data-mm-id=”_df151nslj”>If it's late enough to get reminders about Christmas– and, oh boy, are they out there– it's perfectly fine to start thinking about the NFL playoffs, even with only four games off the docket for most teams. However, one game could be the difference between playing for a Super Bowl trophy or watching it on TV. Thus, here are the four September matchups that may have defined what the field will look like come January. Detroit Lions v Arizona Cardinals / Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesWeek 1: Lions 27, Cardinals 27The Lions were one of the NFL's handful of unbeatens before they lost in a tightly-contested matchup with Kansas City last week. You'd be hard-pressed to call them "perfect", however, especially after Week 1's unusual case.Even Detroit decency can't be unblemished by typical silliness. In an opening weekend visit to Glendale, the Lions blew a 17-0 lead before outlasting Arizona in overtime for a tie that felt more like a loss. They went on to make up for the Week 1 heartbreak with inspiring wins against contenders from Philadelphia and Los Angeles, and next find themselves in a head-to-head battle with Green Bay after a bye week. Assuming they keep up the pace, how large will that tie loom in the future? Just last season, a tie kept the Lions' Northern brethren from Minnesota out of the wild card spot, as an 8-7-1 tally was no match for the 9-7 accumulated by Philadelphia. The Lions are already on the outside looking in of the current playoff picture, a half-game behind a group of 3-1 teams. Week 2: Colts 19, Titans 17A game that could well be better remembered for literally fiery antics, this game could end up mattering quite a bit when it comes to the jam-packed AFC South race. It also may have been the kick the shellshocked Colts needed to know they could contend in the wake of Andrew Luck's sudden departure. Indianapolis had previously kept pace on the road with the Chargers, and earned their first win of the season against the Titans. Offense was at a bit of a premium, as neither team eclipsed 300 yards, but a strong defensive effort from Indy picked up the key victory. Tennessee had just 243 yards and allowed four sacks in defeat.The AFC South is currently in a state Thanos the Mad Titan would love: perfectly balanced. Each team sits at 2-2, and the Colts were able to pick up a big win against one of those squads, which could come up pick as the playoff picture only gets more convoluted the deeper we go. Week 3: Chiefs 33, Ravens 28Two weeks ago, the Baltimore Ravens appeared to be on cruise control when it came to the AFC North. They were sitting at 2-0 after taking care of business against Miami and Arizona while the rest of the division was imploding. The Browns and Bengals were doing Browns and Bengals things, and the Steelers had lost Ben Roethlisberger for the season. One loss was all it took to narrow the division up.Lamar Jackson looked human after two weeks of strong play, completing only 22-of-43 passes. The Ravens led 6-0 after the first quarter, but 23 unanswered Kansas City points put them in an unescapable halftime hole. It was at least encouraging to keep pace with the mighty Chiefs on the road, but the exposed Ravens defense then went on to allow 40 more points in a loss to Cleveland the week after. The Chiefs, meanwhile, kept pace in the race for conference and league supremacy with New England. The Ravens now sit in a first-place deadlock with the Browns, and the Steelers are only one game back. Moral victories are nice, but they don't go in the win column.Philadelphia Eagles v Green Bay Packers / Quinn Harris/Getty ImagesWeek 4: Eagles 34, Packers 27Thursday Night Football games are kind of like packs of Starburst: you deal with a lot of unsavory yellow or orange pieces before you get a tasty pink one. This game indeed was a pink one, and could wind up playing big dividends for the victorious Eagles. Surprisingly sitting at 1-2 early in the year, the Eagles got themselves right back into the playoff picture with this win. Say what you will about the team, but when led by Doug Pederson, they take advantage of opportunities when given to them. They won their first games when Nick Foles took over for Carson Wentz in 2017 and went on to the Super Bowl. Despite a dire situation leading into the final games of 2018, and Wentz injured again, they won their final contests to go back to the playoffs and even won a game.Adding to the importance of the win is the fact that the New York Giants have enjoyed a resurgence with rookie quarterback Daniel Jones. Dallas also dropped to 3-1 with a loss to the Saints to keep the division race close. On the other side, the Packers missed a golden opportunity to end September with a multi-game lead on their Northern foes with a goal line interception.
Related Posts
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone hopes to cause Manchester United vertigo when his team travel to Old Trafford for the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie on Tuesday.
The first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano three weeks ago ended 1-1 after a late equaliser from substitute Anthony Elanga cancelled out Joao Felix s first-half header.
Atletico have lost their last two away trips to face English sides in the Champions League, losing at Chelsea in 2020-21 and Liverpool this season without scoring a goal in either.
They have also not kept a clean sheet in any of their eight away games against English teams in the competition, conceding 14 goals overall, but Simeone believes United could struggle as the home team.
We will press high…
Best Odds: 2/3
Bookmaker:
Looking to gain some perfect momentum heading into the summer, Switzerland will welcome the USA to St. Gallen on Sunday night for a friendly showdown.
Switzerland
Starting with the hosts, while Switzerland might have endured a nightmare two-month run of form between October and November of last year, The Reds have bounced back in some style. Looking to keep the mood in their camp at a real high before they open this summer s European Championships against Wales on June 12th, Rossocrociati will fancy their chances of potentially causing an upset on foreign soil. Only continuing to build off of that deserved 1-1 draw against former world champions Spain last year, Vladimir Petković s side have won each of their last four matchups across…
Ashley Young was Inter s inspiration with a goal and an assist as Antonio Conte s men concluded their 2019-20 Serie A campaign by beating Atalanta 2-0 on the road, in turn securing a second-place finish.
Any one of Inter, their hosts and Lazio could have clinched the runner-up spot behind champions Juventus on Saturday, but the Nerazzurri – who were second going into the final round of fixtures – produced a professional and clinical display away to an Atalanta side that were nowhere near their exhilarating best.
Just 50 seconds had elapsed before Danilo D Ambrosio gave Inter the lead from a pinpoint Young delivery, before the former Manchester United captain scored a gorgeous goal to put Inter in complete control.
Atalanta – reportedly missing star man Josi…
Ronald Koeman plans to adopt a more attacking style of play with the Netherlands than the one established by his predecessor Louis van Gaal.
The Oranje reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar under Van Gaal, but criticisms were directed to a style of football that was perceived to be negative.
A five-man defensive line proved to be miserly, conceding just twice in the first four matches of the tournament, but fans wanted more creative output from a side that boasted the likes of Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo.
The Netherlands venture in Qatar came to an end against Argentina in a shoot-out defeat, having fought back from a two-goal deficit in a game that marked the final stand of Van Gaal s third spell at the helm.
A similar approach will not b…
Atletico Madrid centre-back Stefan Savic has signed a new deal with the Spanish champions, agreeing to extend his stay with the club until June 2024.
Montenegro international Savic has spent the past six seasons with Atletico and played a big part in last term s LaLiga title triumph.
The defender featured 42 times in all competitions in 2020-21 and started 33 of Atleti s 38 league games as Diego Simeone s squad won the title for the second time in seven years.
Atletico kept a clean sheet in 16 of those matches and won 24 of them for a win rate of 72.7 per cent, compared to 40 per cent in the five games Savic did not play a part in.
Since making his LaLiga debut in August 2015, no defender has helped their side to more clean sheets in the division than t…
Bayern Munich are interested in signing Chelsea central defender Andreas Christensen in the summer transfer window, according to . Christensen is out of contract at defending European champions Chelsea at the end of the season, and German and European giants Bayern are among the clubs interested in securing the services of the 25-year-old Denmark international centre-back on a free transfer.
Julian Nagelsmann, the head coach of Bayern, is reportedly a big fan of Christensen, and believes that the Chelsea central defender would make his team much better and stronger at the back. The defending German champions have already made offers to Christensen, who is now free to agree a pre-contract with any team outside England.
Christensen is one of the best central defenders in …
Ronald Koeman s first squad in his second stint as Netherlands coach included five uncapped players as Georginio Wijnaldum returned to the fold but Ryan Gravenberch was not selected.
Koeman, who was previously Oranje coach between 2018 and 2020, replaced Louis van Gaal following last year s World Cup in Qatar.
The Netherlands face France and Gibraltar in qualifying for Euro 2024 in Koeman s first two matches after returning to the post.
And the returning coach could hand debuts to Sven Botman and Brian Brobbey, who have impressed this season for Newcastle United and Ajax respectively.
Both players were called up previously under Van Gaal without appearing.
Koeman has also drafted in Anderlecht s Bart Verbruggen and Feyenoord pair Lutsharel Geertru…
Robert Lewandowski expressed his desire for Lionel Messi to return to Barcelona ahead of next season.
Club legend Messi left Barcelona in 2020, after financial issues at the club prevented the renewal of his deal, and joined Paris Saint-Germain.
Messi s contract in the French capital runs out in June and an exit seems increasingly likely, particularly after his name was booed by some fans during the recent Ligue 1 defeat to Lyon – with supporters venting their frustration at the club s policy of signing big-name players without yielding results in the Champions League.
A return to Camp Nou has often been touted and Lewandowski, who joined the club last year from Bayern Munich, wants to play alongside Messi next season.
Messi belongs to Barca and if he …
Aleksandar Mitrovic s double helped Al-Hilal claim a 3-1 victory over rivals Al-Ittihad to move three points clear in the Saudi Pro League.
After just four games, it puts the defending champions in the driving seat while denting the aspirations of Al-Ittihad.
The Serbian striker had put the hosts ahead after just three minutes with a header from the centre of the box, having met Ruben Neves deep cross from the right.
Mitrovic doubled Al-Hilal s lead from the spot just 11 minutes later after Abdulelah Al Amri brought Renan Lodi down in the area.
Al-Hilal increased the deficit to three before half-time as Salem Al Dawsari added to the scoreline in the 36th minute, receiving down the left from Neves once more before driving clear in the box and finishing coo…
Barcelona are interested in signing Arsenal midfielder Jorginho in the summer transfer window, according to . The former Chelsea star is out of contract at Arsenal at the end of the season and is available on a free transfer. The Italian midfielder has offered himself to Barcelona, who are keen on snapping him up.
Jorginho has been on the books of Arsenal since January 2023 when he joined from London and Premier League rivals Chelsea. The 32-year-old Italian midfielder has made 10 starts and 11 substitute appearances in the Premier League, providing two assists in those games.
Barcelona are second in the La Liga table at the moment. The defending Spanish champions have picked up 67 points from 30 games, while bitter rivals and league leaders Real Madrid have collected 7…