New Browns record for Cooper
German NFL shooting star leads Lions into the playoffs
December 25, 2023, 7:28 a.m
The Detroit Lions are crowning their miraculous change in the NFL: they are making it into the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Thanks to Amon-Ra St. Brown: The German-American shooting star is once again the focal point of the offensive.
Nice present for Amon-Ra St. Brown on Christmas Eve: The German-American shooting star reached the NFL playoffs for the first time in his career with the Detroit Lions. Thanks to a 30:24 win against division rivals Minnesota Vikings, the Lions are back in the knockout rounds for the first time since 2016.
Just two years ago, Detroit was one of the worst teams in the league. Now St. Brown and Co. crowned their upheaval and achieved their first intermediate goal. Against Minnesota, wide receiver St. Brown was once again a fixture in the offense with twelve pass catches for 106 yards. The 24-year-old St. Brown put Detroit back in the lead with his important touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was the eighth time this season that the German-American was in the opposing end zone with the ball.
After Jahmyr Gibbs’ second touchdown, Detroit was ahead 30:21 in Minneapolis. But it wasn’t until the Lions won the ball in the last minute just before their own end zone, when the Vikings were on the attack and still had a chance to win, that the decision was made in Detroit’s favor.
Dolphins also make it to the playoffs
Thanks to their success, the Lions can no longer be pushed out of first place in the NFC North and won the division for the first time since 1993. With a record of 11:4 wins, they are well ahead of Minnesota (7:8) two game days before the end of the main round ) and the Green Bay Packers (7:8). The Lions are the only NFC team that has never been to the Super Bowl.
If the competition continues to win and make mistakes, a bye in the first playoff round would be possible on the difficult path to get there. The Vikings, on the other hand, have to worry about making it into the postseason as one of the best second-place teams in the NFC. They now have a negative record with eight lost matches and seven wins.
The Miami Dolphins also reached the playoffs in the American football league NFL. The Dolphins narrowly won the top game on Christmas Eve against the Dallas Cowboys, who had already qualified for the playoffs, 22:20 (13:7). Kicker Jason Sanders converted the decisive field goal from 29 yards as time expired. It was the fifth converted field goal of the game for Sanders, who had only had a total of 21 field goal attempts so far this season. Miami is the strongest offensive team of the season with the most touchdowns and points. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for 293 yards, finding star receiver Tyreek Hill nine times. With eleven wins this season, the Dolphins can no longer be pushed out of a playoff spot.
Browns win clearly on the road
In a direct duel for playoff qualification, the Cleveland Browns gave the host Houston Texans no chance and won 36:22. For the Browns it was the tenth success in the 15th game, the Texans suffered their seventh defeat in eight wins. Wide receiver Amari Cooper set a franchise record. He managed 265 yards with just eleven pass catches. “Everything just worked out – and to be honest, it felt easy,” said the 29-year-old after the 36:22 win over the Houston Texans on Christmas Eve. Cooper crowned his fabulous day with two touchdowns and a successful two-point conversion. Previously, Josh Gordons held the Browns record with 261 yards (2013).
Cooper also set the season record for most receiving yards in a game – thanks especially to quarterback Joe Flacco. “To be completely honest, I would attribute most of it to Joe. He has an incredible feel for the game. He has an incredible arm. I think the best way to explain it is that we just mesh well together,” Cooper said. The veteran quarterback Flacco, who was only brought out of early retirement at the end of November, recorded 368 yards and three touchdown passes with two interceptions.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also achieved an important victory in the playoff race, winning clearly 30:12 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Both teams now have a record of 8:7. Tampa Bay defended its lead in the NFC South Division with its fourth win in a row over the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints (both 7:8). The Jaguars, whose quarterback Trevor Lawrence injured his shoulder, are tied with the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans in the AFC South Division. Only the division winner is guaranteed to make it to the playoffs, and there are three wild card spots per conference.