Broncos win AFC No 1 seed, Jaguars clinch AFC South and Panthers claim NFC South: NFL week 18 – as it happened
AFC Denver on bye; Buffalo v Jacksonville; Houston v Pittsburgh/Baltimore; LA Chargers v New EnglandNFC 1) Seattle on bye; San Francisco v Philadelphia; LA Rams v Cardinals; Green Bay v ChicagoAnd that is it, except one final knockout game between the Steelers and Ravens.Are you staying up? Enjoy the drama if you are but it is past my bed time as usual.Thanks everyone for joining me over the past few months.It has been wild, wonderful and completely knackering.So goodnight, but who knows we might run it back next week for the playoffs! Goodnight!(12-5) Buffalo Bills 35-8 New York Jets (3-14)(11-6) Chicago Bears 16-19 Detroit Lions (9-8)(14-3) Denver Broncos 19-3 Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)(3-14) Las Vegas Raiders 14-12 Kansas City Chiefs (6-11)(12-5) Los Angeles Rams 37-20 Arizona Cardinals (3-14)(14-3) New England Patriots 38-10 Miami Dolphins (7-10)(11-6) Philadelphia Eagles 17-24 Washington Commanders (5-12)Denver seal top spot and a bye week in the playoffs with the easiest of wins over the Chargers.
The defense had Trey Lance and company on toast.Final scores: Chiefs 12-14 Raiders, Commanders 24-17 EaglesThe Raiders hold on to the No 1 pick in the draft thanks to the Giants winning earlier while the Commanders enjoy a win that forces the Eagles to pick up the No 3 seed for the playoffs.They welcome the 49ers to town next week.Chargers 3-19 Broncos 1:02, 4th quarterPoor Trey Lance, the lad is trying his best but just can’t fathom this Denver defense.He is averaging 2.
9 yards per play.Gaaah.The New York Jets are the first team in NFL history since records began in 1933 to not record a single interception.It defies belief how this is even possible.Surely you would pick one off by accident, it happens all the time.
Apparently not.Final score: Lions 19-16 BearsDetroit kick the walkoff field goal but Chicago need not worry as Philadelphia look set to lose to Washington.Chicago own the No 2 seed in the NFC and welcome Green Bay to Soldier Field.Final score: Cardinals 20-37 RamsLA score 21 unanswered points to finish this one in a whirlwind.The Rams take the fifth seed in the NFC and travel for a favourable matchup with the Panthers while the 49ers are bumped down to the six seed and head to Philadelphia as it stands.
Final score: Dolphins 10-38 PatriotsNew England look locked for the No 2 seed as Denver have just kicked another field goal to lead 19-3 in Mile High,The Patriots will host the LA Chargers as it stands next week,Final score: Jets 8-35 BillsBuffalo are going to earn the six seed in the AFC and will head to Duval to face the Jaguars next week,That is going to be a cracker,TOUCHDOWN! Commanders 24-17 Eagles 2:23, 4th quarterJ Johnson rush for one yardThe veteran/journeyman/greybeard Josh Johnson is delivering.
Still plenty to go for the Eagles to comeback but what a day for the 39-year-old QB,PICK! Lions 16-16 Bears 2:11, 4th quarterChicago record another pick to take their season tally to a ridiculous 23,They are driving as per usual with two minutes remaining and the game on the line,Not much at stake mind but it would be nice to earn the No 2 seed rather than have it handed to you,M Stafford to C Parkinson for one yardSean McVay is back baby.
And so is Matt Stafford with the goal line touchdown pass.The Rams are taking the fifth seed in the NFC.SAFETY! Chiefs 6-11 Raiders 4:30, 4th quarterWeird score alert! Shane Buechele takes a sack in the end zone for the Chiefs.Your guess is as good as mine.Raiders have teed off today with six sacks in total.
TOUCHDOWN! Jets 8-35 Bills 7:33, 4th quarterB Cook to A Beck for two yardsThe comeback.IS.ON!W Lutz 41 yard field goalPoints alert! After five possessions without any points Denver add a field goal to the … er … field goal they scored early in the third quarter.Bo Nix continues to struggle with 10/19 for 96 yards.That’s it.
TOUCHDOWN! Lions 16-16 Bears 5:25, 4th quarterC Williams to C Loveland for one yardChicago tie it up after trailing 16-0.They convert another two-point try.TOUCHDOWN! Commanders 17-17 Eagles 10:24, 4th quarterJ Johnson to J Bates for two yardsThe NFL’s ultra journeyman levels this one too.Let’s go Josh!Chargers 3-13 Broncos 13:20, 4th quarterA drive ends in something other a punt as Denver record a sack/fumble and recover it.Nick Bonito ghosted in on Trey Lance and annihilated him.
TOUCHDOWN! Cardinals 20-30 Rams 10:39, 4th quarterM Stafford to T Higbee for 22 yardsSky Sports are saying Matt Stafford deserves the MVP.I could not disagree more.The award should be for more than one-yard passes on the goal line a la Aaron Rodgers in his prime with the audible away from the run.Davante Adams is the real MVP.Chargers 3-13 Broncos 13:45, 4th quarterI’ll give you one guess as to what the Broncos have just done on offense.
Punt? Yep.TOUCHDOWN! Jets 0-35 Bills 12:05, 4th quarterM Trubisky to T Johnson for six yardsCall it off.Mitch might get a starting job if this carries on any longer.Someone throw in the towel, quick!TOUCHDOWN! Patriots 38-10 Dolphins 12:39, 4th quarterT Henderson rush for two yardsNew England are locked in as the No 2 seed in the AFC.Chargers 3-13 Broncos 0:37, 3rd quarterPunt.
Punt.Punt.Punt.Punt.Punt.
Punt.Punt.Punt.Punt.Punt.
Punt.Punt.Punt.Punt.Punt.
Punt.Punt.Punt.Punt.Punt.
Punt,LA punt it to Denver for the game’s 12th boot,Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz,Chargers 3-13 Broncos 2:51, 3rd quarterAnother punt for Denver goes through the back of the end zone and brings out Trey Lance,On the opening play at the 20-yard line they gain seven on the ground through Kimani Vidal.
TOUCHDOWN! Lions 16-8 Bears 14:16, 3rd quarterC Williams to J Walker for 25 yardsKyle Monangai picks up the two-point conversion to make it a one-score game,Chicago need the win to get the No 2 seed as it stands,TOUCHDOWN! Cardinals 20-23 Rams 0:51, 3rd quarterM Stafford to C Parkinson for 21 yardsLA retake the lead to leapfrog the 49ers into the 5 seed in the NFC,TOUCHDOWN! Patriots 31-10 Dolphins 2:17, 3rd quarterR Stevenson rush for 35 yardsNew England have been dominating on the ground,Stevenson has an incredible 131 yards on just seven carries with two scores while TreVeyon Henderson has 51 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown.
Even Drake Maye is averaging 8.3 yards per carry on four totes.Bull.Dozing.I’ve got mail! And it concerns Washington’s quarterback Josh Johnson …James Syme writes, “Josh Johnson is a 39-year-old journeyman who holds the record for having been a member of the most NFL teams (14).
That doesn’t capture the full glory of his career, as he’s been signed to several teams multiple times, including four stints at the 49ers.There’s a great anecdote about his first period at Washington: Johnson said that he played a Madden NFL video game to help learn the names of his new teammates.”Gotta do, what you gotta do, James! And keep trucking Josh.I just expect Colt McCoy to be under center in these situations from now to eternity.TOUCHDOWN! Cardinals 20-14 Rams 3:51, 3rd quarterJ Brissett to J Deguara for seven yardsTwo touchdowns without reply forces the Rams down to the sixth seed as we stand with the 49ers popping up to fifth in the NFC.
Another shocker in the works for the Rams potentially.Firm but fair.It’s GOOD! Chargers 3-13 Broncos 10:07, 3rd quarterW Lutz 26 yard field goalNow the Broncos are moving! Bo Nix finds Evan Engram with a deep ball for 37 yards that puts them on 1st and Goal.A stuffed run and two incompletions later and they chip the shot through the posts.A touch disappointing?TOUCHDOWN! Commanders 10-14 Eagles 6:27, 3rd quarterT Bigbsy rush for two yardsPhiladelphia move into the No 2 seed after taking the lead pushing Chicago down to the No 3.
TOUCHDOWN! Dolphins 10-24 Patriots 7:30, 3rd quarterD Maye to R Stevenson for 15 yardsNew Engand applying the pressure if Denver continue to misfire at Mile High.TOUCHDOWN! Jets 0-29 Bills 7:46, 3rd quarterM Trubisky to G Davis for two yardsI am reliably informed no team has ever not recorded at least one interception in an NFL season.The Jets are only a little over 22 minutes from pickless history!Lions 13-0 Bears 7:45, 3rd quarterIn other struggling QB news, Caleb Williams is picked off by the Lions leaving Chicago’s hopes of the No 2 seed pinned on the Eagles losing to the Commanders.Williams is 9/17 for 66 yards and that pick.Chargers 3-10 Broncos 14:08, 3rd quarterLA’s defense keep rolling by forcing a three and out.
Denver really struggling to move the ball.Bo Nix is 6/12 for 38 yards, no touchdowns and no picks.Ice cold.TOUCHDOWN! Cardinals 13-16 Rams 10:38, 3rd quarterJ Brissett to M Wilson for 43 yardsWho else? Jacoby Brissett finds his favourite target with a long-range missile.New York Jets 0-21 Buffalo BillsDetroit Lions 13-0 Chicago BearsLos Angeles Chargers 3-10 Denver BroncosKansas City Chiefs 3-6 Las Vegas RaidersArizona Cardinals 6-16 Los Angeles RamsMiami Dolphins 10-17 New England PatriotsWashington Commanders 10-7 Philadelphia EaglesIn NFC seeding news, the Bears still own the No 2 as it stands with the Eagles losing while the Rams are on for No 5.
It’s GOOD! Chargers 3-10 Broncos, 0:03C Dicker 30 yard field goalThe Chargers show some life.They will be quietly pleased with the finish after doing next to nothing leading up to their final drive of the half.A huge shock is still on the cards should LA’s defense keep stopping Denver.Three punts from the Broncos and a field goal the only points produced by the offense.Just an average day for Puka Nacua.
What a player.Chargers 0-10 Broncos 0:06, 2nd quarterLance is almost picked several seconds after saying he was growing into the game.Next on 3rd and 10 the snap doesn’t come off in time so that is a delay of game penalty.A great throw and catch moves them into the red zone.Chargers 0-10 Broncos 0:13, 2nd quarterAfter looking totally inept Trey Lance has started moving the ball and the Chargers are inside the Broncos’ 30-yard line
Rukmini Iyer’s quick and easy recipe for roast sweet potato, feta and butter bean traybake | Quick and easy
A brilliant, warming 30-minute traybake, all in one tin. I love the combination of roast sweet potatoes with crumbled feta and a bright, fresh pesto; adding butter beans to the mix brings another hit of protein, as well as getting more legumes into your diet – win-win! A jar or tin of chickpeas would work just as well, if that’s what you have in, and feel free to substitute the parsley for other soft herbs, should you wish.Prep 15 min Cook 30 min Serves 22 large sweet potatoes, scrubbed or peeled (up to you) and cut into 1½cm chunks570g jar butter beans (or 400g tin butter beans), drained and rinsed2 tbsp olive oil 2 tsp smoked paprika2 tsp flaky sea salt 200g block feta, crumbledFor the spring onion pesto 25g flat-leaf parsley, leaves and tender stems3 spring onions, trimmed and roughly chopped50g almonds, or pine nuts 50ml extra-virgin olive oilJuice of ½ lemonHeat the oven to 200C (180C fan)/390F/gas 6. Tip the sweet potato chunks, butter beans, olive oil, smoked paprika and a teaspoon of sea salt into a roasting tin or tray large enough to hold everything in almost one layer, mix well, then roast for 30 minutes.Meanwhile, blitz the parsley, spring onions, nuts, olive oil, lemon juice and half a teaspoon of salt in a high-speed blender or chopper
Overnight oats, spinach pie and cheesy corn muffins: Alexina Anatole’s recipes for make-ahead breakfasts
The saying goes that you should breakfast like a king, and I’ve long found that the key to making that happen during the busy work week is to batch-prepare breakfast at the weekend. As we start a new year, the focus is back on balance, and these dishes offer both nourishment and flavour, while also being ideal for making ahead. The overnight oats are a source of fibre, the muffins are high in protein and the pie is a source of both.Prep 5 minCook 10 minSoak OvernightServes 4120g rolled oats 1 tsp ground cinnamon 4 small pears, 2 grated, 2 to garnishSalt120ml freshly squeezed orange juice (from 3-4 small oranges)2 balls stem ginger, finely chopped, plus 1½ tbsp syrup from the jar 200g greek yoghurt, plus extra to serveSliced pistachios, to serve (optional)In a small bowl, mix the oats, cinnamon, grated pears and a pinch of salt. In a second bowl, stir the orange juice, chopped stem ginger and ginger syrup, then stir this and the yoghurt through the oat mix
How to make the perfect breakfast tacos – recipe | Felicity Cloake's How to make the perfect …
Breakfast tacos should not be confused with tacos eaten for breakfast. Of course, they often are eaten for breakfast, but the stuffed flour tortillas eaten on both sides of the southern US border are quite different from the tacos mañaneros of central and southern Mexico, the rich, corn-based tacos de canasta (“tacos in a basket”) or the smoky beef barbacoa that Monterrey-born Lily Ramirez-Foran recalls being her dad’s favourite Sunday breakfast. Instead, Texas Monthly explains, breakfast tacos “marry the key elements of an American morning – scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes – with the Mexican staples of salsa, cheese, refried beans … genius.”Although they’re originally a Mexican creation, according to José R Ralat, the magazine’s taco editor (what a job title!), these $3 treats are now so popular north of the border that they’re the subject of regular taco wars, mostly between those who claim Austin as their spiritual home (often blow-ins, according to their fiercest critics), and those who know that no single city can take the credit. The fillings may vary, from pork chops to chilaquiles and beans to cheese, but Ralat maintains that all should be salty, soft and, above all, comforting, and told the Washington Post a few years ago that “the greatest breakfast taco is the one made at home”
Poon’s at Somerset House, London WC2: ‘The tofu dip alone is worth booking a table for’ – restaurant review | Grace Dent on restaurants
The cooking is refreshingly light, delicate and, you might even say, wholesomeIf you find yourself ice-skating at Somerset House in central London over the next week or so (and hurry: you’ve got only until 11 January before it closes), then first please accept my commiserations. Second, please also note that the Chinese restaurant Poon’s, by Amy Poon, scion of the Poon’s restaurant dynasty, recently rooted itself in the New Wing.Ice-skating itself I have nothing against, but we can all agree that these slippery yuletide stampedes on temporary rinks are the polar opposite of festive, so surely it would be far better to be hiding indoors in the warmth with a round of prawn wontons, a bowl of nourishing “magic soup”, or some wind-dried meat claypot rice. Plus, when the weather outside is frightful, the decor in Poon’s is utterly delightful. So gorgeous, in fact, that within two minutes of entering this dusky, muted salmon-pink, twinkly peach, womb-like space, I found myself asking for the name and brand of the paint shade, because it felt instinctively one that, if applied to my own walls at home, would solve many existential problems
Benjamina Ebuehi’s recipe for yoghurt panna cotta with banana and tahini crumble | The sweet spot
I’m of the opinion that we still need dessert in January. In a month that’s typically grey, dreary and ridiculously long, it’s the little things that spark joy. Granted, I’m not necessarily reaching for anything too rich or heavy, but when I’m craving a bit of sweetness, the likes of this yoghurt panna cotta really hit the spot. If you squint, it could easily be mistaken for a fun breakfast pot.The crumble will make more than you need for this, so save the leftovers in an airtight container for a handy crunchy snack
How to turn the dregs of a bottle of beer into cheesy rolls – recipe | Waste not
If you don’t fancy the last warm finger or two of beer in your can, save it to bake into these fluffy, flavourful rollsI often don’t finish a large bottle or can of beer, leaving a bit in the bottom that barely seems worth saving. When I remember, I’ll pop it in the fridge and save it to add to a stew or batter, but today’s rolls are my new favourite way of using it up.You’ll need just 150ml beer to make these fluffy, super-flavourful buns. They’re a serious treat, and wonderful straight from the oven or dipped into a hearty stew. To build good gluten strength, especially when working with wholemeal flours, always add any extra flavourings such as cheese and herbs after the dough has had its initial proving time
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