The Indianapolis Colts picked the worst possible time to experience their worst performance of the season.
Due to a 26-11 loss at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday afternoon in their last meeting on the calendar, the Colts found themselves in danger of being excluded from the playoffs.
The worst-case scenario then materialized when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Baltimore Ravens in overtime, definitively excluding Indy from the postseason schedule.
It was Indy’s sixth straight loss on the Jags’ field, a streak dating back to 2014.
NFL rushing yard champion Jonathan Taylor was limited to 77 yards, while Carson Wentz suffered two turnovers, leading the Jags to 10 points.
The door opens for the Steelers
The Colts’ loss opened the door wide for the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Baltimore Ravens for a playoff ticket. It was finally the formation of Pennsylvania who placed themselves in excellent shape with a 16 to 13 victory in overtime.
Steelers 16 – Ravens 13 (Prolongation)
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Chris Boswell approached the Steelers for a playoff appearance with a 9-7-1 record thanks to a 36-yard field goal in extra time.
To hope to be in the playoff picture, the Steelers had to hope that the game between the Chargers and the Raiders did not end with a draw and it came close to it. The Steelers will still be playoffs.
Ben Roethlisberger could thus extend his career a little more, he who hinted that he could put an end to it after the season. He helped his team get into position for the winning field goal, but had the help of Ray-Ray McLoud, Pat Freiermuth and Najee Harris who all had great catches on the final streak.
Chase Claypool scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter that put the Steelers in charge of the game 13-10. Justin Tucker, however, tied the game less than two minutes later with a field goal of 46 yards.
With a quarterback sack, TJ Watt tied Michael Strahan’s record for most sacks in a season at 22.5.
The Ravens thus cash a sixth straight loss to finish with an 8-9 record. They were once again deprived of their quarterback Lamar Jackson with an ankle injury. Tyler Huntley threw two interceptions and finished with just 141 passing yards.
The Lions end with a victory
Aaron Rodgers threw two touchdown passes in the first half and was left out in the second as there was no stake and the Detroit Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers 37-30.
Backup quarterback Jordan Love saw two of his passes intercepted late in the game, which sealed the outcome of a game without consequences for the Packers’ placement in the playoffs.
Champions of the North section of the National Association, the Packers (13-4) landed in Detroit after confirming their place at the top of the National and their pass for the first round of the playoffs.
Rodgers, the NFL MVP, found a taker on 14 of his 18 passes and amassed 138 yards through the air. He could win the individual honor for a fourth time.
The Packers quarterback threw a one-yard pass to Allen Lazard to wrap up a 13-play 74-yard streak that spanned seven minutes 18 seconds into the game. The duo reiterated in the second quarter when Rodgers found Lazard for a 29-yard major.
Rodgers swapped the helmet for the cap at halftime and just watched his teammates from the bench, away from the action and the risk of injury.
The Lions (3-13-1) concluded the first season of their head coach Dan Campbell with pride and fighting spirit.
The Lions’ victory, however, ruined their chance to select the first rung in the next NFL Draft. The scenario was plausible as the Jaguars defeated the Indianapolis Colts.
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