NFL roundup: Baltimore Ravens crush Miami Dolphins, 49ers grab NFC top spot

The Baltimore Ravens clinched the number one seed in the AFC for the NFL playoffs in a dominant manner on Sunday. They overwhelmed the Miami Dolphins with a resounding 56-19 victory, as Lamar Jackson showcased his skills by throwing five touchdowns.

The San Francisco 49ers, on the other hand, will secure the top seed in the NFC and the advantage of playing at home in the playoffs after their convincing 27-10 victory over Washington.

Jackson is currently the frontrunner for the league's Most Valuable Player award, and he significantly improved his chances with an exceptional performance against a Miami team that had aspirations of leading the conference.

The Ravens quarterback completed 18 of 21 passes for 321 yards, averaging an impressive 15.3 yards per pass while dismantling Miami's defense.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh praised Jackson's effort, stating, "I have never witnessed a more impressive performance in a game."

After the Dolphins, who are also playoff contenders, scored the opening touchdown with an eight-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Cedric Wilson, Jackson responded by connecting with Justice Hill for a 20-yard touchdown pass to the right.

The Ravens took a 14-10 lead with a one-yard touchdown run by Gus Edwards and headed into halftime with a commanding 28-13 advantage after Jackson threw touchdown passes of 75 yards to Zay Flowers and 35 yards to Isaiah Likely.

In the third quarter, Jackson found Likely again for a seven-yard score. Although De'Von Achane's touchdown early in the fourth quarter gave Miami some hope, the Ravens quickly pulled away.

Patrick Ricard caught a four-yard pass from Jackson, followed by a three-yard touchdown run by Melvin Gordon. Reserve quarterback Tyler Huntley then connected with Charlie Kolar for a 19-yard touchdown pass.

Miami still has a chance to claim the AFC East division title by defeating Buffalo in their upcoming game next Sunday.

Last week, the Ravens intercepted 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy four times, but he made a comeback as San Francisco secured a top seed at Washington.

Purdy had an impressive performance, throwing for 230 yards and two touchdowns on 22-of-28 passing without any interceptions. He even broke the club record for single-season passing yards, surpassing Jeff Garcia's previous mark of 4,279.

In the game, the Niners extended their 13-10 halftime lead with a two-yard touchdown run by Elijah Mitchell and a 17-yard touchdown pass from Purdy to Brandon Aiyuk in the fourth quarter.

The 49ers secured the top seed in the NFC when the Philadelphia Eagles suffered a shocking 35-31 loss at home to the Arizona Cardinals (4-12).

Arizona's James Conner sealed the upset with a two-yard touchdown run in the final 32 seconds, which opened the door for the Dallas Cowboys to clinch the NFC East title over Philadelphia.

Next week, the Cowboys have the opportunity to win the division with a victory against Washington.

Meanwhile, the defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, secured their spot in the playoffs by winning the AFC West for the eighth consecutive season with a hard-fought 25-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The only points scored in the second half came from Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, who made six field goals, four of them after halftime.

With their loss, the Bengals were eliminated from playoff contention, and the Denver Broncos missed the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year, despite their 16-9 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers kept their chances of making it to the playoffs alive by defeating the Seattle Seahawks 30-23. Running back Najee Harris played a crucial role in the victory, scoring two touchdowns and achieving a season-best of 122 rushing yards.

In order for the Seahawks to have a shot at the playoffs, they must win their upcoming game against Arizona next Sunday and also rely on other games going in their favor.

The Seattle loss secured a playoff spot for the Los Angeles Rams (9-7) after their narrow 26-25 triumph over the New York Giants.

The battle for the NFC South title will be decided in the final moments as the New Orleans Saints emerged victorious with a 23-13 win against Tampa Bay.

Atlanta's playoff hopes took a hit with a disappointing 37-17 loss to the Chicago Bears. On the other hand, the Buffalo Bills head into their crucial AFC East showdown with Miami following a 27-21 victory over New England.

Green Bay is on the verge of securing a playoff spot in the NFC after a convincing 33-10 win against Minnesota. They can solidify their position with a win in their upcoming home game against Chicago.

The Bears secured the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft when Carolina suffered a 26-0 defeat against Jacksonville.