–The Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson both made statements Monday night when they routed the San Francisco 49ers. The Ravens are now 12-3 and can wrap up the top seed in the AFC and stake a claim to being the best team while Jackson is on track to become the MVP for the second time. He doesn’t have the best stats (15th in yards and 14th in touchdowns) but his ability to run or throw makes him hard to defend. And they have defense tht intercepted Brock Purdy four times and knocked him out of the game with a shoulder stinger. If they beat Miami next weekend, they will nail down top seed in AFC and be the team to beat.
–Despite the loss to Baltimore, San Francisco, now 11-4, still can get the top seed in the NFC winning its last two against the Commanders and the Rams. So they may have a chance at a rematch in the Super Bowl against the Ravens. Now the big question is whether Purdy can bounce back from the four interception game. Purdy seemed to take a mature attitude abou this first four pick game since college, saying he has to be better for his teammates.
–The Kansas City Chiefs are not looking like a team ready to repeat after they lost to a Raider team that didn’t complete a pass after the first quarter. The Raiders won the game with two touchdowns in a seven second span after returning a fumble and pick for touchdowns. Patrick Mahomes is playing behind a shaky offensive line and receivers who either don’t get open or drop the ball so passing game is struggling. They have the Bengals and Chargers in their last two games as they try to still win their division. But to make the Super Bowl, Mahomes will have to win in the playoffs on the road for the first time.
–The Dolphins showed they can beat a winning team by beating the Cowboys and are on track to win the AFand finish with Ravens and Bills as they try to win the division.
–The AFC South is back to being the AFC South as all four teams lost last weekend. The 8-7 Jaguars have lost four in a row but can still win the division title for the second consecutive year by beating two losing teams – Panthers and Titans – in their last two games. But Trevor Lawrence suffered a sprained AC joint when he fell on his shoulder against the Bucs and coach Doug Pederson said he isn’t sure if he can play Lawrence hasn’t missed a start despite suffering a knee injury, a high ankle sprain and a concussion in recent weeks but the injuries may be taking a toll of him.
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