TOP 10 PLAYERS WHO DEFINED A FRANCHISE

 

RAVENS VS. COWBOYS TAKEAWAYS | DALLAS' BRUTAL LOSS

BALTIMORE RAVENS CRITISIZED BY MINA KIMES FOR STATEMENT RELEASING JUSTIN TUCKER

For over a decade, Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker was the best kicker in the NFL and rewrote the NFL record books. He could always be relied upon to make a huge kick for the Ravens, no matter the distance.

But, last year, his play dropped off significantly, and is involved in a huge scandal right now involved his alleged conduct with various massage therapists. On Monday, the Ravens, who drafted a kicker in the NFL draft two weeks ago, released Tucker, and their statement was criticized by people including ESPN’s Mina Kimes.

But, his accuracy has significantly declined the last two years. He’s just 54 of 67 the last two years, and has really fallen off from deep. He’s just 7 of 16 in the last two years from over 50 yards, has been missing kicks from under 50, too.

That, coupled with allegations of misconduct with over a half-dozen massage therapists has made keeping Tucker untenable. But, the statement that the Ravens released on Monday completely ignored the scandal.

Now, it definitely was a football move, in part. But, to ignore the off-the-field stuff may be a bit tone-deaf. Mina Kimes agreed.

I think Mina has a point here. But, from the Ravens perspective, Tucker is a franchise legend and they didn’t need to drag the off-the-field stuff, which hasn’t been proven, into it.

Baltimore drafted Arizona kicker Tyler Loop in the 6th round of the 2025 NFL Draft to replace Tucker.

 #JUSTIN TUCKER #RAVENS #NFL #SCANDAL

- GARRETT CARR

THESE TEAMS HAVE NEVER HAD THR WORST RECORD IN THE NFL

 

MARK ANDRWS DIDN'T SPEAK WITH MEDIA FOLLOWING BRUTAL PERFORMANCE IN RAVEN'S LOSS

The FWAA's postgame media access policy calls for all players to be available following a cooldown period of 10-15 minutes.

Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Those wondering what Mark Andrews would have to say following his role in the Baltimore Ravens’ loss to the Buffalo Bills in the NFL Divisional Round are going to have to wait.

According to The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, the three-time Pro Bowl selection wasn’t available to speak with the media following the Ravens’ season-ending defeat.

Andrews’ absence from Baltimore’s postgame availability is notable, as perhaps no other player on the Ravens’ roster — including quarterback Lamar Jackson — would have in higher demand. But unfortunately for the 29-year-old tight end, ducking reporters won’t prevent his performance in the 27-25 from being remembered for all the wrong reasons.

With 8:50 remaining the game and the Bills clinging to 24-19 lead, Andrews caught a 16-yard pass from Jackson to move the ball into Buffalo territory for a potential go-ahead score. Only rather than running toward the end zone, the Oklahoma product attempted to sidestep Terrel Bernard, only for the Bills linebacker to strip the ball before recovering the ensuing fumble.

Despite the mishap, the Ravens managed to limit Buffalo to a field game, keeping the game within a single score. And after Jackson led Baltimore on an eight-play, 88-yard touchdown drive, Andrews found himself in a position to redeem himself following his previous fumble — only to drop what would have been a game-tying two-point conversion, effectively sealing the Bills’ win.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Jackson took responsibility for his role in the loss, which included committing two costly turnovers (one interception and one fumble) in the first half. The same, however, can’t be said of Andrews, who wasn’t available to speak with reporters at either the postgame podium or in the locker room following the game.

While the circumstances regarding Andrews’ media availability — or lack thereof — aren’t totally clear, the Pro Football Writers of America’s policy on postgame access calls for “immediate access to all players for the sole purpose of conducting interviews” in both teams’ locker rooms following a cooldown period of 10-15 minutes. Absent of any other explanation, it’s reasonable to assume the 2021 first-team All-Pro simply wasn’t in the mood to talk to the media following the defeat.

If Andrews was, in fact, ducking the media due to the disappointing nature of his performance, he wouldn’t be the first NFL player to do so and he certainly won’t be the last. Still, the reality is that speaking to reporters — win or lose — is a part of the job Andrews is getting paid $7 million a year, plus incentives, to perform. And it’s an especially tough a look for the tight end when compared to Baltimore kicker Justin Tucker’s willingness to address his midseason struggles head on.

- Ben Axelrod

MIKE TOMLIN UNDER FIRE FOR 'COWARDLY' DECISION DURING STEELERS-RAVENS

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin looks on during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Baltimore.
Stephanie Scarbrough/AP

If anyone should understand the importance of not letting the Baltimore Ravens build any sort of momentum, it should be Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.

The 52-year-old coach has had a front-row seat to how the Ravens operate as a division rival for the last 18 seasons, but he seemingly threw everything he learned in that time out the window during Saturday's wild-card playoff matchup in Baltimore.

Trailing just 7-0 a little under three minutes into the second quarter, Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson hit tight end Pat Friermuth for a 1-yard gain that set up a fourth-and-inches at the Pittsburgh 29-yard line.

But rather than trying to pick up the minimal yardage with 1,000-yard running back Najee Harris, trying a run-pass option with speedy backup QB Justin Fields, or even trying to draw the Ravens defense offside, Tomlin elected to punt the ball away.

The Ravens then marched 85 yards in 13 plays - all runs - and took a 14-0 lead on a Derrick Henry 8-yard touchdown, prompting a few NFL analysts as well as several fans to roast Tomlin on social media for his questionable coaching decision.

"Throwing short of the sticks on 3rd and 2 and following it up with a punt on 4th and inches to give the ball back to the likely NFL MVP " ESPN's Field Yates wrote.

"I mean... I'll keep defending Mike Tomlin but that's an all-time chicken punt," ESPN's Dan Graziano stated.

"Game over. This freaking guy cowardly punts on 4th and 1 inch, then sees his defense continue to get pummeled. It's comical how bad of a coach Mike Tomlin is when it really matters," one fan exclaimed.

"You need 4 inches and you're punting. Mike Tomlin coaches scared more than any ‘great' coach in football," another fan remarked.

"Mike Tomlin punted with less than an inch to get it in a playoff game that you win or go home. He is coaching scared," one user proclaimed.

Pittsburgh punted on their next drive before scoring on their first two drives of the second half. The Ravens won 28-14, and the Steelers haven't made it past the wild-card round of the playoffs since 2017.

Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved

- Michael Gallagher, Athlon Sports

BALTIMORE RAVENS ARE PLAYOFF BOUND

 

LAMAR JACKSON LEADS RAVENS ROUT WITH PERFECT PASSER RATING

BALTIMORE -- Practice makes perfect -- except if you're Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Despite practicing just once this past week, Jackson was sharp as he has ever been, recording a perfect 158.3 passer rating in Sunday's 41-10 rout of the Denver Broncos. This marked Jackson's fourth career game with a perfect passer rating, which is tied with Ben Roethlisberger and Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history, according to ESPN Research.

"I feel like it doesn't matter if it's one day or half a day [of practice], he's going to be ready," Ravens running back Derrick Henry said.

BALTIMORE -- Practice makes perfect -- except if you're Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Despite practicing just once this past week, Jackson was sharp as he has ever been, recording a perfect 158.3 passer rating in Sunday's 41-10 rout of the Denver Broncos. This marked Jackson's fourth career game with a perfect passer rating, which is tied with Ben Roethlisberger and Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history, according to ESPN Research.

"I feel like it doesn't matter if it's one day or half a day [of practice], he's going to be ready," Ravens running back Derrick Henry said.

Lamar Jackson celebrates with teammates after throwing for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos. Getty Images

"It's like your ideal point guard in a basketball situation -- somebody that sees people, sees their strengths, sees ways to get them won," Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor said. "He's a special player, and I think we all know that. He approaches the game a certain way to be the best version of him every time he steps on the field."

This was the first time Jackson had missed any practice time in the regular season this year. When asked after the game if Jackson would get as many rest days as he wanted going forward, Ravens coach John Harbaugh smiled.

Harbaugh said he could tell how sharp Jackson was early in the game. Jackson completed his first four passes and finished the first half by connecting on 11 of his first 12 throws, including two touchdown passes to Zay Flowers of 7 and 53 yards.

"I believe I mentioned it to one of the guys on the [headset] after the second or third series, 'Lamar is one fire. He's on fire throwing the ball,'" Harbaugh said.

Jackson didn't seem at full strength when scrambling, running for 4 yards on three carries. It was his fewest rushing attempts since December 2022, when he left a game against the Broncos in the first quarter with what became a season-ending knee injury.

Jackson's big plays all came with his arm. He was 5-of-5 for 157 yards and a touchdown on throws that traveled at least 20 yards in the air, which are the most such completions in his career.

"He's dangerous with his arm, and I think he showed that," Henry said. "If you want to take away him running the ball, [he'll] go over your head and throw it. If he has to run it, he'll do that as well. Hats off to him. He's an engine that makes this thing go -- 'MV3.'"

With a strong supporting cast, Jackson led the Ravens to seven straight scoring drives as Baltimore put up 40 or more points for the third time in five weeks. On the ground, Henry ran for 106 yards and scored two touchdowns, becoming the 10th player in NFL history to reach 100 career rushing touchdowns. In the passing attack, Flowers became the first Ravens player to total 100 yards receiving and two touchdown catches in the same game since Marquise Brown in 2019.

Now, midway through the season, Jackson is back to being the favorite for NFL MVP. According to ESPN BET, Jackson's odds improved to +225, which moves him past Josh Allen (+360).

Flowers summed up Jackson's performance with a one-word response: "Lamarvelous."

- Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff Writer

THE LAST TIME EACH TEAM WON A SUPER BOWL

 

COWBOYS HOLDS OFF NFC EAST RIVAL GIANTS IN DEFENSIVE BATTLE

Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Entering Thursday night's game, the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys shared last place in the NFC East at 1-2, a game behind the 2-1 Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles.

The Cowboys scored two first-half touchdowns and limited the Giants to three field goals to lead 14-9 at the half. It was a defensive battle the rest of the way, as neither team scored a touchdown in the second half.

Dallas picked up their second win of the season with a final score of 20-15, but star edge rusher Micah Parsons was carted off the field late in the game to get an X-ray.

Here are the most important things to know from Thursday night for both teams:

Dallas Cowboys

Dak Prescott did not speak to the media prior to Thursday's game against the New York Giants. He said he would speak "post win." The Cowboys got the win, but it wasn't an artistic beauty. However, after the Cowboys were embarrassed in back-to-back home losses to the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens, the only thing that mattered was getting a win on a short week.

Being 2-2 is so much better than 1-3. Had the Cowboys lost, it would have marked the first time they lost three September games since 2001, and they would have been in last place in the NFC East.

Prescott was sharp, especially in the first half with touchdown passes to CeeDee Lamb (55 yards) and Rico Dowdle (15 yards). The defense finally stopped the run and stiffened in the red zone, holding the Giants to five field goals.

Prescott has now won 13 straight against the Giants. His last loss came in 2016 as a rookie. He tied the second-longest win streak by a quarterback against a single opponent since quarterback stats were first tracked in 1950. Tom Brady beat the Buffalo Bills 13 straight times from 2003 to 2010, and Steve Young beat the Rams 13 straight from 1987 to 98. He will get a chance for No. 14 on Thanksgiving.

Promising trend: When Lamb has some sideline issues, the best seems to come out of him. During last year's loss at San Francisco, Lamb kept to himself on the sideline and then followed with six games with at least 11 catches and seven games with more than 100 yards. In last week's loss to New Orleans, Lamb had a spat with Prescott and did not speak to the media after the game. On Tuesday, Lamb was apologetic and said he would be better. In the first half alone, he had six catches for 94 yards (both season highs) and a touchdown.

Eye-popping stat: Brandon Aubrey has played 21 games for the Cowboys. He has three field goals of 60 yards in his career, including a 60-yarder in the third quarter against the Giants. That's one off the NFL record held by Brett Maher, who made four with the Cowboys over two different stints. Aubrey made a 60-yarder last week against the Ravens. He is 2-for-2 from 60 yards this season. The rest of the league is 0-for-2, according to ESPN Research.

Silver lining: The Cowboys will have 10 days to get ready for the presently undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers. The time will help because there is still a lot that needs to be corrected, even with the win. In the past three games, opposing quarterbacks have missed on only 19 passes. Against the Saints and Ravens, that was understandable because both teams were so dominant on the run. Giants quarterback Daniel Jones had too much time to throw for much of the game after previously being tormented by the Cowboys, who sacked him 24 times in eight games prior to Thursday. Oh, and they were penalized nine times in the first half alone. --Todd Archer

Next game: at Pittsburgh Steelers (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 6.)

Luke Hales/Getty Images

New York Giants

The Giants kept it close against the Cowboys, but they still didn't come away with a win. After last season, when the Giants were outscored 89-17 in their two meetings with the Cowboys, this has to be viewed as progress, right?

Sure there are no moral victories in the NFL, but this was the third straight step in the right direction for the Giants (1-3) after an ugly opener.

The gap, at least to some degree, has narrowed between the division rivals. Dallas still owns the Giants. It has won 14 of the past 15 matchups, and Prescott has beaten them 13 straight times. New York still isn't quite there yet, but this proved its at least improving.

QB breakdown: Jones was efficient, completing 29 of 40 passes (73% completion) for 281 yards with an interception on a Hail Mary in the finals seconds. But the Giants were kept out of the end zone and Jones was short on most of his deep throws. It's especially notable considering this was a problem early in training camp. There was a lot of good for Jones, but it was not quite enough. Jones is clearly playing better since the opener. Having rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers (12 catches for 115 yards) certainly helps.

Eye-popping stat: Nabers keeps adding to his records. He became the first player in NFL history with at least 25 receptions and three touchdowns in his first four career games when he caught a 3-yard pass early in the second quarter. He now has 35 receptions for 386 yards and three touchdowns in four games.

Troubling trend: Giants top cornerback Deonte Banks has been the nearest defender on four touchdown passes already this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Banks was beat again on Thursday night, this time by Lamb for a 55-yard score in the second quarter. The Giants were hoping Banks would step into the CB1 role this season. Instead, it has been a struggle so far.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Giants weren't able to get anything going in the running game against the league's worst run defense. Dallas came into the contest allowing 185.7 yards on the ground per contest. The Giants came into the game thinking they would have success, but had only 29 yards rushing in the first half -- and they finished with 26 yards on 24 carries. -- Jordan Raanan

Next game: at Seattle Seahawks (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Oct. 6)

- Todd Archer and Jordan Raanan

RAVENS LB KYLE VAN NOY RIPS CHIEFS OVER MEDICAL CARE

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy ripped the Kansas City Chiefs' medical staff for a lack of urgency after he suffered an eye injury in Thursday's season opener, calling it "unacceptable" and "unprofessional."

"I was disappointed in the way the training staff of the Chiefs handled the situation," Van Noy said on his podcast Tuesday. "I was supposed to see an ophthalmologist ... and they took an entire quarter to get down to talk to me in the locker room -- which, to me, is unacceptable."

The Chiefs had no comment on Van Noy's remarks.

Van Noy suffered a fractured orbital bone in the third quarter while rushing Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The injury occurred when his helmet went under his chin strap while he was at the bottom of a pile that included Mahomes and Baltimore defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike.

The Ravens ruled out Van Noy about 40 minutes after he left the game with an eye injury. Van Noy described the injury as a "pretty good fracture."

"The way it took time was super unprofessional to me, especially because there were people in there, too," Van Noy said. "One of the doctors, or the friend of the doctor was in there double-cup fisted, styrofoam cups like everything was good and I just felt that was unprofessional."

Van Noy pointed out how the Chiefs received an "F" for their training staff in the most recent NFL Players Association report card.

"I understand how Kansas City, the players have given that training room an F," Van Noy said, "because with my experience, I would have probably gave them an F, too."

- Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff Writer

RAVENS NEWS: QB LAMAR JACKSONAKES NFL HISTORY IN GAME VS. CHIEFS

© Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesLamar Jackson, quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson has really improved in recent years, and now the quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens has made history in the Week 1 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Lamar Jackson’s surprising admission on the last time Ravens faced Mahomes’ Chiefs

Ravens MVP Lamar Jackson reveals Tom Brady as his motivation for the new NFL season.

The 2024 season has kicked off for the Baltimore Ravens, who faced the Kansas City Chiefs on the road, with Lamar Jackson making NFL history during the game.

Lamar Jackson has shown significant improvement in recent years. Initially known more for his running ability than his passing, Jackson has refined his throwing skills and become a more well-rounded quarterback.

According to oddsmakers, the Ravens are strong contenders for the upcoming Super Bowl. However, their first challenge of the season was formidable, as they had to take on the reigning champions away from home.

Lamar Jackson passes Russell Wilson in astonishing NFL stat

Everyone is aware of Lamar Jackson’s remarkable skills. When he started his career, numerous analysts were convinced that he would do a better job as a wide receiver or a running back rather than a quarterback.

Nevertheless, he worked really hard to prove his critics wrong and improved his passing abilities. Now, Jackson is a very complete quarterback, being both a menace through the air and on the ground.

The 2024 season started with a tough game for Baltimore, as they had to face the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. While the Ravens struggled offensively in the first half, Lamar Jackson was able to make history in the first two quarters.

The quarterback used his rushing abilities to run for 63 yards on eight carries during the first half. With these yards, Lamar Jackson passed Russell Wilson as the third quarterback with the most rushing yards in NFL history.

Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens warms up prior to the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs at M&T Bank Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland.

While Wilson still has a chance to add more rushing yards, Lamar Jackson will likely play for more years to increase his numbers. Russell Wilson entered the season with 5,307 rushing yards, while Jackson had 5,258 prior to the game against Kansas City.

Who is the quarterback with the most rushing yards in NFL history?

The quarterback with the most rushing yards in NFL history is Michael Vick. Over his career, Vick amassed 6,109 rushing yards, setting the record with his dynamic playmaking and mobility as a quarterback.

Lamar Jackson is just a few yards away from breaking the record, and it appears he might achieve it this year. If he remains healthy, he could set a milestone that may remain unmatched for several years.

- Fernando Franco Puga

RAVENS' COMEBACK FALLS A TOE SHORT VS. CHIEFS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs managed to continue their stretch of dominance over a key AFC rival, winning 27-20 in a season-opening heartbreaker for the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night.

The game came down to tight end Isaiah Likely's toe being out of bounds on a would-be touchdown in the final seconds.

Led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes and a two-touchdown performance from rookie receiver Xavier Worthy, the Chiefs picked up where they left off in the Super Bowl and look to be legit contenders for the elusive three-peat.

Meanwhile, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson fell to 1-5 in his career against Mahomes.

Here are the keys to the game:

Rookie wide receiver Xavier Worthy had his season debut against the Baltimore Ravens. Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs drafted Worthy to help bring the big play back to their offense. He won't always do it as well going forward as he did in his NFL debut, but judging from Thursday night, he's going to have a big impact.

Worthy looked like he fits in nicely with a wide receiver group that includes Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown. Brown didn't play against the Ravens because of a shoulder injury but should return early in the season.

Worthy scored a touchdown on a 21-yard run the first time he got the ball in an NFL game. In the fourth quarter, he caught a 35-yard touchdown pass. Though he won't always score twice in a game, look for Worthy to have this kind of impact. He won't necessarily get a high volume of touches, but he will make the most of those he gets.

QB breakdown: Mahomes made a critical mistake by forcing a throw late in the first half that was intercepted. That cost the Chiefs a chance at some points and set up the Ravens with good field position, which they used to kick a field goal. Otherwise, it was a solid game from Mahomes. He completed 20 of 28 passes for 291 yards while topping Len Dawson as the Chiefs' all-time leading passer.

Eye-popping advanced stat: WR Rice, who caught seven passes for 103 yards, had 72 of those yards after the catch, the second most in a game in his career. Mahomes was often able to find him when he was moving up the field with a defender trailing or otherwise in a seam in coverage. -- Adam Teicher

Next game: vs. Cincinnati Bengals (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS, Sept. 15)

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens' season began the way their last season ended -- with a frustrating defeat to Mahomes and the Chiefs.

In a rematch of the AFC Championship Game, Thursday night's loss dropped Jackson and the Ravens to 1-5 against Mahomes. Jackson is 60-19 (.759) against the rest of the league, including the postseason.

On the final drive, Jackson drove the Ravens down to the Kansas City 10-yard line, where he had three shots to the end zone. Jackson missed a wide-open Zay Flowers in the end zone and then appeared to throw a 10-yard touchdown to Likely as time expired. But Likely's right foot hit the end line, which led to the score being overturned.

The reigning Most Valuable Player, Jackson did all he could to keep Baltimore in it with his ninth game of 200 yards passing and 100 yards rushing, the most in NFL history. Even with his performance, the Ravens couldn't keep up with the big plays from Mahomes, who now has 14 touchdown passes and three interceptions in his career against Baltimore.

QB breakdown: The most frustrating part of Jackson's game was his play inside the 20-yard line. In the first half, Jackson finished 1-of-4 for 9 yards in the red zone with two off-target throws, including a batted-down pass to a wide open Justice Hill. This was much different from last season, when Jackson completed 68% of his red zone passes. Also, Jackson fumbled at his own 13-yard line in the second quarter, resulting in a Chiefs field goal. Jackson has lost four fumbles in six games against Kansas City.

Troubling trend: The Chiefs continue to take away tight end Mark Andrews, who has been Jackson's favorite target. Andrews wasn't targeted until five minutes into the second half and finished the game with two catches for 14 yards. In his previous five meetings with Kansas City, Andrews had averaged 21.8 yards receiving and scored no touchdowns.

Eye-popping stat: With 122 rushing yards, a slimmed-down Jackson moved past Russell Wilson for third place on the all-time rushing list for quarterbacks. Jackson trails only Michael Vick (6,109 yards rushing) and Cam Newton (5,628). But Vick and Newton played in over 140 games. Thursday night was Jackson's 87th career game.

Biggest question: What are the ramifications of the Ravens' loss? While you can't overreact to a Week 1 defeat, this opener showed once again that Mahomes has the Ravens' number. Baltimore knew it couldn't even the score from last season's AFC Championship Game loss, but the Ravens left Thursday with even more uncertainty about whether they can upend Mahomes. After losing this potential head-to-head tiebreaker, the Ravens' road to the Super Bowl might have to go through Arrowhead, where Jackson is 0-3. -- Jamison Hensley

Next game: vs. Las Vegas Raiders (1 p.m. ET, CBS, Sept. 15)

- Adam Teicher and Jamison Hensley

NFL BRACKET 2024: SCENARIOS AND PREDICTIVE FOR POSTSWASON PICTURE

Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

 The road to Super Bowl LVIII is set.

Well, almost.

While the completion of the NFL's regular season set the initial playoff bracket, a particularly wild version of wild card weekend could shake things up once again. The divisional matchups won't be known until this round is complete, so even the two teams on a bye (the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens) should plan for a busy weekend of scoreboard-watching.

After laying out the playoff bracket, we'll examine what could happen—and predict what will go down—in each conference.

NFL Playoff Bracket

1 OF 3

AFC Seeding

1. Baltimore Ravens (13-4, won AFC North)

2. Buffalo Bills (11-6, won AFC East)

3. Kansas City Chiefs (11-6, won AFC West)

4. Houston Texans (10-7, won AFC South)

5. Cleveland Browns (11-6)

6. Miami Dolphins (11-6)

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)

AFC Wild-Card Schedule

(1) Ravens: bye

Saturday, Jan. 13

(5) Browns at (4) Texans, 8:15 p.m. ET on NBC

(6) Dolphins at (3) Chiefs, 8 p.m. ET on Peacock

Sunday, Jan. 14

(7) Steelers at (2) Bills, 1 p.m. ET on CBS

NFC Seeding

1. San Francisco 49ers (12-5, won NFC West)

2. Dallas Cowboys (12-5, won NFC East)

3. Detroit Lions (12-5, won NFC North)

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8, won NFC South)

5. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)

6. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-8)

NFC Wild-Card Schedule

(1) 49ers (bye)

Sunday, Jan. 14

(7) Packers at (2) Cowboys, 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox

(6) Rams at (3) Lions, 8 p.m. ET on NBC

Monday, Jan. 15

(5) Eagles at (4) Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m. ET on ACB and ESPN

AFC Scenarios, Predictions

2 OF 3

Unpredictability could be the word of the weekend in the AFC, as all three games on the docket feel like they could go either way.

As good as Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud has looked this season, would anyone be surprised if he had trouble with the Browns' dynamic defense? Could this Chiefs offense that never really hit its stride struggle to keep pace with a Dolphins' attack that scored the second-most points this season? Might the up-and-down Bills stumble against a Steelers squad that played inspired football down the stretch?

All of those things feel imminently possible, and any upset might set the matchup for the Ravens, who will host the lowest seed to advance this weekend.

The bigger question, though, is whether anyone can handle this Baltimore team. A possible Divisional round showdown with Pittsburgh could be a nail-biter—the Steelers swept the regular-season series—but our crystal ball still sees Lamar Jackson and this dominant defense finding their out of this side of the bracket.

NFC Scenarios, Predictions

3 OF 3

While you can never say never in the NFL, the opening slate of the NFC portion of the playoffs appears far less likely to yield any upsets.

Yes, the Packers played well down the stretch, but that may not be enough to overcome the talent disadvantage they'll face against the Cowboys. The Rams are heating up, but the Lions really haven't encountered a cold spell all season. The Buccaneers are by no means world-beaters, but where can you find any encouragement amid the Eagles' disastrous 1-5 finish?

Even if there are some surprises, though, an NFC Championship showdown between the Cowboys and 49ers feels inevitable. Both produced point differentials north of plus-190; the conference's next-closest club was the Saints—who missed the playoffs, by the way—at plus-75.

And if we do get that pre-Super Bowl clash between these longtime rivals, things will probably play out as they did the past two seasons, when San Francisco sent Dallas packing. Between that run and the 49ers' wholly convincing 42-10 thrashing of the Cowboys in Week 5, it's tough going against Brock Purdy and Co.

No, that isn't the boldest prediction you'll hear, but if the aim is accuracy, then the Niners are the pick.

- Zach 

NFL ROUNDUP: RAVENS THRASH DOLPHINS, GRAB NO. 1 SEED IN AFC

Lamar Jackson. USA TODAY Sports 

Lamar Jackson passed for 321 yards and matched his career high of five touchdown passes and the Baltimore Ravens clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a 56-19 dismantling of the visiting Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Isaiah Likely had two touchdown receptions and Zay Flowers (106 receiving yards), Justice Hill, Patrick Ricard and Charlie Kolar each had one for the Ravens (13-3). Gus Edwards and Melvin Gordon III each rushed for a score for Baltimore, which has won six straight games and 10 of its past 11.

Roquan Smith and Geno Stone had interceptions for the Ravens, who have won eight games by 14 or more points this season. Miami star linebacker Bradley Chubb was carted off with a potentially serious knee injury with 3:05 remaining.

Tua Tagovailoa completed 22 of 38 passes for 237 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Miami (11-5) but sustained an injury to his left (throwing) shoulder. He was injured while sliding during a scramble with 7:55 left and missed the rest of the contest. De'Von Achane rushed 107 yards and caught a touchdown pass for the Dolphins.

49ers 27, Commanders 10

Brock Purdy threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns as San Francisco clinched the top seed in the NFC by beating Washington in Landover, Md.

Elijah Mitchell carried 17 times for 80 yards and a touchdown as the 49ers (12-4) locked down the top record in the conference after losses by Detroit on Saturday and Philadelphia on Sunday. Mitchell took over for Christian McCaffrey, who was sidelined with an ankle injury early in the third quarter after rushing 14 times for 64 yards.

Brock Purdy. USA TODAY Sports 

Sam Howell completed 17 of 28 passes for 169 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for Washington (4-12), which dropped its seventh straight, its longest single-season losing streak since 1998.

Chiefs 25, Bengals 17

Harrison Butker booted six field goals while Isiah Pacheco and Rashee Rice each gained over 100 yards from scrimmage as Kansas City clinched the AFC West with a victory over visiting Cincinnati.

Harrison Butker. USA TODAY Sports 

Patrick Mahomes finished 21-of-29 passing for 245 yards and a touchdown for the Chiefs (10-6), who clinched their eighth straight division title. Pacheco totaled 130 yards on 18 carries and had seven receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown, and Rice finished with five catches for 127 yards.

Justin Watson. USA TODAY Sports 

Jake Browning completed 19 of 33 passes for 197 yards. He threw for a TD and rushed for another for the Bengals (8-8), who were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. Cincinnati led 17-7 in the second quarter before Kansas City scored the final 18 points.

Bills 27, Patriots 21

Quarterback Josh Allen rushed for a pair of 1-yard touchdowns and Buffalo held off a late rally by New England to earn a victory in Orchard Park, N.Y.

The Bills (10-6) will go into the final week of the regular season holding the AFC's second wild-card berth but not yet assured of a postseason spot. Allen put Buffalo up 27-14 with 10:42 remaining in the third quarter when he snuck into the end zone with the help of a push from running back Latavius Murray.

Josh Allen. USA TODAY Sports 

Ezekiel Elliott rushed for a 6-yard score early in the fourth to pull New England (4-12) within six, and the Patriots ended up getting the ball back with 6:41 left in the game. However, New England failed to get past its 11-yard line, and the Bills then ran out the clock.

Bears 37, Falcons 17

Justin Fields passed for 268 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 45 yards and a score to lift host Chicago over Atlanta.

The Bears (7-9) relied on a balanced attack that outgained Atlanta 432-307 to win for the fourth time in the past five games. Khalil Herbert led the ground game, rushing 18 times for 124 yards and a touchdown.

The Falcons (7-9) lost for the third time in four games as their dim NFC playoff hopes took a hit. Taylor Heinicke finished 10-for-29 passing for 163 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions before Desmond Ridder entered in relief late in the fourth quarter.

Texans 26, Titans 3

C.J. Stroud passed for 213 yards and a touchdown in his return from a two-game concussion absence and host Houston kept its postseason hopes alive by thumping Tennessee.

Stroud completed 24 of 32 pass attempts and tossed a 12-yard touchdown to Brevin Jordan in the second quarter to extend the Houston lead to 10-0. Eight seconds later, the Texans (9-7) produced their first defensive touchdown of the season when Sheldon Rankins returned a fumble by Titans quarterback Will Levis 13 yards for a score.

Levis suffered a right foot injury while being sacked by Jerry Hughes on the play. Levis labored walking to the sideline and was carted to the locker room. Ryan Tannehill replaced Levis and passed for 168 yards. The Texans recorded five sacks of Tannehill while limiting the Titans (5-11) to 187 yards of total offense.

Colts 23, Raiders 20

Gardner Minshew threw for 224 yards and a touchdown while Jonathan Taylor ran for 96 yards and another score as host Indianapolis kept its hopes for an AFC South title alive by beating Las Vegas.

Matt Gay added second-half field goals of 38, 33 and 45 yards as the Colts (9-7) remained in a three-way tie with Jacksonville and Houston in the division. They will have to beat the visiting Texans next week in their regular-season finale and hope the Jaguars lose at Tennessee to claim a division crown.

Aidan O'Connell hit on 30 of 47 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns for Las Vegas (7-9), which was eliminated from playoff consideration. Davante Adams caught 13 passes for 126 yards and two scores.

Jaguars 26, Panthers 0

Brandon McManus kicked four field goals and Jacksonville's defense dominated as the hosts shut out Carolina.

The Jaguars (9-7) snapped a four-game losing streak and moved closer to repeating as AFC South champions. Sunday's win came with backup quarterback C.J. Beathard at the controls for the Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence, who sustained a shoulder injury a week earlier, missed a game for the first time since he arrived in the NFL in 2021, ending a string of 49 straight games played.

Bryce Young had 112 yards and an interception on 19-of-32 passing for the Panthers (2-14).

Rams 26, Giants 25

Matthew Stafford passed for 317 yards and a touchdown and Kyren Williams rushed for three scores to help Los Angeles defeat New York in East Rutherford, N.J.

Stafford completed 24 of 34 passes with two interceptions, Williams rushed for 87 yards on 20 carries and Puka Nacua caught five passes for 118 yards for the Rams (9-7), who have won six of their past seven.

Tyrod Taylor passed for 319 yards and a touchdown and Darius Slayton caught four passes for 106 yards and a long touchdown for the Giants (5-11), who have lost three in a row. New York failed to convert a two-point conversion try to take the lead with 3:27 left, and Mason Crosby missed a 54-yard field goal with 30 seconds remaining.

Cardinals 35, Eagles 31

James Conner rushed for a 2-yard touchdown with 32 seconds to play and Arizona stunned host Philadelphia to leave the NFC playoff picture in disarray.

Needing a stop to halt their December slide, the Eagles saw their defense fall flat, allowing touchdowns on all four second-half possessions to permit 29 points as Philadelphia (11-5) dropped out of first place in the NFC East.

Kyler Murray was rarely pressured after a first-half interception and completed 25 of 31 passes for 232 yards and three TDs for Arizona (4-12). Conner had 26 carries for 128 yards. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles had only 275 total yards to Arizona's 449.

Saints 23, Buccaneers 13

Derek Carr threw two touchdown passes, New Orleans forced four turnovers and the visiting Saints stayed in contention for a postseason berth with a win over Tampa Bay.

Baker Mayfield was 22-of-33 passing for 309 yards and two touchdowns but had two interceptions. Tampa Bay (8-8), which had won four in a row, missed an opportunity to clinch its third consecutive NFC South title, but can still do so with a victory at Carolina next weekend.

The Saints (8-8), who avenged a 26-9 home loss to the Buccaneers in Week 4, can win the South with a win over Atlanta and a Bucs loss to the Panthers in Week 18.

Steelers 30, Seahawks 23

Najee Harris rushed 27 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns as Pittsburgh continued its playoff push with a victory against host Seattle.

Mason Rudolph, starting for the injured Kenny Pickett, completed 18 of 24 passes for 274 yards for the Steelers (9-7). Geno Smith was 23-of-33 passing for 290 yards and one touchdown for the Seahawks (8-8), who had a two-game winning streak snapped and saw their postseason chances diminish.

The Seahawks reached the red zone before stalling, settling for Jason Myers' 24-yard field goal with 2:01 remaining to make it a one-possession game. The Steelers recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.

Broncos 16, Chargers 9

Jarrett Stidham threw for 224 yards and a touchdown in his first start in nearly a year, but Denver was eliminated from the playoff hunt despite beating visiting Los Angeles.

Stidham took over starting duties from Russell Wilson this week after the Broncos (8-8) lost three of their previous four games, and he completed 20 of 32 passes without a turnover. Denver was eliminated when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Cincinnati Bengals.

Easton Stick completed 24 of 38 passes for 220 yards in his third straight start for the Chargers (5-11) since Justin Herbert went down with a broken right index finger against the Broncos on Dec. 10. Alex Erickson caught seven passes for 98 yards for Los Angeles, which has lost four in a row and seven of eight.

Packers 33, Vikings 10

Jordan Love passed for three touchdowns and rushed for one more and Green Bay cruised to a win over Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Love completed 24 of 33 passes for 256 yards for Green Bay (8-8), which boosted its playoff hopes while reducing the Vikings' chances to near zero. The Packers can clinch a playoff berth with a win against the Chicago Bears in Week 18. Jayden Reed had six catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns for Green Bay.

Nick Mullens completed 13 of 22 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown for Minnesota (7-9), which lost its third game in a row. Mullens entered the game in the second half as a replacement for starter Jaren Hall, who completed 5 of 10 passes for 67 yards and an interception.

--Field Level Media

LAMAR JACKSON LEADS THE RAVENS PAST THE 49ERS 33-19 IN A SHOWDOWN OF THE TOP 2 TEAMS

AP Photo 

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — If the rare late-season matchup between the top teams in the NFL was a statement game, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens delivered a loud one to the rest of the league.

¾tJackson threw two touchdown passes in a span of 18 seconds in the third quarter and the Ravens intercepted Brock Purdy four times in a 33-19 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.

“Our guys work hard. They compete hard. Everybody wants to be respected," coach John Harbaugh said. "There’s one way to be respected, and that’s to go out there and earn that.”

Jackson and the Ravens (12-3) turned a highly anticipated matchup between the top two teams in the NFL into a lopsided win with strong performances on both sides of the ball.

Kyle Hamilton and the defense set the tone early by intercepting Purdy on three of the first four drives of the game for the 49ers (11-4) before Jackson started to take over.

He scrambled 30 yards to set up a field goal on the final play of the first half to give the Ravens a 16-12 lead and then helped put the game away early in the third quarter.

NFLNWEEK 16 POWER RANKINGS 2023: HOW ALL 32 TEAMS STACK UP

Welcome to Week 16 of the 2023 NFL season. There are only a few editions of rankings left in the regular season. As we turn our attention to playoff races, which teams are heating up and which teams are on the trend downward? With some movement in our top 10 this week, the middle of this list was the most shuffled, as these are the teams fighting for a spot in the wild-card playoff race.

In addition to the updated rankings, our NFL Nation reporters found one stat -- good or bad -- that each team is No. 1 in. And yes, even the Carolina Panthers are No. 1 in something. Who has the best run defense, most punts or best red zone conversion rate?

We are starting with the San Francisco 49ers, who again come in at the top spot.

Our power panel of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities evaluates how NFL teams stack up against one another, ranking them from 1 to 32.

1. San Francisco 49ers (11-3)

Week 15 ranking: 1

We're No. 1 ... in point differential.

The Niners lead the NFL in plenty of important categories, but nothing matters more than the score. San Francisco is plus-191 on the year, 24 points clear of Dallas, which ranks second. What's more, the 49ers haven't just been beating up on the dregs of the NFL. They've beaten contenders like the Cowboys, Eagles and Jaguars by a combined 86 points. Were it not for a meaningless last-second field goal by the Rams in Week 2, all of the Niners' 11 wins would be by double digits. -- Nick Wagoner

2. Baltimore Ravens (11-3)

Week 15 ranking: 3

We're No. 1 ... at running the ball.

The Ravens lead the NFL in rushing, and it's not even close. Behind quarterback Lamar Jackson's elusive scrambles, Baltimore is averaging 163.8 yards per game on the ground, which is at least 22 yards more per game than the rest of the league. It's impressive that the Ravens have been so dominant in running the ball, because they lost featured back J.K. Dobbins to a torn Achilles in the season opener. To compound matters, Baltimore will now be without its most explosive running back in Keaton Mitchell, who suffered a season-ending knee injury Sunday night. -- Jamison Hensley

3. Dallas Cowboys (10-4)

Week 15 ranking: 2

We're No. 1 ... in non-offensive touchdowns.

This is what happens when somebody sets an NFL record, like Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland has by scoring five touchdowns on interceptions this season. But Bland isn't the only one in on the act. Leighton Vander Esch returned a fumble for a touchdown and Noah Igbinoghene returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown. The Cowboys have seven on the season, followed by Indianapolis (five) and Miami (four). -- Todd Archer

FORMER SEAHAWKS & RAVENS RUNNING BACK ALEX COLLINS PASSED AWAY ON MONDAY

NFL running back, who also had two stints at Seattle Seahawks, was riding a motorcycle that crashed into an SUV on Sunday night

The 28-year-old American football star Alex Collins, who played for the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens, has died in a motorcycle crash in South Florida, authorities said on Tuesday.

The former National Football League (NFL) running back was riding a motorcycle that crashed into an SUV on Sunday night in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

RAY LEWIS EMOTIONAL SPEECH AT SON'S FUNERAL

Ray Lewis gave a powerful speech at his son's funeral on Saturday ... fondly remembering his child less than two weeks after the 28-year-old's tragic death.

The Pro Football Hall of Famer, wearing all white, spoke for several minutes at the service inside of the Calvary Orlando Church in Florida ... as dozens of mourners listened on intently.

CALAIS CAMPBELL | RAVENS QUOTABLE