DEFENDING NFC CHAMP EAGLES STUMBLE INTO PLAYOFFS
From best team in the NFL for the bulk of the season to one of the worst ones down the stretch, the Philadelphia Eagles are suddenly on the brink of a potential offseason of upheaval.
Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and a host of injured, ineffective Eagles can only hope they bottomed out Sunday — a 1-5 finish headed into the postseason that raised doubts about the state of the franchise — in a 27-10 loss to the New York Giants.
The Eagles (11-6) earned the No. 5 seed and will open the NFC playoffs next Monday night at Tampa Bay.
“It’s about how you respond to it, and we’ve got to respond,” Hurts said. “This is what it is.”
With the No. 2 seed never really in reach — the Cowboys
were 13½-point favorites — Eagles coach Nick Sirianni could have rested his starters and played it safe for the fifth seed.
But out the starters came, and in they went to the sideline medical tent.
Hurts didn’t seem too harmed when last season’s NFL MVP runner-up took a hard hit to the right middle finger on his throwing hand. Hurts was 7 of 16 for 55 yards and one interception.
Brown’s loss could be the big one if it’s serious. With fellow 1,000-yard receiver Smith already out with an ankle injury, Brown crumpled to the ground and grabbed his right knee on the MetLife Stadium turf, the same turf where Jets QB Aaron Rodgers suffered a torn left Achilles tendon.
Cowboys 38, Commanders 10: Dak Prescott threw two of his four touchdown passes to CeeDee Lamb, and Dallas (12-5) beat host Washington to win the NFC East title and secure the No. 2 seed in the conference.
Last-place Washington (4-13) tied a franchise record for most losses in a season in what’s expected to be the final game for coach Ron Rivera.
Buccaneers 9, Panthers 0: Chase McLaughlin kicked three field goals and visiting Tampa Bay beat Carolina to win its third consecutive NFC South title.
The Buccaneers (9-8) were facing an all-or-nothing scenario, with a win clinching their fourth straight playoff berth and a loss resulting in elimination.
The Bucs held the Panthers
(2-15) to 199 yards and 11 first downs.
Jets 17, Patriots 3: Breece Hall rushed for 178 yards and a late touchdown, and New York (7-10) snapped a 15game losing streak against Bill Belichick and host New England (4-13).
Lions 30, Vikings 20: Sam LaPorta had a 2-yard touchdown catch midway through the first quarter but later limped off the field with a knee injury, an ominous development for NFC North champion Detroit (12-5) in its win over visiting Minnesota.
Minnesota (7-10) was eliminated from playoff contention, losing four straight games and six of seven.
Saints 48, Falcons 17: Derek Carr passed for four touchdowns to lift host New Orleans (9-8) past Atlanta, and the Saints were later eliminated when Green Bay beat Chicago.
Desmond Ridder threw for 291 yards and two touchdowns for Atlanta (7-10).
Seahawks 21, Cardinals 20: Geno Smith threw two TD passes and visiting Seattle (9-8) rallied past Arizona but missed the playoffs when Green Bay beat Chicago.
Arizona’s Matt Prater missed a 51-yard field attempt wide right on the game’s final play. Kyler Murray threw for 262 yards for the Cardinals (4-13).
Bengals 31, Browns 14: Jake Browning threw three touchdown passes, Joe Mixon rushed for a seasonhigh 111 yards and a score, and host Cincinnati (9-8) beat a Cleveland team resting most of its starters for the playoffs.
The Browns (11-6) were locked in as the No. 5 seed in the AFC and will play at AFC South champion Houston on Saturday.
Raiders 27, Broncos 14: Aidan O’Connell passed for 244 yards and two touchdowns, Zamir White rushed for 112 yards, and Las Vegas beat visiting Denver. Both teams finished 8-9.