Week 17 NFL This Week

And it will be time for these

two teams to settle it

between the white lines...

He's going to fire it

towards the end zone.

Montana throws!

Looking downfield, going deep...

The one-man wrecking crew!

Unbelievable!

How did he do that?

Let's go!

For the win!

Unstoppable!

Hello and Happy New Year.

We've reached the point

of the season where fingers

are being pointed, excuses

being prepared and in some cases

tears are set to flow.

Despite there being a lot of finger

pointing during the course

of the season on this show,

we're actually talking about failing

to make the playoffs.

It's the final round of the season

and six teams are still vying

for the three remaining

spots on offer.

Joining me for some finger

pointing, and possibly due

to their unpredictability,

some tears, is two-time Super Bowl

winner Osi Umenyiora and former

NFL corner Jason Bell.

Here is how the playoff picture

looked coming into week 17.

All the AFC divisional titles

were wrapped up prior to week 17,

but two wild card spots remained

for the taking.

There's reams of permutations

in play so we'll keep

it simple for you.

Firstly if Baltimore and Tennessee

won their home games

against Cincinnati and Jacksonville

they would secure

postseason football.

Still in the hunt, the LA Chargers

who were relying on Tennessee

slipping up if they were to get

a look in.

For Buffalo there were six

permutations that could see

them make the playoffs,

but a Baltimore loss could make it

a straightforward win and you're in.

Both New Orleans and Carolina have

secured playoff football but the NFC

South title was still up for grabs.

A win for the Saints in Tampa

would hand them the division,

lose to Bucs though and Carolina

could take the south

with a win in Atlanta.

The Falcons could secure playoff

football by beating Carolina,

making it three teams from the south

in the postseason,

Seattle were in position

should Atlanta lose.

That's all we've got time

for, see you next week!

No!

And to kick off the final weekend

of the regular season,

we start with the AFC and that win

and you're in game for Baltimore

against Cincinnati.

A simple sum - hit double figures

and make the play-offs.

A tenth win for the Baltimore

Ravens, they are the AFC Wild Card

qualifiers for the postseason.

Not the road of champions, but any

path into the New Year will do.

Coach and quarterback have

stepped this way before.

This gateway into the play-offs is

not open to the Cincinnati Bengals.

With this, their season is done.

But it is enshrined in the ways

of the game that finishing

meekly is never an option.

COMMENTATORS: It's a 1st &

goal for Cincinnati.

Dalton.

Back of the endzone.

Hauled in for the touchdown.

Tyler Kroft.

Going to beat the inside linebacker

there are and again the ball

placement, up nice and high.

For a guy of six foot six.

Second-quarter action continues.

Getting out of trouble is Joe Mixon.

Flag down.

Mixon lost the ball

at the end of the play.

Baltimore's got it.

Nobody has forced more turnovers

than this Baltimore defence.

Eric Weddle with the recovery.

Mosley made the hit on the strip.

Mixon loses it.

Weddle is there to jump

on it for Baltimore.

STUDIO: The Ravens converted

the turnover into three points

courtesy of Justin Tucker's field

goal to trail by four.

COMMENTARY: 3rd and goal.

Dalton looks, fires!

Wide open, touchdown, Tyler Kroft!

Second of the day.

He's going to get inside

the coverage of Chuck Clark

as he drops into a zone.

Nobody in the middle

of the field for Kroft.

Weddle late coming over.

Andy Dalton with a second touchdown.

Look at the pocket, beautiful

pocket there for Dalton.

Kroft working the backline

at the endzone.

Not enough for the first down.

Snuffed out by Jordan Evans.

STUDIO: The Bengals added the 32

yard field goal from Randy Bullock

to extend their lead to 17-3.

Just before half-time.

COMMENTATORS: Return

man, Chris Moore.

Moore moves forward,

brings it in at the seventh.

Moore makes a cut,

it sheds a tackler.

Moore!

He's got speed.

Moore working the sideline.

If

Moore still going and he's dropped.

you

With eight seconds left,

Mooore nearly took it the distance.

Finally something to cheer

about for the Baltimore faithful.

88 yards.

Looks pretty good here.

But look at the help he's

going to get down the field.

Big number 88 working his way.

Vince Mayle doing a great job.

Andy Dalton can't believe it,

88 yard return and the Ravens have

one shot at the endzone here.

Baltimore trying to take advantage.

Flacco.

Slings it.

Touchdown!

Joe Flacco tosses a strike.

And it's Chris Moore,

as it should be.

He got him down here.

Reward him on this slant

rout, getting inside

the linebacker Vincent Ray.

Joe Flacco with his best throw

of the day, right on target.

This is the 2nd and five.

Fake sweep.

Flacco throws, juggled, intercepted!

It is picked off by Dennard

and Dennard is working his

way down the sideline.

Dennard cuts it inside.

Flacco trying to get in between.

And Dennard will take

it all the way!

A game changer.

89 yards.

The ball bouncing around.

Dennard picks it up and then he's

going to get a convoy

down the sidelines.

Look at his team-mates hustling

to get out in front.

Blocked that time by Jordan Willis.

And Cincinnati has a 24

to ten lead on the Ravens.

They go for it on 4th and three.

It's a toss for Collins.

Collins reversing field.

Alex Collins turns the corner!

Collins dives, he's in!

Touchdown!

Major highlight, 17 yards,

improvisation from Collins!

This is a one-man reverse.

Collins just totally shut

off on the left side,

reverses his field.

Now he gets Allen in front,

Joe Flacco is there.

And then it's just tremendous

individual effort.

STUDIO: Tucker's field goal cut

the Bengals' lead to just four

points early in the fourth quarter.

COMMENTATORS: 3rd and

eighth for Cincinnati.

Dalton moving pocket.

Dalton lofts it, out of bounds.

Pressure from Terrell Suggs.

4th down for Cincinnati.

3rd and five, Joe Flacco

and the Ravens they trail 24-20.

From the gun, Joe Flacco.

End zone!

It's caught!

Touchdown!

Mike Wallace with the ground.

The Ravens go in front!

Joe Flacco with a bullet.

And a perfect throw

away from coverage.

Makes the catch.

Left foot down.

Right foot down.

Touchdown.

Dalton breaks away.

Dalton slings it downfield

and it is intercepted.

Headley marker at the 38 yard line.

It's going to be holding

against the Ravens.

A first down for the

Bengals and new life.

Holding.

Defence number 29.

Time-out, first down.

Check out Marlon Humphrey there.

He just tackles Brandon

Lafell, easy call.

Dalton from the gun.

Dalton steps, throws.

Underneath.

Catch is made by Kroft.

But nowhere to go after the grab

as he is hit by Chuck Clark.

It is 4th down for Cincinnati.

They pick up just three yards.

Bengals have only one

time-out remaining.

Well, here it is.

It is 4th down.

The Bengals need 12 yards to keep

this drive alive and to give

Bullock a possible shot

for a game-tying field goal.

Dalton has had success running

Tyler Boyd out of the slot.

He's got single coverage right now.

Green for sure will be doubled

at the bottom of the screen.

Ravens trying to end it here.

Fourth down.

Dalton steps up.

Throws.

It is complete!

Caught by Boyd.

Tyler Boyd, touchdown, remarkable!

The Cincinnati Bengals

have stunned this crowd.

Just a great job of finding

the single coverage here.

Right down the seam goes Boyd.

You could see that Kennedy

was more concerned with

Lafell on the outside.

Boyd single covered.

Dalton with time to throw.

Touchdown, Bengals.

A stunner in Baltimore.

The Cincinnati Bengals

with an extraordinary comeback.

The Bengals spoil Baltimore's party.

31-27.

We'll get to that roller-coaster

of a game shortly, but lets see how

that result impacted

the AFC playoff picture.

And we start with the Chargers.

They had to beat Jack Del

Rio's Oakland and hope

for help to make the play-offs.

And Philip Rivers delivered

for the Chargers.

He was in imperious form.

Three touchdowns.

The first to Tyrell Williams from 56

yards in the second quarter.

Then Keenan Allen from six yards.

Again that was in

the second quarter.

This 62-yard pass to Benjamin,

that crashed Oakland,

This 62-yard pass to Benjamin,

that crushed Oakland,

who actually fired Jack Del Rio soon

after the game.

We will talk more about that

a little bit later on.

And the Chargers now needed

the Tennessee Titans to lose.

Titans had to win this

against the Jaguars

to progress themselves.

They started strongly.

Marcus Mariota finding Derrick Henry

for a 66-yard touchdown.

You don't want to get

in that big boy's way!

You don't want any part of that!

They didn't!

The Jaguars then made

the fourth-quarter comeback thanks

to this fumble return.

That was from 67 yards.

But maybe not surprisingly,

if you have watched a lot

of Jaguars this season,

turnovers were their downfall.

This pick, Kevin Bier picking off

for the second time.

It sealed Tennessee's

play-off place and that

eliminated the Chargers.

So the Bills haven't been

in the play-offs since 1999.

He scares me sometimes,

cos he's looking all buff

in his shirt half the time!

Yeah, he might keep me

in line as a player!

So the Bills knew, thanks

to the Ravens' loss,

beat Miami and they're in.

Nick O'Leary, that touchdown, that's

his grandfather, Jack Nicklaus.

But this is worrying for the Bills.

LeSean McCoy picked up

an ankle injury soon after.

He didn't return.

Not good for them.

This is nice, though,

that the defensive tackle,

Carl Williams bundling

for a touchdown.

To make it 90-nil.

Miami did fight back.

Their quarterback David Fales ambled

in to bring them within six points.

That pick meant the Bills

were in the play-offs

for the first time this century.

Now for the trip to New England,

the Jets quarterback Rice Petti

couldn't get his helmet on.

It wouldn't have mattered much,

actually, if he hadn't.

Dion Lewis had touchdowns

in the 1st & second quarter.

The Patriots in control.

He makes them a dangerous team.

Dion Lewis has really

got that offense going.

When they sacked Petti in the end

zone for a safety it was all over.

And they secured the number

one seeding and home

advantage in the play-offs.

Pittsburgh will be

the number two seeds.

They rested Ben Roethlisberger,

Landry Jones came in at quarterback

for this game against the Browns.

They went ahead early thanks

to Darrius Heyward-Bey's 29 yards.

He can run!

That's a fast dude.

In-depth analysis, fast dude!

Ju Ju Smith-Schuster got his first

touchdown pass of the season.

DeShawn Kyzer hit back

for the Browns, finding

Rashard Higgins for this

56 yard touchdown.

This guy is a fast

dude here as well!

Because he is from my hometown!

Yes, hometown friend!

Of course I know Ju Ju!

Look at him, look at his

strength right here.

He didn't want no part of that.

96 yard kick return.

Cleveland, the first team

with a winless season

since the 2008 Lions.

Rookie Patrick Mahomes started

for the Chiefs instead of the Goat.

Kareem Hunt running in from 35 yards

gave them a 14-point

lead at the Broncos.

Denver scored two touchdowns

in the fourth quarter.

This from Demaryius Thomas.

It tied it 24-all.

Harrison Butker though

kicked the winning field

goal for Kansas City.

They finished on top of the AFC

West at ten and six.

Patrick Mahomes looking

like the future!

And we finish, nothing

on this game whatsoever,

Texans against the Colts.

Bill O'Brien's Texas

against Chuck Pagano's Colts.

Marlon Max, 1-yard run in the third

quarter, gave the Colts lead

that they would not relinquish.

And this sack and safety for

the Colts ensured it was all over.

Chuck Pagano fired after that game.

So the AFC road to Minnesota

will have to go to through Foxboro,

Massachusetts, as New England secure

the top seed for the seventh time.

Worrying stat for teams in the AFC,

on five of the last six occasions

as the number one seed,

the Patriots have gone

to the Super Bowl.

Pittsburgh join them with a week off

as the number two seeds.

A wild card weekend sees two teams

end in long play-off droughts.

Nine years since Tennessee last

appeared in the play-offs.

They go to Kansas City.

And as mentioned earlier,

it has been 17 years since Buffalo

made the postseason.

They return with a trip

to third seed Jacksonville.

So heartbreak for Baltimore,

elation for Buffalo.

Here's the post-game reaction.

Starting with the Buffalo locker

room as they secured

their play-off bill.

Listen, the only thing

we were worried about was beating

Cincinnati Bengals.

And that is a tough

enough task on its own.

So, you know, I think

we all had the blinders

on and we were going out

there and playing a football game.

These moments will build your

character and build our identity,

build our team for the future

and I know we will bounce back.

I'm just disappointed

we didn't get this win.

Even the game, I think,

was a little bit of a kind of...

Epitomises a little bit

the way the season went.

And then to battle our way back

the way we did and not to be able

to finish and it win the game

is about as tough as it can be.

But that doesn't detract

from the heart and from who these

guys are as people.

So that's what I'm standing on.

That's what I told them and it's

been a joy coaching these

guys every single day.

We will look at Baltimore

in the moment but, from a Buffalo

point of view, the drought is over.

I mean, you know that community,

that fan base is so excited.

It's been so long.

In the postseason it's such a big

thing for your fan base.

I'm happy for them.

I mean nobody will give them

much chance of going

to the Super Bowl, will they?

But just for the fan base,

just to get a playoff game

after so long of ending

the regular season.

It is in many ways

the most important thing.

Yeah, no question.

And nobody would have given them

a chance to even have made it

to the playoffs at the beginning

of the season, but the fact

they played their hearts out

and were able to get

there was an accomplishment

in itself.

And there was a nice touch

on social media as well.

The Cincinnati Bengals,

by Andy Dalton.

Thanking the Bills fans that have

donated to his foundation

after he helped the Bengals beat

the Baltimore Ravens.

In 24 hours, over 2500 donations

totalling up to $57,000,

which is a nice touch

from the Buffalo fans.

The worry will be LeSean McCoy's

ankle for the Bills.

Yes, this is a dynamic

football player.

One of the best running

backs we have in the NFL.

He is the engine that

makes this offense go.

If he is not able to play,

they are going to be in big trouble.

But if he is available,

you would give them

a chance, would you?

Always give them a chance.

It's the NFL and ultimately

they are a running team

and it goes through him.

So absolutely.

OK, the Bills face

Jacksonville in the playoffs.

After Jacksonville's

defeat to Tennessee...

I am laughing already,

because I know what's coming.

Blake Bortles had this rather

strange logic when he looked

ahead to the playoffs.

I think we'll be fine.

We will be able to do.

You know I personally got a good

amount of experience of losing,

so should be able to overcome that.

So he's got a good amount

of experience in losing.

If I were trying to interpret

what he is trying to say -

they know how to deal with a defeat

and bounce back from it.

Would that be fair to him?

No.

It's not fair.

They have a good amount

of experience losing

because they keep losing,

and so for him to have lost

and said that, means that

what is going to happen,

they are going to go there and lose

again in the playoffs.

There is no bouncing back from that.

I don't know what he

was thinking, man.

He had a brain freeze.

Yeah, that didn't come out right.

And you need your quarterback,

your leader, the guy

who is at the podium every week,

to be a little more

polished than that.

I mean...

Hang on.

We will talk more about this

game on Saturday's show,

but Blake Bortles gets enough stick

as it is without us hammering him

at the podium, as well, surely.

You get the big cheque and everybody

is looking at you each week.

You've got to be

ready for everything.

OK.

You still would have a big question

mark over him, would you?

Oh, yeah definitely.

Definitely.

Always a question mark over him.

He turns the ball over.

Entirely too inconsistent

at the quarterback position, man.

You're not going to be

able to advance far

in the playoffs with a guy playing

a position like that.

Impossible.

I just want to show you something

from the Baltimore game.

This is being played

in -7 temperatures.

There was a wind chill that made it

feel like -12, the coldest game

the Ravens had hosted.

They rallied back, of course,

from a 17-10 deficit to lead 27-24.

There was just over a minute to go

and then they gave up two penalties.

We're going to look at this key one

on third and fifth and it was given

for holding by corner Marlon

Humphrey.

There is no doubt it is a penalty.

No doubt, but what he is

doing is actually right.

It's just that Dalton got

out of this situation.

He is doing what they call sitting

on the sticks for the 1st down.

And Dalton started moving

around and once that

happened, he had to hold.

It happens a lot.

As you see right here.

He is ready for the break.

That has cost his team

the playoffs, yeah?

Cost him the playoffs, man.

That's what happens

when quarterbacks extend plays.

The other interesting thing on that,

Eric Weddle made the interception

and he was on a $1 million bonus

from the Ravens if they made

the playoffs and if he made

the Pro Bowl, which the second bit

of that he had already accomplished.

So that one penalty

cost him $1 million.

I mean, they say it is a game

of inches, but, God, who wants

to lose $1 million like that?

That has to be

heartbreaking for him.

He wasn't up there at the podium

talking about the ice

cream with his kids,

like he usually does.

He was just thinking to himself,

I lost $1 million just then.

That's crazy.

That quick.

Is that a big opportunity missed,

do you think, from the Ravens?

Because we have spoken a lot

in recent weeks they were one

of the teams that would be feared

in the AFC playoffs.

Them and the Chargers, we thought.

Neither of them are in the playoffs.

Yes, I mean those are two teams

that could have made

some noise in the AFC.

These are two teams who could have

been anybody outside

of maybe New England.

They could have beaten

the Pittsburgh Steelers

if they would have played them.

So it's a big opportunity missed

for these two teams.

OK.

A reminder we are back later this

week with the NFL show

where we will take a further look

at week 17 and as I say, we will

preview the upcoming playoff games.

That will be on Saturday night

after Match Of The Day on BBC One.

You can also catch all our

shows on the iPlayer.

The NFC South has been hands down

the division to watch this year,

so it's quite fitting that in week

17 it was the only one

still up for grabs.

New Orleans were in the driving

seat enterting this one,

but facing a dysfunctional,

yet on their day dangerous,

Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It was far from easy

street for the Saints.

Playing for the division, then,

versus playing for pride,

and possibly your job next season,

if you're a Buccaneer.

COMMENTATOR: They bring

in an extra tight end.

They bring in an extra

offensive tackle.

14th player of the drive.

It is a touchdown by Peyton Barber.

Good surge by the Buccaneers

offensive line as they run

to the extra offensive tackle lined

up at tight end Western.

This is their outstanding

rookie and look out here.

He is off to the races.

Across the 50.

Inside the 30 and he will

take it to the house.

A touchdown.

160 yards for Alvin Kamara.

So much like the running game.

You set up double teams.

You're going to have

a double team right here.

We have those double teams.

That creates space and you get guys

out of their coverage lanes.

You've got Patrick Murray.

He has no shot.

And Alvin Kamara has put

an exclamation point on his NFL

offensive Rookie of the Year.

They come back the other way.

It is intercepted

by Marcus Williams.

His third interception of the year.

There was that turnover that

continues to haunt Jameis Winston.

Saints trying to take their first

lead of the game and it will be

Alvin Kamara to the end zone.

Well, you can run from this far out.

You've got to give credit to these

guys, because Alvin Kamara,

on his way to the end

zone, is untouched.

I mean, if it's two

hand touch, nothing.

He might have got him there.

They fake it and Jameis will run it.

Then did he break

the play right there?

It looked like he did.

Good decision-making

by Jameis Winston.

We know he is a tough guy.

Craig Robertson comes in.

Driving him back.

There is no quitting.

Jameis Winston, you see that

left-hand reach over the goal line.

Clearly a touchdown before

the ball comes out.

By Jameis Winston.

A loss of four.

3rd down and 14 and

Winston in trouble.

Avoids one sack.

Now just throws it

up to the end zone.

And that is his second career

interception in the red zone.

He had not thrown one

since December of his rookie year.

STUDIO: The Saints added three

points with Wil Lutz'

48 yard field goal.

They led by four points.

COMMENTATOR: It is a 17-13 lead.

Remember, they blocked the punt

for a touchdown last

time these teams met.

Coverage of the ball is loose!

And it is a touchdown

for the Buccaneers!

Isaiah Johnson scores the touchdown.

And it looks like Joshua Robinson

was the one who made the tackle

and stripped it out of there.

Sean Payton is going

to challenge his call.

He is upset right now

with Tommylee Lewis.

What a job by Josh Robinson.

He came over from Minnesota.

Had two hands on the ball.

Then he strips it out of there.

That is a clear fumble, right there.

And I love the athletic ability.

Not to fall on it,

but to scoop and score.

And it is a touchdown to Zach Line.

His first receiving touchdown

of the year and the Saints

march down the field.

With 707 to go they have

recaptured the lead.

STUDIO: Patrick Murray's 42 yard

field goal on the next Buccaneers

possession cut the deficit

to just one point.

COMMENTATOR: 3rd down

and a blitz coming.

Winston gives it away.

Broken up by Robertson.

And that will be a three

and out for the Buccaneers.

And they are going to go for it.

Winston.

1st down reception up

to the 17-yard line.

Continuing to run and the Buccaneers

are out of time-outs.

And catch made up to

the 35-yard line by Evans.

And the clock will roll again.

Out of time-outs and

we're under a minute.

Down to 48 to go.

Winston fires.

Beautiful throw.

My oh my.

To Evans.

55.

To give him a shot from around

the territory they need

to get to about the 37.

They have plenty of time

to do better than that.

32 seconds remaining.

All day to throw.

And he dumps it off

and that is a 1st down

to the 39 to Humphries.

Jameis Winston is taking advantage

of this opportunity.

Putting those three

interceptions behind him.

If you are a Buccaneers fan,

you want him to give

Patrick Murray a shot.

To win the ball game

you have got to play.

You cannot get an easy one.

They will attack the

outside of the field.

Great protection again.

And the sideline.

It is a touchdown for Tampa Bay.

95 yards in a minute, 49 seconds.

Decent coverage.

Godwin is just running this

take-off right there.

You see Crawley look

back for the ball.

Godwin was just able to pull ahead

and Jameis Winston throws

a perfect ball to Godwin.

And now the two point

conversion try to try and make

it what would be a 7-point lead.

Saints only have one time-out left.

And we are down to the last nine

seconds of the game.

And it is a catch.

The Saints lose today, 31-24.

What a way to end 2017.

I mean we had so many things

going against us this year.

The one thing you guys did -

an awesome, awesome job

of hanging in there,

no matter what.

Even that game.

There were so many ebbs and flows.

We score, we run the kick-off back.

We had so many chances.

But that is a good football team

you just beat and a 95 yard

defense stopping them.

95 yard drive with no time-outs.

Didn't finish the game the way

we would have liked.

We would like to congratulate Tampa.

It was an impressive

two-minute drive.

There will be a handful of things

we will look at quickly,

to get cleaned up, and then,

you know, here we go.

We get started.

Tampa Bay clawing victory

from the jaws of defeat gave

Carolina a chance to win the NFC

South.

The hosts Atlanta simply

needed a win to confirm

their postseason place.

With both sides well

and truly up for this,

Panthers quarterback

and Atlanta-native Cam Newton

promised to make "lasting

memories" for everyone

in the Falcons new stadium.

COMMENTATOR: On 1st down, dropped

off for Freeman over the middle.

Get the block.

Touchdown.

They bring five guys on this play,

but Ryan is able to step up.

Takes a hit at the end,

but he finds Freeman

underneath and Hooper is able to get

enough of his man to give Freeman

a place to go for the touchdown.

3rd down passing has been a struggle

for Cam Newton this year.

They haven't had less

than 3rd & 10 yet.

And it will be another punt

as the pass is broken up for Olsen.

And the Panthers getting

nothing done on offense.

This was just moments ago.

In so many words, telling guys,

someone make a play, let's go.

They are trying to get points here,

as they trail by seven.

With a minute left

in the first half.

Bersin makes the catch

and has a 1st down.

Brenton Bersin, the guy who has been

cut five times gets open

and is good for 27 yards.

Three tight ends in

the game for Carolina.

Cam keeps pass.

Funchess touchdown.

Typically down here,

you have the quick slants.

Funchess gets inside

technique on Alford.

And an easy touchdown and a talk

for Cam Newton on the sidelines.

It paid off.

But he had to overcome

3rd and a mile.

STUDIO: Matt Bryant's field goal put

the Falcons 10-7 up halfway

through the third quarter.

COMMENTATORS: Newton down.

Terrible throw!

Picked off by Allen.

I don't know where Cam Newton

was throwing this ball.

STUDIO: The Falcons converted

the turnover into a 42-yard field

goal from Matt Bryant.

Bryant added another from 30 yards

at the start of the fourth-quarter

to extend the Falcons' lead

to nine points.

COMMENTATORS: They barely have 130

yards of total offense.

They have got to get

something going.

No first downs this

half for Carolina.

This one downfield, Funchess.

What a catch!

And Devin Funchess down at the 28,

working on Trufant.

A completion of 44 yards.

STUDIO: Graham Gano's 42 yard field

goal brought the Panthers

to within six points,

only for Matt Bryant to cancel that

out from all of 56 yards on the next

Falcons possession to make it 19-10.

COMMENTATORS: No urgency

on the part of Carolina.

Down by nine.

Another missed target.

Olsen has been targeted 11 times.

He has one catch.

You know, these teams like Atlanta,

are able to come back next week

and put it together and continue

to play as a high level.

and put it together and continue

to play at a high level.

Although I would not say this

has been a high level

offensively for Atlanta.

Here is a drop.

Another drop.

Sanu.

Ball might have been

maybe a tad underthrown.

This is not a good offensive

day to launch yourself

into the postseason with what we've

seen from the Panthers.

No, this is tough.

I mean, speaking as a quarterback

going into postseason,

you're completing 36%

of your passes.

It is not where you

want to be, of course.

And it makes for a tough week

when you're supposed to be confident

and playing at your best.

Here is one high again,

picked off off the hand of Olsen,

into the arms of Keanu Neal.

And that could very well wrap it up.

Cam Newton has been high

with throws all day.

And this one gets him again.

He had a chance if he is able

to lead Olsen, it's zone coverage,

and he's got to get past Dion Jones

there in the middle.

He started to, but then the ball

is high behind and a tipped ball.

And Dan Quinn you know now with two

interceptions, is thrilled.

And Dan Quinn's NFC champion

Atlanta Falcons team from a year ago

just stamped their ticket back

to the postseason.

With a rather definitive win

over their divisional rivals,

the Carolina Panthers.

As a group, this toughness,

this brotherhood that

they have, it's alive.

It's real.

And they've got stuff to prove.

But once we are in,

it is just for this week.

And so I've heard that we are going

to play out at Los Angeles

and that is the fight

that we are in, that is

the fight that matters.

And we will be

completely 100% ready.

I'm not concerned at all.

I mean it is one game.

You know.

We played well for

most of this year.

We've had some opportunities to win

some football games.

And if we can play defence away

we played it, we will give ourselves

a chance to win football games.

A couple of throws got away from me.

You know, and there at the end

I felt I was you know,

pressing a little bit,

you know, too much.

You know, that can happen

and when you play in the team,

in a defence like that,

they thrive on those

situations as they did today.

Three teams then from the NFC

South into the play-offs.

The last time three teams

from a division went

into the play-offs was 2014.

AFC North, then.

And New Orleans Saints win

the division despite

the defeat against the Bucs.

Do you think we've given Drew Brees

enough credit this season?

We seemed to have focused a lot

on other quarterbacks, Goff,

Wentz, Rogers, whoever

it may be, Newton.

Right.

But Drew Brees has

just got on with it.

Yeah, he's played well enough

for them to win, obviously.

But we haven't given him enough

credit because the way they've been

winning this year has been

through their running game

and their outstanding defence.

Which nobody really expected.

Drew Brees, everybody expected

to play the way he has been playing.

So I think that is the reason why

we haven't given him credit.

He set the single season pass

completion record at 72%.

Yeah.

It's because of the way that

offence is right now.

He's throwing the intermediate

routs, the high percentage throws.

We're used to him having to throw

them to victory all the time.

Big shots down the field.

We are not seeing that,

so we are not talking about him.

But he might still have

some in the engine.

We've got to be ready.

We spoke about Alvin Kamara a lot

over the course of the season.

We're just going to show

you this play again.

Because the key to this is actually

when he stops or pauses, yes?

I have seen this guy all the time,

he is a special team juggernaut.

That pause right there gets

you to slow up just one second.

And the key to that is it allows

the blockers a little bit more time

to get a better angle on you,

and you see the result.

This has happened to me before,

and I'm not proud of it.

I wish I could say

anything about this...

But you cant!

But you can't!

I didn't play those,

so I can't really add a comment!

But Kamara continues to be a really

multipurpose, multifaceted threat

going into the play-offs.

Outstanding football player,

he can do everything.

Whether it's special teams,

whether it's running the football,

whether it's receiving the ball out

of the backfield.

This guy is one of the top

offensive weapons in the NFL,

and he is only a rookie.

I thought it was interesting

hearing from Troy Yeatman

in the commentary of Panthers-

Falcons.

How you don't want to be going

into the play-offs as a quarterback

struggling for form.

And you look at Cam Newton's

performance and he is struggling.

Isn't he?

And the main thing he said in that

interview was, I was pressing.

We always talk about when you start

pressing as a player,

you start making bad decisions.

Because you start thinking,

I have to make a play,

I have to make a play.

And you see by the results,

with these overthrows and tips,

that is what he is doing.

He is trying to make a play and this

is when things happen.

As I said going into the game,

he said he wanted to

make lasting memories

in the Falcons' new stadium.

That was a career worst passer

rating and a completion

percentage that ranked

among his worst five ever.

If you were a Panthers fan,

would his form continue,

, concern you passing-wise, not

running wise, passing-wise, going

into the play-offs?

No question.

He has had a below average year

passing the football.

Now obviously we all know he can do

running the football,

he is extending the plays,

creating mismatches out there.

But passing the football,

which is what you're going to have

to do in the play-offs to beat teams

who are going to load

the box up against you,

he is struggling in that department.

And he is going to

continue to struggle.

Both of you on this,

is that solely down to him?

I mean, you saw him doing his little

huddles and pointing at some

of the other members of the offence

in a sort of, come on guys,

give me something.

Is it solely down to him?

I mean yes, he's got

to be the one that makes

the throws in this situation.

Yes, it's down to him.

And he's the kind of guy

that only needs to make

one or 2 throws a game.

A big one down the field.

So he just needs to stay

confident and not press.

No question, he is the quarterback,

he is the guy who is

pulling the trigger.

I have seen quarterbacks make

average receivers look a whole lot

better than they are.

And he is just making good receivers

look terrible right now.

So we have praised the Saints

quarterback, criticised

the Panthers quarterback.

The two of them play each other

in the play-offs, you know what's

going to happen from here!

The NFC has its six playoff teams.

Here's the rest of

the week 17 action.

Arizona added insult

to injury for Seattle,

whose play-off hopes were ended

by Atlanta's win over Carolina.

Brown opened the scoring

from Drew Stanton's 25 yard pass.

I think on the Saturday show last

week one of you two predicted this.

Osi, you predicted it, didn't you?

They did it for Bruce!

Look at this for a kick-off

return from Tyler Lockett.

99 yards from him.

For a touchdown.

Making those boys looked

like they're sleepwalking!

Look at him!

He did that without a pause!

Baldwin's second touchdown of the

game gave Seattle a 1-point lead.

Patrick Peterson arguably the best

corner in the league!

Phil Dawson kicked his fourth field

goal to make it 26-24.

There were two and

a half minutes left.

And then Blair Walsh,

who surely will not be in Seattle

next season, will he?

Someone will pick him up!

He better be in a career transition.

Unbelievable, said Pete

Carroll, as that missed.

Another field goal Walsh missed.

And Bruce Arians

confirmed his retirement,

by the way, last night.

Right, big problem for

Philip Carson, Nick Foles

was poor against Dallas.

He struggled all afternoon.

Not what you want.

And in fact this game was scoreless

heading into the fourth quarter.

The first time in ten years that

happened in an NFL game.

Brice Butler put us

all out of our misery.

It ended 6-nil.

We will talk more about

Philadelphia in just a moment.

Minnesota look the class

act of the NFC.

This is where we show all this

Minnesota footage and Jason tells us

he is friends with all of them.

Latavius Murray had

to one-yard touchdowns.

And put the Vikings 14-nil up.

Looking good, he's looking good!

Anyhow, 15-yard touchdown

from Case Keenum.

John Fox sacked by the Bears

at the end of that.

The Jimmy Jese show rolled

into LA as the 49ers faced

an understrength Rams.

Marquise Goodwin caught an eight

yard pass from Garoppolo.

And went in for a first

quarter touchdown.

Garoppolo threw another

touchdown to Aldrick Robinson

in the fourth quarter to close out

the season with five straight wins

and Garoppolo still hasn't

lost as an NFL starter.

That is remarkable, isn't it?

That is serious.

They are happy in San Fran!

Outstanding.

The Lions were always in control

against an injury depleted Packers.

Matt Stafford threw

three touchdowns.

That was his first, the 54 yard pass

in the second quarter.

His last was this -

71 yards to Golden Tate

in the third quarter.

And my old coach Don was fired.

Is he no longer your friend?

He's always my friend!

He is always your friend!

Green Bay defensive coordinator

Don Caper fired on New Year's Day.

And the Lions coach Jim Caldwell

fired on Monday as well.

A tale of two quarterbacks

in this game.

Kirk Cousins and Eli Manning.

In the first quarter, Eli Manning

handed the ball to Darkwa for a 75

yard Giants touchdown.

Always playing for their jobs,

that's what it is.

He found Hunter Sharp for a 16

yard touchdown that kept

the Redskins at bay.

In the third quarter Kelvin Shepherd

made one of three picks

on Kirk Cousins who had

a poor, poor day.

Always struggles against the Reds.

Exactly the same last season.

They've got his number.

And the crowd chanted

Eli Manning's name

as he waved.

Is that a goodbye wave?

We'll find out.

No.

So, in 12 months, Philadelphia have

gone from bottom of the East

to the NFC's number one seed.

Joining them on the bye week

are Minnesota, who keep

alive their hopes of being the first

team to ever play a Super Bowl

in their home stadium.

For the first time in 24

years, playoff football

returns to Los Angeles.

The third seeded Rams host

sixth seeded Atlanta

who are without homefield advantage

and the artificial pitch that

they're accustomed to.

Two other NFC South teams make up

the other wild card game.

On Sunday the fifth seeded

Carolina Panthers head

to fourth seed New Orleans,

where they lost 21-31 in week 13.

Let's go straight to the number one

seeds and Philadelphia.

What a season they have had,

up until the last couple

of weeks, three weeks.

Carson went out and now

there will be serious questions

asked about Nick Foles.

You can never underscore

the importance of the quarterback

position in the NFL.

Carson Wentz, we're talking

about him as being the MVP

of the league up until the point

where he got injured.

Now, Nick Foles, we thought

was a capable back-up,

but they are exposing all this man's

floors right now.

Out there, just decimating madman.

There is no way Philadelphia

is going to be able to advance

further than the next

round they playing with this

guy playing like that.

Because the first game when he came

in, he actually had a decent game

for them, didn't he?

But this, his performance in this

game against the Cowboys,

the confidence will just drop out

of both fans and players.

Absolutely.

Right there, he is a pocket passer.

This is just a pure miss.

But the thing about it is he doesn't

do well making plays

with his feet on the move.

Things of that nature.

Like Carson Wentz did,

extending plays.

And now you see him trying

to extend the play, this

is not what he does well.

He needs to stay in the pocket

and make throws there.

Teams know that, so what are

they going to try and do?

Get him on the move.

And you can't become a mobile

quarterback overnight, can you?

If you're not mobile,

you're not mobile, so the Eagles

will find it hard to protect him,

I suppose.

Yes, they will, man.

And on top of that,

they are missing their left

tackle, Jason Peters.

There is going to be a lot

of pressure coming off

the edge against this guy.

They are in big

trouble, Philadelphia.

OK.

As soon as the season finishes,

it is then known as Black Monday,

where coaches get fired.

Let's focus on the Oakland Raiders,

first of all, because Mark Davis

has made his decision.

This is Mark Davis, by the way.

Whoa!

Mark, man!

It is one of the best haircuts,

or worst haircuts in the NFL.

It is like a hat.

You actually thought we'd

digitally altered that.

I thought this was some kind of

joke, but apparently it's not, man.

Kudos to him.

Bold man to wear that haircut.

Mark Davis took the decision

to sack their head coach

Jack Del Rio after their defeat

against the Chargers.

Here was Del Rio's

emotional press conference.

I spoke with Mark Davis

after the game.

And Mark let me know that he is not

going to be bringing me back.

And so...

He told me he loved me

and appreciated all that I did

to kind of get this programme

going in the right direction, but

that he felt they need the change.

I told him how much

I appreciate the opportunity

he gave me and I mean that.

Very grateful.

My childhood team.

But it's a results business,

I understand that.

That last bit, about it

being his childhood team,

that actually got me,

did that, and yet you two

are sort of sat there

as if it's matter it happens.

It didn't get me, man.

It didn't get me at all.

I never feel sorry for coaches

when they get fired.

I never do.

Let me tell you why.

I remember my last game playing

for the New York Giants.

I played ten years there.

Did you win anything?

Oh, two times...

Oh, right.

Ring of honour inductee.

All right.

OK.

I took a picture.

You did.

You keep those awards well hidden.

I wish you'd mention it sometimes.

You know me, Mark.

Anyway.

So they do the exit interviews where

you sit with the coach, whatever.

Ten years, I go and see

coach Coughlin, who is

a good friend of mine.

He was like, oh, thank you.

That was it.

It's a results business.

That was it, Mark.

I looked.

I was like, you know what, OK.

So this is what we're doing.

Ever since then, any time a coach

gets fired, I just laugh.

Because they don't really care

when they let players go.

What do you make about

Jon Gruden going back there?

He's coached them before.

He was traded to Tampa Bay.

Won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.

He's been working in TV.

I think it is a good call,

because they need their families

-- fan base to be excited

and with this move to Vegas,

I think this gives them

something to be very excited about.

Jon Gruden back.

Do you think it is as much

about that excitement and buying

into somebody and something

ahead of this?

Well, yes, that, but Jon Gruden

is an outstanding football coach.

If you watch the ESPN

Monday Night Football broadcast,

you hear some of the things he says.

You know this guy knows football.

Let's focus on the Giants,

because contractually we have to!

They finished the

season three and 13.

This was their locker

room at the end of that

win against Washington.

It doesn't matter

what happened before.

We don't care about what happens

going forward, right?

Enjoy this.

That's what it's all about.

You guys work too hard.

Game ball, game ball.

CHEERING.

I love it.

One, two, three.

Now, he won't be the head coach

next season, will he?

No, I don't think so

but he is a good guy.

You see it, man.

Players really like him.

They rallied around him.

Mark, I take everything I said back,

because I love Spags.

I just saw Spags,

I take it all back.

I'm really sad about that.

He's a great man.

And do you have strong feelings

for general managers, as well,

do you get emotional

around general managers?

The reason I ask, obviously

New York Giants have

appointed their new general manager,

haven't they, Jason?

Yes, they have.

You tweeted about it this week.

Yeah, I think right now we've got

action is what I like to say.

Because my man Osi over there,

Big Cheeks Osi, he can make some

calls for us right now.

I think we can get some tickets.

Dave Gettleman, the new GM

of the New York Giants.

Could you go from

television to head coach?

You know what, because I know

Dave Gettleman, there

is a possibility, man.

There is an actual possibility.

So you guys cherish me while I'm

here, because who knows

what's going to happen.

You are not going to take me?

I will take you.

And you.

OK, we will put the call-in.

Eight of this year's 12 playoff

teams actually failed to make it

to this stage last season.

Yet again, New England

are the AFC's number one seed

with Pittsburgh number two.

Sixth seed Buffalo head to third

seed Jacksonville and fourth seed

Kansas City host fifth seed

Tennessee.

New England will face the highest

seed to come out of wild-card

weekend and Pittsburgh will pick up

the lowest.

Number one seed Philadelphia

have a week to regroup as do

Minnesota.

Sixth seed Atlanta head

to the third seed LA Rams,

two great offenses on show there.

The other wild-card game is an NFC

South divisional rivalry with fifth

seed Carolina going to New Orleans.

All the wild-card games are split

over this Saturday and Sunday.

And the NFL Show is back after Match

of the Day this Saturday with a look

ahead to all the playoffs.

You can also catch all our

shows on the iPlayer.

So that's it from us.

We are out of time.

We have gone through

all the permutations.

We will see you next week.

Yes?

Goodbye.

Good job.

And so a chapter closes.

For 20 teams, it is over.

Prices to pay.

Their football is finished

but the drama will continue.

Intriguing, of course,

but still only a sideshow.

Football lives on.

A turn of the page

and a turn of the year.

A new chapter opens.

The playoffs.

The gallop towards Minnesota

and Super Bowl LII gathers pace.

Only in the NFL.