss to the Cowboys on Saturday night, when mass confusion involving whether OT Taylor Decker reported as an eligible receiver wiped out the go-ahead two-point conversion when officials threw a flag. A week earlier, Detroit clinched the NFC North title with a 30-24 win at Minnesota. The Vikings haven’t been eliminated from the wild card race. But their playoff hopes were virtually snuffed out with a 33-10 loss to Green Bay on Sunday night. They need a victory on Sunday and losses by the Packers and Seattle, along with a loss by either Tampa Bay or New Orleans, to sneak into the postseason. Nick Mullens will start at quarterback this week. He threw for 411 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions but was also intercepted four times.

Dallas Cowboys (11-5) at Washington Commanders (4-12): Eliminated from playoff contention, the Washington Commanders can still deliver a parting gift to an NFC East rival. Mired in a seven-game losing streak, the Commanders (4-12) welcome the Cowboys (11-5) for the regular-season finale on Sunday, knowing a Washington win could erase Dallas from the top of the division standings and open the passing lane for the Philadelphia Eagles to crash into first. If the Cowboys win, Dallas would be the NFC East champion and the No. 2 seed in the conference. The Cowboys would head home for a wild-card playoff game at AT&T Stadium, where they are 8-0 this season. QB Dak Prescott was nearly flawless in the first matchup with the Commanders this season and his offense is featuring WR CeeDee Lamb — the NFL leader with 122 catches, second with 1,651 receiving yards — establishing single-season franchise records in each category. The Cowboys’ 45-10 blowout of the Commanders in November led to the firing of Washington defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio. A similar result is almost certainly the final gavel for head coach Ron Rivera in Washington. The Commanders rank last in total defense (385.8 yards per game), 31st in pass defense (259.3 yards per game) and aren’t built for comebacks with an NFL-worst minus-12 turnover margin.

Cleveland Browns (11-5) at Cincinnati Bengals (8-8): Signed off the couch last month, Joe Flacco went from perceived Old Man Winter to Ice Cold Clutch and has the Browns spending Week 18 warming by the fire awaiting their playoff assignment. Cincinnati, out of playoff contention following a 25-17 road loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last week, won’t face Flacco while attempting to apply the brakes on the Browns’ four-game winning streak. A victory Sunday would seal the first 12-win regular season since 1986 for Cleveland. Regardless of the result, Cleveland is cemented as the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs, the first wild-card position. The Browns have won nine of the past 11 meetings with the Bengals, including a 24-3 rout in the season opener at Cleveland on Sept. 10. Browns backup Jeff Driskel starts for Flacco to become Cleveland’s fifth starting QB this season. The Bengals’ biggest motivation is to finish with a third straight winning season under Zac Taylor, but 9-8 still would be a disappointment following two straight division-winning seasons that ended with deep playoff runs.

Jacksonville Jaguars (9-7) at Tennessee Titans (5-11): Without Trevor Lawrence at Carolina, the Jaguars’ 26-0 shutout of the lowly Panthers put Jacksonville in a division-winning scenario at Nashville this week. A victory would give Jacksonville (9-7) the AFC South title and a home game in the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Whether Lawrence (shoulder) is 100 percent isn’t clear after a four-week stretch in which he was also fighting off an ankle injury and concussion. Injuries hit Lawrence back when the Jaguars were 8-3. But four consecutive losses followed, putting the Indianapolis Colts (9-7) and Houston Texans (9-7) in play for the division title. The Titans are literally and figuratively limping to the finish line. Tennessee lost 26-3 last week in Houston, their fourth defeat in five games, and they had 15 names on the injury report for Week 18. That list included rookie quarterback Will Levis, who is battling right foot and left ankle maladies that kept him out of practice. Levis wants to play, but this could be a spot for the Titans to send off 36-year-old Ryan Tannehill and 30-year-old RB Derrick Henry, who has rushed for 9,349 yards in eight seasons with the Titans. Both are in the final year of their existing contracts.

–Field Level Media