The Atlanta Falcons won’t be in the playoffs next week after falling to the New Orleans Saints in a blowout on the road in Week 18. 

But Falcons head coach Arthur Smith gave Saints head coach Dennis Allen an earful about how Sunday’s blowout finished in the Superdome in New Orleans.

The Falcons pulled their starters from the game once the Saints iced it with a fumble recovery and touchdown to make it 41-17 in the fourth quarter. Desmond Ridder’s backup at quarterback, Logan Woodside, took over and ended up throwing an interception to Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu, who took it back to Atlanta’s one-yard line.

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Instead of just kneeling it out with 1:10 left on the clock, Allen decided to allow running back Jamaal Williams to score a rushing touchdown to make it 48-17.

There are unwritten rules in sports not to beat down on a team when victory is imminent, but the Saints seemingly didn’t care in that moment.

So, when it was time for the customary shaking of hands by head coaches after the clock hit zero, Smith immediately walked to the middle of the field where he started yelling at Allen.

“That’s f—ing bulls—,” Smith was heard saying to Allen.

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“I understand that,” Allen responded to Smith.

Before that play even happened, the Falcons were out of playoff contention because of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ win over the Carolina Panthers, which secured the NFC South title for the third straight season.

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, shown, gave Saints head coach Dennis Allen an earful about how Sunday’s blowout finished in the Superdome in New Orleans. (Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images/File)

The Saints would’ve secured the division if the Buccaneers lost after defeating the Falcons.

Now, there’s a lot of questions heading into the offseason for Atlanta, particularly with Smith and his coaching staff. There’s been rumblings for seasons now about Smith being let go by the Falcons to make way for another head coach.

After missing out on the playoffs again in a bad NFC South all around, Smith is in the hot seat.

Head coach Arthur Smith of the Atlanta Falcons faces an uncertain future after missing the playoffs again. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images/File)

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Smith took over the Falcons in 2021, and he’s seen three straight losing seasons by going 7-10 in each.

The Tennessee Titans played spoiler in Week 18, taking down the Jacksonville Jaguars to knock them out of the AFC playoffs with a 28-20 victory at home on Sunday. 

The Jaguars losing not only gives the Houston Texans the AFC South title after its win over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night to get into the playoffs, but the Buffalo Bills don’t have a win-and-in mantra against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday night because they’ve clinched a playoff spot regardless. 

Also, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in thanks to their win over the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday and the Jacksonville loss on Sunday.

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Down eight in the fourth quarter, Jacksonville got a much-needed turnover when Andre Cisco intercepted a pass by Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill to set up Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence with wonderful field position and the chance to tie the game with a touchdown and two-point conversion. This came after Lawrence connected with tight end Evan Engram for a touchdown pass that cut the lead down.  

Lawrence was able to find receiver Zay Jones for a six-yard pickup on 2nd-and-goal to put the Jaguars at the one-yard line with two chances for a touchdown.

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But the 3rd-and-goal play-action pass sailed over the back of the end zone, making it a must-have 4th-and-goal for the Jaguars on the next play. Head coach Doug Pederson called for the quarterback sneak, and Lawrence tried to jump over his offensive line to reach the ball across the goal line.

But the Titans’ defense snuffed it out by stopping Lawrence before he could do so.

The Jaguars would get another chance to tie the game with two minutes to play in the game, but they turned the ball over on downs just four plays later.

Calvin Ridley, who hauled in a touchdown pass from Lawrence earlier in the game, was open on 2nd-and-2, which would’ve set up the Jags nicely, but it was out of his diving reach. 

DeAndre Hopkins of the Tennessee Titans runs with the ball during the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Jan. 7, 2024. (Justin Ford/Getty Images)

The Jaguars couldn’t believe the result, and unfortunately for them, they’ll have a lot of reflection time with no game scheduled for next week.

Titans running back Derrick Henry has likely played his final game in Nashville after eight seasons with the Titans as he’s set to enter free agency; and he went out with a patented “King Henry” performance of 153 yards on 19 carries with a touchdown to help his team win.

Henry addressed the crowd after the game, thanking them for their support and hoping that he had been an inspiration to the community over the years.

DeAndre Hopkins also had a game to highlight as he needed 39 receiving yards to reach 1,050 on the season, which would activate a $250,000 incentive. He had seven catches for 46 yards. The seven catches locked in another $250,000 incentive as he had 75 on the year. 

Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars is shown during the first half against the Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Jan. 7, 2024. (Justin Ford/Getty Images)

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For the Jaguars, Lawrence was 29 for 43 for 280 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions as he dealt with a shoulder injury throughout the game. Ridley had 106 yards on just six catches, and Engram was the top target with 10 catches on 13 tries from Lawrence.

Bill Belichick spurned the New York Jets about 24 years ago and left them in favor of the New England Patriots. The rest is pretty much history, with Belichick having six Super Bowls to his name and the Jets failing to even sniff the game since the 1968 season.

The Jets may have gotten the perfect revenge on Belichick Sunday as the team defeated the Patriots 17-3 to snap a 15-game losing streak against New England in what could be the coach’s final game.

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Rumors about Belichick’s future swirled since the Patriots’ season started to slip away from them. Belichick was reportedly mandated to win the team’s game against the Indianapolis Colts in Germany. The Patriots lost that game and it appeared the clock started to tick.

Before the loss to the Jets, Pro Football Talk reported that it was “highly unlikely” Belichick returns as head coach as it predicted there will be “a termination or some sort of a mutual parting, if/when it happens.”

The Washington Commanders have been rumored to be interested in Belichick one way or another should the team indeed part ways with Ron Rivera.

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New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick walks the sidelines. (Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The Patriots started Bailey Zappe at quarterback. He was 12-of-30 with 88 passing yards and two interceptions as the snow fell in Gillette Stadium. His counterpart, Trevor Siemian, was 8-for-20 with 70 passing yards. Jets running back Breece Hall tallied 178 rushing yards and a touchdown.

New England wrapped the 2023 with a 4-13 record. It’s the worst record Belichick’s had in his coaching career, let alone his time with the Patriots. The team last made the playoffs in 2021.

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A view of New England Patriots fans during the first half at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 7, 2024. (Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

If it is the end in Foxborough, Belichick would finish his career with six rings, 301 career wins, three NFL Coach of the Year awards, and 31 playoff wins.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in its first year without Tom Brady at quarterback, have won the NFC South for the third straight season after defeating the Carolina Panthers, 9-0. 

Much like their entire season with Brady’s replacement, Baker Mayfield, at the helm, it wasn’t the prettiest of victories with no touchdowns scored for either team. 

But a win is a win, and the Buccaneers are the No. 4 seed in the NFC as playoffs begin next week. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers’ win means the Atlanta Falcons, no matter the results against the New Orleans Saints, are out of the playoffs. 

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As mentioned, no one was able to find the colored paint with both defenses playing a solid game. The Panthers, owning the worst record in the league, didn’t have any incentive to play for other than pride and a high note heading into 2024. 

Yet, the Buccaneers held their own fate in their hands, while the Panthers looked to potentially play spoiler. 

We didn’t see points on the scoreboard for the Bucs until 4:13 left in the second quarter, as the game began with seven punts in the first eight drives with a fumble by Carolina in the middle of them. 

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That fumble was actually a touchback recovered by the Buccaneers in the end zone after Panthers receiver D.J. Chark Jr. tried to reach past the goal line, but couldn’t hang on to the ball. 

The Buccaneers did have some chances, though, with Mayfield just missing his favorite receiver, Mike Evans, on a deep ball that was slightly underthrown for a pass breakup. The half would instead end 6-0 in favor of the road team.

The Panthers threatened the Bucs in the second half, however, when rookie quarterback Bryce Young had good field position near midfield. But Carolina wasn’t able to do anything with it, as a 52-yard field goal was missed. 

Tampa Bay would kick yet another field goal after being awarded their own solid field position. Then, a strip sack on Young by Joe Tryon-Shoyinka was recovered by the Bucs to once again flip the field. 

Baker Mayfield of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers runs with the ball against the Carolina Panthers on Jan. 7, 2024, in Charlotte. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Mayfield and the Bucs’ offense killed the remaining 6:19 of clock in the fourth quarter, with sweet victory kneels coming to win the division. 

Mayfield finished the game 20-of-32 for 137 yards, with Chris Godwin his top target with 51 yards on six catches. Rachaad White battled some bumps and bruises throughout the game, as he had 75 yards on 19 carries. 

Young finished his rookie season with just 94 yards through the air on 11-of-18, while Chubba Hubbard finished with 83 rushing yards on 23 carries. 

With Carolina looking to quickly forget going 2-15 this season (and not owning the top pick because it was traded to draft Young this past April), the Buccaneers will await the final seeding in the NFC to see who the No. 5 seed will be. 

Devin White of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reacts to a tackle at Bank of America Stadium on Jan. 7, 2024, in Charlotte. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

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It’s expected to be the Philadelphia Eagles, as the Dallas Cowboys could clinch the No. 2 seed and the NFC East title with a victory over the Washington Commanders later Sunday. If so, the Bucs and Eagles would be pitted against each other in Super Wild Card Weekend. 

Stephanie Niles, the girlfriend of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning, went viral on Sunday as the team pounced on the Cleveland Browns during their final matchup of the 2023 season.

Niles was in the suite at Paycor Stadium in an all-white outfit with an orange hat as she cheered on Browning. As the cameras panned to her in the suite celebrating Browning’s first touchdown pass, Niles was looking for a high five but was iced out.

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She appeared to catch the eye of social media during the game.

“Jake Browning’s Girlfriend is about to be trending,” podcaster Dave Heilman wrote on X.

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“Jake Browning playing with extra motivation today,” Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take” podcast wrote on X.

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“Jake Browning indeed has a dog in him,” Gavin McHugh added.

Ben Domenech added: “In Week 18, the part of Taylor Swift will be played by backup Stephanie Niles.”

The Bengals had a 24-0 lead at the break. Browning was 12-for-16 with 108 passing yards and two touchdown passes at the break. Bengals defenders Logan Wilson and Jordan Battle each had an interception.

Bengals quarterback Jake Browning throws before the Cleveland Browns game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cleveland had already wrapped up a playoff spot.

Browning was thrust into the starting role for the Bengals once Joe Burrow went down with a season-ending injury. Entering Sunday’s game against Cleveland, he was hoping to finish the year above .500.

Jake Browning of the Bengals directs his team during the Cleveland Browns game at Paycor Stadium on Jan. 7, 2024, in Cincinnati. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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He was 1,780 passing yards, nine touchdowns and six interceptions in eight games for the Bengals heading into Week 18.

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta only needed one season to etch his name into the annals of NFL history.

LaPorta on Sunday got Detroit off to a hot start with a touchdown catch with about 8 minutes left to play in the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings. The catch helped him set a record for most receptions for a rookie tight end.

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The touchdown catch was his 82nd of the season.

He left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury. He was able to walk off the field under his own power but was later ruled out. He had five catches for 29 yards when he left.

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LaPorta, who was recently named to the Pro Bowl, was selected in the second round, No. 34 overall, in the 2023 draft. He became one of Jared Goff’s favorite targets over the course of the year.

Lions tight end Sam LaPorta reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings, Jan. 7, 2023, in Detroit. (David Reginek-USA Today Sports)

Coming in against the Vikings, he had 81 catches for 860 yards and nine touchdown catches. He was tied for the team lead for touchdown catches with Amon-Ra St. Brown. The touchdown catch Sunday marked the 10th of his season.

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LaPorta was a standout tight end at Iowa before he turned pro. He finished his collegiate career with 153 catches for 1,786 yards and five touchdowns. Iowa hasn’t been known for having a potent offense in recent years, but has produced some solid tight ends in George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson, Dallas Clark and Noah Fant, among others.

Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions runs with the ball against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 30, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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LaPorta appears to be on the trajectory of being another great Hawkeyes pro.

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WWE star Liv Morgan had a felony charge against her dropped after she was arrested in Florida on marijuana possession charges last month.

Morgan, whose real name is Gionna Daddio, was arrested in Sumter County and charged with possession of marijuana (not more than 20 grams) and possession of a synthetic cannabinoid, according to online records. But on Tuesday, officials dropped the possession of a synthetic cannabinoid charge.

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“In order to prove the charge possession of THC, the State is required to prove that the THC came from synthetic sources and was not derived from plant sources,” an assistant state attorney in the county told The National Desk.

“No labs in the State of Florida perform such tests, so we remanded it to county court as Possession of Cannabis.”

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Liv Morgan during the WWE Royal Rumble at the Alamodome on Jan. 28, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas. (Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)

Morgan is a one-time SmackDown Women’s Champion and captured the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles with Raquel Rodriguez in early 2023. 

Morgan has been sidelined recently with a shoulder injury. 

“Yeah, I’ve talked to Liv. She’s doing great. She’s really recovering well,” Rodriguez told The Dallas Morning News in October. “She’s in very good spirits, and of course, she’s very, very anxious to come back. I don’t have a specific date of when she’ll be back. We’re all waiting for her. I know, I miss her terribly.

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Liv Morgan enters the ring during the WWE Royal Rumble at the Alamodome on Jan. 28, 2023, in San Antonio. (Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)

“So I’m very excited for that. But I feel like time has been flying, and she’s just been on it, on her recovery. So I would assume she’d be back sooner rather than later. And probably before any of us can really imagine.”

Fox News’ Joe Morgan contributed to this report.

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New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson may be on the move in the offseason as it appears the team is ready to part with the former No. 2 overall pick.

Wilson was thrust into the starting role for the Jets when Aaron Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles four plays into the start of the 2023 season. Wilson won in five of his 12 appearances this season, but it was far from enough to convince the brass he is their long-term future.

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“This offseason they’re expected to see to trade Zach Wilson, moving on from a pick that simply did not work out well,” NFL insider Ian Rapoport said on “NFL Gameday” Sunday. “You say, ‘How could the Jets trade him?’ I would say this, every quarterback gets traded, I do not expect them to cut him.”

The Athletic also reported the Jets told him they were planning on trading him in the offseason as he was being benched.

Zach Wilson walks off the field after the Raiders defeated the New York Jets at Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 12, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Getty Images)

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“This is part of the reason he was reluctant to go back to starting weeks ago,” The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, wrote on X. “We’ll see how it all plays out.”

New York made Wilson the No. 2 pick of the 2021 draft after he had a standout collegiate career at BYU. However, he never morphed into the quarterback the team hoped he would be.

Zach Wilson of the New York Jets drops back to pass while being pressured by Leonard Floyd of the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on Nov. 19, 2023, in Orchard Park, New York. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

He started 33 of the 34 games he played in and had 6,293 passing yards, 23 touchdown passes and 25 interceptions.

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Wilson was 12-21 in those 33 starts.

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Olympic legend Mary Lou Retton opened up on the serious health crisis she endured late last year.

Retton spoke to “Today” for an interview that will air in full on Monday. She talked about how dire the situation was when she was diagnosed with a “rare form of pneumonia” in October.

“This is serious, and this is life, and I’m so grateful to be here,” she told “Today’s” Hoda Kotb. “I am blessed to be here because there was a time when they were about to put me on life support.”

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The five-time Olympic medalist is on a portable oxygen tank to help her lungs. She said she feels “vulnerable.”

Her family chronicled her fight against the illness and at one point said she was “fighting for her life.” Retton would then write a message on Oct. 31 assuring her fans the worst of it was over.

“I’m beyond blessed to have the opportunity to make this statement. I am overwhelmed with the love and support from the world as I fight,” Retton wrote on Instagram.

“I am forever grateful to you all! I’m with family continuing to slowly recover and staying very positive as I know this recovery is a long and slow process.”

Mary Lou Retton at home by the pool, appearing on the ABC Sports TV special “Mary Lou Retton and Julianne McNamara.” (American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images)

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One of Retton’s daughters said Retton had a “scary setback” while in intensive care, noting upon her release it would be “baby steps” to recovery.

Retton was nicknamed “America’s sweetheart” during her gold medal-winning performance at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles. She was just 16 when she scored perfect 10s in the floor exercise and vault in the final two rotations to become the first American woman to win the Olympic all-around title.

She earned five medals that year – one gold, two silver and two bronze.

Mary Lou Retton performs on the balance beam on her way to becoming the first American woman to win the women’s gymnastics individual all-around competition gold medal. (Getty Images)

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After she retired from gymnastics, Retton became a motivational speaker and frequently shared messages about the benefits of proper nutrition and exercise. She also served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under former President George W. Bush.

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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