Football

Today, the Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, and Los Angeles Rams are just one win away from clinching their spots in the NFL playoffs. Each team faces opponents who have already been eliminated from postseason contention, making this a pivotal day in the race for the playoffs. Chargers and Broncos in Indirect Playoff Battle One of the day’s most intriguing storylines involves the Chargers and Broncos, though the two teams won’t face each other directly. At 12:00 p.m. CST, the Los Angeles Chargers will take on the New England Patriots. The Chargers are aiming for a potential 10-6 record, which would tie them with the Pittsburgh Steelers as the fifth seed in the AFC standings. Later, at 3:30 p.m. CST, the Denver Broncos will visit the Cincinnati Bengals with the same objective as the Chargers: securing a 10-6 record. However, the Broncos currently trail the Chargers in the standings due to head-to-head losses earlier in the season. If both teams win, Denver will remain the AFC’s seventh and final playoff seed, while Los Angeles moves closer to solidifying a higher spot. Rams Eye NFC West Title In the NFC, the Los Angeles Rams will face the Arizona Cardinals at 7:10 p.m. CST. While the Rams hold the third seed in the NFC due to their first-place standing in the NFC West, their 9-6 record leaves them trailing behind teams like the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, and Washington Commanders in overall win totals. The Rams’ priority is securing the top spot in the NFC West. The Seattle Seahawks, their closest divisional rival, have the same number of wins but one additional loss, keeping them in second place for now. A win tonight against the Cardinals would significantly bolster the Rams’ divisional lead. Notably, all three playoff-chasing teams—Chargers, Broncos, and Rams—face franchises that are already eliminated from postseason contention. The Patriots, Bengals, and Cardinals have shifted focus to rebuilding for next season, offering a favorable opportunity for the playoff hopefuls to capitalize. With the stakes high and the matchups seemingly in their favor, today’s games could play a decisive role in shaping the playoff picture for the 2024 NFL season.

In a game to forget, the Seattle Seahawks managed to defeat the Chicago Bears 6-3, relying solely on field goals. While the matchup at Soldier Field was far from thrilling for fans, it marked an important win for Seattle, keeping their playoff hopes alive as they draw level with the Rams in victories and close in on the Commanders in the NFC. Field Goals Defined the Game The action in Soldier Field began with moderate interest as the Seahawks opened the scoring with a field goal, hinting at the potential for a competitive contest. The Bears responded with a field goal in the second quarter to tie the game, but the Seahawks reclaimed the lead—and ultimately the win—with another field goal. From that point on, neither team managed to score, leaving Seattle to secure the victory in a defensive slog. Seahawks Close in on Commanders and Rams A win is a win, and the Seahawks capitalized on it. This victory moved them to a 9-7 record, placing them eighth in the NFC, just one win behind the Washington Commanders, who currently hold the final NFC playoff spot with a 10-5 record. Additionally, in the NFC West, the Seahawks are now tied in wins with the Los Angeles Rams but carry one more loss. This sets up a scenario where Seattle could overtake the Rams in their divisional standings, depending on upcoming results.  

The Dallas Cowboys season was bad from start to finish, as with a negative streak of 7-8, bad games and injuries have marked this year for the Cowboys. Now, the Lone Star team informed that their receiver CeeDee Lamb will be out for the last two games of this season, against Commanders and Eagles. This, to give him rest and prevent Lamb from undergoing surgery after a shoulder injury that has been carrying and be treated with a process of treatment and rehabilitation. You may be interested in: Ravens gave Texans a decisive defeat Cover image: X (@NFL)

The Ravens defeated the Texans on their home turf with a resounding 2-31 score. With the Steelers’ loss, Baltimore moved into the lead in the AFC North. In the second Christmas game of the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens dominated the Houston Texans, who were only able to score two points, ending with a final score of 2-31 in favor of the visitors. Ravens silenced NRG Stadium The Ravens’ start in the Texans’ NRG Stadium was perfect, as their first offensive drive showed ferocity and precision, advancing down the field without the Texans being able to stop them. This resulted in a touchdown and a field goal for Baltimore, while keeping the hosts scoreless, with a 0-10 lead by the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, it seemed the Texans might find their rhythm thanks to their defense. After struggling in the first 15 minutes, they managed to score their first and only two points of the game with a safety, tackling the Ravens in their own end zone.   However, the Ravens didn’t let this setback distract them, staying focused on the win. Led by the remarkable audacity of Lamar Jackson, Baltimore added another touchdown to their tally. The halftime score was 2-17. A Super Bowl-worthy show For this game, the halftime show was as special as a Super Bowl performance. For the first time in a Christmas NFL game, there was a halftime show, and Beyoncé was the one to make over 72,000 fans sing along. She performed a couple of her most famous songs and surprised everyone with a special guest, Post Malone, who joined her in the middle of the show to perform “Levi’s Jeans,” clearing up the speculation about Mariah Carey being the guest. Thus, Beyoncé gave the fans a very special Christmas gift, both in the stadium and for viewers of the game. Ravens’ offense kept going Back to the game, Jackson made his mark on the scoreboard when, from the 48-yard line, he broke through the defense and ran straight into the end zone, giving his team another six points. After the extra point, the score moved to 2-24. Finally, still in the third quarter, the game’s last touchdown came. Another solid offensive drive for the visitors ended with a precise pass from Jackson to Mark Andrews, closing the game with an overwhelming 2-31 score. This victory for the Ravens was even more significant because, with the Steelers’ loss to the Chiefs, Baltimore took the lead in the AFC North and is now in search of the Divisional Championship.

The Kansas City Chiefs celebrated Christmas with a special win, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-10 and securing the top spot in the AFC. The NFL’s Christmas festivities didn’t stop the action, as the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers delivered an exciting game on December 25. The Chiefs enjoyed a comfortable road victory at Acrisure Stadium with a 29-10 scoreline. The Chiefs Came Out Strong The reigning NFL champions arrived at Acrisure Stadium determined to spoil the Steelers’ Christmas. The home team struggled to contain the Chiefs’ offense in the first quarter, as Kansas City scored 13 points through two touchdowns, missing an extra point on their first attempt. In the second quarter, the Steelers finally broke through the Chiefs’ defense after struggling in the opening 15 minutes. A touchdown brought some relief to Pittsburgh, heading into halftime with a manageable 7-13 deficit. Second Half Dominance by the Chiefs In the second half, the Chiefs extended their lead with a field goal. The Steelers responded in kind, narrowing the gap to 10-16 and staying within one touchdown. However, from that point on, the Chiefs dominated the scoring. In the final quarter, Kansas City found themselves at first-and-goal thanks to a consistent drive carried over from the third quarter. Positioned just two yards from the end zone, the Chiefs scored another touchdown. Although they missed their two-point conversion attempt, the score widened to 22-10. A Fumble Sealed the Game The decisive moment came when Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth fumbled early in a drive. A defender’s arm knocked the ball loose, and the running back failed to secure it, resulting in a turnover. Kansas City regained possession in Steelers territory, and the drive ended with another touchdown for the Chiefs. The final score of 29-10 held, as both defenses and the clock prevented further scoring. With this victory, the Kansas City Chiefs secured the top seed in the AFC, guaranteeing extra rest between the end of the regular season and the playoffs, thanks to their impressive 15-1 record.

Today, on Monday Night Football Week 16 of the NFL, the Green Bay Packers will look to secure their presence in the playoffs this season when they face the New Orlando Saints. The Packers are on a 10-4 streak, which puts them as the sixth best in the National Conference, being their pursuer the Commanders with a 10-5, so a victory today, practically puts them in the postseason without worrying about leaving that area, while the Saints are already mathematically eliminated. The game will be at 7:15 p.m., Mexico Central Time. You may be interested in: Commanders Surprised Eagles and Are Close to Playoffs Cover image: X (@packers)

The Washington Commanders positioned themselves as the seventh-best team in the NFC by defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 36-33, putting Washington one step closer to the playoffs. In Week 16 of the NFL, the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles gave us an exciting matchup between the two top teams in the NFC East, where the Commanders secured a crucial victory in the playoff race with a 36-33 win. Eagles Started Strong The game took place at the Northwest Stadium, and the first quarter was dominated by the Eagles. They showcased a solid offense, and with the spaces left by the Commanders’ defense in their rushing plays, they scored three touchdowns, while the Commanders managed just one. The score was 7-21 in favor of the Eagles. In the second quarter, both teams’ defenses were solid, with the Commanders being the only team to score, narrowing the gap to 14-21. After Halftime, Eagles Extended Their Lead After halftime, the Eagles added more points with two field goals, increasing their lead to 14-27. However, Washington’s offense was advancing steadily as they headed into the final quarter. Commanders Made a Comeback The final quarter began with a touchdown by the Commanders, who were now only one more score away from taking the lead. This came to pass, and Washington took their first lead of the game, 28-27. A field goal gave the Eagles the lead back, and a subsequent interception led to another field goal for Philadelphia, making the score 28-33. A Last-Minute Drive Seals the Win for Commanders With less than two minutes left in the game, the Commanders orchestrated a final drive, moving steadily down the field. They reached the Eagles’ 9-yard line with just 10 seconds on the clock. Ultimately, a touchdown with six seconds left in the game, followed by a successful two-point conversion, gave Washington a 36-33 victory. With this win, the Commanders improved to 10-5, securing the seventh spot in the NFC and putting one foot in the playoffs. Additionally, their victory eliminated the Cowboys, Cardinals, and 49ers from playoff contention.