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It’s been a rough season for New York Giants’ second-year outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari.
It’s been a struggle from the start when he sat out the first two games of the regular season with a strained hamstring suffered in training camp. He finally got on the field in Weeks 3 and 4, but then missed the next seven games with a calf injury.
Ojulari came back in Week 13 and picked up where he left off, racking up 4.5 sacks, seven QB hits and two forced fumbles.
That streak is now in jeopardy as Ojulari left Saturday’s loss to Minnesota with an ankle injury. He could be sidelined again during this Sunday’s crucial game against the Indianapolis Colts, but is optimistic he will be able to play.
X-rays came back negative on the ankle and Ojulari said he was ‘sore’ but appeared confident he will be ready for Sunday.
Of course, that’s not his call. He will likely have to show he can go during the week to avoid being held out on Sunday.
The Giants have been looking forward to pairing Ojulari with their other pass-rushing threat, rookie outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, but due to injuries to both players, they’ve only been on the field together for parts of six games. | 2022-12-26T14:01:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants’ Azeez Ojulari optimistic after suffering ankle injury | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-azeez-ojulari-optimistic-suffering-115528017.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-azeez-ojulari-optimistic-suffering-115528017.html?src=rss |
The New York Giants (8-6-1) may have lost this past weekend to the Minnesota Vikings but their playoff hopes are very much alive.
The Giants will enter Week 17 as the 6th seed in the NFC and can clinch a postseason birth as a wild card with a victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
They cannot win the NFC East title nor can they qualify for the fifth overall seed. They will either be the sixth or seventh seed in the NFC.
Here’s a quick rundown of ways the Giants can clinch a playoff spot this weekend.
They can cut out all the scoreboard watching if they win Sunday at home against Indianapolis but can back in if several other teams lose.
Full list of clinching scenarios:
Seattle loss + Detroit loss + Green Bay loss or tie or
The worst-case scenario? There are a few. Of course, they all entail the Giants losing the next two weeks and two (or more) of the four remaining qualifiers winning their final two games.
In case you’re asking, the Giants do not play any of those four teams head-to-head. The only head-to-head matchup is Detroit-Green Bay in Week 18.
Giants aren't satisfied with moral victories, nor should they be
Style Box ETF report for VIOG | 2022-12-26T14:01:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL playoff scenarios for Week 17: How Giants can clinch | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-playoff-scenarios-week-17-125512732.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-playoff-scenarios-week-17-125512732.html?src=rss |
DaRon Bland didn’t see any defensive snaps at all in five of his first six games as a rookie. But the fifth-round draft pick has certainly made up for lost time since then.
After another interception Saturday night against Philadelphia- his fourth in the month of December and his fifth overall- the 23-year-old cornerback now finds himself atop the Cowboys’ interceptions leaderboard, ahead of even Trevon Diggs, last season’s NFL pick king.
“I think Tre might have a little competition on his hands now,” joked linebacker Micah Parsons after the team’s 40-34 win over the Eagles. “I’m going to start questioning who’s really CB1 just to spark his mindset.”
But that may not be the only accolade the Fresno State product collects when the dust settles on 2022. Bland is even drawing discussion as a candidate for this season’s Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, the award Parsons himself won by unanimous vote last season.
“DaRon’s doing this thing,” Parsons raved. “I couldn’t be more happy. And it’s always great to see another rookie come in and step up the way that we’ve seen in the past couple years for us. The work he’s put in, the way the guys took him in has been great for him.”
Bland’s increased opportunities, admittedly, have come because of others’ misfortune. Jourdan Lewis and Anthony Brown suffered season-ending injuries; Kelvin Joseph’s cringeworthy performance against Jacksonville in Week 15 moved Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to call for an open competition at the position.
Bland may have ended that competition with his critical fourth-quarter pick of Gardner Minshew, a takeaway that turned into the Cowboys’ go-ahead score.
“In the fourth quarter, each time we came out there on the field, we were just thinking, ‘There’s one more play. One more play. We’ve got to make one more stop to get the ball back and give the offense the ball.’ That was our mindset,” Bland told reporters after the win.
“Any time the ball is in the air, I think it’s mine.”
Diggs has turned into one of the league’s superstars with that exact approach; now Bland may be on the same trajectory.
He’s certainly impressed his head coach.
“I think what DaRon Bland has done as a rookie is- I’m trying to think back through my time,” Mike McCarthy explained to media members. “To have that kind of impact, you know, never playing inside, getting your start inside at nickel and then moving back outside… I can’t say enough about our young guys.”
Bland’s five interceptions make him the first Cowboys rookie in two decades to reach that number in his debut season; Roy Williams and Derek Ross both had five picks in 2002.
And now Bland is the latest youngster to carve out an early reputation for himself around the Cowboys facility, even in a room full of defensive playmakers.
“DQ has a takeaway wall we all sign,” Parsons shared with reporters. “If you create a takeaway and if you recover a takeaway, you get your picture on the wall in the defensive meeting room. And right now, the room is full of pictures.”
The Cowboys defense leads the league in takeaways, and that’s in no small part one of the reasons the offense has averaged 36 points per game since Dak Prescott’s return from injury.
“When they’re able to do that, we’re going to win some games,” Prescott said from the podium Saturday night. “It just gives us more opportunities at it. Short fields. Sometimes it was touchdowns, and a couple of times it was a field goal. Those guys are relentless; they are trying to go after the ball every which way, trying to get after the quarterback, interceptions, fumbles, and that just comes from the way that we practice, the way that they prepare. It was good to see them just go out there and get that done and help us out.”
And with that sort of team-first mentality, it’s perhaps no surprise at all that a fifth-round rookie who wasn’t a Week 1 starter is helping lead the way.
It’s definitely no surprise that Bland gives the credit to the guys around him. | 2022-12-26T14:01:25Z | sports.yahoo.com | ‘Make one more stop’: Cowboys CB DaRon Bland says team mindset sparked key play vs Eagles | https://sports.yahoo.com/one-more-stop-cowboys-cb-120046538.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/one-more-stop-cowboys-cb-120046538.html?src=rss |
Believe it or not, the North Carolina Tar Heels will somehow field a team in order to play the Ducks in the Holiday Bowl on December 28.
The runner-up from the ACC has had many players transfer or opt-out to prepare for the NFL draft. The Tar Heels’ secondary has been especially decimated. Starting corners Tony Grimes and Storm Duck have each transferred, as has safety Cam’Ron Kelly.
Linebacker Raneiria Dillworth and backup quarterback Jacolby Criswell are also off the roster. However, the most important Tar Heel, starting quarterback Drake Maye, will be under center to lead UNC into the postseason game in San Diego.
Maye is an obvious one, but here he is plus four other Tar Heels Oregon needs to pay close attention to if the Ducks want to end the season on a high note.
QB Drake Maye
Maye was just another redshirt freshman starting at quarterback and turned himself into a Heisman Trophy candidate seemingly out of nowhere. He finished the season throwing for an incredible 4,115 yards to go with 35 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. Maye also rushed for seven scores.
At 6-5 and 220 pounds, he’s a similar quarterback to Justin Herbert.
WR Antoine Green
All of Maye’s passing yards had to go somewhere and receiver Antoine Green was one beneficiary of the quarterback’s great arm. The fifth-year senior caught 43 passes for 798 yards and seven touchdowns. UNC’s leading receiver, Josh Downs (94 rec, 1,029 yards, 11 TDs) has declared for the NFL draft, so Green should be Maye’s primary target for the game.
OL Asim Richards
At 6-4 and 315 pounds, Asim Richards is UNC’s best offensive lineman. He was Third-Team All-ACC this season. Richards was the anchor for a line that helped the Tar Heels rack up almost 475 yards of total offense per game.
LB Cedric Gray
Cedric Gray is one of the best linebackers in the country. The First-Team All-ACC player led the Tar Heels with 137 tackles and he added two interceptions. He also has three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Gray had 100 tackles in 2021. It’s almost a surprise he hasn’t declared for the NFL draft, but Tar Heel fans must be happy this guy will stick around Chapel Hill for a bit longer.
DB De'Andre Boykins
With corners Storm Duck and Cam’Ron Kelly not playing in the bowl game, Boykins might be the best defender the Tar Heels have left at the moment. He has 60 tackles, 4.5 for loss, two sacks and an interception.
As the picture above shows, Boykins like to make the sign of the opponent. Hopefully, he’s not doing the Oregon O in San Diego.
Billy Napier said that Florida was looking to add another quarterback to the roster, and he found his man at none other than IMG Academy. | 2022-12-26T15:03:40Z | sports.yahoo.com | 5 Tar Heels Oregon needs to look out for in the Holiday Bowl | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-tar-heels-oregon-needs-135304814.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-tar-heels-oregon-needs-135304814.html?src=rss |
It hasn’t exactly been a December to remember if you’re a Chicago Bears fan. Despite having all their games this month at home in Soldier Field, they lost all three of their games, the latest coming against the Buffalo Bills 35-13 in frigid conditions. It was their most lopsided loss of the season as the Bears dropped eight straight games to fall to 3-12 on the season.
The offense failed to establish the run game, leading to major problems moving the ball and getting into a rhythm. The defense, meanwhile, couldn’t stop the Bills from running all over them and a close game at halftime turned into a blowout.
With injuries piling up and only two games to go, many are looking forward to the end of the season. And having to endure the bitter cold in a lost season on top of it, should this game simply go straight into the trash? Here are our takeaways from the Bears’ Christmas Eve loss.
Time to get this offense indoors
When weather conditions consist of single-digit temperatures and heavy wind gusts throughout the game, it becomes pretty clear that moving the football through the air is going to be a problem. The Bears certainly struggled in that department, totaling just 129 passing yards on the day. Quarterback Justin Fields wasn’t the problem, it’s just difficult to slice through the wind at Soldier Field with deep passes, especially when the skill players aren’t exactly quality starters. But after spending the last month at Soldier Field, the Bears will have a chance to move indoors next week in Detroit and I’m excited to see it, frankly.
Whether Bears fans want to agree or not, the cold and windy conditions make it difficult to move the ball through the air. It’s beneficial to elite defenses though, but that’s not the selling point here. Getting Fields inside in a climate-controlled environment again should be good for him. The Bears have averaged just 17.6 points per game during their three games at Soldier Field in December. Even the Bills struggled to find consistency in the elements, and they boast one of the best offenses in the league. Let’s see what the Bears can do indoors.
Luke Getsy needs to do some self scouting this offseason
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s quirks have evolved into concerns this season when it comes to how he likes to call a game. Too often, he’s followed up a big play with consecutive conservative calls that have prevented the Bears from putting more points on the board. For example, after Fields found rookie Velus Jones Jr. for a 44-yard gain that put the offense just outside the redzone, Getsy called for three straight runs before attempting a pass that left them short of the first down marker.
Getsy has consistently leaned on the ground game all season long and to his credit, it’s worked well. The Bears still lead the league in rushing per game with 179 yards thanks to a trio of runners. The problem is when the passing game works and moves the ball downfield, Getsy goes right back to the run and seemingly doesn’t entertain the pass again. The sequence takes all momentum out of the sails for the offense and more often than not, makes the drive stall. It’s as if he’s surprised the passing game worked and doesn’t want to risk losing out on field goals with a costly turnover or sack.
The job Getsy has done this season should be commended. The offense has looked significantly better than the last 2-3 seasons. But his in-game approach needs tweaking. He can script a great game to start, but loses touch somewhere in the middle. If he can do some self-scouting, surely he will understand how and why he needs to be more aggressive in certain situations
Khalil Herbert was surprisingly ineffective
The Bears offense has seen players drop left and right, from wide receivers to offensive linemen over the last two weeks. That made this week’s return of Khalil Herbert even better and the expectation was he would pick up right where he left off. That wasn’t the case at all on Saturday.
Herbert saw just six carries on the day for seven yards while also adding two catches for -4 yards. He played 26 snaps during the game as well, getting the chance for plenty of opportunities. Herbert was coming off a hip injury that forced him to miss the last four games. Prior to his injury, the second-year back was averaging 6.0 yards per carry, building on an impressive season. That came a screeching halt this weekend though, despite the fact the Bills’ run defense had been lackluster as of late.
Perhaps Herbert isn’t fully healed yet but if that were the case, he should have been kept on injured reserve for another week. The fact he couldn’t generate any positive momentum was concerning and left David Montgomery to shoulder the load. If Herbert is healthy enough to play, he must be better and more efficient these next couple of weeks.
Velus Jones Jr. finally came to life
It’s been an incredibly long season for Jones but he had a Christmas to remember as it was easily his best performance as a pro. Jones caught two passes for 52 yards and had a modest day returning the ball on kickoffs. Most importantly though, he didn’t turn the ball over. The rookie’s highlight came on a deep 44-yard pass from Fields where he beat the defenders on a deep post, tracking the ball in beautifully for his biggest reception of his career. He also averaged 28.3 yards per return on kickoffs, his second game in three weeks with that kind of total.
This performance from Jones was great to see, but it needs to be a starting point from here on out. He needs to continue stacking positive offensive and special teams plays on top of one another. Sure he’s a rookie, but we’re on the cusp of January and there’s been very little signs of life until now. This was even his first game with multiple catches as a pro.
Jones had to start somewhere and thankfully that bar has been established. More needs to happen still if he wants to be part of the plans next year. He has a prime opportunity to make something of himself with such a battered receiving corps. The clock is already ticking, though.
Jack Sanborn is sorely missed
The Bears defensive front seven hasn’t exactly been a difference-making group this season, but they’ve been helped by a few key linebackers at various points of the year. First, it was Roquan Smith until he was shipped out of town. Then Jack Sanborn stepped up and was sensational, especially as an undrafted rookie. Sadly, the latter was lost for the season and there clearly wasn’t anyone on the roster who could step up like he had for Smith. For that, the run defense crumbled like a gingerbread house.
The Bills gashed the Bears for 254 rushing yards with multiple running backs getting into the second level of the defense with ease. It was a tough watch, but there’s some good news to come out a performance like that. It helps solidify Sanborn’s place on this roster and shows he’s not just a nice story, but someone who has a legitimate chance to be an impactful starter come next season.
People believed there was no replacing Smith, who was a borderline Pro Bowl player during his career in Chicago. In actuality, however, there’s no replacing Sanborn. The Bears found a gem and would be wise to hold onto him going into next year.
Kyler Gordon should play exclusively on the outside
Speaking of more rookies, cornerback Kyler Gordon has officially turned the corner during his first season and went from a liability in coverage to a dangerous defender in the span of a few months. Gordon had his second interception in as many weeks on Saturday and also notched five tackles and a pass defensed. He’s showing an ability to read quarterbacks better, allowing him to fully use his athleticism to either break plays up or take away the ball.
Gordon was put in a unique position last week after Jaylon Johnson was out for the season, needing to slide to the outside and he handled the added responsibility well. He’s played primarily inside but shined on the outside against a Bills receiving corps that is one of the better groups in the league.
The rookie corner has the versatility to play both spots, but looked more instinctive playing outside than he has at the nickel corner position. It would behoove the Bears to try and find a better nickel, or even give Josh Blackwell more run, to get Gordon to develop on the outside. Having him and Johnson anchoring each side would be smart for the Bears moving forward.
Chicago looks to win their fourth-straight game on Monday against Houston. | 2022-12-26T16:03:34Z | sports.yahoo.com | 6 takeaways from the Bears’ cold loss to the Bills | https://sports.yahoo.com/6-takeaways-bears-cold-loss-141907728.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/6-takeaways-bears-cold-loss-141907728.html?src=rss |
The Chicago Bears (3-12) were defeated, 35-13, by the Buffalo Bills (12-3), which marked their eighth straight loss of the season.
It was a tale of two halves for the Bears, who held a 10-6 lead over the Bills at halftime. But Buffalo kickstarted the second half with back-to-back touchdown drives and ultimately outscored Chicago 29-3 in the second half. With the loss, the Bears maintained their hold on the No. 2 overall pick — and are even in contention for the first overall selection.
The Bears offense got off to an impressive start against the Bills, marching 64 yards in eight plays for an opening touchdown. But it was all downhill after that. Once again, Chicago’s offense failed to capitalize off takeaways, including two Josh Allen interceptions and a fumble recovery. David Montgomery’s lost fumble in the third quarter stalled what was a promising drive while there were some struggles by running back Khalil Herbert (6 carries, 7 yards) and dropped passes by receivers and tight end Cole Kmet throughout the afternoon. Justin Fields had a decent, yet quiet outing, as the Bears didn’t rely a lot on his running ability in this one. He completed 65 percent of his passes and threw the team’s lone touchdown, a six-yard score to Dante Pettis. One bright spot was rookie Velus Jones Jr., who had his best outing of the season on offense with two catches for 52 yards, including a 44-yard reception. After taking a 10-6 lead into halftime, Chicago managed just three points in the second half while Buffalo scored 29.
Defense: D+
The first half of Saturday’s game against the Bills felt awfully similar to the previous week’s contest against the Eagles. Chicago’s defense managed to keep a high-powered offense in check, limiting Buffalo to just six points in the first half. But the second half was a different story entirely. The Bills scored 29 points in the second half, including two touchdowns on their first two possessions of the second half. The Bears struggled mightily defending the run, giving up 254 rushing yards. Buffalo pretty much had two 100-yard rushers in Devin Singletary (12 carries, 106 yards) and James Cook (11 carries, 99 yards). Kyler Gordon has recorded an interception in back-to-back games For the second consecutive week, the Bears defense managed three takeaways against a top offense. And Josh Allen was limited in the passing game (58 completion percentage, 172 yards). So that’s certainly encouraging. But, once again, the superior roster won out.
The Bears special teams was the best unit on the field Saturday, which wasn’t hard to accomplish considering the rough outings on offense and defense. Cairo Santos went perfect on the afternoon, connecting on both of his field goals and an extra point in some windy conditions at Soldier Field. Trenton Gill averaged 49.3 yards on four punts, including a beauty of a 63-yarder that pinned the Bills at their own 2-yard line. Velus Jones had a nice day returning kickoffs, averaging 28.3 yards per return, including a 40-yarder.
It was another rough day at the office for offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who continued to struggle with situational play calling. While the Bears offense has done well running the ball this season, it was clear it wasn’t working as the game wore on. With Fields finding success in the passing game, Getsy remained committed to running the ball when it was clear it wasn’t working. Case in point, Fields connecting with Jones for a 44-yard bomb. The next three plays were all runs, showing a lack of awareness. It’s frustrating because Getsy has done a good job calling plays this season, but he’s also had some duds. It’s safe to say Getsy has a lot of self-scouting to do this offseason. | 2022-12-26T16:03:46Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bears report card: How we graded Chicago in their Week 16 loss vs. Bills | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-report-card-graded-chicago-154021971.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-report-card-graded-chicago-154021971.html?src=rss |
The Cincinnati Bengals nearly suffered a disaster at the hands of the New England Patriots on Christmas Eve, just barely escaping with a 22-18 win.
Cincinnati had a 22-0 lead at one point before chaos swept the contest in a nearly hilarious fashion.
While the Bengals will be happy to get out of it with a win that keeps them in the driver’s seat of the AFC North and in the AFC No. 1 seed conversation, there are plenty of takeaways to know about the encounter.
Here’s a look at some of the notable talking points and things to consider coming out of the win — Cincinnati’s seventh straight.
The RT issue
The injury to La’el Collins didn’t look good and he’s lost for the year. That means Hakeem Adeniji time at right tackle, where he started last year and during the playoffs. He’s a reliable swing tackle and can be solid in pass protection, though he’s not as good as Collins in run blocking. It’s a net loss, if not for the simple fact Cincinnati’s starting five had played more snaps together than any offensive line in the league — that’s out the window now.
The McPherson issue?
McPherson missed two extra points in the opening quarter, raising eyebrows. Then he missed a fiel goal. Word was it looked like he was struggling in warmups before the game. There’s a chance we can chalk this up to the freezing temperatures impacting things — and Patriots’ special teams struggled too — but even that’s not what anyone should want to hear. It’ll need addressed given how close playoff games can be.
Burrow MVP
He’s still in the conversation. That’s just how it goes for quarterbacks and outsiders aren’t able to tell with 100 percent certainty if the two interceptions were his fault anyway. He still threw for 375 yards and a trio of scores otherwise while helping his team win a seventh straight. Win out and it might just be his.
Fighting through injuries
Both Trey Hendrickson and Tyler Boyd fought through injuries to play on Christmas Eve. They were the most notable, at least. Hendrickson, through a broken wrist, Boyd the dislocated finger that had bone popping through the skin.
Impressive performances from both, as Boyd left at least once with the injury before going back in the game. The team will need that from both guys and others moving forward, with depth pieces like right tackle Hakeem Adeniji also needing to step up big.
The Bengals have won 11 games and still aren’t even guaranteed the AFC North. Games against the Bills and Ravens to close the year still loom large. Maybe the close call in Foxboro is exactly what a team that seemed unstoppable needed as a wake-up call to finish strong. Injuries or not, they still look like one of the best teams in the league and one that can adapt to any opponent. The next two weeks are effectively playoff games, so expect them to approach the contests as such. | 2022-12-26T16:03:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bengals vs. Patriots takeaways and everything to know from Week 16 | https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-vs-patriots-takeaways-everything-143730592.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bengals-vs-patriots-takeaways-everything-143730592.html?src=rss |
The Week 16 action wasn’t good for the Detroit Lions’ playoff aspirations, not with the team getting run over by the Carolina Panthers. It also wasn’t a great weekend for the Lions’ draft slots in the first round.
Detroit’s loss left the Lions with the No. 18 overall pick. There’s still quite a bit of mobility in either direction, depending on how the Lions fare in the final two games against the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.
The Los Angeles Rams hurt the value of Detroit’s other pick by blowing out the Denver Broncos 51-14 on Christmas. That Rams victory improved their record to 5-10 and moved them out of the top five. The Lions, of course, hold the Rams’ first-round pick as part of the Matthew Stafford trade in 2021.
With one game left to play in Week 16, the Lions now hold the No. 7 and No. 18 picks in the first round. Monday night’s game between the Colts and Chargers could impact that Rams’ pick, however; if the Colts win, Indianapolis improves to 5-9-1 and pushes that Rams’ pick back up to No. 6. If the Chargers win, it solidifies the acquired pick from Los Angeles outside the top five with two weeks to play.
The Rams have games remaining with the Chargers and Seahawks, both on the road. | 2022-12-26T16:04:49Z | sports.yahoo.com | Detroit Lions draft slot update entering Week 17 | https://sports.yahoo.com/detroit-lions-draft-slot-entering-150210188.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/detroit-lions-draft-slot-entering-150210188.html?src=rss |
The Seahawks got handily beaten by a much better team again this past week. However, they didn’t lose any ground in the playoff race thanks to a little help from the Giants, Commanders and Lions, all of whom lost their own matchups. On the other hand, the once-toasted Packers have won three games in a row and are looming as a threat to grab a wild-card spot. Meanwhile, at the top of the pile the Vikings are now just one game behind the Eagles for the No. 1 seed in the conference.
Here’s the updated NFC playoff picture going into Week 17.
Tim Hardaway Jr. with a buzzer beater vs the Los Angeles Lakers
Tim Hardaway Jr. (Dallas Mavericks) with a buzzer beater vs the Los Angeles Lakers, 12/25/2022 | 2022-12-26T16:05:46Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFC Playoff Picture: Seahawks still have a chance going into Week 17 | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfc-playoff-picture-seahawks-still-150059838.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfc-playoff-picture-seahawks-still-150059838.html?src=rss |
The Miami Dolphins suffered yet another loss on Sunday, as they were defeated by the Green Bay Packers, 26-20, at Hard Rock Stadium.
A four-game losing streak has the Dolphins on the ropes of playoff contention after once being the top seed in the conference. Now, their road to ending their postseason drought is more difficult, and faith that they’ll do anything beyond getting in is low.
While Christmas Day didn’t bring Dolphins fans the gift that they were hoping for, there were a few things that could be learned from the contest.
Tua Tagovailoa is turning back into a pumpkin at the wrong time.
The Cinderella season that Tagovailoa appeared to be having, resulting in legitimate MVP discussions, has come to an abrupt halt. He completed 16 of his 25 attempts on Sunday for 310 yards and a touchdown, but it was the three fourth-quarter interceptions that really hurt the team.
During the losing streak, Tagovailoa has completed just 52.6% of his passes for 984 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions with an 80.5 passer rating.
Miami still refuses to really commit to the running game
Last week, head coach Mike McDaniel spoke on his team’s lack of commitment to the running game, especially in short-yardage situations. However, when the opportunity presented itself to address the issues on Sunday, his offense continued their passing ways.
Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson rushed just 17 times in the game, combining for 82 yards (4.8 yards per attempt) and a touchdown. That average is more than enough to show that it’s working. They need to rely on it more.
Special teams continues to be an issue
On Miami’s first kickoff attempt, the Packers returned the ball 93 yards to the Dolphins’ 9-yard line. This isn’t a new problem. Miami’s kick coverage has been lackluster all season, and it’s putting their defense in bad situations. Luckily, Josh Boyer’s unit held them to just a field goal.
Jason Sanders ended his streak of made field goal attempts, missing one from 48 yards out.
At least 52 people have died from the wintry weather wreaking havoc across the U.S. over Christmas weekend. The highest number of fatalities is in New York state, where 30 people have died in the wake of a massive snowstorm, according to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. Twenty-five of New York's deaths are in Erie County, which includes the city of Buffalo, Mark Poloncarz, the executive of Erie County said Monday. | 2022-12-26T16:06:05Z | sports.yahoo.com | Quick-hit takeaways from Dolphins’ demoralizing loss to the Packers | https://sports.yahoo.com/quick-hit-takeaways-dolphins-demoralizing-153148011.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/quick-hit-takeaways-dolphins-demoralizing-153148011.html?src=rss |
The Seattle Seahawks fell to the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Eve and suffered a few hits to the roster as well. Coach Pete Carroll was able to provide some injury updates Saturday night following the loss.
Right tackle Abraham Lucas (elbow): “His elbow just kind of gave out a little bit or something like that, so he had an issue with it,” Carroll said. “He was OK to play, he could have played, but we thought let’s get him out of there and rest it, because it impacts him too much, I don’t think he reinjured it as much as he just kind of aggravated it.”
Safety Joey Blount (knee): “Joey had an issue with his knee,” Carroll confirmed. “Something with his kneecap. I don’t know exactly what it is, but it kind of got knocked out a little bit and came back. He was in a lot of pain and discomfort. It is not a knee injury. It is a patella situation.”
Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (wrist): “He had been nursing a wrist and it just got jammed again,” Carroll told reporters.
Finally, Carroll also relayed that running back and special teamer Travis Homer left the matchup with what turned out to be a sprained ankle. | 2022-12-26T16:06:24Z | sports.yahoo.com | Seahawks injury updates following Week 16 loss to Chiefs | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-injury-updates-following-week-140036874.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/seahawks-injury-updates-following-week-140036874.html?src=rss |
Matt Ryan has had a very good career, but he had a bad, turnover-filled season. Sam Ehlinger wasn't the answer either.
We don't know what Nick Foles will be for the Indianapolis Colts, but that's been the case most of Foles' career. Foles has had one of the weirdest careers in NFL history, with some extreme ups and downs. But, as Philadelphia Eagles fans can tell you, the ups are pretty good.
Foles is the unknown as the Colts take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night. The Colts are 4.5-point underdogs at BetMGM. The line moved from 3.5 before the news that Ryan had been benched for Foles. Maybe that just means more value on the Colts.
Foles, who is 33 years old, hasn't thrown a pass this season. He threw only 35 last season, but did get a start for the Chicago Bears. The Bears won that game.
Teams often rally around a new quarterback. The same could happen with the Colts, though it is late in the season and you have to wonder about each team's motivation level. Look at the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
On the other side is the Chargers, who might just be setting everyone up for a disappointment.
The Chargers have won three of four and look like a pretty good bet to make the playoffs. Though this is right about the time the Chargers let everyone down with a bad loss. We all know their history by now. But we'll see.
The Chargers are clearly the better team in this game. We don't know what to make of the Colts, with their new quarterback, curious interim coach and recent habit of getting absolutely blown out in the fourth quarter. Maybe it will be an entertaining game, especially if good Foles shows up.
Here is the first look at the sports betting slate for Monday:
Quick Lane Bowl in the afternoon
There is a midday bowl game, which is always nice. The Quick Lane Bowl kicks off at 2:30 p.m. Eastern, with Bowling Green a 3.5-point favorite over New Mexico State. It's always fun to have a football game randomly on a Monday afternoon.
EPL starts up again
The World Cup is done, and the English Premier League is back. There was a huge slate of matches on Monday and you might have missed most of them by now, but it's still good to see the EPL back. Maybe you can catch the late match, Arsenal vs. West Ham United, at 3 p.m. Eastern.
After a good Christmas slate, the NBA keeps rolling on with seven more games on Monday. It's not the best schedule since most of the marquee teams played Sunday, but a hot Brooklyn Nets team at a rising Cleveland Cavaliers team is a really good game. The Cavs are a 2.5-point favorite. The Nets have won eight in a row and it's tough to go against them as an underdog.
I'll take the Colts and the points. Foles will give them a little boost. And it is a lot of points for a home team. Ride with the underdog. | 2022-12-26T16:06:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | The Daily Sweat: Nick Foles could give the Colts a chance to compete | https://sports.yahoo.com/the-daily-sweat-nick-foles-could-give-the-colts-a-chance-to-compete-145310452.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/the-daily-sweat-nick-foles-could-give-the-colts-a-chance-to-compete-145310452.html?src=rss |
Long before Tony Dungy entered the Hall of Fame as a coach, he was a player who spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers.
During the final season of his playing career, Dungy had a cup of coffee with the New York Giants, where he played under then-head coach Ray Perkins.
Perkins was impressed with Dungy’s knowledge of the game and believed that he should get into coaching following his retirement. And in 1981 after that had happened, Perkins came calling.
“I played two years for the Steelers, and I played a year for the 49ers, and then my third year to the Giants. Ray Perkins was the head coach, a guy named Bill Belichick was the special teams coach. I lasted kind of midway through training camp and got cut, and realized it was probably time to hang it up,” Dungy recalled, via the New York Post.
“When I got cut, Coach Perkins said, ‘I really like a lot of things about you, you’re just not a very good player. But one day, you might be a good coach.’ I didn’t think too much of it, I thought it was just small talk. … And so the beginning of winter of 1981, Coach Perkins called me and he said, ‘Hey I was curious about that. I’d like to talk to you about coming on the Giants coaching staff.’ So I called Tom Moore, who recruited me, coached me in college, and he was on the staff in Pittsburgh, and I said, ‘Hey, I might have a chance to go to the Giants, what do you think?'”
That’s about as far as things went between Dungy and the Giants. Although he had considered joining them, a more appealing opportunity immediately presented itself.
“Apparently (Moore) talked to Coach (Chuck) Noll, ’cause Coach Noll called me the next day and he said, ‘Are you really serious about looking into coaching? If you really want to try coaching, you ought to come here.’ So instead of getting on the plane to New York, I got on the plane to Pittsburgh, and at 25 years old I was a defensive assistant with the Steelers. But probably wouldn’t have happened if Ray Perkins hadn’t called me.”
Perkins and the Giants lit the match that led to a Hall of Fame career but have nothing to show for it themselves.
Dungy spent eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the Kansas City Chiefs as a defensive backs coach (1989-1991) and later the Minnesota Vikings (1992-1995).
In 1996, Dungy was hired as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He wrapped up his career as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts (2002-2008), winning Super Bowl XLI along the way.
Dungy was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
Local businesses like Holland Bowl Mill, Cento Anni and Evergreen Commons promote sustainable woodworking practices. | 2022-12-26T16:07:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | Tony Dungy credits Giants, Ray Perkins for his coaching career | https://sports.yahoo.com/tony-dungy-credits-giants-ray-145552150.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/tony-dungy-credits-giants-ray-145552150.html?src=rss |
May 4, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Jae Crowder (99) against the Dallas Mavericks in game two of the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at Footprint Center. / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Trade season is underway and the Knicks, fresh off one of the league’s hottest win streaks, could be potential buyers. With that in mind, here are five trade targets they could look at to upgrade the team in the coming weeks.
Crowder requested a trade prior to the season and thus hasn’t suited up once for his Phoenix Suns. Until now he had made a strong career as a key 3-and-D wing on multiple long playoff runs.
That kind of skillset and experience should be valuable to the Knicks, now in the thick of the East playoff race. After cutting their rotation down, they only have Quentin Grimes and RJ Barrett available to guard the bigger, elite wings in the league. Crowder won’t shut anybody down, but provides an added body that’s used to the Knicks’ bully-ball brand and helps cover one of their weaknesses.
New York can send Phoenix some salary filler and maybe a couple second-round picks in order to improve its depth, and maybe find a better option at the backup four than Obi Toppin.
Another veteran wing who’s used to competing long after the regular season, Bogdanovic is currently wasting away in the Detroit tank, and many NBA teams are likely to come knocking for his services.
Bogie would add an extra shooting dimension to the Knicks, along with another wing defender. They should be careful not to overpay for him, however, as there are a few intriguing backups to look at and the competition for him will be fierce.
Despite its recent winning stretch, Orlando remains in the depths of the league’s standings, and could be aggressive sellers. They did a great job of rehabilitating Harris after injury and on-court play struggles, and he’s now hitting 44% of his 3s and defending well.
Harris doesn’t bring the big wing size the Knicks lack in their rotation, but otherwise fits nicely as a Tom Thibodeau-type player. He shouldn’t cost a whole lot and would bring some nice insurance to the bench.
Nov 1, 2021; New York, New York, USA; Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) looks to pass against New York Knicks forward Julius Randle (30) and guards RJ Barrett (9) and Derrick Rose (4) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / © Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
We have to step things up here as the Knicks, star-hunting since the dawn of time, are sure to be aggressive if any All-Star equivalent names become available. With Toronto recently drafting a franchise centerpiece and far underperforming its season’s expectations, the team could be next to sell if things don’t turn around. One guy New York and 28 other teams will definitely call about is Anunoby.
While he’s yet to take that next step to stardom many expected for years, Anunoby is still a highly valued player, just 25 years old and one of the best 3-and-D-and-a-little-more wings in the league. He’s averaging a career-high 18.9 points this season, getting to the free-throw line more consistently while still defending effectively. His 6-foot-7, 232-pound build makes him a very athletic potential add to the Knicks.
Unfortunately, he’ll likely cost a star package for a non-star return. If that’s not the case, the Knicks would be foolish not to pursue him, given his fit with their timeline and schemes.
Zach LaVine -- or whichever star wants out
As mentioned, insert disgruntled star name here is always a target for the Knicks. In recent days, Chicago’s foibles thrusted LaVine’s name into the rumor mill.
LaVine just signed a max extension with the Bulls, but after years of missing the playoffs, their all-in moves that built last year’s first round loser don’t appear to be paying off. If he doesn’t deem this team a true contender and doesn’t vibe with its direction, he could want out.
Despite this year’s struggles, the Knicks would 100 percent go after LaVine, who’s a top scorer in the league when healthy. He’s still just 27 years old and in 2021 had a near 50-40-90 shooting season on 27.4 points per game.
As they should, LaVine would be a major upgrade to the lineup. But it’s possible he won’t ask out, and as always, there’s another star coming down the line who isn’t thrilled with his current situation.
Trae Young murmurs are beginning to make the rounds after clashes with his head coach and an underwhelming start to the season for his team. These two may be the names right now, but in a week or two it could be others.
Whichever stars end up wanting out, the Knicks will be there, hat in hand, to greet them with open arms. There may be nice and quiet upgrades available, but New York is in it for the big fish | 2022-12-26T16:31:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | 5 potential Knicks trade targets ahead of the 2023 deadline | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-potential-knicks-trade-targets-151952705.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-potential-knicks-trade-targets-151952705.html?src=rss |
There is a lot of action in the upcoming week as teams are preparing to travel to play their final games of the season. The Rose Bowl will be hosting a dynamic Utah Utes and Penn State Nittany Lions matchup as the representatives from the Pac-12 and Big Ten. The Alabama Crimson Tide will be playing their starters against Kansas State in this year’s Sugar Bowl, despite opt-outs becoming more and more common. The Tulane Green Wave have an opportunity to close out a great season with a win against the USC Trojans in the Cotton Bowl, although Heisman winner Caleb Williams may try to stop that as he returns from injury. In crazy sponsor news, the Duke's Mayo Bowl returns as well as not one, but two Cheez-It bowls this year. Finally, the Tennessee Volunteers and Clemson Tigers will be squaring off in the most orange colored Orange Bowl yet. | 2022-12-26T16:31:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | College Football Bowl Extravaganza, Part 2: Utah returns to the Rose Bowl, an all-orange Orange Bowl & starters are playing in the Sugar Bowl | https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football-bowl-extravaganza-part-2-utah-returns-to-the-rose-bowl-an-all-orange-orange-bowl-starters-are-playing-in-the-sugar-bowl-162513671.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/college-football-bowl-extravaganza-part-2-utah-returns-to-the-rose-bowl-an-all-orange-orange-bowl-starters-are-playing-in-the-sugar-bowl-162513671.html?src=rss |
Brown reacts to altercation with Giannis in Celtics' win over Bucks originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Giannis Antetokounmpo looked frustrated toward the end of the Milwaukee Bucks' 139-118 loss to the Boston Celtics in a Christmas Day matchup at TD Garden, and he took it out on Jaylen Brown.
The Celtics guard fought hard through an Antetokounmpo late in the fourth quarter and the Bucks forward went down to the floor. When Antetokounmpo got up, he appeared to swing an elbow at Brown, who took exception and got in the Bucks star's face. Both of them had to be separated as players and coaches from each team stepped in.
Giannis and Jaylen squashing their beef postgame 🤠pic.twitter.com/8gkSBdEPv9
The victory gave the Celtics a 1.5-game lead over the Bucks in the East standings and the early advantage in the head-to-head tiebreaker. These teams will play next on Valentine's Day in Milwaukee. | 2022-12-26T16:31:19Z | sports.yahoo.com | Jaylen Brown reacts to altercation with Giannis Antetokounmpo in Celtics-Bucks | https://sports.yahoo.com/jaylen-brown-reacts-altercation-giannis-151638050.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jaylen-brown-reacts-altercation-giannis-151638050.html?src=rss |
Auburn football got some good news on Christmas when four-star wideout Alex Taylor included Auburn in his top 10 schools.
The Greensboro, North Carolina product has a final 10 of Auburn, Wake Forest, NC State, ECU, Clemson, Penn State, Missouri, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Virginia Tech.
He is the No. 41 wide receiver and No. 28 overall player in the 247Sports Composite ranking for the 2024 recruiting class. He is also the No. 7 player from North Carolina.
The 6-foot-2, 178-pounder had an impressive junior season for Grimsley High School, catching 65 passes for 1,034 yards and 12 touchdowns in 16 games. He also recorded three interceptions as a defender.
Taylor was offered by Ike Hilliard and the previous coaching staff back in September but is clearly still interested in the Tigers. It will be interesting to see if Auburn’s new staff dials up their pursuit of him.
Auburn already has two commitments in the 2024 cycle, four-star quarterback Adrian Posse and four-star cornerback A’Mon Lane.
Another look at my top 10!!! (Recruitment still open) pic.twitter.com/QyMetb6uix | 2022-12-26T17:34:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | Auburn makes top 10 for 2024 4-star WR Alex Taylor | https://sports.yahoo.com/auburn-makes-top-10-2024-162425337.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/auburn-makes-top-10-2024-162425337.html?src=rss |
When you look at the Big Ten football recruiting rankings at the start of the early signing period, a lot of different details jump out. If you follow the Big Ten closely enough to know which coaches are in good situations (Jim Harbaugh at Michigan), you also know which coaches are in precarious positions.
Ryan Day of Ohio State wins 11 games per year … and that’s not good enough for the Buckeyes, given that they recruit so well every year and are expected to win Big Ten championships and College Football Playoff games. Ohio State has failed to win the Big Ten each of the past two years. The Buckeyes have lost two straight times to Michigan and Harbaugh. That will get Day on the hot seat if it continues. Day is under fire in Columbus, despite all the wins and a place in the 2022 College Football Playoff. He needs a good showing against Georgia to quiet the critics and reduce the noise in the program.
Mel Tucker of Michigan State has a ton to prove after a losing season in 2022. Tucker delivered a great 2021 campaign but failed to build on it this year. Michigan State invested a ton of money in Tucker, and in 2023, the coach needs to justify the investment.
James Franklin is expected to compete well with Ohio State and Michigan in his spot at Penn State, but the Nittany Lions were clearly outclassed by those two schools in 2022. Franklin needs a big 2023 season in Happy Valley.
Mike Locksley is not making the grade at Maryland. Kirk Ferentz was under fire a lot at Iowa this past season. There are a lot of embattled coaches in the Big Ten.
All of them landed in the upper half of Big Ten football recruiting rankings at the start of the early signing period, as shown by our friends at Buckeyes Wire.
Ferentz and Iowa: No. 7.
Locksley and Maryland: No. 6.
Tucker and Michigan State: No. 4.
Franklin and Penn State: No. 2.
Day and Ohio State: No. 1.
The recruiting rankings are there. Now these guys have to coach ’em up on Saturdays in 2023. | 2022-12-26T17:34:27Z | sports.yahoo.com | Big Ten coaches in difficult situations came up with good recruiting results | https://sports.yahoo.com/big-ten-coaches-difficult-situations-153506543.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/big-ten-coaches-difficult-situations-153506543.html?src=rss |
It’s weird to discuss Big Ten recruiting, but we have to face up to the plain facts and the uncomfortable truth: USC recruits for the current cycle and the Class of 2023 will spend most of their careers going up against Big Ten players. Current Trojan recruits in this and future cycles will play against the players currently being recruited by Big Ten schools.
So, let’s look at the world of Big Ten football recruiting.
Our friends at Buckeyes Wire have gathered the ratings from the first days of the early signing period.
We can pick apart these ratings all day long. Let’s just start somewhere; we’ll have plenty of other posts on the various storylines which emerge from these recruiting ratings, so if we pick one story, don’t worry. We’ll touch on the other storylines.
Let’s start at the bottom: The two Big Ten programs in the state of Indiana — the Indiana Hoosiers and Purdue Boilermakers — are at the bottom of the Big Ten recruiting rankings.
Purdue’s low ranking has an explanation: The Boilermakers had a coaching change. Indiana, though, is in a really bad spot. Coach Tom Allen has failed to build on the momentum of his big 2020 season in Bloomington.
Have fun sorting through these rankings and looking at the stories which stand out to you. We’ll certainly mention the stories which stand out to us.
Mapping out USC’s 2023 Pac-12 basketball schedule and what needs to happen for the Trojans
Here's what #USC needs to do to realistically give itself a good chance of making the 2023 NCAA Tournament. | 2022-12-26T17:34:33Z | sports.yahoo.com | Big Ten football recruiting report: looking at the conference USC will join one year from now | https://sports.yahoo.com/big-ten-football-recruiting-report-144258671.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/big-ten-football-recruiting-report-144258671.html?src=rss |
David Stone is a 2024 five-star defensive lineman from Oklahoma City, though he will play for the well-renowned IMG Academy during his senior season.
He recently released his top 10 schools that he will consider moving forward, and the LSU Tigers made the list. LSU joins Alabama, Miami, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas A&M, Tennessee, USC, Michigan State, and Florida.
Stone has received five crystal balls to Oklahoma and two crystal ball predictions to Michigan State. Oklahoma was a heavy favorite for a while, but the crystal ball predictions for Michigan State were both posted on Dec. 23, so it would seem the Spartans are leading the way. Oklahoma is a 97% favorite to land him per On3.
LSU currently has the No. 1 recruiting class in the country for the class of 2024 with eight commitments. Brian Kelly is coming off two straight top-10 recruiting classes, and he is well on his way to another.
NEW: 2024 5-star DL David Stone talks top schools and his plan moving forward: https://t.co/TVC0yMP77y pic.twitter.com/eXTF6c7gyn | 2022-12-26T17:34:58Z | sports.yahoo.com | LSU makes top 10 for 2024 5-star defensive lineman | https://sports.yahoo.com/lsu-makes-top-10-2024-162206787.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/lsu-makes-top-10-2024-162206787.html?src=rss |
It has been a month since Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide took the field against an opponent and now we are just five days away from the Allstate Sugar Bowl matchup with the Kansas State Wildcats.
Both Alabama and Kansas State enter the matchup with 10 wins on the season, except one program is having one of the best seasons in school history, while the other has the taste of disappointment.
I expect both teams to be excited to show up on Saturday and try to make a statement for both the pride of their programs and their respected conferences.
Let’s take a look at a few of the top storylines to follow this week leading up to the matchup in New Orleans.
First contest ever between the two programs
Believe it or not, Saturday’s matchup between Alabama and Kansas State will be the first. Also, these programs could not have more polar opposite histories. Alabama ranks second all-time in winning percentage with .732, while Kansas State is 111th all-time with a .459.
How does Pete Golding game plan for Deuce Vaughn?
It is fair to say that Pete Golding hasn’t led the Alabama defense to the type of season that fans were hoping for. Even still, Alabama ranks inside the top 15 in total defense but will have its handful containing the explosive Wildcat running back, Deuce Vaughn. Golding’s game plan to contain Vaughn will go a long way in deciding who wins this matchup.
Alabama's offensive chemistry
We can go on and on about the play calling under Bill O’Brien this season, but if we are being honest with ourselves, the lack of offensive chemistry has been the Tide’s Achilles heel. Bryce Young did not practice much for the majority of the season due to his injured shoulder and the offense struggled to build continuity. With all the time Alabama has had since the Iron Bowl, I expect the offense to play with more chemistry than what we saw for the majority of the season.
Does K-State incorporate a two QB system?
Adrian Martinez began the season as Kansas State’s quarterback but then an injury sidelined him and Will Howard took over as the signal caller. Soon after the Wildcats won the Big 12 Championships, it was reported that Martinez would likely be available when the Sugar Bowl rolled around. Howard is still expecting to get the start, but the threat of having to defend Martinez would throw a wrench in the Alabama defensive gameplan.
The curtain call for Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr.
Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr. are two of the greatest Alabama football players of all time. Many thought the duo would skip out on the Sugar Bowl and begin their preparation for the NFL draft, where both are projected to be selected inside the top five. Instead, they decided to not quit on their teammates and suit up for the Crimson Tide just one more time. While neither Young nor Anderson have anything else to prove on the field, their competitive spirits and love for their teammates will be on display one last time for the Tide faithful to enjoy.
We're counting down the Top 10 local stories of 2022. Today, our No. 5 entry: Bucyrus inaugurated its Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, or DORA. | 2022-12-26T17:35:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | Top storylines to follow in the Sugar Bowl matchup between Alabama and Kansas State | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-storylines-sugar-bowl-matchup-150048234.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/top-storylines-sugar-bowl-matchup-150048234.html?src=rss |
That’s the work USC did this past season in the process of restoring the program. USC is back. That’s what a program revival looks like. Nebraska is just getting started.
With that having been said, the Huskers do have reason to feel optimistic.
In the early signing period football recruiting rankings posted by our friends at Buckeyes Wire, one Big Ten West Division program ranks higher than all others: Nebraska.
The Huskers are No. 5 in the conference, behind four teams from the Big Ten East: Michigan State (No. 4), Michigan (3), Penn State (2), and Ohio State (1).
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule is pouncing on the transfer portal, specifically former Florida Gators, as noted by Gators Wire.
For a program going through a coaching change, these developments on the recruiting trail and in the portal have to be highly encouraging. It stood to reason that Nebraska would have a hard time in this offseason cycle because of the coaching change and because of the mess Scott Frost left behind. That has not been the case thus far.
If Matt Rhule can continue to exceed early expectations off the field, he might be able to exceed them on the field. It’s early, but Nebraska fans are definitely excited by what they’re seeing. | 2022-12-26T17:35:24Z | sports.yahoo.com | When USC plays Nebraska in the Big Ten, the Huskers will likely carry a lot of hype with them | https://sports.yahoo.com/usc-plays-nebraska-big-ten-155945521.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/usc-plays-nebraska-big-ten-155945521.html?src=rss |
Dec 23, 2022; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Aatu Raty (16) celebrates his first goal in the NHL with the New York Islanders bench against the Florida Panthers during the third period at UBS Arena / Dennis Schneidler - USA TODAY Sports
It was a "surreal" day for Islanders top prospect Aatu Raty.
Raty told reporters following the 5-1 win he "almost blacked out" at the time, but it felt "great" to get that elusive first career goal out of the way so quick.
“I thought he was really good. You can see, as I said before the game, he played on both sides of the puck. I thought defensively he was sound, he stays on people and understands angles and things like that. I thought he was good,” Lambert said.
How to watch Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers
Here's everything you need to know for Capitals-Rangers. | 2022-12-26T17:37:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | Islanders center Aatu Raty buries first career goal in ‘surreal’ NHL debut | https://sports.yahoo.com/islanders-center-aatu-raty-buries-044841907.html | https://sports.yahoo.com/islanders-center-aatu-raty-buries-044841907.html |
Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson has reportedly sustained an abdominal injury that is expected to sideline him for the remainder of the regular season, Ian Rapoport is reporting.
Johnson was injured during the fourth quarter of the team’s 40-34 loss to the Cowboys on Saturday and further tests revealed Johnson had torn a tendon in his abdominal area.
A four-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro selection, Johnson has been dominant since the Eagles selected him with the No. 4 pick in the 2013 draft.
He hasn’t allowed a sack in 28 games, which is the longest streak in the league, according to Pro Football Focus, and Philadelphia rarely loses when in he’s in the lineup.
Eagles are hard to beat with Johnson
The Eagles are an average team at best when Johnson is out of the lineup.
Eagles have depth
Jack Driscoll is a versatile player that can play guard, right, and left tackle, and he’ll be called up with the Saints and Giants remaining on the schedule.
Philadelphia could also shift Jordan Mailata and allow Andre Dillard to play left tackle.
Eagles badly need to beat the Saints
The loss to Dallas wasn’t critical, but the Eagles are running out of room for error and need to win one of their final two home games to secure the NFC East and the No. 1 overall seed in the conference.
Philadelphia now badly needs a win over New Orleans to get much need rest and rehab for several injured starters.
Things could get worse
Abdominal injuries are serious things and Adam Schefter reported the Eagles are hopeful that Johnson will return for the postseason, although that could depend on how his body responds to treatment over the next several weeks.
According to Jeff McLane of The Inquirer, Johnson initially suffered an abdomen injury earlier in the month during the Eagles’ Week 14 victory | 2022-12-26T18:00:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | 4 takeaways from Lane Johnson’s regular season ending abdominal injury | https://sports.yahoo.com/4-takeaways-lane-johnson-regular-171820663.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/4-takeaways-lane-johnson-regular-171820663.html?src=rss |
Rams fans were treated to an enjoyable game on Christmas Day, something that hasn’t happened very often in this frustrating 5-10 season. Los Angeles blew out the Broncos, 51-14, at SoFi Stadium on Sunday, the team’s highest-scoring game since 2018.
The Rams didn’t set any records or make any sort of history, but there were some pretty wild stats to come out of the 37-point win. Here’s a look at eight of the craziest stats from the Rams’ Week 16 win over Denver.
Rams’ first 50-point game since 2018
Scoring 50 points is not easy, but the Rams have done it twice in the last 5 seasons. This was their first time scoring 50 in a game since their 54-51 win over the Chiefs in 2018, which was a historic battle at the Coliseum. The Rams have topped 40 points a bunch under Sean McVay but putting up 50 against a good Broncos defense is quite impressive – especially given the players Los Angeles is currently missing. The Rams are just the second team this season to score 50 points, as well.
Matched season-high in points in first half alone
The Rams’ previous high in points scored this season was 31. In the first half against the Broncos, they matched that total, jumping out to a 31-6 lead over Denver in the first 30 minutes. It seemed unlikely that the Rams would score more than 30 points again this season, having fallen below 23 points in each of their last eight games, but they erupted against Denver and dominated on both sides of the ball.
LA scored one fewer point vs. Broncos than last 3 games combined
In their last three games against the Seahawks, Raiders and Packers, the Rams scored a total of 52 points: 23 against Seattle, 17 against Las Vegas and 12 in Green Bay. Their scoring output in Sunday’s game alone nearly matched their total in the previous three games combined, which is astounding. How many teams go from scoring 12 points one week to putting up 51 the next? Probably not many.
Rams and Saints are only 2 teams in NFL history to score 50 points on Christmas
The NFL doesn’t often schedule games on Christmas Day, realizing the NBA typically owns that holiday. However, with Christmas falling on a Sunday this year, there were three games. The Rams joined the Saints as the only two teams to score 50 points on Christmas in NFL history.
The Saints did it in 2020 when they poured 52 points on the Vikings in a 52-33 win at home on Christmas, totaling 583 yards of total offense – nearly 200 more yards than the 388 Los Angeles had on Sunday.
The Rams' 51-14 win over the Broncos is the largest victory by any NFL team on Christmas Day 🎁
The Rams and Saints (2020) are the only teams to score 50 points on Christmas. pic.twitter.com/U547tdnK15
Rams are 8th team since 2000 to score on each of their first 8 drives
A week ago, the Rams only scored points on three of their eight possessions against the Packers. On Sunday, Los Angeles scored on each of its first eight drives of the game, with five touchdowns and three field goals. That even included a drive with Bryce Perkins at quarterback after Baker Mayfield was pulled due to the score being so lopsided.
The Rams also accomplished this back in 2000 against the Chargers.
Rams are 8th team since 2000 to score on their first 8 drives of a game:
Lions vs Jags Week 13
Saints vs Bengals 11/11/2018
Pats vs Jags 9/27/2015
Bears vs Cowboys 12/9/2013
Falcons vs Chiefs 9/9/2012
Saints vs Colts 10/23/2011
Rams vs Chargers 10/1/2000
LA’s most first-quarter points since 2017
The Rams scored more points in the first quarter on Sunday than they had all game long against the Packers. It was also the Rams’ highest-scoring first quarter since Week 6 of the 2017 season when they put up 17 points in the first 15 minutes against the Jaguars.
Incredibly, the Rams scored 17 points or fewer in 9 of their first 14 games of the season, so this was a rare scoring outburst from Los Angeles.
The @RamsNFL scored 17 points in the first quarter.
This is the most points scored by the Rams in a first quarter this season and the most since Week 6 of the 2017 season against the Jaguars (17).#LARvsDen pic.twitter.com/YAEvvH0c99
Cobie Durant now leads NFL in interception return yards
Durant came down with two interceptions against the Broncos, the second of which he returned 85 yards for a touchdown – his first pick-six since high school. In college, Durant had 12 interceptions but he didn’t have any return yards.
This season, he has three interceptions to lead the Rams, and his 151 return yards are the most in the NFL right now. In Week 2, he returned a pick 51 yards, and on Sunday, he totaled 100 return yards on his two interceptions. Leading the NFL in that category is pretty remarkable for a player who’s only played defense in five games.
Only 10th team since 2000 to score 50-plus with fewer than 390 yards
The Rams scored a ton, but they didn’t put up a huge number of yards on offense. That’s because the defense helped set them up with short fields thanks to the four turnovers they forced.
The Rams are just the 10th team since 2000 to score at least 50 points but finish with 390 or fewer yards of total offense. The Rams had 388 yards on Sunday, which is still the most they’ve gained in a single game this season.
It's easy to get sucked into the minutiae of the holiday season. Headlines from Ohio and around the world reminded us last week what really matters. | 2022-12-26T18:00:13Z | sports.yahoo.com | 8 crazy stats from Rams’ 51-14 win over Broncos | https://sports.yahoo.com/8-crazy-stats-rams-51-161257502.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/8-crazy-stats-rams-51-161257502.html?src=rss |
Right now, there is no quarterback in the NFL going through the same kind of backslide as is Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins. It has seemed throughout the season that whenever Tagovailoa and Miami’s potentially explosive offense puts things together, circumstances will collide and conspire to tear them apart.
The latter phenomena certainly happened in the month of December for the Dolphins after a first three months of the season in which Tagovailoa was as hot as any quarterback in the league. From opening week through the end of November, Tagovailoa was a legitimate MVP candidate. He completed 198 of 284 passes for 2,564 yards, 19 touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer rating of 115.7. But in his four December games, Tagovailoa completed 61 of 116 passes for 984 yards, six touchdowns, five interceptions, and a passer rating of 80.5.
Of course, the fourth quarter of Miami’s 26-20 Sunday loss to the Green Bay Packers, in which Tagovailoa threw interceptions on three straight drives and the Packers scored 13 unanswered points, was the nadir of the entire experience.
This was another first-act/second-act issue, in which Tagovailoa went from Shakespeare in the Park to “Puppet Show/Spinal Tap” all too quickly. In the first half against the Packers, he completed nine of 12 passes for 229 yards, a touchdown, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 144.4. Tagovailoa had more than one explosive play in that first half, but this absolute banger of a 52-yard throw to Tyreek Hill with 11:44 left in the second quarter would seem to indicate that Tagovailoa’s December blues were behind him.
And then, a second half in which Tagovailoa completed seven of 13 passes for 81 yards, no touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer rating of 33.3 — which means that Tagovailoa would have been better off handing the ball to his running backs on every play.
Asked about those three picks after the game, Tagovailoa tried to provide as much clarity as possible.
“On the first one, I tried to throw it over a defender, but I ended up really throwing over the defender and Tyreek, so that one got away. The second one, I might have said the wrong play. I’m not too sure. But there was just some communication errors on that. Then the third one was just not a good ball for my receivers to have been able to make a play on that.
“You know, it’s tough. You get an opportunity to play on Christmas Day against a really good team, and I go out there and really — not being able to put my best foot forward for our team. In hindsight, this is something that we’ve got to be able to just move on from. Like I say with ‘Bev,’ (Darrell Bevell) he says, ‘let every play stand on its own merit.’ So for this game, we want this game to stand on its own merit, as well.
“Obviously, we’re going to learn from these mistakes, but this isn’t something that after a loss we should be going home and taking to our families, our kids, our other halves. We leave it all here and we go enjoy Christmas, and then we come back in when time is, and we learn from it.”
The first interception was caused by a lack of vision.
A lack of vision, and literally more than figuratively. The first interception, which came with 14:08 left in the fourth quarter, had the Dolphins at their own 20-yard line. Tyreek Hill’s pre-snap motion told Tagovailoa that the Packers were likely playing zone, and this was Cover-4 nickel with a four-man rush, and linebacker Krys Barnes as the spy/middle hook defender based on what Tagovailoa did.
Once Barnes deduced that Tagovailoa wasn’t running, he dropped into Tagovailoa’s field of vision, This seemed to be the reason Tagovailoa missed an open Jaylen Waddle on the quick timing slant. Instead, he was left with no option in his mind but to try and feather the ball over Barnes’ head, and get it there before cornerback Jaire Alexander could zip in and pick off the pass.
That didn’t work too well. Tagovailoa seemed to think that Barnes wasn’t making that drop, and that’s how a lot of interceptions happen.
Alexander certainly won the post-game interview portion of the program.
Holy crap Jaire Alexander rules. pic.twitter.com/Z2nUr67ctb
The second interception may have been on the receiver.
The second interception came with 6:09 left in the fourth quarter. The Dolphins had second-and-13 from the Green Bay 30-yard line, and it certainly looked as if Tagovailoa expected running back Raheem Mostert to run some kind of quick comeback, as opposed to the vertical route he ran, Mostert did eventually turn around, but that was only to try and figure out where the ball went. It went to linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, who read and jumped Tagovailoa’s intended pass, as ill-fortuned as it may have been.
Tagovailoa pointed to a communication issue, and Mostert confirmed it.
“The route was supposed to be different. That was on my part. I didn’t mentally rep that, like I said, I got to go back and figure out what needs to be done. But that was definitely my fault. That’s not Tua’s fault at all.”
The third interception was preordained.
Coming into this game, and despite the fact that he’s been all about explosive plays, Tagovailoa had thrown 14 touchdowns and no interceptions with less than 2.5 seconds to throw, and 10 touchdowns to five interceptions with 2.5 seconds or more.
Add that to Tagovailoa’s history of success with RPOs, and you’re dealing with a quarterback who is used to first reads being open based on the structure of the play. Even on those more explosive plays, head coach and offensive shot-caller Mike McDaniel had done a great job of getting first reads open on downfield stuff, so it’s not as if Tagovailoa is going to become a dominant third-read guy overnight.
His third interception, which came with 1:34 left in the game from the Miami 31-yard line, was a pre-determined throw to tight end Mike Gesicki on a little bender route. The Packers were in Cover-2 with Campbell dropped 12 yards back from the line of scrimmage pre-snap, so this was all about taking the big play away.
It was also another field of vision issue, as linebacker Quay Walker dropped into hook/curl coverage from the middle of the field. Clearly, Tagovailoa wasn’t expecting that. He said that it just wasn’t a good ball; I think this was more about what he couldn’t see. Cornerback Rasul Douglas saw it just fine — he peeled off his press assignment on Tyreek Hill, and got in the way.
Douglas thought Walker was going to get this one. It’s never good when the defense is discussing all the potential opportunities for an interception before the play even happens. “Before the snap, I told Quay he was going to get it,” Douglas said after the game. “He dropped one early. Quay, you going to get it back, it’s going to come. When I turned around, it was coming right at me.”
Both Campbell and Douglas did a great job of breaking late to the ball and fooling Tagovailoa, which should be another point of concern McDaniel and the Dolphins at this point in time.
How can the Dolphins fix this?
Tagovailoa’s recent regression is disconcerting, but it’s not entirely unusual. It happened to the AFC East’s best quarterback in his third season, as well. In 2020, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills came out of the gate strong, with 12 touchdowns and one interception in his first four games. Then-offensive coordinator and current New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll did a brilliant job of giving Allen the kinds of man-beaters he could use to demolish coverage. The trade for Stefon Diggs certainly helped.
How Stefon Diggs and man coverage turned Josh Allen into a better quarterback
Then, there was a mid-season stretch in which defenses changed the locks on Allen with more zone coverage and safety switches. Allen struggled until Daboll brought everything back to basics, exhorting Allen to take the easy completion and get in a rhythm. Once Allen got his head around those more multiple coverages, Allen was able to take the entire playbook, and beat the rest of the NFL over the head with it.
Tagovailoa does not have Allen’s all-time arm talent, but there is enough on the ball here for him to turn it around. Like Allen, he had a great offensive play designer. Like Allen, he had a top-tier receiver acquired in an offseason trade. Now, it’s up to McDaniel to give Tagovailoa a relatively soft landing in the Dolphins’ last two regular season games (against the New England Patriots and the New York Jets, who each have excellent defenses), or there will be no postseason.
“It’s a challenge, but it’s also something that every quarterback really goes through,” McDaniel said Sunday of Tagovailoa’s recent travails. “It’s kind of one of those necessary things that you have to really figure out how you don’t let mistakes snowball and that’s one of the reasons the approach and the way we’ve gone about things has been so intentional in that regard, because you can’t let past influence the present. I think that there could be some portions of that that have to do with him kind of snowballing in his own mind, but he’s such a strong individual that the good news is that I’m very confident that he’ll be able to get through that.
“It’s just that this team needs him. This team needs myself to make sure that all those situations are not putting him behind the 8-ball. And then the quarterback needs the rest of his team to be able to execute so that he doesn’t have to do too much on his own. There was one of the interceptions that the primary receiver [Mostert] kind of busted, ran the wrong route, a concept that we ran numerous times this week, and so it’s not just him.
“I’ll look at the tape and have probably more concrete answers for you guys tomorrow, but overall, that is a team failure, not a one-person failure.”
It is a team failure, but whatever the answers are, they’d better come with a quickness. | 2022-12-26T18:00:19Z | sports.yahoo.com | Anatomy of a Disaster: How Tua Tagovailoa gave the game (and the month) away | https://sports.yahoo.com/anatomy-disaster-tua-tagovailoa-gave-155600589.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/anatomy-disaster-tua-tagovailoa-gave-155600589.html?src=rss |
Despite the Rams missing their top three receivers, as well as several of their starting offensive linemen, Mayfield outplayed Russell Wilson, who the Broncos paid $242 million and traded multiple first-round picks for, by a wide margin in the Rams’ 51-14 win over Denver.
Sean McVay has said how highly he thought of Mayfield before he even arrived in Los Angeles, and through three games, he’s exceeded the coach’s expectations. He’s led the Rams to two wins and thrown four touchdown passes with only one interception, playing at a high level in an offense he’s still learning.
Needless to say, McVay has been impressed.
“I think probably better (than expected), but I always – you guys know, I was always a fan of him and I think he’s played really well,” McVay said after the game. “You got to think about too, what he’s done to come in here and be able to play around a lot of guys too that haven’t been here, and to be able to lead the charge today, just an incredible effort. The quarterback position, there’s just so many things that are involved with that and it’s not exclusive to just when he is dropping back and throwing the football, getting us in and out of the right looks in the run game. That’s a tough defense as we know and he got us in and out of the right plays. I thought the operation was clean all day. He’s been outstanding. Again, I think a ton of credit goes to him, but also (QBs coach) Zac Robinson and (OC) Liam Coen being able to work hand in hand with him.”
Mayfield knows he won’t be the Rams’ starter next season because that job is held by Matthew Stafford, but he’s not giving up on his goal of starting somewhere. And with the way he played against a solid Broncos defense on Sunday, he looked like one of the 32 best quarterbacks in football.
Someone will probably sign him to a contract worth starter money in the offseason, but if he doesn’t get any bites on a deal in his range, perhaps a return to the Rams as a backup will be in the cards. | 2022-12-26T18:00:25Z | sports.yahoo.com | Baker Mayfield is exceeding even Sean McVay’s expectations in LA | https://sports.yahoo.com/baker-mayfield-exceeding-even-sean-162456931.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/baker-mayfield-exceeding-even-sean-162456931.html?src=rss |
For those worried that New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick had opened up a spare bedroom in his doghouse for Rhamondre Stevenson, you can breathe a sigh of relief.
Belichick isn’t second-guessing the second-year running back for the game-ending turnover that cost the Patriots a win at home against the Cincinnati Bengals on Christmas Eve.
“I’m not going to second-guess Rhamondre on what he did,” Belichick said during an appearance on The Greg Hill Show, via ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “Rhamondre’s ball security has been pretty good all year. He had two hands on the ball, they were running him back, and they knocked it out at the end.
“…Rhamondre is a really good competitor. He’s one of our best players. I’m sure he’ll be ready to go.”
Stevenson had the ball knocked out when trying to grind out extra yards in the red zone during a possible game-winning touchdown drive for the Patriots.
However, an argument could be made that forward progression had been stopped, and the play should have been ruled dead, which seems to be the direction Belichick is leaning.
A week before the fumble against the Bengals, Stevenson was the player that initiated the lateral sequence that led to wideout Jakobi Meyers throwing the game-ending turnover that lost the game against the Las Vegas Raiders. There’s no doubt that Stevenson has to improve in situational football, particularly late in games, but it’s also a fact that he’s one of the team’s most dynamic playmakers.
The Patriots will need more from him with the postseason hanging in the balance. | 2022-12-26T18:00:38Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bill Belichick commented on Rhamondre Stevenson after second late-game blunder | https://sports.yahoo.com/bill-belichick-commented-rhamondre-stevenson-161013243.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bill-belichick-commented-rhamondre-stevenson-161013243.html?src=rss |
The Arizona Cardinals are now a last-place team. With their 19-16 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday night, they dropped to 4-11.
The Los Angeles Rams beat the Denver Broncos 51-14 to improve to 5-10.
Previously, the Cardinals and Rams had the same record but the Cardinals’ slightly better conference record gave them a tiebreaker in the division.
With two games left, the Cardinals face the Atlanta Falcons and division-champion San Francisco 49ers.
The Rams take on the Los Angeles Chargers and the Seattle Seahawks to close out the 2022 season.
As things stand, the Cardinals now move up in the order for the 2023 NFL draft. They move ahead of the Rams and would pick fourth in the draft if the season ended today.
Titans linebacker Bud Dupree can’t catch a break. He left Saturday’s game early with a chest injury and is questionable to return. Dupree threw his gloves into the stands as he departed for the locker room, which probably isn’t a good sign for his return. The Titans also list offensive lineman Nicholas Petit-Frere (ankle) as [more]
South Korea fired warning shots and launched jets after North Korea flew drones across the border. NBC's Ali Arouzi has details. | 2022-12-26T18:01:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | Cardinals fall into last place in NFC West | https://sports.yahoo.com/cardinals-fall-last-place-nfc-160313459.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/cardinals-fall-last-place-nfc-160313459.html?src=rss |
Cobie Durant was thrust into action in Week 2 out of necessity, stepping in after Troy Hill went down with an injury. He made an immediate impact, picking off Marcus Mariota and returning it 51 yards – to go along with a sack later on in the game.
But after that performance against Atlanta, the rookie cornerback didn’t play a single defensive snap again until Week 13. He missed Weeks 3-6 with a hamstring injury, but he returned and was able to play special teams in Week 8 … and Week 9, 10, 11, and 12. Yet, still no defensive snaps.
According to PFF, he finished the game with a 94.7 overall grade, which was not only the highest on the Rams, but the best in the NFL for any defensive player this week.
All of a sudden, Durant leads the NFL with 151 interception return yards, showing he’s a playmaker when he does get a chance on defense. The question now is why wasn’t he given a chance earlier in the season when he was exclusively playing special teams for five games?
Sure, he’s made some rookie mistakes on defense, like coming downhill too aggressively on screen passes, but he’s also made some great plays – including a diving pass breakup against the Seahawks in Week 13.
He has the athleticism and instincts to be a starting cornerback and he’s shown that in the last four weeks. It’s fun to see him flying around the secondary making plays alongside Jalen Ramsey, it just would’ve been nice to see him get a shot while the Rams were still in contention, not after the season was all but lost.
The Times-Union reviews January-March in 2022 for sports in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida, including a storm-delayed Players Championship. | 2022-12-26T18:01:10Z | sports.yahoo.com | Cobie Durant is proving Rams should’ve given him a chance much sooner | https://sports.yahoo.com/cobie-durant-proving-rams-ve-172523658.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/cobie-durant-proving-rams-ve-172523658.html?src=rss |
The Bills finished their game on Christmas Eve in Chicago with a 35-13 win over the Bears, clinching their third straight AFC East division crown in the process.
Buffalo went ahead and added to their lead over the second half of the game, and came from behind to do so.
After entering the half down 10-6 on the back of a missed field goal, the Bills offense charged forward, scoring on consecutive drives in the third quarter to take the lead.
Those points came by way of running backs, Devin Singletary and James Cook. Singletary’s TD run was his longest of the season (33 yards), then following a turnover on the ensuing drive, Cook uncorked a long run of his own for a score (27 yards).
“I know James had a long one there and made a great cut at the end to put it in the end zone,” head coach Sean McDermott said during his postgame press conference. “I think that that one-two punch with the run game combined with the pass game, it’s just better complementary that way.”
The two RBs combined for 254 rushing yards on Saturday, the most Buffalo’s had since a December 2016 game against Miami in which two Bills backs also went for 90+ yards apiece. Which was the last time that happened.
In quarterback Josh Allen’s first-ever contest against the Bears, the Bills logged more yards on the ground than in the air for the first time this season, as the QB would throw for 172 yards and two TDs while carrying the ball six times for 41 yards and a TD on the ground as well.
“It was just the flow of the game, that’s just how it went,” Singletary said to the media. “We’re always trying to run the ball when we have to. So it’s been like that all year. … That’s just how it played out today.”
The fourth-year pro would finish Saturday with 106 yards on 12 carries to go with his TD, netting his first 100-yard rushing game of the year. Fellow running back James Cook added a career-high 99 yards on 11 carries with his score as well.
For a team that has been scrutinized for their run game in recent seasons, this year they have been the only NFL club to log 100+ yards on the ground in every game they’ve played.
After the game, Allen notably pointed to Cook’s progression and contribution to the Bills’ ground attack and impact on the field.
“He’s progressed a lot,” the QB said. “He’s learned a lot – obviously, the speed of the game. You know, it seems like it’s kind of more natural for him now. He’s understanding our concepts, what we’re asking for him, and to have a little bit of a change of pace back that can hit a hole and really go, it’s exciting.” | 2022-12-26T18:01:29Z | sports.yahoo.com | Devin Singletary, James Cook ‘one-two punch’ Bills vs. Bears | https://sports.yahoo.com/devin-singletary-james-cook-one-163743370.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/devin-singletary-james-cook-one-163743370.html?src=rss |
When the New England Patriots lost to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday afternoon, the path to the postseason was made much easier for the Miami Dolphins, who were waiting to take on the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day.
Entering Sunday, FiveThirtyEight had Miami’s odds of clinching a postseason birth this season at 82%, up from 78% after Thursday night’s game.
Unfortunately, Miami dropped their fourth game in as many weeks, losing to the Packers, 26-20, at Hard Rock Stadium.
Now, with the Monday night game left to go in Week 16 and two full slates of contests before the end of the year, the Dolphins’ playoff odds have fallen back down to 67%.
The result of the Los Angeles Chargers and Indianapolis Colts doesn’t really change Miami’s odds a whole lot. They go down to 65% in Los Angeles wins and remain at 67% with a loss.
Mike McDaniel’s team has two tough contests against division opponents in Weeks 17 and 18, and they may have to win both to end their streak of not making the postseason. | 2022-12-26T18:01:35Z | sports.yahoo.com | How Dolphins’ loss to Packers affects Miami’s playoff odds | https://sports.yahoo.com/dolphins-loss-packers-affects-miami-173027528.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/dolphins-loss-packers-affects-miami-173027528.html?src=rss |
Johnson expected to miss rest of regular season originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Eagles Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson suffered an abdomen injury against the Cowboys and is expected to miss the final two games of the regular season, NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark confirmed.
The Eagles hope Johnson will be able to return for the playoffs.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the news that Johnson had a torn tendon in his abdomen.
This is huge blow to the Eagles. Johnson, 32, is one of their best players and is performing as well this season as he ever has. Johnson was just named to his fourth Pro Bowl last week.
Johnson has given up just nine pressures all season and he hasn’t given up a sack in his last 28 games, according to ProFootballFocus. That’s a record.
Since the start of the 2016 season (including playoffs), the Eagles are 59-29-1 with Johnson in the lineup and 9-21 without him. So this is a major blow.
“You know what, he's a tremendous, tremendous athlete and he works his butt off every single day,” Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen said recently about Johnson. “As a coach, you have to respect the heck out of that with the way he goes about his business and the way he leads and the way he fights and the way he plays. He's the best tackle in the league in my opinion.”
After Johnson exited the loss to the Cowboys on Saturday afternoon, he was replaced by third-year backup Jack Driscoll, who serves as the backup at both the right guard and right tackle spots.
The Eagles really have two options going forward:
1. Keep playing Driscoll at right tackle. He’s pretty solid. That gives them a line of (from left to right) Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Jason Kelce, Isaac Seumalo, Driscoll.
2. Or they can move Mailata to the right side of the line and replace him with backup left tackle Andre Dillard, giving them a line of Dillard, Dickerson, Kelce, Seumalo, Mailata.
That decision will come down to whether or not the Eagles feel the gap between Dillard and Driscoll is big enough to switch up two spots on the line. That’s something offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland normally tries to avoid. But we’ve seen them do both. Last season, the Eagles played Mailata at right tackle for a couple games when Johnson missed some time.
Perhaps there's a chance that Dillard could simply play right tackle. But that seems somewhat unlikely given that he's not the backup swing tackle, which we saw when Driscoll entered the game on Saturday.
The Eagles need to win just one of their two remaining games — vs. Saints or vs. Giants — to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC. That No. 1 seed would come with a first-round bye week and would give Johnson (and others) more time to recover from this injury.
On Sunday against the Saints, the Eagles will have a backup right tackle and might still be without their starting quarterback as Jalen Hurts recovers from a shoulder sprain he suffered against the Bears.
For the most part, the Eagles have been pretty lucky most of the year with injuries but they’ve started to pile up in the second half of the year. This one hurts as much as any. | 2022-12-26T18:01:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles’ Lane Johnson expected to miss rest of regular season | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-lane-johnson-reportedly-rest-162535421.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-lane-johnson-reportedly-rest-162535421.html?src=rss |
The Eagles will be without star right tackle Lane Johnson for the remainder of the 2022 NFL season after he suffered an abdominal injury in the loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Johnson exited the contest late in the fourth quarter of Philadelphia’s 40-34 loss to Dallas, and Jack Driscoll was inserted for 11 plays.
The news follows a Tim McManus report from Christmas Day stating that Johnson would have an MRI on Monday morning for a groin/abdomen injury and to determine the severity of the issue.
Johnson has yet to miss a game this season, and the Pro Bowl right tackle hasn’t allowed a sack or quarterback hit in almost two years. | 2022-12-26T18:01:54Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles’ Lane Johnson to miss the remainder of regular season with abdominal injury | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-tackle-lane-johnson-miss-161104589.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-tackle-lane-johnson-miss-161104589.html?src=rss |
The Green Bay Packers escaped Hard Rock Stadium in Miami with a come-from-behind victory over the Dolphins on Christmas Day. The 26-20 win improved the Packers’ record to 7-8 and extended the team’s win streak to three games, ensuring Green Bay will be right in the hunt for a wildcard spot in the NFC over the final two weeks of 2022.
Here’s the good, the bad and the ugly from the Packers’ 26-20 win over the Dolphins:
Final 32 minutes. At the two-minute warning of the first half, the Dolphins had the football at the 49-yard line up 20-10. Over the 32 minutes, the Packers went on a 16-0 run to win the game. Jarran Reed created the game-changing play by forcing a fumble and setting up a field goal before the half, allowing the Packers to cut the lead to 20-13 and eventually tie the game with a touchdown drive to start the third quarter. The Dolphins, who were threatening to go up 27-10 in the first half, never scored again. The Packers delivered four takeaways and four scoring drives to create the comeback.
Injuries to key players. The win came at a cost. Four starters left with injury and didn’t return: defensive lineman Dean Lowry (calf), right tackle Yosh Nijman (shoulder), kick returner Keisean Nixon (groin) and receiver Christian Watson (hip). It’s unclear at this point how severe the individual injuries are, and how long each individual player will miss moving forward. The offensive line certainly took a hit when Royce Newman replaced Nijman, and Watson and Nixon are two of the team’s best playmakers. Lowry’s injury allowed for more snaps for first-round pick Devonte Wyatt, who impressed over the second half. Can the Packers go 2-0 over the final two weeks without these four starters?
Allowing big plays. The Dolphins created nine plays of 15 or more yards, including an 84-yard touchdown from Jaylen Waddle and a 52-yard catch by Tyreek Hill to set up another touchdown as Miami created a 20-10 lead. Of Tua’s 310 passing yards, 221 came on his six longest completions. He ended up averaging 12.4 yards per attempt and 19.4 per completion, both crazy numbers. The Dolphins also got runs of 17, 14 and 12 yards from Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson. To the Packers’ credit, the Dolphins only had four plays of at least 10 yards during the second half, and six of the nine plays of 15 or more yards came in the first half. The Packers were fortunate to only give up 20 points during the first 30 minutes, but the recovery over the final 30 helped create the win. | 2022-12-26T18:02:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | Good, bad and ugly from Packers’ Week 16 win over Dolphins | https://sports.yahoo.com/good-bad-ugly-packers-week-163922136.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/good-bad-ugly-packers-week-163922136.html?src=rss |
The Houston Texans finally snapped Derrick Henry’s streak of 200-yard rushing games against the Tennessee Titans.
The two-time NFL rushing champion had his streak snapped at four games as the Titans running back generated 126 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries in the Texans’ 19-14 win on Christmas Eve at Nissan Stadium.
However, the reality is Houston’s run defense gave up over 100 yards, which is hardly a recipe for success in the NFL.
“A lot of times you look at the stats,” Smith said. “I got out of this yard, just terrible on run defense. No, we missed tackles and some critical moments is what has happened. And if you miss certain tackles in critical moments, it can be a breakout. Explosive.”
The run defense was able to tag Henry with three tackles for loss, indicating there were moments Houston’s run defense improved.
Said Smith: “That’s what has happened. We’ve limited that. That’s what we’ve done here lately.”
Smith credited rookie linebacker Jake Hansen for stripping Henry and fellow rookie linebacker Christian Harris for getting an interception. Rookie safety Jalen Litre got a pick to end the game.
“The three takeaways we had, those are rookies,” said Smith. “So it just takes a little bit of time to get it right. And I’m going to say this, again, but if you’re looking at that football team right now, they’ve gotten some things right from run defense to needing a drive.”
The Texans improve to 2-12-1 and have a 2-1-1 record in the AFC South.
Texans G-T Tytus Howard out with concussion against the Titans
Houston Texans left guard Tytus Howard is out against the Tennessee Titans as he left with Week 16 with a concussion. | 2022-12-26T18:02:39Z | sports.yahoo.com | Lovie Smith still not satisfied with Texans’ run defense | https://sports.yahoo.com/lovie-smith-still-not-satisfied-172200567.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/lovie-smith-still-not-satisfied-172200567.html?src=rss |
In Hackett's first regular-season game, he made the baffling decision to run down the clock and try a 64-yard field goal for the win against the Seattle Seahawks. That kick missed, the Broncos lost and that started a string of errors that Hackett couldn't escape.
Hackett was fired by the Broncos on Monday, a day after the team was blown out 51-14 by the Los Angeles Rams. Russell Wilson and Brett Rypien combined to throw four interceptions in the loss, which once again featured an in-game altercation between members of the Broncos. It was, at least, the second time this season two Broncos teammates got into it during a game.
The Broncos confirmed Hackett's firing in a statement.
The horrific loss on Christmas to a Rams team that was 4-10 coming into the game could go down as the low point in Hackett's year as coach. However, it's tough to pick just one low point as the worst of a miserable season.
Even before the season started, some Broncos fans were annoyed that Hackett didn't play any starters in the preseason. He was already off on the wrong foot.
There were ridiculous game management issues and the offense was terrible. Hackett was hired due to his work as the Green Bay Packers' offensive coordinator, which made the struggles of the offense a big problem for him. New quarterback Russell Wilson didn't play well, and it was hard to tell how much of the blame should have been on Wilson and how much was on the coaching. The Broncos offense found new depths every week. Denver was dead last in the NFL in points scored for most of the season. Wilson, who had a very good career with the Seattle Seahawks, suddenly looked like one of the NFL's worst quarterbacks with the Broncos. Wilson signed a massive extension before the season and he isn't going anywhere for a while.
The attractiveness of the Broncos job has a lot to do with candidates' views on Wilson. If they think Hackett's offense was the problem and Wilson can be turned around, it's an attractive job. There should be plenty of questions about that, however.
The Broncos have new owners, which is one reason Hackett didn't last long. The Walton-Penner family bought the team for $4.65 billion shortly before the season started, and after Hackett was hired. The new ownership group wouldn't spend that much money and balk at buying out Hackett after one season, or on spending big for a new coach. When Broncos fans started becoming apathetic — they were walking out of close games early in the season and there were more than 18,000 no-shows for a home game against the Arizona Cardinals in December — it seemed obvious that big changes would be made.
Hackett seemed in over his head right away, and he never did much to make it better. Broncos fans have been impatient with the franchise. It hasn't been to the playoffs since a win in Super Bowl 50. The optimistic feelings after trading for Wilson dissipated quickly.
Hackett will go down as a big miss by the Broncos. It was clear early on that it wasn't going to work out. | 2022-12-26T18:02:51Z | sports.yahoo.com | Nathaniel Hackett got off to a rough start, never recovered and was fired by Broncos after awful loss to Rams | https://sports.yahoo.com/nathaniel-hackett-got-off-to-a-rough-start-never-recovered-and-was-fired-by-broncos-after-awful-loss-to-rams-174419147.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nathaniel-hackett-got-off-to-a-rough-start-never-recovered-and-was-fired-by-broncos-after-awful-loss-to-rams-174419147.html?src=rss |
The Week 16 meeting between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles had been anticipated by NFL fans for weeks. However, in recent weeks, it lost some of its luster. The Cowboys lost to Jacksonville in Week 15, making winning the division a rather unrealistic goal for them. Earlier in the week, it was announced Jalen Hurts was dealing with a shoulder injury and wouldn't play against Dallas for the Eagles.
With all of that being said, it was still a rivalry game between two of the top teams in the NFC. It was one of just two late afternoon games on Christmas Eve, meaning it had a pretty exclusive window. People wanted to see how the Eagles looked without Jalen Hurts so they could gauge how much credit Hurts deserves for this Eagles' season. NFL fans also wanted to see how Dallas would respond following two subpar performances.
Entering the game, we saw some wild line movement. The Cowboys opened as a 1-point home favorite over Philadelphia early in the week. When the Hurts' injury news broke, Dallas ballooned out to a 6-point favorite. However, there was strong buyback on the Eagles. By kick-off, Dallas closed as a 4-point home favorite.
The game delivered on the hype. It was a scary start for the Cowboys. Josh Sweat got his hands up and intercepted Dak Prescott, returning the pick for a 42-yard touchdown. Philadelphia was out to an early 10-0 lead. However, Dallas answered with an Ezekiel Elliott touchdown. On Philadelphia's next possession, the Cowboys' defense intercepted Gardner Minshew. That turnover was turned into a touchdown after Prescott found Ceedee Lamb from 36-yards out. The back-and-forth affair continued through the first half as the Eagles entered the locker room with a 20-17 lead.
Dallas got the ball to begin the second half, but they went three-and-out on their first possession. On their first drive of the second half, the Eagles went 77 yards on ten plays. The drive culminated with Minshew finding Devonta Smith for a touchdown on 4th-and-3 from the 14-yard line. Suddenly, it looked like the Eagles might roll to an outright victory on the road.
However, Dallas evened the game before the end of the third quarter thanks to a Brett Maher field goal and Michael Gallup touchdown. The Eagles wouldn't go away though as Minshew led another long drive, going 75 yards on 13 plays, eating up over seven minutes of the clock. Minshew found Smith again to give the Eagles a touchdown lead in the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys got the ball back down a touchdown with under ten minutes left. After a nice gain on the first play of the drive to Jake Ferguson, Prescott was sacked on back-to-back plays. Suddenly, the Cowboys faced a 3rd-and-30. That set up the play of the game as Prescott found newly-signed T.Y. Hilton for a 52-yard gain.
A few plays later, Prescott found Lamb for another touchdown to even the game with under six minutes left. Now, the Cowboys' defense needed to make a play. The Eagles were moving the ball, getting over midfield and into Dallas' territory. Facing a 3rd-and-4 from Dallas' 46-yard line, Minshew attempted to hit Quez Watkins on a slant route. However, DaRon Bland read the route and ripped the ball away for an interception.
The Cowboys took advantage of that interception and took the lead when Maher kicked a 48-yard field goal with 2:24 remaining. However, the Cowboys' lead was just three points. That wasn't enough for bettors who laid four points with the Cowboys. Dallas' backers would have needed some kind of lucky break or overtime to cover the spread.
Philadelphia got the ball back with a chance to go on a game-winning or game-tying drive. However, those plans came to an abrupt halt when on the first play of the drive, Miles Sanders fumbled. The Eagles used their timeouts and forced a field goal. Maher connected from 26-yards out to give the Cowboys a 6-point lead, which was enough for their bettors. However, the defense still had to come up big.
The Eagles moved the ball down the field and actually drove into the red-zone. Fortunately for Cowboys' bettors, Minshew threw four straight incomplete passes from the 19-yard line and the Eagles turned the ball over on downs. Dallas kneed out the final few seconds and celebrated Christmas with a 40-34 victory.
Overall, just 36% of bets were on the Cowboys to cover as a 4-point favorite. A vast majority of bettors sided with the Eagles getting points on the road. Philadelphia had a 7-point lead with under six minutes left. Bettors who had them with the points must have been feeling good. However, a 3rd-and-30 conversion and two late turnovers turned Philadelphia into the losing side. For Cowboys' bettors, it was an early Christmas present.
The Dallas Cowboys got a big win and improbable cover in Week 16 of the NFL season. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Lions come crashing down to Earth
It was all setting up nicely for the Detroit Lions. They were just a half game out of a playoff spot entering the week of action and they had three winnable games to finish the season. Oddsmakers basically had it at a coin-flip as to whether they'd make the playoffs or not.
Entering the game, Detroit was the winner of six of their last seven games. For bettors, they had covered the spread in seven consecutive games. All of the momentum was with Detroit as they pushed towards the playoffs.
However, Detroit was just a 2.5-point road favorite against the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers are still alive for the playoffs due to their extremely weak division, but it's hard to consider them a good team. The line seemed low. Bettors lined up to lay less than a field goal with one of the hottest teams in the league. At BetMGM, 85% of the bets were backing the Lions to cover the spread.
Carolina winning and/or covering was the biggest need of Christmas Eve for the sportsbooks. We know how that usually ends.
The two teams exchanged touchdowns in the opening quarter, but that was the only competitive part of the game. The Panthers scored 24 unanswered points to open up a 31-7 lead early in the third quarter. Some late meaningless touchdowns from Detroit made the game look a little closer, but when all was said and done, the Panthers earned the comfortable 37-23 victory.
D'Onta Foreman rushed for 165 yards and Chuba Hubbard added 125 rushing yards of his own. In total, the Panthers ran for 320 yards. Sam Darnold added 250 yards through the air. Carolina absolutely dominated the Lions' defense.
It was a costly loss for the Lions. Their playoff odds are down to just 24% now, according to FiveThirtyEight. It was also a costly loss for bettors as Detroit was the most popular bet of the weekend at BetMGM. Detroit's seven game streak of covering the spread came to an end at the worst time for a lot of bettors.
Lowest total since 2008? No problem
The Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints met on Christmas Eve. It wasn't the sexiest game on the schedule as neither team looks likely to be headed to the playoffs. However, it was notable from a betting perspective. The game closed with a total of just 32 points, the lowest total in an NFL game since 2008.
Neither team's offense is very good, especially with Deshaun Watson still working his way back into game shape after his two seasons off. However, the main reason for the extremely low total was the weather. The temperature was near 10 degrees. Winds were over 30 miles-per-hour. Those two combined to make it feel like -20 degrees on the field.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Browns took a 10-0 lead in the second quarter thanks to a Cade York field goal and Watson rushing touchdown. The Saints got on the board before halftime with a Will Lutz field goal.
Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill both scored rushing touchdowns in the third quarter to give the Saints a 17-10 lead. At that point, it looked like the game might go flying over the total. However, there was no scoring in the fourth quarter of the game and the under ended up cashing for bettors.
The Saints threw the ball just 15 times and Andy Dalton had just eight completions for 92 yards. On the other side, Deshaun Watson was asked to throw the ball 31 times for some reason. He completed just 15 of those passes for 135 yards. It was extremely challenging to throw the ball in those conditions, making it hard to sustain drives and score points. That's why despite the total being the lowest total we've seen in almost 15 years, the under was still the right side.
Big Steelers bet cashes
Some people spice up their Christmas Eve by adding some rum to their eggnog. For others, a $550,000 bet on the Pittsburgh Steelers will do the trick.
One bettor at BetMGM risked $550,000 on the Steelers to cover as a 2.5-point home favorite over the Las Vegas Raiders. The bet would return a profit of $500,000. It was sure to be an emotional night in Pittsburgh after the passing of Franco Harris last week. The team honored him during halftime, and the present-day Steelers wanted to honor him with a win on the field to keep their season alive.
Things started off poorly for the Steelers, as Derek Carr and the Raiders put up seven on their opening drive of the game with a touchdown to Hunter Renfrow. That was the only touchdown of the first half as both teams kicked field goals. Las Vegas entered the locker room with a 10-3 lead.
However, this Raiders team is no stranger to blowing leads in fascinating ways. Kenny Pickett threw an interception to begin the third quarter, but instead of taking advantage, Carr immediately returned the ball to Pittsburgh with an interception of his own. On 4th-and-4, Mike Tomlin decided to attempt a 52-yard field goal that wasn't particularly close from Chris Boswell.
On Las Vegas' next drive, Carr threw another interception to Minkah Fitzpatrick. The two teams exchanged punts to end a scoreless third quarter. With just under ten minutes remaining in the game, Boswell kicked a 40-yard field goal to cut Las Vegas' lead to 10-6.
After the Steelers' defense forced two punts from Las Vegas, the Steelers' offense went on their drive of the game. Pickett got the ball back with under three minutes remaining, but time wasn't an issue. He led a 10-play, 76-yard drive that culminated with him finding George Pickens for a 14-yard touchdown with 46 seconds remaining. For the first time in the game, the Steelers had the lead and most importantly, they were covering the short 2.5-point spread as a favorite.
Carr still had 46 seconds and three timeouts to try and get into field goal range to force overtime. However, he quickly threw an interception and the Steelers ran out the clock. Final score: Pittsburgh 13, Las Vegas 10.
It was a hell of a sweat for the bettor who risked $550,000 on the Steelers. Despite the fact that Pittsburgh was covering for just 46 seconds the entire night, the bettor cashed their ticket and took home a great Christmas present.
Don't stop fading Brady and the Bucs
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been one of the most disappointing teams in football despite the fact that they currently lead the NFC South and would host a playoff game if the season ended today. With Tom Brady under center, it's been a common theme and thought all season long that they would figure things out eventually and be a tough out in the playoffs.
If you've been buying into the narrative of the Buccaneers eventually finding themselves, you're probably down quite a bit of cash.
Tampa Bay was a 7.5-point road favorite on Sunday night against the Arizona Cardinals. With Kyler Murray and Colt McCoy out due to injury, Trace McSorley got the start at quarterback for Arizona. It was the first NFL start for the former Penn State quarterback.
It was hard to envision a world where the Cardinals were going to score many points. Defensively, entering the week, no team gave up more points per game than Arizona. As a result, Tom Brady and the Buccaneers were a popular bet. At BetMGM, 76% of the money was backing Tampa Bay to cover the spread.
It was a tough game to watch. The teams entered halftime tied at six after two field goals a piece. The third quarter was scoreless. In the back of our minds, we all anticipated the Buccaneers to have one drive and that drive would be enough to win them the game.
However, Arizona had different plans. A Matt Prater field goal gave Arizona the lead. James Conner then scored a touchdown to give the Cardinals a ten point lead. Suddenly, it looked like Tampa Bay might lose this pivotal game outright.
However, the Buccaneers offense went into no-huddle and magically, things clicked. Brady found Rachaad White to cut the lead back to three. After a botched pitch by the Cardinals on a key third down, the Buccaneers recovered the fumble near midfield. A few plays later, Ryan Succop tied the game with a 42-yard field goal.
The game went to overtime, and at that point, all Buccaneers bets were losers. There was no way to cover 7.5-points in overtime. Arizona got the ball first but punted it back to Tampa Bay. Brady got them into field goal range and Succop kicked the game winner.
Sure, it was a comeback victory for the Buccaneers, but they continue to be far from impressive. Tampa Bay is now 3-11-1 against the spread this season, far and away the worst mark in the league. Every other team in the league has covered the spread at least five times this season.
If you've bet $100 on the Buccaneers' opponent to cover the spread in every game they've played this season, you'd be up $770. Maybe Tampa Bay will eventually somehow figure this out. At this point, that seems unlikely. However, there's still money to be made betting against them on a consistent basis. | 2022-12-26T18:02:57Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL betting recap: Dallas Cowboys use late magic to beat Eagles and cover the spread | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-betting-recap-dallas-cowboys-use-late-magic-to-beat-eagles-and-cover-the-spread-174826835.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-betting-recap-dallas-cowboys-use-late-magic-to-beat-eagles-and-cover-the-spread-174826835.html?src=rss |
The Minnesota Vikings have been dealing with a rash of injuries this season and it isn’t slowing down. Per The Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling, defensive end James Lynch will miss the rest of the regular season with a shoulder injury.
Lynch has been a valuable rotational piece for the Vikings and has been improved from last year due to a shift in scheme. Lynch has 31 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 1.0 tackles for loss this season.
In his place, backup nose tackle Khyiris Tonga will be getting more snaps in pass rush situations as well as rookie defensive end Esezi Otomewo, who just played 18 snaps on Saturday.
Source confirms the #Vikings will be without defensive tackle James Lynch for the final two regular season games because of a shoulder injury. There’s hope he can get back for the playoffs.
Joe Ingles with a 2-pointer vs the Boston Celtics
Joe Ingles (Milwaukee Bucks) with a 2-pointer vs the Boston Celtics, 12/25/2022
On January 1, 1773, in Olney, England, The Rev. John Newton, a slave trader-turned-abolitionist, gave a sermon about personal redemption. Half a century later his words were paired with music, and would become one of the best-known hymns in the world, "Amazing Grace." Correspondent Ramy Inocencio talks with music journalist Steve Turner about the song's history, and with folk singer Judy Collins, whose 1970 performance marked a rebirth of the beloved spiritual. | 2022-12-26T18:03:10Z | sports.yahoo.com | Report: DE James Lynch is out for the rest of the regular season | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-james-lynch-rest-regular-160145297.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-james-lynch-rest-regular-160145297.html?src=rss |
The New York Giants will close out their home schedule this Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The game itself will also carry crucial importance. If the Giants defeat the Indianapolis Colts, they will punch their first playoff ticket since 2016 and just their second since winning Super Bowl XLVI at the conclusion of the 2011 season.
The significance is not lost on Giants players, either. And that’s why running back Saquon Barkley is calling for Giants Nation to pack the seats and get loud.
MetLife Stadium has been more lively this season than at any other point in recent memory. There has been a true home-field advantage that has, at times, factored into the outcome of games.
That’s precisely what the Giants are hoping will happen again on Sunday.
Giants' Azeez Ojulari optimistic after suffering ankle injury | 2022-12-26T18:03:21Z | sports.yahoo.com | Saquon Barkley calls for Giants fans to be loud in Week 17 | https://sports.yahoo.com/saquon-barkley-calls-giants-fans-155532495.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/saquon-barkley-calls-giants-fans-155532495.html?src=rss |
The last time the Jacksonville Jaguars played a primetime game on any day other than a Thursday was in December 2011. Blaine Gabbert was a rookie at the time and Jack Del Rio was fired from his job as the Jaguars head coach less than a week before that Week 13 Monday Night Football contest.
More than a decade later, it seems like the Jaguars finally have the recipe for a return to center stage.
The Jaguars are less than two weeks away from a Week 18 duel with the Tennessee Titans that will decide the AFC South champion. That winner-take-all battle between rivals looks like it’d be exactly what the NFL wants for its regular season finale. The only problem is that another matchup looks like it could be more appealing.
For more than 50 years, the NFL has capped its regular season with one last primetime game. Since 2006, the league’s flexible scheduling rules have allowed it to flex the most consequential game of the week into that spot.
Last year, it was the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers with matching 9-7 records that met with the AFC West title on the line. Four years ago, the Titans and Indianapolis Colts played for a spot in the postseason.
Jacksonville’s Week 18 matchup against the Titans for all the marbles checks all the boxes. But another game on the schedule could steal its thunder.
The culprit looks like it’ll be the Cincinnati Bengals’ season-ender against the Baltimore Ravens. Right now, the 11-4 Bengals are a game ahead of the 10-5 Ravens with two weeks left. Baltimore already has one win over Cincinnati this season and could secure a season sweep and the division title in Week 18.
The only way the Bengals and Ravens won’t play for the AFC North title in two weeks is if Baltimore loses to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football this week and Cincinnati beats the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.
Flex scheduling rules say a Week 18 game can be changed on only six days notice, so the NFL won’t have an issue waiting until Monday night to make its choice. And it’s hard to imagine the league choosing the Jaguars against the slumping Titans over the draw of Joe Burrow vs. (maybe) Lamar Jackson.
But those rules mean the NFL has to decide by Sunday night what to do with its Week 18 Saturday doubleheader. The Jaguars-Titans game could get moved to Saturday night, but then the NFL is putting all its eggs in the AFC North basket, which could be inconsequential.
Jaguars fans will find out this weekend what time the team is playing in Week 18. One thing that is all but guaranteed is that kickoff at TIAA Bank Field won’t be 1 p.m. ET.
Across Brock Purdy's first three NFL starts, his incredible performance put him in the record books alongside a pair of Pro Football Hall of Fame QBs. | 2022-12-26T18:03:34Z | sports.yahoo.com | Will Titans vs. Jaguars be flexed to ‘Sunday Night Football’? | https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-vs-jaguars-flexed-sunday-163411729.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/titans-vs-jaguars-flexed-sunday-163411729.html?src=rss |
The New England Patriots have lost back-to-back games in heartbreaking fashion, and while those results have hurt their chances of reaching the AFC playoffs, the team's position in the 2023 NFL Draft order has improved over that two-week span.
The Patriots will enter Week 17 with the No. 14 pick in the first round of next April's draft. They were slotted at No. 16 in Round 1 after losing to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15.
The 14th pick would be the Patriots' highest first-round selection since 2008 when they owned the No. 10 overall pick from a trade with the New Orleans Saints. The Patriots picked linebacker Jerod Mayo, which turned out to be an excellent move.
The Pats will secure a wild card playoff spot if they beat the Miami Dolphins at home in Week 17 and the Buffalo Bills on the road in Week 18. Miami has lost four consecutive games, and that slump has kept New England's postseason hopes alive. It wouldn't be shocking if the Patriots beat the Dolphins. The Bills have already wrapped up the AFC East title, but they're still in a tight race for the AFC's No. 1 seed and the first-round bye. So it's very possible Buffalo will need to beat New England in the Week 18 finale and play all of its starters as a result. The Bills have beaten the Patriots in each of their last three meetings, including a Week 13 triumph at Gillette Stadium in Week 13.
Here's the updated 2023 NFL Draft order for every team outside of a playoff spot after Week 16.
7) Detroit Lions (via L.A. Rams, 5-10) | 2022-12-26T18:03:40Z | sports.yahoo.com | Updated 2023 NFL Draft order: List of first-round picks after Week 16 results | https://sports.yahoo.com/updated-2023-nfl-draft-order-160004385.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/updated-2023-nfl-draft-order-160004385.html?src=rss |
There wasn't much movement at the top of the college basketball world in a rather slow holiday week.
It’s not going to get easier for head coach Chris Jans, either. The Bulldogs will kick off SEC play this week against No. 8 Alabama, which has only dropped games this season to No. 2 UConn and No. 10 Gonzaga. Mississippi State will then turn around immediately and take on No. 7 Tennessee next week.
If the Bulldogs are a legit contender in the SEC, we’ll find out soon. If the losing continues, however, Mississippi State’s hot start will be just that, and nothing more.
Illinois’ stretch to close out the calendar year hasn’t gone well.
He’s almost certainly being too harsh, especially looking at the 11-1 start Missouri is on to open up this season. The Tigers’ lone loss came in the form of a blowout to No. 4 Kansas earlier this month. They received 57 votes this week, which makes them unofficially No. 31 — the closest they've been to being ranked this season.
While Illinois is the best team they’ve played, outside of the Jayhawks, a huge win like that is certainly a reason to start paying attention to the Tigers ahead of conference play — which won’t be easy right away. The Tigers will take on No. 19 Kentucky this week before a battle with No. 9 Arkansas next week.
Roxanne Perez: No Matter What, Mandy Rose Will Do Amazing Things
Roxanne Perez discusses her relationship with Mandy Rose and reflects on beating her […] | 2022-12-26T18:41:16Z | sports.yahoo.com | AP basketball Top 25: It's time for Mississippi State, Missouri to prove their worth | https://sports.yahoo.com/ap-basketball-top-25-its-time-for-mississippi-state-missouri-to-prove-their-worth-172136326.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ap-basketball-top-25-its-time-for-mississippi-state-missouri-to-prove-their-worth-172136326.html?src=rss |
The Cowboys and Eagles went to war in one of the season’s best games. Philadelphia got ahead early, only to see Dallas comeback, before a back-and-forth, see-saw battle that came down to the last few seconds.
Both teams had excellent performances across the board. The offenses combined for 13 scoring drives. The Eagles’ defense completely shut down Dallas’ run game and even scored themselves on a Pick-6. The Cowboys’ defense overcame a lackluster play-by-play effort with four takeaways. Even special teams on both sides were perfect, going a combined six for six on field goals and not missing a single extra point.
Two of the top teams in the NFC went at it in what could be a preview of great playoff game, but these were the top individual performances who helped Dallas squeak out the victory.
Kearse called out his defense after their Week 15 performance in Jacksonville, saying the need to shut up and make plays. That’s exactly what he did against the Eagles, leading by example.
The defense didn’t have a game to write home about, especially considering they were facing the back-up QB, but their four takeaways were a huge key in the teams come from behind victory.
Kearse got two himself, one of them wasn’t forced, as Kearse picked up a fumbled exchange between Minshew II and Boston Scott, but the other was a huge play at an important moment at that time.
Dallas had given up points on the first drive of the game and then a Prescott Pick-6, and although the Cowboys offense had scored to stem the tide, the team was still down three. Kearse made the first true momentum changer for this defense with a one-handed interception of a Minshew II pass intended for Quez Watkins.
The Cowboys took the lead six plays later on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Prescott to CeeDee Lamb.
His leadership, and two monster turnovers lead Kearse to the third star of the game.
Many of the Cowboys’ stars either made crucial mistakes or had minimal impact on the outcome of the game against the Eagles.
Prescott threw a touchdown to the other team. Trevon Diggs was burned twice, leading directly to ten Philadelphia points. Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Demarcus Lawrence, and Micah Parsons hardly had their names called.
Lamb, however, earned the second star of the game by having a perfect performance.
In the first half, Lamb helped keep Dallas in range by hauling in eight receptions for over 100 yards and a TD. He became the first to do so for the Cowboys since Michael Irvin in 1993.
In the second half the Eagles attempted to double Lamb, trying to slow him down, and it nearly worked. Prescott was only able to hit Lamb for two more receptions for under 20 yards, but one was the game-tying touchdown with under six minutes left.
He tucked his chain in as he came in motion — apparently a recurring precursor of good things to come — and proceeded to smoke James Bradberry for the score on a hesitation fade.
CeeDee Lamb tucked in his chain and immediately scored a touchdown 🔥pic.twitter.com/NiCRGOECMl
Lamb ended the night with 10 receptions on 11 targets, 120 yards and two touchdowns. He is the top star of the night 90 percent of the time with that stat line, and on a night where multiple receivers played well on both sides, Lamb stood above the rest.
What a performance from one of the most discussed quarterbacks in the league. The Dallas defense gave up 27 points, including two fourth-down touchdowns, and over 400 total yards. The running backs combined for 25 carries for only 74 yards, an average of under three yards per attempt, which included a 22-yard run from Ezekiel Elliott.
Prescott had to be elite in order to keep the Cowboys in this contest, throwing 27-of-35 for nearly 350 yards and two touchdowns. He added 41 rush yards on six carries. When the Eagles played zone, Prescott was a perfect 24-of-24 for 300 yards. Whether it was continuing to answer an Eagles score, surviving six sacks, or converting a 3rd-and-30 for a 52-yard bomb to new Cowboys receiver TY Hilton, Prescott had his best game of the season.
The Eagles excellent defense allowed 8 scores, four touchdowns and four field goals on ten possessions. Prescott led touchdown drives when the team was trailing 10-0, 10-7, 27-20, and 34-27, easily the top star of the game, and one of the best performances from a QB all season. | 2022-12-26T19:47:33Z | sports.yahoo.com | 3 Stars: What players most help the Cowboys give the Eagles their second loss on the year? | https://sports.yahoo.com/3-stars-players-most-help-192313177.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/3-stars-players-most-help-192313177.html?src=rss |
Jordan Mailata is a graduate of “Stoutland University” and the Eagles’ offensive line coach will have to pull out all the stops over the next month.
Star right tackle Lane Johnson could miss the next two weeks and potentially the remainder of the regular season after suffering an abdominal injury.
Philadelphia needs one win to secure the No. 1 overall seed and home-field advantage in the NFC and the Birds will have some tough decisions over the next few days as they work to defeat the Saints in Week 17, or the Giants in the season finale.
Driscoll has started 14 games in his career, lining up at left tackle, right guard, and right tackle in the three seasons he has been with the Eagles.
Driscoll has also played in 77 snaps at right tackle this season and is the one player who won’t dramatically change Philadelphia’s offensive approach.
Jurgens can play center, guard, and potentially an athletic right tackle.
3. Josh Sills
Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
The rookie from Oklahoma State quietly impressed and made the roster as a guard and tackle.
4. Andre Dillard at LT
Dillard can’t play right tackle, but he’s a quality left tackle if Philadelphia chooses to flip Jordan Mailata.
5. Fred Johnson (Eagles practice squad)
Johnson played at the University of Florida and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent after the 2019 NFL Draft.
After making the Steelers’ initial 53-man roster, he was waived and claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals. Johnson made eight starts in 23 games with Cincinnati during his three years with the team.
After the team signed La’El Collins, Johnson was waived and landed with the Buccaneers before being waived last week.
6. Roderick Johnson (Eagles practice squad)
Johnson was signed after the Tennessee Titan signed Le’Raven Clark off Philadelphia’s practice squad to their 53-man roster.
The Cleveland Browns drafted Johnson in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Florida State.
Johnson made six starts in 29 total games with the Texans before spending time on the Dolphins and Chiefs roster this summer.
7. Tyrese Robinson (Eagles practice squad)
Robinson was a three-year starter for the Oklahoma Sooners playing guard before moving to right tackle in 2021.
Signed by the Commanders as an undrafted free agent, Robinson gives Philadelphia insurance with Andre Dillard on injured reserve, and Jordan Mailata set for a Monday morning MRI.
8. Daryl Williams
17 games last season for the Buffalo Bills. Williams is a seven-year veteran who can not only play offensive tackle well but also has experience as an offensive guard.
Philadelphia Eagles slot cornerback Avonte Maddox will miss an indefinite amount of time with a significant toe injury suffered in the 40-34 loss to the Dallas Cowboys | 2022-12-26T19:47:52Z | sports.yahoo.com | 8 potential replacements for Eagles injured right tackle Lane Johnson | https://sports.yahoo.com/8-potential-replacements-eagles-injured-175947643.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/8-potential-replacements-eagles-injured-175947643.html?src=rss |
Christmas didn’t go according to plan for the Denver Broncos as they were blown out by the shorthanded Los Angeles Rams, 51-14. And a day after that embarrassing loss, the front office is making a change.
The Broncos fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett on Monday, moving on after less than one full season with the team. Denver hired him this past offseason, pairing him with new quarterback Russell Wilson. But 15 games in, things have been nothing short of a disaster; Denver owns a 4-11 record and has the worst offense in football.
The Rams aren’t going to celebrate a coach getting fired but their win over Denver – in blowout fashion, nonetheless – was the last straw for Hackett’s tenure with the Broncos. The Rams, meanwhile, improved to 5-10 on the year, earning their second win in the last three weeks. | 2022-12-26T19:48:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | Broncos fire coach Nathaniel Hackett one day after Rams blowout | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-fire-coach-nathaniel-hackett-180555847.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-fire-coach-nathaniel-hackett-180555847.html?src=rss |
And, yes, the Broncos do have a first round pick to offer in 2023 despite having traded so many assets for Wilson. They sent pass rusher Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins at the trade deadline in exchange for a 2023 first round selection coming back to them from the San Francisco 49ers (who sent it to Miami once upon a time while trading up for quarterback Trey Lance). Additionally, Denver owns its picks in the 2024 draft’s first, second, third, and fourth rounds. If they want to get involved, they can match almost any other offer.
Now, obviously a draft pick coming from a team in the playoffs (like the 49ers, whose pick is going to Denver) is not as appealing as a top-10 choice like what the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers can offer. At the same time, Payton has a lot of control over the situation, and if he doesn’t want to go to Denver and try to rehabilitate Wilson’s career, he won’t have to. He can simply stay on hiatus and keep working in TV.
And Denver might not be the most appealing situation, especially if Payton is wanting to bring in ex-Broncos head coach Vic Fangio as his defensive coordinator. Fangio was fired less than a year ago after going 19-30 at Mile High, so many of the players on that roster and staff in the building know him well. That might be an awkward working situation for at least one or two of the parties involved.
If nothing else, it’s intriguing. We’ll see which other teams enter the hunt for a new head coach in just a few weeks and whether they end up on Payton’s radar. It’s a unique situation with him needing to clear any trade to a different team and his friendly dynamic with Saints general manager Mickey Loomis may impact trade talks — just how determined will Loomis be to wring everything they can out of his close friend’s new team? Hopefully the mandate to do right by the Saints trumps any impulse to do right by Payton. | 2022-12-26T19:48:18Z | sports.yahoo.com | Broncos fire first-year HC Nathaniel Hackett, could join Sean Payton sweepstakes | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-fire-first-hc-nathaniel-183515297.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-fire-first-hc-nathaniel-183515297.html?src=rss |
The Denver Broncos announced that they have relieved HC Nathaniel Hackett of his duties ahead of the Week 17 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
This comes following season-long struggles from Hackett’s Broncos, but it boiled over due to an embarrassing blowout loss against the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas Day. Tempers flared on the sideline between several players and it forced the hand of the new ownership group in Denver.
Hackett finishes his 15 games with the Broncos with a 4-11 overall record and an 0-1 record against Kansas City.
The Chiefs will be facing an interim coach in Week 17. Denver has not yet named an interim coach, but our friends at Broncos Wire have some options. The goal of this interim coach will be salvaging the final two games of the regular season, starting with their upcoming game with Kansas City.
Andy Reid was speaking with reporters as the news on Hackett was announced, explaining that some dramatic changes could be coming for their opponent. They’ll have to be prepared for anything and all possibilities on offense, defense and special teams in Week 17.
With the Broncos firing Nathaniel Hackett as head coach, Andy Reid says there's always a chance that there could be dramatic changes in their offensive, defensive and special teams approaches.
"Need to be aware of anything and everything." | 2022-12-26T19:48:24Z | sports.yahoo.com | Broncos fire HC Nathaniel Hackett ahead of Week 17 tilt with Chiefs | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-fire-hc-nathaniel-hackett-180953395.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-fire-hc-nathaniel-hackett-180953395.html?src=rss |
The 2022 Denver Broncos were supposed to be the third NFL team in as many seasons who were only a quarterback away from a Super Bowl win, and they subsequently went out and got that quarterback. Following in the footsteps of Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford was supposed to be Russell Wilson, traded from Seattle to Denver for a bevy of draft picks and players.
Needless to say, things didn’t work out. The first domino to fall after the Broncos 4-11 record, and Sunday’s 51-14 disaster of a loss to the Los Angeles Rams, was head coach Nathaniel Hackett. The Broncos made it official on Monday morning.
“On behalf of our ownership and organization, I want to thank Nathaniel Hackett for his dedication as head coach of the Denver Broncos,” owner CEO Greg Panner said in a statement. “We sincerely appreciate Nathaniel’s efforts and wish him and his family all the best in the future.
Wilson has suffered through the worst season of his career by far, the defense (which was the NFL’s best through most of the season) is starting to regress, and it’s clear from all kinds of sideline stuff that Hackett had lost the team — if he ever had it in the first place.
Hackett is the second NFL coach to be fired in-season in 2022; the Carolina Panthers fired head coach Matt Rhule on October 10. | 2022-12-26T19:48:30Z | sports.yahoo.com | Broncos fire head coach Nathaniel Hackett in dismal, abysmal season | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-fire-head-coach-nathaniel-175210798.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-fire-head-coach-nathaniel-175210798.html?src=rss |
In Week 16’s victory of the Seattle Seahawks, Kadarius Toney played his most snaps in a single game for the Kansas City Chiefs since Week 10 of the 2022 NFL season.
It was just his second week back in his return from a hamstring injury that took him out for several weeks. Toney is still working up to an even more prominent role in the offense after his trade to the team back in October. In the interim, he’s just grateful to be back on the field and to have an opportunity to contribute.
“It felt good,” Toney said. “As much as I can contribute to the team, that’s my job.”
Toney scored his second career touchdown in Week 16, owning more touchdowns in five games played with Kansas City than in a dozen games played with New York. This particular touchdown didn’t look quite as clean as the first as Toney bobbled the pass from Mahomes. As soon as he secured the ball, instinct took over for the wide receiver.
“It was an obvious like reverse, but when I got the ball, (I) just did what I did best,” Toney said. “Just find a way into the endzone.”
With two weeks left to go in the NFL’s regular season, Toney’s goal is simple. He wants to further build on what he’s accomplished so far with his new team. If he does that, he believes he can help them achieve their end-of-season goal of winning another Super Bowl.
“Really, just keep building,” Toney explained. “We’re on a roll (and) we’ve got a goal at the end of the year. We’re just trying to get there right now.”
The Missouri General Assembly will have a packed agenda when lawmakers head back to Jefferson City for the legislative session.
Fans of the No. 9 Arkansas Razorbacks will have to continue to wait to see star freshman Nick Smith Jr. back on the court, as he remains out indefinitely with right knee management. Head coach Eric Musselman said Monday that there is no update on the status of Smith, who left the Dec. 17 game against Bradley and hasn't returned since. Musselman also confirmed that Smith will not play Wednesday's game at LSU. | 2022-12-26T19:49:02Z | sports.yahoo.com | Chiefs WR Kadarius Toney aims to keep building as postseason approaches | https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-wr-kadarius-toney-aims-175237512.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-wr-kadarius-toney-aims-175237512.html?src=rss |
Avonte Maddox reportedly has serious toe injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Maddox got hurt in the second quarter of the Eagles’ loss to the Cowboys Saturday at AT&T Stadium and did not return to the game. He was replaced by Josiah Scott.
According to Rapoport and Garafolo, Maddox had an MRI Monday morning that revealed the extent of the damage. Maddox was seen in the Eagles’ locker room post-game in a walking boot.
That’s two major injuries for the Eagles in their costly loss to their biggest rival. The Eagles blew two 10-point leads before losing 40-34 with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported earlier Monday that four-time Pro Bowl right tackle Lane Johnson is out for at least the rest of the regular season with an abdominal injury.
Maddox, a 4th-round pick in 2018, is one of the NFL’s best slot corners when healthy, but his career has been marred by several injuries. He’s missed 19 games since his rookie year, and this is his third significant injury this year.
Scott has not played well, but the Eagles don’t have a lot of other realistic options to replace Maddox.
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who has played a ton of slot in the past, is eligible to return Sunday for a game against the Saints, his former team. He’s missed the last four games with a lacerated kidney, but he remains on Injured Reserve and there’s been no indication yet that he might be ready to play this weekend. If he does return, he could move back into the slot and Reed Blankenship, who’s started in his place, could remain at safety.
And if he is, would Jonathan Gannon want to move him to a new position when he was the NFL interception leader at safety? Despite missing the last four games, he still shares the NFL interception lead.
Cre’Von LeBlanc, who was a very good slot for the Eagles from 2018 through 2020, is not currently on a roster and tweeted last week that he’s healthy and available. He was most recently with the Raiders in training camp.
Zech McPhearson has backed up the two outside corner spots but doesn't have experience in the slot. Reed Blankenship has filled in for Gardner-Johnson at safety, and there is some overlap between the slot and safety in Jonathan Gannon's scheme, but it's hard to imagine moving an undrafted rookie with limited experience to a new position at this point.
The Eagles, 13-2, will clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye with a win over the Saints Sunday at the Linc or the Giants the following Sunday at the Linc.
If they do, their next meaningful game wouldn't be until the weekend of Jan. 21-22.
Maddox has suffered seven significant injuries that have cost him multiple games in his five NFL seasons.
In his rookie year, he missed three games after suffering a knee injury in a game against the Saints at the Superdome.
In 2019, he missed four games after suffering a concussion and neck injury after a violent collision with teammate Andrew Sendejo during a game against the Packers at Lambeau Field.
In 2020, he missed three games with an ankle injury suffered in a game against the Bengals at the Linc and then the last three games of the season with a knee injury suffered against the Saints.
Maddox didn’t have any major injuries last year, but this year he missed two games in October after hurting his ankle in the first Washington game. He returned to play three games, then missed four more after injuring his hamstring in Houston. He played against the Giants and Bears before getting hurt again Saturday in Dallas.
12 Health Lessons In 2022 You May Want To Revisit Before The New Year | 2022-12-26T19:49:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles' Avonte Maddox reportedly has serious toe injury | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-avonte-maddox-reportedly-serious-183801508.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-avonte-maddox-reportedly-serious-183801508.html?src=rss |
To not make it to the end of your first season? Practically unheard of.
Nathaniel Hackett is just the fifth coach since the 1970 NFL merger to not make it through one season. He was fired by the Denver Broncos on Monday after a 4-11 start. The other four, according to Elias Sports Bureau (via Rich Cimini of ESPN): Lou Holtz of the New York Jets in 1976, Peter McCulley of the San Francisco 49ers in 1978, Bobby Petrino of the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 and Urban Meyer of the Jacksonville Jaguars last season.
Petrino quit on the Falcons to go back to college. Meyer was a nightmare off the field, as well as on it. Holtz was famously out of his depth as a pro coach and resigned with a game left. McCulley is probably the only reasonable comparison to Hackett in the modern era; he was fired after the 49ers got off to a 1-8 start and the 49ers brass wasn't happy with the direction of the franchise.
How does it go so bad so quickly for a coach who, despite his flaws in game management, never brought any shame to the franchise like Meyer did to the Jaguars?
Here's how it all unraveled for Hackett in Denver:
Offseason: Excitement for Nathaniel Hackett
It's important to note there was a lot of excitement for Hackett. The Broncos interviewed 10 candidates and settled on Hackett.
"From the start of the interview process, Nathaniel impressed us with his intelligence, his innovation, and his strong leadership qualities," Broncos GM George Paton said on Jan. 28. "We met with Nathaniel — the initial interview was in Green Bay — and he blew us away."
Over the offseason, the excitement would grow with a blockbuster trade for Russell Wilson. Unlike Urban Meyer, who made missteps from practically his first day on the job, there was nothing but optimism going into preseason for Hackett and the Broncos.
That excitement, and the thought that the Broncos could be a Super Bowl contender after a long playoff drought, meant there wouldn't be much patience for a bad start.
Preseason: Some grumblings about Hackett
Hackett had the philosophy to play no starters in the preseason. That's not rare in the NFL anymore, but Broncos fans weren't used to it. A 42-15 loss to the Buffalo Bills was ugly and some fans were upset about Hackett's plan to not give his starters any preseason snaps. It seemed inconsequential, and it's probably not the reason the 2022 Broncos failed, but that's when the discontent started.
Week 1: Hackett makes a bad decision
For many Broncos fans, they never forgave Hackett for a truly bizarre decision in Week 1. The Broncos trailed the Seattle Seahawks late, and kicker Brandon McManus had told the coaches he felt OK with a field-goal attempt from 64 yards. That would have tied the second-longest field goal in NFL history. Hackett trusted his kicker, let time run down when they got in range for that 64-yarder. McManus missed.
"I have confidence in [McManus]," Hackett said after the game. "If we have to put him in that situation again, I think he'll be able to make it."
It was a game management fiasco. And, crazy as it may sound for a coach making a mistake in his first game, many Broncos fans were out on him after that.
Nathaniel Hackett was fired as Broncos coach before making it through his first season with the team. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Week 2: Fans get sarcastic
The Broncos weren't good in Week 2. They beat the Houston Texans but struggled against a bad team, and there were major game mismanagement issues like a delay of game penalty that caused Hackett to decide on a punt rather than a 59-yard field goal (a week after believing McManus would be good from 64 yards out). Through the game, Hackett's decisions were ripped on social media. Broncos fans mockingly counted down the play clock when the team was on offense after delay of game penalties. It was pretty shocking to see a fanbase turn on a coach in a public manner like that. And it was only Week 2.
Shortly after that the Broncos hired longtime NFL assistant Jerry Rosburg to help with game management, and that was just another sign that Hackett was in over his head.
Week 5: Fans leave before OT
The Broncos were 2-2 for a Thursday night game against the Indianapolis Colts. The offense struggled again, and it was time to wonder if Hackett and Wilson could figure it out. The game was tied 9-9 going into overtime when Broncos fans started leaving. Broncos fans are as invested as any fanbase in the NFL, and they were leaving before their 2-2 team played overtime. The Broncos lost in that overtime.
It was probably the first time fans outside of Colorado got an idea of how angry Broncos fans were with the direction of the team.
November: No wins for the Broncos
After that overtime loss to the Colts, all hope for the Broncos being good in 2022 disappeared. They fell to 2-5. A win in London over the Jacksonville Jaguars was a sign of hope, but the Broncos lost five in a row after the bye week. They didn't win in November. The offense scored 10, 16, 10 and 9 points in the four games after the bye. Wilson became one of the NFL's worst quarterbacks after a huge trade and $242 million contract extension. That was a bad look for the coach who came to the Broncos with an offensive background.
Before a Nov. 20 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Hackett gave up play-calling to quarterbacks coach Klint Kubiak. The regular season was a little more than two months old and the Broncos had already hired Rosburg to help Hackett with game management and Kubiak was calling plays. It was hard to figure out what Hackett was adding.
December: Broncos sink further
The Broncos trailed the Kansas City Chiefs 27-0 in the first half on Dec. 11 and if they hadn't rallied to make a game out of it, Hackett might have been fired then. The Broncos lost 34-28 and many fans looked at that as a big step forward. It showed how the low the bar was.
Denver did beat an Arizona Cardinals team down to its third-string quarterback a week later, though it had to be alarming to the team's new owners that there were more than 18,000 no-shows for the home game. Fans had moved on from anger to apathy. Still, Hackett might have survived the season if not for what happened on Christmas. The Broncos had one of the worst days a team can have against the Los Angeles Rams, who came into the game with a 4-10 record. Denver lost 51-14. They showed little fight, except when backup quarterback Brett Rypien argued with the offensive linemen on the sidelines and they yelled back. Wilson was awful, as he has been most of the season. It was one of the most embarrassing losses in Broncos history.
It wasn't a big surprise on Monday when the Broncos fired Hackett, even if it had been 44 years since a first-year coach was fired under similar circumstances during the season. It was clear that Hackett wasn't turning things around and fans weren't going to ever be OK with him coming back for a second season.
For many of those fans, it's a move they had been calling for since the first two weeks of the season. | 2022-12-26T19:49:15Z | sports.yahoo.com | How did Nathaniel Hackett fail so quickly with the Broncos? A look back at a rough season | https://sports.yahoo.com/how-did-nathaniel-hackett-fail-so-quickly-with-the-broncos-a-look-back-at-a-rough-season-193346297.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/how-did-nathaniel-hackett-fail-so-quickly-with-the-broncos-a-look-back-at-a-rough-season-193346297.html?src=rss |
Through the first 12 weeks of the season, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was a legitimate candidate for the league’s MVP.
He obviously missed time during that stretch with a serious concussion injury that was the talk of the NFL for a while, but he still started nine games and brought the Dolphins to an 8-1 record in those starts.
Tagovailoa began the season completing 69.7% of his attempts for 2,564 yards, 19 touchdowns and three interceptions with a league-leading 115.7 passer rating.
Since then, he’s fallen back down to Earth.
Over this four-game losing skid, he’s completed just 52.6% of his passes for 984 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions with an 80.5 passer rating.
Faith that Tagovailoa can lead the Dolphins both into the postseason and on run has dwindled for a group that was once the top seed in the entire conference.
However, former NFL linebacker-turned-analyst Emmanuel Acho, who’s been a staunch defender of Tagovailoa, still believes that the quarterback can get things fixed.
I’m not stressed. The Dolphins still control their own playoff destiny. Tua has played *bad* lately, but he’s also played elite this season.
Win next week + Jets loss
Or win out, & the Dolphins are IN.
Once you’re in everybody has equal odds. I trust Tua to snap back. #FinsUp
These two final regular season games are not easy for Miami. Both the New York Jets and New England Patriots are division rivals that always play their division opponents tough, and they also have two of the league’s better defenses.
If the Dolphins, and especially Tagovailoa, want to prove Acho right and the naysayers wrong, it starts next week, and there won’t be much room for mistakes like throwing three interceptions in the fourth-quarter of a winnable contest. | 2022-12-26T19:49:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL analyst still believes that Tua Tagovailoa can ‘snap back’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-analyst-still-believes-tua-193051696.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-analyst-still-believes-tua-193051696.html?src=rss |
NFL odds Week 17: Patriots are home underdogs vs. Dolphins amid playoff race
Patriots open as home underdogs vs. Dolphins amid heated AFC playoff race originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Patriots still control their own destiny in the NFL playoff race, but both oddsmakers and predictive analytics models don't like New England's chances of actually securing a wild card spot in the AFC.
If the Patriots win their final two games -- vs. the Miami Dolphins in Week 17 and at the Buffalo Bills in Week 18 -- they will be in the playoffs as a wild card team (most likely the No. 7 seed).
Accomplishing this goal will be difficult, though.
Even though the Dolphins have lost four consecutive games, they are still a dangerous opponent with one of the most talented offenses in the NFL. Miami also defeated New England 20-7 in the Week 1 season opener.
Oddsmakers have made the Dolphins 1.5-point favorites in Week 17, which means the Patriots will be home underdogs for the second week in a row.
Here are the opening Patriots-Dolphins odds, per DraftKings Sportsbook:
Spread: Dolphins -1.5 (-110), Patriots +1.5 (-110)
Over/Under: Over 43.5 points (-105), Under 43.5 points (-115)
The Patriots are 1-4 against the spread in their last five games. They failed to cover a 3.5-point spread versus the Cincinnati Bengals in Saturday's 22-18 loss at home. The Dolphins have covered the spread in five of their last six games versus the Patriots, including that Week 1 victory.
FiveThirtyEight's predictive model gives the Patriots just a 20 percent chance of reaching the playoffs. However, the same model gives New England a 59 percent chance of beating the Dolphins on Sunday.
It wouldn't be shocking if the Patriots beat the Dolphins. Not only have the Dolphins struggled to win games of late, starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's performance has suffered quite a bit, too. Sunday's Week 16 loss to the Green Bay Packers was a great example. Tagovailoa threw one touchdown pass with three interceptions, including two turnovers in the fourth quarter.
The Patriots defense has been the team's strength all season. New England forced three turnovers versus Cincinnati and scored a defensive touchdown for the third consecutive game. If the Patriots can prevent the big play -- which is easier said than done versus Miami -- then they should at the very least be competitive with the Dolphins in Week 17.
The Tigers are looking to sway former Texas commit Aeryn Hampton. | 2022-12-26T19:50:05Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL odds Week 17: Patriots are home underdogs vs. Dolphins amid playoff race | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-odds-week-17-patriots-182538971.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-odds-week-17-patriots-182538971.html?src=rss |
The 2022 season isn’t necessarily over for Carolina Panthers cornerback Jaycee Horn, who is set to undergo surgery on his broken right wrist. Nonetheless, this defense is going to need some reinforcements—and they’re calling up an old friend to help.
On Monday, Joseph Person of The Athletic reported that the Panthers are in talks with Josh Norman about a possible reunion. Just a few minutes later, interim head coach Steve Wilks confirmed the report during his afternoon presser—stating Norman will be working out for the team today with the hopes of signing him.
“The expectations—if things go according to plan—we’d love to try and sign him and get him on the roster.”
Norman was drafted by Carolina in the fifth round of the 2012 draft. He played four seasons for the organization, a run that culminated in an All-Pro 2015 campaign.
The 35-year-old corner last played with the San Francisco 49ers last season, where he recorded 49 tackles, an interception and seven forced fumbles over 15 games. | 2022-12-26T19:50:31Z | sports.yahoo.com | Panthers bringing in CB Josh Norman for workout on Monday | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-bringing-cb-josh-norman-193553771.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-bringing-cb-josh-norman-193553771.html?src=rss |
If the Carolina Panthers are to keep their improbable 2022 campaign going with an NFC South title, they may have to do it without one of their best players.
On Monday, interim head coach Steve Wilks told reporters cornerback Jaycee Horn will undergo surgery on his broken wrist. Wilks also added that the team will then determine Horn’s potential availability for the rest of the season following the procedure.
The 23-year-old left in the fourth quarter of Saturday afternoon’s victory, following a takedown of Detroit Lions wide receiver Josh Reynolds. He was seen in the locker room after the game wearing a soft cast and sling on his right arm.
Horn was in the midst of a breakout campaign—having recorded 53 combined tackles, three interceptions and seven passes defensed over 13 games. Entering Week 16, he had allowed the fewest receptions (23), the fewest receiving yards (216) and the lowest passer rating (39.4) amongst all starting corners.
This could mark the second season-ending injury for the former eighth overall pick in as many years. He previously sustained a broken foot as a rookie, a setback that kept him out of the Panthers’ final 14 games in 2021. | 2022-12-26T19:50:37Z | sports.yahoo.com | Panthers CB Jaycee Horn to undergo surgery on broken wrist | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-cb-jaycee-horn-undergo-190000100.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-cb-jaycee-horn-undergo-190000100.html?src=rss |
Life still moves pretty fast for T.Y. Hilton.
It took exactly half a workout on Dec. 12 for the Cowboys coaching staff to see that the 33-year-old could give the team a boost at wide receiver heading into the home stretch of the regular season and what they hope is a long playoff run.
On Dec. 24, in his first game wearing the star, it took all of one catch for Hilton to endear himself to Cowboys Nation.
Hilton’s first catch for the club (and his only reception in his Dallas debut) has all the makings of a play that will live on in the annals of franchise history, moving the sticks and extending a key fourth-quarter drive in improbable fashion, helping set up a game-tying touchdown against a hated rival, and sparking his new team to a win that leaves a division crown- and even the NFC’s top seed- still mathematically possible.
But even if that doesn’t happen, the four-time Pro Bowler made a ridiculous first impression on Cowboys fans with a moment that will forever be known as “3rd-and-30.”
“They called my personnel,” Hilton told reporters at his locker Saturday night following the 40-34 Cowboys victory. “I was running, [Eagles cornerback Darius] Slay was kind of, I guess, eyes-in-the-backfield, and I was like, ‘Man, if Dak [could] give me it…’ And then the ball just took off. And I was like, ‘Well, here we go.’
Prescott’s heave traveled 62.1 yards in the air. Next Gen Stats pegged the completion probability at a 22.5%. Third-and-30 plays historically have a 2% success rate since 2000.
But never tell T.Y. Hilton the odds.
“I just hit the gas and ran past him,” he explained. “I can still play. If you think I can’t play, then that’s on you.”
The team’s WR1 agrees.
“That’s T.Y. A very exciting player. Has been his whole career. For sure, a deep threat. Don’t let the size fool you; the speed will sneak up on you,” CeeDee Lamb confirmed.
Lamb also senses that Hilton’s presence just opened up new opportunities for him, too.
“You keep trying to double me, I have playmakers on the outside.”
It does appear that after ten years as a fixture in Indianapolis, the football world perhaps gave up too soon on the former third-round draft pick out of Florida International.
But Prescott certainly knew what the newest weapon in his arsenal could do, even after just a few practices together.
“That’s a guy that has made a lot of big-time catches in his career,” the quarterback said in his postgame press conference.
“I knew to put some air under it, and I knew he would go make a play. Either that or an incompletion, and he obviously went and made a catch. Third-and-30, find T.Y.”
Hopefully, that situation doesn’t come up too often. But with one clutch 52-yard reception, the Cowboys saw very quickly what Hilton can still bring to the table, both on and off the field.
“Obviously, T.Y. is extremely talented, extremely proven, has played at a Pro Bowl level multiple years, so obviously these types of situations are unique: for him to be available and for our organization themselves to get a deal done,” Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy shared. “You couldn’t find anything but extremely high praise for him as the far as the phone calls that were made. He’s been everything plus. He’s come in here and just grinded on our coaches and learned the language. The biggest thing is, he’s a very polished route runner. He’s done it at a high level, I like the way he’s integrated himself into the group. He’s a great fit for us.”
Whether he’s pulling coverage away from Lamb, drawing the occasional penalty with his veteran craftiness, or providing experienced leadership to a young wide receiving corps on the sideline and practice field, Hilton has already proven to be everything the team said they wanted during their pursuit of free agent Odell Beckham, Jr.
The difference, of course, is that Hilton stepped in and made a game-changing difference while the calendar still said December.
“That’s what I do, man. I just make plays. That’s what I’m here for. I’ll continue to make plays, continue to guide those guys and help them as much as I can. And when I get out there, just show them that I’m still here,” he said.
But look quick, because, as T.Y. Hilton showed Saturday night, he can still can go from here to there really, really fast.
And he might just be the missing ingredient that takes the Cowboys over the early-postseason speed bump that’s stymied them for a quarter-century.
“If I’m able to do that, then the sky’s the limit for us.” | 2022-12-26T19:51:40Z | sports.yahoo.com | T.Y. Hilton slays in Cowboys debut with clutch 3rd-and-30 grab: ‘That’s what I do’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/t-y-hilton-slays-cowboys-182829974.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/t-y-hilton-slays-cowboys-182829974.html?src=rss |
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals played a game on Christmas that not even the Grinch would want to steal. Tampa Bay had to scratch and claw to outscore a team that was starting Trace McSorley, keeping its playoff hopes alive another week as it held onto a one-game lead on the rest of the dismal NFC South. By rule, the Buccaneers are in the driver’s seat to earn a coveted home playoff game in a few weeks, but this team doesn’t look like they have the chops to actually win one, let alone go on a playoff run.
This can’t be the season Tom Brady was envisioning when he decided to come back. Even though the Bucs can clinch the division with a win over the Panthers next Sunday, so many things have gone wrong on offense this year. Offensive line injuries, skill position injuries, no running game — in a normal year, this Bucs team wouldn’t have a prayer of making it to the playoffs. However, the NFC South is so damn bad that the team that played a major role in ruining Christmas is going to get their very own home playoff game. This isn’t a suggestion to change the playoff structure (already did that), just an examination of Tampa Bay's chances to actually make noise.
With the way that the NFC playoff race has played out, the Buccaneers (or the Panthers or Saints) appear to be all but guaranteed to host the Cowboys in the playoffs. Unless the Cowboys manage to win the NFC East, in which case they’ll be hosting the Eagles. Is the team that played last night capable of winning a game against either of those opponents? It doesn’t really look like it.
Tom Brady and the Buccaneers have won five playoff games together since the 2020 season began. It doesn't look like they're going to add to that total this season, despite a postseason return looking likely. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
If there is a way for the Buccaneers to get through the playoffs and potentially win a game, they’re going to need their defense to carry the load for them. The Buccaneers' defense ranks ninth in expected points allowed per play (-0.029) and is one of just 12 defenses allowing negative expected points per play. That’s with important defenders like Vita Vea and Jamel Dean missing time recently. Head coach Todd Bowles hasn’t been perfect this year, but the defense is still playing at a high level. The Buccaneers' defense has really only had two truly bad outings: against the Chiefs in Week 4 and the 49ers a couple of weeks ago. They did give up 34 points to the Bengals, but that was largely a product of the Buccaneers’ offense repeatedly turning the ball over on their own side of the field.
The problem with needing this defense to carry the load is that’s not really a style of football that lends itself to overcoming bad moments. The Buccaneers’ offense is so bad that this defense doesn’t have any margin for error — an extremely difficult way to win with the amount of skill talent on offense and how the rules are slanted toward it.
Tampa Bay's offense is going to have to hold up its end of the bargain, which doesn’t seem like something that it's capable of doing right now. The Buccaneers have only hit 20 points in a game six times this season and only once in their last five games. That’s just not enough for this team to be a worthwhile playoff squad.
The convoluted answer to “can the Bucs do damage in the playoffs?” is that they're going to need a heroic performance from a defense to buoy a terrible offense, or that offense is going to need to way outperform the expectations they’ve set this season. The simple answer? It probably won't. Merry Christmas, Bucs fans. | 2022-12-26T19:51:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | Tom Brady, Bucs still don't look capable of doing much in the playoff game they're probably going to host | https://sports.yahoo.com/tom-brady-bucs-still-dont-look-capable-of-doing-damage-in-the-playoff-game-theyre-probably-going-to-host-193620650.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/tom-brady-bucs-still-dont-look-capable-of-doing-damage-in-the-playoff-game-theyre-probably-going-to-host-193620650.html?src=rss |
This time it comes from one of the most iconic groups in team history. Five members of the "Hogs" sued Snyder and the Commanders for trying to profit off their legacy by "taking that trademark and associated goodwill and brand equity" without paying the men who earned the nickname.
Lineman Joe Jacoby, Mark May, Fred Dean and Rick "Doc" Walker, as well as Hall-of-Fame fullback John Riggins, were named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. That group also formed O-Line Entertainment LLC and filed for a trademark of the nickname "Hogs" this past summer.
"Without substantial control and compensation, the original HOGS [sic] do not want to be associated with the Commanders under its current ownership and management and require that their legacy and brand is protected," a statement released by the group read.
The Hogs were named by former offensive line coach Joe Bugel in 1982 for their ability to control the line of scrimmage during Washington's run of Super Bowl wins in the 1980s and early 1990s. Washington won three Super Bowls from 1982-1991 under head coach Joe Gibbs. While the nickname was originally given just to the offensive linemen, Riggins was eventually named an honorary member of the group.
An explosive Washington Post article in 2020 ignited both an NFL and federal investigation into workplace misconduct at Snyder's organization. There have also been allegations of fraud from the Federal Trade Commission.
Washington's 'Hogs' were iconic in the team's Super Bowl success in the 1980s and '90s. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images) | 2022-12-26T19:52:12Z | sports.yahoo.com | Washington's iconic 'Hogs' suing Commanders, team owner Dan Snyder | https://sports.yahoo.com/washingtons-iconic-hogs-suing-commanders-team-owner-dan-snyder-193704110.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/washingtons-iconic-hogs-suing-commanders-team-owner-dan-snyder-193704110.html?src=rss |
There is 60 minutes in an NFL game. And for 50 of those minutes Saturday, the Raiders defense held the Steelers to three points.
Unfortunately, for the final 50 of those 60 minutes, the Raiders *scored* only three points.
In times like these, the Raiders need to be at full strength on defense. For those final ten minutes, they were down two crucial parts of their defense. Two Pro Bowl players, as a matter of fact.
They lost DE Chandler Jones early in the third quarter and he did not return. Then early in the fourth quarter, they would lose LB Denzel Perryman as well.
Jones had been playing his best football of late for the Raiders, including making the game-winning fumble recovery for a touchdown the previous game against the Patriots. While Perryman is the quarterback of the Raiders’ defense and their leading tackler.
Thus after keeping the Steelers offense from getting in the end zone all game, the Raiders defense finally broke down in the final minute to give up a score. And with the Raiders offense unable to get in the end zone after their opening drive, that score was enough for the Steelers to pull out the 13-10 win.
Neil Farrell | 2022-12-26T19:52:18Z | sports.yahoo.com | Week 16 snap counts: Raiders went final 10 minutes without 2 Pro Bowl defenders vs Steelers | https://sports.yahoo.com/week-16-snap-counts-raiders-182747247.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/week-16-snap-counts-raiders-182747247.html?src=rss |
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still missing plenty of key players due to injury, but Sunday night saw the return of All-Pro right tackle Tristan Wirfs, who had missed multiple games with an ankle injury.
Unfortunately, Wirfs reaggravated the injury in Sunday night’s 19-16 overtime win, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles confirmed to the media Monday.
The Bucs were without starting left tackle Donovan Smith for Sunday’s game, and lost backup Josh Wells in the first half to a season-ending knee injury.
With two games left in the regular season, and a chance to clinch the NFC South title Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, it appears Wirfs’ status is back in doubt. | 2022-12-26T21:34:35Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bucs OT Tristan Wirfs reaggravated ankle injury vs. Cardinals | https://sports.yahoo.com/bucs-ot-tristan-wirfs-reaggravated-202103048.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bucs-ot-tristan-wirfs-reaggravated-202103048.html?src=rss |
Frustrations boiled over following the Raiders latest collapse. This one coming in Pittsburgh where the offense once again couldn’t score in the second half and blew their one-score lead.
No one expressed their frustrations quite as strongly as Josh Jacobs who had been carrying this team much of the season, but saw just 15 carries despite the cold weather suggesting a heavy does of the run.
The result was Derek Carr throwing three interceptions and the defense wearing down after a strong performance until the final ten minutes of the game.
Monday McDaniels was asked about Jacobs’s postgame comments and he had no issues with what Jacobs said.
“I love the guy. He should have the ball more than any other player on our team. And he has,” McDaniels said of Jacobs. “I love his passion, his fight, he wants to help us win in any way he can. We gotta do a better job of being productive so we can stay out of those situations where the running game becomes difficult to stick with.”
It’s one thing to abandon the run. Generally speaking, that’s not a good idea when you have the league’s leading rusher. But if the defense is loading up the box to dare you to pass, you have to be able to accept that challenge and step up to force them to stay honest.
The Raiders simply weren’t able to do that. And this isn’t a problem that happened simply because it was cold outside.
“For us to be able to win at this time of the year, and be productive offensively, you have to throw the ball better than what we’ve done at time in the last month and a half,” McDaniels said. “We’ve been able to win some in spite of that overall, but clearly that’s not the goal. The goal would be to be more productive than what we have been.”
McDaniels says he thinks Derek Carr needs to play better, though he doesn’t place the blame solely on Carr for the failings in the pass game. But there’s no way around Carr taking a large share of the blame.
Carr’s numbers over the past four games has been abysmal. He has completed just over 53% of his passes over that time and has a passer rating of 66.8.
He has put up the two worst passer ratings of his career in two of the past three games while throwing more interceptions (six) than touchdowns (four).
No wonder the Steelers loaded up the box and dared Carr to beat them. That plan worked like a charm. | 2022-12-26T21:35:51Z | sports.yahoo.com | Josh McDaniels does not blame Josh Jacobs for frustrations, Raiders ‘have to throw the ball better’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/josh-mcdaniels-does-not-blame-195540737.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/josh-mcdaniels-does-not-blame-195540737.html?src=rss |
The Broncos sent two first-round picks, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick, quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant and defensive lineman Shelby Harris to the Seattle Seahawks for Wilson and a fourth-round pick. That’s a lot on its surface, but Wilson was a nine-time Pro Bowler with a Super Bowl ring to his name heading into the season. And it made even more sense given the Broncos' inability to replace Payton Manning since his retirement in 2015 and their impending sale to the Walton-Penner group. The Broncos then signed Wilson to a five-year, $245 million contract extension with $165 million guaranteed.
Nathaniel Hackett lost his job as Broncos head coach on Monday. Russell Wilson's performance is a big part of the reason this season has gone south. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
It’s unclear exactly why Wilson regressed so badly in his 11th season. Perhaps it's the change of scenery — a new city, new teammates and a new offense run by a first-time coaching staff isn’t the best recipe for success. The Broncos also fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett on Monday just 11 months into his tenure. Wilson’s success with the Seahawks could also have been a product of his environment in Seattle with Pete Carroll, despite the pair’s reported differences in opinion in their final years together. Just look at how well Geno Smith fared in his first year as Caroll’s starter.
While Watson is 2-2 as the Browns’ starter this season after missing the first 11 games with a suspension stemming from multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, his on-field production is abysmal. He’s completed 57.7 percent of his passes and averaged just 175.8 yards per game with only two passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown and three interceptions.
The Browns arguably gave up more than the Broncos did for Wilson — in both trade and financial compensation. It cost the Browns three first-round picks, a 2023 third-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick to acquire Watson from the Houston Texans. Cleveland then inked Watson to the largest fully guaranteed contract ever: five years for $230 million. The deal may yet reshape how the league does quarterback contracts and has already led the NFL Players Association to file a collusion claim against the league’s owners over subsequent contracts. | 2022-12-26T21:37:26Z | sports.yahoo.com | Russell Wilson’s disastrous first year in Denver could raise red flags in new era of offseason QB movement | https://sports.yahoo.com/russell-wilsons-disastrous-first-year-in-denver-could-raise-red-flags-in-new-era-of-offseason-qb-movement-212651316.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/russell-wilsons-disastrous-first-year-in-denver-could-raise-red-flags-in-new-era-of-offseason-qb-movement-212651316.html?src=rss |
Despite not playing this week after their game against Grambling State was canceled due to weather, the Wisconsin Badgers moved up three spots to No. 15 in the latest USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll.
Since the Badgers did not play, they moved up because of the fall of several other teams including Illinois. The Fighting Illini dropped six spots to No. 22 after getting upset 93-71 by the Missouri Tigers in their third-straight loss.
The USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll top 10 for this week includes Tennessee(10), Alabama(9), UCLA(8), Arkansas(7), Texas(6), Arizona(5), Kansas(4), Houston(3), Connecticut(2) and Purdue(1).
The Badgers will finally get back to action on Friday at the Kohl Center when they match up against the Western Michigan Broncos.
Below are where Big Ten teams landed in the latest USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll:
22) Illinois Fighitng Illini
18) Indiana Hoosiers
15) Wisconsin Badgers
1) Purdue Boilermakers | 2022-12-26T22:31:39Z | sports.yahoo.com | Wisconsin basketball moves into the top 15 of the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll | https://sports.yahoo.com/wisconsin-basketball-moves-top-15-185110379.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/wisconsin-basketball-moves-top-15-185110379.html?src=rss |
The Panthers announced on Monday that they're signing Josh Norman, who emerged as an All-Pro in Carolina in 2015 as one of the game's most notable cornerbacks. He'll initially sign with Carolina's practice squad.
Norman, 35, never replicated his All-Pro form from 2015, but remained a starter for the better part of six seasons since. He has not played in 2022 after starting 14 games for the San Francisco 49ers last season. Interim head coach Steve Wilks was the defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator for the Panthers during Norman's initial tenure with the team. | 2022-12-26T22:36:19Z | sports.yahoo.com | Panthers bring back former All-Pro CB Josh Norman to replaced injured Jaycee Horn | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-bring-back-former-all-pro-cb-josh-norman-to-replaced-injured-jaycee-horn-223124218.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-bring-back-former-all-pro-cb-josh-norman-to-replaced-injured-jaycee-horn-223124218.html?src=rss |
20 Under 25 results: Mac Jones' stock falling fast with Patriots fans originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
NBC Sports Boston's 2023 20 Under 25 voting wrapped up last week, and some of the most interesting results involved the New England Patriots.
The local NFL team had five of the top 10 players under age 25, including four of the top six. However, one of its most popular players saw his stock fall pretty hard.
Here's our recap of the Patriots-related 20 Under 25 results.
Mac Jones' steep decline
Jones had a tremendous rookie season in 2021. He led the Patriots to the playoffs with a 10-7 record and even earned a spot on the Pro Bowl roster. The Alabama product also ranked No. 1 among all rookie quarterbacks in completion percentage, passing yards and passing touchdowns.
Jones was the No. 1 ranked player on our 20 Under 25 ranking last year with a 93.3 score -- 0.2 ahead of Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum in second place.
Zolak: 'Sneaky' important three games for Mac Jones' future with Pats
Based on this year's voting results, Jones' standing with fans in New England has dropped quite a bit. He fell all the way to No. 6 in the latest 20 Under 25 ranking with a 79.6 score. He was the third-highest Patriots player on the list behind running back Rhamondre Stevenson and defensive tackle Christian Barmore.
Jones' drop isn't a shock by any means, though. His 2022 performance has not impressed at all. He has thrown just nine touchdowns with eight interceptions in 12 games played through Week 16. Sure, the offense as a whole has suffered with penalties, injuries, poor play-calling and bad coaching. But there's no question that instead of taking a jump forward in Year 2, Jones has actually regressed.
There's now a real debate over whether Jones is the right quarterback for the franchise going forward. That kind of talk would've been viewed as crazy at this time in 2021.
Rhamondre Stevenson's stock is soaring
Stevenson has been one of the few Patriots players, at least on offense, who has played at a high level on a consistent basis. The Oklahoma product leads the team with 944 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. He's also improved as a pass-catcher out of the backfield with 62 receptions for 384 yards and a touchdown in 14 games. He caught just 14 passes in 11 games as a rookie last season.
Stevenson ranked No. 2 in this year's 20 Under 25 voting with an 85.6 score. He was the highest-rated Patriots player in the ranking.
The Patriots have needed Stevenson to shoulder more of the offensive burden with running back Damien Harris missing six of the first 16 games due to injury. Stevenson has mostly passed this test with flying colors, although a few costly miscues over the last two games have taken some of the shine off his 2022 campaign.
Future stars on the horizon
Rookie cornerback Marcus Jones was the fourth-highest Patriots player in this year's 20 Under 25 ranking. He has shined in all three phases, highlighted by a game-winning punt return touchdown against the New York Jets in Week 11 and a 45-yard touchdown reception in Week 13 versus the Buffalo Bills. Jones has a bright future as an all-purpose player.
Christian Barmore was the No. 2 Patriots player in this year's ranking. He has missed most of the season due to a knee injury, but his future remains bright as an impactful defensive lineman.
Josh Uche was the No. 5 ranked Patriots player. He probably would've been higher if voting extended later into December. The Michigan product has 11.5 sacks in 13 games -- 8.5 more than his output in 12 games last season. The Patriots are desperate for a star at linebacker and Uche is the most likely internal candidate for that role.
Flyers prospect Cutter Gauthier showing drive, 'elite' release at Boston College
Against Nate Leaman's Providence Friars, Flyers prospect Cutter Gauthier showed his determination and "elite" release. By Jordan Hall
The Colts elevated LB Segun Olubi for Monday night's matchup. | 2022-12-26T23:14:35Z | sports.yahoo.com | 20 Under 25 results: Mac Jones' stock falling fast with Patriots fans | https://sports.yahoo.com/20-under-25-results-mac-214715969.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/20-under-25-results-mac-214715969.html?src=rss |
NFL playoff picture: How loss to Bengals impacts Patriots' position in AFC originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The New England Patriots lost their second consecutive game Saturday vs. the Cincinnati Bengals. but it wasn't a fatal blow to their playoff chances.
It's a long shot, but the Patriots still have a chance to sneak into the postseason despite their uninspiring 7-8 record. FiveThirtyEight's predictive model gives them an 11 percent chance to clinch a playoff berth following the defeat.
New England nearly pulled off a Christmas miracle at Gillette Stadium, cutting a 22-point deficit to four in the fourth quarter. It had the ball at Cincinnati's five-yard line with a minute to go and a chance to take the lead, but Rhamondre Stevenson's fumble ruined any chance of a comeback.
The Pats still hold the No. 8 spot in the AFC standings and will hope for a Miami Dolphins loss to the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day. A Los Angeles Chargers loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Monday also would help their cause.
UPDATE: The Dolphins kept the Patriots' playoff hopes alive by losing to the Packers on Sunday. Click here for an updated NFL Playoff Picture and standings entering Week 17.
If the Dolphins lose, the Patriots will have a chance to make things interesting when the two teams face off in Week 17. They will wrap up their regular season with a trip to Buffalo.
Here's a look at the updated AFC playoff picture after Saturday's events.
Sanibel city officials announce the partial removal of a critical checkpoint at the island's entry looms closer. | 2022-12-26T23:14:37Z | sports.yahoo.com | 2022 NFL playoff picture: Updated AFC standings, scenarios entering Week 17 | https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-nfl-playoff-picture-updated-221500128.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/2022-nfl-playoff-picture-updated-221500128.html?src=rss |
Cornerback Josh Jackson has returned to the Arizona Cardinals. Jackson, who was waived over the weekend by the Pittsburgh Steelers, was claimed by Arizona.
He spent time with the Cardinals in the preseason before being released this year.
While with the Steelers, Jackson appeared in four games, starting once.
He had six tackles and a fumble recovery in 85 defensive snaps.
Jackson was drafted in the second round in 2018 by the Green Bay Packers. He spent three seasons playing for Green Bay, then played two games last season for the Chiefs and then the Steelers this year.
Cornerback Marco Wilson is day-to-day after suffering an injury on Sunday.
To make room for Jackson on the roster, the team placed long snapper Aaron Brewer (pectoral) on injured reserve. | 2022-12-26T23:14:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | Cardinals add CB Josh Jackson on waiver claim | https://sports.yahoo.com/cardinals-add-cb-josh-jackson-224359073.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/cardinals-add-cb-josh-jackson-224359073.html?src=rss |
CMC joins elite company with fourth straight 75-reception season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Christian McCaffrey continues to further etch his name in the NFL history books.
In the 49ers' 37-20 win over the Washington Commanders at Levi's Stadium on Saturday, McCaffrey had a rather modest game, rushing 15 times for just 46 yards on the ground while totaling two receptions for 12 yards through the air.
Those two receptions, however, placed him in elite company at the running back position. McCaffrey now has 76 receptions on the season, extending his 75-reception streak to four seasons. That makes him the fourth running back in NFL history, joining Larry Centers (five seasons), Marshall Faulk (five) and Alvin Kamara (four), with four or more seasons with at least 75 receptions.
In speaking to reporters after the game, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about McCaffrey's gravitational pull on the field and how it opens up the offense for other weapons.
“Yes, and that's what we expect, too, so I hope it's like that, it's been like that and I think it should be like that," Shanahan said. "He does so many good things, and when he does have some good looks, he's pretty automatic on it, and that’s why teams have to make sure he gets as few good looks as possible, and that helps out everyone else and we got a lot of guys like that, so that's what helps everybody with each person.”
In 15 games this season, McCaffrey has 215 carries for 973 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground while hauling in 76 receptions for 635 receiving yards and four touchdowns through the air.
RELATED: 49ers' offseason commitment to special teams paying dividends
McCaffrey's 1,608 all-purpose yards are the third most among NFL running backs this season and the most among NFC running backs.
Despite leading all NFC running backs in all-purpose yards, McCaffrey was one of the biggest 2023 Pro Bowl snubs -- a head-scratching decision after receiving the most support of any running back in the fan vote. | 2022-12-26T23:15:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | Christian McCaffrey joins elite company after extending 75-reception streak | https://sports.yahoo.com/christian-mccaffrey-joins-elite-company-213019030.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/christian-mccaffrey-joins-elite-company-213019030.html?src=rss |
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay gave another vote of confidence for general manager Chris Ballard, telling ESPN that the latter will remain in his role for the upcoming offseason.
In what has been a tumultuous season for the Colts, Irsay has been right at the center of it. His impulsive decision to fire former head coach Frank Reich, essentially making him the scapegoat, is among the biggest decisions Irsay has made with his team.
With so many wondering if Ballard will be back for his seventh offseason as general manager, Irsay said in the interview with ESPN that he would.
This certainly will be a do-or-die offseason for Ballard. As much blame as Reich deserved for the offense’s collapse this season, Ballard may be responsible for a bigger role in the team’s decline.
He’s the one who put the roster together. He’s constantly talked about building through the trenches only to see the Colts sport arguably the worst offensive line in the NFL.
His reluctance to go after a young quarterback with high draft capital in the NFL draft may ultimately be his downfall. The constant cycle of retread quarterbacks can only kick the can down the road for so long.
Ballard will need to make some adjustments to his philosophy this offseason if he wants to stick around, but it seems he’ll get at least one more shot to prove his worth. | 2022-12-26T23:15:21Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colts’ Jim Irsay: ‘Chris Ballard will be our general manager’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-jim-irsay-chris-ballard-220531084.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-jim-irsay-chris-ballard-220531084.html?src=rss |
It got tossed asunder the Lions’ wretched run defense, but the Detroit run offense also had a bad day on Saturday in Carolina. The Lions had their worst ground attack of the season, gaining just 45 rushing yards versus the Panthers.
Detroit’s leading rusher in Week 16 was quarterback Jared Goff. Running backs Jamaal Williams, D’Andre Swift and Justin Jackson all had rough outings. It wasn’t all on the backs, either; Williams gained 11 yards on seven carries but did so by gaining 14 yards after contact. He was hit behind the line of scrimmage on five of his seven runs.
The Lions entered Week 16 having rushed for at least 82 yards in every game, and had topped 100 rushing yards in 11 of their first 14 games. Their average yards per carry of 4.6 entering the Panthers game ranked in the league’s upper half. It dropped to just over 4.4 yards per carry in that one rough outing.
Head coach Dan Campbell was asked about the epic failure of the team’s run game.
“Yeah, look, it goes back to fundamentals, but I would say even finish,” Campbell said on Monday. “We’ve got to finish better across the board. We’ve just got to finish. That’s just one of those things that – us as coaches, we have to put an emphasis on it, more of an emphasis that we have, and we’ve really got to hone in on it.
Campbell continued, spreading the responsibility around the entire offense.
“There again, the run game, the first thing everybody looks at is the O-line because they have – there’s five of them, and they’re always going to have a big hand in it, but it’s also your tight ends, it’s your receivers, and it’s the way your backs run. So, everybody’s got a hand in this run game.”
Detroit catches an opportunity to get the run game back on track to finish the season. This week’s opponent, the Chicago Bears, ranks 27th in yards per carry allowed at a gaudy 4.9. The Week 18 opponent, the Green Bay Packers, is 30th at 5.0 YPC allowed. | 2022-12-26T23:15:33Z | sports.yahoo.com | Dan Campbell: Lions need ‘to finish better’ in the run game | https://sports.yahoo.com/dan-campbell-lions-finish-better-224705786.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/dan-campbell-lions-finish-better-224705786.html?src=rss |
The Miami Dolphins could be without their starting quarterback when they visit the New England Patriots for a pivotal Week 17 matchup.
Tua Tagovailoa has been placed in concussion protocol, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel announced on Monday. That leaves the third-year QB's status in doubt for Sunday's showdown.
Tagovailoa missed two games earlier this season after suffering a scary concussion vs. the Cincinnati Bengals that required him to leave in an ambulance. The NFL launched an investigation into the Dolphins medical staff's handling of Tagovailoa's injury. The NFL Players Association later fired the doctor who evaluated evaluated Tagovailoa after the signal-caller appeared to suffer a head injury the previous week. | 2022-12-26T23:15:52Z | sports.yahoo.com | Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa in concussion protocol, status vs. Patriots in the air | https://sports.yahoo.com/dolphins-qb-tua-tagovailoa-concussion-224200016.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/dolphins-qb-tua-tagovailoa-concussion-224200016.html?src=rss |
The easiest path to the playoffs for the New York Jets involved the Miami Dolphins beating the New England Patriots in the early window in Week 17, followed by the Jets then winning their last two games against the Seattle Seahawks and the Dolphins.
That path just became quite a bit bumpier Monday. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel announced that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is, once again, in the concussion protocol. He went through the protocol back in September after getting rocked against the Buffalo Bills in Week 3 and then again in Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals, causing the NFL and NFLPA to update their protocol procedures.
As a result, the Jets did not see Tagovailoa when the teams met in Week 5. Teddy Bridgewater started, but then he left due to the revised concussion protocol rules, bringing in third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson.
His status now for Sunday against the Patriots is up in the air, especially with this being his second concussion of the season. If he can’t go, Bridgewater would step in and try to guide the Dolphins into the playoffs.
Even if Miami loses to New England, the Jets can still clinch a playoff spot if they win their last two games and New England loses to Buffalo in Week 18. The Bills could still be playing for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, so they may be actually trying to win that game, which would help the Jets.
This will certainly be something to monitor for Jets fans as the team tries to end the longest postseason drought in the NFL, having not made the playoffs since the 2010 season. | 2022-12-26T23:16:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | As Jets root for Miami in Week 17, status of Tua Tagovailoa now in question as quarterback is in concussion protocol | https://sports.yahoo.com/jets-root-miami-week-17-222353837.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jets-root-miami-week-17-222353837.html?src=rss |
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is under fire for what many are calling a dirty play, and the quarterback explained himself during his appearance on WEEI Monday.
Jones went to block Cincinnati Bengals corner Eli Apple on what was originally called a fumble. It was later deemed an incomplete pass, as the Patriots were trying to make a comeback with 6:18 left in the game. Apple took offense to the block and called out Jones, following Cincinnati’s win.
Twitter called out Jones following the block as well, with the video making its rounds across the platform. Jones explained what was going through his mind during the play, as transcribed by Zach Cox of NESN.com.
Jones will reportedly not be suspended for the hit, but he could be fined for the play.
The loss to the Bengals was another hit to the Patriots’ playoff hopes, and not having Jones on the field would have been an even bigger hit. A win against the Miami Dolphins this Sunday could help right the ship and salvage what many already believe to be a lost season. | 2022-12-26T23:16:30Z | sports.yahoo.com | Mac Jones responds to being called ‘dirty player’ for low block | https://sports.yahoo.com/mac-jones-responds-being-called-223153641.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/mac-jones-responds-being-called-223153641.html?src=rss |
With Jaycee Horn sidelined with a broken wrist and a playoff berth at stake, the Carolina Panthers are looking to a familiar face at cornerback.
The Panthers announced on Monday that they're signing Josh Norman, who emerged as an All-Pro in Carolina in 2015 as one of the game's most impactful cornerbacks. He'll initially sign with Carolina's practice squad. He'll be eligible for the game-day roster on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Horn, a starter at cornerback, is scheduled for wrist surgery on Tuesday with his status moving forward unlear.
Interim head coach Steve Wilks was the defensive backs coach for Carolina during Norman's initial tenure with the team that saw Norman develop into a shutdown corner during his 2015 All-Pro season. Opposing quarterbacks rarely challenged Norman that season and frequently paid the price when they did.
Norman defended 18 passes in 2015 while tallying four interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He returned two of his interceptions that season for touchdowns. Norman received votes for Defensive Player of the Year and parlayed his season into a five-year, $75 million contract with Washington with $50 million in guarantees. He played four seasons of the deal in Washington, where his battles with then-New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. made regular headlines.
Norman never approached his former All-Pro level in Washington, but was a four-year starter with a penchant for forcing turnovers. In 58 games in Washington, Norman recorded seven interceptions, eight forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
He joined the Bills for 2020 before playing in San Francisco in 2021. It's unclear how much he'll be able to contribute in Carolina at 35 years old with no on-field football experience this season. But Wilks trusts him, and the 6-9 Panthers have played themselves into unexpected playoff contention with three wins in their last four games.
Carolina would clinch the NFC South with wins in the final two weeks of the season. They would take control of the division with a win over the 7-8 Bucs, a team they previously beat in Week 7, 21-3. They'll then close the season against the 6-9 New Orleans Saints, a team they beat in Week 3. | 2022-12-26T23:17:27Z | sports.yahoo.com | Panthers bring back former All-Pro CB Josh Norman for unexpected playoff push | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-bring-back-former-all-pro-cb-josh-norman-for-unexpected-playoff-push-223124455.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-bring-back-former-all-pro-cb-josh-norman-for-unexpected-playoff-push-223124455.html?src=rss |
For the second time in as many years, the Carolina Panthers are warming the cockles with a good ol’ reunion.
On Monday, the team officially signed cornerback Josh Norman to their practice squad. With starter Jaycee Horn set to undergo surgery on his broken wrist tomorrow and the defense searching for secondary depth, the now born-again Panther was brought in for a workout this afternoon.
During his media availability earlier in the day, interim head coach Steve Wilks told reporters the move is largely about familiarity.
“When Scott [Fitterer] and I talked it today, why—he has experience in this league, he brings veteran leadership and, most importantly, I feel like he possesses our DNA,” Wilks said.
“I know him personally. He played for me. He understands the culture that we’ve tried to create here and the element of play we’re looking for.”
Norman’s first stint in Carolina lasted from 2012 to 2015, when Wilks was the defensive backs coach. That final 2015 campaign, one where the Panthers ripped off 17 wins en route to their Super Bowl 50 appearance, saw the former fifth-round pick earn First-team All-Pro honors and a fourth-place finish in AP Defensive Player of the Year voting.
He’d proceed to sign on in Washington that offseason—where he’d spend the next four years of his career. Then, after playing nine games for Sean McDermott and the Buffalo Bills in 2020, Norman stuck on with the San Francisco 49ers in 2021—recording 14 starts, 49 tackles, an interception and seven forced fumbles over 15 outings.
The 35-year-old, as also stated by Wilks, is not expected to start in Week 17’s matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—one that can determine the fate of the NFC South. Keith Taylor Jr. is likely to get the nod.
Josh Norman recalls infamous 2015 training camp fight with Cam Newton
Riverview Bancorp, Inc.'s ( NASDAQ:RVSB ) investors are due to receive a payment of $0.06 per share on 16th of January... | 2022-12-26T23:17:33Z | sports.yahoo.com | Panthers sign CB Josh Norman to practice squad | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-sign-cb-josh-norman-222417663.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-sign-cb-josh-norman-222417663.html?src=rss |
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has once again been placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol, according to head coach Mike McDaniel, after a late tackle against the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day caused the back of his head to hit the ground with some force.
The former Alabama quarterback began the 2022 NFL season with a chip on his shoulder and played at a high level for most of the year.
Though he has been bitten by the injury bug throughout his college and NFL careers, the 2022 season brought forth a new issue for Tagovailoa: concussions.
In Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills, Tagovailoa took a late hit that forced him to fall back and hit his head on the ground. When he attempted to stand up, his legs were wobbly, and he initially had difficulty standing on his own. The decision to let him continue laying the rest of the game led to a controversial debate for that week.
One week later against the Cincinnati Bengals, Tagovailoa was slammed to the ground, causing him to lose motor function resulting in the quarterback needing to be carted off the field and taken to a local hospital. He missed multiple weeks while recovering.
On Monday, one day after the loss to the Packers, Tagovailoa was placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol, leaving his status for Sunday’s must-win game against the New England Patriots up in the air.
The Dolphins currently hold the seventh seed in the AFC playoff race, but the most important for the team is to ensure Tagovailoa’s health and safety.
Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Tagovailoa’s journey to recovery as more information becomes available. | 2022-12-26T23:18:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | Tua Tagovailoa is back in concussion protocol | https://sports.yahoo.com/tua-tagovailoa-back-concussion-protocol-223845608.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/tua-tagovailoa-back-concussion-protocol-223845608.html?src=rss |
Hackett was hired after spending three seasons as the Green Bay Packers’ offensive coordinator, but Denver sits last in the NFL in scoring offense despite making a big and costly trade last March for quarterback Russell Wilson.
All of this could tempt Vikings’ fans to laugh at the Broncos’ misfortune, but those same fans, not to mention Vikings’ executives, should also be very thankful for the Broncos’ decision.
That’s because Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell and Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn were the other finalists for the Denver job. It was Broncos general manager George Paton, the Vikings’ longtime assistant GM under Rick Spielman, who played a major role in deciding to go with Hackett.
The Vikings interviewed the 43-year-old Hackett in mid-January, five days before conducting their first interview with O’Connell. Hackett also had received interest from the Bears and Jaguars. Chad Graff, who was covering the Vikings for The Athletic at the time, tweeted this:
The Vikings were very impressed by Nathaniel Hackett during his interview, but the Broncos were able to make him an offer before the Vikings decided on finalists. So the Packers OC heads west (perhaps making Denver especially alluring for a certain QB). https://t.co/OpiK0A25le
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) January 27, 2022
The Broncos hired Hackett on Jan. 27. Vikings officials traveled to Los Angeles to conduct a second interview with O’Connell, then the Rams’ offensive coordinator, on Jan. 31. O’Connell officially was named the Vikings’ coach in mid-February, following the Rams’ victory over the Bengals in the Super Bowl.
The Rams’ run to the Super Bowl clearly played a significant role in Denver moving on one of the hottest names in the coaching pool. The Vikings and new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who also had interviewed Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, showed that patience pays off.
Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, who is the Broncos’ president of football operations, told Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press in October that Denver liked O’Connell.
“We interviewed him last year, and we were really, really impressed with his interview, so it does not surprise me that he’s having good success up there,” Elway said of O’Connell. “He was very, very impressive in the interview process, and it was nip and tuck which way we wanted to go. So I was glad to see that he got an opportunity, and I’m glad to see he’s having the success he’s having because he gave a great interview with us.”
O’Connell, 37, has had a better first season than anyone could have expected. He’s helped turn Kirk Cousins into the NFL’s best clutch quarterback and has led the Vikings (12-3) to the NFC North title and put them in a position to grab the second seed in the conference. Vikings players have rallied around O’Connell, winning an NFL record 11 one-score games, and have put him in the NFL coach of the year conversation.
The Broncos, meanwhile, will begin a search for a coach under new ownership that has to be wondering what Paton and Elway were thinking in hiring a guy whose inability to manage the clock was so poor that a coach had to be added in September to help with game management.
“I think the system coming out from in L.A., being with the Rams, and what he learned out there, obviously he’s taken that, and I’m sure he’s putting in his own wrinkles to it,” Elway told the Pioneer Press at a time the Vikings were 4-1 and the Broncos were 2-3. “But I think he’s grown up under a great base of coaching, especially offensive-minded coaches, to where he’s now taken it up there, and obviously it’s working for Kirk. That’s the key thing.”
Could it have worked in Denver? The Vikings are very fortunate the Broncos elected not to try and find out. | 2022-12-26T23:18:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Zulgad: Vikings’ good fortune, patience helped them avoid Nathaniel Hackett | https://sports.yahoo.com/zulgad-vikings-good-fortune-patience-220324092.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/zulgad-vikings-good-fortune-patience-220324092.html?src=rss |
The Boston Celtics earned a decisive Christmas Day victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, but that wasn't even the highlight of the day for Marcus Smart.
The C's guard revealed after the 139-118 win that he and his longtime girlfriend Maisa Hallum are now engaged. Smart took to Instagram to make the announcement with the video of his proposal, which was assisted by actor Will Smith.
“We’re coming back from the South Pole, but I just wanted to take a minute. I wanted to wish you a very, very Merry Christmas," Smith said in the video. Now, I know that you may not have gotten the stuff that you wanted. I promise you, you’re not going to end this Christmas empty-handed, OK. That’s all my message is."
See Smart's post and watch the video here.
Overall, it was a Christmas Day that Smart won't ever forget.
Smart tallied six points and eight assists in the team's win over Milwaukee. Boston will look to carry the momentum into Tuesday's game vs. the Houston Rockets. | 2022-12-27T00:09:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | Celtics' Marcus Smart proposes to girlfriend with assist from Will Smith | https://sports.yahoo.com/celtics-marcus-smart-proposes-girlfriend-230000772.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/celtics-marcus-smart-proposes-girlfriend-230000772.html?src=rss |
Ex-Washington players named in statement include Joe Jacoby, Mark May, Fred Dean and Rick 'Doc' Walker; John Riggins also part of group
This time it comes from one of the most iconic groups in team history. Five members of the famed "Hogs" blocking unit, which was primarily offensive linemen but also included a pair of tight ends, issued a statement Monday distancing themselves from Snyder and the Commanders and hinting at legal action over the use of their nickname by "taking that trademark and associated goodwill and brand equity" without financial compensation.
Offensive linemen Joe Jacoby, Mark May, Fred Dean and Rick "Doc" Walker, as well as Hall of Fame fullback John Riggins, were named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. That group also formed O-Line Entertainment LLC and filed for a trademark of the nickname "Hogs" this past summer.
"Without substantial control and compensation, the original HOGS do not want to be associated with the Commanders under its current ownership and management and require that their legacy and brand is protected," a statement released by the group read.
While this is not an official lawsuit, lead attorney Seth Berenzweig told NBC4's Heather McDonough that the group could file a Federal Trademark infringement lawsuit against the Commanders if the two sides cannot come to an agreement over the use of the "Hogs" name after they expect their trademark to be issued in 2023.
The Hogs were named by former offensive line coach Joe Bugel in 1982 for their ability to control the line of scrimmage during Washington's run of Super Bowl wins in the 1980s and early 1990s. Washington won three Super Bowls from 1982-1991 under head coach Joe Gibbs. While the nickname was originally given just to the offensive linemen and tight ends, Riggins was eventually named an honorary member of the group.
A Washington Post article in 2020 ignited an NFL and federal investigation into workplace misconduct at Snyder's organization. There have also been allegations of fraud from the Federal Trade Commission.
"We are planning a celebration of the greatest offensive line ever to play the game. The HOGS are a key part of our franchise's history and we want to keep their legacy alive with the next generation of fans. We have been working with the Hogs on this event for six months and look forward to welcoming them back and Coach Gibbs back."
Washington's "Hogs" were iconic in the team's Super Bowl success in the 1980s and '90s. (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images) | 2022-12-27T00:09:19Z | sports.yahoo.com | Washington's iconic 'Hogs' distance themselves from Commanders, Dan Snyder and hint at legal action | https://sports.yahoo.com/washingtons-iconic-hogs-distance-themselves-from-commanders-dan-snyder-and-hint-at-legal-action-193704147.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/washingtons-iconic-hogs-distance-themselves-from-commanders-dan-snyder-and-hint-at-legal-action-193704147.html?src=rss |
The 49ers on Saturday got a pair of victories. They beat the Commanders 37-20 on Christmas Eve to move to 11-4 on the season. Their second win of the day was in the training room where they didn’t sustain any injuries during the contest.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated Saturday after the game the team didn’t have any injury issues during the game, and he re-affirmed that Monday in a conference call with reporters.
While there were no updates from Week 16, Shanahan did provide some on a few key 49ers who are dealing with various ailments not from Saturday’s game.
Garoppolo had the hard cast removed from the broken left foot he sustained against the Dolphins in Week 13. He’s progressing in his recovery, but it’s still a long shot that he’d be available for the 49ers during the postseason. San Francisco didn’t place him on IR though so there won’t be any roster maneuvering necessary if Garoppolo does get healthy enough to play in the postseason.
There’s still a question mark around whether the 49ers will even want to bring Samuel back in the regular season if he’s ready. Shanahan on Monday said Samuel could return to practice later in the week for Week 17, which could conceivably put him on track to play in Week 18. Regardless of whether he suits up for any of the final two regular-season contests, all signs point to the 49ers having their do-everything WR for the start of the postseason in mid-January.
DL Hassan Ridgeway (chest)
The 49ers have one IR activation left for the 2022 season, and it sounds like they’ll use it on Mitchell, who’s progressed further in his injury recovery than Ridgeway, who was injured in Week 13 against the Dolphins. If Mitchell is activated, Ridgeway’s season would officially be over. | 2022-12-27T00:56:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | 49ers injury updates on Jimmy Garoppolo, Deebo Samuel, Elijah Mitchell | https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-injury-updates-jimmy-garoppolo-000739149.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-injury-updates-jimmy-garoppolo-000739149.html?src=rss |
The Miami Dolphins could potentially be without their starting quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, heading into Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots.
On Monday, it was announced that Tagovailoa had been placed in concussion protocol, following the Dolphins’ Christmas Day road loss to the Green Bay Packers. So his status for the Week 17 rematch with the Patriots is now officially in doubt.
If not cleared in time for the game, the Dolphins would then be forced to turn to backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater against a Patriots team that has played well on the defensive side of the ball.
Granted, it still wouldn’t be a cakewalk considering Bridgewater is a solid backup on a team loaded at the receiver position. But facing the Dolphins without Tagovailoa in a game with serious playoff implications would be a huge break for New England.
A win on Sunday would keep the Patriots’ playoff hopes alive ahead of their upcoming regular season finale on the road against a Buffalo Bills team that may or may not be in a position to rest their starters. | 2022-12-27T00:57:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | This injury could have major impact on Sunday’s Patriots-Dolphins game | https://sports.yahoo.com/injury-could-major-impact-sunday-232333354.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/injury-could-major-impact-sunday-232333354.html?src=rss |
As the Cleveland Browns fell short against the New Orleans Saints on Christmas Eve, one of the more bizarre situations happened. Coming off of a terrorizing performance against the Baltimore Ravens, defensive end and Pro Bowler Myles Garrett was not on the field for the opening possession of the game. When asked about it by the media, head coach Kevin Stefanski remained tight-lipped on the matter, stating:
“That was just a team thing. That was my decision.”
He would not go into further detail. Garrett missed practice throughout the week with an illness, so he could have just been on a pitch count. Regardless, it was odd to see him sit out that very first series. | 2022-12-27T00:57:27Z | sports.yahoo.com | Kevin Stefanski on Myles Garrett sitting out first series: ‘That was my decision’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/kevin-stefanski-myles-garrett-sitting-003725924.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/kevin-stefanski-myles-garrett-sitting-003725924.html?src=rss |
CHARLES ROBINSON: Let's talk about our Honda Hybrid Players of the Week as we close out our recap of week 16. We wanted to highlight two of the league's top hybrid performances of the day. Thanks to Honda and the rugged, all new CR-V Hybrid, which can run on gas, electric, or both.
Frank, who was your best two-way player of the day, putting up the best air and ground attack on Sunday?
FRANK SCHWAB: I'm going to go with Dak Prescott. He was great through the air. We know that-- 347 yards, three touchdowns. Also, we know the value he adds with his legs, fully healthy now.
We forget, like, yeah, he had that bad leg injury a couple of years ago, really didn't run his first year back. That part of his game has returned. He had 41 rushing yards.
We all he kind of comes through. When they really need him on a third down or whatever, he can run it, he can buy time in the pocket. He looks healthy. He looks good.
And I'm just happy-- I just want to get past the point where every Cowboys win/loss is not a referendum on Dak Prescott's career.
CHARLES ROBINSON: Agree.
FRANK SCHWAB: He gets over 400 yards and the Cowboys, lose giving up 40 yards to the Jaguars. They were like, oh, Dak's got to play better.
Come on, Dak is a heck of a quarterback. He's been really, really good this year. He is a reason they do-- I still believe they have a chance to win the Super Bowl, and he had a great game in that win against the Eagles to still keep them alive for the NFC East.
Charles, who was your Honda Hybrid Player of the Week?
CHARLES ROBINSON: I'm going to go with Trevor Lawrence. I think it was important to see Trevor go on the road in New York against the Jets, late in the season, and, you know, I think the fact that they've got momentum going for them right now, the fact that Lawrence personally has, I think, seen probably the best two-month period of his career.
But what I thought was really striking against the Jets, he throws for 229 passing yards but he runs for 51 yards and a touchdown. And remember, when you go back to Clemson, some of the things that we really liked about Trevor Lawrence coming in was the fact that he did have that added element of athleticism.
And I think it actually showcases a little of the confidence that's really starting to build continually. First, it was week to week with Trevor Lawrence, now I think it's month to month. He's poised to get them into a playoff position now.
To me, I think he's really showcasing both parts of his game, and that makes all the difference in the world for the Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence moving forward.
All right, well that's it for our two Hybrid Players of the Week. Thanks again to Honda and the rugged, all new CR-V Hybrid, which can run on gas, electric, or both. | 2022-12-27T00:57:52Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL Week 16: Honda Hybrid Players of the Week | You Pod to Win the Game | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-week-16-honda-hybrid-000409068.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-week-16-honda-hybrid-000409068.html?src=rss |
Just before Saturday’s loss against the New Orleans Saints, the Cleveland Browns and right tackle Jack Conklin agreed to a four-year extension. Conklin will net about $15 million per season, and received $31 million in guaranteed money. This buys Conklin at least two more seasons in Cleveland.
Asked about it today, Conklin had this to say:
“Really, this is home for us. This is where we want to raise our kids. When it came down to it, we didn’t really want to have to go to free agency and take the chance of having to move. I love this organization, this town and the fans. My family feels at home here. This really, exactly like you said, is where we want to make our home forever, and I am happy I get to be here for the next four years and keep on playing for the Browns.”
Conklin certainly could have netted more money if he hit the open market, signing just the 20th-highest-paid tackle deal in the NFL. That number will certainly go up as well, as the market is going to get reset by those cashing in this offseason.
This speaks highly of Conklin and how he feels about this organization and the city.
The U.S. is a vast country with plenty of destinations to explore, even just within the continental mainland. But for travelers looking to head out to the actual furthest reaches of the national borders, there are plenty of small islands that lie beyond the shores of the Lower 48. From lush tropical oases to unique ecological locales, there are a number of far-flung spots that make the boat ride or flight well worth the trip—all without needing to tote along your passport. Read on to discover th | 2022-12-27T00:58:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | T Jack Conklin on signing extension before free agency: ‘This is home for us’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/t-jack-conklin-signing-extension-001409920.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/t-jack-conklin-signing-extension-001409920.html?src=rss |
49ers' Elijah Mitchell could return to practice this week, Kyle Shanahan says
Shanahan: Mitchell has 'chance' to return to practice this week originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Elijah Mitchell, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since Week 12, could return to practice by the end of the week, setting up a potential return in the postseason or earlier.
Coach Kyle Shanahan detailed Mitchell’s rehabilitation status on Monday via conference call. The second-year running back has only appeared in four contests in 2022 but has been dynamic when on the field with a 5.6 yards per carry average.
“There’s a chance,” Shanahan told reporters on Monday. “I think the earliest is possibly Friday, maybe. He’s healing up, he’s had no setbacks, he’s doing well so we’ll see if he’s available next week for us.”
With Mitchell's practice window potentially opening, the 49ers, once again, appear to have some depth at the running back position, as they did at the beginning of the season. San Francisco did have a scare early in Saturday’s game when Jordan Mason went down with an apparent knee injury.
The rookie running back only appeared for 17 plays on special teams, but Shanahan revealed that was by design. Mason had been dealing with a tight hamstring during the week of practice leading up to the game which opened the door for fellow rookie running back Ty Davis-Price.
“He had a good game,” Shanahan said of the third-round pick. “I think it was the second-and-4 that he’d like to have back that ended up leading to the third-and -1, fourth-and-1 we didn’t get. But then watching the film, the linebacker had his hands inside on the ball.
“If he would have fought for another yard, it would have ended up being a fumble so it was a smart decision for him to roll with the ball. Didn’t make any mistakes in the game so I was happy he could get out there and get his feet wet again, back in the game and get some carries because there is a great chance we will need him again going forward.”
The three young running backs complement the workhorse of All-Pro Christian McCaffrey. Having a strong supporting cast hopefully will ensure the star ball carrier stays healthy with fresh legs as the 49ers continue down the home stretch and into the postseason.
In October, seniors on Social Security got some excellent news. Because of that COLA, the maximum Social Security benefit that will be available to seniors in 2023 is $4,555 a month. See, Social Security benefits are calculated based on your 35 highest-paid years in the labor force. | 2022-12-27T02:31:54Z | sports.yahoo.com | 49ers' Elijah Mitchell could return to practice this week, Kyle Shanahan says | https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-elijah-mitchell-could-return-000140466.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-elijah-mitchell-could-return-000140466.html?src=rss |
Late in the first half, it very much felt like this game had the possibility of spiraling out of control, with Green Bay down two scores and Miami nearing scoring position. However, a gutsy – although somewhat inefficient – performance by the Packers resulted in a 26-20 victory over the Miami Dolphins, with their playoff hopes very much alive and well.
To put a bow on this game, let’s go Behind the Numbers with the stats and figures you need to know from the Packers’ performance.
It was a matchup that greatly favored the Green Bay Packers–the blitz-heavy Dolphins against Aaron Rodgers. Despite the ups and downs that Rodgers and the offense as a whole have experienced this season, he has been very good against the blitz, completing 66% of his 106 pass attempts at 7.6 yards per attempt. Miami, meanwhile, entered Sunday’s game with the seventh-highest blitz rate in the NFL.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, the Dolphins blitzed Rodgers on 26 of his dropbacks, but Rodgers threw for 192 of his 238 total yards on those plays, along with his lone touchdown. Even without Yosh Nijman at right tackle, the offensive line held up well, surrendering only five pressures the entire game. For a veteran quarterback of Rodges’ caliber, blitzing him sets up a simple game of pitch and catch in most instances, as he, more often than not, is prepared for the blitz, knowing where it will be coming from or at least who to get the ball to in those situations. This is also a Dolphins secondary that ranked 26th by DVOA in pass defense prior to Sunday’s game, and when blitzing as frequently as they did, they were often down a defender in coverage.
Opponents will want to blitz Rodgers, but perhaps the best way to defend him is to do what the Rams did by sitting back in cover-2 the entire game, forcing Rodgers to be patient and take what’s there. If anything, the Rams were able to keep the Green Bay passing game in check.
61 and 3.5
I’ve written about it before, but the run game and the number of points the Packers score have gone hand in hand since Week 9 against Detroit–or at least that was the case before the Dolphins game. In the four games prior, where the Packers scored at least 24 points, Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon averaged 138 rushing yards per game at more than five yards per carry. In the two games against Detroit and Tennesse, where they scored just nine and 17, respectively, the duo rushed for 112 yards at 2.9 yards per attempt.
However, against the Dolphins, the run game was slowed, or for the first two quarters, nonexistent, but Green Bay still found ways to put up points. In total, Jones and Dillon rushed for 61 yards at 3.5 yards per rush. Especially early on, Miami was very much daring Green Bay to throw, and against a sub-par secondary, the Packers were happy to oblige. On top of that, the Dolphins interior defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage as well.
But because of four turnovers and the Packers coming up with a few big throws through the air, they were able to put up 26 points, and it could have been more had they been more effective in the red zone. A somewhat balanced run-pass mix, along with success, will continue to be important for the Packers as the run game opens up the rest of the offense, but there will be times when it simply isn’t working, and they will have to find other ways to win. On previous occasions, when this happened, they were unable to do so.
The Miami big-play passing game was always going to be a problem for the Packers, and we saw that early on as the Tua Tagovailoa entered halftime averaging 15.2 yards per attempt with Tyreek Hill totaling 84 yards and Jaylen Waddle 96 plus a touchdown. But in the second half, things turned around dramatically for the Packers, in large part due to pressure, turnovers, and some yelling from defensive backs coach Jerry Gray.
In the third and fourth quarters, the Packers were able to generate more consistent pressure, disrupting Tagovailoa’s timing, which is an important part of the Miami offense with the quick passing game, and forcing him out of the pocket. Matt LaFleur also talked about how all 11 players were on the same page that second half after having a few coverage breakdowns early on.
On the Jaire Alexander interception, numerous defenders were around Hill, and Tagovailoa delivered a high pass. De’Vondre Campbell read Tagovalioa’s eyes perfectly and got into position to make the play, while Rasul Douglas baited Tagovailoa into thinking he was taking the underneath route, but he instead dropped back.
The end result was no points for the high-powered Miami offense in the second half. Tagovailoa threw for just 81 yards, while Hill and Waddle combined for 66.
Jarran Reed had his best game of the season, leading the team in pressures with four while also recording four stops, and for what it’s worth, he had PFF’s second-highest run defense grade out of all interior defenders in Week 16.
On top of all of that, he also had perhaps the biggest play of the game, forcing a fumble and recovering it just before halftime. At that point, Miami was up 20 to 10 at midfield and threatening to score. The game very much felt like it was going to get out of hand at that point, with the Dolphins potentially going up three scores. But instead, Reed forced the turnover, the Packers kicked a field goal and then scored a touchdown to open the third quarter. All of a sudden, it was a tie game.
In the first half, the Green Bay Packers lost four starters to injury–Keisean Nixon, Christian Watson, Dean Lowry, and Yosh Nijman, not to mention that Aaron Jones was used sparingly throughout the game after being on the injury report this week. However, in the place of those starters, the backups filled in and played very well, helping the Packers secure the win.
On defense, Innis Gaines took over in the slot, along with Darnell Savage taking snaps at safety after a rough first half from Rudy Ford. Both defenders played key roles in the Packers shutting out Miami in the second half. Devonte Wyatt saw more snaps without Lowry and forced two quarterback pressures. Patrick Taylor, meanwhile, had a key third-down reception on what ended up being a scoring drive, along with picking up a blitzer on Rodgers’ pass to Marcedes Lewis. And although Royce Newman was called for two penalties, PFF credited him with only one pressure, and there was little change in the Packers’ offensive game plan with him on the field. This was very much a total team effort.
The simplest path to the playoffs for the Packers is to win their final two games and for Washington to lose at least one of theirs. They will be at home for Cleveland in Week 17, followed by Dallas. Another path for Green Bay includes winning out, along with the New York Giants losing their final two games.
2 other key stats
Third downs: Green Bay was an abysmal 2-14 on third downs, and I believe the root of those issues comes from their ineffectiveness on the ground, which set up a lot of third and long situations. They were, however, 3-5 on fourth down.
It also wasn’t only the Packers who struggled on third downs, but the Dolphins as well. The issue for the Green Bay defense was that they didn’t force Miami into many third-down situations, but when they did, they were just 2-7.
Total plays: Thanks to four turnovers by the defense, the Packers’ offense ran 20 more plays than Miami, which proved to be pivotal. For one, that was 20 fewer opportunities that the Dolphins’ explosive offense had to put points on the board, and it also gave a Packers’ offense that wasn’t exactly efficient more bites at the apple. | 2022-12-27T02:32:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | Behind the Numbers: Packers second half defense holds Miami scoreless | https://sports.yahoo.com/behind-numbers-packers-second-half-014227401.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/behind-numbers-packers-second-half-014227401.html?src=rss |
In "sorry," Achro referenced Miami's Week 4 game against the Cincinnati Bengals that saw Tagovailoa leave the game on a stretcher in a frightening scene that ended with the Dolphins quarterback in the hospital. A second injury to his head in two weeks was the culprit. A week prior, he sustained what the Dolphins initially assessed as a head injury against the Buffalo Bills, but returned to finish the game.
The back of Tagovailoa's head bounced off the turf that day against the Bills, much like it did on Sunday against the Packers. Hence the magnified concern about the Dolphins quarterback, who's now appeared to sustain three head injuries in the course of one NFL season. | 2022-12-27T02:32:45Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ex-NFL players urge Tua Tagovailoa to shut down season amid latest concussion scare | https://sports.yahoo.com/ex-nfl-players-urge-tua-tagovailoa-to-shut-down-season-amid-latest-concussion-scare-022443816.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ex-nfl-players-urge-tua-tagovailoa-to-shut-down-season-amid-latest-concussion-scare-022443816.html?src=rss |
Is Jerod Mayo a realistic candidate for Broncos head coach job? originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
A job opportunity may have opened up on Monday for New England Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo.
The Denver Broncos fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett less than a year after hiring him. Mayo, who was interviewed for the position shortly before Hackett was hired, could be a candidate to replace him.
Earlier this month, The MMQB's Albert Breer discussed Mayo's head coaching aspirations on Early Edition with our Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry. Following the news of Hackett's departure, Perry and the Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan weighed in on the likelihood of Mayo landing in Denver.
"I think it's realistic because this is somebody who wants to spread his wings, who is looking for more responsibility, wants the opportunity to lead a group of men," Perry said Monday on Early Edition. "And that Denver job, how many of the top top candidates are really going to be hot for that job? That's going to be fascinating to me.
"Jerod, who's somebody who is 36 years old, he's about to turn 37, he's still young. He's very young in terms of coaching years. That could be an opportunity that he jumps at even if it's not the ideal one."
Callahan believes Mayo is bound to leave the Patriots after wowing NFL executives in head coach job interviews last offseason.
"You can't dismiss it. I can confirm, like Tom Curran reported, that he impressed last year," Callahan said. "A couple executives I talked to at the combine said he's going to be gone. Phil said his contract's up. I think if it's not Denver, it'll be sometime very soon that Jerod Mayo's no longer in New England."
Mayo won a Super Bowl title and earned two Pro Bowl selections during his eight seasons playing in New England. He joined Bill Belichick's coaching staff before the 2019 season. | 2022-12-27T02:32:51Z | sports.yahoo.com | Is Jerod Mayo a realistic candidate for Broncos head coach job? | https://sports.yahoo.com/jerod-mayo-realistic-candidate-broncos-015300094.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jerod-mayo-realistic-candidate-broncos-015300094.html?src=rss |
The NFL has gone through with a punishment for New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, and like an earlier report indicated, it doesn’t have anything to do with missing games.
Per Pro Football Talk, the league is expected to fine Jones $11,139 for the low hit he placed on Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple during a fumble return attempt in Saturday’s Week 16 game.
Apple was trailing the ball-carrier, linebacker Germaine Pratt, when Jones threw his body into his legs. After the game, the veteran corner called it a “dirty play” by Jones.
On Monday, during Jones’ weekly WEEI segment, he claimed he wasn’t intentionally trying to hurt Apple and was simply just competing and attempting to make a play.
The fine obviously isn’t going to go over well with everyone, especially those that believe Jones legitimately had bad intentions in the moment. | 2022-12-27T02:33:10Z | sports.yahoo.com | Mac Jones’ punishment for controversial hit reportedly revealed | https://sports.yahoo.com/mac-jones-punishment-controversial-hit-013906230.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/mac-jones-punishment-controversial-hit-013906230.html?src=rss |
What we’re far less sure of is who the 49ers will host in their wild card matchup.
Here’s what the NFC standings look like with plenty of calm near the top, and chaos toward the bottom:
10. Packers (7-8)
The 49ers are on track to host the Giants at Levi’s Stadium in the first round of the playoffs. New York’s hold on the No. 6 seed isn’t necessarily a stranglehold though, and consecutive losses for them to end the year could remove them from the playoff picture entirely.
Losses by the Commanders, Seahawks and Lions, combined with a Packers win in Week 16 opened the door for Green Bay to sneak into the postseason through the back door.
What the 49ers, who could wind up with any of the top three seeds, are looking at is five potential first-round opponents with no real inside track for any of them – particularly if they wind up moving up to No. 2 where four teams are vying for the No. 7 seed and the right to travel to the No. 2 seed for a first-round matchup.
While San Francisco has plenty to worry about on its own down the stretch, following the race for the final two playoff spots will be a fascinating subplot for the rest of the 49ers’ season.
Homelessness can happen fast. It’s not something anyone plans on, or thinks will happen to them. | 2022-12-27T02:33:16Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFC playoff picture: 49ers 1st-round opponent still in flux | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfc-playoff-picture-49ers-1st-020015911.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfc-playoff-picture-49ers-1st-020015911.html?src=rss |
It's being reported Tua Tagovailoa played the entire second half yesterday with a concussion.
Tua's 2nd Half:
7-13 81 YDS 0 TD 3 INTS
All three interceptions came in the 4th quarter. pic.twitter.com/nHBlLkMpHp
— Albert Nguyen (@AnalyticsCapper) December 26, 2022
On the second of Tagovailoa’s three fourth-quarter interceptions, Tagovailoa detailed after the game what was an obvious miscommunication by saying, “I might have said the wrong play. I’m not too sure. But there was just some communication errors on that.”
“You’re always accountable for it. The bottom line was collectively, guys that we’ve really relied upon all season had a – it’s a fast-paced decision that you get one shot at, and they collectively didn’t think that there was information enough to overturn it. Now you go and look back at it, I know there’s some assessment by people outside the league that have formerly been in the league. I’m aware of that. I’ll be interested to see what the league has to say. But I think you do it like everything else with regard to head-coaching responsibilities – you don’t just ever blow anything off, regardless of if it works in your favor or not. We’re always talking through, trying to get better at stuff so that the one thing you can control is not have something happen twice that maybe didn’t work out in your favor. So I’m happy with the guys that we work with and I expect that process to continually get better, regardless of what happens in the immediate.”
What’s especially shameful about this miss is that the NFL was supposed to have “improved” its concussion protocol after everybody missed Tagovailoa’s obvious concussion symptoms in Week 3, when the Dolphins faced the Buffalo Bills. Tagovailoa was permitted to return to action after this hit.
This is what happened to Tua Tagovailoa after his head hit the turf hard. Not sure how you let him back in.
(🎥 @EmmanuelAcho)pic.twitter.com/OiAJwaN5RI
Team doctors cleared Tagovailoa to play just four days after that, in Miami’s Week 4 Thursday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Late in the first half of that game, Tagovailoa went into what it known as a “fencing response position” after another hit to his head.
What is a ‘fencing response position’ following head trauma?
Not that this would have helped Tagovailoa in the Packers game. He would have had to rely on spotters who were seemingly unable to spot anything.
Sadly, any NFL player is only a few unfortunate hits away from a similar situation. | 2022-12-27T02:33:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | Tua Tagovailoa has been failed once again by the NFL’s concussion policy | https://sports.yahoo.com/tua-tagovailoa-failed-once-again-010205997.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/tua-tagovailoa-failed-once-again-010205997.html?src=rss |
Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Monday that receiver Christian Watson, kick returner Keisean Nixon and right tackle Yosh Nijman will all be considered “day to day” after exiting Sunday’s win over the Miami Dolphins.
Watson missed the second half with a hip injury, Nixon went out in the second quarter with a groin injury and Nijman left in the first half with a shoulder injury. None of the three returned to the field.
“He will be day to day. We’ll see how he progresses throughout the week,” LaFleur said of Watson.
On Nixon and Nijman: “I’d put all of those guys in the same boat.”
The Packers face the Minnesota Vikings in a must-win game on Sunday at Lambeau Field. Not having Watson, Nixon or Nijman would significantly hinder the team’s chances of knocking off the NFC North champions in Week 17.
LaFleur called Watson a “difference maker.” Nixon has been the NFL’s best returner over the last two months, and he had a 93-yard return before the injury in Miami. Nijman has started 11 games at left or right tackle this season.
Without them in Miami, the Packers used more of Romeo Doubs, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb at receiver, utilized Doubs as the kickoff returner and put Royce Newman in the game at right tackle.
LaFleur’s team will provide an injury report after practice on Wednesday and a final injury report on Friday afternoon. | 2022-12-27T02:34:01Z | sports.yahoo.com | Updates on injury status of Christian Watson, Keisean Nixon and Yosh Nijman | https://sports.yahoo.com/updates-injury-status-christian-watson-015303018.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/updates-injury-status-christian-watson-015303018.html?src=rss |
While the Quick Lane Bowl has the spotlight on Monday, there are at least three games per day from Dec. 27 through New Year's Eve, including the two College Football Playoff semifinal showdowns.
But before we dive into those New Year's Six bowl matchups, we're going to focus in on the next three days — Dec. 27 through Dec. 30 — with these picks. That's 11 games in all to sort through. | 2022-12-27T03:12:30Z | sports.yahoo.com | Spread Options: College football bowl game best bets, part 3 | https://sports.yahoo.com/spread-options-college-football-bowl-game-best-bets-part-3-203527878.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/spread-options-college-football-bowl-game-best-bets-part-3-203527878.html?src=rss |
Foles has had one of the strangest careers in NFL history. Watching the guy who played quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night, you'd have never guessed No. 9 had posted one of the best seasons for a quarterback in NFL history, in terms of passer rating, and will be hailed forever in Philadelphia as a hero for carrying the Eagles to their first Super Bowl title.
Foles wasn't the answer for the Colts. Foles threw three interceptions and looked entirely overmatched by a Los Angeles Chargers defense that isn't very good. The Chargers clinched a playoff berth with an easy 20-3 win. That's an impressive achievement after all the injuries they took on during the season.
Interim Colts coach Jeff Saturday looks in over his head as well. He beat the Las Vegas Raiders in his first game and hasn't won since. The Colts have been embarrassed a few times since he took over, and Monday was a new way to look bad, with a quarterback who was so awful it looked like he'd never even seen the playbook before kickoff on Monday night.
Nick Foles struggles badly vs. Chargers' D
And then, he fell off again after that Super Bowl. When the Colts decided to bench Matt Ryan for a second time this season, they didn't want to try Sam Ehlinger again. They picked Foles, maybe figuring he had some magic left. He didn't.
Foles threw two interceptions in the first quarter and both were bad. He wasn't just rusty throwing his first passes of the season, he was creaking and squeaking with every throw.
This has been a truly miserable season for the Colts. Ryan didn't work out at quarterback. Frank Reich was fired and the team was roasted for hiring Jeff Saturday with no experience. Saturday hasn't made anyone look wrong. The Colts blew a 33-0 lead, the worst collapse in NFL history.
By comparison to the rest of their season, Monday night wasn't rock bottom. But it was unspeakably ugly.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Nick Foles (9) is sacked by Los Angeles Chargers' Kenneth Murray Jr. (9). (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
The Chargers deserve some credit for the Colts' awful performance. Throughout recent history, this is exactly the type of game the Chargers would lose. They had gotten everyone's hopes up about a playoff spot. They were facing a bad team they were expected to beat. They've lost in plenty of those situations before.
Los Angeles handled business. It wasn't as dominant as it probably should have been on offense, but a long drive produced Austin Ekeler's second touchdown. The Chargers led 20-3. They weren't giving up a 13-3 lead, but 20-3 was insurmountable against the Colts offense. | 2022-12-27T04:11:04Z | sports.yahoo.com | Chargers clinch a playoff berth against lifeless Colts led by rusty Nick Foles | https://sports.yahoo.com/chargers-clinch-a-playoff-berth-against-lifeless-colts-led-by-rusty-nick-foles-040228637.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/chargers-clinch-a-playoff-berth-against-lifeless-colts-led-by-rusty-nick-foles-040228637.html?src=rss |
Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James was ejected in the second quarter of Monday night’s game against the Indianapolis Colts after laying a nasty hit on wide receiver Ashton Dulin.
As Dulin was going to the flat, James led with the crown of his helmet and laid a hit that would have been a part of a throwback “vintage NFL hits” video on Youtube.
Dulin went into the blue tent to be evaluated for a concussion after the hit. Here’s a look:
Today we're going to take a look at the well-established Textron Inc. ( NYSE:TXT ). The company's stock received a lot... | 2022-12-27T04:11:10Z | sports.yahoo.com | Chargers’ Derwin James ejected after nasty hit on Colts’ Ashton Dulin | https://sports.yahoo.com/chargers-derwin-james-ejected-nasty-022720019.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/chargers-derwin-james-ejected-nasty-022720019.html?src=rss |
The Chargers lead the Colts at the half, 10-3.
After the two teams traded three and outs to start the game, Indianapolis started to drive down the field, including a fourth-down conversion aided by a Jeff Saturday challenge.
Then, it was Michael Davis’ time to shine.
David fielded a Nick Foles deep throw like the arm punt it was, eventually returning the easy interception 30 yards to give the Chargers the ball back at their own 41.
Most of the time, football teams trade points. Through the first quarter, all the Chargers and Colts traded were interceptions.
After Justin Herbert was intercepted on the drive following Davis’ first pick of the season, the Colts threw it right back to LA. This time, it was Derwin James with the play, tapping his feet in bounds like a veteran receiver.
The interception, Los Angeles’ second of the game, gave the Bolts the ball back at their own 33.
After more than 21 minutes of game time, the Chargers finally broke the 0-0 deadlock.
Los Angeles capped off a 13-play, 70-yard drive with a one-yard Austin Ekeler rushing touchdown, the Chargers’ fourth straight run play of the drive.
The drive was also aided by two Mike Williams receptions of 16 and 18 yards, the latter of which brought the ball into the red zone.
James’ return from injury has turned out to be short-lived.
After returning from a quad injury that had held him out of the last two contests, James had had a stellar game through a quarter and a half, including a phenomenal interception of Colts QB Nick Foles.
Midway through the second quarter, Foles targeted wide receiver Ashton Dulin in the flat, where he was hit with the force of a semi-truck as James flew downhill. The collision was immediately flagged for helmet-to-helmet contact.
Despite James’ protests as he pointed to his shoulder while walking off the field, he was ejected from the remainder of the contest by officials in New York. It seemed as though James was indicating that he hit Dulin in the shoulder initially, but the replay showed clear head-to-head contact.
With James back out of the lineup, Alohi Gilman and Nasir Adderley will take over as the safeties for the rest of the game. Rookie Raheem Layne is also on the roster after being signed off the practice squad before the game.
Naz Reid with an and one vs the Miami Heat
Naz Reid (Minnesota Timberwolves) with an and one vs the Miami Heat, 12/26/2022 | 2022-12-27T04:11:29Z | sports.yahoo.com | Chargers vs. Colts first-half highlights | https://sports.yahoo.com/chargers-vs-colts-first-half-023917067.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/chargers-vs-colts-first-half-023917067.html?src=rss |
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin suffered a concussion in the second quarter of Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers and will not return.
Dulin was on the other end of a huge hit from Chargers safety Derwin James as a defenseless receiver. James was ejected immediately after the hit, and Dulin went into the blue tent for evaluation.
It’s no shock that Dulin is now in the league’s concussion protocol. It was a massive hit and the kind that the NFL has been trying to weed out of the game over the last decade.
With Dulin out, the Colts will now have Michael Pittman Jr., Parris Campbell, Alec Pierce and Mike Strachan. | 2022-12-27T04:11:35Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colts’ Ashton Dulin suffers concussion vs. Chargers | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-ashton-dulin-suffers-concussion-024752733.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-ashton-dulin-suffers-concussion-024752733.html?src=rss |
The Green Bay Packers intercepted Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa three times in the second half to help create a come-from-behind win at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.
A missed head injury for Tagovailoa might have played a big role in the final 30 minutes of play.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Tagovailoa reported experiencing symptoms on Monday and is now in the concussion protocol.
The head injury likely occurred on the play before Raheem Mostert’s fumble coming out of the two-minute warning in the first half. Packers outside linebacker Kingsley Enagbare took down Tagovailoa from behind, and the quarterback’s head bounced off the turf as he twisted to the ground.
Tagovailoa was not evaluated for a concussion and remained in the contest.
In the second half, Tagovailoa overthrew Tyreek Hill on an interception and threw picks right to De’Vondre Campbell and Rasul Douglas in the fourth quarter. The interception by Douglas ended the game and sealed the Packers’ 26-20 win.
How drastic was Tagovailoa’s play before and after?
In the first half, Tagovailoa completed nine of 12 passes for 229 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. His passer rating was 144.4.
In the second half, Tagovailoa completed seven of 13 passes for 81 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. His passer rating was 33.3.
If confirmed, this would be Tagovailoa’s third concussion of the 2022 season.
The Packers won their third straight game in a row and are now 7-8. The Dolphins dropped a fourth straight game and are now 8-7. | 2022-12-27T04:12:01Z | sports.yahoo.com | Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa in concussion protocol after tossing 3 second-half picks vs. Packers | https://sports.yahoo.com/dolphins-qb-tua-tagovailoa-concussion-033531564.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/dolphins-qb-tua-tagovailoa-concussion-033531564.html?src=rss |
Nathaniel Hackett’s run as the head coach of the Denver Broncos lasted only 15 games. The former Green Bay Packers assistant coach was fired by the Broncos on Monday, just one day after his team was soundly beaten 51-14 by the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas Day.
Hackett’s Broncos were 4-11 and might have been the NFL’s most disappointing team in 2022.
Hackett spent three years working under Matt LaFleur as the offensive coordinator in Green Bay before getting a chance to be a head coach in Denver. The Packers’ offensive success and his experience in the LaFleur/Shanahan/McVay coaching tree made Hackett a hot commodity during the coaching cycle.
Things went south fast.
The Broncos started 2-1 but then suffered through a span of nine losses in 10 games.
Denver is averaging an NFL-worst 15.5 points per game this season. And Russell Wilson, who the Broncos gave up huge assets to acquire this offseason, has thrown only 12 touchdown passes with nine interceptions in 2022. On Sunday, Wilson tossed three picks.
The Packers replaced Hackett’s job as the top offensive assistant with offensive line coach Adam Stenavich.
It’s unclear if there would be mutual interest in Hackett returning to the Packers. LaFleur called firings an “ugly” part of the coaching business and passed on answering if he’d be willing to bring Hackett back to Green Bay when asked on Monday.
Hackett signed a four-year contract to join the Broncos in January.
Senior assistant Jerry Rosburg will take over as interim coach in Denver for the final two weeks.
Austin Rivers (Minnesota Timberwolves) with an and one vs the Miami Heat, 12/26/2022 | 2022-12-27T04:12:07Z | sports.yahoo.com | Former Packers assistant Nathaniel Hackett fired as Broncos head coach | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-packers-assistant-nathaniel-hackett-031812488.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-packers-assistant-nathaniel-hackett-031812488.html?src=rss |
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