The New Orleans Saints scored a garbage-time touchdown in the team’s 48-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, sparking a heated interaction between Arthur Smith and Dennis Allen.

Saints running back Jamaal Williams scored with 1:10 to play in the game. It was Williams’ first touchdown of the season after he led the NFL with 17 rushing scores last season. In the postgame handshake, the Falcons coach was upset with Allen.

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The Saints coach apologized to Smith in his postgame comments, but Jameis Winson suggested he and his teammates went rogue when the team was on the 1-yard line.

“I apologized to D.A. because the play was ‘Victory.’ But I also explained to D.A. that it was a team decision. I think that when you have a team morale and I asked the guys, ‘What do you want to do?’ We know how much Jamaal means to this team. And I understood from D.A.’s perspective.

“But D.A. didn’t condone it at all. However, we decided as a team to do it. And man, we got an interception to the 1-yard line – if we woulda scored, would it still have been disrespectful?”

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New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu, #32, celebrates after an interception in the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in New Orleans on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Winston added that he had “no regrets” over the call.

Smith was upset when he met Allen at midfield but took the high road when talking about the last part of the game to reporters.

“They can do whatever they want. There are no rules against it,” Smith said. “We didn’t stop them the second half, and they can do whatever they want. It is what it is. Hats off to them. They kicked our you-know-what in the second half. That’s their prerogative. It’s also my prerogative to tell him how I feel. Credit to them. They can do whatever they want there.”

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Falcons veteran Calais Campbell said he had no problem with going for the score but was more upset that they appeared to lineup in a victory formation.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr, #4, is congratulated by quarterback Jameis Winston, #2, after a touchdown against the New York Giants during the second half at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans Dec. 17, 2023. (Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports)

“I wish they would have lined up in run formation,” he said. “Don’t look like you’re going to take a knee and then run then ball. … I was just frustrated with that because I just feel like there was a way to do it, if you’re gonna do it.”

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New Orleans and Atlanta will both miss the playoffs and both of their coaches are on the hot seat.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The 2023 NFL regular season came to a close on Sunday with the final playoff spots getting clinched and teams capping off the year with division titles.

The NFC side of the bracket was figured out before the AFC as the Miami Dolphins played the Buffalo Bills for the AFC East division crown and a chance at a home playoff game this month.

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The San Francisco 49ers clinched the NFC West title and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Washington Commanders and wrapped up the NFC East title as the Philadelphia Eagles fell to the New York Giants on the road.

The Detroit Lions are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and won their division for the first time since 1991. They are No. 3 in the NFC. Each of the top three NFC teams finished 12-5 on the year.

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In the post-Tom Brady era, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers managed to squeak by the Carolina Panthers and win the NFC South. They will have a home playoff game.

Brock Purdy, #13 of the San Francisco 49ers, drops back to pass against the Washington Commanders at FedExField on Dec. 31, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (G Fiume/Getty Images)

The Eagles, Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers each picked up wild-card berths.

Even with the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday, the Baltimore Ravens enter the playoffs with the best record in the NFL at 13-5. The Ravens will have a first-round bye.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans won their respective division titles. The Chiefs now have their sights set on back-to-back Super Bowl titles though they have not looked like a championship-caliber team too often this season. The Texans are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2019. The Tennessee Titans upset the Jacksonville Jaguars to give the Texans the division title.

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The Buffalo Bills pulled off a stunner over the Miami Dolphins to clinch the AFC East. It is the team’s fourth consecutive division title, and now they get a home playoff game. Buffalo won the game 21-14 on Sunday night.

The Cleveland Browns may have been the most improbable team to make the playoffs. The team started the year with Deshaun Watson as the quarterback and end the season with Joe Flacco as the starter. Their matchup with the Texans is one of the more intriguing ones of the wild-card round.

The Steelers also improbably snuck into the postseason as well – thanks to their win over the Ravens. With all the criticism lobbed toward Mike Tomlin, he continues the franchise’s streak of finishing at or above .500 and is back in the playoffs.

Tyreek Hill, #10 of the Miami Dolphins, signals as he lines up during an NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium on Dec. 31, 2023 in Baltimore. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)

Here is the Super Wild Card Weekend schedule for the weekend. The Ravens and 49ers will have byes.

Saturday, Jan. 13

• 4:30 pm ET: Texans vs. Browns (Peacock)
• 8 pm ET: Chiefs vs. Dolphins

Sunday, Jan. 14

• 1 pm ET: Bills vs. Steelers
• 4:30 pm ET: Cowboys vs. Packers (FOX)
• 8 pm ET: Lions vs. Rams (NBC)

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Monday, Jan. 15

• 8 pm ET: Eagles vs. Buccaneers (ESPN/ABC)

The end of the 2023 college football season has arrived as two undefeated teams vie for the national championship.

Michigan and Washington are looking to become just the sixth team in major college football history to finish a season 15-0.

The matchup at NRG Stadium in Houston is between two teams that will play against each other as conference foes next season as Washington departs the Pac-12 for the Big Ten in 2024.

Both programs are looking to break lengthy national championship droughts and will be playing in their first CFP title game. 

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Michigan last won the national title in 1997 (shared with Nebraska) while Washington’s last championship was in 1991 (shared with Miami). 

It will be a matchup of opposite strengths as Michigan’s dominant defense takes on the high-powered offense from Washington. 

Let’s take a dive into what to look for as Michigan and Washington play for the final four-team playoff trophy. 

No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 2 Washington – 7:30 p.m. ET

Washington Huskies: 14-0

The Washington Huskies will again enter the championship game as underdogs after being underdogs in their last two games against Oregon and Texas. 

It’s been a season of close calls for Washington, winning their last 10 games by 10 points or less. 

Despite not winning pretty to end the regular season, the Huskies continued to win with the best passing offense in the country. 

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. celebrates with fans after beating Texas in the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Jan. 1, 2024. (Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports)

Led by Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Penix Jr., Washington leads the country in passing yards (350.0) and has two wide receivers who have gone over the 1,000 mark in Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk.

Their offensive line was voted the Joe Moore Award winner as the top group in the country and has allowed Penix to be sacked just 11 times this season, tied for the fourth-fewest in the country.

“The key is going to be our protection because Michigan can really get after the quarterback,” Washington legend Warren Moon told Fox News Digital. “But we have what was voted as the best offensive line in the country, so I think that’s in our favor, too.”

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“If we can block them up front and handle the pressure that they will bring, I think we’ll do very well in the secondary as far as throwing the football because we have three really talented receivers. Two of them [are] over 1,000 yards. They’re all good after the catch, and they drop very, very few balls. And we have a very underrated tight end in Jack Westover.”

The Huskies will be facing a Michigan defense that allowed the least amount of points (9.5) in the country and the second-fewest yards (239.7) while getting after the quarterback.

Washington’s Rome Odunze (1) congratulates fellow wide receiver Jalen McMillan after his touchdown reception during the Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 1, 2024, in New Orleans. (Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Wolverines are 19th in the country with 38 sacks on the season and got to Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe six times in the Rose Bowl.

On the back end, the Michigan secondary allows just 152.6 passing yards per game but will be facing its toughest challenge of the season in Washington’s offense. 

“Michigan is elite defensively, but they’ve gotten to feast on horrific, horrific offenses in the Big Ten,” Fox Sports analyst Brock Huard told the Associated Press. “So from a stress test, Michigan has not seen anything the likes of Washington’s offense.”

Michigan Wolverines: 14-0

The calling card all season for Michigan has been its defense, which has stifled opponents throughout the year. 

The offense is often overlooked due to the prowess of the defense, but the matchup with Washington could give the Michigan offense its time to shine. 

The Wolverines want to run the football and will attempt to do so against a Washington defense that allows 138.8 yards per game. Washington allows 4.40 yards per carry – 86th in the country – per the AP.

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Michigan running back Blake Corum (2) scores on a 17-yard run in overtime of the Rose Bowl playoff game against Alabama in Pasadena, California, on Jan. 1, 2024. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Senior running back Blake Corum was spectacular against Alabama in the semifinals, gaining 118 yards from scrimmage with two touchdowns. He leads the nation with 26 rushing touchdowns.

“I feel like he, in my eyes, is the most valuable player of our team. There’s so many of them that are right up at his caliber, but especially from an offensive perspective, I feel like he’s one of the guys that makes our offense go,” quarterback J.J. McCarthy said last week, according to Fox Sports. “Just everything he’s been through, all the adversity that he’s been through, just from his upbringing to this past year, just everything about who he is and just his character, how he attacks every single day, it just rubs off on all of us.”

“[He’s] just one of the most valuable players on our team — if not the most.”

McCarthy went on a career-defining drive late against the Crimson Tide, converting a crucial fourth down in Alabama territory to send the game into overtime. He’s 25-1 since taking over as the starter in 2022 and will be facing a Washington defense that allows 263.2 passing yards per game.

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Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9), head coach Jim Harbaugh and running back Blake Corum (2) celebrate on the podium after a win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl playoff game, Jan. 1, 2024, in Pasadena, California. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

“I’ve said it before, but right here, this is the greatest quarterback in University of Michigan, college football history,” Jim Harbaugh told media members after beating Alabama “Got a long way to go to get where Tom Brady eventually got to, which is the GOAT.”

“But in a college career there’s been nobody at Michigan better than J.J. I know we talk about it an amalgamation of quarterbacks. He is that guy.”

McCarthy will become a legend in Ann Arbor if he’s able to bring home the title. 

Fox News’ Scott Thompson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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The Buffalo Bills used a second-half comeback to defeat the Miami Dolphins, 21-14, to win the AFC East. 

The Bills are now the No. 2 seed in the AFC, while the Dolphins move to the No. 6 seed in a brutal turn of events as they’ll need to travel Kansas City to face the No. 3 Chiefs. 

Buffalo will host two playoff games at home if they win next week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

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The game began with some great defensive plays for both teams, as there were three interceptions in the first four drives before any points got on the board. 

First, it was Tua Tagovailoa looking for Tyreek Hill on a deep ball down the left side when Christian Benford hauled in the pass instead for Buffalo. 

But Josh Allen returned the favor on a crushing drive for the Bills, as Eli Apple won the battle in the end zone on third-and-goal from Miami’s 5-yard line. It was a 6:45 drive that ended with no points.

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After another pass was intercepted from Allen, the Dolphins finally got the points seal with a methodic drive of their own. 

De’Von Achane, the speedy rookie running back that has added to the lethal offensive weapons in Mike McDaniel’s offense this season, made a few Bills defenders miss on his 25-yard touchdown run. However, much like the interception streak, touchdowns started pouring in. 

The Bills got on to respond to Achane’s score, and it was in the wackiest way possible. 

Tyreek Hill #10 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates after a touchdown during the second quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida.  (Rich Storry/Getty Images)

On an RPO play, Allen decided to pull the ball on second-and-goal from Miami’s six-yard line and try to hit the slanting Trent Sherfield. But the ball was tipped at the offensive line and flew into the air.

No one but Sherfield saw the ball in the air, though, and he tracked it while keeping his two feet in bounds and made the catch to the bewilderment of everyone at Hard Rock Stadium. 

The Dolphins didn’t like losing their lead, and Tagovailoa used Hill to get down the field quickly for a touchdown to make things 14-7. Hill was the target on a quick out route near the goal line, and after hauling it in, the speedster did a celebratory backflip in the end zone. 

Things weren’t going well for the Bills to start the second half after a first-drive punt followed by a wild fumble recovery for Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who simply stole the ball out of Allen’s hand while they were driving. 

Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins looks to pass during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Rich Storry/Getty Images)

But momentum changed immediately when Deonte Harty took a Dolphins punt after the ensuing drive 96 yards to the house to tie the game up. If the tie wasn’t enough, the Bills got a three-and-out and used it to take their first lead of the night. 

Allen worked his way downfield, finding rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid for 26 yards and Khalil Shakir for 28 yards to set things up first-and-goal from Miami’s three-yard line. 

Two plays later, Dawson Knox reached over the goal line to score from five yards out, taking a 21-14 lead. 

The Dolphins had a chance with 1:53 left to play after stuffing Allen on a fourth-and-1 chance following the two-minute warning. But once again, Tagovailoa threw a bad interception, this time to Taylor Rapp who saw him targeting Chase Claypool all the way. 

Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills rushes during the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on January 07, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

The pick sealed the game, and despite a tough regular season, the Bills are a top seed in the AFC and looking to make a playoff run. 

Looking at the stat sheet, Allen finished 30-of-38 for 359 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, while rushing for 67 yards on 15 carries. Shakir had 105 yards on six catches, while Stefon Diggs had 87 yards on seven catches. 

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For the Dolphins, Tagovailoa was 17 of 27 for 173 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, with Hill leading all receivers on his squad with 82 yards on seven catches. 

The Seattle Seahawks ended their 2023 season with a 21-20 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, finishing the season at 9-8 and narrowly missing out on the postseason.

Seahawks players were seen smoking cigars in the locker room after the game. Seattle defensive back Tariq Woolen wrote on his Instagram Stories that some team members were celebrating Julian Love making the Pro Bowl and having a child.

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Former Seahawks punter Jon Ryan lamented the celebrations on X.

“The Seahawk way is a bit different these days I guess,” he wrote. “I could say a lot of things right now because I’m shaking with anger but I’ll just say I’m really disappointed.”

As Ryan began to be criticized for his opinion, he said he understood the reason for the celebration but that there was a “time and place” to do it.

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Julian Love of the Seattle Seahawks runs onto the field during player introductions before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lumen Field on December 18, 2023, in Seattle. (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

“Not taking shots at all I’m just disappointed. This wouldn’t have been accepted in my day. That’s all,” he added.

FOX 13 Seattle reporter Ian Furness added that not everyone in the locker room was on board with the celebration.

“This will be discussed a lot,” Furness wrote on X. “Will just add-Not everyone in the locker room was happy with the ‘celebration’ and cigar smoke following a season when they fell short of the postseason. Everyone will have an opinion but I know there are many vets in there who share Jon’s opinion.”

Ryan played for the Seahawks and Green Bay Packers during his career from 2006 to 2017, spending most of his time in Seattle.

Punter Jon Ryan of the Seattle Seahawks (Otto Greule Jr /Getty Images)

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He won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks in 2013 alongside the legendary “Legion of Boom” defense that included Earl Thomas, Bobby Wagner, Kam Chancellor, K.J. Wright and Richard Sherman.

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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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. 

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 #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.

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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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.

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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 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 home–field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. The Rams get in with a wild-card berth and will face the Detroit Lions.

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