As expected, the 18th and final weekend of the NFL regular season belonged to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Who remained hospitalized in Cincinnati but was in high spirits. However, there were still 16 games to be played, playoff spots to be earned, brackets to be filled. And six voids in the television schedule to be filled.
The 271st and final game was played for high stakes on a rutted field and under the lights in cold Green Bay on Sunday, which all but assured that Aaron Rodgers, the Packers’ 39-year-old quarterback and guiding light for decades, would help complete the big picture.
Although they were eliminated from postseason contention less than an hour before the start, the Detroit Lions got in Rodgers’ way – or, more precisely, in the way of his 27th and last pass of the game – intercepting it to cement a 20-16 victory… and gift Seattle the 14th and final playoff spot.
Rodgers couldn’t lead the Packers to the playoffs
The Seahawks (9-8) would have been eliminated from playoff contention had the Packers (8-9) defeated the Lions (9-8). Which appeared plausible given that Green Bay was at home and had won four consecutive games. Sunday, Seattle remained alive by upsetting Los Angeles in overtime, 19-16.
As the seventh seed in the NFC, the Seahawks will play on the road against the 13-4 San Francisco 49ers. Who have won 10 consecutive games. The Seahawks will play another game this season, however. Not Rodgers.
Alongside a stocking cap pulled over his head, Rodgers went off the field with his longtime colleague and close friend, receiver Randall Cobb, acknowledging the crowd. Rodgers refused to give his jersey to a Lions player. Thus possibly – possibly – he had played his final game in Green Bay.
Williams scored from one yard out with less than six minutes remaining to give the Lions the lead. The drive was prolonged by a ridiculous unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Quay Walker. Who was ejected for punching a Lions trainer who had just entered the field.
This was the portion where Rodgers leads the Packers to victory with a few daring plays. And throws that only he and Patrick Mahomes are capable of. But the 2023 version of Rodgers is only a competent quarterback, not a great one – the type that throws an interception just when he needs a score (his 91.1 passer rating this season is his lowest since he became Green Bay’s starting quarterback in 2008).
The Lions disposed of the game’s final 3 minutes and 37 seconds when defensive back Kerby Joseph intercepted Rodgers’ deep throw intended for Christian Watson of the Packers.
It was not the first time on Sunday that a playoff team was eliminated.
The Miami Dolphins (9-8) scraped into the AFC playoffs with a clumsy 11-6 victory over the New York Jets (7-10). A once-promising team that was eliminated from contention with six defeats. Three victories, three defeats, five victories, five defeats, and one victory. Good luck to the Miami Dolphins in their first-round playoff matchup in Buffalo.
Skylar Thompson, a 2022 seventh-round draught pick and Miami’s third-string quarterback, led the team to victory despite the Dolphins’ use of him. If Tua Tagovailoa is cleared to play after recovering from a concussion, the Dolphins’ chances in their playoff game against Buffalo will rise. Mike McDaniel, the second-year coach who does not look like a coach, insists he will manage.
“I do not feel entitled to anything,” McDaniel stated. In addition, my life experiences have provided me with an inexhaustible recall of everyone who took a chance on me.
Jaguars’ 20-16 comeback victory
Foyesade Oluokun, linebacker, Jacksonville Jaguars. Oluokun, a five-year veteran from Yale who is in his first season with the Jaguars, was outstanding in the Jaguars’ 20-16 comeback victory over the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night.
He recorded 13 tackles and a sack to help Jacksonville (9-7) win the AFC South. Oluokun had nine tackles after halftime. After safety Rayshawn Jenkins sacked Titans quarterback Joshua Dobbs, Jaguar’s defense scored the game-winning touchdown, which was of much greater consequence.
Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, coined the term “snow globe” for this unique huddle formation. The subsequent nine-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to Kadarius Toney was invalidated due to a holding penalty.
However, Toney, the Giants’ 2021 first-round pick that the Chiefs acquired in October, scored on an 11-yard run on the next play from scrimmage, so “snow globe” may have confused the Raiders. This season, Toney has appeared in nine games for the Giants and Chiefs, all of which have been in victories.
Weekly statistics
Houston quarterback Davis Mills threw a conversion throw to Jordan Akins with 50 seconds remaining to give the Texans a 32-31 victory over the Indianapolis Colts and give the Chicago Bears the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft (3-14).
The Bears already have a promising young quarterback in Justin Fields (who missed Sunday’s 29-13 loss to Minnesota due to a hip injury). So the Texans were likely to select a new quarterback regardless of whether they selected No. 1 or No. 2, whereas Chicago may opt to trade down with a quarterback-needy team. Lovie Smith won’t be around to guide Houston’s future, however, as he was dismissed on Sunday night despite his team’s tenacious finish to the season.
Sunday, hours before the Bills’ game against the Patriots, Hamlin tweeted the message. After the Bills honored Hamlin before the game, Nyheim Hines returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. The first time the Bills had returned a kickoff for a touchdown in three years and three months (appropriately, Hamlin wore No. 3). Hamlin instantly tweeted, “OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Miami’s victory over the New York Jets
The Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8) failed to sneak into the playoffs due to Miami’s victory over the New York Jets. Nonetheless, veteran coach Mike Tomlin deserves a great deal of credit for turning around a season that began with four losses in the first five games.
Pittsburgh finished the season with six wins in seven games, including a 28-14 triumph against Cleveland on Sunday. To extend its incredible streak of above500 seasons to 19 consecutive campaigns. In the NFL, only the Dallas Cowboys (21 consecutive seasons of.500 or higher from 1965 to 1985) have a longer streak. In addition, the New England Patriots have gone 19 consecutive seasons with a winning record.
How concerned, or rather, how much more concerned. Do eternally pessimistic Eagles supporters need to be given what transpired at home on Sunday? Philadelphia (14-3) clinched the NFC East and the No.
1 seed in the conference with a 22-16 victory over the New York Giants, who were 16-point favorites. Because the Giants were anticipated to rest several starters, including quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley. Jalen Hurts returned to action for the Eagles following a two-game layoff due to a shoulder injury. But the Eagles were limited to one touchdown and five field goals.
Lead the Packers to the playoffs
The Giants (9-7-1) fought valiantly behind backup quarterback Davis Webb. And Philadelphia had to recover an onside kick with 1 minute and 38 seconds remaining to seal the victory. The entire Delaware Valley is set to boil for two weeks as a result of the Eagles’ subpar performance in their final four games. Which has earned them a bye in the first round.
The controversy surrounding Sean McVay’s future will continue to intensify. Less than a year after he led the Los Angeles Rams to a Super Bowl triumph. Rumors began to circulate that the 36-year-old is contemplating retiring from coaching (but not football altogether. It was reported that McVay may like to move into the commentary booth).
McVay was asked if he would coach the Rams again following their 5-12 season. And an overtime loss to the Seahawks. McVay stated, “I am not currently considering that.” What does the phrase mean? “That I’m right here, right now, and we’ll take care of that stuff later,” he responded.
Sixth club in NFL history
The Raiders were the sixth club in NFL history, and the first in 23 years, to have a 1,500-yard rusher and a 1,500-yard receiver in the same season. Josh Jacobs rushed for 1,653 yards, while Davante Adams caught passes for 1,550 yards. Each of the other four playoff teams finished with a winning record. 1991 Cowboys, 1995 Cowboys, 1995 Lions, and 1999 Colts.
The Raiders’ final record was 6-11, with four losses in their final five contests. In addition, Jacobs will become a free agent, and veteran quarterback Derek Carr, who did not play on Saturday, is likely to be dealt.
Ryan Stonehouse, a rookie punter for the Tennessee Titans, shattered an 82-year-old NFL record established by none other than Slinging Sammy Baugh on Saturday night with relative ease. In the loss to Jacksonville, the 23-year-old punted three times for a total of 166 yards. Bringing his average per punt for the season to 53.1 yards.
Baugh, a quarterback who played for Washington from 1939 to 1952 and is enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Averaged 51.4 yards on 35 punts in 1940, including one of 85 yards. Five times, Baugh was the NFL leader in punts. This season, Stonehouse’s longest punt was 74 yards, with an average net distance of 44 yards per kick.
