Mitchell Starc is in career-best Test form and Pat Cummins is the No. 1 bowler in the world, and their efforts as part of effectively a three-man attack was outstanding in Perth. But Australia's victory was another triumph for Nathan Lyon.
Claiming the final wicket, when Tim Southee edged to slip, gave him six in the match, took his tally at Perth Stadium to 14 wickets in two outings, and followed the 5 for 69 in the second innings against Pakistan in Adelaide. It was in harsh contrast to the returns of New Zealand's main spinner, Mitchell Santner, who had match figures of 0 for 146 from 41 overs.
Lyon was always likely to play a key role on a surface that offered him turn, and - crucially - bounce, but he became a lifeline for Australia's depleted bowling unit as they hunted the 19 further wickets they needed after Josh Hazlewood's injury. "Gaz, you lock in from one end and we'll rotate from the other end," Lyon said of the fairly simple chat the bowlers had.
In the end, Australia only needed 121 overs to dismantle New Zealand twice, but Lyon's effectiveness meant Tim Paine knew he could trust him with one end to ensure he could get the best out of Starc and Cummins.
Lyon removed three of New Zealand's batting pillars: Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Tom Latham. All were outstanding pieces of offspin bowling. The contest with Taylor, which began on the second evening, was absorbing, with Lyon eventually teasing an outside edge. Williamson gloved to short leg when Lyon's first ball of the second innings reared off a length, and Latham was trapped lbw by one that slid on from around the wicket.
"Ross has been a world-class player from a long period of time now. He wanted to take me on to probably reduce how many balls he had to defend off me with the variable bounce and the amount of bounce I was able to get out there. It was a great battle," Lyon said. "I love being able to have those little battles when one of the best batters in the world wants to take you down and hit you out of the attack, it can be challenging, but I'm never going to shy away from one, so it's pretty special.
"I'm very happy with the way the ball is coming out of my hand at the moment, very confident with my stock ball and the more stock balls I'm able to put in that good area and challenge the defence, I'm going to be pretty happy with that. My best ball will hopefully challenge a lot of guys around the world."
Lyon is two bowlers in one for Australia and that's vital at a time when the debate around allrounders has started again, as it often does at this time of the year when Test series move to the traditionally flatter surfaces of Melbourne and Sydney. When Hazlewood went down, Paine said he did look around the field wishing for an allrounder, but knew in Lyon he still had a trump card.
"I can talk to Marnus [Labuschagne] as a second spinner but there's great cricket conversations where I'm learning off him, he's talking to me about the batters' mindset and I'm talking about it more like a bowlers' mindset"
Various combinations for the final two Tests of the series have already mooted - Justin Langer has hinted at the possibility of a five-man attack with four quicks for Melbourne - and Hazlewood's replacement will be confirmed on Tuesday.
Potential allrounder candidates Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green are not available, although Marcus Stoinis could be an outside chance and Paine also name-checked Moises Henriques, who has had a terrific season with the bat for New South Wales but doesn't bowl as much as he used to. With no obvious candidate available, Australia have to "find other ways to win", as Langer termed it. What Lyon gives them is therefore key, providing both an attacking and defensive role as part of a four-man attack.
"The workload doesn't worry me at all," Lyon said. "I love bowling and want the ball in my hand every opportunity I get. I'm just lucky I'm part of the best bowling squad in the world. It's pretty special. If I have to bowl a lot of overs, I'll do whatever it takes for the team."
In terms of adding balance to the side, the role of Marnus Labuschagne's legspin is becoming increasingly important. He spun a sharp legbreak through Santner in the first innings in Perth, and he and Lyon are starting to work as a pair.
"I've played enough cricket now to hopefully pass on a bit of advice here and there but I think Marnus' whole game has come a long way," Lyon said. "I can talk to Marnus as a second spinner but there's great cricket conversations where I'm learning off him, he's talking to me about the batters' mindset and I'm talking about it more like a bowlers' mindset."
The Texans' win put them in great shape in the AFC South, while the Eagles' victory kept their hopes alive in the NFC East. And the Patriots, as expected, secured a playoff berth with a win, as did their AFC East rivals, the Bills. The Packers held off a late charge by the Bears, and the Chiefs got it done in the snow.
Here are Week 15's biggest takeaways from NFL Nation.
The Bills are playoff-bound! Don't adjust the settings on whatever screen you're reading this on: For just the second time since the turn of the century, the Bills will play in the NFL's postseason. With two games remaining in the regular season, the Bills now can aim for an AFC East title. They can pull even with the Patriots when they face off in Week 16 and can take the division outright if they win out and the Patriots lose out. Clinching a playoff berth was a major milestone -- but with the division crown still in reach, Buffalo will save the celebrations for later. "We didn't win the Super Bowl," left tackle Dion Dawkins said. "This is normal now, this is normal. We're going to keep it going and see how far we can get." -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: at New England (4:30 p.m. ET Saturday)
The offensive weaknesses that have been consistently masked by stout defensive performances came to a head on Sunday. Two series-ending interceptions tossed by quarterback Devlin "Duck" Hodges late in the fourth quarter made clinching a playoff spot more difficult for the Steelers. Their chances to make the playoffs dropped from 59% entering the game to 45% with the loss. The Steelers still hold the No. 6 spot thanks to a tiebreaker with the Titans, but Pittsburgh will need to keep winning to ensure a playoff berth. The Steelers locker room certainly hasn't lost hope. "We control it," guard Ramon Foster said. "We can't go dig a hole for ourselves and think it's over with." -- Brooke Pryor
The Texans put a dagger in the Titans' hopes of winning the AFC South, despite quarterback Deshaun Watson throwing two interceptions. Now Houston can win the division for the fourth time in five years with a victory over the Buccaneers on Saturday. -- Sarah Barshop
Next game: at Tampa Bay (1 p.m. ET Saturday)
The Titans' four-game win streak, in which they scored 30 or more points per game, came to an end. Now they'll need all hands on deck against the Saints' high-octane passing attack next week. Also, keep an eye on the kicking game, which struggled thanks to another Ryan Succop field goal attempt being blocked. With the loss, Tennessee now has to win its final two games to have any chance of making the playoffs. -- Turron Davenport
What the NFL and outsiders think of the Packers may be quite a bit different from what they think of themselves. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers acknowledged after what to some might have looked like another ugly win. "I don't think we have the full respect of the league yet based on some of our performances where we got beat by a couple of scores and based on the reaction we got to know," Rodgers said. "But we are 7-1 at home and we have an inside track at the 2-seed. We have an opportunity to win the division next week which guarantees a home game and the third seed at worst. I like our chances. I like our football team." -- Rob Demovsky
Next game: at Minnesota (8:15 p.m. ET Monday, Dec. 23)
The Bears have no one to blame but themselves for mediocre 7-7 record. Chicago's roster is deep enough to win double-digit games, but the Bears squandered countless opportunities earlier in the season. They really have no business being even a .500 team. What's especially galling is how well the Bears played over the past month when they won three straight and four of five before dropping a heartbreaker to Green Bay. The Bears should be good enough to play with the NFC elite, but for whatever reason, they failed to resemble an elite team for a chunk of the season, and it cost them. -- Jeff Dickerson
Patrick Mahomes' bruised passing hand was not a problem as he threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns. The 10-4 Chiefs cruised to victory, something that has become typical against divisional opponents. They raised their record to 26-3 against AFC West opponents in the last five seasons, are 5-0 in such games this season -- with four of the victories coming by at least 18 points -- and clinched a fourth consecutive AFC West championship last week. The Chiefs, one game behind the Patriots for the AFC's No. 2 playoff seed, have one game left against an AFC West rival: Week 17 against the Chargers at Arrowhead. -- Adam Teicher
Next game: at Chicago (8:20 p.m. ET Sunday)
Sunday's snowy loss in Kansas City guaranteed the 5-9 Broncos their third consecutive losing season and their fourth consecutive playoff miss. It's clear the gap between them and the Chiefs isn't getting any smaller, and it might actually be growing as Mahomes continues on this track. The Broncos haven't beat the Chiefs since Peyton Manning retired after the 2015 season. Oh, and Mahomes just turned 24 in September and has thrown 73 touchdown passes in his past 28 starts. -- Jeff Legwold
The Patriots weren't looking Super Bowl-caliber at halftime, leading 13-10, but then turned it on to run away from the one-win Bengals. The bar has been raised so high in New England that anything but a double-digit blowout wasn't going to help quiet some of the growing questions about the team, and even then, the win might have come with a "Yeah, but it came against the Bengals." But this was a solid victory, buying the Patriots more time after back-to-back losses and providing some important things for them to build on with the Bills coming to town on Saturday in an AFC East clash. -- Mike Reiss
Next game: vs. Buffalo (4:30 p.m. ET Saturday)
play
1:21
Brady, Gilmore lead Patriots past Bengals
Tom Brady throws two touchdown passes and Stephon Gilmore runs back a long pick-six as the Patriots beat the Bengals.
Getting improved play out of its wide receivers will be a point of emphasis in the offseason. Once again, the unit was collectively called out by Bengals coach Zac Taylor after a lackluster offensive outing. Whether that comes from improved play from the current roster or bringing back A.J. Green or acquiring another player, the issue should be addressed given Taylor's comments throughout the season. "We got bullied," Taylor said after Sunday's loss to the Patriots. -- Ben Baby
The Seahawks are resilient. That was already apparent but especially so Sunday as they overcame the absences of key defensive players. By the end of their win over Carolina that total reached six, including captain Bobby Wagner with a sprained ankle. The Seahawks would prefer a division title and a first-round bye, which they'd be assured of if they beat Arizona next week and San Francisco in Week 17. But their 7-1 record away from CenturyLink Field would make having to go on the road as a wild-card team seem at least a little less daunting. -- Brady Henderson
Next game: vs. Arizona (4:25 p.m. ET Sunday)
Panthers coach Perry Fewell said after last week's loss at Atlanta that Kyle Allen would remain his starting quarterback, but then said after Sunday's loss he would evaluate the tape. The different responses may mean nothing. Or they may mean the Panthers are close to giving third-round pick Will Grier a chance to see what he can do. Allen, as efficient as he was during a 4-0 start after replacing Cam Newton, has been making way too many turnovers to give the Panthers a chance to win. His three picks on Sunday gave him 15 over the past eight games to only 10 touchdowns. "I need to start putting us in a position to help win the game,'' Allen said after losing his sixth straight start. -- David Newton
When asked about the losing culture that has characterized much of the Bucs' past decade, coach Bruce Arians proclaimed this week, "We ain't accepting this s--- anymore." Against the Lions, the Bucs showed they may indeed be in the midst of a culture overhaul, winning their fourth consecutive game to improve to 7-7. Now they have a shot at a signature win against a winning opponent when the Texans come to town next week. But they may have to absorb the loss of not only Mike Evans but also Chris Godwin, who left the game with a hamstring injury. Arians said, "It doesn't look good." -- Jenna Laine
Next game: vs. Houston (1 p.m. ET Saturday)
The crowd was fairly sparse and the fans -- at least in the first half -- gave more sarcastic cheers than real ones. It's another sign of frustration and apathy around a Lions franchise that hasn't been relevant in this NFL season since the start of November. The common word around the Lions' locker room is "frustration" about the game and the season. While players and coaches won't be jazzed about it, the loss did provide one good thing for Detroit: It moved the Lions closer to securing a top-five draft pick in 2020. -- Michael Rothstein
Quarterback Carson Wentz led the Eagles to a comeback win for the second straight week. This time it was via a 4-yard touchdown pass to Greg Ward Jr. in the closing seconds to lift the Eagles over the Redskins and bolster Philadelphia's playoff hopes. The win sets the stage for Sunday's Week 16 home game against the Cowboys, which will go a long way in deciding the NFC East champion. Wentz did not have a fourth-quarter comeback win this season before Week 14 and now has two over the past two weeks. And they could not have come at a better time. His confidence, and his teammates' confidence in him, is on the rise. -- Tim McManus
Next game: vs. Dallas (4:25 p.m. ET Sunday)
play
0:41
Bradham returns Haskins' fumble for TD on game's final play
Dwayne Haskins laterals the ball in the game's final seconds to avoid a sack, but he fumbles. Nigel Bradham scoops it up and goes 47 yards the other way for an Eagles touchdown.
The Redskins can feel good about rookie quarterback Dwayne Haskins' performance. He threw for a career-best 261 yards and two touchdowns. And he executed the quick-passing game, preventing the Eagles from getting a sack. This season has become all about his development, and he has continued to make strides. He's becoming more vocal with teammates on the field, too. Sunday he posted strong stats in a loss. The Redskins still need to see more before anyone can be convinced of his long-term potential, but he at least moved in a good direction. -- John Keim
This sure looked like Eli Manning's final home start. The longtime Giants quarterback was taken out in the final moments of a win over the Dolphins and greeted with a standing ovation and chants of his name. Manning admitted afterward it was a "special" afternoon, especially after being greeted by his three young daughters and infant son as he walked off the field. If this is it -- Daniel Jones could be back next Sunday from a high ankle sprain -- at least Manning got to go out with a rare victory. He threw a pair of touchdown passes as the Giants snapped a nine-game skid. He also evened his career regular-season record at 117-117. -- Jordan Raanan
Next game: at Washington (1 p.m. ET Sunday)
The Dolphins are on to 2020, and their massive and plentiful holes start in the trenches. They have the NFL's worst rushing offense and total defense, and they have allowed the most sacks -- all signs of a lack of quality linemen on both sides. Miami may need four new starting offensive linemen and two starting edge rushers. It'll be a busy offseason with all the work that needs to be done. -- Cameron Wolfe
The Vikings' defense rediscovered its mojo in a 39-10 win over the Chargers. For the first time since 1995, Minnesota recorded seven takeaways (four fumble recoveries, three interceptions). And for the first time in a while, the Vikings were able to flex their muscle and rediscover the element of this team that has been missing. The cornerback rotation Mike Zimmer has deployed in Minnesota's past two wins might be the fix for its pass defense. There are still a handful of areas that cause concern, notably the third-down defense, but Minnesota being able to carry over this type of performance against Green Bay and Chicago will indicate how far the Vikings can go in the postseason. -- Courtney Cronin
Next game: vs. Green Bay (8:15 p.m. ET Monday, Dec. 23)
play
1:29
Vikings defense forces 7 turnovers to steamroll Chargers
Vikings defense forces Philip Rivers to throw three interceptions and force 4 fumbles as Minnesota comes out on top 39-10.
The 39-10 blowout loss to the Vikings was the Chargers' worst performance of the season. They had seven turnovers and dropped to 5-9, ensuring coach Anthony Lynn will have his first losing season with the Chargers. However, in a disappointing year that began with expectations of a deep playoff run, receiver Mike Williams has been one of the few bright spots for the Chargers. Williams showed he could run the full route tree, finishing with four receptions for 71 yards including his second touchdown of the season. "If you give a guy like that a chance and put it in a place where you think it's a good spot, he makes it right," Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said. -- Eric D. Williams
The Cardinals gave a sneak peek of the future on Sunday with their win over the Browns. Arizona's offense looked as good as it's been all season. The question now becomes whether the Cardinals can continue to play at that level in the final two games, but for one week at least, all phases of the offense seemed to come together under quarterback Kyler Murray and coach Kliff Kingsbury. -- Josh Weinfuss
Next game: at Seattle (4:25 p.m. ET Sunday)
Cleveland's 2019 season began with massive expectations. With two games still to go, it could already be over. The Browns (6-8) were effectively eliminated from the playoff conversation Sunday, as the Arizona Cardinals put the finishing touches on one of the NFL's biggest disappointments with an emphatic victory. The Browns will officially be eliminated from playoff contention if the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. Either way, the focus moving forward in Cleveland won't be about the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens, whom the Browns face next weekend in an anticlimactic rematch. Instead, it will be about what Cleveland might do in the offseason, and what changes might be coming.-- Jake Trotter
Gardner Minshew II made a pretty good argument on Sunday to be the Jaguars' starting quarterback next season by leading his third game-winning drive. Minshew led the Jaguars to 17 unanswered points in the final 16 minutes. His numbers weren't impressive (201 yards, two TDs), but this was Minshew's best performance since he threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns in a victory over the New York Jets on Oct. 27, the last game the Jaguars won. The Jaguars' quarterback situation is murky for 2020 and beyond. Nick Foles will be in the second year of the four-year, $88 million contract he signed this past March and carries a $33.875 million dead salary-cap hit. He played poorly when he regained the starting job after his collarbone injury and Minshew needed to finish the season strong to have a case to unseat him as the starter again. Minshew did his part on Sunday. -- Mike DiRocco
Next game: at Atlanta (1 p.m. ET Sunday)
Derek Carr was booed off the field. Vociferously. And while the Raiders' meltdown in their 20-16 loss to the Jaguars in their final game in Oakland might not completely have been his fault, the offense did go stagnant in getting shut out in the second half. It was as stunning as it was surreal, with angry fans throwing everything from nachos to beer to soda on the field in the closing moments of the game. And when Carr sprinted to the locker room, the boos grew louder. Asked about the fan reaction, Carr shrugged and smiled. "Oh, gosh," Carr said. "What's new with our crowd? Whenever we don't win, that's going to happen. Trust me, it's not under my skin. It's nothing." Asked what his message was to the fans, Carr said, "I'm sure they don't want to hear anything right now." -- Paul Gutierrez
Next game: at Los Angeles Chargers (4:05 p.m. ET Sunday)
After losing three consecutive games and hearing constant talk about the future of coach Jason Garrett, the Cowboys know this after beating the Rams on Sunday: If they beat the Eagles next Sunday, they will win the NFC East and make it to the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time since 2006-07. "We're lucky to have this opportunity," said linebacker Sean Lee, who had an interception and sack Sunday. "A lot of teams with our record don't and we need to take advantage of this situation. We know, especially the last three games, we didn't play like we wanted to play. Defensively, we didn't play up to our identity and so we have to do that continuously and make plays and get this win next week." -- Todd Archer
Next game: at Philadelphia (4:25 p.m. ET Sunday)
Count the Rams' loss to the Cowboys on Sunday among their most inexplicable losses in an 8-6 season, as they teeter on the verge of playoff elimination. The Rams entered Sunday's game knowing they likely would need to win their remaining three games to make the postseason, as they trail the Vikings for a final wild-card spot. After a performance that displayed a total lack of urgency on offense and defense, the Rams' playoff chances have dwindled to 5.1%, according to ESPN's Football Power Index, and they must now prepare for the 49ers on a short week. -- Lindsey Thiry
Next game: at San Francisco (8:15 p.m. ET Saturday)
The Falcons did the right thing in relying on their best player against arguably the NFC's top team as Julio Jones scored two touchdowns in the Falcons' upset of the 49ers. Jones caught 13 passes for 134 yards on a season-high 20 targets, including six receptions for 59 yards and the game winner on eight fourth-quarter targets. If this game shifted owner Arthur Blank's thinking on Dan Quinn's job status for the 5-9 Falcons, Quinn will have Jones to thank for it. Quinn and the Falcons now have beaten arguably the NFC's top two teams -- the 49ers and the Saints -- both on the road. But Quinn can't afford for his team to have a letdown next week at home against Jacksonville. -- Vaughn McClure
Next game: vs. Jacksonville (1 p.m. ET Sunday)
play
1:21
Falcons complete comeback after chaotic late-game sequence
After an Austin Hooper touchdown is taken off the board with a reversed call, the Falcons win on a reversed call in their favor on Julio Jones' touchdown.
The 49ers clinched a playoff berth and still control their playoff positioning, but they can't afford any more letdowns. The Niners learned the hard way Sunday how difficult it is to turn it back on after an emotional, playoff-type win in New Orleans last week, dropping a stunning 29-22 decision to the Atlanta Falcons (5-9). If the Niners win their final two games against the Rams (8-6) and Seahawks (11-3), they still can win the NFC West Division and clinch the NFC's No. 1 seed. But there's zero margin for error in either of those games if they want to make any noise in the postseason. "I hope our team learns from this game that if we don't bring the intensity, then we will be [headed to] a quick season ending," tight end George Kittle said. -- Nick Wagoner
Next game: vs. Los Angeles Rams (8:15 p.m. ET Saturday)
The Ravens continue to run over the NFL. In winning its 10th consecutive game, Baltimore ran for 218 yards against the Jets, keeping pace to break the league record for most rushing yards in a season. This marked the Ravens' fifth win by 20 points or more, and they can clinch the AFC's No. 1 seed with a win in Cleveland on Sunday. -- Jamison Hensley
Next game: at Cleveland (1 p.m. ET Sunday)
The Jets were totally outclassed by the Ravens. Now they will try to steal a win against the Steelers to avoid an 0-4 season against the AFC North. One positive: Jets running back Le'Veon Bell, who faces his old team, will be coming off his best rushing day (season-high 87 yards). -- Rich Cimini
Five teams clinched spots in the NFL playoffs on Sunday, bringing the total to eight and leaving four spots remaining to be filled over the final two weeks of the regular season.
The Bills were the latest entrant, as their victory Sunday night at Pittsburgh guaranteed their second trip to the postseason in three years and their first 10-win campaign since 1999. Also clinching berths were the Patriots, Packers, 49ers and Seahawks. The 49ers got in despite a last-second loss to the Falcons, but the defeat bumped the Niners from the top spot in the NFC to No. 5.
Note: X denotes a team that has clinched a playoff berth, Y shows a team that has clinched its division and Z indicates a team that has secured a first-round bye. An asterisk shows home-field advantage.
The Ravens clinched the AFC North title on Thursday night by defeating the Jets, and they need one more victory to ensure the AFC's No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. FPI gives them a 98.1% chance to do it. On the other hand, losses in their final two games could drop the Ravens to the No. 3 seed, provided the Patriots and Chiefs both win out.
The Patriots are in the playoffs for the 11th consecutive year, courtesy of Sunday's win in Cincinnati. Their likeliest seed is No. 2, which comes with a first-round bye. FPI projects an 85.7% chance of that scenario. But they could be bumped down to No. 3 if they lose one (or both) of their final two games and the Chiefs win out.
The Chiefs entered Week 15 having already secured the AFC West title, but Sunday's victory over the Broncos preserved the possibility of moving into one of the top two seeds over the final two weeks. Because they have defeated both the Ravens and the Patriots, the Chiefs would hold the head-to-head tiebreaker if they finish tied at 11-5 with the Patriots or at 12-4 with either the Patriots or Ravens, or both. FPI still gives the Chiefs a better chance to fall to No. 4 (18.3%) than to jump to No. 2 (13.2%) or No. 1 (1.3%), but stranger things have happened.
After dispatching the Titans on Sunday, the Texans are now one victory away from winning the AFC South. In that scenario, FPI projects a 72.2% chance of the Texans keeping the No. 4 seed. They do hold a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Chiefs, however, and could overtake Kansas City at No. 3 if they win one more game than the Chiefs the rest of the way.
The Bills clinched a playoff spot Sunday night by defeating the Steelers. And Buffalo isn't out of the AFC East race, either. As unlikely as it might seem, the Bills could overtake the Patriots by winning their final two games -- including next Saturday at New England -- and having the Patriots lose again in Week 17 to the Dolphins. But for now, the Bills will celebrate their second trip to the playoffs in the past three seasons.
The Steelers lost Sunday night for only the second time in their past nine games. But they remained in the No. 6 seed because of the Titans' loss to the Texans. The Steelers hold the tiebreaker over the Titans because of one fewer conference loss.
Few people expected the Seahawks back up here, at least in Week 15. Their victory at Carolina clinched a playoff spot, but the 49ers' unexpected home loss to the Falcons allowed Seattle to leapfrog once again to the top of the NFC West -- and therefore the entire conference. (The Seahawks hold an edge on Green Bay because they have a better record against common opponents.)
What happens next? It could get complicated. The Seahawks can ensure an NFC West title by winning their final two games, including a Week 17 matchup against the 49ers. But Seattle would need help to hold on to the No. 1 seed. In part because the Saints hold the head-to-head tiebreaker between the teams, FPI is giving the Seahawks a 33.5% chance to secure home-field advantage.
The Packers clinched a playoff spot on Sunday in defeating Chicago, and they can win the NFC North with a victory next Monday night in Minnesota. But the Packers are in good shape regardless. Even if they lose to the Vikings, they can clinch the NFC North by beating the Lions in Week 17. To maintain the No. 2 spot in that scenario, the Packers would need the Saints to lose two of their final three games. FPI gives the Packers a 41.1% chance to wind up with a first-round bye.
The 49ers' loss was only a marginal help to the Saints' chances to move back into the top spot in the conference. While New Orleans holds the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Seahawks, the Saints would lose a three-way tie with the Seahawks and Packers because of conference record. In other words, the Saints are going to need help from the Packers -- perhaps a loss to the Vikings in Week 16 -- to get back into the conversation for home-field advantage. But first, the Saints must keep pace Monday night against the Colts.
The Cowboys finally gave us a performance that suggests they are ready -- and willing -- to make the playoffs. Their resounding victory over the Rams sets up the opportunity to clinch the NFC East in Week 16. If the Cowboys defeat the Eagles in Philadelphia, they'll win the division based on the head-to-head tiebreaker. Even if the Eagles win, the Cowboys could still secure the division with a victory in Week 17 against the Redskins. FPI is giving the Cowboys a 65.1% chance to finish the season as the division champions.
The 49ers clinched a playoff spot despite an unexpected letdown at home to the previously 4-9 Falcons. The loss temporarily set back their path to home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, but the 49ers still can get there by winning their final two games. That includes a Week 17 matchup in Seattle.
The Vikings are one win away from clinching a playoff spot -- and they have a chance to move up to the No. 5 seed if they win one of their final two games and the 49ers lose their final two contests, according to the ESPN Playoff Machine. FPI is giving the Vikings an 18.3% chance of doing that.
To win the NFC North, Minnesota will need to win out and have the Packers lose in Week 17 to the Lions. FPI is giving the Vikings a 17.1% chance of overtaking the Packers.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Sacramento Kings set an NBA season high with 29 turnovers but still managed to overwhelm the Golden State Warriors100-79 on Sunday night. The two teams combined for 50 turnovers and countless mental errors leaving both players and coaches on both sides searching for answers.
"We made a million mistakes ourselves," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "I've never seen a box score like this where we forced 29 turnovers and lost by 21 points. It's almost impossible to do that. It shows you how poorly we played. Our decision making was awful. One turnover after another, and then defensively we went under screens on great shooters. All kinds of mistakes. Very little communication. It was an embarrassing loss tonight."
After losing to the lowly New York Knicks at home Friday night, Kings coach Luke Walton was just happy to walk out of Chase Center with a victory.
The amount of turnovers gave the first-year coach some pause. The Kings' 29 turnovers were the most by any NBA team in a win since 2004, according to ESPN Stats and Information research. They were the most turnovers by the Kings in any game since 1996 -- and the most turnovers they've had in a win since 1984 when the team was still based in Kansas City.
"We had an early lead and we got casual again," Walton said of all the turnovers. And in this league, you get casual and teams are going to make you pay. So I'll go back and watch the tape, but my guess is a lot of those turnovers were just us being lazy with the ball or not going to attack the basket."
Kings big man Marvin Bagley had to chuckle when asked if he had ever seen a game in which a team turned the ball over that many times and still won by more than 20.
"Probably in high school, but I don't remember," Bagley said. "But we can't do that, we can't have that many turnovers and expect to win multiple games. That's something we work on, and I think we'll be all right, we just got to go watch film and make better decisions."
Kings swingman Buddy Hield didn't seem concerned with all the lapses, pointing out that his team actually shot very well from the floor. The Kings finished the game shooting 60.3 percent from the field and had 27 assists.
"Just basketball, man," Hield said. "Sometimes teams miss shots, [they] turn it over and get another chance. We shot the ball well tonight, so that made up for our mistakes on the offensive end turning over the ball."
The Warriors performance was so bad that it left the group's emotional leader, Draymond Green, trying to find the right words to explain how poorly his group played.
"Their turnovers should help," Green said. "I've actually never seen -- what did they finish with 27 turnovers?"
When told the Kings had 29 turnovers, Green couldn't really believe it.
"We lost by 20," Green said. "I ain't never seen that s--- before. ... We sucked. In every way, shape and form."
The Warriors' 79 points were the least scored in a home game during the Kerr era. The team, which has been riddled with injuries all season, continues to play without Stephen Curry (broken hand), Klay Thompson (left ACL rehab) and rookie forward Eric Paschall, who missed his second straight game because of left hip soreness. But those absences don't give Green much solace. The proud veteran leader appeared as outwardly frustrated as he's been all year.
"Inconsistency," Green said of his team's struggles. "It's frustrating. There's not really many other ways to put it. ... It's tough. It's really tough."
As the Warriors continue looking for answers, the Kings remain hopeful that their best basketball is ahead. The organization is hoping to get injured guard De'Aaron Fox back at some point this week, possibly as early as Tuesday when they travel to Charlotte to face the Hornets. Fox has been out since suffering a grade three left ankle sprain in a Nov. 11th practice.
Hield couldn't hide his excitement when asked about the different looks he'll get when Fox returns to the floor.
"His speed's ridiculous," Hield said. "He's a special talent. I'm the perfect fit to run with him and play with him, so yeah [I'm looking forward to his return].
ATLANTA -- The Los Angeles Lakers kept up their winning ways Sunday, downing the Atlanta Hawks 101-96 to extend their road victory streak to 14 and improve their overall record to 24-3. But the night left Lakers coach Frank Vogel pointing to potential cracks in the foundation.
"We didn't play a great game tonight," Vogel said after his team coughed up a season-high 22 turnovers and shot just 5-for-31 on 3-pointers. "If we play that in the next two games, the way we did tonight, we'll leave with a loss. It doesn't matter whether we win or lose, we want to have a growth mindset."
The win kept L.A. tied with the Milwaukee Bucks for the league's best mark, and one of those two games Vogel warned about is a date with the reigning MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, in Milwaukee on Thursday. But first comes a showdown with an Indiana Pacers team that is 18-9 (11-3 at home) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Tuesday.
"I think after the game a lot of us (were) upset at how we came out and started the game, we allowed the Hawks to run the score up tonight," Dwight Howard said, alluding to how Atlanta twice cut an eight-point, fourth-quarter lead for L.A. down to a one-possession game. "So we know we have to do better but we understand that there might be some games like this and we have to find other ways to win."
There wasn't a sense of alarm in the Lakers' visiting locker room at State Farm Arena, but rather the feeling that they can and should play better.
"We understand that every game creates its own challenges," LeBron James said. "And if we don't come out with the mindset to try to win and execute the right way, we could be beat by anyone no matter what the record. Because we know when we play teams, no matter what their records are -- above .500, below .500 -- they're going to give us their best shot and we got that tonight."
James' last point was echoed by several teammates.
"We knew this would be a big game for them, Super Bowl Sunday was kind of the mindset going into the game," Lakers guard Rajon Rondo said. "We always know that we get everyone's best punch. So tonight give them credit, they played well. But at the end of the day like I said it's all about the W and that's all we care about."
Despite their dominant overall record, Sundays have been tough on the Lakers. Two of their three losses came on a Sunday and they have avoided several other close calls like the Hawks game.
It came a day after James flew to Ohio to see his son Bronny James Jr.'s Sierra Canyon High School basketball team play against his alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary. James did his best to make up for any weariness from his trip or the Lakers' Sunday woes by authoring a handful of high-energy plays on the court.
He pretended to block Rajon Rondo's shot after Rondo looked him off on a lob opportunity on a fast break, he threw a no-look pass through his legs behind him to a trailing Dwight Howard for a dunk, he threw down several dunks of his own and also dialed in from long distance from 3, hitting a 27-footer and a 36-footer.
"It just keeps everybody engaged and just cheering for each other," Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said of James' efforts. "We love each other. We love being around each other on and off the court. It just feels good to be around these guys and the brotherhood we have."
It wasn't all pretty, but it was enough. Enough to get the win and enough to withstand a turned right ankle to Anthony Davis as well, which Davis played through.
"We're resilient," Davis said. "And we're going to keep fighting. We won in multiple ways, we had blowouts, we have close games, and we always find a way to win, no matter how tough it is. It's never easy to win on the road, no matter the other team's record, but a win on the road is always tough, but we don't take no teams for granted."
There have been small signs since he took over at Tottenham of the old Jose Mourinho -- the good Jose Mourinho, the one you probably hated if you didn't support his team but definitely loved if you did. But perhaps Tottenham's 2-1 win over Wolves on Sunday was the biggest one yet, a victory achieved with a late header that was frankly a robbery, Wolves arguably aggrieved they didn't get all three points, let alone none at all.
"It's one of these victories where quality is not enough," said Mourinho after the game. "If you're not a team, a real team, in the real sense of what the word 'team' means, it's impossible.
"[Tottenham's players] are very, very good. I tell that before the match, and I tell the same after the match."
Mourinho's most basic remit is to get the best from this squad, to make them more than the sum of their parts, because his predecessor had seemingly lost the ability to. Results like this suggest he's getting towards doing just that.
play
1:11
Man City's 3-0 win was 'complimentary' to Arsenal
Shaka Hislop takes aim at Arsenal and their lack of a plan following the Gunners' loss against Man City.
City defeat displays all of Arsenal's problems
It's probably a neat summation of how things are and have been at Arsenal that they conceded a third goal to Manchester City when down to 10 men, a scenario completely of their own making. Who knows why they removed Sead Kolasinac before Bukayo Saka was ready, and who knows why Saka wasn't ready in the first place, but it speaks to the dithering attitude that has pervaded this club for years. If you're so inclined, you could throw in Kolasinac himself ducking slightly out of the way for Kevin De Bruyne's first strike, as further evidence of their issues.
Of course, these were isolated incidents that you can read too much into, but if you really want to understand the state of things at Arsenal you just have to look in the dugout. Freddie Ljungberg might turn out to be a fine coach one day but the only reason he is there is because the club sacked Unai Emery with seemingly no earthly idea of what they would do next. It surely couldn't have taken them by surprise that a change might have to be made, so to have no succession plan in place or even in mind is absurd.
Losing 3-0 to this City side is not the end of the world but the scoreline could have been much, much worse. It turns out those nine electric minutes against West Ham may well have been the exception, rather than the rule.
play
1:04
Chelsea lack players with the 'personality' of a leader
Alejandro Moreno says Chelsea need to figure out a way to get results when things "are not perfect."
Which is the real Chelsea?
How worried should Chelsea fans be about this slump? They have lost four of the last five in the league, three of which have given a previously beleaguered opposition manager a little hope and optimism.
Perhaps the most worrying thing about Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth was that, while you'd struggle to say Bournemouth dominated or anything close to it, this wasn't a smash and grab and Chelsea can't really consider themselves unlucky.
"Today wasn't a 'We've created a load of chances day,'" said manager Frank Lampard afterwards. "We created two or three great chances and we need to take them if we want to improve."
So which is the real Chelsea? The one that lost just two of their opening 12 games or the one defeated in four of their last five? Is this a young, inexperienced side with a young, inexperienced manager reverting to the mean or just suffering the sort of blip that is inevitable in such a situation? Their upcoming games should be fascinating: next, Mourinho and Tottenham Hotspur.
Wounded Bournemouth's win was remarkable
Regardless of Chelsea's weaknesses, it was still an extraordinary victory for Bournemouth, not only because it was just their second in 11 games and broke a run of five straight defeats, but because they did it with a squad laid waste by injuries. They were without nine first-teamers on Saturday, including the scorers of 13 of their 18 goals before the game, then they lost another three when Josh King was forced off in the second-half.
The trick now for Bournemouth is to make sure this result truly stops the rot rather than it simply being a one-off. Instinctively you think they couldn't get dragged into a relegation scrap given their quality of squad and manager, but teams are only ever too good to go down until they aren't. Getting a few injured players back will be great, but the mental boost of this victory could be just as valuable.
play
1:35
Moreno: There's still a better version of Liverpool out there
Ale Moreno says that while Liverpool keep winning, he wonders when they'll hit the standards expected of them.
Let's remember how good Salah is
The problem Mohamed Salah has is that, after two seasons of otherworldly brilliance, more basic brilliance doesn't get quite so much attention. His two goals against Watford -- both exceptional and inventive in their own ways -- brought his total up to nine in 14 games, and if he continues on that pace he'll finish the season on 25 or thereabouts. That would have been comfortably enough to be the division's top-scorer last season, and indeed in 13 other Premier League seasons too.
Liverpool again eked out a result at the weekend without playing brilliantly. In fact, if it was against a team who had put their boots on the correct feet, something Watford seemed to have neglected if their finishing was anything to go by, they would almost certainly have lost. But again, you would hesitate to call it luck, given how many times they have won in just this manner. There isn't much lucky about having 49 points from 17 games and a 10 point lead before Christmas.
Their real strength perhaps lies in the fact that Salah hasn't been getting quite as much praise this season. There's so much to eulogise about in this Liverpool team, so many players to declare their best or their key threat, that any one of them can win them games. This weekend, it was Salah. Next time, it will be someone else. They're football's answer to Whack-A-Mole: If you neutralise one, another pops up and you continue until one of you gives in. And it probably isn't going to be Liverpool.
The numbers look bad, but there's hope for Watford
The statistic that was circulating all weekend is that no team has ever survived in the Premier League with as few as nine points from 17 games. In theory that emphasises Watford's doom, but after watching how they played at Anfield, you couldn't help but develop a little more faith in their prospects.
The pessimist might say that their abject finishing -- with Ismaila Sarr and Gerard Deulofeu particularly at fault this time -- will cost them, as it has so far: they've scored a pathetic nine goals so far this season. But a more optimistic view is that they keep creating chances at that rate, they will start picking up points soon enough.
play
1:34
Is Solskjaer struggling to motivate Man United?
The FC guys question Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's ability to keep Man United inspired after their draw vs. Everton.
Greenwood evokes comparisons with the greats
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hasn't been shy of comparing Mason Greenwood, only 18 for a couple of months, to some of Manchester United's most recent greats. In recent days it was Wayne Rooney, but it's a comparison that cropped up a few weeks ago that feels more apposite.
Greenwood's equaliser against Everton, a low, reverse shot that required a bit of luck to go through some defensive legs, was nonetheless unerring, a finish that was very reminiscent of Robin van Persie, a comparison Solskjaer agreed with when put to him in November.
The interesting thing now is whether Greenwood's form, finishing ability and increasing confidence will persuade United that they don't actually need a striker in the January transfer window. You would imagine that will place a lot of pressure on an extremely young player, but both manager and club seem extremely invested in the idea of giving youth a chance. Expect to see plenty more of Greenwood.
play
1:44
Kean substitution 'embarrassing' for Ferguson
Craig Burley says Everton's Duncan Ferguson subbing Moise Kean on and off is a poor look for the manager.
Ferguson hung Kean out to dry -- and for what?
Perhaps Duncan Ferguson felt he was making the ultimate pragmatist's move by substituting the substitute, Moise Kean, in the closing stages of Everton's trip to Old Trafford. Perhaps this was a kick up the rear for a player who has already been punished this season for lax timekeeping. Perhaps this is an exercise in tough love.
But Ferguson should also remember that in all likelihood he won't be Everton manager for too much longer. The word is that the club want someone more established, and so Ferguson will have to either leave or return to his job a little lower down the chain. There might be no chance for him to work with Kean, to teach him that being humiliated in front of 75,000 in person and millions more on TV was actually the right thing for his development, to ensure that this didn't just look like a petty power move.
Even Kean's biggest cheerleaders can't argue that he has been a success so far at Everton, but that doesn't mean he deserves to be hung out to dry like this.
Luckiest moment of the weekend
Everton might consider themselves a little fortunate to get away with their point against Manchester United on the general balance of play. But they enjoyed even more fortune for their goal, and not even just because it bounced in off a hapless Victor Lindelof.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin's challenge on David De Gea -- forearm in throat, barged with no little force -- was reminiscent of the sort of stuff Nat Lofthouse used to get away with in the 1950s. The rules have changed just a little since then, as ably demonstrated just a day earlier when a very similar, if not near-identical foul by Wesley on Mat Ryan saw a goal disallowed for Aston Villa. It might be unrealistic to expect absolute consistency over subjective decisions, but everyone at United can feel aggrieved.
OAKLAND -- The jeers were noticeable as Derek Carr jogged to the Black Hole to thank fans for the support they had shown him since arriving to the Oakland Raiders as a second-round draft pick in 2014.
And after fans showered the quarterback's scrum with beer, soda and assorted trash, the boos from the sold-out crowd of 52,788 at RingCentral Coliseum grew thunderous as Carr emerged into full view of fans and sprinted toward the tunnel to the locker room.
As such, the curtain fell on the Raiders' second tenure in Oakland with a devastating, last-minute, 20-16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, a day in which the Raiders, who are moving to Las Vegas in 2020, were shut out in the second half and gave up two touchdowns in the final five-plus minutes.
"Oh gosh," Carr said when asked about his being booed off the field. "What's new with our crowd? Whenever we don't win, that's going to happen. Trust me, it's not under my skin. It's nothing."
Carr's voice trailed off. Asked later what his message would be to the fans, he shrugged and smiled.
"Message to the fans?" he said. "I'm sure they don't want to hear anything right now."
Not when the Raiders had so clearly dominated in the first half, holding a halftime lead of 16-3. Not when the Raiders were officially eliminated from the AFC playoff race. And not when the Raiders sent their East Bay fans home with such a sour taste in their mouths, the Raiders dropping their fourth straight game to fall to 6-8.
play
0:20
Referee asks Oakland crowd to stop using lasers
Officials in the Jaguars-Raiders game stop play to tell fans to stop pointing lasers at the players.
The next time the Raiders play a home game, it will be in a 65,000-seat, state-of-the-art, domed Allegiant Stadium with a natural-grass field just off the Las Vegas Strip.
Indeed, it has been a long, strange farewell to Oakland since the Raiders won the right to move to Southern Nevada in the spring of 2017. And, if there are significant construction delays in Las Vegas, the Raiders have the option to play next season in Oakland.
But on this day, it was a goodbye party that began as a raucous celebration of a franchise that actually began AFL play in San Francisco in 1960 and moved to Oakland in 1962 before moving into the Coliseum in 1966.
The pregame tailgates, a unique experience in Oakland, were packed and filled with emotions. Charles Woodson lit the memorial Al Davis Torch. Several Raiders Hall of Famers and legends such as Jim Otto, Fred Biletnikoff, Tom Flores, Jim Plunkett, Marcus Allen and Tim Brown took part in a halftime ceremony honoring the franchise's six decades of play.
But the party turned somber, and then rowdy with the loss. More than an hour after the final whistle, fireworks were still going off in the parking lot. And not with a triumphant tone.
"I'd like to say I wish we could have sent the Raiders fans off with a lot better finish than that," said Raiders coach Jon Gruden. "I think, most importantly, before we talk about the game, is I would like to thank the fans. I would like to thank the city of Oakland for supporting the Raiders and being faithful, and I'll miss them.
"I love them, and I'm sorry about the outcome today, but I think that is something that needs to be said, and I really apologize that we weren't able to deliver a victory."
play
0:47
Gruden gives thanks to Raider fans
Jon Gruden apologizes to Raider nation for not getting the win but thanks them for their everlasting support throughout the years.
Security ringed the field at the end of the third quarter, when Oakland still led 16-6, in an effort to stop fans from rushing the field as they did in last season's finale, when it appeared then as though the Raiders were playing their last game at the Coliseum.
But as the Jaguars rallied, the crowd grew tense. And when Chris Conley hauled in a 4-yard touchdown catch with 31 seconds to play to give the Jaguars a four-point lead with the PAT, the trash came flying onto the field.
A plastic half-football filled with nacho cheese. A cup holder ripped from a seat. Water bottles. Liquid spray.
"I'm going to tell myself that was beer," said one photographer who was hit.
At least two fans were arrested after going on the field from the south end zone seats, while others were trying to rip the "RAIDERS" signage from atop a dugout.
"I mean, it's a good thing because they know they lost," Jaguars rookie defensive end Josh Allen said of the postgame atmosphere. "We made history. Last game here. They're always going to remember that. I'll let them know that. I'll let them know that."
Perhaps fittingly, the last play of the game was a Hail Mary pass from Carr to a gaggle of players in the end zone, the ball bouncing off the helmet of Raiders receiver Keelan Doss with Marcell Ateman trying to make a play on the ball.
And with that, the Raiders' record at the Coliseum fell to 94-106 in regular-season and postseason games since they returned from a 13-season sojourn in Los Angeles in 1995. They were 98-26-3 in Oakland from 1966 through 1981.
The Raiders had just one winning season over their final 17 years in Oakland, going 12-4 in 2016. The only losing season they had in their first Oakland tenure? When, as defending Super Bowl champs, they went 7-9 in 1981, the year before they moved to Southern California.
"Literally, the only thing you can do is watch the film, correct it, work out tomorrow and get ready for the next game," Carr said. "It's a sucky thing sometimes.
"So, you can sulk and be sad and sit there and complain and point fingers and things like that. But you can point all the fingers at me. That's OK."
The fans had already done just that, fairly or not.
With the three best free-agent starters already signed, Madison Bumgarner had risen to the top of the remaining crop, as he and Hyun-Jin Ryu were clearly better than the other starting pitchers still on the market. Bumgarner seemed like an ideal fit for a number of contenders, including the Los Angeles Angels. So it was a mild surprise to see the Arizona Diamondbacks, who had just moved Zack Greinke's massive contract in July and had supposedly shopped Robbie Ray, jump in with a five-year, $85 million deal to make Bumgarner their nominal ace.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers' playoff drought is over. But it didn't happen how they wanted.
For the first time since 2013, the 49ers are headed to the postseason, but they needed some help to get there after a 29-22 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at Levi's Stadium.
Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan drove the Falcons 70 yards in the closing moments to throw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Julio Jones with two seconds left. Jones caught the ball at the goal line and was initially ruled short, but a review overturned it for a touchdown. The score put the Falcons ahead 23-22, and Atlanta scored again as time expired when Olamide Zaccheaus returned a failed lateral attempt by the 49ers for a touchdown.
Sunday's loss made the Niners the first team to win 10 games in a season and also lose at least three games in the final 10 seconds of regulation and overtime since the 2000 Philadelphia Eagles, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Although the 49ers acknowledged that breaking their playoff drought was a step in the right direction, the overwhelming feeling in the locker room was one of disappointment that it came with some help rather than their own victory.
"I'm glad we're in," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "It starts with that. That's cool but doesn't make me feel better right now."
The defeat dropped the 11-3 Niners into a tie with the Seahawks atop the NFC West division, with Seattle holding the tiebreaker because of its win against the Niners earlier this season. The Niners currently sit in the fifth spot in the NFC playoff picture and would have to go on the road to open the postseason if the season ended Sunday.
Fortunately for the Niners, who are 3-3 in their past six games, the season didn't end Sunday.
Coming off a 48-46 win against New Orleans after which five key players were ruled out this week or longer because of injuries, the Niners were noticeably sluggish on Sunday.
In addition to the attrition, the Niners were coming off a three-game gantlet against Green Bay, Baltimore and New Orleans, with the latter two on the road in a 10-day trip that included a stop in Bradenton, Florida, for the week of practice between the Ravens and Saints game.
While Shanahan didn't see signs of a letdown, multiple players believed there was a drop off in intensity from last week in New Orleans to this week against the Falcons, who entered at 4-9.
"We for sure could have came out with a little more juice as a team in general," linebacker Fred Warner said. "I was trying to get us going a little bit but even myself, I felt like I still could have brought even more early on in the game and as the game went on. I always look at myself when it comes to that kind of stuff on defense me bringing that juice and the energy."
Tight end George Kittle was one of the few bright spots, doing most of the heavy lifting for the offense. Kittle set a career high for catches in a game with 13, coming on 17 targets, to go with 134 yards. In the process, Kittle moved into first place for most receiving yards by a tight end in his first three seasons, passing Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski and Mike Ditka. Kittle now has 2,780 receiving yards for his career.
But it was the one play Kittle made that left him upset after the game. On third-and-4 at Atlanta's 28 with 1:59 to go, Kittle caught a quick pass in the right flat from quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and turned upfield.
With the first down marker in his sights, Kittle attempted to switch the ball to his opposite hand so he could extend a stiff arm. He lost the ball and recovered it at Atlanta's 25, a yard short of the first down. Instead of a first down and the chance to essentially run the clock out, the Niners settled for a field goal that left time for Atlanta to drive for Jones' winning touchdown.
"Just dropped it," Kittle said. "Tried to switch hands so I could stiff arm him. It didn't work out well for me.
"I wish I could play right now. It's a sour taste, I'd love to get it out of my mouth right now. We've got 24 hours to flush it and get back to work."
When Kittle wasn't providing the offense, the Niners struggled to get much of anything else going. Fullback Kyle Juszczyk's 2-yard touchdown catch gave the Niners a 19-10 lead in the fourth quarter, but they coughed it up with the Falcons scoring three touchdowns in the final 5:15.
After finishing 2018 at 4-12 and picking second in last year's NFL draft, San Francisco still remains in control of its playoff positioning. The 49ers close out the season at home against the Rams on Saturday followed by a potential clash for the NFC West and the NFC's No. 1 seed against the Seahawks in Seattle on Dec. 29.
Despite the loss, if the 49ers win those final two games, they would not only win the division, but also wrap up the NFC's top seed and home-field advantage through the NFC portion of the playoffs. San Francisco holds head-to-head tiebreakers against the Saints and Packers, the other two top contenders in the NFC aside from the Seahawks.
"That (playoff berth) is something to be proud of, but no it does not (feel good)," tackle Mike McGlinchey said. "We would have liked to have been in on a victory and have done that. Unfortunately, we didn't, but we're in the dance now and we got to close out these next two weeks and hopefully put ourselves in position for a nice road to the Super Bowl."
(9:01) (Shotgun) D.Hodges pass short middle to J.Samuels to PIT 36 for 5 yards (T.Edmunds).
1REC
5YDS
0TD
NBC
1
2
3
4
T
Bills
0
7
0
7
Steelers
0
3
7
10
second Quarter
BUF
PIT
TD
14:22
Josh Allen 1 Yard Rush, S.Hauschka extra point is GOOD, Center-R.Ferguson, Holder-C.Bojorquez.
9 plays, 40 yards, 4:23
7
0
FG
11:31
Chris Boswell Made 49 Yrd Field Goal
6 plays, 41 yards, 2:56
7
3
third Quarter
BUF
PIT
TD
11:18
James Conner Pass From Devlin Hodges for 11 Yrds, C.Boswell extra point is GOOD, Center-K.Canaday, Holder-J.Berry.
7 plays, 69 yards, 3:42
7
10
Data is currently unavailable.
To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies?
I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information. Today I Dig®attracts millions of users every month.r
Phone: (800) 737. 6040 Fax: (800) 825 5558 Website: www.idig.com Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: 
Email: 
