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Why rookie Davis-Price has not made impact on 49ers' offense originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SANTA CLARA -- The 49ers exited the 2022 NFL Draft with a third-round pick investment in a running back for the second consecutive year.
And, again, that running back has produced next to nothing as a rookie.
But the circumstances surrounding Ty Davis-Price appear to be different than with Trey Sermon, whom the 49ers traded up to select with the No. 88 overall selection of the 2021 NFL Draft.
“Ty just kind of missed his opportunity early on,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said on Thursday.
Basically, Davis-Price did not have much of a chance to solidify his role with the 49ers this season due to bad timing and bad luck.
Starting running back Elijah Mitchell sustained a knee sprain in the season opener against the Chicago Bears that kept him out of action for two months.
Davis-Price was in position to take on a major role with the offense, but he suffered a high-ankle sprain in the 49ers’ Week 2 game against the Seattle Seahawks. Shanahan said Davis-Price earned more playing time, but those early season plans were dashed.
“He was going to start or at least finish the game with the bulk of the carries versus Denver,” Shanahan said of the 49ers’ Week 3 game.
Instead, the 49ers turned to Jeff Wilson Jr. to become the lead back. Wilson started the next six games. He rushed for 468 yards and two touchdowns before a trade sent him to the Miami Dolphins.
During that time, undrafted rookie Jordan (J.P.) Mason carved out a role on special teams to bring more value to the team as a backup running back. On Oct. 20, the 49ers acquired running back Christian McCaffrey in a trade from Carolina.
“When Ty came back is when Elijah was healthy and he (Davis-Price) wasn’t getting those (carries) over Elijah,” Shanahan said. “Then we had Christian and Elijah, J.P. had already made his role as the third guy for special teams and that wasn’t going to change.”
Mitchell sustained another knee injury that will keep him sidelined until the postseason. Davis-Price is behind McCaffrey and Mason on the depth chart. The 49ers have also elevated veteran Tevin Coleman ahead of Davis-Price.
Unlike a year ago when it became apparent Sermon was not a good fit for the team’s offensive system, the same assessment does not appear accurate with Davis-Price.
The 49ers gave up on Sermon before the start of his second NFL season. Sermon has appeared in only two games this season with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Davis-Price could still become a factor for the team, and it could come soon if the 49ers opt to keep Mason out of action on Saturday due to a tight hamstring.
RELATED: Why Juszczyk laughed at 49ers' initial CMC trade chances
Mason has appeared in 13 games due to his contributions on special teams. He has 33 carries for 217 yards for a 6.6-yard average. But he experienced issues with his hamstring on Wednesday, and the 49ers could decide to play it safe. He is listed as questionable for the 49ers' game Saturday against the Washington Commanders.
“I do feel he is a lot readier now,” Shanahan said of Davis-Price. “He’s waiting for that (opportunity). If J.P. doesn’t go, he should get some more carries this week.”
Davis-Price has appeared in only three games this season. He has just 37 yards rushing on 16 attempts. | 2022-12-23T18:46:36Z | sports.yahoo.com | Why Ty Davis-Price has not impacted 49ers despite third-round pick status | https://sports.yahoo.com/why-ty-davis-price-not-182024443.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/why-ty-davis-price-not-182024443.html?src=rss |
Alex Grinch knows he has to fix a lot of different flaws and reduce a lot of different deficiencies on the USC defense. When he met the media earlier this week, he had to admit something no football coach wants to admit in late December, after 13 regular-season games have been played: He has to get back to basics.
“A lot of it is playing plays and obviously the plays are designed for the opponent,” Grinch said. “So what can we do that allows us to maximize the time, maybe maximize some of the guys that may or may not have a big role come game day, but still do so in a way to prepare for games? “You can kind of filter it in as you go through and obviously gotten a lot heavier here towards the tail end of this week in terms of almost exclusively Tulane. And then the rep count goes a little bit more in the favor of call it the varsity I guess — the 0nes and twos. But I think across the board, I think if you had video of it, it’d look like a fall camp. I think it would look like spring football.
“It would look like a bunch of guys that didn’t like the outcome, didn’t like the result, didn’t like how this thing finished up. Guys fighting and scratching and clawing either to find a role here at the tail end of it and maybe establish a role in the future, and most importantly, guys that want to play their best game on January 2.” | 2022-12-23T19:37:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | USC tries to get back to basics, but it’s not just about technique on defense | https://sports.yahoo.com/usc-tries-back-basics-not-183704705.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/usc-tries-back-basics-not-183704705.html?src=rss |
The Los Angeles Rams have announced that Aaron Donald will be inactive for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos as he’ll miss his fourth consecutive game due to an ankle injury. Besides missing Sunday’s showdown with the Broncos, Sean McVay iterated that it’s unlikely that Donald will be active again this season.
Rams HC Sean McVay said DL Aaron Donald (ankle) is out for Sunday's game vs. Broncos.
McVay also said "probably not" when asked if Donald will play again this season.
Donald suffered a high-ankle sprain back in Week 12 versus the Kansas City Chiefs. The Rams left the door open for him to potentially return, but with them being eliminated from playoff contention, there’s no reason for them to risk putting him back on the field.
The past four games have been the first four games of Donald’s career that he missed due to an injury. The All-Pro interior defender will likely finish with 49 combined tackles, 10 tackles for loss, a career-low five sacks, and a forced fumble in 11 starts this season.
Despite missing the last four games, Donald was voted to his ninth straight Pro Bowl to begin his career. Even though the sack numbers weren’t astronomical, he continued to wreak havoc in the interior this season.
After rumors of Donald potentially retiring surfaced last offseason before he signed a lucrative extension, those rumors will likely resurface this upcoming offseason as he’ll be turning 32 years old in May. While retirement is certainly an option for the seven-time All-Pro, he proved he’s still arguably the best defensive player in the NFL when he’s on the field in 2021.
At least 52 orphans were sent to the care of locals before Russian soldiers advanced, officials say | 2022-12-23T20:18:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | Aaron Donald is unlikely to play again this season | https://sports.yahoo.com/aaron-donald-unlikely-play-again-194138611.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/aaron-donald-unlikely-play-again-194138611.html?src=rss |
The Kansas City Chiefs made a pair of roster moves on Friday in addition to their usual practice squad elevations.
As expected, the Chiefs have placed TE Jody Fortson on injured reserve. Fortson suffered a dislocated elbow in the Week 15 win over the Houston Texans. He’ll be required to miss the next four weeks at a minimum on injured reserve, meaning he won’t be eligible to return until the second week of the playoffs.
In a corresponding move, the team activated TE Blake Bell to the 53-man roster from injured reserve. Bell returns after suffering a hip flexor injury in Week 1 of the preseason. The Week 16 game against the Seattle Seahawks will be his first meaningful game since the AFC title game last season.
Bell’s return was a bit of a surprise given that he was just designated to return from injured reserve this past week, while Mecole Hardman was designated to return a week ago. Andy Reid spoke about the situation on Thursday.
“Listen, I’ll give you what I feel at this point without checking with (Vice President of Sports Medicine and Performance) Rick (Burkholder),” Reid proclaimed. “I feel pretty good about (Blake) Bell (but) Mecole (Hardman), I’m not sure he’s where he needs to be, but we’ll talk to him and we’ll just see. We have him in a very limited role, and I want to check with the kid and Rick here – and Rick will talk to Mecole, too.”
As for the practice squad elevations, the team only made one this week, but it tells us a bit about who will be inactive on Sunday. With DT Khalen Saunders listed as doubtful, the Chiefs have activated DT Danny Shelton via standard elevation. This is the first time that the former first-round draft pick Shelton has been made active this season. He should see some action in the rotation alongside Derrick Nnadi and Brandon Williams. | 2022-12-23T20:19:37Z | sports.yahoo.com | Chiefs make roster moves ahead of Week 16 vs. Seahawks | https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-roster-moves-ahead-week-192335188.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-roster-moves-ahead-week-192335188.html?src=rss |
The New York Giants (8-5-1) and the Minnesota Vikings (11-3) face off in a key NFC battle this Saturday that has postseason implications.
The two sides don’t have much of a history with each other, having played just 29 times since 1961in which the Vikings hold a 16-10 edge.
There were three postseason meetings, in which the Giants won two, including the 2000 NFC Championship Game.
Perhaps the most common thread the teams have with one another is Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton, who was traded to the Giants from Minnesota in 1967 and then traded back in 1972.
There was another significant trade between the two teams that rarely gets much recognition. It happened in 1986 when the Giants traded the rights to offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman to the Vikings for two second-round selections in that year’s NFL draft.
The Giants selected cornerback Mark Collins and safety Greg Lasker with those selections. Both players became key contributors on the Giants’ Super Bowl XXI championship team.
Zimmerman had a long career in the NFL, playing first with Minnesota and then with Denver. He was named to seven Pro Bowls and made All-Pro eight times. In addition, Zimmerman was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Teams of the 1980s and 1990s. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
The mystery of why Zimmerman never played for the Giants still remains. He was a perfect fit for the George Young/Bill Parcells team of the 1980s: a versatile lineman who could both pass protect and open holes for the running game.
Here’s the lowdown…
In 1984, the NFL held a supplemental draft for players who signed with other leagues, such as the USFL and the CFL, so that there was no bidding war once these players became free agents. The NFL did not believe the USFL would last and foresaw a glut of free agents hitting the open market when the USFL folded, which it did in August of 1986.
The rights to Zimmerman were selected by the Giants in the first round (third overall) of the 1984 Supplemental Draft of USFL and CFL players. The Giants chose Zimmerman over defensive end Reggie White, whose rights were taken by the Philadelphia Eagles with the next selection.
Zimmerman, who played three seasons with the Los Angeles Express of the USFL, had told the Giants he had no intention of playing in New York.
Over time, the Giants attempted to sign Zimmerman anyway, as per The New York Times, “offering him $1.4 million over four years. But he refused to play for the Giants, saying he did not like New York City, and he unsuccessfully sued to have the N.F.L.’s draft of U.S.F.L. players declared void.”
So, they sent him to Minnesota during the 1986 NFL draft and the rest is history. The Giants went on to win the Super Bowl, so few cared about Zimmerman and his career afterward.
The Giants went in another direction with their offensive line and fared just fine, winning two Super Bowls. Zimmerman did not get his Super Bowl ring until his final season, 1997, with the Denver Broncos.
It’s just as well Zimmerman did not play in New York. He did not mix well with the media and snubbed them for most of his career. As we know, that doesn’t play well in the media capital of the world.
Still, we wonder “what if.” What if the Giants opted for Reggie White instead of Zimmerman? What if Zimmerman decided to play in New York?
We’ll never know the answer to those questions. Chalk it all up to fate. | 2022-12-23T20:19:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | Flashback Friday: Giants trade rights of Gary Zimmerman to Vikings in 1986 | https://sports.yahoo.com/flashback-friday-giants-trade-rights-185508957.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/flashback-friday-giants-trade-rights-185508957.html?src=rss |
Giants vs. Vikings: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 16
The New York Giants (8-5-1) will play the Minnesota Vikings (11-3) for a Week 16 conference matchup this Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Here are three reasons for optimism entering Saturday afternoon.
Despite their 11-3 record, the Vikings have looked very beatable this season. Even as recently as last Saturday, the Vikings were down 33-0 to the Indianapolis Colts at halftime. This ended up being a wild comeback win for the Vikings but demonstrated how human their team really is going down by so much to one of only six teams that have already been eliminated from the playoffs.
This is something that has been apparent all season (as they have only won one game by more than one score) but especially in recent weeks.
Two of their three losses have come in the last five weeks, one of which was a 37-point loss to the Cowboys at home. The Giants have played a handful of close games all season and they should definitely be able to keep this one competitive on Christmas Eve.
Bad defense
The Vikings’ defense has been by far the worst in the NFL this season. They allow a league-high 399.2 yards per game and the fifth-most points per game (24.9).
This defense has allowed some of the worst offenses in the league to score points on them, as shown last week by the Colts scoring 36 points in three quarters. While the Giants’ offense is definitely not their bread and butter, this would be a great game before playoffs for New York to open up their playbook and take shots downfield as Minnesota allows 278.8 passing yards per game.
Poor pass protection
The Vikings’ offensive line is the one aspect of their offense that looks exploitable. Kirk Cousins has been sacked 40 times this season (fourth-most in the NFL). This bodes well for Wink Martindale’s defense which has the league’s-highest blitz rate.
This defensive playstyle has become more and more effective in recent weeks with the return of Azeez Ojulari and the improved play of Kayvon Thibodeaux. This was on full display last week as the two combined for 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hits, and three tackles for loss on Sunday Night Football.
If the two can muster up another performance like this on Saturday afternoon New York can definitely stay in this game. | 2022-12-23T20:20:02Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants vs. Vikings: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 16 | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-vs-vikings-3-reasons-195521806.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-vs-vikings-3-reasons-195521806.html?src=rss |
Raheem Morris isn’t surprised by Bobby Wagner’s Pro Bowl snub due to Rams’ struggles
The NFL revealed the players named to the NFC and AFC Pro Bowl squads earlier this week and there was a notable name left off from the Los Angeles Rams. While Bobby Wagner was unquestionably deserving of being selected, Raheem Morris wasn’t shocked to see him snubbed.
“I can’t say it’s surprising when you’re not relevant as we have been and you’re not able to win some of the games that you need to win, some people like the Bobby Wagner’s, they get snubbed,” Morris said. “It’s a shame because he’s had a great year, he’s been outstanding, and that all gets lost when you’re not able to win enough games. Those are things that happen even when you’re Bobby Wagner. So I don’t think it’s a knock on him. I don’t think it’s a knock on what he’s able to do and what he’s been able to do this year from a standpoint of bringing something to us, bringing us juice, bringing us energy, bringing us consistent play that he’s been able to bring us, and bringing us Pro Bowl-like talent, and bringing that elite player that he’s been able to be throughout his career and I love it. I’m sad that he got snubbed from it, but at the same time, I love the man that I’ve been able to coach this year and the guy that’s been able to come to play with us every single game.”
Morris points to the struggles of the Rams this season as the reason why Wagner wasn’t named to the Pro Bowl. The reigning Super Bowl champions are 4-10 entering Week 16 despite the veteran inside linebacker still playing at an All-Pro level.
It also doesn’t help that only two inside linebackers are selected to the Pro Bowl for each conference, with Fred Warner and Demario Davis representing the NFC. That being said, Wagner does have 20 more tackles and three more sacks than Warner while having 29 more tackles and only 1.5 fewer sacks than Davis.
Amid a woeful season for the Rams, Wagner has been a stalwart in the middle of the defense, logging 100-plus tackles for the 11th straight year to begin his remarkable career. Even though he was seemingly an easy choice to make the Pro Bowl, Morris doesn’t want Wagner being snubbed to overshadow just how special the six-time All-Pro has been this season. | 2022-12-23T20:20:21Z | sports.yahoo.com | Raheem Morris isn’t surprised by Bobby Wagner’s Pro Bowl snub due to Rams’ struggles | https://sports.yahoo.com/raheem-morris-isn-t-surprised-195539501.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/raheem-morris-isn-t-surprised-195539501.html?src=rss |
All season, Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans have been hopeful that tight end Rob Gronkowski would come out of retirement once again to rejoin Tom Brady and help the Bucs make another playoff run.
As it turns out, the future Hall of Famer reached out to the team about that possibility back in November, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
Though they had multiple conversations around Thanksgiving, Gronkowski ultimately decided to remain retired for now, per Stroud.
“It was more of a conversation than anything else,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said, according to Stroud. “Usually, when you have to think about playing, you probably don’t want to play. When it’s just a discussion, I didn’t think much of it at the time.”
Gronkowski was an integral part of Tampa Bay’s success over the previous two seasons, including their Super Bowl run back in 2020. He recently posted a cryptic tweet about being “bored,” which led to speculation about a possible return to football, but ended up being nothing more than an advertisement for another upcoming endorsement deal.
For now, it looks like the Bucs will continue to push for the playoffs with veteran Cameron Brate, and rookies Cade Otton and Ko Kieft, splitting the reps at tight end in Gronk’s absence.
Raymond Roberts Sr. played the same numbers for each ticket that he has played in multiple games for more than two decades.
The Witcher: Blood Origin cast open up about potential season 2
Will Blood Origin, The Witcher prequel, get a season 2? Here's what we know about confirmation, release date, cast and more. | 2022-12-23T20:20:40Z | sports.yahoo.com | Report: Rob Gronkowski contacted Bucs about possible return | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-rob-gronkowski-contacted-bucs-193710084.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-rob-gronkowski-contacted-bucs-193710084.html?src=rss |
When a quarterback loses his confidence for any reason, it’s not good.
When a quarterback who has trouble reading defenses and making basic throws loses his confidence, the results can be catastrophic for a franchise.
The latter condition appears to be what the New York Jets have in Zach Wilson. In the Jets’ 19-3 Thursday night loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, head coach Robert Saleh made the call to bench Wilson early in the third quarter after Wilson had completed nine of 18 passes for 92 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 41.9. Backup Chris Streveler came in for Wilson and managed to look competent in comparison, not that it’s a high bar at this point. Nor was it a high bar when the Jets made the call to replace Wilson with backup Mike White in late November after a disastrous loss to the Patriots.
White’s health situation — he suffered rib injuries at the hands of the Buffalo Bills’ merciless pass rush and his own sub-par offensive line in Week 14 — was the only reason Wilson was starting in the first place. Wilson looked a bit less than abjectly awful against the Detroit Lions in a Week 15 loss that was as much about Saleh’s clock management than anything Wilson did wrong, but there is absolutely no margin for error in the Jets’ offense right now, and against the Jaguars, errors were all Wilson seemed to have.
“I just felt like I didn’t have any rhythm out there,” Wilson said after the loss to the Jaguars, the Jets’ fifth defeat in their last six games — they were 6-3 before their bye. “I was just trying to find some confidence out there on the field, find something to get us going, a little spark.
“We had opportunities. I have to be able to connect on those. We’re going to go back and watch it, the coaches will detail it up for us. And I just have to put my head down and try to get better. My message to the team out there was I’ve got to put them in a better position.”
Well, at least he’s taking responsibility for his role in the debacle. And the Jaguars gave Wilson all he could handle. They dropped into coverage more than they blitzed, knowing that they could beat Gang Green’s injury-depleted offensive line. They threw different coverages at Wilson from play to play, they disguised their coverage intentions extremely well, and they plastered Wilson’s receivers across the middle.
More credible quarterbacks may have struggled, never mind a guy in his second NFL season who’s still struggling with basic reads.
As for Saleh, he knows he’s got a quarterback with a crisis of confidence.
“We got time, but confidence is a big deal. It’s confidence for coaching, confidence for players, confidence in your own individual self,” Saleh said Friday morning. “I do know that he works his tail off and I’m with you. It’s a tough thing to try to overcome, but it doesn’t take much to flip confidence. He just needs to get on a little run, just a couple things happen, go his way and felt like that was happening in the first half of the Detroit game where he had a really nice first half. There was a lot of confidence, finished the half strong with a two-minute drive with a goal ball and a back shoulder or a scout on the two-man.
“We’ve got to help him. We’re not going to quit on him. We’ve got to do our best and that’s for every player in our locker room. As long as they’re wearing a Jets logo, we’re going to pour our hearts and souls into them and do everything we can to help them.”
It’s a nice thought, but as the Jets are now 7-8 and the 10th seed in the AFC, with no postseason guarantees, you wouldn’t blame Saleh for looking as intently as possible at Mike White’s timeline.
There doesn’t seem to be any clarity there, either.
“I don’t have any of those details,” Saleh said Friday. “We’ve got time. We got today, the weekend, Monday and Tuesday. So, we’re just going to let that play out. I don’t know any times or anything like that.”
The Jets do have a bit of time — they don’t play again until they travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks on January 1. Perhaps a new year will shine a brighter spotlight on a quarterback situation that has thrown this team into the tank.
Or, and especially if the need is to rely on Wilson again, it may be more of the same old, same old. Questions regarding Wilson’s future with the team — those questions that may have already been answered internally — will have to wait until the offseason. Which could start a lot earlier than anybody in the organization would have hoped. | 2022-12-23T20:20:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | The New York Jets have an unsolvable Zach Wilson problem | https://sports.yahoo.com/york-jets-unsolvable-zach-wilson-185452671.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/york-jets-unsolvable-zach-wilson-185452671.html?src=rss |
With the 2022 college football regular season over, the NCAA transfer portal has been very active. One name in the mix is former Maryland tight end C.J. Dippre.
Dippre joined Maryland as a three-star prospect in the 2021 class.
In two seasons with the program, he amassed a total of 33 receptions for 339 yards and three touchdowns.
The 6-foot-5 tight end announce via Twitter that he has narrowed his transfer search to two schools: Alabama and Ohio State.
The Crimson Tide has an interesting history with tight ends, as they haven’t been utilized all too much. O.J. Howard was the last prominent pass-catching tight end to come through the program. In 2021, Cameron Latu stepped up as a key receiver, but di not rise to the level of Howard.
Dippre will announce his decision on Dec. 27 and Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow him and other potential Alabama transfers as the 2023 offseason approaches.
There is more than one way to achieve a smokey eye makeup look and makeup artist Jo Baker has... | 2022-12-23T21:07:26Z | sports.yahoo.com | Alabama target transfer TE CJ Dippre to decide between 2 top programs | https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-target-transfer-te-cj-202518821.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/alabama-target-transfer-te-cj-202518821.html?src=rss |
The Pac-12 is waiting to craft and release its 2023 football schedule for all the right reasons: Wait for the transfer portal to unfold more. Wait for personnel changes to run their course for several more weeks. Make sure the schedule is balanced and doesn’t put teams at an undeserved disadvantage.
However, there’s another component to crafting a schedule which could make the Pac-12’s job easier in future years, while also making football more profitable for every school in the conference.
Yes, USC and UCLA will be off to the Big Ten by 2024, but USC and UCLA are going to play nonconference games against Pac-12 teams. There’s still value in seeing the Pac-12 do well from USC’s vantage point.
Here’s a piece of friendly advice to George Kliavkoff and Merton Hanks: Have one flex-scheduled Pac-12 game slot every November.
If the conference wants a balanced schedule, it doesn’t have to schedule every game right away. It can hold open one slot in November, ostensibly for featured matchups, instead of pairing two teams in every league game.
The concept is simple and, moreover, could be applied in other conferences and on a national level: After Week 7 (mid-to-late October), the Pac-12 standings will determine who plays in a mid-November flex game. The top two teams in the standings which are not already scheduled to play, or which have not previously played in that particular season, would meet in the flex game. Then the second two teams would play, and on toward the bottom.
In one year, five Pac-12 teams (not counting new additions, which would make it six) would host the flexed game. In the next year, those five teams would go on the road and the other five would host.
This concept would give ESPN or other media rights partners something interesting and fresh to televise. There could even be a 30-minute flex game announcement show.
With a media rights deal not yet secured, this is an innovative idea Kliavkoff could bring to potential football broadcasters.
Pac-12 football schedule, normally released in December, won’t be ready until 2023
The good news: #Pac12 administrators want to create a fair, balanced schedule. The risk: Any failure to achieve that will look even worse because of the delay. | 2022-12-23T21:08:24Z | sports.yahoo.com | One piece of advice for George Kliavkoff and Merton Hanks in creating future football schedules | https://sports.yahoo.com/one-piece-advice-george-kliavkoff-193317824.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/one-piece-advice-george-kliavkoff-193317824.html?src=rss |
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) During C.J. Stroud's second trip to New York in as many years as a Heisman Trophy finalist, he noticed his picture on some of the billboards in Times Square and took a moment to reflect.
''I was talking to my mom and my cousins and my brother and my sister who came with me, and who would have thought? Honestly, like, I'm not even supposed to be here,'' Stroud said.
''Of course I take it very serious,'' Stroud said. ''A lot of people would just watch the game and be on the couch. I live it. Every single day. I'm the one who's getting laughed at on TV and things like that, and so it's somewhat unfair that people have that type of opinion.''
Harrison said he admires Stroud's skills and leadership and that he's ''never seen anything like it.''
''We all look to C.J. when things are going good and bad,'' Harrison said. ''He always rallies us together, whether that's halftime, we're down or before the game. He's always talking to us, making sure that we kind of have the right mindset going into everything.''
''I'm so blessed in my life to have so many people I've inspired,'' Stroud said. ''That's the thing that keeps me going is the kids that I see, and I think that's why I'm really on this earth and that's why I have a God-given talent is to inspire kids. Inspire not only kids, but adults as well who want to do great things in their lives.''
''He's given a lot to Ohio State, and certainly that was a great opportunity for me with his family and get recognized for that'' Day said Dec. 13. ''He's going to work really hard over the next 2 1/2 weeks to play his best football.''
Stroud thinks the Buckeyes' semifinal game against the Bulldogs will have ''a lot of emotions'' and one many have waited for ''since last year.'' Whether he departs for the NFL afterward is something he has yet to determine.
''I love being a Buckeye,'' Stroud said. ''No one can take that away from me.'' | 2022-12-23T21:08:31Z | sports.yahoo.com | QB C.J. Stroud is still defining his legacy at Ohio State | https://sports.yahoo.com/qb-c-j-stroud-still-194542815.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/qb-c-j-stroud-still-194542815.html?src=rss |
Texas running back Roschon Johnson officially declared for the 2023 NFL draft on Friday.
The do-it-all player for the Longhorns has also opted out of the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29. He finished his collegiate career with 2,190 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns while hauling in 56 catches for 420 yards and three touchdowns through the air.
Although Johnson primarily served as Bijan Robinson’s backup, he was a key leader on and off the field for Texas and was well respected by his teammates and coaching staff.
Tashard Choice’s running back room in Austin appears to still be in strong shape following the departures of Robinson and Johnson. Jonathon Brooks, Jaydon Blue and Cedric Baxter Jr. figure to compete for carries next season alongside Keilan Robinson.
pic.twitter.com/n7MuU1onQZ
— Roschon Johnson (@roschon) December 23, 2022 | 2022-12-23T21:08:37Z | sports.yahoo.com | Texas RB Roschon Johnson declares for NFL draft, will miss Alamo Bowl | https://sports.yahoo.com/texas-rb-roschon-johnson-declares-203027485.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/texas-rb-roschon-johnson-declares-203027485.html?src=rss |
Penn State’s outlook on the offensive line in 2023 was given a boost when Olu Fashanu announced he will be returning for another year. But heading into the holiday weekend, another member of Penn State’s offensive line has announced he will be turning pro after the Rose Bowl. Juice Scruggs announced in a statement on his Twitter account he is declaring for the NFL draft next spring.
“Penn State, thank you for accepting me as a young 18-year old kid with open arms,” Scruggs said in his released statement. “We have stuck as a family through the ups and downs, and I am forever grateful to be a Nittany Lion.”
Scruggs went on to make the official announcement about his plans for the bowl season and the draft.
“With that being said, I will be declaring for the 2023 NFL draft,” Scruggs announced. “I will also finish what we started and play in the Rose Bowl.”
Having Scruggs available for the Rose Bowl will be a nice boost for the Penn State offense, as will the return of Fashanu. His departure, however, will potentially pave the path for some early playing time on the line for one of Penn State’s newest additions in the Class of 2023 that was signed earlier in the week.
Penn State will be without a couple of key players for the Rose Bowl who are also preparing for their NFL future. Joey Porter Jr. previously announced he was opting out of the bowl season before Penn State was officially locked into the Rose Bowl. Wide receiver Parker Washington, who suffered a season-ending injury late in the year, will also miss the bowl season as he focuses on the draft.
🌹🌹🌹#HessStrong pic.twitter.com/gXdVEvElkd
— Supa (@JuiceScruggs) December 24, 2022
Clayton Tune's touchdown to Nathaniel Dell with 20 seconds remaining to help Houston take down Louisiana-Lafayette.
UCLA's Dorian Thompson-Robinson on track to play in Sun Bowl, Chip Kelly says
UCLA coach Chip Kelly affirmed Friday that quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson's participation in practice leading up to the Sun Bowl isn't just for show.
Where do the Sooners rank in 247Sports team recruiting after the early signing period?
With three 5-star signees, where do the Oklahoma Sooners land in the 247Sports team recruiting rankings after the early signing period? | 2022-12-24T04:44:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | Juice Scruggs declares for 2023 NFL draft | https://sports.yahoo.com/juice-scruggs-declares-2023-nfl-031858603.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/juice-scruggs-declares-2023-nfl-031858603.html?src=rss |
FRISCO, Texas — Fantasy managers and bettors need not wait longer for confirmation.
Because Thursday morning, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni confirmed: MVP-caliber quarterback Jalen Hurts will not start Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys. Gardner Minshew, instead, will get the nod.
Hurts sprained his throwing shoulder in the third quarter of Sunday's win over the Chicago Bears. He did not practice Tuesday or Wednesday, but the Eagles had played coy about when they would publicize who starts.
Thursday morning, they did.
“Jalen Hurts is the toughest player I’ve ever been around.”
Sirianni said of Minshew: “Gardner will be our guy and Gardner will be ready.”
Vegas had already moved betting lines to favor the Cowboys after news of Hurts’ injury broke Monday. The Cowboys’ 1.5-point favorite status quickly became a 6-point spread. Hosting the Eagles also helps that.
Minshew, a 2019 sixth-round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars, has played 30 career games including 22 starts.
This season, Hurts has raced to 3,472 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 67.3% of his passes. That doesn’t factor in his rampant ground threat, Hurts rushing for 747 yards and 13 touchdowns. No NFL quarterback has raced into the end zone more, with the Chicago Bears’ Justin Fields (eight rushing TDs) and the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen (six) being the closest.
The Cowboys need not only imagine what Minshew could do against them. His last start was, in fact, against Dallas in the final regular-season game last season. Minshew completed 19-of-33 passes (57.6%) for 186 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 51-26 loss to the Cowboys in which the Eagles rested some players. Minshew had started once more last season, leading Philadelphia to a 33-18 win over the New York Jets on Dec. 5, 2021. His play, with a stronger supporting cast, was clean: 20-of-25, 242 yards, two touchdowns, no turnovers.
Minshew found tight end Dallas Goedert, who was activated off injured reserve this week, for 36- and 25-yard scores in that game.
Both NFC East teams have already clinched a playoff spot. With a win, the Eagles would clinch the division, the NFC’s top postseason seed and a first-round bye. With three weeks left in the season, the Cowboys would need to win out, and the Eagles lose out, for Dallas to steal the division.
Gardner Minshew will start for the Eagles against the Cowboys with Jalen Hurts injured. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
With the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys set for a matchup at AT&T Stadium on Saturday, here's a statistical breakdown for both teams ahead of Week 16
Alex Ovechkin surpassed Gordie Howe for second in career goals as he moves closer to Wayne Gretzkys all-time record of 894.
Robert Saleh non-committal to quarterback decision as of yet for Week 17 | 2022-12-24T04:53:34Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles will start Gardner Minshew at QB against Cowboys as Jalen Hurts is 'not going to be' ready | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-will-start-gardner-minshew-at-qb-against-cowboys-as-jalen-hurts-is-not-going-to-be-ready-160753241.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-will-start-gardner-minshew-at-qb-against-cowboys-as-jalen-hurts-is-not-going-to-be-ready-160753241.html?src=rss |
Drake Maye said he wasn't offered $5 million to transfer from North Carolina. (Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye says he wasn’t offered a $5 million name, image and likeness deal to transfer away from the Tar Heels.
Maye shut down those rumors, one of which was pushed by Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi, on Thursday. He said he’s staying with North Carolina.
"Those rumors weren't really reality," Maye told ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “Pitt's coach ended up putting that out there. I don't know what that was about. You have to enter the transfer portal to talk to these schools and hear these offers. For me, I think college football is going to turn into a mess. They're going to have to do something. There was nothing to me or my family directly offered from any of these other schools. Nothing was said or offered to the Mayes."
Maye was the target of several transfer rumors after his breakout season this fall. He threw for 4,115 yards and 35 touchdowns with just seven interceptions as a redshirt freshman. Maye helped lead the Tar Heels to the ACC championship game and has likely made himself a top quarterback prospect in the 2024 NFL draft.
One such rumor claimed that Maye was offered a significant amount of money from other schools in NIL deals, though nothing specific was revealed. Narduzzi claimed earlier this week that Maye was offered $5 million by two schools to transfer, but he wouldn’t say which schools.
That, according to Maye, wasn’t the case.
“Some people were texting my high school coach about it,” Maye said via ESPN. “That’s mainly what happened, people reached out to some of my representatives and NIL media people.”
Both of Maye's parents went to school at North Carolina, and he lives with his brother, Beau, who walked on to the basketball team. Their older brother, Luke, played basketball for the Tar Heels, and hit a buzzer-beater to send the team to the Final Four in 2017.
"It wouldn't sit right, especially with all my family ..." Drake Maye said of transferring, via ESPN. "Switching it up after everything the Mayes went through wouldn't represent what the university means to me or how much it means for me to go there. It'd mess up the mojo and all we've built there. That Carolina blue is special. There's no other color in the world that meaningful." | 2022-12-24T04:53:41Z | sports.yahoo.com | North Carolina QB Drake Maye shuts down rumors he was offered $5 million to transfer | https://sports.yahoo.com/north-carolina-qb-drake-maye-denies-being-offered-5-million-to-transfer-211615080.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/north-carolina-qb-drake-maye-denies-being-offered-5-million-to-transfer-211615080.html?src=rss |
Purdy still paying his dues after taking over as 49ers' QB originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Although Brock Purdy has become a household name ever since taking over as the 49ers' starting quarterback, the rookie knows he still has to pay his dues.
In speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Purdy was asked about his ability to take command of the 49ers' locker room as a rookie and explained that he still is working to earn his stripes in the NFL, despite acting and playing like a seasoned veteran.
"Yeah, I feel like one, my goal coming in was to earn the respect of the guys that have been here, and as a rookie, you can't just come in and be a rah-rah guy and try to act like you're the guy already, so I just try to do my part, pay my dues and earn my stripes," Purdy said. "And that still hasn't changed. I still have to do that kind of stuff as a rookie now, but my whole thing was, man, I'm going to go in and support the quarterbacks, compete and push them to make them better."
"And if my opportunity comes, then obviously make the most of it. And I feel like the guys have seen that, the older guys have seen that, and they respect that. And so, I appreciate them for that. And honestly, we all want to win, and if that takes a rookie quarterback, so be it. You know, that kind of thing."
And make the most of it he certainly has.
After taking over for veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in the 49ers' Week 13 win over the Miami Dolphins, Purdy has completed 58 of his 84 (69 percent) pass attempts for 612 yards with seven total touchdowns with only one interception.
If Purdy continues to play well and lead the 49ers to a deep playoff run, his dues will be paid sooner than later.
Neil Magny can definitely see Jorge Masvidal ‘swooping in’ for UFC title shot if Kamaru Usman isn’t ready
Neil Magny wouldn't be surprised if Jorge Masvidal ends up fighting for the UFC welterweight title next.
Iowa State cornerbacks coach Matt Caponi is leaving to become the defensive coordinator at North Texas, giving the Cyclones three vacant staff spots.
CHICAGO — It was 26 years ago that White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf shocked the baseball world by signing surly free-agent slugger Albert Belle to a record five-year, $55 million deal. White Sox fans were ecstatic. The Sox players loved it. Belle would team with Frank Thomas and Robin Ventura to make for a potentially lethal lineup. But other owners were apoplectic. The combined salaries of ... | 2022-12-24T05:30:42Z | sports.yahoo.com | Brock Purdy still paying his dues, earning respect as new 49ers quarterback | https://sports.yahoo.com/brock-purdy-still-paying-dues-030137500.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/brock-purdy-still-paying-dues-030137500.html?src=rss |
One of the top signal-callers in college football is making the jump to the pros.
BYU quarterback Jaren Hall is leaving school early to enter the 2023 NFL draft, making his announcement via social media Friday night.
An intriguing prospect in a promising class at his position, Hall has tossed 51 touchdown passes to just 11 interceptions over the past two seasons. He should come off the board sometime on Day 2. | 2022-12-24T05:30:49Z | sports.yahoo.com | BYU QB Jaren Hall declares for 2023 NFL draft | https://sports.yahoo.com/byu-qb-jaren-hall-declares-035016115.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/byu-qb-jaren-hall-declares-035016115.html?src=rss |
Even before news broke of the tragic death of Pittsburgh Steelers legend Franco Harris, this week’s game was monumental. Not only are there still postseason implications as well as Mike Tomlin’s streak of non-losing seasons, but this game also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception.
These are all facts not lost on linebacker T.J. Watt. And Watt also understands how much more this game means to the team, the fanbase and the city after Harris’ passing. He talked about it on Friday.
“This was a huge game before the news of Franco’s passing even hit, now it’s ramped up more,” Watt said. “I think we’re going to see the impact that he had on people when the fans show up and show the appreciation for all that he’s done for Steeler Nation.”
We said earlier in the week we hope the magnitude of everything that happened this week and everything on the line isn’t too much for an inconsistent team like this. The hope is this group steps up and plays big and uses all that energy to play over their heads.
Let us know in the comments if you think everything surrounding this game will be a positive or a negative for Pittsburgh this week. | 2022-12-24T07:00:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | Steelers LB T.J. Watt acknowledges the magnitude of Saturday’s game | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-lb-t-j-watt-061530909.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-lb-t-j-watt-061530909.html?src=rss |
2023 High Limit Sprint
Introducing the 2023 Red Bull Scramble Series, a new side-by-side championship 2023 Combined Late Model Schedule of the Outlaws, Lucas Oil and XRSS How to watch the 2023 SuperMotocross season on NBC Sports and Peacock: schedule,...
2023 High Limit Sprint Car Series expands to 12 races originally appeared on NBCSports.com
IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. ("IBC" or the "Company") (TSXV:IB);(OTCQB:IAALF) announces that, further to the Company's press release dated November 30, 2022, the Company will issue a total of 1,186,786 common shares in the capital of the Company ("Common Shares") at a deemed price of C$0.1289 per Common Share to holders of 9.50% unsecured debentures due June 6, 2023 (the "9.50% Debentures") and 8.25% convertible unsecured debentures due June 6, 2023
If you want to know who really controls ALS Limited ( ASX:ALQ ), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share... | 2022-12-24T07:09:44Z | sports.yahoo.com | 2023 High Limit Sprint Car Series expands to 12 races | https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-high-limit-sprint-car-003038611.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/2023-high-limit-sprint-car-003038611.html?src=rss |
As usual, former Washington tight end Chris Cooley provided good insight into the Commanders’ loss to the Giants in Week 15 in his appearance on the Kevin Sheehan Show podcast Friday.
Here are some quotes from Cooley:
“The Heinicke fumble and Thibodeaux return from the 2-yard line is an unbelievable dagger to them. It is an offense that can’t score enough points, that can’t afford to give the defense points.”
“The Terry McLaurin penalty is so egregious it is unbelievable. He (the official) should be fined; he should be suspended. That can’t happen…That is b___ s ___.”
“A critical situation at the very end of the game, and you are going to flag that (McLaurin)? Then you are not going to turn around and flag a piggyback ride for pass interference?”
“Between two games, a tie and a loss, you could take eight plays and truly change it. The better team, Washington, should have won both of those ball games.”
“I think when you tie and lose (those games) I think New York is either coached better, executing better, so New York is a better team. I was wrong. Their quarterback is better.”
“What were you trying to get to in this game? They didn’t set up anything. That’s what I would continue to ask Washington, ‘What are you getting to?’ ”
“They are right now one of the worst teams in the league in creating big plays. They don’t get them.”
“There was no complement to the pass game to what was a pretty good run game in the first half with a loaded box…Robinson is getting better in part because he is getting healthier. He is quicker than he was six weeks ago. There is more of a burst. He is running with power. He looks great. He should’ve had [more] touches in that game.”
“Throughout the game, I didn’t like a lot of Heinicke… I think his grade is a D+ and Scott Turner a D.”
“San Francisco pressures ten times more than the Giants. This is a four-turnover game (vs 49ers) the way he played vs the Giants.”
There is much, much more… | 2022-12-24T08:36:23Z | sports.yahoo.com | Chris Cooley on Commanders offense: ‘It’s becoming an anemic offense’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/chris-cooley-commanders-offense-becoming-070138493.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/chris-cooley-commanders-offense-becoming-070138493.html?src=rss |
WATCH: Smart crashes Brown's postgame interview and hypes him up originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Marcus Smart's leadership was on full display Friday night in his return to the Boston Celtics starting lineup.
The veteran point guard stuffed the stat sheet with another impressive all-around performance. He scored six points with 10 assists, seven rebounds, three steals and zero turnovers in 38 minutes as the Celtics beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 121-109 at TD Garden to end their three-game losing streak.
Three takeaways from Celtics' win over T-Wolves
Smart also was a leader after the game when he crashed Jaylen Brown's postgame interview with NBC Sports Boston's Abby Chin and gave his teammate some words of encouragement.
Check out the scene in the video below:
Brown was having a brutal game until the fourth quarter when he dominated offensively with 23 points, giving him a total of 36 on the night. The Celtics' offense as a whole woke up in the fourth quarter as Boston outscored Minnesota 33-23 over the final 12 minutes.
Brown (36 points) and Jayson Tatum (30 points) led the charge offensively, but it wasn't a coincidence that the Celtics made so many winning plays late in the game when Smart was on the floor. His leadership, energy and two-way abilities are so valuable to this team.
How cold does it get in Milwaukee? The record was set in 1982
The official record-low temperature for Milwaukee is 26 below, set on Jan. 17, 1982, and again on Feb. 3, 1996.
Jaylen Brown exploded for 23 points in the fourth quarter Friday night as the Celtics snapped their losing streak with a 121-109 win over the Timberwolves. Check out our three takeaways from an exciting matchup.
Nets takedown Bucks 118-100 to extend winning streak to eight | 2022-12-24T09:26:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | Marcus Smart crashes Jaylen Brown's postgame interview with strong message | https://sports.yahoo.com/marcus-smart-crashes-jaylen-browns-034516111.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/marcus-smart-crashes-jaylen-browns-034516111.html?src=rss |
Following practice later in the week, head coach John Harbaugh was asked about Duvernay and his foot injury. Harbaugh went into detail on the ailment and the extent of it, revealing that the wideout broke his fifth metatarsal, while also saying that he could be back for the Super Bowl if the Ravens make it that far.
“[It was] out of the blue. He felt something, and just routes on air. We didn’t know how serious it was or wasn’t until later, and they got the X-rays back and it was just a broken fifth metatarsal. So, it is what it is. I think it’s the same one that the running back in Tennessee had last year. I actually was told that he’d be back for the Super Bowl, so I’m good with that. That’d be alright.” | 2022-12-24T11:38:42Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ravens HC John Harbaugh provides more information on injury to WR Devin Duvernay | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-hc-john-harbaugh-provides-020752412.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ravens-hc-john-harbaugh-provides-020752412.html?src=rss |
The Denver Broncos are set to go on the road to face the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas Day. Check out NFL.com’s preview of the game in the above video.
After facing the Rams in L.A., the Broncos will have a road game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17 before wrapping up the season at home against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18. | 2022-12-24T11:38:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: NFL.com previews Broncos-Rams game | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-nfl-com-previews-broncos-110043607.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-nfl-com-previews-broncos-110043607.html?src=rss |
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels will return to Baton Rouge in 2023.
Daniels chose not to walk at senior day in November, which hinted at a good possibility of him staying put. This was his fourth year as a starter but just his first at LSU after transferring from Arizona State.
With Daniels’ return, the QB position is stabilized, and there’s a good argument to make there’s not a better returning quarterback in the conference. You’re always going to get a good bit of coach-speak when talking about quarterbacks. The staff could say “it’s an open competition,” but this is Daniels’ job to lose.
In a year where the expectations for LSU weren’t high, Daniels helped lead the Tigers to an SEC West title. His clutch performances against Florida, Ole Miss and Alabama carried LSU through the toughest stretch of its season.
Daniels has his critics and he isn’t perfect. He struggled to get the ball out at times, wasn’t always willing to push it down the field, and had a couple of games where he didn’t look good at all.
But Daniels’ play was a plus for LSU. There aren’t many other ways to put it. There could be ripple effects. One of LSU’s younger quarterbacks could hit the portal, but that’s how this business works.
When you have a known quantity at quarterback, someone you know you can with, that’s a luxury. That’s what LSU has in Daniels. Look around the SEC. Alabama and Georgia will both be breaking in new quarterbacks in 2023.
Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, and Hendon Hooker are off to the NFL.
Mississippi State, Arkansas and Ole Miss are well positioned. I’d expect Will Rogers, K.J. Jefferson, and Jaxson Dart to stick around, but you could argue Daniels is better than all of them.
According to PFF, Daniels posted a better offensive grade than any QB slated to return. ESPN’s QBR had Jefferson just above Daniels. They ranked 17th and 18th in the country.
He ranked third, behind Young and Hooker.
Texas A&M has to like what it has with Conner Weigman, and we’ll see if South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler puts it together for a full year, but both guys are less proven than Daniels.
Along with Daniels, LSU will return its entire offensive line, at least a couple of experienced running backs, and the crown jewels of it all could be a wide receiver group headlined by Kayshon Boutte and Malik Nabers.
Throw in Mason Taylor, who could be a budding star at tight end, with some talented incoming freshmen, and this is an LSU offense loaded with talent and experience.
Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock seemed to grasp his personnel better as the year went on — the entire LSU staff did. He’ll now have another offseason to build his offense. He doesn’t have to limit anything, he doesn’t have to spend a few weeks experimenting — he should know what works.
That’s a big deal for an offense that struggled to find its rhythm at times. Daniels’ time at Arizona State was marred by the pandemic, the program’s issues with the NCAA, and an ever-changing offensive staff.
He no longer has to put up with that. He gets to play with better talent too. LSU and Daniels have provided each other with stability. It’s the most stable LSU’s QB position has been since Joe Burrow returned in 2019.
That’s what Brian Kelly was tasked with doing when he took the job.
Daniels and this offense have a chance to post some prolific numbers next fall. The expectations will be high, the polar opposite of what they were entering this year.
Daniels is in a rare position. Very few quarterbacks get to play a fifth-year already having this much experience and being surrounded by so much talent.
We’ll see if this team is able to make the most of it. | 2022-12-24T12:27:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | Is LSU’s Jayden Daniels the best returning QB in the SEC? | https://sports.yahoo.com/lsu-jayden-daniels-best-returning-120039233.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/lsu-jayden-daniels-best-returning-120039233.html?src=rss |
The Canadians have dropped from 41 to 53 in FIFA's December rankings after a disappointing World Cup performance
Canada saw the biggest drop of any nation in FIFA's latest men's rankings after fizzling out of the 2022 Qatar World Cup in the group stages. (Getty Images)
Days after the 2022 Qatar World Cup ended with Lionel Messi's rightful coronation as the greatest soccer player of all-time, leading Argentina to its third world title, the sport's governing body has released its latest rankings.
If you're a Canadian soccer fan, you might want to look away.
That's right. Despite qualifying and playing in their first World Cup in 36 years, Canada dropped 12 spots in FIFA's men's rankings, from 41st in October to 53rd on Dec. 22.
Canada actually experienced the biggest drop out of any nation, as highlighted by The Athletic's Joshua Kloke.
Directly above Canada is Romania, Greece and Burkina Faso, none of whom qualified for the 2022 edition of the tournament. Between ranks 53 and 41, only Saudi Arabia and Ecuador actually participated in this year's World Cup with Canada.
After a brave showing in their opening group stage match against Belgium, in which they dominated the Red Devils but ultimately fell 1-0, Canada failed to build on their momentum in the following two games. A 4-1 humbling at the hands of Croatia sealed their fate, while an inspired but fruitless performance in a 2-1 loss to Morocco sent John Herdman's men home with their pride intact.
Canada is the third-highest ranked CONCACAF team, behind Mexico (15, down 2) and the United States (13, up 3).
Canada's highest-ever ranking was 33rd in February, fresh off claiming big victories against El Salvador, Honduras and the United States in their qualifying campaign.
Topping FIFA's latest ranking is Brazil, who flamed out of the quarter-finals after a surprise loss to Croatia on penalties. World champion Argentina follows in second, with finalist France right behind. Belgium, despite miserably exiting Qatar in the group stages, has still managed to slot in fourth, two spots below their last rank.
Former Chelsea and Ghana manager signs a two-year deal to return to African football
Point producers, big pins, fast laps: Erie County high school top performers for Dec. 19-23
Erie County high school top performers in basketball, wrestling and more for Dec. 19-23.
The 2022-23 EPL season is back after its World Cup hiatus — here's how to watch every game live online | 2022-12-24T12:31:16Z | sports.yahoo.com | Canada drops down to 53rd in FIFA's latest rankings | https://sports.yahoo.com/canada-drops-a-dozen-spots-in-fifa-rankings-after-poor-world-cup-showing-154524589.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/canada-drops-a-dozen-spots-in-fifa-rankings-after-poor-world-cup-showing-154524589.html?src=rss |
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson carries the ball during the first half against the Ravens, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, in Cleveland.
Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith, center, tackles Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson during the second half, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022, in Cleveland.
Browns fans hold a sign in support of running back Nick Chubb before a game against the Ravens, Dec. 17, 2022, in Cleveland.
Cade York kicks a 42-yard field goal for the Browns during the second half against the Texans in Houston, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett sacks New York Jets quarterback Joe Flacco during the first half, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in Cleveland.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns battle frigid temperatures, New Orleans Saints
Jack Conklin recently made it clear that he didn't want to leave Cleveland or the Browns. Conklin has agreed to a four-year, $60 million extension to stay with the Browns, who continue to invest in their solid offensive line, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Friday. Conklin was in the final season of a $42 million, three-year contract he got in 2020 as a free agent.
Report: Details On Identity Of Mystery Mogul Affiliates Member On 12/21 AEW Dynamite
The identity of the mystery man who debuted on the […] | 2022-12-24T12:31:23Z | sports.yahoo.com | Cleveland Browns ready to battle frigid temperatures, New Orleans Saints | https://sports.yahoo.com/cleveland-browns-ready-battle-frigid-110124331.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/cleveland-browns-ready-battle-frigid-110124331.html?src=rss |
CHARLES ROBINSON: Watch Green Bay. It's going to be really interesting what Green Bay does with their roster when the season is over, because there's a really good chance, if you just go down that roster and look at the players that are all like 30 or older, a lot of them carry a pretty heavy cap hit. I mean, there's just a lot of money dedicated there that they can get rid of. I think there's a chance that Green Bay presses the button, says on a number of these veterans, we're not going to do this.
We're going to have to move on. And I think if that happens, it will put Aaron Rodgers in a situation where either he retires or he asks for a trade. No one would ever connect the Jets to Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers. But in my mind, if I'm sitting there saying, OK, both from the avenue of the Jets and Aaron Rodgers, where would I want to go if I'm Aaron Rodgers?
I would think the Jets are really attractive. And if I'm Joe Douglas, what player would I want to put in front of Zach Wilson and see if a 2-year window of Aaron Rodgers could maybe help energize Zach Wilson, turn him around. They have some of the same traits, they have big arms. Maybe teach him some things.
I know, at least by showing him, I don't think Aaron Rodgers is going to teach anybody willingly at this point. But I would just pay attention to that. I still think there's a really, really good chance.
Everyone now, there's all the wide receivers are playing well for Green Bay, and jeez, Rodgers will come back and all this stuff. Eh, let's wait and see. I don't know that, that's a hammerlock situation there.
JORI EPSTEIN: OK, if we have one Charles saying that, I want to know what the other Charles thinks. Because yes, you might be able to see some great throws out of Aaron Rodgers, and yes, Rodgers might like playing with the defense. But C-Mac, do you think that a guy with Aaron Rodgers mouth on and off the field can go there and teach Zach Wilson how to be a pro?
CHARLES MCDONALD: I don't think Zach Wilson is worth teaching. It's been 21 games and he's showing you nothing. I don't know.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
CHARLES ROBINSON: There's that instant coffee.
CHARLES MCDONALD: It's not instant coffee, it's 21 starts and he stinks. He's been awful. He's been an active anchor on what's a playoff team.
I don't know, to me this is one of those situations like, when you know, you know. And at some point, I mean, I've been ready to call it for a while, but he just doesn't get any better anytime you put him in the lineup. So hell yeah, I'll be trying to get Aaron Rodgers next year.
Because I know for a fact, if I'm running the Jets [INAUDIBLE], I'm Joe Douglas, I'm looking at this and saying, I know for a fact, my starting quarterback next year is not currently on my roster. Because there's just no way that we can do it, that we can look those defenders in the eye, say yeah, you guys did such a great job this year, but we are going to run it back with Zach and Mike and maybe somebody. That's crazy. That's just crazy talk. So Zach, maybe he works out somewhere else, but with the Jets I just don't really see why you would even bother.
Chris Streveler QB2 tonight? Wildcat coming?
The Dodgers Face a Decision on Trevor Bauer—Without Knowing All the Facts
MLB’s confidentiality policy prevents the team from knowing what the league and an arbitrator gathered in doling out discipline against the pitcher. | 2022-12-24T12:31:29Z | sports.yahoo.com | Could Aaron Rodgers be the Jets answer at quarterback next season? | You Pod to Win the Game | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-aaron-rodgers-jets-answer-191221509.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-aaron-rodgers-jets-answer-191221509.html?src=rss |
Mavericks Rockets Basketball
Game Recap: Mavericks 112, Rockets 106
Luka Doncic recorded a season-high 50 points, along with eight rebounds and 10 assists for the Mavericks as they defeated the Rockets, 112-106. Jabari Smith Jr. tallied a career-high 24 points, along with 10 rebounds for the Rockets in the losing effort. The Mavericks improve to 17-16 on the season, while the Rockets fall to 9-23.
Rockets vs Mavericks Betting Forecast
Yahoo Sports looks at the latest betting information as the Houston Rockets host the Dallas Mavericks
As soon as he struck an agreement with the New York Yankees last week, Carlos Rodón reached for a razor. New York famously has a team rule against beards and long hair. Rodón's wife, children, parents and in-laws attended the new conference.
New estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show the state's lost of 104,000 residents in 2022 is close to the population equivalent of Springfield
Jamal Murray returned to the lineup with 25 points and a season-high 12 assists, Nikola Jokic had 29 points and 11 assists, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Portland Trail Blazers 120-107 on Friday night. Murray, who finished two rebounds shy of a triple-double, sat out Tuesday’s win over Memphis with soreness in his surgically repaired left knee, and the four-day break seemed to reinvigorate him. | 2022-12-24T12:31:42Z | sports.yahoo.com | Doncic scores 50, Mavericks edge Rockets 112-106 | https://sports.yahoo.com/doncic-scores-50-mavericks-edge-034606202.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/doncic-scores-50-mavericks-edge-034606202.html?src=rss |
Our Eagles vs. Cowboys predictions for Week 16 of the NFL season originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
This is such a fascinating game. Can’t wait till 4:25 p.m. Saturday. Mathematically, it’s not even that important for the Eagles. If they win, they lock up the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff bracket. If they lose, their chances of securing the top seed go from 97 percent to 96 percent, according to the 538. But whatever the numbers say, it’s the Cowboys. And it’s Christmas Eve. And the Eagles haven’t swept the Cowboys since 2011. And I’m sure that 51-26 Cowboys win over the Eagles’ backups last January didn’t sit real well with a few people in the organization. The Eagles are going to be the top seed one way or another, but they would love to lock it up this weekend and rest as many people as they can against the Saints and Giants. While the Eagles have been rolling along – five straight wins since their only loss – the Cowboys barely beat the one-win Texans two weeks ago and then blew a 17-point lead in Jacksonville last weekend. I keep coming back to this: Jalen Hurts is a great quarterback, and the Eagles will miss him, but to me it’s about the team, and the Eagles have a better team, a better organization, a better culture than the Cowboys. It’s why the Eagles have won 14 playoff games since the mid-1990s and the Cowboys have won three and haven’t gotten to an NFC Championship Game since the days of Emmitt, Troy and Michael. The Cowboys are definitely talented on both sides of the ball. But if it’s Star Power vs. Dawg Mentality, I’m going with Dawg Mentality every time.
It's Dallas Week, baby! This is the most heated rivalry I experienced throughout my 12-year NFL career. I literally have a deep dislike (Mom said never hate) for the Cowboys’ star!
This game is set up on a platter for Gardner Minshew to have a great game. He is playing with house money. The expectation is that he is a backup QB that is playing against the 3rd best pass rush in the league. OC Shane Steichen will have to call an entirely different offense than he is used to calling. I think that puts all the pressure on Dallas' defense. The Bird's O-line will dominate the line of scrimmage. Minshew will throw the ball constantly and hand off to Pro-Bowl RB Miles Sanders all night.
I count five teams Gardner Minshew would be the starter for and a handful of others, who if they were being honest with themselves, should prefer the ‘stache to their current situations. He won 7 games with a poor Jaguars team in 2019 and has posted remarkably good career numbers (41 TD, 12 INT, 93.9 rating). Last year in his start against the Jets he led 8 drives, 7 of which ended up in points. He put up 26 points on the Cowboys starters in week 18 despite playing alongside all backups. Suffice it to say, he’s been more than capable with far lesser supporting casts. And while Jalen Hurts has played like an MVP this season, I don’t expect the offense as a whole to drop off much.
But it will likely have to be methodical than explosive, which leaves you open to more opportunities for something to go wrong. | 2022-12-24T12:31:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | Our Eagles vs. Cowboys predictions for Week 16 of the NFL season | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-vs-cowboys-predictions-week-113900409.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-vs-cowboys-predictions-week-113900409.html?src=rss |
The New England Patriots (7-7) host the Cincinnati Bengals (10-4), who are red-hot after winning their last 6 games.
Joe Burrow and the Bengals look poised to make another deep playoff run and showcase one of the most prolific NFL offenses the Patriots may face all season.
If New England wants a shot at the postseason this year, what better way to do so than by going through a gauntlet of teams likely to be battling it out deep in the playoffs. The Bengals, Miami Dolphins, and Buffalo Bills all offer different challenges for the Patriots, but the Bengals are what’s in front this week.
If the Patriots wish to beat Cincinnati, a few things need to happen. Let’s get into what those keys to the game are.
Successfully run the ball
The Patriots’ identity is to run the ball, and they have relied on it all season. Rhamondre Stevenson’s emergence has been the lone bright spot in one of the more putrid Patriots offenses we have seen in 20-plus years.
That is unless 2020 would like to have a word.
The Patriots are going up against a top-10 rushing defense in the Bengals, and quite frankly, they haven’t been able to move the ball through the air all season. They’ll need to run the ball successfully against a tough foe, because it is highly unlikely they can keep up with the Bengals through the air.
Throw the ball past the line of scrimmage
The Patriots have been bad offensively all year, and although they aren’t likely to outshine Burrow and the Bengals’ weapons in a shootout, they still need to throw the ball down the field.
Facing one of the top run defenses in the NFL is already hard enough, but throwing behind the line of scrimmage and leaning too heavily on draws will not beat this Bengals defense.
If the Patriots can find a way to challenge the Bengals’ underrated secondary and linebacker core through the air, it may just open things up more for the Patriots’ running backs.
Get ahead early
The Bengals have shown they are a top offense, and they will likely score at least three points on each possession.
The Patriots will need to get ahead early, run the ball, and play the best defense they have played all season if they wish to win this game.
The current Patriots aren’t built to throw themselves back into games through the air, and running the ball late in the game, especially if they’re playing from behind. isn’t going to leave much time on the clock for them to make a play.
Get ahead early and control time of possession, which has been a staple for Bill Belichick-led defenses against formidable offensive foes. | 2022-12-24T13:13:26Z | sports.yahoo.com | 3 keys to Patriots’ Week 16 matchup with red-hot Bengals | https://sports.yahoo.com/3-keys-patriots-week-16-120007804.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/3-keys-patriots-week-16-120007804.html?src=rss |
The NFL knew exactly what they were doing when they scheduled the Bears and Bills to play on Christmas Eve at Soldier Field. Now, thanks to a winter storm, we’re going to get it.
The forecast for today’s game calls for a high of 13 degrees with winds up to 30 mph with sub-zero wind chill. It’s got all of the makings for an old-school, smash-mouth football game.
For Bears quarterback Justin Fields, he’s excited to get to play in “Bear weather.”
“Yeah, I am excited,” Fields said. “It’s going to be my first time playing in that weather. It’s going to be fun.”
It’s certainly different from playing in a monsoon in the season opener against the 49ers. But for Fields, the lesson is the same.
“Just take care of the ball,” he said. “Of course, I fumbled on the first or second drive. That’s been the biggest thing, is ball security.”
The cold isn’t the biggest concern for Fields — he’s no stranger to that having played college ball at Ohio State.
“It’s just the wind,” Fields said. “The cold isn’t a big deal. Once the wind sarts going, that’s when it gets cold. Like, 20 degrees, no wind, I mean, you’re fine out there. But the wind, of course makes it cold.”
Bears coach Matt Eberflus said this week in practice they’ve “(mimicked) game conditions the best we can.”
The Bears and Bills are certainly no strangers to this weather.
Week 16 picks: Who the experts are taking in Bears vs. Bills
Rookie Kyler Gordon felt energized in his return to NFL action
Packers sign guard Elgton Jenkins to four-year extension. READ MORE ON PACKERS WIRE.
Vikings finally blitzed heavy vs. Colts and it worked. READ MORE ON VIKINGS WIRE.
Frank Ragnow earns Pro Bowl nod, 9 Lions are alternates. READ MORE ON LIONS WIRE.
With wind chills as low as -20 and wind gusts up to 40 mph, Saturday's game will test the endurance of every fan planning to go.
BYU quarterback Jaren Hall is making jump to the next level, declaring for the 2023 NFL draft | 2022-12-24T13:13:27Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bear Necessities: How Justin Fields is preparing for wintry conditions at Soldier Field | https://sports.yahoo.com/bear-necessities-justin-fields-preparing-121421701.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bear-necessities-justin-fields-preparing-121421701.html?src=rss |
As the Washington Commanders travel to San Francisco to battle the 49ers, the NFC playoff race is starting to take shape.
The 49ers and Vikings with wins last week, clinched their respective divisions, while the Eagles and Cowboys have clinched playoff berths.
Had the Commanders defeated the Giants last week, they could have clinched a playoff spot with a win this week and a Giants, Seahawks or Lions loss.
The Commanders have three games remaining (at 49ers, Browns, Cowboys) and they currently are in the final playoff spot at the No. 7 seed. Being at the No. 7 seed, if the Commanders finish at No. 7, they would be matched against the No. 2 seed, which currently is the Vikings.
The Giants, the No. 6 seed are at the Vikings, host the Colts, and at the Eagles. If the Giants retain the 6th seed position, they would face the No. 3 seed in the NFC, currently the 49ers.
The Seahawks and Lions are both 7-7, and one-half game back of the Commanders (7-6-1). The Seahawks in the final three weeks go to the Chiefs, and then host the Jets and Rams . While the Lions go to the Panthers, host the Bears and are at the Packers. The Seahawks have a win against both the Lions and the Giants.
The NFC South is as bad as the NFC East was in 2020. Washington won the East at 7-9, while currently the Bucs are 6-8, one game ahead of the Falcons, Panthers and Saints, each at 5-9. | 2022-12-24T13:13:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | Commanders still in NFC playoff chase | https://sports.yahoo.com/commanders-still-nfc-playoff-chase-115805625.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/commanders-still-nfc-playoff-chase-115805625.html?src=rss |
Brees was briefly unseated by Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who returned from his league-mandated suspension for alleged sexual misconduct with a lot of rust to knock off. Watson notched completion percentages of 54.5%, 61.9%, and 64.3% in three games with the Browns so far, but he has a chance at leveling out against the Saints themselves on Sunday afternoon. He’s completed 60.0% of his passes for the Browns through three games so far, and those poor performances dropped Watson’s career number from 67.8% down to 67.5%.
What about other contenders? San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (67.6%) is on the mend, as is Arizona Cardinals passer Kyler Murray (66.8%). NFC playoff hopefuls Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousins (both 66.7%) are on Brees’ heels, as are Los Angeles Chargers standout Justin Herbert (66.6%) and his former protégé Teddy Bridgewater (66.4%). Kansas City Chiefs MVP favorite Patrick Mahomes (66.3%) rounds out the group of active passers with a claim to Brees’ title.
So it’s all but certain that Brees will be surpassed again someday — likely for good. That’s just how it goes. But he’s a surefire lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in a few years regardless of who owns this record. Brees claimed dozens of them during his storied NFL career, and he’ll hold onto many of them for quite a long time. Before we know, he’ll have his own bronze bust enshrined in Canton to make sure his accomplishments aren’t ever forgotten.
Which Saints players could be next to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame? | 2022-12-24T13:14:05Z | sports.yahoo.com | Drew Brees is once again the NFL’s all-time leader in pass completion percentage | https://sports.yahoo.com/drew-brees-once-again-nfl-125507332.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/drew-brees-once-again-nfl-125507332.html?src=rss |
Roob's Observations: Miles Sanders drops a hint about his future originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Miles Sanders’ future, T.J. Edwards’ performance and the biggest snub in Eagles history.
It’s a short week and Nick Sirianni didn’t want us to over-do it with the postseason coming up, so we only have six observations today!
No, just kidding! Here’s this weekend’s Eagles 10 Random Observations!
1. Chatting with Miles Sanders Thursday at his locker room he spoke at length about how determined he was to have a career year this year, and he certainly delivered, with 1,100 yards, a 5.2 average and 11 touchdowns going into Dallas and his first Pro Bowl selection. Sanders, like half the roster, isn’t signed beyond this year, and he’s declined to speak about his contract situation all year, choosing instead to focus on trying to help this team get to another Super Bowl. Sanders did say one thing that Thursday that stood out when asked about Eagles GM Howie Roseman and his future: “He knows I would like to be an Eagle forever.” Sanders wears his heart on his sleeve, and his agent probably wouldn’t want him saying stuff like that because maybe you lose a little leverage. But it was so heartfelt and so genuine you couldn’t help think maybe they’ll get something done. But Roseman is smart enough not to let emotion guide him in contract talks, and although running backs don’t get very big contracts, some team is going to pay Sanders somewhere between $6 ½ and $7 ½ million per year. It’s hard to imagine anyone in Philly that doesn’t want that team to be the Eagles. Sanders clearly included.
2. T.J. Edwards was never going to make the Pro Bowl. It can be tough for unheralded, undrafted players to get that sort of recognition unless they put up ridiculous numbers. But what a season he’s having. He’s the only NFC linebacker with two or more sacks, 120 tackles and eight tackles for loss, and he’s just been a force all year in coverage, against the run and pressuring. Incredibly smart, versatile and consistent. Everything you want in an inside linebacker. Very well could be the Eagles’ defensive MVP when all is said and done. Pro Football Focus rates him as the No. 3 linebacker in the NFL (behind Bobby Wagner and Dre Greenlaw, two other Pro Bowl snubs). Hell of a year.
3. The Eagles picked off 12 passes in their first eight games but they have just three in the last six – and none in their last three. A big part of that is the absence of injured Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who still shares the NFL interception lead despite missing three games now. But Darius Slay and James Bradberry, who had a combined six INTs after eight games, have none in the last six. The first eight weeks of the season the Eagles led the NFL with 12 INTs and 18 takeaways, not to mention plus-15 in turnover margin. The last six games, they’re 19th in interceptions, 12th in takeaways and 23rd in turnover margin (minus three). All of this makes the Eagles’ top-ranked pass defense and No. 2-ranked overall defense even more impressive. They’re still shutting people down without interceptions. During these last six games, they’re still the 5th-ranked defense despite only a handful of takeaways. This is an elite defense any way you measure it. And part of this is that teams just don’t throw very much against the Eagles – just 166 times these last six games, 3rd-fewest in the league – because they want to avoid the Eagles’ ferocious pass rush. But the Eagles are making life a lot harder on themselves by not taking advantage of the takeaway opportunities when they’ve had them. And against really good teams – like the Cowboys or whoever they face in the postseason – they’re going to need those big plays to win.
4. A.J. Brown has a shot at the franchise record for receptions in a season by a wide receiver. He’s got 74, and the record is 88 by Irving Fryar in 1996. We don’t know how many more games Brown will play, but he’s averaging 5.3 catches per game and is 14 behind Fryar. And he has 21 receptions in his last three games. What a year he’s having.
5. Crazy that Donovan McNabb and Nick Foles are responsible for 13 of the Eagles’ 16 postseason wins over the last 40 years. And Randall Cunningham, Rodney Peete and Jeff Garcia with one apiece.
6. It’s so hard to win on the road in the NFL, but the Eagles are 7-0 away from the Linc this year, and their nine-game road winning streak – which dates back to Gardner Minshew’s win over the Jets last Decemver - is awfully impressive. It matches the longest in franchise history – the Eagles won nine road games in a row twice under Andy Reid, over the 2000 and 2001 seasons and the 2003 and 2004 seasons. There have only been 15 road winning streaks in NFL history of 10 games or more 100-133. League-wide every other team has a .412 winning percentage on the road this year, and every other team has at least two road losses. Says a lot about this team’s ability to focus in difficult circumstances and be at their best when faced with adversity.
7. No Eagles quarterback has ever beaten the Cowboys twice in a season in a year the Cowboys had a winning record. Sonny Jurgensen beat them twice in 1961, Randall Cunningham in 1988, 1989 and 2000, Donovan McNabb in 2000, 2001 and 2004 and Michael Vick in 2011. Each year, Dallas had a losing record.
8. The biggest Pro Bowl snub I ever saw was Clyde Simmons in 1989. Clyde had 15 ½ sacks – and a 60-yard INT return for a touchdown – that year and was second among NFC defensive ends in sacks. But since he was a 9th-round pick who played across from Reggie White, the Pro Bowl voters ignored him. The reality was Simmons was a tremendous player in his own right, and we saw that when he had more than 50 sacks late in his career when he wasn’t playing with Reggie. Not only was Clyde a monster pass rusher, he was as good a run stopper as you’ll ever see from an edge rusher. And did you know Clyde never missed a game in 15 years? Played 236 of a possible 236 games, missing only the three replacement games in 1987 when nobody on the Eagles crossed the picket line. Clyde finally made his first of two Pro Bowls in 1991, and Jerome Brown was so happy for him he punched a hole in a wall in the Eagles’ locker room at the Vet.
9. A sign of just how consistent the Eagles’ pass rushers have been: The Eagles have three or more sacks in eight straight games, which matches the longest streak in the NFL since the Seahawks had a nine-game streak in 2005. If they record three sacks Saturday night in Dallas – and the Cowboys are No. 1 in the NFL in fewest sacks allowed – they would match the 4th-longest streak in history with nine straight games of three or more sacks. They’ve already tied the NFL record with six sacks in three straight games going into Dallas.
10. It speaks volumes about how beloved Jason Kelce, Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson are around here that their Christmas album has already raised over a quarter of a million dollars for the Children’s Crisis Treatment Center. That’s incredible. These guys are all so connected with the Philadelphia community and so devoted to causes that are important to all of us. Kelce is from Ohio, Johnson from Texas, Mailata from Australia. But it’s hard to imagine anybody being more Philly than they are.
Fans Are Racing to Comment on Blake Shelton’s Latest Video With Gwen Stefani
Blake Shelton shared a clip of his “You Make it Feel Like Christmas” duet with Gwen Stefani to count down the days until the holiday. Fans loved the post. | 2022-12-24T13:14:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles observations: Miles Sanders drops a hint about his future | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-observations-miles-sanders-drops-113800451.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-observations-miles-sanders-drops-113800451.html?src=rss |
As you know, the Commanders handed the Eagles their only loss of the season.
Can the Commanders pull off a similar upset in Week 16 against the San Francisco 49ers?
The 49ers have won seven games in a row and a second quarterback change due to injury hasn’t slowed them down. San Francisco’s defense is the best in the NFL. Meanwhile, the Commanders, who had won four in a row, are coming back-to-back games against the New York Giants that ended with a tie and a loss, respectively.
Do the experts believe in Washington this time around?
According to NFL Pickwatch, 99% of those who made a pick went with the 49ers. Two writers for the College Football News were brave enough to go with the Commanders in this game.
Washington will have its work cut out, but don’t count the Commanders out. | 2022-12-24T13:14:19Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL Week 16 picks: Who the experts are taking in Commanders vs. 49ers | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-week-16-picks-experts-125954842.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-week-16-picks-experts-125954842.html?src=rss |
Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season kicked off Thursday with the Jacksonville Jaguars defeating the New York Jets, 19-3. But there’s still plenty of action to come this weekend.
Before Sunday’s set of games, including between the Green Bay Packers and Miami Dolphins, and Monday night’s matchup between the Los Angeles Chargers and Indianapolis Colts, there’s a full slate of games Saturday on CBS and FOX.
Bengals at Patriots, 1 p.m. ET (RED)
Bills at Bears, 1 p.m. ET (GREEN)
Texans at Titans, 1 p.m. ET (YELLOW)
Saints at Browns, 1 p.m. ET (ORANGE)
Commanders at 49ers, 4:05 p.m. ET (BLUE)
Seahawks at Chiefs, 1 p.m. ET (RED)
Giants at Vikings, 1 p.m. ET (BLUE)
Falcons at Ravens, 1 p.m. ET (GREEN)
Lions at Panthers, 1 p.m. ET (YELLOW)
The Eagles-Cowboys game will be televised nationally at 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX. | 2022-12-24T13:14:25Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL Week 16 TV coverage maps | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-week-16-tv-coverage-130018802.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-week-16-tv-coverage-130018802.html?src=rss |
The New Orleans Saints haven’t even kicked off their Week 16 game and some eyes are already being drawn towards Week 17’s matchup. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Friday evening that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is “uncertain to play” against the Saints next week while managing a sprained throwing shoulder.
Hurts has already been ruled out for the Eagles’ game with the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night, with veteran backup Gardner Minshew tabbed to start in his place. Philadelphia leads the NFC with a 13-1 record and only needs one more win to clinch the conference’s top playoff seed, guaranteeing homefield advantage and a lucrative bye week. So they aren’t exactly feeling any pressure to rush Hurts back into the lineup, even if a win over New Orleans in Week 17 would improve the draft pick Philadelphia will receive from the Saints in 2023.
Meanwhile, the Saints are just hoping to tread water and get out of their snowbound game with the Cleveland Browns on Saturday afternoon with a win. A loss would drop them to 5-10 and all-but doom their own playoff odds — or at least put their fortunes on the shoulders of Arizona Cardinals third-string quarterback Trace McSorley, who is scheduled to duel Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night in a game that could eliminate New Orleans from the postseason hunt.
We risk overlooking an immediate opponent in doing it, but Saints fans should be hoping to face Minshew next week, not Hurts. New Orleans guarded Minshew well when they faced him a few years back during a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, limiting him to 14-of-29 as a passer for 163 yards and an interception (sacking him twice). Hurst, meanwhile, has beaten the Saints twice in two years while completing 30 of 54 passes for 314 yards and a touchdown, also gaining 175 yards on 36 rushing attempts and scoring 3 touchdown runs (he’s been sacked 3 times, also losing a fumble).
Maybe Minshew performs better with a stronger supporting cast, but Hurts has proven himself to be a terrible matchup for the usually-stout Saints defense. Either way, we’re getting ahead of ourselves; let’s just see how well the Saints play against Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson on Saturday before worrying too much about what’s up next. | 2022-12-24T13:14:33Z | sports.yahoo.com | Report: Eagles QB Jalen Hurts ‘status uncertain’ vs. Saints in Week 17 | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-eagles-qb-jalen-hurts-115518472.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-eagles-qb-jalen-hurts-115518472.html?src=rss |
Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill underwent surgery this week on his injured ankle and is “doing everything he can” to return in Week 18 for the team’s season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Previous reports indicated that Tannehill was “very likely done for the season” due to the injury, but he is reportedly determined to avoid that.
Tennessee is currently in a free fall after four straight losses opened the door for the Jaguars in the AFC South. If the Titans lose to the Houston Texans on Saturday, Jacksonville will vault ahead and take over first place in the division. It’ll be up to rookie quarterback Malik Willis to lead the way and avoid that scenario for the Titans.
Regardless, the Titans and Jaguars will play for the division title in Week 18 so long as Tennessee doesn’t win its next two games and the Jaguars don’t also lose next weekend against Houston.
Tannehill has 13 passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, and six interceptions this season. Willis made two starts earlier this year and has zero passing touchdowns with one interception. | 2022-12-24T13:14:46Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ryan Tannehill ‘doing everything he can’ to play in Week 18 | https://sports.yahoo.com/ryan-tannehill-doing-everything-play-124522989.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ryan-tannehill-doing-everything-play-124522989.html?src=rss |
What: Seattle Seahawks (7-7) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (11-3)
When: Saturday, Dec. 24 at 10:00 a.m. PT
Watch: The game will be broadcast on Fox in the red areas on the map below.
Why: There’s not a better measuring stick game on Seattle’s schedule this year. The Chiefs have the best offense in the NFL this year and are Super Bowl contenders for the fifth-straight season. An upset is a long shot, but keeping the score competitive would prove this team can hang with the real heavyweights around the league.
You can also stream games live on FuboTV (try it for free).
Giannis Antetokounmpo preaches urgency after another slow start in Bucks' 118-100 loss to Nets
Nets role players shine in toppling Bucks 118-100. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 26 points in the loss. | 2022-12-24T13:14:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | Seahawks vs. Chiefs Gameday Info: How to watch or stream Week 16 matchup | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-vs-chiefs-gameday-watch-120000088.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-vs-chiefs-gameday-watch-120000088.html?src=rss |
Penn State officially announced the addition of 22 new members to its program on the first day of the early signing period, but there are still some players to keep a close eye on as the recruiting process moves to the next stage, which leads up to the traditional signing period at the beginning of February. Of the handful of players who backed off a prior commitment to Penn State, there are two who are still uncommitted to a program at the close of the early signing period. And Penn State could still be the leading candidate for at least one of them.
“I’d like to see us get another offensive lineman and then wide receiver,” Franklin said recently. “That’s a position where I could see us signing a couple more guys at that position just to make sure that we have the competition at that position on a similar scale that we do at tight end and running back. I think that’s going to be important for us moving forward.”
James "Franklin-ville" at Delsea! The Penn State head coach had the best seat in the house to watch Nittany Lions commit Ejani Shakir reel in a TD for Winslow!@ejani2thurlll @PennStateFball @coachjfranklin pic.twitter.com/fGiL2P35A9
— Jersey Sports Zone (@JSZ_Sports) September 10, 2022 | 2022-12-24T14:01:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | Former Penn State commit still on the recruiting market for Nittany Lions? | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-penn-state-commit-still-134112908.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-penn-state-commit-still-134112908.html?src=rss |
The Coastal Carolina quarterback was arguably the best player in the Group of Five before his late-season injury. You will find plenty of football analysts who would rate McCall higher than Uiagalelei.
Buried behind K.J. Jefferson at Arkansas, Hornsby is looking for a fresh start.
His 2022 season at Oklahoma State was marred by injury. It’s hard to say how advanced he is and will be. This is a fascinating 2023 quarterback story, wherever he ultimately lands.
The longtime Boise State quarterback has been hounded by injuries in his career. At Oregon State, he would have had a robust offensive line to protect him. | 2022-12-24T14:01:29Z | sports.yahoo.com | Oregon State took D.J. Uiagalelei over several other transfer portal QBs — will the move pay off? | https://sports.yahoo.com/oregon-state-took-d-j-134751432.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/oregon-state-took-d-j-134751432.html?src=rss |
Emiliano Martinez has been criticised for his celebrations (Nick Potts/PA) (PA Wire)
Fifth-year senior safety John Torchio has been a voice of reason and calm during a tumultuous season with the Wisconsin Badgers football team.
In the absence of Nick Smith Jr., the Razorbacks received great performances from Jalen Graham and Joseph Pinion.
"I mean, he’s been so dominant with Team USA and, like I said, he’s a guy who just, he loves to play." | 2022-12-24T14:04:18Z | sports.yahoo.com | ‘Stupid’: Emi Martinez condemned by Patrick Vieira over World Cup celebrations | https://sports.yahoo.com/stupid-decision-patrick-vieira-criticises-100103392.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/stupid-decision-patrick-vieira-criticises-100103392.html?src=rss |
Game Recap: 76ers 119, Clippers 114
James Harden recorded 20 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high and 76ers franchise record tying 21 assists as they defeated the Clippers, 119-114. Joel Embiid added a game-high 44 points (60% FG) for the 76ers in the victory, while Kawhi Leonard tallied 28 points and five assists for the Clippers in the losing effort. The 76ers improve to 19-12 on the season, while the Clippers fall to 19-15.
Investors need to pay close attention to Prospect Capital (PSEC) stock based on the movements in the options market lately. | 2022-12-24T16:18:36Z | sports.yahoo.com | Watch: Nick Scott pranks Rams players with ugly sweater Christmas uniform | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-nick-scott-pranks-rams-144014453.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-nick-scott-pranks-rams-144014453.html?src=rss |
Being a newly-hired head coach during this day and time has become challenging.
Not only do you have to construct a new staff, but you must do that while maintaining and improving your recruiting class before the beginning of the early signing period.
Auburn’s Hugh Freeze has done a great job juggling both tasks. He recently signed the nation’s No. 19 recruiting class, which is a vast improvement from before his hire. He has also put together a respectable staff that is sure to go a long way in rebuilding the program to become one of the best in the SEC.
Freeze’s staff is headlined by Philip Montgomery, who will serve as offensive coordinator. Montgomery is best known for being the mastermind behind Baylor’s high-powered offenses during the early 2010s and for being the college offensive coordinator for quarterbacks Case Keenum and Robert Griffin III.
Other key hires are Cadillac Williams and Zac Etheridge, who are retained from the previous staff. Williams served as interim head coach following the dismissal of Bryan Harsin, and led the Tigers to a 2-2 record to close out the season. Freeze says that one of his first priorities when landing the Auburn job was to keep Williams on staff.
“I had already done my homework on people that we had in common, friends, I knew that my first priority was “I have to have Cadillac on my side to help me drive the culture of Auburn Football,” Freeze said during his introductory press conference in November.
Williams will serve as the running backs coach and associate head coach. As for Etheridge, he will coach the secondary alongside Wesley McGriff, who comes to Auburn for his third stint. Those three have been vital in recruiting and will go a long way in building sustained success for the program.
Joining Etheridge and McGriff defensively will be Ron Roberts as defensive coordinator, Jeremy Garrett as the defensive line coach, and Josh Aldridge will coach linebackers.
Freeze has also hired two offensive assistants in addition to Williams and Montgomery. Jake Thronton comes to Auburn from Ole Miss, where he will coach the offensive line. Freeze also brings tight ends coach Ben Aigamaua from Liberty to Auburn.
Two other names that have been linked to Auburn are Dominic Studzinski and Kent Austin. Freeze shares an update on their roles within the staff:
“Strength and conditioning Dominic Studzinski and Kent Austin is our chief quality control of the program that overseas if we say we’re gonna do something a certain way let’s do it that way,” Freeze said. “So I’m excited about our staff and we’ll be bringing in the rest of the off-the-field support staff along with the wide receiver coach at the beginning of the new year.”
The only position group that does not have a coach to this point is wide receivers, which Freeze says will be taken care of soon. Freeze blames recruiting for the lack of a receiver coach hire, but I think that we will let that slide. | 2022-12-24T17:08:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | New hires to Hugh Freeze’s staff become official | https://sports.yahoo.com/hires-hugh-freeze-staff-become-160054677.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/hires-hugh-freeze-staff-become-160054677.html?src=rss |
Bears rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon has been a takeaway machine since his return to the lineup after missing two games with a concussion.
Gordon, who accounted for two takeaways in last week’s loss to the Eagles, picked off Bills quarterback Josh Allen in the second quarter to prevent a Buffalo drive from ending in points.
It was Gordon’s second consecutive game with an interception, giving him three picks on the year.
Gordon, the Bears’ top draft selection, got off to a rough start in his rookie season. He was repeatedly picked on by opposing quarterbacks, including Aaron Rodgers. But once Gordon got more comfortable, things started to click.
“Just being out for those two, three weeks, I was just itching to play the entire time so just really wanted to touch the football and do something,” Gordon said earlier this week. “But being able to be out there and make those plays, it’s energizing, it’s fun and exciting and just something I want to keep repeating over and over again.”
Gordon is getting his wish. | 2022-12-24T19:23:46Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bears CB Kyler Gordon records INT in second straight game | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-cb-kyler-gordon-records-185917837.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-cb-kyler-gordon-records-185917837.html?src=rss |
The Buffalo Bills are on the road at the Chicago Bears for a Week 16 matchup.
Like many, their pre-game travels were already switched up. The Bills (11-3) left for Chicago (3-11) early because of the weather.
The team originally planned to leave Friday, but did so Thursday.
Now they have to figure out how they’ll get home as well.
Western New York is dealing with a blizzard which includes snow and high winds.
Because of that, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that the Buffalo-Niagara International Airport is closed until Monday at 11 a.m.
In most cases, a team leaves a city immediately after a contest, even at night. Considering the Bills and Bears kicked off at 1 p.m., the plan was likely to get home on Saturday evening.
The Bills will have to decide between spending Christmas in Chicago for a bit or altering their plane to Rochester as the airport there is open. Naturally, that would depend on a travel ban on driving in western New York, too. | 2022-12-24T19:24:18Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bills’ post-game travel after Bears meeting will be altered by Buffalo airport | https://sports.yahoo.com/bills-post-game-travel-bears-191143917.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bills-post-game-travel-bears-191143917.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1) remain home underdogs against the Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) for the Week 16 matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Not much really changed on the betting front since the opening odds were released for this Week 16 prime-time matchup.
According to Tipico Sportsbook, here are the updated odds for the game:
Over the week, the spread moved a half-point in the favor of the Colts while the moneyline moved slightly in favor of the Chargers. The over/under total moved down one full point.
The Colts have been officially eliminated from playoff contention so they’re playing for their pride while the Chargers are competing for a playoff spot as a wild-card team.
This will be the Colts’ final prime-time game of the season as they begin to shift their focus on a potential top-five draft pick. | 2022-12-24T19:24:24Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colts remain home underdogs to Chargers in Week 16 | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-remain-home-underdogs-chargers-185105809.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-remain-home-underdogs-chargers-185105809.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts (4-9-1) are preparing to host the Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) at Lucas Oil Stadium on Monday night.
The Week 16 matchup marks the fourth consecutive game in which they will be on national television. As they are viewed as home underdogs in the eyes of Vegas, here’s how the experts around the league view this matchup:
Over at Tallysight, 93% of analysts are choosing the Chargers to win this game. That should come as no surprise considering the spread and the advantage the Chargers have at quarterback with Justin Herbert.
The Colts will be going with Nick Foles under center as Sam Ehlinger was named the backup following the second benching of Matt Ryan.
Indy also will be without star running back Jonathan Taylor, whose season ended when the team put him on the injured reserve list after injuring his ankle in Week 15.
The Colts don’t have much to play for outside of playing spoiler or improving their draft stock, but the Chargers will be fighting for a playoff spot. | 2022-12-24T19:24:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colts vs. Chargers: NFL experts make Week 16 picks | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-vs-chargers-nfl-experts-191001267.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-vs-chargers-nfl-experts-191001267.html?src=rss |
This has not been a banner day for the Seahawks offensive line so far and Clete Blakeman’s crew isn’t helping.
Geno Smith was slow to get up after the play…
Drew Lock could be coming in pic.twitter.com/h6tL7BoGb6
Smith eventually got up and was escorted to the sidelines with a slight limp. He did not go to the injury tent, which is a good sign.
Drew Lock is warming up on the sidelines, but it appears Smith will be going back in when Seattle gets the ball back.
It’s still 7-0 Kansas City. | 2022-12-24T19:24:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | Geno Smith slow to get up from sack, Drew Lock warming up for Seahawks | https://sports.yahoo.com/geno-smith-slow-sack-drew-185835963.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/geno-smith-slow-sack-drew-185835963.html?src=rss |
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot, who is tied for the team lead with five sacks, is out for the remainder of the season after tearing the Achilles tendon in his right leg Thursday night at the New York Jets.
''I'm disappointed that I won't be able to finish the season on the field alongside my brothers as we fight for a postseason berth, but I'm proud of the work we have done as a team to put ourselves in position to play meaningful football at this point in the season,'' Smoot wrote.
Smoot added that he plans to be with team moving forward. He also thanked fans for ''all the support and the messages that I've received in the last 24 hours.'' | 2022-12-24T19:25:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | Jaguars DL Smoot out for season with torn Achilles tendon | https://sports.yahoo.com/jaguars-dl-smoot-season-torn-173526939.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jaguars-dl-smoot-season-torn-173526939.html?src=rss |
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The kickoff of the game between the Houston Texans at the Tennessee Titans has been delayed by an hour because of extreme cold and power outages in the region.
The Titans issued a statement saying the decision was made with the NFL, the local Office of Emergency Management, the Nashville Electric Service and the Mayor's Office out of ''an abundance of caution to ensure that the game would not negatively impact our community in any way.''
''At all times, the operation of the game remained secondary to the well-being of our community and we can't thank the OEM and NES enough for their dedication to the safety of our neighbors,'' the Titans said in a statement.
''I appreciate the (at)Titans delaying kickoff for one hour as (at)TVAnews commits to immediately ending the rolling blackouts,'' Cooper wrote. ''NES continues to work hard to minimize disruption for residents this holiday weekend.''
Montana professors highlight cold-weather science
If you embrace the cold weather, you might be able to have some fun, especially with your kids.
Cold-weather car-care tips | 2022-12-24T19:25:34Z | sports.yahoo.com | Kickoff for Texans at Titans delayed 1 hour because of cold | https://sports.yahoo.com/kickoff-texans-titans-delayed-1-173112376.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/kickoff-texans-titans-delayed-1-173112376.html?src=rss |
How can Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott stop his interception streak?
Former Cowboys coach Jimmy Johnson has a simple answer.
It’s up to the Dallas offensive line to protect Prescott.
“He’s got to have a clean pocket,” Johnson said on the FOX NFL Sunday pregame show.
“The conversation all week long has been Dak Prescott,” Johnson said. “Can he cut back on the interceptions?”
Prescott has 11 interceptions in nine games this season, including seven in the past four games. He’s two shy of the career-high 13 interceptions he had in 2017.
“When you look at Prescott, a couple of years ago, it was the fumbles,” Johnson said. “He was fumbling too much. When he has a clean pocket, he is as good as any quarterback in this entire league.”
Johnson said Prescott is different from most NFL quarterbacks.
“Some quarterbacks can extend the play, some quarterbacks can make something out of nothing,” Johnson said. “With Prescott, when he is pressured, that’s when he has come up with the interceptions. That’s what happened last week (in loss at Jacksonville), that’s what happened with the fumbles in the past and with the sacks.
“So, he’s got to have a clean pocket.”
“The Dallas offensive line has got to play great to win this game (against the Eagles),” Johnson said.
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is questioning whether Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) legitimately won his reelection bid in Miami-Dade County, saying on his streaming show Tuesday: “I don’t believe it.” Lindell is a big supporter of former President Trump who has made baseless charges about electoral fraud in the past. DeSantis has emerged as perhaps… | 2022-12-24T19:46:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | Jimmy Johnson has solution to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott’s interception problems | https://sports.yahoo.com/jimmy-johnson-solution-dallas-cowboys-180534992.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jimmy-johnson-solution-dallas-cowboys-180534992.html?src=rss |
Justin Jefferson was well aware when he passed Randy Moss for the Minnesota Vikings' single-season receiving record. He passed Moss with a catch in the first quarter near the Vikings sideline, and made sure someone got the record-setting ball to save for him.
That's understandable. Anytime you pass a legend like Moss for any record, it's special. But there's another, bigger record that Jefferson might get.
Calvin Johnson has the NFL record with 1,964 receiving yards. He set that record in 2012. Jefferson, who came into Sunday's game with 1,623 yards, has a good shot at it.
Of course, Jefferson has an extra game to get there, and maybe to 2,000. Johnson set the record for the Detroit Lions in 16 games, and Jefferson will get 17 health permitting. It won't take that much away from the moment, if Jefferson gets there.
Jefferson was close to Johnson's pace through 14 games. Jefferson had 1,623 yards; Johnson had 1,667 through 14 games his record-setting season. Johnson went for 225 yards in his 15th game. The way the Vikings use Jefferson, he has a shot at a game like that down the stretch too.
Jefferson is already on pace for some great numbers. Moss was one of the all-time greats and made the Hall of Fame. The same can be said for Johnson. Jefferson hasn't filled out a Hall of Fame resume yet, but he's on his way to it.
Michelle Yeoh Admitted She Had One Condition For "Everything Everywhere All At Once," And 7 More Behind The Scenes Facts She Just Revealed
"I said to [the filmmakers], 'My character cannot be called that. That was the only thing. I'm like, 'If you don’t change her name, I'm not coming in.'"View Entire Post › | 2022-12-24T19:46:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | Justin Jefferson breaks Randy Moss' Vikings season yardage record, Calvin Johnson's NFL record next? | https://sports.yahoo.com/justin-jefferson-breaks-randy-moss-vikings-season-yardage-record-calvin-johnsons-nfl-record-next-184209930.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/justin-jefferson-breaks-randy-moss-vikings-season-yardage-record-calvin-johnsons-nfl-record-next-184209930.html?src=rss |
Washington State faces Utah State in the third-place game of the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu on Sunday evening. That’s the last nonconference game for the Pac-12 basketball season before the full league schedule begins on Thursday, Dec. 29. As the Pac-12 enters the meat of its conference schedule, there’s an obvious flaw with a number of teams which is a big concern as the new year arrives.
The people who follow Pac-12 basketball will tell you that every year, it’s important for the conference to take care of business in the nonconference portion of its schedule. It’s not that Pac-12 games don’t matter; of course they do. The point of emphasis is simply that Pac-12 teams need to do enough work in November and December that the margin for error isn’t small entering January and February.
The problem is that Pac-12 teams too often stub their toes in the early weeks of the season. They have to then thread the needle in conference play, and they usually can’t. Pac-12 basketball road trips are tough.
Sure enough, Pac-12 teams have stumbled again. We’ll explain why in our look at the conference before the heart of the Pac-12 hoops season begins:
USC'S STUMBLE
USC slipped on a banana peel against Florida Gulf Coast. It’s the kind of loss which could haunt the Trojans in March.
USC wasn’t bad in its 13-game nonconference slate, finishing 10-3. The Trojans really needed to be 11-2, though, and not have that FGCU loss hanging over them. They’d be in much better shape without that one stumble. It’s unfortunate.
UTAH'S BIG FAILURE
The Utes lost at home to Sam Houston State. That was Utah’s equivalent of USC’s loss to Florida Gulf Coast. When you go through Pac-12 team resumes for teams other than UCLA and Arizona, you’ll see this kind of loss at least once on the nonconference schedule.
The Sun Devils lost to Texas Southern. They’re in good position for an NCAA Tournament bid, but if they start losing in Pac-12 play, that loss will become more important — and concerning.
The Huskies lost at home to California Baptist. That loss looms large for a team which has a good win over Saint Mary’s and not that much else in nonconference play.
The Cougars have lost to a lot of good teams. They also lost to Prairie View A&M.
The Buffaloes lost to Grambling, UMass, and Boise State, in addition to two conference losses. They have a great win over Tennessee, but their collection of losses offsets that huge victory.
The Cardinal lost to a not-very-good Ole Miss team and failed to win their big nonconference games versus Wisconsin and San Diego State.
The Beavers have six losses, including Portland State and Texas A&M.
The Ducks have six losses, including home losses to UC Irvine and Utah Valley. Ouch!
The Golden Bears are 1-12. Enough said.
With Arizona State, USC, and Utah all having notable wins (Arizona State over Michigan and Creighton, USC over Auburn, Utah over Arizona), those three teams are in the hunt for NCAA berths. Yet, they all have a loss on their resume which could be very burdensome on Selection Sunday. Those three teams really need to separate themselves from the pack — and each other — if they want to feel safe for an NCAA Tournament bid.
WHERE TEAMS STAND
The Pac-12 has already separated itself into a five-team pack with a decent chance of making the NCAA Tournament, and a seven-team group whose NCAA chances are already very slim.
UCLA and Arizona are near-locks right now for the NCAA Tournament. They could lose a bunch of games and still have enough great wins to get in. They are on course to be high seeds.
ASU, USC and Utah are the three teams with a decent chance to land a bid, but who have a lot of work to do and cannot feel remotely safe.
Colorado is the best team of the seven-team chasing pack. The Buffs have five losses and are 0-2 in the conference, but they have some great nonconference wins. If they can get hot, they can enter the NCAA Tournament conversation, but they have really weakened their position with all their losses.
Oregon is shockingly on the ropes for the NCAA Tournament. The Ducks need to win at least 13 or 14 conference games to undo the damage of the nonconference schedule.
Washington is in a position similar to Oregon.
Oregon State, Stanford, Washington State, and Cal have all buried themselves, probably beyond the point of any hope or salvation.
It’s really hard to see the Pac-12 getting more than five NCAA Tournament bids right now. Colorado could be the sixth, but the Buffs have reduced their margin for error.
If Arizona State, USC, and Utah all beat UCLA or Arizona at least once in the coming weeks (Utah already did, but it might need a second victory), their odds go way up. Failing to beat UCLA or Arizona, on the other hand, would be a significant blow to their NCAA Tournament hopes.
The lower seven teams in the conference all need to get on a huge hot streak and not cool down for multiple weeks.
No. 12 Utah closes non-conference play undefeated in rout of Southern Utah
No. 12 Utah women's basketball defeats Southern Utah by a final score of 90-56 on Thursday, Dec. 22 in Salt Lake City. The Utes improve to 12-0 overall on the season. Follow Pac-12 women’s basketball this season with the Pac-12 Now App. Download the Pac-12 Now App today and set alerts for Pac-12 women’s basketball to make sure you never miss a moment of the action. Pac-12 Now is available today in your app store for iOS, Android, and Apple TV. | 2022-12-24T20:32:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | Pac-12 basketball is burdened by one common theme heading into conference play | https://sports.yahoo.com/pac-12-basketball-burdened-one-180502191.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/pac-12-basketball-burdened-one-180502191.html?src=rss |
Can it get any worse for the New England Patriots?
They ended the first-half of football down 22-0 at Gillette Stadium against the Cincinnati Bengals in a game where the offense is 0-for-4 on third downs with 70 total yards.
It’s easily one of the worst first-halves of football in recent memory for the storied franchise.
As the Patriots went into the locker room, boos could be heard raining down throughout the stadium with the team showing little to no fight in a pivotal game with playoff ramifications. But honestly, at this point, a postseason berth is only wishful thinking for this Patriots team.
Loud boos for the Patriots as they head to the locker room after an awful first half.
Eventual "Zappe" chants got drowned out by a Gillette ad pic.twitter.com/CeqXINpyV1
There have also been plenty of Bailey Zappe chants as well with the offense failing to show a spark with quarterback Mac Jones under center. If the game continues in this direction, the crowd may get their wish.
Wendell Davis, who plays basketball with a team in France, was scheduled to fly from Paris to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday. If you’re worried about making it to the airport in time for a morning flight, he said, consider staying at a hotel connected to the airport the night before. | 2022-12-24T20:57:26Z | sports.yahoo.com | Boos ring out for Patriots after one of the worst first-halves in recent memory | https://sports.yahoo.com/boos-ring-patriots-one-worst-195411381.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/boos-ring-patriots-one-worst-195411381.html?src=rss |
The Washington Commanders released their Week 16 inactives ahead of Saturday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers and starting safety Kam Curl is out.
Curl will miss his third game of the season after suffering an ankle injury in last week’s loss to the New York Giants. Curl missed the first two games of the season after undergoing hand surgery in the preseason.
Washington’s inactive list contained no other surprises:
Two noticeable absences on the inactive list are defensive end Chase Young and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste. Young will make his 2022 season debut after undergoing knee surgery late last year. St-Juste returns after missing the previous three games with an ankle injury.
Percy Butler and Jeremy Reaves will fill Curl’s role. | 2022-12-24T20:57:51Z | sports.yahoo.com | Commanders’ Week 16 inactive list vs. 49ers | https://sports.yahoo.com/commanders-week-16-inactive-list-195436158.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/commanders-week-16-inactive-list-195436158.html?src=rss |
The Washington Commanders will be without a critical part of their defense for Saturday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers. Starting safety Kamren Curl will miss his third game of the season with an ankle injury.
Curl injured his ankle in Sunday night’s loss to the New York Giants and made the trip to California with the team. He tested the ankle on the field before the game and couldn’t go.
Curl was limited in practice on Tuesday and Wednesday and did not practice Thursday and was listed as questionable for the game.
Curl missed Washington’s first two games after he had surgery on his hand in the preseason. The Commanders defense turned things around after a slow start and Curl’s return was a major reason for that improvement.
Head coach Ron Rivera spoke on what Washington would do if Curl couldn’t play. Rookie Percy Butler and veteran special-teams stalwart Jeremy Reaves would both get some time at safety next to Darrick Forrest.
In some good news for the secondary, cornerback Benjamin St-Juste is active. | 2022-12-24T20:57:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | Commanders will be without safety Kam Curl vs. 49ers | https://sports.yahoo.com/commanders-without-safety-kam-curl-194748798.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/commanders-without-safety-kam-curl-194748798.html?src=rss |
Rams safety Quentin Lake showed his potential on special teams before getting thrown into the mix of the defensive backfield. (Tyler Kaufman / Associated Press)
Lake had never played the position. He'd never practiced it.
“They're defining their roles moving forward, and when we are relevant, when that stuff matters,” Morris said.
Said linebacker Bobby Wagner: “No one really ever learns until they're in the fire.”
“He's going to make some mistakes, but he's absolutely shown great promise,” Morris said. “I think we've seen him hit the quarterback more in the last three weeks than we've seen just about anybody on our team other than Flo and Bobby Wagner.”
“Russ plays fearless, which is something that we all like in the DB room,” Ramsey said. “Lake has the capabilities to do all that as well and make a lot of plays. … They’ve been preparing like they're the starters every single week so they'll know when their opportunities come that we can trust and believe that they'll be ready.” | 2022-12-24T20:58:04Z | sports.yahoo.com | Out-of-contention Rams will focus on younger players' development | https://sports.yahoo.com/contention-rams-focus-younger-players-202355635.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/contention-rams-focus-younger-players-202355635.html?src=rss |
Eagles inactives: A couple key Eagles make their returns vs. Cowboys originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
ARLINGTON, Texas — While Jalen Hurts is out for Saturday’s game against the Cowboys with a sprained right shoulder, the Eagles are getting a couple key players back.
Tight end Dallas Goedert is active after missing the last five weeks with a shoulder injury of his own. Goedert’s injury was a fracture to the glenoid bone. He was eligible to return last week but the Eagles went the safer route and gave him some extra time.
With Gardner Minshew getting the start, it’s a big boost to get Goedert back. In their game together against the Jets last season, Goedert had 105 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He said this week he would remind Minshew of that success.
And rookie safety Reed Blankenship is back after missing the Bears game with a knee injury. When he suffered the injury against the Giants, it looked way more serious than it ended up being. He’s expected to get the start next to Marcus Epps in the Eagles’ defense, which will likely sent K’Von Wallace to the bench. And the normal starter, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, is eligible to return next week if his lacerated kidney has healed enough.
Receiver Zach Pascal (concussion) came into the weekend listed as questionable but he’s active for this game. He was cleared by an independent neurologist in time. Pascal was able to practice in a limited fashion on Friday.
Here’s a look at Eagles’ inactives for this game:
Minshew will get his first start of the season in place of the injured Hurts. Last year, Minshew played well in the Eagles’ win over the Jets. In that game last year, he completed 20 of 25 passes for 242 yards and 2 touchdowns.
He’ll have a chance to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the Eagles with a strong performance on Saturday afternoon. And if he can do that, he might earn some extra playing time. Because if the Eagles clinch the top seed, there’s less of a reason for them to rush Hurts back from his shoulder injury. They’d probably opt to give him some extra rest.
While Minshew will start, third-stringer Ian Book will be active for his first game as an Eagle. The Eagles claimed Book in late August after he was released by the Saints. Book was drafted in the fourth round out of Notre Dame by the Saints last year. Book played and started in one game last season, completing 12 of 20 passes with 2 INTs in a 20-3 Saints loss.
The Eagles made a few roster moves on Friday afternoon, placing TE Tyree Jackson on Injured Reserve. Jackson had already been ruled out for this game and the Eagles had no need for four tight ends.
To replace him on the roster, the Eagles signed linebacker Christian Elliss. Elliss has been a difference maker on special teams but the Eagles had already used up his three elevations from the practice squad. He has four special teams tackles in three games and has played well at linebacker late in blowouts too.
The only elevation this week was punter Brett Kern, who made his Eagles debut last week. The 36-year-old veteran and three-time Pro Bowler was signed to the practice squad after Arryn Sipposs suffered an ankle injury against the Giants. | 2022-12-24T20:58:29Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles inactives: A couple key Eagles make their returns vs. Cowboys | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-inactives-couple-key-eagles-195500800.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-inactives-couple-key-eagles-195500800.html?src=rss |
Joe Burrow has 28 completions and three TDs with Bengals up 22-0 at halftime originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
Pope Francis on Saturday led the world's Catholics into Christmas, saying in an apparent reference to the war in Ukraine and other conflicts that the level of greed and hunger for power was such that some wanted to "consume even their neighbours". As has been the case for the past several months, a knee ailment prevented Francis from standing for long periods, delegating a cardinal to be the main celebrant at the altar of the largest church in Christendom. Sitting to the side of the altar for most of the Mass, he wove his homily around the theme of greed and consumption on various levels, asking people to look beyond the consumerism that has "packaged" the feast, rediscover its meaning, and remember those suffering from war and poverty. | 2022-12-24T20:59:07Z | sports.yahoo.com | Joe Burrow has 28 completions and three TDs with Bengals up 22-0 at halftime | https://sports.yahoo.com/joe-burrow-28-completions-three-193727577.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/joe-burrow-28-completions-three-193727577.html?src=rss |
The New England Patriots’ offense was doing nothing on Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
It was up to the defense to get the Pats on the scoreboard and rookie DB Marcus Jones delivered.
Joe Burrow threw a third-quarter pass on his back foot and it went directly to the speedy Jones.
Jones collected the interception and returned it 69 yards for a touchdown.
However, Nick Folk missed the extra point and New England was still down 22-6.
Jones has scored on defense, offense, and special teams for Bill Belichick.
It was the sixth defensive TD of the season for New England, equaling team records set in 2003 and ’07. | 2022-12-24T20:59:26Z | sports.yahoo.com | Marcus Jones returns pick of Joe Burrow for Patriots touchdown | https://sports.yahoo.com/marcus-jones-returns-pick-joe-201700644.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/marcus-jones-returns-pick-joe-201700644.html?src=rss |
Like the weather this afternoon at Bank of America Stadium, the Carolina Panthers are extremely cold . . . in a good way.
The white-hot Detroit Lions and their defense have been no match for the home team’s offense, as the Panthers set a franchise record for the most total yards in a first half with 364—surpassing their 349 versus the Atlanta Falcons in 2015. And that monstrous output was reached in large thanks to a relentless ground game.
Carolina’s ground-and-pound approach has netted them 240 yards and three touchdowns off of just 22 carries. The lead dog, at least thus far, has been second-year running back Chuba Hubbard—who has amassed 109 yards on six attempts.
D’Onta Foreman is not too far off. The veteran rusher has chalked up 104 yards on just 10 takes to this point.
Quarterback Sam Darnold is joining in on the fun as well. In addition to completing eight of his 12 passes for 124 yards, he’s also run for 21 yards and a score of his own on four carries.
Offensive coordinator Liam Coen on Baker Mayfield’s improvement
Coen seemed impressed by what Mayfield has been able to do in preparation for the #Rams' Christmas day matchup against the #Broncos
Four predictions for Lions-Panthers from Max Gerber for Week 16 | 2022-12-24T20:59:52Z | sports.yahoo.com | Panthers set franchise record for most total yards in a 1st half | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-set-franchise-record-most-193341999.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-set-franchise-record-most-193341999.html?src=rss |
With Week 16 of the 2022 season in full gear, there’s no nice way to put this: NFL officiating has been a complete and total bleepshow of late. Blown calls affect games, and there appears to be in-game confusion about everything from what a catch is to what constitutes roughing the passer. Whether the NFL will do anything about it in the offseason is a matter of conjecture, but we’re getting to the point where the zebras are struggling with the simple things.
With 7:30 left in the third quarter of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle quarterback Geno Smith threw a fourth-down pass to Colby Parkinson that fell short of the sticks. Not that it would have mattered if the play had created a first down, because it was coming back.
Eventually. First, referee Clete Blakeman had to figure out which team to penalize. At first, it was the Chiefs! Then, it was the Seahawks!
NFL Officiating: It’s not for everyone. pic.twitter.com/J1FVlvojvG
In the end, it was an offensive pass interference call on Seahawks receiver Penny Hart. We just had to wait an extra second for Blakeman to figure that out.
The TVA CEO said the federal agency needs to improve during a conference call with elected officials. | 2022-12-24T21:00:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | Referee Clete Blakeman got confused about which team he wanted to penalize | https://sports.yahoo.com/referee-clete-blakeman-got-confused-202836085.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/referee-clete-blakeman-got-confused-202836085.html?src=rss |
When Washington quarterback Carson Wentz fractured a finger on his throwing hand in a Week 6 win over the Chicago Bears, the Commanders were 2-4 and looked like an afterthought for a possible playoff berth.
However, backup quarterback — and former starter — Taylor Heinicke took over and led the Commanders to five wins in their next seven games and firmly positioned Washington into one of the NFC’s two final wild-card berths.
Wentz is healthy now, and Heinicke has had his share of struggles recently. While head coach Ron Rivera told Heinicke weeks back that he was the starter moving forward, that was when the Commanders were in the middle of a winning streak. Washington tied and lost to the New York Giants in back-to-back games in its last two outings.
Finishing drives was a problem for Washington’s offense. Some of that was on Heinicke, while some could be blamed on playcalling or pass protection.
Earlier in the week, Rivera left open the door for a possible quarterback change.
“No, no. I think that the biggest thing, more anything else, is sticking with Taylor and what we’re trying to establish,” Rivera said. “It is something though that obviously is talked about, obviously out there, and it is something that, to be quite frank, I do have to think about at some point. But if we can continue to get back on track and play the way we’ve played and do the things that we’ve done, then we’ll stick with where we are. Until then, I will do that.”
Rivera gave a good, honest answer on how he viewed the position for the remainder of the season. It was all about who would help the Commanders win, nothing more, nothing less.
Before Saturday’s slate of Christmas Eve games, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garofolo of the NFL Network spoke on the 49ers and Commanders’ matchup.
Pelissero had the following to say about a possible quarterback change for Washington:
The leash is not as long as it once was on Heinicke,” Pelissero said noting that Wentz did get some first-team reps at practice this week, which is typical for Washington’s backup quarterback. “The big emphasis this week is going to be on finishing drives. If he does that, Heinicke should stay in the lineup.”
Pelissero noted that Heinicke is “beat up” and battling some injuries, but if he struggles early, the Commanders will turn to Wentz. | 2022-12-24T21:00:30Z | sports.yahoo.com | Taylor Heinicke’s ‘leash not as long as it was’ ahead of final 3 games | https://sports.yahoo.com/taylor-heinicke-leash-not-long-193840846.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/taylor-heinicke-leash-not-long-193840846.html?src=rss |
Football weather is finally here, and the Houston Texans players are very aware of it as the Texans prepare to take on the Tennessee Titans in Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Game time temperature will be in the low 20s, a considerable rise from the 10 degrees it was projected to be at kickoff.
The Texans defenders have no time to worry about the wind chill factor when going up against the Titans and running back Derrick Henry, who torched Houston for 219 yards rushing and two touchdowns the last time the two teams met in late October.
“I am well aware,” said Texans defensive lineman Jonathan Greenard when the media reminded him of Henry’s performance. “We all know what the main objective is. 22 (Henry) is back there, and ultimately, we all know what they want to do when he is back there.”
On the offensive side of the ball, Houston wants to be more effective and build on the games they have played the last two weeks against playoff teams in the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. The weather could factor in how the offensive plays will be called, especially with rookie running back Dameon Pierce on the sidelines for the rest of the season with an ankle injury.
“The conditions are always something you have to think about, but in the back of your mind, you have a job that has to get done,” said Texans offensive lineman A.J. Cann. “You have to go out there and play ball no matter the conditions; you still have to go out there and do what they pay us to do. So, when it is cold, you are going to feel those hits a little more than normal.”
Things become more difficult in cold weather for position players like wide receiver Amari Rodgers, a returner on special teams.
“The ball is harder,” said Rodgers. “But once you catch it and feel it, and get used to feeling it, you get used to it. In warmups, you have to catch as many balls as you can so you can tuck it and get used to feeling it in the cold.”
Tennessee will be without the services of starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill and will call upon rookie Malik Willis who is making his third start. Houston will try and force him into passing the ball and limit him from escaping out of the pocket.
Even though the Texans’ record is 1-12-1 and the Titans are in a position to win the AFC South, all the records are out the window when the two rivals meet.
“This is still a big game despite the season. I don’t care what no one says; this is still Tennessee,” said Greenard. | 2022-12-24T21:00:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | Texans not affected by cold weather, focused on big game with Titans | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-not-affected-cold-weather-200832101.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-not-affected-cold-weather-200832101.html?src=rss |
The New England Patriots struggled to get highlights in the first half of Saturday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. However, a big play from Devin McCourty gave them at least a little hope towards the end of the first half.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was looking for wide receiver Tyler Boyd, and McCourty was able to read the play and pick off the pass for the interception. New England was unable to do anything with the interception on the ensuing offense drive, but it gave the New England defense hope in what has been a difficult afternoon.
That was McCourty’s third interception of the season and his first interception since October 30 against the New York Jets.
Devin McCourty picks off Joe Burrow! #Patriots pic.twitter.com/3Z08Q9rA5Y
The Patriots were challenged by Cincinnati’s offense all afternoon, but McCourty’s interception gave the indication that the defense will not go down without a fight.
Lottie Moss, Kate Moss' sister, made headlines for speaking out about the 'nepo babies' debate in Hollywood. The 24-year-old model has since deleted her Twitter account after getting backlash for her comments, but she's still active on other social media platforms, like TikTok, where she debuted a new face tattoo! | 2022-12-24T21:01:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Devin McCourty intercepts Joe Burrow to stall Bengals offense | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-devin-mccourty-intercepts-joe-193758579.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-devin-mccourty-intercepts-joe-193758579.html?src=rss |
The sprinkling of Chicago Bears fans who still were standing in the subzero windchill at Soldier Field as the clock ticked down Saturday weren’t gifted with a victory. The Bears defense had three takeaways but also gave up 254 rushing yards, including three touchdowns on the ground in the second half, in the Bills’ 35-13 victory. It was the Bears’ eighth straight loss. Bears quarterback Justin ... | 2022-12-24T21:44:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bears risers, fallers after loss to Bills on Christmas Eve | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-risers-fallers-loss-bills-210352748.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-risers-fallers-loss-bills-210352748.html?src=rss |
No, not every team the Minnesota Vikings have faced this season has choked. Any other quarterback with eight game-winning drives in the fourth quarter this season would be getting plenty of bouquets. Cousins will still, somehow, get no acclaim for the Vikings' latest comeback or their 12-3 record.
Ho hum, Cousins threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday, leading a game-winning drive after the New York Giants tied it with 2:01 left. The 27-24 win came right after the Vikings had the largest comeback victory in NFL history over the Colts. They trailed 33-0 in that game last week. Having a tie game with two minutes left must have felt easy on Sunday.
And yet, judging by how he's talked about, you'd think Cousins had nothing to do with all these wins.
That's fine; Cousins is just that player. He'll never get credit until the Vikings win a Super Bowl, and maybe not even then. The Vikings, who are outrunning their analytics by a mile this season, won't get much praise either. It's true that they are fortunate to keep winning close games. But maybe all that "luck" has something to do with their quarterback?
Before Sunday, no other quarterback had more than five fourth-quarter comebacks or game-winning drives this season. Cousins had seven, and added his eighth in spectacular fashion Sunday. After the Giants tied it, Cousins did his thing, leading the Vikings downfield. A wonderful screen pass to Justin Jefferson picked up 17 yards, getting it just close enough for Greg Joseph to try a 61-yard field goal. He hit it, barely, as time expired and the Vikings had another thrilling win.
It won't matter. If someone tries to credit Cousins on social media, he or she will be shouted down by those who refuse to give Cousins even a tiny bit of respect. Even mentioning that the quarterback of a 12-3 team who has led eight game-winning drives might be less than terrible drives some people crazy. The critics have dug in on Cousins being horrendous and no amount of clutch wins — unless one comes in February — will change that.
That's OK. Cousins will just keep doing what we praise all other quarterbacks for: leading the Vikings to exciting last-second wins. Maybe at some point people will recognize that he isn't really that bad.
Devin Singletary and James Cook: It was pretty clear early in Sunday's game that Josh Allen wasn't going to do much for the Buffalo Bills. No matter how strong his arm is, it's difficult to throw in a wind tunnel.
Singletary got a 33-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter and Cook followed that with a 27-yard score, and the Bills weren't going to give up that lead. The offense added a couple of insurance touchdowns late in the fourth quarter, which probably helped those who had Josh Allen in their fantasy lineups. The Bills clinched the AFC East title and are still alive for the No. 1 seed in the AFC with the 35-13 win. They'll probably need to win out to hold off the Kansas City Chiefs, but they're down to two games.
The Bills could have some rough weather games in the playoffs no matter where they play them. They can't assume Allen will be able to throw it 40 times and carry the offense like he does most weeks. They won't face the Bears' terrible defense in the playoffs, but at least they showed they can win playing defense and running the ball.
Baltimore Ravens defense: The Ravens know the offense isn't going to score much as long as Lamar Jackson is out. They need to pitch near-shutouts to keep winning and perhaps take the AFC North.
That's what happened on Sunday. The Atlanta Falcons moved the ball decently — rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder looked better in his second start — but they couldn't score. The signature sequence of the Ravens' 17-9 win was a goal-line stand in the fourth quarter. The Falcons tried running four times when they got to the Ravens' 4-yard line and that went nowhere. Tyler Allgeier was stopped for a loss on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Atlanta never reached the end zone in the loss.
The Ravens host the Steelers next week and if they win, they ensure that a Week 18 game against the Bengals will be for the division title. Maybe Jackson will be back by then. They need it.
Kansas City Chiefs defense: The Seattle Seahawks are the "Greatest Show on Turf" but they have been a competent offense most of the season. And the Chiefs looked pretty good on defense in Sunday's win.
The Chiefs won 24-10, and the only time Seattle got in the end zone was late in the fourth quarter after the game was decided. Kansas City's defense has played better, though they also are in a soft part of their schedule. Still, we know if the Chiefs are even decent on defense, Patrick Mahomes and the offense can win a Super Bowl.
The Chiefs were pretty good on defense Sunday. That's a great sign for them.
They needed it for their playoff hopes but the Patriots looked dead when they trailed 22-0 to the Cincinnati Bengals at halftime. Joe Burrow had 284 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. The Patriots seemed cooked.
Then the defense dug in and the Patriots got back in it. They trailed 22-18 when they recovered a fumble. A drive got them down to the Cincinnati 5-yard line in the final two minutes. Then Stevenson, a very good young running back, fumbled. Bengals safety Vonn Bell forced the fumble and Cincinnati recovered. The Patriots got it back once more after that but their desperation drive didn't go anywhere and time ran out on a 22-18 Bengals win.
Detroit Lions' playoff chances: The problem with starting 1-6 is nothing can go wrong the rest of the season.
The Lions got blasted by the Carolina Panthers 37-23 on Sunday. The Panthers set a franchise record for yards in a first half, and this isn't a good Carolina offense. Panthers running backs D'Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard each had 100 yards rushing before halftime. That's not good. It was shocking, given how the Lions have played lately.
The Lions aren't dead in the playoff race at 7-8 but it doesn't look great after Sunday. They really couldn't afford a loss at Carolina. And it wasn't even close.
The Cleveland Browns lost 17-10 to the New Orleans Saints and the game was as ugly as anticipated. It was cold, windy and looked like it was being played on an ice rink. At least the Browns let the fans who were there to move down from the upper deck during the game. Though, a closer look probably wasn't too pretty either.
The Browns' season has been lost for a while. Deshaun Watson hasn't electrified the franchise or anything upon his return from suspension. The Saints were tougher and executed better on Sunday. Sitting in the stands had to be a miserable way to spend a Sunday afternoon. | 2022-12-24T21:45:18Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL Winners and Losers: Kirk Cousins might deserve some credit after another game-winning drive | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-winners-and-losers-kirk-cousins-might-deserve-some-credit-after-another-game-winning-drive-212838050.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-winners-and-losers-kirk-cousins-might-deserve-some-credit-after-another-game-winning-drive-212838050.html?src=rss |
On Saturday, the Chicago Bears were blown out, 35-13, by the Buffalo Bills. It was a close game going into the third quarter before Buffalo took control and dominated the entire second half.
Despite the poor showing in the second half, there were some positives in this game. The Bears’ defense forced three turnovers, intercepting Josh Allen twice. They had the ball for two minutes longer than Buffalo in time of possession, too. It came down to efficiency in big moments, something the Bears struggled with.
Chicago stalled out on many of their drives, while Buffalo extended drives on third down, going 6-for-11 on third down conversions. In addition, Buffalo went 3-for-4 in red zone efficiency compared to Chicago’s 1-for-4.
Here’s everything we know after Chcago’s Week 15 loss.
Final Score: Bills 35, Bears 13
Run defense struggles: Chicago has struggled to defend the run all season, and that was the case in Saturday’s loss to Buffalo, where tackling was a huge issue. The Bears allowed 243 rushing yards, where Devin Singletary had 106 yards on 12 carries for a touchdown and James Cook had 99 yards on 11 carries and a score. Josh Allen added 41 yards on six carries and a touchdown.
Containing Josh Allen early: The Bears did a decent job of containing Allen on Saturday. They held him to 172 yards passing and intercepted him twice. Allen still threw two passing touchdowns and ran for one in the second half. He was a key factor for the Bills’ victory, but Chicago did do their best at slowing him down in the first half.
Running quarterbacks: The Bears and Bills both have great running quarterback. Justin Fields and Josh Allen are both league leaders on the ground and would be expected to be huge factors in Saturday’s game. Shockingly enough to many, Buffalo shut down Fields, holding him to 11 yards on seven carries. Allen, on the other hand, had 41 yards on six carries, along with a touchdown.
Beating the cold: Both the Bears and Bills are used to the cold, but Saturday’s expected weather was the lowest for either of the two teams this season. It was cold and windy, but it was as much of a factor as expected. In the first half, it appeared that it was going to be a low-scoring game. The weather impacted the game a little bit and things looked to favor Chicago. In the second half, Buffalo looked entirely different. They played like they did last week against Miami, only Chicago didn’t keep up as the Dolphins did.
It was over when Josh Allen rushed for a touchdown with 3:02 left in the fourth quarter, extending Buffalo’s lead to 28-13. That was coming off of a drive where Allen threw an interception and the Bears capitalized with a field goal, making it an eight-point game. After that field goal, it was all Buffalo.
The Bills would continue to put the pressure on Chicago, holding them to only that field goal in the second half. Allen scored one more touchdown, throwing a 13-yard pass to Dawson Knox with 1:02 left in the fourth quarter.
*Velus Jones Jr: Jones has struggled throughout his rookie season, where he hasn’t been able to carve out a role for himself on offense. He had his most productive offensive showing with two catches for 52 yards, including an impressive 44-yard reception from Justin Fields.
**Kyler Gordon: Gordon made a touchdown-saving interception in the first half, intercepting Josh Allen at the one-yard line and returning it for 36 yards. In addition to that, he had five total tackles. It was the second consecutive game where Gordon recorded an interception. He has three takeaways in the last two weeks.
***Justin Fields: Fields was stopped on the ground on Saturday, but he slowed great progression in the air. Fields completed 15-for-23 passes for 119 yards, and a passing touchdown. He had a 92.5 passer rating and was one of the Bears’ best players against Buffalo.
****Nicholas Morrow: Morrow intercepted Josh Allen in the second half after the Bears’ drive stalled and couldn’t convert on fourth down when they were down 21-10. It was a huge interception, which led to a Chicago field goal, bringing them within eight points. Morrow also had eight total tackles on the day.
On New Year’s Day, the Bears will travel to Detroit to face the red-hot Lions, at 12 p.m. CT. Detroit defeated Chicago in their first meeting this season, 31-30, back in Week 10. | 2022-12-24T22:25:35Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bears vs. Bills: Everything we know about Chicago’s Week 16 loss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-vs-bills-everything-know-215154215.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-vs-bills-everything-know-215154215.html?src=rss |
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) Joe Burrow threw three touchdown passes and the Cincinnati Bengals forced a late turnover in the red zone to preserve a 22-18 win over the New England Patriots on Saturday.
Cincinnati dominated the first half, compiling more first downs (22) in the opening 30 minutes than the Patriots had plays (17). New England's offense managed just three first downs, 70 total yards and amassed 44 penalty yards in the opening 30 minutes.
Marcus Jones' interception return for a score marked the sixth defensive TD of season for New England, tying a franchise record. It was also the Patriots' third straight game with a defensive score, which they haven't done since 2004.
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Tyler Huntley threw a first-half touchdown pass, and the Baltimore defense kept the Atlanta Falcons out of the end zone in a 17-9 victory Saturday that ended up assuring a playoff spot for the Ravens. About a half-hour after Baltimore (10-5) took care of the Falcons, New England lost to Cincinnati to put the Ravens in the playoffs. The Ravens won for the second time in three games without quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has been out with a knee injury. | 2022-12-24T22:25:41Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bengals force late red zone turnover, hold off Pats 22-18 | https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-force-red-zone-turnover-215328705.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-force-red-zone-turnover-215328705.html?src=rss |
It wasn’t a very happy Christmas Eve as the Chicago Bears fell short against the Buffalo Bills in a 35-13 loss at Soldier Field.
The Super Bowl hopes to continue for Buffalo as they improved to 12-3 and clinched the AFC East for the fourth year in a row, something they haven’t done since 1995-1999. Meanwhile, the Bears maintained their hold on the No. 2 overall pick.
Chicago had a strong showing in the first half taking a 10-6 lead over Buffalo, led by a 6-yard touchdown pass from Justin Fields to Dante Pettis and a 37-yard Cairo Santos field goal. But the second half was all Bills. Buffalo scored on back-to-back drives to take a 21-10 lead before the end of the third quarter.
Quarterback Justin Fields had a decent game as a passer completing 65% of his passes for 119 yards and one touchdown. However, for the first time since Week 3, Fields didn’t rush for at least 40 yards and only finished with 11 yards rushing on seven attempts.
After going down 35-13 in the fourth quarter, the Bears pulled Fields on the final drive and let Nathan Peterman finish the game. As a result, Chicago has solidified the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft at 3-12.
The Bears run defense struggled to contain Buffalo’s stable of running backs. The Bills rushed for 254 yards, where Devin Singletary had 106 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown and James Cook had 99 yards on 11 carries and a score. Josh Allen added 41 yards on six carries and a touchdown.
The Bears will hit the road to face the Detroit Lions on New Year’s Day.
See North West Prank Little Brother Psalm With Makeover While He Sleeps
North West shares a video on TikTok of her pulling a holiday prank on her little brother, Psalm, by drawing on his face while he's sleeping. North’s latest hijinks comes after she pranked her mom, Kim Kardashian, last week by pretending to shave off her eyebrows. | 2022-12-24T22:27:50Z | sports.yahoo.com | Instant analysis of Bears’ 35-13 loss vs. Bills in Week 15 | https://sports.yahoo.com/instant-analysis-bears-35-13-212737817.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/instant-analysis-bears-35-13-212737817.html?src=rss |
The New England Patriots fought their way back from a 22-point deficit at halftime, only to fall short on a Rhamondre Stevenson red zone fumble against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Bad teams find ways to lose football games, and such was the case for the Patriots down the stretch of a game they had to claw and scratch their way back into on Saturday.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow looked like Joe Brady in the first half, dropping dimes all over the field to his many receiving weapons. But the Patriots defense stepped up in a big way and shut down the former Heisman Trophy winner by holding one of the hottest teams in football scoreless in the second half.
The comeback was sparked with Marcus Jones scoring a pick-six on Burrow and putting the Patriots’ first points on the board. Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne also suddenly had the game of his life with six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown. And then there was the ridiculous deep touchdown pass attempt to reserve tight end Scotty Washington, who pushed the pass into the awaiting arms of Jakobi Meyers for six more points.
How’s this for a bounce-back lateral play?
The Patriots had the game under control with barely a minute left on the clock in a goal line situation, but they continued to force-feed Stevenson, who then put the ball on the ground to sing New England’s lullaby on the afternoon.
Heartbreaking doesn’t even begin to describe a loss of this magnitude, especially after the way things ended last week in Las Vegas. The hits keep on coming for a Patriots team that is no longer the gold standard of professional football.
Coach Bill Belichick, including every other coach and player within that organization, will have to look into the mirror tonight to decide where they go from here. Change obviously isn’t coming overnight, and the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills are next up on the schedule.
There should be no more talk of the walls closing in on the Patriots. It’s time to face the fact that they’ve already closed. | 2022-12-24T22:27:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | Instant analysis of Patriots’ failed rally in 22-18 loss to Bengals | https://sports.yahoo.com/instant-analysis-patriots-failed-rally-215500435.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/instant-analysis-patriots-failed-rally-215500435.html?src=rss |
End Josh Sweat, who came into Saturday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys with a career-high 9.5 sacks, showed his versatility with this pick-six of a Dak Prescott pass to tight end Dalton Schultz with 9:28 left in the first quarter.
Sweat did an amazing job of breaking out of the rush, and getting to where he needed to be to make the big play in a crucial game. The play put the Eagles up 10-0.
If the Eagles beat the Cowboys, they wrap up the NFC East, the NFC’s one-seed, and home field throughout the playoffs. | 2022-12-24T22:28:22Z | sports.yahoo.com | Josh Sweat zings Dak Prescott with 42-yard pick-six | https://sports.yahoo.com/josh-sweat-zings-dak-prescott-214542054.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/josh-sweat-zings-dak-prescott-214542054.html?src=rss |
The Jacksonville Jaguars are first place in the AFC South with two weeks left and a Week 18 matchup against the Tennessee Titans is now guaranteed to decide the division winner.
That was decided in Week 16 when Tennessee dropped to 7-8 on the year with a 19-14 loss to the Houston Texans. The division standings after Sunday look like this:
The Jaguars currently own the tiebreaker at the top of the division by way of a 36-22 win over the Titans in Week 14. However, Tennessee has a 3-2 record in AFC South play while the Jaguars are 2-2.
If Jacksonville wins in Week 18, it’ll own the tiebreaker via a season sweep. If Tennessee wins, it’ll own the tiebreaker via a 4-2 division record.
With a Week 18 duel guaranteed to decide the division, it could make sense for the Jaguars to rest their starters during a Week 17 game against the Texans. However, there’s still a long shot scenario where Jacksonville could earn a wild card berth even after losing to the Titans in their season finale.
Dawuane Smoot confirms he tore his Achilles vs. Jets
For the second time in as many years, a Jaguars player tore his Achilles in a game at MetLife Stadium. | 2022-12-24T22:28:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL standings 2022: Jaguars lead AFC South after Titans loss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-standings-2022-jaguars-lead-215024232.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-standings-2022-jaguars-lead-215024232.html?src=rss |
The playoffs may be farfetched for the Jets as Robert Saleh put it, but their hopes aren’t completely dead yet.
Thanks to the Cincinnati Bengals defeating the New England Patriots 22-18 on Saturday, the Jets will avoid elimination this week. They would have needed wins by the Chargers, Dolphins and Patriots as well as either a Ravens win or a Browns loss. The latter two both happened, but New England losing broke the combo and thus the Jets will still have a pulse heading to Seattle next week.
The Jets will now be the biggest Green Bay fans out there, as a Packers win over the Dolphins on Sunday would give some extra life into the Jets’ playoff hopes. If that happens, the Jets would then just need to win their last two games and hope Miami beats New England next week.
So you’re saying there’s a chance? Yes, there’s a chance. Farfetched, but not impossible. | 2022-12-24T22:29:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | Patriots loss means Jets stay alive one more week | https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-loss-means-jets-stay-213443959.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-loss-means-jets-stay-213443959.html?src=rss |
Heart attacks go hand-in-hand with being a Minnesota Vikings fan as they gave us another one on Saturday afternoon against the New York Giants.
After going up by eight with three minutes left in the game, they allowed Daniel Jones to lead a 75-yard drive on seven plays to tie the game.
After that, the Vikings had a chance to go and win the game and Kirk Cousins did just that, albeit with struggles and poor clock management.
After a rough sack, they needed Justin Jefferson to bail them out with a 17-yard tunnel screen. That set up kicker Greg Joseph to hit a 61-yard field goal which he did with ease.
That 61-yard field goal wasn’t just the longest in the career of Joseph, but also the longest in the history of the Minnesota Vikings. A tremendous way to end the game and the regular season home finale.
Greg Joseph kicked a career-long 61-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Minnesota Vikings a 27-24 victory that prevented the New York Giants from clinching a playoff spot on Saturday. T.J. Hockenson had a career-high 13 catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns from Kirk Cousins, who threw for a third score to Justin Jefferson with 3 minutes to go that was set up by a blocked punt and gave the Vikings (12-3) an eight-point lead. Saquon Barkley's 27-yard rush right up the middle on fourth-and-2 for the Giants (8-6-1) with 2:01 left and the ensuing 2-point conversion pass from Daniel Jones to Daniel Bellinger tied it up.
An apparent interception by the Giants came off the board in the third quarter and the Vikings made the most of their reprieve. Tight end T.J. Hockenson went up and over a couple of Giants defenders to haul in a 15-yard pass from Kirk Cousins for his second touchdown of the game early in the [more] | 2022-12-24T22:30:13Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH Greg Joseph kick the longest field goal in Vikings history | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-greg-joseph-kick-longest-213851217.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-greg-joseph-kick-longest-213851217.html?src=rss |
The Chicago Bears suffered a 35-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Christmas Eve, which marked their eight straight defeat of the 2022 season.
In what has been a rather ugly season, it’s no surprise that Chicago has tied a franchise mark for the longest losing streak in franchise history.
The Bears last lost eight straight during the 1978 season, where they won their first three games before losing their next eight games. They finished the year 7-9.
The thing is, Chicago is poised to set a new record with consecutive losses, as they’ll battle the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings to close out the season.
The Bears have an 8-game losing streak
That matches their longest losing streak in franchise history
The franchise was founded in 1920 pic.twitter.com/YxFwEuvg0Z
To be honest, this was the expectation heading into the 2022 season. Maybe not tying the franchise record for most consecutive losses. But the struggles that we’ve seen play out this year — with this current roster, now without its top players due to injury or trade — were expected.
But the most important thing to come out of this miserable 2022 season is that the Bears have found their franchise quarterback in Justin Fields, who has impressed with a struggling offensive line and underwhelming receiving group (now down its top three options).
While Chicago has done an awful lot of losing this season, they’ve already won because they’ve found their franchise QB. And that’s what this season was always going to be about.
And it certainly helps that the Bears are trending toward a top-two draft selection.
Studs and duds from Bears' Week 16 loss vs. Bills | 2022-12-24T23:57:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bears have lost eight straight games, tying franchise record | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-lost-eight-straight-games-222559013.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-lost-eight-straight-games-222559013.html?src=rss |
Are these Carolina Panthers actually for real? Well, that very much seemed to be the case against a formidable Detroit Lions squad on Saturday afternoon.
Here’s what we’re taking away from the huge 37-23 victory.
Sam Darnold continues to look competent
Darnold’s road to get under center has been an unlikely one here in 2022. And he may be defying even more odds in the coming weeks.
The fifth-year quarterback had his best performance of the season against what was a hot Lions defense. He completed 15 of his 22 throws for a season-high 250 yards, a touchdown and a 121.4 passer rating—the highest of his Panthers career.
Heck, he even did a little work on the ground—collecting a 13-yard run and a 3-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. But, most importantly, he went a fourth straight start without throwing an interception—something he’s done only once before.
By keeping control of the rock and taking what he’s been given through the air, Darnold is proving he’s good enough to steer offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo’s ship—one that may sail right into the playoffs.
We know where the bread is buttered
While Darnold has done a bang-up job, the heart and soul of this offense is in its backfield. You know that, we know that, the Panthers know that and the rest of the NFL knows that.
Detroit, in particular, received a hard lesson about it on Saturday—as Carolina ran for a franchise record 320 yards and three touchdowns. That gave way to another single-game franchise record of 570 total yards.
The historic effort was led by running back D’Onta Foreman, who amassed a career-high 165 yards and a score off 21 carries. Chuba Hubbard, the “dash” to Foreman’s “smash,” added in 125 yards of his own through just 12 attempts.
Carolina’s offense will continue to live and die on their ground-and-approach. So as long as their bruising offensive line continues to open up lanes for their rushers, the Panthers will always have a chance to control the game.
The season is likely over for Jaycee Horn
Well, this hurts.
Saturday’s triumph came at a price, as cornerback Jaycee Horn exited the contest with a wrist injury. The second-year defender came up clutching his wrist after tackling Lions wideout Josh Reynolds in the fourth quarter.
Early indications—from reports and player accounts—is that Horn has likely sustained a break. The 23-year-old was also seen in the locker room wearing a cast and sling on his right arm.
This would very likely end Horn’s tremendous 2022 campaign and force the Panthers to find some much needed help to cover for their top cover man.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) D'Onta Foreman ran for a career-high 165 yards and a touchdown, Chuba Hubbard added 125 yards rushing and the Carolina Panthers racked up a franchise record 320 yards on the ground to beat the Detroit Lions 37-23 on Saturday and keep their NFC South title hopes alive. Sam Darnold completed 15 of 22 passes for 250 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score to improve to 3-1 as Carolina's starting QB. Raheem Blackshear and D.J. Moore also scored for the Panthers, who amassed a team-record 570 yards of offense in the coldest game ever played at Bank of America Stadium. | 2022-12-24T23:57:36Z | sports.yahoo.com | Biggest takeaways from Panthers’ Week 16 win over Lions | https://sports.yahoo.com/biggest-takeaways-panthers-week-16-223050834.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/biggest-takeaways-panthers-week-16-223050834.html?src=rss |
The Philadelphia Eagles faced a fourth-and-3 in the third quarter on Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys.
A.J. Brown, a likely target, was not on the field, however.
Nick Sirianni had something in the playbook for this situation and it wound up baffling the Cowboys
Watch as Gardner Minshew finds a wide-open DeVonta Smith in the end zone for the touchdown that gave the Eagles a 27-17 lead.
Philly was looking to clinch the No. 1 seed and was in position to do it without star quarterback Jalen Hurts, who has a bum shoulder. | 2022-12-24T23:58:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles turn fourth-and-3 into easy touchdown | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-turn-fourth-3-easy-232351899.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-turn-fourth-3-easy-232351899.html?src=rss |
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was completely dumbfounded with the way things were going for his team in the first half of Saturday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Even with the Patriots feeling the pressure from a must-win situation, the Bengals strolled into Gillette Stadium and sprinted out in front to a 22-0 lead in the first two quarters.
As the points were piling on, the sideline cameras caught Belichick looking ahead at his team getting completely dismantled.
“What the [expletive],” Belichick seems to say, via Barstool Sports.
Those words pretty much encapsulate the entire season for the Patriots. A week after the embarrassing lateral blunder cost them against the Las Vegas Raiders, running back Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled in the red zone with a minute left in the fourth quarter, after the team scored 18 unanswered points in a comeback rally attempt.
The Patriots are now 7-8 on the season with hardly a prayer for a playoff berth.
The company that oversaw the construction of a minor league baseball park in Massachusetts has agreed to pay nearly $2 million to settle allegations that it failed to live up to its pledge of giving a certain portion of the work on the project to women- and minority-owned businesses | 2022-12-24T23:59:05Z | sports.yahoo.com | Even Bill Belichick was surprised on this play with how bad the Patriots are this season | https://sports.yahoo.com/even-bill-belichick-surprised-play-231420430.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/even-bill-belichick-surprised-play-231420430.html?src=rss |
The New Orleans Saints are leaving Week 16 with a win, but it wasn’t easy. And many of their struggles are their own fault. But there are positives to highlight too, especially after a win on the road in which many outside observers wrote them off against the Cleveland Browns.
So let’s take a quick look at Sunday’s game. As always, we’ll consider three critical questions: what went right, what went wrong, and what’s the bottom line?
Let’s start with what they did well. The Saints avoided penalties in this game, drawing just two fouls for a loss of 15 yards — yielding a single first down by penalty to Cleveland. They were also effective on third downs offensively, converting 7 of their 15 tries (46.7%, well above their season average at 40.0%). The Saints were efficient, they cut down on the mistakes, and they got the job done.
Defensively, the Saints sacked Deshaun Watson twice, intercepted him at a critical juncture, and broke up four of his passes into their coverage. Points were limited by strong winds in this one, but they still deserve some credit for holding the Browns to just 10 points on the afternoon. New Orleans has held opponents to scoring outputs of 10, 18, 17, and 13 points over their last four games. They haven’t allowed another team to score more than 20 points on them since the Baltimore Ravens did it on Nov. 7, back in Week 9.
So this was a rough game for the Saints run defense, even if they limited the Browns run game to just 3.6 yards per carry. Cleveland nearly converted a 3rd-and-16 on a short pass to Kareem Hunt, who did his damage after the catch, but a penalty gave the Saints a do-over facing 3rd and 11. Then Nick Chubb rumbled for 11 yards to convert it anyway. The Saints were too leaky in this phase and it gave the Browns enough chances to rally back. A better team would have gotten more out of those opportunities.
Offensively, the bizarre usage of Taysom Hill is hard to overlook. Hill’s first rushing attempt came with 3:24 left in the first half, and it only took him two carries to lead the team in rushing yards. He was clearly their best option on the ground in this game but the Saints stubbornly refused to get him involved until they were already trailing by 10 points. It’s the sort of thing more-competent opponents have taken advantage of this year. Pete Carmichael Jr. needs to do a better job getting his players in a position to win earlier in games. Dialing up multiple jump balls to Keith Kirkwood down the seam amid strong winds isn’t the best move.
This win is kind of miraculous because of all the hurdles the Saints overcame — many of which they set out for themselves. Taysom Hill didn’t log a single rushing attempt until late in the second quarter. Alvin Kamara wasn’t weaponized enough on third downs until the second half. Direct snaps to Kamara should have been going to Hill, and an ill-advised pass from Andy Dalton was intercepted to give the Browns great starting field position, setting them up for their first touchdown.
Dennis Allen’s coaching staff hasn’t gotten enough out of the talent available to them. We can talk about injuries and absences but at the end of the day they just haven’t met expectations. That’s as true here as it’s been all year. This win was much-needed for morale, but there are so many warts still on display that we’ve seen for months. A win here shouldn’t change the team’s offseason plans and discussions on Allen’s future with the team. He and his staff are holding the Saints back. Enjoy this win for what it is, but don’t read too deeply into it. | 2022-12-24T23:59:37Z | sports.yahoo.com | Instant analysis from the Saints’ hard-fought win over the Browns in Week 16 | https://sports.yahoo.com/instant-analysis-saints-hard-fought-233122532.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/instant-analysis-saints-hard-fought-233122532.html?src=rss |
Watch Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins' best throws from his 3-TD game in Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season.
“Renaissance,” the title music to season two of HBO’s “The White Lotus,” written by the Chilean American composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer, has touched something deep within the modern zeitgeist. It’s become an EDM anthem, a social media hit and — most recently — a perfect cover for the funk jam band Pigeons Playing Ping […] | 2022-12-24T23:59:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | Kirk Cousins' best throws from 3-TD game Week 16 | https://sports.yahoo.com/kirk-cousins-best-throws-3-222117604.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/kirk-cousins-best-throws-3-222117604.html?src=rss |
The Pittsburgh Steelers arrived for Saturday’s game with the Las Vegas Raiders each wearing an homage to the late Franco Harris.
One by one players arrived for the contest wearing No. 32 jerseys.
The team is going to retire the Pro Football Hall of Fame running back’s No. 32 before the game with the Raiders.
The ceremony comes a day after the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception. | 2022-12-25T00:00:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | Steelers players arrive for game wearing Franco Harris No. 32 jerseys | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-players-arrive-game-wearing-224608429.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-players-arrive-game-wearing-224608429.html?src=rss |
The Houston Texans finally broke through their slump and delivered on Sunday to find a win 19-14 over the Tennessee Titans. It had been a long time coming for coach Lovie Smith and the whole roster with only one win through the first 15 weeks of the season.
Their victory was in large part fueled by a great game plan from Smith and an excellent performance from the defense. Running back Derrick Henry was still dominant with 126 yards and a touchdown but it still wasn’t enough with how the Texans were able to man handle rookie quarterback Malik Willis.
Willis was held to 99 yards on 14-23 passing and threw two key interceptions to second-round safety Jalen Pitre and third-round linebacker Christian Harris. The two defensive rookies have been stars the past month for Houston’s defense and this week it finally translated to a winning effort.
Harris had six total tackles and two passes defended while playing a key role in shutting down the running game and using his speed to key on Willis’ running ability. It was a long way from the effort he showed in his NFL debut against the Titans where he registered just one tackle earlier this season. His interception late in the fourth quarterback was practically a gift from Willis but a great example of Harris putting himself in the right position to make a play.
Meanwhile, Pitre lead the team with nine total tackles and brought the enforcer mentality that has gained him national recognition the second half of the season. After missing a key tackle early in the game that allowed Henry to rumble in for a score, he made up for that effort with the game clinching interception on the Titans final Hail Mary attempt.
Jalen pitre having 126 tackles and 4 ints as a rookie is really bonkers.
Houston has to feel encouraged their high-capital rookies are starting to play up to their talent potential and draft status. They’ll have a much bigger challenge next week as they try to maintain their winning streak against Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars. | 2022-12-25T00:01:12Z | sports.yahoo.com | Texans rookies deliver on defense with 19-14 edging of the Titans | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-rookies-deliver-defense-19-230947830.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-rookies-deliver-defense-19-230947830.html?src=rss |
The least likely team to win a game won one on Saturday and put the most unlikely of teams into first place by virtue of the victory.
Davis Mills hit Brandon Cooks with a touchdown pass that proved the difference in Houston’s 19-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
The win snapped Houston’s nine-game losing streak and ran Tennessee’s to five games.
By virtue of tiebreakers, the Jacksonville Jaguars are in first place in the AFC South at 7-8.
The Titans have the same mark but Jacksonville has the edge through the tiebreaker system with two weeks left in the season.
These are the same Jacksonville Jaguars that have had the first overall pick in the NFL draft the last two seasons.
The Jaguars finish the season with a game at the Texans next week and then a home contest against Tennessee.
Two wins and they will have gone from worst to first. | 2022-12-25T00:01:18Z | sports.yahoo.com | Texans topple Titans, push Jaguars into first place in the AFC South | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-topple-titans-push-jaguars-231340479.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-topple-titans-push-jaguars-231340479.html?src=rss |
Devin Singletary and James Cook ran for long touchdowns in the third quarter, and the Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC East title by beating the Bears 35-13 on Saturday in one of the coldest games played in Chicago. Josh Allen ran for a TD and threw for another in the game’s closing minutes, breaking a tie with Hall of Famer Dan Marino for the most touchdowns in a player’s first five NFL seasons. The Bills remain tied with West leader Kansas City, which beat Seattle, but Buffalo owns the head-to-head tiebreaker after defeating the Chiefs in October. | 2022-12-25T00:01:50Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Brock Purdy uncorks long TD to George Kittle | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-brock-purdy-uncorks-long-224627253.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-brock-purdy-uncorks-long-224627253.html?src=rss |
The Washington Commanders were locked in a defensive battle with the San Francisco 49ers throughout the first half of their Week 16 matchup. A Washington win would put the Commanders in a very good spot for the playoffs, but it wouldn’t be easy.
While Washington had success moving the football in the first half, one possession stalled at the San Francisco one-yard line when running back Antonio Gibson was stopped short of the goal line.
The 49ers scored a 71-yard touchdown on the following possession to take a 7-0 lead. After a defensive stop, the Niners got the ball back.
The Commanders finally had some luck on their side when San Francisco wide receiver Jauan Jennings bobbles the ball into the arms of Washington safety Darrick Forrest for an interception.
A few plays later, quarterback Taylor Heinicke found rookie wide receiver Jahan Dotson in the back of the end zone for a four-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.
Dotson finished the half with four receptions for 49 yards and could have had a lot more. Dotson dropped one pass that could’ve gone for a touchdown on the first drive, but he lost it in the sun. Later, he caught a deep pass from Heinicke that was nullified due to offsetting penalties.
'That '90s Show': Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher and More Return For 'That '70s Show' Sequel!
'That '90s Show' trailer teases Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Topher Grace and more OG ‘That 70’s Show' stars return for the sequel. Netflix’s 'That '90s Show' premieres on Jan. 16. | 2022-12-25T00:01:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | WATCH: Commanders WR Jahan Dotson’s touchdown to tie things up vs. 49ers | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-commanders-wr-jahan-dotson-225105291.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-commanders-wr-jahan-dotson-225105291.html?src=rss |
Watch Robert Kraft welcome ‘classy' fan who endured heckling in viral video originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
"I'll tell you, what you did was so classy, and you represent what our whole franchise is about: building bridges," Kraft said, in a video released by the Patriots Saturday.
The Eagles began the first half with a 10-0 lead. Early in the second half, the Eagles have regained a 10-point lead. The Eagles, who got a field goal with six seconds remaining in the first half to take a 20-17 lead into the locker room, stopped the Cowboys on a three-and-out to open the [more]
Canada on Friday condemned what it said were North Korean arms deliveries to Russia, saying Pyongyang's transaction with the private military company the Wagner Group "clearly violates international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions." "We will continue to work with international partners to address these developments and respond to further arms deliveries should they take place," Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said in a statement. North Korea's foreign ministry, in a statement, has denied that it has supplied munitions to Russia but did not make any mention of Wagner. | 2022-12-25T00:02:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | Watch Robert Kraft welcome ‘classy' fan who endured heckling in viral video | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-patriots-owner-welcome-classy-232240773.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-patriots-owner-welcome-classy-232240773.html?src=rss |
We’ve heard some troubling buzz circulating about Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) through the latest early signing period, and a lot of it has found its way to the news cycle and rumor mill when it comes to Ohio State.
We’ve already told you about a couple of videos that emerged suggesting the Buckeye program has fallen behind other schools with NIL money, and one of those deals with actual quotes from one of Ohio State’s quarterback signees for the 2023 class that seems to confirm those reports.
Four-star Quarterback, Lincoln Kienholz, an eleventh-hour addition to the 2023 class for Ohio State when he flipped from Washington to Ryan Day and Ohio State — says he could have made more NIL money with the Huskies than what he was being offered by the folks at OSU.
“I think Washington had better NIL than Ohio State,” Kineholz told Midco Sports. “I think I can go to Washington and get money, or I can go to Ohio State and be developed and then potentially reach my goal of going to the NFL,” he continued.
Despite the perception that Ohio State’s NIL model isn’t where some of the other big-name programs are, the Buckeyes still managed to haul in the No. 6 recruiting class — at least according to the 247Sports Team Composite Rankings.
Still, these comments are troubling and point to a growing issue with NIL and how it is changing the landscape of recruiting in college football. Without legislation or oversight to reign in some of the ways NIL is running things in college football, things could look very, very different in the years to come, and it might not be for the better. | 2022-12-25T00:48:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ohio State quarterback commit says he could have made more NIL money at Washington | https://sports.yahoo.com/ohio-state-quarterback-commit-says-002801961.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ohio-state-quarterback-commit-says-002801961.html?src=rss |
On the twenty-third SKOL of Christmas, the Vikings gave to me: Adrian Peterson nearly sets the NFL rushing record.
It isn’t often that you see a running back challenge for the rushing title but that’s exactly what Peterson did in the 2012 season.
On Christmas Eve in 2011, Peterson suffered a brutal injury as he tore his ACL and MCL when playing Washington. It wasn’t known whether he would be ready for week one in 2012 or ever be the same. Well, Peterson proved that he was a medical marvel.
It didn’t take Peterson long to make an impact on the game and he entered the last game of the season with a chance to not only break the NFL rushing record, but also send the Vikings to the playoffs by beating the rival Green Bay Packers.
That week 17 matchup was one of the best games in Vikings history. They ended up winning the game 37-34 but the performance of Peterson was the stuff of legends.
In the game, Peterson rushed 34 times and gained 199 yards and a touchdown, including a run at the end of the game that had the Metrodome in a frenzy that he was about to break the record when he ran 26 yards to set up a game-winning field goal.
The next week, the Christian Ponder-less Vikings went to Lambeau and lost in the wild card round with Joe Webb at quarterback.
Peterson finished that special season with 2,097 yards and won the 2012 MVP award, the last non-quarterback to win it. It was a special game for the Vikings and solidified Peterson’s place in NFL history.
1977 Mud Bowl
Moss Moons Lambeau Field
The Detroit Lions had every reason to be confident when they arrived at Bank of America Stadium. The Lions allowed the Panthers to pile up a franchise-record 570 yards — including 320 on the ground. D'Onta Foreman (165 yards) and Chuba Hubbard (125) both rushed for career highs. | 2022-12-25T01:32:07Z | sports.yahoo.com | 25 SKOL’s of Christmas: Adrian Peterson gets 2,097 vs. Packers | https://sports.yahoo.com/25-skol-christmas-adrian-peterson-002648216.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/25-skol-christmas-adrian-peterson-002648216.html?src=rss |
For the first time in the 2022 NFL season, the New Orleans Saints have won two games in a row. The latter win coming on a 17-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns in a dreadfully cold FirstEnergy Stadium. Led by Alvin Kamara, Taysom Hill and the run game on the offensive side (with some nice passes and smart decisions in the passing game as well) and a stout defensive display, the Saints improve to 6-9 on the season and keep their NFC South hopes alive.
Hill and Kamara were the stars on offense with several standouts on defense as well. But the Browns put a lot more pressure on themselves than necessary, leading to some very questionable play-calling on the Cleveland sideline. Here are our seven biggest takeaways from the Saints’ Christmas Eve win:
Saints won this game by overcoming previous obstacles
The Saints have not hit 4 yards per carry in each of their last eight contests, but they did enough when it matters on Saturday. And on the defensive side, New Orleans just surrendered over 5 yards per carry to the Atlanta Falcons last week. In their win against the Browns, they found the run production on the offensive side when they needed it, though they still came in with a sub-4 yard per run average and they locked up Nick Chubb and the Cleveland rushing attack to just 3.6 yards per rushing attempt.
These are areas that the Saints have no been able to get consistently going throughout the season. So to turn around and win on the prowess of those elements is a positive step for New Orleans. The run game on both sides of the ball has not been what many expected it would be in 2022, but that did not get in the Saints way in a game where the rushing phase was so critical.
Rookie cornerback Alontae Taylor is a star
With star cornerback Marshon Lattimore out for the tenth-straight week, Taylor got another opportunity to go out and show what he has to offer. And yet again, he made good on that opportunity. He dislodged the ball on a pass that would end up intercepted by veteran safety Daniel Sorenson and late made a clutch play in the corner of the endzone to prevent a potential game-tying score.
Taylor has proven again and again that he deserves every bit of the playing time he’s been getting. When Lattimore does finally make his return, whether that be this year or at the top of next, it is going to be a task to keep Taylor from stealing the starting role opposite him.
Rookie wide receiver Chris Olave was sorely missed
Particularly in the second half, it was apparent how much New Orleans missed having Olave out of the field. Even in a game wherein the rushing attack was paramount, a couple of incomplete passes to practice squad member Keith Kirkwood more than showed how much Olave would have impacted Saturday’s game.
With only 15 total passing attempts for quarterback Andy Dalton, the other wide receiver targeted besides undrafted sensation Rashid Shaheed was Kirkwood. Both passes fell incomplete, one of which bouncing off of his helmet after it looked like it might have changed trajectory in the air. Having Olave on the field would have given the team a reliable and proven asset alongside Shaheed, which would have come in handy at least a couple of times despite the lack of passing opportunities.
We can drop the whole "Saints can't play in cold weather" thing
Since 2014 the Saints are now 5-1 in games played outdoors in which the temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or less, including the playoffs per Stathead. Of course, you have to add in Saturday’s win for yourself. New Orleans is certainly not the coldest place to play or practice in the NFL, even when outdoors. But that has clearly not held the Saints back in their games.
There may be games that dropped to below 40 throughout the game which have different results. But the cold weather narrative might be one that has finally bit the dust.
Taysom Hill is a key to victory
Imagine having a dominant power runner that gets snaps from quarterback. Thankfully you do not have to imagine it, the Saints already have it. Per NewOrleans.Football’s Mike Triplett, New Orleans is now an eye-popping 14-1 when Hill see at least 7 carries in a game.
Though it took the Saints almost the entirety of the first half to get Hill his first rush from quarterback, once he got rolling he was hard to stop. It was no surprise that the multi-faceted weapon would be a huge part of the Saints’ gameplan, but that could be both good and bad. Good to know that Hill got the opportunities he served, especially in this style matchup. But it would have been more than understandable if Cleveland had a counter-punch ready. Thankfully for the Saints, that was not the case.
Cleveland Browns felt the pressure of their pocket book
There was no reason for the Browns to throw the ball 31 times in this matchup. With only a 7-point deficit in the closing quarter, the decision to consistently go to their felt forced. As previously highlighted, the Saints did a good job defending the run as a whole. Cleveland running back Chubb was averaging 4.6 yards per rush in the fourth quarter.
Instead of leaning on the hot hand late, the Browns went to the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL with Watson throwing twice as many passes (16) as Chubb had rushes (8) in the final period. What that amounted to was just 3.4 yards per play, their second least-successful quarter of the game. It felt a lot like the Browns felt their best option was relying on the guy they sold the farm farm for instead of the guy that was producing where and when necessary.
Saints don't care about their playoff odds, but are also firmly in play in the NFC South
With the Saints advancing to 6-9 along with their division neighbor Carolina Panthers, New Orleans is one (albeit unlikely) Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss to the Arizona Cardinals away from being in a three-way tie for first place. While that would not be enough for them to win the division, it does put them back in control of their own destiny. A 13-point blown lead to the Buccaneers a couple weeks ago now looms larger than ever. But even with that, the team is well within the division conversation even if their focus is not on their postseason lives.
Kamara said in his postgame presser that the team is just worried about “doing their jobs” and winning football games. For the first time this season, the have sealed two consecutive victories. With a big test on the way in the next week, New Orleans will look to extend that streak to three straight games against the Philadelphia Eagles. A team they have not beat since the 2018 playoffs. | 2022-12-25T01:32:39Z | sports.yahoo.com | 7 takeaways from the Saints’ Christmas Eve win over the Browns | https://sports.yahoo.com/7-takeaways-saints-christmas-eve-235750179.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/7-takeaways-saints-christmas-eve-235750179.html?src=rss |
The Washington Commanders and San Francisco 49ers were locked in a competitive 7-7 game at halftime of their Week 16 showdown from Levi’s Stadium.
Unfortunately for the Commanders, that’s where the competitive portion of the game would end as the 49ers would score 30 second-half points en route to an easy 37-20 win over Washington.
The 49ers came out in the second half and exposed Washington’s defense by using the middle of the field for big plays. Star tight end George Kittle had back-to-back touchdowns for the Niners of 34 and 33 yards, respectively, giving San Francisco a 21-7 lead.
The Commanders answered as quarterback Taylor Heinicke found wide receiver Terry McLaurin for a 51-yard completion to set Washington up with a first-and-goal. Two plays later, Heinicke finds McLaurin for a three-yard touchdown to make it 21-14.
San Francisco kicked a field goal on its next drive, making it 24-14. That’s where the game completely flipped. As Heinicke dropped back, he was hit by Nick Bosa for a sack. In the process, Heinicke fumbled, giving the 49ers the ball deep in Washington territory.
Washington’s defense held the Niners to another field goal.
Heinicke and the offense take the field again. On his first attempt, Heinicke, under pressure, makes a terrible decision with the football and is intercepted.
San Francisco again settles for a field goal, but by this point, the 49ers hold a 30-14 lead. Head coach Ron Rivera benches Heinicke and replaces him with Carson Wentz.
Wentz completed seven of 10 passes for 73 yards and ended his first drive back with a beautiful touchdown pass to Curtis Samuel. He is sacked on the two-point attempt.
The Niners would score another touchdown to send Washington to 7-7-1 on the season.
Heinicke played well up until the turnovers and ended the game, completing 13 of 18 passes for 166 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Wentz completed 12 of 16 for 123 yards and a touchdown.
The Commanders host Cleveland in Week 17. | 2022-12-25T01:33:23Z | sports.yahoo.com | Commanders fall 37-20 to the 49ers | https://sports.yahoo.com/commanders-fall-37-20-49ers-003632264.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/commanders-fall-37-20-49ers-003632264.html?src=rss |
Carson Wentz came off the bench for Taylor Heinicke in the Commanders' loss to the 49ers. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The Washington Commanders benched Taylor Heinicke in favor of Carson Wentz on Saturday after turnovers on consecutive possessions set the San Francisco 49ers up with a 16-point lead.
He didn't, however, rally Washington to victory. The 49ers held on for a 37-20 win, their eighth straight, to improve to 11-4 as they continue to thrive with Brock Purdy at quarterback.
Heinicke kept Washington close while completing 13-of-18 passes for 166 yards as San Francisco led 21-14 in the third quarter. But a pair of turnovers against San Francisco's swarming defense doomed Washington's hopes. Heinicke fumbled on a fourth-quarter sack by Nick Bosa deep in Washington territory to set up a 49ers field goal.
A possession later, Heinicke threw an interception to Jimmie Ward that allowed San Francisco to extend its lead to 16 points with another field goal.
Head coach Ron Rivera had seen enough. On the next possession, the Commanders went back to Wentz at quarterback.
Will Carson Wentz or Taylor Heinicke start next week?
After the game, Rivera didn't commit to a starter for the Week 17 home game against the Cleveland Browns, but did say he would make a decision early in the week.
On the starting QB decision:
"We're gonna evaluate the tape, we'll talk about those things and I'll make a decision next week. And I'll make it early, too, because whoever's gonna start is gonna get the chance to work." https://t.co/ADXOQhIrOg
The Commanders end the day at 7-7-1, which was still good enough to maintain control of the NFC's seventh and final playoff spot. They host the Browns and then the Dallas Cowboys to close out the regular season. | 2022-12-25T01:33:29Z | sports.yahoo.com | Commanders go back to Carson Wentz after consecutive Taylor Heinicke turnovers help set up 49ers win | https://sports.yahoo.com/commanders-go-back-to-carson-wentz-after-consecutive-taylor-heinicke-turnovers-help-set-up-49-ers-win-234606707.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/commanders-go-back-to-carson-wentz-after-consecutive-taylor-heinicke-turnovers-help-set-up-49-ers-win-234606707.html?src=rss |
Loved ones are going to need to give a little leeway to Dallas Cowboys fans this Christmas as the euphoria from this may not subside anytime soon. Adrenaline is probably still racing through their veins after Dallas was able to execute two double-digit comebacks against the team with the league’s best record. The Philadelphia Eagles came into AT&T Stadium with a gaudy 13-1 record, without their starting quarterback but with a team that had a whopping 17 Pro Bowlers or alternates out of their starting 22 players.
The Cowboys found themselves down 10-0 in the blink of an eye after an inexcusable Pick-6 by quarterback Dak Prescott. But they battled back for a halftime tie at 17. They quickly fell behind by 10 again to start the second half, but again battled back as Prescott totaled 388 yards and three touchdowns. A defense that was under siege all game finally came up with a stop to keep the Eagles out of the end zone. When the dust settled, Dallas found themselves 40-34 victors to improve to 11-4 on the season.
The Cowboys’ 40 points is the most the Eagles defense has allowed all season.
Dallas maintained their outside chance of both winning the NFC East and the No. 1 seed in the conference.
Dan Quinn’s defense couldn’t stop the Eagles and Gardner Minshew unless they were forcing turnovers, but they did create four turnovers which led to 20 Dallas points.
The Cowboys have a quick turnaround, with a Thursday contest against the slumping Titans who have lost five in a row and fallen out of first place in the AFC South.
Phoenix Suns trailed by as many as 34 points in loss to Memphis Grizzlies to end four-game homestand. | 2022-12-25T01:33:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | Cowboys rally twice before holding off Eagles in classic rivalry win, 40-37 | https://sports.yahoo.com/cowboys-rally-twice-holding-off-005654503.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/cowboys-rally-twice-holding-off-005654503.html?src=rss |
The Philadelphia Eagles were bitten by the turnover bug — big time — on Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cowboys took advantage of the gaffes and went on to a 40-34 victory over the Eagles, preventing Philadelphia from clinching the division and the No. 1 seed in the NFC East.
Miles Sanders fumbled — for the second straight week after not coughing up the football all season. Gardner Minshew, replacing Jalen Hurts, was charged with a fumble on a botched handoff and threw two picks.
Philadelphia led 27-17 with nine minutes left in the third quarter but was outscored 23-7 the rest of the way.
The Cowboys menaced Minshew on the Eagles’ final drive, forcing the backup quarterback to make errant throws on the Eagles’ last two plays. | 2022-12-25T01:33:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | Cowboys thwart turnover-prone Eagles’ bid for NFC East, No. 1 seed | https://sports.yahoo.com/cowboys-thwart-turnover-prone-eagles-003054921.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/cowboys-thwart-turnover-prone-eagles-003054921.html?src=rss |
And, yeah, the Eagles are going to receive a 2023 first round draft pick from the Saints. Defeating New Orleans would make that pick more valuable. Between playoff considerations and the added boon of that draft asset, they’re going to have all the motivation they’ll need to beat the Saints next Sunday.
So look for the Eagles to play all of their available starters in Week 17’s matchup at Lincoln Financial Field, likely including star quarterback Jalen Hurts (who was out of the lineup on Saturday with a sprained throwing shoulder). Hurts and the Eagles have run roughshod over the Saints in each of the last two years, outscoring New Orleans by margins of 24-21 (in 2020) and 40-29 (in 2021), with Hurts leading an offense that’s amassed 793 yards of offense between those two beatdowns. Philly has eclipsed 240 rushing yards in each of those previous meetings.
That’s a problem. What’s worse is that the Eagles are as difficult to defend through the air as on the ground, having invested a ton of resources in their receiving corps in recent years. Even if he fell short, Minshew still posted 34 points on the Cowboys — a total that would defeat most teams around the league, and which the Saints have outscored just once all season. It’s going to take an incredible defensive performance from New Orleans to keep this one close, but the Saints offense must pull its fair share to come away with a win, too. Let’s see how it shakes out. | 2022-12-25T01:34:14Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles lose to Cowboys, giving them all the motivation they need vs. Saints next week | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-lose-cowboys-giving-them-004555034.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-lose-cowboys-giving-them-004555034.html?src=rss |
1. The Eagles are still going to find their way to the No. 1 seed, I don’t have any doubt about that. They’re going to beat the Saints Sunday and if they don’t they’ll beat the Giants a week from Sunday. Hopefully, it doesn’t come to that, but they still have a 95 percent chance to lock up the No. 1 seed, according to the 538. Heck, maybe the Cowboys will lose to the Titans or Commanders. But here’s what’s really frustrating about this game: This was a tremendous opportunity for the Eagles to really make a big-time statement against their fiercest rival in their own building, something they haven’t done since the 2017 Super Bowl season. The Eagles have now lost five straight at AT&T Stadium, their longest losing streak in North Texas since the 1970s. And they’ve blown double-digit leads in two of them, including Saturday night. They haven’t swept the Cowboys since 2011, their longest streatch without a sweep over the Cowboys since the 1960s and 1970s. And they’re 8-13 in the last 21 meaningful meetings between the two teams. You’d love to see the Eagles come into this building and make a statement. A win to clinch No. 1 seed on Christmas Eve in AT&T Stadium would have been such a huge step for this team. They just couldn’t quite pull it off.
2. Something’s up with Darius Slay. He does not look like himself. Not sure what he was thinking on that 36-yard CeeDee Lamb touchdown or Prescott’s 52-yarder to T.Y. Hilton on 3rd-and-30, but he just looks off lately. And really off Saturay in Dallas. The numbers overall the second half of the season have been shocking. The first eight games this year, opposing quarterbacks had a 37.2 passer rating when targettting Slay, 2nd-lowest among all corners (James Bradberry was No. 1). The last six games – not including Dallas – Slay ranked 92nd out of 93 corners last with a 136.9 opposing QB passer rating on 18-for-26 for 241 yards, three TDs and no TDs. And that’s not including Saturday night. Don’t think he’s hurt. Not sure what’s up. He’s just not playing well. And if the Eagles are going to go on a deep playoff run, where they’ll be facing elite quarterbacks every week, he’s got to be a lot better.
9. One of the biggest reasons things came so easily for the Eagles much of the season was their turnover ratio. They led the league in takeaways, they were protecting the ball at record pace and they had a huge lead over the rest of the NFL in turnover ratio. That’s just not the case anymore. Look at these numbers: | 2022-12-25T01:34:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles observations: Can't ask anymore from Minshew, what's up with Slay, more | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-observations-cant-ask-anymore-003000096.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-observations-cant-ask-anymore-003000096.html?src=rss |
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Atlanta Falcons by the final score of 17-9 in a Week 16 showdown that featured plenty of ground and pound by both teams. Baltimore moved their record to 10-5 and clinched a playoff spot in the process, as the New England Patriots lost against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley finished the contest completing 9-of-17 passes for 115 yards and a touchdown, while the team rushed 34 times for 184 yards on the ground. Gus Edwards led the way with 11 carries for 99 yards, while J.K. Dobbins had 12 carries for 59 yards.
Baltimore’s defense got the ball moved up and down on them a bit throughout the contest, but only allowed three field goals in the win. Inside linebacker Roquan Smith led all tacklers with 15, continuing to show why the Ravens went out and acquired such a talented playmaker.
Up next for the Ravens is a Week 17 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Baltimore got the better of Pittsburgh in their first matchup, and now the Steelers will travel to M&T Bank Stadium to try to avenge that loss. | 2022-12-25T01:34:58Z | sports.yahoo.com | Instant analysis of Ravens’ 17-9 win over Falcons in Week 16 | https://sports.yahoo.com/instant-analysis-ravens-17-9-005731233.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/instant-analysis-ravens-17-9-005731233.html?src=rss |
Both Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams are having seasons for the ages. Both are on the verge of topping the Raiders all-time records.
Here’s where the stand and how far away they are from Raiders franchise records. Starting with a couple franchise marks that could be reached tonight when the Raiders face the Steelers.
Season receiving yards: He has 1275 which is 7th most all time for Raiders, putting him in striking distance (133 yards) of Tim Brown’s franchise best 1408 yards. But he would pass up a lot of other Raiders greats along the way.
Adams needs 30 yards to move into 6th place, 35 yards to move into 5th, 68 yards for 4th, 70 yards for 3rd, and 87 yards for second.
Adams has three games to do it — one more game than anyone else had — but he may not need all 17. At his current pace of 91.1 yards per game, he would set the new franchise record in 16 games.
Season 100-yard games: He has seven 100-yard games this season. That is tied for the most in Raiders franchise history with Art Powell (1964), Warren Wells (1965), and Tim Brown (1997). Which means it’s the most 100-yard games for a Raiders player in 25 years and that one more would give him sole possession of the most 100-yard games in a season in Raiders history.
Season receptions: He has 86 catches this season. Four more catches puts him in the top ten in Raiders history. Five more puts him in a tie for 7th most. Six more puts him in the top five. Ten more catches moves him past Todd Christensen (95) for the fourth most.
Adams needs 22 catches over the final three games to set a new Raiders franchise record, surpassing the 107 set by Darren Waller two seasons ago.
Season receiving touchdowns: He has 12 this season which is tied for fourth in Raiders history. One more ties him with Cliff Branch for third, two more TD’s ties him with Warren Wells for seconds, and five more TD’s moves him past Art Powell’s franchise record of 16 in a season.
While it is unlikely Jacobs is able to set any new records tonight, he can move into up the top five in Raiders history in several statistical categories.
Jacobs is already tied for the most 1000-yard seasons (three) in Raiders history and earlier this season set a new Raiders record with 229 yards rushing in a game.
Season rushing: He has rushed for a league-leading 1495 yards, which is the second most in Raiders history. He needs 265 yards over the final three games to surpass Marcus Allen’s franchise mark of 1759 yards in a season.
Career rushing: Jacobs sits at 4582 yards. He needs 211 yards to move past Napoleon Kaufman (4792) for 4th in Raiders history.
Career 100-yard games: He has 15 of them in his career which is tied for second in Raiders history. Which means, one more 100-yard game and he’ll move into sole possession of second place. He needs seven more 100-yard games to catch up to Marcus Allen’s 22.
Season 100-yard games: Jacobs has six 100-yard rushing games this season which is tied for 2nd most. So, again, one more 100-yard game will move him into sole possession of second in Raiders history. He won’t catch Marcus Allen’s franchise record of 11 in a season this year.
Season yards from scrimmage: Jacobs has 1858 currently which sits 4th in Raiders history. He needs 46 yards to surpass Charlie Garner (1903) for third, 69 yards to surpass Marcus Allen from 1984 (1926), and 457 yards to surpass Allen from 1985 (2314) for first place.
Season rushing touchdowns: His 11 TD’s this season is tied for 6th all time. One more would tie him with himself (12) for third all time. Two more would tie him with Marcus Allen (13). He needs five more to tie Pete Banaszak’s franchise mark of 16 in a season. | 2022-12-25T01:35:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | Josh Jacobs, Davante Adams approaching Raiders franchise records | https://sports.yahoo.com/josh-jacobs-davante-adams-approaching-000003986.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/josh-jacobs-davante-adams-approaching-000003986.html?src=rss |
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