Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady continues to hold off Father Time like no player in NFL history.Brady will take on the Kansas City Chiefs in his 10th Super Bowl on Feb. 7, and like the rest of the football world, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is in awe of what the future Hall of Famer is doing at age 43."You can see where Tom's leadership on the offensive side is showing," Reid said Monday, according to Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "He's playing at an extremely high level. And for somebody his age, it's unbelievable. I mean, it's unbelievable for a 25-year-old to be doing what he's doing, let alone a 43-year-old."Initially, some thought the fit between Brady and Bucs head coach Bruce Arians' system wasn't ideal, and that the signal-caller's arm strength was waning. But the veteran has flourished during his first year in Tampa.The six-time Super Bowl champion racked up 4,633 yards and 40 touchdowns - tied for second in 2020, and his most since the 2007 campaign - against 12 interceptions during the regular season.In the Bucs' three road playoff wins after being a wild-card team, Brady has thrown for 860 yards with seven scores and three picks.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers wants a new contract with the Green Bay Packers as he heads into his 17th NFL offseason, a league source told Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.After Green Bay fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC title game, the star quarterback told reporters he would "have to take some time away" before determining his plans moving forward.Rodgers' current contract runs through the 2023 season, but a potential out exists following the 2021 campaign. He currently ranks fifth among quarterbacks in average new-money value per year.The 37-year-old enjoyed one of the most productive campaigns of his career and is the favorite to win MVP. However, his long-term standing with the Packers was called into question when Jordan Love was selected in the first round of last year's draft.If Rodgers officially asks for a new contract but doesn't receive one, it could be a key factor in a potential divorce from the franchise, per Florio.Despite a disappointing end to the season, head coach Matt LaFleur backed the veteran passer as his team's leader.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Though the year ended in disappointment, Josh Allen cemented himself as the Buffalo Bills' franchise quarterback with a sparkling 2020 campaign.In his third NFL season, Allen thrust himself into the league MVP conversation."I proved that they didn't make a mistake by drafting me going back a few years ago," the 24-year-old said Monday.Allen was the third quarterback taken in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was selected behind Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold and was thought to be a long-term project. Instead, Allen brought the Bills further than any of his draftmates have taken their teams. He even outdueled 2019 MVP Lamar Jackson in a home divisional-round win over the Baltimore Ravens this postseason.The gunslinger improved his completion percentage from 58.8% in 2019 to 69.2% this season and threw for 17 more touchdowns (37) against just one more interception (10).Allen believes he and the Bills can remain in contention for a Super Bowl."I'm just trying to help this team with whatever and whichever way that I can," he said.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will get to enjoy some of the comforts of home when they play in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium.Head coach Bruce Arians believes being the first team to play the championship game in their home stadium works in the Bucs' favor in many ways, aside from getting to use their own locker rooms and knowing their way around their digs."I think the big advantage is we stay in our own beds, sleep here, and just do our normal routine. Nothing is out of the ordinary until we hit the media sessions next week. Just to be able to stay in your routine, sleep in your bed, and all that stuff - I think it's a huge advantage," Arians said Monday.Staying put should be a welcome change for the road-weary squad - Tampa Bay hasn't had a home game since Week 17. The club has had to defeat three playoff teams on the road to reach the Super Bowl.However, there are ways the COVID-19 protocols could work to the Kansas City Chiefs' advantage. Arians believes the Chiefs' later arrival to Tampa will play into their favor."I think it really helps them. Normally when you get to town for Super Bowl, everybody's pulling and tugging you - trying to get everything done the week before. Then, when you hit town, you've got all the media obligations, and your practice and gameplans are all put in," he said. "I think it's a great advantage for them (because) it's just an away game. They get to do their normal prep just like we do. Nobody's going to get tied up in all that stuff."The two conference champions will meet on Sunday, Feb. 7.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady began his Buccaneers tenure "stressed out" as his parents battled COVID-19, his father, Tom Brady Sr., told ESPN Radio's Mike Greenberg in an interview Monday.Brady's dad said he was hospitalized for three weeks at one point last year, adding that both he and his wife, Galynn, felt "sick as a dog." The couple, both 76 years old, missed Brady's first two contests with the Bucs as a result, the first time either parent had missed a game in their son's career."We've never missed a game at Michigan or New England or wherever," Brady's dad said. "For the first two games when I was in the hospital, I didn't even care if they were playing - much less missing the game. It was a matter of life and death, just like anybody who goes to the hospital. That's serious stuff."Brady's dad said Galynn, a breast cancer survivor, was cared for at home by their daughter.Brady apparently FaceTimed his father on his way to and from practice every day as he tried to balance his responsibilities as a football player with the concern for his parents."Tommy fought through it, and so now it's in the rearview mirror," Brady's dad said. "We're healthy, we're happy, and everything is good."Brady will look to capture his seventh title in 10 Super Bowl appearances Feb. 7 with the Bucs taking on the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley revealed he played through a broken fibula during the team's postseason run.Beasley reportedly said the ailment ached during the wild-card and divisional rounds but didn't bother him during Sunday's AFC championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs."There was no way I was gonna miss a playoff game," the Bills receiver said, according to NFL Network's Kim Jones.Beasley added, "Take a few meds and suck it up."The 31-year-old wideout missed Buffalo's regular-season finale with a knee injury before returning to play in all three of the club's postseason games. Beasley caught 14 passes for 145 yards during the playoffs, including a team-leading 88 yards against the Chiefs.With an offense that ranked second in scoring, the Bills' quest for a Super Bowl appearance ended with a 38-24 loss to the league's defending champs. Buffalo's appearance in the conference title game was its first in 17 years, and Beasley believes the franchise won't have to wait as long for a second go-around."(The Chiefs) just played better than us yesterday. They beat us. We didn't play our best ball, but they took it to us. They aren't going anywhere, but we aren't, either," Beasley said, according to team reporter Sal Capaccio.Beasley enjoyed a career year in 2020, setting personal bests in receptions (82) and receiving yards (967).Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just as oddsmakers expected all year long, the Chiefs are back in the Super Bowl - and they're favored once again to win it all in a potential classic against the Buccaneers.Kansas City opened as 3.5-point favorites at theScore Bet after comfortably beating the Bills 38-24 in the AFC championship - only their second win against the spread in their last 10 games. The Buccaneers - who are set to become the first team in NFL history to play the Super Bowl at their home stadium - are 6-2 ATS in their last eight after Sunday's 31-26 win at Lambeau Field, with Tom Brady securing a record 10th Super Bowl appearance.The Chiefs have already been bet down to a field goal, with bettors quick to jump on the Buccaneers across the key number of three, although each of the last seven Super Bowls were decided by at least four points. In the regular season, the Chiefs were just three-point winners in a Week 12 meeting against Tampa Bay.Only three teams this century have earned a Super Bowl rematch against a team that beat them in the regular season - all involved Brady. He led the 2001 Patriots to a revenge win over the Rams before losing in the opposite spot to the 2007 Giants, which ended the Patriots' bid for an undefeated season. He also lost twice in the same season to the 2011 Giants.Including those three games, Brady is 6-3 straight up in the Super Bowl but just 4-5 ATS in that spot. He's also 2-2 ATS in his career against Patrick Mahomes, who is now 5-2 ATS in his playoff career with a 1-0 record in the Super Bowl.Mahomes won as a favorite in last year's game after Brady won as a favorite the year prior. Will this game follow a similar script? Before those two wins, underdogs had covered in 13 of the last 17 years dating back to Brady's stunning win in 2002.The contest opened at 57 points, currently the second-highest total in Super Bowl history after Super Bowl LI (Patriots vs. Falcons, 58).Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Eric Fisher won't play in Super Bowl LV after suffering a torn Achilles in Sunday's AFC Championship Game versus the Buffalo Bills, head coach Andy Reid announced Monday, according to team reporter Matt McMullen.Fisher was quickly ruled out after going down while pass protecting in the fourth quarter.Mike Remmers shifted from right tackle to left tackle after Fisher departed, while Andrew Wylie moved to right tackle, and Stefen Wisniewski shuffled to right guard.

Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta addressed numerous issues on Monday surrounding the club's ability to build around quarterback Lamar Jackson.DeCosta balked at the idea that players wouldn't want to play for the Ravens. Baltimore's offense has come under fire for being too one-sided, with wide receiver Marquise Brown recently expressing his opinion on the matter. Powered by Jackson's legs, Baltimore finished this season with the NFL's top rushing offense, but its passing attack ranked last."Players want to play with Lamar Jackson. I really do kind of laugh at the notion that players don't want to come here and play with Lamar because he's one of the best young players in the NFL," DeCosta said.One proposition to improve the passing attack is adding a dynamic receiver. The Ravens failed to have a wideout break the 800-yard mark in 2020 as Brown led the team with 769 yards. The franchise relied on a receiving group consisting of Brown, Willie Snead, Miles Boykin, and 32-year-old Dez Bryant, who hadn't played in the NFL since 2017.Baltimore's receiving issues have been a consistent problem over the years. The team hasn't produced a 1,000-yard receiver since 2016.Head coach John Harbaugh said last week that a potential acquisition for a big, physical receiver would be "awesome" if it fits under the salary cap. DeCosta offered his best Marlon Brando impression as he added to his coach's statement.

Martavis Bryant isn't currently allowed to play in the NFL, so the wide receiver is returning to the field elsewhere: the CFL.The former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout has signed with the Toronto Argonauts, the team announced Monday.Bryant is currently suspended in the NFL, but he's eligible to play in Canada.The NFL conditionally reinstated the 29-year-old in 2017 after he missed the 2016 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. But he was then suspended indefinitely for violating the terms of his reinstatement.Bryant applied for reinstatement again in 2019.The 2014 fourth-round pick out of Clemson racked up 126 receptions for 1,917 yards and 17 touchdowns over 36 regular-season appearances in three seasons with the Steeles from 2014 to 2017.He was traded to the then-Oakland Raiders in 2018 and amassed 266 yards on 19 catches through eight games before being suspended.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Shane Steichen has agreed to terms with the Philadelphia Eagles to become the team's next offensive coordinator, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Steichen had been with the Los Angeles Chargers since 2014, working his way up from quality control coach to quarterbacks coach before taking over the offensive coordinator duties this past season.He also holds ties with new Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, as the two spent time together with the Chargers.Steichen worked closely with Justin Herbert during the passer's historic rookie season. Herbert set the rookie record for passing yards and touchdowns in 2020. Steichen heads to a Philadelphia team that features Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts in its quarterback's room.The Eagles have revamped their coaching staff heading into the offseason. Sirianni is taking over for Doug Pederson, while Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon will reportedly serve as the club's defensive coordinator. Duce Staley, who was the assistant head coach and running backs coach, is reportedly joining the Detroit Lions' staff.The Eagles are looking to bounce back after finishing 4-11-1 this season. The offense averaged just 20.9 points per game, ranking 26th in the NFL.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown is expected to return for the Super Bowl after a knee injury sidelined him during the NFC title game, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Brown suffered the injury in the divisional round. The Bucs were hopeful he could play in the conference championship game against the Green Bay Packers, but the veteran was ruled out after not practicing.Scotty Miller flourished in an increased role against the Packers while catching two passes, including a 39-yard touchdown toss from Tom Brady before halftime.Brown posted 45 receptions for 483 yards and four touchdowns during the regular season after making his Buccaneers debut in Week 9.The Buccaneers have won seven straight games and will challenge the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady will meet again when the Kansas City Chiefs face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Super Bowl LV in two weeks.The star quarterbacks will go head to head for the fifth time in three years and the defending Super Bowl MVP is looking forward to the matchup."Being able to go up against one of the greatest - if not the greatest - quarterbacks of all time in his 150th Super Bowl, it's going to be a great experience for me," Mahomes joked after the Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills to win the AFC Championship Game."To go out there and have a chance to repeat and to get to do it against the best, it's something special and I'm excited for the opportunity."Brady won the first two matchups, including the 2018 AFC Championship Game, as a member of the New England Patriots. The 2019 regular-season matchup went to Mahomes, as did this year's Week 12 meeting when Kansas City went up 27-10 against Tampa Bay and hung on for a 27-24 victory.Each matchup has ended in a one-score game.Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is also looking forward to a rematch between the 43-year-old future Hall of Famer and the 25-year-old defending champion."Every one of them is tremendous. I wouldn't expect anything different (this time)," he said, according to ESPN's Adam Teicher.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers held off the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game, and Kansas City Chiefs thumped the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game, which means your matchup for Super Bowl LV on Feb. 7 in Tampa, Florida, is now set. Let's take a closer look at what went down in the conference championship games.Tom Brady, again Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhat's left to be said? Brady left the dynastic Patriots to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - the active franchise with the worst winning percentage in NFL history, and one that hadn't made the playoffs in 13 years - and he's going to another Super Bowl. That makes 10 Super Bowl appearances for Brady in 19 seasons. He's always had lots of help - as all great quarterbacks do - but he's also the obvious common denominator here.This wasn't a scintillating Brady performance - he threw interceptions on three consecutive possessions in the second half - but that's not what matters now. Brady converted three third downs on the game's opening possession, and the Bucs succeeded on eight of their first 11 third downs in total. He threw three touchdown passes, which gives him 80 for his playoff career - no one else has more than 45. He's also thrown seven TDs during this postseason alone.

The Buffalo Bills' most successful season in recent memory came to an end Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.But Bills quarterback Josh Allen believes his team will come back stronger after coming with touching distance of the Super Bowl."It's going to fuel us," said Allen after the 38-24 loss, according to Ryan Talbot of NYup.com. "I have no doubt that we'll be back. ... We're close."After jumping out to an early 9-0 lead, Buffalo struggled to finish off long drives in the end zone. Head coach Sean McDermott opted for the conservative approach by kicking two red-zone field goals, allowing the high-flying Chiefs to create an insurmountable lead.

An officiating controversy Sunday left the Green Bay Packers lamenting the second costly pass interference penalty of the last three NFC title games."I was pretty surprised just based on how the game went," Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said of the call postgame. "I felt like there was multiple plays throughout the course of the game that - they were letting us play. I haven't seen a replay but from what I was told, there was a tug there. Whether the ball was catchable or not, I mean I think that always goes into it. Bottom line, the official made that call and that is what it is, and we have to live with that."With the Packers trailing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-26 in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter, officials threw a late flag on Kevin King. The Buccaneers would have been forced to punt had the officials not called a penalty. Instead, they received an automatic first down and promptly ran out the clock.

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur expressed his regret over how his team's last possession transpired in Sunday's NFC Championship Game.With 2:15 left in the contest and the ball on the Buccaneers' 8-yard line, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw an incomplete pass on third down, though it appeared he could have run the ball in for a touchdown.On the following play, the Packers kicked a field goal rather than take a fourth attempt at a touchdown and two-point conversion to tie the game.The Packers wouldn't get the ball back and lost 31-26."Anytime it doesn't work out, you always regret it, right?" LaFleur said, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "Having three shots and coming away with no yards and knowing not only (we) need the touchdown but the 2-point ... anytime something doesn't work out, do you regret it? Sure."Rodgers both defended and expressed surprise at the call from the sideline."It wasn't my decision. I understand the thinking," Rodgers said, per Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated."I thought maybe we were gonna have four chances to go," he added, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers refused to make any guarantees regarding his future with the Green Bay Packers following Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."There's a lot of guys' futures that are uncertain, myself included," Rodgers said postgame, according to Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "That's what's sad about it most, getting this far.""I'm going to have to take some time away for sure and clear my head, kind of see what's going on with everything," he added. "But it's pretty tough right now."Rodgers enjoyed one of the most productive campaigns of his career and is the favorite to win MVP. However, his standing with the club was called into question when Green Bay selected Jordan Love in the 2020 draft.Earlier in the week, the 37-year-old called his future "a beautiful mystery," acknowledging he may not get many more opportunities to play in a Super Bowl. Following the defeat, the star signal-caller admitted it was difficult to watch Tampa Bay celebrate a victory Sunday."This one stings, and is going to for a long time," Rodgers said, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky.Despite the looming uncertainty over his quarterback, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur backed Rodgers as the team's leader going forward."I sure as hell hope so," LaFleur told reporters, per Wood. "I mean, the guy is the MVP of this league. He's the heart and soul of our football team. So, hell yeah. He better be back here. He's our leader."Rodgers is under contract through the 2023 season, but a potential out exists in his deal after the 2021 campaign.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will make history at Super Bowl LV.The Bucs will become the first team to play the Super Bowl at their home stadium after beating the Green Bay Packers 31-26 in Sunday's NFC Championship Game."Home Super Bowl for the first time in NFL history puts a lot of cool things in perspective," said Tom Brady, per James Palmer of NFL Network. "Anytime you're the first doing something, it’s usually a pretty good thing."No team previously achieved that feat over the last 55 years. The Minnesota Vikings were the most recent club to come close, losing in the NFC title game to the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2017 season to miss out on a chance at playing in Super Bowl LII.However, the Bucs won't have as big of a home-field advantage as they usually would at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The NFL is allowing 22,000 fans - including 7,500 vaccinated health care workers - to attend the game. The capacity at Tampa Bay's stadium is 65,890.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady is back in the Super Bowl and so are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.The 43-year-old quarterback led the Bucs to a 31-26 victory over the Green Bay Packers in Sunday's NFC Championship Game.Brady will make his 10th Super Bowl appearance - his first in his first season with Tampa Bay - and the Bucs will be the first team to ever play the championship game on their home field.More to come.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions are expected to add John Dorsey to their front office as a senior personnel executive, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Dorsey, who previously served as a general manager for the Kansas City Chiefs (2013-2016) and Cleveland Browns (2017-2019), will provide veteran experience while working among the Lions' talent evaluators.The Lions hired first-time GM Brad Holmes from the Los Angeles Rams following the 2020 season.The 60-year-old brings close to 30 years of football experience to Detroit, including five as a player for the Green Bay Packers. Starting off as a scout in 1991 after his playing career ended, Dorsey worked his way up to become a director of football operations by 2012.Most recently, he spent the 2020 campaign as a consultant with the Philadelphia Eagles.Detroit is also expected to hire Ray Agnew as the team's new assistant general manager, adds Pelissero.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Greg Olsen is ready to begin his broadcasting career.The tight end announced his retirement Sunday after 14 NFL seasons during FOX's pregame show.

For the first time in Super Bowl history, the week prior to the big game will be conducted virtually due to the ongoing pandemic.With the exception of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - who are a win away from playing in the Super Bowl on their home field - teams aren't allowed to arrive in the host city any earlier than Friday, Feb. 5, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.Super Bowl teams usually settle in a week prior to the game.If the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers win their respective conference championship games, they've tentatively planned to arrive in Tampa Bay on Feb. 5th, adds Schefter. The Kansas City Chiefs don’t intend to land until Feb. 6, the day before the Super Bowl, if they win their AFC Championship tilt.The change in tradition comes as the league attempts to continue its COVID-19 prevention measures. Despite the magnitude of Super Bowl LV, most of the clubs remaining will treat the matchup as a road game.Super Bowl media day (held the Monday of Super Bowl week) is set to be conducted virtually, along with many other activities. There's also uncertainty around the postgame parties for both teams. Clubs will get the option of flying home immediately after the game.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There may not be anything the Houston Texans can do to keep Deshaun Watson around.The star quarterback is expected to request a trade from Houston regardless of whom the team hires for its vacant head coaching position in 2021, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Watson is reportedly frustrated with the organization after being left out of their general-manager hiring process. Texans CEO and chairman Cal McNair previously said Watson would be directly involved in the team's search for a new coach.Houston remains the only team - out of seven that fired its head coaches this season - with a vacant HC position. The Texans dismissed Bill O'Brien during the 2020 regular season and had interim coach Romeo Crennel on the sideline for 12 games.Houston is reportedly expected to request a second head coaching interview with Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, whose name was suggested by Watson earlier this month.Watson reportedly views the New York Jets as his top trade destination, followed by the Miami Dolphins.The 25-year-old has completed 67.8% of his pass attempts while throwing for 4,308 yards and 31 touchdowns against 11 interceptions per 16 games played since entering the NFL in 2017.The three-time Pro Bowler signed a four-year, $156-million extension in September. His new deal has a no-trade clause, according to Spotrac.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions have reportedly agreed to mutually part ways with longtime starter Matthew Stafford and begun listening to trade offers, meaning an upgrade at the quarterback position could be just one phone call away for many clubs.At nearly 33 years old, Stafford likely has a few years of near-prime production left in the tank. His contract, once bordering on problematic for the Lions, has become relatively attractive. The former No. 1 overall pick is owed $43 million over the final two years of his deal - a bargain in today's quarterback market - and could conceivably renegotiate an even more team-friendly pact in hopes of facilitating a move to his preferred destination.Here are the top five best fits for Detroit's most accomplished passer:Indianapolis Colts NurPhoto / NurPhoto / GettyStafford to the Colts almost makes too much sense. Indianapolis has a playoff-worthy roster but has a big hole under center following Philip Rivers' retirement. Jacob Eason is also the only passer signed for next season, with Jacoby Brissett set for free agency. A possible move to the Colts would also be among the most appealing options for the veteran.Indianapolis would present Stafford with a competent ground game powered by a top running back and offensive line. Stafford has rarely had the luxury of a 1,000-yard rusher during his tenure in Detroit but would finally get one in the Colts' Jonathan Taylor. The franchise is also projected to have over $68 million in cap space, per Spotrac, and could comfortably fit the passer's contract under the bill.New England Patriots Boston Globe / Boston Globe / GettyCue the video of Bill Belichick walking through the tunnel. If the Patriots are looking for a painless way to get their organization back on track, they should look no further than Stafford. After a flier on Cam Newton didn't work out, New England could shore up its uninspiring offense with a proven signal-caller. Like any good quarterback, Stafford is capable of elevating the talent around him. He may not be able to turn scraps into gold, but he would make life a lot easier for the Patriots' skill players who had to deal with more than a few inaccurate passes in 2020.Matt Patricia's expected return to New England - after being Stafford's former head coach in Detroit - only bolsters the ties between the two sides.San Francisco 49ers Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Sport / GettyKyle Shanahan recently expressed belief in Jimmy Garoppolo returning as the 49ers' quarterback next season, but an opportunity to upgrade may prove too tempting to pass up. Garoppolo has managed to play a full season just once since joining the 49ers, and his $2.8-million dead-cap hit makes this move easier than imagined. San Francisco would have to do some accounting to make the trade work - the club projects to have just under $13 million in cap space - but the thought of Stafford operating an offense guided by Shanahan could be a dream come true for the 49ers faithful.Washington Football Team Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyAlex Smith's comeback journey was the top feel-good story for Washington, but rolling with him for the extended future would surely produce more disappointment than smiles. Washington may have been able to sneak away with the NFC East this season, but banking on a repeat with its current squad is less likely unless the team adds a gunslinger. Stafford would join emerging playmakers in Antonio Gibson and Terry McLaurin while pass-rusher Chase Young complements on defense.The 32-year-old's ties to Washington run deeper than just on the field - Martin Mayhew, who was recently named the team's general manager, was part of the Lions' front office that drafted Stafford in 2009.Carolina Panthers Stephen Maturen / Getty Images Sport / GettyQuarterback Teddy Bridgewater was middling in his first season with the Panthers, prompting questions over his long-term future as a starter. Head coach Matt Rhule tossed a proposition in Bridgewater's direction, stating the passer must have a tremendous offseason. But instead of hoping for a fantastic offseason from the passer, Carolina should take its fate into its own hands.Like many of the clubs featured, the Panthers would upgrade immensely with Stafford, and the two sides have history. Carolina recently hired Sean Ryan, who served as Stafford's position coach over his last two seasons in Detroit.If that still doesn't convince the Panthers, they should consider this: Carolina has had just two quarterbacks throw for 4,000-plus yards in a season (Cam Newton, 2011 and Steve Beuerlein, 1999). Stafford has done it eight times since entering the league.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans are expected to request second interviews for their head coaching vacancy with Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier after Sunday's AFC title game, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Both candidates have already started to assemble a coaching staff in advance in case they're hired, Schefter adds.Bieniemy is one of the NFL's hottest head coaching candidates. Deshaun Watson, the Texans' disgruntled quarterback, advocated for the team to interview Bieniemy early in its head coaching search, but the front office ignored his initial requests.Houston reportedly interviewed the 51-year-old for the first time earlier this week.Hiring Bieniemy could be crucial to keep Watson in Houston. The three-time Pro Bowler has expressed his disappointment with the franchise after being left out of its general-manager hiring process.Bieniemy has been praised for his role in developing the Chiefs' juggernaut offense since being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2018, and particularly his work with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.Meanwhile, Frazier has been the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator of the Bills since 2017, helping turn Buffalo into one of the league's most competitive teams. The 61-year-old previously worked as head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2011 to 2013.The Texans have contacted multiple head coach candidates since the end of the season, including veteran quarterback Josh McCown and Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Head coach Nick Sirianni has started to put together his new staff in Philadelphia - and he's bringing someone he's familiar with as his defensive coordinator.The Eagles have agreed to terms with Indianapolis Colts defensive backs coach Jonathan Gannon to fill in their vacant DC position, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Gannon also recently had defensive coordinator interviews with the Los Angeles Chargers and Chicago Bears.The Ohio native has logged nine seasons of NFL coaching experience, working with the Tennessee Titans (2012-13), Minnesota Vikings (2014-17), and Colts (2018-20).Sirianni - who Philadelphia hired as its head coach earlier this week - worked with Gannon over the past three seasons in Indianapolis.Gannon is now set to replace Jim Schwartz, who recently parted ways with the Eagles after five seasons as their defensive coordinator.Philadelphia's defense ranked 19th in yards and 20th in points in 2020.The Eagles have also agreed to terms with Colts assistant Kevin Patullo for their new offensive pass game coordinator position, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been diagnosed with a turf toe injury, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The Super Bowl MVP, who cleared the concussion protocol earlier this week, suffered the injury during the first half of last week's divisional-round contest against the Cleveland Browns.A foot specialist will reportedly re-evaluate Mahomes after the campaign to determine if the passer needs offseason surgery.Meanwhile, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire will be available to play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills despite battling ankle and hip injuries, a source told Rapoport.The first-round rookie was listed as questionable ahead of the AFC title game, along with running back Le'Veon Bell and wide receiver Sammy Watkins.Watkins is a game-time decision to face the Bills, while Bell isn't expected to play due to a knee injury, Rapoport adds.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Before you make your NFL bets on championship weekend, it's worth knowing which side other bettors are backing - especially on games drawing sharp action.We talked to Jay Rood, Bet.Works' chief risk officer and theScore Bet's head trader, to see how sharps and public bettors are playing this weekend's slate.Buccaneers @ Packers (-3.5, 51.5), 3:05 p.m. ETThe last time Tom Brady lost as a playoff underdog was in 2014, and he's covered seven of his last nine overall when catching points. Bettors like his chances to keep both streaks alive in his 14th conference championship.The Buccaneers opened as 4-point underdogs for Sunday's NFC title game and have been bet down to +3.5 behind a 2-to-1 advantage in money wagered. Still, the public is all over the Packers, who have three times as many straight-bet tickets and hold a 3-to-1 edge in parlay activity.As for the total? Bettors have yet to take a strong position as of Saturday night. The total opened at 52 before a run of under money nudged it to 51, though some buyback on the over has this number settling at 51.5 ahead of kickoff.Bills @ Chiefs (-3, 54.5), 6:40 p.m.This game opened at Chiefs -3 early in the week, when Patrick Mahomes' status for Sunday was still uncertain. He's slated to play in the AFC championship, yet the number hasn't moved in the hours before the game.That doesn't mean bettors aren't taking Kansas City in this one. The Chiefs have drawn 60% of tickets and money wagered on straight bets, and parlay bettors are laying twice as much money on the home side despite an even ticket count for both clubs.Some bettors are taking a shot on the Bills (+160), who have won eight straight games and covered nine of their last 10. Yet the Chiefs (-180) have pulled four times as much money to win outright despite the much smaller return. They've won 11 straight with Mahomes active and are 5-1 straight up in his six playoff starts.(Odds source: theScore Bet)C Jackson Cowart is a betting writer for theScore. He's an award-winning journalist with stops at The Charlotte Observer, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Times Herald-Record, and BetChicago. He's also a proud graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, and his love of sweet tea is rivaled only by that of a juicy prop bet. Find him on Twitter @CJacksonCowart.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matthew Stafford has requested a trade from the Detroit Lions and the club will explore options in the coming weeks for the quarterback, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Stafford recently told the team he feels it's an optimal time to start fresh as the club enters a period of transition, Pelissero adds. The Lions, who have hired a new head coach and general manager, reportedly agreed with the veteran passer and will honor his request.Lions head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes were made aware of Stafford's likely departure before joining the team, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Detroit is expected to receive at least one first-round pick in return for Stafford, Schefter added.A trade for the 32-year-old passer would be expected to occur early in March as Stafford is due a $10-million roster bonus on the fifth day of the 2021 league year. The Lions would save $14 million in cap space if a trade is completed.The No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft, Stafford has spent his entire career in Detroit, setting numerous club records. He has thrown for a franchise-leading 45,109 passing yards and 282 touchdown passes.

The Detroit Lions are hiring former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn to be their offensive coordinator, sources told ESPN's Dan Graziano.He's set to replace Darrell Bevell, who's expected to join the Jacksonville Jaguars. Lynn will reportedly join a revamped coaching staff that includes head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.And then there were four. Both conference championship games this weekend feature a short home favorite.Here's how we're betting the games.Alex KolodziejPackers-Buccaneers over 51.5I couldn't pass up this opportunity to play another Packers over. They're far and away the best unit in football and have cashed six straight postseason overs with Aaron Rodgers under center. I'd expect more of the same script against the Buccaneers this Sunday.These two offenses average more than 33 points combined in the first half. If Green Bay - which paces the NFL at 18.6 - can get out to an early lead, there's no way Tampa tries to run the ball and take it out of Tom Brady's hands.There should be a whole lot of passing attempts and a boatload of points for two top-three DVOA offenses. This number was generous when it opened, and I'd still be content with playing the over at anything better than 52.Alex MorettoPackers -3.5 vs. BuccaneersI’ve lost count of how many people have told me to "bet the Bucs" over the past month. Whether it’s on a week-to-week basis or in the futures market, this team is getting a ton of love, and this week has followed the same script. How could you not back Tom Brady as a 'dog, right?I'll tell you how.The Bucs remain one of the most overrated teams in the league. Brady is the GOAT, and this offense has been rolling, but the team as a whole just isn't on the same level as the Packers. Tampa's cruising largely because of its schedule, with its last four regular-season games coming against teams with a combined 20-44 record. The Bucs then beat Washington in the first round despite Taylor Heinicke picking apart their brutal secondary, which wasn’t exposed last week because of the simple fact Drew Brees couldn’t throw more than 10 yards downfield. Jameis Winston came in for one play and torched them for a 56-yard touchdown pass.Just imagine what Aaron Rodgers will do to this secondary. Rodgers and Matt LaFleur are two of the best in the business at making adjustments, so we can expect them to have an answer for the Bucs' blitz packages that worked so effectively in their first meeting in October. The Packers didn't have Allen Lazard for that game, and it came before the Marquez Valdes-Scantling resurgence. Green Bay boasts the league's best offense in DVOA and the Bucs' defense hasn't seen anything like it.The Packers are going to score at will in this game, and Tampa simply won't be able to keep up with Antonio Brown out and Mike Evans shadowed by Jaire Alexander. I've been preaching this for two weeks and there's no way I'm going back on it now: last weekend’s game at Lambeau Field was the true NFC Championship Game.C Jackson CowartBills +3 at ChiefsI've been backing the Bills fervently since March, and I'm willing to go down with the ship in their biggest game of the year.There's an argument to be made Buffalo will be the best team on the field in Sunday's matchup. The Bills rank No. 1 in weighted DVOA - the Chiefs rank sixth - and they are slotted higher in season-long DVOA, PFF team grades, point differential, and mostly every other advanced metric. They've covered nine of their last 10 and have won seven contests by double digits amid an eight-game outright win streak.Buffalo's offense has outpaced Kansas City's this year, and it holds a clear advantage on defense and special teams. The one area Chiefs bettors can claim a definitive edge is at quarterback, which is complicated by two factors: Patrick Mahomes enters Sunday at less than 100%, and his play has been matched this season by Josh Allen, anyway.I know it's hard to bet against Kansas City in this spot, but the Chiefs haven't looked like themselves for the better part of three months now, and I'm not buying they'll suddenly flip a switch in this spot. They didn't do so a week ago with a healthier quarterback against weaker competition, and Sunday will pose a much stiffer test.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills have elevated wide receiver Kenny Stills from the practice squad, making him eligible to play in Sunday's AFC championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs.Buffalo signed Stills in early January after the Houston Texans cut him, and Sunday could mark his first time being active as a member of the team.The veteran wideout had fallen out of favor in Houston, putting up just 144 receiving yards this campaign. Stills has recorded 310 receptions and 4,843 receiving yards over his career.Stills' promotion to the main roster may be insurance for a Bills receiving group that has dealt with numerous injuries recently. Rookie receiver Gabriel Davis was listed as questionable for Sunday's tilt due to an ankle injury. Buffalo sidelined Davis for the first two days of practice before he participated in a limited capacity Friday.The Bills also promoted cornerback Dane Jackson from the practice squad. The first-year player has spent time on the main roster this season, notching one interception and five passes defensed.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Deshaun Watson apparently knows where he wants to land if the Houston Texans move him this offseason.The star quarterback recently told people the New York Jets are his top trade destination, Armando Salguero of Miami Herald reports.Watson's preference for the Jets is related to their new head coach, Robert Saleh, adds Salguero. The signal-caller previously wanted the Texans to interview Saleh for their vacant head coaching job.The three-time Pro Bowler recently liked an Instagram post suggesting New York should trade for him.The Miami Dolphins are reportedly Watson's second choice if a trade does take place.Watson has expressed frustration with Houston over being left out of the franchise's general manager search.Additionally, the 25-year-old's requests to the Texans to interview Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy for the head coaching position went ignored until recently.People within the Texans organization have reportedly speculated that Watson has played his final snap with the club, which has not yet named its next sideline boss.Saleh said it's currently "premature" to discuss the Jets' future at quarterback during his introductory press conference Thursday. Sam Darnold has tossed 45 touchdowns against 39 interceptions over 38 career starts since entering the NFL in 2018.Watson - who has a no-trade clause in his recently signed $156-million extension - set career highs with 4,823 passing yards and 33 touchdowns this season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL has always been a quarterback-driven league. Yet five seasons ago, even as the league experienced an unprecedented boom in passing volume, it also faced the possibility of a quarterback crisis."As the 2015 NFL season begins," then-Wall Street Journal reporter Kevin Clark wrote, "the league's decision-makers say they are daunted by what they see as a widening gulf between the college game and the pro game, one that has existed for a while but is now starting to affect the quality of the league's most cherished commodity: Quarterbacks."More than ever, quarterbacks in the 2010s were putting up big numbers, with Clark noting in 2015 that "the five most productive individual passing seasons in history have happened since 2011." But many QBs were increasingly relying on short, quick throws while taking advantage of rule changes designed to protect quarterbacks and pass-catchers - changes that, in turn, hindered defenses.At the same time, a yawning talent gap developed. While several quarterbacks who entered the league before 2006 were still thriving into the late 2010s and even winning championships, the younger cohort was mostly bereft. Chase Stuart of Football Perspective ran the numbers in 2020, going so far as to dub the group of QBs who turned pro from 2006-15 "the missing generation." It was a period that featured a staggering number of first-round busts, and the best quarterback of that draft era - the Seattle Seahawks' Russell Wilson - had slipped all the way to the third round.Fast forward to 2021. Remarkably, oldsters like Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, and Ben Roethlisberger all led their teams to the playoffs once again, though Rivers just retired while Brees and Roethlisberger have noticeably declined. Tom Brady of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (drafted in 2000) and Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers (2005) are still here, though, and they're set to meet Sunday in the NFC Championship Game. Peter Aiken / Getty ImagesBut the AFC title matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs features Josh Allen (2018) and Patrick Mahomes (2017), providing a stark reminder that the NFL is now stocked with a solid core of young quarterbacks. The QB crisis has been averted, and the future of the position is in good hands, in large part because coaches and front offices have adapted.For far too long, NFL decision-makers were wedded to the idea that quarterbacks had to primarily operate from the pocket or play in a "pro-style" offense instead of the spread systems that were proliferating at the lower levels. There were occasional exceptions over the years, with certain mad scientists allowing dual threats like Fran Tarkenton, Randall Cunningham, Kordell Stewart, Robert Griffin III, and Colin Kaepernick to play a more wide-open game. But these experiments were often quickly abandoned or dismissed as finesse or gimmickry. The stubborn thinking at the pro level was that football had to be about brawn and power."According to coaches, general managers, and players I spoke to over the course of training camp, teams spend too much time on what the offense looks like and far too little on how the quarterback is processing it," Clark wrote for The Ringer in a 2017 piece about the NFL's collectively declining ability to evaluate QBs.More than any other coach, the Chiefs' Andy Reid changed this kind of thinking. It was Reid who figured out how to make do with the sort of offensive player the game's lower levels were producing, as opposed to trying to pigeonhole those players into "pro-style" systems. If college QBs are playing the spread, Reid's thinking went, why shouldn't we incorporate the spread into what we do? Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / GettyReid had long been a tinkerer and an innovator who looked to the college game for inspiration. But he leaned fully into adapting his thinking in 2017 when the Chiefs decided to trade up from No. 27 to No. 10 to draft Mahomes. The draft consensus was that Mahomes had boom-or-bust potential and would likely be selected toward the end of the first round. The Chiefs saw something other teams didn't.Kansas City already had Alex Smith, but then-co-director of player personnel and current general manager Brett Veach had become smitten with Mahomes. And so a plan was hatched to trade up and get him, as Jayson Jenks, Dan Pompei, Mike Sando, and Nate Taylor of The Athletic detailed this week. Mahomes sat behind Smith that first season, but Reid signaled to the world in the 2017 season opener his willingness to adapt. He rolled out a game plan heavy on college concepts: at-the-snap motion, jet sweeps, read-options, and myriad wide-open formations, including the pistol. Kansas City, behind Smith, steamrolled the mighty New England Patriots 42-27. A new day had dawned in the NFL.It was also in 2017 that wunderkind head coach Sean McVay took over the Los Angeles Rams and inherited quarterback Jared Goff. The No. 1 pick of the 2016 draft had endured a rookie season under the stodgy Jeff Fisher that had put him on a path to become just another draft bust. But McVay tailored his offense to Goff's strengths as an accurate passer, relying heavily on play-action, motion, and run-pass options while getting Goff out of the pocket by design. Goff would reinvent himself, and the Rams made the playoffs. Harry How / Getty ImagesBut it wasn't just the Chiefs and Rams. Beginning in 2017, coaches around the league stopped fretting about the hands they were dealt - which included collectively bargained limitations on padded practices and on offseason practice time - to instead work with what they had. That season's Super Bowl saw the Philadelphia Eagles upset the Patriots 41-33 in what looked like a video game.The Chiefs handed Mahomes the keys to their offense in 2018; he promptly went on to become league MVP, and a year later, he won the Super Bowl. Sunday will mark his third straight AFC Championship Game appearance, all at home. His potential seems limitless.Allen, meanwhile, looked like a missed opportunity for the Bills during his first two seasons. He was a big-armed quarterback with accuracy issues and the potential to make game-breaking mistakes - exactly the kind of QB who traditionally struggled to adjust in the pros. But the Bills went all-in on Allen by trading for star wideout Stefon Diggs, and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll - a journeyman who's bounced around the NFL's coaching ranks - cooked up a system that exploits Allen's scrambling ability while also scheming him into easy throws. It should be noted, as The Athletic's Robert Mays recently wrote, that Daboll's own evolution as a play-designer and play-caller really took root after he spent the 2017 season working with Nick Saban at Alabama.Lamar Jackson, selected with the final first-round pick of the 2018 draft, has guided the Baltimore Ravens to the playoffs in all three of his pro seasons, and in 2019 he was named league MVP. Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow, and Justin Herbert have all displayed high-ceiling ability, too. Andy Lyons / Getty ImagesBaker Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, flashed as a rookie before getting caught in the Cleveland Browns' maw of suck a year later. But the Browns got things right by hiring head coach Kevin Stefanski this season, and Cleveland won a playoff game for the first time in 26 years.The Tennessee Titans' Ryan Tannehill seemed like another lost first-rounder of that 2006-15 era during his early years with the Miami Dolphins. But under the forward-thinking tutelage of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Tannehill reinvented himself into one of the league's most efficient passers. He led the Titans to last year's AFC Championship Game and an AFC South title this season.Though they both missed this year's postseason for decidedly different reasons, the Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott - a fourth-round pick in 2016 - and the Houston Texans' Deshaun Watson have both shown the ability to be franchise quarterbacks. Prescott led Dallas to the playoffs twice and was putting up huge numbers in 2020 before breaking his ankle in Week 5. Watson had a phenomenal 2020 season, but he's in a terribly dysfunctional situation in Houston. It's stunting his chances to win in his prime - further proof that sometimes the problem isn't the quarterback but rather a team's decision-makers.And then there's Rodgers. Though he's long been perhaps the league's most gifted all-around quarterback, Rodgers and the Packers often underachieved in the decade following their Super Bowl XLV win. But in the two seasons since head coach Matt LaFleur arrived with an offense heavy on motion, play-action, and other bells and whistles, Rodgers, too, has reinvented himself. At age 37, he remains an unstoppable force, and the Packers are in the NFC title game for the second year in a row.Brady? You know about him and how he chose to leave New England for Tampa Bay - in no small part because of the Buccaneers' collection of talented skill players. Tampa's coaching staff wants him to take aggressive shots downfield while also trusting him to know when to rein things in and play it safe. Brady, 43, is under contract for another year. He'll probably still be here to challenge the next generation, too.Dom Cosentino is a senior features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. 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The NFL announced Friday that 22,000 fans will be allowed to attend Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Feb. 7.Roughly 7,500 will be vaccinated health care workers invited as guests of the league. The other 14,500 will be paid attendees.Those who attend will be required to follow mask-wearing protocols and sit in socially distant pods.The health care workers must have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. While most of the invited guests will come from the Tampa area, each NFL team will select health care workers to send to the big game."These dedicated health care workers continue to put their own lives at risk to serve others, and we owe them our ongoing gratitude," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a release. "We hope in a small way that this initiative will inspire our country and recognize these true American heroes. This is also an opportunity to promote the importance of vaccination and appropriate health practices, including wearing masks in public settings."Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, typically seats 66,000.The Super Bowl participants will be determined Sunday when the Buccaneers visit the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Buffalo Bills in the AFC title game.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL has prohibited in-person visits at team facilities for incoming draft prospects due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the league announced through a memo obtained by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.A draft-eligible player caught at a team facility would leave the club vulnerable to punishment under the anti-tampering policy.The restrictions set by the NFL are just the latest changes to the upcoming offseason in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.The memo also states all team personnel can only time, test, interview, or conduct a physical with a prospect at their pro day or at an All-Star Game, such as the Senior Bowl.Teams are allowed to send up to a maximum of three members of personnel to a pro day.In-person interviews with prospects are also prohibited unless conducted at an All-Star Game or pro day. Teams will be able to hold virtual interviews with potential draftees via telephone or on a video call. Up to five one-hour video calls can be conducted with a player.The league recently scrapped the traditional format of the combine, moving in-person workouts to each player's pro day.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears are promoting safeties coach Sean Desai to defensive coordinator, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.It's believed Desai would become the first person of Indian descent to hold the coordinator position in the NFL, Rapoport adds.Desai has been with the Bears since 2013. He served as a quality control assistant on the defensive side of the ball until 2018 and was promoted to safeties coach in 2019.Prior to his time in the NFL, Desai spent one year coaching at Boston College. He was also the assistant director of football operations at the University of Miami in 2011, and a defensive and special teams coach at Temple from 2006 to 2010.The Bears' defense ranked 11th in 2020, and among the top 10 in the three years prior. Defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano retired after the season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are playing their playoff games on the road, hoping to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium.Super Bowl LV will be held at Raymond James Stadium, home of the Bucs. Tampa Bay only needs to defeat the Green Bay Packers in Sunday's NFC Championship Game to be the first team in league history to play for the Lombardi Trophy on its home field."We got through the regular season, put ourselves in a decent position, won two road playoff games, and we've got a chance for four quarters of football to get back home to a home Super Bowl, which would be a pretty cool thing," Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady said Friday.The Buccaneers are currently practicing within view of Raymond James Stadium as the Super Bowl logo is being plastered all over the outside of the building.Head coach Bruce Arians has cautioned his team against looking too far ahead."We don't play that game this week - that's the message to everybody. We play the Packers in the NFC Championship Game. If you start thinking about the Super Bowl, you get beat and (will) be packing your bags on Monday," Arians said on Wednesday.The last team to come close to playing in the Super Bowl in its home stadium was the 2017 Minnesota Vikings. With U.S. Bank Stadium set to host Super Bowl LIII, the Vikings stunned the New Orleans Saints in the divisional round, but lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC title game.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans spoke to veteran quarterback Josh McCown about their vacant head coaching position, the team announced Friday.Former NFL head coach Jim Caldwell also discussed the job with Houston, and he's among several other candidates who have drawn interest from the Texans.McCown finished the 2020 season on the Texans' roster after being signed from the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad. The 41-year-old didn't appear in a game this campaign, and he last saw action in the 2020 playoffs.He hasn't logged any coaching experience in the NFL or NCAA.

NFL fans might not have heard the last of Philip Rivers, dadgummit.ESPN will reach out to the recently retired quarterback about joining the Monday Night Football broadcast team, Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reports, citing sources.Though the current plan is for the network to keep the three-man crew of Steve Levy, Louis Riddick, and Brian Griese, ESPN's top two choices would be to land Peyton Manning and - in failing to do so - pivot to Rivers.Rivers announced the end of his 17-year playing career on Wednesday. He already has a post-retirement gig lined up as a high school football coach, but the Monday broadcasts shouldn't interfere with his schedule.One of the league's most memorable trash talkers, Rivers' schtick should work well with television networks as he refrains from cursing.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Matt Patricia is returning to the New England Patriots and will assist the coaching staff in numerous roles, a source told The Boston Globe's Jim McBride.His role with the Patriots will involve evaluating personnel, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Known mostly for his work with defenses, Patricia's versatility has been on display throughout his coaching career. During his first tenure in New England from 2004 to 2017, he served as an assistant offensive line coach, linebackers coach, safeties coach, and defensive coordinator.Patricia was most recently the head coach of the Detroit Lions. He struggled to make a mark with the franchise, posting a 13-29-1 record before being fired during his third season at the helm.Evan Rothstein, who held the position of research and analysis/head coach assistant with the Lions, is also slated to join New England's staff, McBride adds.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said Friday he's been cleared from the NFL's concussion protocol ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Buffalo Bills, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network."I'll be able to go out there and be myself," Mahomes said, per Nate Taylor of The Athletic.Mahomes has been trending toward playing all week after being knocked out in the third quarter of Kansas City's divisional-round win against the Cleveland Browns. Backup Chad Henne finished the game.The 25-year-old reportedly took "big steps" in the protocol earlier this week and was able to take the majority of the practice snaps over the last three sessions, though he was listed as limited Wednesday and Thursday."You can only control what you can control," Mahomes said, per Adam Teicher of ESPN. "For me, that was coming in every day with a positive attitude, trying to make myself better, trying to prepare as if I was going to play. Luckily enough, I haven't had any symptoms and I'm able to play."The star signal-caller is also dealing with a toe injury, but he said the issue is much improved.The Chiefs are set to play in their third straight AFC title game. The AFC West club fell short against the New England Patriots in 2018 before beating the Tennessee Titans last season en route to its first Super Bowl win in 50 years.Mahomes put together another MVP-caliber regular season, throwing for 4,740 yards and 38 touchdowns against six interceptions while leading Kansas City to an NFL-best 14-2 record.Mahomes completed 70% of his passes for 255 yards and a touchdown, adding another one on the ground, before exiting against Cleveland.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs' injury report on Friday listed a handful of key contributors as questionable for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills.Players uncertain for the AFC title matchup are running backs Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Le'Veon Bell, wide receiver Sammy Watkins, and cornerbacks Bashaud Breeland and Rashad Fenton.Edwards-Helaire, Watkins, and Fenton missed last week's win over the Cleveland Browns and have been sidelined for multiple games. Rookie running back Edwards-Helaire is battling ankle and hip injuries suffered in Week 15, while Watkins hasn't played since Week 16 due to a calf ailment.Breeland started in Kansas City's divisional-round win but was forced from the tilt with a concussion. L'Jarius Sneed and Charvarius Ward will lead the secondary against Buffalo's potent passing attack if both cornerbacks are eventually ruled out.Darrel Williams saw time as the Chiefs' lead back over the last two weeks, with Bell receiving a reduced role.Patrick Mahomes cleared concussion protocol Friday and will start Sunday with a second straight trip to the Super Bowl on the line. Rookie linebacker Willie Gay was ruled out for the matchup with an ankle injury.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.The regular-season meeting between the Bills and Chiefs was not a fun one for over bettors.Kansas City slowed that Week 6 game to a crawl and successfully emphasized ball control. The result was a 26-17 Chiefs win - a far cry from what the market expected in terms of points (55). Quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen both had relatively quiet nights on the stat sheet, but each has a chance to go berserk in Round 2 with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.We're sticking to just one of those superstar signal-callers for Sunday's prop card. Here's what stands out.Josh Allen over 306.5 yards AND longest completion over 39.5 yardsWe don't know if it'll be the first drive, the last drive, or somewhere in between. What we do know is Allen has to take some shots against this Chiefs secondary.The Bills were limited to just 50 plays in the first meeting between these teams. Kansas City performed well overall, allowing just 4.1 yards per.But, as we noted in our totals piece earlier this week, Buffalo caught the Chiefs' defense at its peak; the unit was red-hot through the first nine weeks of the season, ranking sixth in DVOA pass, according to Football Outsiders. Since then, Kansas City has dropped all the way to No. 29.Allen could have his fingerprints all over this game if it plays out similarly to last weekend's win over the Ravens. Buffalo's offensive staff dialed up just nine designed runs to running backs, instead preferring to put the ball in the hands of the third-year franchise quarterback. Baltimore's cornerbacks put Allen in a bind, though, limiting him to just 206 yards, one touchdown, and a QBR of 86.1 - his lowest in his previous five games.Should we give Allen a pass? After all, Baltimore (No. 10) was the third straight top-10 DVOA defense the Bills played after drawing the Colts (No. 8) and Dolphins (No. 6). Statistically, this weekend's tilt is the holy grail of matchups: The Chiefs rank No. 22 in DVOA defense, and Sunday will mark just the second time in seven outings that the Bills have faced a secondary ranked in the lower half of pass DVOA.Allen was highly volatile in his first two NFL seasons, but he's since rounded into form. The 24-year-old is sixth in the league in both attempts and deep pass attempts per game this season. With the addition of Stefon Diggs at wide receiver, Allen's supporting cast efficiency has improved from No. 33 last season to No. 10 this year.To top it off, Allen is No. 3 in the league in air yards, No. 4 in both completed air yards and money throws, and No. 5 in adjusted air yards.Mahomes is drawing all of the focus ahead of Sunday's game, but Allen should have the bigger day. Go over the total on both his passing yards and his longest completion.(Odds source: theScore Bet)Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea is eligible to play in Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers after being activated to the 53-man roster, the team announced Friday.Vea has been out since October after fracturing his ankle. It was initially feared he would miss the rest of the campaign.The 25-year-old was designated to return from injured reserve Monday and returned to practice two days later.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.Bettors are in for a treat Sunday when the Buccaneers and Packers square off in the NFC Championship Game. With two savvy quarterbacks ready to lead their respective high-powered offenses to a Super Bowl berth, what more could you ask for?We've already taken a deep dive into this one, dishing out our preview and best bet on the total. Today, we're offering up our favorite player props.Here's what stands out.Tom Brady's longest completion under 37.5 yardsThis is a favorable overall matchup for Brady. He's helped Tampa's offense post 36.6 points per game over the team's last five contests, logging at least 365 passing yards in four of them. The Buccaneers are underdogs against the Packers' top-ranked offense, and the total is gradually rising above 50, so expect another gaudy stat line from the GOAT.That said, we're somewhat bearish on his longest pass completion prop.Brady was a magician down the stretch, recording a long throw of at least 46 yards in each of his final five regular-season contests. He had a string of solid matchups, though, drawing five consecutive defenses that ranked 14th or worse.He's faced Washington and the Saints in the playoffs so far, teams that rank second and third in DVOA pass defense, respectively. He was held under his longest completion prop in both.The Packers' defense isn't as stout as Washington's or New Orleans', but the unit has limited big plays. Green Bay ranks No. 5 in explosive pass play allowed this season, and its best defensive players - including PFF's top cornerback, Jaire Alexander - are along the perimeter.Look for Green Bay to take away the deep threat Sunday.Aaron Jones under 3.5 receptionsDavante Adams will always be the focal point of the Packers' passing game, but Jones quietly burst onto the scene earlier this season.The featured back hauled in 33 receptions over the first eight games, with two scores to boot. But he's since slowed down.Jones has caught three or more passes just once over Green Bay's last seven games; he hasn't seen more than five targets in any of those contests and doesn't have a receiving touchdown over that stretch.The Buccaneers have allowed the second-most receptions to opposing running backs this season at 6.06 per game. Still, the Packers failed to turn Jones loose in the first meeting between these teams, as he recorded just three catches for 26 yards.Expect another subpar receiving performance from the fourth-year tailback.Rob Gronkowski over 2.5 catchesBrady will have the middle of the field at his disposal all afternoon: Green Bay's Krys Barnes and Christian Kirksey rank 61st and 67th out of 79 linebackers in coverage grades, respectively.Gronkowski has been quiet on the stat sheet lately, but this should be a patented day for him after he had five catches, 78 yards, and a score in Tampa's regular-season meeting with the Packers.(Odds source: theScore Bet)Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown won't play in the NFC Championship Game versus the Green Bay Packers due to a knee injury."Antonio will be missed but we have capable people filling in," head coach Bruce Arians told reporters Friday, according to the Boston Herald's Karen Guregian.Brown injured his knee in the divisional round. He posted just one reception for 10 yards in a win over the New Orleans Saints, and the veteran was reportedly labeled day-to-day after a postgame MRI didn't show any major damage.The Buccaneers had been hoping Brown would be able to suit up, even if he didn't practice before Sunday's game.Brown posted 45 receptions for 483 yards and four touchdowns during the regular season after making his Buccaneers debut in Week 9. The seven-time Pro Bowler caught three passes for 59 yards and a touchdown over the first two rounds of the 2021 postseason.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Football Team announced Friday that it hired San Francisco 49ers vice president of player personnel Martin Mayhew as its new general manager.It was reported Tuesday that Washington was finalizing a deal to hire Marty Hurney as its GM. Instead, Hurney will serve as the executive vice president of player personnel, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Hurney, a former Panthers GM, worked with Washington head coach Ron Rivera in Carolina. He and Mayhew will both report to Rivera in their new roles.Washington reportedly requested an interview with Mayhew two weeks ago. The 55-year-old, who won a Super Bowl with Washington as a cornerback in 1991, has been an NFL executive since 2001.Mayhew served as Detroit Lions general manager for eight seasons from 2008-2015.Before adding Mayhew and Hurney to its front office, Washington also interviewed Tennessee Titans vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden, Atlanta Falcons director of football operations Nick Polk, and Los Angeles Chargers director of player personnel JoJo Wooden, according to Keim.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears the Pittsburgh Steelers haven't officially decided on a new offensive coordinator just yet.Former Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson interviewed with the Steelers earlier this week for its OC position, a league source told ESPN's Dianna Russini.The news comes after reports surfaced last week that Pittsburgh promoted quarterbacks coach Matt Canada. However, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported days later the move wasn't finalized.The Steelers haven't announced any hiring for its vacant offensive coordinator job. The club parted ways with Randy Fichtner following its playoff loss to the Browns.Jackson has been away from the NFL for the last two years. Following a tumultuous stint in Cleveland, he served as a special assistant to the head coach with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018.Pittsburgh is also looking to interview Los Angeles Chargers quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton, a source told former ESPN reporter Josina Anderson. Hamilton joined the Chargers ahead of the 2020 season and oversaw Justin Herbert's development.The Steelers hired Canada in the last offseason. He previously logged extensive experience working with college offenses, serving as an offensive coordinator with Maryland, LSU, and Pittsburgh.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.