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A16 sports
Tuesday 29 december 2020

AP source: NFL fines Ravens $250,000 for COVID violations

By BARRY WILNER and team personnel also
AP Pro Football Writer affected. The game with
The Baltimore Ravens were the archrival Steelers even-
fined $250,000 by the NFL tually was played the fol-
for violating COVID-19 pro- lowing Wednesday, and
tocols, a person with direct the Ravens’ matchup with
knowledge of the punish- Dallas was moved to Dec.
ment told The Associated 8 in a rare Tuesday game.
Press on Monday. Four other teams this year
The team was not docked have been fined for mul-
draft picks for the violations, tiple protocol violations.
which led to a coronavirus The Las Vegas Raiders lost
outbreak and the resched- a sixth-round selection
uling of the Ravens’ Thanks- in 2021 and were fined
giving night game against $500,000, while the New Or-
Pittsburgh. leans Saints were stripped
The person spoke on condi- of a seventh-rounder and
tion of anonymity because fined $500,000.
the discipline has not been New England and Tennes-
announced. see previously were fined
The Baltimore Ravens walk past the team logo in the end zone during warmups for the NFL Super In Baltimore’s outbreak, 23 $350,000 but did not have
Bowl XLVII football game against the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans, in this Sunday, Feb. 3, players wound up on the a draft choice taken away.
2013, file photo. league’s reserve/COVID-19 The Ravens’ fine was first
Associated Press list, with several coaches reported by NFL Network.q

On Football: Playoff picture clears up -- and muddles, too

By BARRY WILNER ing? Green Bay, give the Bears
AP Pro Football Writer AFC SOUTH a berth, too, sending LA
If they’re singing anything in Indianapolis’ collapse at packing.
Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh spiraled the NFC NORTH
Seattle, it could be “I Can Colts (10-5) out of a play- All Green Bay’s, as will be
See Clearly Now.” All three off spot. To get back in the NFC bye with a win at
took some big steps Sun- as a wild card, they must Soldier Field next Sunday.
day. As for the appropriate take care of inept Jackson- The Packers (12-3) need to
song in the AFC South and ville (1-14, whose win was avoid a three-way tie with
NFC East, try “Purple Haze.” opening day against Indy) Seattle and New Orleans at
Or “Land Of Confusion.” and have either Baltimore, 12-4, which would give the
The postseason picture Cleveland or Miami lose. Or bye to the Saints.
came into focus in some if Tennessee (10-5 after a Chicago has gone from
places and got more mud- loss at Green Bay) loses at 5-1 to 5-7 to 8-7. A victory
dled elsewhere. The folks woeful Houston next Sun- and the Bears are playoffs-
at NFL headquarters must Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes throws a pass day and the Colts win, they bound.
love having such big-time while being chased down by Atlanta Falcons Jacob Tuioti- get the division crown and NFC SOUTH
quarterbacks as Patrick Mariner during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, the Titans likely will be out. All settled, with New Orleans
Mahomes, Ben Roethlis- Dec. 27, 2020, in Kansas City. Associated Press Or not. (11-4) on top and Tampa
berger, Russell Wilson, Aar- AFC WEST Bay, with that 43-year-old
on Rodgers and Drew Brees on Monday night, owns the beat Indianapolis. That All Kansas City (14-1), de- newcomer quarterback
already in the field. And division crown and will get gave the Steelers the di- spite a tight win over weak — a guy named Brady —
they must be thrilled that at the No. 2 seed behind Kan- vision title. “It’s a fine line Atlanta on Sunday. The guaranteed a wild card at
least 10 Week 17 matchups sas City by winning out. between drinking wine reigning league champi- 10-5.
will have some playoff sig- Miami (10-5), with one of and squashing grapes ons own the AFC’s only NFC EAST
nificance. the most impressive two- and sometimes it was very postseason bye. All unsettled — except
“Cherish these moments,” season turnarounds in re- subtle,” coach Mike Tomlin “If you look at the history of for Philadelphia (4-10-1),
linebacker K.J. Wright, the cent memory, gets a wild- said. The grapes are tasting that bye week, usually it’s which saw its chances dis-
longest-tenured Seahawks card berth by winning at pretty sweet for Baltimore a good thing for the teams appear by losing at Dallas
player, told teammates in the Bills next weekend — a and rancid for Cleveland. trying to make a champi- (6-9). Pay attention for this
the locker room after a 20-9 huge challenge. But the The Ravens (10-5) won a onship run,” Mahomes said. one:
victory over the Rams. “It’s Dolphins have met lots of fourth consecutive game, “But at the end of the day, A Washington victory at
been a while since we’ve challenges this year. beating the Giants, and we got to find a way to win Philly on Sunday night gives
been NFC West champs. “I think we have a special will head to the postseason a football game whenever Ron Rivera’s team the divi-
And this team, especially team,” Dolphins quarter- with a victory over Cincin- we get there.” sion at 7-9 no matter what
our brotherhood, our to- back Ryan Fitzpatrick said nati. The Browns, trying to NFC WEST the Cowboys do at the Gi-
getherness, brought us to after engineering a last- end the NFL’s longest play- All Seattle’s, and the Se- ants (5-10) in the afternoon.
this moment.” minute drive to beat Las off absence — last appear- ahawks (11-4) have a shot Washington swept Dallas
At this moment, here’s how Vegas on Saturday night. ance 2002 — were severely at the conference bye. this season. However, an
things stand — and what “I think this team all year short-handed by COVID-19 With their loss at Seattle, the Eagles win then means
might be ahead on the first long has fought.” issues and fell to the Jets. Rams (9-6) need a home whoever emerges from the
Sunday of 2021. AFC NORTH They’ll need to defeat victory against Arizona (8- Cowboys-Giants matchup
AFC EAST Pittsburgh (12-3) broke a the archrival Steelers, and 7) to ensure a wild card. A at the Meadowlands —
Buffalo (11-3), which takes three-game slide with a wouldn’t Pittsburgh enjoy loss would lift the Cardinals barring a tie — heads to
on struggling New England monstrous second half to keeping that drought go- in and, if Chicago beats the playoffs.q