Fox News Flash top sports headlines for December 22
Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are usually reserved for college football bowl games, NBA matchups and a lot of other festivities. However, this year, the NFL is lurking and about to take over the holidays.
All teams are in action on Saturday and Sunday with Week 16 getting started between the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets and ending Monday night with the Los Angeles Chargers and Indianapolis Colts. And with games on the weekend holidays, there are going to be plenty of playoff scenarios to keep an eye on.
There are 11 games on Christmas Eve and three games on Christmas Day. Three AFC teams could clinch a playoff spot this week and one NFC team could clinch a spot. Two teams in total could wrap up division titles this week.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Here are the clinching scenarios.
--
Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
Lamar Jackson, #8 of the Baltimore Ravens, reacts against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 11, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Ravens are taking on the Atlanta Falcons at home on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. The game can be seen on FOX. Baltimore clinches a playoff spot with:
- Ravens win + Dolphins loss or tie + Patriots loss or tie OR
- Ravens win + Dolphins loss or tie + Jets loss or tie OR
- Ravens win + Patriots loss or tie + Jets loss or tie OR
- Ravens tie + Patriots loss + Jets loss OR
- Ravens tie + Patriots loss + Dolphins loss + Chargers win OR
- Ravens tie + Patriots loss + Dolphins loss + Jets tie OR
- Ravens tie + Patriots loss Jets tie + Chargers win OR
- Ravens tie + Patriots tie Jets loss + Dolphins loss OR
- Ravens tie + Patriots tie Jets tie + Dolphins loss + Chargers win OR
- Patriots loss + Jets loss + Browns loss or tie + Raiders loss or tie + Titans loss or tie + Chargers win
Buffalo Bills (11-3)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, #17, gets his shoulder pad fixed during the National Football League game between the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills on Nov. 6, 2022 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Buffalo is already in the playoffs, and now turns its attention to the AFC East title. The Bills have won two consecutive division titles. They play the Bears on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on CBS. Here’s how the Bills can clinch the division.
- Bills win or tie OR
- Dolphins loss or tie
Cincinnati Bengals (10-4)
Joe Burrow, #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals, throws the ball during the first half against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on Nov. 27, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
The Bengals have an interesting matchup with the Patriots on the road. Cincinnati has not won in New England since 1986. But things have been much different this season. Cincinnati clinches a playoff spot with:
- Bengals win or tie OR
- Jets loss or tie
NFL POWER RANKINGS: PLAYOFF BOUND EAGLES STAY AT THE TOP, BENGALS BIG WIN PROPELS THEM FORWARD
Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, #10, walks on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, California, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
The Chargers have not been to the playoffs since 2018. Justin Herbert became the first player to throw for 4,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. He is hungry to get to the postseason. Los Angeles plays the Colts on Monday at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN. Here’s how they can get into the playoffs
- Chargers win + Raiders loss or tie + Patriots loss + Patriots loss OR
- Chargers win + Raiders loss or tie + Patriots loss + Jets tie + Dolphins loss OR
- Chargers win + Raiders loss or tie + Patriots tie + Jets loss + Dolphins loss
New York Giants (8-5-1)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, #8, is pressured by Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, #91, during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
For the first time since 2016, the Giants actually have playoff-clinching scenarios on Saturday. New York will have to get through the Vikings first, though. The two teams meet Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
- Giants win + Commanders loss + Lions loss OR
- Giants win + Commanders loss + Seahawks loss OR
- Giants win + Lions loss + Seahawks loss
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Philadelphia Eagles (13-1)
Gardner Minshew, #10 of the Philadelphia Eagles, looks on against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field on Dec. 4, 2022 in Philadelphia. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
The Eagles have a playoff spot already clinched up, but the NFC East could be decided with a victory over the Cowboys over the weekend. It will be tough with Gardner Minshew set to start for Jalen Hurts. That matchup is set for Saturday at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX. Philly could get the division title and homefield along with a first-round bye.
- Eagles win or tie will clinch division
- Eagles win or tie coupled with Vikings loss or tie clinches homefield and first-round bye