The Los Angeles Chargers clinched a playoff spot on Saturday with a dominant 40-7 win over the New England Patriots in a rainy Foxboro. Six of the seven AFC playoff spots are now secure with the final place in the postseason up for grabs.
The Denver Broncos had an opportunity to clinch that final spot, but lost 30–24 to the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime. Cincinnati has won four consecutive games and is thus still alive for that last playoff bid in the AFC at 8–8. Joe Burrow leads the NFL in passing yards and took the league lead in touchdown passes with his two scoring throws. Denver drops to 9–7 and has lost two in a row.
In the NFC, the Rams can win the NFC West with a win over the Arizona Cardinals Saturday night, thanks to clinching a strength-of-victory tie-breaker over Seattle. The Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention last week with a loss to the Panthers. The Rams are closing well, having won their last four games, but they’ve scored just 31 total points in wins over the 49ers and Jets over the past two weeks.
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TOUCHDOWN: Rams 10, Cardinals 6
On 3rd-and-goal from the 2, Kyler Murray misses Trey McBride in the end zone. But the Rams’ Michael Hoecht is called for defensive holding.
Two plays later, Murray connects with McBride for a one-yard touchdown.
However, Chad Ryland’s extra-point kick is blocked so the Cardinals only get six points.
Arizona driving toward a score
Arizona drives into the red zone on a seven-yard catch by Trey McBride, six-yard run by Michael Carter and a nine-yard pass to Michael Wilson.
Then Kyler Murray rips off a 12-yard run to give the Cardinals a 1st-and-goal at the 7-yard line.
Cardinals begin 2nd half on offense
Cardinals begin the second half on offense and start their drive off promisingly with an eight-yard rush by Michael Carter, 14-yard pass to Trey McBride and a 5-yard grab from Carter.
Matthew Stafford hits Puka Nacua for one more seven-yard gain. But he throws incompletions on the next two plays and the Rams have to settle for a field goal with 35 seconds left in the first half.
Joshua Karty nails a 53-yard kick to give L.A. a 10–0 lead with 27 seconds before halftime.
Stafford and Nacua moving the ball
Matthew Stafford has connected on two consecutive passes to Puka Nacua for a combined 35 yards. That moves the Rams to the Arizona 42-yard line with 48 seconds remaining in the first half.
Rams get ball back with 1:41 left in 1st half
After two incompletions by Kyler Murray, the Cardinals have to punt and the Rams have a chance to add to their lead with 1:41 remaining in the first half. They’ll start from their 23-yard line
2-minute warning
The Cardinals are at midfield at the two-minute warning after a 15-yard reception by Elijah Higgins and four-yard rush by Michael Carter.
TOUCHDOWN: Rams 7, Cardinals 0
The Rams break up the scoreless tie on a one-yard touchdown run by Kyren Williams on 3rd-and-goal.
That finished off a nine-play, 50-yard drive for the Rams.
Matthew Stafford runs for 12 yards
Of the two quarterbacks in this game, Kyler Murray would be expected to run for a 12-yard gain.
Matthew Stafford showed otherwise.
The Rams have a 1st-and-goal at the Arizona 4-yard line.
Stafford to Kupp for 29 yards
Matthew Stafford found Cooper Kupp for a 29-yard gain on 1st-and-10 from the L.A. 40.
29 yards to Cooper Kupp was by far the longest downfield pass of the night so far.
Following two incompletions, Stafford then connected with Puka Nacua for 15 yards.
Cardinals punt after Kyler Murray sacked
Kyler Murray hit a five-yard pass after the ineligible man downfield penalty put Arizona at 2nd-and-15. Murray was then sacked by Byron Young on third down for a six-yard loss.
Young gets sack, but Verse foced QB up but it was Fiske pushing on RG who stepped on QB’s foot
Michael Palardy punts 39 yards for the Cardinals and the Rams take over at their 40-yard line.
Trey McBride 34-yard catch wiped out by penalty
Kyler Murray danced in the pocket to buy himself more time to throw against the Rams’ pass rush and it paid off with a 34-yard pass to Trey McBride.
UNFORTUNATELY, the play was wiped out by an ineligible man downfield penalty on Isaiah Adams.
4 possessions, 4 punts for the Rams
The Rams go 3-and-out after a false start penalty on Hunter Long put them in a 1st-and-15 hole.
Matthew Stafford did connect with Puka Nacua for a 15-yard gain on 3rd-and-16, but the Rams had to punt from their 24-yard line.
Cardinals stopped on 4th down
Following a four-yard pass to Greg Dortch on 3rd-and-5 to the Rams’ 14-yard line, the Cardinals decide to go for it on fourth down.
However, James Conner is stopped for no gain and L.A. takes over.
First quarter: Cardinals 0, Rams 0
The Cardinals end the first quarter with a 34-yard pass from Kyler Murray to Trey McBride, followed by a seven-yard rush by Michael Carter.
Arizona and L.A. are tied 0–0.
Sean McVay politely drops a challenge flag
Kyler Murray stumbles into sack
A sack by Braden Fiske and 17-yard loss from Kyler Murray trying in vain to make a play effectively ended the Cardinals drive.
On 4th-and-30, Michael Palardy punts 47 yards and the Rams will take over at their 33-yard line.
Murray and MHJ making it work
There’s been some talk this week about Marvin Harrison Jr. having a disappointing rookie season and his need to still form a connection with Kyler Murray.
But Harrison looked great on this 24-yard snag along the left sideline.
Rams punt again
Two possessions, two punts for the Rams thus far.
L.A. did get a first down on its second drive, but Matthew Stafford then threw three consecutive incompletions.
An Ethan Evans 57-yard punt pushes the Cardinals back to their 5-yard line.
In a thrilling Sunday showdown, the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Denver Broncos to keep their playoff hopes alive for the AFC’s final spot. The Bengals put on a dominant performance, with quarterback Joe Burrow leading the charge with several touchdown passes.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Chargers secured their spot in the playoffs with a crucial win over the New England Patriots. The Chargers showed resilience and determination throughout the game, ultimately coming out on top to punch their ticket to the postseason.
Stay tuned for more live updates on today’s NFL scores as the playoff race heats up! #NFLscores #playoffrace #Bengals #Broncos #Chargers #Patriots #liveupdates
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NFL scores, live updates, Bengals vs Broncos, AFC playoff race, Bengals playoff hopes, Chargers playoff clinch, Chargers vs Patriots, AFC playoff picture, NFL playoff scenarios, NFL playoff standings
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