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After Chiefs win, all eyes flip to Payments at Bengals on Monday Evening Soccer | 41 KSHB
The Buffalo Payments (12-3) entered the week atop of the convention standings, however they want a win Monday at Cincinnati to maintain tempo after the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs improved to 13-3 with a 27-24 win Sunday in opposition to Denver.
The Payments management their destiny for the second, however that every one modifications if the reigning AFC champion Bengals can spring the upset.
Cincinnati (11-4) is a 1-point underdog, however Joe Burrow and firm nonetheless have an outdoor shot on the No. 1 seed — and a first-round bye within the NFL playoffs — if they’ll win out and the Chiefs stumble subsequent weekend in Las Vegas.
Patrick Mahomes shall be watching
Mahomes on Payments-Bengals: “You strive to not be too invested in it… As a fan of the sport you want to observe 2 nice soccer groups going in opposition to one another.”
— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) January 1, 2023
NFL Week 17 takeaways: Eagles lose, Tom Brady is again and big Lions-Packers matchup | The Athletic
What shocked you most from the early video games Sunday?
Graham: Clinchin’ ain’t simple. Minshew Mania hasn’t carried over to the Eagles, who’re wobbling with out Jalen Hurts, and nonetheless want a win to lock up the NFC’s prime seed and received ambushed at dwelling by the Saints. The Broncos determined to maintain making issues tough for the Chiefs, however that didn’t do Nathaniel Hackett any good Sunday afternoon. If solely the Broncos might face the AFC West kings each week. Then Hackett would possibly look certified sufficient to not hearth final week. The Broncos scored a season-high 28 factors in opposition to the Chiefs on Dec. 11 after which scored their second-highest whole Sunday, this time underneath interim coach Jerry Rosburg. The Broncos nonetheless didn’t win, however they considerably resembled the workforce nationwide TV executives scheduled for, like, seven prime-time video games each month. Talking of, the Chiefs’ victory places that a lot stress on Monday evening’s matchup between the Payments and the Bengals, who’ve every crushed the Chiefs however must catch them for the tiebreaker to matter.
‘That ain’t no cross interference’: Broncos gamers, coach specific frustration over third quarter name on Courtland Sutton | Mile Excessive Report (Denver Broncos SB Nation web site)
Interim head coach Jerry Rosburg, when requested in regards to the sport, smirked barely earlier than giving the last word diplomatic response.
“Okay, so I’m the interim head coach, proper, however I understand how the NFL workplace works when ti involves coaches criticizing the officers,” he stated earlier than briefly expressing admiration for the crew that labored the sport whereas stating the problem in officiating the matchup. “Nevertheless it doesn’t imply I can’t have my disagreements. What’s the phrase… ‘unlucky’, maybe. There was an unlucky (name) throughout the sport I disagree with.”
Broad receiver Jerry Jeudy was much less diplomatic and extra on to the purpose, merely expressing, “That ain’t no cross interference.”
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes turns into third participant with a number of 5K passing seasons | NFL.com
Mahomes eclipsed 5,000 yards passing in a season for the second time in his profession on Sunday throughout the Chiefs’ 27-24 win over the Denver Broncos, becoming a member of Tom Brady and Drew Brees as the one gamers in NFL chronicle to attain the feat in a number of years.
Needing 280 yards on Sunday to hitch the 5K membership for a second time, Mahomes related with Blake Bell for a 17-yard landing within the fourth quarter in opposition to the Broncos to get to the milestone.
Mahomes beforehand surpassed 5,000 yards in his 2018 breakout Related Press NFL MVP season, and placing himself in such unique firm actually received’t hinder his marketing campaign for a second profession MVP.
2022 NFL season, Week 17: What We Discovered from Sunday’s video games | NFL.com
Subsequent Gen stat of the day: Patrick Mahomes accomplished 21 of 26 passes for 281 yards and a TD versus zone protection (5 for 11, 29 yards, 2 TDs, INT versus man protection).
NFL Analysis: Patrick Mahomes is the third participant in NFL historical past with a number of 5,000-yard passing seasons, becoming a member of Drew Brees and Tom Brady.
NFL Week 17 grades: Packers get ‘A+’ for blowout win, Tom Brady’s Buccaneers earn an ‘A’ for topping Panthers | CBS Sports activities
B- Chiefs
The Broncos had Kansas Metropolis on the ropes on this sport, however the issue for Denver is that Patrick Mahomes appears to thrive when he’s on the ropes. Though Mahomes struggled together with his accuracy at occasions, he nonetheless managed to throw for 328 yards and three touchdowns with two of these going to Jerick McKinnon. The Chiefs weren’t overly spectacular on both facet of the ball. Defensively, they struggled to cease the Broncos at occasions, however additionally they got here up with some clutch performs together with 4 sacks and a fourth-quarter interception. This actually looks like a sport the place Kansas Metropolis performed to the extent of its opponent and the excellent news for the Chiefs (13-3) is that due to the win, they’re nonetheless very a lot alive for the No. 1 general seed within the AFC.
Across the NFL
Packers’ Jaire Alexander after backing up ‘fluke’ speak in opposition to Justin Jefferson: ‘I meant what I stated’ | NFL.com
Confronted with an elimination sport Sunday in opposition to a Minnesota Vikings workforce that dominated them within the season opener, the Packers stepped up in all phases of the sport to pressure a win-and-in sport in opposition to Detroit on Jan. 8 — however none extra so than the much-maligned protection. With the remainder of the unit forcing Kirk Cousins into three interceptions and a misplaced fumble throughout the 41-17 win, cornerback Jaire Alexander honed in on proving his provocative declare that Justin Jefferson’s nine-catch, 184-yard sport for 2 scores in Week 1 was certainly a “fluke.”
“I used to be capable of observe him,” Alexander instructed Tracy Wolfson throughout the CBS postgame. “I used to be capable of go to his facet all sport. I’m the kind of individual, I’m going to match depth, in order that’s what I did all evening. Hats off to him. He’s nonetheless on my prime three receivers. He’s nonetheless an excellent receiver. However I’m assured in myself and I stated what I stated, and I meant what I stated.”
Ravens vs. Steelers takeaways: Pittsburgh stays alive in playoff race due to Kenny Pickett’s late heroics | CBS Sports activities
What’s subsequent
The Steelers will host the Browns in a sport Pittsburgh must win so as to maintain its playoff hopes alive. The Steelers additionally want a Jets win in Miami and a Patriots loss in Buffalo so as to have a shot on the postseason. Pittsburgh fell to Cleveland when the 2 groups first met again in Week 3.
Baltimore will journey to Cincinnati for a sport that can absolutely affect the AFC playoff seedings. The sport might decide who wins the AFC North if Cincinnati is unable to defeat Buffalo on Monday evening. Regardless, the Ravens have already clinched their spot within the playoffs.
Jets eradicated from playoff rivalry: ‘It’s gut-wrenching’ | ESPN
“It stings,” White stated. “It’s powerful. It’s gut-wrenching. It’s the entire above. You should utilize any adjective you need to use to explain it.”
The Jets had been 7-4 after a 31-10 rout of the Chicago Bears on Nov. 27, seemingly headed towards a slump-busting playoff look. Undermined by a chilly offense and quarterback instability, they now are within the midst of maybe the worst late-season nostril dive in workforce historical past. The final time they misplaced this many in a row after the tenth sport was 1996, their notorious 1-15 season.
“Nobody is hurting greater than the folks within the locker room, particularly me,” coach Robert Saleh stated. “On the similar time, I do know it’s laborious to see gentle on the finish of the tunnel, however there are numerous actually cool issues to have a look at for this season. However proper now it stings huge time.”
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pleasure
7 winners and three losers from the Chiefs’ win over the Broncos
Losers
Particular groups coordinator Dave Toub: We’ve talked about all of it season. Now it’s formally time to panic about Kansas Metropolis’s third section. We’re seeing power errors like fumbled punt returns, botched snaps (or holds) and missed (or partially blocked) kicks. Whether or not it’s the kicker, the holder, the returner or the teaching, the problems haven’t gone away — they usually clearly haven’t been addressed correctly. Errors will be overcome in opposition to inferior opponents. However in opposition to opponents just like the Cincinnati Bengals or Buffalo Payments, that received’t be almost as simple. Does anybody have religion that the kicking and return video games shall be a part of the explanation the Chiefs win within the postseason? For the entire accolades Toub has rightfully obtained — and for the entire roster spots devoted to particular groups — it’s clearly a flaw in 2022. Sadly, it’s one that might show deadly within the playoffs.
George Karlaftis admits he ‘missed layups’ earlier in season
Following Sunday’s sport, the previous Purdue Boilermaker mentioned his current dominance — crediting Chiefs line of defense coaches Joe Cullen and Terry Bradden for serving to to enhance his ending and second effort.
“I really feel like I used to be good from a person perspective,” Karlaftis stated of the season’s early chapters. “[I] felt like I used to be getting there [but] simply lacking my layups loads. So in observe — with Coach Cullen and Coach Bradden — [we’re] simply engaged on ending loads.”
The additional work has additionally concerned persevering with the play even when unsuccessful in opposition to first blocks, which has benefitted the rookie when opposing quarterbacks have held on to the ball too lengthy.
“A variety of sacks that come for guys across the league are on a second effort, on a counter,” he noticed. “So we’ve been working that nonstop [and] watching additional movie.”
