The Chicago Bears hired former Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy as their offensive coordinator, the team announced Sunday.Getsy will be part of a new regime in Chicago after the club hired Ryan Poles as its general manager and former Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus as its head coach.Getsy has served as the Packers' quarterbacks coach since 2019. He also enjoyed an earlier stint with the club as an offensive quality control coach and a wide receivers coach from 2014-2017.The 37-year-old will be tasked with the development of former first-round quarterback Justin Fields. Fields threw for seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions across 12 appearances during his rookie campaign.Getsy will be the second Packers offensive assistant to depart the team after former offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was named the head coach of the Denver Broncos. Green Bay will promote offensive line coach Adam Stenavich to fill Hackett's role, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to hire New England Patriots executive Dave Ziegler as their new general manager, according to Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.More to come.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu will play in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals after clearing concussion protocol, the team announced Sunday.Mathieu suffered a concussion in the first quarter of Kansas City's divisional-round victory over the Buffalo Bills. He was deemed questionable for Sunday's contest after being a full participant in practice on Thursday and Friday.The 29-year-old earned his second straight Pro-Bowl selection after grabbing three interceptions in 2021. He also added 76 tackles, one sack, and three fumble recoveries.Mathieu's placement in the starting lineup will likely reduce Daniel Sorensen back to his usual backup safety role. Sorensen played 59 snaps - his most since Week 4 - in the divisional-round win against the Bills due to Mathieu's exit.The Chiefs can clinch their third straight Super Bowl appearance with a win Sunday.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Burrow has rejuvenated the Cincinnati Bengals franchise in just two seasons, with the quarterback set to play in his first AFC Championship Game on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.However, the up-and-coming star could've been leading the Miami Dolphins instead.Miami attempted to acquire the 2020 No. 1 overall selection from the Bengals and was willing to give up all three of its first-round picks that year and more, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was among those pushing hardest for the trade, but Cincinnati reportedly had no interest and quickly shut down talks, according to Rapoport.Miami ultimately stayed at No. 5 overall and selected Tua Tagovailoa, who produced an inconsistent first two campaigns in the NFL.The Dolphins will likely view the 2020 draft as a significant turning point in franchise history if Tagovailoa can't reach his pre-draft expectations.They also missed out on a less costly chance at another franchise-caliber passer in Justin Herbert, whom the Los Angeles Chargers took a pick after Tagovailoa.Herbert won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 and followed that up with a 5,000-yard Pro Bowl season in 2021. He's also the first quarterback to record 30 touchdown passes in each of his first two campaigns.Burrow's sophomore leap was a major reason for the Bengals' improvement this campaign. He threw for 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns against 14 interceptions in the regular season despite coming off a torn ACL that prematurely ended his rookie year. He's also thrown for 592 yards and two touchdowns against one interception in two playoff appearances.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers are cautiously optimistic that quarterback Aaron Rodgers will return for the 2022 season after he stayed in Green Bay for an extra few days "to plot out the team's future" and meet with head coach Matt LaFleur and others, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.After losing to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round, Rodgers said he'd take some time to decide his future.The reigning MVP added he doesn't want to be part of a rebuilding effort at this stage of his career. Green Bay is projected to be $46.3 million over the cap in 2022, per Spotrac. It also still needs to re-sign star wide receiver Davante Adams.Rodgers' time with the Packers appeared to be drawing to a close last offseason. The signal-caller indicated he didn't want to return to Green Bay and stayed away from the team until training camp.The Packers eventually eased tensions with its franchise player and promised to revisit the situation this offseason.Rodgers is the favorite to win his second straight MVP trophy after throwing for 4,115 yards and 37 touchdowns against four interceptions.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell emerged as a key candidate to be the Jacksonville Jaguars' next head coach, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The Jaguars reportedly hope to speak to O'Connell - who wasn't on their initial list of candidates - as soon as Monday if the Rams lose in Sunday's NFC title game.Jacksonville lost two of its finalists in Nathaniel Hackett and Matt Eberflus to the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears, respectively. Despite speculation that Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich was close to earning the Jaguars job this week, the club hasn't made a move for him.Leftwich is still a candidate for the job, sources told Rapoport.The Jaguars have competition for O'Connell, who is also a top candidate for the Minnesota Vikings and Houston Texans.O'Connell, a former NFL quarterback, worked under Sean McVay for the last two seasons in Los Angeles. He spent the prior three seasons with the Washington Football Team, working as a quarterbacks coach from 2017-18 before being promoted to offensive coordinator.McVay's coaching tree has expanded rapidly in his relatively short tenure in charge of the Rams and includes the likes of Matt LaFleur, Zac Taylor, and Brandon Staley.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings will interview Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh for their vacant coaching position, sources told Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.Harbaugh is familiar with new Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, and their relationship is a major reason why the coach landed on the team's radar, ESPN's Courtney Cronin reports. The pair spent time together while working for the San Francisco 49ers. Harbaugh served as the head coach from 2011-2014, while Adofo-Mensah began a role as manager of football research and development in 2013.The Wolverines coach has been loosely linked to a potential NFL return over the last few years. Harbaugh's name came up in last year's coaching carousel before he signed an extension with Michigan.The 58-year-old is coming off his best season as the Wolverines' sideline boss. Michigan rolled to a 12-2 record and earned a berth in the College Football Playoff in 2021.Minnesota is in the midst of replacing Mike Zimmer following his eight-year tenure with the Vikings.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs have released 2020 first-round cornerback Damon Arnette after he was arrested Friday night in Las Vegas, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Arnette was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, and possession of a controlled substance, according to TMZ Sports.A witness told TMZ Sports that Arnette, 25, drew a gun during a dispute with a valet after trying to retrieve a car without a valet ticket.Kansas City signed Arnette to a reserve/futures contract on Jan. 20. The Las Vegas Raiders, who drafted Arnette 19th overall in 2020, released him in November after he threatened to kill someone while holding multiple guns in a video.A lawsuit filed in October also accuses Arnette of injuring a woman in a car crash and fleeing the scene.The Ohio State product appeared in 13 games with the Raiders through the 2020 and 2021 seasons.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current NFL analyst Tony Romo doesn't think we've seen the last of Tom Brady in the league.Romo offered an interesting theory on Brady's future Friday on "CBS Mornings," suggesting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback could retire and return two years later - like Michael Jordan did in the NBA."I think sneakily, there's a chance Tom Brady retires and, I'm just saying, could come back in two years," Romo said. "This is just crazy, but he's like a bionic man ... he's not hurt, he's still playing great. He may need to refresh like Jordan and go two years away and maybe start another challenge."While some might expect Brady to walk away once he wins another Super Bowl, Romo thinks losing could push him into retirement."I think that's when he goes away - is when he loses," Romo said. "Just because it's actually like, 'Okay, when I win it, I want to see if I can be the first one to win three in a row.' There's always this other thing. Once you don't have that ability - which I think is getting close here - I think this is how he walks away."Brady said after the Bucs' playoff exit that he's taking his time to decide his future and that his family will be a key factor in his choice.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We're one step away from the peak convergence of football and music with the halftime show of Super Bowl LVII. Of course, we've been feeling various vibes on our own since the middle of the regular season. For championship Sunday, we'll look to the undercard of the highly anticipated show that diehards and casual fans alike are looking forward to.Mary J. Blige, the queen of hip-hop soul, is famous for groundbreaking collaborations of sound in the early '90s. Like Queen Mary and Method Man at the time, the Chiefs and Bengals are a surprising combination, with Kansas City widely expected to be here and Cincinnati likely still pinching themselves."You're All I Need To Get By"Our cornerstone player props have gone 5-4 this postseason, with a 1-1 split in Kansas City last week. When it comes to bankroll management, winning these should cover the two anytime touchdown bets we take a shot with. A win here is truly all we need to get by.All Patrick Mahomes needs to get by this Sunday is Travis Kelce. In the Week 17 meeting in Cincinnati, the Bengals were pretty blatant in their defensive strategy, keeping safeties miles off the line of scrimmage. That resulted in Mahomes taking the short passes available - and a strange box score for the Chiefs. They were only able to complete one pass of at least 30 yards and ran the ball 20 times.Mahomes targeted Kelce seven times, and that number should go up with preparation for the Bengals' double-high safety approach. That strategy worked "Just Fine" in the end - but not without long touchdown drives for the Chiefs in the first half.Up until last week, the Bengals have been largely gashed by tight ends. In eight of their final 14 games, opponents targeted that position 10-17 times. Given the looks he should get on Sunday, Kelce's five catches for 25 yards can be improved upon quite easily. I expect him to threaten double-digit receptions as Mahomes patiently matriculates the ball down the field to his favorite target.Pick: Kelce over 6.5 receptions (+115)A TD that's definitely going to happenIt can sometimes be hard to figure out "What's the 411?" with the "Family Affair" that is the Chiefs' running back room, but I think we have a decent handle on how they're deploying their talent in the playoffs. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is getting just enough carries to be dangerous, and his rushing yardage prop is one on which I'll play the over. He's also been involved around the goal line, even taking a shovel pass to the face last week against the Bills.Per the Bengals' aforementioned defensive strategy, the Chiefs will likely run the ball more than usual - Darrel Williams had two scores from in close as the starter in the first meeting.Meanwhile, Jerick McKinnon gets carries to keep the defense honest, but his best usage will come in the short passing game. That may see him score through the air or get a goal-line carry if the Chiefs want to keep the same personnel on the field in a hurry-up situation. I want "No More Drama" when trying to guess which tailback will score since I think it's possible both do.Pick:

The ending of that bonkers Bills-Chiefs game last week put a spotlight back on the NFL's overtime rules, particularly on whether it's fair to have a sudden-death outcome hinge on the randomness of a coin toss.Both quarterbacks - Josh Allen of the Bills and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs - went full tilt in the final two minutes of regulation. The thrilling result still seems impossible: four possessions, 25 points scored, three lead changes, and a tie. The last QB to have the ball was likely going to win. Kansas City won the coin toss that determined the first possession of overtime, and Buffalo never got to possess the ball in OT at all.The NFL has adjusted its overtime rules a few times in recent years, and The Washington Post's Mark Maske reported this week that the competition committee is expected to consider possible changes this offseason. But what would constitute an ideal solution? There's lots to consider. Let's dive in.Why does the NFL do overtime this way?The current format - as imperfect as it is - maintains the same structure of regulation play. The same down-and-distance rules apply, which avoids any kind of artificial field-position scenarios while also keeping special teams involved. Both teams start clean, like they do at the beginning of a game. It's just that the first team to score wins.Unless they kick a field goal.Well, right. It used to be that the receiving team could drive part way up the field, kick a field goal, and win the game. That rule was changed for the postseason in 2010, and for the regular season in 2012. Today, the team that gets the ball first must score a touchdown on that first possession to win. A first-possession field goal allows the other team a chance to get the ball at least once. That team can then tie, win, or lose, depending on the outcome of its possession. Christian Petersen / Getty ImagesWhy the coin flip?The coin flip is supposed to introduce neutrality to the process. But as offenses in recent years have improved, owing to rules changes and an emphasis on the efficiencies of passing the ball, the coin flip has seemed to create an advantage for the teams that win the toss - at least in the playoffs. Even then, though, it's a bit more complicated than that.Wait. What do you mean "at least in the playoffs"?NFL Media's Ian Rapoport shared a stat from NFL Research the other day and it showed that the team that wins the toss is 86-67-10 in all overtime games (regular season and playoffs) under the current OT rules. That looks like an obvious disparity, but it's really just a 53% win rate for the correct coin-flip guessers. However, this stat doesn't take into account how often the team that wins the toss scores on its first possession.What would that rate be?theScore used Pro Football Reference to sift through all 163 games played under the current overtime rules. Contrary to popular belief, most OT games do not end on the first possession. The winning team has scored just 35 first-possession touchdowns, though there have also been three games that ended because of a first-possession pick-6 by the defense. That's still a rate of just 21.4% of games ending because the receiving team scored a TD the first time it had the ball, with an average number of possessions of 2.6. That means nearly four out of five overtime games are decided with multiple possessions. Who knew!Huh. Why does it seem so skewed the other way?Because the playoffs have been much, much different.Oh? How so?There have been 11 overtime playoff games under the current OT rules. The team that's won the toss has won 10 of those games, and seven of those 10 victories involved first-possession touchdowns. Overtime games in the playoffs have averaged only 1.8 possessions. Chiefs-Bills was just the latest to fit that trend.Wow. So that's why winning the toss seems to be so favorable.Exactly. It's a small sample size, but it still makes for a striking (and obvious) disparity.Michael Lopez, the NFL's director of data and analytics, told theScore that he's not surprised that playoff games have been turning out differently. For one thing, the possibility of a tie - which counts as half of a win in the standings - incentivizes the receiving team to be less aggressive on that first drive. In the postseason, that dynamic changes because ties aren't possible."We did some research on this," Lopez said. "I don't think it's an accident that teams in the postseason are 10-1 that have received the ball. You can look at how often they pass, you can look at how far downfield they pass. It's a different strategy. You could make the argument that, in the postseason, because teams aren't worried about ties, they can be a little more aggressive, which does increase their chance of winning."We as viewers feel cheated when, say, Mahomes doesn't get a chance to get even with Tom Brady at the end of the 2018 AFC title game. Or when Allen loses and never sees the field again after giving the Bills the dang lead with 13 seconds remaining in regulation. Well, except for when the Steelers got Tebowed by the Broncos on the first possession of OT in a playoff game 10 years ago. I'm a Steelers fan. That will always be objectively hilarious. Jamie Squire / Getty ImagesThe Bills also could have played better defense. Or at least a defense that wasn't so soft.Yes, there's that, too. But in today's game, with today's rules, offenses have an advantage over defenses. Having the ball increases a team's chances of winning, which is why teams are taking more risks on fourth down and being more aggressive about maximizing their possessions. The Bills had the league's No. 1-ranked defense, for crying out loud. It didn't matter.Why not go with the college-style OT?OK, so in college, each team gets the ball at the opponent's 25-yard line, and they're ensured an equal number of possessions. Seems fair, right? Under that format, the team that gets the ball second has an advantage because it always knows exactly how many points it needs to win the game. This system also creates a completely different game.The college approach removes the game clock and field position from the equation. There are no kickoffs or punts. A system like this also creates a dynamic that can artificially inflate stats and scoring. Remember when Texas A&M beat LSU 74-72 in seven overtimes a few years back? That game was tied at 31 at the end of regulation.The college game altered its OT rules in 2021 to force teams to take two-point conversion attempts beginning with the third overtime. Back in October, Illinois and Penn State wound up poking each other in the eyes for nine OTs. No one wants to see that.What about just playing a full 10- or 15-minute overtime period?This one also has merit, but it also still benefits the team that receives the ball, since they stand to have more possessions than the kicking team. A system like this would also lead to substantially more scrimmage plays, which increases the risk for injury, which (cynically) is something teams that have to play another postseason game the following week are going to be concerned about.Lopez shared some broad comparisons of the risks and rewards of several methods on Twitter this week.

Retired quarterback Josh McCown interviewed with the Houston Texans for a second time on Friday for their head coaching job, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon will also have his second interview with Houston on Saturday, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.They're the first two known finalists for the job. McCown interviewed for the role last year while still technically an active player, but the Texans wound up hiring David Culley.The Texans have cast a wide net in their coaching search, meeting with off-the-radar candidates such as Hines Ward, Joe Lombardi, and Gannon.Gannon, 39, joined the Eagles in 2021 after three seasons as the Indianapolis Colts' defensive backs coach. Philadelphia's defense ranked 10th in yards allowed and 18th in scoring this season.McCown played in the NFL from 2002-20, spending time with 12 different teams. He wrapped up his career in Houston even though he never saw game action for the Texans.The Texans went 4-13 in 2021 and fired Culley at the end of his first season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos general manager George Paton denied that his club hired Nathaniel Hackett to lure quarterback Aaron Rodgers to the franchise."Absolutely not," Paton said during Friday's press conference introducing the Broncos' newest head coach.Hackett served as the Green Bay Packers' offensive coordinator from 2019-21, boasting one of the NFL's top offenses with Rodgers under center.The Packers signal-caller hasn't said whether he wants to be traded, retire, or remain with the club for the 2022 season. However, Rodgers said this week on the "Pat McAfee Show" that a decision on his future could come in late February.Hackett praised Rodgers on Friday as one of his biggest supporters, adding that he learned plenty from being around the three-time NFL MVP."Coaching a man like that ... you better have an answer to every question because he's going to have a question about every single thing that you do," Hackett said.Denver's new head coach said he'll call the offensive plays for the team, which he did during his stints as the offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills. Head coach Matt Lafleur did play-calling duties during Hackett's tenure with the Packers.The Broncos are interviewing Los Angeles Chargers tight ends coach Kevin Koger for their vacant offensive coordinator position, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Hackett, a first-time head coach, said he plans to discuss the entire roster, including the Broncos' quarterback situation, with Paton in the coming days.Starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is set to become a free agent, leaving Drew Lock and Brett Rypien as the only passers on the roster.While it's unclear who'll line up under center next season, Hackett said he's excited to inherit a young team and insists the offense will take shots down the field.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants announced Friday they've hired Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll as their new head coach."It is an honor and a privilege to be named head coach of the New York Giants," Daboll said in a statement.He added: "I promise we will work our tails off to put a team on the field that you will be proud to support and give us the results we all want."Daboll had been with Buffalo since 2018, overseeing the likes of quarterback Josh Allen.He'll reunite with Giants general manager Joe Schoen, who'd served as the Bills' assistant GM since 2017 before replacing Dave Gettleman earlier this month.Daboll also interviewed with the Miami Dolphins and the Chicago Bears. Additionally, the New Orleans Saints asked to speak with him as well, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.In addition to Daboll, the Giants twice interviewed Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, among several other candidates.Daboll will replace Joe Judge, who New York fired Jan. 11 after two seasons.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams is questionable for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams, Kyle Shanahan told media Friday.Williams was temporarily sidelined after spraining his ankle against the Green Bay Packers last weekend but taped the injury and returned to finish the contest."He came out for a walkthrough today, and Trent's adamant that he's going, and he was last time too," Shanahan said.Williams suffered an elbow injury earlier in the season that caused him to miss the 49ers' Week 18 matchup against the Rams."I believe Trent when he says he's going to do everything that he can to play, and so I'll be surprised if he doesn't, but I was surprised last time," said Shanahan."I was also surprised he was able to finish the game versus Green Bay, so hopefully, his mindset will be how his body reacts on Sunday, and we know it will help us a lot, but if not, we'll deal with it."The run-blocker earned an All-Pro nod this season. Despite missing practice Wednesday and Thursday, Williams will hope to assist the 49ers en route to the Super Bowl.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The third matchup between the 49ers and Rams this season will decide who goes to a second Super Bowl in their franchise's current era. This is no rubber match, though. As discussed in our NFC Championship Game preview, the 49ers have owned the Rams with six straight wins.They say it's hard to beat a team twice in one season. They say it's really hard to beat a team three times in one season. How hard must it be to beat a team seven times in a row?Basically, this game should be a slugfest between two teams that know each other's playbook as well as they know their own. As such, we'll base our prop bets around the thesis that two uber-conservative head coaches won't allow this game to see the same big early leads that each team had in this season's previous meetings.The game to be tied after 0-0: Yes (-115)Both Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan are happy to take the points. Two of the NFL's most risk-averse coaches make decisions that lend themselves to keeping a game close.The 3.5-point line suggest a close game late, and given that we're expecting every half-point to matter around the point spread, it's highly likely this game will be tied at some point after the first score.Either team to score three unanswered times: No (+170)Admittedly, this is usually a sucker bet that novice bettors pile into each Super Bowl because of the juicy payout. Another admission: the "yes" has cashed in each of the first two meetings between the 49ers and Rams this season.With two teams as evenly matched and familiar as these division rivals are, and with the stakes higher than they have been in any previous duel, a third instance of one team going on a three-score run seems unlikely.Total sacks: Over 4.5 (play up to -150)This has less to do with the familiarity of the teams and likelihood of a close game, and more to do with what we know about each team in the trenches.The 49ers' defensive line is playing at the peak of their powers, and if you can find a prop offered for Arik Armstead to get a sack, feel free to try it at +200 or better. In the meantime, you should be able to find a total sacks prop closer to game time.Both starting left tackles - Andrew Whitworth and Trent Williams - are banged up, and they get the task of two of the best pass rushing fronts in the NFL. In Week 18's overtime classic, San Francisco had Matthew Stafford running for his life.Von Miller, Leonard Floyd, and Aaron Donald will get to Jimmy Garoppolo at least twice to contribute to the tally, though we may not need it to cash the over.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have high interest in re-signing impending free-agent wide receiver Chris Godwin, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Godwin played the 2021 season on the franchise tag, but his campaign ended prematurely due to a torn ACL.A second franchise tag costing $15.9 million is unlikely, added Fowler.Godwin is a key part of Tampa Bay's offense. Despite missing the final three games of the regular season, he still led the team in catches (98) and receiving yards (1,103). It was his second career 1,000-yard season.The NFL has become less hesitant in recent years when it comes to inking players coming off major knee injuries to long-term deals. Pass-rusher Bud Dupree signed an $82-million deal with the Tennessee Titans last offseason despite coming off a torn ACL.Godwin is part of a loaded free-agent receiver class that also includes Davante Adams, Odell Beckham Jr., Allen Robinson, Mike Williams, and Michael Gallup.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In our AFC Championship Game preview, we detailed why the Bengals' run will culminate with a task too difficult for them to overcome. If the premise of the game handicap is a relatively convincing Chiefs win, then we'll look for game props to support that thesis and find plus-money plays that could lift our day to championship levels of profitability.Both teams to score 20+ points: No (+140)During the regular season, the Chiefs held their opponents to under 20 points eight times. While those opponents weren't necessarily offensive juggernauts, the Bengals' total here is lined at 22.5 (-105), which means you're selling the landing points of 20, 21, and the unlikely 22 for 45 cents per dollar.Meanwhile, no matter how remote you may think it is, there's still a non-zero chance that the Chiefs don't crack 20 points. They've failed to hit that mark thrice this season. By the way, for all the excitement over their win last week, the Bengals scored 19 points in Tennessee.Last team to score: Bengals (+110)A better than even odds payout is key here since, in theory, a late Bengals score might push them over the 20-point mark. But at least we'd win one of our two bets to stay in the black. If Kansas City is going to win this game comfortably as we've hypothesized, then the game script will see Joe Burrow desperately trying to lead the Bengals back. Patrick Mahomes will be more interested in bleeding the clock than scoring.Team to score first field goal: Neither (+2500)Here's a fun, low-investment long shot that might lose on the first drive!We can frame this in a variety of ways depending on the sportsbook, but it's essentially betting that there won't be a field goal in the game. Unlikely, but that's why we're getting 25-1 odds.In the first meeting between the Chiefs and Bengals, the game started 28-14 for Kansas City. If either team takes a multi-touchdown lead into the second half in this game, we may see the coaches eschew field-goal attempts, finding themselves in a touchdown-for-touchdown game.Both Harrison Butker and Evan McPherson are so good that, if given an attempt, they'll almost definitely make it. But if the game script means that the prudent decision is to go for it on fourth down when in field-goal range, they may not get a chance outside of PATs.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens announced Thursday that they've named Mike Macdonald as their new defensive coordinator.Macdonald, who's never previously been an NFL coordinator, spent seven seasons as part of John Harbaugh's defensive staff from 2014-2020. He first served as a defensive assistant before becoming the team's defensive backs coach and linebackers coach during his tenure.Macdonald spent 2021 with Harbaugh's brother, Jim, as Michigan's defensive coordinator. He helped lead the Wolverines to a Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff berth.With Macdonald in charge, Michigan allowed 100 fewer yards per game than the previous season, surrendering 330.8 yards per contest compared to 434.3 in 2020.Macdonald is replacing Wink Martindale, who parted ways with Baltimore. Martindale spent 10 seasons with the Ravens, including four as their defensive coordinator.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If we've learned anything from this wild, record-setting postseason, it's something that's felt like an unavoidable truth for years now: the NFL is a quarterback's league, and it's harder than ever to win without a top-flight passer.Three of the four starting quarterbacks left in this year's playoff field - Patrick Mahomes, Matthew Stafford, and Joe Burrow - ranked in the top six in passing yards and top eight in passing touchdowns this season. All three flirted with MVP consideration at points during the year, and all three threw for at least 345 yards in the divisional round to carry their teams to the conference championship game.The lone outlier is Jimmy Garoppolo, who ranked outside of the top 10 in both areas in the regular season and has long been viewed as a liability for an otherwise title-worthy 49ers roster. That's the narrative once again ahead of this weekend's matchup with the Rams (-3.5), even as San Francisco keeps winning in unprecedented fashion.With last week's 13-10 win over the Packers, the 49ers became the first team in at least 20 years to win consecutive playoff games without a passing touchdown, per Sports Database. They also became just the sixth club in that stretch to win back-to-back playoff contests with fewer than 175 passing yards.All five of those previous teams lost their following game by at least seven points - including the 2019 49ers, who followed a similar script to this squad but were foiled by Garoppolo's late collapse in the Super Bowl. Can San Fran finish the job this postseason, or will the team's limitations through the air prove to be its undoing?Plight of the game-managerIn case you haven't noticed, what the 49ers are doing this postseason is historic, especially in the midst of the NFL's passing boom.On Saturday, San Francisco became just the fourth team in the last 20 years to win a playoff game without an offensive touchdown. The Niners threw for just 106 yards in that contest, the fewest by any team in a playoff win since ... the 49ers, who leaned on their elite pass rush and relentless run game to beat the Packers in the 2020 NFC championship.The parallels to this year's team are tantalizing, but they also hint at an untimely end. Both San Francisco clubs are among 13 teams in the last 20 years to win consecutive playoff games with fewer than 200 passing yards in each. The results in the following contest haven't been pretty:SEASONMATCHUPRESULTATSSU201949ers (+1.5) vs. Chiefs20-31LL2019Titans (+7.5) @ Chiefs24-35LL2013Seahawks (+2) vs. Broncos43-8WW2010Steelers (+2.5) vs. Packers25-31LL2010Jets (+4) @ Steelers19-24LL2009Jets (+8.5) @ Colts17-30LL2008Ravens (+6) @ Steelers14-23LL2007Giants (+7) @ Packers23-20WW2004Patriots (-7) vs. Eagles24-21LW2001Steelers (-9) vs. Patriots17-24LL2001Ravens (+6.5) @ Steelers10-27LL2001Eagles (+2.5) @ Bears33-19WWThose previous 12 teams went 3-9 against the spread and 4-8 straight up in their next game, including 2-6 ATS/SU in the conference championship round. The last two teams in this spot were downed by double digits, and seven of those dozen teams lost by six or more points.The biggest issue, unsurprisingly, came on offense. Five of those 12 teams scored 17 or fewer points - all five lost - and only two scored more than 25 points. Even that's a little misleading: the '01 Eagles had more field goals (4) than touchdowns (3), while the '13 Seahawks enjoyed two touchdowns and a safety courtesy of their defense and special teams.And what about the passing game? Again, little surprise there. Here's a list of those 12 teams' starting quarterbacks and their stat lines following those two previous low-yardage efforts:SEASONQUARTERBACKYARDSTDINTRATING2019Jimmy Garoppolo2191269.22019Ryan Tannehill20920108.12013Russell Wilson20620123.12010Ben Roethlisberger2632277.42010Mark Sanchez23320102.22009Mark Sanchez2572193.32008Joe Flacco1410318.22007Eli Manning25100722004Tom Brady23620110.22001Kordell Stewart2550345.22001Elvis Grbac1530326.12001Donovan McNabb2622189.8Nearly all of them were asked to do more in this spot than they were in their previous two playoff wins, but few rose to the occasion. Those 12 passers averaged a combined 223.8 yards per game with a 59.7% completion percentage and 76.0 passer rating, all worse than the collective league average over the past two decades.None of them threw for more than 265 yards or two touchdowns, and five threw multiple interceptions - including Garoppolo's two-pick showing in the Super Bowl. He's one of six quarterbacks in this spot with a passer rating well below league average for that respective season.His performance a week ago is especially concerning ahead of Sunday. Since 2001, only 13 teams have won a playoff game with fewer than 110 passing yards. Those previous 12 teams went 5-7 ATS/3-9 SU in their next game, averaging a mere 19.3 points and recording a collective eight losses by double digits.A historic outlierOf course, all of this comes with a bit of irony: Garoppolo already has an NFC title game under his belt with a remarkably similar approach. He attempted just eight passes for 77 yards in the 2020 title game, and the 49ers won handily.It's not as if Garoppolo can't sling it, either. The former second-round pick finished second in yards per attempt (8.6), sixth in completion percentage (68.3%), and ninth in passer rating (98.7) during the 2021 regular season. He nearly managed a perfect rating (141.7) in a Week 10 win over the Rams, then he threw for 316 yards against Los Angeles in the regular-season finale.Still, San Francisco is at its best when it takes the game out of Garoppolo's hands. Since he joined the team in 2017, the 49ers are 8-3 ATS/9-2 SU in Garoppolo's starts when he throws for zero passing touchdowns, including 3-0 in the postseason. By comparison, all other teams in that stretch are 32.8% ATS with a 29.8% win percentage outright in games without a passing touchdown.Unsurprisingly, coach Kyle Shanahan has tried to limit Garoppolo's impact when it matters most. Since his first full season as a starter in 2019, Garoppolo has averaged 28.6 passing attempts in the regular season. In the postseason? That drops to 20.4 throws per game.The only time he's ever attempted more than 25 passes in the playoffs came in the Super Bowl, when San Francisco was nursing a late lead and needed just a few timely throws to win it all. Garoppolo couldn't deliver: in the final 10 minutes, he went 2-for-10 with 24 yards and an interception - his second of the day - on the 49ers' final play from scrimmage.Can the 49ers win with Jimmy G?There's reason for optimism that Garoppolo can step up this weekend. He torched the Rams' secondary in two meetings this season, extending San Francisco's win streak to six games against its division rival. Also, it bears repeating: this team nearly won the Super Bowl two years ago with an eerily similar game plan.Still, Garoppolo's career playoff passer rating (70.3) is jarring in contrast to the remaining field, and the 49ers have managed to win two games this postseason in spite of their starting quarterback, which becomes increasingly harder with each passing round. Even that 2020 title run was a major statistical outlier, which eventually caught up to that year's group.While it's reductive to say that Garoppolo needs to play well for San Francisco to win Sunday - that hasn't been the case in any of his team's playoff wins to date - it's tempting fate to try to win in today's NFL without production through the air. Just ask those other teams that reached this spot without it.C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears hired Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus as their next head coach, the team announced Thursday.Eberflus is the second coaching hire of this cycle after the Denver Broncos reportedly landed Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. The Colts assistant beat out fellow finalists Jim Caldwell and Dan Quinn to succeed Matt Nagy as Bears coach.The news comes days after the Bears hired Ryan Poles as their new general manager.Colts general manager Chris Ballard originally hired Eberflus to work under Josh McDaniels in 2018, but after McDaniels pulled out of the job, Eberflus served as DC for Frank Reich.The 51-year-old developed Indianapolis' defense into a consistent group across four seasons, earning three top-10 scoring finishes. The Colts were also one of the best teams at forcing turnovers in 2021, ranking second in the NFL with 33.Chicago's defense was strong in the early seasons of the Nagy era, but it fell off this past campaign, finishing 22nd in points allowed.While Eberflus' area of expertise is on defense, his most important task will be developing 2021 first-round quarterback Justin Fields, who struggled during his rookie season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos hired Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as their next head coach, the team announced Thursday."Nathaniel Hackett is a dynamic leader and coach whose intelligence, innovation, and charisma impressed us from the very start of this process," general manager George Paton said.The Broncos' hiring of Hackett is the first of nine head coaching vacancies set to be filled this cycle. Denver interviewed 11 candidates to replace Vic Fangio, with Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell reportedly being the other finalists.Hackett was scheduled for his second interview with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday before the Broncos stepped in to get their man, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.Hackett's Green Bay offense produced the NFL's MVP in 2020 and leading candidate for MVP in 2021 - Aaron Rodgers. The 42-year-old also helped the unit finish first in scoring and fifth in yards last season before finishing 10th in both categories this year.While he didn't call plays during his three seasons in Green Bay, Hackett did so during stints as the offensive coordinator for the Jaguars and Buffalo Bills.Hackett's offense in Jacksonville finished fifth in scoring in 2017 en route to an AFC Championship Game appearance. He also guided Blake Bortles to his best season as a pro.Hackett will be tasked with revitalizing a Broncos franchise that hasn't made the playoffs since Peyton Manning retired following the team's Super Bowl win in 2015.Denver has started five quarterbacks in the six seasons since Manning's exit, and Hackett's top priority will be finding a long-term answer under center.The Broncos were speculated as a potential trade destination for Rodgers last offseason amid a dramatic standoff between the Packers and their star quarterback.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Las Vegas Raiders have requested an interview with New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels for their vacant head coaching job, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Raiders owner Mark Davis has eyed McDaniels for weeks, according to Rapoport. Las Vegas will reportedly speak to the coordinator, who's considered a top candidate for the opening, on Saturday.The Raiders could pair McDaniels with Patriots executive Dave Ziegler, who'd become Las Vegas' general manager, Rapoport notes.McDaniels has spent 13 seasons over two separate stints commanding the Patriots' offense. The unit has ranked in the top 10 in scoring during 12 of his 13 campaigns at the helm.The longtime coordinator hasn't held a head coaching job since his 28-game stint with the Denver Broncos from 2009-2010. McDaniels was set to become the Indianapolis Colts' head coach in 2018 but instead chose to remain in New England.Should McDaniels take the Raiders' job, Alabama assistant Bill O'Brien could serve as his replacement, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. O'Brien spent 2007-2011 on the Patriots' staff in a variety of offensive roles.Las Vegas has also shown interest in Jerod Mayo, DeMeco Ryans, and Todd Bowles for its coaching vacancy. Additionally, interim coach Rich Bisaccia earned an interview after guiding the club to a postseason appearance.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the fourth time in as many seasons, the AFC championship runs through Arrowhead Stadium. And if past results are any indication, that bodes well for the hosts on Sunday.After last week's thrilling overtime win over the Bills, the Chiefs will make history this weekend as the first NFL team to host four consecutive conference championship games. This time, they'll take on the Bengals (+7), who are on this stage for the first time in 33 years.Home-field advantage has paid off for Kansas City in the last two postseasons, and it could be a deciding factor in this matchup, too.Since the 2006 season, the home team has won 13 of 15 AFC title games with an impressive 10-5 record against the spread. Oftentimes, it hasn't been close - the 15 hosts have outscored the visiting side by 8.0 points per game, which includes eight wins by at least nine points.Two of those came courtesy of Kansas City, which has blown out the Titans and Bills in consecutive seasons. Next up is Cincinnati, which is looking to avoid becoming a footnote in an ominous trend:SEASONMATCHUPRESULTATSSU2020Chiefs (-3) vs. Bills38-24WW2019Chiefs (-7.5) vs. Titans35-24WW2018Chiefs (-3) vs. Patriots31-37LL2017Patriots (-7.5) vs. Jaguars24-20LW2016Patriots (-6) vs. Steelers36-17WW2015Broncos (+3) vs. Patriots20-18WW2014Patriots (-7) vs. Colts45-7WW2013Broncos (-5) vs. Patriots26-16WW2012Patriots (-8) vs. Ravens13-28LL2011Patriots (-7) vs. Ravens23-20LW2010Steelers (-4) vs. Jets24-19WW2009Colts (-8.5) vs. Jets30-17WW2008Steelers (-6) vs. Ravens23-14WW2007Patriots (-14.5) vs. Chargers21-12LW2006Colts (-3.5) vs. Patriots38-34WWSince the Patriots' outright loss in the 2013 AFC title game, home teams are 7-1 straight up / 6-2 ATS and have outscored visiting teams by 11.5 points per game, with five of those eight contests decided by double digits.As mentioned above, two of those wins were by the Chiefs, who have been nearly invincible at home since Patrick Mahomes took over as the team's starting quarterback in 2018.In the last four seasons, Kansas City is 6-2 ATS in home playoff games, outpacing opponents by 11.1 points per game with a 7-1 record outright. One of those two ATS losses came against the Browns in a game that Mahomes left early; the other was that epic 2019 AFC title game against New England in Mahomes' AFC championship debut.This time, second-year passer Joe Burrow is the one making his first start in this spot, which is bad news for the Bengals. Since the NFL changed its postseason format in 2002, quarterbacks making their AFC title debuts are 0-11 SU / 2-9 ATS. Those within their first three NFL seasons have fared even worse, losing all six tries by an average of 15.7 points.Burrow will be tasked with not only reversing that trend but doing it in one of the NFL's most hostile environments against the league's preeminent coach and quarterback duo. Andy Reid has won 14 of 20 playoff home games in his 23-year career with a 7-1 SU / 5-3 ATS mark as a home favorite of 7-plus points, including 4-1 SU / 3-2 ATS in nine years in Kansas City.It all adds up to an overwhelmingly favorable spot for the reigning AFC champions, who have already made history with their dominance over the past four seasons. Fittingly, all that stands between them and a third straight Super Bowl berth is another home win.C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints are kicking off their first coaching search since 2006.The Saints requested to interview Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.New Orleans also asked permission to meet with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who left the organization for the Lions last year, according to The MMQB's Albert Breer.Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is also a candidate to succeed Sean Payton, Schefter added.Leftwich is one of the finalists for the Jacksonville Jaguars' coaching vacancy and is in prime position for the job after Nathaniel Hackett and Matt Eberflus, the other top contenders, took roles with the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears, respectively.The Bucs assistant has helped transform the team's offense into one of the NFL's best since taking over in 2019.Tampa Bay finished third in scoring with Jameis Winston under center in Leftwich's first campaign, and the club did so again with Tom Brady in 2020 before ranking second in both points and yards in 2021.Glenn, a former cornerback, spent four seasons as New Orleans' defensive backs coach before taking the job in Detroit under Dan Campbell.The Lions' injury-ravaged defense struggled this campaign, finishing 31st in points allowed and 29th in yards allowed.Payton retired Tuesday after leading the Saints for 15 seasons.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement Thursday, capping his decorated career at 18 seasons.

The Jacksonville Jaguars interviewed former Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio for their coaching vacancy, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Broncos fired Fangio in January after three seasons at the helm. He ended his time with a 19-30 record and zero winning seasons.The 63-year-old is widely considered one of the NFL's preeminent defensive minds and was expected to garner significant interest at the coordinator level.With the Jaguars reportedly losing two of their top coaching candidates in Nathaniel Hackett and Matt Eberflus to the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears, respectively, the team is seemingly widening its search.Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich is apparently one of the other leading contenders for the Jacksonville job.Fangio worked 19 seasons as a defensive coordinator, spending time with the Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, and Bears. He recorded five top-10 finishes in scoring defense in eight combined campaigns in San Francisco and Chicago from 2011-18.Fangio worked with Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke for four years in San Francisco. Baalke's future in Jacksonville remains a question mark after fans wore clown costumes to the final game of the regular season to protest owner Shad Khan for keeping the executive.Jacksonville is looking to hire a new head coach after firing Urban Meyer less than one season into his tenure.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has informed teams he's staying put despite generating six head coaching interview requests, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Quinn went into the hiring cycle as a hot candidate after a reinvigorating year with the Cowboys. The 51-year-old previously served as head coach for the Atlanta Falcons, making an appearance in Super Bowl LI as part of his six-season tenure.He was apparently a finalist for the head coaching jobs in Denver and Chicago, but the Broncos and Bears reportedly hired Nathaniel Hackett and Matt Eberflus, respectively.The Cowboys will welcome back Quinn for a second season after he helped them post the NFL's No. 7 scoring defense in 2021. Dallas ranked 19th in yards allowed. The team ranked 28th in points and 23rd in yards under Mike Nolan in 2020.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sean Payton created the ninth head coaching vacancy of the 2022 cycle when he stepped down from the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday. Below, we rank all nine openings from least to most attractive for prospective candidates.9. Houston TexansPros

Look at us. Who knew? Not me.Paul Rudd's most famous meme-able quote has us sitting here gleefully enjoying San Francisco's run to the NFC Championship Game. However, is it time to get off this ride? The answer depends on your constitution for risk and whether you can logically separate the bird you have in hand for the two that may be in the bush, or so the proverb goes.49ers @ Rams (-3.5, 46)The 49ers and Rams hired Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay, respectively, in 2017 when they were the most prominent of a batch of young head coaching hires. They've both been to Super Bowls (and lost) since and have met head-to-head on 10 occasions. You've probably heard by now that San Francisco has won six consecutive matchups between the two.Here's a look at those contests from a yards-per-play standpoint:MEETINGSTARTING QBs49ERS' YPPRAMS' YPPOct. 2019Garoppolo vs. Goff4.43.1Dec. 2019Garoppolo vs. Goff6.05.6Oct. 2020Garoppolo vs. Goff5.65.5Nov. 2020Mullens vs. Goff4.95.0Nov. 2021Garoppolo vs. Stafford5.25.1Jan. 2022Garoppolo vs. Stafford6.74.1The 49ers have consistently outplayed their in-state foe in their six consecutive victories, with the lone exception being a 23-20 win with Nick Mullens under center. San Francisco has averaged nearly a full yard more per play over this run of dominance, while the Rams managed 4.8 yards per play with Jared Goff at the helm, compared to 4.6 with Matthew Stafford.Six straight wins is a selective sample size, though. When it comes to this sort of selectivity, we always need to ask what preceded it. In this case, the answer reveals L.A. won three of the first four meetings.The trouble is that those three wins came against Mullens (2018), C.J. Beathard (2018), and Brian Hoyer (2017). In the 2017 meeting, George Kittle was a rookie who caught one pass, while Pierre Garcon was the 49ers' top target. Jimmy Garoppolo was the quarterback for San Francisco's lone victory from the first four meetings. The point is that in the head-to-head history between the two coaches, the 49ers - unless they were dealing with issues at quarterback - have not just kept games close but have won them outright.Offensively, while Deebo Samuel has been the breakout star of the season and continued to shine in the playoffs, Garoppolo is fully capable in this matchup, with a 96.0 passer rating against the Rams. This is in line with Garoppolo's 2021 campaign rating of 98.7, in just the second season that he's played in more than six games.If we expect San Francisco to have the same success the team's had in these matchups, what is there to indicate that L.A. will be able to drastically improve its offensive success on Sunday night?The 49ers' run defense is up to sixth in the league (including postseason) on a per-carry basis, allowing just 3.1 yards to Rams, Cowboys, and Packers rushers in recent must-win games. L.A. managed just 64 yards on 27 carries in the Week 18 meeting despite carrying a lead for the first three quarters. Given what we saw on Sunday in Tampa Bay, even if the Rams can build a lead here, are we convinced they'll be able to hold onto it to win by four or more points?Lastly, there's no reason to believe San Fran's defensive line rotation won't continue to dominate, potentially resulting in Stafford's interception issues returning at the same time the Niners secondary gets back to full strength.The pickSometimes it comes down to whether or not you can live with yourself if you lose. We've been on San Fran all playoffs long with our moneyline rollover, and with the alternative option being a bet on L.A. -3.5, it wouldn't make a ton of sense to hop off now.We told you that rolling over the moneylines on the 49ers was the way to attack the NFC futures market before the postseason started, and we're one win away from cashing that virtual futures ticket. Here's how that's looked:OPPONENTML ODDSSTAKEWINNEW STAKEDAL+1501u1.5u2.5uGB+2002.5u5u7.5uLAR+1507.5u11.25u18.75uWhile San Francisco was around +1100 to make the Super Bowl before the playoffs, we are one win away from a +1775 payout. We also have the flexibility to pass and take the money already earned. However, with a moneyline that still provides some value while also getting the hook on the point spread, I'll use a three-pronged attack to dare the Rams to win comfortably in a matchup where they've been everything but comfortable.Bets:

The Minnesota Vikings hired Cleveland Browns vice president of football operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as their next general manager, the team announced Wednesday."There is so much to appreciate about this organization - an existing nucleus of talent on the roster, top-notch facilities, passionate fans, and smart people throughout the building who are committed to winning," Adofo-Mensah said in a statement."I look forward to partnering with our next head coach and our entire football operations staff to begin our work of bringing a Super Bowl to Vikings fans."Adofo-Mensah will ink a four-year deal worth $12 million, according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe.The 40-year-old will replace longtime GM Rick Spielman, whom Minnesota fired Jan. 10 after 16 seasons with the club.Adofo-Mensah became the front-runner for the job Tuesday after Kansas City Chiefs executive Ryan Poles, who also had a second interview with the Vikings, agreed to join the Chicago Bears.Cleveland hired Adofo-Mensah from the San Francisco 49ers in 2020. He spent seven seasons with the Niners, including two years as director of football research and development.The Browns will receive third-round picks in 2022 and 2023 as a result of the move, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. NFL teams that lose a minority coach or executive to a head coach or general manager job receive third-round compensatory picks for two consecutive years.Adofo-Mensah's first task in Minnesota will be finding a head coach to replace Mike Zimmer.The Vikings, who own the 12th overall pick in the 2022 draft, haven't had a winning season since 2019 and posted a 15-18 record over the last two years.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane says he's still reeling from Sunday's "painful" overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs."Still going through it," Beane said Wednesday, according to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. "I'm not in a good spot. But I will review it and we'll learn from it, I promise you that."There's a lot of pain in this city and there's a lot of pain in that building over there, and we're gonna do everything in our power to not let that happen again."Josh Allen looked to have placed the Bills in the AFC Championship Game with a late touchdown, only for Patrick Mahomes to engineer a game-tying drive with just 13 seconds left to spare. Allen didn't touch the football again as the Chiefs scored a game-ending touchdown on their first drive in overtime.The finish drew discussion from fans, pundits, and players about the league's overtime setup. Beane joined in Wednesday, saying he'd like to see the rules reviewed in the future."At the end of the day, we lost the game the other night. But of course we would've loved to - I think the TV audience would've loved to - have seen Josh and our offense get it back," Beane said. "I would definitely love to see it brought back to the table."Beane didn't specify an exact proposal, though he explained that the goal should be to ensure both offenses receive a chance in the postseason, "when it's all on the line."He added: "Even though it benefited (the Chiefs) the other night, I'm sure they would be in favor. If you've got Pat Mahomes, you're always going to want to make sure he gets the ball, and we feel the same about Josh."Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said Monday that he "wouldn't be opposed" to taking another look at the overtime rules. Kansas City famously lost the 2018 AFC Championship Game in overtime without having the chance to go on offense after the New England Patriots found the end zone on their opening drive.The Bills won 24 games and two division titles over the past two regular seasons, though each campaign ended with a playoff loss to the Chiefs.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, and Anchor.In this episode, Dave Richard of CBS Sports joins Boone to discuss the biggest fantasy questions heading into 2022 free agency.

Los Angeles Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth is on track to play in the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers, head coach Sean McVay said Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Bridget Condon.Whitworth missed the divisional-round victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a knee injury. Joe Noteboom replaced the veteran, but he's now dealing with a pectoral injury.The 40-year-old has been a fixture on the blindside for the Rams since joining the team in 2017. Whitworth has started 71 games for L.A., including 15 this season.Additionally, safety Taylor Rapp is still day-to-day in concussion protocol, McVay said, according to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic. Rapp has been sidelined since Week 18 and needs to be a full participant in practice before being cleared.The Rams will aim to book their first trip to the Super Bowl since the 2018 campaign.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's all about legacies for NFL quarterbacks, and days later, we're still discussing Sunday's duel between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. We expect that to be one of many head-to-head matchups between the two signal-callers in years to come, just as we hope this AFC Championship is the first of a few playoff meetings between Mahomes and Joe Burrow.However, looking at this game through the lens of a handicapper, we may come to remember this contest a decade from now as the appetizer in the postseason history between these two young quarterbacks, with more competitive matchups down the road.Bengals @ Chiefs (-7, 54.5)With a flicker of Chiefs -6.5 on the open, the point spread for this game was off like a shot and instantly moved to a flat -7. With -6.5 probably not returning, the value has certainly been taken out of a Chiefs spread bet. It's likely that the key number of seven becomes available to Bengals bettors if the line ticks to -7.5 by game day.Bengals backers will cite two main arguments for taking the underdog here: Burrow's "it" factor and Cincinnati's win over Kansas City earlier this month.However, a lot has happened over the last month. The Bengals narrowly escaped with a home win over the Raiders in the wild-card round before needing all the help they could get from Ryan Tannehill's three interceptions to squeak past the Titans.Here's a pair of interesting stats from those two games:GAMECIN YPPOPP YPPCIN TO MARGINLV @ CIN5.05.4+2CIN @ TEN5.46.8+2In each contest, Cincinnati earned two more turnovers than they gave up - not including the crucial fourth-down stop against the Titans and the significant win probability gifted to them when the Raiders stepped out of bounds on their own 2-yard line fielding a kickoff.As bettors, we must understand how we arrived at a given result to determine its validity and sustainability. Do we think the Bengals will be able to lose the yards-per-play battle with the Chiefs (7.4 YPP vs. Steelers, 7.6 YPP vs. Bills), but make up for it by turning Mahomes and Kansas City over the same way they did Derek Carr and Tannehill?We know everything we need to by now about the Chiefs' glowing offense, but whether or not they cover this touchdown spread will come down to their defense. They gave up 446 yards to Burrow - all but 29 of the Bengals' total yards that day - during the Week 17 game in Cincinnati.While the Bengals impressed in coming back from a 14-point deficit, they'll need more from their run game here. Referees gifted them a wealth of questionable drive-extending penalties in the first meeting, which the Bengals can't rely on Sunday.Cincinnati's biggest issue, though, comes in pass protection. The Bengals' rise from being the team with the fourth-lowest win total in the preseason to a club in the final four indicates they've gotten this far despite not being a finished product. That's clearly seen in an offensive line that gave up nine sacks to the Titans, three to the Raiders, and four the first time around to the Chiefs.In a loud, raucous environment that encourages false starts, holding penalties, and sacks, the Bengals will need an uncharacteristically strong performance up front to prevent Burrow from playing behind the sticks for much of the game.The pickAs we've discussed in our weekly teaser pieces, getting the Chiefs at -1 with a -270 price would be a great deal, but there isn't a second leg that's mathematically viable or otherwise attractive. However, we can still use the alternative spread market to create a synthetic teaser for the same -120 price that we're used to. I'm fine with selling the half-point - to -1.5 on this leg - to get an extra half-point on the NFC Championship Game.Bet:

Despite three seasons of unfulfilled promise, the New York Giants still believe in Daniel Jones as a franchise quarterback."We've done everything possible to screw this kid up since he's been here. … We certainly have not given up on Daniel Jones," Giants co-owner John Mara said Wednesday, per SNY's Ralph Vacchiano.Jones, who New York drafted sixth overall in 2019, has been plagued by turnovers throughout his brief career, throwing 29 interceptions and losing 20 fumbles.The Giants are in the process of ushering in a new regime. They've already hired Joe Schoen from the Buffalo Bills as their general manager and expect to name a new head coach shortly."When the new staff gets in here, we'll build an offense around Daniel to accentuate what he does best," Schoen said at his introductory press conference, according to SNY.Several veteran quarterbacks have been linked to the Giants as trade candidates throughout the Jones era. One option the club won't pursue is Deshaun Watson, who still wants out from the Houston Texans."We are not trading for Deshaun Watson," Mara said, per SNY. "There are so many reasons why we wouldn't do that. Cap-wise we couldn't afford it, but more importantly, with the (sexual assault) allegations that are out there right now, that's just not the right fit for us."Jones has been effective as a runner over his first three seasons and has shown flashes as a passer when given a clean pocket. The Giants' offensive line has struggled mightily in front of him, making the unit a priority for Schoen and Co."If you really want to see Daniel Jones put his best foot forward, he's got to be on his feet," said Schoen, according to SNY. "If you want to see what (running back) Saquon (Barkley) can do, it would be nice if you could block guys."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs fans are taking a page out of the Bills Mafia playbook and showing their generosity following the team's divisional-round win.Buffalo's John R. Oishei Children's Hospital announced Wednesday morning that Chiefs fans have donated more than $100,000 to its Patricia Allen Fund, which is named after the late grandmother of Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning believes Aaron Rodgers could have regrets if he leaves the Green Bay Packers this offseason.In an interview with ESPN's Rob Demovsky, Manning said he thinks Rodgers should do what he did and finish his career with the team that drafted him."It was important for me to finish my career with the Giants, and I would think it would be important for him as well, just because of the legacy that he has, the history of Green Bay, being there as long as he has been, winning a championship and winning MVPs," Manning explained. "It's not always greener on the other side. That's what I had learned from talking to other people. You can go somewhere, and it's not necessarily going to be better; it's probably going to be worse."Usually what happens is the egos get involved. It's either his ego or the GM's, and for some reason, that's when there's usually separation," Manning said. "When a quarterback's been there a long time and leaves, it's because the egos can't get along with everybody."If Aaron leaves, it's probably going to be his own call. It's going to be his decision, saying, 'I want out of here.' That's what he basically said last year is he wanted to get out."Rodgers left his future up in the air following the Packers' divisional-round loss to the San Francisco 49ers, telling reporters he plans to take his time before making a decision.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles guard Brandon Brooks announced his retirement from football Wednesday, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Brooks began his career with the Houston Texans in 2012. The former third-round pick then established himself as one of the NFL's best offensive linemen, making three Pro Bowl appearances and winning one Super Bowl title with Philly from 2016-21."The past six years, I wouldn't trade for the world," Brooks said Wednesday, according to Kevin Patra of NFL.com. "It didn't end the way I would have liked it, but to me, it's never about the ending, it's about the journey."The 32-year-old played his best football from 2017-19, starting 48 games over that span. However, he struggled to stay healthy over the last two years. A torn Achilles forced him to miss the entire 2020 season before a pectoral injury limited him to only two appearances in 2021."It's something I wrestled with since really last offseason," he said of his recent injuries. "I think in this game, although I'm a young man in the game of life, I'm older now at 32, I think my body is trying to tell me through these injuries that, can I still play? The answer is yes. But the answer also is, can I hold up? After all these injuries, I just realized that, at what point do you listen to your body? I think my body was just telling me I had to make a decision."Brooks hangs up his cleats with 114 career appearances, including 108 starts.He recently reworked his contract with the Eagles to reduce his cap number for 2022, a source told ESPN's Field Yates. The move reportedly gave Philly an additional $12.38 million in salary cap space entering the offseason.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski would retire for a second time if forced to make an immediate decision about his playing future, he told TMZ Sports on Wednesday."If they're like, 'Rob, you've got to decide right now, right this second if you're playing next year,' I would say no right now," Gronkowski said. "I would be like, 'No, I'm not playing.'"Gronkowski retired for the first time in 2019 after nine seasons with the New England Patriots. He dusted off his cleats in 2020 and reunited with quarterback Tom Brady after Brady joined the Buccaneers.The 32-year-old said he'll begin contemplating his future more seriously in a few weeks once he's had a chance to digest the season and recover from the rigors of the campaign."I just wanna heal completely, see where my thoughts are from there then," he said. He added: "But if I had to answer now, it would be no. But you never know - in three weeks it might be yes."Gronkowski posted 802 yards and six touchdowns over 12 games for the Buccaneers in 2021, seeing an uptick in production compared to his first year with the team.The future Hall of Famer said after Tampa Bay bowed out of the playoffs that he could envision himself returning for a third year without Brady, who is also mulling retirement.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After one of the best weekends of playoff football we've ever seen, we'll be treated to more spectacle this weekend as two quarterbacks each make their first start in a conference championship game.Neither is new to firsts this postseason. Joe Burrow has already led the Bengals to their first playoff win in 31 years and first AFC title game since 1988; Matthew Stafford famously won his first career playoff game in the wild-card round, then handed Tom Brady his first playoff loss since joining the Buccaneers two summers ago.Both quarterbacks will make their first semifinal start Sunday, with the Rams (-3.5) hosting the 49ers and the Bengals (+7) facing the Chiefs. Neither signal-caller had won a postseason contest until two weeks ago, and both will be making their conference title debuts against former Super Bowl starters. Can bettors trust either to show up in the biggest games of their pro careers?Burrow faces uphill battleAs evidenced by Sunday's epic duel in Kansas City, the AFC remains the conference of elite quarterback play - but it hasn't been friendly to newcomers.Since the NFL changed its postseason format in 2002, 11 quarterbacks have reached the AFC title game for the first time. Not one managed to win his conference championship debut, with the group combining for an 0-11 record straight up and a 2-9 record against the spread - all while losing by an average of 13.2 points. Nine of them lost by at least nine points, a trend that would spell an ATS loss for the Bengals if it holds.SEASONQUARTERBACKMATCHUPRESULTATSSU2020Josh AllenBills (+3) at Chiefs24-38LL2019Ryan TannehillTitans (+7.5) at Chiefs24-35LL2018Patrick MahomesChiefs (-3) vs. Patriots31-37LL2017Blake BortlesJaguars (+7.5) at Patriots20-24WL2014Andrew LuckColts (+7) at Patriots7-45LL2009Mark SanchezJets (+8.5) at Colts17-30LL2008Joe FlaccoRavens (+6) at Steelers14-23LL2007Philip RiversChargers (+14.5) at Patriots12-21WL2005Jake PlummerBroncos (-3.5) vs. Steelers17-34LL2004Ben RoethlisbergerSteelers (+3) vs. Patriots27-41LL2003Peyton ManningColts (+4) vs. Patriots14-24LLAs shown by the results above, the caliber of quarterback has scarcely mattered on this stage. A year ago, Josh Allen was the MVP runner-up before wilting in the AFC title game; Peyton Manning (2003) and Patrick Mahomes (2018) both won MVP honors ahead of their losses.It's not as if these 11 quarterbacks played above the results, either. They averaged just 227.7 yards in their semifinal debuts with a combined 14 passing touchdowns, 18 interceptions, five fumbles, and 26 sacks allowed. Only two of them completed more than 60% of their passes, and only Mahomes led his team to 30 points or more.Burrow's inexperience in this spot is an added concern. Six of those 11 quarterbacks reached the AFC title game within their first three NFL seasons; they went 0-6 straight up/ATS with a -15.7 scoring differential, and all six turned the ball over at least once in those losses.Of course, all 11 of those QBs were thwarted by Brady, Manning, Mahomes, or Ben Roethlisberger, who have combined to win 17 of the last 18 AFC championships. Those four have been particularly fierce against first-timers, posting a combined 9-2 ATS record on this stage compared to a 7-9 ATS record in all other semifinal spots.That's bad news for Burrow, who will duel Mahomes on Sunday. The Bengals passer got the best of the Chiefs star in Week 17, but even that could be concerning: Mahomes is 5-2 ATS in playoff rematches - including 2-0 ATS this year - with both losses coming against Brady.Stafford's path has promiseIt's been an entirely different story in the NFC, where first-time starters are in vogue in conference title games - even without elite statistics to support them.Nineteen quarterbacks have made their semifinal debuts in the last 20 years, though 10 of them have faced another such starter in that spot. Isolate the nine first-time starters who faced playoff veterans in the conference championship, and the results are stark:SEASONQUARTERBACKMATCHUPRESULTATSSU2019Jimmy Garoppolo49ers (-8.5) vs. Packers37-20WW2018Jared GoffRams (+3) at Saints26-23WW2013Russell WilsonSeahawks (-4) vs. 49ers23-17WW2011Alex Smith49ers (-2) vs. Giants17-20LL2007Eli ManningGiants (+7) at Packers23-20WW2005Matt HasselbeckSeahawks (-4) vs. Panthers34-14WW2004Michael VickFalcons (+6) at Eagles10-27LL2003Jake DelhommePanthers (+4.5) at Eagles14-3WW2002Brad JohnsonBuccaneers (+3.5) at Eagles27-10WWThese nine quarterbacks combined for a stellar 7-2 ATS/SU record in their first conference title starts, winning by 11 points per game in those seven victories. Surprisingly, they found success despite averaging a mere 194.6 yards with a conservative 8-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio.It's not as if this crop of signal-callers hasn't faced its fair share of elite quarterbacks - Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Brett Favre come to mind - but the NFC's top quarterbacks haven't been a buzzsaw like the AFC's quartet of future Hall of Famers. The nine passers listed above also benefitted from playing for superior teams, sheltering their inexperience behind a game-manager approach.Four of the nine quarterbacks were favored in their semifinal debuts (3-1 ATS) despite facing more seasoned passers. That was largely because of defense, as the nine teams that deployed first-time starters in the conference title game allowed an average of 17.1 points. Only five of those QBs threw for more than 200 yards; all five won SU/ATS.That could be the story again this weekend, with Stafford leading the favored Rams against the division-rival 49ers. Los Angeles' defense has struggled in two games versus San Francisco this season, but Stafford has been anything but a game-manager in his first two playoff wins. He's also going against Jimmy Garoppolo, who's among the least prolific passers to face an inexperienced starter in this spot.Can you trust Burrow, Stafford?There's always risk betting on a quarterback entering new territory in the postseason - especially against an opposing passer with Super Bowl experience. That said, Burrow and Stafford face dramatically different tests this weekend, with one catching points from a former MVP and the other favored against a familiar foe.History suggests a much friendlier outlook for Stafford, who's surrounded by talent on a stacked team. Burrow, meanwhile, will likely need a Herculean effort to break Mahomes' stranglehold on the AFC.C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at cjackson.cowart@thescore.com.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears hired Kansas City Chiefs assistant director of player personnel Ryan Poles as their next general manager, the club announced Tuesday.Poles will replace Ryan Pace, who served as Chicago's GM from 2015-21. The Bears parted ways with Pace and head coach Matt Nagy on Jan. 10 after finishing the season 6-11."It's an honor for me to join such a well-regarded organization," Poles said. "Together with my family, I'm looking forward to hitting the ground running to help get this organization, its fanbase, and the city what they deserve: a winning team and a Super Bowl trophy.""We are thrilled to be able to add someone of Ryan's background and football expertise to our organization," said team chairman George H. McCaskey.Poles has been with the Chiefs since 2009. The 36-year-old held several executive roles with the club and became director of player personnel in 2018. He also served as director of college scouting in 2017, the year Kansas City traded up in the first round of the draft to select quarterback Patrick Mahomes at No. 10.Cleveland Browns vice president of football operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was the other known finalist for the Bears job, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Poles, a former offensive tackle, signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2008 after five seasons at Boston College, but he didn't make the final roster. He'll face plenty of challenges as general manager in Chicago, including finding a head coach to replace Nagy.The team recently requested a second head coaching interview with Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, making him the third known finalist for the job along with Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and former Colts and Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The Bears haven't had a winning season in the last three campaigns, going 22-27 in the regular season since 2019.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sean Payton stepped down as head coach of the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday but didn't rule out an eventual return to the sidelines."I still have a vision for doing things in football, and I'll be honest with you, that might be coaching again at some point," he said. "I don't think it's this year - I think maybe in the future, but that's not where my heart is right now."Payton coached the Saints for 15 seasons and established himself as one of the most creative offensive minds in the NFL. His offense ranked in the top 10 in scoring 12 times. He posted a 152-89 record in the regular season and went 9-8 in the playoffs with a Super Bowl title in 2009. He was Coach of the Year in 2006.The 58-year-old sat out the 2012 season while suspended for his involvement in the Saints' bounty scandal.The veteran coach denied reports that media outlets coveted him, though he acknowledged he'd be open to a role in broadcasting."I think I'd like to do that," he said. "I think I'd be pretty good at it."Payton is under contract through 2024, so any team that wants to hire him before then would have to trade for his rights.His exit leaves the Saints with another major question mark going forward. New Orleans has yet to find a long-term replacement for retired quarterback Drew Brees and is projected to enter the offseason approximately $74 million over the salary cap, according to Over The Cap.Injuries devastated New Orleans' 2021 season, forcing the team to start four different quarterbacks. The Saints finished the year 9-8, their fifth straight winning campaign.With Payton's departure from New Orleans, nine NFL teams need a new head coach.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antonio Brown said the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offered him money to undergo mental health treatment to avoid backlash for demanding he plays injured."These guys at Tampa Bay Bucs tried to make an agreement with me to give me $200,000 to go to the crazy house so these guys could look like they know what they're talking about," Brown told HBO's Bryant Gumbel in an interview set to air Tuesday evening. "These guys aren't professional, they treated me wrong."The Buccaneers cut Brown before the end of the regular season after he walked off the field during a game against the New York Jets. Brown claimed his ankle wasn't healthy enough to play, while Bucs head coach Bruce Arians asserted the wide receiver was upset with his target share that afternoon."(I'm) not worried about the ball," said Brown, who was interviewed alongside his lawyer. "Tom Brady is my guy, he's the reason I'm on Tampa Bay, so I know I'm gonna get the ball."Brown missed several games with an ankle injury before returning Dec. 26 against the Carolina Panthers. He said the Buccaneers gave him Toradol injections to help manage the pain for as long as he could.His attorney, Sean Burstyn, said he has evidence of the Buccaneers offering to pay Brown to undergo "intensive mental health treatment.""The offer was Antonio would basically sit on the sidelines, go on some list, and commit himself to some form of intensive mental health treatment," he said. "And we were specifically told in writing by the general manager twice, 'Don't spin this any other way.'"When asked if he believes he needs any kind of help with his mental health, Brown said he possesses "mental wealth.""I know a lot of people may not understand me ... or don't know how I react to emotional things, but it's not for them to understand me," he said. "I got a beautiful family, kids, and people across the world that look up to me. It's no reason I'm in this situation at this point."Brown joined the Buccaneers midway through the 2020 campaign and helped them win Super Bowl LV. The seven-time Pro Bowler has bounced between the Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, and Bucs since requesting a trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers at the end of the 2018 season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With free agency and the draft still ahead, NFL rosters will undergo seismic changes over the next few months.Before the shuffling begins, let's take an early look at the players positioned to break out when the 2022 season kicks off.Arizona CardinalsRondale Moore, WR - The rookie started his career with 11 catches, 182 yards, and a touchdown over his first two games, but those numbers were never going to be sustainable since he remained a part-time player in the Cardinals' offense. With A.J. Green and Christian Kirk heading to free agency this offseason, we should see the dynamic Moore take on a bigger role in Arizona's attack.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★☆Atlanta FalconsFrank Darby, WR - While the sixth-round pick barely made an impact for the Falcons in his first year, the depth chart could open up considerably with Calvin Ridley's status unknown and Russell Gage, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Tajae Sharpe all hitting free agency. Even with an uptick in playing time, the odds of Darby becoming a weekly fantasy option remain slim.Fantasy breakout potential: ★☆☆☆☆Baltimore Ravens Scott Taetsch / Getty Images Sport / GettyRashod Bateman, WR - It was a strange debut campaign for the Ravens' rookie wideout, who spent the opening five games on injured reserve and was without star quarterback Lamar Jackson for the final four weeks of the season. Even so, Bateman topped 50 yards in three of his first four outings and flashed his No. 1 receiver skill set with a seven-catch, 103-yard effort in Week 14. If his development continues, he'll compete with Mark Andrews and Marquise Brown to be Jackson's top target in 2022.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★★Buffalo BillsGabriel Davis, WR - At this point, it seems insane that the Bills kept Davis behind veteran Emmanuel Sanders on the depth chart for most of the year. In the six contests where Davis played at least 50% of the snaps, he averaged 59 yards per game and notched four touchdowns in those appearances. The 22-year-old then made a massive contribution in the postseason, with 41 yards and a score in the wild-card round and 201 yards and four TDs in the shootout loss to the Chiefs. Davis is a must-have player in 2022 fantasy drafts.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★☆Carolina PanthersTerrace Marshall, WR - The second-rounder failed to carve out a consistent role in the offensive unit before injuries derailed his campaign completely. With DJ Moore leading the receiving corps and Robby Anderson signing a new two-year deal to stay in Carolina, Marshall might have a hard time earning a significant target share. An upgrade at quarterback would help his outlook.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★☆☆Chicago Bears Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport / GettyJustin Fields, QB - There's no denying that Matt Nagy and his coaching staff were a net negative for Fields in Year 1. Fortunately, a new regime is on the way, and it will likely be one with a real plan for how to maximize the young QB's abilities. From Week 6 on, Fields posted at least 35 rushing yards in six of his remaining seven outings, which should intrigue fantasy managers.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★★Cincinnati BengalsChris Evans, RB - The Bengals don't have an obvious breakout candidate for next season, but Evans could take over as the No. 2 back. He drew positive reports for his pass-catching skills as a rookie, and he might be a Joe Mixon injury away from fantasy relevance.Fantasy breakout potential: ★☆☆☆☆Cleveland BrownsDonovan Peoples-Jones, WR - DPJ was this year's ultimate boom-or-bust receiver. He went for 70 yards or more in five of his last 10 games - but opponents also held him under 40 yards in four of those contests. Still, if the Browns don't make any big additions to their wideout room, Peoples-Jones will be an upside WR4 in fantasy, possibly more if Jarvis Landry misses any time.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★☆☆Dallas CowboysTony Pollard, RB - Pollard produced 60 yards or more from scrimmage 10 times this campaign - even while backing up Ezekiel Elliott. He's an explosive game-breaker who would be worthy of starting on most NFL squads. If Elliott falters or gets hurt, Pollard will be the definition of a league-winner in 2022.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★☆Denver Broncos Matthew Stockman / Getty Images Sport / GettyJavonte Williams, RB - This might be the most obvious breakout on this list. Williams was exceptional this season as both a rusher and a pass-catcher. He posted the second-highest missed tackles forced percentage despite splitting time with Melvin Gordon, who will likely leave in free agency. If Williams gets the lead back job all to himself, a top-five fantasy finish is not out of the question for as early as 2022.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★★Detroit LionsD'Andre Swift, Lions - You could argue that Swift has already broken out for the Lions, but injuries have kept him from hitting his true ceiling the last two years. On a per-game basis, he averaged the 18th most fantasy points among running backs in his first year and increased that to 10th this campaign. If he can stay healthy and Detroit can improve on offense, Swift will take his game to another level and become an elite fantasy producer.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★★Green Bay PackersA.J. Dillon, RB - As a sophomore, Dillon began to assert himself in a timeshare with Aaron Jones. Similar to Pollard, Dillon is an overqualified backup who found a way to rack up at least 60 yards from scrimmage in 10 of his appearances this year. Dillon will benefit if Aaron Rodgers returns, with the number of overall scoring opportunities remaining high. If Rodgers leaves, the offense will suffer, but it will force Matt LaFleur to emphasize his rushing attack and take the pressure off Jordan Love. Expect Dillon to continue his role as a weekly flex option with league-winning upside if anything sidelines Jones.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★☆Houston TexansNico Collins, WR - Like most rookies, Collins had his best moments in the second half of the season when his playing time increased. Scoring opportunities weren't frequent in Houston's offense, but the 22-year-old showed enough to warrant a longer look as the Texans' No. 2 receiver. Keep your expectations in check, but there are many paths that end with Collins getting a bigger opportunity in Year 2.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★☆☆☆Indianapolis ColtsParris Campbell, WR - As much as we want to hold out hope for Campbell to overcome the ailments that cost him so much time early in his career, his window to become an impact player in the pros has nearly run out. Campbell did manage a pair of 50-yard efforts before a foot injury sent him to injured reserve in October, but he needs to prove he can stay on the field before we trust him on our fantasy rosters.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★☆☆☆Jacksonville Jaguars Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyTravis Etienne, RB - The Jags' first-round pick missed his entire debut campaign after having Lisfranc surgery, wanting to fully heal before getting back on the field. It's easy to forget, but Etienne was one of the top RB prospects in last year's class, offering high-end breakaway speed and an extensive pass-catching resume. And next season, Jacksonville might need him more than ever as teammate James Robinson recovers from a torn ACL suffered late in December.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★☆Kansas City ChiefsClyde Edwards-Helaire, RB - Has CEH's underwhelming NFL production so far been the result of injuries? Offensive line issues? Or is he simply not as talented as the Chiefs believed when they selected him in the first round? The answer might be some combination of all three. Until we know for sure, you should still be willing to take a chance on a 22-year-old back tied to a Patrick Mahomes-led attack.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★☆Las Vegas RaidersBryan Edwards, WR - Edwards made strides in his sophomore campaign, but his contributions are still few and far between. Following the unfortunate Henry Ruggs situation, the Raiders will probably invest in a receiver this offseason, which will push Edwards down the depth chart. He might be the most likely breakout candidate on the roster, but it's by default.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★☆☆☆Los Angeles ChargersJosh Palmer, WR - A Palmer breakout is largely dependent on whether Mike Williams departs in free agency. If that occurs and the Chargers don't make any big splashes, then Palmer would move into a prime spot as one of Justin Herbert's top targets. In the three games where Palmer saw the field on at least 60% of the team's snaps, the rookie put up incredibly promising stat lines of 5-66-1, 5-43-1, and 4-45-1. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on this situation.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★☆Los Angeles Rams Joe Scarnici / Getty Images Sport / GettyCam Akers, RB - After a strong finish to his rookie season, Akers was high on last year's list of breakout candidates before a torn Achilles put his future in doubt. His stunning return in Week 18 defied everything we knew about Achilles recovery timetables, putting him on pace to hit the ground running next campaign - assuming he can escape the rest of the playoffs unscathed. Sean McVay clearly has faith in Akers since he gave him 19 and 25 touches over the last two games.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★★Miami DolphinsTua Tagovailoa, QB - It sounds like the Dolphins intend to keep Tagovailoa - something that seemed less than guaranteed early in the season when reports circulated about their interest in Deshaun Watson. After returning from injury in Week 6, Tua was the QB17 in fantasy points per game while playing most of those contests without DeVante Parker and Will Fuller. He may never emerge as a QB1 for fantasy, but the best is yet to come for the 23-year-old.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★☆Minnesota VikingsIrv Smith Jr., TE - Meniscus surgery cost Smith the entire 2021 campaign. Before the injury, he was already someone we were targeting as a late-round breakout candidate. As long as he can get back to his previous form, Smith is an explosive athlete with a bright future on the Vikings.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★☆☆New England PatriotsRhamondre Stevenson, RB - The first-year rusher looked just as capable as starter Damien Harris this season while also offering the Patriots more as a pass-catcher. In the three contests where he played at least 50% of the snaps, Stevenson poured in 24 touches for 114 yards and two scores, 24 touches for 78 yards, and 19 touches for 107 yards and two scores. Whether it's injury-related or talent-based, Stevenson will eventually have his shot to be the lead back in New England.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★☆New Orleans SaintsAdam Trautman, TE - Trautman started to turn it on midseason - with at least six targets in four straight games - before a sprained MCL kept him out until the final month. The Saints' offense has been very tight-end friendly, especially around the red zone, so an athletic receiving option like Trautman has a chance to become a fantasy factor if he continues to progress.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★☆☆New York Giants Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images Sport / GettyKadarius Toney, WR - When a first-round rookie brings in 16 catches and 267 yards over two weeks, you have to take notice. It was a small sample size, but what we saw from Toney in terms of his speed and ability to change direction is more than enough to get fantasy managers excited about his potential. Toney's one of those players who appears to have an extra gear, and the Giants' new coaching staff will have to prioritize getting the ball in his hands.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★★New York JetsElijah Moore, WR - Most teams are lucky to have one strong breakout candidate, but the Jets have two in Moore and running back Michael Carter. Moore gets the nod here because - before a quad injury landed him on injured reserve - he averaged the seventh-most fantasy points at his position over his final six games. He found himself right up there with the NFL's best fantasy receivers, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him back in that range next year, especially if Zach Wilson gets more comfortable in the offense.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★★Philadelphia EaglesDevonta Smith, WR - Smith silenced those who doubted his durability at the pro level, playing in all 17 games as well as the Eagles' lone postseason outing. The only problem holding him back now will be the offense's design, which skewed more run-heavy as the year went along. When the targets are there, Smith can produce.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★★Pittsburgh SteelersChase Claypool, WR - Claypool didn't make the leap that we were hoping for from Year 1 to Year 2. Ben Roethlisberger's declining arm continued to limit the Steelers' offense, and Claypool ultimately finished with similar stats to his rookie campaign. However, he still profiles as a young wideout capable of emerging as a true difference-maker during his career. Whether that breakout comes next season in Pittsburgh will depend on who replaces Big Ben under center.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★★San Francisco 49ers Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyTrey Lance, QB - The 49ers are playing the long game with Lance. Fantasy managers may have been disappointed that he didn't take over as the starter this campaign, but this could help his long-term outlook. Like Patrick Mahomes, Lance will spend his rookie season learning behind a veteran before being asked to assume control of the offense. He's already flashed his upside, finishing as a top-13 fantasy QB in two of the three games where he saw significant playing time.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★★★Seattle SeahawksDee Eskridge, WR - Not all breakout candidates are created equal. After five consecutive five-star options, we take a step down to Eskridge, who couldn't solidify himself as the No. 3 receiver in Seattle as a rookie. He'll get another shot to win that job in 2022, but he'll struggle to carve out consistent targets with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett entrenched at the top of the depth chart. Russell Wilson's uncertain future with the Seahawks also casts a shadow on this entire passing attack.Fantasy breakout potential: ★☆☆☆☆Tampa Bay BuccaneersKe'Shawn Vaughn, RB - Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones are hitting free agency in March, and with how well Fournette has played for the Bucs, we should see them work to re-sign him. Even if that occurs, Vaughn could rise up the depth chart and become the new No. 2 option in this backfield. There's also a non-zero chance Tampa decides against paying up at RB and instead gives Vaughn a shot to handle the job. However, coach Bruce Arians did suggest Vaughn has a future as a three-down back.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★★☆☆Tennessee TitansDarrynton Evans, RB - Tennessee doesn't have any real breakout candidates at the moment. That includes Evans, who hasn't generated many highlights since the Titans used a third-round pick on him in 2020. However, that has less to do with talent and more to do with durability - the 23-year-old has missed 27 games over his first two campaigns. Evans looked like he belonged in the brief glimpses we've seen, and Tennessee had an immediate backup for Derrick Henry. If he can prove he still deserves that role, he'll be a name to monitor in fantasy once again.Fantasy breakout potential: ★☆☆☆☆Washington Football TeamDyami Brown, WR - After seeing nearly full-time snaps early in the season, Brown couldn't convince the coaching staff he deserved a regular role in the offensive unit, and his playing time declined as the year went along. That's not a great sign for future production. Fortunately for him, Washington's top priority in the offseason is finding an upgrade at quarterback. A new passer could breathe life into this offense and give Brown a better shot at finding success.Fantasy breakout potential: ★★☆☆☆Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. 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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster expressed interest in signing with the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent, sources told Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network.Smith-Schuster is on track to hit the open market in March. He took a one-year deal to stay with the Steelers last year after turning down offers from the Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.A shoulder injury limited Smith-Schuster to 15 catches for 129 yards over five regular-season appearances in 2021. He returned months ahead of schedule to play in the Steelers' postseason loss to the Chiefs.Smith-Schuster has spent his entire five-year career in Pittsburgh. He said at the end of the season that "it would be nice to stay for another four years," but it's unclear how far the Steelers are willing to extend themselves financially to keep him.The Steelers selected Smith-Schuster in the second round of the 2017 draft. The USC product rose to stardom with a 1,426-yard campaign in 2018, but he hasn't reached the 1,000-yard mark since.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens are nearing a contract extension with head coach John Harbaugh, a source told ESPN's Jamison Hensley.The deal reportedly is expected to be completed in the next few weeks.Harbaugh has one year left on his current contract.The 59-year-old has established the Ravens as one of the AFC's most consistent teams over his 14-year tenure. He won the franchise its second Super Bowl in 2012 and has led the team to nine playoff appearances.Baltimore endured an injury-ravaged campaign in 2021, finishing 8-9 to miss the postseason for the first time since 2017.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As Tom Brady weighs his options between a possible 23rd campaign or retirement, he says his family will have a significant say in whether he returns to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2022 season."I think as I've gotten older, I think the best part is, is football is extremely important in my life, and it means a lot to me, and I care a lot about what we're trying to accomplish as a team, and I care a lot about my teammates," Brady told Jim Gray on the "Let's Go!" podcast."It's not always what I want," Brady added. "It's what we want as a family. And I'm gonna spend a lot of time with them and figure out in the future what's next."The seven-time Super Bowl champion indicated that he plans to spend time with his three children and wife Gisele Bundchen following the Buccaneers' 30-27 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round.The 44-year-old passer said there is no rush to decide on his future. Brady led the league with 5,316 passing yards and 43 touchdowns while completing 65.7% of his pass attempts.Although Brady didn't indicate whether he was leaning toward retiring or returning, he said he's "proud" and "satisfied" with everything he accomplished this year. "I know when I give it my all, that's something to be proud of," Brady said.The NFL's all-time leader in both career passing yards and touchdowns has one year remaining on his contract and has previously expressed a desire to play past the age of 45.Head coach Bruce Arians said there's no timetable for the future Hall of Famer to choose a path. "I haven't talked to him yet," Arians said, according to The Associated Press' Fred Goodall. "Take all the time he needs."Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has emphasized retaining as many of its pending free agents as possible in a bid to reload ahead of the 2022 campaign.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The epic bout between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills generated a massive audience.Kansas City's dramatic overtime victory averaged 42.7 million viewers on CBS, making it the NFL's most-watched divisional-round game since Dallas Cowboys-Green Bay Packers in January 2017 (48.5 million), the network announced Tuesday.The audience peaked at 51.7 million viewers, the second straight week CBS topped the 50-million viewer mark for an NFL game after the wild-card tilt between the Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers.Kansas City and Buffalo put on a show Sunday with a remarkable back-and-forth between both offenses. The teams combined for 25 points in the last two minutes of regulation and overtime.The Chiefs ultimately edged the Bills 42-36 after Patrick Mahomes found Travis Kelce in the end zone for a walk-off touchdown in overtime.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

And then there were four.The Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers are still alive in the race for the Lombardi Trophy. Here's how the potential Super Bowl LVI matchups stack up ahead of the conference championship games:4. Chiefs vs. 49ers Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / GettyHere we go again. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid on one side, and Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyle Shanahan on the other. Though a sequel of Super Bowl LIV may not sound like the most appealing option in 2022, this rematch would feature much more intrigue than the first installment.Rewinding to February 2020, Mahomes was poised to launch into superstardom, with the only question being not if he would win the Super Bowl, but how many more would follow? On the other side, the 49ers looked to solidify the Shanahan-Garoppolo pairing, though that all came crashing down as they let the Lombardi Trophy slip through their grasp in an epic collapse.Both sides have been forged in fire since that fateful day. Mahomes suffered a blowout loss in last year's Super Bowl, while the 49ers' relationship with Garoppolo has been rocky since that 2020 defeat, and his future remains uncertain.A rematch would be the ultimate chase for redemption. Now back to being his dominant self, Mahomes could wipe away the painful memory of last year's humbling defeat by adding another trophy to his collection, while Garoppolo and Shanahan will try to flip the script by delivering the 49ers a long-awaited Super Bowl.3. Bengals vs. 49ers Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport / GettyIf you bet before the season that the Bengals and 49ers would be one game away from the Super Bowl, you could be rich by now. Neither was considered an offseason contender, and even their playoff status was in doubt at some point. Still, that doesn't mean a potential Super Bowl matchup between them wouldn't be a must-watch.The most interesting aspect of this potential matchup is the history between the two franchises. Cincinnati is the only remaining team this postseason without a title in its history. The Bengals have played in the Super Bowl twice and lost to San Francisco on both occasions. Only one matchup - Pittsburgh Steelers versus Dallas Cowboys - has happened three times in Super Bowl history.Though fans wouldn't see as many superstars as in other possible bouts, the Bengals and 49ers still have plenty of exciting players. Cincinnati features one of the NFL's most electric duos in Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase, while San Francisco has George Kittle and arguably the league's most dynamic playmaker in Deebo Samuel. Plus, the pass rush would be a strength with the Bengals' Trey Hendrickson (14 sacks - team lead) and 49ers' Nick Bosa (15.5 sacks - second in the NFC).San Francisco edged Cincinnati in overtime during their regular-season meeting in December.2. Bengals vs. Rams Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Bengals and Rams meeting in Super Bowl LVI would provide an intriguing backstory between like-minded coaches with rockstar players.If there's anyone prepared to slow down the offensive guru that is Sean McVay, perhaps it's someone who knows all his tricks. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor spent time on McVay's staff from 2017-18, giving Taylor first-hand knowledge of his former boss' offense. The same applies for McVay, who oversaw Taylor before the former quarterbacks coach landed the big job in Cincinnati. McVay's coaching tree could come to blossom at Super Bowl LVI, though Taylor would have a prime opportunity to take down his former boss and prove the student has become the master.With the Super Bowl taking place in Los Angeles, it's only fitting that both coaches will have A-list stars at their disposal in this potential chess match. Two of the league's biggest rising stars - Burrow and Chase - would be tasked with stealing the spotlight from the likes of Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Donald, and Von Miller - three of the NFL's highest-paid defenders.All eyes would be on a five-star matchup between Chase, who's in the midst of one of the greatest rookie seasons ever, and Ramsey, who has made a career out of silencing big-name wideouts. Fans could be in for a treat watching what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object.1. Chiefs vs. Rams Kohjiro Kinno / Sports Illustrated / GettyA Super Bowl LVI matchup between the Chiefs and Rams is all football fans could hope for right now, as the bout would check a lot of boxes. Two exciting quarterbacks? Check. Two elite offensive-minded coaches? Check. Absurd receivers? Check. The two most disruptive interior defensive linemen in the NFL? Check. The list goes on and on.Kansas City has played in back-to-back Super Bowls, so its offensive firepower isn't news to anyone. The trio of Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill can essentially do anything on the field, including score an 80-yard touchdown in one play or march 44 yards in 13 seconds to kick a game-tying field goal. Reid, one of the NFL's most experienced and accomplished head coaches, has found an unfair formula to torch his opponents.The 63-year-old Reid would be facing McVay, who already has a Super Bowl appearance and a Coach of the Year award on his resume at age 36. The Rams have given McVay plenty of superstars to work with, and the investment has paid off. Matthew Stafford has found his rhythm alongside Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr., making L.A.'s offense as dangerous as any other unit in the NFL. Plus, the Rams have more than enough star power defensively in Donald, Miller, Ramsey, and others.The last time Reid's Chiefs and McVay's Rams faced off in 2018, it marked the only game in NFL history where both teams topped 50 points.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.