For a second straight week, we were able to enjoy an NFL doubleheader on a Saturday, with both games containing plenty of playoff implications. First, the Baltimore Ravens bounced back with a statement victory on the road, upsetting the red hot Los Angeles Chargers, 22-10. Lamar Jackson threw for 204 yards and the longest touchdown pass of his career, as the Ravens moved within a half game of the Pittsburgh Steelers for first place in the AFC North. The Steelers will visit the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, as a loss will put the Ravens atop the division with them.
Jackson's lone touchdown pass was a 68-yard score to Mark Andrews, while Justin Tucker added three field goals on the road. The Baltimore defense also came up big, to the surprise of no one, as Tavon Young returned a fumble 62 yards to seal the victory in the fourth quarter. The win for Baltimore improves them to 5-1 since Jackson took over as the starting quarterback for Joe Flacco, who has been dealing with an injury.
The Ravens were able to hang on to the final AFC Wild Card spot with the win, as they held the Chargers' offense under 200 total yards for the first time since the 2014 season. The Chargers, who have already clinched a playoff spot, dropped a half game behind the Kansas City Chiefs for the top spot in the AFC West at 11-4. The Chiefs, who fell to the Chargers on Thursday Night Football last week, will visit the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football this week.
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Titans may have lost their starting quarterback, but still stayed alive in the AFC Playoff picture with a 25-16 win over the Washington Redskins. Marcus Mariota went down at the end of the first half with an unknown injury, forcing Blaine Gabbert to take over in the second half. Gabbert went on to throw a big two-yard touchdown pass to MyCole Pruitt with 4:30 to play, sealing the Titans' ninth win of the season. They have also now won six of their seven road games this season, with one more left to go before things are said and done.
Gabbert came off the bench for his third game this season and threw for 101 yards in one half of play, while Derrick Henry ran for a score, as the Titans won for the first time in the seven games that they have lost Mariota to injury. Safety Kevin Byrd would officially seal the win on defense by intercepting Redskins quarterback Josh Johnson, while Malcolm Butler returned an interception for a touchdown as time expired. Washington has now dropped five of their past six games, and now needs losses from both the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks to avoid being eliminated from playoff contention in the NFC.
Mariota threw for 110 yards before exiting the game with what the team called a "stinger." The injury occurred when he was sacked with 48 seconds left in the second quarter, and is reportedly the same injury that he suffered on November 18th against the Indianapolis Colts. The Titans must now defeat the Colts next week, while having either the Steelers or Ravens lose once in the next two weeks, in order for them to make the Playoffs.
Jackson's lone touchdown pass was a 68-yard score to Mark Andrews, while Justin Tucker added three field goals on the road. The Baltimore defense also came up big, to the surprise of no one, as Tavon Young returned a fumble 62 yards to seal the victory in the fourth quarter. The win for Baltimore improves them to 5-1 since Jackson took over as the starting quarterback for Joe Flacco, who has been dealing with an injury.
The Ravens were able to hang on to the final AFC Wild Card spot with the win, as they held the Chargers' offense under 200 total yards for the first time since the 2014 season. The Chargers, who have already clinched a playoff spot, dropped a half game behind the Kansas City Chiefs for the top spot in the AFC West at 11-4. The Chiefs, who fell to the Chargers on Thursday Night Football last week, will visit the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football this week.
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Titans may have lost their starting quarterback, but still stayed alive in the AFC Playoff picture with a 25-16 win over the Washington Redskins. Marcus Mariota went down at the end of the first half with an unknown injury, forcing Blaine Gabbert to take over in the second half. Gabbert went on to throw a big two-yard touchdown pass to MyCole Pruitt with 4:30 to play, sealing the Titans' ninth win of the season. They have also now won six of their seven road games this season, with one more left to go before things are said and done.
Gabbert came off the bench for his third game this season and threw for 101 yards in one half of play, while Derrick Henry ran for a score, as the Titans won for the first time in the seven games that they have lost Mariota to injury. Safety Kevin Byrd would officially seal the win on defense by intercepting Redskins quarterback Josh Johnson, while Malcolm Butler returned an interception for a touchdown as time expired. Washington has now dropped five of their past six games, and now needs losses from both the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks to avoid being eliminated from playoff contention in the NFC.
Mariota threw for 110 yards before exiting the game with what the team called a "stinger." The injury occurred when he was sacked with 48 seconds left in the second quarter, and is reportedly the same injury that he suffered on November 18th against the Indianapolis Colts. The Titans must now defeat the Colts next week, while having either the Steelers or Ravens lose once in the next two weeks, in order for them to make the Playoffs.
