Key events
TOUCHDOWN! Cowboys 14-17 Chargers 8:08, 2nd quarter
It’s GOOD! Browns 10-13 Bills 5:38, 2nd quarter
TOUCHDOWN! Cowboys 7-14 Chargers 9:45, 2nd quarter
TOUCHDOWN! Browns 7-13 Bills 12:51, 2nd quarter
Buffalo are 1st and Goal as they pound the ball down Cleveland’s throats. Run after run after run from Cook and Allen then Johnson just keeps them rolling straight into the end zone for the score and the lead. Money Badger hits a post and misses the extra point.
Browns 7-7 Bills 1:29, 1st quarter
Josh Allen continues to do Josh Allen things. He scrambles to his right and directs traffic, buys time and finds Ray Davis for a 1st down. They are in Browns territory.
Panthers 3-7 Buccaneers 0:26, 1st quarter
Panthers punt it back to the Bucs giving Baker Mayfield a crack at extending the lead.
TOUCHDOWN! Dolphins 7-7 Bengals 2:35, 1st quarter
Miami level it up after the little speedster races away to the left and in for the score.
PICK! Browns 7-7 Bills 2:55, 1st quarter
Former Cleveland Brown Jordan Poyer picks off Sanders after the catch is bobbled high into the sky by Quinshon Judkins. A promising drive stopped drive, very unlucky.
Browns 7-7 Bills 3:57, 1st quarter
The Browns are moving again into Bills territory after an 18-yard pass then a 14-yard rush from Malachi Corley. A holding penalty from Buffalo’s CJ Epenesa then pushes Cleveland to the 30-yard line. Strong stuff.
TOUCHDOWN! Cowboys 7-7 Chargers 6:43, 1st quarter
Beautiful throw to Johnston on the sideline who tip toes in for the score.
TOUCHDOWN! Dolphins 0-7 Bengals 4:01, 1st quarter
TOUCHDOWN! Panthers 3-7 Buccaneers 6:29, 1st quarter
Bucky Irving smashes through the Panthers defensive line and almost scores but for a touchdown saving tackle. On the next play, who else? Baker Mayfield hits his old friend Mike Evans. The giant receiver is one-on-one and we know what that means. The ball is going his way and he hangs on for the score.
Panthers 3-0 Buccaneers 5:04, 1st quarter
Tampa are moving the ball deep into Carolina territory but the Panthers force a big 3rd down. Nine yards to get and Jalen McMillan juggles the short pass but hangs on. He had three bites at the cherry and manages to bring it in for the 1st down.
TOUCHDOWN! Browns 7-7 Bills 7:47, 1st quarter
Well they were off to a slow start. The running back quickens matters with a mazy run through to the left then back across the field to avoid two free defenders. They just can’t quite bring him down and Cook levels it up.
TOUCHDOWN! Cowboys 7-0 Chargers 10:20, 1st quarter
Our AFC playoff-bound teams are off to a slow start.
Browns 7-0 Bills 10:09, 1st quarter
Josh Allen is jogging out for Buffalo. He rolls out, fakes to throw and picks up six yards on the ground. That’s our Josh.
It’s GOOD! Panthers 3-0 Buccaneers 10:30, 1st quarter
Tampa stiffen up on defense and get the stop. Carolina take the narrow lead.
TOUCHDOWN! Browns 7-0 Bills 10:42, 1st quarter
Cracking start for Cleveland who march down the field in eight plays. Some lovely chunk plays behind Sanders’ arm.
Panthers 0-0 Buccaneers 13:20, 1st quarter
Carolina are making light work of Tampa’s stodgy defense. Three passes and a 25-yard run from Jimmy Horn put them in the red zone.
Here we go! Kick-offs on the way with the Browns and Panthers on offense in their respective games.
Did anyone catch Chicago v Green Bay last night? If you missed it enjoy the highlights. What a comeback from the Bearstalk about drama! Chicago now just have to beat either the 49ers or Lions to win the NFC North. Easy.
Elsewhere we have two teams amid the eliminated chaff aiming to flex their muscles and punch their ticket for the postseason.
A win for the LA Chargers and a loss for the Colts to the 49ers on Monday or a loss for the Texans to the Raiders later confirms LA’s spot while the scenario is exactly the same for the Buffalo Bills. A win then a loss for the Colts or Texans locks them into the playoffs too. Bills fans will also be watching the Chargers score as a loss and a win over the Browns gives Buffalo the No 5 seed heading into week 17.
Tonight’s matchup between the Patriots and Ravens has no bearing on the direct of the AFC East title. If New England lose to either Miami or New York Jets to close the season and Buffalo win all three of their remaining games then the Bills take the crown. A defeat for the Patriots to the Ravens only helps should they lose one game to either the Browns, Eagles or Jets.
Now all the boring stuff is out of the way, who is excited to watch Cleveland’s pulverising pass rusher Josh Garrett take on Buffalo’s quarterback extraordinaire Josh Allen? Yep, me too. Garrett needs only one sack of Allen to earn 22.5 for the year and break the NFL regular-season record.
Preamble
Happy holidays football fans, may week 16 be merry and bright for you all! And good luck to all in your fantasy playoff semi-finals … if you made it that is! Now, on we march to the harsh reality of the NFL in deepest December. There are playoffs places, seedings and stragglers still to sort out and eliminate, we begin in the early window of seven games starting at 12pm CST/1pm EST/6pm GMT (home teams listed first):
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(7-7) Carolina Panthers v Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
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(3-11) Cleveland Browns v Buffalo Bills (10-4)
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(6-7-1) Dallas Cowboys v Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)
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(6-8) Miami Dolphins v Cincinnati Bengals (4-10)
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(4-10) New Orleans Saints v New York Jets (3-11)
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(2-12) New York Giants v Minnesota Vikings (6-8)
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(2-12) Tennessee Titans v Kansas City Chiefs (6-8)
There is high drama occurring in the ever-iffy NFC South. Carolina and Tampa Bay are locked at the division’s summit with seven wins and seven losses each. Only the odds of making the postseason are far from even between these rivals.
The Bucs hold the tie-breaker at present with a better record against common opponents (5-5 v Carolina’s 4-6) so a win against the Panthers would further improve their standing while pushing their chances of clinching the title to 95% (per NFL.com). Thus Carolina only have a 5% shot if they lose today. That slim shot requires the Bucs to lose their next game to the eliminated Dolphins and lose to the Panthers at home when they play again in week 18 while Carolina would have to beat mighty Seattle next week as well.
So far, so complicated. What it means to say realistically is that this is a win or go home game for Carolina. Victory keeps their season alive. Keep pounding!
