That is exactly how it played out over the final weekend of the 2023 regular season and the Texans (10-7) beat the host Indianapolis Colts, 23-19 on Saturday evening while on Sunday afternoon in Nashville, Tennessee, the Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8) were coughing up the AFC South division in a 28-20 loss against the Titans (6-11) and were eliminated from the playoff picture.
Houston won the game as quarterback C.J. Stroud (pictured above left) threw for two touchdowns while running back Devin Singletary scored a rushing TD to lead the way. Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (nine receptions for 195 yards) hauled in a 75-yard scoring pass from Stroud on their first play from scrimmage for a 7-3 lead. The Colts (9-8) finally tied the game 14-14 in the third quarter when RB Jonathan Taylor (30 carries for 188 yards) scored on a 49-yard run. The game was tied 17-17 when Singletary scored the winning touchdown with his run with 6:20 left to play. The Texans defense made the stop and then Houston took a safety as time ran down to clinch the division title.
The Titans rode the legs of running back Derrick Henry (19 carries for 153 rushing yards and one TD) while Tyjae Spears scored two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) and QB Ryan Tannehill had two TD passes to knock the Jaguars (who were 8-3 in early December) out of the playoffs. Jags QB Trevor Lawrence was stuffed on fourth-and-goal from the two-yard line and he had two TD passes along with two interceptions thrown and 280 passing yards in the season ending loss.
In the NFC playoff chase, the Dallas Cowboys (12-5) wrapped up the NFC East division title with a 38-10 thrashing of the host Washington Commanders (4-13) with QB Dak Prescott (279 passing yards and one INT) throwing four touchdown passes. The Dallas defense had four sacks and limited Washington to just 180 yards in total offense while forcing three turnovers, including two picks. The Commanders lost their final eight games this season and fired head coach Ron Rivera.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles are limping badly into the NFC playoffs and finished the season at 11-6 and lost five of their final six games as they were buried, 27-10 against the host New York Giants (6-11). The Giants built a 24-0 halftime lead as RB Saquon Barkley scored two rushing touchdowns while QB Tyrod Taylor had a TD pass and the defense forced four turnovers (two INT, two fumbles) and had five QB sacks.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) won their third consecutive NFC South division crown with a 9-0 win at Carolina with three field goals by kicker Chase McLaughlin. The Panthers (2-15) were shut out for the second consecutive game to end a miserable season.
The Green Bay Packers (9-8) clinched the seventh and final NFC playoff spot with a 17-9 home victory against the Chicago Bears (7-10) as their defense dominated, limiting Chicago to 192 total yards in offense and just three field goals. Meanwhile, QB Jordan Love (316 passing yards on 27-of-32 passing) had two TD passes as the offense racked up 432 total yards.
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| The Buffalo Bills celebrate another AFC East title. |
How about the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) beating the odds and getting a playoff spot as they toppled the host Baltimore Ravens, 17-10 on a blustery rainy and snowy day as RB Najee Harris (26 carries for 112 yards) scored a rushing TD while QB Mason Rudolph hooked up with WR Dionte Johnson on a 71-yard scoring pass. Baltimore (13-4 and top seed in the AFC playoffs) rested many starters and reserve QB Tyler Huntley threw a 27-yard TD pass to WR Isaiah Likely for their only touchdown in the loss.
The Los Angeles Rams (10-7 and a wild card playoff team in the NFC) squeaked past the host San Francisco 49ers, 21-20 as backup QB Carson Wentz scored a rushing TD and also had two TD passes. The 49ers (12-5 and top seed in NFC playoffs) sat many starters and Elijah Mitchell and QB Sam Darnold each had rushing scores in defeat.
In Cincinnati, the Bengals (9-8) knocked off the playoff bound Cleveland Browns, 31-14 with QB Jake Browning throwing three TD passes and RB Joe Mixon (14 carries for 111 yards) scoring twice, including a receiving touchdown to go with a one-yard scoring run. The Browns (11-6) sat many starters and were held scoreless until the final quarter.
The Kansas City Chiefs (11-6) finished the regular season by resting numerous starters and still managed to get a 13-12 win against the host Los Angeles Chargers (5-12) as kicker Harrison Butker made a 41-yard field goal with 49 seconds remaining. The Chargers points came on four field goals by Cameron Dicker.
The Las Vegas Raiders (8-9) beat the visiting Denver Broncos, 27-14 as QB Aidan O'Connell had two TD passes and WR Jakobi Meyers scored two times, including one with a five-yard scoring run. Denver (8-9) went 2-4 down the stretch and missed the playoffs for the eighth straight season.
In New Orleans, the Saints (9-8) won 48-17 against the Atlanta Falcons (7-10) as they outscored them 31-0 in the second half as QB Derek Carr (264 passing yards) threw four TD passes while the defense forced three turnovers (two INT, one fumble). Falcons QB Desmond Ridder had two TD passes in defeat and the team fired head coach Arthur Smith following the game.
The Detroit Lions (12-5) finished strong as they toppled the visiting Minnesota Vikings, 30-20 with QB Jared Goff throwing for two scores while running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery each had rushing touchdowns. The Vikings finished the season at 7-10 as QB Nick Mullens had two TD passes in defeat.
The Seattle Seahawks outlasted the host Arizona Cardinals, 21-20, but they missed out on a playoff spot while finishing with a 9-8 record this season. QB Geno Smith passed for two scores,including the game winning 34-yard TD strike to WR Tyler Lockett as well as the two-point conversion pass to Lockett for the lead with 1:54 remaining in the game. Arizona RB James Conner had a rushing TD and went for 150 yards on 27 carries in the loss. The Cardinals (4-13) had a chance to win the game, but kicker Matt Prater (who missed two field goals) missed on a 51-yard attempt as time ran out.
The New York Jets (7-10) ended a 15-game losing streak against the New England Patriots (4-13) as they won on the road, 17-3 behind a big game from RB Breece Hall (37 carries for 178 yards), who scored the game's only touchdown on a 50-yard run with 1:47 remaining to ice things. The game was played in blizzard like conditions and the Patriots finished with their worst record (since 2000 season) in the Bill Belichick era.
WEEK EIGHTEEN RESULTS
Pittsburgh 17, Baltimore 10
Houston 23, Indianapolis 19
Tampa Bay 9, Carolina 0
Cincinnati 31, Cleveland 14
Detroit 30, Minnesota 20
N.Y. Jets 17, New England 3
New Orleans 48, Atlanta 17
Tennessee 28, Jacksonville 20
Green Bay 17, Chicago 9
Dallas 38, Washington 10
Seattle 21, Arizona 20
Kansas City 13, L.A. Chargers 12
Las Vegas 27, Denver 14
L.A. Rams 21, San Francisco 20
N.Y. Giants 27, Philadelphia 10
Buffalo 21, Miami 14
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