2023 NFL season, Week 18: What We Learned from Sunday's games

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• READ: Bills, Steelers clinch playoff berths thanks to Jaguars' loss

Bobby Kownack's takeaways:

1. Bills’ roller-coaster regular season, game ends in AFC East title. There were tremendous highs and worrisome lows for Buffalo against Miami with little in between, but it all resulted in a win. The Bills self-sabotaged repeatedly, especially early on, when they amassed 286 total yards in the first half, reached Miami’s 35-yard line or deeper four times and somehow came away with just seven points. Two of those failures were due to interceptions, while the third occurred on a befuddling misusage of the clock and a drive that ended 2 yards from the end zone with no time remaining. A third-quarter fumble ended Buffalo’s fifth possession of 50-plus yards (at that point) to send the Bills to the final quarter trailing, 14-7. Luckily, the defense was fantastic to keep it close all night, and the special teams catalyzed a comeback. A minute into the fourth quarter, Deonte Harty fielded a punt at his own 4 before jetting 96 yards through Miami’s entire coverage team untouched. That seemed to finally snap Buffalo’s offense out of it. Josh Allen and Co. scored on their next drive, a 74-yarder to take the lead, then converted a gutsy fourth-and-1 and third-and-long on their next offensive possession to avoid letting Miami have a chance until 1:53 remained. Taylor Rapp ended Miami’s divisional dreams five plays into the ensuing two-minute drill for the clincher. The exciting, wildly inconsistent performance was a microcosm of the 2023 Bills, who at one point were languishing at 6-6 and now rule the AFC East once again.
2. Josh Allen’s simultaneously amazing, concerning. Allen was slinging it around with varied results. He was able to move down the field at will, but both of his interceptions were head-scratchers in the end zone. Those mistakes drove his career high interceptions even higher, to 18 for the season. He also killed another drive with a fumble right outside the red zone. If he had played smarter and more in control, Buffalo might have cruised to a victory. But he also threw for 359 yards and led the team with 67 yards rushing. He delivered with a late 15-yard scramble, weaving through defenders to convert an impossible third-and-13 in a way few players can. Plus, he settled in when it mattered most, playing his best ball by completing all seven of his fourth-quarter pass attempts for 83 yards. It’s been evident for several seasons that Allen’s up-and-down play could doom Buffalo on any night. It’s equally apparent he can be the superhero the Bills need to take home their first Super Bowl.
3. Undermanned Dolphins fall short. Miami battled the injury bug along with the Bills on Sunday night and couldn’t come away with a win. The Dolphins offense was going up against a great defense, but it also showed clear struggles without Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert, both missing for a second straight game. Although De’Von Achane had great burst with 5.6 yards per carry and a score on 10 totes, he seemed phased out toward the latter part of the game. Tyreek Hill saw 13 of Tua Tagovailoa’s 27 targets for 82 yards and a score. No other wideout had more than three looks. Hill received three alone on Miami’s first four plays of a must-have two-minute drill, and Tagovailoa somewhat predictably tossed a game-ending pick on the fifth snap after Hill limped to the sideline. The defense was in even more dire straits. Not a dominant machine like the offense, the D was already without a number of stars -- Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, Xavien Howard -- before Andrew Van Ginkel left with a foot injury. Still, the unit stood tall. Eli Apple and DeShon Elliott both stepped up for their first interceptions of the season, and Christian Wilkins manhandled the ball away from Josh Allen at a critical point. Miami’s defense was porous, but it was resilient. It provided Tagovailoa a scoreline he could’ve taken advantage of. The performance wasn’t enough, but this team isn’t without hope despite dropping three of its last five.

Next Gen stat of the game: Deonte Harty’s 96-yard punt return TD had +83 punt return yards over expected, added a win probability of 25.8% for the Bills and reached a top speed of 20.23 miles per hour. The play had the most PRYOE since Week 14, 2021.

NFL Research: The Dolphins were 11-0 when leading at halftime entering this game, which had been the most wins without a loss this year before Buffalo’s comeback victory.

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Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Geno Smith and Co. cook up one more thrilling finish. A back-and-forth affair threatened Seattle's slim playoff hopes, and when Arizona pulled off an unorthodox fake field goal to take a 20-13 lead, it looked like the Seahawks might not need the Packers to lose to Chicago, because they were going to take the L themselves. But in that moment, Smith and the Seahawks capitalized on a missed field goal and covered 67 yards in four plays, with a gorgeous bucket drop of a pass to Tyler Lockett to make it a 20-19 game. Pete Carroll didn't blink, either, immediately going for two and watching Smith convert. Seattle's Week 18 win didn't get it into the playoffs. But if we're looking for positives entering the offseason, find them in the Seahawks' persistent effort to win in a place that has been a house of horrors for them in years past.
2. Cardinals come up short, but have to be proud. Arizona was supposed to be the worst team in the NFL this season, but because of the first-year impact of coach Jonathan Gannon and the return of Kyler Murray, the Cardinals ended up being a much better operation. They fought through nearly every contest, scoring shocking wins over the likes of Dallas, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh -- two of which coming on the road -- and played competitive football through the majority of their games. James Conner rushed for 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. Murray's return provided the club with a boost and stability under center, while also answering the looming question regarding the quarterback's future. And when the season officially ended Sunday, we could all agree the vibe around the Cardinals is much, much more optimistic than it has been in at least a few years. Plenty of work is left to be done to this roster, but this season was a good start.
3. Seahawks enter uncertain offseason. Look, there's plenty to be excited about as it relates to Seattle's future. They have a host of young, talented playmakers on both sides of the ball, and have quickly remade much of their roster into a competitive group for the long haul. But the period ahead might not include the franchise's most steady leader, Carroll, who at 72 years old could choose 2024 as the time he walks away from Seattle and the NFL. He's certainly achieved enough to complete a career, and these last few years haven't been as easy as his earlier run of success with the Seahawks. The disappointment of falling short of the postseason in 2023 may be a sign to hang it up, but we won't know for sure until Carroll and general manager John Schneider meet with club chair Jody Allen in the coming days. That will make processing Sunday's results a little more bittersweet.

 Next Gen stat of the game: James Conner gained +63 rushing yards over expected, the most RYOE by a Cardinals rusher since Week 6 of 2020, as part of a 150-yard, one-touchdown day.

NFL Research: Week 18 saw Pete Carroll’s 170th career win as an NFL head coach (137 of them with SEA). The 170 wins tied Carroll with Tom Coughlin and Mike Shanahan for 15th on the all-time head coach wins list. Carroll also became the fourth active head coach with 170 wins, joining Bill Belichick, Andy Reid, and Mike Tomlin.

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• READ: Love, Packers clinch playoff berth with rivalry victory

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Jordan Love shined as Packers clinched playoff spot. In a chippy game, the Packers outlasted their longtime rivals and earned a playoff spot that didn’t appear too likely a few weeks ago when Green Bay dropped two straight to move to 6-8. In making the postseason in his first year as starter, Love did what Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers could not; both of them took until their second season as Packers starter to get in. The Packers executed poorly on their end-of-half possession that ended with no points, and Love lost a fumble near midfield late in the third quarter in a one-score game, although neither came back to bite them. It also helped that the Packers ran the ball unexpectedly well against a good Bears defense. Aaron Jones now leads the NFL in rushing yards (411) since Week 15. But the biggest factor was that Love played a terrific game on the whole, completing 27 of 32 passes for 316 yards and two scores. That upped his season TD total to 32, and Love finished his final eight regular-season games with only four turnovers (one pick, three lost fumbles). This is a remarkably positive turn heading into the postseason for the Packers, who were openly calling Love’s finishing stretch to the season as critical to his future.
2. Is Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy on the hot seat? For all the talk about whether Ryan Poles, Matt Eberflus and Justin Fields will be back in 2024, perhaps the focus should change to Luke Getsy’s status. The offensive coordinator underwhelmed Sunday against the Packers with a game plan replete of imagination – short-yardage situations, a lack of moving pockets, five-man protections in passing situations and predictable play calling with a familiar run-run-pass (or screen-run-pass) pattern on several possessions against Green Bay. Or, you know, asking 175-pound Trent Taylor to block 277-pound Rashan Gary on any down and distance. Poles’ more recent moves (landing the No. 1 overall pick, trading for Montez Sweat) have looked far better, and Eberflus’ defense has made huge strides since he started calling plays. But the Bears’ offense hasn’t always held up its end of the bargain, even as Fields has convinced a lot of people he should be the Bears’ QB next season. Chicago has a lot of interesting decisions this offseason, but offensive coordinator might be one of the more consequential ones.
3. Big day for Joe Barry. The Packers’ defensive coordinator has come under fire for his unit’s performances the past two seasons, but especially in some critical losses this season that put Green Bay on the cusp of playoff elimination. But Barry’s D helped get the Packers into the postseason by holding the Bears to 192 yards (only 91 after halftime) and three field goals. It was the best defensive performance of the season by the Packers, statistically or otherwise, and it came at the absolute best time possible. Justin Fields hasn’t had a ton of success against the Packers traditionally, but he came into Sunday playing confidently. Although he hit on six straight passes in the first quarter, Fields only completed 5 of 10 for 92 yards in the final 45 minutes. Green Bay’s success started with stopping the run. The Bears ran the ball 25 times, totaled 75 yards, were tackled for losses four times and had a long run of 9 yards. That and some conservative and predictable play-calling certainly helped the Packers, but Barry’s boys answered the bell when many were questioning their ability to hold up their end of the bargain. 

Next Gen stat of the game: Packers RB Aaron Jones carried the ball 22 times for 111 yards and +16 rushing yards over expected against the Bears in Week 18. Jones gained positive EPA on 50.0% of his carries, tied for his highest percentage in a game where he had at least 10 carries this season. 

NFL Research: The Packers, who head to Dallas for the wild-card round, have won their past four matchups against the Cowboys (including three games in Dallas), including their last playoff matchup – a 34-31 Packers victory in the 2016 Divisional Round.

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Bobby Kownack's takeaways:

1. Chris Jones plays long enough for important sack. Chris Jones didn’t play with the starters in Kansas City’s season opener while holding out, but he did suit up while many of the team’s first stringers rested during the season finale. Jones played deep into the third quarter in search of -- at the very least -- a half-sack to bring his total to 10 and earn $1.25 million based off an incentive in the one-year deal he signed on Sep. 12. On his 43^rd and final snap, Jones finally took down Chargers quarterback Easton Stick to hit 10.5 sacks on the season. The big play forced Los Angeles into a third-quarter field goal to keep Kansas City in the lead, 10-9, but the teamwide celebration afterward was all about Jones earning a new chunk of change.
2. Potentially quiet L.A. farewell for Austin Ekeler. Austin Ekeler was one of many running backs concerned with the valuation of the position over last offseason. He assuaged some of his concerns with a revised contract that included $1.75 million in added incentives, but he remains slated for free agency. If this proves to be his last game as a Charger, he went out with a whimper to match the rest of season. He had just 11 yards on 10 carries and added another 38 yards on seven catches. He continued to lack the explosiveness fans have become accustomed to over his seven years in Los Angeles. The two-time NFL leader in scrimmage touchdowns finishes 2023 with 1,064 total yards and six touchdowns. Along with failing to make the Pro Bowl, he fell short off all his added incentives. He’ll look to prove this year was anomaly in his age-29 season for the Chargers or elsewhere -- likely on a smaller deal than he wants.
3. Defenses, special teams account for all scoring. There was nothing doing for either offense in a game with starters resting or injured on both sides. Easton Stick was able to move the ball for the Chargers, throwing for 258 yards and sustaining four different drives that went 50-plus yards, but the operation routinely stalled. Cameron Dicker cleaned things up in those instances by converting on all four of his field goal attempts to give the Chargers 12 points. The Chiefs edged them out just barely, but again, it was no thanks to their offense full of backups. Harrison Butker hit two field goals, including the go-ahead one with 54 seconds left, and the only touchdown of the game came courtesy of Chiefs safety Mike Edwards, who scooped up a red-zone fumble by Stick in the first quarter and ran it 97 yards to pay dirt.

Next Gen stat of the game: Chris Jones reached a top speed of 14.85 miles per hour running to the sideline on his sack celebration, which would’ve been his second-fastest speed on any play Sunday.

NFL Research: The Chiefs have won 11-plus games for the sixth consecutive season, tied for the third-longest streak in NFL history.

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Coral Smith's takeaways:

1. Raiders close out tumultuous year with win. The Raiders have decisions to make in the offseason, both at head coach and at quarterback, and both of the men currently in those positions put their best foot forward in their final showcase of the season. With Sunday’s win, the Raiders finished the year at 8-9, and 5-4 under interim head coach Antonio Pierce. His defense gave up only 14 points and 286 yards to the Broncos, and his players have been vocal about hoping he’ll be given the official HC title after this season. On the offensive side, QB Aidan O'Connell finished 20-of-31 passing for 244 yards and a pair of touchdowns, recording his second-best passer rating of the year (110.1) despite exiting the game for a few drives due to an index injury. He had a couple big throws in the win, including finding Davante Adams in the corner of the end zone, completing a 98-yard scoring drive to close out the first half, and tossed another perfectly-placed 33-yard pass to Jakobi Meyers in the fourth quarter, giving Las Vegas a 17-point lead. Whether the Raiders decide to stick with O’Connell as the starter or Pierce as the head coach past this season will be a question for later, but they made their cases on Sunday.
2. Broncos offense lackluster in finale. The Broncos struggled to get any consistent offensive output on Sunday, and despite Jarrett Stidham leading a late touchdown drive to shrink their deficit, there wasn’t enough time to mount a comeback. The Broncos finished their season with an 8-9 record, their seventh straight year with a sub-.500 final record. Stidham, starting against the team he was on in 2022, finished 20-of-34 passing for 272 yards, a touchdown and an interception, but outside of the two TD drives, Denver had only 127 total yards in eight drives, 51 of which came on a drive that ended on a failed fourth-down conversion. Stidham faced pretty consistent pressure from the Raiders’ front line, notably getting flustered by Maxx Crosby on a frequent basis, and was sacked five times. It certainly didn’t help that the Broncos’ running game was stymied, recording only 48 yards in the loss, its second-worst output of the season (46 rushing yards in Week 11). As with the Raiders, the Broncos QB1 role is likely to be in flux going into the offseason after Russell Wilson’s benching, and unfortunately for Stidham, his final outing didn’t end in a win.
3. LV RB has another stellar game. With Josh Jacobs out the last four weeks with his lingering quad injury, the Raiders have heavily relied on Zamir White to lead the rushing attack, and the second-year back has delivered. White finished with 112 rushing yards on Sunday, capping off a season in which he recorded 397 yards over four games. His best outing was a 145-yard explosion against the Chiefs on Christmas, but he's averaged 4.7 yards per carry in 84 rushes over this span. With Jacobs set to enter free agency this spring and his future in Las Vegas therefore uncertain, White has certainly built up his resume to show why he should keep a larger role in the offense beyond this season.

Next Gen stat of the game: Maxx Crosby recorded seven pressures and one sack on 40 pass rushes against the Broncos (including a season-high four quick pressures). He finishes the season with 79 QB pressures, tied for the ninth-most in the NFL.

NFL Research: With his five receptions on Sunday, Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams has recorded 103 catches this season, giving him a streak of four straight seasons with 100-plus receptions and 1,000-plus receiving yards. It's is tied for the longest active streak in the NFL and for the second longest streak in NFL history.

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Nick Shook takeaways:

1. Giants finish season with jubliant win. This season didn't come close to reaching the expectations New York had set for itself, and it was over a while ago. That should've made for a lifeless season finale, in which the playoff-bound Eagles dominated the inferior Giants and sent them into a dark winter. But quite the opposite happened. With Tyrod Taylor slinging it all over the yard and New York's defense forcing three first-half turnovers, the Giants shot off as many fireworks as the cannons atop MetLife Stadium, capping an underwhelming 2023 season with a memorable win that should give them a boost into the offseason. If anything, it demonstrated how these players feel about their coach, Brian Daboll, as they were willing to go out and give it their all in an otherwise meaningless game. That's a good sign for the future.
2. The Eagles are bordering on hopeless right now. A division title was on the line for Philadelphia Sunday, and it played as if it was Week 3 of the preseason. The Eagles couldn't do anything right in the first half on both sides, struggling to move the ball and playing even worse on defense. Their tackling was sloppy, their discipline in coverage was nonexistent, and before they knew it, the Giants had a 24-0 lead. That was the sign Nick Sirianni needed to pull the plug on the operation, replacing key starters (Jalen Hurts, Jason Kelce) before halftime and accepting defeat. Perhaps that will send a message to an Eagles team that not only appears dysfunctional, but also looks like it's just not enjoying football. The numbers suggest this, too. The Eagles own the worst turnover margin in the NFL since Week 13, (negative-eight), and are tied for the sixth-worst turnover margin (-10 on the year) by a team with 11-plus wins in NFL history. Things have been bad for a while now, and Sunday definitely didn't inspire confidence they'll suddenly figure it out. With a road playoff game awaiting them in Tampa, they better get it turned around quickly.
3. Saquon Barkley finishes strong in possible final game with Giants. The star of Sunday was Taylor, but Barkley also did his job with two rushing scores, capping a season that will never be appreciated as much as it should, given the circumstances in which Barkley operated. It might also be his last in New York. Barkley spoke openly on the matter during the week, admitting it was largely out of his control as of now, and if the Giants don't deem him worthy of another contract in the $10 million range in 2024, Sunday could have been his last game in a Giants uniform. It's not the swan song he'd have liked, but we knew the score coming into Sunday. Two more touchdown celebrations will suffice.

Next Gen stat of the game: Tyrod Taylor picked apart Philadelphia's zone coverage, completing 21 of 26 passes for 245 yards, a touchdown and an interception against zone Sunday.

NFL Research: The Eagles finished 2023 with the fifth-worst point differential in NFL history by a team with 11-plus wins. They're the sixth team in NFL history to enter the playoffs having lost five of its last six games. And they've trailed for more game time since Week 13 than they did in Weeks 1-12 combined.

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• READ: Rams' Nacua sets pair of rookie WR records

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Rams’ victory sets up the playoff matchup everyone wanted. It felt like fate. The Rams will head to Detroit to face the Lions next weekend in the wild-card round, and you know what that means: Matthew Stafford’s first game back at Ford Field as an opponent. Stafford sat out in Week 18, giving way to Carson Wentz. Sean McVay busted out the Bryce Perkins playbook for Wentz, and it worked in the 21-20 victory over the 49ers. So a rested Stafford will go head to head against the quarterback for whom he was traded, Jared Goff. It can’t get much better than that from a storyline perspective, and the football matchup looks pretty good, too. The Rams were able to sit a few key players, but the Lions chose to play most of theirs – and it potentially cost them rookie star tight end Sam LaPorta to injury. Given how they played down the stretch, the Rams should frighten the Lions. However … 
2. Rams’ special teams issues are very concerning. First-year Rams special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn has come under fire for how his units have performed this season, and Sunday didn’t provide much relief. Kicker Brett Maher missed an extra point, raising the Rams' missed-kick total to 16 (11 field goals, four extra points). Punter Ethan Evans had two good punts Sunday, but he’s been shaky most of the season. They’ve allowed nearly 500 punt return yards this season and two TDs, one of them costing them a game against the Ravens in overtime. Plus, the Rams’ return units have been tame all season. The 49ers did their best to take the Rams off the hook with plenty of special teams mistakes Sunday, but that can’t be the expectation coming into the playoffs against the Lions. Will the Rams make another kicker change this week or stick with Maher? That’s only one of their special teams issues right now, but it’s a big one heading into a game with two teams that have played a ton of tight contests this season.
3. Niners reserves offer nice layer of insurance. There wasn’t much to take away from Sunday’s game from a 49ers perspective, with their playoff fate sealed pre-game. But it was nice to see running backs Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason have solid outings running the ball against the Rams. Christian McCaffrey hasn’t had a ton of high-volume games recently, but he was able to get some important rest Sunday and will come into the playoff game well rested. Even so, Mitchell and Mason did enough to show that they can step in if CMC gets banged up. Losing him would hurt badly, obviously, but Mitchell has been a lead back before and might even have earned himself a few guaranteed touches per game in the postseason. The Niners also got a pretty decent game from Sam Darnold, who gave Brock Purdy the week off. We all know how last season ended, with Purdy getting hurt in the NFC title game with no other quarterback capable of running the team available. This year, they have better depth at both positions. 

Next Gen stat of the game: Rams QB Carson Wentz averaged 2.26 seconds to throw in Week 18, his third-quickest time to throw in a game since 2018. As a result, Wentz was pressured on only six of his 32 dropbacks (18.8% pressure rate), his second-lowest rate faced in a game since 2018. 

NFL Research: Rams WR Puka Nacua (1,486) set the NFL record for the most receiving yards by a rookie in NFL history, passing previous record holder Bill Groman (1,473 receiving yards in 1960). Nacua (105) also set the NFL record for the most receptions by a rookie in NFL history, passing Jaylen Waddle (104 receptions in 2021).

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• READ: Cowboys clinch No. 2 seed, NFC East title
• READ: Commanders secure No. 2 pick after defeat

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Cowboys steamroll division rival Washington to secure NFC East title. Things started a little wobbly for Dallas, trailing 10-7 midway through the second quarter, but that's where the shades of last year's nightmare in DC ended. Dak Prescott diced up a laboring Washington defense, finding whatever he wanted through the air. Prescott completed 86.1% of his passes while throwing four touchdowns as the Cowboys gobbled up 440 yards and 31 first downs. CeeDee Lamb was uncoverable yet again, snagging all 13 of his targets for 98 yards and two TDs. Lamb became the first player in league history to have seven games with 11-plus receptions in a single season. Dallas got the ground game going (131 rushing yards) as they scored four straight TDs over the second and third quarters and 31 unanswered points to close the contest. The Cowboys didn't punt in the game. Toss in a defense that smothered Washington's big plays and a blocked punt by the special teams unit, and it was a dominant performance over a four-win opponent on the road. A field goal block and a missed field goal by Pro Bowl kicker Brandon Aubrey are about all that went wrong for Dallas on Sunday.
2. Washington finishes 4-13 season with No. 2 pick in 2024 NFL Draft. Offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy emptied the playbook early, calling a host of trick plays, misdirections and had the Dallas D on its heels. As it's been all season, however, the execution was just slightly off the mark each time. Then things went sideways, and a blowout ensued. Sam Howell missed several shots, his accuracy waned under pressure, he took four sacks, and two interceptions wilted any chance for the Commanders to keep things close. At least Washington managed to get Terry McLaurin over the 1,000-yard mark for the season. The loss secured the No. 2 overall pick for the Commanders, which could be used to replace Howell under center. With Washington expected to move on from coach Ron Rivera, an offseason of change is underway. A lot is needed for Washington to compete with the heavyweights in the NFC.
3. Cowboys clinch No. 2 seed, division title. Once again, the NFC East has a new crown holder. The division has not had a repeat winner since 2005. The resounding Cowboys victory not only took the division title, but clinched the No. 2 seed, keeping Detroit in the No. 3 slot. Given that the Cowboys finished the regular season 8-0 at home and 4-5 on the road, getting home playoff games is big for Jerry Jones' club. On Super Wild Card Weekend, the Cowboys will host Mike McCarthy's former Green Bay Packers squad, led by quarterback Jordan Love.

Next Gen stat of the game: Prescott recorded a season-high 72.2% dropback success rate, his third-highest in a game in his career. Prescott did not take a sack and was pressured on just 6 of his 36 dropbacks (16.7%), his fourth-lowest in a game since 2018.

NFL Research: Dak Prescott threw a league-high 36 touchdown passes in 2023. Prescott is the second player in NFL history, joining Hall of Famer Bob Waterfield (1945-46), to lead the league in touchdowns a season after leading it in interceptions.

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• READ: Buccaneers clinch NFC South three-peat

Coral Smith's takeaways:

1. Bucs win division, but don’t look good doing it. The good news for the Buccaneers is they’ve won the NFC South, and will host a playoff game next week as the No. 4 seed. The bad news is that the clinching win Sunday came in gritty, ugly fashion, with quarterback Baker Mayfield struggling to get things going on offense. He didn’t look to be hampered by the ribs injury he suffered in last week’s loss, but did appear to suffer an ankle injury after taking a hard sack in the first half. Though he never exited the game and was able to scramble when necessary, he could be seen walking with a noticeable limp for the rest of the game. In addition to the nagging injury, Mayfield finished with just 137 passing yards and a 72.0 passer rating, and had multiple throws that could have been interceptions, and a couple more attempts that went incomplete due to serious inaccuracy. Luckily Tampa Bay was able to get a few drives far enough into Carolina territory for kicker Chase McLaughlin to kick field goals of 36, 57 and 39 yards -- the 57-yarder tying a career-long -- and the Panthers couldn’t score. But with more football officially in the Bucs’ near future, these are things that could be worth worrying about.
2. Winfield’s forced fumble makes statement. In a game where touchdowns were nowhere to be seen, one defensive play in the second quarter was key to Tampa Bay’s victory. After earning only 27 yards over their first two drives, the Panthers finally entered Buccaneers territory, and then Bryce Young aired it out to D.J. Chark, who hauled it in and ran down the sideline toward the end zone, appearing to have a touchdown in the bag. But just as he leaped for the goal line, Tampa Bay safety Antoine Winfield Jr. came at him from the side, knocking the ball loose just before Chark could break the plane. Though initially called a score, the officials reversed the call, and Winfield was officially credited for his sixth forced fumble of the season, tied for the NFL lead, with Jamel Dean earning the fumble recovery for a touchback to keep Carolina off the board. Winfield was considered by many to be a Pro Bowl caliber defender this season, but did not make the cut when the NFC team was revealed this week. He made his case for why that was a snub with this week’s performance, adding a sack and five tackles to his touchdown-saving play.
3. Carolina ends season on low note. For the Panthers, Sunday’s game officially ended their season with a 15th loss, concluding their 2023 campaign with eight straight scoreless quarters, making them the first team to be shut out in back-to-back games since the 2008 Browns. It was also the first such streak in Panthers history. In addition to Chark’s devastating fumble at the goal line, the Panthers had a couple other opportunities to swing the momentum in their direction later in the game, but instead were unable to convert. The Panthers missed a field goal from 52 yards out to end the third quarter, and then on their next drive had a second potential touchdown called back, this time due to an illegal formation penalty that left an offensive lineman uncovered. One play later Young was strip-sacked, and that ended the Panthers’ chances as the Buccaneers ran out the clock. It marked a frustrating loss to end a frustrating season in Carolina.

Next Gen stat of the game: Baker Mayfield did not complete a pass over 10 air yards in Week 18 (0 for 8) but did finish 20 of 23 for 137 yards under 10 air yards.

NFL Research: Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin’s 51 yards pushed him over 1,000 receiving yards on the season, joining Mike Evans as Tampa Bay WRs with 1,000-plus receiving yards this year. They are the eighth teammate duo in NFL history with 1,000-plus receiving yards in three or more consecutive seasons, having already done it in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

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Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Bengals end season on positive note. Cincinnati could have laid down and gone through the motions in Week 18, but with nothing more than pride to play for, the Bengals proved they still care about their reputation. Cincinnati dominated against a Browns team filled with reserves, running through Cleveland's defense to the tune of 328 yards and 31 total points. It was a predictable result, but a good finish for Jake Browning, who earned a backup job in Cincinnati in 2024 and perhaps beyond with how he handled his unexpected elevation into the starting lineup. And if nothing more, the Bengals sent their fans into the offseason winners, which is always a nice treat to close a disappointing year.
2. Browns successfully watch 60 minutes pass. Cleveland entered Week 18 with one goal: Get through this game as healthy as possible. It largely did this, save for a couple of concerns for running back Pierre Strong (back) and receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion). Because they rested all of their key players, Cleveland didn't mount much resistance, especially defensively. Jeff Driskel was lost until late in the second half, when he tossed a couple of touchdown passes to David Bell. None of this matters, though, because all the Browns needed to do was get to the end of the game before beginning preparations for their wild-card game against Houston. Mission accomplished.
3. Joe Mixon makes final case to stay in 2024. Cincinnati spent a decent portion of the 2023 season struggling mightily to run the ball, hindering its offense with a less-than-healthy Joe Burrow already limited in what he could do. Despite featuring Mixon, Cincinnati's backfield became a committee operation, diminishing Mixon's value entering a period of anticipated financial constraints. It wasn't until Sunday that Mixon finally posted a 100-plus-yard game, knifing through Cleveland's defense with relative ease on his way to a 111-yard, one-touchdown day on just 14 attempts. Will that be enough to prevent the Bengals from cutting Mixon -- and saving $5.75 million, per Over The Cap -- prior to the start of the league year? Or has his lack of consistent production already decided his future in Cincinnati?

Next Gen stat of the game: Joe Mixon accumulated +45 rushing yards over expected Sunday, his most in a game since Week 9 of the 2022 season.

NFL Research: With the Bengals' win in Week 18 versus Cleveland, the AFC North is the second division in NFL history to have each of its teams finish the season with a winning record.

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• READ: LaPorta likely to miss time with knee injury

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Lions wrap up 12-win campaign, but all eyes on Sam LaPorta's injury. With a sliver of hope to snag the No. 2 seed, Dan Campbell played his starters for the duration. The Lions offense continued to generate big plays and gobble up points. Jared Goff played well against the blitz-happy Vikings' defense, getting the ball out quickly, finding zones in Minnesota's defense and avoiding pressure to make plays. Goff generated 320 passing yards, with two touchdowns, including a 70-yarder to Amon-Ra St. Brown. From that perspective, Detroit enters the postseason in a groove. On the flip side, injuries could prove big. The most notable was sensational rookie Sam LaPorta, who went down in the first half with a hyperextended knee. The tight end has been massive for the Lions. He ended the season with 86 receptions, setting a new rookie TE record. With 10 TDs, he became just the third rookie to hit double-digits. His 889 yards are the fourth-most by a first-year tight end. LaPorta's injury is likely to cause him to miss some time, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.
2. Vikings drop fourth straight to close the season. As in the previous meeting against the Lions, Nick Mullens made some big plays, but the turnovers late sank Minnesota's chances to keep its postseason prayers alive. Mullens splashed strikes to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and repeatedly found tight ends for chunk gains. Jefferson ate up the Lions secondary, going for 192 yards and a TD on 12 catches. After a sluggish first half, Minnesota kept it a game into the final stanza. But the defense couldn't get fourth-quarter stops. Mullens then tossed back-to-back interceptions to end the game in a double-digit loss. The Vikes played admirably after Kirk Cousins' season-ending injury, but eventually, the inconsistencies at quarterback doomed Kevin O'Connell's club. The biggest question heading into the offseason in Minnesota is what direction the club heads under center.
3. Lions keep hope alive for No. 2 seed; Vikes eliminated. Detroit earned the second 12-win season in franchise history, joining the 1991 club -- the last time the Lions advanced past the wild-card round. The victory gives Detroit an outside chance at the second seed, but it'll need Dallas to lose to Washington and Philly to lose to New York. Regardless, the Lions will host their first home playoff game since 1993. For Minnesota, the loss ends their season at 7-10.

Next Gen stat of the game: Aidan Hutchinson generated seven pressures and two sacks on 44 pass rushes (15.9% pressure rate), averaging 2.53 seconds time to pressure.

NFL Research: The Lions had four different players score 10-plus scrimmage TDs in 2023, the second-most by any team in a single season in NFL History, behind only the 2013 Denver Broncos (five players). David Montgomery (13), Jahmyr Gibbs (11), Sam LaPorta (10), Amon-Ra St. Brown (10) each hit double-digit scores after Sunday. 

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• READ: Belichick mum on future following season-ending loss

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Jets snap 15-game losing streak to Patriots in snow-globe game in Foxborough. Gang Green ended a disappointing season with a sliver of positivity, beating New England for the first time in 2,933 days. As was the case all season, the Jets defense led the way, smothering New England from start to finish on a snowy, blustery day. New York forced four three-and-outs to open the game (seven for the game), sacked Bailey Zappe seven times, generated two interceptions (one lost on the return), and allowed six first downs and 120 total yards, holding the Pats to 2.1 yards per play. Free-agent-to-be Bryce Huff capped off a sensational season as a pass-rush specialist, leading the way with 2.5 sacks. Huff's future in New York is one of many questions to come at Florham Park.
2. Patriots sputter to close 4-13 season. If this was indeed the final game for Bill Belichick in New England, his club went out with a whimper. The same issues that plagued the Pats all season were evident Sunday. The offense generated zero traction, going 1 of 14 on third downs in the punt-fest. Zappe struggled in the elements, missing a host of throws. With Mac Jones demoted to No. 3 duties today, quarterback will be a massive question heading into the offseason, regardless of who the coach is in 2024. Belichick's defense kept things close versus a rudderless Jets offense early, but even it collapsed late. The forgettable game capped a forgettable season for the six-time Super Bowl champion Patriots.
3. Jets saddle Breece Hall for career-high contest. Hall to the left. Hall to the right. Hall up the middle. That's pretty much how Gang Green's offense went in Sunday's snowstorm. The second-year back ended the 2023 campaign racking up 37 carries for 178 rushing yards, both career highs, capping the game with a 50-yard TD scamper. Toss in two grabs for 12 yards, and Hall generated 190 scrimmage yards. Every Patriots player combined earned 176 scrimmage yards.

Next Gen stat of the game: Breece Hall rushed outside the tackles on 27 of his 36 carries in Week 18 (75.0%), which accounted for 139 of his 174 rushing yards and a touchdown (+24 RYOE).

NFL Research: Bill Belichick tied Dan Reeves and Jeff Fisher for the most regular-season losses by a head coach in NFL history (165). Belichick also tied HOF Tom Landry for the most combined regular season and postseason losses by a head coach all-time (178)

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• Saints head coach Dennis Allen wanted to take knee on late TD

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Saints finished season strong, putting themselves in wait-and-see mode. Sunday’s win-or-go-home victory over the Falcons gave the Saints a chance to pray for the Packers and Seahawks to lose during the late window. Derek Carr finished a sometimes-challenging first season in New Orleans with a strong finish, too, throwing for four touchdowns in perhaps his best game of the season, logging a career-best 145.5 passer rating. The defense also did its job after halftime, rebounding from a tough start against the pass. The Saints didn’t get the help they hoped for from the Panthers, as the Bucs finished off Carolina to win the NFC South. If the Saints don’t get in, they can look back at the slew of earlier-season losses – six of the eight were one-possession games – and rue those massive missed opportunities. They also might have put head coach Dennis Allen in a tough spot, with his job status a matter of some conjecture prior to Black Monday. In a weak division, the Saints had chances to pull away this season but never could. They won’t have to wait long to find out if they’ll get a playoff reprieve.
2. Desmond Ridder was hot early but failed to finish off the game. Subbing again for an injured Taylor Heinicke, Ridder had a chance to finish off his frustrating season on a high note – and early on, it looked great. He played a perfect first half, completing 14 of 16 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns – more yards than he’d thrown for in 11 of his first 16 NFL starts. It was a tie game at halftime, and Atlanta’s remote hopes of stealing the division remained alive. However, on the third play of the second half, Ridder threw a bad interception that led to a Saints touchdown, and he was nearly picked the following series. After a Falcons punt, the Saints struck with another TD, and the rout was on. The Falcons stormed back to try to make it a one-score game, but Ridder’s fourth-and-goal pass to Bijan Robinson was off target (and almost was a pick-six). They’d never threaten again. After halftime, Ridder was just 8 for 14 for 60 yards with the pick before Logan Woodside took his place. Ridder has started 17 NFL games over two seasons, and though he’s made some strides, his status as a starting quarterback heading into next season is very much up in the air. Arthur Smith’s job status is unknown, too, and he appeared to yell at Saints coach Dennis Allen, perhaps for running up the score. Smith might look back at his early season faith in Ridder as one reason why it cost him his job.
3. Kendre Miller, A.T. Perry showed out in Saints’ regular-season finale. Whether or not the Saints end up in the postseason, they at least received promising performances from two 2023 draft picks who’d had mostly quiet seasons. Miller’s rookie season was marred by injuries, but the third-rounder showed more Sunday than in his seven other NFL games combined. Entering the game with a mere 83 yards rushing on 28 attempts, Miller broke out in an expanded role with Alvin Kamara ruled out, rushing for a career-high 73 yards. His impressive 3-yard TD run was his first NFL score, tying the game at 14-all after a frenetic start. Miller showed the kind of promise Sunday he did during a breakout final season at TCU, rushing for 1,699 yards and 17 TDs before missing the national championship game with injury. Health will always be a concern with Miller, whose medical status likely affected his draft position, but it was easy to see a role for him alongside Kamara if he can stay healthy. Perry had flashed previously with some big catches the past few months, but Sunday was his best all-around showing with career bests in catches (three), yards (53) and TDs (two). That’s a nice way for both rookies to cap their first regular seasons.

Next Gen stat of the game: The Saints offense finished with 21 carries for 100 yards and two touchdowns (+19 RYOE, eight first downs) on runs inside the tackles against the Falcons, the most RYOE and first downs allowed by the Falcons on such runs this season.

NFL Research: The Saints’ 48 points were the most they have scored against the Falcons all time.

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• READ: Texans clinch AFC South thanks to Jaguars' loss
• READ: Battista: Jaguars' collapse among Week 18's biggest surprises

More analysis to come from Around the NFL.

1. Titans spoil Jacksonville's division title hopes. For the second straight year, the fate of the AFC South came down to Week 18, but this time Jacksonville fumbled away the division. Turnovers and a leaky defense led to a season-ending defeat for the Jaguars, who had two turnovers (plus three turnovers on downs) and gave up 175 rushing yards while surrendering Tennessee's highest point total of the season. Evan Engram's second-quarter drop, which led to an interception and a touchdown, prompted the fallout, and as the Titans rumbled toward a touchdown on their first possession of the second half, panic began to ensue. The Jaguars were urged to start going for it on fourth downs as early as the midway point of the third quarter under a 15-point deficit. They failed on the first try (short throw on fourth-and-6) and again on Lawrence's reach toward the goal line on fourth-and-goal from the 1 in a one-score game. But the final fourth-down failure on Jacksonville's final possession -- an overthrow by Lawrence to make it three straight incompletions after needing just two yards for a first down -- was a deflating end to a calamitous season. The Jaguars, who had a firm grasp on the AFC South with an 8-3 start, are now on vacation after losing five of the last six games, which resulted in Houston's remarkable run toward a division title. 
2. King Henry prevails in potential Tennessee swan song. Playing in what could potentially be his final game as a Titan, Derrick Henry had a performance to remember for Tennessee. Henry generated 153 rushing yards and a touchdown off 19 carries, and his effort was paramount in Tennessee's triumphant play as spoiler. Henry helped set the tone in the early going, gashing the Jaguars' defense between the tackles to spur an offense that found pay dirt three times within its first four possessions. His 69-yard rumble in the third quarter was a true throwback to his prime days of yesteryear, and the highlight, which would lead to another Titans TD, put Jacksonville into the 15-point deficit that forced its hand on fourth downs the rest of the way. Henry now enters free agency having proved there's plenty of juice left in his 30-year-old legs. Should this be it for him in Tennessee, Henry will have finished as the franchise's second all-time leading rusher (9,502) and leader in rushing TDs (90). 
3. Lawrence was shaky in return. The bad ultimately outweighed the good for Trevor Lawrence, who returned to the lineup after sitting out Week 17 due to a right shoulder injury. The ailment didn't seem to hinder Lawrence's passing abilities (29-of-43 passing for 280 yards, two TDs, two INTs) on Sunday, but there were several moments he'd probably like to have back. While his first INT was a result of Engram's blatant drop, Lawrence's second pick of the day on the Jaguars' subsequent drive was the first of a few misfires that haunted Jacksonville late. Lawrence's decision to throw short on fourth-and-6 was a head-scratcher and his reach toward the goal line in the fourth quarter -- a play we've seen him score on this season -- was clearly short and seemed to lack self-assurance with the ball in harm's way. Lawrence's final attempts are poised to be the lasting impression going into the offseason. His overthrow on second down to a wide-open Calvin Ridley could've been the potential game-tying score with under two minutes to play. Needing just two yards for a first down, Lawrence was pressured into an incompletion on third down, but a window was there to hit Engram on the Jaguars' final try. Lawrence sailed it, and there with it went Jacksonville's once-promising season to see back-to-back division titles for the second time in the franchise's history.

Next Gen stat of the day: Derrick Henry reached a top speed of 21.68 mph on his 69-yard run, tied for the seventh-fastest speed by a ball carrier this season, and Henry's fastest play since Week 6, 2021 (career-high 21.80 mph).

NFL Research: The Jaguars are the sixth team in the last 25 seasons to start 8-3 or better and miss the playoffs. Most recent: 2021 Ravens (8-3), 2014 Eagles (8-3), 2012 Bears (8-3).

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