Tag: playoffs

NBC, ESPN set network records for divisional-round games

Posted on | by Field Level Media

NBC and ESPN/ABC followed CBS’ lead by drawing record numbers for their respective NFL divisional-round games.

On Thursday, NBC announced that it averaged 45.4 million viewers for the Los Angeles Rams’ 20-17 overtime victory over the Chicago Bears.

That number from Sunday’s game represented an 8% increase from a comparable contest in last year’s playoffs.

It also marked the most-watched NFL divisional-round broadcast in the network’s history, surpassing a 1994 game when the Kansas City Chiefs rallied with a 21-point fourth quarter to earn a 28-20 victory over the then-Houston Oilers.

Earlier on Sunday, the New England Patriots secured a 28-16 victory over the visiting Houston Texans in an AFC divisional-round game that averaged 37.9 million viewers on ESPN and ABC. That served as the most-watched event in ESPN history, dating back to the network’s launch in 1979. It’s also the best for any sporting event on ABC outside of a Super Bowl.

The Texans-Patriots game peaked at 44.9 million late in the second half, per ESPN.

CBS drew its best Saturday audience for an NFL contest when an average of 39.6 million viewers tuned into watch the Denver Broncos’ 33-30 overtime victory over the visiting Buffalo Bills.

The game peaked at 51.3 million viewers while in overtime, making it the most-watched Saturday program on any network since the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.

–Field Level Media

Broncos win OT thriller over Bills, advance to AFC title game

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Wil Lutz hit a 23-yard field goal, his fourth of the game, to give the host Denver Broncos a 33-30 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday to advance to the AFC Championship Game.

The Broncos will host the winner of Sunday’s game between the New England Patriots and Houston Texans next Sunday with a spot in the Super Bowl on the line.

After Denver’s first overtime possession stalled out, the Bills were driving when a Josh Allen deep ball was intercepted by Ja’Quan McMillian.

The Broncos’ second OT drive was aided by a pair of pass interference penalties on the Bills which accounted for 47 yards and moved Denver into the red zone to set up the game-winning kick at the 4:44 mark.

Bo Nix, playing in Denver’s first home playoff game since 2015, completed 26 of 46 passes for 279 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Marvin Mims caught eight passes for 93 yards, including a go-ahead score with 55 seconds left in regulation.

Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto forced two fumbles and had a sack.

The Bills outgained the Broncos 449-349 but turned it over five times, their most in a game since October 2018.

Josh Allen was 25-of-39 passing for 283 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 66 yards but threw two interceptions and lost two fumbles. James Cook III ran for 117 yards on 24 carries but also fumbled when the Bills had a chance to go ahead 14-3 in the second quarter.

After the Bills scored 17 straight points to take a 27-23 lead with 4:11 left in regulation, Nix led an eight-play, 73-yard drive to reclaim a late advantage. He converted a third-and-11 with a 25-yard pass and a third-and-4 with a 6-yard run before his go-ahead 26-yard touchdown pass to Mims.

Buffalo drove down the field on the ensuing drive and Matt Prater, a former Bronco, drilled a 50-yard field goal, his third of the game, with 5 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

The game was tied late in the first half after a Prater field goal before the Broncos scored 10 points in the final 22 seconds. After Nix found Lil’Jordan Humphrey for a 29-yard score to cap off a two-minute drill, Devon Key recovered an Allen fumble on a keeper with 2 seconds left, setting up Lutz’s 50-yard field goal for a 20-10 advantage.

That lead was extended to 23-10 early in the third after another Bonitto forced fumble by sacking Allen. But Allen bounced back, giving the Bills a late lead with touchdown passes to Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid along with another drive which set up a Prater 31-yard field goal.

–Field Level Media

Rams layer up, pack their own LaFleur to visit Bears, ‘Iceman’

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Any skeptics left doubting the merit of Caleb Williams’ nickname might look to the mercury for confirmation on Sunday night when the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams stage the finale of a four-game NFL Divisional Playoff weekend.

Williams’ late-game heroics and growing legend for cool under pressure hit a new level last week. He led Chicago back from a 21-3 deficit with a team-playoff record 361 passing yards to lift the Bears over the rival Green Bay Packers, the first postseason win for the franchise since 2011. It was the seventh game-winning fourth-quarter drive for Williams this season.

“I feel calm in those moments. I feel my conditioning is the best in those moments. I feel that I’m the best in those moments because of what I’ve prepared to be in those moments,” Williams said. “For myself, it’s just ‘next play, next play, next play,’ and then when you have to go make a play, it’s life or death in those moments.”

As the Rams roll into Chicago (12-6), the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, the challenge is heating back up following a 34-31 win over the Panthers in the wild-card round last Saturday. Frigid temperatures are in the forecast for gametime — highs in the teens with snow flurries around kickoff time at 6:30 p.m. ET.

A little precipitation and chill might not hurt Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is 4-1 at Chicago in his career when the kickoff temperature is below 40 degrees. He’s not alone. L.A.’s lead running back, Kyren Williams, is from St. Louis and played at Notre Dame. Wide receiver Davante Adams, the NFL leader with 14 touchdown catches, spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Packers and knows his way around frosty Soldier Field, too.

Stafford said he’s not feeling any pain or lingering issues with his sprained right index finger. He was hurt at Carolina last week but didn’t miss a snap and led the Rams to a comeback win with 304 yards and three TDs.

Williams had 3,942 passing yards and 27 touchdowns in 2025. The Rams are quick and relentless along the defensive line and had 47 sacks in the regular season. Los Angeles (13-5) will test Williams’ eye discipline and gauge the readiness of left tackles Theo Benedet and Braxton Jones, activated from injured reserve this week. Both have started this season, but the Bears lost Ozzy Trapilo (knee) to a season-ending injury against the Packers.

“Obviously it’s a bit of a whirlwind,” Benedet said of coming off the bench last week for the game-winning drive and resuming his role as the starting left tackle.

It’s not unthinkable the game could be won by two dudes under stocking hats on the sideline.

Rams coach Sean McVay and Bears coach Ben Johnson are regarded as two of the game’s brightest offensive minds. McVay enters his 15th career playoff game against a 15th different team but is very familiar with Johnson, who shares common pupils with McVay in Stafford and Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Before McVay helped pry Stafford from Detroit in a trade, Johnson was on the coaching staff with the Lions for two seasons. Then the Rams sent Goff to the Lions in the QB swap.

“He does a great job. I’ve studied him really closely since he took over and started it doing it in Detroit,” McVay said. “I think what shows his flexibility is the ability to have one of the best offenses with a player like Jared, who’s really special, and then being able to have some similar foundational principles with Caleb but also accentuate the things that make him really unique with the athleticism, move the spot and take advantage of their skill around it.”

Bears fans will recognize the bloodlines of the Rams’ offensive coordinator — Mike LaFleur — and Packers coach Matt LaFleur and McVay are longtime friends and coaching allies from their days as assistants with the Washington Commanders organization.

Did McVay phone a friend for tips on taking down the Bears?

“What do you think? We watch the tape, we do our work, and Matt is a very close friend of mine,” he said.

Year 17 has been a brilliant season for Stafford. He led the NFL in passing yards (4,707) and touchdowns (46) in the regular season. Adams and Puka Nacua, the league leader with 129 receptions, loom as massive worries even for a defense that was first in the NFL in interceptions (23) and takeaways (33).

“I’ve got so much respect for that guy. You talk about the ultimate competitor,” Johnson said. “He’s one of the more talented throwers of the football I’ve ever been around. He’s outstanding. He’s a great teammate. … His toughness. Physical toughness.”

McVay said the Rams are spending extra time drilling all 11 defensive players on playing until they hear a whistle because of Williams’ flair for flourishing on unrehearsed extensions of busted plays.

“Some of those second reaction plays where he’s getting flushed to his right or getting flushed to his left and guys understand how to be able to work with him,” McVay said, “those are the ones that are really scary.”

When he lost No. 1 wide receiver Rome Odunze for five weeks due to a foot injury, Williams turned to rookie tight end Colston Loveland to fill that void. Loveland, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 draft, had eight receptions for 137 yards last week.

“I know Caleb has an immense amount of trust in him,” Johnson said. “He’s one of the first ones in the building every single day. He is always studying his playbook while he’s eating breakfast. He is always the last one off the practice field, doing the jugs machine. Model of consistency, which for a rookie speaks volumes.”

The winner of Sunday’s game plays in the NFC title game next week, meeting either the San Francisco 49ers (13-5) or Seattle Seahawks (14-3).

The Rams beat the 49ers in the 2021 NFC Championship, 20-17, and beat the Saints in the 2018 conference championship game.

Chicago last won the NFC Championship Game in 2006 and also won in 1985 prior to winning Super Bowl XX. The Bears lost the 2010 NFC Championship to the Packers.

Rams nose tackle Poona Ford (elbow) and offensive lineman Kevin Dotson (ankle) were limited on Wednesday but plan to play Sunday. Dotson has been out since he was hurt in Week 16 against the Seahawks.

Dotson is an essential cog in the running game.

“He’s a beast. When he was playing this year, I thought he was one of the best guards, if not the best guard in the league,” Stafford said. “So if we can get him back, obviously that would be a huge boost.”

Odunze and wide receiver D.J. Moore (knee) were limited to start the week but Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (concussion) was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.

–Field Level Media

NFL Playoffs: Texans-Steelers Preview, Props, Prediction

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The first round of the NFL postseason concludes with what should be a defensive slugfest with the Houston Texans visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.

The Steelers (10-7) were the last team into the postseason when they survived a missed field goal by Baltimore on the final play of the regular season. The Texans (12-5) had already earned a wild-card spot thanks to their nine-game winning streak, and were installed as one of four wild-card road favorites. Two of the first three have won thus far, the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo, while Green Bay suffered a late collapse at Chicago.

ODDS AND TRENDS
Houston is a consensus 2.5-point favorite. That includes at BetRivers, where the Texans have been backed by 59% of the spread-line money while their -159 moneyline has drawn 58% of the money.

The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game in nearly nine years, so it comes as little surprise that they have failed to cover the spread in each of their past six postseason games.

Oddsmakers are expecting a low-scoring game, with the 38.0 total points line seeing the Under supported by 52% of the money and 54% of the total bets. Each of Houston’s past four road games have hit the Under.

INSIDE EDGE
Houston’s top-ranked defense leads the league in forcing three-and-out on 30.1% of opponents’ possessions this season. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s offense ranks fourth-worst in going three-and-out on 24.9% of its possessions, according to Inside Edge’s Remarkable engine.

KEY STAT
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was lowest among 27 qualified quarterbacks this season in targeting receivers at an average depth of 4.9 yards on first down. However, he has also gone seven complete games since throwing his last interception at the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 9.

PROP PICKS
–Texans WR Nico Collins 50+ Receiving Yards (-287 at DraftKings): Collins had only three 100-yard receiving games during the regular season, but did have at least 55 in each of his past five — leading to this being the most popular prop at the book. Better potential payouts are available for 60+ yards (-179), 70+ (-115), 80+ (+124), 90+ (+180) and 100+ (+259).

–Steelers WR DK Metcalf Anytime TD (+215 at BetRivers): It was clear how much the Steelers’ passing game missed Metcalf during his two-game suspension. His big frame will be an important target for Rodgers in the red zone, although Metcalf does have just one touchdown catch over his past eight games.

“DK is the No. 1 receiver, so it’s great having DK back,” Rodgers said. “He’s real thankful to be back, I know. And we’re all thankful to have him back as well.”

THE NEWS
The Steelers have dropped six consecutive playoff games since defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round on Jan. 15, 2017.

Pittsburgh lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game seven days later and since has followed up with five straight first-game setbacks.

While the Texans have a standout quarterback in C.J. Stroud, it is the other side of the ball led by defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter that sets the tone.

Houston allowed a league-low 277.2 yards per game this season and ranked second in points allowed at 17.4 per game. The Texans also ranked second with a plus-17 takeaway margin.

Hunter finished third in the NFL with 15 sacks and Anderson tied for eighth with 12. Star Derek Stingley Jr., fellow cornerback Kamari Lassiter and safeties Jalen Pitre and Calen Bullock all had four interceptions.

“They’ve just got a kick-butt unit,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. “They do. They’ve got a top-flight edge tandem in Hunter and Anderson. They’ve got a top-flight corner tandem on the outside, and so they rush very well. They cover very well. They’re not trying to split the atom schematically. They don’t have to when you have corners and edge rushers like that.”

Stroud is playing in the playoffs for the third straight season and brings a 2-2 postseason mark into the contest.

During the regular season, the 24-year-old passed for 3,041 yards and 19 touchdowns against eight interceptions despite missing three games due to a concussion.

Meanwhile, Rodgers has played well for the Steelers and had 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 16 games. He hasn’t been picked off during his last seven outings.

“I’m a big fan of Aaron. I love what he does,” Stroud said. “His mechanics are through the roof. … He’s a heck of a player and I respect him and he’s doing it at a high level in Year 21 (of his career).”

Rodgers has an 11-10 postseason record but his last victory came in the 2020 season’s playoffs for the Green Bay Packers.

The Steelers hope to get a boost from receiver DK Metcalf (team-best 850 receiving yards, six TDs), who is back after a two-game suspension due to an incident with a fan in Detroit.

THEY SAID IT
–“It’s going to be old-school football and it’s going to be a physical game. If you like football, you should be excited about it, and I’m ready for it.” — Texans coach DeMeco Ryans

–“It’s win or go home at this point. We obviously want to win, but we just got to go out and execute our job and take it one play at a time.” — Steelers left tackle Dylan Cook

INJURY REPORT
Steelers star outside linebacker T.J. Watt had a week full of smooth practices and said his body is feeling good. Watt recorded an interception against the Ravens in his return from a three-game absence due to a partially collapsed lung.

On Sunday morning, Pittsburgh downgraded defensive tackle Isaiahh Loudermilk (ankle) to out versus the Texans. He initially was listed as questionable after logging limited practice sessions on both Friday and Saturday.

For Houston, backup quarterback Davis Mills joined the team in Pittsburgh after being listed as questionable. Mills and his wife welcomed their first child earlier this week and formally announced the birth of their son on Saturday.

Mills, 27, went 3-0 as a starter this season when Stroud was sidelined with a concussion. Rookie Graham Mertz, a sixth-round choice, is Houston’s third-string quarterback.

Also, Lassiter (ankle/knee) was a full practice participant on Saturday and is good to go. Running back Jawhar Jordan (ankle) was ruled out Saturday and cornerback Ajani Carter (hamstring) was ruled out Sunday. Safety Jaylen Reed (forearm) is questionable.

PREDICTION
It will be cold with game-time temperatures expected to be in the mid-30s, but clear. Expect this to be a physical matchup dictated by field position and finishing drives with touchdowns. Ultimately, the Texans’ excellent pass rush matches up exactly where the Steelers’ biggest concern is. Rodgers has been sacked multiple times in four consecutive games and will be hard-pressed to make the occasional play with his legs as he did in a tight win against Baltimore last week. –Texans 20, Steelers 16

–Field Level Media

Niners-Seahawks set for Saturday of divisional round; game times TBA

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The San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks will play for the second time in 14 days on Saturday, while the Chicago Bears will host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in the NFL divisional round, the league announced Sunday evening.

While the time slots and network designations for next weekend’s action have not yet been announced, the league announced that the Seahawks, the top seed in the NFC, will host the sixth-seeded 49ers and the AFC’s sixth-seeded Buffalo Bills will play at the No. 1 seed Broncos in Denver on Saturday.

The second-seeded Bears will host the No. 5 seed Rams in the other NFC divisional game and the No. 2 seed New England Patriots will host the winner of Monday night’s Pittsburgh-Houston matchup in the other AFC divisional game on Sunday.

Saturday’s games will be played at 4:30 and 8 p.m. ET while Sunday’s slate is scheduled for 3 and 6:30 p.m. ET.

The Seahawks and 49ers split their regular-season series, with Seattle winning in Week 18 to clinch the NFC’s top seed. Seattle is looking to advance to its first NFC Championship Game since the 2014 season while San Francisco would make its fourth appearance in the last five seasons with a victory.

Buffalo, fresh off a win at Jacksonville, has its eyes set on its second straight AFC Championship Game appearance and is two wins away from its first Super Bowl appearance since 1993. Denver is looking to make its first conference championship game since the last time it won a Super Bowl in the 2015 season.

Chicago, which rallied to beat Green Bay for its first playoff win since January 2011, would advance to the NFC Championship Game for the first time in the same span if it can beat the Rams, who are looking for their first conference title game appearance since the 2021 season, the last time they won a Super Bowl.

–Field Level Media

Packers-Bears locked into NFC wild-card game; Broncos top AFC picture

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The Green Bay Packers will take their Super Bowl dreams into Soldier Field and battle the rival Chicago Bears in the only intra-division matchup of the NFL’s wild-card weekend.

The Bears (11-6) landed the No. 2 seed in the NFC from Sunday’s Week 18 results, while the Packers (9-7-1) were locked into the seventh and final seed in the conference before the weekend began.

The Packers and Bears have played since 1921 but will meet in the playoffs for only the third time. Chicago defeated Green Bay in the 1941 NFL postseason, and the Packers prevailed in the 2010 NFC Championship Game en route to their Super Bowl XLV victory with Aaron Rodgers at the helm.

All dates and times for the wild-card round will be announced by the league later Sunday.

The eliminated Detroit Lions beat Chicago on a late field goal Sunday evening, but the Bears’ only competition for the No. 2 seed, the Philadelphia Eagles, also ended on a losing note against the Washington Commanders.

The third-seeded Eagles (11-6) draw the sixth-seeded San Francisco 49ers (12-5) and the NFC South champion Carolina Panthers (8-9) will welcome the Los Angeles Rams (12-5) in the 4-5 game. The Seattle Seahawks (14-3) locked up the conference’s No. 1 seed by beating San Francisco on Saturday night.

The AFC playoff picture grew clearer when the Denver Broncos secured the top seed and first-round bye with a win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

Both Denver and New England finished 14-3 after the Patriots’ season-ending win over Miami, but the Broncos hold the tiebreaker over the Patriots thanks to a better record over common opponents.

The No. 2 seed Patriots will host the No. 7 Chargers (11-6). The Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4) locked up the AFC South and will host the sixth-seeded Buffalo Bills (12-5).

And Sunday night’s Ravens-Steelers game in Pittsburgh will determine the last of the league’s 14 playoff berths by virtue of the AFC North title. The Steelers advance with a win or a tie, while Baltimore must win to leapfrog its rivals.

The reward will be a home game against the red-hot Houston Texans, who won their ninth in a row Sunday over Indianapolis to finish 12-5 and claim the fifth seed in the AFC bracket.

–Field Level Media

CFP first round: What to know about Alabama at Oklahoma

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College Football Playoff First Round
No. 9 Alabama (10-3) at No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2)
Friday, Dec. 19, 8 p.m. ET
Norman, Okla.
Consensus odds: Oklahoma -1.5, Total 41.5

Oklahoma and Alabama square off in the first round of the College Football Playoff, but the Southeastern Conference rivals need no introduction.

The eighth-ranked Sooners and ninth-ranked Crimson Tide meet Friday in Norman, Okla., in the opening game of the first-ever 12-team CFP bracket, but it’s the second time they’ve played in five weeks.

The winner will take on top-ranked Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. Oklahoma comes into the game with momentum, having won four consecutive games to close the regular season, including a 23-21 victory over Alabama on Nov. 15 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

“I want our guys to be fully immersed in the moment,” Sooners coach Brent Venables said. “… The enormity of the challenge is real. We’re going to have to be an improved version of ourselves.”

Getting into the 12-team playoff settles as a pretty strong statement from two teams entering fall camp with questions — or at the very least, uncertainty — at quarterback and beyond.

The Sooners have been playing with no margin for error since the beginning of November, winning out after an Oct. 25 loss to Ole Miss.

Alabama has struggled some beginning with the meeting against Oklahoma, dropping both that game and the SEC championship game to Georgia, 28-7, and going down to the wire before beating Auburn 27-20.

The Crimson Tide also have been dealing with speculation over Kalen DeBoer and his future at the school after the coach was mentioned prominently regarding the open Michigan job. DeBoer said he hadn’t talked to anyone about another job and didn’t plan to.

“Our guys, if there’s any distraction, I haven’t seen it, haven’t felt it,” DeBoer said. “And so, I’m really proud of the way they’ve handled whatever noise that’s out there.”

Oklahoma is in the CFP for the first time since 2019 and is looking for its first playoff victory after losing in the semifinals in each of its four appearances in the four-team playoff era.

The Crimson Tide are in the playoff for the ninth time and the first time since 2023. Alabama is 9-5 in CFP games and emerged as champion in 2015, 2017 and 2020.

FILM-ROOM FOCUS: A matchup between Oklahoma’s secondary and Alabama’s wide receivers highlights the elite position group crossover on Friday night.

Sooners cornerback Eli Bowen has two interceptions over the past three games, including an 87-yard pick-six against the Crimson Tide. Germie Bernard leads the Crimson Tide with 57 catches for 762 yards and seven touchdowns.

Bowen said beyond the one-on-one matchups, he’s expecting a better showing from the OU defense.

“We caused turnovers, which saved us. We didn’t have a highly detailed and executed game from the defensive side,” Bowen said. “I feel like we’re focusing on fixing those mistakes and having a better game overall instead of just the matchup.”

HEALTH WATCH: Oklahoma got better news than Alabama early this week regarding top defensive linemen. The Sooners’ R Mason Thomas missed the past three games after suffering a quad injury while returning a fumble 71 yards for a touchdown Nov. 1 against Tennessee. However, he was listed as fully available for this week’s game on Tuesday.

Alabama defensive end LT Overton, whose father played for Oklahoma, won’t be available on Friday due to an illness. He also missed the SEC championship game because of the ailment.

PRO DAY: Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor widely is regarded as one of the best offensive linemen available in the 2026 NFL Draft and might work into conversations as a top-five draft pick.

He’s massive and moves with the ease of a skill-position player, the foundation for why he allowed just four sacks over the last four seasons. The game against the Sooners will be a prime opportunity for Proctor to showcase his talents.

Oklahoma features one of the deepest defensive lines in all of college football, even if Thomas remains out. Taylor Wein and Marvin Jones Jr. on the outside and a deep group of interior defensive linemen will give Proctor plenty of opportunities to put (more) good film in the hands of scouts and further solidify his first-round status.

FUTURE IS HERE: Oklahoma redshirt freshman Eddy Pierre-Louis (6-foot-3, 314 pounds) has played a significant role for the Sooners’ offensive line late in the season as one of three freshmen to break into the starting lineup.

True freshmen Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje are the others. Pierre-Louis has started the last four games and not only performed well in his own rite, but has added an aggressive edge to the group. Pierre-Louis figured to continue to carve out a bigger role after being one of the top guard prospects in the 2024 class. While the Sooners lose Febechi Nwaiwu and Derek Simmons up front, the trio — led by Pierre-Louis — have a chance to help anchor Oklahoma up front for the next couple of years.

NOTEWORTHY: DeBoer is 19-5 all-time against AP Top 25 opponents and only once active FBS coach has more wins over ranked teams (Kirby Smart, Georgia, 26). DeBoer is 6-2 against top-10 opponents.

–Field Level Media

Patrick Mahomes says dwindling playoff odds won’t affect Chiefs’ fight

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Patrick Mahomes has won the AFC West and made at least the AFC Championship Game in each of his first eight seasons as an NFL starter with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The first of those streaks came to an end with Sunday night’s 20-10 home loss to the Houston Texans. Kansas City has been eliminated from AFC West title contention, snapping its streak of nine consecutive division crowns.

The second also is in serious danger. The Chiefs fell to 6-7 and to 10th in the AFC playoff picture with the loss. With four games to play, Kansas City is two games back of Houston for the seventh and final playoff spot, with the Texans also holding the tiebreaker thanks to Sunday’s win.

“We know the (playoff) chances are getting lower and lower, but I know the guys on this team are going to give everything they have, every opportunity we get,” Mahomes said after Sunday’s loss. “I know we’re not winning games, but that mindset the guys have in this locker room, in the games that we’re not winning, you can never question the fight of this team.

“Obviously, we’re not executing at the right moments and we’re not making those plays, but at the end of the day you can never question that, and I think you’ll see that for these last four weeks.”

Mahomes, a two-time MVP in 2018 and 2022 and six-time Pro Bowl selection who turned 30 in September, has not seen a personal drop off in production this season. With 3,398 passing yards and 22 touchdowns, he’s on pace for his most in each category since his last MVP season.

However, the Chiefs have battled a host of offensive line injuries and a lot of their talent, like 36-year-old tight end Travis Kelce, isn’t getting any younger.

Kansas City’s last four games are against two division opponents currently playoff eligible in the Denver Broncos (11-2) and Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) and the two bottom teams in the AFC in the Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) and Tennessee Titans (2-11).

The Chiefs play host to the Chargers on Sunday after losing to Los Angeles at Brazil to open the season.

–Field Level Media

Oklahoma-Alabama rematch to kick off CFP slate of games

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Multi-time national championship winners Oklahoma and Alabama will square off in the opening game of the College Football Playoff on Dec. 19.

As the No. 8 seed, the Sooners will host the No. 9 Crimson Tide in a first-round game at Norman, Okla.

It will be a rematch of a Southeastern Conference clash on Nov. 15 in Tuscaloosa, Ala., which the Sooners won 23-21.

The CFP committee released the schedule on Sunday for the 11-game tournament, which culminates Jan. 19 with the crowning of a national champion in the title game in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Here is the full schedule of CFP games:

FIRST ROUND

Dec. 19, 8 p.m. ET
No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2) vs. No. 9 Alabama (10-3) at Norman, Okla.

Dec, 20, noon ET
No. 7 Texas A&M (11-1) vs. No. 10 Miami (10-2) at College Station, Texas

Dec. 20, 3:30 p.m. ET
No. 6 Ole Miss (11-1) vs. No. 11 Tulane (11-2) at Oxford, Miss.

Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m. ET
No. 5 Oregon (11-1) vs. No. 12 James Madison (12-1) at Eugene, Ore.

QUARTERFINALS

Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. ET
Cotton Bowl, Arlington, Texas
No. 2 Ohio State vs. winner of Texas A&M-Miami

Jan. 1, noon ET
Orange Bowl, Miami Gardens, Fla.
No. 4 Texas Tech vs. winner of Oregon-James Madison

Jan. 1, 4 p.m. ET
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.
No. 1 Indiana vs. winner of Oklahoma-Alabama

Jan. 1, 8 p.m. ET
Sugar Bowl, New Orleans
No. 3 Georgia vs. winner of Ole Miss-Tulane

SEMIFINALS

Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m. ET
Fiesta Bowl, Glendale, Ariz.
Winner of Cotton Bowl vs. winner of Sugar Bowl

Jan. 9, 7:30 p.m. ET
Peach Bowl, Atlanta
Winner of Orange Bowl vs. winner of Rose Bowl

CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m. ET
Miami Gardens, Fla.

–Field Level Media

Playoff Picture: Bears at Packers center of seismic Sunday ahead

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New England, Baltimore, Jacksonville and Denver. Those are the first-place teams in the AFC, and we’d like to connect the polygraph machine if you claim these were your preseason division winner picks.

Spoiler alert: this isn’t how it ends.

That’s because as division matchups ramp up in December, a whole lot of chaos is coming down the chimney before the month ends.

Only four teams — New England (3-0), the LA Chargers (4-0), Tampa Bay (2-0) and Green Bay (3-0) — are undefeated in their own division.

The Colts have lost three of four and dropped into second place in the AFC South on Sunday. The Texans (4-1 in the division) are 7-5 overall and just a game back of first-place Jacksonville (8-4). The Colts (8-4) play the Jaguars this week and end the regular season at Houston.

NFC North-leading Chicago is 1-2 in the division and packs for frigid Lambeau Field on Sunday to face the Packers in what sets up as a seismic Week 14 in the playoff picture.

The Bears (9-3) might be flagged as frauds this month with the lowest strength of victory (.347) of any division leader and a net-TD differential of minus-3.

For those who stack weight into the scoring margin column this time of year, the Seahawks (9-3) are tops in the league at plus-133. Indianapolis leads the AFC at plus-108.

Chicago? The Bears check in at plus-6. But credit first-year coach Ben Johnson for thriving in one-score games with a 6-1 record.

Currently outside of the NFC playoff picture, Detroit (7-5) treads on thinning ice despite a win over the Bears head-to-head. That’s because of two losses to the Packers (8-3-1) and a 1-3 division record overall. Now, the Lions are under growing pressure Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1). But Dallas might rue a loss to the Carolina Panthers (7-6) when it’s all said and done.

San Francisco (9-4) finally rolls into a bye week and has the best intradivision record among the NFC West’s three nine-win teams at 4-1.

Here is where the NFL playoff picture stands prior to New England’s Week 13 game Monday night:

AFC
1.
Denver Broncos (10-2)
2.
New England
Patriots (10-2)

3. Jacksonville
Jaguars (8-4)
4.
Baltimore
Ravens (6-6)
5.
Los Angeles Chargers
(8-4)
6.
Indianapolis Colts (8-4)
7. Buffalo Bills (
8-4)
————
8.
Houston Texans (7-5)
9.
Pittsburgh
Steelers (6-6)
10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
11.
Miami
Dolphins (5-7)
12.
Cincinnati
Bengals (4-8)

NFC
1. Chicago Bears (9-3)

2. Los Angeles Rams (9-3)

3. Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)

5. Seattle Seahawks (9-3)

6. Green Bay Packers (8-3-1)

7. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
————

8. Detroit Lions (7-5)

9. Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)

10. Carolina Panthers (7-6)

11. Atlanta Falcons (4-8)

12. Minnesota Vikings (4-8)

–Field Level Media