Standings

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Playoff Schedule

Playoff Recap

In the AFC Wildcard Playoffs, on Saturday the 15th January 2022, number 4 seed Cincinnati Bengals defeated Las Vegas Raiders, the number 5 seed, 26-19 in the first game in NFL playoff history where both teams made at least four field goals. On Sunday the 16th number 3 seed Buffalo Bills finally showed numberv 6 seed New England Patriots who owned the AFC East in the 2021 season with a 47-17 victory thanks to Eirball’s Season MVP (Most Valuable Player) Josh Allen becoming the first Bills quarterback in playoff history to have 5 pass touchdowns and no interceptions inj a game. On Monday the 17th Kansas City Chiefs, the number 2 seed advanced to the Divisional Playoffs thanks to a 42-21 defeat of number 6 seed Pittsburgh Steelers. Kelce became first ever player in NFL history to have a pass Touchdown, reception touchdown and 100 plus receiving yards in a playoff game. Reference: [53]

In the NFC Wildcard games the #2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated #7 Philadelphia Eagles 31-15 as M Evans became the first player in Tampa Bay history to have at least 100 yards receiving and 1 or more touchdowns in a playoff game. #3 Dallas Cowboys went down 17-23 to old rivals #6 San Francisco 49ers who had their first postseason road win in Dallas in team history (previously 0-2). On the Monday, the Los Angeles Rams thrashed the Arizona Cardinals 34-11 in quarterback Matthew Stafford’s first career playoff win. Reference: [53]

In the AFC Divisional Playoffs, #4 Cincinnati Bengals advanced to the Championship Game with a 19-16 win at #1 Tennessee Titans in the Bengals first road playoff win in history (0-7 coming into game). In another close encounter #2 Kansas City Chiefs defeated #3 Buffalo Bills 42-36 despite the Bills’ G Davis becoming the first player in the Super Bowl era with over 200 reception yards and four touchdowns in a playoff game. Reference: [54]

The NFC Divisional Playoffs provided two shocks as the #6 San Francisco 49ers downed #1 Green Bay Packers 13-10 with a G Gould Field Goal from 45 yards as time expired. In the second game, the #4 Los Angeles Rams spoiled Tom Brady’s attempts to finish his career with an eighth Super Bowl ring as they too needed a Field Goal in the last seconds to defeat the #2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-27, thanks to M Gay’s 30 yard attempt. Reference: [54]

In the AFC Championship Game Cincinnati Bengals E McPherson kicked a 31 yard field goal as time elapsed to give the #4 Cincinnati Bengals a 27-24 victory at #2 Kansas City Chiefs.

The NFC Championship Game was also decided by a late Field Goal as the #4 Los Angeles Rams won 20-17 at home to the #6 San Francisco 49ers thanks to a M Gay 30 yard attempt with 1:46 remaining.

Super Bowl Preview

Super Bowl XLI starts on Sunday Night 11:30 pm Irish time in SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles in what is virtually a home game for the Los Angeles Rams versus the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are 0-2 in Super Bowls and Los Angeles Rams are 1-3 in Super Bowls with their one victory coming in 1999 as the St. Louis Rams Reference: [60]

Super Bowl XIV 1980 – Pittsburgh Steelers 31 Los Angeles Rams 19 (20 January 1980, Pasadena, California)

Super Bowl XVI 1981 – San Francisco 49ers 26 Cincinnati Bengals 21 (24 January 1982, Pontiac Michigan)

Super Bowl XXIII 1988 – San Francisco 49ers 20 Cincinnati Bengals 16 (22 January 1989, South Florida)

Super Bowl XXXIV 1999 – St. Louis Rams 23 Tennessse Titans 16 (30 January 2000, Atlanta, Georgia)

Super Bowl XXXVI 2001 – New England Patriots 20 St. Louis Rams 17 (3 February 2002, New Orleans, Louisiana)

Super Bowl LIII 2018 – New England Patriots 13 Los Angeles Rams 3 (

Reference: [60-61]

Super Bowl LVI

Week 1 Schedule

Week 1 Recap

The West was best in Week 1 with all eight teams in both the American Football Conference and National Football Conference winning their opening games. Denver Broncos defeated New York Giants 27-13, leaving the Broncos with a .683 Week 1 winning percentage since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger, the best in the NFL. Head Coach Sean McVay is now 5-0 in Week 1 games with the Los Angeles Rams after their 34-14 victory over the Chicago Bears, while the Cleveland Browns are now 1-21-1 since 1999 in Opening games after the Kansas City Chiefs won their encounter 33-29. San Francisco 49ers won 41-33 at Detroit Lions, the most they have scored in a Week 1 Road Game in team history. The Arizona Cardinals also set a team history record with their 38-13 victory over Tennessee Titans, with the game being the first in Cardinals history that multiple Wide Receivers had 2 or more touchdowns in a single game. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Indianapolis Colts 28-16 to go 12-1 in their last 13 games which started at 10 AM Eastern time. Quarterback D. Carr passed to Z. Jones in overtime to lead the Las Vegas Raiders to a 33-27 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Rounding out the West’s Week 1 dominance was the Los Angeles Chargers, winning 20-16 at Washington Football team under new Head Coach B Staley’s first game in charge.

In other games Tom Brady broke yet another record with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-29 win at home against Dallas Cowboys, giving Brady 15 Week 1 wins, the most by a Quarterback since at least 1950. Houston Texans defeated Jacksonville Jaguars 37-21 thanks to three interceptions, equalling their entire interception haul of 2020. Carolina Panthers defeated the New York Jets 19-14 thanks to C McCaffrey’s fifth game in his career with 80 plus yards in both rushing and receiving. Miami Dolphins defeated New England Patriots 17-16 thanks to J Waddle’s 60 plus receiving yards and touchdown, becoming only the second player in Dolphins history to do so on their debut. J Winston tied his career best with five touchdown passes as New Orleans Saints had a comprehensive 38-3 win over Green Bay Packers. Philadelphia Eagles had a similar big win over Atlanta Falcons, 32-6 thanks to J Hurts 264 passing yards, three touchdowns and 64 rushing yards. The Pittsburgh Steelers won 23-16 at Buffalo Bills going 5-1 in last six road games versus Buffalo. Cincannati Bengals’ E McPherson hit a 33-yard Field Goal as time expired in overtime to give the Bengals a slender 27-24 win at home against the Minnesota Vikings. Week 1 Reference: [35]

Week 2 Schedule

Week 2 Recap

In the AFC East the Patriots attained their first win of the season when defeating the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey 25-6. It was New England’s 11th straight victory versus the Jets. The Buffalo Bills joined them on 1-1 after destroying the Miami Dolphins 35-0 at Hard Rock Stadium, in the largest shutout win in the NFL since the third week of 1992. The Bills reached the Super Bowl that year. The Dolphins dropped to 1-1. In Inter-Division AFC match-ups the Denver Broncos improved to 2-0 in the AFC West with a 23-13 win at Jacksonville, as the Jaguars fell to 0-2. The Las Vegas Raiders joined the Broncos on 2-0 in the AFC West as they triumphed 26-17 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh versus the Steelers. QB Carr having a third 350+ pass yards and 2+ pass TDs in straight games. The Steelers fell to 1-1 with the loss. The Cleveland Browns joined Pittsburgh on 1-1 in the AFC North with a 31-21 victory over Houston, as the Texans fell to 1-1 in the AFC South. Meanwhile in Baltimore the Ravens joined the Browns and Steelers on 1-1 with a close 36-35 victory versus Kansas City as the Chiefs were another team to lose to an 0-1 team in week 2 after winning in week 1.

In the NFC East the Washington Football Team won by a single point versus New York Giants as they improved to 1-1. The Giants remained winless. The Philadelphia Eagles joined WFT on 1-1 with a loss at home to San Francisco as the 49ers improved to 2-0 in the NFC West. In the NFC South two Division games saw the Carolina Panthers improve to 2-0 with a 26-7 win in Charlotte versus the previously unbeaten New Orleans Saints. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Tom Brady passing for 4+ pass TDs in 4 straight games, (tied second longest streak since 1950) also moved to 2-0 with a 48-25 defeat of the Atlanta Falcons who lost for the second week running. In an NFC North match-up the Green Bay Packers got their first win of the season with a 35-17 victory at Lambeau Field versus the Detroit Lions, who lost their second straight. The Arizona Cardinals joined the Rams and 49ers on 2-0 in the NFC West as they defeated the Minnesota Vikings by a single point (34-33), handing the NFC North team their second loss of the season.

In Inter-Conference games the Rams narrowly won 27-24 at Indianapolis as Los Angeles moved to 2-0 in the NFC West and a tie with the 49ers for first place, and the Colts dropped to 0-2. The Chicago Bears improved to 1-1 in the NFC North with a 20-17 victory at home to Cincinnati Bengals who fell to 1-1 in the AFC North. Tennessee Titans (AFC South) joined Seattle Seahawks (NFC West) on 1-1 in another game where an 0-1 team defeated a 1-0 team as they triumphed 33-30 at Lumen Field in Seattle. The loss meant the Seahawks were now the only team to have lost a game in the NFC West. The Dallas Cowboys moved to 1-1 in the NFC East with a 20-17 victory in Los Angeles versus the Chargers who fell to 1-1 in the AFC West. Week 2 Reference: [36]

Week 3 Schedule

Week 3 Recap

In an all-AFC South game the Tennessee Titans moved to 2-1 and sole possession of the Division leadership with a 25-16 defeat of the Indianapolis Colts who dropped to 0-3. In another Division match-up in the AFC West the Los Angeles Chargers improved to 2-1 as they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, winning 30-24, and in the AFC North the Cincinnati Bengals won 24-10 at the Pittsburgh Steelers to improve to 2-1 and a three-way share of the Division lead, while the Steelers fell to 1-2. In AFC Inter-Division match-ups the Denver Broncos continued on winning ways as they won for the third straight game, defeating the New York Jets 26-0, who fell to 0-3. Broncos share the AFC West lead with Las Vegas Raiders who defeated Miami Dolphins 31-28 to secure their first 3-0 start to a season since 2002 when they made it to Super Bowl XXXVII. The Dolphins dropped to 1-2.

In the only Division match-up in the NFC in Week 3, the Dallas Cowboys improved to 2-1 and handed the Philadelphia Eagles their second loss of the season, 41-21 in the Monday Night Game (Tuesday Irish Time). The Dolphins secured sole ownership of the NFC East lead with the win. In NFC Inter-Division games, the Atlanta Falcons won 17-14 in New Jersey at the New York Giants, in a battle of two winless teams. The Minnesota Vikings got their first victory of the season at home in U.S. Bank Stadium with a 30-17 defeat of Seattle Seahawks and in the other NFC West-NFC North match-up the Green Bay Packers drew level with the San Francisco 49ers on 2-1 after winning 30-28 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The win put the Packers in the lead on their own in the NFC North. Meanwhile the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 34-24 to improve to 3-0 and a share of the NFC West lead with Arizona. the Buccaneers suffered their first loss since Week 12, 2020 in the process.

In a big week for Inter-Conference games the Carolina Panthers of the NFC South improved to 3-0 with a 24-9 win at Houston Texans who lost their second of the season; the Cleveland Browns improved to 2-1 and a share of the AFC North lead with a 26-6 defeat of the Chicago Bears at home in FirstEnergy Stadium, dropping the Bears to 1-2; the Baltimore Ravens won 19-17 at Detroit Lions thanks to an all-time NFL record game-winning 66-yard field goal by J. Tucker – the Ravens improved to 2-1 as the Lions fell to their third straight defeat; the New Orleans Saints (2-1) improved to 2-1 with a 28-13 defeat of New England Patriots (1-2); the Arizona Cardinals continued their winning start to the season with a 31-19 win at Jacksonville which dropped the Jaguars to 0-3; the Buffalo Bills had a second big-scoring victory in a row as they thumped the Washington Football Team 43-21 at Highmark Stadium, improving to 2-1 and sole ownership of the AFC East lead in the process as WFT fell to 1-2. Week 3 Reference: [37]

Week 4 Schedule

Week 4 Recap

Buffalo Bills took a two-game lead in the AFC East with a commanding 40-0 defeat of Houston Texans. Miami Dolphins lost their third straight 17-27 to the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots their second straight falling 17-19 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Sunday Night Game. With the New York Jets getting off the ground with their first win 27-24 over Tennessee Titans, all three of the teams behind the Bills in the AFC East were 1-3.

Cleveland Browns (14-7 versus Minnesota Vikings), Cincinnati Bengals (24-21 versus Jacksonville Jaguars) and Baltimore Ravens (23-7 versus Denver Broncos) all won in the AFC North to go 3-1. It was the Browns and Ravens third wins in a row. Meanwhile Pittsburgh Steelers, after opening the season with a win, lost their third straight 17-27 to Green Bay Packers.

In the AFC South Division Indianapolis Colts picked up their first win with a 27-17 victory at Miami Gardens over the Dolphins. The other three AFC South teams all lost, with Tennessee Titans falling to 2-2 with their loss to the Jets, but remaining in the Division lead after Jacksonville Jaguars (1-3) lost to Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans big loss (40-0) at Buffalo.

The AFC West saw Denver Broncos (7-23 versus Baltimore Ravens) and Las Vegas Raiders (14-28 at Los Angeles Chargers in the Monday Night Game) losing their first games after three-straight wins. Joining themm on 3-1 after their victory over the Raiders were the Chargers. The Kansas City Chiefs kept in touch with a 42-30 at Philadelphia over the Eagles to go 2-2.

In the NFC East the Dallas Cowboys won their third straight to go clear at the top on 3-1 after defeating the Carolina Panthers 36-28. There were also wins against NFC South teams for Washington Football Team (2-2) 34-30 versus Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants – their first victory of the season 27-21 versus New Orleans Saints. Philadelphia Eagles meanwhile lost their third straight to drop to 1-3 after their 30-42 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The NFC North saw Green Bay Packers pick up their third victory in three weeks with a 27-17 defeat of the Pittsburgh Steelers to go clear at the top. Minnesota Vikings fell to 1-3 with a 7-14 loss to the Cleveland Browns while in an all-NFC North clash the Chicago Bears (2-2) handed the Detroit Lions their fourth straight loss with a 24-14 victory in Soldier Field.

Atlanta Falcons (30-34 versus Washington Football Team), New Orleans Saints (21-27 versus New York Giants) and Carolina Panthers (28-36 versus Dallas Cowboys) all lost to NFC East opposition. With Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeating Tom Brady’s old team the New England Patriots 19-17 in the Sunday Night Game the Bucs joined Carolina on 3-1 at the top of the Division, while New Orleans fell to 2-2 and Atlanta to 1-3.

In the NFC West the surprising Arizona Cardinals moved to 4-0 and the leagues only 100% record after defeating the Los Angeles Rams, also previously undefeated, 37-20. Seattle Seahawks joined the San Francisco 49ers on 2-2 with a 28-21 defeat of the 49ers in Santa Clara. Week 4 Reference: [38]

Week 5 Schedule

Week 5 Recap

In the big game of the week for fans of the NFL in Ireland, Atlanta Falcons moved to 2-3 in the NFC West with a 27-20 defeat of the New York Jets (1-4, AFC East) at Tottenham Hotspur FC’s ground at White Hart Lane in London in a welcome return of the NFL International Series.

Elsewhere in the AFC East Buffalo Bills won their fourth straight to move to 4-1 at the top of the Division as they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs (2-3, AFC West) 38-20 in GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday Night. New England Patriots also won to stay two games behind the Division leaders with a close 25-22 win at Houston over the Texans (1-4, AFC South).

Baltimore Ravens (4-1) won their fourth straight in the AFC North with a 31-25 victory at home to Indianapolis Colts (1-4, AFC South) on Monday Night to go clear at the top of the Division and the Pittsburgh Steelers won their second game of the season to move to 2-3 after defeating the Denver Broncos (3-2, AFC West) 27-19.

Tennessee Titans (3-2) were the only team to pick up a win in Week 5 in the AFC South as they went two games clear at the top with a 37-19 defeat of the still winless Division rivals Jacksonville Jaguars.

Likewise in the AFC West the Los Angeles Chargers (4-1) were the only team to pick up a win as they won a close high-scoring game 47-42 versus the Cleveland Browns (3-2, AFC North) to also go clear at the top of the Division.

Dallas Cowboys won their fourth straight in the NFC East to go 4-1 as “America’s Team” won big 44-20 versus Division rivals New York Giants (1-4). Philadelphia Eagles (2-3) stayed two games back in the Division with a close 21-18 victory at Charlotte over the Carolina Panthers (3-2, NFC South).

In the NFC North Green Bay Packers (4-1), Chicago Bears (3-2) and Minnesota Vikings (2-3) all won: Packers 25-22 versus Cincinnati Bengals (3-2, AFC North); Bears 20-9 at Las Vegas Raiders (3-2, AFC West) and Vikings 19-17 versus Detroit Lions at home in U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis as the Lions lost their fifth straight game to remain winless.

Carolina Panthers were the only team to lose in week 5 in the NFC South as Tampa Bay Buccaneers took over sole possession of first place with a big 45-17 defeat of Miami Dolphins (1-4, AFC East) as Tom Brady passed for over 400 yards and five touchdowns for the first time in his career. The New Orleans Saints (3-2) kept pace with the Bucs with a 33-22 win at Washington Football Team (2-3, NFC East).

For the second straight week there were two Divisional games in the NFC West. On Thursday Night, The Los Angeles Rams moved to 4-1 with a 26-17 defeat of the Seahawks (2-3) in Lumen Field in Seattle, but the Arizona Cardinals remained one game ahead as they went to 5-0 with with a 17-10 defeat of San Francisco 49ers (2-3) in State Park Farm in Glendale. Week 5 Reference: [39]

Week 6 Schedule

Week 6 Recap

In the second game of the NFL International Series in London, the Jacksonville Jaguars (“Union Jags” as British fans were calling them) – designated home team for the series – finally won their first game of the 2021 season with a 23-20 victory over Miami Dolphins (AFC East), also 1-5 after the defeat. The win put the “Union Jags” on 1-5 in the AFC South.

All three teams playing in Week 6 in the AFC East lost, and in the AFC North three of the four teams won, as the Division leaders Baltimore Ravens moved to 5-1 with a resounding 34-6 win over the AFC West leaders Los Angeles Chargers (4-2). Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) heaped more misery on the winless Detroit Lions with a 34-11 win at Ford Field in Michigan. Pittsburgh Steelers also picked up a win to move to 3-3 as they defeated the Seattle Seahawks (2-4, NFC West) 23-20 in Overtime.

In the AFC South Tennessee Titans (4-2) stretched their lead at the top of the Division standings to two games with a 34-31 win over AFC East leaders Buffalo Bills (4-2).

The Las Vegas Raiders (4-2) and the Kansas City Chiefs (3-3) both won in the AFC West in the tighest Division race at this point of the season. The Raiders won 34-24 in Empower Field at Mile High to leave the Denver Broncos at 3-3 in the Division, and the Kansas City Chiefs joined Denver on 3-3 with a 31-13 win at FedEx Field against Washington Football Team (2-4, NFC East)

In the NFC East the Dallas Cowboys continued their winning streak, moving three games clear on 5-1 as their three division rivals all lost. The Cowboys won 35-29 at the Patriots (2-4, AFC East) in Gillette Stadium with 35 yard receiving touchdown in overtime the difference between the teams.

Green Bay Packers also won their fifth straight in the NFC North to move to 5-1 as the Wisconsin team won 24-14 at Soldier Field in a Division match-up with their closest challengers Chicago Bears (3-3) in the oldest rivalry in the NFL. Minnesota Vikings joined the Chicago Bears on 3-3 with a 34-28 win in Overtime at the Carolina Panthers (3-3, NFC South).

In the NFC South Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) put some light between themselves and the chasing group with a 28-22 victory at Philadelphia Eagles (2-4, NFC East). With New Orleans Saints (3-2) and Atlanta Falcons (2-3) both having a bye week the Bucs were the only winners in the Division in Week 6.

Arizona Cardinals (6-0) and Los Angeles Rams (5-1) continued to streak ahead of their opponents with the Cardinals winning 37-14 at the Cleveland Browns (3-3, AFC North) and the Rams defeating the New York Giants (1-5, NFC East) 38-11v at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The wins put them four and three wins respectively ahead of the San Francisco 49ers (2-3, on a bye week) and the Seattle Seahawks.

The previous weeks’ London game teams the Atlanta Falcons and New York Jets as well as the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers were all on a bye week. Week 6 Reference: [40]

Week 7 Schedule

Week 7 Recap

New England Patriots (3-4) closed the gap on division leaders Buffalo Bills (4-2) in the AFC East with a whopping 54-13 victory at home to division rivals the New York Jets (1-5). Buffalo were on a bye week.

Cincinnati Bengals had a pivotal moment in their season as they took over the AFC North division lead on 5-2 after defeating the Baltimore Ravens, also 5-2, 41-17 in the Bengals biggest ever margin of victory over the Ravens in franchise history. Cleveland Browns (4-3) stayed in touch with the leaders after a close 17-14 win over the Denver Broncos (3-4, AFC West – fourth straight loss). Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3) were on bye week.

Tennessee Titans (5-2) won their third straight at the top of the AFC South as they thrashed the Kansas City Chiefs (3-4, AFC West) 27-3 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Indianapolis Colts (3-4) stayed two games behind with a 30-18 victory at the San Francisco 49ers in Levi’s Stadium, dropping the 49ers to 2-5 in the NFC West. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5) were on a bye week after playing in London the previous week.

In the AFC West the Las Vegas Raiders were the only team to gain a victory, 33-22 versus Philadelphia Eagles (2-5, NFC East) at home in Allegiant Stadium. The win put the Raiders clear at the top of thew division after the Los Angeles Chargers were on bye week.

New York Giants claimed their second win of the season with a 25-3 victory at home to Carolina Panthers (3-4, NFC South) to join the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Football Team on 2-5 in the NFC East. The Dallas Cowboys, despite a bye week, increased their lead at the top of the division to 3.5 games.

In the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers had also built up a large lead overr their rivals. With nearest challengers Minnesota Vikings on a bye week the Packers increased their lead in the division to 3.5 games also with a 24-10 win at Lambeau Field over the visiting Washington Football Team (2-5, NFC East) to put the small town team on 6-1.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-1), New Orleans Saints (4-2) and Atlanta Falcons (3-3) all won in week 7 in the NFC South. The Buccaneers by a massive 38-3 margin over the Chicago Bears (3-4, NFC North); the Saints by 13-10 over the Seattle Seahawks (2-5, NFC West) in a much closer game and the Atlanta Falcons were even narrower winners (30-28) over the Miami Dolphins (1-6, AFC East).

The Arizona Cardinals won their seventh straight to start the season for only the second time in franchise history (1974 was the other time). The founder members of the NFL thrashed the Houston Texans (1-6, AFC South) 31-5. The Los Angeles Rams continued to keep pace however, winning 28-19 at SoFi Stadium in downtown L.A. versus the struggling Detroit Lions (0-7, NFC North).

The Buffalo Bills (4-2, AFC East), Pittsburgh Steelers (3-3, AFC North), Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5, AFC South), Los Angeles Chargers (4-2, AFC West), Dallas Cowboys (5-1, NFC East), and Minnesota Vikings (3-3, NFC North) all had a bye week in Week 7. Week 7 Reference: [41]

Week 8 Schedule

Week 8 Recap

Buffalo Bills (5-2) with a 26-11 defeat of division rivals Miami Dolphins (1-7); New England Patriots (4-4) winning 27-24 at the Chargers (4-3, AFC West) in L.A. and New York Jets (2-5) shock 34-31 victors in Cincannati over the Bengals (5-3, AFC North) all won in Week 8 in gthe AFC East.

Pittsburgh Steelers (4-3) were now on a three-game winning streak in the AFC North with a 15-10 win at division rivals the Cleveland Browns (4-4) to close the gap to division leaders Baltimore Ravens (5-2), who were on a bye week, to one game.

Tennessee Titans (6-2) won their fourth straight in a 34-31 Overtime victory at division rivals the Indianapolis Colts (3-5) to increase their lead at the top of the AFC South to three games. It was a crucial win for the Titans and put them in a commanding position for the division title.

Las Vegas Raiders (5-2) were on a bye week in the AFC West but remained on top after the Chargers (4-3) loss. The Denver Broncos (4-4) and Kansas City Chiefs (4-4) both won to make the AFC West the tightest division race to call. The Broncos defeated Washington Football Team (2-6, NFC East) 17-10 to snap a four-game losing streak and in the Monday Night Game the Chiefs downed the New York Giants (2-6, NFC East) 20-17 with a Field Goal with 1:07 left to play.

Dallas Cowboys (6-1) stretched their winning streak to six games with a last-minute 20-16 victory at the Vikings (3-4, NFC North) in Minneapolis. The Philadelphia Eagles (3-5) remained 3.5 games behind the Cowboys in the NFC East with a 44-6 win at the hapless Detroit Lions (0-8, NFC North). It was the Eagles largest road win since Week 10 1981 – 41 years previously.

In the NFC North Green Bay Packers moved to 7-1 with their seventh win in a row, handing the Arizona Cardinals (7-1, NFC West) their first loss of the season in the Game of the Week on Thursday Night. They were the only team to win in the NFC North in Week 8, stretching their lead over their nearest rivals the Minnesota Vikings to 3.5 games.

In the NFC South division leaders Tampa Bay (6-2) lost to New Orleans Saints (5-2) 27-36 at Caesars Superdome in Louisiana in a crucial division match-up. In the second division match-up in the NFC South in Week 8 Atlanta Falcons (3-4) dropped to last place in the division going down 13-19 to Carolina Panthers at home in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Georgia.

The NFC West saw a change of fortunes with the Arizona Cardinals (7-1) losing for the first time in the 2021 season. The Los Angeles Rams joined them on 7-1 by defeating the Houston Texans (1-7, AFC South) 38-22 at NRG Stadium in the East Texas city. San Francisco 49ers (3-4) and Seattle Seahawks (3-5) both got back to winning ways, the 49ers with a 33-22 win at Chicago Bears (3-5, NFC North) and the Seahawks 31-7 at home versus the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6, AFC South).

The Baltimore Ravens (5-2, AFC North) and Las Vegas Raiders (5-2, AFC West) both had a bye week. Week 8 Reference: [42]

Week 9 Schedule

Week 9 Reference: [43]

Week 9 Recap

New England Patriots (5-4) moved into contention for the AFC East division title with a 24-6 victory at Carolina Panthers (4-5, NFC South) following the Buffalo Bills (5-3, AFC East) shock 6-9 loss at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6, AFC South). In a batttle of two 1-7 teams, the Miami Dolphins (2-7, AFC East) won 17-9 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens versus the Houston Texans (1-8, AFC South). Indianapolis Colts (4-5, AFC South) won 45-30 in a high-scoring encounter with the New York Jets (2-6, AFC East) to round out the AFC East versus AFC South match-ups in Week 9.

In the AFC North all four teams were now on winning records and in line for a Playoff spot as Cleveland Browns (5-4) and Baltimore Ravens (6-2) got back to winning form with big wins over Cincinnati Bengals (41-16 in Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati) and 34-31 versus Minnesota Vikings (3-5, NFC North) respectively. The Bengals loss, a tough one to take at home in the Ohio derby, dropped them to 5-4 in the AFC North. Pittsburgh Steelers meanwhile won their fourth straight with a close 29-27 triumph at Heinz Field in Pennsylvania versus the Chicago Bears (3-6, NFC North).

Tennessee Titans won their fifth straight, staying three games clear of the Colts in the AFC South after a 28-16 win at the Los Angeles Rams (7-2, NFC West), only the Rams’ second loss of the season.

In the AFC West Los Angeles Chargers (5-3), Denver Broncos (5-4) and Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) all won to keep up the pressure on Las Vegas Raiders (5-3) who lost 16-23 in a shock result to the New York Giants (3-6, NFC East). The wins for the Chargers, 27-24 at Philadelphia Eagles (3-6, NFC East) – Denver Broncos, 30-16 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas versus the hometown Dallas Cowboys (6-2, NFC East)- and Kansas City Chiefs, 13-7 at home to Green Bay Packers (7-2, NFC North), all helped AFC West teams who had a bad October get back on track for the playoffs. The Wins over the Cowboys (on a six-game winning streak) and Packers (ending a seven-game winning streak) were particul suprises in a weekend of shocks.

Washington Football Team (2-6, NFC East) and Detroit Lions (0-8, NFC North) were both on a bye week, otherwise there was no change in the NFC North as all three teams playing Week 9 lost.

In the NFC South the Atlanta Falcons (4-4) got back into contention for the playoff spots with a crucial 27-25 win at New Orleans Saints (5-3) in a division match-up. Division leaders Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2) were on a bye week.

Arizona Cardinals went back out in front in the NFC West with a 31-17 victory at San Francisco 49ers which improved the Cards to 8-1 and saw the 49ers drop back to 3-5. With Seattle Seahawks not playing and Los Angeles Rams losing the Arizona side increased their advantage over the rest of the teams in the NFC West.

Washington Football Team (2-6, NFC East), Detroit Lions (0-8, NFC North), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2, NFC South) and Seattle Seahawks (3-5, NFC West) all had a bye week. Week 9 Reference: [43]

Week 10 Schedule