The Blitz Read: Streaking Chiefs, Seahawks stay hot in playoff push

Ron Clements

•
The Blitz Read: Streaking Chiefs, Seahawks stay hot in playoff push image

The Seahawks and Chiefs have placed themselves securely into the playoff race by getting hot at the end of the season.

The Chiefs won their seventh straight game on Sunday with a 10-3 victory over the Chargers while the Seahawks rolled over the Ravens for their fourth straight win.

MORE: Ripple effects from Steelers-Bengals | Are Panthers an NFC dynasty? | Week 14's best photos

Both teams are 8-5 and would be the fifth seeds in their respective conferences, but they still have a chance to win their West divisions. After the Raiders upset the Broncos, the Chiefs are two games back of the Broncos in the AFC West and have their next two games against the inept Ravens and Browns before a season-ending home game against the Raiders.

The Seahawks will need the 11-2 Cardinals to lose their remaining three games, and the two teams meet in Arizona in the regular-season finale. Seattle will face the Browns and Rams over the next two weeks. 

Meanwhile, everyone in the NFL is still looking up at the undefeated Panthers, who improved to 13-0 with a dominant 38-0 win over the Falcons. 

While the Seahawks and Panthers rolled to easy victories, both wins came at a price with season-ending injuries to key players. 

Injury report

Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls left Sunday's 35-6 win in Baltimore with an ankle injury and did not return. It was later revealed that he is done for the year with a broken ankle. 

The Seahawks also lost safety Kam Chancellor with a tailbone injury and though he did not return, he should be fine next week. 

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton left Sunday's 33-20 loss to the Steelers with a right thumb fracture. Later in the first half, Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert was forced out with a concussion after taking a hit to the head by Steelers safety Mike Mitchell. 

The Bengals also had safety George Iloka leave with a groin injury and not return. 

BENDER: For Bengals, it's as bad as it looks | MORE: AJ McCarron wants to be the Brady to Dalton's Bledsoe

Panthers tight end Greg Olsen left Sunday's dominant win over the Falcons with a minor left knee injury, but cornerback Bene Benwikere was not so fortunate. Benwikere is done for the season after suffering a fractured leg. 

Browns receiver Brian Hartline caught eight passes for 107 yards, but broke his collarbone late in Cleveland's 24-10 win over the 49ers and is done for the season.

Colts quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was beaten up during Sunday's 51-16 loss to the Jaguars and left in the fourth quarter with a rib injury and did not return.

Jets rookie receiver Devin Smith was carted off the field with a knee injury during the second half of the 30-8 win over Titans and will have an MRI on Monday.

Patriots leading rusher LeGarrette Blunt injured his hip in the second quarter of a 27-6 win over the Texans and did not return. Blount was one of four Patriots starters to go down Sunday night, adding to their ever-growing injury report.

Also Sunday night, Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer was pummeled late in the fourth quarter and evaluated for a concussion. It's the second time this season he's gone through concussion protocol.

Panthers still purrfect

The Panthers completely whipped the Falcons at Bank of America Stadium to move to 13-0 on the season and clinch a first-round bye. They were able to remain undefeated thanks to a defense that forced four turnovers and had five sacks. It helped that quarterback Cam Newton was able to make ridiculously accurate passes to bolster his MVP status.

MORE: Cam Newton's best plays of 2015 | Why Jonathan Stewart is the straw that stirs the drink

Five for Fighting

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is on fire right now as the Seahawks have won four straight. In those four wins, Wilson has thrown for 1,171 yards and 16 touchdowns, including a pair of five-touchdown games. His latest five-TD affair was Sunday in the 35-6 win over the Ravens. 

MORE: Losing Rawls too much for Seahawks to overcome?

Who wants their first NFL touchdown?

The Eagles were able to deal the Bills a 23-20 loss thanks to quarterback Sam Bradford stepping up in the pocket to hurl it to Nelson Agholor for a 53-yard touchdown and the first NFL touchdown for the rookie receiver. 

Just after Agholor caught his first NFL touchdown, Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron — filling in for the injured Dalton — threw his first NFL touchdown pass with a 66-yard pass to A.J. Green. 

Bills running back Mike Gillislee ran past Eagles linebacker Kiko Alonso for a 19-yard touchdown, the first of his NFL career. 

Highlight reel

Panthers receiver Ted Ginn Jr. had a great day against the Falcons with two catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns from 74 and 46 yards out.

The Falcons didn't have many highlights in the blowout loss to the Panthers, but rookie receiver Justin Hardy — a North Carolina native — had a nice one-handed grab.

After the Eagles got on the board with a 1-yard plunge by Darren Sproles, the Bills tied it up when Tyrod Taylor hit Sammy Watkins deep for a 47-yard score.

Jets running back Bilal Powell ran for 36 yards on three carries and also caught five passes for 46 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter of the 30-8 win over the Titans. 

Rams running back Todd Gurley ran for 140 yards on 16 carries to help the Rams to a 21-14 win over the Lions. The first of two Gurley touchdowns was a beauty as he leapt for the goal line and reached the ball over the plane.

The only Titans touchdown in their 30-8 loss to the Jets was a 41-yard touchdown reception by rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota. 

Packers running back Eddie Lacy ran for 124 yards and a touchdown, which was set up by a bruising 24-yard run to the Cowboys 1-yard line.

Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski announced his return from a one-game absence with this second-quarter touchdown catch, his ninth of the season.

Sunday's games

Seahawks 35, Ravens 6
Panthers 38, Falcons 0
Redskins 24, Bears 21
Steelers 33, Bengals 20
Browns 24, 49ers 10
Jaguars 51, Colts 16
Chiefs 10, Chargers 3
Jets 30, Titans 8
Eagles 23, Bills 20
Rams 21, Lions 14
Saints 24, Buccaneers 17
Packers 28, Cowboys 7
Raiders 15, Broncos 12
Patriots 27, Texans 6

Monday's game

Giants at Dolphins, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Ron Clements