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A20 SPORTS
Thursday 27 december 2018

Saints, Rams, Bears highlight top 3 in AP Pro32 poll

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) celebrates a touchdown by running back Alvin Kamara, not pictured, in the first half of an NFL football game in New
Orleans, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018.
Associated Press
By SIMMI BUTTAR first-place votes for 384 the NFC was 2009 when it The next three teams in the vens jumped three spots
NEW YORK (AP) — The road points in balloting Wednes- reached and won the Su- poll are all from the AFC. to No. 9. The Ravens (9-6)
to the Super Bowl in the day by media members per Bowl. Kansas City and the Los An- lead the AFC North by a
NFC will go through the Big who regularly cover the “The news is all good for the geles Chargers, tied at 11-4 half-game over Pittsburgh.
Easy. NFL. Saints: They clinch home- in the AFC West, slipped The Ravens host Cleveland
Though the Saints’ path to New Orleans (13-2) field advantage through- to No. 4 and No. 5 respec- on Sunday and will take the
get to Atlanta could be clinched the top seed in out the NFC playoffs with a tively. The Chiefs dropped division with a win.
challenging: The top three the NFC after Sunday’s thrilling win over the Steel- a spot after their 38-31 loss “Who wants to play them?,”
teams in the latest AP Pro32 31-28 win over Pittsburgh. ers, and (quarterback) at Seattle on Sunday night, asked Fox Sports’ John
poll are all from the NFC. The previous time New Or- Drew Brees has a chance and the Chargers fell from Czarnecki of the Ravens,
The Saints received all 12 leans had the top seed in to win his first-ever regular- No. 2 after losing to Balti- who were 4-5 entering their
season MVP award,” News- more on Saturday night. bye week and have won
day’s Bob Glauber said. The New England Patriots, five of six overall.
The NFC West champion who won the AFC East for The Steelers need to win
Los Angeles Rams jumped the 10th consecutive year, at home against the last-
three places to No. 2 af- moved up a spot to No. 6. place Bengals and have
ter dominating Arizona Seattle climbed three spots the Ravens stumble for their
without star running back to No. 7 after clinching a best chance at reaching
Todd Gurley. The Rams can playoff berth with a win the postseason.
clinch a first-round bye with over the Chiefs. The Indianapolis Colts fell
a win against San Francisco The Houston Texans slipped one spot despite rallying
in the regular-season finale. two spots to No. 8 after los- past the New York Giants
NFC North champion Chi- ing to the Philadelphia Ea- to round out the top 10. The
cago Bears inched up a gles 32-30 on Jake Elliott’s Colts and Tennessee Titans,
spot to No. 3. field goal as time expired who remained No. 14 in
“With a swarming defense Sunday. However, the first- the poll, are both 9-6 and
and a solid ground game, place Texans clinched a end the regular season in
the Bears appear poised to playoff spot later in the day a prime-time matchup on
make some waves in Janu- when the Steelers lost. NBC. The winner will clinch
ary along the frosty shores Houston will clinch the AFC a playoff spot and could
of Lake Michigan,” said Ira South with a win over the take the division if the Tex-
Kaufman of Fox 13 in Tam- Jaguars. ans stumble earlier in the
pa. The surging Baltimore Ra- day.q