The Sportsletter - The Playoff Chase Continues

BY JEFF YODER

DEC. 10, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

It’s a quick one to wrap up Week 14 in the NFL. The Bengals got a gift from the Cowboys in the form of a punt-block blunder on Monday Night Football, and the playoff chase heats up with one month to play. Plus, NCAA polls and the four Heisman finalists are in.

Letter Rip!

PICKS

NFL Pick 'Em Winners

Congrats to this week’s pick ‘em champ, Chris Regan! Chris was one of five to go 11-for-12 in Week 14, but he came within 1 yard of the tiebreaker. Top five are heading to the playoffs while Chris gets some swag. Week 15 picks will be ready tomorrow!

Week 14 Pick ‘Em Leaderboard

1. Chris Regan (11/12)

2. Chris Riggs (11/12)

3. Patrick Cassaday (11/12)

4. Pat Allen (11/12)

5. Robert Salas (11/12)

NFL

The Playoff Chase Continues

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Cowboys Collapse on Punt-Block Blunder, Burrow & Bengals Pounce (27-20) in MNF Must-Win

I can’t believe I’m about to type this: the Cincinnati Bengals aren’t out yet. A wild one took place on Monday Night Football in Dallas with three — count ‘em, three! — variations of the MNF broadcast on ESPN. That tells you how few other sports were on display Monday night. That's three channels of 'Who Dey' chants ringing through Dallas. The Cowboys and Bengals, both in dire straights with playoff hopes hanging in the balance, were knotted at 20-all with two minutes to play...

The Punt-Block Blunder: The Cowboys blocked a Bengals’ punt, but Dallas' special teams unknown, Amani Oruwariye, attempted to field it. He muffed it, and Cincy recovered. Two plays later, Joe Burrow hit Ja’Marr Chase for a 40-yard game-winner. Ball game, Bengals.

Chase, Chase & Chasin’ the Playoffs: Burrow was spectacular again (369 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT), but Cincinnati’s playmaking duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Chase Brown went off in primetime. The receiver and running back combined for 35 touches, 314 yards and 3 TDs. The Bengals (5-8) are still not mathematically eliminated from the AFC postseason bracket. They were just 1-7 in one-score games this season before last night’s clutch save. Finally, a break for Cincinnati.

Watch: Bengals Pounce on Cowboys Punt Blunder to Win MNF (27-20)

Yahoo! Sports: Bengals Kicker’s Girlfriend, A Cowboys Cheerleader, Gets Screentime on MNF

NFL Playoff Picture

AFC

1. Chiefs (12-1) | West

2. Bills (10-3) | East

3. Steelers (10-3) | North

4. Texans (8-5) | South

5. Ravens (8-5) | Wild Card

6. Chargers (8-5) | Wild Card

7. Broncos (8-5) | Wild Card

In the Hunt: 8. Colts (6-7), 9. Dolphins (6-7), 10. Bengals (5-8)

NFC

1. Lions (12-1) | North

2. Eagles (11-2) | East

3. Seahawks (8-5) | West

4. Buccaneers (7-6) | South

5. Vikings (11-2) | Wild Card

6. Packers (9-4) | Wild Card

7. Commanders (8-5) | Wild Card

In the Hunt: 8. Rams (7-6), 9. Falcons (6-7), 10. Cardinals (6-7), 11. 49ers (6-7)

Current NFL Draft Order (2025)

1. Raiders (2-11), 2. Giants (2-11), 3. Patriots (3-10), 4. Panthers (3-10), 5. Jaguars (3-10), 6. Titans (3-10), 7. Jets (3-10), 8. Browns (3-10), 9. Bears (4-9), 10. Bengals (4-8)

NCAA

College Hoops Polls 📊

Men’s Top-10: 1. Tennessee (8-0), 2. Auburn (8-1), 3. Iowa State (7-1), 4. Duke (7-2), 5. Kentucky (8-1), 6. Marquette (9-1), 7. Alabama (7-2), 8. Gonzaga (7-2), 9. Florida (9-0), 10. Kansas (7-2) | Men’s AP Poll

Women’s Top-10: 1. UCLA (9-0), 2. UConn (8-0), 3. South Carolina (9-1), 4. LSU (11-0), 5. USC (8-1), 6. Texas (8-1), 7. Maryland (10-0), 8. Notre Dame (7-2), 9. Duke (9-2), 10. Oklahoma (8-1) | Women’s AP Poll

HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

🏀 NBA

Knicks def. Raptors (113-108)

Karl-Anthony Towns (24-15-6) Hits Dagger 3

🏒 NHL

Red Wings def. Sabres (6-5, S/O)

Dylan Larkin Nets Shootout Winner

Canadiens def. Ducks (3-2, S/O)

Patrik Laine (2G) Scores Shootout Winner

Blackhawks def. Rangers (2-1)

Taylor Hall (1G, 1A) Gets Stick on Both CHI Goals

STORYLINES

🏈 CFP Power Rankings

Power ranking the field as the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff bracket has now been revealed. Oregon is clearly No. 1. Notre Dame? Boise State? Here’s how the teams in the playoff stack up. (CBS Sports)

⚾️ Steve Cohen Was Never Going to Lose

Whether it’s a work of art or a generational baseball player, Mets owner Steve Cohen has enough money to get what he wants. He was never going to lose the Juan Soto bidding war. (Sports Illustrated)

🏀 The NBA Cup Knockouts

After an alternately exciting and confusing group stage, the 2024 NBA Cup now moves on to the knockout rounds. Let’s break down the juicy quarterfinal matchups for the eight remaining teams. (Yahoo! Sports)

NEWS 📰

⚾️ Dodgers Sign OF Michael Conforto to 1-Year, $17 Million Deal (ESPN)

📺 Netflix Adds Kay Adams, RG3 & Other Big Names to NFL Christmas Broadcast (SI)

🏈 Bill Belichick Confirms Talks With North Carolina Football Ongoing (CBS Sports)

🏀 Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards Fined $25K for Profane Language in Postgame Interview (B/R)

🏈 Georgia QB Carson Beck Questionable for Sugar Bowl After Elbow Injury in SEC Title Game (Yahoo! Sports)

🏈 4 Expected Heisman Finalists Named for This Weekend’s Ceremony in New York (FOX Sports)