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NFL Capsules: 1pm Games

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New Orleans Saints (6-10) at Atlanta Falcons (7-9)

Sunday, 1 p.m. (FOX)

FanDuel odds: Falcons -3, Total 44.5

Series Rewind: The Falcons defeated the Saints 24-10 on Nov. 23, which tied the all-time regular-season series at 56-56.

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Rookie QB Tyler Shough is acquitting himself nicely since the decision by the Saints to make a switch at QB1. He had 333 passing yards, two TDs and a 142.7 passer rating last week. New Orleans has four consecutive wins and wraps up the regular season without top TD producer Chris Olave, who landed on injured reserve this week after scoring nine of the team’s 26 offensive touchdowns. Atlanta has three wins in a row and became a factor in the NFC South playoff picture by proxy with a win over the Rams on Monday. The Falcons can play a spoiler role if the Buccaneers beat the Panthers, which puts the division postseason entry in the hands of Atlanta. If the Falcons win after a loss by the Panthers, Carolina would still advance to the postseason as division champion. They’ll put the game in the hands of RB Bijan Robinson. He tallied a career-high 195 yards rushing and scored twice last week.

Cleveland Browns (4-12) at Cincinnati Bengals (6-10)

Sunday, 1 p.m. (CBS)

FanDuel odds: Bengals -7.5, Total 44.5

Series Rewind: The Bengals have won five of the past six meetings.

The Bengals escaped with a narrow 17-16 win in Cleveland in the opener when Browns rookie kicker Andre Szmyt missed an extra point and a 36-yard field goal. Cleveland started current Cincinnati backup Joe Flacco in that game. The Bengals aim to close out the regular season with their first three-game winning streak of the season after blowout wins over Miami and Arizona in the past two weeks. The 45-21 victory in Week 16 at Miami followed by a 37-14 romp in Week 17 against Arizona at home marked the first time the Bengals won back-to-back games by a margin of 20 or more points since Weeks 6-7 in 2021. Cincinnati’s offense has exploded in the last two weeks, earning season highs in first downs (29) and net yards (429) against Arizona. On defense, the Bengals tallied four sacks and held the Cardinals to 42 yards rushing. The Browns enter after their most emotional win of the season, a 13-6 defeat of rival Pittsburgh last Sunday in their home finale in Cleveland. The biggest storyline for the Browns heading into the season finale continues to be star defensive edge Myles Garrett and his pursuit of the NFL single-season sack record. Entering with 22 on the season, Garrett had two sacks of Joe Burrow on Sept. 7. Garrett’s 15 sacks in 13 games against Cincinnati are the most in his career against any opponent.

Indianapolis Colts (8-8) at Houston Texans (11-5)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

FanDuel odds: Texans -10.5, Total 38.5

Series Rewind: The Texans have won five of the past six meetings against the Colts.

A ninth consecutive victory for the Texans would put the Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) in a must-win spot to claim the AFC South. The Texans previously clinched at least a wild-card berth but winning the division and getting a home playoff game would rate as a much better situation. The Texans have ridden their top-ranked defense during the solid winning streak in which they have won by 10 or more points on just two occasions. Houston is coming off a 20-16 home win over the Los Angeles Chargers, another playoff team. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud passed for 244 yards and tossed scoring passes of 75 yards to Jayden Higgins and 43 yards to Jaylin Noel in the opening six minutes. Indianapolis was flying high with an 8-2 record entering a Week 11 bye. But Colts quarterback Daniel Jones was playing with a fractured fibula and then tore an Achilles in Week 14 against Jacksonville. Indianapolis continued to plummet, as signing 44-year-old Philip Rivers to a contract couldn’t stop the losing streak from reaching six games and eliminating Indianapolis from the playoffs. Riley Leonard, a sixth-round selection in last April’s draft, gets his first career start for the Colts with nothing on the line Sunday.

Tennessee Titans (3-13) at Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)

FanDuel odds: Jaguars -12.5, Total 47.5

Series Rewind: The Jaguars have won six of the past seven games in the series and defeated the Titans 25-3 on Nov. 30.

The Titans have won two of their last four games and QB Cam Ward is finishing his rookie season with a kick. He’s going for a fifth consecutive game with two or more touchdowns, but Tennessee averages only 17.3 points per game this season. The Jaguars are steamrolling into January with seven wins in a row and have no trouble putting up points. QB Trevor Lawrence leads a Jacksonville offense which had scored 34-plus points in its last three games and 24-plus points in eight straight before encountering a bit of a wall against the Colts. The offense amassed 370 yards — its fourth most in a game this season — but three turnovers inside the Colts’ 25 stymied the Jaguars’ scoring. Lawrence threw his first interception in five games and had just his third game without a touchdown this season, his first since Week 9 vs. Las Vegas. Jacksonville’s defense picked up the slack, allowing just seven points over Indianapolis’ final nine possessions after Indianapolis leapt out to a 10-0 lead on its first two drives. With two fourth-quarter interceptions, the Jaguars defense is up to 21 on the season, tying the franchise record and the second most in the NFL.

Green Bay Packers (9-6-1) at Minnesota Vikings (8-8)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

FanDuel odds: Packers -8.5, Total 36.5

Series Rewind: Green Bay defeated Minnesota 23-6 on Nov. 23, but the Vikings have won two of the past three meetings.

The Packers want to get healthy heading into the playoffs, where they already have clinched a wild-card berth. This weekend’s game will do nothing to change their No. 7 NFC playoff seed. Green Bay has no shot at the NFC North division title after the Chicago Bears claimed that last week. The Packers know they will open the playoffs on the road next weekend, with the opponent and starting time to be determined. Packers quarterback Jordan Love cleared the league’s concussion protocol, but coach Matt LaFleur announced Thursday that third-stringer Clayton Tune will start instead. Backup Malik Willis, who has started with Love out, also is dealing with shoulder and hamstring injuries. Tune has made 14 appearances in the NFL and is 0-1 as a starter. His lone start came in 2023 as a member of the Arizona Cardinals. There is far less indecision in Minnesota, where J.J. McCarthy is set to make his 10th start in his first season of NFL action. McCarthy missed all of last season because of a knee injury. An ankle injury cost him five games early in the 2025 campaign, and he sat out another contest while in concussion protocol. McCarthy was sidelined last week due to a hairline fracture in his throwing hand, but he returned to full practice late this week. He has 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his first nine games.

Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1) at New York Giants (3-13)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)

FanDuel odds: Cowboys – 3.5, Total 49.5

Series Rewind: The Cowboys are 16-1 in the past 17 meetings with the Giants.

The Giants ended an eight-game losing streak and by defeating the Raiders last week, are likely out of the running for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft.

Quarterback Dak Prescott enters Week 18 with a league-high 4,482 passing yards, 34 ahead of the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford. Prescott could become the first Dallas quarterback to lead the NFL in aerial yardage. While Dallas aims for a .500 finish, New York could still earn the No. 1 overall pick if Kansas City beats the Raiders thanks to an inferior strength of schedule. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart threw for 207 yards on 22-of-30 passing while adding 48 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Dart’s nine rushing scores are a franchise record for a quarterback and the third most by a rookie QB in NFL history. Dart could end his first year in the league with a bang. The Cowboys own the league’s worst passing defense (253.6 yards per game allowed) and are tied for the most passing touchdowns allowed (33).

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NFL Capsules: 4pm Games

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New York Jets (3-13) at Buffalo Bills (11-5)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)

FanDuel odds: Bills -1.5, Total 50.5

Series Rewind: Buffalo has won five of the past six meetings with the Jets.

The Bills bid a likely farewell to Highmark Stadium where the franchise is 246-163 record dating to the original nameplate of Rich Stadium when it opened in 1973 and later Ralph Wilson Stadium. Buffalo will play its home games in a new facility next season and already has a playoff spot secured, but the Bills’ streak of five straight AFC East titles ended when last weekend’s 13-12 loss to Philadelphia handed the division title to New England. That also means the Bills will hit the road to begin the playoffs. The Bills can be seeded as high as No. 5 for the AFC playoffs if they beat the Jets, but their seeding will depend on the results of Week 18 games that involve the Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville and Houston. The Jets have lost their last four games and six of their last seven. When New York coach Aaron Glenn was asked Wednesday how he felt about his job security, he said his focus is on Sunday’s game. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, the 2024 NFL MVP, has completed 69.3% of his passes this season. He’s thrown 25 touchdown passes and has been intercepted 10 times. Allen has also run for 14 TDs, which is third in the NFL, but he has been dealing with a foot injury and didn’t practice Wednesday. McDermott said Allen is moving in the right direction. Although Tyrod Taylor has returned to the Jets after dealing with a personal situation, Glenn said rookie Brady Cook will be the starting quarterback Sunday. It will be the fourth straight game Cook has started. He has one TD pass and seven interceptions during that span.

Detroit Lions (8-8) at Chicago Bears (11-5)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Bears -3, Total 50.5

Series Rewind: Detroit destroyed the Bears when they met in September, a 52-21 final and the Lions’ sixth victory in the last seven games against the Bears.

The Chicago Bears, surprisingly, are playing for a higher playoff seed with the NFC North title already clinched. The visiting Detroit Lions, unexpectedly, are playing for pride. Chicago lost any chance of gaining the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs when it dropped a 42-38 thriller to San Francisco on Sunday night. The Bears can still gain the No. 2 seed with a win over the Lions or a Philadelphia home loss to Washington. In that scenario, the Bears would host Green Bay during the wild-card round next weekend. The Bears would be the No. 3 seed with a loss to Detroit and a Philadelphia victory. Chicago would then host either the Los Angeles Rams or the 49ers in the wild-card round. Williams exceeded 300 passing yards for the first time this season against San Francisco, throwing for 330 yards and two touchdowns. He can become the first QB in franchise history to reach 4,000 yards in a season by throwing for 270 yards on Sunday. Detroit fell out of the playoff race by losing three straight following a win over Dallas to open the month of December. The Lions were held to 231 total yards and quarterback Jared Goff was sacked five times in a 23-10 loss to Minnesota on Christmas Day which formally ended the team’s playoff hopes. Goff plans to play against the Bears.

Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) at Denver Broncos (13-3)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)

FanDuel odds: Broncos -12.5, Total 37.5

Series Rewind: The Chargers are undefeated in the AFC West. Broncos QB Bo Nix lost for the third time in three career tries when the teams met Sept. 21 in Los Angeles.

The Chargers stumbled last week and the Broncos clinched the division when Los Angeles lost at home to Houston. The Chargers head to Denver as a wild-card team trying to secure the highest seed for the playoffs. They could be anywhere between the fifth and seventh seed, but would fall no further than sixth with a win. The Broncos would secure the AFC No. 1 seed, a first-round bye and homefield advantage for the postseason with a win. QB Justin Herbert won’t play for the Chargers on Sunday, improving the Broncos’ chances of getting the top seed. Herbert, who has been playing through a fractured left hand since Week 13, has thrown for 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions and has a career-high 498 rushing yards. Denver will face Trey Lance, who is 7-for-13 passing for 90 yards in three games this season. The Broncos have been without running back J.K. Dobbins for the past six games after he had season-ending foot surgery, and rookie RJ Harvey has become the lead back. He has 512 yards rushing on 131 carries and 46 receptions for 351 yards with 12 total touchdowns. Nix has nearly matched Herbert’s stats for the year. He has 3,790 yards passing with 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions and has rushed for 307 yards and five more scores. Nix has spread the ball around but his top receiver is Courtland Sutton, who has 73 receptions for 1,012 yards and seven touchdowns. It is the second straight season and third time in his eight-year career he has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards.

Arizona Cardinals (3-13) at Los Angeles Rams (11-5)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)

FanDuel odds: Rams -7.5, Total 45.5

Series Rewind: Arizona has one victory over the Rams in the past five head-to-head meetings.

If the Seattle Seahawks defeat the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, then Los Angeles will land the No. 5 seed with a win. That will put the Rams on the road to open the playoffs with a less daunting challenge against the NFC South champion. A 49ers win or a Rams loss makes Los Angeles the No. 6 seed with a visit to either Chicago or Philadelphia ahead in the wild-card round. Stafford has thrown a franchise-record 42 touchdown passes, but he threw a season-high three interceptions in a 27-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday that was a blow to his MVP chances. He also had two interceptions in a Nov. 30 loss at Carolina. He tossed just two picks in the Rams’ first 11 games. The Cardinals are playing out the string in a disappointing season that has them on an eight-game losing streak following a 37-14 road loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday. Kyler Murray is done for the season with a foot injury sustained in a devastating Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans, who scored 16 fourth-quarter points. Jacoby Brissett has taken over and completed 64.5% of his passes in 13 games (11 starts) with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions. At issue has been a Cardinals defense that has allowed 35.0 points per game during the current losing streak. That includes allowing a season-high 45 points to the Rams in a Dec. 7 blowout loss.

Miami Dolphins (7-9) at New England Patriots (13-3)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)

FanDuel odds: Patriots -11.5, Total 44.5

Series Rewind: New England claimed a 33-27 win at Miami on Sept. 14, the Patriots’ first win over the Dolphins in three seasons.

The Patriots can win 14 games in a season for the first time since 2016 when they won Super Bowl LI and can clinch the top seed in the AFC plaoyffs with a win over the Dolphins and a loss or tie by the Denver Broncos against the L.A. Chargers. New England would like this pursuit to be its sole focus but has been dealing with legal issues surrounding two key players — receiver Stefon Diggs and defensive tackle Christian Barmore. The Patriots were fresh off celebrating their first division title since 2019 when reports surfaced of Diggs facing charges of felony strangulation or suffocation, and misdemeanor assault and battery stemming from an incident that took place on Dec. 2. Diggs is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 23. In an unrelated incident, Barmore faces a misdemeanor charge of one count of assault and battery on a family/household member alleged to have occurred on Aug. 8. New England coach Mike Vrabel said before the team’s practice Wednesday he hadn’t heard anything that would keep either player from being available to play against Miami, though Diggs’ status for the postseason remains unclear. The Patriots’ tumultuous week came after a stress-free 42-10 victory over the New York Jets during which quarterback Drake Maye threw a career-high five touchdown passes. Maye threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another in Week 2 when the Patriots beat the Dolphins 33-27 in Miami. Since being eliminated from postseason consideration, the Dolphins have turned their focus toward their future over the past two weeks. That has included benching starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Rookie Quinn Ewers is expected to make his third career start — and first on the road — on Sunday. After struggling during a 45-21 loss to Cincinnati in which he threw two interceptions, Ewers bounced back last week and led Miami to a 20-17 win over Tampa Bay. Ewers tossed his first two touchdown passes, committed no turnovers and completed 14 of 22 passes for 172 yards.

Kansas City Chiefs (6-10) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-14)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)

FanDuel odds: Chiefs -5.5, Total 35.5

Series Rewind: The Chiefs are 9-1 in the past 10 games with the Raiders.

When the Raiders hired Pete Carroll in January, the expectation was that the Super Bowl-winning head coach would help return the franchise to relevance, with the support of minority owner and decision-maker Tom Brady and general manager John Spytek. At the very least, the belief was that Carroll would be a steadying force for a team that had used four different coaches since 2021. The reality hasn’t matched the expectations, to say the least. The Raiders are even worse under Carroll than they were under the much-maligned Antonio Pierce regime a year ago. The team traded away a star receiver for the second straight season in Jakobi Meyers, and even stalwart defensive end Maxx Crosby had a highly publicized spat with the team after being shut down for the season ahead of their Week 17 loss to the New York Giants. Carroll, 74, has been adamant throughout the season that the decisions he’s made since taking over the Raiders were made with the intention of meaningfully competing in Year 1. The word “rebuild” was essentially forbidden in the facility. As for the Chiefs, it was reasonable to believe this season would have been somewhat of a trip back to earth after three straight Super Bowl appearances. It turned out to be far more humbling. They were eliminated from playoff contention Week 15.

Washington Commanders (4-12) at Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)

FanDuel odds: Eagles -3.5, Total 38.5

Series Rewind: The Eagles are winners of four of the past five in this NFC East series and aim for a series sweep for the sixth time in nine years.

Philadelphia took both meetings from Washington in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023 and registered a 29-18 victory two weeks ago in Landover, Md. The rematch features a familiar Week 18 NFL storyline with both teams wrestling with whether to play their starters. The Eagles still have a chance to secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC — if they beat the Commanders and Chicago loses to Detroit — but reportedly are planning to rest their regulars for the wild-card round. At worst, they will have the No. 3 seed. The Commanders have lost 10 of their last 11 games and have little to play for — other than the proverbial pride and a few potential personal payouts — and may decide to give younger players a chance to audition for 2026. The Eagles will sit quarterback Jalen Hurts and several starters. Tanner McKee, the Eagles’ sixth-round pick in 2023, will make his second NFL start in place of Hurts. He also started in Week 18 last year, throwing for 269 yards and two TDs in a 20-13 win over the New York Giants. This season, McKee has completed 3 of 3 passes for 33 yards in three cameo appearances. With Marcus Mariota (quad) ruled out, Washington will give 39-year-old journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson his second straight start. Johnson, who has only one win in 10 career starts since he was drafted in 2008, took over after Mariota sustained hand and quad injuries in the Week 16 loss to the Eagles. Johnson completed 15 of 23 passes for 198 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in a 30-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas.

SNF on NBC: NFL Preview

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Baltimore Ravens (8-8) at Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)

Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)

FanDuel odds: Ravens -3.5, Total 41.5

Series Rewind: The Steelers took control of the AFC North race with a 27-22 victory at Baltimore on Dec. 7, Pittsburgh’s fifth win in the past six meetings.

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Pittsburgh can clinch the AFC North title with a win or tie, while Baltimore (8-8) takes the division crown with a victory. There’s no wild-card consolation prize for the team that doesn’t take the division. The Ravens rebounded from a 1-5 start with a five-game winning streak after their bye. While Baltimore is just 2-3 since Thanksgiving — including a home loss to Pittsburgh on Dec. 7 — the Steelers’ recent scuffles have created an opportunity. A victory last week over a 3-12 Cleveland Browns squad would have clinched Pittsburgh’s first division title since 2020. But the Steelers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers struggled to find a rhythm offensively with top wide receiver DK Metcalf serving the first of a two-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the NFL. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (back contusion) was back at practice for the final three days of the week and proclaimed himself as ready to play after missing last week. Steelers counterpart Mike Tomlin acknowledged the disappointment of missing the chance to earn a playoff berth last week, but said he has “learned to always move forward” and that “frustration doesn’t get the job done.” Visiting Pittsburgh edged Baltimore 27-22 in Week 14, prevailing despite a big afternoon from the Ravens’ ground game. Baltimore rushed for 217 yards (5.4 yards per carry) as Derrick Henry led the attack with 94 yards on 25 attempts. Rodgers went 23-for-34 for 284 yards and a touchdown pass to Jaylen Warren that stretched the lead to 27-16 late in the third quarter. Metcalf contributed seven catches for 148 yards, both season highs in his first campaign with the Steelers.

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Seahawks Take the West

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SANTA CLARA – (Wire Service Report) – Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet combined to rush for 171 yards, Sam Darnold played turnover-free and Seattle’s defense was dominant as the Seahawks clinched the NFC West title and the conference’s top playoff seed with a 13-3 victory against the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night in California.

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Jason Myers kicked two field goals and Charbonnet scored the game’s lone touchdown for the Seahawks (14-3), who won their seventh consecutive game. Walker rushed for 97 yards on 16 carries and Charbonnet added 74 on 17 attempts. Darnold was 20-of-26 passing for 198 yards, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba making six catches for 84 yards.

The 49ers (12-5), who had won six in a row and scored more than 40 points in each of their previous two games, were limited to 173 yards of total offense and nine first downs. Brock Purdy was 19 of 27 for 127 yards with one interception and Christian McCaffrey was limited to 23 yards on eight carries.

Myers kicked a 31-yard field goal with 14:15 remaining to give the Seahawks a 10-point lead. The 11-play, 55-yard drive was kept alive when Walker rushed for 19 yards on third-and-17 and the 49ers’ Renardo Green was called for pass interference against Rashid Shaheed on third-and-nine. The 49ers didn’t get a first down on the ground until Purdy scrambled for one with 13:34 remaining.

San Francisco reached the Seahawks’ 6-yard line on that drive before McCaffrey bobbled a tipped pass and the ball fell into linebacker Drake Thomas’ arms for an interception.

The Seahawks dominated the first half statistically but led just 10-3 at the intermission.

Seattle got a first-and-goal at the 49ers’ 1-yard line on the game’s opening drive before Darnold was sacked for a 12-yard loss by Tatum Bethune. The Seahawks went for it on fourth down from the 4, but Darnold’s pass for Cooper Kupp fell incomplete.

The 49ers were held to a three-and-out on their first possession and Seattle needed just three plays to take the lead on Charbonnet’s 27-yard run around the left end.

Myers converted from 45 yards with 5:19 left in the half to make it 10-0.

The 49ers’ Eddy Piniero booted a 48-yarder with 1:06 remaining in the second quarter for the hosts’ lone points.

The Seahawks had a 12-3 advantage in first downs and 196-69 edge in total yards at the half.

–Field Level Media

Star Bucs Still Have Hope

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TAMPA – (Wire Service Report) – Tampa Bay’s Chase McLaughlin kicked three field goals and the Buccaneers kept their chance to win the NFC South alive by beating the Carolina Panthers 16-14 on a rainy Saturday at Tampa.

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The Buccaneers (8-9) and Panthers (8-9) finish tied in the NFC South, but they’ll be joined by the Atlanta Falcons (7-9) if they beat the New Orleans Saints (6-10) on Sunday. A three-way tie would benefit Carolina and put the Panthers into the playoffs, while the Buccaneers will be rooting for the Saints because Tampa Bay would win the division if there’s only a two-way tie.

Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield was 16-for-22 for 203 yards with a touchdown and an interception. His 20-yard completion to Cade Otton for a first down late in the fourth quarter helped seal the outcome.

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was 24-for-35 for 264 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Carolina produced only 19 rushing yards.

McLaughlin’s 48-yard field goal with 14:12 remaining marked the first points of the second half and stretched the Buccaneers’ lead to 16-7.

Then the Panthers moved to the Tampa Bay 20, but a flea-flicker went awry with a wayward pitch from Rico Dowdle, resulting in a fumble recovered by Lavonte David for the Buccaneers.

But Carolina had another chance and went 72 yards on eight plays, capped by Young’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker with 2:27 left. The Panthers forced a punt, but got the ball back at their own 3-yard line with 18 seconds left and no timeouts.

It was the second Panthers-Buccaneers matchup in less than two weeks, with Carolina winning 23-20 on Dec. 21 in Charlotte.

The Buccaneers scored on the game’s first possession, with Mayfield completing three passes, including an 18-yard touchdown to Otton.

Tampa Bay threatened again right away but settled for McLaughlin’s 29-yard field goal.

Carolina’s Christian Rozeboom intercepted Mayfield and his 20-yard return put the ball at Tampa Bay’s 19. Three plays later, the Panthers were within 10-7 after Young’s 8-yard pass to Tommy Tremble.

Carolina’s next possession ended when Jacob Parrish picked off Young at the Tampa Bay 42. The Buccaneers converted on McLaughlin’s 36-yard field goal with two seconds left in the first half to stretch their edge to 13-7.

–Field Level Media

NFL Playoff Picture: Week 18

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PITTSBURGH – (Wire Service Report) – The Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers are starting the playoffs one week early.

At least that’s the mindset shared by Broncos coach Sean Payton with Denver (13-3) in line to secure the No. 1 seed, first-round bye and home-field advantage in the AFC by beating the Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) on Sunday.

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Week 18 shapes up as a maze for many teams assured only a spot — but not their current seeding — in the postseason bracket.

The Seahawks and 49ers settle the NFC West in a Saturday night game that also decides the No. 1 seed in the conference.

Two other division titles — and playoff spots — are up for grabs in the regular-season finale. The Buccaneers and Panthers play for the second time in three weeks for the NFC South crown in which the eliminated Atlanta Falcons are suddenly a significant factor.

Because of Atlanta’s win over the Rams on Monday night, the Buccaneers now face a two-tiered clinching scenario.

Even if the Buccaneers win Saturday, they would still need the Falcons (7-9) to lose at home to the New Orleans Saints (6-10).

And if the Panthers lose, but Atlanta beats the Saints, Carolina would win the division. Wins by the Bucs and Falcons would create a three-way tie with the Panthers at 8-9. But Carolina would win the first tiebreaker by virtue of their head-to-head record (currently 2-0 vs. Falcons, 1-0 vs. Buccaneers).

AFC North rivals Baltimore and Pittsburgh drop the gloves in primetime Sunday for the final spot in the playoff field.

If the Broncos stumble against the Chargers, a Denver loss kicks the door open for the New England Patriots to jump to the front of the pack in the AFC. The Patriots host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

Should Denver and New England lose, the Jacksonville Jaguars could claim the top seed with a home win Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

Here’s a look at the current playoff picture by conference:

Clinched AFC playoff and/or division:
Denver Broncos (13-3) — AFC West
New England Patriots (13-3) — AFC East
Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4) — playoff berth
Buffalo Bills (11-5) — playoff berth
Houston Texans (11-5) — playoff berth
Los Angeles Chargers (11-5) — playoff berth

Clinch AFC playoff and division with win Sunday:
Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7)
Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

Blood Bath in Pasadena

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PASADENA – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Blue blood meets new blood and they’re both red bloods when Alabama and Indiana square off in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on Thursday in California. Though the ninth-seeded Crimson Tide have a storied history, they are the underdogs coming in with something to prove.

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The Hoosiers entered the season as the losingest program in college football history, but they assume the Goliath role as the No. 1 playoff seed and college football’s lone undefeated team, with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza in tow.

“I want to stop quarterbacks, whether they’ve won the Heisman Trophy or not,” Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said.

The Hoosiers-Crimson Tide winner will take on either No. 4 Texas Tech or No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9 in Atlanta.

The Hoosiers (13-0) are not only trying to continue to break long-term precedent in continuing their best season in school history — ahead of 2024’s 11-2 mark — but also break recent precedent set last season in the first edition of the 12-team playoff.

All four first-round winners beat the top four seeds last season.

“Would I prefer to play earlier? Yeah, I probably would, to be quite honest with you,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. “But that’s not the case. We’re excited about playing.”

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Mendoza has thrown for 229.2 yards per game, with 33 total touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also has rushed for six touchdowns.

The Crimson Tide have had plenty of success slowing down quarterbacks this season, entering with the No. 10 passing defense in FBS at 168.4 yards allowed per game.

Alabama (11-3) is coming off a 34-24 road win over Oklahoma in the first round on Dec. 19.

Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson struggled late in the season but had a bounce-back game against the Sooners. He averages 250 passing yards per game and has tallied 28 touchdowns and five interceptions.

The biggest difference in the offenses comes in the ground game, where Indiana is in the top 10 nationally with 221.2 rushing yards per game, while Alabama has struggled with just 109.9 rushing yards per game (118th).

“I look at (the Hoosiers’) skill around the offensive line, they just all complement each other,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. “They go make plays. When the opportunities are there, they get it done.”

Indiana has been in the Rose Bowl just once before — losing to Southern California to end the 1967 season.

Alabama is in the game for the ninth time, going 5-2-1 with their most recent appearance coming in a 27-20 overtime loss to Michigan in the CFP semifinal two seasons ago. The Crimson Tide also won the 2009 national title with a win over Texas in the then-BCS Championship Game in the historic stadium.

Cignetti was Alabama’s wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator for that championship team.

While Cignetti has an appreciation for Alabama’s history, DeBoer also can recognize how far Indiana has come under Cignetti. DeBoer was the Hoosiers’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2019.

Mendoza figures to have one of his favorite targets back Thursday.

Hoosiers receiver Omar Cooper Jr., who suffered a right leg injury early in the Big Ten title game on Dec. 6, is cleared to play in the Rose Bowl. Cooper, a redshirt junior, leads Indiana with 58 catches for 804 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Alabama also figures to get a key piece back with the return of edge rusher LT Overton.

Overton, a senior, missed the Southeastern Conference championship game and the first-round win over Oklahoma due to an illness.

–Field Level Media

CFP Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs. Ole Miss

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NEW ORLEANS – (Wire Service Report) – Ole Miss did just fine in its first rematch of a regular-season game in the College Football Playoff. But the No. 6 Rebels find themselves in a much different situation in their CFP quarterfinal matchup with No. 3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday night in NOLA.

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Ole Miss (12-1), which defeated Tulane 45-10 on Sept. 20, rolled past the No. 11 Green Wave 41-10 in a first-round game Dec. 20 in Oxford, Miss. But this time the Rebels are hoping the outcome changes as they have a second meeting with the Bulldogs (12-1).

Georgia outlasted Ole Miss 43-35 on Oct. 18 in Athens, Ga., but there have been significant developments in the nine-plus weeks since that game ended.

And some things the Rebels realize will need to change to flip the script in the sequel.

Pete Golding, who was promoted from defensive coordinator to Ole Miss head coach when Lane Kiffin departed to become head coach at LSU at the end of the regular season, said he remembers one thing most of all from the first meeting.

“They didn’t punt,” he said.

The Rebels had a 35-26 lead but were outscored 17-0 in the fourth quarter. They were outgained in the game 510-351.

“I think the biggest thing versus these guys is you’ve got to contest every play,” Golding said. “We can’t give them free things, whether it’s a lack of communication, whether it’s a missed tackle.”

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who passed for 263 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 42 yards and two touchdowns in the first meeting, is the engine for this group.

But Golding said the Rebels will have to run the ball better overall after having just 88 yards on the ground in the first meeting. Kewan Lacy, who has 1,366 rushing yards for the season and a school-record 21 rushing touchdowns, did score twice in the first meeting but had just 31 yards.

Lacy left the victory over Tulane in the third quarter after injuring a shoulder. Ole Miss is hopeful that he’ll be able to start Thursday.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart said the first game is meaningless in preparation for the rematch.

“I don’t think either team is exactly the same,” Smart said. “Both teams have evolved some. And everybody will have new wrinkles. That’s what you do during this time.”

Ole Miss has won its last six games. The Bulldogs have won nine in a row since a 24-21 home loss to Alabama on Sept. 27.

“We didn’t really get tested until the road game at Tennessee (a 44-41 win in the third game of the season),” Smart said. “And then as the season evolved and we’re playing high-level opponents, we were stopping the run pretty well, and we were running the ball pretty well.”

Georgia also has a dangerous dual-threat quarterback in Gunner Stockton, who completed 26 of 31 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns in addition to rushing for 59 yards and a touchdown in the first meeting.

Smart is pleased with the way his defense has evolved over the course of the season, and the scoreless fourth quarter against the Rebels appears to have been a turning point. The Bulldogs have allowed a total of just 70 points in the six games since beating Ole Miss.

Stockton’s first career start came 12 months ago in the Sugar Bowl, a loss to Notre Dame that fed the quarterback’s fire all offseason. He said upon arriving in New Orleans for the playoff matchup that he knows he doesn’t take losses well.

“I know he’s got a bad taste in his mouth about our first opportunity in the playoffs last year,” Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said of his quarterback. “I know it was his first start, but he wants to go out, like our whole football team, and play well in this game and give ourselves a chance to win a ball game.”

–Field Level Media

“U” Da Men

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ARLINGTON – (Wire Service Report) – Miami’s Carson Beck passed for 138 yards and a touchdown as No. 10 seed Hurricanes upset No. 2 seed and defending champion Ohio State 24-14 in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl in Texas on Wednesday night.

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Miami (12-2) will play either No. 3 Georgia (12-1) or No. 6 Ole Miss (12-1) in a semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz. The Bulldogs and Rebels meet on Thursday in the Sugar Bowl at New Orleans. In the two years of the CFP 12-team playoff, all five teams to receive first-round byes lost.

The Hurricanes stunned the Buckeyes (12-2) with a 14-0 halftime lead on the strength of a 9-yard touchdown catch by Mark Fletcher Jr. and a 72-yard pick-6 by Keionte Scott. Fletcher also ran for 90 yards in the game.

After Jeremiah Smith’s 14-yard TD catch on a pass from Julian Sayin made it 17-14 with 13:28 to go, the Hurricanes marched 70 yards to wrap it up when CharMar Brown ran in from the 5 with 55 seconds left. Sayin completed 22 of 35 passes for 287 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions while Smith made seven catches for 157 yards.

Big East Brings In New Year

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CINCINNATI – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – UConn led wire-to-wire in a win at Xavier, Villanova used a second half rally to get past DePaul, and St. John’s set a new program standard for 3-point shooting at Georgetown.
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Wednesday, Dec. 31
UConn 90, Xavier 67 – Box Score 
Alex Karaban led all scorers with 19 points as UConn won its ninth straight game.  The Huskies started strong out of the gate and led for the entire game.  Xavier got within 13 points twice in the second half, but the Huskies maintained their advantage by shooting nearly 60 percent from the floor over the final 20 minutes.  Karaban added seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.  Solo Ball and Braylon Mullins each added 17 points, combining to make seven of UConn’s season-high 13 3-pointers on the night.  For Xavier, Malik Messina-Moore scored a team-high 16 points while Filip Borovicanin added a double-double with 14 points and 11 boards.
Of Note
Villanova 71, DePaul 66 – Box Score 
The Wildcats erased a 10-point second half deficit, using outscoring DePaul 31-16 over the final 11 minutes to move to 2-0 in BIG EAST play. A 9-0 run early in the first half for the Blue Demons gave them the lead the rest of the way, including a 32-28 edge at the break.  DePaul would grow its lead to 50-40 with 11 minutes remaining before Villanova run kickstarted its comeback.  A Tyler Perkins 3-pointer would tie it at 56-56 with six minutes and change left before a Devin Askew trifecta gave Nova the lead for good.  Perkins and Bryce Lindsay each had 19 points for Villanova, combining for nine of Nova’s 10 made 3-pointers.  DePaul was led by CJ Gunn’s 15 points and seven rebounds, while Layden Blocker added 13.
Of Note
St. John’s 95, Georgetown 83 – Box Score 
The Red Storm’s long-range shooting set the tone in their win at Georgetown.  The first three field goals for the Johnnies all came from beyond the arc as they took an 11-9 lead less than four minutes in.  But a 9-0 run by the Hoyas allowed them to retake the lead in a back and forth first half that featured four ties and seven lead changes.  SJU held a 52-47 advantage at the break and led the rest of the way.  Zuby Ejiofor posted one of his most complete stat lines of the season, finishing with 25 points, 10 rebounds, a career-best seven assists, and two steals.  Oziyah Sellers added 16 points and Ian Jackson 14 in the win.  The Hoyas’ KJ Lewis led all scorers with 27, while Malik Mack added 18 points and eight assists.
Of Note
There are no BIG EAST games on Jan. 1 and 2