The NFL regular season ended Sunday evening across the Atlantic. Now it’s time for the playoffs, with the start of the road to the Super Bowl which will be held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, next Sunday, February 11. Fourteen teams are vying to win the title during the king event in American sport. Before that, the season was punctuated by 18 days with their share of twists and turns. Here’s what you need to remember.
Champions carried by a special supporter
The Kansas City Chiefs, winners of the last Super Bowl, will be part of the playoffs. However, they had a complicated second part of the season, with four defeats in nine matches. They will remain, despite everything, a contender during the final stages, with a quarterback Patrick Mahomes a little less dashing but still capable of strokes of genius, or a Travis Kelce who is often effective in reception.
The latter has also been talked about this season. Or rather his partner, since his romance with singer Taylor Swift did not fail to cause a reaction in the United States. The American star has been seen numerous times at the stadium cheering on the Chiefs, attracting the interest of new fans.
Taylor Swift (center) has been seen numerous times at Kansas City games, where her partner Travis Kelce plays. | GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP See full screen Taylor Swift (center) has been seen many times at Kansas City matches, where her partner Travis Kelce plays. | GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP
Facing KC, Philadelphia was the unfortunate finalist in the Super Bowl. And the Eagles had a season in two phases: a remarkable first part, with a record of 10 victories and one defeat before the start of December. Since then, things have been much less encouraging, with five defeats in the last six matches. Despite this, the place in the playoffs is assured, but without home advantage.
One final MVP draft pick?
In the spring, the NFL draft is held. Almost every year, the name of the first choice is remembered. But the last one… However, some are exceptions. This is the case of Brock Purdy, quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers. Chosen in 262nd and last position in 2022, he played the last matches of the Californian franchise last season, taking advantage of injuries to the usual starters. Named number 1 at the position this year, he gave more than satisfaction, with 4,280 cumulative passing yards (second best record) and 31 touchdowns thrown (second best record there too).
Enough to make him one of the favorites for the title of MVP of the season. His team has an excellent record (12 wins and 5 losses) and ranks first in the national conference. The Californians are the scarecrow in this conference to obtain a place in the Super Bowl. But the playoffs are always a separate story, and we will have to be wary of the Dallas Cowboys, who made a strong impression with 12 wins and 5 losses.
In Baltimore, things are going strong
Thirteen victories, four defeats: Baltimore had a good regular season which earned it first place in the American conference. But the Ravens especially finished very strong. Carried by an efficient Lamar Jackson (24 touchdowns, 7 interceptions and 3,678 cumulative passing yards), the Maryland franchise appears as a favorite to go to the Super Bowl, eleven years after its victory against San Francisco.
Lamar Jackson, MVP of the 2019 season, will return to the playoffs with Baltimore, one year after an elimination in the play-offs against Cincinnati. | GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP See in full screen Lamar Jackson, MVP of the 2019 season, will return to the playoffs with Baltimore, a year after an elimination in the play-offs against Cincinnati. | GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP
Baltimore, above all, finished very strong, with six victories in the last seven matches (defeat on Saturday on the last day when many of the starters were rested), and demonstrations inflicted on San Francisco (33-19), or even against in Miami (56-19). Floridians who will return to the playoffs, this time with the objective of going further than last year (beaten in the play-offs by Buffalo).
New York not at the party
Two New York franchises on the starting line, none in the playoffs. A disappointment for the Giants, who were swept by Philadelphia in the conference semi-finals last year (38-7); a disillusionment for the Jets, who had been hyperactive in the offseason. The latter signed the transfer of the year by enlisting Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay quarterback with four MVP titles, with several of his receivers. An offensive armada that will not have been seen all season. The star rookie only played three minutes, before suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in a tackle, sidelining him for the entire season.
Aaron Rodgers (right) ruptured his Achilles tendon after three minutes on the field during the opening day against Buffalo. | ELSA, AFP See full screen Aaron Rodgers (right), ruptured his Achilles tendon after three minutes on the field during the first day, against Buffalo. | ELSA, AFP
In his absence, the Jets achieved some success, but it was insufficient to reach the playoffs (7 wins, 10 losses). Their neighbors have done less well, since they have 6 victories and 11 defeats on their record. They had also experienced an inaugural setback that looked like a spanking in Dallas (40-0). The series of defeats quickly dashed hopes of a second participation in a row in the playoffs.
With five victories, they are one of the bad students this season, but they do not have the dunce cap. This goes to the Carolina Panthers, who have only two victories for 15 defeats, and are in last place in the league. A season to forget, with only 23 touchdowns scored. However, they did better than the Jets (22 TDs), but too rarely managed to stop opposing attacks.
To do better, we will have to strengthen ourselves in the offseason. Their last place should have automatically given them the first draft pick but this will not be the case since it was included in a player transfer with Chicago at the start of the season. When it doesn’t want…
The playoff schedule
American conference play-offs
Buffalo Bills (seeded No. 2) – Pittsburgh Steelers (7)
Kansas City Chiefs (3) – Miami Dolphins (6)
Houstons Texans (4) – Cleveland Browns (5)
National Conference Playoffs
Dallas Cowboys (2) – Green Bay Packers (7)
Detroit Lions (3) – Los Angeles Rams (6)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4) – Philadelphie Eagles (5)
American conference semi-finals: Saturday January 20 and Sunday January 21
Baltimore Ravens (1) – lowest ranked qualifier in the American Conference
The two other qualified teams from the conference face each other
National conference semi-finals: Saturday January 20 and Sunday January 21
San Francisco 49ers (1) – lowest ranked qualifier in the National Conference
The two other qualified teams from the conference face each other
Conference Finals: Sunday, January 28
9 p.m.: American conference final
12:30 a.m.: national conference final
Super Bowl: Sunday, February 11 (12:30 a.m.)
The two winners of the conference finals face each other
2024-01-08 06:30:51
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