Two NFL teams punched their ticket to the playoffs this week, while three others are now officially eliminated.
By beating the San Francisco 49ers 35-10 on Sunday night, the Buffalo Bills ensured they would play losing games for a sixth straight season. Quarterback Josh Allen and his gang are now sure to finish at the top of the Eastern section of the American.
“It’s a good feeling,” Allen said of his team’s qualification, before adding that it will allow his team to be more relaxed for the rest of the regular season.
“It’s going to be fun to play free, relaxed and loose. I think we can be a dangerous team.”
It was the Kansas City Chiefs who were the first to qualify for the playoffs. The reigning Super Bowl champions did so with a 19-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday.
Like the Bills, head coach Andy Reid’s team is guaranteed to finish first in its section. This is the ninth season in a row where she has achieved this feat and her 10e consecutive participation in the playoffs.
The Chiefs (11-1) and the Bills (10-2) are also still competing for first place – and the precious leave in the first playoff round – in the American.
As for the National, no team has yet got their hands on their post-season pass. Two formations, however, have a 99% chance of being there. They are the Detroit Lions (11-1) and the Philadelphia Eagles (10-2).
See you next time
Unlike the happiness experienced by the Chiefs and Bills players, footballers from three teams are now officially guaranteed not to compete for the Vince Lombardi Trophy this season.
In the National, the New York Giants (2-10) suffered a seventh straight loss and obtained confirmation that they would miss the playoffs for a second straight season. This is also the seventh time in eight years that they have failed in this regard.
The Raiders (2-10) suffered the same fate, they who are also already sure of finishing last in the West section of the American.
Ultimately, the New England Patriots (3-10) were eliminated from contention by losing 25-24 to the Colts on Sunday. The Indianapolis club won by scoring a two-point convert in the final seconds of the duel.
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The era of head coach Jerod Mayo therefore began with a big disappointment, particularly for owner Robert Kraft.
“My expectations are to get a place in the playoffs,” the 83-year-old billionaire said during the NFL owners’ meetings in March. We have a new management team, and we are going to have a lot of young players that we don’t know yet. Lots of things can happen. We might have more difficulty than I would like. But the good news is that I really feel like we have a good young team. I just hope we don’t have too many difficulties.”
If the playoffs started tomorrow morning, these teams would be there:
Kansas City Chiefs | 11-1 | Guaranteed place
Buffalo Bills | 10-2 | Guaranteed place
Steelers de Pittsburgh | 9-3 | 99%
Texans de Houston | 8-5 | 97%
Los Angeles Chargers | 8-4 | 94%
Baltimore Ravens | 8-5 | 96%
Denver Broncos | 7-5 | 68%
Detroit Lions | 11-1 | 99%
Philadelphia Eagles | 10-2 | 99%
Seahawks de Seattle | 7-5 | 47%
Atlanta Falcons | 6-6 | 57%
Minnesota Vikings | 10-2 | 99%
Packers de Green Bay | 9-3 | 97%
Commanders de Washington | 8-5 | 72%
They are still in the race:
Colts d’Indianapolis | 6-7 | 30%
Miami Dolphins | 5-7 | 11%
Cincinnati Bengals | 4-8 | 8%
Browns de Cleveland | 3-8 |
Jets de New York | 3-9 |
Titans du Tennessee | 3-9 |
Jaguars de Jacksonville | 2-10 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6-6 | 58%
Arizona Cardinals | 6-6 | 38%
Los Angeles Rams | 6-6 | 19%
San Francisco 49ers | 5-7 | 9%
Dallas Cowboys | 5-7 | 3%
New Orleans Saints | 4-8 | 1%
Chicago Bears | 4-8 | Caroline Panthers | 3-9 |
