FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Bill Belichick, who is the NFL's longest-tenured coach and turns 71 in April, said Monday that he plans to return for his 24th season as New England Patriots coach in 2023.

The Patriots had their season end Sunday in a 35-23 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

After declaring that he intends to return, Belichick said of the Patriots' 8-9 season: "Nobody's satisfied with that. That's not our goal. We need to improve on that. So that's all of us -- accountability everywhere, starting with me, the coaching staff, players, each unit. They are all things that we will address and that process will start probably later today."

Belichick said that will include a standard-operating-procedure meeting with owner Robert Kraft, who in March had said he wasn't happy that the franchise hadn't won a playoff game since Super Bowl LIII over the Los Angeles Rams on Feb. 3, 2019.

Belichick has 329 career victories as a head coach (including playoffs), which is second in NFL history behind Don Shula (347).

Belichick fielded a series of questions in a Monday morning video conference, many of them specific to the team's offense, which had a staggering regression in 2022.

Asked if he envisions Mac Jones as the team's starting quarterback in 2023, or if he needs to re-evaluate the position in the offseason, Belichick said: "I think Mac has the ability to play quarterback in this league. We have to all work together to try to find the best way -- as a football team, which obviously quarterback is an important position -- to be more productive than we were this year."

Jones was 288-of-442 for 2,997 yards (65.2%) this season, with 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He was sacked 34 times for 231 yards.

As a rookie in 2021, when he was selected as a Pro Bowl alternate, Jones was 352-of-521 for 3,801 yards (67.6%), with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He had been sacked 28 times for 241 yards.

Jones' dip was reflective of how the Patriots cratered in every offensive statistical category that Belichick has long said are most important to him -- specifically the red zone (dropping from 11th to 32nd), third down (10th to 27th) and touchdowns scored (48 last season to 31 this season).

Because of that, Belichick was asked repeatedly Monday morning about his decision-making regarding offensive coaches; after longtime coordinator Josh McDaniels departed to become Las Vegas Raiders head coach following last season, Belichick turned to veteran coaches Matt Patricia and Joe Judge to lead the offensive staff despite their primary coaching backgrounds having come on defense and special teams, respectively.

Belichick defended his decisions -- he previously shared his belief that a good coach can succeed in any role -- but also left open the possibility that there could be change in 2023.

"Every decision that we've made has always been with the intent to do the best thing for the football team. That's the way it's always been and that's what it will be going forward," he said. "At different decision points, you have different opportunities. As those go along, or come along, we'll continue to evaluate them."

The 2022 NFL season came down to the end once again, as the Lions' victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday night sent the Seahawks to the playoffs. Seattle was in that position thanks to its overtime win against the Rams. The Dolphins also earned their way into the postseason tournament (breaking a six-year drought) with a last-minute triumph over the Jets coupled with the Patriots' loss to the Bills. So now it's time for the really fun part: the 2022 NFL playoffs.

The No. 1 seeds in each conference -- the Chiefs in the AFC and the Eagles in the NFC -- will receive first-round byes. The remaining 12 teams will play in next week's three-day wild-card extravaganza: two games on Saturday, three on Sunday and a Monday night finale to be broadcast by ABC/ESPN. Last season's top seeds were upset in the divisional round, and the No. 4 seeds, the Rams and the Bengals, went to the Super Bowl. The Rams won, but they didn't make it back to the postseason. Everything is on the table. It's time to buckle up for some unexpected twists and turns.

Our playoff primer will preview the wild-card matchups and take a broader look at what each team must do to reach Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, along with its updated chances via ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI). Odds are via Caesars Sportsbook.

AFC:
1. Chiefs
2. Bills vs. 7. Dolphins
3. Bengals vs. 6. Ravens
4. Jaguars vs. 5. Chargers

NFC:
1. Eagles
2. 49ers vs. 7. Seahawks
3. Vikings vs. 6. Giants
4. Buccaneers vs. 5. Cowboys

AFC

1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-3)

Super Bowl odds: +330
FPI chance to make Super Bowl: 46.4%

Reason for hope: The Chiefs don't strike as quickly as they once did, but they are still potent offensively. They lead the league in scoring, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes is the favorite to win MVP. There's room for growth, too, if they can reduce their turnovers and improve a 75% field goal percentage, which is tied for 30th in the NFL.

Reason for concern: The Chiefs have the league's worst kicking game, which is one reason some of the league's bottom-feeding teams have hung around in recent games. They've missed eight field goals and five PATs, forfeiting a total of 29 points directly with their kicking game while their opponents forfeited six (two missed field goals and zero missed PATs). This could be a fatal flaw against superior opponents they face in the playoffs. -- Adam Teicher

What makes Travis Kelce the toughest tight end in the game? "Kelce is smart, beyond all he can do physically, he's just f---ing smart. So, if he's looking at a lot of zone looks he'll just find the soft spots over and over and Mahomes has been around him so long he just knows how Kelce will settle in all of those looks. Even tight windows aren't tight enough, they just know each other, done it too often. ... He's going to get catches, he's too good, too smart, but the idea is to limit damage, make them first downs, not touchdowns." -- AFC player

First-game outlook: The Chiefs have the No. 1 seed, so they won't play until the divisional round on Jan. 21 or 22. Kansas City will host the lowest-seeded remaining wild card, which could be the Jaguars, Chargers, Ravens or Dolphins. The Chiefs swept the AFC West rival Chargers and defeated the Jaguars 27-17 in Week 10. A matchup with the Dolphins would be a reunion with wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who played six seasons in K.C. before being traded to Miami in the offseason.

2. Buffalo Bills (13-3)

Super Bowl odds: +420
FPI chance to make Super Bowl: 30.5%

Reason for hope: Josh Allen. When the Bills quarterback is playing at his best, this team is incredibly difficult to stop. In two playoff games last season, Allen threw nine touchdown passes to zero interceptions and threw for more than 600 yards. At times this season, Allen has struggled with turnovers, including five games with two interceptions. But if Allen plays to his capabilities, the Bills should be the team to beat.

Reason for concern: While Allen gives the Bills hope, the lack of a consistent slot receiver and drop issues are concerning for a Bills offense that has been up and down at times. The Bills are second in the league in drops (31), which has not helped their turnover number (27, third most in the league). The team has tried to address the issue by adding Cole Beasley and John Brown to the practice squad, but the former Bills might not be enough to help Allen in the postseason. -- Alaina Getzenberg

What's the best way to keep Allen from beating you? "That's the same thing as Lamar [Jackson]. The D-line has got to lock it in. We can't have him rolling out and just throwing the ball anywhere. They've got a lot of weapons with [Stefon] Diggs and guys like that." -- AFC defensive player

First-game outlook: The Bills will host the Dolphins in the wild-card round on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS). The AFC East rivals split their games this season, with Miami prevailing 21-19 at home in Week 3 and the Bills winning 32-29 in walk-off fashion in snowy Buffalo in Week 15.

3. Cincinnati Bengals (12-4)

Super Bowl odds: +800
FPI chance to make Super Bowl: 11.2%

Reason for hope: Cincinnati is playing better than it did last season, when the Bengals won the AFC North and reached the Super Bowl for the first time in 33 years. Quarterback Joe Burrow is playing at a high level. The offense, which was inconsistent last postseason, has displayed improved efficiency throughout the season and has been able to find different ways to score points. Overall, the Bengals are in a stronger position to make another run at the Lombardi Trophy.

Reason for concern: The Bengals' offense hasn't strung two good halves together the past three games. It scored three first-half points in Week 15, zero second-half points in Week 16 and three points in the second half Sunday against the Ravens. Offensive line woes are a reason for that, as right guard Alex Cappa suffered a left ankle injury in the Week 18 win. Cincinnati is already without right tackle La'el Collins for the rest of the season after he suffered a torn left ACL. -- Ben Baby

Where does Burrow rank among QBs in the fourth quarter? "I would say he's the best. He's 'Joe Cool.' He doesn't get flustered at all. Honestly, if that left guard doesn't get beat [by Aaron Donald in the final minute] in the Super Bowl, I think they win. ... As far as having the confidence to put it out there and give his guys a chance, and the ability to put it where it's supposed to be, I think he's at the very top." -- AFC player

First-game outlook: The Bengals get a rematch with the Ravens, whom they just vanquished, as Cincinnati will host Baltimore in the wild-card round on Sunday (8:15 p.m. ET, NBC). The Bengals and Ravens split their two meetings, with Cincinnati winning 27-16 on Sunday and the Ravens prevailing 19-17 at home in Week 5. This marks the first playoff matchup between the AFC North rivals.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8)

Super Bowl odds: +5000
FPI chance to make Super Bowl: 4.1%

Reason for hope: Trevor Lawrence is playing like a top-five quarterback. Since November began, he is second in the NFL in completion percentage (69.7%), third in passer rating (104.6) and eighth in Total QBR (63.5). Lawrence is running coach Doug Pederson's offense at a high level and spreading the ball around, which makes them hard to stop because defenses can't concentrate on one player. Despite the fact he's only in his second season, Lawrence has plenty of big-game experience from his time at Clemson, where he led the Tigers to a national title as a freshman.

Reason for concern: The Jaguars' pass rush has been one of the worst in the league, and they are without one of their best pass-rushers in Dawuane Smoot (torn right Achilles). The pass rush has been better down the stretch, but here's the list of QBs the team faced in the final three games: Zach Wilson, Chris Streveler, Davis Mills, Jeff Driskel and Joshua Dobbs. They'll be dealing with much better quarterbacks and offensive lines in the postseason. -- Michael DiRocco

What's the most difficult thing about facing Lawrence? "He's showing more poise. He's a very accurate quarterback, but he would make one of those 'Why did he throw that?' passes each game if he got pressure on him. He's not doing that anymore. The other part of his game that doesn't get much attention is his athleticism. He can hurt you with his legs." -- AFC defensive player

First-game outlook: The Jaguars will host the Chargers in the wild-card round on Saturday (8:15 p.m. ET, NBC). Jacksonville, which is making its first playoff appearance since 2017, demolished the Chargers 38-10 at SoFi Stadium in Week 3. This is the first playoff meeting between the teams.

5. Los Angeles Chargers (10-7)

Super Bowl odds: +2200
FPI chance to make Super Bowl: 3.3%

Reason for hope: The Chargers are getting healthy and peaking at the perfect time. After spending most of the season dealing with significant injuries, several key playmakers -- including edge rusher Joey Bosa -- have returned. The defense, despite playing without Bosa and safety Derwin James Jr., began hitting its stride down the stretch, improving from among the worst-ranked units to among the best. Offensively, the Bolts are also establishing a rhythm of newfound continuity after receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams returned to health, though Williams suffered a back injury in Week 18.

Reason for concern: Inconsistency on offense. Despite featuring quarterback Justin Herbert, who passed Andrew Luck this season for the most passing yards through a quarterback's first three seasons, along with Allen, Williams and running back Austin Ekeler -- who leads the league in touchdowns -- the Bolts have at times been unable to move the ball and score in the red zone, where they rank in the bottom half of the league in efficiency. The Chargers must establish the run and lean on the playmaking ability of Allen and Williams (if available) in big moments. -- Lindsey Thiry

What does Khalil Mack do that changes the Chargers' defense? "He's a good player, but he's not the same caliber of pass-rusher that [Joey] Bosa is. But what he does when Bosa is in the lineup is he gives them a reliable rusher from the other edge. That makes coming up with the blocking scheme more challenging when they have a solid rusher coming from each side. They're definitely more dangerous since they traded for him and more dangerous when both guys are in the lineup." -- AFC offensive player

First-game outlook: The Chargers will play at Jacksonville on Saturday (8:15 p.m. ET, NBC). Los Angeles, making its first playoff appearance since 2018, was stomped by the Jaguars 38-10 at home in Week 3. This is the first time the Chargers will have faced the Jaguars in the playoffs.

6. Baltimore Ravens (10-7)

Super Bowl odds: +3500
FPI chance to make Super Bowl: 3.2%

Reason for hope: The Ravens have extremely stingy on defense since linebacker Roquan Smith was acquired in Week 9. This defense has been so dominant that Baltimore clinched a playoff berth even though quarterback Lamar Jackson missed the final five games. With cornerback Marlon Humphrey and inside linebacker Patrick Queen flying all over the field, the Ravens have excelled against the run, on third downs and in the red zone. Baltimore will need this defense to be at the top of its game to get through an AFC playoff field that includes Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert.

Reason for concern: A struggling offense. The Ravens have been the NFL's second-lowest scoring offense since Jackson injured his left knee Dec. 4. Even if Jackson returns for the postseason, no one knows how rusty he'll be and how this injury will affect his mobility. If defenses can shut down Baltimore's rushing attack, it's going to be a challenge for any quarterback to move the ball downfield with the league's least-productive wide receiver group, which features Demarcus Robinson, DeSean Jackson and Sammy Watkins. -- Jamison Hensley

What has Smith done for the Ravens defense? "He's the focal point of their defense. Really, really good linebacker. Instinctive, good in the run game [and] equally as decent in the pass. So just an all-around good linebacker." -- AFC player

First-game outlook: After losing in Cincinnati on Sunday, the Ravens will return to Ohio to play the Bengals in the wild-card round next Sunday (8:15 p.m. ET, NBC). Baltimore split its two games with the Bengals, losing 27-16 on Sunday and beating Cincinnati 19-17 in Week 5. This will be the first playoff meeting between Baltimore and Cincinnati.

7. Miami Dolphins (9-8)

Super Bowl odds: +6000
FPI chance to make Super Bowl: 1.4%

Reason for hope: The Dolphins' offense features two of the most explosive playmakers in the NFL in receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, both of whom can change a game with a single reception. If quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is medically cleared to return from concussion protocol, Miami can put up points with any team in the NFL and has shown the ability to quickly erase deficits. If he isn't, the Dolphins will start either seventh-round rookie Skylar Thompson or veteran backup Teddy Bridgewater in the wild-card round. The Dolphins have averaged 16.3 points per game when Tagovailoa doesn't play, 25.5 when he does.

Reason for concern: If their offense isn't carrying the team, neither the defense nor special teams units have played well enough over the past month to keep the Dolphins competitive. The offense has sputtered during the final month of the season, and Tagovailoa, while still one of the more efficient passers in the NFL, was struggling as opposing defenses took away timing routes over the middle of the field. The Dolphins haven't successfully generated a consistent pass rush all season, and their special teams rank among the league's worst in terms of returns and returns allowed. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

What's the best way to handle Hill and Waddle? "It's not the vertical speed only, it's also the horizontal speed. Those motions, the guy gets on one side of the field or formation to the other side very fast and can either outflank the defense or draw the defense out to create more space inside. ... You have to make sure you're matching their speed in both areas." -- AFC player

First-game outlook: The Dolphins return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and will play at AFC East rival Buffalo in the wild-card round on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS). Miami split its two games with the Bills, defeating Buffalo 21-19 at home in Week 3 and losing to the Bills 32-29 on a walk-off field goal in Week 15.

NFC

1. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)

Super Bowl odds: +550
FPI chance to make Super Bowl: 49.8%

Reason for hope: The Eagles have one of the best rosters in football, an MVP candidate at quarterback in Jalen Hurts and an offense that should be able to adapt to any style. Philadelphia has proved it can excel in a shootout thanks in large part to Hurts' development in the passing game, and if it needs to shift to a ground-based attack due to weather conditions or otherwise, it's more than capable. That, plus a defense that leads the league in passing defense (179.8 yards allowed per game) and sacks (70) is a good recipe for postseason success.

Reason for concern: Teams want to peak as they hit January, and that's not what's happening with the Eagles, who have looked shaky at times over the last several weeks. Injuries have hit at a bad time. And while all eyes have been on Hurts' throwing shoulder, the status of players such as right tackle Lane Johnson (abdominal tear) and cornerback Avonte Maddox (toe) also looms large. -- Tim McManus

What has made Hurts an MVP candidate this season? "Obviously he's improved a lot. A lot of people, you don't see them make those type of jumps that fast. He's been able to do it. I don't think it's a surprise at all. I know how he works, what he demands of himself and the people around him. He definitely in my opinion is the MVP of the league." -- NFC player

First-game outlook: The Eagles get home-field advantage and a bye to the divisional round, so they won't play until Jan. 21 or 22, giving Hurts more time to recover from his shoulder injury. Philadelphia will host the lowest remaining seed, which could be the Buccaneers, Cowboys, Giants or Seahawks. The Eagles went 3-1 against their potential NFC East foes, splitting with the Cowboys and sweeping the Giants. They lost to Tampa Bay in the wild-card round last year.

2. San Francisco 49ers (13-4)

Super Bowl odds: +450
FPI chance to make Super Bowl: 21.7%

Reason for hope: The 49ers are the hottest team in football, having won 10 straight after stumbling to a 3-4 start. The defense has been one of the top units in the league all season, despite a couple of hiccups, but the offense has pulled its share of the weight since running back Christian McCaffrey came aboard in October. The special teams has also made great strides. The Niners have proven they can win slugfests, shootouts and everything in between, a valuable trait when entering the unpredictable postseason.

Reason for concern: Nobody really knows what to expect from rookie quarterback Brock Purdy when the lights burn brightest. That's not a knock on Purdy, who so far has answered every question in a more than satisfactory fashion in going 5-0 as a starter. It is, however, a fact that no rookie starting quarterback has ever made the Super Bowl, let alone won it. Purdy doesn't have to carry the Niners, who have won four playoff games since 2019 with average to below-average quarterback play. If Purdy can clear that relatively low bar, the Niners should be fine. -- Nick Wagoner

What has McCaffrey brought to this offense? "He's brought a lot. You just don't know. When he's in the backfield, he can obviously catch, he can run the ball, so you just don't know what they're gonna do and it's hard to defend a back like that. So he allows them to switch up their scheme and use different personnels, like 21 personnel, 11 personnel ... so he's just a great weapon to have." -- NFC player

First-game outlook: The 49ers will host the Seahawks in the wild-card round Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, Fox). San Francisco swept its NFC West rivals during the season, beating the Seahawks 27-7 at home in Week 2 and winning 21-13 in Seattle in Week 15.

3. Minnesota Vikings (13-4)

Super Bowl odds: +3000
FPI chance to make Super Bowl: 3.1%

Reason for hope: The Vikings have won all 11 of their games this season that have been decided by one score, an NFL record. Historically, one-score games have been random and not particularly predictive of future outcomes. But within those games, the Vikings have displayed a high-end situational mastery that suggests they are confident and skilled in the small ways that postseason games are often decided.

Reason for concern: For most of the season, the Vikings' defense has ranked last in the NFL in yards allowed. Points are more important than yards, of course, but the only reason opponents haven't converted those yards into more points is the Vikings have been exceptionally good at the end of games. They're third in the NFL with a plus-9 turnover margin on drives that have started in the fourth quarter or overtime. Absent a key interception or fourth-down stop, however, they will be vulnerable in the playoffs. -- Kevin Seifert

Is Justin Jefferson the best receiver in the NFL not on your team? "He's in my top three receivers. Davante Adams No. 1. And I think [Jaylen] Waddle might've snuck in there ... I think [Jefferson is] a really good receiver. ... I think he does a really good job at the catch point. He has strong hands. You wouldn't really expect it because he seems really skinny, but he's really strong at the catch point and he's good after he catches the ball. I think that's probably one of his best attributes. He can get vertical and score." -- NFC defensive player

First-game outlook: The Vikings will host the Giants in a wild-card game on Sunday (4:30 p.m. ET, Fox). These two teams met in Minnesota in Week 16, with the Vikings winning 27-24 on a 61-yard, walk-off field goal by Greg Joseph for Minnesota's 11th one-score win.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)

Super Bowl odds: +3000
FPI chance to make Super Bowl: 2.7%

Reason for hope: After struggling to field a downfield passing attack and break the 17-point threshold all season on offense, the Bucs put up 30 points against the Panthers in Week 17, suggesting quarterback Tom Brady and the offense might be getting hot at the right time. Wide receiver Mike Evans was a big part of that, with three touchdowns -- the first time he'd reached the end zone since Week 4.

Reason for concern: Health has been an issue all season, and still is an issue along the offensive line and in the defensive backfield. Offensive tackles Donovan Smith and Tristan Wirfs are getting over foot and ankle injuries, respectively. Top cornerback Carlton Davis hasn't practiced since suffering a shoulder injury in Week 16, cornerback Jamel Dean is nursing a big toe injury, safety Mike Edwards has been limited by a hip/hamstring injury, safety Logan Ryan has a knee injury and defensive tackle Vita Vea is dealing with a calf injury. Week 18 saw the Bucs suffer injuries to center Robert Hainsey (hamstring), tight end Kyle Rudolph (knee) and safety Keanu Neal (hip). -- Jenna Laine

What's different about the offense? "It's not Tom Brady. I don't think any of us think that in here. No, it's their O-line, he doesn't trust them at all. Plus, when that happens you can't get your back out or your tight end because you have to send them in there to nudge the D-end. Losing Gronk was big." -- NFC offensive player

First-game outlook: The Buccaneers will host the Cowboys in a wild-card game on Monday, Jan. 16 (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/ESPN+). The Bucs opened the season by defeating the Cowboys 19-3 on the road in Week 1 and Brady is undefeated (7-0) against Dallas in his career.

5. Dallas Cowboys (12-5)

Super Bowl odds: +1300
FPI chance to make Super Bowl: 19.8%

Reason for hope: There is not a dominant team in the NFC. Since quarterback Dak Prescott's return from a thumb injury, the Cowboys are averaging the most points per game (32.5) and have been superb on third down (52.3% conversion percentage). The defense has not been as dominant but should be closer to 100% with the returns of linebacker Leighton Vander Esch and defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, which will help the run defense. The Cowboys have also beaten Philadelphia and Minnesota, two other top NFC contenders.

Reason for concern: In all likelihood, the Cowboys are going to have to win multiple road games to get to the Super Bowl. Their past three road playoff wins have come in 1992, 1991 and 1980. And they might have to equal that total in three straight weeks. Four of the Cowboys' five losses this season have been on the road. Only 11 players on the active roster were born the last time the Cowboys won a road playoff game. -- Todd Archer

What could limit Prescott from going to the Super Bowl? "Turnovers. He has the most interceptions in the league this year. There are some times where he's trying to make the big play instead of taking the checkdown. To be honest I think they need to run the ball more, just get Tony Pollard and Zeke [Elliott] 15 to 20 touches each and use the play action. That would be a good recipe. But he throws too many picks." -- NFC player

First-game outlook: The Cowboys will play at the Buccaneers in the wild-card round Monday, Jan. 16 (8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/ESPN+). The Bucs held Dallas to a season low in points in a 19-3 Week 1 defeat at AT&T Stadium, Tom Brady's seventh win over the Cowboys in as many tries.

6. New York Giants (9-7-1)

Super Bowl odds: +6000
FPI chance to make Super Bowl: 1.9%

Reason for hope: Quarterback Daniel Jones has played well down the stretch. His 77.8 QBR in Weeks 15-17 (vs. Washington, Minnesota, Indianapolis) was second best in the NFL during that span and helped the Giants clinch their first playoff berth since 2016. The Giants are also getting healthier defensively with Adoree' Jackson (knee), their top cornerback, and safety Xavier McKinney (hand) returning.

Reason for concern: The Giants have one victory this season against a team that entered Week 18 with a winning record. That was against Baltimore early this season. They have struggled playing against the tougher competition in a year that was supposed to be a rebuild. New York finished the regular season with a point differential of minus-6. -- Jordan Raanan

What is most difficult about defending running back Saquon Barkley? "He's elusive. He gets in and out of cuts. His jump cut is amazing. He spins off of a lot of contact. So you can be in one gap and he's going to another gap, you shed the block to get in that gap, he's back in the gap you just jumped out of. He's such an elusive back. That's a challenge for every defense." -- NFC player

First-game outlook: The Giants qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and will play at Minnesota in the wild-card round Sunday (4:30 p.m. ET, Fox). New York's last trip to U.S. Bank Stadium was a nail-biter, as the Vikings beat the Giants 27-24 in Week 16 on a walk-off field goal.

7. Seattle Seahawks (9-8)

Super Bowl odds: +5000
FPI chance to make Super Bowl: 1.1%

Reason for hope: The Seahawks have given everyone a reminder anything can happen in the NFL -- like a team trading its franchise quarterback and somehow being better off with his longtime backup. A deep playoff run would be just as unexpected, but Geno Smith & Co. have shown flashes of being a good team during their up-and-down season. Their 6-3 start included a pair of 14-point wins over the playoff-bound Giants and Chargers. Now that they've rediscovered the defense and run game that went missing during their November and December swoon, they appear to be heading into the playoffs on the upswing.

Reason for concern: Their defense has been a liability for much of the season, particularly against the run. And while they've shown improvement in that area of late, that's come against teams that don't have strong run games. They'll face much tougher challenges against the strong rushing offenses that they'll have to get past in order to make a deep run, especially with linebacker Jordyn Brooks out with a season-ending knee injury. Losing nose tackle Bryan Mone was another blow to Seattle's run defense. -- Brady Henderson

What's different about facing Smith than Russell Wilson? "I felt like Geno just had a little bit more command over that offense. He was just able to get guys in spots, in spaces and he knew where the ball should be going. So I just say the command and just his overall ability was just a lot different." -- NFC defensive player

First-game outlook: The Seahawks will play at their NFC West rival 49ers in the wild-card round Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, Fox). Seattle was swept by the 49ers this season, as San Francisco beat the visiting Seahawks 27-7 in Week 2 and 21-13 in Week 15 at Lumen Field.

LOS ANGELES -- Ty Lue tried shaking up his starting lineup by replacing Reggie Jackson at point guard, but the Clippers watched the Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young take over in the fourth quarter and deal Los Angeles a sixth straight loss.

Young scored 14 of his 30 points in the final 6:27 to erase an 11-point Clippers lead and help Atlanta escape Crytpo.com Arena with a 112-108 win Sunday night.

The Clippers (21-21), a team that came into the season with championship expectations, are now mired in the longest losing streak of the Kawhi Leonard-Paul George era.

Leonard said this is a good test to see if the Clippers can persevere.

"I think it's still good," Leonard said when asked about the team's chemistry while faced with its most adversity of the season. "Guys are still being positive.

"This is the spot where [the Clippers] see if you really enjoy the game and if we're a team, seeing if we can dig out this hole. It is fun. It's a good challenge for us."

The Clippers have not been able to stay healthy and did not have George (right hamstring) for a second straight game. Luke Kennard was also out with a calf issue.

But the Clippers also have played stretches during this slump with a lack of defense, energy, urgency and pace. Lue decided to insert Terance Mann in the starting lineup for Jackson, who had been the starting point guard for the past two-plus seasons. Jackson played only eight minutes, all in the first half, and was held scoreless.

Mann finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in 35 minutes.

"I thought defensively we were really good," Lue said. "Just still learning how to play with TMann at the point guard position, but, when PG gets back, he can help with that as well. I thought overall it was pretty good."

When asked if Jackson is the odd man out in the rotation right now, Lue said he is searching for ways to get the Clippers back on track.

"No, I just think tonight it was Reggie," Lue said. "Then tomorrow, it could be somebody else. Just kind of experimenting with different things. When you lose five games in a row, you want to try some different things."

The Clippers trailed by 17 late in the second quarter but stormed back with a 40-17 run. They led 102-91 after Leonard (29 points) hit a 3 with 6:45 remaining. But Young took over and hit two 10-foot driving floaters with under 47.7 seconds to go to help the Hawks win.

Now the Clippers will try to halt their slide against Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday at home. After that, the Clippers face two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets at home after losing by 31 in Denver last Thursday.

"We got to stick together," said veteran forward Nic Batum. "I mean, it's not pretty, it's not easy right now. But we can't separate ourselves, so we've got to stick together ... it's not easy right now. It's not pretty, that's for sure. But we can't just relax."

Batum also said the players will stick by Jackson after the fan favorite didn't play in the second half.

"It's not easy for some players for some games like that," Batum said. "Got to keep talking to Reggie. I mean how many times has Reggie saved us [before]? That's why people love him. It's why they chant his name because he's a big player ... yes it's tough because we want to have Reggie on the court, we want to see Reggie perform, but tonight Coach made some choices.

"So we have to stick with our brother... He already knows like what he can bring to this team. So we're going to need Reggie at some point."

THE TORONTO RAPTORS are a rarity in the modern NBA: a franchise with options.

Plenty of teams have sold off their draft picks to chase contention immediately. Plenty more have moved their stars to pursue futures built around young talent and the NBA draft.

But Toronto is stuck somewhere in between.

The Raptors control all of their first-round picks moving forward. They are considered leaguewide to be an elite organization at every level of management -- from ownership (Larry Tanenbaum) to front office (team president Masai Ujiri Ujiri and general manager Bobby Webster) to coach (Nick Nurse).

They have a roster featuring an All-NBA forward (Pascal Siakam), an All-Star guard (Fred VanVleet), arguably the NBA's best 3-and-D wing (O.G. Anunoby) and the reigning Rookie of the Year (Scottie Barnes).

And yet, Toronto (17-23) finds itself sitting six games under .500 and having lost 14 of its last 20 games heading into Tuesday's matchup with the Charlotte Hornets.

"They are a talented team," an Eastern Conference scout told ESPN, "and yet it just hasn't worked."

The nature of today's NBA leads to teams cycling through rebuilds after four or five years at the top of the sport. That is the result the salary cap, age curves and the draft are designed to produce.

The Raptors have defied the odds in a way few other teams can -- they've won an Eastern Conference-best 466 games since the start of the 2013-14 season and have reached the playoffs eight out of nine seasons.

But they are finally showing signs of wear.

Not having cap space since the summer of 2015, per ESPN's Bobby Marks, has prevented the Raptors from adding a significant player via free agency. While Kawhi Leonard, Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka were all key in Toronto's 2019 NBA championship run -- the first in franchise history -- all three leaving with the Raptors receiving nothing in return sapped the team's depth.

And, after Toronto had one of the great player development runs in recent memory, landing Norman Powell, Siakam, VanVleet and Anunoby all after the 23rd pick in the draft between 2015 and 2017, it's been unable to recreate that draft magic since.

Combined with a shooting slump that has lasted over a month, Toronto has been put in a position where the rest of the NBA is waiting to see which direction the franchise will take with its underperforming roster.

With exactly one month until the Feb. 9 deadline, what's happening north of the border has become a massive trade season storyline.

"Their guys are better than whoever else might be available," an East executive told ESPN. "They'll have plenty of interest if they're out there."

TORONTO ENTERED THIS season projected to finish as a top-six team in the East. The formula was simple: Siakam, VanVleet, Anunoby and Barnes needed to play at a high level to keep up with the heightened competition in the top half of the conference.

And while the Raptors have problem areas -- a lack of depth and shooting and defensive woes that have plagued Toronto all season -- the heart of the Raptors' issues are the regressions of both Barnes and VanVleet.

After gliding through a rookie season that saw the 6-foot-8 forward outduel Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley for the league's top rookie honor and showing off a versatile skill set that teams covet in today's NBA, Barnes has failed to live up to that standard in his sophomore campaign.

"I would say [I'm] still developing," Barnes told ESPN when asked to assess his second season. "Still trying to find the right places, still working, just finding different ways on how I can impact the game."

His stats have flatlined or regressed, and he's been cajoled at times to be more assertive on the court. Consider during last week's losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks, when Barnes didn't make a single shot through the first three quarters of either game.

Offensively, Barnes is scoring fewer points (15.3 to 14.9), shooting fewer free throws (2.9 to 2.7) and shooting a lower percentage from the field (49.2 to 44.8). Defensively, per Second Spectrum's tracking data, opposing players are shooting 49.9% when he is the closest defender this season, compared to 46.5% last season.

"He's going to have a long career, so this is good for him to struggle a little bit," VanVleet told ESPN. "We would wish that there wasn't so much weight on every performance for him, but we do need him to play good in order for us to have success, which is how a team is built. That's unfortunate in terms of his development, but it's good for him. ... It's going to make him better, and it's good for him to go through these struggles."

"He was pretty much a golden child all last year and then nobody said any bad things about him, and so [he can] get it out the way now," VanVleet added with a smile. "Let people talk about him, and he'll be able to bounce back and push through that."

VanVleet is in the midst of his own share of struggles. Since Kyle Lowry went to Miami prior to last season, VanVleet has assumed his mentor's role as the heart and soul of the Raptors. He's the team's leader, constantly playing through injuries and doing whatever he can to help win games.

VanVleet has also been the face of the team's shooting slump. Toronto is 29th in the NBA in 3-point percentage since the team's slide began with a blowout loss in New Orleans on Nov. 30. Up to that point, VanVleet was shooting 37.8% -- right in line with his career average of 37.5%.

Since then, he's shooting 29.2% from beyond the arc on nearly nine attempts per game.

"There's going to be nights where you make some, and nights where you don't," VanVleet said. "But overall, this season has not been a great shooting year for us."

That's especially been true over the last month. Per Second Spectrum's tracking data, Toronto has generated the 11th best looks from 3-point range by quantified shot probability (qsP) since Nov. 30. But over that same stretch, the Raptors are dead last in quantified shot-making (qsM), which is the difference between a team's effective field goal percentage and its qsP, over that same period, hitting 6.2% below what they are expected to on 3-pointers.

For a team that struggles in a variety of metrics in half-court offense, combining that with open looks is a recipe for disaster, which is why Toronto has ranked 22nd in offensive rating over that span.

Even after a couple of improved performances over the last week, the Raptors sit 18th in the league in defense rating since Nov. 30, in large part because of porous transition defense.

Through Nov. 29, Toronto ranked second in transition defense, per Cleaning The Glass. Since then? The Raptors have been 25th -- a fatal flaw for a roster already lacking in traditional size, thanks to Toronto's preference to build out a team full of long-limbed, interchangeable wings instead.

"I think the shots not going in are affecting our transition defense, and it's affecting our energy and fight a little bit," Nurse told ESPN.

Add it all up, and a franchise that has grown accustomed to winning has been left wondering what direction it is headed.

THE ARRIVAL OF the play-in tournament has altered the NBA trade landscape.

With 10 teams from each conference now guaranteed, at minimum, the chance to win two games and make the playoffs, it's both given more teams the opportunity to wait for standings to shake out and has decreased the pool of selling teams.

So while scouts and executives pointed at teams like the Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards joining Toronto as potential active teams ahead of next month's trade deadline, there's less urgency for middling teams to make moves.

"It makes team less inclined to throw in the towel," another East executive told ESPN.

That is certainly how the Raptors view things, as they've insisted they'll take until the end of the month, at least, to decide where they are headed.

And, as they evaluate their situation, a few factors will play into the choice they ultimately make.

One is the presence of Victor Wembanyama atop this year's draft boards. The 7-foot-4 French phenom is one of the best prospects in a generation, and Toronto currently sits tied for sixth in the draft lottery standings and just two games ahead of the Orlando Magic in fifth. When combined with the flattened lottery odds, it puts Toronto in a potentially prime position to lean into chasing lottery luck this spring.

Then there's the pending unrestricted free agency of both VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. Before the season, sources said Toronto offered VanVleet the full amount it could in an extension off his current contract: four years and $114 million, per ESPN's Marks.

VanVleet told reporters after Toronto's win Sunday that both sides agreed to wait, in part because VanVleet has the ability to sign the extension anytime between now and June 30 if he turns down his player option for next season.

But one thing is clear: VanVleet believes he's worth more than what Toronto can currently give him.

"Without going too far into it ... [I'm] just trying to put myself in a good position business-wise, and not take an extension on a deal that was made three or four years ago," VanVleet told ESPN.

"I felt like I've outplayed that contract thus far. So just trying to get myself in a position to put the cards in their hands. They got to make a decision from an organization standpoint.

"I love being here. I love being a Raptor. I got a great relationship with Masai and Bobby, so I'm confident that we could find [a deal]. It's a great partnership that we have, so going forward, I'm not going to make it easy on them and they're not going to make it on me either, and that's the way it's going."

Trent, meanwhile, can opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Two years ago, when faced with a similar situation when Powell was headed to free agency, Toronto flipped him to Portland for Trent, who was going to be a restricted free agent.

The Raptors could choose to go a similar direction with both guards, either getting draft picks or controllable players moving forward. Or, conversely, could hang onto them and have the ability to retain them using their Bird rights this summer.

And virtually every team is watching to see if either Anunoby, a dream addition for any contending team as one of the NBA's best wing defenders who is a career 37% 3-point shooter, or Siakam, who has evolved into a complete star forward and could be in line for a supermax extension this summer if he earns another All-NBA selection, become available.

"What does Toronto want to do?" a Western Conference scout said. "Do they want to stockpile assets? Do they want to just rearrange what they have?"

The rest of the NBA is waiting to find out, too.

Former Atlanta Braves general manager John Coppolella has been reinstated by Major League Baseball, more than five years after he was given a lifetime ban by commissioner Rob Manfred.

Coppolella, 44, was kicked out of the sport in the fall of 2017, after it was determined that he had grossly violated rules related to the signings of international players.

After Coppolella applied for reinstatement, MLB officials determined that he had substantively endeavored to improve himself, according to sources. An MLB spokesman told The Athletic, which was the first to report the change in Coppolella's status, "We can confirm that Mr. Coppolella has been reinstated, given the more than five years he spent on the ineligible list, the contrition he expressed and the other steps he took in response to this matter."

Coppolella lost his job as the Braves' general manager at the end of the 2017 season, after putting in place some of the pieces that proved integral to the club's 2021 championship. He traded for shortstop Dansby Swanson and pitcher Max Fried, and it was during Coppolella's tenure that the Braves signed Ronald Acuna Jr. and drafted slugger Austin Riley.

Alex Anthopoulos was hired to run the Braves after Coppolella departed.

Many of those who are banished by MLB have never been reinstated, including all-time hits leader Pete Rose and storied outfielder Shoeless Joe Jackson.

AARON JUDGE BEGINS 2023 as the 16th captain in the storied history of the New York Yankees.

He joins a list that features icons like Babe Ruth (who served for just five days, but ... it counts), Lou Gehrig, Thurman Munson, Don Mattingly and, most recently, Derek Jeter. He's the face of one of North America's premier sports franchises, a celebrity in one of the world's biggest cities. One day, his plaque likely will sit in Monument Park for his great-great grandchildren to see.

There are also the responsibilities. Like setting the tone for the team. Representing the community. Hearing complaints about airplane food.

*blinks*

Wait, what?

Just ask Ron Guidry, a Yankees captain from 1986 to 1989. The former Cy Young Award winner told ESPN he once had to walk, in full uniform, into the office of the famously mercurial -- and intimidating -- George Steinbrenner to talk to the owner, not about pennant races or the finer points of pitching, but about the sorry state of the team's in-flight meals.

It's all in a day's work for the captain of the Yankees.

Those duties now fall onto the shoulders of Judge, from what we'll see him do every day on the field, to what we'll never see him have to do away from it.

"We had [player] meetings because the food on the flights wasn't good," Guidry recalled. "Who are you gonna complain to? The players don't want to stir the pot with the manager or ownership. They come to you, and you make a note as the captain and you have to talk to someone. You're a spokesperson."

Guidry said he first approached manager Billy Martin, but he could barely get a word in before Martin, a legendary figure in his own right, stopped him.

"Not my department," Martin announced. "Go talk to the man upstairs."

So Guidry called the Yankees executive suite and asked the switchboard operator if Steinbrenner was in. When she gave him the greenlight, Guidry ran upstairs -- still wearing his pinstripes.

"What's your problem now?" Steinbrenner asked.

"I don't have a problem with you," Guidry replied. "Your team does."

Steinbrenner listened as Guidry channeled his inner Jerry Seinfeld and passed on the word that the food on the team's flights had not been up to par. Players had stopped eating it, and when they arrived in their destination cities late at night, all the restaurants typically were closed.

"I'll take care of it," Steinbrenner told him.

By the time the Yankees next went on the road, the team had changed airline carriers. Their first meal on the new airline? Chateaubriand steak and lobster tail.

WHEN THE YANKEES named Judge captain late last month, after the slugger signed a nine-year, $360 million contract to remain in the Bronx, the team brought out the full pomp and circumstance for the occasion. Jeter -- who produced an ESPN documentary series last year called The Captain, based on his career -- and Willie Randolph -- Guidry's co-captain from 1986 to 1988 -- attended the press conference to help pass the baton.

Jeter and Randolph know the job comes with the increased scrutiny of Yankees fans. But the leadership title also brings many behind-the-scenes responsibilities -- and, as Guidry learned, some extra clout with the bosses, too.

"I don't have a problem with you. Your team does."

Former captain Ron Guidry, lodging a complaint about airplane food to then-Yankees owner George Steinbrenner

"There's a certain pride and strut when you know that, 'Hey, I'm the captain of the New York Yankees,'" Randolph said. "You feel responsibility in your preparation in spring training, in the offseason, to not just think about yourself, your teammates, how you can motivate them to be champions. It's a 24/7 mentality that you need to carry, even when the season is over."

It's a role Judge has grown into through the years, particularly over the course of his historic 2022 season. The leadership transition started during his historic rookie season in 2017 -- when he hit a rookie record 52 homers -- as veteran teammates handed him the controls to the clubhouse Spotify account. Seven seasons into his career, Judge remains the Yankees unofficial DJ before and after games.

As Judge chased and ultimately surpassed Roger Maris' American League single-season home run record last year, his influence transcended his playlist. His consistent pregame preparation inspired teammates. Through the ups and downs of the season, they looked to Judge for guidance -- like him, never getting too high, never getting too low. By the end of the season, teammates were calling him the captain of the team, even if Judge didn't formally hold the title yet. Still, when Hal Steinbrenner offered it to him in December, he was stunned.

Said Judge: "I was at a loss for words."

Guidry and Randolph had also become the clubhouse choice for captain before Hal's father officially anointed them. Both players had spent nearly a decade with the team and were the team's longest-tenured players when they got the call.

"It's a tremendous honor to get it solidified," Randolph said, "but you grow into your leadership role. Everyone's different, you can't put a stamp on how someone did it. You have to do it the way you feel comfortable doing it. You gotta be yourself. People can smell when you're not being authentic."

For Jeter, Judge's authenticity is self-evident.

"It's not like you flip a switch and have to be someone else because you've been given this title," Jeter said. "I would assume he's been handling himself like a captain up until this point, which is why they named him captain."

The tradition of Yankees captain dates back to future Hall of Famer Clark Griffith, who held the title from 1903 to 1905, though the role was left unfilled for nearly 40 years following the untimely retirement of Gehrig in 1939, due to ALS. Guidry learned what the captaincy means by watching Munson, the first player to take the mantle after Gehrig. Munson served as captain of the Yankees from 1976 to 1979, until a plane crash took his life. Guidry debuted for the Yankees in 1975 and spent the first four years of his career around the catcher.

"He didn't have to tell you how to be a leader," Guidry said. "If you're on a team and you have a captain, you just watch how he performs the task of being a captain. When he speaks, what he says, when he picks the time, does he leave you alone, does he take you off on the side? Does he call a team meeting or leave the team alone?"

During one winning streak, Guidry remembers players in the Yankees clubhouse getting excited, but Munson immediately threw water on the fire -- telling the group not to get too "slap happy."

"What are you gonna say when you go into a five-game losing streak?" Munson told the clubhouse.

Said Guidry: "It would bring us right down to being level-headed again. It took 15 seconds, but those 15 seconds had a lot of weight behind it."

Munson's biggest impact, according to Guidry, came in 1978, when the Yankees found themselves 14 games behind the Boston Red Sox for first place at the All-Star break. New York was struggling with injuries and didn't have many of its best players on the field throughout the early part of the season.

"He kept us all together," Guidry said. "We knew we were good, but what was going on was not working for us. It seemed like everything was against us. But all of a sudden, you keep playing and you keep plugging away and then all of sudden, you rip off five, six, seven games in a row."

The Yankees would eventually win the World Series after climbing all the way back in the division, then beating Boston in the AL East tiebreaker game on a go-ahead home run from Bucky Dent.

"He told us to be patient with everything, and it all came true," Guidry said. "He always picked the right time to bring it out. He made you feel like you were gonna win. So when I became the captain with Willie, I knew what I needed to do."

Guidry and Randolph said being a sounding board was among their most important responsibilities. That meant listening to teammates vent about their frustrations on the field, and sometimes serving as an intermediary between players and management.

But the responsibilities extend beyond the ballpark, as Yankees fans look to the captain as a role model in the community. Guidry said he was always careful about where he went because he did not want to get bad press for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. He avoided downtown Manhattan so he didn't get mobbed by fans, but when he encountered them, he tried to keep negative thoughts to himself.

"Sometimes you have to bite your tongue because people are really disgruntled when the team isn't doing well," Guidry said. "They have something to say and what they're saying is not something you want to hear. You can't get into an argument with them because if somebody snaps a picture and it gets out, then what you've been preaching in the clubhouse, you're a hypocrite doing the opposite."

Randolph always thought about how he carried himself -- from his body language on the field and in the streets, to his choice of words.

"You have to embody all the cliches," Randolph said. "Take things day by day, stay even keel. But it has to be natural."

JUDGE KNOWS HE has a lot to live up to.

"I look back at the list of Thurman Munson, Lou Gehrig, Ron Guidry, Willie Randolph, Derek Jeter, Don Mattingly," Judge said. "That's a pretty good list right there."

Judge often gets compared to Jeter for the way he interacts with the media, rarely giving a quote that could ruffle someone the wrong way or cause controversy. Beyond that, Jeter sees similarities between himself and his successor.

"In terms of mindset and what's most important in terms of winning, he has that same mindset."

Jeter said he hasn't been around the team enough to make further comparisons. Instead, the Hall of Fame shortstop pointed to the current Yankees clubhouse for proof Judge can handle the job.

"Talk to his teammates, talk to his coaches. talk to his manager," Jeter said. "I mean, [manager Aaron Boone] spoke for what? Thirty-five minutes [at the press conference]? You listen to everyone speak about him and that tells you all you need to know."

Jeter made a point to remind Judge the title isn't just an ego boost. It's a responsibility.

"Yankee fans are big on history and tradition," Jeter said. "It's not a title that's thrown around too lightly."

Judge takes the newfound weight on his shoulders seriously.

"Not only great players, but great ambassadors of the game and great ambassadors of the New York Yankees," Judge said. "This is an incredible honor I don't take lightly."

And if he needs any advice, say on how to handle complaints about airplane food?

"I'm here," Guidry said. "Ask me."

“You want to know the honest truth?”

Music to a reporter’s ears. Only this subject was about pants, and belts. Specifically, Jon Rahm’s pants and belts.

“Bit of a crazy day, I’m not going to lie,” Rahm said as he began his winner’s press conference at Kapalua, where he had just won the Sentry Tournament of Champions by two shots after Collin Morikawa’s six-shot collapse.

He then went on a tangent and started talking about the black pants that he was wearing.

Confused? Well, let Rahm explain:

“I forgot almost all the belts I was supposed to bring, so I had a navy belt and a black belt. And I told Kelley (his wife), ‘I'm not about to be a hot as hell all week wearing black pants and darker shirts, so navy it is.’ Then I went to Sunday, and I said, ‘I do not want to wear navy pants again.’ So, because we're teeing off at 10 a.m., there goes the black pants.

“And that's all I can tell you. I know it's a stupid answer to a stupid question, but that's the truth. I usually don't want to wear anything that's close to red with black on Sundays because of Tiger. That's his outfit. But that's why I wear gray or navy or other things usually. I don't want to get close to him.

“But, yeah, I just didn't want to wear navy anymore. I forgot my belts, that's all it is. … I know, you would not expect that. I also forgot socks. Yeah, I forgot a few things.”

Just not his game.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- For the second time this season, Green Bay Packers rookie linebacker Quay Walker has been ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Walker was thrown out of Sunday night's regular-season finale with 7:24 left after he shoved a member of the Detroit Lions' medical staff who was tending to injured running back D'Andre Swift on the field.

It was an unpenalized forearm to the head of Swift by Packers defensive tackle Jarran Reed that caused the stoppage in play.

The penalty gave the Lions a first-and-goal at the Packers' 5-yard line. Three plays later, Lions running back Jamaal Williams scored on a 1-yard run to give Detroit a 20-16 lead with 5:55 left.

Green Bay never recovered, as Aaron Rodgers was intercepted on the ensuing possession and Detroit then moved downfield and converted a key fourth-down pass that enabled the Lions to run out the clock. The 20-16 loss prevented the Packers from getting into the playoffs in what was a win-and-get-in season finale for them.

It was the second time this season that Walker was ejected. He was tossed from the game at Buffalo on Oct. 30 when he shoved a non-uniformed player on the Bills' sideline.

DENVER -- Chargers coach Brandon Staley offered no apology Sunday after playing starters throughout most of a 31-28 loss to the Denver Broncos in the regular-season finale, despite Los Angeles clinching the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoffs moments before kickoff.

"These aren't easy decisions," Staley said after the game. "They're not easy decisions and hindsight is perfect for everybody on the outside, but these games are not easy to manage. They're not, because you don't have that many players and we did it to the best of our ability."

Wide receiver Mike Williams suffered a back injury in the second quarter, was assisted off the field by the training staff and taken into the locker room on a cart, a situation that tight end Gerald Everett described after the game as "demoralizing."

A source told ESPN that Williams' X-rays were negative and it's anticipated that he will be available to play in next week's wild-card game against the No. 4 seed Jacksonville Jaguars.

Edge rusher Joey Bosa did not return to the game Sunday after an awkward play in the second quarter, and linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. also exited in the second quarter.

Bosa was removed from the game in keeping with a plan to phase players out, and Murray suffered a stinger, Staley said.

The Bolts entered Sunday on a four-game win streak and appearing to peak at the perfect time after securing in Week 16 their first playoff berth since 2018. They finish the regular season 10-7, achieving double-digit wins for only the second time in 13 seasons.

They officially secured the 5-seed in the AFC just ahead of kickoff, when the Baltimore Ravens fell 27-16 to the Cincinnati Bengals, an outcome Staley said had no bearing on their game plan.

"We were trying to compete in the game and we only have 48 guys on the team that are active for the game," Staley said. "So we wanted to make sure that they went a good ways in this football game and competed at a high level and then when we felt like it was right for them to get out of the game, then that's what we were going to do, slowly phase them out so that we could get ready for next week."

Several players said they agreed with Staley's decision to play starters despite having their postseason path already determined.

"Yes. Why not?" defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day said emphatically when asked if he agreed with Staley's decision to play starters. "It's all about momentum. At least in my previous employment, we used this bottom half to win out and propel us."

Joseph-Day won an NFC championship and made two Super Bowl appearances with the Los Angeles Rams, winning a title last season.

"We signed up for 17 games," said wide receiver Keenan Allen, who caught eight passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns as he played into the fourth quarter. "This is definitely -- I mean I only played what, six or seven games this whole year? So it was good for me to keep playing."

Backup quarterback Chase Daniel replaced Justin Herbert after the third quarter. Herbert finished 25-of-37 for 273 yards and two touchdowns.

"I think everyone on this team wanted to go out and compete today, wanted to battle," Herbert said. "We believe in the front office, the coaching staff, and whatever they decided, we're behind them 100%."

Herbert has 14,091 career passing yards, an NFL record for a player through his first three seasons, and his 94 career passing touchdowns are the second most in a player's first three seasons. Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino had 98.

The Chargers finish the regular season with just 260 plays (23%) where Herbert, Allen and Williams were on the field together, with Allen and Williams playing only four games (Weeks 14-17) together start-to-finish. Allen missed significant time because of a hamstring strain and Williams due to a high ankle sprain.

Safety Derwin James Jr., edge rusher Khalil Mack and linebacker Drue Tranquill were among defensive players who were pulled from the game in the fourth quarter.

The Bolts allowed quarterback Russell Wilson to complete 13 of 24 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns, with an interception, as the Broncos closed out a 5-12 season.

"As a competitor you want to be out there, you want to find rhythm in your game and certainly not playing for a week and begin two weeks -- can take away from your rhythm," Tranquill said. "Our strategy coming was we were playing to win, be on a five-game win streak and be one of the hottest teams heading into the playoffs."

The Houston Texans fired coach Lovie Smith on Sunday night, hours after the team finished 3-13-1 in his first season.

"We are grateful for [Smith's] leadership and character, and we wish him the best moving forward," chairman and CEO Cal McNair said in a statement. "While we understand the results have not been what we had hoped for, we are committed to building a program that produces long-term, sustainable success. Our fans and city deserve a team that they can be proud of."

The Texans now have fired back-to-back coaches after just one year, having ousted David Culley last January. Smith was the defensive coordinator and associate head coach on Culley's staff in 2021, and was elevated to head coach on Feb. 7.

"I'm constantly evaluating our football operation and believe this is the best decision for us at this time," general manager Nick Caserio said in a statement. "It is my responsibility to build a comprehensive and competitive program that can sustain success over a long period of time. We aren't there right now, however, with the support of the McNair family and the resources available to us, I'm confident in the direction of our football program moving forward."

McNair said he will work with Caserio to "find the right leader for our football team."

The Texans finished their season with a win, beating the Indianapolis Colts 32-31 earlier Sunday, and had played competitively in four of their last five games.

"We understand the totality of the season on what's going on," Smith said after the win over the Colts. "Do I expect to be back? Yes, I expect to be back."

Culley and Smith were the only Black coaches in the franchise's history, and now Todd Bowles (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers), Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins), Robert Saleh (New York Jets) and Ron Rivera (Washington Commanders) remain as the only head coaches of color.

The Texans' season opened with a 20-20 tie against the Colts in overtime after they blew a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter, where Smith played for the tie in overtime to avoid a loss.

The Texans were competitive in games in the first half of the season, but fourth-quarter struggles continued to be a theme. The Texans failed to score a point in four out of the first six games in the fourth quarter.

And despite Smith coming over from the defensive side of the ball, the Texans ranked last in rush yards allowed after being second-to-last in 2021.

With the Texans' win Sunday along with the Chicago Bears' loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the Texans earned the No. 2 overall pick and the Bears clinched the No. 1 overall pick for the 2023 NFL draft.

Houston now heads into 2023 on the hunt for its fourth head coach since 2020.

Former coach and GM Bill O'Brien was fired after starting 0-4 to begin the 2020 season after completing six full seasons (Romeo Crennel took over and went 4-8 for the rest of the year). Then the Texans hired Caserio as their new GM in 2021, who hired Culley. Culley went 4-13 in 2021 and was fired after one season.

The last team to have four different head coaches in consecutive seasons was the San Francisco 49ers, who had Jim Harbaugh in 2014, Jim Tomsula in 2015, Chip Kelly in 2016 and Kyle Shanahan in 2017.