After another disappointing playoff exit, Lamar Jackson made it clear he wouldn’t pin the Baltimore Ravens’ 27-25 AFC Divisional loss to the Buffalo Bills on Mark Andrews’ dropped pass during a critical late-game 2-point conversion.

Instead, the reigning NFL MVP channeled his frustration toward the Ravens’ three uncharacteristic turnovers.

“Every time we’re in situations like this, turnovers play a role,” Jackson said, slapping one hand against the other. “We can’t have that, and that’s why we lost the game. You can see it — we’re moving the ball beautifully, but we need to hold on to the ball. I’m sorry for my language, but this is frustrating. I’m tired of it.”

Despite the turnovers — including two by Jackson — the Ravens had a chance to force overtime in the fourth quarter. Jackson connected with Isaiah Likely for a 24-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 27-25 with just 1:33 remaining.

On the ensuing 2-point conversion, Jackson’s pass hit Andrews in the chest, but the ball slipped through his hands as he fell backward in the end zone.

“There’s no one with more heart or fight than Mark,” said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. “We wouldn’t even be in this position without him. Destiny is shaped by how you handle moments like these, and Mark will respond with resilience.”

Andrews declined to speak with reporters following a game in which he made rare mistakes. Before Sunday, he hadn’t dropped a pass since Week 6. Against the Bills, he dropped two, including the pivotal 2-point conversion, and fumbled near midfield during the fourth quarter — only the second fumble of his career.

Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton defended his teammate. “One play doesn’t define anyone,” he said. “Mark is the all-time-leading touchdown receiver in Ravens history. For anyone to criticize him is unfair. He’s been a consistent leader and workhorse for this team.”

Jackson also offered words of support for Andrews. “I’m just as hurt as Mark,” he said. “This loss isn’t on him. It’s a team effort. Everyone played a role. Mark has been incredible all season, and sometimes things just don’t go our way. We need to figure it out as a team.”

Jackson, however, wasn’t immune to errors. After throwing a career-low four interceptions all season, he threw one early in the game and fumbled on the following possession while scrambling under pressure. It was an uncharacteristically erratic performance, marking his fourth postseason game with both an interception and a fumble.

“Protecting the ball is the top priority, and I didn’t do that,” Jackson admitted. “As the leader, I need to set the example, and I didn’t deliver today. That’s on me.”

The Ravens have yet to win back-to-back playoff games during Jackson’s seven seasons as their starter. Now, he’ll face another offseason with the elusive Super Bowl remaining just out of reach.

“I have to get past this because we’re so close,” Jackson said. “I’m tired of being right there. We need to seal the deal, punch that ticket, and get it done. It starts with getting better in the offseason.”

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur continues his playoff streak, as the team clinched a postseason berth with a commanding 34-0 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Monday night. This marks the fifth playoff appearance in LaFleur’s six seasons, with the only exception being Aaron Rodgers’ final season in 2022, when the Packers fell short in the last game against the Detroit Lions.

With an 11-4 record, the Packers can secure another 13-win regular season—LaFleur’s fourth—if they win their final two games against the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears.

Packers’ Standout Performances
The Saints, hindered by injuries to key players like Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara, struggled from the start. Green Bay capitalized with a 21-0 lead after scoring touchdowns on their first three drives—a feat they hadn’t achieved since 2020.

• Josh Jacobs’ Consistency: Jacobs extended his rushing touchdown streak to six games, tying for the second-longest in Packers history. He finished the game with 69 rushing yards, one touchdown, and 38 receiving yards.
• Takeaway Leaders: Keisean Nixon’s strip-sack and Zayne Anderson’s first career interception highlighted Green Bay’s defensive prowess. Their 28 takeaways this season rank third in the NFL.
• Depth in the Run Game: Nine Packers players had rushing attempts, including tight end Tucker Kraft and rookie Chris Brooks, who scored his first career touchdown. This level of participation hasn’t been seen since 1953.

Saints Struggle Amid Elimination
The Saints (5-10) were eliminated from playoff contention before the game and delivered a lackluster performance. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi’s hopes for a permanent role took a hit as New Orleans failed to score in the first half for the second consecutive game—a first since 1997.

• Offensive Woes: With rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler starting, the Saints managed just 12.8 points per game in five contests without Derek Carr, compared to 24.5 with him. Rattler has been sacked 17 times in five games.
• Defensive Failures: Missed tackles, penalties, and explosive plays plagued the defense, allowing the Packers to dominate.
• Season Outlook: New Orleans has now endured double-digit losses in two of the past three seasons, a stark decline for a team that hadn’t lost 10 or more games since 2005 before 2022.

The Packers remain playoff-bound and poised for a strong finish, while the Saints face a challenging offseason to rebuild and regain competitiveness.

The 49ers’ resounding victory over the unfortunate Chicago Bears on Sunday gave them a chance to look like Super Bowl contenders for the first time. However, the Niners’ odds of making the playoffs worsened despite the win.

For San Francisco, especially in the NFC West, it was a difficult weekend for their hopes of qualifying for the NFC playoffs. Despite improving to 6-7, the Niners’ odds of winning the division were reduced by one percentage point from the previous week to 4% according to the Athletic’s playoff model. They still had a 6% chance of making the playoffs overall.

Using various statistical models or projections doesn’t seem to improve the situation significantly. San Francisco has an 8% probability of making the playoffs, according to NFL.com’s NextGenStats model. The Niners have a 2% chance of winning the division and a 4% chance of making the playoffs, according to the Washington Post’s most pessimistic prediction.

The Niners’ three blown leads in their divisional matchups and the prolonged consequences from them are the primary causes of the lower odds, despite their victory.

The division-leading Seattle Seahawks improved to 8-5 on Sunday by defeating the Arizona Cardinals 30-18 in the Valley of the Sun. That earned Seattle their third division victory of the season and kept San Francisco two games behind them.

If Seattle defeats the Rams on the road in Week 18 and records one additional victory (hosting the Packers and Vikings before traveling to play the Bears), the Niners will not be able to win the division, even if the 49ers finish 10-7, which would put their division record at 3-3. A victory over the Rams would give Seattle four NFC West victories, and since the teams have split their two games this season, division record will be the next tiebreaker.

In the meantime, the Rams advanced to 7-6 by defeating the Buffalo Bills 44-42 in a shootout in Inglewood. The Rams will end their schedule by playing the Jets away from home before hosting the Cardinals and Seahawks, but the 49ers can even the score in their Thursday night matchup. The Rams, who are now 2-1 in the division, could sweep their next three games and defeat the 49ers for a division title even if they lose; the final two victories would give them four NFC West victories.

Given that the Washington Commanders are 8-5, the 49ers still have a chance to earn a wild card berth. However, the 49ers will need to lose two of their next four games (at the Saints, hosting the Eagles and Falcons, and then at the Cowboys) in order to even have a chance of catching up to Washington. Although it seems unlikely, it is undoubtedly conceivable.

Regardless of your point of view, the 49ers will not be in charge of their own fate and will want assistance from some of their NFC opponents in order to maintain their prospects of making the playoffs.