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Our N.F.L. playoffs calculator has an up-to-date take a look at the newest playoff image.
You realize the school soccer season is winding down when N.F.L. video games pop up on a Saturday. For years, the N.F.L. and the N.C.A.A. have had stayed out of one another’s method, with Saturdays devoted to varsity soccer and Sundays for N.F.L. video games.
However with solely bowl video games left on the school calendar, the N.F.L. will host three matchups on Saturday that can assist make clear its playoff image. All three video games will probably be carried on NFL Community in addition to by native broadcast networks within the groups’ residence markets.
The Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1), whose postseason aspirations have all however vanished, will go to Minneapolis to tackle the Vikings (10-3), whose current efficiency raises questions on whether or not they can final by means of a couple of weekend of the playoffs.
The Baltimore Ravens (9-4) will journey to Cleveland to play the Browns (5-8), an A.F.C. North division rival making an attempt to salvage a misplaced season.
Within the prime-time finale, the Miami Dolphins (8-5), who’ve misplaced their previous two, tackle the Buffalo Payments (10-3) in a sport that can have an effect on A.F.C. seeding.
All six groups are technically nonetheless within the playoff hunt, although the percentages that the Colts or the Browns will make the postseason are within the single digits, in keeping with The Instances’s playoff simulator).
All instances are Japanese.
Indianapolis Colts at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m., NFL Community
The Vikings have constructed a four-game lead within the N.F.C. North the onerous method: Seven of their 10 wins had been by one rating or nearer. However the workforce has misplaced two of the previous 4 video games in embarrassing trend — a 40-3 trouncing by the Cowboys at residence in Week 11 and a 34-23 loss to the Lions final week — elevating questions on whether or not Minnesota can advance within the playoffs.
With Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Prepare dinner at ability positions, it’s by no means clear why the Vikings’ offense goes darkish for lengthy parts of video games. By Week 14, the protection had given up essentially the most yards from scrimmage within the league, repeatedly letting opponents again into video games.
Nonetheless, the Vikings can clinch the N.F.C. North with a win over the Colts, who’re a large number. The workforce benched after which reinstated quarterback Matt Ryan, and the workforce’s proprietor, Jim Irsay, fired Coach Frank Reich and changed him with a former Colts heart, Jeff Saturday, whose solely prior teaching expertise was with a highschool workforce. The shake-up has resulted in just one win beneath Saturday.
Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns, 4:30 p.m., NFL Community
The Ravens might be with out their star quarterback, Lamar Jackson (who sprained the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee), and his backup, Tyler Huntley, who left final week’s sport with a concussion. Jackson is such an integral a part of the workforce — he’s additionally the main rusher — that the Ravens will now need to lean on their protection if he isn’t out there. Fortunately, that protection — ranked eighth within the league — is permitting simply 13.4 factors per sport, in keeping with ESPN, because it added center linebacker Roquan Smith in Week 9.
The Browns is perhaps the proper matchup for the Ravens this week. Cleveland has given up the fifth most factors this yr, and its video games can go sideways in a rush. Quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was suspended for the primary 11 video games of the season after greater than two dozen ladies accused him of sexual misconduct throughout therapeutic massage appointments, has been underwhelming in his first two video games again. And whereas working again Nick Chubb has 1,153 yards dashing, Kareem Hunt has been subpar, and receiver Amari Cooper (874 yards, seven touchdowns) has been stable however not nice.
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Payments, 8:15 p.m., NFL Community
This prime-time sport is essentially the most compelling of the day’s matchups. After a few messy losses to the Jets and the Vikings, the Payments have righted their ship and are once more tied with Kansas Metropolis for one of the best report within the A.F.C. Buffalo would qualify for the playoffs by beating Miami and would hold itself within the working for a first-round bye.
The Dolphins are second within the division and maintain the second wild-card spot, however their high-powered offense, led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, has cooled just lately, shedding their previous two video games after profitable their earlier 5.
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