The Green Bay Packers are fighting their way to their eleventh win of the season against the Baltimore Ravens and book their play-off ticket. San Francisco and Cincinnati also underline their play-off ambitions. ran summarises the late Sunday games.
Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Ravens 31:30
The Green Bay Packers win the top game of the 15th game day. In a true football thriller, Aaron Rodgers and Co. survive a last-minute comeback by Ravens playmaker Tyler Huntley.
In the first half, both teams gave each other nothing, with a 14:14 draw going into the half-time break.
In the following 20 minutes, the Packers were able to build a seemingly secure 31-17 lead with the help of two touchdowns and a field goal, before Tyler Huntley’s big moment arrived. Huntley, who replaced the injured Lamar Jackson, skilfully led the offence down the field and scored the two much-needed touchdowns.
With 45 seconds left, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh opted for what appeared to be the go-ahead two-point conversion instead of kicking the tying extra point. Packers cornerback Eric Stokes deflected Huntley’s pass to give the Packers their 11th win of the season and make Green Bay the first team to make the playoffs.
Huntley finished with 215 passing yards and ran for an additional 76 yards. The 23-year-old accounted for all of the Ravens’ touchdowns (two passing, two rushing).
Packers star Aaron Rodgers recorded 268 yards and three touchdowns as the veteran equalled Brett Favre’s franchise touchdown record (442 total touchdowns).
With 11-3, the Packers secure their top position in the NFC. Baltimore, meanwhile, slips out of first place in the AFC North with its sixth loss of the season (8-6).
Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers 13:31
The San Francisco 49ers have underlined their playoff ambitions. Against an overmatched Falcons team, head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offence was on top form again, scoring four touchdowns in total. Quarterback Jimmy Garappolo recorded 235 yards and running back Jeff Wilson also impressed with 110 yards.
Atlanta stayed within striking distance in the first half, but lost a lot of ground after the change of ends and only managed one field goal. Playmaker Matt Ryan was responsible for the Falcons’ only touchdown, but also lost a fumble.
The veteran finished the game with 213 passing yards and added 20 yards himself.
With a record of 6-8, Atlanta now seems to be out of the playoff race. San Francisco, with eight wins and only six losses, still has the best chance of making the postseason.
Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos 15:10
With an unspectacular performance, the Cincinnati Bengals clinched first place in the AFC North.
It wasn’t until the end of the third quarter that the Bengals offense scored their first and only touchdown: Receiver Tyler Boyd found his way into the opposing end zone after a 56-yard pass from playmaker Joe Burrow, securing the lead for his team. Denver could not score any more points in the decisive quarter.
The game was overshadowed by a serious injury to Broncos passer Teddy Bridgewater, who lay motionless on the ground after a failed hurdle attempt. The 29-year-old was subsequently replaced by Drew Lock, who also scored the only touchdown for Denver.
Bridgewater recorded 98 yards until his injury, Lock did not get beyond 88 yards. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow finished with 157 yards.
Cincinnati is atop the AFC North (8-6) after its eighth win of the season. The Broncos come in with a record of 7-7.
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