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Friday, 31 January 2020

New on SI: Titans stun Ravens, head to AFC title game with 28-12 win

BALTIMORE (AP) With his bright red shoes and relentless running, Derrick Henry grabbed the spotlight and wouldn't let go.

When he was done leading Tennessee into the AFC championship game Saturday night, he did a lengthy victory lap around the Baltimore Ravens' home, slapping hands and taking selfies with Titans fans.

It has been quite a two-week ride.

''It's not just me,'' Henry said after rushing for 195 yards and throwing a 3-yard touchdown pass in a 28-12 upset of the NFL's top team Saturday night. ''It's a team effort. We're all playing collectively as an offense, as a whole. We're just locked in. We believe in each other. We communicate. It's working out there.''

The Titans fear no one, and why should they with Henry rushing - and even throwing - the ball, and a big-play defense making clutch stops and turnovers?

One week after dominating defending Super Bowl champion New England, the Titans (11-7) eliminated Baltimore (14-3). The Ravens had won their last 12 games, with quarterback Lamar Jackson setting records and looking unstoppable.

On Saturday night, it was Henry who was unstoppable, despite Baltimore stacking eight men up front on almost two-thirds of his runs. At times, Henry used power to create space, at others the holes the line provided were huge.

''Watch us work,'' said Henry, the NFL's leading rusher this season. ''We don't do too much talking. We just go work and believe in each other. That's our mentality. We're going to come in here and work. ... Focus on finishing.''

Tennessee's defense had two interceptions of All-Pro QB Jackson, who also lost a fumble, and the Titans twice stopped Baltimore on fourth-and-1.

Henry's jump-pass to Corey Davis displayed yet another of his skills. He has completed three throws in four attempts in his career.

''I put it perfect, man,'' he said with a smile. ''I haven't done that pass since high school. I feel l like I still got it.''

But it's the way he plows over and through opponents that makes Henry - and the Titans - dangerous. Next week, they will go after their second Super Bowl trip and first since the 1999 season, either at Kansas City or Houston. The last sixth seed to get to the big game was Green Bay in the 2010 season; the Packers won it all.

Tennessee scored all of its points off takeaways or fourth-down stops.

Ryan Tannehill's throws to Jonnu Smith and Kalif Raymond, who missed the last two games in concussion protocol, gave Tennessee a 14-point edge.

Tennessee's first score came after tight end Mark Andrews, the Ravens' top receiver this season, mistimed his leap and had Jackson's pass deflect into the air. Safety Kevin Byard was there to pick it off.

Byard scooted 31 yards down the left side, and with a 15-yard personal foul penalty on Jackson added, the Titans were at the Baltimore 35. The hushed crowd then saw five straight Titans runs to the 4 before Earl Thomas came free untouched for an 8-yard sack.

Tennessee simply shrugged and Smith made a juggling catch in the left corner of the end zone. Replay determined he landed barely in bounds for a 7-0 lead.

A fourth-down stop with less than a yard to go - the first time in nine tries all season the Ravens failed on fourth-and-1 - set up Tennessee's next touchdown. Tannehill made it 14-0 with his gorgeous long pass that floated over Raymond's shoulder into his arms behind All-Pro defensive back Marcus Peters for a 45-yard touchdown. That throw accounted for just over half of Tannehill's yards passing for the entire game: 88.

The folks in the stands dressed in purple, who hadn't seen their team in such a deep hole since the end of September, had gone silent.

They did wake up for Baltimore's 12-play second-quarter drive that included a 30-yard completion to rookie Marquise Brown on third down. But the drive netted only Jason Tucker's 49-yard field goal.

Brown again was instrumental on a late 91-yard drive to Tucker's 22-yarder as he made a spectacular one-handed grab of a 38-yard pass, also on third down. Getting within one score in a half they were generally outplayed gave the Ravens little boost, though.

''We just beat ourselves,'' Jackson said. ''I had a lot of mistakes on my behalf. Three turnovers. That shouldn't happen.''

Henry's 66-yard romp on third-and-1 led to his passing TD on a direct snap in the third quarter, followed one play later by Jurrell Casey forcing Jackson's fumble, recovered by rookie Jeffery Simmons. Tannehill's 1-yard run made it 28-6.

''They were beating people with shock and awe in the first quarter,'' Titans coach Mike Vrabel said of the Ravens' winning streak. ''We knew we had to do it with some turnovers and fourth-down stops. That's the only way you can do it. Make Tucker kick some field goals.''

MORE HENRY

Henry's TD pass was the first by a running back in the playoffs since 1987, when Allen Rice of Minnesota managed it.

Henry is the first player with two games of 175 rushing yards or more in the same postseason. He has set the postseason single-game rushing record for the Titans in consecutive weeks.

He also has the most yards rushing through his first four postseason games, coming in with 366 and now is at 561, beating Hall of Famer Terrell Davis and Arian Foster, who were tied with 515 through their first four.

''It's going to be grind, grind, grind and then he's going to bust one,'' Vrabel said.

LAMAR'S LAMENT

Jackson's superb season ended with a major thud. He finished with gaudy numbers - 31 of 59 for 365 yards, 20 carries for 143 yards - and a 15-yard TD pass to Hayden Hurst. But the Ravens flopped ignominiously.

Jackson was better than in his previous playoff game, a wild-card loss to the Chargers last year. At halftime in that one, Jackson was 2 of 8 for 17 yards and an interception for a 0.0 quarterback rating. He came on in helping Baltimore make that one close in the second half.

''I don't care about what they say,'' Jackson said about the likely criticism of his postseason showings. ''This is my second year in the league. I've got a great team with me. We're going to keep going and get ready for next year.''

UP NEXT

Titans: On to either Kansas City or division rival Houston in the AFC title game.

Ravens: Their superb season and 3 1/2 months of winning are over and they head into the offseason way early than expected.

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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL

New on SI: Mitchell Trubisky helps Bears beat Cowboys 31-24

CHICAGO (AP) Mitchell Trubisky and the Chicago Bears appear to be hitting their stride, even if it might be too late to salvage their season.

Trubisky threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score in Chicago's 31-24 victory over Dak Prescott and the slumping Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night.

In a matchup between disappointing teams that made the playoffs last season, the Bears (7-6) came away with their fourth win in five games after dropping four in a row. The Cowboys (6-7) have lost seven of 10 since a 3-0 start.

''I think it shows we're resilient,'' Trubisky said. ''We stick together. We believe in each other even when nobody else believes in us. It's a special group in that locker room. We just want to keep this feeling going.''

Trubisky shook off an early interception near the goal line to complete 23 of 31 passes for 244 yards. He matched a season high for touchdown throws and set one with 63 yards rushing. That included a 23-yard scoring dash early in the fourth quarter to make it 31-14.

Allen Robinson caught two TD passes and Anthony Miller had one as Chicago tied a season scoring high.

On defense, Khalil Mack had a sack but l inebacker Roquan Smith left the game with a pectoral injury on the opening drive, with coach Matt Nagy saying it ''doesn't look real good for him.'' Still, the Bears took out the NFC East leaders after beating the struggling Detroit Lions twice and New York Giants in recent weeks.

''Most teams at some point in time will hit some type of adversity,'' Nagy said. ''We went through that four-game stretch. It was difficult in a lot of different ways. ... Everybody's seeing what type of people we have on this football team. No one's flinched. We've pulled together. We've become even tighter.''

SLUMP CONTINUES

Facing a top-10 defense for the third week in a row, the Cowboys once again couldn't get their high-powered offense going.

''I can't put a finger on it,'' said Prescott, the NFL's passing leader. ''I wish I could right now. If I could we wouldn't be in this situation, we would be getting over this and out of this slump, but that's the most frustrating part, we have the skill level, we have the players, we have the chemistry at times, But we're not playing together as a team, complementary enough when we need to, and we need to figure it out.''

Prescott was 27 of 49 for 334 yards and a touchdown. Ezekiel Elliott ran for 81 yards - his fifth straight game under 100 - and two scores.

Michael Gallup had 109 yards receiving. Amari Cooper caught six passes for 83 yards and a touchdown, but the Cowboys lost their third straight. They lead Philadelphia by a half-game in the division.

''I know we have the right pieces in place, right players, right talent. Just about doing it instead of talking about it,'' Cooper said.

TAKING CONTROL

Kept out of the end zone in a 13-9 loss at New England two weeks ago and then held to two touchdowns in falling 26-15 to Buffalo on Thanksgiving, the Cowboys went 75 yards for a score on the game's opening possession. Elliott lunged in from the 2 to cap a 17-play drive.

Jourdan Lewis then intercepted Trubisky's pass with a neat play near the left pylon, dragging his left foot. He was initially ruled out of bounds, but the call was overturned by a replay review.

But it was all Bears after that.

Chicago tied it early in the second quarter when Trubisky hit Robinson with a 5-yard pass and took a 10-7 lead on a 36-yard field goal by Eddy Pineiro. Dallas' Brett Maher then missed a 42-yarder wide right. Chicago added to the lead in the closing seconds of the half with Trubisky's 8-yard pass to Robinson, and Miller's 14-yarder in the third made it 24-7.

''I think we stayed ahead of the chains, we scored early, we were able to get the run game going,'' Robinson said. ''All aspects of our offense were working today. We were able to keep them off balance.''

FOR KICKS

Maher is 20 for 30 on field goals this season after going 1 of 2. The 10 misses are more than any other NFL kicker has had in a season the past four years.

INJURIES

Cowboys: WR Cedric Wilson jammed his left leg trying to catch a long pass in the closing minute. ... LB Leighton Vander Esch (neck), NT Antwaun Woods (knee) and S Jeff Heath (shoulder) were inactive.

Bears: WR Javon Wims (knee) walked off gingerly in the closing seconds of the first half after an awkward landing as he tried to make a leaping catch in the end zone. ... CB Prince Amukamara (hamstring) was inactive after being listed as doubtful. ... WR Taylor Gabriel (concussion), TE Ben Braunecker (concussion) and RT Bobby Massie (ankle) all missed their second straight game.

UP NEXT

Cowboys: Host the Los Angeles Rams on Dec. 15.

Bears: At the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 15.

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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL

New on SI: Wentz, Eagles keep NFC East hopes alive by beating Redskins

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) Carson Wentz fumbled the ball away, but recovered in time to keep alive the Philadelphia Eagles’ hopes of winning the NFC East.

Wentz bounced back from a potentially costly mistake by leading a 75-yard, go-ahead scoring drive and throwing his third touchdown pass of the day to keep Philadelphia's NFC East hopes on track with a 37-27 victory at the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

The Eagles and Cowboys both are 7-7 and face off in Philadelphia next week.

For the second consecutive week, Wentz engineered a late-game scoring drive, this time with the motivation of atoning for his miscue.

“Guys just kept believing,” said Wentz, who fumbled twice and lost one of those in the middle of the fourth quarter. “I didn't lose faith or confidence at all. I just wanted one more chance. I wanted another chance to go down and the defense gave that to us, and we got it done.”

Wentz threw TD passes to running back Miles Sanders, tight end Zach Ertz and receiver Greg Ward and was 30 of 43 for 266 yards. The 4-yard pass from Wentz to Ward with 26 seconds left put Philadelphia up for good and electrified a stadium full of green-clad Eagles fans. His ability to bounce back from some accuracy issues and a turnover kept the Eagles on pace with the Cowboys.

"We knew what was in front of us," coach Doug Pederson said. “We dealt ourselves this situation. I don't think it's going to take much motivation this week.”

Sanders rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown and caught six passes for 50 yards. The Eagles' defense that struggled to stop Washington's Dwayne Haskins most of the afternoon got him to fumble for a touchdown by Nigel Bradham on the game's final play, leading fans in the corner to chant, “We want Dallas!”

Coming off an overtime victory against Eli Manning and the New York Giants, a loss to Washington (3-11) could've had the Eagles facing elimination next week. Allowing an early 75-yard TD pass from Haskins to Terry McLaurin and falling behind 7-3, 14-10, 21-17 and 27-24 made that a distinct possibility.

“We've got to do better,” Pederson said. "We've got to look at the tape, make the corrections and we've got to tighten some areas up.”

The Redskins made things interesting with late field goals of 43 and 53 yards by Dustin Hopkins, but fell into last place with this loss and the Giants' victory against Miami. Haskins was 19 of 28 for 261 yards and two touchdowns.

“We wanted to battle (the Eagles') aggressiveness with quick throws into zone, blitzes and stuff like that,” Haskins said. “They're definitely something we worked on this week that looked good.”

PETERSON TIES PAYTON

Adrian Peterson's 10-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter gave him 110 for his career and tied him with Walter Payton for fourth on the all-time list. Peterson had 16 carries for 66 yards.

SANDERS MAKES HISTORY

Pederson referred to Sanders as “technically a rookie” because so much experience this year has turned the running back into a seasoned pro. But he is a rookie, and as such, set franchise records for the most yards rushing and total yards from scrimmage by a player in his first NFL season.

“This stuff don’t feel real,” Sanders said.

MEYER SIGHTING

Free agent coach Urban Meyer took in the game from Redskins owner Dan Snyder's box and watched parts of it with a familiar face from his college past. Meyer at one point could be seen talking and laughing with injured Redskins quarterback Alex Smith, who he coached at Utah.

Meyer has connections to several Redskins players, including Florida products Jordan Reed and Jon Bostic and, of course, Haskins and McLaurin.

“It was good to see him, good to talk to him,” McLaurin said. “That passes football. It had nothing to do with his coaching status at all.”

INJURIES

Eagles: Played without WR Nelson Agholor (knee), RB Jordan Howard (shoulder), RT Lane Johnson (ankle) and DE Derek Barnett (ankle), and put WR Alshon Jeffrey (foot) on injured reserve.

Redskins: Rookie CB Jimmy Moreland left in the third quarter with a foot injury. ... CB Aaron Colvin was injured early in the fourth and CB Fabian Moreau left with a hamstring injury in the final minutes.

UP NEXT

Eagles host the Cowboys in what could be the deciding game for who wins the division.

Redskins host the New York Giants in either another Eli Manning swan song game or a showdown between Haskins and Daniel Jones.

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Follow AP Sports Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno

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New on SI: Winston throws for 456 yards, 4 TDs as Bucs rally over Colts

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Tampa Bay isn't giving up on Jameis Winston or its season.

The suddenly red-hot Buccaneers (6-7) will miss the playoffs for the 12th straight year despite rallying Sunday to beat the Indianapolis Colts 38-35 for their third consecutive victory and fourth in five games.

Winston continued to state his case for keeping the starting quarterback job beyond 2019, overcoming another turnover-marred performance by throwing for 456 yards and four touchdowns including the-winner with 3:51 remaining.

And, he did it despite playing the second half with what coach Bruce Arians described as a ''little bitty fracture'' in his right thumb.

''He was fine at halftime. Then when he went to grip the ball, he couldn't grip it. So they X-rayed his thumb,'' Arians said, adding the injury was not serious. ''He was able to get his strength back and come back in.''

Arians has declined to commit to Winston as Tampa Bay's quarterback of the future, saying last week that he will wait until the end of the season to make a decision.

In the meantime, the Bucs want to finish as strong as possible.

''The resiliency of this team is growing on me,'' Arians said. ''Three in a row. (Indianapolis) is a good team missing some guys. But we made a couple of receivers look like Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison. It wasn't our best, but we won. That's nice.''

Winston overcame throwing three more interceptions and having one returned for a TD for the fifth time this season to wipe out a 14-point , second-half deficit. He completed 33 of 45 passes and the Bucs scored TDs all four times they drove inside the Colts 20.

''They got hot,'' Indianapolis coach Frank Reich said. ''We knew they were an explosive team and can make plays.''

The Colts (6-7) have dropped five of six following a 5-2 start, falling from first place to third in the AFC South.

''Obviously we think we're a better team than that, but the reality is that's our record,'' Indianapolis quarterback Jacoby Brissett said. ''We've got to do things to change that. Do the things necessary to make plays in those critical times of the game. I think we've got the right guys in the locker room to do it.''

Winston threw for TDs of 61 yards to Mike Evans, 3 yards to Cameron Brate and 17 yards to Justin Watson before putting the Bucs ahead for good with a 12-yarder to Breshad Perriman with just under four minutes left.

Brissett completed 19 of 36 passes for 251 yards, two TDs and no interceptions. He led a drive to midfield, where the Colts were stopped on downs, ending any hopes of a comeback win.

''A tough loss. ... It hurts,'' Reich said. ''We said in the locker room, we've been in a little bit of a rut not making the plays to finish games. This is a few games in a row now that we've had a lead in the second half and not able to sustain that.''

Darius Leonard returned one of his two interceptions 80 yards for a second-quarter TD, and Marcus Johnson had a 46-yard scoring reception and finished with 105 yards on three catches for the Colts.

Chase McLaughlin, signed last week to fill in for injured kicker Adam Vinatieri, made field goals of 50 and 19 yards. But a 47-yarder that would have given the Colts a 38-31 lead hit the right upright and bounced away midway through the fourth quarter.

Winston began the day ranked second in the NFL in passing yardage, but has thrown a league-leading 23 interceptions and turned over the ball 28 times overall.

Leonard picked off the Tampa Bay quarterback's first pass of the day, setting up Brissett's long TD pass to Johnson. Dare Ogunbowale fumbled on the next Bucs possession, leading to McLaughlin's 50-yard field for an early 10-0 Colts lead.

But if there's one quality Winston has that even the most vocal of his critics appreciate is the quarterback's resilience.

In addition to scoring on a 1-yard run, he hit the 6-foot-5, 231-pound Evans in stride on the receiver's long TD reception to help the Bucs stay in the game despite the turnovers that aided the Colts to build a 27-21 halftime lead.

Winston threw for 277 yards in the first half alone. His third TD pass of the day, the 17-yarder to Justin Watson, trimmed a 14-point deficit to 35-28. Tampa Bay pulled within 35-31 on Matt Gay's 44-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.

''I can snap and clear. I don't focus on the last play,'' Winston said. ''The key is I have to not be in those situations. That's what I have to continue to work at.''

INJURIES

Colts: RB Marlon Mack returned to the lineup after missing two games with a broken hand. He rushed for 38 yards on 13 carries and scored on a 2-yard run in the second quarter. ... Vinatieri was inactive with a left knee injury.

Buccaneers: PR T.J. Logan broke his hand in practice on Friday. ... G Alex Cappa was inactive with an elbow injury. ... Evans left the game after injuring his right hamstring on the 61-yard TD play and did not return. ... Winston sat out the first series of the second half because of his thumb injury. Backup Ryan Griffin took a snap in a regular-season game for the first time in his six-year career.

UP NEXT

Colts: at New Orleans next Monday night.

Buccaneers: at Detroit on Sunday.

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New on SI: Winston throws 4 TDs, helps Buccaneers beat Lions 38-17

DETROIT (AP) Jameis Winston is making quite a case to stay in Tampa Bay.

Winston became the first player in NFL history to throw for 450 yards in consecutive games, leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 38-17 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

He threw three touchdowns in the first half - four overall - and a career-high 458 yards passing one week after throwing for 456 yards.

Even though both Tampa Bay and Detroit won't reach their goals this season, Winston made the most of his opportunity to show the Buccaneers they should give him a new contract when his deal expires following the season.

''I hope I helped myself because I definitely want to be here in Tampa,'' he said.

Winston, playing with a small fracture in his right thumb, completed 28 of 42 passes and set career highs with 221 yards passing in the first quarter and 308 yards by halftime.

The No. 1 pick overall from the 2015 draft did throw a league-high 24th interception on the opening possession, but he more than made up for the miscue.

The Buccaneers (7-7) have won four straight and five of six, but their surge started too late for them to get in the playoffs race.

''We're trying to finish off on a very, very positive note,'' first-year coach Bruce Arians said. ''It means a ton.''

Detroit (3-10-1) has dropped seven games in a row and 10 of 11, increasing the scrutiny on embattled coach Matt Patricia.

The Lions looked like they were still competing for their coach, and themselves, after falling behind 21-0 in the first half. Rookie running back Wes Hills, who was signed Saturday, ran for a second TD early in the fourth quarter in his NFL debut to cut Tampa Bay's lead to 24-17.

''I think the one thing that is consistent is the team fights,'' Patricia said. ''They work hard, really regardless of who's out there.''

The comeback hopes ended with a thud.

Sean Murphy-Bunting returned an interception 70 yards for a score and a 14-point lead with 5:12 remaining.

''Ultimately, was kind of the dagger in the game,'' Detroit quarterback David Blough said after making his third straight start in place of injured quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Tampa Bay's offensive line gave its quarterback plenty of space to make plays.

Winston took advantage of time to throw to connect with Breshad Perriman for a 34-yard TD and Scotty Miller for a 33-yard score in the first quarter.

''He was dropping dimes as soon as we got out of the tunnel,'' said Perriman, who set career highs with three TD receptions and 113 yards receiving.

Winston threw a 25-yard TD to Perriman in the second quarter, keeping the team's passing game clicking even with standout receiver Mike Evans out with a hamstring injury.

Winston's pace slowed in the second half in part because receiver Chris Godwin left the game with a hamstring injury in the third quarter. Godwin had five catches for 121 yards.

The Lions did not have a first down on offense without the benefit of a penalty until midway through the second quarter. Matt Prater had a 44-yard field goal late in the first half.

Blough finished 24 of 43 with two interceptions. Lions receiver Danny Amendola had eight receptions for 102 yards, briefly giving the Lions and their fans hope in the second half.

''When you don't start fast, you're going to be behind it from the start,'' Patricia said. ''It's going to be a play here or there, where if it doesn't go your way, and you don't make a play happen, then you're right back into that tough situation.''

SACK MAN

Tampa Bay's Shaquil Barrett had a sack, giving him 16 1/2 this season to match the franchise record set by Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp in 2000.

''That's a huge record,'' Arians said. ''I don't think we can overlook that one at all.''

SON OF A LION

Perriman had the best game of his four-year, three-team career against the franchise his father, Brett, caught 25 TDs for from 1991-96.

''My dad got dementia, but he's doing good,'' he said.

INJURIES

Buccaneers: Miller went out with a hamstring injury after he scored in the first quarter. TE Tanner Hudson was evaluated for a concussion in the second half.

Lions: DT Mike Daniels (arm), RB J.D. McKissic (stringer), LB Devon Kennard (hamstring) and OG Kenny Wiggins (arm) left the game with injuries.

UP NEXT

Buccaneers: host Houston on Dec. 21.

Lions: play at Denver on Dec. 22.

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New on SI: Bears edge Vikings 21-19 on Piñeiro FG with 10 seconds left

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Already sunk by midseason, the Chicago Bears were happy to wrap up a frustrating year with a late-game push for the win.

As far as feeling good for the Minnesota Vikings, body was the easy pick over mind.

Eddy Pineiro's fourth field goal of the game came from 22 yards with 10 seconds left, giving the Bears a 21-19 victory on Sunday with the Vikings resting their regulars for the playoffs.

''We're going to learn from this,'' coach Matt Nagy said. ''It could have been easy for them to do just that and not be fighters, but they did. That's the positive.''

Pineiro, the latest attempt by the Bears (8-8) to solve their persistent kicking trouble, finished the season with 11 straight made field goals. Mitch Trubisky highlighted another unremarkable, conservative performance by hitting Riley Ridley for 34 yards on fourth-and-9 with 2:36 left from midfield to set up the winning kick.

''We just stuck together, believed and put one last drive together,'' said Trubisky, who went 26 for 37 for 207 yards. ''I think it was important to just go out on the right note.''

David Montgomery had 23 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown to cap a strong rookie season and help the Bears beat the Vikings (10-6) for the fourth consecutive time. Chicago dodged what would have been a fifth losing record in six years, after winning the NFC North in 2018 in Nagy's debut.

''I'm just happy I ended on a good note, and hopefully get ready to compete next year and win my job back,'' Pineiro said.

Minnesota missed a third 11-win season in six years under coach Mike Zimmer, but he was far more concerned about taking a healthy team to the playoffs.

''It was really hard,'' Zimmer said of his decision to sideline the starters. ''I actually didn't tell some of the guys until last night. I wanted them to prepare like they were getting ready to play.''

Ifeadi Odenigbo strip-sacked Trubisky in the fourth quarter to pick up the ball and set up Dan Bailey's fourth field goal for a brief lead for the Vikings, but a replay review negated what would have been Odenigbo's second fumble return for a touchdown in three games after it was ruled that his knee was down after the recovery.

''I like to win. Like I told everybody, any time that scoreboard's up there my name's attached to it,'' Zimmer said. ''But I just figured in the long run it's better if we just play these young guys.''

THE BOONE SHOW

Mike Boone rushed 17 times for 148 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings, atoning for three costly miscues in the first half. After a 59-yard run on the first play from scrimmage, Boone fumbled a pitch from Sean Mannion that Bilal Nichols recovered. He bobbled a short pass over the middle on the next possession that Kevin Pierre-Louis intercepted. The Bears turned both of those takeaways into field goals.

Then after a punt by Pat O'Donnell was downed at the 1, Boone stutter-stepped in the end zone to try to elude an unblocked Nick Kwiatkoski but was engulfed for a safety that put the Bears up 8-3, ultimately the difference in the game.

Boone, who was held to 28 yards on 11 carries on Monday night in the 23-10 defeat by Green Bay, was again the lead runner with Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook and primary backup Alexander Mattison recovering from injuries.

Tight end Kyle Rudolph (81 games) and defensive end Danielle Hunter (48 games) took the first snap for their side of the ball to extend consecutive regular-season start streaks for the Vikings, but the interior offensive linemen were the only starters who broke a sweat and they were out after three series.

''If something were to happen later in the playoffs, guys will have got a little experience under their belt, and it just gives us more depth,'' Boone said.

SLOW START

Montgomery got his second 100-yard rushing game of the season, but otherwise the Bears offense gave the Vikings' second-stringers little to worry about. For the 11th time this year, they failed to score a first-half touchdown. The Bears finished with an average of 4.66 yards per play this season, ahead of only the New York Jets.

IS THIS AUGUST?

For the fourth straight year, all since U.S. Bank Stadium opened in 2016, the NFL scheduled Chicago's visit to Minnesota for the final week of the season. The Bears also finished on the road against the Vikings in 2014 (outside at TCF Bank Stadium) and 2011 (inside at the Metrodome), and most of these matchups have come with a exhibition-game vibe.

Both teams were eliminated from contention for the playoffs in 2011, 2014 and 2016. This time, the Vikings were safely in with the No. 6 seed cemented. Only in 2017, when the Vikings won to clinch a first-round bye, and in 2018, when the Vikings lost to miss the playoffs, were there any postseason positions to determine.

INJURY REPORT

Bears: Pro Bowl kickoff returner Cordarrelle Patterson entered the concussion protocol after taking a pair of end-around runs as a wide receiver in the first quarter. Then Anthony Miller hurt his shoulder on his first kickoff return.

Vikings: DT Armon Watts and OT Rashod Hill each left in the fourth quarter with an unspecified left leg injury.

UP NEXT

Bears: Regroup for 2020, with the offense the top priority for upgrades. They don't have a first-round draft pick, sent previously to the Raiders for OLB Khalil Mack, but they have an extra second-rounder that came in that trade last year.

Vikings: Play a wild-card round game next weekend at either New Orleans, San Francisco or Seattle, depending on the result of the 49ers-Seahawks game later on Sunday night. The road team won three of the four wild-card games in the playoffs last season and two of four the previous year.

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New on SI: Packers barely beat Lions 23-20 to earn first-round bye

DETROIT (AP) Aaron Rodgers was on the money when Green Bay needed him most, overcoming one of his worst games this season.

Rodgers threw a short and accurate pass to Aaron Jones, whose 31-yard reception set up Mason Crosby's 33-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Packers to a 23-20 win over the Detroit Lions that earned them a No. 2 seed and a first-round bye.

''We're going to be a tough team to deal with in the playoffs,'' Rodgers said.

The Packers (13-3) fell behind the last-place Lions by two touchdowns in the second quarter and didn't lead until Crosby made his second game-winning kick against Detroit this season.

Green Bay won a fifth straight game despite Rodgers struggling for much of the afternoon. Rodgers was 27 of 55 for 323 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He connected on less than half of his attempts for the second time this season and finished with his second-lowest rating of the year.

''Too many missed throws,'' Rodgers acknowledged after throwing the most passes he has in 2019, tying the third-highest total of his career. ''I felt good about the throws. That's the crazy thing. We were just a little bit off at times.

''When we had to make a play, we made the play.''

Detroit did not, following a season-long trend.

The Lions (3-12-1) closed with nine straight losses for their longest losing streak in a season since going 0-16 in 2008.

''This game was in some ways a microcosm of our season,'' guard Graham Glasgow said. ''We started out well and we were running the ball, but when it came to the second half and finishing the game, we didn't pull it out.''

David Blough was 12 of 29 for 122 yards with an interception - and a 19-yard touchdown reception - filling in for Matthew Stafford, who had a season-ending back injury.

Despite playing only for pride, the Lions looked as if they were more motivated to win early in the game against a team with a lot at stake.

''We definitely started flat in every phase,'' Packers coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged.

And with nothing to lose, Detroit scored on a trick play midway through the first quarter. Blough handed off to receiver Danny Amendola, who threw back across the field to the rookie quarterback for a TD.

Kerryon Johnson converted a fourth down with a 1-yard TD run late in the first half, giving Detroit a 14-0 that stunned everyone not on their sideline.

''I know to a lot of people there wasn't much on the line, but to us there is every single week,'' coach Matt Patrica said. ''We're going to go out and we're going to compete.''

Crosby and Matt Prater made field goals over the last 20 seconds of the first half, leaving the Lions with a 17-3 lead.

Rodgers started to make more accurate passes in the second half, such as 20-yard TD pass to Davante Adams and a 28-yard pass to Allen Lazard with 5:19 left for another score.

The Packers pulled into a 20-all tie after linebacker Blake Martinez had a sack and interception on consecutive snaps.

Jones, who overcame having his hand stepped on, finished with 100 yards rushing on 25 carries and had 43 yards receiving. Adams had seven receptions for 93 yards and a score.

''We haven't always made it easy and we haven't always made it pretty, but for the most part, we've found a way to win,'' Adams said.

MOMENT FOR MARVIN

There was a long moment of silence before the game for receiver Marvin Jones' 6-month old son, who recently died. Jones, who was on the sideline with his family during the national anthem, went on injured reserve earlier this month.

INJURIES

Packers: RB Jamaal Williams (shoulder) and FB Dan Vitale (knee) were inactive. C Corey Linsley (back), RT Bryan Bulaga (concussion) and LB B.J. Goodson (neck) were hurt during the game.

Lions: WR Kenny Golladay didn't return after being evaluated for a concussion following a 42-yard catch in the second quarter. LB Devon Kennard and TE Isaac Nauta each left the game with hamstring injuries. LT Rick Wagner (knee) was inactive.

UP NEXT

Packers: Playing in the postseason for the first time since 2016, Green Bay will be the No 2 NFC seed and have a bye before hosting a game. ''It gives us a great chance to do a lot of self-scout,'' LaFleur said. ''It gives our guys a chance to heal up. That was an exhausting game and we lost a couple guys.''

Lions: The franchise decided earlier this month general manager Bob Quinn and Patricia will get another season to lead the team, answering what was the biggest question for the offseason.

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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL

New on SI: Jets close season with 13-6 win over playoff-bound Bills

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills can finally look ahead to making their playoff preparations knowing they're headed to Houston next weekend.

For Sam Darnold and the New York Jets (7-9), they have a long but hopeful offseason ahead in believing their 6-2 second-half record has them poised for a better future.

“I promise you, we'll grow from here and we'll get this thing going in the right direction,” Jets center Jonotthan Harrison said after New York closed with a 13-6 win at Buffalo on Sunday. “It was a slow start (to the season). But at the end of the day, finishing the last half of the season 6-2 is huge. ... And that shows a lot about the character of the guys in the locker room.”

Harrison was particularly referring to Darnold, the second-year quarterback who shook off a 1-4 start and a bout of mononucleosis to help the Jets avoid finishing with double-digit losses for what would have been a franchise-worst fourth consecutive year.

In a game with very little on the line for both teams, Darnold hit Jamison Crowder for a 1-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to beat Buffalo's backups.

Even Jets running back Le'Veon Bell saw promise despite finishing a season in which he failed to top 100 yards rushing.

“We're starting to get the ship sailing in the right direction. I think we started finding our groove and finding out exactly what our image is going to be,” said Bell, who had 41 yards rushing and added 36 receiving against Buffalo. “I look forward to the offseason and obviously getting better and getting in crazy shape and building on what we got.”

Buffalo dropped to 10-6 - still the team's best record since an 11-5 finish in 1999 - after resting a majority of their starters following the first quarter. The Bills were already locked in as the AFC's fifth-seeded team. The only unknown was learning they'd be traveling to face the AFC South champion and fourth-seeded Texans in the wild-card playoff after Kansas City defeated the Los Angeles Chargers.

“It's anything can happen. We are in the dance. We know that. We understand that,” said Allen, who played just two series before being replaced by backup Matt Barkley. “At the end of the day, it's playoff football. It's win or go home.���

Allen didn't need reminding his last trip to Houston ended with him spraining his throwing elbow after being sacked in a 20-13 loss in October 2018.

“Yeah, thanks for bringing that up,” said Allen, who wound up missing four games due to the injury.

Much like Darnold, a fellow member of the 2018 first-round draft class of quarterbacks, Allen has shown signs of improvement from last year. Allen finished this season with 20 touchdowns passing, matching the most by a Buffalo player since Tyrod Taylor in 2015. And Allen's 3,089 yards passing were the most in Buffalo since Ryan Fitzpatrick had 3,400 in 2012.

Otherwise, the game was a defensive struggle that befitted the sloppy conditions, with a persistent drizzle falling for most of the afternoon.

With the score tied at 3, and following Jets kicker Sam Ficken missing two of his first three field-goal attempts, Darnold oversaw a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, which he capped by hitting Crowder cutting across the middle on second-and-goal with 13:31 left.

The touchdown was Darnold's 19th of the season, and 36th of his career. He fell one touchdown passing short of matching Joe Namath's record for most by a Jets player in his first two seasons.

The Bills, meanwhile, settled for field goals with Barkley overseeing an offense that began the day minus starters John Brown and Cole Beasley, and with just three receivers active.

Barkley was 18 of 35 for 232 yards with two interceptions and a lost fumble. The lack of chemistry showed on Barkley's second interception with 5:17 remaining. After gaining 45 yards on three plays, Barkley lobbed a pass directed toward T.J. Yeldon only to have the running back turn the wrong way, with the ball easily intercepted by Arthur Maulet.

The turnover led to Ficken hitting a 47-yard field goal to put the Jets up 13-3 with 2:05 left.

INJURIES

The Bills have question marks heading into Houston. Starting cornerback Levi Wallace was carted off the sideline with a right ankle injury. He was hurt when his cleat got caught in the turf in intercepting Darnold's pass that caromed off the back of teammate Taron Johnson's helmet.

Bills right tackle Ty Nsekhe was also carted off the sideline after hurting his ankle on the opening drive of the third quarter. Nsekhe had just returned to the lineup after missing five games with an ankle injury.

Buffalo was so depleted at cornerback, receiver Isaiah McKenzie saw a few snaps on defense in the fourth quarter.

ALEXANDER'S FAREWELL

Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander confirmed this will be his last season, but the 36-year-old is more focused on the playoffs.

“Yeah, obviously, that's a decision I made before the season,” the 13-year veteran said when asked if this could have been his final home game. “We still have to play at Houston next week, so my mind hasn't even processed that transition yet.”

Alexander received a memorable send off.

Unbeknownst to him, the Bills had his 11-year-old daughter Zoie sing the national anthem.

“To be able to sing in front of 50,000 people like that, with the confidence, it was cool,” said Alexander, who was joined by his family on the sideline during the anthem. “As a dad, I'm like, ‘Don't forget the words. Don't forget the words.' But she did an excellent job. I know she brought some of the guys to tears."

Dad, included.

The Bills also paid tribute to Alexander by calling time out in the first quarter to allow him to leave the field for one last time in Orchard Park.

GORE MILESTONE

Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore played his 226th career regular-season game, tying Emmitt Smith for most by a running back in NFL history.

Gore was coming off his first career game in which he had no yards from scrimmage. Starting in place of rookie Devin Singletary, the 36-year-old Gore was limited to playing the first half in which he finished with six carries for 26 yards and three catches for 16.

UP NEXT

Jets: Season over.

Bills: AFC wild-card playoff at Houston.

---

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL

New on SI: Super Bowl LIV Defense and Kicking Prop Bet Guide, Picks

How many interceptions will be thrown in Super Bowl LIV? How many fumbles recovered? How about shortest and longest field goal? Our top defense and kicking prop bets involving the big game.

Defense wins championships. While that is a decades old adage, will it hold true during Super Bowl LIV? We are about to find out as the Chiefs and 49ers are set to meet at 6:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 2, 2020 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Here we will preview and predict Super Bowl prop betting options that are focused on the defensive and special teams units of the Chiefs and 49ers. Furnished by the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas, odds below are subject to change.

Total Interceptions By Both Teams: 1.5 (OV +120 / UN -140)

Westgate bookmakers have set the total interceptions at 1.5 during Super Bowl LIV. Kansas City recorded 16 interceptions over 16 regular season games, while the San Francisco defense picked off 12 passes of its own. The 49ers have picked off three passes during the playoffs, while the Chiefs have zero this postseason.

Patrick Mahomes was picked off five times in the regular season but has not thrown one during his four career playoff games. Jimmy Garoppolo was been picked off 14 times this season, including one so far in the postseason. There have been two or more interceptions during 39 of the first 53 Super Bowl battles, including four of the last six games. Bet the OVER on this prop.

Prop Pick: OVER 1.5

Total Fumbles Lost By Both Teams: 1.5 (OV +200 / UN -250)

Since lost fumbles often prove to be very costly, ball security is a huge key to winning Super Bowl battles. Just ask the Bills, who coughed up the ball five times during Super Bowl 27 and lost 52-17 to the Cowboys. Slightly surprising, there have been 16 NFL title games where neither team lost a fumble. There have also been 16 contests where the total fumble count was just one.

That leaves 21 Super Bowls that have gone over the 1.5 line set here. Neither team lost a fumble last year and there have been more than two fumbles in just four of the last 12 games.

So far this season Kansas City has eight recovered fumbles and lost 10, while San Francisco has recovered 17 fumbles and lost 11. Both teams have heavy hitters on defense so, while it’s a bit risky, bet OVER.

Prop Pick: OVER 1.5

Total Quarterback Sacks By Both Teams: 4.5 (OV -130 / UN +110)

Super Bowl LIV features a pair of teams that can both get to the quarterback and generate sacks. During the regular season, San Francisco recorded 48 sacks while Kansas City posted 45. That adds up to these teams producing 5.8 combined sacks per game.

The sack totals are up for both teams during the playoffs. The Chiefs had five against Houston and three versus Tennessee. The 49ers had six against Minnesota and three versus Green Bay.

Patrick Mahomes was sacked 19 times this season but just two of those were in the playoffs. Not as mobile as Mahomes, Jimmy Garoppolo was sacked 27 times during the regular season but just three times so far during the playoffs. Mahomes is often well protected by the Chiefs offensive line, plus he is great at escaping pressure. Add to that the 49ers dialling up a limited number of pass plays for Garoppolo and bet the sack total coming in UNDER.

Prop Pick: UNDER 4.5

Both Teams Make 33-Yard Field Goal: YES +100 / NO -120

Often unheralded, placekickers usually go unnoticed in the Super Bowl—until they miss a field goal, of course. That said, Kansas City and San Francisco both have quality kickers in Harrison Butker and Robbie Gould. Since the goal posts were moved to the end line back in 1974, both teams have hit 33-yard field goals just 14 times in Super Bowl history. However, this prop bet has paid YES in four of the last six games. I am betting on that trend continuing.

Prop Pick: YES

Shortest Made Field Goal 27.5 Yards: OV -110 / UN -110

For this prop to pay UNDER, one of the teams will need to make a field goal from no further out than the 10-yard line. That has happened in seven of the past 15 Super Bowl battles, but just once in the last four contests. Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has made seven field goals of 27 yards or less this season, including one in the playoffs. 49ers kicker Robbie Gould has made nine of those short field goals, including two in the playoffs. Bet on the shortest field goal being OVER 27.5 yards.

Prop Bet: OVER 27.5 Yards

Longest Made Field Goal 47.5 Yards: OV -110 / UN 110

This special teams prop bet seems almost too easy. That is due to the fact that there have been just eight fields goals of 48 yards or longer in Super Bowl history. The most recent was last year, a 53-yarder by Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein. However, that was the only one during the last 14 Super Bowls. Teams are usually unwilling to risk giving up a big field position swing if they miss a long field goal. Add in the fact that this game being played at sea level and outdoors, and UNDER is the wager here.

Prop Bet: UNDER 47.5 Yards

Searching for more Super Bowl LIV trends, previews and wagering advice? Dig in below.

49ers vs. Chiefs Super Bowl LIV Betting Preview

Super Bowl LIV San Francisco 49ers Prop Betting Options and Picks

Super Bowl LIV Kansas City Chiefs Prop Betting Options and Picks

Super Bowl LIV National Anthem Prop Bets: Analysis, Picks

Super Bowl LIV Chiefs vs. 49ers Scoring Props Preview and Picks

Super Bowl LIV MVP Odds: Patrick Mahomes the Clear Favorite

Thursday, 30 January 2020

New on SI: San Francisco 49ers vs. Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LIV Betting Preview

Only Super Bowl XLIX between the Patriots and Seahawks has had a tighter spread than Super Bowl LIV. Here's our complete preview for how you should bet on the game.

Super Bowl LIV is nigh as San Francisco and Kansas City will battle for the NFL Championship on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. Kickoff for the 49ers vs. Chiefs clash is slated for 6:30 p.m. ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It’s an even calendar year so the AFC is the designated home team in South Beach. Will the NFC Champion 49ers win a sixth Vince Lombardi trophy or will the AFC Champion Chiefs claim a second NFL title?

Spread: Chiefs -1 (-110) | 49ers +1 (-110)

Moneyline: Chiefs (-120) | 49ers (+100)

Game Total: OVER 54.5 (-110) | UNDER 54.5 (-110)

How They Got Here: San Francisco 49ers

· Betting Record: SU 15-3 | ATS 11-6-1 | O/U 9-8-1

· Offense: Second, scoring 29.9 points per game

· Defense: Eighth, allowing 19.4 points per game

· Turnover Rank: 11th with a +4 differential

· Preseason Super Bowl Odds: +4000

After posting a dismal 4-12 record last year, San Francisco joins the Cincinnati Bengals and then-St. Louis Rams as the only teams to advance to the Super Bowl one season after winning four games or fewer. During their turnaround seasons, the Bengals lost to San Francisco in Super Bowl 23 while the Rams defeated Tennessee during Super Bowl 34. The 49ers went 13-3 during the regular season, outscoring opponents by a 479-310 margin, and finished as the top seed in NFC playoffs.

Following a first-round bye, San Francisco hosted Minnesota and posted a 27-10 Divisional playoff win. The 49ers had 47 rushing attempts and racked up 186 yards with two touchdowns. A rather fluky 41-yard TD catch by Stefon Diggs plus a 39-yard field goal was all the scoring the Vikings could manage. The 49ers defense held Minnesota to 147 yards, sacked Kirk Cousins six times, forced two turnovers and dominated with a 38:27 to 21:33 time of possession.

It was more of the same in the NFC Championship game as San Francisco hosted Green Bay and won 37-20 to advance to Super Bowl LIV. The 49ers' ground game (285 yards on 42 carries) was the key to victory again as Raheem Mostert was unstoppable while posting 220 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The 49ers defense allowed just 62 total rushing yards, sacked Aaron Rodgers three times and forced three turnovers. The Niners are riding a four-game winning streak.

How They Got Here: Kansas City Chiefs

· Betting Record: SU 14-4 | ATS 12-5-1 | O/U 10-8

· Offense: Fifth, scoring 28.2 points per game

· Defense: Seventh, allowing 19.3 points per game

· Turnover Rank: Seventh with a +8 differential

· Preseason Super Bowl Odds: +600

Posting a 12-4 record last season, Kansas City lost 37-31 in overtime to New England in the AFC Championship game. Regrouping, and led by 2018 NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs went 12-4 again this year and earned the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs. After jumping out to a 4-0 record, Kansas City hit a rough patch as the Chiefs went 2-4 over the next six contests. Kansas City outscored its opponents 167-69 and won six straight games to close out the season.

After enjoying a bye, during the first-round of the AFC playoffs, Kansas City hosted Houston and posted a 51-31 victory in the Divisional round. The Texans sprinted out to 24-0 second-quarter lead but it was all Kansas City after that as Travis Kelce and Damien Williams each score three times to put the Chiefs up 41-24 late in the third quarter. After dealing with short fields early, the Kansas City defense stiffened and sacked Texans QB Deshaun Watson four times.

Facing Tennessee in the AFC Championship, who previously defeated New England and Baltimore, Kansas City fell behind again before posting a 35-24 win. The Titans jumped out to a 17-7 second-quarter lead but the Chiefs roared back with four straight touchdowns and were up 35-17 before Tennessee scored late in the game. After he posted 406 total yards, against the Patriots and Ravens, the Chiefs defense held Titans RB Derrick Henry to 61 total yards.

Super Bowl LIV Fantasy Football Studs and Duds

As part of a solid research plan, it’s wise to review the fantasy football studs and duds on both Super Bowl LIV squads. The talented team at

Fulltime Fantasy Sports helps with that process as they have posted a comprehensive review of the Kansas City vs San Francisco showdown. I see the Chiefs having an edge at quarterback while the 49ers have a slight edge at running back and on defense. Wide receivers, tight ends and special teams are fairly even in this contest.

Chiefs and 49ers: Notable Same Opponent Results

San Francisco and Kansas City played two of the same opponents this season. The Chiefs defeated Baltimore 33-28 at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 3 while the 49ers dropped a hard-fought 20-17 decision to the Ravens on the road at M&T Bank Stadium during Week 13 action. Kansas City lost 31-24 at home to Green Bay in Week 8. San Francisco hosted Green Bay twice and crushed the Packers 37-8 in Week 12 prior to its 37-20 NFC Championship win.

What to Expect When San Francisco Has The Ball

Second behind Baltimore (3,296 yards on 596 attempts) San Francisco dialed up 498 running plays during the regular season and recorded nine games with at least 120 rushing yards. Averaging 4.6 yards per carry, the 49ers racked up 2,305 yards on the ground and an NFL-best 23 touchdowns. Led by an outstanding offensive line, plus rising star RB Raheem Mostert, San Francisco has 471 yards and six touchdowns on 89 rushing attempts during the playoffs.

While some teams invest very little in fullbacks, Kyle Juszczyk is an unheralded stud and is vital to the 49ers' ground game and in pass protection. With the Niners' ground game firing on all cylinders, QB Jimmy Garoppolo has been a human handoff machine during the postseason. After posting 3,978 pass yards (27 TD 13 INT) during 16 regular season games, Garoppolo is 17 of 27 on pass attempts for 208 yards (1 TD, 1 INT) during two playoff contests.

When teams crowd the line, trying to stop the run, TE George Kittle goes to work as he hauled in 1,053 receiving yards and five scores over 14 regular season games. Due for a breakout, Kittle has been quiet in the playoffs with just four catches for 35 yards and no scores. Acquired in a savvy Week 7 trade with Denver, two-time Pro Bowl WR Emmanuel Sanders bolstered the 49ers receiving crew that also includes fearless rookie Deebo Samuel plus Kendrick Bourne.

What to Expect When Kansas City Has The Ball

Operating a true West Coast offense, made popular by 49ers head coach Bill Walsh way back in 1979, Kansas City trots out a pass-first offense. The regular season numbers illustrate that as the Chiefs ran 576 pass plays and 375 run plays. Led by Patrick "Showtime" Mahomes, Kansas City posted 4,498 passing yards (30 TD) compared to just 1,569 rushing yards (16 TD) over 16 contests. Over two playoff games, Mahomes has 615 pass yards, eight TDs and zero INTs.

While the passing game receives most of headlines, San Francisco can’t ignore the Kansas City ground game that has been very effective recently. RB Damien Williams has been leading the way, as he posted 246 total yards and five TDs during the Chiefs' final two regular season games. Williams has continued to shine in the postseason as he has gained 157 total yards and scored four touchdowns. Veteran LeSean McCoy and rookie Darwin Thompson are rarely in mix.

Loaded with talent, at tight end and wide receiver, Kansas City has a lethal quick strike offense. The Chiefs thrive on big plays, as they led the league with 34 receptions of at least 30 yards—plus 20 pass plays that netted at least 40 yards. TE Travis Kelce along with receivers Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins and rookie Mecole Hardman are threats to score every time they touch the ball. Hill, Watkins and Kelce have a combined 489 yards and six TDs in two playoff games.

Coaching Comparison: Andy Reid vs. Kyle Shanahan

Andy Reid is appearing in his second NFL Championship game as a head coach after leading Philadelphia to Super Bowl 34 against New England during the 2004 NFL season. The Eagles gave the high-octane Patriots a battle but lost 24-21 at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. Prior to that, Reid was an offensive assistant when the Green Bay Packers posted a 35-21 victory against New England during Super Bowl 31. Reid is 14-14 overall in the playoffs.

After a slow start, during the first half of the season, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has the Chiefs playing at a higher level on defense. Kansas City has recorded 23 quarterback sacks and allowed just nine touchdowns over the last eight games on defense. The Chiefs finished the regular season eighth against the pass, allowing 221.4 yards per game, but were in the bottom seven after giving up 128.2 rushing yards per game. The run defense has been better recently.

Now in his third year in San Francisco, Kyle Shanahan is making his first Super Bowl appearance as a head coach. After going 10-22 during his first two seasons, Shanahan has helped transform the 49ers into an NFL powerhouse. Shanahan is coaching in his second NFL Championship game. As a 100-1 Super Bowl prop bet illustrates, Kyle had a rough go as the Atlanta offensive coordinator during the Falcons' 34-28 OT loss to New England in Super Bowl 52.

The 49ers defense has been a pillar of strength for San Francisco this season. Robert Saleh, who has 15 years of NFL coaching experience, is in his third season as the 49ers defensive coordinator. Players like rookie DL Nick Bosa and veteran CB Richard Sherman have helped the 49ers finish first in pass yards allowed (169.2) and second in total yards at 281.8 per game. A four-man rush has given Mahomes some trouble in the past and that’s the Niners' base defense.

Reliable Placekickers Lead Chiefs and 49ers Special Teams

Often going unnoticed, until they miss a field goal or shank a punt, placekickers and punters rarely earn the respect they deserve. PK Harrison Butker is in his third year with Kansas City and he led the NFL with 34 field goals on 38 attempts this season. PK Robbie Gould, a 15-year NFL veteran, is in his third season with the 49ers. Gould, who missed three games due to injury, connected on 23 of 31 attempts during the regular season and is 5 for 5 so far in the playoffs.

Kansas City vs. San Francisco Final Thoughts and Pick

San Francisco and Kansas City both have a legitimate shot at winning Super Bowl LIV. Behind the PK odds when New England defeated Seattle in Super Bowl 49, the ATS price is the second smallest line in Super Bowl history. The spread matches the one-point lines on Miami vs. Washington in Super Bowl 7 and San Francisco vs. Cincinnati during Super Bowl 16. The Dolphins and 49ers were favorites and won by 7 and 5 points respectively in those title games.

Bettors are reminded that the New York Giants' 20-19 Super Bowl 25 win over the Buffalo Bills is the only NFL Championship decided by one point. As such, with the juice at -110 on both ATS sides, there isn’t any value betting on the Chiefs (-120) moneyline. If you like San Francisco to win, gain some value by betting on the 49ers (+100) straight up. The point total being set at 54.5 is the fifth-largest ever and three of the four highest totals paid UNDER bettors.

Placing a winning wager on Super Bowl LIV requires handicappers to ultimately decide if the Chiefs' high-flying offense can move the ball and score against the 49ers' stout defense. The Chiefs' overall team speed, plus the talent and confidence of Mahomes, suggests they certainly can. Expect the surging Kansas City defense to continue its strong play here as well. With everyone and their dog betting the total OVER, taking a shot with UNDER is an appealing wager.

Super Bowl LIV Spread Pick: Chiefs -1 (-110)

Playoff Record: 8-2

Season Record: 46-58-2

Searching for more Super Bowl LIV trends, previews and wagering advice? Dig in below.

Super Bowl LIV San Francisco 49ers Prop Betting Options and Picks

Super Bowl LIV Kansas City Chiefs Prop Betting Options and Picks

Super Bowl LIV National Anthem Prop Bets: Analysis, Picks

Super Bowl LIV Chiefs vs. 49ers Scoring Props Preview and Picks

Super Bowl Prop Info You Need to Know

Super Bowl LIV MVP Odds: Patrick Mahomes the Clear Favorite

Where the Early Money Is Coming in for Super Bowl LIV Bets

Super Bowl LIV: Chiefs-49ers Betting Odds and Trends

Chiefs Open as Favorites Over 49ers in Super Bowl LIV

New on SI: Super Bowl LIV Predictions: Picking the Winner, Score and MVP

Just one game left. Will the 49ers or the Chiefs take home the Lombardi Trophy? The MMQB makes their Super Bowl LIV predictions.

Twenty-one weeks ago, the 2019 NFL season kicked off when 

the Packers beat the Bears 10-3. Now Super Bowl LIV is just days away, with the Chiefs and the 49ers preparing to play for the championship in Miami. Can Andy Reid finally get this title that’s eluded him for the entirety of his NFL career with Patrick Mahomes at the helm of his offense, or will Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers go from second-worse to first? 

The game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Who will bring home the Lombardi Trophy? The MMQB staff makes their predictions.

ALBERT BREER

49ers 27, Chiefs 24 | MVP: Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ers

Both rosters are loaded, and come into the Super Bowl rolling. So I’m leaning back on principle here. One team needs its quarterback to throw for 300 yards to win, the other doesn’t. And usually, in a playoff setting, the team that doesn’t need its QB to do that often wins. I see a total team win, and Garoppolo doing enough in critical situations to win the MVP, in part because there won’t be an overwhelmingly obvious candidate at the end of the game. (Quarterbacks always win by default in those situations.)

GREG BISHOP

49ers 28, Chiefs 24 | MVP: Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ers

I have been going back and forth on this game all week. For this first time in a while, it feels like a true toss up. I like the 49ers more to win the Super Bowl more than I did two weeks ago, and that's because I think they've rounded into ideal form. They're balanced, they're deep, they can run the ball and control the clock, and they have a defensive line that would give any team, in the history of pro football, fits. I also think that Jimmy G has put together a better season than he's been given credit for. That's why he's my choice for MVP. If the 49ers are going to win this game, they will have to throw it more than eight times. I see them limiting the clock, keeping the ball away from Patrick Mahomes and scoring enough to win. (And then I change my mind. Should be fun.)

JENNY VRENTAS

Chiefs 31, 49ers 24 | MVP: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs

The Chiefs got off to slow starts in their first two playoff games but the counterpoint to that is they reminded us they can score in a flash. Perhaps the most important matchup of Super Bowl LIV is how Kansas City handles the San Francisco pass rush, who can mix and match different pieces for any situation. The 49ers will try to limit the Chiefs’ possessions with their dominant ground game, but it’s a tall task to keep Mahomes down for four quarters—he has the sole power to change the game.

CONOR ORR

49ers 30, Chiefs 28 | MVP: Deebo Samuel, WR, 49ers

With a matchup between two playcallers with deep files of creative offensive plays, it may end up being a candidate outside of the mainstream that breaks the game open. Samuel, who is crazy dangerous after the catch and on various backfield reverse options, could be that person. 

KALYN KAHLER

49ers 38, Chiefs 35 | MVP: Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ers

This going to be a really close contest, but I think the 49ers’ run game will continue to roll—Kyle Shanahan has called run plays 77% of the time in the last six quarters, to the tune of 6.2 yards per carry—and their defense is the only one capable of putting meaningful pressure on Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs’ QB still have a great game, but the San Francisco defense will do enough to get the job done. 

MICHAEL ROSENBERG

Chiefs 27, 49ers 20 | MVP: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs

The 49ers' defensive front is scary, but so is the gap between Mahomes and Jimmy Garoppolo. I don't buy the whole "game manager" critique of Garoppolo —he is a lot more than that, and he may become a great quarterback. But he looked shaky against the Vikings and was not asked to do much against the Packers. Meanwhile, Mahomes is the best player in the league. (Sorry, Lamar Jackson.) This is a quarterback league. I'm keeping this simple and picking the better one.

CHARLOTTE WILDER

Chiefs 41, 49ers 34 | MVP: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs

Look, this is bold. I know. But I so badly want a shootout with an insanely high score that I’m willing it to happen. I want Jimmy G to have a brilliant game where he ends up throwing the ball better than he has all season. I want George Kittle and Travis Kelce to be on fire. They say that defense wins championships, but offense raises heart rates, and I want to feel like I’ve run a marathon once the game is over. Last year’s Super Bowl was such a defensive slog that I’m holding out hope for a high-scoring game for the ages. In this fantasy of mine, I also think there’s a good chance that Mahomes will be able to pull off another few magical, sideways throws with his eyes shut and maybe even run for a TD or two. So I’m taking the Chiefs and I’m betting on their QB. Don’t let me down, Kansas City. 

GARY GRAMLING

Chiefs 38, 49ers 34 | MVP: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs

I have made literally the most uninspired, unsurprising, unimaginative prediction possible, because sometimes things just happen as they're supposed to happen and life doesn't have surprises for you. Patrick Mahomes is invincible, and even the 49ers' vaunted pass-rush can't bother him enough to hold him in check. With the San Francisco running game slowed to human rates, Kyle Shanahan digs into his pocket to pull out a handful of big plays to keep pace. But a desperation drive in the final seconds is snuffed out when Chris Jones rips the ball loose as he buries Jimmy Garoppolo's impossibly handsome face into the turf, sealing the Super Bowl with a walk-off strip-sack.

MITCH GOLDICH

Chiefs 34, 49ers 26 | MVP: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs

When the Chiefs have the ball, we’re going to see a great strength-on-strength matchup, but I just think Kansas City’s offense is too good. I know all the reasons San Francisco is built to stop them, but I think they’re good enough that nobody can stop them for a full game.

I see two ways the Chiefs could lose: If they make costly mistakes (turnovers, drops, missed field goals, etc.) or if their opponent has the firepower to beat them in a shootout. Kyle Shanahan does a great job scheming his players into optimal positions, but I just don’t think they’re a team that wants to fly up and down the field with the Chiefs. We’ve seen from the last two weeks that it’s not enough to shut down the Chiefs for a quarter or two. They’ll need to keep Mahomes and Co. at bay for 60 minutes. I don’t see that happening.

And if the Chiefs win behind a big day from the offense, it’s hard to imagine somebody besides Mahomes winning MVP. It’s cliché, but it’s the smart pick.

BETTE MARSTON

Chiefs 28, 49ers 17 | MVP: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs

Sure, the 49ers’ defense has been an otherworldly unit this season, but I’m not convinced they can shut down Mahomes on this stage. Mahomes is the easy prediction for MVP here, given the way he has been playing this season—but this Super Bowl win (and MVP award) will be just the first in what will be a long, illustrious career for this quarterback.

Question or comment? Email us at talkback@themmqb.com.

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Super Bowl Gambling Coverage:

Complete gambling guide for Super Bowl LIV

All the Super Bowl prop bet info you need to know

Chiefs Super Bowl prop bets options and picks

49ers Super Bowl prop best options and picks

Chiefs vs. 49ers Super Bowl scoring prop bets

Tuesday, 28 January 2020

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New on SI: Super Bowl LIV San Francisco 49ers Prop Betting Options and Picks

Jimmy Garoppolo hasn't been used much during the 49ers' playoff run thus far, but does that mean there's value in his Super Bowl props?

Get your popcorn ready, as one of the most highly anticipated Super Bowls is almost upon us. Super Bowl LIV, featuring the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs, kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET, on Feb. 2, 2020, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. Following a look at

Kansas City betting options, here we preview prop bets that are focused on San Francisco. Subject to change, odds below are from the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.

What Will Happen First? 49ers Score +110, 49ers Punt -130

Depending on whether the 49ers offense starts fast with a score, or bogs down and punts, bettors can cash in early during Super Bowl LIV with this prop option. Quick out of the gate often, the 49ers scored before punting during 10 of 16 regular season games. The scores were four field goals, four TD passes, plus two rushing touchdowns. Posting three TDs, plus two field goals, San Francisco scored prior to punting during five of eight games on the road this season.

San Francisco scored on its first possession versus Minnesota in the Divisional playoffs. After the Vikings went three-and-out on their opening drive, the 49ers capped an eight-play drive with Kendrick Bourne catching a 3-yard touchdown pass. Green Bay won the toss and deferred during the NFC Conference Championship. The 49ers netted nine yards on three rushing attempts before punting. Historically, teams punt first rather than score first during the Super Bowl.

Over the first 53 NFL Championship games, teams have scored prior to punting just 40 times over 106 instances. It’s even more rare for both teams to score before punting as that has happened just seven times. The breakdown of first scores prior to a team punting is 23 field goals, 16 TD (11 pass, 5 run), plus Devin Hester’s 92-yard touchdown return during the opening kickoff of Super Bowl 41. Bet on San Francisco punting before it scores in Super Bowl 54.

Prop Pick: 49ers Punt Before Scoring

Will the 49ers Score in All Four Quarters? YES +150, NO -180

While it seems difficult to accomplish, teams scoring in all four quarters happens more often than some may think. That was true for the 49ers this year, as San Francisco did it during seven of 16 regular season games. The 49ers followed that up by scoring in all four frames during both playoff games. Kansas City has been strong defending against a score in every quarter, as Detroit in Week 4 and Minnesota in Week 9 were the only opponents to do it.

Scoring in all four Super Bowl quarters has not happened often, as 28 of 106 teams have accomplished it. The most recent occurrence was two years ago as Philadelphia and New England scored in all four quarters during the Eagles' 41-33 upset of the Patriots during Super Bowl 52. Prior to that, the Broncos scored in each period during Super Bowl 50 against the Panthers, Seattle did it in Super Bowl 48, plus the 49ers and Ravens both did it during Super Bowl 47.

In summary, we have a recent playoff trend that suggests San Francisco will score during all four frames. Plus, we have the trend of six teams scoring in all four quarters during the past seven NFL title games. Countering that, the Chiefs allowing scores in all four quarters just twice this year points to betting on NO. Siding with the recent playoff trends, plus this being projected as a high-scoring contest, bet YES on San Francisco scoring during all four quarters.

Prop Pick: YES 49ers Score in All Four Quarters

Total San Francisco Accepted Penalties 5.5 OV -110 UN -110

As one of the best-coached teams in the NFL, it is slightly surprising to note that San Francisco was flagged for six or more penalties during nine regular season games this year. Six of those contests were during the last seven weeks of the season. More disciplined during the playoffs, the 49ers had two accepted penalties against Minnesota and five versus Green Bay. Overall, the 49ers committed 55 penalties on offense, 42 on defense and 15 during special team plays.

Bill Vinovich is the head referee for Super Bowl LIV and this is his second NFL title game in that capacity. Vinovich was the lead official during Super Bowl 49 and there were 12 accepted penalties in that game—five on New England and seven on Seattle. If the name sounds familiar, you probably remember the 2019 NFC Championship game as Vinovich and his crew missed an obvious pass interference that helped the Rams advance to Super Bowl 53.

Vinovich was the referee during the 49ers' Week 6 game against the Rams and San Francisco committed four accepted penalties in that contest. During his most recent game, Vinovich worked the Titans vs. Ravens AFC Divisional playoff match and the accepted penalties were five against Tennessee and seven against Baltimore. Vinovich led crews have called fewer penalties than the league average during each of the last eight seasons. Bet on that continuing here.

Prop Pick: UNDER 5.5 San Francisco Penalties

Total Pass Attempts By Jimmy Garoppolo 29.5 OV -110 UN -110

Known as a team that relies heavily on a powerful rushing attack, San Francisco attempted the fourth fewest pass plays this year. As such, Garoppolo had 30 or more pass attempts during seven of 16 regular season games and the 49ers were 5-2 in those contests. The numbers have declined sharply in the playoffs as Jimmy G attempted 19 passes versus Minnesota and just eight against Green Bay. Bet on Garoppolo attempting UNDER 29.5 pass attempts in this contest.

Total Pass Completions By Jimmy Garoppolo 19.5 OV -110 UN -110

Garoppolo was sharp this season, as he posted a 70% or higher completion rate during 10 of 18 starts. However, his low amount of pass attempts tends to keep his completion total low as well. Garoppolo has completed less than 20 passes 10 times this season, including the last four contests. During the 49ers' two playoff games, Jimmy G had 11 pass completions against the Vikings and just six versus the Packers. Bet on UNDER 19.5 total completions.

Total Rushing Yards By Jimmy Garoppolo 3.5 OV -110 UN -110

Although he moves around well behind the line of scrimmage, Garoppolo doesn’t run much as he posted four or more total rushing yards during eight regular season games this year. With four kneeldowns adding up to -4 yards; Jimmy G has posted -1 yard on eight official rushing attempts during the playoffs. While this may be a “trap bet,” all it takes is one long scramble to get over the number. I am taking the bait and betting on Garoppolo exceeding 3.5 rushing yards.

Total Net Yards By San Francisco 379.5 OV -110 UN -110

Westgate bookmakers have set the 49ers' total net yards at 379.5 for this contest. Bettors are reminded that “total net yards” is passing yards plus rushing yards minus total sack yards. San Francisco exceeded the number seven times this season but just once during the last eight weeks. The Kansas City defense allowed more than 380 total yards six times but just twice during the past twelve games. Bet on the Chiefs defense keeping the 49ers under 380 total net yards.

Prop Pick: UNDER 379.5 Net Yards

Searching for more Super Bowl LIV trends, previews and wagering advice? Dig in below.

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New on SI: Super Bowl 2020 Gambling Guide

Don’t worry if your team isn’t in the Super Bowl this year, there is still a golden opportunity to get your blood flowing for the big game.

Don’t worry if your team isn’t in the Super Bowl this year, there is still a golden opportunity to get your blood flowing for the big game. Besides betting on the spread or total, sportsbooks offer

hundreds of prop bets for the Super Bowl, giving you the chance to put your hard-earned money down on just about any aspect of the game.

Let’s dive into a few from William Hill to get you ready for Sunday.

Opening Coin Toss: Heads (-105), Tails (-105)

Every year, this is one of the most popular props. And if a bet with absolutely no value that lasts five seconds is your bag, go for it.

First Touchdown Scored

Ranging from favorites Raheem Mostert and Damien Williams (each +600) to longshots Deon Yelder and Blake Bell (85/1), this is a prop that can put you in a good mood early on if you hit. For me, I’ll be looking at 49ers for this one. San Francisco ranks fourth among all NFL teams (including playoffs) with a +45 scoring differential in the first quarter, while the Chiefs are at -14 on the season, which is tied for 20th. There aren’t many prettier sights in the NFL than Kyle Shanahan scripted plays, so it’s a fair expectation to see the 49ers start out guns blazing here. A couple names that stood out: Deebo Samuel at 13/1 and Kyle Juszczyk at 28/1.

Individual Player Props

Now we dip into the props that will likely have you sweating for the majority of the game. With these, recency bias definitely plays a factor with whether you’re getting value on a player’s number. For instance, Raheem Mostert just ran for 220 yards and four touchdowns on 29 carries against the Packers in the NFC championship. So, the numbers on his rushing yardage (over/under 73.5), rushing attempts (over/under 15.5) and whether he will score a touchdown (YES -145, NO +125) props are a little inflated. Same with Patrick Mahomes, because who wants to bet on the best quarterback in the world having an average game on the biggest stage?

While it’s scary to fade a star or a player coming off a huge game, it may be the smarter play if the price is inflated.

Cross-Sport Props

Who says you just have to bet on the big game itself? Whether it’s NBA, NHL or soccer, you can include a different sport to spice up your Super Bowl betting portfolio.

For instance, here’s some “what will be more” props…

Damian Lillard points (-1.5 at -110) vs. Chiefs total points (+1.5 at -110)

Sidney Crosby + Evgeni Malkin points against Capitals (-140) vs. Chiefs sacks (+120)

Arsenal + Burnly goals (EVEN) vs. Patrick Mahomes touchdown passes (-12)

Sunday, 26 January 2020

Thursday, 16 January 2020

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New on SI: Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers Playoff Betting Preview

The 49ers completely dismantled the Packers at Levi's Stadium in the regular season. Can San Francisco cover as a big favorite this time around in the NFC Championship Game?

San Francisco hosts Green Bay in the NFC Championship game on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. With a ticket to Super Bowl 54 on line, kickoff is slated for 6:40 p.m. ET at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. The Packers won a close contest at home against Seattle while the 49ers smothered the visiting Vikings last week. Will Green Bay turn the table following a Week 12 blowout loss in San Francisco?

Spread: 49ers -7.5 (-115) | Packers +7.5 (-105)

Moneyline: 49ers (-340) | Packers (+280)

Game Total: OVER 45 (-110) | UNDER 45 (-110)

Green Bay Packers’ Recent Form

Following a Wild Card Weekend bye, Green Bay hosted Seattle and posted a 28-23 win in the divisional round last week. Playing a wounded Seahawks squad, the Packers went up 21-3 at halftime thanks to a 20-yard TD catch by Davante Adams and a pair of Aaron Jones 1-yard rushing scores. The Packers defense held the Seahawks in check as Seattle punted twice, went 1-1 on field-goal attempts and ran out of clock during its five first-half possessions.

Seattle fought back in the second half, as it did many times during the regular season, outscoring Green Bay 20-7 over the final 30 minutes. Marshawn Lynch scored two 1-yard rushing touchdowns and Tyler Lockett caught a 7-yard TD pass to keep Seattle close. A late defensive stand by the Packers forced a Seattle punt with 3:22 on the clock. Aaron Rodgers then completed two third-and-long passes and the ‘Hawks defense couldn’t get the ball back for the offense.

Green Bay has won six straight—though the run does include wins over the Giants, Redskins and Lions who posted a combined 10-37-1 regular season record. During a playoff-style contest with the NFC North championship on the line, the Packers posted a quality win over the Vikings, 23-10 in Minnesota during Week 16 action. Running back Aaron Jones is the hottest Green Bay player with 501 rushing yards and seven scores over the last five games.

· Betting Record: SU 14-3 | ATS 11-6-0 | O/U 7-10

· Offense: 15th, scoring 23.5 points per game

· Defense: Ninth, allowing 19.6 points per game

· Turnover Rank: Tied for third with a +12 differential

San Francisco 49ers’ Recent Form

Earning the top NFC playoff seed, San Francisco enjoyed a first-round bye as well. Rested and getting several key players back from injury, the 49ers posted a 27-10 win over Minnesota last week. San Francisco led 14-10 at halftime thanks to a Kendrick Bourne 3-yard TD catch and 2-yard rushing score by Tevin Coleman. The Vikings stayed close by countering with a 41-yard TD catch by Stefon Diggs and a Dan Bailey field goal on the last play of the half.

It was all 49ers in the second half, as Coleman scored on a 2-yard TD run and Robbie Gould kicked two field goals. The defense took care of rest, shutting out Minnesota over the final 30 minutes. Apart from the Diggs TD, the Vikings were smothered throughout the contest as Minnesota managed just seven first downs and 147 total yards on offense. The 49ers racked up 186 rushing yards and won the time of possession by a massive 38:27 to 21:33 margin.

Starters Kwon Alexander, Dee Ford and Jaquiski Tartt returning from injury helped the San Francisco defense. The 49ers looked like the team that outscored its opponents by a 235-102 margin and opened the season with an 8-0 record. San Francisco closed the regular season with a pair wins against the L.A. Rams (34-31) at home and the Seahawks (26-21) in Seattle. Both games were playoff-style contests as they helped the 49ers clinch first overall in the NFC standings.

· Betting Record: SU 14-3 | ATS 10-6-1 | O/U 8-8-1

· Offense: Second, scoring 29.9 points per game

· Defense: Eighth, allowing 19.4 points per game

· Turnover Rank: 11th with a +4 differential

Fantasy Football Championship Sunday Studs and Duds

Looking for an added edge to help beat the bookmakers? Check out the fantasy football numbers the players involved in this contest have scored so far this season. It’s easy to do as the experts at Fulltime Fantasy Sports have posted a

full preview of the San Francisco vs. Green Bay matchup. From my viewpoint, Green Bay has an edge at quarterback, while San Francisco dominates at tight end and defense. As a whole, the running backs and receivers are fairly even.

San Francisco vs Green Bay Recent History – Week 12 Rematch

Revenge will be part of the mix when Green Bay returns to San Francisco after the Packers were embarrassed 37-8 by the 49ers during Week 12 action. As the final score indicates, San Francisco was the vastly superior team on both sides of the ball. The Packers were held to 198 total yards on offense, Aaron Rodgers posted just 104 passing yards and he was sacked five times. Smothered by the Niners defense, Green Bay converted just one of its 15 third-down attempts.

San Francisco’s defense set the tone early as it sacked Rodgers and forced a fumble on the fifth play of the game. The 49ers advanced the fumble to the 2-yard line and Tevin Coleman scored a rushing TD one play later. Green Bay went three-and-out during five of its eight first half possessions and posted just 60 yards on offense. San Francisco scored on five of its eight drives (two TD and three FG), posted 188 yards on offense and jumped out to 23-0 lead at halftime.

Showing some life, Green Bay forced a three-and-out punt during the 49ers’ first second-half possession. The Packers then drove 65 yards on 13 plays, and Davante Adams caught a 2-yard TD pass (plus a two-point conversion) and Green Bay trailed 23-8. The 49ers answered quick as George Kittle caught a 61-yard TD pass to complete a two-play drive. Raheem Mostert scored a 15-yard rushing TD late in the fourth quarter to cap off the 49ers’ impressive victory.

Green Bay and San Francisco: Same Team Opponent Results

Seattle and Minnesota are the most notable same opponents these teams faced this season. The 49ers lost at home 27-24 (OT) to the Seahawks in Week 10 and won 26-21 in Seattle during Week 17 action. The Packers’ lone meeting with Seattle is outlined above. Green Bay swept Minnesota with a 21-16 victory in Week 2 and a 23-10 NFC North-clinching win in Week 16. The final score of the Packers’ wins is similar to what San Francisco posted last week.

What to Expect When the Packers Have the Ball

Facts are facts and Green Bay does not have a very diverse offense beyond Rodgers, Jones and Adams. Given the strength of the 49ers secondary, the Packers need to establish the run with Jones. That will be easier said than done, though, as San Francisco held Dalvin Cook and the Vikings run game to 21 yards on 10 carries last week. Up against the 49ers defense, that led the league allowing just 169.2 pass yards per game, Adams faces a tough test as well.

What to Expect When the 49ers Have the Ball

San Francisco ran the ball 47 times and racked up 186 yards against Minnesota last week. While the Packers will be expecting more of the same, the 49ers rushing attack of Tevin Coleman, Raheem Mostert and Matt Breida stays fresh and is difficult to stop. Coleman and Mostert both averaged 4.8 yards per carry last week. Kittle, Deebo Samuels, Emmanuel Sanders and Kendrick Bourne are solid weapons for Jimmy Garoppolo in the 49ers passing game.

Coaching Edge: Kyle Shanahan vs. Matt LaFleur

Both 40 years old, Kyle Shanahan vs. Matt LaFleur is an interesting battle between two of the youngest head coaches in the NFL. Good friends, they also worked together on three different teams (Texans, Redskins and Falcons) between 2008 and 2016. Shanahan was the offensive coordinator on those teams while LaFleur was an offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach. Not quite Bill Belichick vs. his former assistants—this is a teacher versus protégé duel.

LaFleur has just two seasons of play-calling experience, as he was the offensive coordinator in Los Angeles during the Rams run to Super Bowl 53 last year. Shanahan is one of the top offensive minds in the NFL and has been calling plays for 12 seasons now. From taking a lot of blame for the Falcons loss to the Patriots during Super Bowl 51, to going 10-22 during his first two seasons in San Francisco, Shanahan is the more battle-tested bench boss in this contest.

Packers vs. 49ers Final Thoughts and Pick

Green Bay was 6-2 SU and 5-3 ATS on the road this season, as its other visit to California was a 26-11 Week 9 loss to the Chargers in Los Angeles. San Francisco is 7-2 SU and 4-4-1 ATS at home. The 49ers lost at home to Seattle in Week 10 and to Atlanta in Week 15. It was loud during the inaugural playoff game at Levi’s Stadium. Kirk Cousins struggled to block out the noise as he had his hands over the ear holes on his helmet prior to almost every play.

Dee Ford and Kwon Alexander did not play during the Week 12 meeting and the 49ers defense still was outstanding. Both players returned and played well last week. 49ers stud LT Joe Staley also missed that game but the Niners were able to run for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Packers RT Bryan Bulaga left the game early and Rodgers was hounded the rest of the match. After missing last week’s game with an illness, Bulaga is expected back for this huge battle.

While the stakes are much higher here, the first meeting was an important contest. The Packers were 8-2 while the 49ers were 9-1 and control of first place in the NFC playoff race was on the line. Rodgers is 11-7 straight up in the playoffs while Garoppolo won his first postseason start last week. My top two deciding factors for backing San Francisco are the 49ers’ healthy and stout defense along with its relentless rushing attack that can wear down Green Bay.

Pick: 49ers -7.5

Playoff Record: 6-2

Season Record: 44-58-2