'Dream scenario' - Former Down footballer Charlie Smyth kicks game-winner in NFL

LAST UPDATE | 22 hrs ago

NFL results 

• Bengals 0-24 Ravens 
• Eagles 31-0 Raiders 
• Texans 40-20 Cardinals 
• Chiefs 13-16 Chargers 
• Patriots 31-35 Bills 
• Jaguars 48-20 Jets 
• Giants 21-29 Commanders 
• Bears 31-3 Browns
• Saints 20-17 Panthers
• Cowboys 26-34 Vikings
• 49ers 37-24 Titans
• Broncos 34-26 Packers
• Seahawks 18-16 Colts
• Rams 41-34 Lions

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CHARLIE SMYTH KICKED a game-winning field goal on Sunday night to see the New Orleans Saints edge NFC South rivals the Carolina Panthers.

The former Down footballer was on target with a 47-yard field goal with just six seconds left on the clock, with the Saints winning 20-17. Smyth had also kicked a 42-yard field goal during the game.

Last weekend Smyth slotted four of his five kicks on his second start as he helped his side to a shock 24-20 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A week previously, Smyth landed a 56-yard field goal in a 21-17 defeat to the Miami Dolphins on his NFL debut.

Sunday’s win was Smyth’s first home regular-season game for the Saints.

“I suppose if 27 months or so ago, you told me I would be playing a game in the NFL, I probably would have laughed at you,” Smyth said.

“I never would have thought I’d have the chance of coming over here and playing sports, even in college or whatever, because I didn’t know what way the eligibility system worked. But, you know, just the way things panned out, it’s been really a dream scenario. And, you know, like, again, I’ve been such a fan of sport for so long, and always thought I could kind of do it.

“And, yeah, look, it was just awesome. I love it here, you know, this city has treated me really well, this organization, everybody you know, to even look at me in the first place when I had no football experience. I’m just so grateful to everybody in this organization that has helped me develop. Look, I think we’re going to reap the rewards from that now.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen (long-term), but look, I definitely never forget it anyway. So look, you know for me, I’m still on the practice squad, so I want to be part of this team. I want to play here and I love it here. It nearly feels like home here, obviously in America. I feel like I’ve got two homes, so it’s pretty cool. I’ll just do the thing and the rest will take care of itself.”

Saints head coach Kellen Moore added: “I did not bother him. I just stayed away from him. He was ready to go.

“This team has so much confidence in him. I think the juice and energy that provides –the guys have a lot of confidence when he goes out there. The guys are fired up for him. For him to make that kick and execute at that high of a level, the celebration in the locker room, you’ll see it with Charlie and the team. This team loves that guy, and it was awesome.”

Elsewhere, Josh Allen fired the Buffalo Bills to a stunning comeback against the Patriots, as the Kansas City Chiefs’ NFL playoff hopes ended with an injury to their star quarterback.

The Bills’ 35-31 victory — after having trailed 21-0 — in sub-freezing conditions ended New England’s 10-game winning streak and kept the AFC East division title race alive.

“What makes this team this team — we’re not out of it, we’re going to continue to fight one play at a time, no matter what the score is,” said Allen.

Reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Allen orchestrated five consecutive drives for touchdowns, at least temporarily thwarting the Patriots’ bid to reclaim the division title from Buffalo after five years.

The result underlined Buffalo’s status as a strong Super Bowl favorite despite inconsistent form this season.

“The last five-ish years we’ve found sustained success but never been able to punch our ticket to the Super Bowl… that’s every team’s dream,” said Allen.

The Patriots had been utterly dominant in the first quarter, with quarterback Drake Maye rushing for two touchdowns in the snow.

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The Bills battled back. Allen slung for three passing touchdowns.

Henderson briefly reclaimed the advantage for New England with a 65-yard sprint. But running back James Cook barged through for the game-winning touchdown score.

New England — who dominated the NFL in the Tom Brady era of the 2000s and 2010s but have faced a difficult rebuild — still lead the Bills by a single game with three to play.

Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs — the most dominant team in the NFL over the past decade — saw their slim hopes of making the playoffs officially end.

To compound their misery, quarterback Patrick Mahomes limped off the field with a torn left knee ligament.

“Don’t know why this had to happen. And not going to lie (it) hurts,” Mahomes posted on social media, vowing to “be back stronger than ever.

A 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, combined with other results, means the Chiefs will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Kansas City have won three Super Bowls from five appearances since 2020, but saw a sharp drop off in form this season.

“The guys are down,” said coach Andy Reid. “They busted their butt to win the game… it’s not a great feeling.”

The Los Angeles Rams and the Denver Broncos became the first teams to guarantee themselves post-season football.

The Rams defeated the Lions 41-31 despite having trailed 24-14. Detroit collapsed as this season’s MVP front-runner quarterback, Matthew Stafford, ran the Rams show with two passing touchdowns.

The victory was marred by a hamstring injury to star wide receiver Davante Adams.

In Denver, moments after Green Bay Packers star linebacker Micah Parsons limped off the field with yet another nasty-looking injury, the Broncos pulled ahead with a touchdown pass to Troy Franklin and won 34-26.

The Indianapolis Colts started a quarterback who retired five years ago and has been coaching high-school football since.

Philip Rivers, 44, stepped in against the Seattle Seahawks after the Colts lost Daniel Jones to a season-ending injury last weekend.

Rivers managed an eight-yard passing touchdown — prompting wild celebrations, some 1,800 days after the grandfather’s previous one.

But a last-gasp Seahawks field goal gave touchdown-less Seattle an 18-16 win, souring the feel-good comeback story.

The Baltimore Ravens ended Cincinnati’s slim playoff hopes with a dominant 24-0 victory.

And Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence managed five passing touchdowns and one rushing score as the Jaguars demolished the New York Jets 48-20. 

– © AFP 2025

Additional reporting by Ciarán Kennedy 

Written by AFP and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.