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The Guardian
Four teams that deserved to make the playoffs more than Washington
Washington made the postseason with a shedding document by advantage of profitable the putrid NFC East. There have been higher groups whose seasons ended early And so the Washington Soccer Workforce, with a document of 7-9, are into the NFL playoffs as NFC East winners. It could be churlish to begrudge Washington their place within the postseason: head coach Ron Rivera has had to deal with a most cancers prognosis, quarterback Alex Smith has come again from a horrific damage that just about value him his leg and so they have a protection that appears prefer it may dominate the division for years to return. And but … they’re 7-9, and benefited from the Philadelphia Eagles pulling starter Jalen Hurts in the midst of Sunday’s sport, which Washington received 20-14. There are groups that may really feel deserve they deserve a shot on the Tremendous Bowl this 12 months at Washington’s expense. Right here’s a take a look at a few of them. 1) Miami Dolphins (10-6, 2nd within the AFC East)What a brutal, brutal ending for the Miami Dolphins. All Miami wanted to do was to beat the Buffalo Payments, who had already clinched a playoff spot, to make the playoffs. As an alternative, the Payments demolished them 56-26. Even then, the Dolphins nonetheless may have made the postseason with an Indianapolis Colts’ loss.Sadly, the Colts beat the woeful 1-15 Jacksonville Jaguars, who will likely be rather less woeful after they choose Trevor Lawrence within the draft later this 12 months. It must be a deflating season for Miami, who seemed like they’d capitalize on the New England Patriots’ long-awaited fall. After they benched Ryan Fitzpatrick for rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, they seemed like a greater group, however then Tagovailoa began to play, properly, like a rookie. His three interceptions in opposition to Buffalo will present loads of gasoline for many who consider that the Dolphins shouldn’t belief him as a starter in his second season.That feels unfair. Whereas it could make sense to have Fitzpatrick, or an analogous veteran quarterback, on the roster as insurance coverage, they need to head into this summer season with Tagovailoa as their Plan A. It appears like a disappointment proper now, however they need to remind themselves {that a} 10-6 document is a marked enchancment over the 5-11 document that they had final season. And, going ahead, they’ve an excellent coach in Brian Flores and a strong protection. 2) Arizona Cardinals (8-8, third within the NFC West)The Arizona Cardinals’ loss to the Los Angeles Rams was doubly painful: not solely did it end in their very own elimination it additionally meant that the Chicago Bears, who had an similar 8-8 document, had received one of many wildcard slots.The outcomes are even more durable to take for Cardinals followers because the Bears los their remaining sport of the season. So, Chicago received regardless of shedding. Possibly shedding the sport however profitable a postseason spot is the best-case situation as there have been rumors heading in that the Bears would hold Mitch Trubisky as their quarterback with a victory over the Packers. They could have simply prevented that situation. 3) Las Vegas Raiders (8-8, 2nd within the AFC West) The Raiders had a greater document than any group within the NFC East and, it needs to be famous, had been enjoying in a clearly more durable division. In any case, the Raiders needed to face the NFL-leading Kansas Metropolis Chiefs who went 14-2 this season. A type of two Chiefs losses was in opposition to these exact same Raiders again on 11 October. One may argue that they deserved a shot within the postseason, though one may additionally argue that they had been the victims of their very own errors. 4) Minnesota Vikings (7-9, third in NFC North) There have been three non-NFC East groups that ended their season with a 7-9 document: the Minnesota Vikings, the Los Angeles Chargers and the New England Patriots. All three groups ended up in third place of their respective divisions however that document would have been good for a share of first place within the NFC East. It’s nonetheless a shedding document thoughts you, however, hey, the 2010-11 Seattle Seahawks went 7-9 within the NFC West and so they managed to win a playoff sport.Which of those groups would have had a greater shot at following in these Seahawks’ footsteps? Properly, we’re taking a look at a group that may want just a little luck and that completely counts the Chargers out. The Patriots? It’s actually troublesome to make the case that New England deserve much more playoff appearances than they’ve already had. Let’s give this remaining spot right here to a Vikings group that probably underperformed however nonetheless seemed like they might be a postseason menace. Quarterback Kirk Cousins is able to randomly having enormous video games, whereas large receiver Justin Jefferson completed the season breaking the Tremendous Bowl period document for receiving yards by a rookie.“We most likely weren’t adequate of a soccer group this 12 months to be within the playoffs,” head coach Mike Zimmer stated after the Vikings’ 37-35 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Possibly he was proper, however possibly they only didn’t occur to be in the correct division this season. NFL wildcard spherical match-upsByes: Inexperienced Bay Packers and Kansas Metropolis ChiefsAFC: Baltimore Ravens (No 5 seed) at Tennessee Titans (4); Cleveland Browns (6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (3); Indianapolis Colts (7) at Buffalo Payments (2).NFC: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5) at Washington (4); Los Angeles Rams (6) at Seattle Seahawks (3); Chicago Bears (7) at New Orleans Saints (2). MVP of the weekLamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens. It appears like Jackson is prepared for the playoffs. He threw for 3 touchdowns throughout a blowout 38-3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Past the 113 passing yards he collected, he additionally ran for an extra 97, which helped guarantee he turned the primary quarterback with back-to-back 1,000 yard dashing seasons. Video of the week> Stefon Diggs out right here filming a free business for the American Dental Affiliation Payments Dolphins pic.twitter.com/mirQSUjZsd> > — John Breech (@johnbreech) January 3, 2021Week 17 is when issues find yourself just a little looser within the NFL, particularly when your group has already clinched a postseason berth. There’s no higher instance than this clip of Buffalo Payments large receiver Steffon Diggs flossing on the sidelines throughout Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Miami Dolphins. Stat of the weekThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Mike Evans completed the season with greater than 1,000 yards. With that the large receiver turned the primary participant to go that milestone in every of their first seven seasons. Breaking the document might have come at a price, nevertheless. On the very subsequent play, Evans was taken off the sphere with a knee damage.The Buccaneers had already clinched a playoff spot and had been enjoying for nothing however seeding heading into the sport. Head coach Bruce Arians had already prompt that he would have rested Evans if he had clinched this document earlier than Sport 17. So, there’s a number of second-guessing occurring in Tampa Bay proper now, regardless of their 44-27 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Quote of the week“It’s an honor to interrupt Randy Moss’s document. Him being a Corridor of Famer and simply being so dominant on this league, to interrupt his document is really a blessing. It’s really loopy to be on this place” – Minnesota Vikings large receiver Justin Jefferson after setting the rookie document for receiving yards.Jefferson got here up massive within the Vikings’ 37-35 win over the Detroit Lions, including 133 yards to his receiving yard whole. He had 1,379 for the season, blowing previous each Randy Moss’s franchise document of 1,313 and Anquan Boldin’s general document of 1,377. He did it whereas carrying cleats that paid tribute to Moss, one thing which the legendary receiver acknowledged on Twitter.> ❤> > — Randy Moss (@RandyMoss) January 3, 2021 Elsewhere across the league– A worrisome second in the midst of the Arizona Cardinals’ sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams as quarterback Kyler Murray left the sphere with an ankle damage and had to get replaced by backup Chris Streveler. In the meantime, the Rams put in John Wolford, making his professional debut, filling in for an injured Jared Goff. Murray ultimately re-entered the sport, but it surely was not sufficient because the Rams beat the Cardinals 18-7, eliminating Arizona from the playoffs. The Rams will now face the Seattle Seahawks within the playoffs. It’s a disgrace issues didn’t find yourself higher for Streveler, who threw for each a landing and interception within the sport, however the former CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback nonetheless has the NFL’s best Wikipedia web page bio picture.> Okay, I’ve seen the images of Cardinals backup QB Chris Streveler, at the moment within the sport for Kyler Murray, but it surely did not register on me that this one is the one on his WIKIPEDIA PAGE. pic.twitter.com/WViOYtZyZa> > — Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) January 3, 2021– The Cleveland Browns simply barely held on in opposition to a Pittsburgh Steelers group that was resting a lot of their regulars. They pulled out with a 24-22 victory to make sure their first journey to the playoffs in 18 years, one thing which they should have fun. It wasn’t something resembling a decisive victory which doesn’t bode properly for the Browns contemplating that their opponent of their wildcard sport will likely be these exact same Steelers – and subsequent time don’t count on Pittsburgh to relaxation any starters.– One for the document books: Derrick Henry turned simply the eighth participant in NFL historical past to hurry for greater than 2,000 yards in a season. Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes will most likely be named MVP this season, however there’s an excellent argument that Henry is a deserving candidate.– Earlier than Sunday’s sport, there got here the unsurprising report that the New England Patriots are planning to maneuver on from quarterback Cam Newton, who has did not impress throughout his first season in New England. There’s a really actual risk that this might be the tip for Newton, who was as soon as probably the most thrilling participant within the NFL. No matter his future, he excelled on Sunday in opposition to the New York Jets, throwing three touchdowns.– Talking of the Jets, Sam Darnold threw two interceptions in opposition to the Patriots, making it extra probably New York will go for Justin Fields with the No2 general choose within the draft. Whoever begins because the Jets quarterback subsequent season, he received’t be coached by Adam Gase. Gase was fired by the group on Sunday evening. It was a predictable finish for a coach who solely the Jets possession thought was a very good rent. In the beginning of the season, Jets CEO known as Gase a “sensible offensive thoughts”. They went on to complete 2-14 with the league’s worst offense.
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