‘Disheartening’ blow for Aussie, Super Bowl fancy

Aussie Jordan Mailata admitted to being left “disheartened” on a day of crazy results that have flipped the NFL playoff picture.

There were plenty of big results.

The Baltimore Ravens secured the AFC top seed for the NFL playoffs in emphatic fashion on Monday morning, crushing the Miami Dolphins 56-19 with Lamar Jackson throwing five touchdowns.

The San Francisco 49ers, meanwhile, will have the NFC top seed — and the home field advantage throughout the playoffs that comes with the ranking — after they won 27-10 at Washington.

The 49ers were assured of the NFC top seed when the Philadelphia Eagles fell in a surprise 35-31 loss at home to the Arizona Cardinals (4-12).

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James Conner’s two-yard touchdown run with 32 seconds remaining claimed the upset win for Arizona and the result opens the door to Dallas pipping Philadelphia to the NFC East title.

“It’s very disheartening,” Australian left tackle Jordan Mailata said post-game, per Philly Inquirer’s Josh Tolentino.

“I think we have a lot of pride. It’s tough when you drop one like that. It’s real hard. We said it’s playoff mode, then we come out here and play like that.”

Jordan Mailata: "It’s very disheartening. I think we have a lot of pride. It’s tough when you drop one like that. It’s real hard. We said it’s playoff mode, then we come out here and play like that."

— Josh Tolentino (@JCTSports) December 31, 2023

Star wide receiver AJ Brown, meanwhile, had nothing to say. Literally.

AJ Brown declines to talk. “There’s nothing to say.” pic.twitter.com/1TZOB7fhxO

— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) December 31, 2023

The Cowboys can win the division with a victory at Washington next week.

Atlanta’s playoff hopes were severely dented with a 37-17 loss to the Chicago Bears while the Buffalo Bills enter their AFC East decider with Miami off a 27-21 win over New England.

The Los Angeles Rams (9-7) clinched a wildcard spot at minimum with a 26-25 win at the New York Giants, their third straight victory.

That came as a result of Pittsburgh defeating Seattle 30-23 as Steelers running back duo Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren dominated on the ground for 197 rushing yards.

There were plenty of big results.

Young Pittsburgh receiver George Pickens, meanwhile, backed up last week’s big game against the Bengals with a 131-yard effort.

Elsewhere, Denver recorded a scrappy 16-9 win over the Chargers but was knocked out of playoff contention after Kansas City clinched the AFC West with a 25-17 victory over the Bengals.

Patrick Mahomes threw just one touchdown pass in the win with the Chiefs instead heavily relying on the boot of Harrison Butker, who made six field goals.

Chicago clinched the top pick in the 2024 NFL when Carolina lost 26-0 at Jacksonville. The Bears obtained Carolina’s 2024 top pick in a trade deal that gave the Panthers last year’s top choice, which they used on quarterback Bryce Young.

For the Ravens, Jackson is the frontrunner to win the league’s Most Valuable Player award and he hugely boosted his chances with an outstanding display against a Miami team that had hopes themselves of topping the conference.

The Ravens quarterback threw for 321 yards on 18 of 21 passing, averaging 15.3 yards per pass as he picked apart the Dolphins defence.

After last week’s convincing victory over the 49ers, the Ravens will be many experts’ choice for the Super Bowl title, but Jackson has seen enough false dawns to be wary of such talk.

Lamar Jackson is the MVP favourite. Todd Olszewski/Getty Images/AFP

“We have still got to keep our mindset of one game at a time. We’ve got keep being locked down. We can’t get overwhelmed with what’s going on right now,” he said.

Miami can clinch the AFC East division title if they beat Buffalo next week but their injury problems are mounting.

Head coach Mike McDaniel was without wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and his main running back, Raheem Mostert, and suffered another blow when outside linebacker Bradley Chubb was carried off with what looked to be a serious knee injury.

NFC Playoff Picture

DIVISION LEADERS

1. 49ers (12-4): Clinched NFC No. 1 seed

2. Cowboys (11-5): Clinched playoffs

3. Lions (11-5): Clinched NFC North

4. Buccaneers (8-8): 69 per cent playoff probability

WILD CARDS

5. Eagles (11-5): Clinched playoffs

6. Rams (9-7): Clinched playoffs

7. Seahawks (8-8): 31 per cent playoff probability

IN CONTENTION

8. Saints (8-8): 33 per cent playoff probability

9. Vikings (7-8): 30 per cent playoff probability

10. Packers (7-8): 26 per cent playoff probability

11. Bears (7-9):

12. Falcons (7-9): 10 per cent playoff probability

ELIMINATED

13. Giants (5-11): Eliminated

14. Commanders (4-12): Eliminated

15. Cardinals (4-12): Eliminated

16. Panthers (2-14): Eliminated

AFC Playoff Picture

DIVISION LEADERS

1. Ravens (13-3): Clinched AFC No. 1 seed.

2. Dolphins (11-5): Clinched playoffs

3. Chiefs (10-6): Clinched AFC West

4. Jaguars (9-7): 77 per cent playoff probability

WILD CARDS

5. Browns (11-5): Clinched playoffs

6. Bills (10-6): 94 per cent playoff probability

7. Colts (9-7): 54 per cent playoff probability

IN CONTENTION

8. Texans (9-7): 46 per cent playoff probability

9. Steelers (9-7): 28 per cent playoff probability

ELIMINATED

10. Bengals (8-8): Eliminated

11. Broncos (8-8): Eliminated

12. Raiders (7-9): Eliminated

13. Jets (6-10): Eliminated

14. Chargers (5-11): Eliminated

15. Titans (5-11): Eliminated

16. Patriots (4-12): Eliminated

Originally published as ‘Disheartening’ blow for Aussie, Super Bowl fancy