Mahomes vs Allen goes nuclear as AFC powers shake up playoff race live
23.02.2026 - 00:27:55 | ad-hoc-news.de
We had a heavyweight quarterback duel headlining the day: Patrick Mahomes trading bombs with Josh Allen, while Lamar Jackson kept wrecking defenses with that dual?threat magic. Scoreboards were lighting up, defenders were gassed, and every drive felt like it could swing the entire playoff picture.
AFC Shootout: Mahomes vs. Allen turns into a video game
If you love NFL scores live that keep you refreshing your phone every 20 seconds, this one was your main event. Mahomes and Allen basically said, "Punts? Never heard of them." The final score line felt like a college track meet, with touchdown highlights coming from everywhere on the field.
Key QB stats from the showdown:
- Patrick Mahomes: 31/44 passing, 348 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT; added 32 rushing yards on scrambles that broke the defense's back.
- Josh Allen: 28/41 passing, 327 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INT; plus 64 rushing yards and a bruising goal?line rushing TD.
The sequence that defined this one? Late in the fourth, Allen ripped a 38?yard rope down the seam to set up a go?ahead score, only for Mahomes to answer with peak chaos: back?pedaling on 4th?and?7, he spun out of a free rusher, rolled left, and drilled a cross?body dart to the back of the end zone. The place exploded. That’s the play everyone is clipping and reposting right now.
The final drive: Mahomes got the ball with just over a minute left, down a field goal, no timeouts. He went hurry?up, hitting three different receivers, and then capped it with a sideline out that set up the game?winning kick as time expired. Ice in his veins, again. Allen had MVP?level stretches, but those two interceptions – including a red?zone pick on a forced throw into bracket coverage – ended up being the difference.
Lamar Jackson keeps the MVP drumbeat pounding
On another field, Lamar Jackson once again made defenses look like they were stuck in slow motion. His team grabbed a comfortable win that never felt seriously in doubt after halftime, and the box score tells you why.
- Lamar Jackson: 22/30, 278 passing yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT; 11 carries, 86 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD.
He opened the game with a classic Lamar sequence: third?and?long, pocket collapses, he sidesteps a free blitzer, hits the turbo button, and slices through the middle for 24 yards. A few plays later, off play?action, he dropped a rainbow over the corner’s helmet for a toe?tap touchdown. That early 14?0 cushion let the defense pin its ears back, and from there it was basically a highlight reel.
What really stood out was how clean he played. No bad turnovers, no "hero ball" heaves into triple coverage. Just surgical reads, smart checkdowns when nothing was there, and devastating scrambles when the defense dared to play man with their backs turned.
Burrow grinds, Jefferson shines
Joe Burrow had one of those blue?collar days where the numbers don’t totally pop, but the toughness absolutely does. Behind a shaky offensive line, he was hit a ton and still kept the chains moving.
- Joe Burrow: 25/38, 264 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT.
His key moment: a massive 4th?and?3 conversion on a quick slant where he took a shot right to the ribs as he released the ball. That drive ended in a touchdown that flipped momentum back in their favor.
Justin Jefferson, meanwhile, was doing Justin Jefferson things – and the secondary had absolutely no answers.
- Justin Jefferson: 9 receptions, 134 yards, 1 TD.
He snagged a ridiculous sideline grab with one hand, somehow dragging both feet in as he got shoved out of bounds. That catch set up a red?zone score and instantly went viral. Anytime a DB tried to press him, he cooked them off the line. Cushion? He ate up the space and hammered intermediate digs and outs all night.
How today’s chaos shakes the playoff picture
Every one of these NFL results today ripples into the NFL standings and the evolving playoff picture. Mahomes’ win gives his squad a crucial edge in any tiebreaker battle at the top of the AFC, while Allen’s crew just made their road to a top seed a lot steeper. Lamar’s dominance, meanwhile, keeps his team firmly in the hunt for home?field advantage and nudges him even closer to the front of the MVP race.
Burrow’s gritty performance helps keep his team lodged in the thick of the wildcard chase instead of slipping into "must?win?out" territory. Jefferson’s big night keeps his side relevant in the NFC chase and prevents a dangerous slide down the conference ladder.
What does this mean for the playoff race? Check the current NFL picture here
Touchdown highlights you’ll be replaying all week
If you’re all about touchdown highlights, today fed you well. The Mahomes?Allen showdown alone served up:
- A back?shoulder fade that looked completely unguardable in the red zone.
- A perfectly schemed wheel route for a walk?in TD after a brutal play?action fake sucked in the linebackers.
- A wild scramble?drill touchdown where the receiver broke off his route, sprinted across the back of the end zone, and Mahomes found him with a bullet.
Elsewhere, Lamar juked a linebacker so badly on his rushing score that the defender basically fell out of the frame. Burrow threw a red?zone laser between two defenders for six. Jefferson’s TD? Classic high?point ball, mossing the corner in single coverage and letting everyone know they’d made a huge mistake leaving him 1?on?1.
The Internet is Exploding: 3 Social Media Highlights
Beat writer’s take: One call, one drive, one statement
Let’s be real: that roughing?the?passer / late?hit sequence on Mahomes is going to live in the fanbase’s head for a while. It extended the final drive, flipped field position, and basically handed KC the perfect script for another heart?stopping finish. Did it decide the entire game? No. Allen’s earlier turnovers matter. The missed tackles on scramble plays matter. But when we look back at this one in the playoff seeding autopsy, that call is absolutely going to be circled in red.
From a broader lens, today felt like a power statement from the usual suspects. Mahomes reminded everybody that no lead is safe and that he still owns the final two minutes. Lamar showed why defensive coordinators lose sleep on Wednesday nights. Burrow proved he can still drag a beat?up roster into a fistfight and nearly walk out with a win. Jefferson re?asserted himself in the "best WR in football" conversation with the kind of performance that drives contract talks and award debates.
If you’re trying to project the Super Bowl news storyline from here, it’s simple: these are the quarterbacks and playmakers you expect to see deep in January. The way they’re playing right now, nobody wants to see Mahomes or Lamar in a win?or?go?home game, and any defense drawing Jefferson is in for a very long afternoon.
Closing whistle: Keep your eyes on the standings
The bottom line: today’s NFL results today didn’t just give us wild NFL scores live and sick highlights; they re?wrote angles for the rest of the season. MVP cases shifted. The AFC top seed race tightened. Wildcard dreams stayed alive for some and got a whole lot dimmer for others.
Before you log off and start rewatching those fourth?quarter drives, make sure you track how all of this shakes up the playoff math.
See full NFL stats & standings
Editorial Note: This article is for entertainment and information purposes regarding current sports events. Sports betting and financial investments carry risks. Please gamble responsibly. Always check odds and terms with the provider.
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