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Cowboys take down Commanders to win NFC East title as Eagles’ struggles continue in loss to Giants

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The Dallas Cowboys‘ win over the Washington Commanders secured the NFC East title for Dak Prescott & Co.

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles continue to falter as they fell for the second consecutive week, this time to the New York Giants. 

Just last week, the NFL world was stunned when the Arizona Cardinals traveled to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and upset the Eagles, handing them their fifth loss in six weeks.

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Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles walks off the field against the New York Giants during the first half at MetLife Stadium on January 7, 2024, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

The Cowboys will now own the No. 2 seed in the NFC heading into next week’s Super Wild Card Weekend; the Eagles are now the No. 5 seed. 

Dallas will take on the Green Bay Packers and the Eagles will travel to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers.

It was a 38-10 blowout for the Cowboys as they took down the Commanders just as everyone expected they would. It was another highly efficient game for Prescott, who went 31-for-36 for 279 yards with four touchdown passes and one interception on a tipped pass.

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CeeDee Lamb added to his stellar 2023 campaign by hauling in two of Prescott’s four touchdown passes, one in each half. He finished with 98 yards on 13 catches (13 targets). Jalen Tolbert and Brandin Cooks each had a touchdown as well for Dallas. 

But up the East Coast, the Eagles were having troubles with the Giants immediately. 

New York scored 21 points in the second quarter as Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ offense struggled to get anything going against them. A turnover on downs led to the Giants’ first touchdown, a quick two-yard rush by Saquon Barkley, to go up 10-0. 

Cowboys defense celebrates play

Dante Fowler Jr. #56 and Dorance Armstrong #92 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrate a sack during the fourth quarter against the Washington Commanders at FedExField on January 7, 2024, in Landover, Maryland. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Then, Barkley busted his way into the end zone again after the Giants’ defense forced a three-and-out. Another one came on the ensuing Eagles drive, and New York made the best of good field position with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Darius Slayton from Tyrod Taylor. 

With receiver A.J. Brown already getting banged up in the first half, head coach Nick Sirianni decided to take out his starters and put Marcus Mariota in at quarterback to relieve Hurts.

This is the last thing Eagles fans wanted to see heading into the playoffs as their team looks vulnerable, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

But the Cowboys cannot complain about how they’re playing right now, winning their last two games to finish the year 12-5. 

None of it matters, though, when the playoffs roll around because it’s win or go home every time.

Dak Prescott reacts to play

Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates a touchdown during the second quarter against the Washington Commanders at FedExField on January 7, 2024, in Landover, Maryland. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

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The Eagles still have the chance for redemption in the Super Bowl despite their seed; the Cowboys look to get back in the big game for the first time since 1995.

Rams’ Puka Nacua breaks 63-year-old rookie mark as team top 49ers

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The Los Angeles Rams selected wide receiver Puka Nacua in the fifth round of the draft in the spring and he joined the team that already had an Offensive Player of the Year in Cooper Kupp and veterans like Demarcus Robinson, Ben Skowronek, Tutu Atwell and Tyler Higbee as options for Matthew Stafford.

Nacua dominated in his first two games with the Rams, catching 25 passes for 166 yards and emerged as a potential Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate. Though he didn’t have 10 or more receptions outside of the first two games of the year, he still managed to set a rookie record.

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Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams carries the record-breaking football for total receiving yards in a season by a rookie after a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on January 7, 2024, in Santa Clara, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

With four catches for 47 yards and a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Nacua broke the record for most receptions and receiving yards by a rookie in NFL history. He finished the year with 106 catches for 1,492 yards and six touchdowns.

He broke Bill Groman’s record of 1,473 receiving yards in the 1960 season. It was only a 14-game season that year. He also broke Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle’s receptions record. The former Alabama standout had 104 catches in his first season with the Dolphins in 2021.

FALCONS COACH ARTHUR SMITH HEATED WITH SAINTS COACH DENNIS ALLEN AFTER LOSS: ‘F—ING BULLS—‘.

Puka Nacua warms up

Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on January 7, 2024, in Santa Clara, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Rams won the game, 21-20, as both playoff teams sat their starters for the most part. Los Angeles went with Carson Wentz at quarterback and San Francisco started Sam Darnold.

Wentz was 17 for 24 with 163 passing yards and two touchdown passes. He also had a rushing touchdown. Tyler Johnson had the other touchdown catch for the Rams.

Darnold was 16 for 26 with 189 yards and a touchdown pass to Ronnie Bell.

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Puka Nacua beats Charvarius Ward

Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams, left, catches a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium on January 7, 2024, in Santa Clara, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The 49ers will have homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Rams get in with a wild-card berth and will face the Detroit Lions.

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Packers secure final NFC playoff spot with win over Bears

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The Green Bay Packers are heading to the playoffs after taking down their NFC North-rival Chicago Bears, 17-9, to seal their fate. 

Jordan Love and the Packers knew that a win on Sunday would put them in, and they immediately got what they needed on their second drive of the game. 

The Packers took 6:42 off the clock as Love dissected his way downfield to get to the Chicago 10-yard line. He dropped back on 3rd-and-1 and slung a pass to rookie receiver Dontayvion Wicks for the first touchdown of the game. 

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Anthony Johnson Jr. #36 and Jaire Alexander #23 of the Green Bay Packers react after a play during the second half against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on January 7, 2024, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (John Fisher/Getty Images)

But that’s the only offense Green Bay would muster this half as it ended with a 7-6 lead after the Bears kicked two field goals. 

However, the second half began with a bang for the Packers, who got the opening kickoff. And once again it was Wicks, this time hauling in a 12-yard touchdown to secure two on the day and bring the Packers’ lead to 14-6. 

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The Bears and Justin Fields seemed to be getting things going in the second half on offense, but they couldn’t find the colored paint. After punting on their first drive, their next one ended with a field goal to make it 14-9. 

But when the Packers needed a stop, their defense continuously stepped up. 

Jayden Reed runs with ball

Jayden Reed of the Green Bay Packers runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on January 7, 2024, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (John Fisher/Getty Images)

A Green Bay field goal in the fourth quarter helped them pull away a bit more, though Bo Melton almost iced the game with a touchdown grab that was reversed.

Either way, they got the job done and the Packers are the No. 7 seed in the NFC and set to face the Dallas Cowboys next weekend.

Love had a fantastic game, throwing for 316 yards on 27 of 32 for two touchdowns and no interceptions. And while Wicks had the two touchdowns, it was fellow rookie Jayden Reed leading the pack with 112 yards on four catches, including a 59-yard catch-and-run.

Aaron Jones also had 111 rushing yards on 22 carries for the Packers, whose defense was able to get five sacks on Fields.

Jordan Love runs with ball

Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers scrambles during the third quarter against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on January 7, 2024, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (John Fisher/Getty Images)

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For the Bears, Fields’ future with the team might be in question as Chicago owns the No. 1 overall pick. He went 11 for 16 for 148 yards through the air while rushing for 27 yards. D.J. Moore had 64 yards on four catches for Chicago.

Derrick Henry thanks Titans fans as he heads into free agency

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The Tennessee Titans’ season doesn’t have playoffs this year, but they did play spoiler against the Jacksonville Jaguars by knocking them out of the playoffs with a 28-20 win at home on Sunday.

But it was a bittersweet ending for one player in particular on the Titans: star running back Derrick Henry. 

Henry has very likely played his final game for the Titans after eight seasons; he’s set for free agency now that the 2023 regular season is over for Tennessee.

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Derrick Henry (22) of the Tennessee Titans runs with the ball for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Jan. 7, 2024. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Of course, the Titans can re-sign Henry to another contract if they choose, but his actions after the game pointed to the expected decision to find another home in the NFL.

Henry was given a microphone to address Titans fans in the stands, and he gave a salute to all of them.

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“Titans fans, I just want to say thank you for the greatest eight years of my life,” he said. “The ups and the downs, you all been there for everything. The adversity, watching me grow as a person and player, always supporting me. I love you all, the love seeing the [No.] 22’s in the stadium. Hopefully, I was an inspiration to all of your kids and everybody in the community. Thank you all so much.”

“God is good and Titan up, baby!”

Derrick Henry tackled

Derrick Henry (22) of the Tennessee Titans carries the ball during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Jan. 7, 2024. (Justin Ford/Getty Images)

If this is the final game for Henry in a Titans uniform, it was quite the send-off.

“King Henry” led the Titans’ offensive attack on Sunday with 153 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown in the kind of punishing game on the ground in which Henry has excelled for quite some time in the league.

Henry finished the season with 1,167 yards on the ground and 12 touchdowns, which marks the fifth season in the last six in which he’s rushed for more than 1,000 yards.

Derrick Henry salutes crowd

Derrick Henry (22) of the Tennessee Titans runs off the field after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Jan. 7, 2024. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

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Where Henry might end up next in the NFL is anyone’s guess, but perhaps the 30-year-old will be searching for a Super Bowl contender to join as the four-time Pro Bowler wishes to get a ring in what’s been a fantastic career to this point.

Yonkers school fires basketball coach, kicks player off team after antisemitic incident during game: report

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A Yonkers high school girls basketball coach was fired and a player on the team was kicked off the squad as a result of an antisemitic incident that occurred during a game against a Jewish high school, city officials told the New York Post.

A game between the Leffell School, a private Jewish school in Hartsdale, New York, and Roosevelt High School, a public school in Yonkers, ended early on Thursday after Roosevelt players said antisemitic slurs at their opponents. Some of those slurs allegedly included, “I support Hamas, you f—ing Jew.”

Referees and security guards were needed to break up the game, with some escorting the Leffell School players off the court. 

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A Yonkers high school girls basketball coach was fired and a player on the team was kicked off the squad as a result of an antisemitic incident that occurred during a game against a Jewish high school, city officials told the New York Post. (iStock)

Yonkers Public Schools interim Superintendent Dr. Luis Rodriguez and Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano issued a joint statement about the situation.

“The Yonkers Public Schools, along with the City of Yonkers, sincerely apologize to the students and community of The Leffell School for the painful and offensive comments made to their women’s basketball team during a recent game with Roosevelt High School,” the statement said via the Post. 

NEW YORK HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL GAME CALLED AFTER ANTISEMITIC SLURS TOWARD PLAYERS: REPORT

“Collectively, we do not and will not tolerate hate speech of any kind from our students and community,” the statement reads further.

“The antisemitic rhetoric reportedly made against the student athletes of The Leffell School are abhorrent, inappropriate and not in line with the values we set forth for our young people,” the statement continues.

According to Leffell player Robin Bosworth, who wrote about the incident in the school newspaper of which she is editor-in-chief, the first half was a “somewhat hostile environment, with substantially more jabs and comments thrown at the players on our team than what I have experienced in the past.”

Some players for Leffell started to get injured in the third quarter, which Bosworth says happened due to Roosevelt’s “physical style of play.”

“At the end of the quarter, players on the opposing team started shouting ‘Free Palestine’ and other antisemitic slurs and curses at us,” Bosworth wrote. “Attacking a team because of their school’s religious association is never acceptable, but especially due to the current war in Israel and the world’s rise in antisemitism, this felt extremely personal to me and many members of my team.”

Basketball goes through hoop

According to Leffell player Robin Bosworth, the first half of the game was a “somewhat hostile environment, with substantially more jabs and comments thrown at the players on our team than what I have experienced in the past.” (Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

After Leffell players began walking off the court during a time-out about an hour in, coaches from both sides reportedly began talking to each other and then to the referees who were calling the game.

While that was happening, Roosevelt players allegedly continued to have words with Leffell players, and security needed to step in. A school spokesperson told the Post that Roosevelt agreed to a voluntary forfeit and the game concluded.

Bosworth said both teams lined up to shake hands at the premature end of the game.

“Despite our conflicting feelings about his practice, every member of my team acted with respect and class and lined up to shake their hands,” she wrote. “However, being forced to shake hands with and say, ‘Good game’ to people who had expressed such hatred did not sit right with me afterwards.”

Referee lifts ball for tip-off at basketball game

After Leffell players began walking off the court during a time-out about an hour in, coaches from both sides reportedly began talking to each other and then to the referees who were calling the game. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

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Roosevelt High Athletic Director Kyle Calabro apologized to Leffell Head of School Michael Kay, with the latter hearing from the former that “the follow-up would be swift and appropriate.”

Fox News’ Joe Morgan contributed to this report.

Falcons coach Arthur Smith heated with Saints coach Dennis Allen after loss: ‘F—ing bulls—‘

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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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Head coach Arthur Smith of the Atlanta Falcons talks to reporters during training camp on July 29, 2021, in Flowery Branch, Georgia. (Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images)

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.

Arthur Smith with hands on hips

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.

Arthur Smith looks on field

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.

Jaguars knocked out of playoffs by Titans in shocking upset on the road

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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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Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans runs off the field after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Jan. 7, 2024. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

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 runs with ball

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

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’s potential final game with Patriots ends with Jets snapping 15-game losing streak

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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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New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick during the New York Jets game at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 7, 2024, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

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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Patriots vs Belichick

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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Patriots fans

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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Buccaneers shut out Panthers to win third straight NFC South title

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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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Baker Mayfield of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws a pass against the Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on Jan. 7, 2024, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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 runs with ball

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 celebrates play

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. 

Girlfriend of Bengals’ Jake Browning goes viral as she cheers on QB vs Browns

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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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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning speaks after the Chiefs game, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

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.

Jake Browning vs Browns

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 points

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.