Elite players and coaches made their respective cases for the NFL's top individual awards in another exciting and action-packed campaign.Here's a look at the top five candidates for the main honors at the end of the league's first 17-game regular season.Coach of the Year5. Zac Taylor, Bengals Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / GettyFew thought that Taylor - who was on the hot seat before the season started - could lead the Cincinnati Bengals to double-digit wins and the division title.4. Kliff Kingsbury, CardinalsThe Arizona Cardinals' offense lost steam in the second half of the season but the team's still one of the most balanced in the NFL. Kingsbury's squad enters the playoffs ranked 11th in scoring on both sides of the ball.3. Bill Belichick, PatriotsThe New England Patriots had two painful losses in December that hurt their chances of winning the AFC East, but Belichick still deserves a ton of credit for guiding them to the playoffs after posting a losing record last season.2. Matt LaFleur, PackersIt's easy to understand why LaFleur is the betting favorite for this award: The Green Bay Packers earned the NFC's No. 1 seed and finished the season playing the league's best football.1. Mike Vrabel, Titans Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyYes, LaFleur has the Packers as Super Bowl favorites, but no coach overcame as much adversity as Vrabel. Injuries sidelined several Tennessee Titans starters - including Derrick Henry - and forced the team to play an NFL-record 88 players throughout the season. Somehow, Tennessee still clinched the AFC's No. 1 seed.Comeback Player of the Year5. Derwin James, ChargersLos Angeles Chargers fans know how badly the team missed James after a meniscus injury prevented him from playing in 2020. The standout safety finished this season with 118 tackles, two sacks, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions.4. Deebo Samuel, 49ersInjuries limited Samuel to only seven appearances last season, but the wide receiver bounced back in style this campaign. Samuel enjoyed a career year as a receiver while being a big part of the San Francisco 49ers' running game.3. Nick Bosa, 49ersBosa didn't miss a beat after suffering a torn ACL last season. The star pass-rusher played in every game this campaign and earned his second Pro Bowl berth after amassing 52 tackles, 15.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles.2. Dak Prescott, Cowboys Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images Sport / GettyAfter suffering a terrible ankle injury in 2020, Prescott threw a career-high 37 touchdown passes to help the Dallas Cowboys win the NFC East. While Prescott lacked consistency, his remarkable comeback will be remembered for a long time.1. Joe Burrow, BengalsThis award was Prescott's to lose for months, but Burrow's late-season surge was key in determining the final rankings. The Bengals signal-caller suffered a torn ACL and MCL in 2020 but returned in top form. He led all quarterbacks in completion percentage and yards per attempt to guide Cincy to its first division title since 2015 - even though he has an inferior supporting cast to Prescott's.Offensive Rookie of the Year5. Kyle Pitts, FalconsWhile the Atlanta Falcons didn't plan on Pitts scoring just one touchdown, his explosiveness sure left fans excited. The fourth overall pick, who became only the second rookie tight end to top 1,000 yards, led his position with 15.1 yards per reception.4. Najee Harris, Steelers Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyIt's hard to imagine how the Pittsburgh Steelers would've fared without Harris, who led the NFL with 381 touches. The running back put up impressive numbers despite lacking big plays and being surrounded by a subpar offensive line. His 1,667 scrimmage yards led all rookies by a significant margin and ranked fourth among all players.3. Jaylen Waddle, DolphinsForget rookies - Waddle was one of the league's most reliable pass-catchers, with his 59 receiving first downs good for 10th in the NFL. The sixth overall pick also set a single-season rookie record with 104 catches.2. Mac Jones, PatriotsJones was the fifth quarterback drafted in 2021, but there's no debate that he performed the best. The Alabama product was a perfect fit in New England, offering exactly what the Patriots needed to win 10 games and return to the postseason.1. Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / GettyJones was a serious contender for this award until Chase's 266-yard, three-touchdown outing against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Bengals wideout not only enjoyed a historic campaign, but he was also among football's most electric players, averaging 18 yards per catch.Defensive Rookie of the Year5. Odafe Oweh, RavensOweh was scalding hot during the season's first five weeks (three sacks, two forced fumbles). Although the first-round linebacker didn't maintain that form throughout the campaign, the Baltimore Ravens know they have a very promising defender for the foreseeable future.4. Nick Bolton, ChiefsBolton boosted his DROY resume after posting a strong Week 18 performance that included a clutch 86-yard touchdown. The second-round linebacker also led all first-year players with 112 tackles.3. Jevon Holland, Dolphins Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Miami Dolphins had two standout rookie defenders in Holland and Jaelan Phillips, but we went with the former due to his stronger play in the season's final stretch. Holland played like a veteran and did a little bit of everything, amassing 69 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two interceptions.2. Patrick Surtain II, BroncosThere's a reason why the Denver Broncos weren't afraid of lining up Surtain against their opponents' top wideouts. The first-round corner allowed a 61.3 passer rating while in coverage, and his four interceptions topped all rookies.1. Micah Parsons, CowboysAre we sure Parsons hasn't been in the league for years? The first-round linebacker torched his opponents and constantly made game-changing plays for Dallas. Despite missing one game, he ran away with the Defensive Rookie of the Year honor after notching 30 quarterback hits, 20 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks.Offensive Player of the Year5. Tom Brady, BuccaneersWe'll get to Brady again when discussing MVP candidates, but it's also hard to ignore him as one of the NFL's most outstanding offensive players. In his 22nd season, the 44-year-old led all quarterbacks in pass attempts (719), completions (485), passing yards (5,316), and touchdowns (43).4. Aaron Rodgers, PackersRodgers is also in MVP contention and was the league's most effective passer, even though his production wasn't as impressive as Brady's. The Packers quarterback topped the league in passer rating (111.9) and Total QBR (68.8) while notching 40 touchdowns, including three rushing.3. Deebo Samuel, 49ersIs there anything Samuel can't do? San Francisco used the stud wide receiver in the running game, and the result was exceptional. Samuel averaged a league-high 18.2 yards per catch and 6.2 yards per rushing attempt on 59 carries. Overall, he had 1,770 scrimmage yards, good for third in the NFL.2. Cooper Kupp, Rams David Berding / Getty Images Sport / GettyKupp was the NFL's best receiver, and it wasn't close. He became only the fourth player in the Super Bowl era to finish the season with the receiving triple crown, leading his position with 145 catches, 1,947 yards, and 16 touchdowns.1. Jonathan Taylor, ColtsIn almost any other year, Kupp would've run away with this award. However, Taylor was even more impressive - he was the only player to top 2,000 scrimmage yards and 20 total touchdowns. No other offensive player was as outstanding as him.Defensive Player of the Year5. Robert Quinn, BearsQuinn might've been the most underrated edge rusher in the NFL this season. The veteran defender was a sack machine: He registered at least 0.5 sack in the season's final nine games to end the campaign with an NFC-high 18.5.4. Aaron Donald, RamsDonald set the bar extremely high, but the three-time Defensive Player of the Year once again made the extraordinary look ordinary. He led all interior defensive linemen with 12.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss despite facing more double teams than any other player.3. Micah Parsons, Cowboys Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyParsons' season went beyond a sensational rookie campaign - he was one of football's most dominant players. Prior to missing the season finale, the Penn State product ranked first in the NFL in tackles for loss, sixth in sacks, and third in quarterback hits.2. Myles Garrett, BrownsDon't let the Cleveland Browns' disappointing campaign fool you: Garrett was again among the most dominant defenders and one of the main reasons Cleveland even had eight wins. The star defensive end set career highs with 51 tackles and 16 sacks and scored his first touchdown on a fumble recovery.1. T.J. Watt, SteelersNo one should be arguing about this one: Watt tied an all-time single-season record with 22.5 sacks despite missing two games and also topped the NFL with 21 tackles for loss. The star edge rusher made big-time plays week after week and was the main reason Pittsburgh made the playoffs.MVP5. Jonathan Taylor, Colts Don Juan Moore / Getty Images Sport / GettyFrom a production standpoint, Taylor was the league's most outstanding player. He helped Indy overcome its limitations in the passing game by leading the league in every meaningful rushing category. However, the Colts missing the playoffs was a big blow to his MVP case.4. Cooper Kupp, RamsMatthew Stafford was the Los Angeles Rams' MVP for most of the season until late-season struggles allowed Kupp's absurd consistency to shine through. No receiver has ever won the MVP award but Kupp - the league's top pass-catcher - at least comes close.3. Joe Burrow, BengalsBurrow seemed a long shot for MVP until he elevated his game toward the end of the season, becoming one of the league's hottest quarterbacks. He passed for 11 touchdowns and no interceptions from Weeks 14-17, helping Cincy clinch the AFC North title.2. Tom Brady, BuccaneersYou actually have to watch it to believe it. At age 44, Brady led the NFL in most quarterback statistical categories and posted a 13-4 record while helping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win their first division title since 2007. The GOAT, whose five game-winning drives rank second, has enjoyed back-to-back campaigns with at least 40 touchdown passes for the first time in his career.1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers Patrick McDermott / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Packers finishing ahead of the Bucs in the NFC and Rodgers essentially playing mistake-free football are the biggest reasons why he tops the MVP race. Rodgers, who threw one interception since Oct. 17, is the NFL's most effective passer. His 0.257 EPA/play ranks significantly ahead of Brady's 0.217. Rodgers is the best player on the best team - that's why he deserves to be the first player to win back-to-back MVPs since Peyton Manning (2008-09).Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.Raiders outlast Chargers in thriller, make playoffs Chris Unger / Getty Images Sport / GettyA crazy 2021 regular season got the crazy ending it deserved.Both the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders could have made the playoffs - and kept the Pittsburgh Steelers from qualifying - had they played to a tie in Sunday's season-ending nightcap. It almost happened!The Raiders finally won when Daniel Carlson kicked a 47-yard field goal on the final play of overtime. But the indescribably wild, convoluted way the game reached that point will be talked about for a long time. Seriously, this one's worth a detailed recap.Vegas led 29-14 with 8:23 to go when the Chargers marched 75 yards in 14 plays, converting a fourth-and-6 before Justin Herbert connected with Josh Palmer for a 23-yard touchdown on fourth-and-21. L.A., always analytics-minded, then went for two and got that, too, cutting the deficit to seven with 4:28 to play.After a Raiders three-and-out, the Chargers put together a drive for the ages: 83 yards on 19 plays that used every last second of the 2:06 that remained. L.A. converted not one, not two, but three fourth-and-10s (though one was because of a penalty) before Herbert zipped a throw to Mike Williams in double coverage for a 12-yard touchdown as the clock struck zero. To be honest, even that quick description doesn't do that drive justice.Vegas kicked a field goal on the first possession of overtime, and L.A. answered by doing the same - but not without completing yet another fourth-and-9 first. Yes, L.A. succeeded on six consecutive fourth-down tries in the fourth quarter and overtime, with Herbert going 5-for-5 on plays of fourth-and-6 or longer with the season hanging in the balance. No big deal. Happens all the time.Even after all that, Derek Carr wasn't content to play for the tie. When Vegas faced a third-and-8 near midfield, Carr dropped a perfect pass into the hands of Zay Jones for a first down. The Raiders then faced third-and-4 from the Chargers' 39, but L.A. head coach Brandon Staley called timeout with 38 seconds left (and just four seconds on the play clock) to set his defense. Josh Jacobs ripped off a 10-yard run on the next play, and the Raiders called timeout with two seconds to go to bring Carlson on for the game-winner. Exhale.Vegas ran off four straight wins to make the playoffs - an extremely unlikely outcome after their season seemed to be headed into the weeds following head coach Jon Gruden's resignation in October. The Chargers, meanwhile - despite an outstanding season and a one-of-a-kind hero ball performance from Herbert in the fourth quarter and overtime - will miss the postseason. It doesn't seem right.A tie would have been deliriously fun, all things considered, but these two teams still found a way to tease the possibility of a tie for as long as possible, and they did it in just about the most entertaining way imaginable. It was a fitting conclusion to the 2021 regular season, and anyone who stayed up to watch it has to be completely spent. I know I am.Colts, Wentz cough up a playoff spotIn a season filled with strange and unpredictable scenarios, the Indianapolis Colts' final collapse has to go down as one of the strangest.All Indy had to do to qualify for the postseason was defeat a listless Jacksonville Jaguars team that hadn't won in nine weeks. The Colts not only lost, they got smoked. It was 26-3 until Carson Wentz threw for a late touchdown and two-point conversion.At the worst possible time against the worst possible opponent, nothing went right for Indy. Jonathan Taylor, the league's runaway rushing champion, rushed for 77 yards and averaged 5.1 yards per carry. But those numbers are misleading, as Taylor posed an EPA/rush of minus-0.31 and was stopped twice on fourth-and-short.The Colts' defense allowed Jags QB Trevor Lawrence to finally look like the can't-miss prospect he was expected to be. And Wentz finally had one of those "Carson Wentz" games that Philadelphia Eagles fans are all too familiar with. In the first three quarters, Wentz was just 7-for-15 for 85 yards. He was also sacked four times, tossed an interception, and lost a fumble in his own territory.The Colts did the best they could for most of the season to keep Wentz from making costly mistakes. They've also got a solid roster. Wentz has three years remaining on his contract, but nothing is guaranteed beyond 2022. He'll be playing for his job next year, but would it shock anyone if the Colts at least made an effort to try to move on in the months ahead?Titans clinch AFC's No. 1 seed Tim Warner / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Tennessee Titans survived the Houston Texans, which means they've wrapped up home-field advantage in the AFC and the conference's lone bye for Wild Card Weekend. It also means they've got an extra week for Derrick Henry to get healthy.Tennessee is interesting, to say the least. Per Football Outsiders, the Titans entered Week 18 not only with the lowest DVOA of any team to earn a No. 1 seed, but a lower efficiency rating than any team to earn a No. 2 seed, either.What that says about what might happen in the postseason is anyone's guess. Just when pretty much anything about the 2021 season seemed easy to understand, a whole lot of crazy stuff would happen to change just about any narrative. Why should what's to come in the postseason be any different?Steelers sneak into the playoffsWhile we're on the theme of stuff that makes no sense, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the postseason despite entering Week 18 with just a 4.5% chance of making it. In a way, it's an outcome that fits right in. It's been that kind of season.Pittsburgh needed to beat the Baltimore Ravens on the road, which it did in overtime. But Chargers-Raiders couldn't end in a tie - and it darn near did - and the Jags had to knock off the Colts. Somehow, someway, that's how it all worked out, because of course it did.The Steelers have been enigmatic all year, getting thumped by genuine mediocrities one week (Minnesota Vikings) and picking up wins they probably didn't deserve the next (Titans). Then again, the Vikings and Chargers are the only non-playoff qualifiers to have beaten them this season, for whatever that's worth.There's no need to rehash an aging Ben Roethlisberger's obvious struggles, but he also had his seventh game-winning drive of the year on Sunday and his sixth fourth-quarter comeback. True story: Roethlisberger finished 2021 by leading the league in both categories. Please don't ask how that's possible.Deebo Samuel, injured Garoppolo rescue 49ers Joe Scarnici / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe question that figured to dominate the final Sunday of the season was why San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan chose to start Jimmy Garoppolo in a must-win game at the Los Angeles Rams. Garoppolo has a torn ligament in the thumb of his throwing hand, and didn't the Niners trade a boatload of draft capital to move up to select Trey Lance No. 3 overall last spring? So much for that question.The Niners spotted the Rams a 17-0 lead, but Garoppolo brought them back. He finished with 316 passing yards and 3.4 expected points added. Garoppolo tossed a fourth-quarter interception, but he also marched San Francisco 88 yards to the tying score in a little more than a minute before going 4-for-5 for 50 yards on the game-winning drive in overtime.The Niners use a lot of unconventional formations and personnel groupings, and their unquestionable biggest weapon is wideout Deebo Samuel, who does a little bit of everything by lining up everywhere. Samuel played a season-high 15 snaps out of the backfield, per PFF. He also rushed for his eighth touchdown - a record for wide receivers - in addition to throwing for a score. Oh, and he caught four passes for 95 yards, including a 43-yard deep ball on that game-tying drive at the end of regulation.San Francisco also got huge games from running back Elijah Mitchell and wideout Brandon Aiyuk, and now they'll face the Dallas Cowboys in next week's wild-card round. Perhaps best of all, the Niners spared the rest of us the specter of having to watch Trevor Siemian play quarterback in a playoff game.Stafford still a concernMatthew Stafford's game-ending interception in the Rams' loss to the Niners was a brutally underthrown ball that was nowhere near Odell Beckham Jr., his intended receiver. It was also the continuation of a troubling pattern that ought to concern the Rams as they gear up to host the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the playoffs.Stafford finished the season with 17 picks - tied with Jacksonville's Lawrence for most in the league. But he's also thrown eight interceptions in his last four games, and 13 dating back to a Week 9 loss to the Titans. Only seven other QBs throughout the league threw more than 13 picks during the entire regular season.Jaguars, Lions maintain their draft spots Julio Aguilar / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Jags' upset of the Colts coincided with the Detroit Lions taking out the Green Bay Packers. Yes, the Packers rested their starters because the game didn't matter to their playoff positioning, but Aaron Rodgers did play for the entire first half, and the Lions were ahead at the break anyway. That leaves the Jags with the top pick in the draft and the Lions at No. 2, which is just as well.The point: Neither Jacksonville nor Detroit gave up on the season even with the No. 1 pick at stake. And why should they? The players on this year's teams had no reason to punt on what was left of the season, considering many of them might be auditioning for possible roles elsewhere next year.Besides, this draft class isn't expected to feature quarterbacks at the top of the list, and the Jaguars aren't looking to select a QB anyway. It's likely pretty much a matter of which team will choose which defensive end, be it Michigan's Aidan Hutchinson or Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux. Although, the Jags could opt to grab an offensive lineman to protect Lawrence at No. 1 instead.Joe Judge's Giants 'clown show'Contrast the effort of the Jags and Lions with that of the New York Giants, who literally waved the white flag in a home loss to the Washington Football Team in front of a sparse, angry crowd at the Meadowlands.No, really: With just less than six minutes remaining in the second quarter, trailing 3-0, the Giants faced a second-and-11 from their own 2-yard line. They chose to have quarterback Jake Fromm sneak into the line of scrimmage - a give-up play that gained two yards. Yes, Fromm is a third-string QB, but come on. But then the Giants did it again on the very next play - a full-on concession that they'd prefer to punt out of their own end zone than attempt to advance the ball in a winnable game.After ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the day after Christmas that head coach Joe Judge would be retained in 2022, the Giants proceeded to be outscored 85-20 in three dreadful losses to end the season. Judge gave a rambling, incoherent speech last week that essentially asked the rest of the world to ignore what our eyes can see. "This ain't some clown show," he said at one point - and now this.General manager Dave Gettleman won't be back, but the Giants are going to have a helluva time convincing their fan base that Judge is worth sticking with, let alone what kind of message that might send to any potential outside GM candidates.Is anyone else curious about what Joe Judge thinks a "clown show" actually looks like?Coaching changes coming Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyJacksonville's Urban Meyer was let go a few weeks back, and Denver's Vic Fangio learned of his fate Sunday morning. Which other coaches could be on the outs this Black Monday?Numerous reports indicate that the Chicago Bears are ready to move on from Matt Nagy and that Mike Zimmer's time with the Vikings is up, too. Beyond that, it's tough to tell.Jay Glazer tossed around the names of a few other potentially doomed candidates on FOX's pre-game show, including the Texans' David Culley, though Glazer cautioned that "it's not a definite." Glazer also said the Carolina Panthers' Matt Rhule "has to hire a rock star offensive coordinator for him to actually save his job" and hedged on Judge's future with the Giants. Raiders interim coach Rich Bisaccia, meanwhile, won himself a reprieve by making the playoffs. But for how long?Nagy and Zimmer had their chances, but Fangio was dealt a bum hand. The Broncos have struggled for years to find a quality quarterback. Denver also hired George Paton to be its GM last offseason, and Paton clearly wants to hire his own coach. Fangio ought to quickly land somewhere else as a defensive coordinator, especially if Jim Harbaugh returns to the NFL's coaching ranks. Fangio served in the past as Harbaugh's DC, both at Stanford and with the 49ers.Baker Mayfield, Matt Ryan, Russell WilsonThe day began Sunday with separate reports that indicated the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, and Seattle Seahawks all intend to hang on to Baker Mayfield, Matt Ryan, and Russell Wilson as their respective quarterbacks in 2022. There are legitimate reasons why, but never say never.1. Mayfield is due to cost the Browns close to $19 million in both cash and against the salary cap in the final (fifth-year option) season of his rookie contract. That money is also fully guaranteed. Mayfield had a rough year in 2021, but he also battled an injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder for most of the season that will require surgery in the weeks ahead. Given all that, it's tough to imagine another team wanting to trade for him right now.2. The Falcons have restructured Ryan's deal more than once, which kicks cap charges into the future to save cap room in the present. As a result, they'd have to eat a $40-million dead-cap charge to move on from him this offseason, whether via trade or release. Ryan turns 37 in May, but he's due a $7.5-million roster bonus on March 11, per Overthecap.com, so that ought to serve as a deadline for whatever Atlanta plans to do.3. The Seahawks might not want to trade Wilson, but what does Wilson want, and how far is he willing to take things if he were to insist on a trade? Those are the only relevant questions when it comes to Wilson's future in Seattle.No matter what, there could be plenty of quarterback movement this offseason. There are also enough teams out there in need of a QB that nothing can be ruled out at this point, especially if teams are unafraid to eat the cap consequences, as last year's Matt Stafford-Jared Goff trade proved.Dom Cosentino is a senior features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL playoff picture is set in stone after the Las Vegas Raiders knocked off the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football to clinch the last available playoff spot and cap the regular season.Here are the Super Wild Card Weekend matchups:AFCMatchupDateTimeNetworkRaiders (5) at Bengals (4)Saturday4:30 p.m.NBCPatriots (6) at Bills (3)Saturday8:15 p.m.CBSSteelers (7) at Chiefs (2)Sunday8:15 p.m.NBC(All times eastern)The Tennessee Titans have a bye to the divisional round as the No. 1 seed in the AFC. They'll host the lowest remaining seed in the divisional round.The Pittsburgh Steelers squeaked into the postseason thanks to their win over the Baltimore Ravens combined with the Indianapolis Colts' shocking loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Steelers were assured a spot in the bracket as long as the Raiders and Chargers didn't play to a tie.AFC playoff standingsSeedTeamDivisionRecord1TitansSouth12-52ChiefsWest12-53BillsEast11-64BengalsNorth10-75RaidersWest10-76PatriotsEast10-77SteelersNorth9-7-1NFCMatchupDateTimeNetworkEagles (7) at Buccaneers (2)Sunday1 p.m.FOX49ers (6) at Cowboys (3)Sunday4:30 p.m.CBSCardinals (5) at Rams (4)Monday8:15 p.m.ESPN/ABC(All times eastern)The Green Bay Packers have a bye to the divisional round as the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They'll host the lowest remaining seed in the divisional round.The San Francisco 49ers stamped their ticket with a thrilling 17-point comeback and overtime win against the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams had never lost under head coach Sean McVay when leading at halftime. San Francisco got in over the New Orleans Saints, who would've held the tiebreaker had they finished with identical records. The Philadelphia Eagles owned the tiebreaker over the Saints, who posted the same record at 9-8.NFC playoff standingsSeedTeamDivisionRecord1PackersNorth13-42BuccaneersSouth13-43CowboysEast12-54RamsWest12-55CardinalsWest11-6649ersWest10-77EaglesEast9-8The 2022 draft order for non-playoff teams can be found here.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2022 NFL Draft order is set for 18 teams - and the Jacksonville Jaguars will pick first overall again.Jacksonville upset the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday but the team still clinched the top selection in 2022 thanks to the Detroit Lions' 37-30 victory over the Green Bay Packers.The Jaguars, who selected quarterback Trevor Lawrence last year, are the sixth team since 1967 to have back-to-back first overall picks and the first since the Cleveland Browns (2017-18).Detroit will pick second overall, with the Houston Texans, New York Jets, and New York Giants rounding out the top five.PickTeam1Jacksonville Jaguars (3-14)2Detroit Lions (3-13-1)3Houston Texans (4-13)4New York Jets (4-13)5New York Giants (4-13)6Carolina Panthers (5-12)7New York Giants (via 6-11 Bears)8Atlanta Falcons (7-10)9Denver Broncos (7-10)10New York Jets (via 7-10 Seahawks)11Washington Football Team (7-10)12Minnesota Vikings (8-9)13Cleveland Browns (8-9)14Baltimore Ravens (8-9)15Philadelphia Eagles (via 9-8 Dolphins)16Philadelphia Eagles (via 9-8 Colts)17Los Angeles Chargers (9-8)18New Orleans Saints (9-8)Picks 19-32 will be determined by playoff results.The 2022 NFL Draft is scheduled to be held April 28-30 in Las Vegas.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers secured the final wild-card spot in the AFC after a drama-filled Week 18.The Steelers kept their playoff hopes alive with a 16-13 overtime victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday before clinching their position following the Las Vegas Raiders' thrilling win over the Los Angeles Chargers in OT on Sunday Night Football.A draw between the Chargers and Raiders would have resulted in both teams making the playoffs while the Steelers would have missed out due to tiebreakers.Pittsburgh's victory against Baltimore also officially eliminated the Indianapolis Colts following their shocking 26-11 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Needing to beat the lowly Jaguars to clinch a postseason berth, Indianapolis was unable to find a rhythm, totaling just 233 yards of offense and two turnovers.Ben Roethlisberger engineered a 15-play, 65-yard game-winning drive to set up a 36-yard field goal by Chris Boswell to beat the Ravens in overtime. In what could potentially be the final regular-season game of his 18-year career, Roethlisberger finished with 244 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception.Pittsburgh started the season 1-3 but went 8-4-1 down the stretch to lock up its second straight playoff appearance."Man, we got a lot of warts, but we're here," head coach Mike Tomlin said postgame, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "That's been our position since September."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Taysom Hill sat out the second half of Sunday's win over the Atlanta Falcons due to a Lisfranc injury, head coach Sean Payton told FOX Sports.Hill went to the locker room in the second quarter and never returned. Trevor Siemian, who made four starts earlier in the season, replaced Hill. Siemian threw two touchdowns, propelling the Saints to a 30-20 victory.New Orleans needed a win plus a San Francisco 49ers loss to make the playoffs. While the Saints did their part, the Los Angeles Rams couldn't hold off the 49ers, who prevailed in overtime to clinch the NFC's last available postseason spot.Foot problems plagued Hill for much of the season, as he previously battled plantar fasciitis.The Saints used four different quarterbacks to get through the season, with Jameis Winston, Siemian, and Hill making at least four starts each. Rookie Ian Book also started one game.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams star Cooper Kupp finished the 2021 season with the rare receiving triple crown, but fell shy of the NFL records he was chasing in Week 18.Kupp entered the regular-season finale 11 catches away from Michael Thomas' single-season receptions record (149) and 136 yards short of Calvin Johnson's single-season mark (1,964). He notched seven receptions for 118 yards while adding a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers.Nonetheless, the 28-year-old slot artist became the fourth receiver in the Super Bowl era to lead the league in catches, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions. Steve Smith (2005), Sterling Sharpe (1992), and Jerry Rice (1990) accomplished the feat before him.Cooper Kupp: 2021 statsCatchesReceiving YardsTD Receptions145194716Kupp took his game to new heights in 2021, his first season with Matthew Stafford at quarterback. He had never reached 100 receptions, and had gone over 1,000 yards just once in his previous four campaigns, though he missed at least one game in three of them.Kupp and the Rams will host the Arizona Cardinals in the opening round of the NFL playoffs.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills beat the New York Jets 27-10 on Sunday, clinching the AFC East title for the second straight season.More to come.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Francisco 49ers rallied for a 27-24 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams to clinch a postseason appearance.Robbie Gould's 24-yard field goal in overtime secured the win, which also kept the New Orleans Saints out of the playoffs following their victory over the Atlanta Falcons.More to come.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos fired head coach Vic Fangio after three seasons, the team announced Sunday.Fangio leaves Denver with a 19-30 record and zero playoff appearances.Broncos president Joe Ellis confirmed that general manager George Paton "will have full authority" to select the team's next head coach.Paton said, "With the foundation in place, the progress that’s been made and the resources we have to get better, I’m excited about the future of our team. We will find an outstanding leader and head coach for the Broncos and our fans."Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, New England Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, and Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett are among the contenders to succeed Fangio, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Denver went 7-10 this campaign after falling in its regular-season finale to the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday.A longtime defensive guru, Fangio led by far his best defense in Denver this season. The team ranks third in points allowed and 10th in yards allowed with the rest of Week 18 left to play out.However, the Broncos' offense continually struggled during his tenure, never finishing within the top 20 in scoring.The 63-year-old endured a revolving door at quarterback. Joe Flacco and Drew Lock split time in 2019 before the latter took over the job permanently in 2020 - to little success.Denver acquired Teddy Bridgewater via trade this past offseason. He led the Broncos to a 7-7 record but missed the final three games with a concussion as the team fell out of wild-card contention.Fangio will likely be a hot candidate for defensive coordinator roles, added Pelissero.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle caught the 102nd pass of his rookie season in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the New England Patriots, surpassing Anquan Boldin (101 in 2003) for the most single-season receptions ever by a first-year player.The 23-year-old broke the record with his third catch of the game on a five-yard pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Waddle finished the drive with a seven-yard TD catch for his sixth score of the season.The 2021 first-round selection joins Boldin as the only two rookie receivers with 100 catches.Waddle also became the second player in Dolphins' history to record 100 receptions, joining Jarvis Landry, who accomplished the feat in 2015 and 2017.The Alabama product entered the final week of the regular season leading Miami with 99 receptions, 988 receiving yards, and five touchdowns.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The road to Super Bowl LVI in the AFC will go through Nashville.The Tennessee Titans beat the Houston Texans 28-25 on Sunday, improving to 12-5 and clinching the conference's No. 1 seed.The AFC South champions will have home-field advantage during the playoffs to go along with a bye next week.More to come.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL remained as popular as ever among television viewers in 2021.NFL games accounted for nine of the top 10 and 75 of the top 100 most-watched telecasts in the United States last year, according to Austin Kapp of Sports Business Journal.Super Bowl LV between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs was the most-watched program overall, drawing 91.63 million viewers. Rounding out the top five were the NFC Championship Game (44.77M), AFC Championship Game (41.85M), Las Vegas Raiders-Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving Day matchup (37.84M), and Buccaneers-New Orleans Saints NFC divisional-round game (35.46M).Other sports telecasts to crack the top 100 included 11 events from the Tokyo Olympics, seven college football games, and two NCAA men's March Madness matchups. CBS' "The Equalizer" was the only scripted TV show to make the list.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith told owner Arthur Blank and general manager Terry Fontenot that he wants to keep Matt Ryan as his quarterback for the 2022 season, reports Chris Mortensen of ESPN.Rumors circulated that Atlanta is interested in moving Ryan, who's been linked to multiple teams since the offseason. The former NFL MVP was most recently linked to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who expect to lose Ben Roethlisberger to retirement in 2022.The Falcons kicked off a new era in 2021, hiring Smith and Fontenot to replace coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff, respectively. The team also traded longtime wide receiver Julio Jones to the Tennessee Titans in the offseason.Atlanta used the fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft to select tight end Kyle Pitts instead of drafting a potential Ryan successor.Ryan, 36, signed a five-year, $150-million extension with the Falcons in 2018. He completed 67.4% of his passes for 3,752 yards and 19 touchdowns against 11 interceptions through 16 appearances this season.The 7-9 Falcons have now posted a losing record in four straight years.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert is expected to step down from his longtime role following the 2022 NFL Draft, sources told Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Colbert will likely retire after his contract ends following April's draft.It'll seemingly be a seismic shift for the Steelers this offseason, with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger also expected to leave the team after 18 seasons with the AFC North club.Colbert and Roethlisberger guided Pittsburgh to Super Bowl glory during the 2005 and 2009 seasons.The general manager is widely regarded as one of the NFL's premier talent evaluators.Colbert's best draft picks include Roethlisberger, Hall of Fame safety Troy Polamalu, center Maurkice Pouncey, pass-rusher T.J. Watt, receiver Antonio Brown, running back Le'Veon Bell, and defensive lineman Cam Heyward, among others.The 65-year-old has compiled a 225-124-3 record across 22 seasons in Pittsburgh, with a Week 18 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens still to be played. The team posted a losing record just once (6-10 in 2003) under Colbert.The 8-7-1 Steelers can still snag a wild-card spot with a win but also need significant help in the final week of the regular season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller is expected to play in Sunday night's win-and-in matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers after missing the last five games due to back, knee, and COVID-19 issues, a source told ESPN's Dianna Russini.The 29-year-old is one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL, and his return will be a major boost for Las Vegas ahead of its most important game of the season.Waller is second on the team in targets (84), catches (53), and receiving yards (643) behind receiver Hunter Renfrow despite the significant missed time.The winner of the AFC West clash is guaranteed a wild-card spot, while a tie would see both teams in the playoffs if the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts both lose earlier in the day.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions and offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn are expected to part ways following Sunday's regular-season finale against the Green Bay Packers, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Head coach Dan Campbell assumed play-calling duties from Lynn midseason after Detroit started 0-8.Campbell suggested this week that he could continue handling the responsibility next season."I know that I'm getting a lot more comfortable, and I feel like this is something that I do believe I can do and be good at," Campbell said, according to Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press. "But I'm not ready to commit to what I'm doing next year yet. I got to sit down and process this at the right time."The Lions improved with Campbell calling plays, earning a 2-5-1 record while averaging 19.3 points per game compared to the 16.8 points under Lynn.Detroit also played without quarterback Jared Goff for three games due to injury since a Week 9 bye.Campbell had never called plays before the Lions hired him this past offseason.Lynn joined the NFC North club alongside Campbell after four seasons as the Los Angeles Chargers' head coach.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns are planning to move forward with Baker Mayfield as their quarterback for the 2022 campaign, sources told Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.Mayfield and Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski are on the same page, according to Rapoport and Pelissero. Earlier this week, Mayfield shot down a report that the quarterback was so frustrated with Stefanski this season he wanted the coach to surrender play-calling duties.The 26-year-old Mayfield will undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder in the offseason and will not play in the final game of the regular season.The fourth-year signal-caller battled multiple injuries in 2021 and struggled to perform while on the field. The No. 1 pick from the 2018 draft has thrown seven interceptions in his last three games for the 7-9 Browns.Mayfield has one more year left on his rookie contract.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks don't plan on trading Russell Wilson this offseason and are proceeding as if he'll be their starting quarterback next campaign, sources told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network.Wilson is under contract for two more seasons, but his name has floated in trade rumors over the past year.The eight-time Pro Bowler has spent his entire NFL career in Seattle, and he recently expressed a desire to win more Super Bowls with the Seahawks.Wilson has thrown 22 touchdowns and five interceptions entering Sunday's season finale against the Arizona Cardinals. His 2,875 passing yards are a career low.Meanwhile, Pete Carroll's future with the organization is uncertain, Garafolo reports. The longtime Seattle head coach is signed through 2025 and will reportedly meet with team chairwoman Jody Allen this week.Carroll holds a 118-73-1 mark over his 11-year run with the Seahawks. He guided the club to their first and only Super Bowl win in 2013.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers will look to interview former NFL head coaches Jay Gruden and Bill O’Brien in their search for a new offensive coordinator, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Carolina will also reportedly target Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell.The Panthers are apparently expected to keep head coach Matt Rhule despite a disappointing first two seasons at the helm.Rhule dismissed offensive coordinator Joe Brady on Dec. 5, replacing him with offensive assistant Jeff Nixon for the campaign's final five contests.Gruden was the Washington Football Team's head coach from 2014-19. He spent one season as the Jacksonville Jaguars' offensive coordinator in 2020.O'Brien is currently the offensive coordinator at Alabama, which takes on Georgia in the national championship game Monday. The 52-year-old was head coach of the Houston Texans from 2014-20.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is expected to return for the team's crucial divisional regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Garoppolo is dealing with a torn ligament in his thumb and missed last week's win over the Houston Texans.Rookie Trey Lance started in Week 17 and took the majority of practice reps this week with Garoppolo ailing.The 49ers reportedly didn't activate another quarterback ahead of Week 18.San Francisco can clinch a wild-card spot with a win or tie versus the Rams or a New Orleans Saints loss or tie.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have extended defensive tackle Vita Vea through the 2026 season, the team announced Saturday.The four-year extension is worth $73 million and includes $42 million in guaranteed money, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Vea's new average annual salary ($18.25 million) ranks fourth among defensive tackles. He now only trails the Los Angeles Rams' Aaron Donald ($22.5 million), Indianapolis Colts' DeForest Buckner ($21 million), and Kansas City Chiefs' Chris Jones ($20 million), according to Spotrac.The 26-year-old Vea has established himself as one of football's top interior defensive linemen since being drafted 12th overall in 2018. He's averaged 44 tackles, 10 quarterback hits, and four sacks per 16 games throughout his career.The Washington product only played in five games during the 2020 regular season due to injuries but was activated midway through the playoffs and helped the Bucs win Super Bowl LV."Vita's abilities as both a premier run stuffer and pass rusher are rare," general manager Jason Licht said in a statement. "And his presence on the defensive front has played a major role in our ability to consistently rank among the league leaders in rush defense since his arrival."We look forward to having Vita remain a core piece of our defense for years to come and are excited to continue watching him develop into one of the best nose tackles in the NFL."Vea has set single-season career highs with 31 tackles and four sacks through 15 appearances this season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles are resting several starters for Saturday's game against the Dallas Cowboys, including quarterback Jalen Hurts and cornerback Darius Slay.Gardner Minshew will replace Hurts under center for the game.

Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari is expected to make his season debut Sunday against the Detroit Lions, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Bakhtiari hasn't played since suffering a torn ACL during practice in December 2020.The 30-year-old's return is a major boost to the Packers' offensive line ahead of the playoffs. Bakhtiari earned the second first-team All-Pro nod of his career last season. He's started 118 games for Green Bay since being drafted in the fourth round in 2013.The three-time Pro Bowler inked a four-year, $92-million extension with the Packers in November 2020.Green Bay has already locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC, but head coach Matt LaFleur plans to play his starters versus Detroit in Week 18, including quarterback Aaron Rodgers.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers plan to keep head coach Matt Rhule for the 2022 season, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.The 46-year-old has led Carolina to a 10-22 record in two seasons.Panthers owner David Tepper hired Rhule on a seven-year, $62-million contract in 2020 after the coach transformed both Baylor's and Temple's fortunes in the college ranks.Rhule dismissed offensive coordinator Joe Brady on Dec. 5, replacing him with offensive assistant Jeff Nixon for the campaign's final five contests. The team will begin a thorough search for a permanent replacement next week, Fowler reports.Carolina has struggled to find a franchise quarterback, despite acquiring Sam Darnold via trade and bringing Cam Newton back for a second stint on Nov. 11. Newton is 0-5 in the five games he started.The team's also dealt with key injuries, losing star running back Christian McCaffrey in each of the past two campaigns.The Panthers haven't qualified for the playoffs or posted a winning season since 2017.Rhule had a 5-11 record in his debut campaign in Carolina, including nine defeats in the final 11 games.Despite the lack of success, the coach still has key players' support."I don't think the locker room is lost - at all," linebacker Shaq Thompson said, according to ESPN's David Newton. "People may be frustrated. Anybody would be frustrated going on a losing streak. But these guys right here, we're going to stick together and fight, regardless."Rhule believes his team is on the brink of a breakthrough."From where we started at to where we are now, there's a lot of good things happening," he said. "Just the results aren't where it needs to be. That's what people should be frustrated at, but I believe it's coming."The Panthers are on a seven-game losing streak ahead of their regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Maybe Antonio Brown bailed on the Buccaneers because he had "Rob Gronkowski anytime touchdown" too. Sure, Tom Brady fed his buddy as we thought he would, just never for a touchdown. Meanwhile, Keenan Allen gave Justin Herbert comfort via a touchdown but couldn't get over his yardage total. The right idea but wrong results means we end up 4-6 last week to bring us to 98-74-2 on the season.Here are our player props for Week 18.Carson Wentz under 28.5 pass attemptsThe Colts must win to get into the playoffs, and the Jaguars need to lose to get the first overall pick. So I think we know how this game goes. The Colts will look to Jonathan Taylor early and late.With the Jaguars more than willing to play a vanilla defense, there's no reason for Indianapolis to do anything crazy by relying on Wentz to sling it. The Colts haven't thrown the ball more than 28 times since November in a shootout with the Buccaneers.There's also the strong chance that Wentz doesn't need to play the fourth quarter with the game in hand and playoffs looming.Ben Roethlisberger under 226.5 passing yardsGood for Ben Roethlisberger to get his fond farewell in Pittsburgh on Monday. However, it couldn't have come soon enough for the Steelers legend. The writing is on the wall with yard totals of 148, 159, and 123 in the last three games. Yes, the Ravens' secondary has been getting worked lately, but Aaron Rodgers, Joe Burrow, and Matthew Stafford are much more capable at this stage than Big Ben.Ryan Tannehill over 214.5 passing yardsI don't expect the Texans to just roll over and let the Titans take the top seed in the AFC. Their general poor play will help Tennessee accomplish that. Whether it's the Titans coming out firing early or needing to show some urgency late, Tannehill will be required to pick apart Houston's awful secondary.Jaret Patterson anytime touchdown (+240)Washington would like to accomplish two things this weekend: According to Ron Rivera, they'd like to play their young players more. And thanks to Giants coach Joe Judge's "clown show organization" comments, I'll presume they also want to beat the brakes off of New York.Patterson had 12 carries and five targets last week and found himself in the end zone for the second time in three games. The rookie tailback will have 60 minutes of opportunity and, at +240, he's worth including as a medium-shot touchdown bet.Rob Gronkowski over 65.5 receiving yardsGronkowski's stats might look like this Sunday: seven receptions, 85 yards, three touchdowns.Why the oddly specific stat line? Because those are the totals Gronk needs to trigger half-million-dollar bonuses for each stat. But while the first two are certainly doable thanks to his usage last week, no touchdown in Week 17 means there's a good chance he'll fall short in the last stat. This means the other marks are even more important, and Brady has a history of going out of his way to get his guys paid in the last game.Gronkowski is +110 to score, and if you can find markets for him to score two-plus or even three-plus - with Mike Evans on a bigger guaranteed deal and the other big-name pass-catchers either injured or self-ejected - those are worth a sprinkle.Stefon Diggs over 6.5 receptionsSean McDermott is ruthless. Either late in games against inferior opponents or struggling division rivals in the last game of the season, the Bills pad stats and keep the starters in until there's no life left in the opponent. Stefon Diggs needs six catches to trigger a contract incentive. I think McDermott and Josh Allen go out of their way to get Diggs the money, and if so, we'll get it too.Mac Jones under 214.5 passing yardsCall me crazy, but I'm not convinced that Jones finishes this one in Miami. With a playoff game on the schedule next week, there's a chance Bill Belichick sees the Bills beating up on the Jets and takes Jones out late. Even if he doesn't, the Dolphins have had success confusing young quarterbacks with their pre-snap looks and creative blitzes.Matt Ryan over 214.5 passing yardsRyan plays well against the Saints' defense. It helps that the Falcons' lack of a running game and the quarterback frequently being forced into a duel with Drew Brees forces Ryan to do it himself. While the latter no longer exists, the former still did in the first meeting, when Ryan threw for 343 yards.Tyler Lockett over 56.5 receiving yardsRussell Wilson is finally healthy and has a run game all of a sudden. That opens things up down the field for Lockett who, in his last four games against the Cardinals, has averaged more than seven catches and an eyelash under 100 yards per game.Elijah Mitchell over 68.5 rush yardsMitchell returns just in time for the playoffs, which means he gets the tailback workload in a do-or-die game for the 49ers. San Francisco's run game has been at its best with Mitchell getting the majority of the carries (27 carries, 91 yards versus the Rams earlier this season).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.

Head coach Vic Fangio's status with the Denver Broncos is up in the air ahead of Saturday's regular-season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport, and James Palmer.The Broncos are expected to move on from Fangio, but no final decision has been made yet, NFL Network reports.Fangio reportedly met with the general manager George Paton to make his case for a fourth season.The 63-year-old has compiled a 19-29 record entering the final week of his third season as a head coach.Denver began the campaign 3-0 and was in playoff contention in early December. However, the club faltered following an injury to quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and is now set to miss the postseason for a sixth consecutive season.The Broncos are currently the league's third-ranked scoring defense, allowing just 18.4 points per game. However, the offense has struggled during Fangio's tenure, with the club unable to find a franchise signal-caller.Denver was dealt numerous injuries and COVID-19-related absences in 2021. Fangio addressed the team's hardships Wednesday."We got to 6-5, (and) we lost three tough games against teams that are going to make the playoffs," he said. "A play here and there, a better call here and there, and maybe we get over the hump there and we're still in the hunt now."Denver (7-9) enters Saturday's AFC West matchup on a three-game losing skid.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In many ways, betting the final week of the NFL season is the toughest. Priors mostly go out the window for teams who are either resting starters or playing for nothing. That said, it also leaves the door wide-open for value on teams in unconventional spots.Steelers @ Ravens (-3.5, 41), 1 p.m. ETThis was my favorite total bet of the week, and it might be my favorite bet overall, too. There simply isn't any reason for optimism either of these offenses will put up a high point total in a game that historically doesn't produce them.This total dropped slightly with the official news that Tyler Huntley would make yet another start in place of Lamar Jackson, who will miss his fourth consecutive game with an ankle injury. Including the last three games, the Ravens have averaged 19.1 points over their last eight contests and topped 21 points just once.The Steelers have bested that mark just once in the last six weeks, and it's becoming clearer by the game that Ben Roethlisberger is on his last legs. Both quarterbacks are due for a tough showing in a must-win spot for these defenses, which should steal the show on Sunday.Pick: Under 41Colts (-15.5, 44) @ Jaguars, 1 p.m.Haven't we seen this story play out before? In 2020, the Colts entered the final week of the season needing a win against the Jaguars to clinch a playoff spot - and they were priced as gaudy 15.5-point favorites. Unsurprisingly, they won but didn't cover, as the line was inflated by what was at stake for Indy.Betting on the motivation angle for potential playoff teams in the final week is often a fool's errand. Since 2011, teams needing a win to help secure a postseason berth are 13-19-2 ATS. Those favored by 14 or more points are a lousy 0-3 ATS, winning by an average of just 6.7 points.Indianapolis has been in "must-win" mode all season but has never been priced as this big of a favorite, and it's won just three games by more than 15 points. This is a clear mismatch on paper, but it doesn't justify such a short price for the road side.Pick: Jaguars +15.5Saints (-3.5, 40) @ Falcons, 4:25 p.m.This line has been moving in the Falcons' favor all week despite the Saints having something to play for. As surprising as that sounds, it's the right move.New Orleans has been wildly inconsistent and downright ineffective on offense since losing starter Jameis Winston in Week 8, scoring 17.6 points per game with a 3-6 record over that stretch. One of those losses came to these very Falcons, who tallied 27 points and 366 yards against the vaunted Saints defense.I'm not expecting a repeat of that performance, but I'm far too skeptical of New Orleans' passing attack to buy into the motivation angle - which, as we mentioned earlier, has been an easy way to lose money over the past decade. Don't be surprised if Atlanta wins outright here.Pick: Falcons +3.5C 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 San Francisco 49ers listed quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and left tackle Trent Williams as questionable for Sunday's crucial game against the Los Angeles Rams, according to David Lombardi of The Athletic.Garoppolo missed last week's win over the Houston Texans due to a thumb injury. The veteran signal-caller, who's started 14 games this season, was a limited participant at practice this week."We're good with where he's at right now," head coach Kyle Shanahan said of Garoppolo, according to team reporter Keiana Martin.If Garoppolo is unable to face the Rams, rookie Trey Lance is expected to take over under center. Lance, the third overall pick in the 2021 draft, is 1-1 as a starter.Williams hasn't practiced this week due to the elbow injury he suffered in Week 17. The nine-time Pro Bowler, who's one of the NFL's most reliable left tackles, has started 15 games this season.The 9-7 49ers currently hold the last available playoff spot in the NFC. San Francisco would clinch a postseason berth with a win over the Rams, but a loss would open the door for the New Orleans Saints to steal their spot with a victory against the Atlanta Falcons.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antonio Brown is continuing his war of words with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following his dramatic and controversial exit from the club.During a Friday appearance on the "Full Send Podcast," the wideout spoke about his relationship with Tom Brady and why he believed the quarterback championed his move to the Bucs last season, despite head coach Bruce Arians' initial reluctance."Tom is actually my friend, one of my close friends. ... Some people have a different definition of friend," said Brown. "Because when I say to you I'm your friend, that means I got your back ... but a friend is not like that in this world and how we living.“We play professional sports - like, not everybody in a sport's gonna be your friend. Tom Brady's my friend why? Because I'm a good football player. He needs me to play football, right? These guys call me to win the Super Bowl, not for the toilet bowl."But Brown expressed disappointment that Brady didn't use his influence to get him a better contract after the receiver helped Tampa Bay win the Lombardi Trophy."If Tom Brady's my boy, why am I playing for an earning salary?" he said. “You're my boy, though, right? (Rob) Gronkowski is his boy, right? How much does he get paid? So why is AB on a prove-it deal? Who's better than me over there?"Brown walked off midgame in the Jan. 2 win over the New York Jets and was subsequently released Thursday.He leveled further criticism at Arians after previously accusing the coach and the Buccaneers of pressuring him to play through an ankle injury and framing his walk-off as a mental health issue."This is your team, these are the guys that you flew here with to do a mission," said Brown. "They knew about my (injury) situation before we even came. I communicated with the coaches, the trainers, everyone knows. And to get there and be battling them, and the guy tell you because you can't go to war with them, 'Get the f--- out of here'? What do you want me to do? ..."If you discriminate on my public image and my name, at that point it's f--- you too, professionally."Arians said Thursday that while Brown had an ankle issue in the lead-up to Week 17, the pass-catcher didn't inform team medical staff before or during the game that the injury was bothering him.The head coach added that teammates had to calm Brown down at halftime after the receiver said he'd no longer play because he wasn't getting the ball."That's when I said, 'You're done, get the F out of here,' and that's the end of it," Arians said.The wideout was close to earning three separate incentives of $333,333 apiece."I didn't quit. I was cut," Brown said in a Wednesday statement. "I didn't walk away from my brothers. I was thrown out."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We had our choose-your-own-adventure edition of the moneyline parlay last week, and all roads pointed to the Steelers win on Monday night. The problem was, the other underdogs weren't willing to participate. The Falcons (+650), Texans (+500), and Panthers (+240) all had halftime leads before losing. The Vikings were toast when they ruled Kirk Cousins out, post-publishing. And the Giants, well ... never mind.Things aren't moving any slower this week, as teams might be quietly trying to lose in some cases.How it worksWe parlay five underdogs together in 10 different three-team parlays. Using every combination of a three-team parlay is called a round robin, so we're going to use a total of 1.1 units to make 11 different bets: 10 three-team parlays and one five-team parlay, each for .1 units. If three teams pull off the upset like in Week 8, Week 10, Week 11, and Week 16, you'll likely double your money. If four teams win, as they did in Week 3, you'll connect on four separate parlays and be very pleased with the return. If all five teams win, as they did in Week 1, then it's back into the pool, swimming in gold doubloons like heirs to the McDuck fortune.Who to playEagles +180Sure, if given a choice, the Cowboys would prefer to win this game, but doing so doesn't guarantee them anything as far as improving their playoff positioning. Not holding any tiebreakers means Dallas needs some unlikely results to go its way to move out of the dreaded No. 4 seed. The NFL rescheduled this contest for Saturday because it's doubtful the game would be meaningful by the fourth quarter if played Sunday.The debacle that ended the Eagles' season last year and Doug Pederson's tenure looms over any allegedly meaningless game in Philadelphia. I expect the Eagles to try their hardest to beat a division rival at home in a prime-time showcase, even if there's little to play for in the standings.Bengals +200What's the opposite of the irresistible force versus the immovable object? Because that's this game.The Browns are 6-point favorites because Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon are out for this matchup. The Bengals would be fine losing this contest to set them up with a path to the AFC that would most likely involve taking on the Patriots and then heading to Tennessee to face the Titans. A win means a potential playoff path of playing the Colts and then going against the Chiefs on the road.Here's the twist. Once the Browns found out they were knocked out of postseason contention, they put in a game plan that involved not running the football (the thing they do best) against one of the worst run defenses in the league in Pittsburgh last Monday night.What if a pair of late-season losses means potentially getting a top-10 draft pick and next year's schedule including the Jaguars, Broncos, and Jets. On the flip side, what if winning those two games meant the No. 17 pick and matchups against the Colts, Chargers, and Patriots next season.With neither team overly interested in winning this game and the Browns consistently disappointing backers all campaign, I have to try a +200 underdog to see how weird this might get.Dolphins +230I have not, at any point this week, understood the Dolphins as a significant underdog against the Patriots in this game. Nothing's indicated that this contest should be lined at over a field goal if it weren't for New England "wanting to win" and possibly topping the division.This implies Miami is just going to roll over and allow that to happen. However, that doesn't seem like something Brian Flores' team would do.Perhaps more importantly, the Patriots' desperation levels in the second half hinge on whether the Jets are competitive with the Bills. It's hard to imagine Bill Belichick not pulling Mac Jones and other key starters if Buffalo, a 16-point favorite, is blowing out New York. If that happens, the Dolphins would be content to send their fans home happy with a win.Falcons +175The upset of the week is an easy inclusion here as the value is too hard to pass up. The Saints need to win, and that's what makes this number outrageously high. At the same time, the Falcons should have no interest in their rival punching a playoff ticket on their home field.49ers +180This is also an easy addition since we know about Kyle Shanahan's rental space inside Sean McVay's head. The 49ers have won five straight over the Rams, and in many of those, their roster situation was in worse shape than this week's quarterback uncertainty.Ideally, we find out who starts at quarterback for the 49ers. If it's Trey Lance, we get a moneyline of more than +200. However, it's San Francisco, so we know that we won't get to know anything. Reports indicate that Jimmy Garoppolo has been practicing, and teammate George Kittle recently said the quarterback "looks like himself."Here are how the odds look this week:PARLAYODDS (Approx.)PHI+CIN+MIA+3000PHI+CIN+ATL+2300PHI+CIN+SF+2400PHI+MIA+ATL+2400PHI+MIA+SF+2550PHI+ATL+SF+2000CIN+MIA+ATL+2800CIN+MIA+SF+2900CIN+ATL+SF+2300MIA+ATL+SF+2400PHI+CIN+MIA+ATL+SF+22500Who are your five underdogs for a football betting lottery ticket?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.

Aaron Rodgers will get the chance to seal his second straight MVP award in Week 18.The Green Bay Packers, who already secured the NFC's No. 1 seed and a first-round bye, plan to start the star quarterback in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky."I don’t think he needs to play. I think he wants to play and keep the momentum going," said head coach Matt LaFleur on Friday.The Packers star is the MVP favorite entering the final week, ahead of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.While Rodgers trails Brady in production volume after missing a game due to COVID-19, the 38-year-old leads the NFL in QBR and EPA through 16 games.If the Packers opt to sit Rodgers at some point against the Lions, sophomore signal-caller Jordan Love will get his fourth appearance of the season.Love started in place of Rodgers in a Week 9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, throwing for 190 yards and one touchdown against one interception.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley will start Week 18 against the Pittsburgh Steelers as Lamar Jackson continues to nurse an ankle injury, head coach John Harbaugh announced Friday.The Ravens, who have lost five in a row, must defeat the Steelers to have any chance at squeaking into the playoffs. The Steelers also need a win to have a shot at getting in.Huntley will start for the third time in four weeks since Jackson sprained his ankle. He missed one game while on the COVID-19 list, prompting Josh Johnson to fill in.The 23-year-old Huntley has appeared in six games this season, throwing for 940 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 67.5% of his passes. He's added a pair of scores on the ground.Baltimore began the season 8-3, but a series of injuries has the team dangling from the playoff picture by a thread entering the final week of the regular season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will interview Bill O'Brien for the team's head coaching position next week, according to John Reid of the Florida Times Union.O’Brien is currently Alabama's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.The 52-year-old was head coach of the Houston Texans from 2014 until 2020, when he was fired after an 0-4 start, and he served as general manager in 2020 as well. O'Brien led Houston to a 52-48 record with four postseason appearances.O'Brien was previously head coach at Penn State (2012-13) and notably worked as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at the end of his 2007-11 tenure with the New England Patriots.Jacksonville fired Urban Meyer (2-11) on Dec. 16 following multiple controversies in his first year as head coach.O'Brien joins Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, and former Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson among candidates expected to interview with the Jaguars.The Jaguars (2-14) could wrap up the first overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft with a loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 18.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals designated J.J. Watt to return from injured reserve Friday, paving a path for the defensive end to come back in the playoffs, the team announced.Watt has been sidelined since Week 7 after sustaining a shoulder injury against his former team, the Houston Texans. The 32-year-old underwent what was thought to be season-ending surgery.The designation to return means Arizona has up to 21 days to reinstate Watt to the active roster. He's hoping to play in the first week of the postseason, reports ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Watt averaged over two quarterback pressures per game and recorded five tackles for loss and a sack when he went down in October. He's tied for 52nd on the NFL's all-time sack list with 102 for his career.The three-time Defensive Player of the Year made one previous improbable playoff return, coming back from a torn pectoral to rejoin the Texans for the postseason in 2019.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The USFL announced Todd Haley, Kevin Sumlin, Mike Riley, and Bart Andrus as its first four head coaches on Thursday.Haley, who previously coached the Kansas City Chiefs and enjoyed stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns as an offensive coordinator, will take over the Tampa Bay Bandits.Sumlin will command the sidelines with the Houston Gamblers. He accumulated a 95-63 record with Houston, Texas A&M, and Arizona in the NCAA. His most recent stint came with Arizona, though he was fired in 2020 after struggling that season.Riley will coach the New Jersey Generals. The 68-year-old spent 1999-01 as the then-San Diego Chargers head coach, putting up a 14-34 record. He's also coached in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and served as the sideline boss for Oregon State and Nebraska. He earned winning records during his tenures in the CFL and NCAA.Andrus will serve as head coach for the Philadelphia Stars. He previously had stints in NFL Europe along with a season as coach of the Toronto Argonauts.President of football operations Brian Woods said adding the four experienced coaches "speaks to the quality of the league" the USFL is building.The USFL is set for an April 16 kickoff with eight teams playing a 10-game schedule. The remaining four head coaches will be announced in the future.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Russell Wilson affirmed his desire to remain with the Seattle Seahawks amid speculation about his future ahead of the offseason."My goal is to win more Super Bowls," Wilson said Thursday. "And my plan is to win them here. It's that simple."Wilson was responding to a question regarding his comments last week when he said he hoped the Week 17 home finale wouldn't be his final game in Seattle. The veteran quarterback - who's under contract through 2023 - has a no-trade clause and would control any possible departure from the Seahawks."When it comes to the no-trade clause in sports, the main reason is so teams can't trade somebody to anywhere," Wilson said, per NFL reporter Dov Kleiman. "That's the No. 1 reason, right? Cause in sports, you could wake up the next morning (and) you're gone."A potential trade involving the 33-year-old has been rumored since he expressed dissatisfaction last offseason with the number of hits he takes. It has also been reported that Wilson and head coach Pete Carroll won't remain together in 2022, but Carroll doesn't agree."The kind of conversations (Wilson and I) have behind the scenes are not in line with the rumors. Not at all," Carroll said earlier this week.Wilson has thrown 22 touchdowns to five interceptions in 13 games this season. The Seahawks enter their Week 18 meeting against the Arizona Cardinals with a 6-10 record and will miss the postseason for the first time since 2017.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

LSU cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. will bypass his senior campaign and enter the 2022 NFL Draft, he announced via The Players' Tribune.Stingley projects to be a top-10 pick and could be the first defensive back off the board.The top-ranked cornerback recruit in 2019, Stingley began generating draft buzz the moment he stepped on campus. He hauled in six interceptions as a freshman while helping LSU capture the national championship and was named a consensus All-American at the end of the year.Stingley followed up his debut campaign with a second straight All-SEC selection in 2020. He played just three games in 2021 because of a foot injury.Stingley finishes his college career with 26 pass breakups and the half-dozen picks he came down with in 2019.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We've finally reached the last week of this crazy NFL regular season, and while only a handful of teams have anything at stake this weekend, that doesn't mean there isn't value on the totals. In fact, in some cases, there's an even greater edge.Here are our best O/U plays for Week 18, featuring a trio of unders in a season chock-full of low-scoring contests.Steelers @ Ravens (-5.5, 41.5), 1 p.m. ETI've been fading this Steelers offense seemingly every week for months now, and for good reason. Pittsburgh's managed just 18.8 points per game since Week 12 - the ninth-lowest mark in the NFL - behind a wholly ineffective passing game, which would otherwise be the best way to attack this beleaguered Ravens secondary.Baltimore's offense hasn't been much better, scoring beween 10 and 21 points in seven of their last contests and averaging 19.1 points over that span. Lamar Jackson could return in a must-win spot for the Ravens, though if he isn't at full strength, that may not make much of a difference.He'll have his hands full against a Steelers defense that held Baltimore to 19 points in their previous meeting. Conversely, expect the Ravens to come after Ben Roethlisberger in what's likely his last start with Pittsburgh and his farewell to this epic rivalry.Pick: Under 41.5Bengals @ Browns (-6, 38), 1 p.m.We already knew that one quarterback wouldn't be playing in this matchup, with Baker Mayfield scheduled to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. Then we learned Wednesday that Joe Burrow will sit out of the Bengals' regular-season finale to rest ahead of the postseason.Still, this total isn't low enough with two backup QBs and very little to play for on either side. These aren't exactly elite replacement options either: Case Keenum has posted a sub-36 QBR in each of his two campaigns in Cleveland, while Brandon Allen owns a career 56.7% completion percentage and has attempted five passes all season.The Browns have been an easy under fade for weeks, putting up 17 or fewer points in nine of their last 13 games, while the Bengals will be without Burrow, running back Joe Mixon, and possibly more as they prepare for the playoffs. Nothing about this matchup suggests a high-scoring affair.Pick: Under 38Saints (-4.5, 40) @ Falcons, 4:25 p.m.Only one of these teams has anything to play for Sunday, but I don't expect either of them to crack the 25-point mark - if they're even fortunate enough to get to 20.The Saints have done that just once in their last six games and have managed 17.6 points per game since losing starter Jameis Winston for the season - which includes a whopping 30 points in their past three contests combined. They've managed to stay afloat behind an elite defense that ranks fourth in DVOA and has held three of its last four opponents to 10 points or fewer.Despite the Falcons' long-standing reputation as offensive juggernauts, this iteration ranks in the bottom seven in DVOA, points scored (18.3), and total yardage (306.7) per game. If Atlanta's offense struggles early, don't expect an inspired effort late from this eliminated team.Pick: Under 40C 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.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield grew so frustrated with Kevin Stefanski in 2021 that he wanted the head coach to surrender play-calling duties, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.Mayfield, who will sit out Week 18 and is set to undergo shoulder surgery by the end of January, reportedly felt Stefanski was ignoring the quarterback's strengths and failing to put him in positions to succeed.The fourth-year signal-caller struggled through his second season with Stefanski after enjoying a breakout under his tutelage in 2020. But there were times this season where Mayfield reportedly would've preferred to have offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt call the plays.Mayfield soured on the Browns' three-tight end, run-heavy approach by October, Cabot reports, desiring more of the play-action bootlegs he successfully ran last season.The 26-year-old publicly criticized the Browns' offensive approach twice down the stretch. He said the Browns "got too conservative" after they nearly blew an 18-point lead to the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 12, and he questioned why rookie right tackle James Hudson was repeatedly left one-on-one against Pittsburgh Steelers star T.J. Watt in pass protection on Jan. 3. Watt sacked Mayfield four times that night, leading the Steelers to victory.Mayfield shot down the story on Twitter, calling it "clickbait."

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers officially cut wide receiver Antonio Brown on Thursday, the club announced."The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have terminated the contract of Antonio Brown, effective immediately," the team said in a statement."While Antonio did receive treatment on his ankle and was listed on the injury report the week leading up to last Sunday's game, he was cleared to play by our medical team prior to the start of the game and at no point during the game did he indicate to our medical personnel that he could not play."We have attempted, multiple times throughout this week, to schedule an evaluation by an outside orthopedic specialist, yet Antonio has not complied. Maintaining the health and wellness of our players is of the utmost importance to our organization."Brown will be subject to waivers, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.After the veteran pass-catcher walked off the field midgame during Sunday's win over the New York Jets, head coach Bruce Arians said Brown was no longer a part of the team.Brown accused the Buccaneers of pressuring him to play through the injury in a statement Wednesday."I didn't quit. I was cut," said Brown. "I didn't walk away from my brothers. I was thrown out."The wideout said a privately scheduled MRI on Monday revealed broken bone fragments, a ligament torn from the bone, and cartilage loss and added he's going to need ankle surgery.However, general manager Jason Licht told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Brown didn't inform any of Tampa Bay's medical staff that his ankle was troubling him before or during the Week 17 matchup.Licht added that the Bucs made two doctor's appointments in New York for Brown so they could place him on injured reserve and pay him for the remainder of the year, but he missed both consultations.The GM also asserted that last week, Brown and his agent requested the remaining $2 million in incentives in his contract for this season be guaranteed.Arians said in a press conference Thursday that an agitated Brown needed others to calm him down during halftime after he received fewer targets than expected.The head coach said Brown then refused to re-enter the game when called upon. Arians said he told Brown to "get the f--- outta here" after the wideout said he wasn't going to play because he wasn't getting the ball.The 33-year-old required eight more catches, 55 more receiving yards, and one more touchdown to unlock three incentives of $333,000 apiece.Brown went on a social media tirade Thursday morning, including posting screenshots of what he said were texts with Arians regarding his ankle injury.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields landed on the COVID-19 reserve Thursday, threatening his chances of playing in the season finale against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.Fields was expected to return for Week 18 after missing two games with an ankle injury. The Bears won both contests in his absence, with Andy Dalton and Nick Foles getting the starts.Fields has thrown for 1,870 yards with seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions over his rookie campaign, making 10 starts and appearing in two other games. The Bears are 2-8 when he starts and 4-2 when Dalton or Foles start.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Antonio Brown is accusing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of covering up the true reason for his midgame walkout last Sunday.In a statement released through his lawyer, Brown said Bruce Arians told him he was "done" after he told the head coach he couldn't re-enter the game against the New York Jets due to an ankle injury."I took a seat on the sideline and my coach came up to me, very upset, and shouted, 'What's wrong with you? What's wrong with you?' I told him, 'It's my ankle.' But he knew that. It was well-documented, and we had discussed it. He then ordered me to get on the field. I said 'Coach, I can't.'"He didn't call for medical attention. Instead, he shouted at me, 'YOU'RE DONE!' while he ran his finger across his throat. Coach was telling me that if I didn't play hurt, then I was done with the Bucs."He continued: "I didn't quit. I was cut. I didn't walk away from my brothers. I was thrown out."Brown, who ran off the field midway through the third quarter of Sunday's game after showing frustration on the sideline, said Arians pressured him to play injured. He also said the Bucs' staff injected him with a "powerful and sometimes dangerous painkiller" pregame.Additionally, Brown accused the team of attempting to "spin" the narrative. He said Arians "clearly acknowledged" his injury through texts days before the contest. The veteran missed two days of practice in the week leading up to Sunday's game."First, they cut me. Now, they cage me," Brown wrote. "Instead of asking how I felt or getting to the bottom of it, the team texted my camp promoting a totally false narrative that I randomly acted out without any explanation."On Thursday morning, Brown posted screenshots of a text exchange with Arians from before Week 17:

The Washington Football Team and left tackle Charles Leno have agreed to a three-year, $37.5-million extension, sources told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Washington picked up Leno on a one-year deal last offseason after he was released by the Chicago Bears. He's proven to be a solid acquisition, starting all 16 games for Washington this season.The 30-year-old has started 110 games since entering the league as a seventh-round selection in 2014. He also earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2018 with the Bears.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers didn't hold back while addressing the controversial comments made by an MVP voter on Wednesday.Hub Arkush, one of the 50 media members who vote for the NFL MVP award, said Tuesday he won't vote for Rodgers because the Green Bay Packers quarterback is "the biggest jerk in the league," according to Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith.Rodgers criticized Arkush, adding the remarks stem from the 10-time Pro Bowler's vaccination status."He's a bum. I think he's an absolute bum," Rodgers said Wednesday, according to NFL reporter Dov Kleiman. "You don't know me. I don't know who he is. Nobody knew who he was probably until yesterday's comments."In my opinion, (the NFL) should exclude future votes (from Arkush). His problem isn't with me being a bad guy or the biggest jerk in the league ... His problem is: I'm not vaccinated."In his comments, Arkush also said Rodgers' off-field behavior particularly affects his voting."Has (Rodgers) been the most valuable on the field? Yeah, you could make that argument, but I don't think he is clearly that much more valuable than Jonathan Taylor or Cooper Kupp or maybe even Tom Brady."We are told to pick the guy who we think is most valuable to his team. And I don't think it says anywhere, 'strictly on the field,' although I do think he hurt his team on the field by the way he acted off the field. (The Packers are) gonna get the No. 1 seed anyway, but what if the difference had come down to the (Kansas City) Chiefs game, where he lied about being vaccinated, and they ended up getting beat?"In August, Rodgers implied he'd received a COVID-19 vaccine, saying he was immunized when asked about his vaccination status. However, he faced protocols for unvaccinated players and missed Green Bay's Week 9 loss to the Chiefs after testing positive. The 38-year-old, who said he tried an alternative immunization protocol against the virus during the offseason, later apologized for the situation."If (Arkush) wants to go on a crusade and collude and come up with an extra letter to put on the award just for this season and make it the most valuable vaccinated player, then he should do that," Rodgers also said Wednesday.Arkush apologized for his comments Wednesday evening, calling his remarks a "terrible mistake."Rodgers, the reigning NFL MVP, is the favorite to win the award again this year. The Packers currently have the NFL's best record at 13-3 and enter Week 18 with the NFC's No. 1 seed already locked up."The MVP should be about the most valuable player on the team," Rodgers said, according to Green Bay Press-Gazette's Ryan Wood. "A lot of times it goes to the best player on the best team, and we're the best team."Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan won't reveal a starting quarterback for their crucial regular-season finale versus the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.Jimmy Garoppolo had a throwing session Tuesday after missing the previous game with a thumb injury. Rookie Trey Lance started in his absence and threw two touchdowns to lead San Francisco past the Houston Texans.The 49ers hold the last available playoff spot in the NFC entering Week 18. They can punch their ticket to the postseason with a win over the Rams, but a loss would open the door for the New Orleans Saints to steal their spot.Garoppolo said Wednesday he experienced soreness in his thumb after throwing but called Tuesday's session "pretty good." The veteran reportedly sustained a chipped bone and torn ligament in his right thumb in Week 16.Garoppolo has started all 14 games he's been available to play in this season despite the arrival of Lance, the third overall pick in the 2021 draft.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's supposed to all even out, and maybe it eventually will. It didn't last week, though. After winning with the Nick Foles-led Bears in Week 16 once Justin Fields and Andy Dalton were ruled out, we weren't so lucky with our second straight surprise at quarterback as Sean Mannion got the start for the Vikings in Week 17.If you made your bet before Friday's news, you're now only up 4.1 units on our weekly underdog moneyline shot - with just one week left to profit on teams that few believe in.The SpotThe Saints are in a must-win game, and the Falcons have "nothing to play for." We hear this type of not-so news every year at this time. While it's not untrue, no team is guaranteed a win just because it needs it.When it comes to the Falcons, there's an old saying around the sportsbook: "They're just good enough to get you beat." At 7-9, they've won more than most probably expected, but they've had a tendency to melt down late and squander covers against good teams. The good news for their season finale - and maybe Matt Ryan's last game with Atlanta - is that the Falcons aren't playing a particularly good team.Falcons' offense vs. Saints' defenseAtlanta won the Week 9 matchup on the strength of Ryan's arm. As we highlighted in our weekly piece before that game, Ryan has done the opposite of legendary nemesis Tom Brady against the Saints' defense: He's had success. It's not entirely clear why that is, but a 343-yard game on just 30 attempts and a career 22-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio against New Orleans are too obvious to ignore.The case for the Saints always starts with a league-best run defense allowing just 3.7 yards per carry. Mike Davis and Cordarrelle Patterson combined for 18 carries and 23 yards in these teams' first matchup, but the Falcons built a 17-3 lead and hung on for the win anyway. It would be nice for Atlanta to do a little more work on the ground, but it's not as though the Falcons accumulated seven wins through a robust run game (despite some success running stretch plays off the left side with both Davis and Patterson at tailback).Saints' offense vs. Falcons' defenseIf the Saints win this game and the 49ers lose to the Rams, New Orleans will sneak into the final playoff spot. There isn't anyone in their right minds who has the Saints rated higher than the 49ers, but New Orleans is in this position thanks to its defense, not its offense.Before a late touchdown to seal last week's win against the Panthers, the Saints had mustered just seven field goals over the last seven quarters in games Taysom Hill started. They won both games. Two of their four field goals on Sunday, meanwhile, came on drives of 4 yards and 23 yards.The one player Atlanta needs to stop is, of course, Alvin Kamara. It took the Saints' dynamic running back six games to score against the Falcons, but he has touchdowns in each of his last three matchups against them. Still, he didn't top 104 combined yards in any of those three games. Given New Orleans' lack of alternatives and A.J. Terrell's ability to take away one side of the field, the Falcons would be thrilled to hold Kamara to 100 all-purpose yards here.The pickIn the first matchup this season, Atlanta was +235 on the moneyline and an underdog of just under a touchdown in New Orleans. Now, with the Falcons at home, the line has dropped just two points, with the moneyline priced 55 cents lower. This line should be under a field goal, but we're getting great value thanks to the "must-win" narrative. Add in the fact that there hasn't been much to separate these teams this season, and we'll see if the Falcons can play spoiler to cap a successful first year under Arthur Smith. In fact, since I'm a fan of round numbers, we'll throw a little extra on it.Bet: Falcons ML +180 (bet 1.1 units to win 1.9)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.

Entering the final week of the 2020 NFL season, the Dolphins controlled their playoff destiny. With a 10-5 record and tiebreakers in their favor, the Bills - who had already locked up the division title - represented Miami's only hurdle between the team and a rare postseason berth.In any other week, Buffalo would've been a modest favorite over its division rival. Instead, the money started rolling in on Miami, which had opened as a 4.5-point underdog. By kickoff, the 'Fins had been bet up to 3-point favorites in a must-win spot against a team with nothing at stake.They lost by 30.As stunning as that result was, it's hardly an outlier. Since 2011, teams that have needed a Week 17 win to clinch a playoff spot - or to avoid needing help to make the postseason - have gone 13-19-2 against the spread (40.6%). That includes a 7-12-1 ATS run over the past five campaigns and a 1-5 ATS mark in 2020.In those 10 seasons, at least one team in a must-win spot has lost outright in seven of them, and those that did win often did so by the slimmest of margins. So, is motivation important? And how should you handicap it?Don't blindly bet on motivationWhile the Dolphins' 56-26 defeat is the worst by any team in that spot over the last decade, losses in those spots happen more often than you'd expect. Incredibly, 11 of those 34 teams in a must-win spot lost outright to a team with nothing on the line - virtually identical to the win percentage of all underdogs from any given week (32.4%).You'll likely remember a few of those games. In 2019, the Steelers (+1) and Raiders (+3.5) both dropped must-win games in Week 17 to fall out of the playoff race. In 2017, the Seahawks and Ravens were both favored by eight points and lost outright to division rivals; Washington (-8.5) did the same a year before.Some spots are more dangerous than others for teams in potential playoff-clinching situations. Here's how those clubs fared against opponents with nothing at stake, grouped together by the closing line:Favored by...ATSSUAvg margin14 or more0-33-0+6.710 to 13.54-15-0+21.87 to 9.53-65-4+3.43.5 to 6.55-1-17-0+16.90 to 30-73-4-8.1Underdogs1-1-10-3-7The biggest takeaway: be wary of the extremes. While teams favored between 3.5 to 13.5 points held their own - posting a 12-8-1 ATS record and outscoring their opponents by 12.3 points on average - those laying 14 or more were more likely to win by three points than three touchdowns.The same goes for the narrow favorites, whom the market didn't trust even with major implications - and rightly so. Of the 11 teams to lose outright in a do-or-die situation, seven of them were laying a field goal or less. Three of the four biggest losses in that 10-year span came by teams in that spot, including those dubious Dolphins from a season ago.Interestingly, it's been a completely different story for teams that have already clinched a playoff spot but are in position to clinch a division title, first-round bye, or home-field advantage. Here's how they fared against teams with zero motivation:Favored by...ATSSUScoring margin14 or more6-27-1+24.810 to 13.58-7-115-1+13.17 to 9.56-39-0+133.5 to 6.53-66-3+2.80 to 30-00-00Underdogs1-10-2-10.5Overall, a 24-19-1 ATS record is just profitable enough over the long run, but there are still some compelling takeaways.Unlike with playoff hopefuls, favorites of a touchdown or more are worth the price (20-12 ATS, 31-2 straight-up). That makes sense on the surface: big favorites have been cash cows in the NFL for years, and all of these teams are good enough to be in contention for a division crown (or more) even before considering their late-season motivation.Still, be careful about laying too much on any team in the final week of the season when chaos is at its peak. One of the biggest upsets in NFL history came in Week 17 of 2019 when the Patriots (-17) lost outright to - guess who? - Miami in the final seconds, denying them a first-round bye for the first time in a decade and ultimately spelling the end for Tom Brady in New England. Talk about a costly loss.Beware the Week 18 spoilerYou've seen the data, but you may still be wondering: How is it possible that teams in season-defining scenarios would perform almost identically to those on a random Sunday in October? Consider that the market has already baked those postseason expectations into the line, often aggressively so knowing the ordinary bettor will blindly bet into it.Take this week, for instance. Here are the eight teams with extra motivations facing an opponent with nothing at stake, sorted by the current line at theScore Bet:MATCHUPSTAKESBills (-16.5) vs. JetsDivision titleColts (-15.5) @ JaguarsPlayoff berthTitans (-10.5) @ Texans1st-round byeChiefs (-10) @ Broncos1st-round byePatriots (-7) @ Dolphins1st-round bye OR division titleCardinals (-6.5) vs. SeahawksDivision titleSaints (-4.5) @ FalconsPlayoff berthBengals (+3) @ Browns1st-round byeFor the second year in a row, the Colts are 15.5-point favorites over the Jaguars with a playoff berth at stake. (Spoiler alert: They didn't cover in 2020.) It's the most points that Indy has laid all season despite being in "do-or-die" mode for much of the year, while the long-eliminated Jags have been priced as a bigger underdog just once this season.The Saints are also modest road favorites despite dropping six of their last nine games since losing starting quarterback Jameis Winston for the season. They've already lost once to the Falcons this year as outright favorites (-6) and have won by five or more points in just three of their last 13 trips to Atlanta.That isn't to say those teams can't take care of business Sunday, but it's worth considering whether you'd bet them otherwise if motivation wasn't at play. And while teams jockeying for positioning have fared better than those fighting for their playoff lives, neither is worth blindly betting in the final week of the season. Just ask the Dolphins.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 Dallas Cowboys announced Wednesday that they've placed linebacker Micah Parsons on the COVID-19 reserve list, according to Bobby Belt of 105.3 The FAN.Parsons' status for Dallas' regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday is now uncertain.The 22-year-old rookie has put on a show this season, placing himself in contention for the Defensive Player of the Year award. He's racked up 84 tackles, 13 sacks, and three forced fumbles through 16 games to go along with a league-high 20 tackles for loss.Parsons is just 1.5 sacks shy of the rookie record, set by former Tennessee Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse in 1999.

The Cincinnati Bengals will take on the Cleveland Browns in Week 18 without quarterback Joe Burrow, and running back Joe Mixon could be unavailable due to COVID-19 protocols.Burrow will rest ahead of the playoffs after throwing for 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns in his first full NFL season. The 25-year-old said Wednesday his knee - which he injured late against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 17 - isn't an issue."My knee would be good enough to play," he told reporters, according to The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr.Mixon tested positive for COVID-19. He could clear protocols by game day as a vaccinated player, but travel logistics would make it difficult for him to play, head coach Zac Taylor said, according to ESPN's Ben Baby.Mixon, 25, is coming off a 19-touch, 86-yard outing against the Chiefs. He'll finish the regular season with 1,205 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground if he doesn't play against the Browns.Cincinnati sent five other players - Vonn Bell, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Trey Hendrickson, Trey Hopkins, and Quinton Spain - to the COVID-19 reserve Tuesday.The Bengals clinched the AFC North with their monumental victory over the Chiefs in Week 17. They hold the No. 3 seed in the AFC entering the final week.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.