Three tickets remained to be taken for the NFL play-offs, before the 18th and last day of the regular season, Sunday. In the National Conference (NFC), the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints competed, while in the American Conference (AFC), the Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers competed. race, for two places. In the end, San Francisco, Pittsburgh and Las Vegas won the right to continue their season.
Record sacks for TJ Watt
Indianapolis was the first team to go on vacation, beaten against all odds by the Jacksonville Jaguars (26-11), the weakest team of the season. The Florida defense was tough with Colts quarterback Carson Wentz sacking it six times.
After this defeat, Indianapolis could still hope for the play-offs, but his hopes flew away when Pittsburgh won in Baltimore (16-13 ap). In that game, TJ Watt increased his season sack count to 22.5, tying former New York Giants star Michael Strahan’s record.
After this victory, however, Pittsburgh was not yet qualified. He had to wait for the result of the meeting between Las Vegas and the Chargers. A draw between these two teams would have condemned the Steelers. But it has not happened. The Raiders finally triumphed (35-32 ap), thus clinching a place in the play-offs, taking Pittsburgh with them and ending the LA season.
Tennessee directly to the 2nd round of the play-offs
The suspense was there in Las Vegas. The local franchise led 29-14 in the final quarter, before the Chargers equalized at the last second. A 47-yard field goal from Daniel Carlson then qualified the Raiders, who dedicated their victory to John Madden, the team’s legendary coach in the 70s, who died 10 days ago.
In the National conference, the calculations were simpler, San Francisco and New Orleans playing at the same time. The Californians had the upper hand, a win or a draw qualifying them. Against the Los Angeles Rams, they got scared, finding themselves trailing 17-0 before the break. San Francisco, however, managed to come back to the score, before winning in overtime (27-24). The success of New Orleans over Atlanta (30-20) will have been useless.
No time to breathe in the NFL. The first round of the play-offs will take place next weekend (see program below). The Green Bay Packers and the Tennessee Titans, thanks to their victory on Sunday over the Houston Texans (28-25), are directly qualified for the second round.
The first round of the play-offs
Saturday January 15 :
Cincinnati Bengals – Las Vegas Raiders (AFC)
Buffalo Bills – New England Patriots (AFC)
Sunday January 16 :
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Philadelphia Eagles (NFC)
Dallas Cowboys – San Francisco 49ers (NFC)
Kansas City Chiefs – Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC)
Monday January 17 :
Los Angeles Rams – Arizona Cardinals (NFC)
