Jonathan Jones, Bryant McFadden and Patrick Pet
Author: Michael
Remember when analysts (including me) were discussing Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield as a potential NFL MVP? Yeah, that was a LONG time ago.
The Bucs started 5-1 and Mayfield was playing arguably the best football of his career. Tampa Bay moved to 6-2 with a win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 8 and headed into their bye week with a ton of momentum and a two-game lead in the NFC South.
While the bye week often serves as a reset for teams to get healthy and come back stronger, the Bucs’ bye apparently came at the most inopportune time.
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Tony Romo, Jonathan Jones, Bryant McFadden and
Game result: The Chargers beat the Cowboys on Sunday 34-17 to improve to 11-4 on the season. The Chargers did not clinch a playoff berth yet because the Texans beat the Raiders on Sunday afternoon, but they can still clinch if the the Colts lose to the 49ers on Monday Night Football. The Chargers are still alive in the AFC West race too after the Denver Broncos lost on Sunday. Next week, the Chargers host the Texans on Saturday, and then close the season by playing Denver.
Sunday result: The Steelers downed the Lions in a 29-24 victory on Sunday, putting them 1.5 games ahead of the Ravens at the top of the AFC North standings. Should Baltimore lose to New England on Sunday Night Football, Pittsburgh would be able to clinch the division with a win over Cleveland next week.
With the loss, the Lions have officially been eliminated from NFC North title contention. Their playoff hopes are now on life support as they have to win out and need the Packers to lose out in order to grab the final Wild Card spot in the NFC.
The 2026 NFL Playoffs get started on Saturday, January 10 with four teams kicking off the Wild Card round. The playoff field will feature 14 teams with 12 of them playing that first weekend and the No. 1 seed in each conference getting a bye to the Divisional Round. This year, the opening round features two games on Saturday, three games on Sunday, and one game on Monday.
Eight teams will face off in the Divisional round, with that weekend featuring two games on Saturday the 17th and two games on Sunday the 18th.
Update: The Chicago Bears have clinched a playoff berth. Chicago’s incredible comeback win agains the Green Bay Packers in Week 16 was the first step, and the playoff berth was finalized when the Steelers beat the Lions on Sunday. The Bears are currently the No. 2 seed in the NFC. The 49ers also clinched a playoff berth with the Lions loss.
When the Chicago Bears last made the NFL Playoffs, Matt Nagy was their head coach, Mitchell Trubisky was their quarterback, and Caleb Williams was in high school.
Bryant McFadden, Jonathan Jones, and Patrick Pe
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – DECEMBER 21: Jaylen Warren #30 of the Pittsburgh Steelers scores a fourth quarter touchdown against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on December 21, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)Nic Antaya via Getty Images
The Detroit Lions aren’t officially eliminated from playoff contention, but it’s probably only a matter of time now.
The Lions have been on a great run the past two seasons, advancing to the NFC championship game and then going 15-2 last season.