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Watch the NFL on Sky Sports activities throughout Christmas!
Welcome to Christmas within the NFL! Festive soccer has arrived because the league enters the ultimate three weeks of the common season forward of a playoff-filled January on the house stretch to Tremendous Bowl LVIII…
Who’s on the good record?
The San Francisco 49ers are 2023’s golden little one, to this point, as they shimmer in pole place with an 11-3 file and the NFC West division title already wrapped up behind quarterback Brock Purdy, who’s seeking to cap his staggering ascent by guiding Kyle Shanahan’s star-studded solid to the Tremendous Bowl. They’re present undisputed favourites to go all the best way in February.
Lamar Jackson has been scintillating because the pilot to a Baltimore Ravens group closing in on securing the highest seed within the AFC, the previous MVP projected to shatter his earlier career-best in passing yards have been masterful from the pocket whereas additionally surpassing 700 speeding yards for the fifth time in his six seasons.
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A take a look at Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s high performs from the 2023 season to this point
Elsewhere, Shane Steichen has amplified his credentials as one of many NFL’s smartest offensive minds by weathering the lack of rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson to thrust the Indianapolis Colts (8-6) into unlikely playoff rivalry behind backup Gardner Minshew.
Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has orchestrated the league’s most potent unit with the help of a Myles Garrett-shaped sledgehammer, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ protection has compensated enormously for its offense’s persistent failings, and between them Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Raheem Mostert have fronted one of many league’s most horrifying assaults in Miami.
Who’s getting coal?
Head coach Brandon Staley and basic supervisor Tom Telesco are gone, Justin Herbert is harm and the Los Angeles Chargers are sliding to a grotesque shedding season on the pit of the AFC West, squandering one other beneficial yr of their talent-rich younger quarterback within the course of. They’re firmly on the naughty record because the antithesis to their sought-after Hollywood dazzle.
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The Chargers shipped 63 factors in a humiliating defeat to the Raiders in Week 15
The Carolina Panthers recorded simply their second win of the season in entrance of a near-empty Financial institution of America Stadium on Sunday as followers swerved one other dose of a group that has already fired head coach Frank Reich, failed No 1 decide quarterback Bryce Younger in his rookie season and endured one other yr of proprietor David Tepper fumbling his newest try and steer the franchise ahead.
Invoice Belichick and the New England Patriots have been a depressing watch as they hunch in the direction of a high two Draft decide and, doubtlessly, the tip of an period for the league’s best head coach. Their offense is arguably the worst within the league, nor Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe are able to main the group ahead at quarterback, and Belichick’s recruitment has reaped next-to-no outcomes, even when his protection has managed to squeeze into the top-half groups as their closest factor to some sort of constant trait.
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Kadarius Toney has a landing disallowed after being offside, ruining an unbelievable lateral go from Travis Kelce to take the lead for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in opposition to the Buffalo Payments
With out eager to pile onto one participant an excessive amount of, Kadarius Toney’s dropped catches and touchdown-denying offsides are too obvious to disregard because the headline to a stuttering Chiefs offense. Examples of Diontae Johnson and George Pickens neglecting assignments in the meantime underline the damaged mess that has been the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Twenty eighth-ranked scoring offense, which has seen coordinator Matt Canada fired and quarterback Kenny Pickett fail to make strides in his improvement.
Are there NFL video games on Christmas Day?
Christmas Day dwell on Sky
| Recreation | Kickoff |
|---|---|
| Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas Metropolis Chiefs | 6pm |
| New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles | 9.30pm |
| Baltimore Ravens @ San Francisco 49ers | 1.15am (Boxing Day morning) |
Sure, there are! The NFL kicks off a triple-header of Christmas Day motion at 6pm when the Las Vegas Raiders (6-8) go to the defending champion Chiefs (9-5) dwell on Sky Sports activities, lining up completely with the nation because it slumps right into a post-pigs-in-blankets meals coma and avoids conversations with the in-laws.
The Philadelphia Eagles (10-4) then host the New York Giants (5-9) in an all-NFC East conflict at 9.30pm, earlier than the Baltimore Ravens (11-3) are on the highway in opposition to the 49ers (11-3) in a possible Tremendous Bowl preview between the 2 present convention leaders from 1.15am within the early hours of Boxing Day.
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Peter King says we should not be shocked to see Brazil host their NFL recreation within the opening week of the season!
However earlier than then, a full Christmas Eve slate sees the Browns (9-5) proceed their playoff cost on the Houston Texans (8-6), who had been with out star rookie quarterback CJ Stroud on the weekend on account of a concussion, within the 6pm slot. That’s adopted by the Dallas Cowboys (10-4) on the highway in opposition to the Dolphins (10-4) earlier than the New England Patriots (3-11) meet the Denver Broncos (7-7) in Sunday Evening Soccer within the early hours of Christmas Day.
Week 16 additionally provides up extra Saturday soccer as Browning’s Bengals (8-6) go to the slumping Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7), earlier than a red-hot Payments (8-6) tackle the Herbert-less Chargers (5-9), who simply shipped 63 factors in opposition to the Raiders.
The NFL at Christmas
The NFL beforehand swerved enjoying on Christmas Day amid a combined response to its affect on festivities, its first recreation on December 25 coming throughout the 1971 playoffs after the AFL-NFL merger when the Cowboys confronted the Minnesota Vikings whereas the Dolphins performed the Chiefs within the longest recreation in NFL historical past (82 minutes, 40 seconds).
The primary regular-season recreation to be performed on Christmas was in 1989 when the Vikings beat the Bengals 29-21, since which the whole variety of video games performed has risen to 27.
If this was your first day on earth…
… what would you inform folks in regards to the 2023 NFL season? Effectively, the New York Giants are led by an Italian-American quarterback named Tommy DeVito who celebrates touchdowns with the oh-so-Italian pinched fingers hand gesture. He lives together with his dad and mom near the group follow facility, is nicknamed ‘Tommy Cutlets’ after assembly followers at a New Jersey sandwich store, and his agent Sean Stellato couldn’t look extra just like the agent of a participant known as Tommy DeVito if he tried.
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Jason Bell, Neil Reynolds and Phoebe Schecter have their say on a few of the most fascinating outfits from Week 15 of the NFL
DeVito has been among the many flag-bearers for one more yr of the backup quarterback having taken over underneath heart within the absence of each Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor. He’s not probably the most profitable stand-in, although; that crown appears set to be contested by one in all Jake Browning, Joe Flacco or Gardner Minshew.
Browning, a 2019 undrafted free agent, has gone 3-1 whereas making his first NFL appearances to maintain the Cincinnati Bengals within the playoff hunt since changing the injured Joe Burrow, who’s out for the yr with a wrist downside. A 38-year-old Joe Flacco has helped the Cleveland Browns to a 9-5 file because the AFC’s fifth seed after getting off the sofa in November to signal rather than the injured Deshaun Watson, and Minshew Mania is having fun with one thing of a renaissance because the Colts proceed their pursuit of a wild card spot.
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A take a look at the Cincinnati Bengals’ Tee Higgins’ epic landing within the final minute of the sport to assist them pressure the sport to additional time in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings
Aaron Rodgers, Burrow, Herbert, Nick Chubb, Kirk Cousins, Daniel Jones, Justin Jefferson, Matt Milano, Mark Andrews, J.Ok. Dobbins, Trevon Diggs, Richardson, Joey Bosa, Mike Williams, Jaelan Phillips, Matthew Judon, Christian Gonzalez Michael Thomas and Uchenna Nwosu are amongst a few of the marquee names to have gone down harm in a season ravaged by harm.
What else? The Philadelphia Eagles have mastered their Brotherly Shove quarterback sneak, the NFC South presently doesn’t embrace a group with a successful file and Taylor Swift is getting extra air time than the Dolphins and 49ers punters.
What is that this yr’s ‘in’ toy?
From Cabbage Patch Children and Tamagotchis to iPhones and PS5 consoles, there may be at all times one fashionable present coveted by all at Christmas time.
The 49ers have a stocking stuffed with them. Christian McCaffrey has dazzled because the centre-piece to Shanahan’s talent-loaded offense with a league-high 1,292 speeding yards, a working back-high 509 receiving yards and a tied-first-most 20 touchdowns from scrimmage as one of many prime contenders to be the primary non-quarterback MVP since Adrian Peterson in 2012. Deebo Samuel, proud proprietor of the wide-back title in 2021, has in the meantime exploded again into life down the stretch this season with 562 yards and 9 touchdowns from scrimmage during the last six video games.
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Christian McCaffrey escaped everybody to make a 41-yard receiving landing in opposition to the Cardinals
Tyreek Hill, whereas slowed by an ankle knock in latest weeks, has been unstoppable because the league’s most harmful weapon on offense amid his pursuit of a historic 2,000-yard marketing campaign. The Dolphins receiver leads the NFL with 1,542 receiving yards with three common season video games remaining, his absence on the weekend cushioned by the presence of 20-touchdown Mostert and fellow field-flipper Jaylen Waddle.
Rookie sensation Puka Nacua has logged his first 1,000-yard season on the disposal of a Matthew Stafford who appears to be loving life in a rejuvenated Los Angeles Rams offense, CeeDee Lamb has cemented his standing as Dak Prescott’s No 1 weapon in Dallas with 1,306 receiving yards and eight scores, and James Prepare dinner’s eruption has injected new life within the Buffalo Payments’ playoff hunt.
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Puka Nacua dives for an excellent catch for the LA Rams in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens
On the sidelines, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson stands to be among the many most in-demand candidates when the pinnacle teaching carousel begins to spin this offseason, alongside Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.
The Kevin McCallister of the NFL?
That honour goes to Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, the NFL’s personal fresh-faced and one-liner-savvy genius whose playbook is brimming with quirky methods and innovations designed to inflict ache on the Harry and Marvs of the league. Kevin McCallister has his swinging paint pots and heated doorknobs; McDaniel has his multi-layered RPO wrinkles and fast-motion ideas. Miami’s high-powered offense leads the NFL in whole yards, passing yards and scoring whereas rating fourth on the bottom as McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa plot a deep playoff run come January.
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He is the coach that everybody’s speaking about! This is a take a look at a few of Miami Dolphins’ head coach Mike McDaniel’s funniest moments
Is Aaron Rodgers coming again?
In all probability not. The New York Jets entered the 2023 marketing campaign enthused with Tremendous Bowl aspirations in mild of buying four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers to cause them to glory following his commerce from the Inexperienced Bay Packers. HBO’s access-all-areas Arduous Knocks couldn’t pitch up in New Jersey shortly sufficient to trace the each transfer of the most important offseason story, earlier than the pink carpet was laid out with strobe lights, movie star appearances and cinematic rock music with which to welcome the Jets’ new hero forward of his debut.
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Aaron Rodgers was pressured to exit his Jets debut after a gap drive sack
4 performs into the season-opener in opposition to the Buffalo Payments, it was over. Rodgers had torn his Achilles, paving the best way for Zach Wilson and one other marketing campaign of distress as Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich’s championship-ready protection went to waste. The Jets had been formally eradicated from playoff rivalry final week as they fell to 5-9, extending their playoff drought to 13 seasons – the longest lively streak throughout North America’s 4 main sports activities leagues.
Rodgers made it’s identified his restoration has progressed forward of schedule, usually hinting at a return earlier than the tip of the yr. It was even urged he may very well be medically cleared to play in Week 16, earlier than Rodgers dominated that out and turned his consideration to 2024.
“If I used to be 100 per cent at this time, I might be pushing to play,” Rodgers stated on the Pat McAfee Present. “However I am not…I pushed it so far as I might.”
What does the playoff image appear like?
Right here is how the playoff seedings look coming into Week 16…
Present playoff standings
| AFC | NFC |
|---|---|
| 1) Baltimore Ravens (11-3) (X) | 1) San Francisco 49ers (11-3) (Y) |
| 2) Miami Dolphins (10-4) | 2) Dallas Cowboys (10-4) (X) |
| 3) Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (9-5) | 3) Detroit Lions (10-4) |
| 4) Jacksonville Jaguars (8-6) | 4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7) |
| 5) Cleveland Browns (9-5) | 5) Philadelphia Eagles (10-4) (X) |
| 6) Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) | 6) Minnesota Vikings (7-7) |
| 7) Indianapolis Colts (8-6) | 7) Los Angeles Rams (7-7) |
| (X) = already clinched playoff berth | |
| (Y) = clinched division |
- The Ravens will clinch the AFC North title with a win plus a Browns loss or tie (amongst a number of situations)
- The Browns will clinch a playoff berth with a win plus a Bengals loss, a Broncos loss/tie, a Payments loss, a Dolphins win/tie and a Colts loss/tie (amongst a number of situations)
- The Chiefs will clinch a playoff berth and the AFC West title with a win (amongst a number of situations)
- The Dolphins will clinch a playoff berth with a win and the AFC East title with a win plus a Payments loss/tie (amongst a number of situations)
- The Lions will clinch a playoff berth with a Rams loss/tie and the NFC North title with a win/tie
- The 49ers will clinch the NFC’s No 1 seed, the first-round bye and homefield benefit with a win plus an Eagles loss, a Cowboys loss and a Lions loss
Late additions to the good record?
The Payments are alive. Having sat 6-6 and staring from the surface in following defeat to the Eagles, Josh Allen and Buffalo have since crushed the Chiefs and dismantled the Cowboys to reignite their playoff flame as they proceed their seek for a long-awaited Tremendous Bowl. Between stale tendencies on an in any other case formidable offense and marquee accidents gutting their protection, the Payments had seemed a shadow of the bully that has threatened to go all the best way over latest years; they’ve now regrouped amid off-field distractions to reassume the look of a group no one needs to come across in late January.
Elsewhere a resurgent, always-gritty Baker Mayfield is trending in the direction of the playoffs with the Buccaneers, whereas Sean McVay and a wholesome Stafford have impressed their written-off Rams to late-season relevancy.
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Highlights of the Dallas Cowboys in opposition to the Buffalo Payments in Week 15 of the NFL season
The socks, orange and chocolate cash within the stocking…
? These unsung, however constant contributors to your Christmas haul.
Enter Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin, who leads the NFL with 149 tackles. Enter Jaguars linebacker Foye Oluokun, the back-to-back tackles champion who sits second with 148 tackles. Enter Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, who’s having fun with a profession yr with 15 sacks regardless of by no means fairly garnering Myles Garrett or TJ Watt-calibre consideration. Enter Detroit Lions heart Frank Ragnow, who when wholesome has his offensive line trying one thing near the perfect within the league.
Who’s Santa’s sack man?
Sure, sure, it is a unhealthy Christmas cracker-worthy pun, however we’re having it. Steelers edge rusher TJ Watt presently leads the NFL with 16 sacks on the yr heading into Week 16, adopted carefully by the Minnesota Vikings’ Danielle Hunter on 15.5 and 15 apiece for Khalil Mack of the Los Angeles Chargers and Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals. Micah Parsons in the meantime tops the pressures charts with 89, based on PFF), forward of Nick Bosa’s 85, Aidan Hutchinson’s 81 and Josh Allen’s 76.
My first Christmas… within the NFL
The expectations had been minimal on DeMeco Ryans and his Houston Texans coming right into a 2023 marketing campaign designed to provide the franchise an concept as to the way it may change, recruit or progress through the years to return. Rookie quarterback Stroud, the second total decide on the Draft, thought in any other case as he wasted no time in letting the NFL know Houston had discovered their man; the previous Ohio State Buckeye set an NFL file for many passing makes an attempt with out an interception to begin his profession (192), earlier than breaking the franchise file for single-season passing yards and touchdowns to carry his aspect into unlikely playoff rivalry.
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A take a look at a few of CJ Stroud’s finest performs in 2023…
Detroit hit gold themselves in second-round decide Sam LaPorta, who simply turned the third rookie tight finish in historical past to publish 700-plus receiving yards and seven-plus landing catches in his first season behind Corridor of Famers John Mackey and Mike Ditka.
In defensive sort out Jalen Carter and cornerback Devon Witherspoon the Eagles and Seahawks have locked down group cornerstones, Lions working again Jahmyr Gibbs and Dolphins working again De’Von Achane are excellent cogs of their explosive offenses, and in Will Anderson Jr and Calijah Kancey the Texans and Buccaneers possess two of probably the most dynamic younger trench disruptors.
Rudolph to play at Christmas.. significantly
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin introduced on Monday Mason Rudolph will begin at quarterback in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday night time, taking up from Mitch Trubisky who had taken over for the injured Kenny Pickett.
Greatest group for a Christmas manufacturing?
As nativity performs sweep colleges throughout the nation, who within the NFL figures to be most fitted to the theatrical calls for of a Christmas manufacturing?
The Dolphins are main contenders, based mostly on the perfect celebrations from throughout the league to this point in 2023…
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A take a look at a few of the finest celebrations from the 2023 NFL season to this point
Most definitely to beat Billy Mack to Christmas No 1?
In 2003 Love Really’s Billy Mack famously edged out Blue to win Christmas No 1 together with his observe ‘Christmas is all Round’.
20 years later, the ‘Philly Specials’ – made up of Eagles offensive lineman Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson and the angel-voiced Jordan Mailata – topped the US iTunes charts with their ‘Fairytale of Philadelphia’, which incorporates Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce.
The group have since been vying for No. 1 album on Billboard’s Vinyl Albums chart, solely to be edged out by Taylor Swift, whose presence at a number of video games this season amid her relationship with Kelce has been one of many extra enjoyable storylines to the season, attracting a completely contemporary fan base within the course of.
Which NFL participant would make the perfect darts participant?
Because the NFL season continues, so too does the World Darts Championship as one of many highlights of the festive sporting calendar. Begs the query, who from the NFL would thrive on the oche?
Andy Reid provides a Hawaiian shirt assortment of which Wayne Mardle can be proud, 49ers tight finish George Kittle appears among the many most aware of Ally Pally’s occasion ambiance, and the farm background and flowing ginger locks of Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Cody Mauch match the mannequin for intriguing characters.
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