NFL on ESPN – It is the final round of the NFL Regular Season and ESPN brings you six LIVE games featuring the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills that will have major implications on the playoff race, beginning Sunday January 7.
The Week 18 actions begins with a huge NFL double header on Sunday January 7 at 8.30am AEDT with the Pittsburgh Steelers meeting the Baltimore Ravens.
Baltimore is safely into the playoffs and have clinched the #1 seed in the AFC thanks to a brilliant 13-3 season that has them Super Bowl favourite.
The Ravens crushed AFC #2 Miami 56-19 to showcase their ominous form last round.
The Steelers are making a late charge to the post-season, winning two straight. The equation for them is win – and hope results go their way.
Immediately following at 12.15pm AEDT, the Houston Texans face off with the Indianapolis Colts in a huge all AFC South showdown.
Jacksonville, Houston and Indianapolis all sit with identical 9-7 records in the AFC South.
The Texans and Colts must win and hope the Jaguars are beaten by Tennessee, with even a tie enough to hand the AFC South to either team.
After an arduous NFL season, the AFC South and playoff hopes of the Jaguars, Texans and Colts comes down to the final game – ensuring must see TV on ESPN.
Monday January 8 looms as one of the biggest days of the NFL season, with four games across ESPN and ESPN2.
At 5am AEDT, the Jacksonville Jaguars collide with the Tennessee Titans, live on ESPN.
The Jags are locked in a three-way battle for the AFC South and must beat the Titans to hold on to their lead in the division.
With the Texans-Colts game being played the day prior, the Jaguars will go into Monday’s clash knowing the stakes – and with a playoff spot and divisional title on the line.
Over on ESPN2, also kicking off at 5am AEDT, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers clash where it is do-or-die for the Buccs.
The chips are firmly on the table in Tampa Bay in the race for the NFC South, which again sees three teams in the running going into the final week of the season.
The Buccs sit level at 8-8 with the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons just a win behind at 7-9.
Tampa Bay face a Panthers side that have won just twice in 16 games this season. Carolina can only hope to play spoiler and end the disastrous season on a high.
At 8.25am AEDT, the Dallas Cowboys tackle the Washington Commanders live on ESPN – a battle of top and bottom in the NFC East.
The Cowboys are tied at the top of the NFC East at 11-5 with the Philadelphia Eagles. Both are secure in the NFL playoffs, but the division remains up for grabs as do seedings in the post-season – Dallas currently hold #2 in the NFC.
The Commanders have lost seven straight games, ensuring Dallas will be highly confident of doing the job and taking out the NFC East division.
The blockbusters continue at 12.15pm AEDT live on ESPN with a huge showdown between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins.
The Dolphins are currently sitting at #2 in the AFC and have a playoff spot sewn up, but were handed a 56-19 thrashing by the AFC #1 Baltimore last round.
Now Miami will face a Bills side riding high off four straight wins that has seen them rocket back to post-season contention.
Buffalo hold the sixth playoff position in the AFC as it stands – however, the Jags, Colts, Texans and Steelers are all capable of stealing it away.
Miami will not want to enter the playoffs with back to back defeats and a loss to the Bills could see them slide down the AFC ladder – ensuring a tough test Week One of the NFL Playoffs.
NFL Final Round on ESPN
Sunday January 7
8.30am AEDT, Pittsburgh Steelers vs Baltimore Ravens, ESPN
12.15pm AEDT, Houston Texans vs Indianapolis Colts, ESPN
Monday January 8
5am AEDT, Jacksonville Jaguars vs Tennessee Titans, ESPN
5am AEDT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Carolina Panthers, ESPN2
5:am AEDT, NFL RedZone, ESPN App*
8.25am AEDT, Dallas Cowboys vs Washington Commanders, ESPN
12.15pm AEDT, Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins, ESPN
ESPN and ESPN2 are available on Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and SKY NZ
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