It’s the ultimate week of the 2024 NFL Common Season, and there are nonetheless many issues to resolve. We’ll see how the Baltimore Ravens and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers obtained on later. However there is just one place the place any look again this week can begin.
Lions vs Vikings within the Decider
Every little thing within the NFL North was nonetheless to play for within the season’s ultimate week. The Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings have been tied with a 14-2 file going into the decider. The winner would win the division and declare the primary seed within the NFC. The loser would take the five-seed (which is extremely unfair, contemplating they might be the second-best workforce within the convention). So, who will win the battle?
The Lions had the sport’s opening drive however could be unable to do something with this. Nonetheless, they might have a greater try on their second drive. Ranging from their 22-yard line, the Lions’ offense led by Jared Goff, was in a position to transfer all the way down to the Vikings’ 25-yard line. Jahmyr Gibbs would discover the endzone for the dashing landing to present the Lions the early lead.
In response to this rating, the Vikings couldn’t do something. On their following drive, the offense, led by Sam Darnold, made their method all the way down to the Lions’ three-yard line. Right here, an important fourth down try was taken. However Darnold’s move was incomplete, handing possession again to Detroit.
However, the Lions didn’t maintain onto the possession for lengthy. On their 26-yard line, a mistake was made when Goff threw an interception. This was returned by the Minnesota protection to the seven-yard line. On the following drive, the Vikings offense didn’t go wherever, however this allowed kicker Will Reichard to make a 25-yard discipline objective.
The Vikings would once more try to search out the uprights on their subsequent drive when the offense stalled on the Lions’ 13-yard line. Reichard’s kick, this time from 31 yards out, was profitable, and the Lions’ lead fell to just one level.
However, the lead was prolonged on the ultimate play of the half. The Lions’ offense went all the way down to the Vikings’ 30-yard line to arrange a discipline objective try to finish the half. Jake Bates’ kick from 48 yards out was profitable.
This meant that because the groups returned to the locker rooms, the Lions had a 10-6 lead over the Vikings.
On the second half’s opening drive, the Vikings have been seeking to put themselves into the lead. The Darnold lead offense would be capable to make it all the way down to the Lions’ two-yard line, the place one other fourth-down conversion to attain the landing was tried. Nonetheless, like their try from the primary half, it was unsuccessful.
However the Vikings wouldn’t be with out the ball for lengthy. On the primary play of the next drive from the Lions, Goff’s deep move was intercepted by the protection. In response, Minnesota made their technique to the Lions’ 33-yard line however no additional. This arrange Reichard with a 51-yard discipline objective, which was profitable.
The groups have been now break up by one level, however not for lengthy. Shaking off the interception on the earlier drive, Goff was in a position to lead the Lions all the way down to the Vikings’ 10-yard line. From right here, he discovered Gibbs for the landing move to widen their lead. Minnesota tried to chop the lead, however their discipline objective try from 51 yards out (the identical distance because the one Reichard had made earlier) went large proper.
Detroit would be capable to capitalize on this error and widen their lead. From their 41-yard line, Goff and firm made their method all the way down to the Vikings’ 13-yard line. Right here, Gibbs once more discovered the endzone to nearly seal the win in the beginning of their fourth quarter.
On their subsequent drive, the Lions have been in a position to seal the win and the division title. Ranging from their 26-yard line, the offense went all the way down to the Vikings’ four-yard line earlier than Gibbs discovered the endzone for his third dashing landing.
The Vikings couldn’t do something on their ultimate drives, that means the Detroit Lions had defeated the Minnesota Vikings 31-9.
The Lions proceed the very best season of their historical past by claiming the number-one seed for the primary time. This provides them a first-round bye, and they’ll enter the playoffs within the divisional spherical. As for the Vikings, the defeat won’t massively influence their season. Nonetheless, they aren’t division champions and must enter the playoffs within the wildcard spherical subsequent week. Nonetheless, both of those groups may make a run to the Tremendous Bowl and even be champions.
The Ravens win the AFC North
Staying within the North however switching from the NFC to the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens got here into the week understanding {that a} win of their ultimate sport of the common season could be sufficient to present them the division title. Their opponents for this ultimate sport have been the Cleveland Browns, who’ve been one of many worst-performing groups this season, and a defeat to the Ravens would put them in competition for the primary decide of the draft.
Neither workforce had a superb opening drive, however quickly after, the Browns would make the primary mistake of the sport. On their 23-yard line, Browns’ quarterback Bailey Zappe threw a move that Nate Wiggins intercepted. Wiggins would then return the ball to the endzone to present the Ravens the early lead of the sport.
A number of drives later, the Ravens have been in a position to prolong their lead. Beginning on the Browns’ 47-yard line, the Ravens offense, led by Lamar Jackson, would make their method all the way down to the Browns’ 12-yard line. Right here, Jackson discovered Mark Andrews for the landing move.
Cleveland would be capable to reply to this. The Zappe-led offense would make their method all the way down to the Baltimore five-yard line, the place their drive would stall. This arrange kicker Dustin Hopkins with a 23-yard discipline objective, which he would make.
Not a lot occurred on the finish of the half, so the Ravens had a 14-3 lead over the Browns at halftime.
The Ravens may prolong their lead on their first drive of the second half. The Jackson-led offense made its method all the way down to the Browns’ seven-yard line. From right here, the quarterback discovered Rashod Bateman for the landing move.
Early within the fourth quarter, the Browns would be capable to discover the endzone for what was primarily a comfort landing rating. Zappe discovered Jordan Akins for a 16-yard landing move to present the Cleveland followers a second of pleasure in a poor season. Nonetheless, the Ravens would instantly take the pleasure from the Browns followers, as Derrick Henry discovered the endzone on the next drive to attain a two-yard dashing landing.
On Baltimores’ subsequent drive, the lead would get much more distinguished as Henry once more discovered the endzone from 43 yards out.
As the sport ended, the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Cleveland Browns 35-10.
The win provides the Ravens their eighth AFC North title. As for the Browns, they end the season with a 3-14 file.
The NFC South goes all the way down to the wire
One other division that went all the way down to the wire was the NFC South. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons had the possibility to win the division and make the playoffs. We have been set for an entertaining couple of hours, and each video games have been held concurrently. Nonetheless, when every match was by itself, Tampa Bay had the simple job. All they needed to do was defeat the New Orleans Saints and they might win the NFC South. Might they do it, or would the Saints open the door for the Falcons?
The Saints had the sport’s opening drive and will get the opening factors from it. Ranging from their 30-yard line, the offense, which Spenser Rattler led, was in a position to transfer all the way down to the Buccaneers’ 16-yard line. That is the place the drive would stall, establishing a 35-yard discipline objective try from kicker Blake Gruppe, which was profitable.
In response, the Buccaneers would rating a discipline objective of their very own. The Tampa Bay offense, led by quarterback Baker Mayfield, would make its method all the way down to the Saints’ 34-yard line, however no additional. Chris McLaughlin was given a 52-yard discipline objective try, which he made to tie the sport.
New Orleans may retake their lead on the following drive by one other discipline objective. This time, Gruppe made it from 39 yards out.
On their subsequent drive the Saints would prolong their lead on the following drive. Rattler and firm may make it all the way down to the Bucaneers’ five-yard line. From right here, Rattler discovered Dante Pettis for the landing move. In response, Tampa Bay would make a discipline objective from 25 yards out, after which Gruppe would make one from 39 yards out to finish the half.
This meant that the Saints had a 16-6 lead over the Buccaneers at halftime.
Tampa Bay had the opening drive of the second half and would be capable to get themselves again into the sport. Mayfield and firm led the offense all the way down to the Saints’ six-yard line. Right here, Mayfield discovered Payne Durham for the landing move.
Nonetheless, on their subsequent drive, the Buccaneers made a mistake. Mayfield’s move was intercepted by the Saints protection on the Tampa Bay 40-yard line. This could be considerably pricey, as New Orleans prolonged their lead with a 49-yard discipline objective from Gruppe on the next drive.
However, in the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Buccaneers would take the lead for the primary time. On a drive that began on their 18-yard line, the Tampa Bay offense would slowly transfer all the way down to the Saints’ 32-yard line. From right here, Mayfield discovered Jalen McMillan for the landing move. This gave the Buccaneers a one-point lead.
This lead could be prolonged on their subsequent drive, which took a lot day without work the clock. Mayfield helped to maneuver the offense all the way down to the Saints’ 11-yard line. Right here, Bucky Irving discovered the endzone for the dashing landing to seal the win and the division championship.
This meant that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the New Orleans Saints 27-19 on the finish of the sport.
This win gave the Buccaneers their seventh NFC South title and fourth consecutive title. It additionally implies that it doesn’t matter what the Atlanta Falcons did of their sport in opposition to the Carolina Panthers, they might not make the playoffs. As for the Saints, a season that began extremely robust light ultimately, and so they completed with a 5-12 file.
That was the entire video games that had a divisional title at stake. Loads of the opposite video games have been meaningless within the grand scheme of issues or had a small influence on the NFL Draft standings.
What Occurred in The Different Video games?
The Cincinnati Bengals confronted the Pittsburgh Steelers of their common season-ending sport. This sport occurred after the Ravens gained, so the Steelers had sealed a wildcard spot. For the Bengals, a win would preserve them within the working for an AFC Wildcard spot. Regardless of a late comeback from the Steelers, it will not be sufficient, because the Bengals held on for a 19-17 win.
The hopes of the Bengals could be within the fingers of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. The Chiefs had already sealed the primary seed within the AFC, so their sport in opposition to the Denver Broncos had no influence on them. The sport would influence the Broncos, who knew a win would give them a playoff spot. The Chiefs rested all their starters and regarded like they didn’t even present up. Bo Nix would simply throw for 4 touchdowns in a 38-0 win. The Broncos made the playoffs for the primary time since 2015, whereas the Chiefs did all that to disclaim the Bengals a spot within the playoffs.
Returning to the NFC South battle from earlier, the Atlanta Falcons confronted the Carolina Panthers in what would then be a title-deciding sport. Nonetheless, the Tampa Bay win denied the Falcons the convention. This could be a really shut sport, with Bryce Younger and Michael Penix Jr performing nicely. The sport went extra time, and the Panthers would win 44-38.
The Washington Commanders confronted the Dallas Cowboys within the ultimate sport in a disappointing season for Dallas. This was one other less-than-stellar displaying from the Cowboys, defeated by the playoff-bound Commanders 23-19.
Historical past was made at Lambeau Discipline because the Inexperienced Bay Packers confronted rivals, the Chicago Bears. The Bears had not defeated the Packers in Wisconsin for a few years, and it regarded like it will be the identical story right here. Then, a last-second discipline objective from Cairo Santos gave the Bears a 24-22 win over the Packers. It didn’t do a lot for his or her season, however typically satisfaction is extra essential.
The Houston Texans confronted the Tennessee Titans on the backside of the standings in an essential sport. The Texans have been in a position to defeat the Titans 23-14. This defeat provides the Titans the number-one decide within the 2025 NFL Draft.
In one other meaningless sport, the Indianapolis Colts confronted the Jacksonville Jaguars. Whereas nobody might have cared concerning the sport, it went all the way down to the wire. A late discipline objective from the Jaguars would ship the sport to extra time. In extra time, Matt Homosexual would kick a 38-yard discipline objective to present the Colts a 26-23 win.
The New England Patriots confronted the Buffalo Payments in a sport the place a defeat for the Patriots would give them the primary decide. Patriots backup QB and former Tennessee Volunteer Joe Milton had a powerful sport, throwing for 241 yards and main his workforce to a 23-16 win in opposition to the Josh Allen-less Payments. This denied the Patriots the primary decide and coach Jerod Mayo employment, as he was fired after the sport.
As regards to fired coaches, the Las Vegas Raiders have been defeated by the Los Angeles Chargers 34-20. This sport sealed the Chargers’ fifth seed within the AFC and was the final sport of Antonio Pierce’s tenure as Raiders coach.
In what could also be his ultimate sport, Aaron Rodgers and his New York Jets confronted the Miami Dolphins. If that is to be his ultimate sport, Rodgers performed very nicely. He threw for 4 touchdowns within the Jets 32-20 win. Nonetheless, they didn’t save their season and ended the 12 months with a 5-12 file.
The poor season for the San Francisco 49ers ended this week of their sport with the Arizona Cardinals. The 49ers have been simply defeated 47-24, which led to the firing of their offensive coordinator.
The Los Angeles Rams have already sealed the NFC West title. They ended their common season in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks in a sport the place many of the Rams starters have been rested. This was a detailed sport, however Geno Smith discovered Noah Fant for a late landing move to present the Seahawks a 30-25 win.
And at last, for the final time this season, how did the New York Giants destroy my weekend? Within the ultimate week of a poor and disappointing season for the Giants, they confronted the Philadelphia Eagles, who rested all their starters, together with Saquon Barkley, who may have set a daily season file if he had performed. Nonetheless, even with out the starters, the Eagles may win the sport 20-13. After the sport, it was introduced that Giants’ coach Brian Daboll would keep on for one more season. It has been a transformational 12 months for the workforce, and extra modifications are coming.
The common season is over, and we have now the 12 groups who’ve made the playoffs. That begins subsequent week with Tremendous Wildcard Weekend.
