The 2023-24 common NFL season is over and the ultimate playoff berths have been clinched.
Within the closing sport of the season, the Buffalo Payments secured the AFC East title and the No. 2 seed with a 21-14 victory over the Miami Dolphins. In the meantime, the Houston Texans clinched the AFC South title for the primary time since 2019 by defeating the Indianapolis Colts, whereas the Jacksonville Jaguars misplaced to the Tennessee Titans. Within the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys gained the NFC East title after defeating the Washington Commanders. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinched the NFC South title with a win over the Carolina Panthers.
The NFL playoffs are set to start this weekend and a few groups will likely be enjoying in climate situations that might considerably impression their efficiency. The Miami Dolphins will likely be leaving their sunny metropolis to go to Kansas Metropolis for an AFC Wild Card Playoff sport in opposition to the Chiefs and the Cleveland Browns head to Houston to tackle the Texans on Saturday, January thirteenth.
AFC Standings
- 1. Baltimore Ravens – 1st AFC North (13-4)
- 2. Buffalo Payments – 1st AFC East (10-6)
- 3. Kansas Metropolis Chiefs – 1st AFC West (11-6)
- 4. Houston Texans – 1st AFC South (10-7)
- 5. Cleveland Browns – 2nd AFC North (11-6)
- 6. Miami Dolphins – 2nd AFC East (11-6)
- 7. Pittsburg Steelers – 3rd AFC North (10-7)
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The most recent NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and extra.
Per NFL.com
AFC Championship Predictions
DraftKings: Ravens over Browns
Teddy Robinson writes: “It’s the outdated Browns vs. the brand new Browns within the AFC Championship Recreation and sadly for Flacco and firm, that is the tip of the highway. Baltimore misplaced the final matchup between these AFC North rivals again in Week 10, a sport the place it choked away a snug lead within the second half. I don’t anticipate that taking place once more as I feel the Ravens win this comfortably and clinch their first AFC title since 2012.”
Sporting Information: Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Vinnie Iyer writes: “The extra adversity Patrick Mahomes appears to be battling, the extra harmful it appears he and the Chiefs are. Mahomes and Andy Reid will determine a couple of extra options offensively, and that is all that is wanted given how nicely the protection ought to proceed to play and make huge performs via the AFC match. The remaining and reset in Week 18 was a pleasant substitute for not having a first-round bye, and so they match up nicely with the Ravens. They’ve already overwhelmed the Dolphins, and so they’ve had the Payments’ quantity within the playoffs. Mahomes may not carry them this time, however the Chiefs can present what an entire group they’re.”
Professional Soccer Community: Going with Buffalo
Dallas Robinson writes: “Two of the NFL’s most artistic quarterbacks will face off on this matchup, and selecting one over the opposite is troublesome. Allen is probably the most bodily signal-caller within the sport and has the arm to hit any location on the sector. In the meantime, Jackson upped his sport from the pocket in 2023 whereas retaining his capability on the bottom and is on observe to win his second MVP award. There’s no unsuitable reply right here. We’re going with Buffalo, however this can be probably the most difficult sport to challenge among the many total playoff slate.”
NFC Standings
- 1. San Francisco 49ers – 1st NFC West (12-5)
- 2. Dallas Cowboys – 1st NFC East (12-5)
- 3. Detroit Lions – 1st NFC North (12-5)
- 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 1st NFC South (9-8)
- 5. Philadelphia Eagles – 2nd NFC East (11-6)
- 6. Los Angeles Rams – 2nd in NFC West (10-7)
- 7. Inexperienced Bay Packers – 2nd NFC North (9-8)
Per NFL.com
NFC Championship Predictions
DraftKings: 49ers represents the NFC within the 2024 Tremendous Bowl
Teddy Robinson writes: “On the very least, I feel this sport is far nearer than the common season matchup that noticed Dallas lose 42-10 in San Francisco. As the higher seed, the 49ers would get to host the NFC Championship Recreation, which might be their third NFC Championship Recreation in as many seasons. San Francisco misplaced to the Rams in 2021 and the Eagles final season. With the group they’ve this season and the best way they’ve been enjoying, it appears like if it doesn’t occur for the 49ers this season it might not occur. It feels very chalky not choosing any upsets within the NFC playoff image, however I feel that San Francisco represents the NFC within the 2024 Tremendous Bowl.”
Sporting Information: San Francisco 49ers
Vinnie Iyer writes: “They’ve been wire-to-wire the perfect group within the convention. It was no contest once they battled the Cowboys at residence and the Eagles on the highway. The Lions’ younger protection is not geared up to cease any of their weapons. The most important menace might come from the division-rival Rams, given Sean McVay’s familiarity with Kyle Shanahan and their intriguing playoff historical past. Nonetheless, the rested, prepared, and revved-up 49ers with no AFC North foes in sight stay the very best wager to get to Vegas.”
Professional Soccer Community: Buffalo Payments are your Tremendous Bowl 58 champions
Dallas Robinson writes: “The Payments and Cowboys squared off in what would turn into the primary of back-to-back Tremendous Bowl matchups at the moment 30 years in the past. Dallas received the higher of Buffalo in each video games, and the Payments are nonetheless looking for their first Tremendous Bowl trophy. However in our world, Buffalo’s drought ends this season. In what would challenge as a high-scoring, back-and-forth contest, Allen drives down the sector for a game-winning rating, leaving no time on the clock for Prescott to rebut. Securing the Lombardi would cap an unimaginable run for the Payments, who fired their offensive coordinator after Week 10, had been nonetheless at .500 after Week 12, and had an opportunity to overlook the playoffs altogether coming into Week 18. You heard it right here first: the Buffalo Payments are your Tremendous Bowl 58 champions.”
Tremendous Bowl LVIII Predictions
Sports activities Illustrated: 49ers 31, Ravens 24
Albert Breer writes: “There’s numerous chalk right here, sure, and a giant a part of that, to me, is that when you get previous the primary group (49ers, Ravens, Payments and Chiefs, in the event that they flip it on), the league kind of flattens out and also you fairly rapidly get to the groups which can be banged up, flawed or younger. And that leaves a golden alternative in entrance of the 2 groups I’ve within the Tremendous Bowl—groups which have knocked on the door, and seemed as ready as they’ve ever been to blow it down and get to what could be a reasonably unimaginable rematch. Once they get there, I just like the Niners on the premise that it’s actually exhausting to beat groups this good twice (which means if the Ravens had misplaced the common season sport, I’d in all probability decide them). Additionally, I feel McCaffrey could be the X-factor in that sport, after going for 131 scrimmage yards on 20 touches within the groups’ common season showdown—successful a hoop with the identical franchise his dad did in 1994 and burnishing a case for Canton that might get fairly compelling with a pleasant playoff run.”
New York Submit: 49ers 27, Ravens 26
Steve Serby writes: “A rematch of the Blackout Bowl and sure, that’s Colin Kaepernick out for the coin toss with 49ers gamers. This was the Crystal Ball’s preseason decide and it doesn’t change. In a fourth-quarter huddle, Purdy gazes up into the stands and asks: “Isn’t that Aaron Rodgers and Jimmy Kimmel?” Massive gamers make huge performs in huge video games and Nick Bosa, McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk maintain tempo with Lamar and Justin Tucker, till rookie Jake Moody wins it with a 49-yard discipline aim as time expires.”
The Ringer: That is Baltimore’s 12 months
Steven Ruiz writes: “I’m breaking my vow to at all times take the Chiefs as my Tremendous Bowl decide. I’ve seen sufficient. They don’t have the juice this 12 months. However Baltimore does—on either side of the ball. The Ravens have the league’s most respected participant at quarterback and the league’s finest defensive coordinator main the opposite unit. The Ravens are the league’s most balanced group. They’ve seemed just like the league’s finest group for the previous two months, and so they embarrassed each contender they performed within the common season. That is Baltimore’s 12 months. (And I swear I’ll by no means decide in opposition to the Chiefs once more in the event that they win all of it in some way. For actual this time.)”
Tremendous Bowl LVIII Odds breakdown
BetMGM: San Francisco 49ers
Employees writes: “Based on the present betting odds at BetMGM, the San Francisco 49ers are +225 favorites to win this season’s Tremendous Bowl LVIII.”
NBC Sports activities: 49ers have the perfect odds
Matthew Jackson writes: “As for precise, actionable betting odds, Wager MGM additionally locations the 49ers and the Ravens on the high of their checklist, with the 49ers at present garnering the perfect odds to make the Tremendous Bowl at +225 and the Ravens proper behind them at +325. As with ESPN’s stats, the Payments and Cowboys are shut behind at at +650 and +750, respectively.”
Fox Sports activities: 49ers nonetheless favored
Employees writes: “Because the common season wrapped up on Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers remained alone atop the Tremendous Bowl oddsboard at +230, dipping barely from +210 final week. The Baltimore Ravens remained at +350, second behind San Francisco. Making a tough cost up the betting board are the Buffalo Payments, who moved to 3rd at +650 from tied for fourth at +950.”
Covers: San Francisco 49ers
Ryan Murphy writes: “The San Francisco 49ers (+220) are favored to win Tremendous Bowl LVIII, based mostly on the newest odds accessible at DraftKings. Rounding out the Prime 3 are the surging Baltimore Ravens (+310) and the Buffalo Payments (+650).”
We often advocate attention-grabbing services. For those who make a purchase order by clicking one of many hyperlinks, we might earn an affiliate charge. USA TODAY Community newsrooms function independently, and this doesn’t affect our protection.
Gannett might earn income from sports activities betting operators for viewers referrals to betting companies. Sports activities betting operators don’t have any affect over nor are any such revenues in any means depending on or linked to the newsrooms or information protection. Phrases apply, see operator web site for Phrases and Circumstances. For those who or somebody you recognize has a playing downside, assist is on the market. Name the Nationwide Council on Drawback Playing 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Have to be 21 or older to gamble. Sports activities betting and playing are usually not authorized in all areas. You should definitely adjust to legal guidelines relevant the place you reside.