2023 NFL playoffs: Ranking all 14 postseason teams, with Chiefs, Bills headlining Super Bowl contenders

The 2022 NFL playoff picture is officially set. After the Lions upset the Packers in dramatic fashion on Sunday night, knocking Green Bay out of postseason contention and elevating the Seahawks into the final wild card spot, the schedule for Super Wild Card Weekend is complete. Now, the real games can begin. The postseason is a fresh slate for 14 contenders, and only time will tell which ones are ready to make a run at the Lombardi. In the meantime, here’s how we’d rank them going in:

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Clarence Page: Today’s Republicans need to get out of their own way

As the House moved past a dozen ballots in failed attempts to elect California Republican Kevin McCarthy to be House speaker, a catchy refrain from the musical “Hamilton” grew louder in my mind:

Here’s a link to the editorial.

‘A Springfield setup,’ Illinois lawmakers advancing $12,000 pay raises as part of $1.7 billion spending bill

(The Center Square) – Illinois state lawmakers are looking to give themselves a $12,000 raise with a bill that spends more than $1.7 billion of taxpayer money

Here’s a link to the story.

Bipartisan group of lawmakers to tour southern border

(The Center Square) – Arizona’s newly-independent U.S. senator and a senior Texas Republican plan to bring several of their colleagues to the southern border for a firsthand look at what she calls “Washington’s failure.”

Here’s a link to the story.

Interstate 57 will be closed at the beginning of this week

Drivers on Interstate 57 will be facing a detour next weekend as the Illinois Department of Transportation will close a portion of the highway to demolish a bridge south of Marion.

Here’s a link to the story.

McCarthy is finally Speaker. But he’s not weak like you think. Now he can deploy the ‘crazy boss’ strategy

Stop the pearl-clutching, my fellow Republicans. This drama over the House speakership is the best thing that could have happened.

Here’s a link to thes editorial.

Damar Hamlin’s recovery shows ‘we’re seeing God answer prayer in real time’

As we head into the final week of the NFL’s regular season, America is heartened by the encouraging news concerning the recovery of the Buffalo Bills’ safety Damar Hamlin. Still listed in critical condition and in the intensive care unit at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, doctors have said the star safety is “neurologically intact” and showing “remarkable improvement.” 

Here’s a link to the editorial.

2023 NFL Playoff Picture: How Saturday wins by Chiefs and Jaguars impacts postseason race, clinching scenarios

The final week of the NFL season kicked off with a doubleheader on Saturday.

The first game of the day took place in Las Vegas, where Kansas City destroyed the Raiders 31-13. It was a huge win for the Chiefs, who have now clinched the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC and the first-round bye that comes with it.

Here’s a link to the story.

Salukis Streak Ends as Northern Iowa Wins, 69-57

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Southern Illinois men’s basketball saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end Saturday on the road at Northern Iowa as the Panthers defeated the Salukis, 69-57 at the McLeod Center.

“Give credit to Northern Iowa. They played better than us today no doubt about it,” head coach Bryan Mullins said postgame. “We didn’t play our best basketball and we can’t take an extended amount of time off and expect to come back and win.”

When asked about his squad’s slow start to the first and second half Mullins said: “There wasn’t much momentum apart from a six to eight-minute gap there. I just don’t think we played very well and give credit to Northern Iowa.”

Down 13 points in the first half, the Salukis rallied back to cut the Northern Iowa lead to six points at intermission thanks in part to an 11-4 run over the final six minutes of the half. During the run, SIU held UNI to 2-for-9 shooting.

Southern (12-5, 4-2 MVC) would rally in the second half though, cutting the UNI lead to two points with under four minutes remaining before the Panthers (8-8, 4-2 MVC) were able to pull away.

Lance Jones paced the Salukis with 17 points on the day while Marcus Domask chipped in eight and JD Muila and Xavier Johnson scored seven each.

UNI was led by Bowen Born who scored a game-high 27 on 8-for-15 shooting. As a team, the Panthers were 48.1 percent (25-52) from the field while Southern finished at 41.9 percent (18-43). UNI won the battle on the boards 35-25, including 10-3 on the offensive glass leading to 10 second chance points.

Jones connected on 9-of-10 from the free throw line and shot 4-for-12 from the field in the game. The senior added a pair of steals and assists in the loss. Domask was held at bay for much of the game battling UNI double teams nearly every time he touched the ball. The Waupun, Wisconsin native finished 3-for-9 from the field for eight points while leading SIU with six rebounds and four assists.

UP NEXT
The Salukis will travel to Terre Haute for a meeting with Indiana State on Wednesday. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT from Hulman Center.

FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by following the team on Twitter at @SIU_Basketball, on Instagram at @SIU_Basketball, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/SalukiAthletics. Fans can also download the “Salukis” Mobile App on the App Store or Google Play Store.

Broncos receive permission to interview Payton, sources say

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos have formally requested, and received, permission from the New Orleans Saints to interview Sean Payton for the Broncos’ vacant head coaching job

Here’s a link to the story.

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