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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) Sonny Dykes appeared to take a veiled shot at the mighty Southeastern Conference on Thursday morning.
''You're not going to catch The Citadel in Week 10,'' Dykes said of the Big 12 gauntlet. ''We caught Texas.''
Dykes said the point he was trying to make was the nine-game conference schedule changes things. He complimented the SEC on ''taking care of their teams and being really smart.''
''No. 1, they're very good football teams, and No. 2, they do a really good job of scheduling,'' Dykes said. ''They're really smart about how they schedule, who they schedule and when they schedule. The eight conference games is a huge deal. Sometimes I think that goes undiscussed and unevaluated in terms of the impact on other leagues when they play nine games and that league's playing eight.
''But again, you've got to take your hat off to the SEC. They're doing it the way they want to do and understand the big picture.''
''You look at those stats, but the result of the game was (Georgia) won the game by 20,'' Wilson said. ''So that wasn't necessarily the formula to win the game and make plays in both phases, third-down conversions, short-yard conversions.''
Added Wilson: ''We have to find ways to not only have yards passing and running. We gotta find a way to get the ball to the end zone if we want a chance to win this game.''
''I think most of the offense circles around him because he's basically a sixth lineman that can run routes and catch balls,'' Bowers said of Washington. ''He'll go road grade anybody in front of (him), but he can also have the finesse to go in and grab it off someone's head.''
''Everything's perfect,'' Harbaugh said. ''It's my favorite TV show, right up there with the Rockford Files. Just so good. There's a lesson in every show, whether a life lesson or a coaching lesson, that's what I take from Ted Lasso.'' | 2022-12-30T07:50:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | Dykes: Nine-game Big 12 schedule a grind others don't face | https://sports.yahoo.com/dykes-nine-game-big-12-232759418.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/dykes-nine-game-big-12-232759418.html?src=rss |
The Texas football team has arrived at the Alamodome in San Antonio for an anticipated matchup with Washington.
The Alamo Bowl presents two of the most dangerous offenses in college football this season. Although the Longhorns will be without star running backs Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson, along with starting linebacker and defensive leader DeMarvion Overshown, many young players will get the opportunity to showcase their talents against the No. 12 team in the country.
This particular bowl game isn’t necessarily a must-win for either program, but it could certainly provide momentum heading into the 2023 season.
Steve Sarkisian looks sharp sporting a cowboy hat for his pregame outfit on Thursday evening. The game will officially kick off at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN.
Backed by the best fans in the nation 🤘 pic.twitter.com/xRFnqTQ8Sy
Steve Sarkisian. Hat. pic.twitter.com/FyLU0g6U5P | 2022-12-30T07:51:10Z | sports.yahoo.com | LOOK: Steve Sarkisian, Texas players arrive to Alamo Bowl | https://sports.yahoo.com/look-steve-sarkisian-texas-players-003626264.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/look-steve-sarkisian-texas-players-003626264.html?src=rss |
Alabama defensive coordinator Pete Golding has been under the fan’s microscope ever since he took over the playcalling four seasons ago.
Much like their feelings for offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, Alabama fans are ready to move on from the Golding experiment.
While I understand the frustration of the Alabama faithful, it is important to note that under Golding, and during a time when Alabama was revolutionizing its offensive philosophy, the Crimson Tide has continued to be one of the best defenses in the entire country.
In fact, since 2019 Alabama ranks sixth in the nation in points per game allowed at 19. Just three points behind the best average of 16 from the Georiga Bulldogs.
While those numbers do not tell the whole story, it is at the very least part of the story.
On Thursday, just two days before the Crimson Tide will face Kansas State in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Golding would participate in a press conference where he was directly asked about his future with Nick Saban and Alabama.
Golding gave a quick and definitive response.
“I’m still under contract, so absolutely.”
Much like O’Brien, Golding can take some of the bad taste out of the fans mouths with a strong showing on Saturday against the Big 12 champs.
DJ Dale, Jase McClellan comment on the mindset of the team ahead of Allstate Sugar Bowl | 2022-12-30T07:51:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | ‘I’m still under contract, so absolutely’ says Pete Golding on plans to return to Alabama | https://sports.yahoo.com/m-still-under-contract-absolutely-221021427.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/m-still-under-contract-absolutely-221021427.html?src=rss |
This is a cool opportunity for Mark Ingram II. The New Orleans Saints running back is a legend among the star-studded alumni of the Alabama Crimson Tide, but he’ll play a big role in Alabama’s upcoming Sugar Bowl matchup with Kansas State at the Caesars Superdome on Saturday (kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT), broadcast on ESPN.
Ingram has been tabbed as the Alabama radio broadcast’s sideline reporter, per AL.com’s Michael Casagrande. He’ll be responsible for working the field during the game and interviewing Alabama head coach Nick Saban at halftime. A number of former players including Cory Reamer and Christian Miller have cycled through the role this season, so it isn’t unusual for Ingram to step in like this.
And he’s interviewed Saban before; Ingram co-hosts the Truss Levelz Podcast with his Saints teammate Cameron Jordan during the offseason, where they’ve spoken with a variety of big names from around the NFL and college football landscape, including Saban and former Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Ingram and Saban have a strong relationship owing to his history at Alabama — Ingram helped lead the Crimson Tide to their 2010 BCS National Championship win, becoming the first player in school history to win the Heisman Trophy along the way.
But the focus will be on the game between Alabama and Kansas State, and Ingram knows that. Still, this is big for his career after football. Ingram hasn’t indicated that retirement is on his mind, but he’ll be a free agent in the spring and he owns almost every Saints rushing record in the team history books. It wouldn’t be a shock at all to see him bow out on his own terms and begin working in the media like many of his former Saints teammates. Roman Harper, Jonathan Vilma, and Ben Watson have all found success on the other side of the microphone. Maybe Ingram joins them. If you’re in the area, you can catch Ingram and the Alabama radio coverage team on Tide 100.9 FM and their local affiliates. | 2022-12-30T07:51:23Z | sports.yahoo.com | Mark Ingram to work as Alabama radio’s sideline reporter for upcoming Sugar Bowl | https://sports.yahoo.com/mark-ingram-alabama-radio-sideline-015735242.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/mark-ingram-alabama-radio-sideline-015735242.html?src=rss |
Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. holds his Offensive MVP trophy after defeating Texas in the Alamo Bowl NCAA college football game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, left, and Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer, right, greet at midfield following the Alamo Bowl NCAA college football game in San Antonio, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
SAN ANTONIO (AP) Michael Penix, Jr. threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns and No. 12 Washington held off No. 21 Texas 27-20 on Thursday night in the Valero Alamo Bowl.
''Another big night for the '22 Huskies,'' Washington coach Kalen DeBoer said. ''It starts with these guys up here (Penix, Wayne Taulapapa, Bralen Trice). They all played huge huge roles in what happened tonight. It was a culmination of everything we've worked on. The things we've tried to improve, especially in the latter half of the season.''
''We were just trying to feel out the game, feel out how the adjusted and reacted to our pass option,'' Penix said. ''I was like, `OK, I'm going to hand off this time and see how they adjust to it. I knew handing it off to Wayne, we had a good box, and he'll make anything happen.''
''They did a nice job of extending drives,'' Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. ''They had three straight drives of 16, 13 and 14 plays that resulted in 17 points. But in the end I was proud of our guys. They continued to battle; gave us a chance at the end. We just didn't make enough plays.''
''After that first drive (of the second half), we got rolling,'' Ewers said. ''It's always good to get that first touchdown. It's awesome to have that first drive to score coming out of the locker room. And with our offense, once we get going it's hard to stop us.''
The Huskies are 1-1 in the Alamo Bowl. In 2011, Washington - coached by current Texas coach Sarkisian - lost to Baylor 67-56 in the highest-scoring edition of the game.
Carr welcomed her former team to Louisville with a win. And Norika Konno's night as parents made trip from Japan to watch her play for the first time. | 2022-12-30T07:51:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | No. 12 Washington holds off No. 21 Texas 27-20 in Alamo Bowl | https://sports.yahoo.com/no-12-washington-holds-off-060832918.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/no-12-washington-holds-off-060832918.html?src=rss |
The SEC hasn’t been all that impressive in bowl season. On the strength of its first win in a triple overtime victory by Arkansas over Kansas, the conference is 1-3 so far.
Florida got bowl season started for the Longhorns’ new conference falling to Oregon State, 30-3. Wake Forest made short work of Missouri in a 27-17 win. You can see why the Tigers wouldn’t want anything to do with Kansas.
The Jayhawks performed admirably coming back to send what was a blowout to overtime. One CBS analyst appeared to use the Razorbacks’ early lead to confirm just how strong the middle of the SEC is on the football field. Kansas then came storming back.
Texas Tech capped the night with a resounding win over Ole Miss, 42-25. The game may not have been as close as the score indicates.
The Kansas Jayhawks team that took Arkansas to triple overtime fell to Texas at home, 55-14. If early bowl results are any indication, the Longhorns will be fine in the SEC. | 2022-12-30T07:52:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ole Miss, Arkansas indicate Texas will be just fine in the SEC | https://sports.yahoo.com/ole-miss-arkansas-indicate-texas-223407212.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ole-miss-arkansas-indicate-texas-223407212.html?src=rss |
Considering the Carolina Panthers set franchise records for total yards and rushing yards in Saturday’s win over the Detroit Lions, we have a lot of numbers to catch up to.
So, let’s do so by taking a look at the team’s statistical leaders heading into Week 17.
Completion percentage: Sam Darnold (61.4)
Touchdowns: D’Onta Foreman (five)
Yards per attempt: Christian McCaffrey, D’Onta Foreman (4.6)
Touchdowns: DJ Moore (six) | 2022-12-30T07:52:26Z | sports.yahoo.com | Panthers statistical leaders going into Week 17 | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-statistical-leaders-going-week-010038985.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-statistical-leaders-going-week-010038985.html?src=rss |
Many of the problems that the Sooners dealt with on the defensive side of the ball reared their ugly head in the loss. The defense couldn’t sustain their level of play for four quarters. Tackling was an issue at times, and Oklahoma couldn’t get the necessary stops in crunch time.
Notre Dame knew what was coming. Here’s the unsettling part: The No. 5-ranked Irish still couldn’t handle the Miami heat. “It's a great win on the road against a great team,” Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey said. | 2022-12-30T07:52:33Z | sports.yahoo.com | Pass protection and pass defense struggle as Sooners fall 35-32 to Florida State | https://sports.yahoo.com/pass-protection-pass-defense-struggle-023107665.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/pass-protection-pass-defense-struggle-023107665.html?src=rss |
The college football world was taken by surprise by the sudden passing of long-time coach Mike Leach. Though the majority of his career was spent as the head coach at Texas Tech, Washington State, and Mississippi State, his one year in Norman sent ripple effects through the Oklahoma Sooners and beyond.
His impact helped the Oklahoma Sooners land Josh Heupel to be the quarterback that ushered in the Bob Stoops era and launch the “Air Raid” into college football nomenclature.
But Mike Leach’s influence went beyond the X’s and O’s. Coaches and players, past and present, talked about the man he was as they mourned the loss of a legend who did things his way.
And as the Oklahoma Sooners get set to take on the Florida State Seminoles in the Cheez-It Bowl, the Sooners will don a pirate flag decal on the back of their helmets to honor Mike Leach.
Mike was with us one year, you would think it was 20 years as beloved as he is here in Oklahoma. Early 92, post wheel, miss you Mike! https://t.co/Zx2Rmr0SDQ
Ole Miss football is set to pay tribute to Mike Leach at the Texas Bowl Wednesday. | 2022-12-30T07:53:04Z | sports.yahoo.com | Sooners to honor Mike Leach with helmet decal for Cheez-It Bowl | https://sports.yahoo.com/sooners-honor-mike-leach-helmet-215814033.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/sooners-honor-mike-leach-helmet-215814033.html?src=rss |
Bennett wasn’t the only new face with a large part in that young offense that year as first-year offensive coordinator Todd Monken had just came over from the NFL to take the reigns for the Bulldogs.
“Before he got here, I didn’t really understand football. Maybe I’m a slow learner, but finally it did start clicking whenever he would tell me the same thing for the 20th time and look at me like I was, you know, like why do you not do what I just tell you to do,” Bennett said. “I’m your coach. And so just repetitive, just doing that. I think honestly, the most important thing that he’s done is just stay consistent.”
The Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl will kickoff at 8 p.m. on Saturday as Georgia takes on Ohio State for a chance to play in the National Championship.
Kansas State quarterback Will Howard's career may have gotten off to a rough start, but these days he's all smiles.
Big news for the Bulldogs... | 2022-12-30T07:53:10Z | sports.yahoo.com | Stetson Bennett ‘Didn’t know football’ before OC Todd Monken’s arrival | https://sports.yahoo.com/stetson-bennett-didn-t-know-232922401.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/stetson-bennett-didn-t-know-232922401.html?src=rss |
Dana White's wild story, and Brady's comments on 'The Shop' take on a new light
Tom Brady and the Las Vegas Raiders. This was the near-miss connection that the UFC president gave to the world. First in August, when Brady’s bestie Rob Gronkowski convinced White to tell the almost-was story of how the MMA promoter brokered a deal to get Brady and the All-Pro tight end to Las Vegas. Then again in December, when White appeared on ESPN’s “Manningcast” on "Monday Night Football" and repeated the tale.
Josh McDaniels, his former offensive coordinator with the New England Patriots, is running Las Vegas now and he's going to be looking for an experienced quarterback to turn the key on a depth chart that has significant money sunken into it by team owner Mark Davis. The same Raiders franchise is currently slated to have nearly $62 million in salary-cap space this offseason if it releases or trades Carr. As it stands, that would be the third-highest amount of cap space in the NFL entering free agency. There will be plenty of money to either re-sign or franchise tag running back Josh Jacobs, add Brady and layer in some offensive and defensive pieces.
There's the positioning of Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler, who was a rising star in the New England personnel staff and overlapped with a portion of Brady’s final flourish with the Patriots. Ziegler told Yahoo Sports in August that he believed establishing the right culture of focus and detailed preparation would be a large part of any success achieved in Las Vegas. Few players are more capable of helping instill that than Brady.
Of all those franchises, only one has made an early commitment to jettisoning a former Pro Bowl quarterback for something different in 2023. That’s the Raiders. It's a franchise that might not be where the offseason Tom-A-Thon ends, but is certainly where it begins once the Buccaneers wrap their season. | 2022-12-30T07:58:30Z | sports.yahoo.com | Tom Brady and the … Raiders? Saints? 49ers? Buccaneers? It looks like another Tom-A-Thon is coming | https://sports.yahoo.com/tom-brady-and-the-raiders-saints-49-ers-buccaneers-it-looks-like-another-tom-a-thon-is-coming-074122448.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/tom-brady-and-the-raiders-saints-49-ers-buccaneers-it-looks-like-another-tom-a-thon-is-coming-074122448.html?src=rss |
The year 2022 is finally behind us now, and I think we can all agree that from a Charlotte sports fan’s perspective it’s time to say goodbye and good riddance.
But get ready, my friends:
2023 is coming, and it’s about to get a lot better.
That won’t be difficult, of course. From a Charlotte pro team sports viewpoint, 2022 was mostly awful and one of the worst years in Charlotte sports history (although not the worst).
In a six-month period between April and October, all three of Charlotte’s major professional sports teams (the Panthers, Hornets and Charlotte FC) fired their head coaches.
The Hornets also lost their leading scorer in Miles Bridges due to a domestic violence charge. The Panthers traded away their best player in Christian McCaffrey. Billionaire David Tepper, who owns both the Panthers and Charlotte FC, made a lot of people mad in various cities for various reasons. And although Charlotte FC also made lots of positive news in its inaugural season and drew some record crowds, it didn’t reach its well-publicized goal of making the Major League Soccer playoffs.
But I believe 2023 will be the “Year of the W” in Charlotte:
Wins.
Wilks.
And, most spectacularly of all, Wembanyama.
Wembanyama and the draft lottery
Let’s start with the last “W” I mentioned first, because what a story this would be.
Victor Wembanyama, a 7-foot-3 French power forward, is the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft. All it takes is about 30 seconds of YouTube highlights to understand why Wembanyama — who turns 19 on Jan. 4 — is an “alien,” to use LeBron James’ word. He has an 8-foot wingspan. He can shoot threes, block shots and score inside. He will solve about four problems at once for any NBA team that gets him.
The Charlotte Hornets, meanwhile, are terrible. As of this writing, they are 10-26 and in a battle with Detroit and Houston for the dubious title of “Worst Record in the NBA.” They haven’t made the playoffs since 2016. For much of owner Michael Jordan’s reign, they have been pathetic.
FILE - France’s Victor Wembanyama arrives to warm up before FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers match between France and Bosnia Herzegovina in Pau, southwestern France, Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. Wembanyama’s season for Metropolitans 92 in the French league keeps getting better. He’s scored at least 30 points in his last two games, and his team has now won seven consecutive contests. That’s helped them pull into a first-place tie with Cholet with a 7-1 record. (AP Photo/Bob Edme, File)
As long as the Hornets finish in the bottom three, though, they will be one of the three teams with the best lottery odds. By NBA rule, the three bottom teams all have a 14% chance of getting the No. 1 pick, which is far different from the pre-2019 structure in which the top seed had a 25% chance of winning the lottery.
As longtime Hornets fans know, the 7-59 Charlotte team of 2011-12 was extraordinary in its ineptness but still lost the draft lottery. With a 25% chance to get Anthony Davis at No. 1, the Hornets instead ended up No. 2 and got Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (passing up Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard to choose MKG, so it’s not like missing out on Davis was the only mistake in that draft).
This time, though, I think the 14% chance comes through. This time, the Hornets get Wembanyama and will be able to pair him with LaMelo Ball.
It’s time for some good luck for the Hornets.
Mark your calendars: The NBA draft lottery is May 16.
Carolina Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks has gone 5-5 in that role. If the Panthers beat Tampa Bay and New Orleans in the final two weeks of the regular season, they will make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Wilks and the job he should get
My second “W” stands for Steve Wilks. I won’t go into this in great depth because I wrote an entire column about the same subject not long ago. But Wilks, now the Panthers’ interim head coach, should end up becoming Carolina’s next head coach.
Wilks took over a Carolina team that was 1-4 and reeling after Matt Rhule was fired suddenly on Oct. 10.
Since then, the Panthers have righted themselves, going 5-5. They have a realistic shot at winning the NFC South — they must beat Tampa Bay Sunday and then New Orleans Jan. 8 to do so. But just the fact that they are playing meaningful NFL games in January is some serious progress.
Wilks survived the McCaffrey trade — even though no coach trying to win a permanent job would really want their best player to get shipped out for a bunch of future draft picks — and has made the Panthers tougher and smarter over the past three months. He ordered Robbie Anderson to the locker room one Sunday after Anderson threw a petulant sideline fit. By Monday, Anderson had been traded.
You better believe that sent a message in the locker room. Rhule had put up with Anderson’s questionable behavior for years; Wilks wasn’t going to stomach it.
Wilks has done it as if he’s been humming Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” all along, firing several assistants and parting ways with Rhule’s chosen quarterback Baker Mayfield, who showed up in July and was gone by December. And it’s all worked out decently well.
Former Panther quarterback Baker Mayfield (left) takes a selfie with soccer fans on the sidelines ahead of the match between Charlotte FC and Chelsea FC at Bank of America Stadium in July. By December, Mayfield had been released by the Panthers and was starting for the Los Angeles Rams.
Even if the Panthers don’t make the playoffs, Wilks has established a run-first, it-all-starts-upfront identity for Carolina.
Carolina still will and should interview multiple candidates before this all goes down. The team literally couldn’t remove Wilks’ interim tag right now due to the Rooney Rule. But I believe Wilks should get the job whether the team wins the NFC South or not.
Some more W’s
There will be some more wins for Charlotte-area sports in 2023 — partly because there could hardly be fewer, but partly because some innovation is headed our way. I’m not talking only about wins on a playing field.
For instance, I can’t wait for NASCAR to hold its all-star race at the suddenly revived North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 21. That’s a brilliant move.
As for the Panthers, if they keep Wilks, I think they will have a winning record in 2023 for the first time since the 2017 season. They’ll need to figure out the quarterback position, and the way to do that will be to shoot as many arrows as they can.
Charlotte FCs Karol Swiderski, right, was one of the top players for the city’s new Major League Soccer franchise in 2022.
Sam Darnold may well have shown enough late this season to be a bridge starter for 2023, and if not him then the Panthers will have to sign another veteran-backup type. Matt Corral could emerge. The QB whom the Panthers will inevitably draft in late April could win the job outright. That will be their biggest offseason question, but in the meantime they have built fairly strong offensive and defensive lines that will keep them in most games.
As for the Hornets, they haven’t made the playoffs since 2016 and won’t in 2022-23, either. But 2023-24 should be a possibility — and a probability if they get Wembanyama. And Charlotte FC, in Year Two in 2023, has already established a significant home-pitch advantage in Bank of America Stadium and will have a realistic playoff shot.
So hang on, Charlotte fans.
You’ve just survived one of the worst sports years in the city’s history. But 2023 is going to be a lot more fun. | 2022-12-30T10:41:30Z | sports.yahoo.com | Hang on, Charlotte sports fans: 2022 was awful, but 2023 will be the “Year of the W” | https://sports.yahoo.com/hang-charlotte-sports-fans-2022-100000416.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/hang-charlotte-sports-fans-2022-100000416.html?src=rss |
Michigan State's A.J. Hoggard, right, celebrates with Jaden Akins during the first half in the game against Villanova on Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
Curtis Jones (3), a 6-foot-5 sophomore guard, leads the Buffalo Bulls at 14.8 points a game.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How Michigan State is attacking final tune-up before Big Ten play | 2022-12-30T11:40:19Z | sports.yahoo.com | After long layoff, Michigan State basketball gets final tune-up before Big Ten resumes | https://sports.yahoo.com/long-layoff-michigan-state-basketball-110451704.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/long-layoff-michigan-state-basketball-110451704.html?src=rss |
Christian Benford is nearing his return.
The Buffalo Bills (12-3) announced ahead of their Week 17 meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals (11-4) on Monday that the rookie cornerback has been designated to return from injured reserve.
Benford suffered an oblique injury during his team’s 28-25 win against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving. Soon after, he was placed on IR.
At the same time, Buffalo signed veteran corner Xavier Rhodes to the active roster. Rhodes is still on it.
Currently the roster is full at 53 players.
However, designating Benford for return does not mean he’s on it or able to play just yet.
The new designation opens a 21-day window for Benford to practice with his teammates as he preps for a return to the lineup. Buffalo is allowed to bring him back on the roster at any time during that window, even before facing the Bengals, however, someone would have to be taken off of the roster to make room for him.
Most times when the Bills do designated a player to return, they do not play him immediately. The team have let players practice for that entire time period before making a decision. Throughout it all, Bills Wire will provide updates on Benford’s status as information is made available. | 2022-12-30T12:21:42Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bills designate Christian Benford for return from injured reserve | https://sports.yahoo.com/bills-designate-christian-benford-return-115533736.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bills-designate-christian-benford-return-115533736.html?src=rss |
The Buffalo Bills are on track to have Mitch Morse back in their lineup for their huge upcoming matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals (11-4).
Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said via video conference on Thursday that the center has cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol.
In Week 15 against the Miami Dolphins, Morse left the contest due to a head injury and did not return.
Last week’s meeting with the Chicago Bears, Morse did not play.
However, Morse returning to practice does not guarantee that he will suit up in Buffalo’s big Week 17 game with the Bengals on Monday. In the past, when the Bills (12-3) have seen Morse sustain a concussion, they have given him extra time to recover on occasion due to his lengthy history with head injuries.
Morse has sustained six reported concussions in his NFL career. In 2020, Morse cleared the concussion protocol but during a November game against the Arizona Cardinals, he still did not play.
At the end of that season, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane confirmed the team wanted to give Morse extended time to recover from that head injury.
It remains to be seen if Morse is in the lineup on Monday. At least it’s a step in the right direction. Bills Wire will bring the latest updates leading up to kickoff. | 2022-12-30T12:21:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bills’ Mitch Morse clears concussion protocol ahead of Bengals matchup | https://sports.yahoo.com/bills-mitch-morse-clears-concussion-105526460.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bills-mitch-morse-clears-concussion-105526460.html?src=rss |
After the Denver Broncos fired Josh McDaniels (then a first-time head coach) in 2010, they turned to John Fox, who had previous experience as a head coach in the NFL.
Fox helped the Broncos win four-straight division titles and they reached a Super Bowl with him. After parting ways with the veteran coach, Denver then brought in Gary Kubiak, who also had previous head coach experience.
Kubiak had two winning seasons (including a Super Bowl-winning campaign in 2015) before stepping away from football for health reasons.
In the post-McDaniels aftermath, the Broncos brought in experienced coaches who helped right the ship. After Kubiak left, Denver went back to hiring first-time coaches.
First, the team brought in Vance Joseph, who went 11-21 before being fired. Then the Broncos hired Vic Fangio, who went 19-30 before his exit. After that, Denver turned to Nathaniel Hackett, who went 4-11 and was fired before completing his first season as a head coach.
After three-straight inexperienced coaches failed to get the Broncos back to the playoffs, it’s reasonable for fans and pundits to assume that the organization might lean toward more experienced candidates this time.
During a press conference on Tuesday, though, Denver general manager George Paton insisted that experience is not a prerequisite for the job.
“If you have experience, it helps. It certainly helps, but it’s not necessary,” Paton said. “We are going to keep an open mind through this search. If there is a quality candidate that is experienced, then sure, certainly, but we’re not going to limit ourselves to just experienced candidates.”
One of the notable experienced candidates expected to get head coach interviews this year is Dan Quinn, who was a finalist for the Broncos’ job last year before they hired Hackett. Another notable experienced candidate is Frank Reich, who is available for an interview sooner than coaches currently employed by another team.
Quinn and Reich might be notable names to watch, but if Paton is being truthful, Denver will not limit its list of candidates to experienced coaches. | 2022-12-30T12:21:54Z | sports.yahoo.com | Broncos insist experience isn’t a prerequisite for next head coach | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-insist-experience-isn-t-100046679.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/broncos-insist-experience-isn-t-100046679.html?src=rss |
DeVonta Smith has arrived and he’s not done yet originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Each week, the entire Eagles roster sits in a team meeting and watches some highlight plays from the previous game.
As you’d imagine, there was a lot of DeVonta Smith this week.
“It’s amazing,” fellow receiver Zach Pascal said. “I can’t wait to see what happens next every time the ball comes.”
To Smith, watching those highlight plays of himself is just a part of the meeting. He shrugs it off. The sometimes-shy second-year receiver doesn’t necessarily get embarrassed by everyone ogling his spectacular plays, but he doesn’t get much out of it.
In a way, he prefers to see his mistakes up there in front of the group, even as infrequent as they are.
“Because I know the good things,” Smith explained. “The good things, I know what they are. The bad things, there could be things that you necessarily didn’t think you did wrong but you did wrong, you messed up a play. That probably means more just because there’s little stuff you don’t see that could affect the play.”
If there was ever any question about Smith’s trajectory in the NFL, he’s answered them this year, especially in the last few weeks.
DeVonta Smith has arrived. And he’s not done yet.
While Smith has spent plenty of his second NFL season in the shadow of A.J. Brown, he went over 1,000 yards in the loss in Dallas on Christmas Eve and did it in spectacular fashion with acrobatic catches, clutch moments and the kind of precision route-running that still wows his teammates.
“It’s amazing. It’s just fun to watch,” Brown said. “Those are some big catches. We needed those and he was coming in clutch.”
Had the Eagles managed to win that game with their backup quarterback, the biggest story coming out of the weekend would have been about the play of Smith.
“It’s pretty freaky, man,” third-string quarterback Ian Book said. “We always talk about it as quarterbacks, how easy it is when you have receivers that don’t lose. You can talk about progressions, you can talk about reads. At the end of the day, I can also take A.J. 1-on-1 because it’s not 50-50. But then with DeVonta, every week making a spectacular catch.
“He does it every week. He does it in practice too. It just makes the quarterback’s job so much easier. You feel like, ‘Damn, this isn’t a good ball’ and then he goes and gets it.”
Some of Smith’s teammates have a favorite catch from Saturday’s performance in Dallas. But Smith declined to pick his own favorite.
“Honestly,” he said, “it don’t matter because we ain’t win.”
But that level of play from Smith does matter. It’ll matter when the Eagles get into the playoffs in a few weeks. And it’ll matter over what the Eagles hope will be a long and productive NFL career for Smith.
In the last four games, Smith has really hit a different gear.
Smith has six games with 100+ yards in his young career and three of them have come this December. In the month, he already has 23 catches for 405 yards and 4 touchdowns. It’s the second best December in franchise history behind just Brown this year with 27/473/3.
Sure, Smith came into the NFL as the No. 10 pick, Heisman Trophy winner and a pro-ready receiver. But he’s also really enjoying the process of perfecting his craft. And his veteran teammates see that all the time.
“Oh man, that boy, it’s almost like he’s been in the league for a while now with how he attacks the game,” Pascal said. “His schedule and getting his body right, having his body ready for each game. The details in his routes. You can see it. It ain’t no rookie or second-year type receiver. He actually puts in the work and his passion is as mature as any vet in this league.”
Those body control catches made the highlight reels this week but it’s Smith’s route-running that still impresses his teammates the most.
“As I’ve been saying from Day 1, route running,” Brown said. “The way he runs routes, it’s incredible. It’s an art to watch.”
And it’s what Smith tries his best to keep improving.
He watches a few other great route runners around the league and is always ready to incorporate what he sees into his own game. Even when he’s scrolling through social media, Smith pauses to watch great route running. It’s constantly on his mind.
And it’s something his own teammates ask him about quite often. They are always eager to learn from one of the best.
That’s why as impressive as those acrobatic catches are, the part of Smith’s game that his teammates love to point out is his ability to run routes.
“I’d say route running. He’s great at both,” tight end Grant Calcaterra said. “But it’s just really impressive to see him create separation and use his body. Because he’s such a skinny dude and the way he is able to use his body and be so powerful and so quick is impressive.”
There’s no question that Smith had an impressive rookie season in 2021, narrowly breaking DeSean Jackson’s Eagles rookie record for receiving. But Smith was definitely a little disappointed he didn’t surpass the 1,000-yard mark last season.
He is up to 79 catches for 1,014 yards and 7 touchdowns in Year 2. Hitting 1,000 yards was meaningful but — and this should be no surprise — he isn’t resting on that.
“Yeah, definitely. That was one of my goals,” Smith said. “Checked that one off. Really just build off it and keep going. The season is not over with.” | 2022-12-30T12:22:01Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles’ DeVonta Smith has arrived and he’s not done yet | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-devonta-smith-arrived-not-120000710.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-devonta-smith-arrived-not-120000710.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts surrendered seven sacks of quarterback Nick Foles last week and that has the blitz-happy New York Giants smelling blood in the water.
Not only does Wink Martindale’s defensive unit lead the league in blitz rate, but they have also turned up the heat off the edges since the return of linebacker Azeez Ojulari.
Martindale has no idea what his players are thinking ahead of the crucial Week 17 matchup, but he knows the opportunity to create havoc is there.
“There’s definitely blood in the water,” Martindale told reporters on Thursday.
Martindale, like many other members of the organization, would also like to hear the fans make a difference on Sunday. He wants them loud and raucous so that they negatively impact the Colts’ offensive line.
“Here’s what we need: We need playoff fans to show up for this game and be as loud as they can be. I know it’s New Year’s Day, so if you have (a party) going on on New Year’s Eve, keep it going. And take it all the way through the game. If not, get plenty of rest and be ready to be loud on Sunday.”
With a win, the Giants would punch their first ticket to the playoffs since 2016.
Giants DC Wink Martindale ready to bring pressure against struggling Colts offense: ‘There’s definitely blood in the water’ | 2022-12-30T12:22:13Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants’ Wink Martindale smells ‘blood in the water’ with Colts’ OL struggling | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-wink-martindale-smells-blood-115502557.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-wink-martindale-smells-blood-115502557.html?src=rss |
Nearly the entire country will have the opportunity to see if the Green Bay Packers can continue their incredible push to a playoff spot on Sunday against the rival Minnesota Vikings.
Matt LaFleur’s team has won three straight games but still needs a win over the Vikings – who beat the Packers in Week 1 – to keep the door open entering the regular season finale.
The Packers and Vikings will play on CBS at 3:25 p.m., with the network’s top broadcasting tandem – Jim Nantz and Tony Romo – on the call.
There’s one other game during the late CBS timeslot, but only a few select viewing markets on the West Coast will get the Los Angeles Rams taking on the Los Angeles Chargers.
Here’s everything you need to watch or stream the Week 17 game:
What: Minnesota Vikings (12-3) at Green Bay Packers (7-8)
When: Sunday, Jan. 1, 3:25 p.m. CT
TV Channels: CBS
Radio: Packers Radio Network, Sirius Satelite Radio (225), Sports USA Radio
Stream: NFL+ (local)
Radio live stream: Packers.com
Televised Areas: | 2022-12-30T12:22:42Z | sports.yahoo.com | How to watch, listen, stream Packers vs. Vikings in Week 17 | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-listen-stream-packers-vs-120011998.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/watch-listen-stream-packers-vs-120011998.html?src=rss |
Considering the initial thoughts that raced through Nick Richards’ head as he was helped off the Crypto.com Arena court during the Charlotte Hornets’ recent road trip, a small step represented significance.
After being surprisingly upgraded from doubtful to questionable following their morning shootaround – a move first reported by The Charlotte Observer – Richards suited up for the Hornets’ 121-113 victory against Oklahoma City. Although he didn’t play Thursday night, just being in uniform six days after crumpling to the floor and holding his right foot writhing in pain left the Hornets’ big man downright giddy.
“At the moment I thought it was much worse, but it turned out to be a regular sprain,” Richards said. “I was just happy because I personally thought that I had broken my foot. So, the fact it just came back as just a regular sprain it was more like, ‘Thank God.’”
Richards being back in the mix meant Steve Clifford could have slotted him into his usual reserve center spot behind starter Mason Plumlee – a role he’s had a stranglehold on since training camp. But the coach opted to keep giving Mark Williams a lengthy look, and the rookie rewarded Clifford’s faith by producing easily the best game of his short tenure as a pro.
Williams notched his first double-double, setting career highs with 17 points and 13 rebounds while knocking down all seven field goals in 21 minutes. He also tied career bests with two blocks, two steals and two assists.
He’s the first rookie in NBA history to collect at least 15 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks on 100% shooting, and fifth player in NBA history to accomplish the feat. Emphatic rejections, scrappiness and playing above the rim were all included in his repertoire.
Williams’ impressive play creates a dilemma for the Hornets, but it’s a welcomed one. They have to figure out which two centers will receive the bulk of the minutes and how they will navigate any kind of rotation with Richards and Williams moving forward.
“To me, they’re both developing players,” Clifford said. “When you have a roster of a lot of younger players, you do them both. You want to try to develop them and win as many games as we can. And we’re in a place where we need to win. But we’ve got to see.
“Yeah, it’s not easy. We have a lot of guys at that position. Nick’s going to be a part of things. I like the way he plays. He’s done a good job. But I also want to see what Mark can bring.”
That extra time Williams spent shooting after practice and those countless trips to play in the G League with the Greensboro Swarm are paying off. He’s earned Clifford’s confidence.
And it’s appreciated.
“The trust he puts into me, that means a lot,” Williams said. “I just wanted to show that it was the right decision, and wanted to make the most out of the opportunity and just play hard and play to my strengths.”
Staying on point mentally, Williams has learned, also is essential. There’s no substitute.
“Just every game, just being ready,” he said. “You never know what each game could hold. Things can happen. So, I think for me, it’s just being ready for my opportunity when that moment happens and just being prepared for it. It’s not like I’m nervous or anything. It’s just basketball.
“When I’m on the floor, just making the most of it, doing the things I’m supposed to do on both sides of the ball. I think I just showed a little bit of that tonight.”
Enough to have Clifford envisioning how Williams pairing with LaMelo Ball can be a lethal combination. Williams is a big body with a versatile skill set, and his effectiveness in the two-man game alongside Ball or any of the Hornets’ other playmaking ball-handlers like Terry Rozier or Gordon Hayward could add to their strategic strengths.
Contending with an opposing duo that’s in concert with each other while also boasting a fearsome tandem of your own can do wonders for team confidence. Williams could very well turn out to be a missing piece in the puzzle the Hornets are trying to put together.
“To me, in this league, if you want to look at the better starting 5s, there’s just certain components,” Clifford said. “So, if you have a roll game and you’re playing with somebody like Melo, and you can protect the rim and play pick-and-roll defense at the other end, you can be a really good starter. Look at the guys like that.
“He has the basic background of a way to be a very effective NBA player – protect the rim, he’s smart, he’s good with coverages. … For somebody like Melo, actually Gordon or Terry, the three of them, if they get a good pick with a solid roll, we’re going to get a good shot. And it’s an important part of the NBA game.”
Here’s another: stacking up solid performances and avoiding letdowns. That’s Williams’ task now that he’s shown glimpses in his initial three games as a true contributor, averaging 10.6 points and seven rebounds. Consistency and continuity are paramount for a franchise that’s struggled to find a viable force at center.
“What it gets back to in this league, you’ve got to do it three, four times in a week against different types of players, different types of coverages,” Clifford said. “I think he’s going to be a very good player, but this just shows his talent. Now it’s, ‘Can you do it every night?’ That’s what the NBA is all about.”
PJ Washington was once in Williams’ sneakers. He’s enjoying the up-close view.
“I think it’s exciting,” Washington said. “He’s been working this whole year, his whole summer. I’m excited for him. He’s my rookie, basically. He’s my locker mate, so I spend a lot of time with him on the video games. I’m just excited for him to see him come in and do what he’s supposed to do.”
The smile on Williams’ face that was seemingly as long as his 7-foot plus wingspan indicated he felt similar to Washington. He’s even-keeled and doesn’t show a lot of emotion, often reserved in public displays.
But for a few hours, he could ponder the possibilities.
“A game like that always is great for your confidence,” Williams said. “Just continuing to build on it. Don’t let it linger, don’t think about it too much because that’s how your next game might not be at that level. So, I think just going out there next time on the floor, just continuing to do those things I did at even a higher level.”
(Bloomberg) -- Italian health authorities will begin testing all arrivals from China for Covid after almost half of the passengers on two flights to Milan were found to have the virus. Most Read from BloombergMilan Reports 50% of Passengers on China Flights Have CovidOne of World’s Most Crowded Cities Gets First Mass-Transit RailBritain’s Youngest Workers Are Too Sick to WorkUS Weighs Sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Bolster UkraineWall Street’s Top Stars Got Blindsided by 2022 Market Collap | 2022-12-30T14:03:21Z | sports.yahoo.com | Mark Williams’ career night creates a big dilemma for the Hornets. But it’s welcomed | https://sports.yahoo.com/mark-williams-career-night-creates-124909779.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/mark-williams-career-night-creates-124909779.html?src=rss |
From Kamila Valieva's scandal at the Olympics to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, 2022 had no shortage of sports drama.
Kamila Valieva's doping scandal was one of the biggest sports controversies of the year. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
But 2022 wasn't all fairytales. Controversy reared its ugly head and cast a shadow over the sporting landscape time and time again over the past 12 months. From the Olympics to the World Cup, here are the most controversial sports moments of 2022, in chronological order.
Antonio Brown is no stranger to making headlines for the wrong reasons. In what could go down as his final NFL game, the wide receiver caused a scene in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Week 17 matchup with the New York Jets. Brown ripped off the top half of his uniform, then flashed a "peace out" sign to fans in the end zone as he exited the field in the middle of the third quarter. After the game, Bucs head coach Bruce Arians said Brown was "no longer part of the team."
Another angle of AB running off of the field shirtless during a Bucs offensive drive. pic.twitter.com/YWAUvTxHq1
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) January 2, 2022
LIV Golf, a Saudi Arabia-backed, eight-tournament venture rocked the golf world in 2022 when it debuted in June. Dishing out enormous contracts to its biggest golfers, it poached numerous high-profile stars from the PGA Tour, including Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson. LIV's introduction to the sports landscape forced athletes and fans to look themselves in the mirror and answer tough ethical questions.
Few, if any, MLB suspensions for PEDs have been as shocking as Tatis, who was positioned as one of the league's brightest young stars and inked a massive 14-year, $340 million contract extension ahead of the 2021 campaign.
Fresh off an NBA Finals appearance the previous season, the Boston Celtics suspended head coach Ime Udoka for the entire 2022-23 campaign due to an "improper, intimate relationship with a female staff member." The woman involved accused Udoka of making unwanted comments toward her, leading to internal reviews.
In late September, the world's top chess player, Magnus Carlsen, accused 19-year-old grandmaster Hans Niemann of cheating in a match they played against one another. A week later, an investigation into Niemann was conducted by Chess.com — the world's top chess website — which found the American to have cheated in more than 100 games.
TMZ obtained the video of the altercation between Draymond Green and Jordan Poole at practice https://t.co/55rMnBqAVG pic.twitter.com/k02BGsBo8G
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) October 7, 2022
The Warriors said they would discipline Green internally, and opted for a fine instead of a suspension. The four-time NBA champion apologized for his actions, saying he "failed as a leader and as a man." Green took some time away from the team to reflect before returning to practice on Oct. 13.
Oct. 27: Kyrie's tweet causes major outcry
Kyrie Irving is no stranger to controversy, and the Nets star came under fire for tweeting a link to an anti-Semitic documentary film. Irving initially defended his tweet and did not apologize, leading Nets owner Joe Tsai and the NBA itself to release statements denouncing Irving's actions. Brooklyn suspended him on Nov. 3, which finally prompted an apology. Nike also elected to terminate its relationship with the 30-year-old.
It is not hyperbole to call Qatar the most controversial World Cup host country ever. The nation did not have infrastructure equipped to hold a major sporting event when it was awarded the tournament in 2010. The construction work largely fell on migrants from Southeast Asia and Africa who experienced unbearable working conditions. A Qatari official involved in organizing the World Cup has put the number of worker deaths related to the tournament "between 400 and 500" but some outlets estimate the death toll is significantly higher. | 2022-12-30T14:04:13Z | sports.yahoo.com | Biggest sports controversies of 2022 | https://sports.yahoo.com/biggest-sports-controversies-of-2022-135631406.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/biggest-sports-controversies-of-2022-135631406.html?src=rss |
Oct 30, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Knicks guard Evan Fournier (13) reacts after a three-point basket in the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. / David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Evan Fournier hasn’t seen play for the Knicks in 22 games after he was removed from the rotation earlier this season.
So New York had to be desperate when coach Tom Thibodeau called Fournier’s number to play against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night. Sure, it took Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett to be sidelined with injuries for the 30-year-old to see the court, but the vet stayed ready and made the most of his shot.
“I'm just doing the work daily,” Fournier said after the game. “I got a chance to play and I was just trying to be present, just, you know, be in the moment and just help the team win … It was a lot easier to play than to be on the bench and watch the guys there. I'm actually happy I got a shot at being back out there.”
Fournier scored 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting (1 for 3 from deep) and had two rebounds and two steals in 17 minutes. Not bad for a player whose last game was on Nov. 13.
“He was great. He came in and played within himself,” Julius Randle said of Fournier’s performance. “It's tough to have a rhythm when you haven’t played in that long but he competed, made timely shots. So he was good.”
Randle scored a game-high 41 for the Knicks, but it wasn’t enough as the team’s defense simply could not stop San Antonio as New York dropped their fifth straight game.
With Barrett out for an extended period of time due to a laceration on his finger and Brunson nursing a sore hip, Thursday’s performance could go a long way to seeing more minutes for Fournier while the Knicks look for more offense.
“Today I thought let me just stay ready just in case,” Fournier said. “Let's not do anything crazy. Just treat today like I’m going to play and if I don't, I don't.”
Even Thibodeau was pleased with his performance although it was to be expected.
“It’s a credit to him,” he said of Fournier being prepared to play. “He’s a true pro and it's not easy, and it's not easy for Derrick [Rose] either, but that's what being a professional is and that's what the expectation is.”
Will we see Fournier off the bench again? It’s a possibility, but if Fournier can build off of Thursday’s game, he can find himself seeing more and more minutes for the Knicks or with another team.
Evan Fournier with a 2-pointer vs the San Antonio Spurs
Evan Fournier (New York Knicks) with a 2-pointer vs the San Antonio Spurs, 12/29/2022
Smart gave an 18-minute masterclass on defensive tactics, but he can't teach his experience, size, or toughness.
Jaguars defensive lineman Dawuane Smoot went on injured reserve after tearing his Achilles during last Thursday’s win over the Jets and the team moved to add another option up front on Wednesday. The Jaguars announced that they have signed Jeremiah Ledbetter to the active roster from the practice squad. Ledbetter played against the Jets as [more]
The Indiana Pacers erased a fourth-quarter deficit to win at home over the Cleveland Cavaliers in an NBA game Friday night. | 2022-12-30T14:04:26Z | sports.yahoo.com | Knicks' Evan Fournier 'happy' to see first action in weeks after benching | https://sports.yahoo.com/knicks-evan-fournier-happy-see-051039551.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/knicks-evan-fournier-happy-see-051039551.html?src=rss |
Georgia (13-0): There was no let up from Georgia after winning its first national championship since the 1980 season. The Bulldogs lost a ton of talent to the NFL yet still cruised to another undefeated regular season. Georgia made a statement in Week 1, too, by destroying Oregon, 49-3. There was a close call on the road vs. Missouri on Oct. 1, but even a visit from then-No. 1 Tennessee on Nov. 5 did not present much of a challenge for the Bulldogs. Other than the 26-22 win over Missouri, Georgia won every game by a double-digit margin. And that includes a 50-30 demolition of LSU in the SEC title game. That win gave Georgia its first conference championship since 2017. The Bulldogs had lost their three previous trips to the conference title game.
Georgia’s defense did not display the same level of dominance as it did last year, but it still finished among the national leaders in most major categories, including No. 1 in rush defense. Offensively, Stetson Bennett turned in another strong season at quarterback and finished fourth in the Heisman voting. Bennett had a three-headed monster at running back led by Kenny McIntosh, as well as Mackey Award-winning tight end Brock Bowers among his top weapons. It’s a group that should present a lot of problems to defenses during this postseason run.
Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter is in the running to be the top pick in the 2023 NFL draft. (AP Photo/Michael Clubb, File)
Ohio State (11-1): The Buckeyes' offseason was defined by its loss to Michigan last fall. OSU had owned its rivalry with the Wolverines for years, but Michigan dominated the Buckeyes along the lines of scrimmage last fall to earn the Big Ten East title and ultimately clinch a spot in the CFP. OSU would make major changes on defense, including bringing in defensive coordinator Jim Knowles from Oklahoma State.
Those changes seemed to have made a difference through the first half of the season. As OSU’s offense continued to put up huge numbers, the defense looked like an improved and more physical unit — until the rematch with the Wolverines. OSU got to 11-0 without much opposition. Only during the Oct. 29 visit to Penn State did it look like OSU could be on upset alert. And when the Michigan game kicked off, OSU seemed to be in control early until things flipped in the second half. OSU’s 20-17 halftime lead disintegrated into a demoralizing 45-23 loss.
For the Wolverines, the win clinched the division and propelled them to a conference title and CFP berth. Ohio State fell to No. 5 in the rankings, but was ultimately able to squeak into the playoff field thanks to USC’s loss to Utah in the Pac-12 title game. Will Ohio State take advantage of its second chance?
Ohio State: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (out), RB TreVeyon Henderson (out), S Jantzen Dunn (transfer)
Georgia DL Jalen Carter: The No. 1 pick in the NFL could come from the Georgia defensive line for a second consecutive season. Last year, it was Travon Walker. This spring, it could be Jalen Carter. Carter, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive tackle, is extremely disruptive on the interior of Georgia’s defense. He can plug the middle vs. the run and he can also get into the backfield. He was all over the place in last season's national title game and earned second-team All-SEC honors despite starting only two games. He moved up to the first team this year and enters the Peach Bowl with 29 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three sacks and 25 quarterback hurries.
Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr.: With Jaxon Smith-Njigba sidelined with a lingering hamstring injury for much of the season, Marvin Harrison Jr. has emerged as the go-to target for C.J. Stroud and the Ohio State offense. Harrison, the son of Hall of Fame receiver Marvin Harrison, is a true sophomore but is already being billed as a future first-round draft pick. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Harrison has 72 catches for 1,157 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. He has six games with at least 100 receiving yards, including a 10-catch, 185-yard effort vs. Penn State earlier in the year. If Ohio State wants to pull off the upset, Harrison needs to have a big game.
Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will be a focal point for Georgia's defense in the Peach Bowl. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)
Ohio State: This is Ohio State's fifth appearance in the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes won the inaugural CFP in the 2014-15 season but have not won a national title since. OSU lost in the semifinals in 2017 and 2020 and then got blown out by Alabama in the 2021 national championship.
Ohio State is 45-5 under Ryan Day. Two of those losses came in the playoff and two others came to Michigan. It's a program where winning the Big Ten and competing for national championships is the expectation. On the heels of the most recent loss to the Wolverines, there's a lot of pressure on Day's Buckeyes to deliver in a big moment.
Sam Cooper: Maybe I’ll be surprised, but I don’t see it with Ohio State in this matchup. Georgia is too well-rounded of a team. Everybody knows how good the defense is, but the Georgia offense is better than it gets credit for. Stetson Bennett runs the show, but there are threats all over the place from Brock Bowers and Darnell Washington at tight end to Kenny McIntosh at running back and even Ladd McConkey at receiver. I don't think UGA will have a lot of trouble moving the ball. OSU will get some points too, meaning this is probably an over game. But I'll go with UGA under a touchdown with the pressure on C.J. Stroud being the difference in the second half. Pick: Georgia -6.5
Rev. Jefferson Williams Pastoral Perspective: The last word | 2022-12-30T14:04:32Z | sports.yahoo.com | No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Ohio State: Peach Bowl CFP semifinal preview, best bets | https://sports.yahoo.com/no-1-georgia-vs-no-4-ohio-state-peach-bowl-cfp-semifinal-preview-best-bets-125705287.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/no-1-georgia-vs-no-4-ohio-state-peach-bowl-cfp-semifinal-preview-best-bets-125705287.html?src=rss |
This week we look at scoring leaders not making the playoffs, 3-on-3 overtime strategy, the World Juniors, Alexis Lafreniere, Patrick Kane and much more.
Patrick Kane will be the hottest name to watch at this year's NHL trade deadline, but can he make the same impact he once did for a Stanley Cup contender? (Getty Images)
This week we look at Patrick Kane's value to contenders, scoring leaders not making the playoffs, 3-on-3 overtime strategy, the World Juniors, Alexis Lafreniere and much more.
Rangers' patience running thin with Lafreniere
It has not exactly worked out that way, and it was announced Thursday that he was to be a healthy scratch for the Rangers' game against the Lightning. That’s sure to perk up the ears of opposing teams. His rookie season was the shortened, COVID bubble season. Difficult circumstances for anyone, let alone a first overall pick in New York City walking onto a team with a good veteran core that was ready to start winning. He played just 13:53 per night and played to a 31-point pace. Last season was more of the same, but along the way the “Kid Line” solidified itself and once the playoffs rolled around, he was very good. He still played just over 14 minutes per game, but he chipped in 9 points in 20 games and was hitting everything that moved — he was credited with 50 hits in those 20 games, way above his regular pace.
Lafreniere looked primed to breakout this season, particularly as the Rangers lost some key members of their playoff run without making moves to replace them. Internal promotions were expected. He is averaging a modest career-high in ice time (15:01). He has played over 164 minutes at 5-on-5 alongside Artemi Panarin already — he played under 45 minutes with him all of last season. The goal scoring is at a career-low pace but the assists and points are at a career-high. He’s still just 21 and has really only played one full season in the league. The tools are obvious as he does a lot of things coaches love to see. In this sequence, he's first on the forecheck and does enough to cause a turnover before going to the net and eventually deflecting a puck home.
Last season he played with Alex DeBrincat and produced big numbers. Going from him to Max Domi and Andreas Athanasiou is a sharp drop off. That’s not forgotten in the equation here. He’s still producing at a reasonable rate and he’s not far removed from a high-end scoring season. His three-point night in MSG a few weeks ago felt like a bit of a message too: "I can do still do this." | 2022-12-30T14:04:39Z | sports.yahoo.com | NHL: 10 Insights and Observations | https://sports.yahoo.com/questions-loom-over-patrick-kane-as-teams-consider-deadline-splash-032252288.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/questions-loom-over-patrick-kane-as-teams-consider-deadline-splash-032252288.html?src=rss |
With a record of 6-9, the Raiders are still technically in playoff contention. But with Derek Carr now benched for the final two games of the season, it’s pretty clear that the Raiders won’t be making the playoffs this year.
However, they still have two games left in the season and this will be a valuable time for a few of their young players. With this team so much in flux, this will be a time to evaluate all of the talent on the roster against one of the best teams in the league in the 49ers.
What: San Francisco 49ers (11-4) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (6-9)
When: Sunday, January 1 at 4:05 PM ET
Referee Crew: Clay Martin
Odds: Raiders +9.5 | 2022-12-30T14:29:21Z | sports.yahoo.com | 49ers vs. Raiders: Time, TV schedule, odds, streaming, how to watch | https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-vs-raiders-time-tv-141654403.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-vs-raiders-time-tv-141654403.html?src=rss |
The Los Angeles Rams will be the road team in Sunday’s matchup with their neighbors, the Los Angeles Chargers, at SoFi Stadium. The Rams are looking to build off of their lopsided 51-14 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 16 with a strong finish to the season.
Entering Week 17, the Rams now boast a 5-10 record, good enough for third place in the NFC West. Meanwhile, the Chargers own a 9-6 record and have clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2018.
Ahead of the battle of Los Angeles, here are five players to watch from the Rams
Cam Akers is coming off the best performance of his career in Week 16 as he carried the ball 23 times for 118 yards and three touchdowns. The former second-round pick has combined for 285 yards and six touchdowns in his last four games, and the Rams will need him to be productive again on Sunday.
The Chargers allow the second-most rushing yards per game (124) and the most yards per attempt (5.5) to running backs this season despite their defense looking much better in recent weeks. If the Rams want to have any chance of beating the Chargers, they’ll need to sustain drives and keep Justin Herbert on the sideline, and that begins with Akers having success on the ground.
Ty Nsekhe returned to practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday’s walk thru due to an illness. The veteran tackle has started in six straight games for the Rams and he’ll be tasked with trying to slow down Khalil Mack — and potentially Joey Bosa — on Sunday.
Even though Mack isn’t mentioned in the elite group of edge rushers anymore, he is having a solid season in 2022 with eight sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Nsekhe and the offensive line did a remarkable job protecting Baker Mayfield in Week 16 and they’ll have their work cut out for them versus the Chargers.
The Rams deployed a handful of defensive linemen in Week 16 against the Broncos and Larrell Murchison made his debut for the team. In his first action with the Rams, Murchison tallied four combined tackles, two sacks, and two tackles for loss despite playing on only 24% of the defensive snaps this past Sunday.
Greg Gaines was absent from practice on Thursday and the Rams are going to continue rotating defensive linemen down the stretch to keep everyone healthy, so Murchison should expect more snaps in Week 17. With the Rams needing to generate pressure on Herbert, Murchison will be someone to watch in the interior.
Austin Ekeler leads the Chargers with 99 receptions this season and he’s 18 receptions away from the single-season record set by Christian McCaffrey in 2019. Besides having Keenan Allen and Mike Williams out wide, Herbert trusts getting the ball to Ekeler out of the backfield, so the Rams will need to be disciplined in covering the dynamic back.
Bobby Wagner has been fantastic this season and he’ll be part of the solution in containing Ekeler on Sunday. The All-Pro inside linebacker leads the Rams with 126 tackles while also recording two interceptions and a career-best six sacks.
Cobie Durant was someone that made this article last week and he proceeded to notch two interceptions that resulted in 100 yards and a pick-six. The rookie cornerback saw a season-high 76% of the defensive snaps in Week 16 and he should expect to see more playing time in the final two weeks.
Everyone will be focused on Jalen Ramsey covering Williams while Durant could see plenty of Allen out of the slot on Sunday. Allen is Herbert’s security blanket out of the slot, so another productive game from Durant could result in another stellar outing from the defense.
College Football Playoff: What to watch during Peach and Fiesta Bowls
The College Football Playoff semifinals take place on Saturday in the Peach and Fiesta Bowls. Here are three things to watch during each bowl. | 2022-12-30T14:29:28Z | sports.yahoo.com | 5 Rams to watch in Week 17 vs. Chargers | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-rams-watch-week-17-133121657.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-rams-watch-week-17-133121657.html?src=rss |
Will you be able to watch that game on TV? If you live in the green areas on the map below you’ll get this game on your local CBS channels, according to 506sports.com:
In the broadcast booth and on the sidelines, Chiefs Kingdom gets Greg Gumbel, Adam Archuleta and AJ Ross on the call. It’s the first time that this particular crew has called a game for Kansas City this season or ever for that matter. This is the D-Team for CBS, so it’s not a big shock to see them calling this particular game.
As far as the share of the broadcast map this week, the Chiefs will get good coverage throughout the country on New Year’s Day. They’ll get the majority of the midwest, some of the west coast and the northwestern portion of the United States as well. This is roughly the same amount of the broadcast map these two teams got when they played each other back in Week 14. There is probably a little more intrigue surrounding the matchup given the coaching change in Denver.
This week the Chiefs vs. Broncos will compete with three other games — the Dolphins vs. Patriots (red), Colts vs. Giants (blue) and Jaguars vs. Texans (yellow). | 2022-12-30T14:29:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | Chiefs vs. Broncos broadcast map: Will you be able to watch on TV? | https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-vs-broncos-broadcast-map-124543498.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-vs-broncos-broadcast-map-124543498.html?src=rss |
The Kansas City Chiefs have selected their drum honoree for their final home game of the regular season.
Recently inducted Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach Dick Vermeil will serve as the team’s drum leader on Sunday. Vermeil, of course, coached the Chiefs from 2001-2005. During his tenure with the team, Vermeil coached up some all-time franchise greats such as QB Trent Green, RB Priest Holmes, TE Tony Gonzalez, WR Dante Hall, LT Willie Roaf, RG Will Shields and more.
Ahead of kickoff, Vermeil will be up on the GEHA Drum Deck at Arrowhead Stadium, banging the drum to get the raucous crowd at Arrowhead Stadium fired up before the team takes on an AFC West rival. This is a rival that he’s plenty familiar with as the Mike Shanahan-led Broncos were a big thorn in his side for his tenure with the Chiefs.
During his Hall of Fame speech, Vermeil called the people of Kansas City a combination of the most compassionate and passionate fans that he’s ever been around. Well, he’s going to get another taste of that and get to see what it looks like during the Patrick Mahomes era.
Other pregame festivities will include the national anthem, which will be sung by singer-songwriter Symonne Sparks. The Leawood Police Department will present the colors during the anthem.
The team will have a flyover for this game, conducted by a KC-135 Stratotanker from McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas. | 2022-12-30T14:30:19Z | sports.yahoo.com | Former Chiefs HC Dick Vermeil to serve as drum honoree vs. Broncos in Week 17 | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-chiefs-hc-dick-vermeil-135655155.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-chiefs-hc-dick-vermeil-135655155.html?src=rss |
The Giants control their own destiny, as they’d clinch a playoff berth for the first-time since 2016 with a win over the Colts on Sunday afternoon. New York is heavily favored over an Indianapolis team who is 4-10-1 and is now led by veteran quarterback Nick Foles.
In his return to the field Monday night against the Chargers, Foles went 17-for-29 and threw for just 143 yards. The Los Angeles defense was able to intercept him three times and recorded seven sacks in the 20-3 win.
With that performance in mind, Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale appears ready to bring the pressure this weekend.
“What’s going through my mind is that at that time, that’s the first game he’s played in a while," Martindale said. "So, it’s going to do nothing but get better for him, seeing things, going at a faster pace of it. But there’s definitely blood in the water.”
The Giants' defensive line has picked things up as of late. They’ve recorded eleven QB hits over each of the past two games, have a combined seven sacks, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
The duo of rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux and Azeez Ojulari, along with Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams, has been a force up-front for Martindale and the G-Men.
While Ojulari did suffer an ankle injury in last week’s loss to the Vikings, he was able to practice in limited fashion each of the past two days, and seems to be trending in the right direction. Cornerback Adoree' Jackson and safety Xavier McKinney also appear to be on the right path, which would be a huge boost for the Giants' secondary.
Despite that and the Colts’ recent struggles, Martindale won’t underestimate former Super Bowl MVP Foles and the weapons he has around him in this Indy offense.
“I’ve been in it long enough that I’ve gone against him when he was at Philly and those other places," Martindale said. "It’s going go be a challenge because he’s got plenty of weapons to work with. He’s got two NBA players playing tight-end (Kylen Granson and Mo Alie-Cox), and he’s got a bunch of receivers with huge catch radius -- anything that’s close to them, they catch. So, it’s going to be a great challenge for us.”
The Giants defense isn’t the only ones with a challenge ahead of them. The long-time defensive coordinator is calling on Giants fans to show up and bring a playoff atmosphere on Sunday afternoon.
"Everybody’s talked about how we want playoff football around here. Here’s what we need: We need playoff fans to show up for this game and be as loud as they can be," Martindale said. "I can’t wait for it; it’s going to be exciting times here for our great fans and for our guys on defense." | 2022-12-30T14:30:42Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants DC Wink Martindale: ‘There’s definitely blood in the water’ for pressure against struggling Colts offense | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-dc-wink-martindale-ready-233510794.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-dc-wink-martindale-ready-233510794.html?src=rss |
Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio was not shy Thursday to laud the abilities of safety Kam Curl, who missed Saturday’s 37-20 loss to the 49ers.
“Covering the tight end. Kittle ran free last week, couple times, like to see Kam on that matchup. He’s a guy that can do multiple things. We missed him, and we’re just getting ready to go for the next opportunity. Hopefully, we get him back soon. Until he does, we’ll next man up and keep rolling.”
Del Rio readily admitted the defense yielding some explosive plays really hurt the Commanders.
“We had opportunities to be much better on each of the explosive plays. It’s been corrected. It’s been addressed. We all understand it, and we’ll look to be better. We can’t have those kinds of explosives.”
What is it like preparing for games without Curl?
“Yeah, we work through it during the week. You’ve got the hopeful and then it’s not going that way and then it’s adjust and do the best you can. So that’s what we’ll do again this week. Look, be hopeful through the week and then see how we end the week and adjust as we need to. We’re trying to make that as smooth as possible.”
Del Rio was also quick to say he saw some real positives from his Commanders defense last week.
“We did some really good things in the game. We ended up being four out of five getting stops in the red zone, and the fifth one they got it on fourth down. So, to that point, they had three field goals and a turnover on downs. So, that gave us a chance to hang around and give us a glimmer of hope. So, without those stops, it would’ve turned into a situation where there’s no chance. So yeah, proud of that.”
CNN is facing a turning point in 2023, after a bruising year that brought significant change to the network’s corporate structure, editorial leadership and programming. People inside and around the network for much of 2022 have described a feeling of unease, which was punctuated by a round of layoffs rolled out in December by new… | 2022-12-30T14:30:54Z | sports.yahoo.com | Jack Del Rio on Kamren Curl: ‘We missed him’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/jack-del-rio-kamren-curl-131531483.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jack-del-rio-kamren-curl-131531483.html?src=rss |
Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is on pace to set a new single-season record for receiving yards and he got the ball rolling on that pursuit with a big game in the season opener against the Packers.
Jefferson caught 11 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-7 home win that also started the Vikings on their way toward the NFC North crown. The two teams will meet again at Lambeau Field this weekend and Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander doesn’t think an encore is in the cards.
“You’ve just got to be real: He don’t jump in no super suit and get dressed and jump outside, you hear me?” Alexander said, via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. “I don’t either, sometimes. But he [is] human, is what I’m saying. We ain’t putting too much on nobody. He’s a really good receiver. But at the end of the day, I’m a really good corner. We’ve got really good corners, we’ve got really good linebackers, D-line, whatever it is. You don’t want to put too much focus on that one person because it’s like, the first game, that was a fluke.”
Jefferson said he heard Alexander talking about how he wished he had more chances to play man-to-man and is “definitely expecting them to play a little differently” than they did in the opener. Anything that brings about a different outcome will be welcome as Green Bay tries to continue their late push for a playoff spot.
Jaire Alexander calls Justin Jefferson’s Week 1 performance a fluke originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
On Christmas Day, the Dallas Mavericks unveiled a statue to their former great Dirk Nowitzki but after Luka Doncic's historical triple double on Tuesday they might need to commission another monument. | 2022-12-30T14:31:01Z | sports.yahoo.com | Jaire Alexander calls Justin Jefferson’s Week 1 performance a fluke | https://sports.yahoo.com/jaire-alexander-calls-justin-jefferson-125030154.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/jaire-alexander-calls-justin-jefferson-125030154.html?src=rss |
The Bengals and Bills are both going to the playoffs and they could square off come January, but we won’t have to wait that long to see them on the same field.
Monday night will find the two teams in Cincinnati for their first matchup since the 2019 season. That means it will be quarterback Joe Burrow‘s first chance to face Buffalo and it will be the first time the Bengals meet the Bills since their ascension to the top of the AFC during the 2021 season.
Given the Bills’ spot at the top of the AFC playoff heap, some might see this game as a measuring stick for the Bengals but Burrow said on Thursday that he believes his team is past such things after winning the conference last year.
“Yeah, I mean, we’ve beaten everybody,” Burrow said in a press conference. “We know we can play against everybody. We’ve done it in the biggest moments. So like I said, we’re treating every game the same. We’ve played everyone in the last two years. We haven’t played the Bills yet, so that will be a fun challenge, but they’re good on defense, got a lot of veteran guys and know how to play within their scheme, they play hard, they play fast, they play schematically sound so it’ll be a fun challenge.”
The Bengals are on a seven-game winning streak and, litmus test or not, extending it to eight against the Bills will make things more interesting in the AFC heading into a postseason that could feature another meeting between the two teams that will finally share the field on Monday night.
Joe Burrow: Bills game isn’t a measuring stick originally appeared on Pro Football Talk
Can You Guess What Dolly Parton Keeps Hidden Beneath Her Signature Blonde Wigs
One of our favorite things about Dolly Parton is her candor, particularly when it comes to her beauty secrets. | 2022-12-30T14:31:13Z | sports.yahoo.com | Joe Burrow: Bills game isn’t a measuring stick | https://sports.yahoo.com/joe-burrow-bills-game-isn-123906858.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/joe-burrow-bills-game-isn-123906858.html?src=rss |
Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons had a different look for Thursday night’s game against the Titans.
Parsons was listed as questionable to play because of a left hand injury and he took the field with his hand wrapped in a club. After the 27-13 win, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy was asked about Parsons’ status and said that he hopes Parsons will be able to play without the club in the season finale.
“I’m hopeful we can be past it this week . . . but no, I’m not of high concern,” McCarthy said, via Ed Werder of ESPN.
Parsons was credited with one tackle and two quarterback hits during Thursday’s win. The Cowboys close out the regular season against the Commanders and will go into the game with a chance to win the NFC East if the Eagles lose to the Saints this Sunday.
Mike McCarthy: No “high concern” about Micah Parsons’ hand originally appeared on Pro Football Talk | 2022-12-30T14:31:26Z | sports.yahoo.com | Mike McCarthy: No “high concern” about Micah Parsons’ hand | https://sports.yahoo.com/mike-mccarthy-no-high-concern-122124046.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/mike-mccarthy-no-high-concern-122124046.html?src=rss |
On Thursday, Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon returned from practice. Witherspoon remains on IR but is now designated to return and the Steelers have 21 days to determine if he can get back on the field.
One player who remains on IR is fellow cornerback William Jackson III. The Steelers traded for Jackson at the trade deadline but placed him on IR with a back injury less than two weeks after. Jackson has been eligible to return for some time but remains on IR and the 2022 season looks to be a wash for the former first-round pick.
If Jackson doesn’t play this season, it’s unlikely he returns for 2023. Jackson’s 2023 salary is completely bloated with a $12.75 million cap hit. There’s no chance the Steelers are going to pay him that without at least seeing him on the field this season. If he is cut before June 1, the Steelers would have no dead money on the books.
Thankfully, if this doesn’t work out the Steelers are only on the hook for that seventh-round pick they traded away to get him. The Steelers couldn’t have anticipated this would happen and the rest of the secondary has played well despite being shorthanded for much of the season. | 2022-12-30T14:31:39Z | sports.yahoo.com | No return eminent for Steelers CB William Jackson III | https://sports.yahoo.com/no-return-eminent-steelers-cb-141209273.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/no-return-eminent-steelers-cb-141209273.html?src=rss |
Dean Lowry’s 2022 season came to an unfortunate end during Sunday’s win over the Miami Dolphins. The Green Bay Packers defensive lineman suffered a calf injury in the first half, forcing the team to put him on injured reserve on Tuesday. That means the Packers will ask more of Devonte Wyatt, who has been eagerly awaiting this opportunity since his 28th overall selection back in April.
Wyatt knows that just because you might be a first-round pick doesn’t mean you’re automatically a starter.
Much like they do with their wide receivers, Green Bay will rarely ask a defensive lineman to step in and play extensive snaps in their first season. Before he was a two-time Pro Bowler, Kenny Clark played only 32 percent of the defensive snaps as a rookie. Lowry played half of that as a fourth-rounder in 2016.
Wyatt was given the same treatment despite being one of the best defensive tackles in the country during his final season at the University of Georgia. In four of his first five NFL games, Wyatt never eclipsed double-digit snaps.
That changed as the season progressed, and Wyatt’s splash plays eventually caught the attention of his coaches, leading to an uptick in snaps even before Lowry got hurt.
“He’s earned that because of the way he’s worked and improved,” defensive coordinator Joe Barry said Thursday.
Now Barry expects Wyatt’s role to increase even more after playing a career-high 24 snaps against the Dolphins.
One thing the Packers can have been able to count on regardless of playing time is Wyatt’s effort. It was on full display when he was chasing down Miami’s quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to force an incompletion or making a downfield tackle on tight end Durham Smythe last Sunday. Making those types of hustle plays is a large part of who Wyatt is as a player.
It definitely didn’t dwindle in the previous two games when Wyatt’s snaps dipped back down into the single digits. In week 13 against the Chicago Bears, Wyatt was the team’s top-graded defender by Pro Football Focus. Two weeks later, against the Los Angeles Rams, he received the second-highest grade and contributed to his first career sack with some help from Justin Hollins.
In both games, Wyatt played only nine snaps but still made the most of them.
“The thing that I think he’s done a great job with is he’s such a diligent worker,” Barry said. “The way he plays the game- at least once he gets out on the grass- is he plays his tail off and with unbelievable effort.”
Wyatt has only played 19 percent of the defensive snaps, but he has two regular season games and hopefully a playoff run to show he is ready to take on an expanded role in next year’s defense. | 2022-12-30T14:31:45Z | sports.yahoo.com | Packers first-round pick Devonte Wyatt to take on expanded role without Dean Lowry | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-first-round-pick-devonte-125226638.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-first-round-pick-devonte-125226638.html?src=rss |
The Boston Bruins are not a young team, and they don't have a roster full of guys who would dominate the Fastest Skater competition at NHL All-Star Weekend, and yet the Original Six club looks like a faster, more aggressive and more confident group compared to last season.
Well, as much as winning can put an extra pep in your step -- and the B's lead the league with a 28-4-3 record entering Friday -- the primary reason for this change in pace is new head coach Jim Montgomery.
Montgomery, of course, took over for Bruce Cassidy in July. Cassidy was fired on June 6, a few weeks after the Bruins were eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Bruins weren't bad by any means under Cassidy. They won 51 games last season. He led them to the playoffs in all six of his seasons in charge, including a trip to Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final.
Former NHL defenseman Keith Yandle, a Milton, Mass., native who played 16 seasons before retiring earlier this year, views coaching as one of the biggest reasons for Boston's hot start to the 2022-23 campaign.
"The biggest thing is the coaching. Bringing in Monty -- he's a guy everyone loved in Dallas," Yandle told NBC Sports Boston earlier this week. "I've played with guys who played for him in college and they loved him. The way that the guys are playing, they're playing hard for him, and playing loose.
"I think Cassidy was a great coach and he did a lot of great things, but sometimes just getting a fresh face in for those guys that have been there for a while with him has really helped them out this year. They're just playing loose, even (against the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday) they're down a goal and they're pressuring, even when they tie it up they're still pressuring. They're not playing on their heels. It just looks like they're having fun and trying to win games."
I've played with guys who played for him in college and they loved him. The way that the guys are playing, they're playing hard for him, and playing loose.
Perhaps the best example of this new strategy working is Hampus Lindholm. The Bruins acquired him before last season's trade deadline in a deal with the Anaheim Ducks. Injuries prevented him from hitting his stride, and a concussion early in the first-round prevented him from making a strong impact during that series.
"You can tell, especially with the defensemen. I feel like they're involved in the play a lot more," Yandle explained. "Last year when Lindholm came over, he was a guy who -- you know how good he is, but I think this year under Monty, he's really shown how good he is with having the freedom to jump up in the play and being active. Even their defensive zone coverage -- they're patient but they're aggressive."
The Bruins under Cassidy often tried to impose their will on teams by dumping the puck in the zone, winning puck battles along the boards and getting lots of shots on net. Montgomery has the Bruins using their speed and skill a little more to fly through the neutral zone and catch teams off the rush. Shot quality is preferred over shot quantity. This approach with Montgomery has produced much-needed improvement at 5-on-5. The B's ranked 15th in 5-on-5 goals last season, and they've scored the third-most this year.
"I think they do a really good job in all three zones," Yandle said. "They're not just dumping pucks in and getting pucks deep. It seems like they're making plays through the neutral zone where, maybe in the last few years, it would have been a chip-and-chase type of game. Honestly, it looks like they're having a lot of fun and playing with confidence."
There's a long way to go between now and the Stanley Cup Playoffs. A lot can change. But there's little doubt the Bruins are far better equipped to make a deep postseason run compared to last season. Montgomery's style of play and his ability to connect with players are two of the main reasons for that turnaround.
Patrice Bergeron scored the tiebreaker with 4:08 remaining in the third period and the Boston Bruins beat the New Jersey Devils 3-1 on Wednesday night. Trent Frederic and Pavel Zacha also scored for NHL-leading Boston, which improved to 28-4-3. Linus Ullmark made 26 saves.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office said an International truck changed lanes and clipped a Mustang, causing the car to flip. | 2022-12-30T15:37:30Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ex-NHL player explains how Jim Montgomery has transformed Bruins | https://sports.yahoo.com/ex-nhl-player-explains-jim-140649197.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ex-nhl-player-explains-jim-140649197.html?src=rss |
David Rosenblum/Special to The State
No. 19 South Carolina has been hit hard by opt-outs, transfers and other varying circumstances that will prevent a full squad from taking on No. 21 Notre Dame in Friday’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
Head coach Shane Beamer spoke Thursday on the transfer portal’s effects on college football in the modern era, noting that he doesn’t let anyone play in the bowl game if they decided they wanted to leave the program .
“In regards to entering the portal and playing, no I don’t let them (play),” Beamer said during his Gator Bowl press conference on Thursday. “Whether that’s right, wrong or indifferent, that’s just kind how I feel. To me, I don’t want someone who’s one foot in and one foot out.
“Frankly, we had a couple players on our team that entered the portal and asked me if they could enter the portal and still play in the bowl game and I told them no, that you’re either with us or you’re not. I don’t mean that in a negative way. I wish everyone well. But I don’t want somebody down here that’s already spending half their time thinking about where their next stop is and things like that.”
The Gamecocks have lost nine scholarship players to the transfer portal since the regular season ended, with four of them major contributors. Beamer did not indicate which of those players asked to play in Friday’s bowl game.
There’s no rule against someone playing for their original team despite being in the transfer portal. Coastal Carolina QB Grayson McCall played for the Chanticleers in the Birmingham Bowl even after putting his name in the portal.
Beamer on Thursday also noted that senior receiver Jalen Brooks will not play in the game due to an off-field issue.
What about MarShawn Lloyd?
It sounds like anyone expecting a reunion between running back MarShawn Lloyd and South Carolina can likely forget about it.
Asked generally about whether players who had entered the transfer portal had an avenue back into the program, if they so choose, Beamer was rather coy Thursday during his Gator Bowl press conference.
“I think each situation is different. I’ll say this, the guys that are in the portal for us or have entered the portal, I tell them that I’ll help you in any way,” Beamer said. “...But I don’t continue to have contact with them where I’m texting them and calling them and asking them to come back.”
A potential return for Lloyd has been a hot topic on social media and message boards in recent weeks.
“They entered the portal for a reason,” Beamer said. “If for some reason they want to reach back out and talk about coming back, we can have that conversation. But I haven’t had that with anyone yet, and I wouldn’t say I anticipate it this year either.”
Lloyd entered the transfer portal on Dec. 12 after leading the Gamecocks in rushing this year. He finished the regular season with 573 yards rushing and nine touchdowns on 111 carries.
His departure came on the heels of losing do-it-all tight end Jaheim Bell as well. With Lloyd sidelined due to a thigh contusion in games against Vanderbilt and Tennessee, Bell worked as the Gamecocks’ starting running back, finishing the year as the team’s second-leading rusher.
If you were seeking evidence of the Badger State on television in 2022, you didn't have far to look.
South Carolina punter Kai Kroeger is among the best in the nation, on what most feel are the best special teams in the nation.
Isaiah Hartenstein with a 2-pointer vs the San Antonio Spurs
Isaiah Hartenstein (New York Knicks) with a 2-pointer vs the San Antonio Spurs, 12/29/2022
Hop on the River Taxi for the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and New Year’s fireworks cruise
Before Norte Dame and South Carolina kick it off on Dec. 30 at 3:30 p.m. those attending might want to hop on the River Taxi. | 2022-12-30T15:37:43Z | sports.yahoo.com | Some Gamecocks in transfer portal asked to play in USC’s bowl game, Shane Beamer says | https://sports.yahoo.com/gamecocks-transfer-portal-asked-play-175737213.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/gamecocks-transfer-portal-asked-play-175737213.html?src=rss |
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones hands the ball off to running back Saquon Barkley. / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The Giants have a chance to start off 2023 by clinching a playoff berth Sunday. The only real-world equivalent we can think of is nailing all of your New Year’s resolutions on Jan. 1 and never backsliding.
Seriously, though, the Giants have a terrific opportunity when they play host to the 4-10-1 Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium: Win and get in. Oh, there are other scenarios that would get them into the playoffs for the first time since 2016, including beating the Eagles in the finale. But Sunday is the best, easiest and smartest way to handle it.
The Colts have lost eight of their last nine games and five in a row, including blowing a huge lead against the Minnesota Vikings and are playing out the schedule. Their terrific running back, Jonathan Taylor, is on injured reserve. They have resurrected Nick Foles as their quarterback and he’ll face the Giants after a rough first start against the Chargers last week.
So there is a well-marked Big Blue pathway to the postseason. The Giants (8-6-1) just have to follow it.
Here are five things to watch as Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley, among others, seek to clinch their first playoff berth:
Take Sunday from Saturday
First-year head coach Brian Daboll deserves plenty of credit for the way the Giants have played this season. He and his staff are squeezing a lot out of the roster, especially considering the injuries that have been a season-long theme, and he appears to be a nifty long-term solution in a job that’s endured dispiriting turnover since Tom Coughlin’s tenure ended. Sunday, the Giants need to exploit what should be a significant coaching advantage over the Colts and Jeff Saturday. Saturday is a terrific former player but had no pro or college coaching experience when he was named interim head coach earlier this season and has gone 1-5 so far. The Giants’ big brain should have a big influence.
Pocket protectors
The Giants’ offensive line faces a challenge in the Colts’ fine front four, which has helped propel Indy to sixth in the NFL in sacks (43). The Colts have several pass rushers who have had success flattening the quarterback this season, including Yannick Ngakoue, who leads the team with 9.5 sacks and has 16 quarterback hits. DeForest Buckner has eight sacks and a team-best 18 QB hits and Kwity Paye (six sacks) and Dayo Odeyingbo (five) are also capable of applying pressure. Quick passes might help the Giants keep the heat off the quarterback, which could be vital since a big defensive play is one of the few ways the Colts could tilt this game.
Sacks and pass-rush pressure should impact Sunday for both teams. While the Colts have had success with sacks, they’re also really good at giving them up. Foles was dumped seven times last week by the Chargers, so Indy has allowed 56 sacks, one fewer than the Broncos, who lead the NFL. Kayvon Thibodeaux had an enormous play two weeks ago – strip sack, fumble recovery and return for a touchdown, all on one magical snap. Perhaps he and Dexter Lawrence can create havoc. One potential thorn – Azeez Ojulari was limited in practice early in the week because of an ankle injury. He is second on the team in sacks with 5.5, one behind Lawrence. Overall, the Giants have 36 sacks, already more than last season, and are among the NFL’s best in pressure percentage, per Pro Football Reference.
Dec 11, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) scrambles for yards in front of New York Giants defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Foil Foles
Foles, who turns 34 in January, had a 31.9 passer rating and threw three interceptions last week, but it’s hard to forget that he won a Super Bowl MVP Award with the Eagles and has a 3-0 lifetime record against the Giants. He’s had hot streaks in his career and he’s got worthy targets such as Michael Pittman (90 catches, 854 yards) and Parris Campbell (54 receptions, 529 yards). Foles could be dangerous with another week of practice behind him. Still, the Colts average only 16.5 points, the second-lowest total in the league. The Giants have only four interceptions this season, but perhaps this is a chance to add to that total – Indy QBs have thrown 17, tied for the most in the NFL.
Red (zone) alert
The Giants' offense gained 445 yards last week in the loss to the Vikings, the team’s most in more than a year, and perhaps that will give Jones and company added confidence heading into their matchup with the Colts, who are 11th in total defense. The red zone would be a good spot to apply that potential carryover since the Colts have struggled to keep teams out of the end zone once they get inside the 20-yard line. Indy is ranked 30th in the league in TD rate allowed in the red zone – 65.9 percent The Giants are eighth-best in the red zone, scoring TDs 61.9 percent of the time. | 2022-12-30T16:28:56Z | sports.yahoo.com | 5 things to watch as Giants face Colts in Week 17 | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-things-watch-giants-face-155952767.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-things-watch-giants-face-155952767.html?src=rss |
Jets quarterback Mike White threw for 268 yards but was banged up by the Buffalo defense. / JAMIE GERMANO / USA TODAY NETWORK
Despite being mired in a four-game losing streak -- the first of the Robert Saleh era -- recent results have gone the Jets’ way, so they still have a chance to end the franchise’s league-high 12-year playoff drought. However, to stay in contention, they need to beat Seattle -- a team that is also in the playoff mix -- on the road.
Here are some of the biggest stories to watch as the Jets look to keep their playoff hopes alive:
Can Mike White spark the struggling Jets offense?
After Zach Wilson’s ill-fated return to the starting lineup, Jets fans were relieved to hear that White had been cleared to start the last two games of the season at quarterback.
Although the Jets lost two of his three starts this year, the offense was much better with White at the helm and the team’s playoff hopes rest on whether his return will rejuvenate a team that almost looked ready to give up in its last game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In particular, his return should help to improve the Jets’ pass protection. The main reason Wilson was under more pressure over the past few weeks than White had been in his three starts is that White was being decisive and getting the ball out sooner. This will be doubly important with White still nursing sore ribs from his previous start in Buffalo last month.
The Jets have struggled to create turnovers since the bye week, but they face a team on Sunday that has turned the ball over at least once in every game this season. They need to capitalize on these opportunities when they arise.
Seattle has gone three games without creating a turnover on defense, having previously created multiple turnovers in 10 of its first 12 games. Rookie cornerback Tariq Woolen, who is considered Sauce Gardner’s main competition for this year’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award, is the player to avoid because he has six interceptions and two fumble recoveries on the season.
Can the Jets slow down DK Metcalf?
Metcalf is the Seahawks’ leading receiver and his matchup with Gardner could be fun to watch as they both have size, physicality and athleticism. Metcalf has caught at least five passes in each of the last eight games and went over a 1,000 yards on the year last week.
Tyler Lockett, who leads the Seahawks with eight touchdown receptions, was also well on course for a 1,000-yard season until he broke his hand a few weeks ago. However, he’s made a remarkable recovery following surgery and could also play this weekend to take some of the attention away from Metcalf.
Can Geno Smith find the winning formula again?
The former Jets quarterback is one of the best stories in the league this year, as he was just named to his first Pro Bowl after he won the starting quarterback role in training camp.
Smith, who leads the league in completion percentage, had only four interceptions at the bye, but has thrown five in five games since then. Seattle, like the Jets, had started off 6-3 but has lost five of six since then.
The Chiefs disrupted Smith with interior pressure on Sunday, with Chris Jones in particular creating a lot of pressure. Quinnen Williams will no doubt be keen to prove he can have a similar impact.
Can the Jets get their running game going again?
In November, the Jets averaged 130 rushing yards per game, but this reduced to 78 yards per game in December. This is a sign that the running game has continued to regress since Breece Hall and Alijah Vera-Tucker were lost for the season in October.
Defenses were noticeably stacking the box with Wilson in at quarterback though, but the Jets will hope to have more success with White back in that role and facing one of the league’s worst run defenses. In addition, they may be looking to add another dimension to the running game by using backup quarterback Chris Streveler in certain packages.
After averaging 100 yards from scrimmage in his first three games, undrafted rookie Zonovan Knight gained just 21 yards on 19 carries over the last two games, and Michael Carter hasn’t been faring much better with just 66 yards on 25 carries over the last five games.
The Jets may need to pass to set up the run because if White can connect with his receivers downfield early on, that will make it easier for the offensive line to create some running lanes up front. | 2022-12-30T16:29:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | 5 things to watch as Jets face Seahawks in Week 17 of 2022 NFL season | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-things-watch-jets-face-150035615.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/5-things-watch-jets-face-150035615.html?src=rss |
That’s about what we expected, but seeing it in print doesn’t make it any easier to accept. The New Orleans Saints are 6.5-point underdogs on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles, and just 2% of this week’s expert picks like them to pull off an upset — meaning an overwhelming 98% majority are backing the Eagles, per NFL Pickwatch.
But that’s going to happen when a team that’s struggled to achieve a 6-9 record flies out to play a 13-2 squad that’s beaten them twice in two years. The Saints have not played a winning brand of football this year, which is reflected in their record and in these weekly game picks.
So it’s safe to say the Saints have their work cut out for them. They’re likely going to be without both starting guards in this game (Cesar Ruiz is done for the year with a Lisfranc injury, while Andrus Peat hasn’t been able to practice due to an ankle issue) while dealing with absences at other position groups.
That’s not to say the Eagles are invincible. They’ve lost twice this year and got lucky in several close games, and this is a league where any team can win on any given Sunday. The Saints have a chance, but it’s not a good one — it’s probably close to the 2% chance we’re seeing from national experts and fan blogs from around the league’s orbit. | 2022-12-30T16:29:09Z | sports.yahoo.com | 98% of NFL expert picks this week are coming in against the Saints | https://sports.yahoo.com/98-nfl-expert-picks-week-151336324.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/98-nfl-expert-picks-week-151336324.html?src=rss |
The Chicago Bears (3-12) will battle the Detroit Lions (7-8) on Sunday, where the Bears are looking to snap an eight-game losing streak.
Chicago is coming off a 35-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills, where the Bears kept things close in the first half before things got away from them in the second half.
Now, Chicago will battle a surging Lions team that’s fighting for a playoff spot in these final two weeks. Detroit is a 6-point home favorite against the Bears, according to Tipico Sportsbook. The over/under is set for 52.
Can Chicago snap their eight-game losing streak to kick off the new year? Our Bears Wire staff share their game picks for Sunday’s matchup.
Alyssa Barbieri (9-6): Lions 28, Bears 24
A lot has changed since the last time these teams met. While the Bears are contending for a top-two draft pick, the Lions are battling for their playoff lives. Coming off an embarrassing loss to the Panthers, Detroit will come out determined to make it a sweep of Chicago to keep their postseason hopes alive.
The Bears have been shorthanded at receiver and defensive back, although it looks like Chase Claypool and Equanimeous St. Brown have a chance to return just in time for the New Year. While Chicago’s rookie trio of cornerbacks did a solid job containing Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs last week, they’ll face another test against a high-powered Lions offense featuring Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookie Jameson Williams.
While Justin Fields should provide his share of highlights in this outing (especially after going off for 147 rushing yards in the last meeting), it’s still hard to pick Chicago to snap their eight-game losing streak with their roster deficiencies. Expect another close game between the Bears and Lions, but the better roster will ultimately win out, inching Chicago closer to the No. 1 pick.
Brendan Sugrue (8-7): Lions 28, Bears 23
The last time these two teams met, the Lions were without several of their offensive weapons, while the Bears were a relatively healthy team, riding the momentum of a suddenly dangerous offense. The Lions pulled out a close victory at the very end and now as they meet again, both teams have gone in opposite directions.
Detroit went on an improbable run to set themselves up with a shot to make the postseason, while also getting key players back on offense in the process. The Bears, meanwhile, have been in a tailspin and have seen many of their impact players be lost for the season due to injuries. Still, the Bears have played opponents tough and after going through the gauntlet facing two Super Bowl contenders in the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills, they’re facing a Lions team that has come back to earth a bit since their loss to the Carolina Panthers. They could be ripe for an upset, but with the Bears missing several players on offense and defense, that doesn’t seem likely.
Quarterback Justin Fields’ receiving options have dwindled in recent weeks and there’s no telling who will be available on Sunday. On defense, the Bears’ young secondary has stood tall in the face of adversity but can’t hold on forever when there’s very little pass rush and push up front. This could be another close game for much of the afternoon until the Lions pull away with a victory in the fourth quarter.
Ryan Fedrau (8-7): Lions 27, Bears 26
The Lions are red hot, winning 6 of their last 8 games. The Bears lost their last meeting by one point, which could have been avoided if Cairo Santos didn’t miss an extra point. This time around, I believe it will be close but remains the same, with a Lions win.
The Lions are 7-8, with a chance to make the playoffs still. A lot rides on this game for them. The Bears are 3-12 and have nothing to play for. That makes them a dangerous opponent, as they could look to spoil any last chance Detroit has at being a wildcard team this season. Still, I think the Lions take this one. It won’t be easy for them though. | 2022-12-30T16:29:22Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bears vs. Lions game picks: Will Chicago snap 8-game losing streak in Week 17? | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-vs-lions-game-picks-152515422.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-vs-lions-game-picks-152515422.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts (4-10-1) will remain road underdogs against the New York Giants (8-6-1) entering the weekend before the Week 17 matchup at MetLife Stadium.
The betting odds shifted slightly since they were released earlier in the week with the Colts being slightly bigger underdogs now.
Here’s a look at the updated betting odds for this matchup, courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook:
Both the spread and moneyline shifted in the favor of the Giants as the week progressed. That could be due to the Colts dealing with injuries at a few key spots.
While the Colts are out of playoff contention and currently hold a top-five pick in the 2023 NFL draft, the Giants can clinch a playoff spot with a win Sunday.
The Giants have played in close games all season so there’s a chance the Colts cover, but that would entail the offense could score multiple touchdowns, something they’ve struggled with for the majority of the season.
With just two games remaining, the Colts can solidify their spot in the 2023 NFL draft, but we’ll see if they come out fighting against the Giants on Sunday.
Epic tales of survival, a delightful dive into the experiences of animals, and everything in between
Shell (SHEL) closed the most recent trading day at $56.67, moving +0.19% from the previous trading session. | 2022-12-30T16:29:34Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colts remain road underdogs to Giants in Week 17 | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-remain-road-underdogs-giants-142839407.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-remain-road-underdogs-giants-142839407.html?src=rss |
How Adams, Raiders feel about Stidham starting vs. 49ers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Las Vegas, sitting in third place in the AFC West with a 6-9 record, is benching quarterback Derek Carr -- the franchise’s all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns and passer rating -- ahead of its Week 17 clash against the 49ers at Allegiant Stadium.
Davante Adams, the two-time All-Pro receiver who signed a five-year extension with the Raiders after being traded to Sin City to play with Carr, his former college teammate, has made his feelings about the move clear.
“I don’t think anybody was excited about it in here, him being one of my really good friends and the reason I’m here in the first place,” Adams told reporters Wednesday. “I wouldn’t be [with the Raiders] right now if he wasn’t here. I think everybody knows how I feel about him. … I support my guy.”
The Raiders will start fourth-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham in his place against the 49ers on Sunday, a 26-year-old signal-caller with zero NFL starts and just 61 pass attempts to his name.
Stidham has spent his entire career with Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels. They were together for the first three seasons of Stidham's NFL tenure in New England when McDaniels was the Patriots' offensive coordinator on Bill Belichick's staff.
“We’ve known who [Stidham] was since camp,” Raiders running back Josh Jacobs said. “He can spin the ball. He’s been in the [McDaniels] system longer than any quarterback we’ve had here so he knows what reads to make. It’s going to be fun seeing him in the game.”
“I think he’s ready,” Las Vegas tight end Darren Waller added. “I think he’s going about it at a way that’s unique to him. He’s not trying to be anybody else, not trying to be too ‘rah rah’ or too loud. He speaks when he feels like he needs to speak and picks guys up, jokes with guys. I feel like he has the personality to go out there and do well.”
Facing the dangerous 49ers’ defense will be a massive challenge for Stidham in his first NFL start. Defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans’ unit leads the NFL in total yards (290.3), rushing yards (75.0) and points allowed (15.3) per game.
“They have a great defense,” Jacobs said. “You see all the first-round guys they’ve got over there. The defensive front is crazy. Their linebackers are crazy. All around, they’re good. It’s definitely a big challenge.
“It’s a challenge that I look forward to – with them having the best rush defense and them having the one of the top defenses in the league, it’s going to be fun to see how we compare to them.”
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday that Carr will step away from the Raiders for the final two games of the regular season. He has three years remaining on his contract, but the Raiders can cut him this offseason with a measly $5.6 million cap hit.
“We’ve got to take emotions out of it and realize the only way to be productive is to support Jarrett going forward,” Waller said. “Guys are excited about him being able to get an opportunity. We’re rallying around him, letting him know that we believe in him.”
RELATED: Aiyuk clarifies IG comment directed at Adams amid Carr drama
McDaniels clearly believes in Stidham enough to give him a chance in the final two games of a lost season. Like any starting debut, there’s no way to know how an inexperienced quarterback will handle the spotlight until he’s thrown into the fire. (See Purdy, Brock.)
“You’ve got a guy that doesn’t have really any experience out there, just kind of playing loose,” Adams said. “Sometimes that can help him. Whatever is going to allow him to play to the best of his ability, obviously we support and want to encourage him to do the best that he can.” | 2022-12-30T16:29:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | How Davante Adams, Raiders feel about Jarrett Stidham starting vs. 49ers | https://sports.yahoo.com/davante-adams-raiders-feel-jarrett-155218810.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/davante-adams-raiders-feel-jarrett-155218810.html?src=rss |
With just two weeks left in the 2022 regular season, and Tua Tagovailoa’s availability in the air, the Miami Dolphins are looking at some free agents to provide depth at quarterback and wide receiver.
On Thursday, Miami worked out quarterbacks Jack Coan and Kyle Lauletta, as well as wide receivers Tarik Black and Isaiah Coulter.
Coan, 24, went undrafted during this past year’s draft process after spending his collegiate years at Wisconsin and Notre Dame. In college, he completed 66.8% of his passes for 6,428 yards, 48 touchdowns and 15 interceptions with a 148.0 passer rating. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts and is currently a member of the XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas.
Lauletta, 27, was a fourth-round pick of the New York Giants back in 2018 after a collegiate career at Richmond. He’s been on six NFL rosters since then (throwing four incompletions and one interception), and two XFL rosters. He’s currently set to be on the New Jersey Generals when their season begins.
Black, 24. was undrafted in 2021 out of Texas. In college, he recorded 747 yards and three touchdowns on 50 receptions. After the draft, Black signed with the Colts. He made his NFL debut in 2021 with the New York Jets, bringing in one catch for 10 yards.
Coulter, 24, spent his college years with Rhode Island before being a fifth-round selection of the Houston Texans in 2020. During his collegiate career, he recorded 132 receptions for 1,855 yards and 12 touchdowns in 34 games. Since being drafted, Coulter’s also spent time with the Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills, but he’s yet to catch a pass. | 2022-12-30T16:30:00Z | sports.yahoo.com | Dolphins worked out two QBs, two WRs on Thursday | https://sports.yahoo.com/dolphins-worked-two-qbs-two-150040710.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/dolphins-worked-two-qbs-two-150040710.html?src=rss |
Yesterday Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith gave a pro’s pro answer when he was asked about facing his former team on Sunday.
Smith said he was focused on making the playoffs and has a lot of love for the Jets, per the team website.
“I just feel like the importance of it is that we need a win to get to the playoffs… Obviously, there will be some speculation and talk about that, it comes with the territory; it’s to be expected. I have a lot of love for the Jets, the organization and the people that are still there that were there when I got drafted. For me and this team, it’s business as usual, another week to prepare and a tough challenge for us to go out there and try to get this win. We need it.”
Smith has some extra incentive to push Seattle into the postseason. If they clinch a playoff berth and Smith plays 80% of the team’s snaps he will get a $2 million bonus.
It won’t be easy, though. ESPN’s playoff machine has their chances at 27.8%, while the New York Times’ model has them at just 21%.
Practically, that means they’ll need to beat both the Jets and the Rams and might need a little bit of extra luck to go their way, as well. | 2022-12-30T16:30:19Z | sports.yahoo.com | Geno Smith focused on making playoffs, not revenge angle vs. Jets | https://sports.yahoo.com/geno-smith-focused-making-playoffs-160031712.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/geno-smith-focused-making-playoffs-160031712.html?src=rss |
With a victory on Sunday, the New York Giants will clinch their first postseason berth since 2016. They will face off against Nick Foles and the Indianapolis Colts in their last home game of the regular season.
The Colts are coming off an embarrassing loss on Monday Night Football to the Los Angeles Chargers where the scoreboard was much closer than the game played out.
Meanwhile, the Giants are coming off a heartbreaking loss on Christmas Eve in Minnesota against the Vikings on a last-second field goal.
Big Blue is favored headed into the game — a rare spread in the Giants’ favor in the 2022-2023 season.
Here are three causes for concern going into the game against the Colts.
Colts pass rush
Last week, the Colts got four sacks on Justin Herbert, including a forced fumble in that effort. The Colts pass rush has racked up 43 sacks on the year which is good for sixth in the league.
Daniel Jones has been sacked 47 times this season which is the fifth-most in the NFL. Jones has a history of fumbles prior to this season and if they aren’t able to protect their QB, those fumbling issues could resurface.
Giants injuries
Xavier McKinney and Adoree’ Jackson have inched closer to returning and were back on the practice field this week. Azeez Ojulari, who has been riddled by injury all season long, left the Giants’ Week 16 loss against the Vikings last week. Leonard Williams has also been battling through a serious injury and has been listed on the injury report
Even if any or all of those players are able to play, they likely won’t be at 100%. This will be a challenge for Wink Martindale with a big portion of his defensive unit working through injuries.
Defending the pass
The Colts’ offensive line did not hold up well on Monday Night Football against the Chargers. But make no mistake about it, if the Giants allow Nick Foles to have time, they have talent at the wide receiver position.
Michael Pittman Jr. was supposed to break out this season and although he hasn’t blown up the way many expected him to, he has quietly reeled in 90 catches on the season despite a revolving door at quarterback. | 2022-12-30T16:30:32Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants vs. Colts: 3 reasons for concern in Week 17 | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-vs-colts-3-reasons-155513277.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-vs-colts-3-reasons-155513277.html?src=rss |
The New York Giants (8-6-1) will square off against the Indianapolis Colts (4-10-1) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday afternoon.
New York Giants vs. Indianapolis Colts
1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 1
Channel: CBS (regional)
Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Trent Green (color analyst), and Melanie Collins (sideline)
Sirius Radio (Channel 387 – Colts)
SiriusXM Internet (Channel 813 – Colts)
Colts – Coming Friday. | 2022-12-30T16:30:38Z | sports.yahoo.com | Giants vs. Colts: Time, television, radio and streaming schedule | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-vs-colts-time-television-145539139.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/giants-vs-colts-time-television-145539139.html?src=rss |
Former University of Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs made his first career NFL start Thursday in Nashville.
Dobbs passed for 232 yards and threw his first touchdown pass for the Tennessee Titans in their 27-13 loss to Dallas at Nissan Stadium.
Tennessee is Dobbs’ third team this season. He began the season in Cleveland but was released when Deshaun Watson returned from suspension.
Dobbs was then signed to Detroit‘s practice squad Dec. 5 before being signed by Tennessee Dec. 21 and placed on the Titans’ active roster.
Against the Cowboys, Dobbs was 20-for-39 with an interception. He also rushed for 12 yards on three attempts.
Dobbs, the MVP of the 2016 Music City Bowl, was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, going with the No. 135 overall selection.
He played for Pittsburgh from 2017-19 and from 2020-21. He was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019.
Dobbs has played in seven career NFL games and is 30-for-56 for 277 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. | 2022-12-30T16:31:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | Joshua Dobbs makes first NFL start for Titans | https://sports.yahoo.com/joshua-dobbs-makes-first-nfl-145059028.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/joshua-dobbs-makes-first-nfl-145059028.html?src=rss |
It might not feel like it, but we’re already in the middle of the New Orleans Saints’ rebuild. The high-end rosters that defined Drew Brees’ final years with the team have gotten older and lost key players in each phase of the game: offense, defense, and special teams. To be frank, the Saints haven’t played enough competitive football over the last two seasons to look at them in the same light as the squads that preceded them.
With the 2023 offseason around the corner, it’s important the Saints take a hard look at the shape of their roster and consider which free agents to prioritize in the spring. There are many players they should bring back, but some in-house free agents should take priority. Here are seven on top of our list:
Johnson has become the team’s best option at tight end, and though he’s a restricted free agent he should be an easy choice to re-up in the spring.
Elliss stepped up in a big way when Pete Werner missed time with an injury, and he looks like he could be part of the future at linebacker for New Orleans. Retaining him is important as Demario Davis finishes out his career.
P Blake Gillikin
Gillikin has had an up-and-down second season with the Saints, but we’ve seen him at his best and he deserves another year to show consistency in the game’s third phase.
He may have fallen off from his previous heights, but Onyemata is still the best interior lineman in New Orleans and it would be smart to bring him back at an affordable rate if he’s up for it. There are some similarities here to Terron Armstead’s situation in the 2022 offseason.
DT Kentavius Street
Street was a nice find for the Saints. He’s made some plays as a pass rusher and has stood out in the interior rotation. It would be wise to keep him on the depth chart though he’s probably not built for a starting role.
Gray is a key player on special teams for the Saints and they missed him when he was sidelined by a hamstring injury. There aren’t many players better than him covering punts and kickoffs around the league.
OL Calvin Throckmorton
Throckmorton is an exclusive-rights free agent and should be a no-brainer to return to New Orleans. He’s filled in well as a backup while getting valuable experience replacing injured starters the last few years. His athletic limitations have been on display at times, though, so he’s best used in that reserve role. | 2022-12-30T16:31:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | Juwan Johnson, Kaden Elliss lead Saints’ top-7 2023 free agents to re-sign | https://sports.yahoo.com/juwan-johnson-kaden-elliss-lead-160459152.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/juwan-johnson-kaden-elliss-lead-160459152.html?src=rss |
Bill Belichick's coaching style is unique, to say the least. And Kyle Van Noy has first-hand evidence.
The veteran linebacker played a total of five seasons for Belichick on the New England Patriots -- from 2016 to 2019 and a second stint in 2021 -- before joining head coach Brandon Staley and the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022.
Van Noy was asked this week on "The Pat McAfee Show" about how Belichick and Staley differ. His response was interesting.
"I would say the biggest difference between Bill and Staley is relationships," Van Noy said. "(Staley) has relationships with every single player on the team. It’s really impressive how he can work a room. He’s got everybody’s number in (his) favorites. He can call them right then and there. And any player, he reaches out. I respect that.
"In this new age of players, you’ve gotta do that. And he’s done a great job of that."
According to Van Noy, Belichick isn't exactly as buddy-buddy with his players.
"And I’m not saying Bill -- I have a great relationship with Bill. But not everybody does," Van Noy said. "So, I would say that’s the biggest difference, is the relationship base Staley forms versus Bill."
Van Noy's take won't surprise anyone who's followed Belichick and the Patriots. Belichick is a master strategist who excels at putting his players in the best position to succeed, but he's not there to be their best friend. The 40-year-old Staley, meanwhile, represents a younger generation of head coaches who emphasize strong personal connections with their players.
Belichick does have good relationships with many players, including Van Noy himself. But there's also a sizable list of players whom Belichick has alienated with his philosophy of "doing what's best of the team" at all costs.
Belichick's track record -- six Super Bowl wins in New England and the second-most coaching wins in NFL history -- speaks for itself. As the Patriots struggle to remain relevant in the post-Tom Brady era, however, it's worth wondering whether players will gravitate more toward coaches like Staley who are more "fun" to play for and can deliver similar (if not better) results. | 2022-12-30T16:31:17Z | sports.yahoo.com | Kyle Van Noy's comments about Brandon Staley don't reflect well on Bill Belichick | https://sports.yahoo.com/kyle-van-noys-comments-brandon-161000692.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/kyle-van-noys-comments-brandon-161000692.html?src=rss |
The weather was a much more critical factor last week if you were betting on NFL totals and trying to gain an edge before the steam incinerated any remaining value. So it's nice to get back to having a more straightforward approach to betting totals in Week 17. We lost our first bet last week when scoring halted in the second half of the Packers and Dolphins game, but we were fortunate enough to hit our other two plays, putting us on a 7-1 run. I have three plays lined up for this week, all to the under. It won't be much fun to watch, but let's hope another winning week is enough consolation to compensate for sweating out these games.
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers under 48
Winning wagers is uncomfortable at times. Betting an under in a game featuring the Vikings' defense feels a bit like throwing our money into a bonfire. The headlines will be about Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins, but I think both teams will run the ball more than anyone expects. The key to success against the Vikings' offense is slowing down Justin Jefferson, and the Packers' secondary, led by CB Jaire Alexander, has the personnel to do it. It's much easier to attack Green Bay on the ground, where they rank 32nd in rush DVOA. Another benefit of a run-heavy approach is that it allows Minnesota to keep its struggling defense off the field. With Christian Watson battling a bad hip injury, the Green Bay passing attack might look more like the mess we witnessed in the first half of the season. That has me betting on a big dose of the run game from both sides, which will keep the clock running, making the under a solid bet.
Speaking of large doses of the run game, Carolina handed the ball off on 66% of offensive plays in its 37-23 win over Detroit. The Panthers have found a formula under Steve Wilks and don't expect them to back down from Tampa Bay's rush defense with its playoff chances on the line. In non-garbage-time situations, Tampa Bay holds its opponents to a 39.2% success rate on rushing plays (seventh best), but ranks outside the top 20 in explosive rushing plays allowed. Carolina will be rewarded with big plays if it is willing to be consistent and keep pounding the rock. I don't expect Wilks to put his playoff fate on the arm of Sam Darnold.
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots under 41
There was a time when I would hit the ATM when I found out Teddy Bridgewater was starting. During his time with the Saints, Bridgewater was fantastic against the spread. However, times have changed. At this point in his career, your money should be on the other side. Out of 52 quarterbacks who have taken at least 50 snaps this season, Bridgewater ranks in the bottom 25% for both EPA per play and success rate and last (52nd) in expected completion percentage. This year's version of the Patriots isn't one of Bill Belichick's best defenses, but it is capable enough to put the clamps on Miami in front of the home crowd.
The Dolphins' defense really struggles to cover tight ends and running backs out of the backfield, so Matt Patricia's insistence on calling screens over and over again will likely result in long, sustainable drives. The average closing total in New England's last eight games is 41.9, and it is 6-2 to the under during that time. I bet Miami doesn't have the quarterback to open this game up.
Motorists should plan for detours during repairs. Residents should check for brown water. | 2022-12-30T16:31:50Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL betting, odds: Unders taking center stage for Week 17 | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-betting-odds-unders-taking-center-stage-for-week-17-160803321.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-betting-odds-unders-taking-center-stage-for-week-17-160803321.html?src=rss |
The New Year’s Day clash between the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins comes with huge playoff implications on Sunday afternoon.
A win for the Patriots would keep them in the hunt to sneak in through the backdoor of the postseason, but a loss would nip any such plans in the bud. It would ultimately seal coach Bill Belichick’s fate as having his second losing season in the last three years.
The Dolphins will be entering the game without their starting quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, who is currently in concussion protocol. So backup Teddy Bridgewater will be the one taking snaps under center.
At first glance, that would seem like a huge advantage for the Patriots at home, but Miami is clearly loaded at the receiver position. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle will be a handful regardless of who is under center. But to make matters worse, the Patriots’ defensive secondary has been banged up beyond recognition.
As of Thursday, Marcus Jones, Jalen Mills and Jack Jones have not been practicing, which puts their availability for this game in doubt. Being shorthanded defensively could be a big problem for a Patriots team that has yet to take flight on the offensive side of the ball.
Sunday, Jan. 1, 1:00 p.m. ET
SiriusXM: New England (227) and Miami (382)
SiriusXM App: New England (821) and Miami (819)
Money line: Patriots -145, Dolphins +125
Against the spread (ATS): Patriots -3, Dolphins +3
Over/Under (O/U): 41 | 2022-12-30T16:32:15Z | sports.yahoo.com | Patriots vs Dolphins 2022 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online | https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-vs-dolphins-2022-live-143610978.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-vs-dolphins-2022-live-143610978.html?src=rss |
Cobie Durant joined the Rams as a fourth-round pick this year, hailing from South Carolina State where he was a ball hawk in the secondary. He didn’t get an opportunity to play right away, but he also didn’t have to wait long.
In Week 2, he took the field after Troy Hill got hurt and quickly recorded his first career sack and interception. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury sidelined him for three games, and after getting back healthy, he strictly played special teams for five weeks in a row.
In the last four games, he’s reemerged as a playmaker on defense, highlighted by his two interceptions against the Broncos last week. Raheem Morris has seen Durant go through an up-and-down year but he loves the growth the rookie cornerback has shown.
“We started the season without our starters obviously, and then people got hurt in that Atlanta game,” Morris said Thursday. “I don’t know if you remember that or not, but Cobie came in, was the first one off the bench, went out there, got his first sack, got his first pick in a game, almost ran back for a touchdown and pulled his hamstring on the very next play. Had to miss some time coming back. It was something, but he missed some time and then that provided the opportunity for (Derion Kendrick) to step in. DK stepped in, played well a lot of the time there and did some really good things for us. Then Cobie came back ready, eased him back into the process, got some of our starters back, played those guys. Cobie got his next opportunity and he’s done nothing but go out there and absolutely shine and show some of that brilliance that he showed in training camp. Some of the things he did in training camp, picking off the ball, covering the best wideout in the National Football League in Cooper Kupp.”
What has really helped Durant carve out a role in the secondary is his position flexibility. He’s a smaller corner, but he has the ability to play outside or in the slot.
Morris admitted the Rams had no idea he could play the “star” role inside, which is where Jalen Ramsey often lined up last year, so he’s fit nicely in that spot as a rookie. The Rams still move him around a little bit, but in the last four weeks, he’s played 103 snaps in the slot and 40 outside.
It’s still early in Durant’s career, but he certainly looks the part of a starting cornerback in the NFL. He’s getting valuable experience late in the year with the Rams out of contention, which gives him a leg up on the competition heading into 2023 when he could be expected to start alongside Ramsey.
He has the instincts, speed and coverage skills to excel in the NFL, and he’s proved that in the last four weeks. | 2022-12-30T16:32:28Z | sports.yahoo.com | Raheem Morris loves the growth of Cobie Durant across his rookie season | https://sports.yahoo.com/raheem-morris-loves-growth-cobie-144759234.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/raheem-morris-loves-growth-cobie-144759234.html?src=rss |
Brian Daboll and Saquon Barkley / USA TODAY Sports/SNY Treated Image
The Giants are typically a franchise with a lot of stability from the top down, but the 2022 calendar year has been quite the ride for Big Blue.
From changes at general manager and head coach to two Top 10 picks in the draft to a 6-1 start, it's been a busy year for a team looking to get back to its winning ways.
Here are our Top 5 Giants stories of 2022...
5. Hot start to 2022 season
The Giants entered 2022 on the heels of five straight losing seasons dating back to 2016. Three head coaches and 59 losses later, the Giants entered the 2022 season with plenty to prove, and they made a statement right out of the gate, storming back from a 13-0 halftime deficit to defeat the Tennessee Titans on the road in Week 1.
In that Week 1 win, head coach Brian Daboll quickly put his head coaching style on full display, scoring a late touchdown and going for two points rather than playing for the tie. The gamble paid off with a 21-20 win, and the Giants rode that momentum to a 6-1 start, their best since they started 11-1 in 2008.
Big Blue sputtered a bit in the second half, but a huge Week 15 win over Washington breathed new life into their postseason chances.
No matter the outcome, Daboll proved himself as the right man for the job early on in his tenure, and the Giants offered a possible glimpse of what’s to come in future seasons as they continue to improve their roster.
4. Kadarius Toney saga comes to an end
Right from the jump, the Giants and Toney seemed like an odd fit. Toney, a talented speedster out of Florida, was viewed as a potential late-first or second-round pick in the 2021 draft. And while the thought was the Giants wanted to take a receiver early, they ended up trading back from their No. 11 spot after Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith all came off the board.
The Giants ended up taking Toney with the 20th overall pick, but a positive COVID diagnosis in training camp led to a slow start for the first-rounder. He had his breakout performance against the Cowboys in Week 5, hauling in 10 passes for 189 yards, but he was ejected from the game for throwing a punch.
An oblique injury and another battle with COVID led to Toney playing just 10 games as a rookie, and he wasn’t much of a contributor through his first two games under Daboll in Year 2, catching just two passes for zero yards in Weeks 1 and 2 before injuring his hamstring. His lack of production and availability eventually forced GM Joe Schoen’s hand, and the Giants traded Toney to the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 27, picking up a third- and sixth-round pick in the process.
3. Drafting Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal
Having two picks in the Top 10 of any NFL Draft is certainly prime real estate to own, and with the Giants trying to shake off a streak of five straight losing seasons, the franchise knew it had to hit on those picks to help move things in the right direction.
With the fifth pick, the Giants selected Thibodeaux, an edge rusher out of Oregon, and then turned around and addressed the offensive side of the ball by selecting Neal, the Alabama tackle, with pick No. 7.
And while it’s still very, very early in each of those players’ careers, the early returns have been promising.
Thibodeaux missed the first two weeks of the season due to a knee injury, and while he had just one sack over his first nine games, it became apparent that Thibodeaux was becoming more and more of a problem for opposing offenses. His breakout game came in the national spotlight against Washington in Week 15, when he finished with nine tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery touchdown.
Neal has also been forced to deal with a knee injury during his rookie year, as he exited the Week 7 game against Jacksonville and then missed the next four games.
But when he’s been able to play, Neal has held his own while starting at right tackle opposite of Andrew Thomas on the left side, giving the Giants two young, talented bookends.
The jury is still out on what kind of players Thibodeaux and Neal will develop into, but for now, both players have shown flashes of being key pieces for Big Blue for years to come.
2. Saquon’s resurgence
Saquon Barkley played just two games in 2020 before tearing his right ACL against the Bears. He came back the next season and played in 11 games, but was nowhere near his pre-injury self, totaling just 593 rushing yards on 162 carriers, averaging a career-worst 3.7 yards per carry (excluding his shortened 2020 year).
As a result of those two lost seasons, Barkley entered 2023 as an enigma, with the Giants not yet extending him past his fifth-year option.
But the Penn State product made a statement in Week 1, rushing for 164 yards and touchdown in Big Blue’s Week 1 win over the Titans.
And from there, he was off and running.
With 100-plus-yard performances against the Titans, Bears, Jaguars, and Texans, Barkley has had a tremendous bounce-back season, rushing for 1,254 yards on 283 carries with T TDs. Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka have committed to the run game, and with so many issues at the wide receiver position, Barkley being a dynamic weapon once again has been a needed boost for the offense.
1. Regime change
The Giants have a storied, winning history, but the previous five seasons were pretty bleak. And with the franchise seemingly spinning their wheels in the mud, a change was needed. Former general manager Dave Gettleman “retired” in early January, though many saw the move as Gettleman being forced out, and former head coach Joe Judge was fired the next day.
By late January, the Giants had their new regime in place, led by Schoen and Daboll, both of whom had previously worked together in Buffalo. Schoen was tasked with rebuilding a roster that was lacking depth and locked into some gaudy contracts, while Daboll had to design a scheme that best fit the players already in the building.
Schoen got started by drafting Thibodeaux and Neal in the first round of the draft, and Daboll & Co. saw the Giants get off to a 6-1 start with a return to the playoffs firmly in view -- New York clinches a postseason spot with a win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in Week 17.
Time will tell just how good of a match Schoen and Daboll are with New York, but their early work has rightfully had Giants fans thinking that things are moving in the right direction.
Stock Market Looks Ahead To January Effect; Tesla, Apple, Disney Cheer Battered Investors
Oversold technical readings and the end of tax selling could keep buying interest growing into Friday's year-end finale. | 2022-12-30T16:32:40Z | sports.yahoo.com | Ranking the Top 5 Giants stories of 2022 | https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-top-5-giants-stories-150032181.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/ranking-top-5-giants-stories-150032181.html?src=rss |
It’s easy enough to look back at the year that was and identify a few things that stood out and may have been unexpected. What’s more interesting — and arguably more essential — is being able to chart out the year to come and set reasonable expectations for the Cardinals to clear in 2023.
Many or most of these predictions might not come true. If they don’t, though, it’s unlikely that it’ll be to the team’s benefit. Unless some truly shocking messaging comes from Clark Street in the coming months, this is a team with championship aspirations. Winning one will require success on many of these fronts.
Belleville News-Democrat columnist Jeff Jones predicts, by midseason, St. Louis Cardinals’ prized prospect Jordan Walker will have emerged, and by the end of the season, he’ll be the lineup protection for Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado that otherwise doesn’t exist on the free agent or apparently trade markets.
1. Jordan Walker will hit fifth in the last Cardinals lineup of 2023.
Walker is still adjusting to play in the outfield. His booming arm doesn’t always fire on target, and he’s spending his winter tracking fly balls against the bright sky as opposed to scooping tough hops at third base. For all the scorn the team might suffer if they send him to the minors in March to work on his defense, there is a lot of work to be done.
The bat, however, plays.
President of baseball operations John Mozeliak has compared him favorably, if reluctantly, to Albert Pujols and the late Oscar Taveras on the rise. He’s the hitter for his generation, just as those two were before him. And those comparisons came before he ripped his way through the Arizona Fall League and cemented himself as one of the top three — if not the top — offensive prospects in the game.
By midseason, he’ll have emerged, and by the end of the season, he’ll be the lineup protection for Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado that otherwise doesn’t exist on the free agent or apparently trade markets.
2. Brendan Donovan will lead the Cardinals in at bats from the leadoff spot.
The Cardinals enter spring with three clear candidates to lead off — Donovan, Tommy Edman and Lars Nootbaar. Edman, a switch hitter, is far superior from the right side, and the other two, both lefties, split to the reverse, each hitting lefties better than righties. That creates a difficult lineup puzzle for Oli Marmol to solve, absent an obvious solution for the top of the order against righties.
Against that backdrop, and conceding that both Edman and Nootbaar have clearer incumbent paths to being in the lineup every day, it’s Donovan who will lock down primarily second base and continue to establish himself as an on-base, pitch-eating threat.
The others, however, have important roles to play. Such as ...
3. Lars Nootbaar will lead the Cardinals in defensive innings in center field.
Marmol has described center as “wide open,” declining to turn over his hand regarding his defensive alignment plans. Mozeliak casually tossed off an example outfield that included Nootbaar in center and Dylan Carlson in right, and when asked if that’s how he preferred the alignment, deferred to his manager’s judgment.
Still, there’s one obvious fact that leans in Nootbaar’s direction — if the team didn’t expect, or perhaps desire, that he seizes center, there’d be no reason not to simply say Carlson has the job. They haven’t, which seems to feint the other way.
Carlson, after all, rose through the minors in center, and when Harrison Bader was traded to the Yankees (indeed, even before, as Bader’s spring extension set up his departure), it was Carlson who slid over. Before being injured, center was his, and there was little to no debate about that.
It’s Nootbaar, though, whose batted ball data jumps off the page, and it’s Nootbaar whose refined work has caught the eye of important people both inside and outside the clubhouse. If he can handle the daily grind, the job will be his to seize.
4. Juan Yepez will hit more home runs than Willson Contreras in 2023.
This is perhaps the least bold of these predictions, given their respective rates in 2022.
Yepez slugged 12 homers in 253 at bats — roughly one homer per 21 ABs. Contreras managed 22 in 416 — roughly one homer per 19 ABs. Over a long enough time frame, and with more opportunities for the ascendant Yepez, it’s easy to imagine one passing the other.
Despite their commitment to Contreras, this would be a fairly positive development for the Cardinals. Replacing Albert Pujols’s production (second verse, same as the first, 11 years later) is going to fall to the two of them to share, and each is likely to contribute in his own right.
Contreras will have to deal with the strain of catching every day. Yepez will be forced to learn to handle the DH spot, and fight off the rise of coming challengers for at bats, like Walker. Notably, while I’m comfortable predicting Yepez’s total, please don’t ask me if he records them all while still a Cardinal.
5. The Cardinals will make it back to the NLCS — and be overcome by the Mets.
I’m just barely too young to recall the rivalry between the Mets and Cardinals in the 1980s. I do, however, remember the heat George Steinbrenner’s Yankees took in the 1990s, with screams about his plans to buy a championship against the good of the game.
Say what you want, but it worked. And the Mets, for all their residual Mets energy, are barreling along the same path. They’re collecting talent at breakneck speed, and with the Dodgers quietly backsliding and the Phillies and Padres perhaps unlikely to harness the same magic, their path is clear.
A knock down, drag out NLCS — a repeat, in some ways, of 2006 — featuring the plucky Redbirds and a well-tuned New York juggernaut is on the horizon. Can a newly evil empire truly triumph? Yes, they can.
Coast Guard suspends search for 4 people after helicopter crash in Gulf of Mexico
The helicopter was in the process of departing an oil platform in the Gulf when it crashed on Thursday, the Coast Guard's 8th District announced.
Yahoo Finance Live anchors Brian Sozzi and Brad Smith discuss the outlook for the cryptocurrency landscape heading into 2023. | 2022-12-30T17:12:07Z | sports.yahoo.com | St. Louis will reach the NLCS in 2023. Here are 4 other bold predictions for season. | https://sports.yahoo.com/st-louis-reach-nlcs-2023-130000164.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/st-louis-reach-nlcs-2023-130000164.html?src=rss |
The USC Trojans, it is clear, are happy with Alex Grinch in terms of allowing him to coach the 2023 defense. The Trojans did not dump Grinch in December. If they were unhappy with his performance in 2022, they would have done so.
This is perfectly reasonable. We all knew Grinch did not have the depth or the bodies needed to make USC’s defense elite. We knew this was where USC was most likely to fall short of the College Football Playoff. It’s not as though this came as a revelation or a surprise to USC fans or national college football observers. It was a known reality going into the season. Grinch wasn’t spectacular this year, but he wasn’t bad, either.
However: This is where the discussion changes.
Grinch didn’t have what he needed in Year 1, but in Year 2, the standard has to be higher, period. Bringing in Mason Cobb and other transfers raises the bar. USC can’t be in the same position next year. The project of improving the USC defense begins in the Cotton Bowl. We’ll see how Grinch responds to the challenges he faces.
Trojans Wire talked to Mark Rogers at The Voice of College Football. | 2022-12-30T17:47:28Z | sports.yahoo.com | Alex Grinch’s 2023 restoration project with USC defense must begin in the Cotton Bowl | https://sports.yahoo.com/alex-grinch-2023-restoration-project-151934141.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/alex-grinch-2023-restoration-project-151934141.html?src=rss |
*Note: This article first appeared by Phil Harrison on CollegeFootballNews.com back in 2011 before the Chick-fil-A Bowl was a part of the College Football Playoff during the BCS era. The numbers have changed, but the culture and charitable contributions continue. Since Ohio State is taking part in the game for the first time, it is a good reminder for Buckeye fans of what the folks running the bowl stand for.
Memorabilia for tattoos, bogus summer jobs, recruiting violations, and rumors of other transgressions that go unpunished. College football has been absolutely rocked to the core by nearly all of the seven deadly sins, and that’s but a ripple compared to the rushing waters of abominations in Happy
College football has taken it on the collective chin over the last few years–and it’s like a prized fighter staggering in the corner of the ring, just trying to keep its wherewithal long enough to regroup.
And then there are the bowl games. The news and resulting public perceptions coming out of places like Glendale, Arizona, and New Orleans over the last couple of years have done nothing to help but make the privately run bowl games look like money-grubbing, hungry power brokers looking for the next corporate sponsor to pair up with to stash away cash for selfish
benefactors and secret bankroll accounts. It’s fun in the sun, and lavish gifts all taken from the money made by taking advantage of some of our fine academic institutions and student-athletes that represent them.
If that wasn’t bad enough, the sport has to deal with the BCS. Year in, and year out, controversy after controversy of teams getting passed over because of reasons that have nothing to do with the play on the field and everything to do about the inequalities of what kind of turnout and gate revenue can be had for the bowl hosts seem to be a yearly conversation piece.
All of that’s before even discussing the multiple reports of teams losing money by simply making a trip to a bowl game – in today’s economic climate, more and more schools are soon going to look at whether or not going makes sense. The news makes it feel like college football has been turned on its head; spinning like a top out of control.
The landscape has provided a heaping size of fodder as to why the bowl system is broken, why the BCS should be demolished like an abandoned building crumbling from the inside out, and how the bowls in their entirety should feel the reverberations and be laid to waste as well. Out with the old, and in with the new.
But it’s not all bad, and sometimes stories come out that can be a refreshing cleanse to the palette of the bad-tasting entrees that have become a staple of the college football diet.
If you haven’t been following what the Chick-fil-A Bowl has been doing over the last decade, then it’s time that you take notice.
What’s going on in Atlanta now on a yearly basis is not just a bowl game and not just an exhibition of entertaining football. No, what’s taking place can serve as a beacon of light that transcends the play on the field. It is a happy marriage that all bowls should look to as an example — one between football, community, and charity work that is just as important — if not more
so than staging a well-run bowl game year in and year out.
First, and perhaps the most shaping moment in the culture of the Chick-fil-A Bowl is its humble roots. It is a huge endeavor to get a solid bowl off the ground, sustain it, and continue to move it forward as a solid brand. Formerly known as the Peach Bowl, the folks in Atlanta are certainly not immune to this fact. The inaugural game was played in 1968 — as a fundraiser for the Lions Club of Georgia, meaning the game started with charity in mind
and not as a money-making business proposition.
Still, to continue to run a bowl, you have to have attendance, gate revenue, and a following. The early days of the Peach Bowl did not go entirely well for the problems of sustaining all of the above, and in the mid-’80s things were at a crossroads. As the current president of the Chick-fil-A Bowl Gary Stokan puts it, “In 1985, there was a question of whether the Peach bowl could move forward. In our case though, the corporate culture of Atlanta kept the game alive largely because of the corporate support from the Atlanta business community.”
And that’s just it. The business culture in Atlanta has a community spirit and charities living and breathing in and around the area. The Peach Bowl started from the movement, and even received this support firsthand — why wouldn’t it look to give back, and pay it forward? In essence, the Chick-fil-A Bowl remembers where it came from, and it will never forget.
For the Chick-fil-A Bowl, the term corporate sponsor isn’t even the right moniker. As Vice President of Communications Matt Garvey explains, “We call Chick-fil-A corporate partner, not a corporate sponsor. They are a partner in every sense of the word. They are visible and ingrained in our day to day
Gary Stokan goes even further, “We’ve experienced a partnership rather than a sponsorship. I’ve been on the sponsorship side, I’ve been on the side of honoring a sports marketing company, and I’ve been on this side where we’ve kind of serviced this side, so I know all sides. What I made sure of is that we had a partnership and blurred the lines of sponsorship. If
you can make it a partnership — and we meet once a month with
Chick-fil-A as a partner — then you really have something. A lot of
it goes back to Chick-fil-A also wanting to be a partner as well … and we fully believe we have the best bowl partner/sponsor in the business in Chick-fil-A.”
It all makes sense. Chick-fil-A and the bowl now have the second longest-standing relationship in the bowl industry behind just the Tostitos/Fiesta Bowl arrangement at thirteen years running. The two are not separate entities, but one ship moving in the same direction with the same values and the same philosophies. They are so intertwined that the bowl is simply known as the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Not brought to you by, not presented by, not preceding a legacy name. It is simple in purity, purpose, and direction. Charity is not just an afterthought, not just a sideshow, and not a mere drop in the bucket of what they do. The Chick-fil-A Bowl is known for its second-to-none run yearly event, but it should be known for even more. It should be known as much for the charity work that has been a staple of its diet for nearly a decade now.
It’s not that the Chick-fil-A Bowl just started giving to charities, but the light really began to shine back in 2002. Ever since then, the bowl has given routinely to quite a few charities and has made countless more one-time donations to worthy causes. All told, since 2002, the Chick-fil-a Bowl has disbursed over $12 Million in charitable donations and scholarships and have topped at least $1 Million in gifts to the community in five straight years
And it keeps raising the bar. Last year, the bowl that far outpaces any other in terms of reaching out to its community set a new record for charitable giving by a bowl game to the tune of just over $6.2 Million in 2010. It included more than $1.24 Million in charitable and scholarship donations and a one-time donation of $5 Million to the non-profit organization managing the College Football Hall of Fame re-location to downtown Atlanta. The new
facility is set to open in March 2013 on the grounds of Olympic Park and the donation has helped in many ways to get the efforts more than jump-started.
There are almost too many charities to name, but here is a sampling of the bowl’s biggest yearly events and donations:
Chick-fil-A Bowl Challenge charity golf tournament
The bowl’s biggest and most well-known charitable event — was created in 2007. The tournament consists of two 12 two-man teams of NCAA head coaches and celebrities from around the country. Each team represents its university, and each competes for over $415,000 in scholarship money/endowed scholarships where the principal funding source remains intact and not just a one-time offering.
The Play it Smart Program
Also beginning in 2007, the Chick-fil-A Bowl teamed up with the National Football Foundation to assist with this well-known program that was founded in 1998. The program is designed to educate underprivileged high school
athletes by assigning them an “academic coach.” This new-found friend mentors, teaches, coaches, councils, and advocates for its student-athletes, and makes itself available for nonathletes as well within the nine Atlanta metro-area high schools. The program has an unheard-of 96% success rate of graduating its kids from high school.
Endowed Scholarship Program for Bowl Participants
To go along with the Play It Smart program, $100,000 is slotted aside
each year for an endowed scholarship for each of the two college institutions participating in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. The same Play It Smart participants are then able to take advantage of these scholarships to not just make it to college but to have the means to make it through college to graduation at one of these universities. The funds are available every year and never sit unused.
And that’s not all. The Chick-Fil-A Bowl has also given to several other charities over the years including notably over $1.4 Million to WinShape Homes — a long-term care home for children who need a caring environment across the United States and South America. There has also been money given to high school scholarships, the National Guard, hurricane relief, the National Kidney Foundation, and countless other one-time donations. It is truly an impressive listing and one that continues to grow as the
years pass by.
But no story of giving would be complete without getting an appreciation for a real-life account from someone right at the epicenter of the impact that these efforts have.
Jeff Beggs, the AD of the Atlanta area high schools may just be the Chick-fil-A Bowl’s biggest fan. He has more firsthand accounts of the fruitful efforts of all of this giving as an integral figure within the Atlanta public high schools. For him, it’s real life, with real purpose and true intentions. When asked to describe the relationship between the folks from the bowl and the Atlanta areas schools in regard to the Play It Smart Program, Jeff provides some glowing remarks. “The relationship that the Atlanta Public Schools Dept of Athletics and the Chick-fil-A Bowl is truly unique and is phenomenal for our
student-athletes, says Beggs. “The grant we receive from the bowl funds academic coaches in our high schools. Their job duties and responsibilities are to help our student-athletes succeed academically, but it is so much more than that. Each person in these positions truly cares about each student-athlete and works tirelessly. It is not a 9 to 5 job.”
And on the endowed scholarships linked to the Play It Smart program Jeff goes further, ”The program opens doors that may not otherwise be open, continues Beggs. “It provides an opportunity to our student-athletes to truly see that there is an educational life outside where they live, and above and beyond what they think they may be able to achieve … we had five student-athletes go to service academies last year. That is a phenomenal feat. The Play It Smart program, and what the Chick-fil-A Bowl does for us is truly unique throughout the country.”
The Chick-fil-A Bowl is not a part of the community, it is the community. The executives understand it, they are a part of the relationships and as Matt Garvey puts it, “these charities are actively managed by executives all year long, we are on the ground meeting face-to-face so that their needs can be
understood and addressed.”
The Chick-fil-A Bowl clearly gets it — even shunning profits for charity. Said another way by Gary Stokan, “Chick-fil-A made it (charity) its mission. The additional monies could have gone into profits. Part of that money was in our profits, but it’s important in our mission to give back to the community. It’s all a part of the stewardship that we have in our mission.”
And despite it all, the Chick-fil-A Bowl will be celebrating its fifteenth straight sell out — meaning there is not a single hint of a victim mentality on Andrew Young International Boulevard.
Something is clearly working, and that something includes doing a lot of what is right in the world — giving back. So next time you hear about another college athlete receiving improper benefits, or how teams have become victims of the bowl scenarios — or worse yet — how another unthinkable scandal crashes on the shores of the college football landscape, just
remember there are folks doing it the right way. | 2022-12-30T17:47:47Z | sports.yahoo.com | The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and charity: Doing things the right way | https://sports.yahoo.com/chick-fil-peach-bowl-charity-151245758.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/chick-fil-peach-bowl-charity-151245758.html?src=rss |
Georgia tight end Brock Bowers (19) tries to shake the tackle of Alabama linebacker Christian Harris (8) during the first quarter during the College Football Playoff national championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium, Monday, Jan. 10, 2022.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Georgia repeating national title would make college football history | 2022-12-30T17:48:32Z | sports.yahoo.com | Georgia repeat national title would be one of college football's greatest accomplishments | Opinion | https://sports.yahoo.com/georgia-repeat-national-title-one-115116801.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/georgia-repeat-national-title-one-115116801.html?src=rss |
Georgia star wide receiver Adonai Mitchell was asked about his status for the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl semifinal on Saturday night.
The sophomore missed nine games this season due to a lingering ankle injury.
“To be honest, I’m just feeling ready. It’s the best way to describe it,” Mitchell said about the Peach Bowl. “There wasn’t too much resting [after the LSU game], but you know, the practice and building confidence, it’s meant a lot to this point as well.”
Mitchell, who scored the go-ahead touchdown in the national championship win over Alabama last season, suffered the ankle injury in Georgia’s win over Samford in Week 2, and aggravated the injury in the Auburn win in Week 6.
The Bulldogs were careful not to allow a flare-up again as Mitchell did not see the field until the final regular season matchup versus Georgia Tech for one play.
Mitchell saw limited action in the SEC Championship win over LSU where he completed a successful two-point conversion pass to tight end Darnell Washington.
The Bulldogs receiver room will get a big boost with Mitchell back healthy just in time for another title run.
Mitchell and the Bulldogs will take on Ohio State in Atlanta on Saturday night with kickoff set for 8 p.m. in Atlanta. | 2022-12-30T17:48:38Z | sports.yahoo.com | Georgia star WR AD Mitchell ‘feeling ready’ ahead of Peach Bowl | https://sports.yahoo.com/georgia-star-wr-ad-mitchell-130001866.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/georgia-star-wr-ad-mitchell-130001866.html?src=rss |
The USC Trojans are back where they belong: in a prestigious New Year’s bowl game. The Men of Troy will play in a New Year’s Six event, the 2023 Cotton Bowl, against the Tulane Green Wave on Monday, January 2. It’s not the College Football Playoff, but it’s one of the six big bowl games in the country. There are just 12 teams playing in these top-tier showcases, and USC is one of them. It’s an honor earned by the Trojans. They won 11 games in a year when most pundits thought they would win only nine games, maybe only eight.
It’s worth appreciating USC’s storied bowl history, which lies at the heart of this program’s luminous reputation and rich college football legacy. Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams enriched that legacy this season. They both care about the Cotton Bowl because they want to improve that legacy even more.
Here is a look at some notable USC bowl moments:
Fullback Ralph Kurek (34) of Wisconsin smashes off tackle into the end zone to score his teams first touchdown against Southern California while going down to a 42-37 defeat at the Rose Bowl, Jan. 2, 1963, Pasadena Calif. Top, he takes handoff from quarterback Ron Vander Kelen. Center, hes at goal line by quarterback Pete Beathard (12) of USC as end Hal Bedsole (19) lunges for his bottom, he shoves Beathard back and scores. (AP Photo)
USC withstood the memorable comeback attempt by Wisconsin QB Ron Vander Kelen. John McKay won his first national title at USC.
Jan 1, 1969; Pasadena, CA, USA: FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Rex Kern (10) in action against the Southern California Trojans during the 1969 Rose Bowl where OSU beat USC 27-16 at the Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Long Photography-USA TODAY Sports
USC lost, but O.J. Simpson played his last game in a USC uniform. The Trojans played Ohio State in a 1-versus-2 Rose Bowl, which has not happened often in the game’s history.
This is how halfback Bob Chandler of Southern California took a pass from quarterback Jimmy Jones and danced around and past three Michigan defenders to score the touchdown that gave USC a 10-3 victory in the Rose Bowl at Pasadena, Jan. 1, 1970. Chandler breaks Moore’s tackle, then outraces Barry Pierson (29) to the end zone. (AP Photo/David F. Smith)
USC played in its fourth straight Rose Bowl. This was Michigan coach Bo Schembechler’s first Rose Bowl. He had a heart attack the night before the game. USC went 4-1 against Schembechler in Rose Bowl Games.
Jan 1, 1973; Pasadena, CA, USA: FILE PHOTO; Southern California running back Anthony Davis (28) runs the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes defense during the 1973 Rose Bowl game where USC beat OSU 42-17 at the Rose Bowl. Long Photography-USA TODAY Sports
The greatest USC team of all time completed a perfect season and won the national championship. John McKay won his third national title with the Trojans.
Jan 1, 1973; Pasadena, CA, USA; FILE PHOTO; A fan holds up a USC Trojans and Ohio State Buckeyes flag pendants at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY NETWORK
USC avenged its loss to Ohio State in the 1969 Rose Bowl.
Jan 1, 1974; Pasadena, CA, USA: FILE PHOTO; Southern California wide receiver J.K. McKay (25) celebrates after a touchdown during the 1974 Rose Bowl game where USC lost to OSU 42-21 at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Long Photography-USA TODAY Sports
USC lost to Ohio State but made its second of three straight Rose Bowl appearances.
Jan 1, 1974; Pasadena, CA, USA: FILE PHOTO; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Pete Johnson (33) running the ball against the Southern California Trojans during the 1974 Rose Bowl game. Mandatory Credit: Long Photography-USA TODAY Sports
USC and John McKay split four Rose Bowls against Woody Hayes and Ohio State. USC won in 1973 and 1975. Ohio State won in 1969 and 1974.
Coach John Robinson of the USC Trojans is carried of the field by his players after the Trojans upset the University of Michigan 14-6 in the Rose Bowl, in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 1, 1977. Tackle Walt Underwood is left, and Rod Martin, right. (AP Photo)
John Robinson won the Rose Bowl in his first season as USC head coach after John McKay went to the NFL. USC finished No. 2 in the polls after the bowls. Not bad for a first-year coach who was asked to replace a USC legend.
Jan 1, 1979; Pasadena, CA, USA: FILE PHOTO; Southern California Trojans head coach John Robinson watches as the final seconds run down at the 1979 Rose Bowl game against the Michigan Wolverines. The Trojans defeated the Wolverines 17-10 to win the National Championship. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
John Robinson won the national championship, USC’s third of the decade and its fifth in 17 seasons.
Jan 1, 1979; Pasadena, CA, USA: FILE PHOTO; Southern California Trojans running back Charles White (12) carries the ball against the Michigan Wolverines at the 1979 Rose Bowl. The Trojans defeated the Wolverines 17-10 to win the National Championship. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Michigan lost its third consecutive Rose Bowl in as many seasons, with USC winning two of those three games against the Wolverines.
The Trojans beat No. 1 Ohio State and finished No. 2 in the polls for the 1979 season. An Ohio State assistant coach that day: Pete Carroll.
Jan 1, 1985; Pasadena, CA, USA: FILE PHOTO; Southern California wide receiver Tim Ware (19) in action against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 1985 Rose Bowl where USC beat OSU 20-17. Long Photography-USA TODAY Sports
Ted Tollner’s sole Rose Bowl win (and appearance) as USC’s head coach.
Jan 1, 1988; Pasadena, CA, USA: FILE PHOTO; Southern California Trojans quarterback Rodney Peete (16) in action against the Michigan State Spartans during the 1988 Rose Bowl where MSU beat USC 22-14. Mandatory Credit: Long Photography-USA TODAY Sports
USC makes the first of three straight Rose Bowls under coach Larry Smith.
USC’s Rodney Peete heads for the end zone around Michigan’s Tripp Welborne (3) for his second touchdown in the second quarter of the Rose Bowl game in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 1, 1989. Michigan overcame a 14-3 half-time deficit to win 22-14. (AP Photo/Bob Galbraith)
Bo Schembechler gets his only Rose Bowl win against USC and just his second Rose Bowl victory overall in 10 appearances.
USC’s quarterback Todd Marinovich (13) raises the ball over his head as he scores the team’s first touchdown against Michigan in the Rose Bowl game, Jan. 1, 1990, in Pasadena, Calif. At left is Michigan’s Alex Marshall (59). (AP Photo/Bob Galbraith)
USC wins Bo Schembechler’s last Rose Bowl and his last game as a collegiate head coach. Larry Smith wins his first Rose Bowl in his third try.
Keyshawn Johnson
Jan 1, 1996; Pasadena, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans receiver Keyshawn Johnson (3) scores on a 56-yard touchdown reception during the third quarter against the Northwestern Wildcats at the Rose Bowl. USC defeated Northwestern 41-32. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
John Robinson wins his only Rose Bowl in his second stint as USC head coach, but the win is Robinson’s fourth victory in the Granddaddy as a head coach.
2003 ORANGE BOWL
The Pete Carroll dynasty begins in earnest. USC wins the first of six BCS bowls in Carroll’s nine-year tenure. USC made a BCS bowl in seven consecutive seasons under Pete.
MIAMI – JANUARY 2: Mike Williams #1 of USC celebrates after catching an 18 yard pass for a touchdown against Iowa at 10:14 of the third quarter of the FedEx Orange Bowl on January 2, 2003 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. USC defeated Iowa 38-17. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/Getty Images)
Carson Palmer caps his 2002 Heisman Trophy season with a strong performance against Iowa.
Jan 1, 2004; Pasadena, CA, USA: FILE PHOTO; Southern California Trojans head coach Pete Carroll gives an interview after defeating the Michigan Wolverines during the 2004 Rose Bowl at the Rose Bowl. The Trojans defeated the Wolverines 28-14. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Network
USC wins the Associated Press national championship despite not being invited to the BCS national title game at the Sugar Bowl.
Jan 4, 2005; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; General view of the 2005 FedEx Orange Bowl logo at midfield during the BCS National Championship between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Southern California Trojans at Pro Player Stadium . Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
USC wins the BCS national championship and goes back to back.
Texas quarterback Vince Young scores a touchdown against USC in the 2006 Rose Bowl.
Trojan fans would like to forget it, but this unforgettable game is, according to many, the greatest college football game ever played.
Jan 1, 2007; Pasadena, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Pete Carroll celebrates with his team after defeating the Michigan Wolverines in the Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Southern California defeated Michigan 32-18. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2007 Mark J. Rebilas
USC wins a BCS bowl for the fourth time in five seasons. The Trojans beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl for the third straight time: 1990, 2004, and 2007.
Jan 1, 2008; Pasadena, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans linebacker Kaluka Maiava (43) forces a fumble by Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Jacob Willis (83) during the Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Trojans defeated the Fighting Illini 49-17. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The Trojans win back-to-back Rose Bowls and score a fifth BCS bowl victory in six seasons.
Jan 1, 2009; Pasadena, CA, USA: FILE PHOTO; Southern California Trojans running back Joe McKnight (4) in action against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the 2009 Rose Bowl at the Rose Bowl. The Trojans defeated the Nittany Lions 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Network
This was the only time Pete Carroll and Joe Paterno coached against each other in the Rose Bowl. Carroll and Paterno are part of a select group of coaches to win the Rose Bowl and the Orange Bowl and the national championship.
2009 EMERALD BOWL
SAN FRANCISCO – DECEMBER 26: Head coach Pete Carroll of the USC Trojans celebrates after defeating the Boston College Eagles during the 2009 Emerald Bowl at AT&T Park on December 26, 2009 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
The end of an era: Pete Carroll coaches his final game at USC before going to the Seattle Seahawks, where he is still coaching. Carroll remains the only man in history to win the national championship, the Rose Bowl, and the Super Bowl.
Dec 21, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans receiver Marqise Lee (9) is pursued by Fresno State Bulldogs safety Derron Smith (13) on a 40-yard reception in the fourth quarter in the Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium. USC defeated Fresno State 45-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
A coach named Clay Helton led USC in this game. The Trojans refused to give Ed Orgeron the permanent head coaching job after he served as interim coach in the middle of the season following Lane Kiffin’s firing. Steve Sarkisian was ultimately hired as permanent head coach for the 2014 season.
2014 HOLIDAY BOWL
Dec 27, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; USC Trojans running back Javorius Allen (37) dives into the endzone as Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back Byerson Cockrell (28) defends during the third quarter in the 2014 Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
This was Steve Sarkisian’s only bowl game as USC’s permanent head coach.
Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Deontay Burnett (80) makes a catch for a touchdown against Penn State Nittany Lions safety Marcus Allen (2) during the fourth quarter of the 2017 Rose Bowl game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The epic comeback. Sam Darnold led USC back from a 49-35 fourth-quarter deficit, lifting the Trojans to a 52-49 win on a late field goal.
USC gave up 21 points in the second quarter and 28 in the third, but the defense somehow turned things around with a shutout in the fourth quarter. Darnold did his thing and completed one of the most remarkable in-season turnarounds you will ever see. | 2022-12-30T17:48:50Z | sports.yahoo.com | Great USC football bowl moments | https://sports.yahoo.com/great-usc-football-bowl-moments-131040726.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/great-usc-football-bowl-moments-131040726.html?src=rss |
The excitement is building ahead of this year’s edition of the Orange Bowl, one of the prestigious New Year’s Six games for the programs that just barely missed the College Football Playoffs. The second-oldest collegiate postseason game that dates back to 1935 will host the Tennessee Volunteers (10-2, 6-2 SEC) and Clemson Tigers (11-2, 8-0 ACC) on Friday, Dec. 30, inside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
Ahead of the SEC-ACC battle, ESPN published a video hyping up the matchup between a Vols squad that was well on its way to greatness before stumbling as the season waned and a Tigers team that fought through adversity to claim the conference title. Take a look at the video below.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST and the game will be broadcast on ESPN. | 2022-12-30T17:49:09Z | sports.yahoo.com | Look at ESPN’s Orange Bowl hype video ahead of Tennessee-Clemson matchup | https://sports.yahoo.com/look-espn-orange-bowl-hype-154015353.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/look-espn-orange-bowl-hype-154015353.html?src=rss |
An LSU analyst is off to the Big Ten.
Antonio Fenelus will be joining Bret Bielema’s staff at Illinois as the defensive backs coach. Fenelus played at Wisconsin under Bielema, where he was an All-Big Ten First Team selection.
Fenelus has been at LSU for two years and was one of the few holdovers from the Ed Orgeron regime. Fenelus worked with LSU’s defensive backs along with Robert Steeples and Kerry Cooks.
In a statement released by Illinois, Bret Bielema said, “I have been waiting for the opportunity to hire Antonio here to Illinois since coming here.”
Illinois has hired LSU analyst Antonio Fenelus as defensive backs coach. Fenelus played for Bret Bielema at Wisconsin.
Fenelus will coach defensive backs at Illinois, a job that is only open because the previous coach in that role, Aaron Henry, was promoted to defensive coordinator after Ryan Walters left for Purdue — who happens to be LSU’s bowl opponent.
LSU’s on-field staff has yet to see any changes, but Fenelus joins a few support staffers who have left for promotions at other schools. | 2022-12-30T17:49:15Z | sports.yahoo.com | LSU analyst to join Bret Bielema’s staff at Illinois | https://sports.yahoo.com/lsu-analyst-join-bret-bielema-173053710.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/lsu-analyst-join-bret-bielema-173053710.html?src=rss |
One of the more intriguing storylines in the buildup to the Oklahoma Sooners Cheez-It Bowl matchup with the Florida State Seminoles was how the Sooners would handle their running back rotation without Eric Gray.
Gray opted out, choosing to prepare for the 2023 NFL draft, and Marcus Major was out, still nursing a leg injury that kept him out of action late in the regular season. That left Jovantae Barnes as the only runner with significant experience on the depth chart.
But that also created an opportunity to see what fellow true freshman running back Gavin Sawchuk brought to the table. The Oklahoma Sooners coaching staff took advantage of the Cheez-It Bowl stage to give the former two-time Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year action. And Sawchuk was a star.
Sawchuk carried the ball 15 times for 100 yards and caught one pass for eight yards, displaying great quickness, agility and speed. He didn’t look like a player with only two collegiate carries on his ledger coming into the game. He was physical and patient. His 15-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter helped Oklahoma take a 25-18 lead.
“He has a tremendous future,” head coach Brent Venables said after the loss. “He’s made up of the right stuff. Tremendous character, great work ethic, incredibly humble, intelligent, tough. It (would have) been easy for a guy like him to kind of check it in and not get better, but he showed up every day and got better all season long. (Dillon Gabriel and DaShaun White) would attest to that. He’s been a great teammate and he was ready for his opportunity when it presented itself. Really excited for him. Some of his production tonight, outstanding. He’s going to be a lot better going into next year because of it. Kind of like Jaleel (Farooq) in our bowl game a year ago.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Sawchuk averaged four yards per carry after contact in the game. He forced three missed tackles and had two runs of 15 yards or more in the contest, including the touchdown run.
Sawchuk and Barnes combined for 42 carries and 208 yards rushing. Barnes continued to show why he became the backup behind Eric Gray during the season with another strong performance. In his first extended action, Sawchuk was equally impressive. With the two-headed monster at running back, the Sooners have a fantastic 1-2 punch heading into 2023.
The speed that Sawchuk put on display in the Cheez-It Bowl will be a huge weapon for the Sooners in 2023. Jeff Lebby’s going to have a great time imagining all the ways he can use his star running backs in the future. | 2022-12-30T17:49:22Z | sports.yahoo.com | ‘He’s made up of all the right stuff’: Gavin Sawchuk electric in first extended action for Sooners | https://sports.yahoo.com/made-stuff-gavin-sawchuk-electric-150025400.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/made-stuff-gavin-sawchuk-electric-150025400.html?src=rss |
Oklahoma’s matchup with Florida State was going to be a difficult one upfront. The Seminoles came into the Cheez-It Bowl with a top-20 defense and boasted a really good group up front.
With Andrew Raym and Chris Murray out due to injury and Anton Harrison and Wanya Morris opting out, the Sooners started several players that were backups for much of the season in their 35-32 loss to the Seminoles.
Making their first starts were Jacob Sexton and Savion Byrd. Aaryn Parks took over for Sexton, who was injured on the first drive of the game, and received his first extended action in a Sooners uniform. Tyler Guyton made just the fifth start of his career. Robert Congel and McKade Mettauer were the only players up front that had started more than Guyton’s five games coming into 2022. Congel, who’d been a backup to Raym for most of the season, was starting his third straight game to close 2022.
It wasn’t always pretty. Oklahoma struggled in pass protection at times, but the Sooners’ offensive line helped OU have a great day on the ground, rushing for more than 250 yards. True freshmen Jovantae Barnes and Gavin Sawchuk each ran for more than 100 yards. It was the first time since 1985 that the Sooners had a pair of freshmen run for more than 100 yards in a game.
The Seminoles came into the game allowing only 148 rushing yards per game at 3.9 yards per carry. Against a tough Florida State team, the offensive line rose to the occasion.
“The guys up front, they played physical, they played with purpose,” coach Brent Venables said after the loss. “The players played with a tremendous amount of physicality and toughness that we’ve asked from them. Coach (Bill) Bedenbaugh did a great job getting these guys ready. … I love the sense of desperation they played with up front.”
The Sooners received a sneak peek of what the future holds at offensive line in 2023. Certainly, there will be questions about how they performed in pass protection, but their work in the ground game was fantastic.
Take the sacks out of the equation, and the Sooners rushed for 289 yards at 5.9 yards per attempt.
It was a strong showing for guys getting their first extended playing time at the college level. With three starting jobs up for grabs as Harrison, Morris, and Murray head to the NFL, the offensive line’s efforts in the Cheez-It Bowl provided the start to the retooling process upfront. | 2022-12-30T17:49:49Z | sports.yahoo.com | ‘They played physical’: Offensive line provides a lift in the Sooners run game | https://sports.yahoo.com/played-physical-offensive-line-provides-130041202.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/played-physical-offensive-line-provides-130041202.html?src=rss |
Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide are set to take on the Kansas State Wildcats in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Saturday in New Orleans.
In what has been a somewhat disappointing season for the Crimson Tide, they can end it on a high note with a Sugar Bowl victory over the Big 12 champs.
With a win, Alabama would finish with 11 wins on the season which would make for consecutive season No. 12 of at least that many victories.
As we wrap up the 2022 football season, it is time for our last installment of the score predictions and analysis from the staff here at Roll Tide Wire.
Alabama hasn’t played in a game since the Iron Bowl, while Kansas State already has one postseason game under its belt in a conference championship win. Though Kansas State has some offensive stars, I believe Alabama is stronger overall on both sides of the ball. We must also consider the fact that Alabama did not have a player opt-out other than those who have entered the transfer portal.
The fact that Bryce Young, Will Anderson Jr., and the other draft-eligible players decided to play instead of opting out tells me that this team is focused on making a statement. I believe they will do just that. Alabama wins by two touchdowns, but it never feels that close. Nick Saban and the Tide remind folks that Alabama is not going anywhere.
I think at the end of the day the Tide is a much more talented team, But, don’t take anything away from Kansas State. They’re very talented, and Deuce Vaughn may give the Tide front seven some issues. Fortunately, though, we get one last chance to see Bryce Young and he never disappoints.
With Alabama missing out on the CFP, it appears that the Tide will be ready to roll. I think the Wildcats’ physicality in the trenches could give Alabama some trouble. However, the two best players in the country — Will Anderson Jr. and Bryce Young will be suiting up one last time for the Tide. I like Alabama by two scores in the final game of the season.
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Jalen Brunson-less Knicks fall to Spurs in San Antonio | SportsNite
On SportsNite, Chelsea Sherrod, John Jastremski, and Anthony McCarron discuss the Knicks' loss to the Spurs. Can New York chalk this one up to injuries to Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett? Or is there more to the defeat? | 2022-12-30T17:50:03Z | sports.yahoo.com | Roll Tide Wire staff predictions for Alabama vs. Kansas State | https://sports.yahoo.com/roll-tide-wire-staff-predictions-161037702.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/roll-tide-wire-staff-predictions-161037702.html?src=rss |
No. 6 Tennessee (10-2, 6-2 SEC) will play No. 7 Clemson (11-2, 8-0 SEC) in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Kickoff is slated for Friday at 8 p.m. EST. ESPN will televise the matchup.
The game will mark the sixth time that the Vols have played on Dec. 30. Tennessee is 3-2 in its previous games played on this date.
The Vols last played on Dec. 30 following the 2021 season. Tennessee lost to Purdue in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl to Purdue, 48-45, in overtime.
Tennessee first played on this date in 1972 when it appeared in the Astro Bluebonnet Bowl and defeated SEC rival LSU, 24-7, in Houston, Texas.
The Vols defeated Virginia Tech, 45-24, in the 1994 Gator Bowl.
In 2010, the Vols dropped a 30-27 overtime decision to North Carolina in the Music City Bowl.
Tennessee defeated Nebraska, 38-24, in the Music City Bowl in 2016.
Tennessee’s all-time results on Dec. 30
1972: Tennessee 24, LSU 7, Astro Bluebonnet Bowl
1994: Tennessee 45, Virginia Tech 24, Gator Bowl
2010: North Carolina 30, Tennessee 27 (OT), Music City Bowl
2016: Tennessee 38, Nebraska 24, Music City Bowl
2021: Purdue 48, Tennessee 45 (OT), TransPerfect Music City Bowl | 2022-12-30T17:50:10Z | sports.yahoo.com | Tennessee football’s all-time results on December 30 | https://sports.yahoo.com/tennessee-football-time-results-december-140835286.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/tennessee-football-time-results-december-140835286.html?src=rss |
Oregon’s receiver room in 2023 is going to be ridiculous and that was going to be the case before Troy’s leading pass catcher Tez Johnson transferred in.
Quarterback Bo Nix is going to have a bevy of options to throw to and he wanted another familiar face in Johnson, which we’ll get into a little more later in this post.
At 5-foot-10 and just 150 pounds, Johnson should be able to play all around the field and in a number of formations to make it difficult enough for the defense to keep track of.
It’s likely he’ll bulk up some in the Oregon weight room, but fans should think of players such as De’Anthony Thomas, James Rodgers or even (old school) Samie Parker when comparing Johnson.
He's family
Tez Johnson is the brother of Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, whose parents Patrick and Krista adopted Johnson. He has a total of four brothers and three sisters.
Proof that recruiting stars aren't always accurate
Coming out of Pinson Valley High School in Alabama, Johnson wasn’t exactly a highly-touted recruit. He was, at most, a three-star recruit. It was probably due to his smallish size at 5-10 and 140 pounds. But once again, stars don’t tell the entire story. One at Troy, Johnson flourished to become their leading receiver for two straight seasons.
For 2021 and 2022, Johnson had 123 catches for 1,598 yards and eight touchdowns.
Has played with Nix before
It’s doubtful the Ducks will ask Johnson to throw any passes like he did in Troy’s bowl game, but he probably got some pointers from Nix. The two played together in high school. As a junior and Nix a senior, Johnson caught 106 passes for 1,457 yards and 10 touchdowns. In one game, he caught 17 passes for 247 yards and three scores.
Those 17 catches in one game ranks eighth all-time in Alabama high school history.
Penn State pushed hard to land him
Penn State has a huge need at receiver and is hitting the transfer portal hard in order to fill that receiver room. Johnson was one of the targets Nittany Lions coach James Franklin was aiming for, but unlike the 1995 Rose Bowl, the Ducks won this battle.
Analytics say he's one of the best receivers out there
Mark Henle/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
According to the analytic website PFF, Johnson is one of the best receivers in the country. They say:
His 89.9 grade this season trailed only Marvin Harrison Jr. among all FBS receivers. The sophomore averaged 3.52 yards per route run, which ranked second among the same group. Johnson’s 5-foot-10, 150-pound build may scare some teams off, but make no mistake: He can play.
Oregon wasn’t scared in the least. | 2022-12-30T17:50:29Z | sports.yahoo.com | Transfer Profile: 5 things to know about Oregon’s new WR Tez Johnson | https://sports.yahoo.com/transfer-profile-5-things-know-163842145.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/transfer-profile-5-things-know-163842145.html?src=rss |
The Oregon Ducks ended the season with an exclamation point on Wednesday night, pulling out a thrilling 28-27 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels in the Holiday Bowl.
The outcome was in doubt for much of the contest, with Bo Nix and the Oregon offense capitalizing on an opportunistic defense and managing to mount a comeback from 10 points down, taking the lead on a touchdown with 19 seconds left in the game.
It was a classic game, and will be remembered for a long time in Duck lore, not as much for the significance of the victory, but what it represents as a whole.
I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that a win in the Holiday Bowl against an unranked team is cause for a parade through Eugene. But with a first-year head coach and a roster that was fraught with holes thanks to bowl opt-outs and the transfer portal, the Ducks got the job done and showed some fight until the very end. It marked the first bowl win of Lanning’s head coaching career, and gave him 10 wins in his first year at Oregon.
The Ducks have won 11 bowl games in the 21st century, some more important than others. So where does the 28-27 win over North Carolina in the Holiday Bowl rank among those? Let’s take a look.
Red Box Bowl vs. Michigan State Spartans (2018)
Offensive MVP: WR Dillon Mitchell
Defensive MVP: MSU CB Josiah Scott
What Made it Special: Not a whole lot, to be completely honest. This was Cristobal’s first full season as a head coach for Oregon, and the 7-6 final score feels pretty indicative of his time in Eugene; a hard-fought game that was won with grit and minimal offense.
Sun Bowl vs. South Florida Bulls (2007)
Offensive MVP: RB Jonathan Stewart
What Made it Special: This game was unfortunately played without QB Dennis Dixon, who saw his Heisman campaign end late in the year with an ACL tear. Justin Roper stepped up in his absence and threw for four touchdowns in a blowout win for the Ducks.
Alamo Bowl vs. Texas Longhorns (2013)
Offensive MVP: QB Marcus Mariota
Defensive MVP: SS Avery Patterson
What Made it Special: This was less of a thrilling bowl game, and more of a display of complete Oregon dominance. In Helfrich’s first year as head coach after the departure of Chip Kelly, he showed quickly that he could keep the offensive train rolling with the Ducks. A somewhat disappointing 10-2 season landed them in the Alamo Bowl, but like the 2022 Ducks, they finished with an exclamation point over a Mack Brown-coached team.
Holiday Bowl vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys (2008)
MVP: QB Jeremiah Masoli
What Made it Special: This was the last game of Mike Bellotti’s coaching career at Oregon, so it’s special for that reason if nothing else. The Ducks trailed for the majority of the game but were able to hang tough and pull past Oklahoma State in the end with the help of Jeremiah Masoli, who had 3 TD runs.
Holiday Bowl vs. North Carolina (2022)
Offensive MVP: RB Bucky Irving
Defensive MVP: LB Mase Funa
What Made it Special: This won’t go down as one of the best bow game wins in Oregon history, but it was a major feather in the cap for Lanning, who won his first postseason game with the Ducks and notched 10 wins in his first season as a head coach. The Ducks came back from down 10 points in the fourth quarter and got a go-ahead touchdown from WR Chase Cota on the final play of his collegiate career.
Holiday Bowl vs. Texas Longhorns (2000)
Jeff Gross/ALLSPORT
Offensive MVP: QB Joey Harrington
Defensive MVP: CB Rashad Bauman
What Made it Special: It feels like this game started to usher in the major success for the Ducks. Before this game, Oregon had won just 2 of their last 7 bowl games, but they were able to withstand an impressive comeback attempt from the Longhorns in this Holiday Bowl and come out with a 35-30 win. Harrington would be a Heisman front-runner the next season and end his Oregon career on a high note.
Fiesta Bowl vs. Kansas State Wildcats (2012)
Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Defensive MVP: LB Michael Clay
What Made it Special: This game started out with a kick-off return for a touchdown from De’Anthony Thomas, and ended with the Ducks making a statement as one of the most explosive and dangerous teams in the nation, and they had a quarterback who was among the best in the nation. After the hot start, the Ducks were never threatened in this game, holding a double-digit lead throughout. You could argue that the actual game belongs lower on this list, but what it meant in the rise of the Ducks is significant.
Fiesta Bowl vs. Colorado Buffaloes (2001)
Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Defensive MVP: CB Steve Smith
What Made it Special: There have been a lot of big wins in Oregon history, but you could argue that this was among the most impactful for what it meant in the rise of the Ducks. Oregon had struggled for decades leading up to the turn of the century, but with Joey Harrington at the helm, they had a case as one of the best teams in the nation. Many thought that Oregon should have played in the BCS National Championship in 2002, ranked as the No. 2 team in the AP and Coaches Poll, but they were confined to the Fiesta Bowl, where they handled the No. 3 Colorado Buffaloes with ease. It still stands today as one of the greatest wins in school history.
Rose Bowl vs. Wisconsin Badgers (2019)
Offensive MVP: QB Justin Herbert
Defensive MVP: S Brady Breeze
What Made it Special: There’s just something about Oregon and Wisconsin in Rose Bowl games, huh? This was a relatively ugly game for the Ducks, with not a ton of offense working, but they managed to stick close to the Badgers throughout the game, giving them a chance for a 4th-quarter TD run from Herbert, his third rushing TD of the game. A late stop from the Ducks’ defense allowed Oregon to get the ball back and run out the clock, giving the Ducks their fourth Rose Bowl victory in school history.
Rose Bowl vs. Florida State Seminoles (2014)
Defensive MVP: LB Tony Washington
What Made it Special: There’s a really good argument out there that this should be the No. 1 bowl game win in Oregon history. It was the first year of the college football playoff, and Marcus Mariota, the Heisman winner, dismantled the defending national champion Florida State Seminoles, giving QB Jameis Winston one of the worst games of his career. The Ducks held just an 18-13 lead going into the half, but they outscored FSU 41-7 in the final two quarters to give fans a New Year’s Day blowout that sent them to the national championship game.
Kirby Lee-Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports
Offensive MVP: WR Lavasier Tuinei
Defensive MVP: MLB Kiko Alonso
What Made it Special: I think this game belongs at No. 1 because it signified that Oregon was officially back, and in a big way. They had won Holiday Bowls and Sun Bowls, but a loss in the 2010 Rose Bowl and the 2011 BCS National Championship game still lingered. 2012 gave the Ducks their first Rose Bowl victory since 1916, though, and ushered in the newest era of Oregon dominance. You had De’Anthony Thomas rushing for TDs of 91 and 64 yards, respectively, and the famous Chip Kelly jumping video after Kiko Alonso recovered a critical fumble late in the game. In the end, it resulted in one of the most thrilling endings to a game in Oregon history, and one of the most important bowl wins we will ever see in Eugene.
Oliver Wahlstrom, two others won’t travel with Islanders due to injuries
Oliver Wahlstrom and two others won't travel with the Islanders on their upcoming west coast trip while three others, including Cal Clutterbuck, will.
Oregonians will continue to have access to Capitol building through the South entrance and remote access to public hearings will continue. | 2022-12-30T17:50:48Z | sports.yahoo.com | Where Ducks’ victory over North Carolina ranks among best Oregon bowl wins this century | https://sports.yahoo.com/where-ducks-victory-over-north-142731175.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/where-ducks-victory-over-north-142731175.html?src=rss |
The Eagles are returning to Lincoln Financial Field for the first time in three weeks when they host the Saints on Fox.
Philadelphia is hoping to have quarterback Jalen Hurts, but the expectation is that Gardner Minshew will lead a revamped offensive unit that’ll also be without star right tackle, Lane Johnson.
New Orleans (6-9) is looking to stay within striking distance in the NFC South, while looking to avoid giving the host team an even better NFL draft pick.
If you are interested in games with playoff implications, the Panthers vs. Buccaneers is a must-watch while fans should also peruse the television for games that feature matchups with teams that’ll have high NFL draft slots.
Panthers (6-9) at Buccaneers (7-8) 1 p.m. ET | FOX |
Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
It’s win-and-in for the Buccaneers.
A victory gives Tampa the NFC South title — and eliminates the Panthers from the playoffs. For Carolina to jump Tampa Bay and clinch a postseason berth, it would need to win its final two games or beat the Bucs and then get a Saints loss in Week 17 and a Bucs loss in Week 18.
Dolphins (8-7) at Patriots (7-8) 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
Dolphins V Patriots Nfl Game 38
The Dolphins can clinch a playoff spot with a win and a loss/tie from the Jets, or a tie, a Jets loss and a Steelers loss/tie. A loss knocks New England out of the race.
Cardinals (4-11) at Falcons (5-10) 1 p.m. ET | FOX
Both teams are out of the playoff hunt so this matchup is for NFL Draft purposes.
Arizona is currently projected to pick No. 4 in the draft, while Atlanta is looking at the No. 7 pick. Philadelphia holds the Saints pick, which could be a top-seven selection if New Orleans falters down the stretch.
Browns (6-9) at Commanders (7-7-1) 1 p.m. ET | FOX
Washington can clinch a playoff berth with a win and losses from Detroit, Seattle, and Green Bay. Cleveland is already eliminated and does not have a first-round pick because of the Deshaun Watson trade.
49ers (11-4) at Raiders (6-9) 4:05 p.m. ET | FOX
The Derek Carr era is over in Las Vegas after Las Vegas turned to Jarrett Stidham for the final two games of the season. Carr had been the Raiders starting QB since his rookie season in 2014.
The 49ers have clinched the NFC West, but have less than 1% of a chance to jump to the conference’s top seed. The Raiders will be eliminated from the playoffs if they lose or either the Dolphins or Jets win. They are currently projected to have the No. 8 pick in the NFL draft.
Jets (7-8) at Seahawks (7-8) 4:05 p.m. ET | FOX
The Jets need to win out and get at least one loss from the Patriots to make the playoffs. Seattle has a 27% chance to make the postseason.
Vikings (12-3) at Packers (7-8) 4:25 p.m. ET | CBS
Justin Jefferson needs 209 yards over the last two games to set the NFL single-season receiving yardage record.
The Packers enter Week 17 with a 37% chance of making the playoffs per ESPN’s FPI. Those chances drop to 5% with a loss. They can be eliminated on Sunday if they lose and either the Lions or Commanders win. Minnesota already won the NFC North but has just a 1% chance to take the top seed in the conference over Philadelphia.
Colts (4-10-1) at Giants (8-6-1) 1 p.m. ET | CBS
The Giants simply need a win to make the postseason for the first time since 2016.
Steelers (7-8) at Ravens (10-5) 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC
Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports
The Ravens can win the AFC North by winning their next two games, and a victory over the Steelers would eliminate their rival as well.
Pittsburgh has a slight chance to make the playoffs, and they can be eliminated with a loss or the Dolphins win. The Ravens clinched the playoffs and still have a 36% chance to overtake Cincinnati for the AFC South, per ESPN’s FPI.
Bills (12-3) at Bengals (11-4) Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET | ESPN/ABC/ESPN+
Two of the AFC’s teams are squaring off on Week 17 on Monday Night Football. The Bills are looking to keep pace with Kansas City for the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed. With a win, Cincinnati will keep its hopes of being the top seed alive and also hold the three-way tiebreaker over the Bills and Chiefs.
Buffalo can clinch home-field advantage and the first-round bye with a win and a Chiefs loss. Cincinnati can clinch the AFC North division title with a win and a Ravens loss or tie, or a tie and Ravens loss.
10 most anticipated video games of 2023 includes Starfield, Redfall, familiar franchises
Several highly anticipated games are slated to launch in 2023 after delays brought about by the pandemic. We look at 10 of the best coming in 2023. | 2022-12-30T18:26:36Z | sports.yahoo.com | 10 key matchups Eagles fans should watch during Week 17 slate of games | https://sports.yahoo.com/10-key-matchups-eagles-fans-163128932.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/10-key-matchups-eagles-fans-163128932.html?src=rss |
The Kansas City Chiefs deployed third-year cornerback L’Jarius Sneed in a different way in Week 16.
Seattle Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf lines up almost exclusively at the left wide receiver position. Sneed lined up across from him on every one of those snaps last Saturday, acting as a shadow against their top receiver.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo explained what went into that decision and his evaluation of Sneed’s performance in that role after the game.
“Yeah. (He) did a good job, I really thought and (Defensive Backs Coach) Dave (Merritt) and (Safeties Coach) Donald (D’Alesio) really felt that,” Spagnuolo said. “LJ (L’Jarius Sneed) is competitive and so is 14 (Seahawks WR DK Metcalf) and we felt like we needed to do that to kind of get us going. I thought he did a really good job all game. He got the one on the sideline and I mean really safeties probably should’ve been over there a little soon. He probably really shouldn’t have had that one and then LJ had the contested on a little, shorter curl. I thought the guys did a really good job as a group making 14 for them a focus and making sure he didn’t wreck the game and I think they did pretty well.”
This felt like a departure from the norm from Spagnuolo’s past in Kansas City, but he says he hasn’t been resistant to the philosophy of having a top cornerback follow a top receiver. In the past, he says he’s been fortunate to have multiple cornerbacks, like Bashaud Breeland and Charvarius Ward, that he could entrust against an elite receiver.
This specific matchup was really what went into the decision-making process to have Sneed act as a shadow. Metcalf being the lone receiving threat with an injury to WR Tyler Lockett allowed the team to have the flexibility to do this. It also didn’t hurt that Metcalf tends to be at a static position within the Seahawks’ offense and does not move around the field much.
In the future, the decision might not be so simple. Spagnuolo wouldn’t commit to deploying Sneed in the same way even this upcoming week in Denver.
“Yeah, well we’ll see,” Spagnuolo said. “Again, like even Denver. This week’s got two really good (receivers), so you got to make a decision there. It’s just all about the team you’re facing and what they have and what are the other matchups when you do that? What problems the offense presents? Do they move that guy around? Like last week, 14 didn’t move around that much. If you have a player that’s the same caliber and they’re always moving them, you kind of lose that a little bit. So, there’s always a lot of things that go into it.”
Time will tell if we see this strategy again heading into the playoffs, but it sounds like Spagnuolo is only willing to use it in very specific situations. | 2022-12-30T18:27:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | Will Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed continue to shadow top receivers? | https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-cb-l-jarius-sneed-174541863.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-cb-l-jarius-sneed-174541863.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts are riding a five-game losing streak into their matchup with the New York Giants.
For the first time in weeks, their inadequacies won’t be on display for a national audience to see. This will be the fourth time the Colts and Giants have faced each other since 2010. The last time they were on the field during the regular season was back in 2018.
Despite the disaster in Nick Foles’ first start as a Colt, Jeff Saturday confirmed earlier in the week that he will remain as the starter for this game. This offense was never going to get fixed during the season but I still don’t understand not playing Sam Ehlinger to give him a shot to show he has a future in the league.
Just two more games for the fans of this franchise before the reset, so here are five things to watch for on Sunday:
Can defense win this game?
The Colts’ defense has been playing their butts off this season with no repayment from the offense. If there was a team with a winning record that I could see the Indianapolis beating at this point of the season it would be the Giants. Unfortunately for New York, their receiving corps has been decimated by injuries so they are leaning into players that were supposed to be backups heading into the season.
Even with the injuries to Kenny Moore II and Isaiah Rodgers Sr., they should be able to keep the Giants receivers from making much of an impact on this game. New York is only averaging 188.3 passing YPG, which is the sixth-lowest in the NFL.
Which would mean the defense would need to make sure that Saquon Barkley and even Daniel Jones don’t give them much of a problem in the rushing attack. The ground game is the strength of the Giants’ offense. They are averaging 144.9 rushing YPG, which is the sixth-most in the league.
If the Colts’ defense wins on the first two downs and forces New York to deal with third-and-long situations then I can see this being a long afternoon for the G-Men. I know fans may not want the win for the draft position but this might be a game where the defense doesn’t need the offense to pull off the upset.
Can the ground game find much success?
One of the more baffling things from the loss to the Los Angeles Chargers was the lack of use of the rushing attack despite having some success when they did take it to the ground. If there is one way that the Colts can attack this Giants’ defense it will be with the hog mollies up front and in the backfield. Despite having studs in their defensive front with Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams, New York is allowing 145.9 rushing YPG, which is tied for the fourth-most allowed in the NFL.
Zack Moss got the start last week so he’s expected to be the starter for the last couple of weeks. Can he take advantage of this matchup? He averaged 5.4 YPC against the Chargers. These last two games are a great opportunity for him to show he should be on the roster for 2023.
Then the question is, will Deon Jackson be used? It was expected that he was going to split the work with Moss but he didn’t get a carry against LA. He’s shown he can be effective in the passing attack so I would like to see at least more involvement in that aspect of the game.
Coming off a game where Nick Foles threw three interceptions, I hope that Jeff Saturday has his offense leaning more into the run when they have the right matchup for it. Let’s see if they learned their lesson from the loss to the Chargers.
3. Bottling up Saquon Barkley
As I alluded to earlier, the key to hindering this Giants’ offense is limiting the impact of their rushing attack. Which starts with keeping Saquon Barkley in check and not allowing him to take over the game. As a football fan, it has been great to see him put together a healthy season and remind people how good he can be when he’s not dealing with injuries.
He’s averaging 83.6 rushing YPG, which will be a career-high if it doesn’t drop over the next two weeks. He has 10 rushing touchdowns and two more would be a career-high for him as well. He hasn’t been asked to do much in the passing attack as he has in the past.
His 22.9 receiving YPG will be the second-lowest mark of his career and he has zero receiving touchdowns. The only year he had no receiving touchdowns was in 2020 when he only played in two games that season due to an injury.
With that being said, the Colts’ defense can’t underestimate that Barkley is more than capable of taking a screen or a catch out of the backfield to the house for a game-changing play. If Indianapolis can keep him bottled up then it will force Daniel Jones and the passing attack to win this game.
The one disappointing thing with Jonathan Taylor on the injured reserve list is we don’t get to see two uber-talented running backs on the same field on Sunday.
Anything positive with the passing attack
Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, and Nick Foles, all have had an opportunity to elevate the Colts’ offense but it hasn’t worked at all this season. For whatever reason, Indy entered the matchup against the Chargers with the thought that Foles can help push the ball down the field and start creating explosive plays through the air.
We all saw how that turned out. It blew up right in front of their faces and only led to three points. At this point, I think the coaching staff should understand that that part of the offense is completely dead and they just need to get the rushing attack going to set the offense up in favorable third-down situations.
Just being more effective in the short to the intermediate range can help this offense move the sticks and keep drives alive. It would also help if they don’t throw short of the sticks on third downs. A mixture of that with the running game can help set up the deep shots down the field instead of forcing the issue as they did against LA.
With how the season has gone, I don’t expect anything from Foles and this passing attack but small positives would be a nice thing to see as the Colts close out this disappointing season.
Defending Daniel Jones
What Brian Daboll has done for Daniel Jones has been wonderful for the young quarterback’s career. Whether it is in New York or elsewhere, he has shown this season that he should have a shot to prove he can be a starting quarterback for the 2023 season and beyond. Despite losing a number of his receivers, Jones is having the best season of his career.
His 66.5% completion percentage would be a career-high and his 3,028 passing yards are the most he’s had in a season. Some other stats of his that would be career-bests if the season ended today would be his 1.1 interception percentage, 6.8 YPA, 90.7 Quarterback Rating, and 56.8 QBR.
He also has four fourth-quarter comebacks and five game-winning drives. Both are the most he’s had in a season. But, one of the things I mentioned earlier, he can make an impact in the rushing attack and he’s been killing it for the Giants in that department this season.
Jones is averaging 41.1 rushing YPG, which will be a career-high for him. His five rushing touchdowns match the amount of rushing touchdowns that he had in the previous three seasons combined. Gus Bradley will have to have a spy on him and account for him when the Giants get into the red zone.
A win clinches the payoffs for the G-Men so this game is an opportunity for the Colts to be a spoiler team at this point of the year. Even though the fans and likely secretly the front office wouldn’t mind a sixth straight loss to climb up further in the top five of the upcoming NFL draft. | 2022-12-30T18:27:27Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colts vs. Giants: 5 things to watch in Week 17 | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-vs-giants-5-things-181123385.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-vs-giants-5-things-181123385.html?src=rss |
The Indianapolis Colts (4-10-1) and New York Giants (8-6-1) are just about set for a Week 17 matchup at MetLife Stadium.
While Vegas has the Giants sitting comfortably as 5.5-point home favorites, let’s take a look at how the experts around the league are viewing this matchup:
Unsurprisingly, 98% of analysts are choosing the Giants to win this matchup over at Tallysight. As the Giants look to clinch their first playoff berth since the 2016 season, the Colts are simply playing for pride.
Even though the Giants are heavily favored, it could still be a close game. The Colts offense has been putrid for most of the season, but 12 of the Giants’ 15 games have resulted in a point differential of eight or fewer points.
It’s likely this game comes down to a final drive, but that’s only if the Colts offense can muster together any type of rhythm. | 2022-12-30T18:27:39Z | sports.yahoo.com | Colts vs. Giants: NFL experts make Week 17 picks | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-vs-giants-nfl-experts-175019362.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/colts-vs-giants-nfl-experts-175019362.html?src=rss |
While Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been in the league’s concussion protocol since sustaining a hit to the head on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, it wasn’t official that he wouldn’t play in Week 17 against the New England Patriots.
However, to open his media availability on Friday, head coach Mike McDaniel has officially declared Tagovailoa out for the matchup. Veteran backup Teddy Bridgewater will get the start and seventh-round rookie Skylar Thompson will back him up.
This will be Tagovailoa’s third missed start of the season, with both other quarterbacks starting one each.
Miami could clinch a postseason berth this week, but they’ll have to do so without their starting quarterback. | 2022-12-30T18:27:45Z | sports.yahoo.com | Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa officially OUT vs. Patriots | https://sports.yahoo.com/dolphins-qb-tua-tagovailoa-officially-170753486.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/dolphins-qb-tua-tagovailoa-officially-170753486.html?src=rss |
Eagles' short-handed secondary looks to rebound vs. Saints originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
It was the kind of disastrous performance the Eagles’ secondary had avoided all year.
We all saw Dak Prescott shred the No. 1 pass defense in the NFL for 347 yards and three touchdowns last weekend, and the challenge now for the Eagles' defensive backfield is not only to bounce back but to do it without two of their best players.
The Eagles go into a crucial game against the Saints without NFL interception leader Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, out indefinitely with a lacerated kidney, and without Avonte Maddox, one of the league’s top slot corners.
MORE: Eagles react to Lane Johnson’s decision to put off surgery
“We hate seeing those guys go down, they’re a big part of our defense,” rookie safety Reed Blankenship said. “But everybody in that DB room has all the faith in the world in everybody else in that room. We have this mentality that we don’t fall off, and we take pride in that.
“That’s what’s so good about our room. You know you’re going to have downfalls throughout the season, but make you tighter as a team. That’s what I love about this team – we face adversity but it brings us closer. That’s a big thing for this team right now.”
It’s a huge thing because the Eagles need to win one of these two remaining games to lock up a 1st-round bye in the NFC playoff bracket. They face the Saints Sunday at the Linc and then the Giants a week later, also at home.
And for at least one more week, Blankenship will start in place of Gardner-Johnson, Josiah Scott will man the slot and the Eagles will try to bounce back from their worst defensive performance of the year.
“The motto I’ve always been taught since I’ve been in the league is next man up because injuries are 100 percent,” James Bradberry said.
“They’re going to happen. It’s not if they’re going to happen. They are going to happen. You just never know when and you never know what position they’re going to hit. But they are going to happen for sure so everybody has to be ready all the time to do their part and take on more of a role.”
Despite that disastrous performance in Dallas – Prescott was 27-for-35 for 347 yards with three TDs and one INT – the Eagles still have the No. 1 pass defense in the NFL, allowing just 181 yards per game. The Saints are No. 2, allowing 190.
Sunday will be the fourth straight start for Blankenship, an undrafted rookie out of Middle Tennessee State. He’ll be the first Eagles defensive back to start four games as an undrafted rookie since Brenard Wilson in 1979.
And Scott, who took responsibility for the Cowboys’ 3rd-and-30 conversion, will be the Eagles’ slot corner for the eighth time this year.
“We don’t flinch,” said K’Von Wallace, who’s played 157 snaps this year as a backup safety. “No matter who goes down, no matter what happens, we don’t flinch.
“We all hold each other accountable, we all have a responsibility to know our assignment and do our assignment at a very, very high level. We put our hard hats on and we go to work.
"I feel like everybody in that DB room is hungry. Everybody has a chip on their shoulder, whether it’s Slay, whether it’s me, whether it’s Anthony Harris … everybody has a chip on their shoulder in that room and that’s how we play. We play as a brotherhood and it shows every Sunday.”
This is a very close DB room, and when one guy messes up, everybody else is there to support him. Everyone is accountable for their mistakes, and they all work as a group to make sure they don’t happen again.
“It’s a testament to the connection and brotherhood we have in the locker room,” first-year starter Marcus Epps said. “We all believe in each other. We understand there’s going to be good and bad plays, but we all have each others’ back. Through thick and thin, we’ve got each others’ back.”
READ: Sirianni won't rule out Jalen Hurts for crucial Saints game
Although the Eagles haven’t opened Gardner-Johnson’s practice window, the expectation is that he will likely be available for the postseason. Maddox, we’re not sure, but it is a serious injury.
All we know is that for the Eagles to make a deep run in the playoffs, the secondary is going to have to play at a high level.
And when they mess up? They have to find a way to forget about it and move on.
“As a DB you have to embrace that,” Wallace said. “As a defensive back you have to have that mentality or it will show and it will expose you and it will make a coward out of you if you don’t put that play behind you.
“There’s so many plays that guys leave out there due to something that happened earlier in the game. You have to make your next play the best play because you never know when it’ll be your last play.” | 2022-12-30T18:27:58Z | sports.yahoo.com | Eagles' short-handed secondary looks to rebound vs. Saints | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-short-handed-secondary-looks-164127800.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/eagles-short-handed-secondary-looks-164127800.html?src=rss |
Let’s begin by stating the New York Giants-Indianapolis Colts rivalry isn’t really a thing. This Sunday will mark just the 17th regular season matchup between the two franchises since the Colts came into the NFL as the Baltimore Colts in 1953.
The two clubs met just five times in the regular season between 1953 and the NFL/AFL merger of 1970. The Baltimore Colts were one of three teams (along with the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers) to move from the NFL to the new AFC to balance out the conferences at 13 teams apiece.
The teams would meet just three times over the next 20 years. In the 1970s, Baltimore dominated the Giants, beating them 31-7 in both 1971 and 1979 and shutting them out, 21-0, in between in 1975.
The 1975 game was played on December 7 at Shea Stadium, Anyone who has ever been to a late-season game at Shea (present company included) will tell you, it wasn’t pretty. Windy, dusty, and just bitter cold, regardless of the temperature.
On this day, the 8-3 Colts came into Flushing as 10-point favorites over Bill Arnsparger’s 3-8 Giants. Giant fans were weary of traveling all over the Tri-State area to watch this mess of a franchise get embarrassed. There was light at the end of the tunnel as it was announced that Giants Stadium in New Jersey would be ready for the 1976 season. Finally, a place to call home.
The Colts were clearly the better team and they didn’t need star quarterback Bert Jones to do much more than hand off to running back Lydell Mitchell and let the defense do the rest.
All the scoring was done in the first half. Murray Chass, who covered the game for the New York Times that day, wrote this:
On the first scrimmage play of the game, (Giants running back) Doug Kotar fumbled and the Colts went on to score a touchdown. Later in the first quarter, (Colts linebacker) Stan White intercepted a (Giants quarterback Craig) Morton pass and rambled 23 yards for a touchdown. And in the second quarter, the Colts traveled 96 yards for a touchdown after (Colts defensive back) Jim Choyunski stole another Morton pass, this one thrown from Baltimore’s 10‐yard line.
The second half of the game was moot. Morton, who the Giants foolishly acquired via trade two years earlier, was booed mercilessly by a less-than-capacity crowd.
To Morton’s credit, the clueless Giants front office gave him little to work with and he just wasn’t good enough to carry a team on his back. In fact, no quarterback of that era would have succeeded in New York. The Giants were that bad.
Morton was sacked a Colts’ franchise record eight times before the Giants sent in the mercurial Carl Summerell to relieve him in the fourth quarter, who wasn’t sacked, but was just as ineffective and threw an interception of his own.
Morton had a telling quote after the game, per Chass.
“I’m getting paid to do a job and I’m not doing it,” the bewildered quarterback said. “They’re going to react accordingly. . . . I don’t know if you can blame it on the breaks. We’re just not playing well. Could be a few of us are overpaid, huh?”
The Giants somehow won their final two games that year to finish at 5-9. Morton played better but still got sacked five times in those games. The next season, the Giants did move to New Jersey but not until mid-October. They played their first four games on the road — all losses. In fact, they lost their first nine which resulted in Arnsparger’s dismissal.
The Giants finished 3-11 and Morton was traded to Denver after the season. In 1977, Morton led the Broncos to the Super Bowl and was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Year and NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Xavier McKinney, Adoree' Jackson anxious to return for Giants' playoff push | 2022-12-30T18:28:05Z | sports.yahoo.com | Flashback Friday: Colts shut out Giants, 21-0, in 1975 | https://sports.yahoo.com/flashback-friday-colts-shut-giants-165540429.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/flashback-friday-colts-shut-giants-165540429.html?src=rss |
Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, the Green Bay Packers’ first-round pick in the 2014 draft and a one-time Pro Bowler, retired from the National Football League on Thursday as a member of the franchise that originally drafted him.
The Packers selected Clinton-Dix at No. 21 overall out of Alabama. The Orlando native went on to play in 78 games with 72 starts (including playoffs) over the course of five seasons in Green Bay. An immediate starter as a rookie, Clinton-Dix tallied 14 interceptions, 25 passes defended, three forced fumbles and 5.5 sacks while with the Packers.
His best season came in 2016 when he intercepted a career-high five passes, made the Pro Bowl and was a second-team All-Pro. He was also named to the All-Rookie Team in 2014.
The Packers traded Clinton-Dix to Washington during the 2018 season. He played nine games in Washington, 16 in Chicago with the Bears in 2019 and two games with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021.
Overall, Clinton-Dix played 98 games and made 16 interceptions in his NFL career.
At the college ranks, Clinton-Dix won two national titles and was an All-American in 2013. | 2022-12-30T18:28:11Z | sports.yahoo.com | Former Packers first-round pick Ha Ha Clinton-Dix retires from NFL | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-packers-first-round-pick-165628099.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/former-packers-first-round-pick-165628099.html?src=rss |
The Texans defense has really stepped up in recent weeks, forcing eight turnovers in its last three games. In those games, Houston has covered three straight ATS, including an outright win against the Titans last week as 3.5-point underdogs. Here's my full reasoning for backing the Texans:
In recent weeks, when facing vulnerable rushing defenses, the Panthers have rushed for at least 185 yards per game, winning three of their last four games and rushing for a franchise-record 320 yards in a win over Detroit. The Bucs fall into that "susceptible against the run" category, allowing 209 rushing yards to San Francisco and another 190 to Cleveland. The Panthers, with running backs D’Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard, are live dogs.
The Lions' defense is beyond vulnerable and not just against the run. Opponents have punted at the lowest rate in the league against Detroit, while also scoring touchdowns at the highest rate. The Bears have a big opportunity to capitalize this week.
Who in the world would want to back a Russell Wilson-led offense against one of the best teams in the NFL? Four interceptions were thrown last week between Wilson and backup quarterback Brett Rypien, leading to 24 Rams points. There was fighting on the Broncos' sideline and head coach Nathaniel Hackett was fired. The Broncos may have hit rock bottom. However, not all is lost. Receivers Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler took to social media to defend Wilson.
Calle Rosen with a Goal vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Calle Rosen (St. Louis Blues) with a Goal vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 12/29/2022
In this article, we will be taking a look at the 15 most valuable sports companies in the world. To skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to see 5 Most Valuable Sports Companies In The World. Some of the most popular sports in the world, including football, have long been considered a working […]
a Goal from St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks
(Chicago Blackhawks) with a Goal from St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks, 12/29/2022
Calle Rosen scored unassisted and Jordan Binnington stopped 21 shots to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 3-1 victory over the struggling Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night. Rosen’s goal in the second period snapped a 1-all tie and gave St. Louis victories in both its games against Chicago this season. The Blues won 5-2 in Chicago on Nov. 16. | 2022-12-30T18:28:36Z | sports.yahoo.com | NFL betting, odds: Let's back some underdogs for Week 17 contest picks | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-betting-odds-lets-back-some-underdogs-for-week-17-contest-picks-175420073.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl-betting-odds-lets-back-some-underdogs-for-week-17-contest-picks-175420073.html?src=rss |
It won’t take all that much for the season finale between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions next week to turn into a “win-and-in” showdown between the two NFC North rivals.
The Packers and Lions are both 7-8. If the Packers beat the Minnesota Vikings and the Washington Commanders lose to the Cleveland Browns, Matt LaFleur’s team will control its playoff fate going into the finale against the Lions.
However, if the Packers beat the Vikings, the Lions beat the Chicago Bears, the Commanders lose to the Browns and the Seattle Seahawks lose to the New York Jets this week, next week’s battle between the Packers and Lions turns into a scenario in which the winner goes to the playoffs and the loser is eliminated.
There’s a good chance the game would be flexed into primetime in this scenario.
In any possible scenario, the Packers will have to beat the Lions to get into the playoffs in the season finale. Even if the Packers beat the Vikings this week, a loss to the Lions in Week 18 would eliminate Green Bay in all scenarios.
The Lions, meanwhile, almost certainly need wins over the Bears and Packers to get in. A win over the Bears this week and a little bit of help would give Dan Campbell’s team a chance to beat the Packers at Lambeau Field and officially punch its ticket to the playoffs.
Barring an elimination situation this week, the Packers will have everything to play for next week. The same could be true for the Lions. It won’t take much in Week 17 for Packers-Lions to become a “win-and-in” finale showdown at Lambeau Field. | 2022-12-30T18:28:55Z | sports.yahoo.com | Here’s how Packers-Lions can become a ‘win-and-in’ season finale | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-lions-become-win-season-172629534.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/packers-lions-become-win-season-172629534.html?src=rss |
This iteration of the New England Patriots may not be the team of destiny, but they’ve certainly been the team of defensive dominance, especially when they’re healthy.
The unit has totaled 50 sacks on the season, which is the most sacks ever by a Patriots defense under coach Bill Belichick.
It’s a staggering statistic considering the team is currently sitting at 7-8 and one more loss away from seeing their playoff hopes go up in smoke. Defense has been the Patriots’ calling card throughout the season.
The unit has managed to help at certain points, but when it’s all said and done, it may not be able to save the team.
Matthew Judon is three sacks away from surpassing legendary Patriots linebacker Andre Tippett for most sacks in franchise history.
He has 15.5 sacks on the season, while Josh Uche has exploded with 11.5 sacks. The duo has arguably been the best pass-rushing tandem in the NFL this season. One can only imagine how good the team would have been if the offense held up its end in a year where the defense has clearly been Super Bowl caliber. | 2022-12-30T18:29:08Z | sports.yahoo.com | New record under Bill Belichick proves Patriots defense is elite | https://sports.yahoo.com/record-under-bill-belichick-proves-172106645.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/record-under-bill-belichick-proves-172106645.html?src=rss |
Cowboys enter Tyler Biadasz was the team’s offensive snap count leader going into Week 17’s game versus the Titans, having only come out for a handful of plays at the end of the routs over Minnesota and Indianapolis.
His departure Thursday came on the final play of the third quarter, while the game’s outcome still hung very much in the balance.
He missed the offense’s final 18 snaps. He could miss more.
Biadasz is believed to have suffered a high ankle sprain, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News. Biadasz is expected to undergo an MRI on Friday
“It may not be as bad as we think,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told the K&C Masterpiece on Dallas radio station 105.3 The Fan on Friday morning.
If the injury is not significant, the mini-bye that comes after the Thursday night game may help the third-year man’s chances of suiting up for the regular season finale.
But the Cowboys also got a 15-minute look at their Plan B, and have to feel encouraged by what they saw.
After being helped off the field, the 25-year-old was carted to the locker room at Nissan Stadium. It was determined shortly thereafter that he would not return to the game and was seen on the sideline in street clothes as the Cowboys went on to win the contest by a 27-13 final score.
Biadasz was wearing a walking boot as the team returned to the locker room.
Tyler Biadasz in a walking boot after the game. pic.twitter.com/LZwOiUo7zC
His in-game exit shuffled three-fifths of the Cowboys offensive line for the remainder of the game. Veteran Jason Peters entered to take over at left tackle so that rookie Tyler Smith could slide to the left guard position he learned in training camp. Connor McGovern moved from left guard to center.
“It’s a good thing that we practice it during the week in case of the worst-case scenario,” McGovern said, per the team website. “And so when [Peters] came out, Tyler [Smith] knew he was at guard and we’re all on the same page for everything.”
“McGovern, we work and we get snaps every day,” quarterback Dak Prescott said in his postgame press conference. “That goes to preparation. Obviously, you don’t want to prepare for something like this, but you have to, and that’s the reality of playing a physical game like we do.”
But when the injury to Biadasz first occurred, McGovern’s main worry was the light rain that had been falling for most of the night.
“The first thing that went through my mind was, ‘I have to make sure my hands are dry so I can hold onto this ball,'” McGovern continued. “It felt like just riding a bike again. Once I started to get going, I got used to it, and we were good to go.”
That O-line configuration helped the Dallas offense put 10 fourth-quarter points on the scoreboard to seal the club’s 12th victory of the season.
Backup center Brock Hoffman, who had been elevated from the practice squad for the game, played just five snaps, but all were on special teams.
The malfunctioning system manages medical screening for all aspiring service academy and ROTC enrollees. | 2022-12-30T18:29:14Z | sports.yahoo.com | Report: Cowboys center Tyler Biadasz believed to have high ankle sprain; MRI to come | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-cowboys-center-tyler-biadasz-164405711.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-cowboys-center-tyler-biadasz-164405711.html?src=rss |
Our staff predicted the game and for the first time, were split on the outcome.
Dec 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Brian Asamoah II (33) forces a fumble against New York Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger (82) during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
This rivalry game has some juice added to it and it’s the exact opposite of what we saw last year. The Vikings have a chance to take the Packers out of playoff contention like the Packers did with their 37-10 win last January. After a lot of discussion about the Vikings being fraudulent this week from Packers media, they prove that they aren’t with a double-digit win to bury their playoff hopes.
Dec 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah looks on before the game against the New York Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
The Vikings have the NFC North locked up, but there are plenty of reasons why this game remains important.
The Vikings head to Lambeau Field in a matchup where they can end the Packers’ season with a win. The stakes are high for both teams as the Packers are fighting for a playoff spot and the Vikings are still competing for the top seed in the NFC.
There has been some trash talk this week from Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander, which is only adding fuel to the fire. Unfortunately, I think the Packers will back it up in what I anticipate to be a shootout with minimal defense. Green Bay is hot, and they’re desperately trying to sneak into the postseason.
Prediction: Packers 34, Vikings 31
What are celebrities drinking this season? From spicy margaritas to sparkling water, stars share their favorite cocktails and mocktails | 2022-12-30T18:29:46Z | sports.yahoo.com | Vikings vs. Packers: Week 17 preview and predictions | https://sports.yahoo.com/vikings-vs-packers-week-17-180056823.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/vikings-vs-packers-week-17-180056823.html?src=rss |
Deion Sanders was on the Cowboys roster the last time they won the Super Bowl in 1996.
During the Thursday Night Football pregame show on Amazon Prime, Sanders asked if the Cowboys could be a contender for the Super Bowl title this season.
His answer was interesting.
“I love it, he said. “There’s a team in Philadelphia that’s pretty darn good. A couple of teams in the AFC are pretty darn good as well.”
The new University of Colorado football coach didn’t stop there.
Did he throw quarterback Dak Prescott under the bus?
“The reason we made it (to the Super Bowl),” he said. “The players that you are supposed to count on, they need to be there to count on. They need to be dominant. In those moments, we need to hear from Dak (Prescott); we need to hear from all of those players that are making this type of money ... But all of these players, that you depend on, they need to ball out.
You never questioned Michael Irvin or Troy (Aikman), Emmitt (Smith), whether they were going to show up or show out. “
Hmmm. It’s open to interpretation. | 2022-12-30T18:44:36Z | sports.yahoo.com | Did Deion Sanders call out Dak Prescott, Cowboys on Amazon Prime pregame show? | https://sports.yahoo.com/did-deion-sanders-call-dak-011858160.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/did-deion-sanders-call-dak-011858160.html?src=rss |
The numbers say the Jacksonville Jaguars should’ve won their Week 5 matchup against the Houston Texans.
Despite out-gaining the Texans by nearly 200 yards of offense, the Jaguars failed to turn their 422-yard day into any touchdowns. Trevor Lawrence threw three two interceptions and the Jaguars turned the ball over on downs three times.
That was then and this is now.
Lawrence finished the month of October — which included that loss to the Texans — with four touchdowns and five interceptions. In the seven games since the end of that month, Lawrence has 14 touchdowns and one interception.
The Texans are also playing better football, though. After barely losing to the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs in back-to-back weeks, Houston got its second win of the year last week by beating the Tennessee Titans, 19-14. The 66 points the Texans scored in the last three weeks are their most over a three-game stretch this year.
So what do the Jaguars have to do to avoid giving the Texans’ their third win of the season? Here are three keys to a Jacksonville win on Sunday:
The Jaguars are the better team. The bigger question is focus and motivation.
Doug Pederson has preached a mantra of “So what? Now what?” this season that tells Jaguars players to focus on the present rather than the past or future. The message seems to have stuck and Jacksonville players managed to take care of business last week against a slumping New York Jets.
The last two weeks will be a test in focus and staying grounded. All that stands between the Jaguars and a home playoff game are the two-win Texans and the Titans on a six-game losing streak.
If Jacksonville shows up to NRG Stadium ready to play the type of football it played in November and December, that should be enough.
Get the run game rolling
After a stretch of breakout games in the middle of the season, Travis Etienne Jr. has been a mostly quiet part of the Jaguars offense, even as he creeped over 1,000 rushing yards on the year last week.
While the Jaguars have won four of their last five games, Etienne has averaged 3.8 yards per carry over that stretch and hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 9.
The Texans offer an opportunity to get Etienne back on track. Houston’s defense is dead last in rushing yards allowed (168.6 yards per game) and 28th in yards allowed per carry (4.9).
In the last meeting, Etienne racked up 114 yards on only 13 touches. He should get a lot more touches than that in the rematch.
Bottle up the big plays
The Texans are second to last in the NFL in run plays that gained at least 10 yards. But Houston has been relatively explosive through the air.
With Brandin Cooks, Chris Moore, and Nico Collins at wide receiver, and even tight end Jordan Akins capable of a big gain, the Texans are above the league average in pass plays of 20 yards or more.
The Jaguars have locked down one side of the field all year with Tyson Campbell and they’ve recently figured out the other side by moving Darious Williams away from the slot.
If the rearranged Jacksonville secondary can keep the Texans from recording chunk plays, Houston is going to have a hard time driving down the field and recording many points.
The Polk Sheriff's Office says Ronald Lockett was prohibited from contacting his wife, Shameka, because of previous domestic violence charges. | 2022-12-30T20:13:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | 3 keys to a Jaguars victory vs. Texans in Week 17 | https://sports.yahoo.com/3-keys-jaguars-victory-vs-183817559.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/3-keys-jaguars-victory-vs-183817559.html?src=rss |
The Chicago Bears (3-12) released their final injury report ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Detroit Lions (7-8), where Chicago is looking to snap an eight-game losing streak.
The Bears are coming off a 35-13 loss to the Buffalo Bills, where they managed to keep things close for a half before the Bills pulled away. Now, Chicago will face a Lions team fighting for a playoff spot. But, the good news is the Bears will be getting back some key players at receiver and on the offensive line.
We’re breaking down the Bears’ final injury report heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Lions:
OL Ja’Tyre Carter (back)
Rookie Ja’Tyre Carter missed practice for a second straight day with a back injury, and he’s officially been ruled out. Sterling Weatherford, who’s been battling an illness, won’t play Sunday against the Lions.
The Bears could be getting back a couple of receivers in Chase Claypool and Dante Pettis, who are officially questionable for Sunday’s game against the Lions. Claypool has missed the last two games with a knee injury, and he’s been limited in practice over the last two days. Pettis suffered an ankle injury in Wednesday’s practice, which forced him to miss Thursday. He was limited on Friday, which gives him a chance to pay. Meanwhile, Trevon Wesco, who’s missed the last few games, appears on track to make his return after being limited all week with a calf injury.
The Bears are getting back some key starters on offense, starting with linemen Teven Jenkins and Cody Whitehair, who have been the best offensive linemen this season. Jenkins suffered a neck injury a couple weeks ago while Whitehair has been battling a knee injury. Equanimeous St. Brown, who suffered a concussion against the Eagles, has cleared concussion protocol and is on track to return to the lineup. Meanwhile on defense, Justin Jones has been battling an eye injury, but he’s been a full participant in practice in the last two days, and he’s good to go. Andrew Brown, who’s been nursing an ankle injury, is also on track to return.
CB Jaylon Johnson (IR): Johnson suffered a broken ring finger, which ultimately landed him on IR ahead of Week 16. His season is done.
CB Kindle Vildor (IR): Vildor was placed on IR with an ankle injury ahead of Week 16 against the Bills, ending his season.
Lions Injury Report | 2022-12-30T20:13:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | Analyzing Bears’ final injury report for Week 17 against Lions | https://sports.yahoo.com/analyzing-bears-final-injury-report-192952607.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/analyzing-bears-final-injury-report-192952607.html?src=rss |
Belichick declines to answer whether Mac Jones is 'dirty' player originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Bill Belichick is staying out of the Mac Jones "dirty player" discourse that has dominated headlines since last Sunday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
The NFL fined Jones earlier this week for his low block on Bengals cornerback Eli Apple, who called out the New England Patriots quarterback for what he considered a dirty play. Multiple NFL players and analysts agreed with Apple and went as far as to label Jones a dirty player due to it not being his first controversial incident.
On Friday, Belichick was asked to share his take on whether Jones is a dirty player.
"Yeah, I'm not going to sit up here and comment on that," Belichick said during his press conference. "I mean, we can go through the rest of the roster and ask the same questions, right? About different things about players and all that. So I'm not going to get into any of that.
"Right now, my focus is on the Miami Dolphins. It's not on some other game, some other play, some other year, what somebody else said or didn't say. Like, we're trying to get ready for the Dolphins. Honestly, I don't even think about those things."
A typical Belichickian answer, but still noteworthy that the longtime Patriots head coach didn't come to his QB's defense. As a follow-up, he was asked whether he runs the risk of alienating Jones by not answering the question directly.
"I have a good relationship with all the players," Belichick said. "I talk to all the players. I talk to the team every day. I talk to the players individually on an as-needed basis or anything that's relevant. So I feel comfortable in my relationship with every player, every coach, every staff member if that's what you're asking."
In addition to the block on Apple, Jones has been under scrutiny for grabbing and twisting the ankle of Carolina Panthers defensive end Brian Burns last season. He also kicked Chicago Bears defensive back Jaquan Brisker in the groin during a slide earlier this year, but was not disciplined for the play.
Jones addressed the recent criticisms of his play on Wednesday.
"Everybody has an opinion," he said. "And the biggest thing for me is focusing on being the best teammate I can be, and earning the respect of the people in this building and the people I care about.
It's clear the Patriots are ignoring the noise heading into a crucial Week 17 matchup vs. the Miami Dolphins. It's a game they must win to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET Sunday at Gillette Stadium. | 2022-12-30T20:14:25Z | sports.yahoo.com | Bill Belichick declines to answer whether Mac Jones is 'dirty' player | https://sports.yahoo.com/bill-belichick-declines-answer-whether-194900579.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/bill-belichick-declines-answer-whether-194900579.html?src=rss |
Despite a truncated rookie season on track to feature just six starts, Brock Purdy has a chance to lift himself into the 49ers rookie history books.
With three more touchdown passes in the final two weeks, he would set a new franchise record for touchdown passes by a rookie QB. Three more would put him at 11 on the season, eclipsing the 10 Tom Owen tossed in 10 games during his rookie campaign in 1974.
Things get a little trickier if we expand our definition of “rookie.” The 49ers place Tom Owen’s 10 as the franchise’s rookie record for TD passes, but another first-year NFL QB passed that number in a 49ers uniforms. Jeff Garcia had 11 TD passes in 1999 – his first NFL season.
Garcia technically wasn’t a rookie though since he became a pro in 1994 with the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders. He made his way to the NFL in 1999 where he started 10 of the 13 games he played for San Francisco and tossed 11 TDs.
Frankie Albert had 14 TD passes in 1946, but he was a draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 1942. Nick Mullens in 2018 posted 13 TDs, but he was an undrafted rookie in 2017.
Technicalities aside, Purdy is having one of the most successful seasons a first-year QB has ever had for the 49ers, and his continued success will determine whether he can become the first rookie QB for any team to start a Super Bowl. | 2022-12-30T20:14:31Z | sports.yahoo.com | Brock Purdy has strong chance to set 49ers rookie TD pass record | https://sports.yahoo.com/brock-purdy-strong-chance-set-200047569.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/brock-purdy-strong-chance-set-200047569.html?src=rss |
Ward embracing Adams challenge as he builds 49ers legacy originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
SANTA CLARA — 49ers defensive back Charvarius “Mooney” Ward might not be a household name yet, but at the rate the cornerback is playing it’s just a matter of time.
On Sunday, Ward will be matched up against Las Vegas Raiders star receiver Davante Adams, which only will increase his visibility. The Middle Tennessee State product spoke to NBC Sports Bay Area about being ready for his time in the spotlight, which he knows is why the 49ers signed him to a three-year, $40.5 million contract during the offseason.
“It’s going to be a big matchup,” Ward said. “Another opportunity for me to make a name for myself, have a good game and prove that I’m one of the best in the game at my position. That’s honestly what I feel like I need to do, ball against these good receivers.”
The 49ers' top cornerback already is a known quantity among NFL coaches and fellow players. It is likely part of the reason he was targeted just once in San Francisco's win over the Washington Commanders in Week 16. He did not allow a catch.
In Week 15, Ward followed Seattle Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf throughout the entire game, limiting the 6-foot-4, 235-pound wideout to seven catches for 55 yards. It was Metcalf’s lowest production in receiving yards over his most recent six games. His 7.86 yards-per-catch was his third-lowest average of the season.
Facing off with Adams might be Ward’s most challenging matchup of the season, but his experience playing against the two-time All-Pro will help him be prepared. Ward traveled to Lambeau Field twice during his tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs to line up across Adams, then starring for the Green Bay Packers.
“He knows football, leverage, and releases,” Ward said of Adams. “At the top of the route he knows how to shake you. And when it’s time to catch the ball, he can make any catch, one hand, two hands.
“I just know his releases are just crazy. The way he releases off the ball. You can know a route he’s running and it’s still like damn, where’d he go? He’s really good at his craft.”
49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans has been impressed with Ward’s play and believes Sunday’s contest will be a great challenge. The coach’s emphasis, however, is on playing team defense.
RELATED: Brandon Aiyuk explains Instagram comment directed at Raiders' Davante Adams
“I know Mooney is looking forward to the matchup,” Ryans said. “It'll be a really good matchup if Mooney lines up on him. Whoever lines up, they have their hands full and they have to go make a play, but we have to understand that guys aren't out there by themselves.
“With our corners, it is going to be about our rush, affecting the quarterback and it's about just mixing things up with coverages, with schemes, just mixing things up to make the quarterbacks figure it out.”
Even with the help of his defensive counterparts, Ward knows the responsibility of limiting Adams rests on his shoulders -- and he can't wait. | 2022-12-30T20:14:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | Charvarius Ward embracing Davante Adams challenge as he builds 49ers legacy | https://sports.yahoo.com/charvarius-ward-embracing-davante-adams-184555153.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/charvarius-ward-embracing-davante-adams-184555153.html?src=rss |
Kansas City Chiefs HC Andy Reid briefed reporters on the injury situation following practice on Friday.
After he wasn’t spotted at practice for the past two days, Reid confirmed that WR Mecole Hardman suffered a setback during practice on Wednesday.
“Mecole (Hardman) will not play, he’ll be out,” Reid said. “He had a setback on Wednesday. He just isn’t ready yet. We’ll keep bringing him along and see how he does.”
Hardman won’t be activated to the 53-man roster and play in Week 17 against the Denver Broncos. With his 21-day practice window set to expire next week, Reid didn’t seem too worried about the possibility of Hardman not being activated from injured reserve.
“Yeah, so I believe that’s Wednesday,” Reid said. “I’m not that worried about it. As long as he’s progressing and trying to work to get better here we’ll be OK. If he can’t, then he can’t and we’ll move on and keep going with the guys that we’ve got.”
Should Hardman not return from injured reserve, it could be the end of his career in Kansas City. He’s scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in March.
While Reid classified Hardman’s issue as a setback, it seems like they pulled him from practice out of an abundance of caution and that the issue might be minor in nature.
We’ll see if Hardman’s able to return to practice and return to the 53-man roster next week ahead of the regular season finale with the Las Vegas Raiders. | 2022-12-30T20:15:06Z | sports.yahoo.com | Chiefs HC Andy Reid provides injury update following Friday practice | https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-hc-andy-reid-provides-191823664.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/chiefs-hc-andy-reid-provides-191823664.html?src=rss |
There has been a change in plans for the Arizona Cardinals this week. Quarterback Colt McCoy returned to practice after clearing concussion protocols and was slated to start against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
That will not happen. David Blough, signed last week, will make the start at quarterback, head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters Friday after practice.
McCoy was not present at the open part of practice Friday after being a full participant both Wednesday and Thursday. Kingsbury said McCoy experienced concussion symptoms and ruled him out for the game.
It will be Blough who starts instead of Trace McSorley, who made his first NFL start on Sunday in the Cardinals’ 19-16 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Blough made five starts for the Detroit Lions in 2019. They lost all five of those games.
Blough, in seven career appearances, has completed 54.3% of his passes for 1,033 yards, fourth touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Arizona Cardinals release depth chart before NFL Week 17 game vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Cardinals have released their latest depth ahead of Sunday's NFL Week 17 game against the Atlanta Falcons. | 2022-12-30T20:15:27Z | sports.yahoo.com | David Blough to start at QB for Cardinals vs. Falcons | https://sports.yahoo.com/david-blough-start-qb-cardinals-190636400.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/david-blough-start-qb-cardinals-190636400.html?src=rss |
It feels like the Derek Carr era has officially come to an end in Las Vegas. Going into Week 17, the Raiders have sent Carr home and will start Jarrett Stidham against the 49ers.
That move is mostly financial as the Raiders would be on the hook for Carr’s 2023 and 2024 salary if he’s unable to pass a physical and the end of the year. With so much uncertainty surrounding the franchise, this move gives them some flexibility this off-season.
However, it’s a bummer for Carr, who currently has the second-longest active streak of starts at QB (91). And before you even ask, Tom Brady has the most at 108. That stat was provided by ESPN Stats and Info in a recent article previewing all of the Week 17 games.
The last time Carr did not start a game was back in 2017 when he missed a game early in the season with an injury. He’s been incredibly durable for the Raiders during his career, rarely missing time with injuries.
There is still a lot that has to be figured out in the Derek Carr saga, but it does feel like his time with the Raiders has come to a conclusion.
Quarterback Jarrett Stidham called getting the opportunity to start his first NFL game “a dream come true” even if the circumstances weren't ideal and the opponent Sunday owns the league's top defense. Stidham takes the place of Derek Carr, whose nine-year stint with the Raiders likely ended Wednesday when he was benched for the final two games by Las Vegas coach Josh McDaniels. Carr left the Raiders' facility and hasn't returned. | 2022-12-30T20:15:33Z | sports.yahoo.com | Derek Carr has the second-most consecutive starts at QB | https://sports.yahoo.com/derek-carr-second-most-consecutive-192345711.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/derek-carr-second-most-consecutive-192345711.html?src=rss |
The Arizona Cardinals will not have defensive lineman J.J. Watt on their roster next season. He announced he will retire at the conclusion of the season.
However, he will still impact the salary cap in 2023.
When he signed his two-year contract, it included three voided years to ease the cap hit while he was on the roster.
His $12 million signing bonus was prorated into five parts. However, 60% of that cap hit will come due in 2023. $7.2 million of the $12 million has not counted against the cap yet. It will in 2023.
He has also earned performance bonuses for his sacks. Thus far, he has earned $900,000 in incentives for his sacks. If he gets to 10 sacks, that total will go up to $1 million.
Performance bonuses affect the team’s cap the following year
So while Watt will not be on the team next year, his contract will count either $8.1 or $8.2 million against next year’s cap. | 2022-12-30T20:16:07Z | sports.yahoo.com | J.J. Watt’s contract still impacts Cardinals’ 2023 cap despite retirement | https://sports.yahoo.com/j-j-watt-contract-still-185318429.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/j-j-watt-contract-still-185318429.html?src=rss |
Nick Bosa’s outstanding fourth season appears primed to culminate in a Defensive Player of the Year award. He could also bag a 49ers franchise record in the process.
With 17.5 sacks, Bosa leads the NFL and finds himself just 2.0 behind Aldon Smith’s franchise record of 19.5 sacks, which was set in the 2012 season.
If Bosa’s season so far is any indication, he’ll get there and possibly beyond with two games to go. He’s posted at least 1.0 sacks in 12 of the 14 games he’s played, and one of the games he didn’t was Week 5 in Carolina when he left halfway through the game with a groin issue. Bosa had 2.0 or more sacks in four of those contests. There’s a real chance he at least ties the record against the Raiders on Sunday, giving him a full game to try and set the record against the Cardinals in Week 18.
Perhaps the most impressive part of Bosa’s chase for the 49ers’ single-season record is that he won’t necessarily benefit from the 17-game schedule. He was out for San Francisco’s Week 6 game in Atlanta, putting him on track to play 16 games – the same number Smith played when he set the record in 2012.
As for the NFL record — that’s a little further off. Bosa would need 5.5 sacks in two games to break the record of 22.5 set by Michael Strahan in XXXX, and tied by Steelers DE TJ Watt last season. Getting there is not out of the realm of possibilities for the superstar DE, but he’ll start by chasing down Smith for the 49ers’ franchise record before setting his sights on something higher. | 2022-12-30T20:16:45Z | sports.yahoo.com | Nick Bosa closing in on 49ers single-season sack record | https://sports.yahoo.com/nick-bosa-closing-49ers-single-191255898.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/nick-bosa-closing-49ers-single-191255898.html?src=rss |
The Carolina Panthers didn’t sign Josh Norman just so he can make coffee for the team.
On Friday, interim head coach Steve Wilks told reporters that Norman is expected to be elevated to the active roster for Sunday’s NFC South showdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The former All-Pro cornerback, following a successful workout, was signed to the practice squad on Monday.
“I thought he picked up the defense well,” Wilks said in response to Joseph Person of The Athletic. “Moving around, he’s still trying to get into what I call ‘game shape.’ His movement skills look good, coming in and out of his breaks. It’s just, like I call it, getting back on a bike.”
Norman, 35, hasn’t been an NFL game since Jan. 30, 2022—when his San Francisco 49ers took on the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship bout. He played just eight snaps in the contest—all on special teams.
As for his snaps this Sunday, Wilks stated he has an idea on a pitch count.
Panthers Week 17 injury report: Jaycee Horn out vs. Buccaneers
How to watch Panthers vs. Buccaneers: Time, TV and streaming options for Week 17
It's Week 17 of the 2022 season and the Carolina Panthers are in a must-win situation. (Didn't think you'd be reading that two and a half months ago, did ya?)
At least eight IndyCar drivers are entered in the 61st Rolex 24 at Daytona, which will open the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on Jan. 28-29, 2023. | 2022-12-30T20:16:53Z | sports.yahoo.com | Panthers CB Josh Norman expected to play vs. Buccaneers in Week 17 | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-cb-josh-norman-expected-181535514.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/panthers-cb-josh-norman-expected-181535514.html?src=rss |
Adams joined the Raiders last offseason in part to reunite with Derek Carr. The two of them had great success at Fresno State, with both getting drafted into the NFL in the second round by the Raiders and Packers respectively.
After eight years with the team that drafted them, Adams was ready to move on and the Raiders were the perfect destination for him. It was his childhood team, he’d be close to his family in California, and he’d get a chance to play with Carr again.
Despite this reunion, Carr has had his worst season since his rookie year and was benched and sent home for the final two weeks of the season.
Adams was asked about his feelings on the benching and dismissal of his long time friend. And naturally, he was pretty upset.
“I don’t think anybody was excited about it in here,” Adams said Wednesday. “Him being one of my really good friends and the reason why I came here in the first place. I wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t here. I think everybody knows how I feel about him. With that said I think this is the process of how things go and I’m not going to sit here and go on and on. Obviously I support my guy. We got to finish the season out the best way we can possible with all things considered at this point.”
Adams also took to social media to express his support for Derek.
Davante Adams on IG. pic.twitter.com/AeZWYyJqlK
Adams being upset is to be expected. All the head coach can do is understand Adams’s feelings on this and give him as well as anyone else on the team who may be upset about this decision to space they need.
“Relationships are relationships. The human side of it is real. And so you’re allowed to feel however you feel about people,” McDaniels said of the team’s reaction to Carr’s benching. “I think we all have a job to do and I think they’ve done a tremendous job this week of preparing each day. Practice has been good, their energy has been tremendous and their attitude has been great. And that’s what I would’ve expected them to do and that’s what they’ve done.”
McDaniels talks about how the team is practicing this week and how “mature” the players have been. But the real concern with regard to Adams is not how he will perform this week or next week. It’s about whether he will ultimately be able to get past this and stay with the team after this season.
Adams was asked about that this week and was entirely non-committal.
“We got two games left. We got the Niners this week and then we got another game to go to finish and that’s all I’m really focused on right now,” said Adams. He then added “This is what I have to do for the remainder of the season and then moving forward we’ll see how everything goes from there.”
This team can’t make decisions about Carr or anyone else based on how Adams or anyone else may or may not react to it. And while Adams was most certainly holding back and not saying much of what he would like to say, it is still no guarantee he will feel the same way when it comes down to whether he will return next season.
The team is almost certainly moving on from Carr at this point. But undoubtedly they’d prefer to have Adams onboard to give the next quarterback an All Pro target.
It seems to me the bigger question is not whether Adams will leave out of loyalty to Carr, but rather whether Adams would leave simply because at this point in his career, he doesn’t want to be part of an unstable situation.
In that regard, it will be up to McDaniels and Raiders brass to do everything they can to prove to Adams that there will be stability and that the team won’t be starting over entirely. | 2022-12-30T20:17:07Z | sports.yahoo.com | Raiders giving Davante Adams space to ‘feel however you feel’ hoping he’ll come around | https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-giving-davante-adams-space-195134282.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/raiders-giving-davante-adams-space-195134282.html?src=rss |
Fans cheer in the stands during a preseason game between the Chargers and Rams on Aug. 14. This is the first time the teams have met in the regular season at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers are the home team. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield had a strong connection with Tyler Higbee against the Denver Broncos, with the tight end catching two touchdown passes. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
Rams' perspective: The Rams offense generated 44 points in last Sunday’s 51-14 victory over the Denver Broncos. Don’t count on a repeat performance against a Chargers defense that has given up 17 points of fewer in the last three games against the Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts. But the Rams will enter the game with confidence because quarterback Baker Mayfield is coming off a highly efficient performance and the rushing attack and offensive line play is trending upward. Rams coach Sean McVay will try to put Mayfield in situations that limit his exposure to a Chargers pass rush that produced seven sacks in Monday’s victory over the Colts. Mayfield rebounded from a subpar performance against the Green Bay Packers and completed 24 of 28 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns against the Broncos. He was not sacked. Running back Cam Akers can help keep Mayfield out of harm’s way if he continues his recent surge. Akers rushed for 118 yards and three touchdowns in 23 carries against the Broncos, validating his seasonlong claim that the key to establishing the rushing attack was sticking with it and putting the ball in his hands. Tight end Tyler Higbee has scored three touchdowns in the last three games.
Chargers' perspective: Over the last three weeks, the Chargers have played their best defense since coach Brandon Staley was hired in January of 2021. Their victory Monday against Indianapolis is difficult to gauge since the Colts were starting a rusty Nick Foles at quarterback. Still, they have been dominant in surrendering only 34 points during this three-game winning streak. The Chargers have been especially good on third down, which had been a problem for much of the last two seasons. But since Week 13, they’ve held their opponents to nine of 42 conversions on third down, the best mark in the NFL during that time. “I think that it’s just been the continuous work,” defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill said. “We’ve been harping on it all season. We know that early on, it wasn’t clicking for us. But I think that the guys have been coming in with a sense of urgency to go out there and get it done.” The Chargers also shut out the opposition in four consecutive first quarters, the franchise’s longest such streak since 2011. The Rams scored 17 points in the first quarter on Christmas Day. Here’s something to watch: despite their recent upswing, the Chargers still have not limited an opponent to fewer than 4.7 yards per rush since Week 10. The Rams' Cam Akers ran for 118 yards Sunday.
Keenan Allen, who has missed most of the regular season, had his first 100-yard receiving game when the Chargers beat the Colts on Sunday. (AJ Mast / Associated Press)
Chargers' perspective: Last season, the Chargers averaged 27.9 points per game, which ranked fifth in the NFL. To understand how much their scoring has dipped in 2022, consider that in order to match their production from a year ago they’d have to put up 142 points in the next two weeks. Unlikely to happen. The Chargers have scored as many as four touchdowns in a game only once and haven’t scored more than two in each of their last four games. Injuries plagued this group early, the missing pieces including wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and left tackle Rashawn Slater. But only Slater remains out, and the Chargers still are struggling to find themselves. “I have so much confidence in our players and our coaches,” Staley said. “What we have yet to establish is that consistency of the rhythm of our offense and producing consistently, in terms of scoring the ball.” The Chargers are 13th in the league, averaging 22.1 points. The pressure — at least publicly — is mounting for offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. Quarterback Justin Herbert has gone back-to-back games without throwing a touchdown pass for the first time in his career. Herbert also has been sacked 25 times over the last six games. He has been sacked four or more times on six occasions as a pro. Five of those six occasions have come over the last six weeks.
Rams' perspective: The Rams routed the Broncos thanks in large part to a defense that intercepted four passes, setting up the offense with advantageous field position and, in one case, scoring a touchdown. So defensive coordinator Raheem Morris must design a scheme that forces Herbert into mistakes and turnovers — a tall order because Herbert has the size, mobility and arm talent to overcome what might at first look like an error. Rookie cornerback Cobie Durant intercepted two passes against the Broncos, returning one 85 yards for a touchdown. Linebacker Bobby Wagner and cornerback Jalen Ramsey also intercepted passes. The Chargers, however, have more experienced receivers, including one of the NFL’s most dynamic duos in Allen and Williams. And running back Austin Ekeler has rushed for 11 touchdowns and scored five times on pass plays for an NFL-leading 16 touchdowns. Without injured star lineman Aaron Donald, the Rams of late have seen players such as unheralded outside linebacker Michael Hoecht and defensive tackle Larrell Murchison step up. And edge rusher Leonard Floyd has three sacks in the last two games for a unit that had six sacks against the Broncos.
Rams' perspective: In a season marked by the inconsistent play of the offense and defense, Rams kicker Matt Gay has been a bright spot. Punter Riley Dixon essentially got the day off against the Broncos because the Rams scored on all eight possessions. That will not be the case against the Chargers. Brandon Powell remains in search of a breakout return.
Chargers' perspective: Rookie Cameron Dicker might be kicking his way into a full-time job with the Chargers. Though he has yet to make a field goal longer than 47 yards, Dicker is 16 of 17 overall and 16 of 16 on extra points. He is four of five on field goal attempts of 40 yards or longer, with his lone miss coming from 52 yards.
Rams coach Sean McVay, left, and Chargers coach Brandon Staley face each other for the first time in the regular season. Staley had been McVay's defensive coordinator before being hired by the other L.A. team. (Ben Liebenberg / Associated Press)
Klein's pick: After routing the Broncos, the Rams are riding high and can play with nothing to lose. But the Chargers are playoff bound and motivated to improve their seeding. CHARGERS 23, RAMS 20
Miller's pick: The Chargers are playing for playoff seeding. The Rams are playing for nothing. So, naturally, this game will be absurdly close and come down to the final seconds. CHARGERS 21, RAMS 20 | 2022-12-30T20:17:20Z | sports.yahoo.com | Rams vs. Chargers matchups, how to watch and predictions | https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-vs-chargers-matchups-watch-190402114.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-vs-chargers-matchups-watch-190402114.html?src=rss |
Rapoport: I would be surprised if Dobbs is not the starter for Tennessee in Week 18
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport explains why the Tennessee Titans' loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17 doesn't change the fact that it'd be surprising to see anyone other than Joshua Dobbs starting for the Titans at quarterback in the team's winner-take-all showdown for the AFC South title against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 18 of the 2022 NFL regular season. | 2022-12-30T20:17:27Z | sports.yahoo.com | Rapoport: I would be surprised if Dobbs is not the starter for Tennessee in Week 18 | https://sports.yahoo.com/rapoport-surprised-dobbs-not-starter-190154820.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/rapoport-surprised-dobbs-not-starter-190154820.html?src=rss |
While the Miami Dolphins worked out two wide receivers on Thursday, they haven’t signed either of them yet.
However, according to the Miami Herald’s Daniel Oyefusi, the Dolphins have re-signed wide receiver Calvin Jackson Jr. to the practice squad. Jackson previously spent a month on the practice squad earlier in the season, as he was released during the last week of November.
Jackson, 25, is the son of the late Calvin Jackson, who spent five seasons with the Dolphins from 1994-99.
This move may be happening because undrafted rookie Braylon Sanders used the last of his elevations last week against the Green Bay Packers, so he can’t play again this season unless he’s signed to the active roster.
Bam Adebayo with an alley oop vs the Los Angeles Lakers
Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat) with an alley oop vs the Los Angeles Lakers, 12/28/2022 | 2022-12-30T20:17:33Z | sports.yahoo.com | Report: Dolphins re-sign former ‘Last Chance U’ WR to practice squad | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-dolphins-sign-former-last-182049380.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/report-dolphins-sign-former-last-182049380.html?src=rss |
The Houston Texans offense doesn’t seem the same.
The Texans have scored at least 19 points in their past three games and have posted a win. In their previous two games, they took playoff contenders in the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, and Tennessee Titans down to the wire, eventually getting an elusive victory over the Titans in Week 16.
Second-year quarterback Davis Mills returned to the lineup after a two-game benching, but the insertion of Mills alone — and the deployment of the two quarterback system with Jeff Driskel — can’t account for why the offense is doing better.
According to offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, the Texans have done a better job of not getting carried away with momentum and staying grounded.
“I think from week-to-week we have to do a great job of not getting too high with the highs or low with the lows,” said Hamilton. “Trusting that our process of preparing ourselves to be at our best on game day is comprehensive. Ultimately, it’s going to come down to us putting our players in the best position to be successful. Then those guys have the tough job of going out and making the plays.”
“As of late, because we’ve been able to get more first downs and have some success early in the game,” said Hamilton.
Hamilton also pointed out the Texans have had more success on early downs than they had previously. The numbers don’t exactly bear out as Houston’s 3.4 yards per play on first down from Weeks 14-16 is the second-lowest in the NFL. However, the Texans are the eighth-best third down team in that span with a 43.5% conversion rate.
Said Hamilton: “It seems to fuel our entire sideline, and we hope to do that this Sunday. Fuel the entire stadium and bring some excitement and energy for the fans and to the stadium on Sunday as well.”
Houston takes on the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at NRG Stadium to close out the season series and also their last game at home for the 2022 season. | 2022-12-30T20:17:40Z | sports.yahoo.com | Texans OC Pep Hamilton says early down success has helped offense keep moving | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-oc-pep-hamilton-says-182831764.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-oc-pep-hamilton-says-182831764.html?src=rss |
Kenyon Green has played 13 games, starting in 12 of them, but his offensive line coach believes the first-rounder can show more improvement in the final two games.
Green has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, but should be good to go against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 17 at NRG Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Houston Texans offensive line coach George Warhop likes what he has seen from the Texas A&M product, but sees areas where he still has to develop.
“Kenyon is still a work in progress in my mind,” said Warhop. “He does some really good things, and there’s some things we got to fix. We’re just working those things out.”
Warhop doesn’t compare Green to other young players. Instead Warhop is measuring Green against what the Humble Atascocita High School alumnus is being asked within offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton’s system.
“When you get players, you don’t look at one young player and compare them to the next,” Warhop explained. “My deal is, ‘Hey are you doing it the way we ask? Are you trying to get it done? How are you progressing with that?’ And he’s been doing that.”
Green left Week 14’s 27-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys with an ankle injury. The Texans shuffled right tackle Tytus Howard to left guard and substituted Charlie Heck in place of Howard at right tackle.
Warhop noted Green had challenges in his rookie season going against stellar defensive tackles such as Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen in Week 11 against Washington, who completely dominated the line of scrimmage and shut down Houston’s run game.
Said Warhop: “He was doing really well, kind of hit some hiccups, then he got back on track. That’s just the process with a young guy.”
With Green returning to the lineup, the Texans should be able to move Howard back to right tackle against the Jaguars. | 2022-12-30T20:17:46Z | sports.yahoo.com | Texans OL coach George Warhop still sees G Kenyon Green as ‘work in progress’ | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-ol-coach-george-warhop-200113029.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-ol-coach-george-warhop-200113029.html?src=rss |
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) jogs on the filed during warm-ups ahead of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)
''He's better than the day before,'' McDaniel said. ''But I'm also trying to get a team ready to play this game, and it really doesn't do anybody any service to over talk the scenario where he's got to be focused on his health and nothing else.''
McDaniel has appeared equally concerned for his 24-year-old starting quarterback, but has chosen his words carefully, offering few details on Tagovailoa's future. He said Friday that he has blocked out outside opinions ''diligently'' regarding Tagovailoa's health.
''I haven't read or talked or heard anything outside of doing my job with the people that I work with,'' McDaniel said. ''I think from an integrity standpoint, it's important for me to do everything for the right reasons and not have influences either way with whatever the situation is.''
That was four days after he was allowed to return to a game against Buffalo after he appeared disoriented following a hit. It was an unsettling scene as Tagovailoa wobbled when he tried to get back on his feet, and the NFL later changed its concussion protocol to mandate that any player who shows possible concussion symptoms - including a lack of balance or stability - sit out the remainder of a game.
''It's been a process, that's for sure,'' Tagovailoa said in October. ''Having to deal with the interviews with the NFL and the NFLPA and then having to go and see doctors outside with second opinions ... but all of it is done for player safety. I'm glad that I got to go through those things to kind of understand more of the deals of concussions and the effects.''
''That's my brother,'' he said. ''I want him to always be safe, but at the same time play the game that he loves and do what he loves to do and see him happy. In life I feel like we all have to make those tough decisions, regardless of what he feels like doing at the moment. There are lot more years and a lot of more time too, because he's still young.'' | 2022-12-30T20:17:59Z | sports.yahoo.com | Tua Tagovailoa officially out with concussion at New England | https://sports.yahoo.com/tua-tagovailoa-officially-concussion-england-182623713.html?src=rss | https://sports.yahoo.com/tua-tagovailoa-officially-concussion-england-182623713.html?src=rss |
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