Tag: Playoff

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RBC Heritage: Matt Fitzpatrick prevails in over Jordan Spieth in playoff to clinch second PGA Tour title | Golf News

RBC Heritage: Matt Fitzpatrick prevails in over Jordan Spieth in playoff to clinch second PGA Tour title | Golf News

Matt Fitzpatrick triumphed over reigning champion Jordan Spieth in a playoff; Fitzpatrick and Spieth finished level on 17-under-par following Sunday’s final round at Harbour Town Golf Links; last year’s runner-up Patrick Cantlay finished third two shots back on the lead duo

Last Updated: 17/04/23 12:43am

Matt Fitzpatrick of England celebrates with the RBC Heritage trophy in the Heritage Plaid tartan jacket after winning in a playoff

Matt Fitzpatrick of England celebrates with the RBC Heritage trophy in the Heritage Plaid tartan jacket after winning in a playoff

Matt Fitzpatrick overcame reigning champion Jordan Spieth in a tense playoff to clinch only his second PGA Tour title at the RBC Heritage.

The lead swapped between overnight leader Fitzpatrick and Spieth throughout Sunday’s final round, while their playing partner and 2022 runner-up Patrick Cantlay gradually fell out of contention and eventually finished third.

But for the second year in a row, the tournament went to a playoff with the lead duo finishing tied on 17-under-par and there was nothing to separate them over the first two extra holes either.

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But a superb shot from the fairway to inches from the pin on the 18th saw the Englishman seize the advantage and with Spieth missing a 40-foot putt, Fitzpatrick stepped up to sink his for birdie and add to the US Open title he won last year.

Story of the round

Fitzpatrick became only the second English player to claim victory in this tournament, with Nick Faldo the other when he beat Tom Kite by one stroke back in 1984.

But this success resonated more on a personal level for the 28-year-old, who first visited this course at Hilton Head Island with his family at the age of six and always wanted to play.

“Of every single one on the calendar, this is the one I wanted to win the most,” Fitzpatrick told Sky Sports Golf. “I feel so far I’ve been very lucky in my career – I’ve won a major and now this.

Matt Fitzpatrick triumphed over Jordan Spieth on the third hole of a playoff at the RBC Heritage

Matt Fitzpatrick triumphed over Jordan Spieth on the third hole of a playoff at the RBC Heritage

“Obviously Jordan got off to a fast start doing Jordan Spieth things on hole No 1, so I just felt I had to be real patient. Certainly when I’ve played well, that’s a real strength of mine.

“To be a winner here, every year I’ve driven down the drive and you see the winners here and I’ve always thought ‘I want to be one of those’ – and here I am.”

Spieth had birdie putts to win the playoff on the first two holes, the 18th and then at the par-three 17th, and both missed by the slimmest of margins.

After firing an eight-under 63 on Saturday to take the 54-hole lead, Fitzpatrick closed with a 68 while playing with Spieth and Cantlay in the final threesome. Spieth held the outright lead during the back nine and finished with a 66, joining Fitzpatrick at 17-under 267.

Jordan Spieth missed two birdies putts in the playoff before falling to defeat at the hands of Matt Fitzpatrick

Jordan Spieth missed two birdies putts in the playoff before falling to defeat at the hands of Matt Fitzpatrick

Cantlay and Spieth were tied for the lead at 16-under when they stepped to the tee at the par-four 13th. That hole marked a two-shot swing in Spieth’s favour.

While Cantlay missed the green and wound up two-putting for bogey, Spieth dialed in his approach to three-and-a-half feet of the cup for an easy birdie.

Both Spieth and Cantlay missed the green at the par-three 14th and faced a difficult chip onto a downhill-sloping green. While Spieth’s rolled to the edge of the green, Cantlay’s dribbled further, coming to rest on a wooden post that barely kept the ball from dropping into water below.

Cantlay managed to chip it from there onto the green and saved bogey, while Spieth also took bogey. Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, kept chipping away and clawed back level to force a playoff, victory in which not only secured the title but lifted him up to No 8 in the Official World Golf Ranking too.

Patrick Cantlay produced a remarkable shot at the RBC Heritage, after his ball was left trapped in the wooden decking.

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Patrick Cantlay produced a remarkable shot at the RBC Heritage, after his ball was left trapped in the wooden decking.

Patrick Cantlay produced a remarkable shot at the RBC Heritage, after his ball was left trapped in the wooden decking.

Cantlay birdied Nos 15 and 18 to bounce back to 16-under, while a late charge from Xander Schauffele (66 Sunday) saw him come home fourth at 15-under.

Sahith Theegala (65) and Hayden Buckley (67) tied for fifth at 14-under, and Brian Harman (67), South Korea’s Sungjae Im (67), Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo (68) and Australia’s Cam Davis (68) finished 13-under in a tie for seventh.

What’s next?

The PGA Tour move on to the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana, starting on Thursday, April 20. Watch all four rounds of the team stroke play event exclusively live on Sky Sports Golf, with coverage starting from 8pm on Thursday.

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Looking to turn chips into a ‘chip, TCU may alter sport with victory in College Football Playoff title game

Looking to turn chips into a ‘chip, TCU may alter sport with victory in College Football Playoff title game

LOS ANGELES — Johnny Hodges loves his chips.

“We’re a team full of chips,” the TCU linebacker said.

In Hodges shorthand, that translates to chips on shoulders. A cliché, sure, but an entree into the heart of the No. 3 Horned Frogs. They weren’t meant to be here in the College Football Playoff National Championship.

In fact, the last team in a similar position was BYU in 1984. Those Cougars are the most recent national champions coming from outside the current Power Five.

TCU as a member of the Big 12 is clearly a Power Five team these days, but it’s been a league-hopper over the last quarter century. When its ancestral Southwestern Conference broke up, TCU was passed over for Big 12 membership. From there followed a purgatory of stops in the WAC, Conference USA and Mountain West.

The desperate, little purple engine that could finally achieved its power conference brass ring when the Big 12 opened its doors to TCU in 2012.

There’s a reason why No. 1 Georgia is favored by almost two touchdowns, the largest line in CFP National Championship history. TCU is a long shot. If the Frogs win, they would defeat perhaps the best program in the sport. If the Bulldogs don’t already hold that mantle, Monday night could go a long way to building that narrative.

TCU is just trying to hang on, if you believe recruiting rankings. The Frogs have 17 blue-chip recruits on their roster, four of whom are transfers. The Dawgs have four times as many.

“You can’t overstate what they’ve done,” said former Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum, a College Football Hall of Fame member, of TCU. “They just stay after you. They’re not an ebb and flow type of team. They just stay the same all the time whether it’s going well or not. It’s hard to beat a team that won’t be beat.”

That explains the Frogs’ late-game comebacks. That explains TCU hanging 55 on Oklahoma. That explains running for 263 yards against a shocked Michigan. That explains why the TCU impact can’t be ignored.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark was skipping around Saturday at the CFP National Championship media day like his conference had already won. Yormark has already stated his intent of expanding the Big 12 out to the Pacific Time Zone. With USC and UCLA leaving for the Big Ten, TCU and Big 12 entered the L.A. market this week.

Sort of.

There is a niche community about 27 miles North of SoFi Stadium, the site of Monday’s game, called Frogtown. It is not a city unto itself but — as its website proclaims — “a progressive, pocket community … where socially conscious hipsters and multi-generation families cohabitate and call home.”

Frogtown is also the site of a Big 12 takeover this weekend. Really, that’s what they’re calling it: a “takeover.”  There’s purple beer in the Frogtown brewery. There will be 200 free Frogtown tacos available at the Santa Monica Pier on Sunday.

Celebrity sneaker artist Kickstradomis is designing a Horned Frog-themed pair of kicks.

What’s this got to do with beating Georgia? You’re missing the point. Yormark is trying to take over the world, and the Frogs are his invading army.

“Think about where this conference was six months ago, 12 months ago, 18 months ago,” Yormark told CBS Sports. “It’s been a transformative moment. Obviously, this is a big validation.

“It also validates the composition and makeup of our conference. I’m sure there are people who were worried. What’s going to happen with Texas and Oklahoma out? No one is talking about that anymore.”

No, they’re not. This game may define the hopes and dreams of similar hopefuls once the CFP expands in 2024.

Slocum coached against TCU in the SWC multiple times during his career. He was also close friends with former Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes, father of current TCU coach Sonny Dykes. They were so close Sonny recalled coming home from high school baseball practice in West Texas seeing his father and Slocum enjoying an adult beverage in the afternoon.

Slocum has watched Sonny, who entered 2022 with only five winning seasons in 12 as a head coach, unlock greatness. Dykes has taken a roster assembled by former coach Gary Patterson to the brink of a championship.

What would it mean for TCU, the Big 12 and college football if TCU actually wins it all?

Las Vegas answered part of that question earlier this month when TCU was installed with the longest odds (16-1) to win the championship when the bracket debuted, according to Caesars Sportsbook. Those who had the foresight to bet $100 on the Frogs would cash $1,600 if TCU wins Monday night.

“It makes the statement again that no one has a lock on winning,” Slocum said. “Just because you have good players doesn’t mean you’re going to win. The challenge is to get those guys all together, all playing for each other. That gives encourage to a lot of schools out there that may not be at the top. It gives them hope.”

It would mean a lot of chips would be cashed. Hodges is one of 14 TCU transfers. Frustrated with himself and Navy, he was looking for a new home after last season. His dad took on the task of emailing each of the other 131 FBS programs. There were no takers.

“I couldn’t even watch a football game on weekends without feeling sick to my stomach knowing I had underachieved so much,” Hodges said. “I didn’t believe in myself. In life, you have to believe in yourself more than anyone. … But coming out of high school, I didn’t think I was good enough to play college football. I didn’t think I was good enough to play at a Power Five [program]. My dad did. He got me here.”

TCU defensive coordinator Joe Gillespie took notice because he had played against Navy while at Tulsa prior to being hired by Dykes. Hodges’ addition turned the defense into an opportunistic unit. TCU was outgained by Michigan last week (528-488), but the difference in the game may have been two pick sixes.  

“We have a lot of guys on this team who are three-stars, two-stars that didn’t have many offers coming out of high school, so I feel like everybody already had a chip on their shoulder coming in,” said cornerback Tre’Vious Hodges-Tomlinson.

“It’s time to start taking us very serious. We’re not a joke.”

Not when Hodges-Tomlinson, the nephew of TCU great LaDanian Tomlinson, is the reigning Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation’s best defensive back. Not when quarterback Max Duggan is a former state high school 200-meter champion. (It surprised everyone from Oklahoma to Michigan when Duggan led all Big 12 quarterbacks in rushing.) Not when Hodges went from no takers to leading TCU in tackles.

“The media wants the bluebloods to win,” Hodges said following the Michigan game. “They want the bluebloods to play each other. The schools are bigger — bigger fan bases. That’s what they want. For us, [it’s] to put ourselves on the map, earn some money and put some respect on your family name.”

That’s what is motivating Emari Demercado. In his sixth season, he has wound his way back home. Out of high school, his only FBS offers were from Army and Navy. That led him to start at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California. Once at TCU, he played down on the depth chart for most of his career.

When leading rusher Zach Evans transferred to Ole Miss, Demercado backed up workhorse Kendre Miller. Suddenly, as a central figure in Monday’s game, Demercado can’t find enough tickets for his family and friends to watch him play for the national title.

Despite growing up in nearby Inglewood, 5 minutes from SoFi Stadium, he has never stepped foot in the venue.

Life was sparse, not glorious. In high school, Demercado lived with a friend’s family because practice at Downey High School began at 5 a.m. In L.A. where a huge city is connected by vast tracks of highways — and traffic — it made sense.

“My mom had bought me a little ’97 Lexus,” Demercado said. “It was just optimum for me to stay with them.”

Prior to the Fiesta Bowl semifinal, Michigan had given up one 100-yard rushing performance all season (Chase Brown, Illinois). Demercado rumbled for a career-high 150 yards in a backup role after Miller was injured.

Oh, and in that sixth year, Demercado was able to get his master’s in business analytics.

“I grew up here,” Demercado said. “I had my whole childhood here. I leave and go to Texas and be able to finish my college career here. It’s almost like it’s scripted.”

Chips for everyone.

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Michigan vs. TCU live score, updates, highlights from 2022 College Football Playoff semifinal

Michigan vs. TCU live score, updates, highlights from 2022 College Football Playoff semifinal

College football’s preeminent competition will kick off under the most ideal of conditions. No. 2 Michigan will take on No. 3 TCU in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl inside comfy State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

The game is the first semifinal in this year’s College Football Playoff, and it carries some intrigue. On the line is a berth in the national championship game — a contest neither school has been able to reach since a title game was instituted.

MORE: Sporting News Coach of the Year: TCU’s Sonny Dykes spearheads quick turnaround

The Wolverines (13-0) have been a buzzsaw this season, going through opponents week by week. That includes their 22-point beatdown of archrival Ohio State in The Game.

The Horned Frogs (12-1) have strung together one of the finest years in program history. Quarterback Max Duggan was the Heisman runner-up after a 30-touchdown, four-interception season. It’s hard to imagine that he has faced a front seven as daunting as Michigan’s, though.

The Sporting News is tracking live updates and highlights from Michigan vs. TCU in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Follow below to keep up with the action as the Fiesta Bowl takes place in Glendale.

MORE: Watch the College Football Playoff live with fuboTV (free trial)

Michigan vs. TCU score

  1  2 3 4 F 
Michigan 0 6 3 – –
TCU 14 7 14 – –

Michigan vs. TCU live score, updates from College Football Playoff semifinal

(All times Eastern)

6:50 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! You get a score, you get a score! McCarthy finds pay dirt with a 20 yard scamper.

The scoring seems like it’s at an untenable pace. Then again, you never know with college football.

Two point conversion goes awry. Still, things are getting spicy at the Fiesta Bowl.

TCU 34, Michigan 22

6:40 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! What a performance by Dee Winters! The cornerback adds to his growing legacy with yet another pick six against McCarthy, the Horned Frogs second score on a McCarthy miscue.

TCU 34, Michigan 16

6:35 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! TCU gets it back in blood! Demercado caps off a seven-play, 75 yard drive with a one yard score to push the Horned Frogs lead that much further.

Demercedero’s TD was nice, but the pivotal play of the drive was its first. Duggan hit Johnston with a 46-yard dot to put TCU in position to bag yet another score on the first play from kickoff.

TCU 28, Michigan 16

6:30 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Another bit of trickery for the Wolverines. This one works out, though, with McCarthy hitting Bell on the flea flicker to finally get the Wolverines into the end zone.

TCU 21, Michigan 16

6:28 p.m.: INTERCEPTION! The Wolverines notch a huge turnover, snagging a pick after the ball ricochets off a receiver’s chest. Time to make it count.

6:18 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Moody hits the chip shot, his third kick of the day.

TCU 21, Michigan 9

6:17 p.m.: Another red zone trip, another field goal attempt. The Horned Frogs defense is balling.

6:15 p.m.: McCarthy hits Ronnie Bell with a 43-yard dime, bringing the Wolverines into the red zone for the third time today. Let’s see if they can finally punch it in.

6:09 p.m.: Duggan opens the third with a gaudy QB draw, grabbing 14 yards in the process.

5:45 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Moody boots it in from 59 yards out, cutting TCU’s lead to 15. Impressive kick by the former Lou Groza Award winner.

TCU 21, Michigan 6

5:43 p.m.: A defensive pass interference gives the Wolverines a chance at kicking the field goal before halftime. Gotta make it count.

5:40 p.m.: Dylan Horton forces the ball loose after sacking McCarthy. However, it spins harmlessly out of bounds.

Not looking great for the Wolverines with a little over 20 seconds left.

5:38 p.m.: Big sack will give the Wolverines a chance to cut into TCU’s lead before the end of the half.

5:35 p.m.: Emari Demercadero, who came in for the ailing Miller, combines for 23 yards on two carries to kick off TCU’s latest drive.

Could get worse for Big Blue here.

5:30 p.m.: Johnny Hodges and company putting Michigan’s offensive line on notice. Wonderful display by the Navy transfer, who played a pivotal role in shutting down the Wolverines’ last drive.

Ball headed back to TCU.

5:27 p.m.: Michigan has to get something going quickly. Four minutes left in the quarter and the Wolverines are in desperate need of a touchdown, especially given the fact that they’re set to kick the ball back off to TCU.

5:22 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Duggan rolls out to the right, biding his time before slipping a pass to Taye Barber. The senior does the rest, waltzing in from six yards out to add to TCU’s lead.

TCU 21, Michigan 3

5:20 p.m.: TCU really finding its rhythm on this drive. First, Duggan lofts a pass to a wide open Quentin Johnston for 32 yards. Then, Miller nabs a first with a furious run through the tackle. First and goal loading for the Horned Frogs.

5:18 p.m.: Although Duggan’s passing hasn’t quite been up to snuff, he has shown off his wheels. Another huge gain via the ground for Duggan, who is already up to six carries for 33 yards so far.

5:15 p.m.: It has been a rough passing day for both hurlers so far. Duggan is 4/10 with an interception. McCarthy hasn’t been much better, tossing a pick while completing just six of his 10 attempts so far.

If fans wanted an battle of high-powered offenses, it seems you might have come to the wrong place.

5:10 p.m.: For all of Michigan’s struggles on the offensive side of the ball, its defense is keeping things tight. Gets TCU off the field with a four-play stop. Doesn’t get much better than that.

5:03 p.m.: FUMBLE! Kalel Mullings muffs the handoff! The ball is headed back to the Horned Frogs. What a turn of events!

5:01 p.m.: McCarthy airs it out, finding Roman Wilson for 50 yards! U-Mich is at TCU’s one-yard line!

4:59 p.m.: INTERCEPTION! Duggan sees his throw slip through his target’s hands, falling into the grateful mitts of Michigan safety Rod Moore. Huge break for the Wolverines defense.

4:56 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Jake Moody splits the uprights from 42 yards out, giving Michigan its first points of the ballgame.

TCU 14, Michigan 3

4:55 p.m.: Conservative play call by Harbaugh fails to make a dent, as the Wolverines are stuffed on a third-down run play. Field goal unit is trotting on the field.

End of first quarter: TCU 14, Michigan

4:51 p.m.: Once more, with feeling.The McCarthy-Loveland connection nets 16 yards for the Wolverines, who once more find themselves deep in Horned Frogs territory.

4:49 p.m.: McCarthy fires a ball past outreached arms to reach his wideout for the first. Showing signs of life.

4:48 p.m.: AJ Henning stuffed well behind the line of scrimmage. Really good start by the Horned Frogs’ defense.

4:44 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Duggan bungles it in from short distance, extending TCU’s lead to 14.

TCU 14, Michigan 0

4:42 p.m.: Duggan stuffed at the line of scrimmage. However, looks like forward progress granted him the advantage. A new set of downs on the goal-line for the Horned Frogs.

4:40 p.m.: Giving Duggan time in the pocket is a dangerous strategy. The Heisman runner-up finds time and space before firing a dart to Jordan Hudson on the sideline.

4:39 p.m.: Great presence of mind by Duggan, who took advantage of the free play to move the chains for the first down on the ground.

4:35 p.m.: Kendre Miller breaks open a 14-yard gain to open the drive for TCU.

4:35 p.m.: The Horned Frogs defense has come to play early. Stunts another Wolverines drive en route to a three-and-out. 

4:28 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! McCarthy fails to see Bud Clark lurking behind his wideout. Clark snaps up the errant throw before taking it to the house to open the scoring in this year’s Fiesta Bowl.

That’s only McCarthy’s fourth-ever interception.

TCU 7, Michigan 0

4:24 p.m.: Wolverines defense holds strong, forcing a three-and-out from Duggan and company. A shorter-than-ideal punt will put Big Blue in decent starting position for its second possession.

4:21 p.m.: TURNOVER ON DOWNS! The Horned Frogs snuff out the lateral play, pinning Colston Loveland behind the line of scrimmage to deny the Wolverines a score. Impressive stuff by the TCU front seven.

4:17 p.m.: McCarthy with a wonderful effort, evading pressure before rumbling towards the end zone. He got pushed out just short of the goal-line, presenting Jim Harbaugh with a decision to make on fourth down.

4:15 p.m.: JJ McCarthy completes his first pass of the day, finding wideout Roman Wilson for a nine-yard gain. That puts Michigan in a goal-to-go situation.

4:13 p.m.: The first play from scrimmage is a big one! Donovan Edwards races through the TCU front seven for 54 yards, brining the Wolverines on the brink of the end zone. That’s one way to make an opening impression.

4:11 p.m.: The opening kickoff lands in the end zone for a touchback. Michigan will start with the ball.

3:59 p.m.: Boyz II Men singing the national anthem. Didn’t have that on my bingo card.

3:30 p.m.: Cool gesture here by Fiesta Bowl organizers, who hosted virtual fans from both Phoenix and Michigan Children’s Hospitals for Saturday’s game.

3:15 p.m.: Slide to the left, slide to the right…

3:00 p.m.: Ambitious prediction by this TCU fan. One way or another, this take is sure to get some attention.

2:40 p.m. — Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson is making the rounds pregame

2:30 p.m.: …And here comes the Horned Frogs!

1:25 p.m.: The Wolverines are in the building … 

11:45 a.m.: Hours before game time, the hype videos are teed up. Time to get the blood pumping: 

Michigan vs. TCU start time

  • Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT)

Kickoff for Michigan vs. TCU is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 31. It is the first of the two Playoff games, with the Peach Bowl between No. 1 Georgia and No. 4 Ohio State kicking off at 8 p.m. ET.

What channel is Michigan vs. TCU on today?

  • TV network (national): ESPN

Michigan vs. TCU will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Sean McDonough (play-by-play) and Todd Blackedge (color commentator) will call the game in the booth, while Molly McGrath and Tiffany Blackmon will report from the sidelines.

ESPN is also rolling out its Megacast for the College Football Playoff, once again providing alternate broadcasts across its family of networks.

Telecast  TV channel 
Field Pass with The Pat McAfee Show ESPN2
Command Center ESPNU
Skycast ESPN News
Spanish-language ESPN Deportes

How to live stream College Football Playoff games 

  • Live streams: ESPN App, fuboTV

Both College Football Playoff semifinals will be available to stream live on all of the network’s digital platforms, including ESPN.com and the ESPN App. 

Cord-cutters have several live streaming options, including fuboTV, which offers a free trial:

Streaming option  Cable subscription needed?  Free?  Cost  Free trial? 
ESPN.com/ESPN App Yes Yes – –
Yahoo! Sports App No Yes – –
fuboTV  No No $60/month Yes
AT&T TV Now No No $55/month Yes
Hulu Plus Live TV No No $55/month Yes
Sling TV No No $35/month No
YouTube TV No No $65/month Yes

College Football Playoff schedule

Date Bowl Matchup Time (ET) TV
Dec. 31 Fiesta Bowl (CFP semifinal) No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 TCU 4 p.m. ESPN, fuboTV 
Dec. 31 Sugar Bowl (CFP semifinal) No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Ohio State 8 p.m. ESPN, fuboTV 
Jan. 9 CFP National Championship Game TBD vs. TBD 8 p.m. ESPN, fuboTV

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NFL Week 15 Power Rankings: Lions, Jaguars among improbable playoff hopefuls entering final stretch of season

NFL Week 15 Power Rankings: Lions, Jaguars among improbable playoff hopefuls entering final stretch of season

It’s December, a time for contenders to emerge and pretenders to fade away.

So go ahead and try explain what happened this past Sunday in the NFL. The Detroit Lions beat the Minnesota Vikings, who came in at 10-2. The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the division-leading Tennessee Titans and the Carolina Panthers went on the road to beat the Seattle Seahawks, a team that appeared to be surging to the postseason.

Detroit, Jacksonville and Carolina are all alive in the playoff chase. In December? Can it be?

The Lions have won five of six to get to 6-7 and get within a game and a half of being in the playoff picture. The Lions have done it behind the offense and especially underrated quarterback Jared Goff and the passing game. The defense has also improved over the past month.

The Jaguars hadn’t won at Tennessee since 2013 before Sunday and were coming off a beat down by the Lions the week before in which they looked lifeless. So who expected Trevor Lawrence to throw for 368 yards and three touchdowns as the Jaguars won, 36-22, in dominant fashion? Lawrence has been as good as any quarterback in the league the last month of the season, putting to rest any of that dumb talk that he wasn’t a franchise passer.

Then there’s Carolina. It has run itself into the playoff chase at 5-8, one game behind Tampa Bay in the NFC South. The Panthers beat Seattle, 30-24, on Sunday and now control their own path into the playoffs. If they win out, including beating Tampa Bay in Week 17, they will be the NFC South winner. Of course, they also have a big game with the Lions in Week 16. The Lions and Panthers playing a big game in late December just isn’t something we expected six weeks ago.

To win the AFC South, the Jaguars would need to win out, including beating the Titans in the final week of the season and then also hope the Titans lose one other game. The schedule is tough with Dallas at home, the Jets on the road, the Texans on the road and then the Titans at home. But it’s possible.

The Lions are my highest-ranked team of the three in this week’s Power Rankings, up to No. 18. But the Jaguars and Panthers are also on the move up.

Sunday was once again a reminder of how crazy the NFL can be and how unpredictable it is from week to week.

Who saw the Lions, Jaguars and Panthers still alive with Christmas around the corner? Not many, that’s for sure — probably not even inside their respective buildings.

Biggest Movers

Rk

Teams

  

Chg

Rcrd

1


Eagles

 They rolled the Giants, and the offense is almost unstoppable right now. Jalen Hurts for MVP? It could happen. — 12-1-0

2


Bills

 The defense played well without Von Miller, which is a good sign. The Bills can basically lock up the division by beating the Dolphins this week. — 10-3-0

3


Cowboys

 They beat the Texans, but it sure was ugly. They always seem to have a game or two like that. They can’t play like that against good teams. — 10-3-0

4


Chiefs

 Despite some big plays, the defense has to be better than it was against Denver if they are going to be a Super Bowl team. They actually made Russell Wilson look good. — 10-3-0

5


Bengals

 They have really righted things in a big way after the slow start. The defense has really stepped up in recent weeks. 1 9-4-0

6


49ers

 Brock Purdy was really good in his first NFL start in beating the Bucs. But it’s the defense that really is carrying this team. 1 9-4-0

7


Vikings

 The defense is a major problem for this group. It can’t stop the opposition, which puts so much pressure on its offense. At 10-3, are the Vikings good or not? 2 10-3-0

8


Ravens

 That was a big-time victory against the Steelers without Lamar Jackson. The defense came up big in that one. 1 9-4-0

9


Dolphins

 They are on a two-game losing streak. The concern is the offense has struggled as it readies to play the Bills. 1 8-5-0

10


Commanders

 They come off their bye with a home game against a Giants team they tied two weeks ago. Win that one, and they will have a great shot to be a playoff team. 1 7-5-1

11


Titans

 What was that against the Jaguars? The defense is awful right now, which won’t win a lot of games going forward, and the offensive line is awful. 2 7-6-0

12


Chargers

 That was a season-saving victory against Miami. It’s nice to see the passing game finally take some shots down the field. 3 7-6-0

13


Seahawks

 They blew a home game against the Panthers, dropping them out of the playoffs for now. The defense is back to being a problem in a big way, and Geno Smith made some bad throws in that game. 3 7-6-0

14


Jets

 The offense didn’t do enough against the Bills, but that didn’t stop coach Robert Saleh from saying he would see them again come playoff time. That’s some real confidence there. — 7-6-0

15


Patriots

 If the playoffs started today, they would be in. The offense got going a bit against the Cardinals, which is a good sign. 2 7-6-0

16


Giants

 They have a tie and three losses in their last four, and that early-season success is fading fast. The defense was awful against the Eagles. 4 7-5-1

17


Buccaneers

 They just can’t get any momentum this season. The 49ers beat them up in every way imageable Sunday. Yet they are still in first place. 1 6-7-0

18


Lions

 They are making a playoff push, which is impressive. Jared Goff has been outstanding. 1 6-7-0

19


Raiders

 Learning how to hold leads is a problem for this team. Losing the way it did to the Rams almost ends its playoff hopes. 1 5-8-0

20


Browns

 They have to be concerned with what they’ve seen from Deshaun Watson so far. Rust or not, he’s not playing well. 2 5-8-0

21


Packers

 If they win their final four games, they could be a playoff team. One loss, and it’s likely over. The question is whether they are good enough to run the table. — 5-8-0

22


Steelers

 Without Kenny Pickett, they were lost against the Ravens. Mitch Trubisky turned it over way too much. — 5-8-0

23


Falcons

 They are going to rookie Desmond Ridder at quarterback, which is the right thing to do. They might have waited too long. — 5-8-0

24


Jaguars

 Trevor Lawrence is going to keep this team relevant for a long time. He will be a star, which he showed in beating the Titans. — 5-8-0

25


Panthers

 They are in the playoff mix. Think about that. With Sam Darnold, they could make the playoffs. Amazing. 3 5-8-0

26


Saints

 They have four games left, and they are pretty much playing out the string. This has not been a good season for first-year coach Dennis Allen. 1 4-9-0

27


Cardinals

 They are done for this year, but the concern now is the knee injury suffered by Kyler Murray. How severe is it, and what will it do to his career? 1 4-9-0

28


Colts

 They come off their bye with a Saturday game at Minnesota. Is this the final four-game stretch for the Jeff Saturday experiment? 1 4-8-1

29


Rams

 Picking up Baker Mayfield paid off for a game as he beat the Raiders. Now comes a tougher challenge for him at Green Bay, but he will know the offense better as well. — 4-9-0

30


Bears

 They come off their bye with a tough game against the Eagles. It should be a good way for Justin Fields to get an idea of what might come next year by watching Jalen Hurts. — 3-10-0

31


Broncos

 The good news is the offense came alive against the Chiefs. The bad news is that it didn’t matter since they lost anyway. — 3-10-0

32


Texans

 They made it interesting against Dallas, which shows they haven’t quit. They are headed for the top pick, which is a good thing. — 1-11-1

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Saints Playoff Hopes Are Alive

Saints Playoff Hopes Are Alive

The Who Dat Nation has fans with the biggest hearts in the National Football League. Loyal, passionate, and praying for a miracle! Remember, these residents have persevered through hurricanes, floodings, and numerous heartbreaks from the New Orleans Saints over the years.

Chris Olave

Well, it’s the holiday season, and we’re spreading statistical hope for Saints fans and the team’s playoff dreams.