While the NFL’s divisional round did feature some blowouts, it also showcased a couple of classic and contemporary rivalries.

In the AFC, fans will be treated to a rematch of last season’s conference championship game when the Cincinnati Bengals travel to Kansas City to face the Chiefs. That may be good news for the Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow, who is a perfect 3-0 in his young career against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

In the NFC, familiar clock and game management issues plagued Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy against the second-seeded San Francisco 49ers, who will travel to Philadelphia to face the Eagles.

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Here are the winners and losers from the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.

WINNERS

The case for Brock Purdy the rest of the way

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday there was an “outside chance” that injured quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (broken foot) could be ready for the NFC championship game if the team got there. He added that “there would be a better chance” for Garoppolo to potentially make a return for the Super Bowl, should San Francisco get that far.

It shouldn’t matter. Rookie Brock Purdy showed he can withstand a relentless pass rush, an offensive line that at times struggled and a slow-developing rushing game. Purdy (19-of-29 for 214 yards) protected the ball, delivered accurate throws (within the timing and rhythm of the offense), didn’t dwell on mistakes and found the team’s top target in George Kittle. San Francisco’s defense is the strength of the team. The Niners also have a dynamic rushing attack. They don’t need Purdy to be outstanding. They just need him to do exactly what he has done in his seven starts, each of which have been victories.

Lou Anarumo

Not only did his plan against the Bills prove to be a masterclass in disguising pressures and containing Josh Allen in the pocket, Anarumo — the defensive coordinator of the Bengals — now faces the prospect of a Patrick Mahomes potentially limited with his mobility.

Mahomes suffered a high ankle sprain in the second quarter Saturday. He returned to the game and played well, though he may need to manage pain, swelling and stiffness in the AFC championship game, if he is healthy enough to play. Though Mahomes doesn’t typically post massive rushing totals — he averaged 20.3 rushing yards per game, including the playoffs — his ability to extend plays, shift the pocket and escape pressure is what makes him the most dangerous player in the NFL. Having that part of his game limited only plays into the hands of a creative coordinator like Anarumo, who, suddenly, may vault atop the wish lists of teams in need of a head coach.

Quick passes for Patrick Mahomes

This shouldn’t have come as a surprise, that an Andy Reid-Eric Bieniemy coached offense adjusted and adapted to the hand they were dealt. Nonetheless, the move to turn to a quick passing offense after quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a sprained ankle in the second quarter was a stroke of brilliance and may hint at the team’s plan against the Bengals in the conference title game.

Quicker throws after the injury neutralized the Jaguars’ pass rush and eased the pressure off of Kansas City’s offensive line; Mahomes was hit only once in the second half. It also put tight end Travis Kelce in positions to compromise the linebackers and safeties tasked with covering him in the middle of the field. With the victory, Reid became the third coach in NFL history to win 20 or more postseason games, tying Cowboys great Tom Landry for second all-time, behind Bill Belichick (31).

LOSERS

If this was a legacy game for Dak Prescott …

Then he better hope he gets another chance. Prescott (23-of-37 for 206 yards with one touchdown versus two interceptions) underwhelmed. He forced passes into tight coverages, misfired some throws, telegraphed others and nearly took a safety on the first play of the final drive of the game.

Realistically, however, this will go down as just another playoff loss that could be absolved if he attains future postseason success. Still, Dallas’ defense played an excellent game, more than enough for them to win. And while the San Francisco defense has been the most consistent and best overall unit in the NFL, Prescott’s decision making at times — most notably on both interceptions — let the Cowboys down. Turnovers have been an issue for Prescott all season long and if he and coach Mike McCarthy don’t solve his issues with efficiency and ball protection, he may never overcome the early exits.

The (flawed) Bills rely way too much on Josh Allen

He’s one of the top five most dangerous players in the NFL, but Buffalo will struggle to clinch conference titles if it does not give Josh Allen help in the form of a running game. Playing in the snow with a slippery ball that makes passing a little more precarious, Buffalo, inexplicably, called 19 rushing plays. Contrast that with Cincinnati, which leaned on running back Joe Mixon (20 carries for 105 yards with one touchdown) to attain balance.

This is nothing new. Going back to the start of last season, the Bills have lost 11 games, including two defeats in the divisional round. In those 11 losses, Bills players not named Josh Allen have gained only 633 yards, or 57.5 per game. In eight of those 11 losses — including all four this year and the last seven, overall — Allen has been Buffalo’s leading rusher.

Daniel Jones’ market value

First, a pair of caveats: Jones, the fourth-year quarterback, was crucial for New York’s overperformance this season and that was with the Giants lacking star talent at receiver. But games like Saturday’s loss, in which he was ineffective and unsettled (159 total yards, one interception) only deepen questions about his value and standing as a viable franchise quarterback.

In what was an indication of ambivalence in his skill set at the time, the Giants in April declined to exercise Jones’ fifth-year option for 2023. To be clear, he has played well enough this season to earn more time under center in New York and the front office needs to provide him with more weapons. But even though Jones faced an aggressive Eagles defense that led the league in sacks per pass attempt (12.59%) and passing yards per game allowed (179.8), poor performances in big games are used against players when negotiating contracts, as unfair as that may be.

During the final minutes of CBS’ broadcast of the Cincinnati Bengals’ divisional-round win against the Bills in Buffalo, play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz asked color analyst Tony Romo what he thought about the prospect of Kansas City Chiefs starting quarterback Patrick Mahomes playing in the AFC title game against Cincinnati at Arrowhead Stadium.

Mahomes was diagnosed with a right high ankle sprain and is expected to play in the AFC championship game.

‘It’s challenging,’ Romo said, ‘because when I did it, I wasn’t able to actually play the next week. In other words, you can’t walk. You can play the day of. So when it happened yesterday, I was like, ‘He’s gonna play today. He’s gonna go ahead and like tape it up. He’s gonna go out there and adrenaline’s gonna kick in – he’s gonna be fine.’ The next day – he’s not gonna be able to do anything. He’s gonna almost be on crutches on Wednesday.

‘It depends but … for what it looked like I would tell you, for those of you thinking it’s 100 percent that he plays, it’s gonna take a lot. Will he play? I think yes. He’s Patrick Mahomes. He’s young. You have the ability to get healthier faster. But at the same time, I just don’t know if he’s going to be able to be Patrick Mahomes. I can tell you right now – he’s not going to have the same athleticism that he had throughout most of the year. So you know that going in.’

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported via Twitter that an MRI confirmed that Mahomes suffered a high-ankle sprain.

PHILADELPHIA – Show some love for the big boys. The self-proclaimed uglies upfront who do all of the dirty work and receive a fraction of the shine compared to the players who score touchdowns and catch interceptions. 

In other words, it’s time to acknowledge that the Philadelphia Eagles’ dominance in the trenches propelled them to the No. 1 seed and is the primary reason why they will host the NFC championship game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. 

Perhaps it is only the 49ers who can even think of challenging the Eagles for having such strong defensive and offensive lines. The teams will have a chance to settle the debate on the field. 

In the NFC divisional round Saturday, the Eagles manhandled the New York Giants on both sides of the ball from the first drive – which ended in a touchdown – to their last play from scrimmage, a Kenneth Gainwell 35-yard touchdown, in a 38-7 victory. 

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Gainwell, a second-year running back who rushed for a career-high 112 yards on 12 carries, said the push the offensive line generated against the Giants was apparent from the very beginning. Philadelphia ran the ball 44 times for 268 yards (6.1 yards per carry). Running back Boston Scott and quarterback Jalen Hurts also had rushing touchdowns in the win. 

‘Our O-line, I can’t say enough about those guys,’ Gainwell said. ‘They know what’s coming. Jalen, too, to get us into position (for) big gains.’

On a second-quarter touchdown drive against the Giants, the Eagles ran nine plays. Eight were runs. Miles Sanders, the team’s primary running back, had his number called on the first six plays of the series and gained 43 yards alone. 

Well, maybe not ‘alone.’ His teammates opened up holes and gave him plenty of room to run. 

‘When we know we’re going to get a chance to run the ball,’ Sanders said after the game, ‘the (offensive line) and running back take it upon ourselves to just make a statement every time.’ 

The Eagles never had worse than the seventh-best rushing performance in the NFL during any week this season. Consistency is what elevates the offensive line. With the return of right tackle Lane Johnson, who is playing through a groin injury, the starting five from the majority of the season is intact. 

‘Having that same continuity on the O-line is a factor, a key stat to winning games,’ left tackle Jordan Mailata said. ‘You have the same five guys who have been together most of the year – almost all year. It helps when you get your star players back, for sure.’ 

The Giants struggled against the run all season (5.23 rushing yards allowed per play, 31st in the NFL) and Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen saw an opportunity to exploit a personnel mismatch. Nonetheless, the Giants have interior defensive linemen Dexter Lawrence, who played at an All-Pro level in 2022, and Leonard Williams. Young edge rushers Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari had assumed larger roles as the season progressed. But the Eagles’ blocking scheme made all of them non-factors. 

Offensive line coach/run game coordinator Jeff Stoutland reminds his unit to never tire of the process, Mailata said. What, exactly, does he mean by that?

‘Just be where your feet are,’ Mailata said. ‘ ‘Oh, this is the play?’ We know the game plan, but we’re not really like, ‘Oh, we’re going to blow them away.’ I think O-lines that think like that put themselves in trouble. We just take every play as it is. Four seconds, not that hard, four seconds, and just execute the right technique. And whatever the next play is, do it again. Just keep going.’ 

Defensively, the Eagles pressured Giants quarterback Daniel Jones on 64% of his dropbacks in the first half, according to ESPN Stats and Info. Philadelphia racked up five sacks, including two on back-to-back plays by Haason Reddick that forced a turnover on downs to end New York’s first drive. 

‘It’s one of those things,’ Reddick said, ‘when you get rhythm, you get real streaky.’

Four Eagles recorded 11 or more sacks during the regular season and the team had seven against the Giants in their first meeting. The front seven’s ability to rush the passer helped the Eagles finish the regular season with 27 takeaways, tied for fourth in the league, but behind Dallas and San Francisco in the NFC.

‘I think this might have been our most complete game thus far,’ Reddick said Saturday. ‘Put some good things on tape and it was able to be a blowout victory. We dominated the trenches (Saturday). That’s a testament to every man in this building.’

The Eagles have a starting quarterback who lost one game all season. Hurts has a pair of star receivers in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith as his weapons, along with tight end Dallas Goedert. James Bradberry, Darius Slay and C.J. Gardner-Johnson are the nuclei of a solid secondary. 

But what the Eagles have in the trenches is the reason they have advanced – a stretch they hope includes winning the Super Bowl. 

‘The O-line and the D-line, you win there, you’re gonna win a lot of games,’ Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said. ‘And that O-line that we have, that D-line that we have, they’re special. They got special players, and they’ve got special men.’

Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.

Correctly predicting the first touchdown scorer of an NFL game is really hard. Doing it for every game played in a single weekend is almost impossible.

Parlaying those incredibly long odds will get you even longer odds that can turn a few bucks into a huge payday. For a bettor named Cameron Craig on Twitter, that meant turning a $5 free bet into $72,795.

After nailing the first players to score in each of the first three games of the divisional playoffs – Travis Kelce, Dallas Goedert and Ja’Marr Chase – Craig just needed Dalton Schultz to score first in Sunday night’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. The clip below shows the incredible moment it actually happened.

To illustrate how improbable this was, San Francisco had the first crack at scoring, which would’ve killed this bet on its last leg. Dak Prescott threw a first-quarter interception from his own 21, but Dallas’ defense held strong with a short field and forced the Niners to kick a field goal.

Schultz scored on the next Cowboys possession, reaching the end zone before other threats such as CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, or even Prescott himself, could ruin the parlay.

The first touchdown scorers weren’t the only right calls Craig made. He also declined taking an early payout of $1,393 before the Schultz touchdown.

Craig might have considered the payout if it was a little more, but $1,400 wasn’t enough to sway the temptation of winning more than $72,000. The early payout likely would have been more if the initial stake wasn’t a free bet, but it still seemed a little skimp.

DraftKings will probably wish it had offered a little more.

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Shannon Sharpe used his television platform Monday to apologize for the altercation between himself and members of the Memphis Grizzlies that went viral two days earlier during a game at at the Los Angeles Lakers’ Crypto.com Arena. 

Before ‘Undisputed’ – the daily FOX Sports debate show between Sharpe, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, and Skip Bayless on FS1 – began in earnest, moderator Jen Hale turned the floor over to Sharpe.

‘I want to apologize for my behavior,’ Sharpe said. ‘You know, guys, for the last six-and-a-half years responsibility and accountability. And I take full responsibility for what transpired.’

As Memphis’ Dillon Brooks and LeBron James battled for position right in front of Sharpe’s courtside seat late in the first half Friday, the television personality and Brooks exchanged words. The chatter kept going on the final Grizzlies possession.  

Shortly after the halftime buzzer sounded of an eventual 122-121 Lakers victory, it escalated to Sharpe yelling at Brooks and Ja Morant.

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Morant began approaching Sharpe, but Grizzlies teammate Steven Adams stepped in front of him and the altercation swelled with security becoming involved and players and coaches from both teams trying to separate the involved parties. Others, including Morant’s father Tee Morant, also became entangled. 

Sharpe, who sported a colorful cardigan, was escorted from the floor. From the arena tunnel, he told ESPN: ‘They didn’t want this smoke. … I said he was too small to guard LeBron. He said, ‘(expletive) me.’ I said, ‘(expletive) you’ back. He started to come (at) me and I said, ‘You don’t want these problems.’ And then Ja came out of nowhere talking. He definitely didn’t want these problems. Then the dad came and he obviously didn’t want no problems. But I wanted anything they had. Don’t let these fools fool you now.’

On Monday, Sharpe was more conciliatory. 

‘It does not matter what Dillon Brooks said. It does not matter how many times he said it. Me being the responsible person, me having the platform I have, and having so many people look up to me, I was wrong,’ Sharpe said. ‘I should have lowered the temperature in the arena. Instead, I turned the temperature up and I let it get out of hand.’  

During his lengthy apology, Sharpe atoned to teams and individuals. He specifically mentioned: 

The Lakers organization, owner Jeanie Buss and the Buss familyThe fans in attendance and those who were watching on television. ‘That’s not what you paid for and that’s not what you tuned in to watch. Shannon Sharpe should have been mentioned as someone that was at the game. Not someone who let his emotions run hot and get out of hand.’The Memphis Grizzlies, Brooks and MorantHis stylist, ‘Hollywood,’ with whom he attended the game.James ‘because he supported me through thick and thin.’ James said after the game he stood beside Sharpe ‘365 days a year’ and Sharpe apologized for putting James in the situation of having to do that.His own family 

‘I’m never going to be too big to say I’m sorry,’ Sharpe said.

Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.

It isn’t rare for the best players in the world to go through winless droughts. It happens to everyone.

But when the dry spell starts to expand into multiple seasons, caution lights begin to blink.

There are several names across golf that are due, and in some cases, overdue.

We thought it’d be a good idea to take a look at some of the players we think are on the right track to earning a win in 2023. A few Players champions are on this list, as well as major winners.

Let’s start with one of the most popular men in the game.

Rickie Fowler

Fowler’s last win came at the 2019 WM Phoenix Open. In fact, since a two-win 2015 season, the orange-donning fan favorite has claimed just two PGA Tour victories (2017 Honda Classic).

The 34-year-old is off to a solid start this season, however. He tied for sixth at the Fortinet Championship in September and a month later finished T-2 at the Zozo Championship.

Fowler’s game has been trending since transforming his swing and getting away from his patented laid-off position at the top. He currently ranks 20th in SG: Approach and fifth in greens in regulation (76.98 percent).

The one thing holding him back? The flat stick. He’s fiddled with multiple putters in recent months, including this week at the American Express where a brand-new putter has found its way into the bag. Usually a strength for Fowler, he currently sits 176th in SG: Putting (-.443).

If Fowler can find his way on the greens, don’t be surprised if he makes his way into the winner’s circle in ’23.

Jason Day

The former world No. 1 put together one of the best stretches in PGA Tour history from 2015-16, winning eight times including the Players, the Dell Match Play, the Arnold Palmer and the PGA Championship.

However, Day hasn’t lifted a trophy since 2018 at the Wells Fargo.

Injuries have plagued the Australian, most notably his back. Like Fowler, Day has implemented swing changes over the past year, but in his case, it was in order to take some of the pressure off his back. Using more rotation and committing to a cut have freed his action up a bit.

Day is currently ninth in SG: Approach and is hitting greens at a 73.06 percent clip (34th) and fairways 65.94 percent of the time (24th).

In six starts this season, Day has four T-21 or better finishes including two top 10s (he claimed T-10 at the QBE Shootout, an unofficial event).

Like Fowler, his struggles have been on the greens. The once-automatic putter is currently ranked outside the top 100 in SG: Putting (105th, -.036).

Collin Morikawa

This name might come as a surprise because he’s still ranked inside the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking, but Morikawa’s last win came at the 2021 Open.

Last year was an odd one for the 25-year-old, at one point losing his reliable cut shot. The streak was nearly broken a few weeks ago in Hawaii at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, but a few late bogeys and a relentless charge by Jon Rahm resulted in a blown back-nine lead and a solo-second finish.

Morikawa’s game is in good shape, his putting has improved and the short game looks a bit tidier. The five-time winner should be back on top in 2023.

Adam Scott

The second Australian on this list hasn’t hoisted a trophy since the 2020 Genesis Invitational at Riviera. Scott’s last PGA Tour win before the Genesis was in 2016, so winless droughts aren’t exactly uncharted territory for the Masters champ.

Scott played great golf at the end of last season with four top 20s in his final seven starts including two top fives in the first two playoff events.

After a not-so-great week at the Sentry Tournament of Champions, Scott tied for 21st at the Sony Open last week.

The 42-year-old should find his way into contention a few times throughout ’23.

Daniel Berger

Remember this guy?

Daniel Berger’s 2022 season was limited to just 12 starts due to a nagging back injury. His last start came at the U.S. Open at the Country Club, which was over after two days. In those 12 starts, Berger finished inside the top five three times (Sentry Tournament of Champions, Honda Classic and the Memorial).

The 29-year-old’s last win came in early 2021 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

He’s yet to make a start in the 2022-23 season and it’s unknown when he’ll return. When he’s at the top of his game, Berger’s a threat to win every week.

PARIS (AP) — Kylian Mbappé scored five goals, including a 12-minute hat trick in the first half, as Paris Saint-Germain won 7-0 at amateur team Pays de Cassel in the French Cup on Monday to set up a round-of-16 match at bitter rival Marseille.

It was his first hat trick since France’s World Cup final defeat to Argentina on Dec. 18. It took Mbappé’s tally to 25 goals in 24 games this season and moved him onto 196 overall for PSG — four short of Edinson Cavani’s club record.

Mbappe became the first PSG player to score five goals in a competitive match.

“We came here to respect this team by playing at our level. That’s what we did and we’re very happy,’ Mbappé said. “It was a great opportunity for them and also for us, because it’s a reminder for us that we come from amateur football and it’s important to keep this link. Even if it’s only for one game.’

PSG coach Christophe Galtier kept his word and picked a strong side, with the World Cup top scorer Mbappé and Neymar in the lineup, although he rested World Cup winner Lionel Messi for the game played at northern side Lens’ home stadium.

Neymar was anonymous until he collected a yellow card for a rash late tackle in the 26th. Galtier looked increasingly agitated with his underperforming team when Mbappé put record 14-time cup winner PSG ahead from Nuno Mendes’ cross in the 29th minute.

Neymar was roundly jeered by the crowd when he scored PSG’s second goal with a skillful effort in the 33rd, before Mbappé netted with a lob and a slick chipped finish.

Mbappé grabbed his fourth after a goalkeeper blunder in the 56th, before Neymar set up Carlos Soler midway through the second half and Mbappé slotted in from close range in the 78th. He almost got a double hat trick but a late shot was blocked.

Marseille won the last of 10 French Cups in 1989 and has lost three times in the final since, including to PSG in 2016.

Another all first-division clash sees Lyon hosting Lille with the ties held Feb. 7-8.

PSG hosts Bayern Munich on Feb. 14 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 game.