Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is "hopeful" star defensive tackle Aaron Donald will be ready for the divisional round after suffering a rib injury in Saturday's wild-card win over the Seattle Seahawks, McVay told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo."This guy is an absolute machine," McVay said. "Never bet against AD."X-rays on Donald's rib issue apparently came back clean. The All-Pro could've returned to the 30-20 win if needed, added Garafolo. He'll reportedly have an MRI on Sunday.The two-time Defensive Player of the Year was hurt after landing awkwardly while taking down Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. Donald racked up two sacks and two tackles for loss before exiting.L.A.'s divisional-round opponent will be determined by the New Orleans Saints-Chicago Bears matchup on Sunday. If the Saints win, L.A. will face the No. 1 seed Green Bay Packers. The Rams will take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if the Bears earn the upset.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson's position with the team "is not firm" following a poor meeting with owner Jeffrey Lurie on Tuesday, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Tim McManus.Lurie's concerns with Pederson reportedly extend well beyond issues surrounding quarterback Carson Wentz, ranging from personnel to the outlook of the coaching staff.The head coach could be out if Lurie is not confident in Pederson's "vision for the team" following an upcoming meeting in Florida early next week.It was reported prior to Week 17 that Pederson's job was likely safe.However, the head coach was widely criticized - including by his own players - for benching Jalen Hurts for Nate Sudfeld late in a close regular-season finale against the Washington Football Team.Washington secured the NFC East crown with the 20-14 win, while Philadelphia dropped to 4-11-1.Wentz was a healthy scratch for the game after being replaced by Hurts three weeks prior. The quarterback's relationship with Pederson is reportedly "fractured beyond repair."While the veteran reportedly remains intent on requesting a trade this offseason, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said Monday he "can't imagine" moving on from Wentz."When you have players like that, they're like fingers on your hand," Roseman said. "You can't imagine that they're not part of you, that they're not here. That's how we feel about Carson."Pederson led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl title in franchise history in 2017.However, the head coach has come under increasing pressure amid a disappointing season for Philadelphia and Wentz's shocking regression.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson could be set to force a trade.Watson, who remains angry about the team's hiring practices, is open to a trade to the Miami Dolphins that would send Tua Tagovailoa and additional draft-pick compensation back to Houston, sources told Chris Mortensen of ESPN.The star has a no-trade clause in his recently signed $156-million extension.

The Houston Texans likely would have hired Pittsburgh Steelers vice president of football and business administration Omar Khan as general manager had owner Cal McNair listened to the recommendation of search firm Korn Ferry, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Khan and Monday Night Football analyst Louis Riddick were the two finalists for the position before McNair changed his mind and hired former New England Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio on Thursday, according to Schefter's sources.Multiple people within the Texans' organization, including quarterback Deshaun Watson, were upset about Caserio's hiring.Watson was reportedly unhappy he wasn't involved in the process after McNair told him he would have a say in the final decision. The 25-year-old tweeted "Some things never change" after the hire. The tweet was later deleted.Watson's anger level about the situation is reportedly far higher than when Houston traded Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins last March. "A two ... This time, it's a 10," a person close to Watson told Schefter.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mitchell Trubisky will need to make some serious noise in the playoffs if he's to keep his job.The Chicago Bears "are not set" on re-signing the quarterback, with the possibility the team changes its mind if Trubisky leads a postseason run, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Chicago is set to take on the No. 2 seed New Orleans Saints on Sunday.Trubisky will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason after the NFC North club opted not to pick up his fifth-year option.The No. 2 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft regained his starting job in Week 12 after being benched midway through the year for Nick Foles.Trubisky helped lead the 8-8 Bears to three wins over their last six games to claim the NFC's final wild-card spot.However, he struggled in the regular-season finale loss to the Green Bay Packers, with Chicago making the playoffs with help from the Los Angeles Rams, who beat the Arizona Cardinals.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Russell Wilson's season started with a bang, as the quarterback was the MVP favorite through the first half of the campaign. But the Seattle Seahawks star's year ended with a whimper in Saturday's 30-20 loss to division-rival Los Angeles Rams.Outside of a deep second-quarter touchdown pass to DK Metcalf, Wilson produced arguably the worst playoff performance of his career. He completed just 40.7% of his passes for 174 yards, threw a pick-6 on a screen intended for Metcalf, and was sacked five times.The Seahawks punted four straight times after kicking a field goal on their first second-half drive despite the Rams playing without All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald due to a rib injury.Wilson got Seattle into the end zone with 2:28 remaining in the fourth quarter with a quick strike to Metcalf, but the game was already out of reach."We needed to get going there," Wilson said, according to Adam Jude The Seattle Times. "The game kind of felt stale for us in a way - we kind of flatlined. We needed to get going and make that happen. And the next thing you know, we didn't."Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll acknowledged after the game that his quarterback received little help from his offensive line and weapons.Wilson finished with a QBR of 17.7, the fifth-worst mark of his career.It was a continuation of inconsistent play from the veteran, who failed to throw for over 300 yards and had eight turnovers in the final eight games."I hate this feeling, obviously," Wilson said. "We felt like we had a chance today … I was hoping for us to be able to win it all, and we didn't do that."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Shortly after the Seattle Seahawks' 30-20 playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams, safety Jamal Adams revealed he'll likely undergo multiple offseason surgeries.The 25-year-old said he played through a torn left labrum and two broken fingers toward the end of the season, according to ESPN's Brady Henderson. Adams could also need surgery for a right shoulder injury, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.His first season in the Pacific northwest concluded Saturday. The former LSU product was impactful after joining the Seahawks following a trade from the New York Jets, tallying 83 tackles - including 11 for a loss - and setting the single-season record for most sacks by a defensive back (9.5).Adams played in only 12 games during the 2020 campaign due to injuries. Even though Seattle won the NFC West, he considers the season a failure because the team didn't reach the Super Bowl, according to team reporter John Boyle."At the end of the day, we know what our mission was, and we fell short," Adams said.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first major event of the NFL offseason could be in jeopardy due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The status of the league's annual scouting combine will be decided in the near future following weeks of discussion, with several different options being considered, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The NFL could reportedly hold the combine - which is used by teams to assess top draft prospects - in a reduced form in Indianapolis in February, postpone the event until April, or eliminate it altogether and rely solely on regional combines.If the combine is delayed, it could impact when the 2021 NFL Draft is held and the timing of the start of free agency.The combine in Indianapolis has been an NFL tradition since 1987.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Ronald Jones didn't play in Saturday's wild-card matchup against the Washington Football Team after suffering a quad injury during pregame warmups.Leonard Fournette took over in the backfield, registering 93 yards and one touchdown yards on 19 carries during the 31-23 win. He also caught four passes for 39 yards.Jones led Tampa Bay with 192 carries, 978 yards, and seven rushing touchdowns over 14 regular-season games. He's now paced the team in rushing during each of the last two campaigns.The 23-year-old was listed on Tamba Bay's injury report ahead of the wild-card game due to quad and finger ailments, but he was able to practice throughout the week.The Buccaneers ranked 28th in rushing yards during the regular season, averaging 94.9 per game.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback John Wolford was taken to the hospital after exiting Saturday's 30-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks in the first quarter with a neck injury.Wolford suffered the injury when safety Jamal Adams hit him in the head to end a first-down run. Although the signal-caller was able to walk off the field, the Rams opted to send him to the hospital as a precaution.

Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald exited Saturday's wild-card game against the Seattle Seahawks in the third quarter with a rib injury.Donald went to the locker room twice before again returning to the sideline, but he didn't take another snap for the rest of the evening.The six-time All-Pro racked up two sacks and three quarterback hits prior to being sidelined with the Rams up 20-13.Donald amassed 45 tackles, 13.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles over 16 regular-season games.The 29-year-old has led the Rams in sacks during each of the last six campaigns.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite losing superstar defensive tackle Aaron Donald to injured ribs Saturday, the Los Angeles Rams prevailed 30-20 over the Seattle Seahawks in the wild-card round.More to come.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans is active for Saturday's game against the Washington Football Team despite dealing with a knee injury.Evans, who suffered the injury in Week 17, was listed as questionable for the contest, and head coach Bruce Arians said his playing status would be a game-time decision. The wideout didn't practice Tuesday and Wednesday, but he participated in a limited capacity Thursday.His insertion into the starting lineup ensures Tom Brady will have his favorite red-zone target. Evans leads the Buccaneers with 13 receiving touchdowns this season.The 27-year-old is also coming off a record-breaking season, becoming the first player to record seven straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin a career.The Bucs will be up against a Washington defense that ranks second against the pass while also allowing the fourth-fewest points per game.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philip Rivers doesn't appear to be thinking too far into the future.Following the Indianapolis Colts' wild-card playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, the quarterback told reporters he hasn't made a decision about playing in 2021 yet, according to Jim Ayello of the Indianapolis Star."If it's God's will that I'm in Indy with the Colts next year, then I'll be here," Rivers said, according to The Athletic's Zak Keefer. "If not, I'll be on the sideline with a ballcap on my head, coaching football."The 39-year-old signed a one-year contract with Indianapolis in March before contributing to the team's improvement from 7-9 a season ago to 11-5 in 2020.The veteran also expressed disappointment about Saturday's result, saying Indianapolis could have advanced to the divisional round were it not for a few mistakes."We weren't outmatched, that was for sure," Rivers said, according to Keefer.The eight-time Pro Bowler added that losing is harder because he's now "almost 40 and you think you (might be) walking up your last tunnel," according to Ayello.Rivers completed 68% of his pass attempts for 4,169 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in his first season with the Colts.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills survived a controversial call late in the fourth quarter Saturday to avoid what could have been a disastrous ending to their first home playoff game in 25 years.Up by three with 50 seconds left in regulation, Buffalo appeared to force and recover a Zach Pascal fumble to ensure a victory over the Indianapolis Colts. However, officials ruled Pascal was down by contact, and they didn't overturn the call after spending several minutes watching a replay that seemed to show a fumble.

Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith is inactive for Saturday's wild-card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a calf injury.Taylor Heinicke will start the contest as a result.Smith missed two games last month after suffering the calf ailment but was able to play in the regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles. His calf is reportedly still sore and hasn't loosened up.This will mark the second start of Heinicke's career and first since his Week 16 appearance with the Carolina Panthers in 2018.The 27-year-old, who joined Washington in December, made just one appearance in 2020, throwing for 137 yards and one touchdown on 12-for-19 passing after replacing Dwayne Haskins late against the Panthers in Week 16.Steven Montez, an undrafted rookie out of Colorado, will be Washington's backup quarterback in the club's first playoff game since 2015.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills running back Zack Moss was carted off the field Saturday versus the Indianapolis Colts after suffering an ankle injury early in the fourth quarter.Moss is expected to miss time with the ailment, and there's fear his postseason could be over, sources told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.The rookie was immediately labeled doubtful following the injury, and he didn't return to the contest.Moss rushed for 21 yards on seven carries and caught four passes for 26 yards before exiting his playoff debut.He finished second on the Bills in regular-season rushing, racking up 481 yards and four touchdowns while sharing the backfield with Devin Singletary.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints activated Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara ahead of Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears.Thomas has been hampered by an ankle injury throughout the year and is set to play for the first time since Week 14.He dressed for only seven games and hauled in 40 receptions for 438 yards and zero touchdowns.The Saints placed Kamara on the reserve/COVID-19 list after he tested positive prior to Week 17.Kamara led the Saints with 932 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, to go along with 756 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions.The Saints will have all of their running backs for Sunday's wild-card showdown after activating Latavius Murray, Dwayne Washington, and fullback Michael Burton from the COVID-19 list on Wednesday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams officially listed quarterback Jared Goff as active for Saturday's wild-card game against the Seattle Seahawks.Despite the move, Rams head coach Sean McVay told Fox Sports' Jay Glazer that John Wolford will start the playoff matchup, with Goff backing him up.Goff missed Week 17 after undergoing surgery on his injured right thumb. He was questionable coming into the matchup after he resumed throwing on Wednesday.Wolford started last week against the Arizona Cardinals and led Los Angeles to a playoff-clinching win, completing 22 of 38 passes for 231 yards and one interception.The Rams and Seahawks split their regular-season series.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills will have their top wide receivers available for Saturday's playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts.Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley are both active for the contest despite dealing with injuries throughout the week. Diggs was bothered by an oblique injury, while Beasley is returning from a knee ailment that sidelined him for Week 17.Diggs, acquired from the Minnesota Vikings in the offseason, has built an incredible rapport with quarterback Josh Allen. The 27-year-old wideout was voted first-team All-Pro after leading the league in receptions (127) and receiving yards (1535).Beasley also earned All-Pro honors, tying for the final spot on the second team. Like Diggs, Beasley also enjoyed a career year in 2020, recording personal highs in receiving yards (967) and receptions (82).Both receivers played large roles in Buffalo's first division title since 1995. The Bills finished the year with the second-highest scoring offense in the NFL, averaging 31.3 points per game.The Bills will be taking on a Colts defense that allowed just 22.6 points per game but also ranked 20th against the pass.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills are seeking to reward Josh Allen after a breakout 2020 season.Buffalo is expected to approach Allen with hopes of working out a lucrative contract extension in the offseason, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.An extension could make Allen the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL, but the league's 2021 salary cap will play a determining role, Rapoport adds.Kansas City Chiefs signal-caller Patrick Mahomes is currently the league's highest-paid quarterback, averaging $45 million per year, according to Spotrac. Behind Mahomes are Deshaun Watson ($39 million per year) and Russell Wilson ($35 million).Allen is coming off his best season as a pro, setting career highs in completion percentage (69.2%), passing yards (4,544), and touchdown passes (37). His play has been the driving force behind the Bills' resurgence; the franchise finished 13-3 en route to its first division title since 1995.A top-10 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Allen is in the third year of his rookie contract. He'll be eligible for an extension after the season concludes.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Washington Football Team quarterback Dwayne Haskins is set to visit the Carolina Panthers on Monday, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Haskins' trip to Carolina will mark his first free-agent visit since Washington waived him on Dec. 28, the day after he was benched during a game against the Panthers.A first-round pick in the 2019 draft, Haskins fell down Washington's depth chart as the season progressed. He began the year as the club's starting signal-caller but was benched after four games. Haskins received two more starts down the stretch in place of the injured Alex Smith but was cut due to performance and off-field issues. The former Ohio State product has thrown more interceptions (14) than touchdowns (12) since entering the NFL.Carolina's interest in the 23-year-old could help bolster the team's quarterback play after a rocky 2020 campaign for Teddy Bridgewater and Co. Bridgewater started 15 games over the season, throwing for 3,733 passing yards and 15 passing touchdowns against 11 interceptions.Panthers head coach Matt Rhule warned Bridgewater earlier this week that the QB will need to have a terrific offseason, according to ESPN's David Newton.Bridgewater signed a three-year, $63-million deal with the Panthers heading into the campaign. He carries a $23-million cap hit for 2021 but can be cut after next season for just a $5-million dead cap hit, per Spotrac.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's a "real chance" Taylor Heinicke will be under center for the Washington Football Team's wild-card matchup Saturday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Alex Smith's calf is still sore and hasn't loosened up, Rapoport adds.The veteran signal-caller missed two games last month due to his calf injury before returning for last week's crucial tilt versus the Philadelphia Eagles.Head coach Ron Rivera said Tuesday he'll "look at" the possibility of rotating Smith and Heinicke against the Buccaneers. Heinicke took the majority of snaps in practice this past week.Smith completed 68.7% of his passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns against two interceptions versus the Eagles. The 36-year-old posted a 5-1 record this season while tossing six scores and eight picks.Heinicke made one relief appearance this season in Week 16, completing 12 of 19 pass attempts for 137 yards and one touchdown. The 27-year-old, who joined Washington in December, became the team's primary backup after the release of quarterback Dwayne Haskins.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys fired defensive coordinator Mike Nolan on Friday after one season, the team announced.Dallas also dismissed defensive line coach Jim Tomsula."I am appreciative of my relationships with both Mike and Jim, and I am grateful for the contributions that both of them made to our team under difficult circumstances in 2020," head coach Mike McCarthy said in a statement. "These are never easy decisions to make, and we wish them, and their families, the very best in the future."The Cowboys allowed 29.6 points per game in 2020, the most in franchise history.Dallas also ranked 23rd in yards allowed per contest while recording just 31 sacks.Nolan joined the Cowboys after the 2019 season. He'd spent the previous three campaigns as linebackers coach of the New Orleans Saints.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We looked at the biggest strengths and weaknesses for each defense - as well as the matchups to exploit - in Saturday's games here.Now let's get into Sunday's slate so you can properly attack the player prop market.Ravens (-3.5, 55) @ Titans, Jan. 10 @ 1:05 p.m.It's the weekend's most intriguing game in this market because the Ravens' matchup against the Titans' secondary is the most lucrative - but will John Harbaugh exploit it? Tennessee allowed the fourth-most completions and passing yards to opposing quarterbacks this season, as well as the most passing touchdowns. It's also allowed the second-most receptions, fourth-most yards, and third-most touchdowns to wide receivers.Against any other team we'd be loading up on overs at the quarterback and wide receiver position, but Baltimore is very stubborn in its approach. The Ravens employ a low-volume passing attack and don't like to stray much from the ground game. There's plenty of opportunity for Lamar Jackson to sail over a low total of 203.5 yards and 17.5 completions, provided Harbaugh lets him. This could be a big Marquise Brown (o/u 47.5 yards and 4.5 receptions) game as well, but can we trust the Ravens to attack through the air?Defensively, the Ravens adopt something of a bend-but-don't-break mentality. They aren't near the top in fewest yards allowed, but they're a strong scoring unit. Baltimore's allowed the second-lowest number of passing touchdowns by quarterbacks, the fewest rushing touchdowns to running backs, and the third-fewest receiving touchdowns to wide receivers this season. Derrick Henry is -225 to score a touchdown on Sunday, but he didn't see the end zone until overtime against the Ravens in Week 11 and was kept out of it altogether in last year's playoff meeting.There's one more fact worth noting, given Jackson's rushing ability: Ryan Tannehill had just as many rushing touchdowns this season, and in their Week 11 meeting, Tannehill had 35 yards on the ground to 51 for Jackson. So while many might jump at Jackson's rushing total (o/u 74.5), Tannehill's (o/u 16.5) is a much better look.Bears @ Saints (-9.5, 47.5), 4:40 p.m.All eyes will be on the polarizing Mitch Trubisky, who faces a stiff test in a Saints defense that allowed the sixth-fewest completions this season and tied for the league lead in interceptions. Even in what is likely to be a negative game script with the Bears playing from behind, Trubisky is far from a sure thing to pile up stats. He's also just -150 to throw an interception, which certainly seems worth the juice.David Montgomery has been heavily involved in the passing game for the Bears this season, especially coming on strong of late, but I tend to lean under his totals of 3.5 receptions and 27.5 yards against a Saints team allowing the fifth-fewest receptions and third-fewest yards to running backs this season, as well as the fewest receptions since Week 10.Instead, it's Cole Kmet who I'd like to target. The Saints tied for the sixth-most touchdowns allowed to tight ends, and despite only scoring twice this season, Kmet is coming off a game in which he received a career-high eight targets against the Packers. He's +350 to score a touchdown in this game.Tight ends could play a very prominent role here, in fact. The Bears allowed the sixth-fewest receptions to opposing wide receivers this season but are tied for the fifth-most receptions and seventh-most yards allowed to tight ends. Chicago also allowed 12 receiving touchdowns to tight ends this season, third-most in the league and one of just three teams to surrender more than 10. Receiving totals still aren't posted for the Saints as a result of Michael Thomas' uncertain status, but when they are, Jared Cook overs are in play.Browns @ Steelers (-6, 47), 8:15 p.m.Facing a tough Steelers defense, short an offensive lineman, and without play-caller Kevin Stefanski, expect the Browns to lean heavily on the run game. The Steelers allowed the fewest completions by opposing quarterbacks this season and recorded the most interceptions, while just three teams allowed fewer passing yards. It's going to be tough sledding for Baker Mayfield, whose totals are set at 239.5 passing yards, 19.5 completions, and 1.5 touchdowns.When Mayfield does pass, it's likely going to be to his wide receivers. Pittsburgh allowed the second-fewest receptions and fewest yards to running backs this season, plus the third-lowest receptions and second-lowest yardage totals to tight ends. That should equate to more opportunity for Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins, and less for Kareem Hunt and Austin Hooper.Meanwhile, look for the Steelers to take to the air. Pittsburgh's running game has struggled and Cleveland has been strong against the run, allowing the ninth-fewest rushing yards to running backs. But the Browns have trouble against the pass, allowing the eighth-most passing touchdowns to quarterbacks, the fifth-most touchdowns to wide receivers, and the fifth-most receptions to tight ends. Amplifying the team's issues, Cleveland placed starting safety Ronnie Harrison on the COVID-19 list earlier this week.There will be plenty of volume to go around for Steelers pass-catchers with Ben Roethlisberger (o/u 278.5 yards, o/u 41.5 attempts, o/u 26.5 completions) likely to throw early and often in what should be a closer affair than the Browns' regular-season visit to Pittsburgh.Alex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.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 for Wild Card 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 week's slate.Colts @ Bills (-6, 51.5), Saturday, 1:05 p.m. ETOne of the games drawing the most activity ahead of the weekend is the opening contest - with bettors taking a position against the hottest team in football.The Bills have covered eight straight games against the spread and opened as 7-point favorites in this one. A sharp play at +7 brought this line down to 6.5, and while there was some decent two-way action at that number, additional Colts money has nudged this line even further toward the underdogs.As of Friday afternoon, Buffalo has seen four times as many tickets, but Indianapolis has drawn five times as much money on straight bets and a 6-to-1 advantage on the moneyline. Still, strong parlay support for the Bills suggests this line could again be on the move."It looks like the market is creeping back," Rood said. "I would imagine we're going to see a lot of Bills money show up between now and kickoff."Rams @ Seahawks (-3.5, 42.5), Saturday, 4:40 p.m.Even with a quarterback controversy brewing for the Rams, sharp bettors are all over the 'dog in this divisional rematch against the Seahawks.Los Angeles opened as a 5-point underdog and took some sharp money at that number. Wiseguys have continued to play the Rams at +4.5 and +4, even as the Seahawks pull twice as many bet slips on straight bets. The moneyline also skews heavily toward the Rams, while parlay bettors are playing the Seahawks at a nearly 4-to-1 clip."This is definitely a Pros-versus-Joes game," Rood said. "We're getting heavier sharp play on the way down, but we're still getting plenty of Seahawks money."Buccaneers (-8, 44.5) @ Washington, Saturday, 8:15 p.m.There hasn't been much activity to speak of in this tilt, which features the only playoff team with a losing record.Those who are playing this game like the Buccaneers, who enter the weekend riding a 5-to-1 advantage in tickets and a 10-to-1 advantage in money on straight bets. Those splits are similar in the parlay market, though some bettors are taking a shot on Washington on the moneyline.Ravens (-3.5, 54.5) @ Titans, Sunday, 1:05 p.m.This is the lone rematch from last year's postseason. The Titans bested the Ravens a year ago, but bettors are split on which side to back this time.The game opened at Ravens -3.5 (even) and is still priced at that mark after some remarkably split activity. The ticket count is within two bet slips on either side as of Friday afternoon, Rood said, and the money wagered is within $200. Even the parlay activity is within almost $75 on either side.There's a slight lean on the moneyline to the Titans (+155), which is to be expected given the price. Still, it isn't enough to raise concern for oddsmakers ahead of Sunday."This is an odd game," Rood said. "I would have thought we'd get a little more 'dog money here."Bears @ Saints (-9.5, 47.5), Sunday, 4:40 p.m.This is another contest in which neither side has a clear advantage in tickets wagered. Those who have bet to this point are backing each team in separate markets.Parlay bettors are favoring the Saints, who own a 2-to-1 advantage in tickets and money wagered and have an ever-so-slight edge in straight-bet ticket count. Yet one half-limit play on Bears +10 has given the road team a 10-to-1 edge in money as of Friday."Pretty much the only notable play we've taken was that Bears +10 bet when we opened," Rood said.Browns @ Steelers (-6, 47), Sunday, 8:15 p.m.If bettors are taking one clear position this week, it's on the Steelers, who opened as 3.5-point favorites and have been targeted by big money throughout the week.A handful of sharp plays at -3.5 bumped this line to -4 early, but as the Browns' COVID-19 outbreak reshaped the game, bettors kept playing Pittsburgh at -4 and -4.5. Another limit play at -5 forced this line even higher, and while there's been some sharp buyback on the Browns at +6, the money is still 2-to-1 toward the Steelers at this number.All told, Pittsburgh has drawn 100 times as much money on an 8-to-1 ticket count advantage, and neither trend appears likely to reverse anytime soon."The last game of the weekend is going to be the big sweat, especially with pros on the Steelers and Joes probably lining up on the Steelers, too," Rood said. "It's an all-in game."(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.

New Orleans Saints pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson will not play in Sunday's wild-card game against the Chicago Bears due to a neck injury, the team announced Friday.Hendrickson, who tied with Aaron Donald for the second-most sacks (13.5) in the NFL this season, practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday but missed Thursday's and Friday's session.More pressure will fall on Cameron Jordan to contribute Sunday with his counterpart sidelined. Jordan registered 7.5 sacks this campaign.Defensive end Marcus Davenport is expected to log more snaps in Hendrickson's place. A former first-round pick, Davenport notched just 1.5 sacks in 2020.The Saints will also be without guard Nick Easton due to a concussion.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans owner Cal McNair insisted Friday that the organization is "totally aligned" with Deshaun Watson and J.J. Watt despite the two stars' apparent frustrations."In regards to 4 and 99, they're valued members on our team," McNair said while introducing new general manager Nick Caserio. "They're important to the team and the city, they're passionate, and they want to win. And those are all totally in alignment with where we're going and what we've done here in bringing Nick aboard, so it's perfect, we're totally aligned."Watson was reportedly bothered by the hiring process for Houston's new GM. He was apparently supposed to participate in the process but was excluded. The Texans poached Caserio from the New England Patriots after the search firm they hired recommended five other candidates.When reports broke Monday evening that the Texans were hiring Caserio, Watson tweeted, "Some things never change...." before eventually deleting the post."I've come to understand that it's been reported that Deshaun feels left out of the process, but he and I had several visits, and I understood his point of view before meeting with candidates," McNair said. "I've reached out to Deshaun about Nick's hire, and I look forward to him getting back to me when he returns from his vacation."Watt, meanwhile, appeared frustrated at multiple points throughout the season. The 31-year-old reportedly confronted former head coach and GM Bill O'Brien early in the campaign before Houston fired O'Brien, and he criticized the efforts of some Texans players later in the year.Watt apologized to Watson while walking off the field in Week 17, saying the team wasted one of the 25-year-old passer's prime seasons.Neither Caserio nor McNair offered any hint that the Texans would consider trading Watson, who signed a four-year, $160-million extension in September and is coming off his best NFL campaign."The respect and admiration I have for him is significant," Caserio said. "He's our quarterback."Typically upbeat, Watson said after the Texans' 4-12 finish to the season that Houston had "too many different minds, too many different ideas, and too many people thinking they have this power, and it's not like that."One of those minds belongs to Jack Easterby, who served as interim GM after the Texans dismissed O'Brien. Easterby is poised to remain with the team despite reports he's been involved in decisions that have created dissent within the organization."Jack's very gifted in a lot of different areas," said McNair, adding that Easterby won't be involved in the team's future activities in free agency or the NFL draft.The Texans' next major project is hiring a new head coach. Houston is the only team with a vacancy that hasn't requested permission to speak with Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, one of the hottest coaching candidates across the NFL.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.Instead of cherry-picking our favorite player props and sending them your way, we figured we'd broaden your scope and present all the data you need to attack the market successfully this weekend.We'll be throwing numbers at you from every which way, so get out the notepad and try to keep up.Here's everything you need to know for Saturday's slate.Colts @ Bills (-6, 51.5), 1:05 p.m. ETThere aren't many ways to attack this Colts team. Indianapolis allowed the sixth-fewest rushing yards to opposing quarterbacks in the regular season, so don't bank on a big day on the ground for Josh Allen. It also gave up the third-fewest rushing yards to opposing running backs, so under rushing yards for Devin Singletary (29.5) and Zack Moss (36.5) - two low-volume backs already - warrant a close look. The Colts' passing defense is league average, which means we can expect another high-volume passing game from the Bills on Saturday after they threw the ball over 60% of the time this season.Buffalo has tightened up defensively, but there are still a couple of areas to exploit here. Firstly, the Bills allowed more rushing yards to running backs this season than any other team playing on Wild Card Weekend. Hello, Jonathan Taylor (over/under 74.5). Secondly, no team allowed more receptions to tight ends in 2020 than Buffalo, which also gave up the second-most receiving yards to the position.Add in the fact that the Bills allowed the fourth-fewest receiving yards to wide receivers, and we should see Philip Rivers target his stable of tight ends early and often in this one. There are some low numbers to exploit here with Jack Doyle (19.5), Trey Burton (13.5), and Mo Alie-Cox (12.5).Both of these teams allowed just 23 field-goal attempts this season, tied for third-fewest in the NFL. The Colts' red-zone offense has had its struggles this year, but Indianapolis knows it needs touchdowns to win here and Frank Reich is known to be aggressive. Taking the under on point totals for kickers Rodrigo Blankenship (6.5) and Tyler Bass (7.5) is a decent look.Rams @ Seahawks (-3.5, 42.5), 4:40 p.m.Looking at the season as a whole, the Seahawks were terrible against opposing quarterbacks and wide receivers. They allowed the most completions - over 20 more than the next-closest team - and second-most passing yards while allowing the most receptions to wide receivers. But those numbers are largely products of a bad start: Seattle allowed the sixth-fewest passing yards over the final five weeks and drastically improved in the other two categories as well.But as they tightened up against receivers, the Seahawks softened against tight ends, allowing the third-most receiving yards to the position since Week 10. A lot of Rams lines aren't yet posted due to uncertainty at the quarterback position, but Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett overs are intriguing.Teams love to throw on the Seahawks, who allowed the fifth-fewest rushing attempts and rushing yards to running backs this season. Whoever starts at quarterback for L.A., over on both completions and attempts is a strong look, especially in what should be a negative game script. The Rams could use a short passing game as their rushing attack after Seattle allowed the fourth-most receptions to opposing running backs this season; look for Cam Akers and Malcolm Brown to get involved in the passing game.On the other side of the ball, this is shaping up to be an excellent spot to fade Russell Wilson and Seattle's wide receivers. DK Metcalf versus Jalen Ramsey is obviously a major talking point, but the Rams excelled in the passing game as a whole this season.L.A.'s secondary surrendered the third-fewest passing yards to opposing quarterbacks in 2020 and the fewest receiving yards to wide receivers - 150 fewer than the next-best team. The Rams also gave up a league-low 17 passing touchdowns, with just seven of those to wide receivers - also a league-best mark. Wilson threw just one touchdown in two games against the Rams this season, and it was to tight end Jacob Hollister. He's also thrown just three touchdown passes in his last three playoff games.In addition to their suffocating secondary, the Rams are stout against running backs. They allowed the sixth-fewest rushing yards to the position this season and the fewest since Week 7. You likely couldn't pay me to bet a Seahawks player prop over on Saturday.Buccaneers (-8, 44.5) @ Washington, 8:15 p.m.The last time we saw Tom Brady in the playoffs, he threw for just 209 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception in a loss to the Titans. This Buccaneers offense is hardly last year's Patriots attack, but this is another tough matchup for the future Hall of Famer.Washington allowed the fourth-fewest completions and second-fewest passing yards to quarterbacks this season. It also gave up the second-fewest touchdowns to wide receivers (just 10 in 16 games) and fourth-fewest yards to tight ends (second-fewest since Week 6). While much of that can be attributed to a ferocious pass rush, don't expect Brady to pad the stats in this one. Under 289.5 passing yards for Brady is at even money and is one of my favorite bets of the weekend. I also lean to the under for attempts (37.5) and completions (24.5).We're still waiting to learn the status of Mike Evans, but there will be some strong under looks when lines are finally posted for Tampa's wide receivers. Another favorable angle is for Brady to score a touchdown at +500. Washington allowed the fifth-most rushing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season, and its tough passing defense means a patented Brady sneak at the goal line is within reason.When Washington's offense is on the field, expect a heavy dose of passes despite Alex Smith's recent struggles. Teams don't even try to run on the Buccaneers, who allowed the fewest rush attempts and yards to running backs this season; their 960 yards allowed were 150 fewer than the next-best team. Antonio Gibson will struggle to reach his 45.5 total, especially in what will likely be a negative game script.Instead, look for Washington to turn to short passes - Smith's specialty - as a replacement for the run game. I expect a ton of dump-offs from Smith against a Tampa defense that allowed the second-most completions to quarterbacks and the most receptions to running backs this year. This has all the makings of a J.D. McKissic game, with Gibson also getting involved through the air.McKissic over 4.5 receptions (-115) and Gibson over 2.5 (+120) are good looks. Smith over attempts and completions are, too, but those lines have yet to be posted at the time of writing.Alex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Associated Press released its 2020 All-Pro honorees on Friday, and Los Angeled Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce were named unanimous choices.Donald and Kelce appeared on all 50 media members' teams, with the former earning his sixth All-Pro selection and the latter snagging his third.Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers, the favorite for the MVP award, was named the first-team quarterback. Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs tied for the second-team spot.First-team offensePositionPlayerTeamQBAaron RodgersPackersRBDerrick HenryTitansTETravis KelceChiefsWRTyreek HillChiefsWRDavante AdamsPackersWRStefon DiggsBillsLTDavid BakhtiariPackersLGQuenton NelsonColtsCCorey LinsleyPackersRGBrandon ScherffWashingtonRTJack ConklinBrownsFirst-team defensePositionPlayerTeamEdgeT.J. WattSteelersEdgeMyles GarrettBrownsIDLAaron DonaldRamsIDLDeForest BucknerColtsLBFred Warner49ersLBBobby WagnerSeahawksLBDarius LeonardColtsCBXavien HowardDolphinsCBJalen RamseyRamsSTyrann MathieuChiefs*SMinkah FitzpatrickSteelers*SBudda BakerCardinals*Fitzpatrick and Baker tied for the second safety spotFirst-team special teamsPositionPlayerTeamKJason SandersDolphinsPJake BaileyPatriotsKRCordarrelle PattersonBearsPRGunner OlszewskiPatriotsSpecial teamerGeorge OdumColtsLong snapperMorgan CoxRavensSecond-team offensePositionPlayerTeamQBJosh AllenBillsQBPatrick MahomesChiefsRBAlvin KamaraSaintsTEVacantVacantWRDeAndre HopkinsCardinalsWRJustin JeffersonVikingsWR*Calvin RidleyFalconsWR*DK MetcalfSeahawksWR*Cole BeasleyBillsLTGarett BolesBroncosLGJoel BitonioBrownsCRyan KellyColtsCFrank RagnowLionsRGWyatt TellerBrownsRTRyan RamczykSaints*Ridley, Metcalf, and Beasley tied for the third wide receiver spotSecond-team defensePositionPlayerTeamEdgeKhalil MackBearsEdgeZa'Darius SmithPackersIDLChris JonesChiefsIDLCameron HeywardSteelersLBDevin WhiteBuccaneersLBDemario DavisSaints*LBLavonte DavidBuccaneers*LBRoquan SmithBearsCBJaire AlexanderPackersCBTre'Davious WhiteBillsSJamal AdamsSeahawksSJessie Bates IIIBengals*David and Smith tied for the third linebacker spotSecond-team special teamsPositionPlayerTeamKJustin TuckerRavensPJack FoxLionsKRAndre RobertsBillsPRJakeem GrantDolphinsSpecial teamerMatthew SlaterPatriotsLong snapperLuke RhodesColtsCopyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the NFL postseason upon us, theScore ranks the top 25 players who are set to compete for the Lombardi Trophy. This list isn't a ranking of their historical accomplishments but an assessment of their playing form right now.25. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Steelers Arguably the premier playmaking safety in the league, Fitzpatrick continues to make good on the Pittsburgh Steelers' trade investment of a first-round pick. The safety allowed just 38.9% of passes thrown his way to be completed, and he made quarterbacks pay for challenging him with four interceptions and seven pass breakups.24. Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs Jamie Squire / Getty Images Sport / GettyJones doesn't always get the credit he deserves on a team with so much offensive prowess, but he's the heart and soul of the Kansas City Chiefs' defense. Though he can be pushed around in the running game from time to time, Jones more than makes up for it with elite pass-rushing skills. He had 7.5 sacks this season en route to his second straight Pro Bowl selection and is looking for another memorable playoff run after putting forth an MVP-caliber performance in Super Bowl LIV.23. Jaire Alexander, CB, PackersAfter two years of teasing Green Bay Packers fans with his potential, Alexander finally put together a full season of dominance in 2020. The former Louisville star held the likes of Calvin Ridley, Will Fuller, and Mike Evans without a catch while he was in coverage and gave up only 337 yards over 15 games. The 23-year-old could be on track for his first career All-Pro selection.22. A.J. Brown, WR, TitansBrown made his mark as a spectacular downfield threat as a rookie, and though that's still the strongest part of his game, the wideout has developed into a true No. 1 option. The Tennessee Titans star showcased his talents in Week 17 with a 52-yard catch in the dying seconds against the Houston Texans to help set up a game-winning field goal. Tennessee sealed the division, and the rest of the AFC saw how quickly Brown could take over a game.21. Quenton Nelson, G, ColtsNelson didn't have his best campaign, but he's still one of the top offensive linemen in football. His athleticism allows the Indianapolis Colts to get creative with their run-blocking schemes, which was a major factor in Jonathan Taylor's late-season explosion. In pass protection, Nelson surrendered only one sack, helping Philip Rivers get through the season without absorbing the type of battering he grew accustomed to with the Los Angeles Chargers.20. DK Metcalf, WR, Seahawks Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / GettyWith blazing speed at 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, Metcalf presents a physical mismatch against almost every defensive back in the game. After flashing immense promise as a rookie, Metcalf turned up the dial several notches in 2020, finishing with 83 catches for 1,303 yards and 10 touchdowns. His numbers tapered off a bit down the stretch, but he's still a big play waiting to happen.19. DeForest Buckner, DT, ColtsOne of the most overlooked stars of the game, Buckner made the Colts look like geniuses after trading the 13th overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers to get him. In the one game Buckner missed this season, Derrick Henry rushed for 1.2 more yards per carry than he did in his first meeting with the Colts. And though Buckner's 9.5 sacks came against bad offensive lines, his total broke the single-season franchise record for sacks by a defensive tackle.18. Tom Brady, QB, BuccaneersAfter a cold start to his 21st season, Brady turned on the jets over the second half and really caught fire during the last four weeks with a more accurate deep ball. The 43-year-old went 14 of 26 with seven touchdowns and no interceptions on passes 20-plus yards downfield from Weeks 14 to 17, a stark turnaround from earlier in the season. Among full-time starters, only Deshaun Watson had a better passer rating on deep balls over that span.17. Russell Wilson, QB, SeahawksIt was a bit of a strange season for Wilson, who set career highs in completion percentage and touchdown passes - and nearly did the same in passing yards - but also had some uncharacteristic turnovers. Perhaps an uptick in interceptions was inevitable when the Seattle Seahawks decided to open up their offense and "let Russ cook," but the issues stemmed from abnormally poor decisions rather than inaccurate throws. That being said, Wilson is absolutely capable of leading the Seahawks to the Super Bowl.16. Nick Chubb, RB, Browns Jamie Sabau / Getty Images Sport / GettyOne of the best at collecting yards after contact, Chubb will finally get a chance to shine on the grand stage of the playoffs after three stellar seasons to begin his career. He averaged a career-best 5.6 yards per carry this season, serving as the catalyst for an offense that Kevin Stefanski revived in his first year as head coach. The Cleveland Browns like to feature Chubb early in games, using his productivity to set up play-action later on.15. Khalil Mack, LB, BearsMack might not have had as many splash plays in 2020 as he did in some other years, but he's still one of the best defensive players in the game. In fact, the six-time Pro Bowler ranked third in the league in quarterback hurries despite a relatively tame nine sacks, and he was a force against the run. Mack is easily the most important player on the defensive-minded Chicago Bears.14. Alvin Kamara, RB, SaintsFar and away, the NFL's most versatile running back, Kamara racked up 1,732 all-purpose yards this year, trailing only Derrick Henry and Dalvin Cook. The Tennessee product tied the NFL record with six rushing touchdowns his last time out in a Christmas Day win over the Minnesota Vikings, reminding everyone just how dangerous he is with the ball in his hands.13. Tyreek Hill, WR, ChiefsAfter putting together one of the best games of the season with a 269-yard, three-touchdown performance in Week 12, Hill had a relatively quiet final month of the campaign before sitting out the regular-season finale. The two-week break should help Hill shake off any lingering hamstring issues, allowing him to enter the playoffs at his game-breaking best.12. Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens Bobby Ellis / Getty Images Sport / GettyJackson fell short of his hyper-efficient passing numbers from his MVP year in 2019, but the Baltimore Ravens star still finished the campaign with 2,757 yards and 26 touchdowns against nine interceptions. He also became the only QB in NFL history with two 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Jackson should be highly motivated to prove his doubters wrong coming off last season's playoff disappointment.11. Myles Garrett, DE, BrownsIf not for an unfortunate midseason battle with COVID-19 that he's still recovering from, Garrett could've pushed for a top-five spot considering the red-hot form he was in to start the campaign. The 25-year-old seems to have put everything together in Year 4, now boasting one of the game's most diverse set of pass-rushing skills. The Browns star finished sixth in the league with 12 sacks.10. Stefon Diggs, WR, BillsAfter solidifying himself as an upper-echelon wideout with the Minnesota Vikings, Diggs exploded for a career year with the Buffalo Bills. He was effective in every area of the field and efficient against any type of coverage, and he took home the receiving crown with 1,535 yards. Three of his four largest receiving outputs came in the last quarter of the schedule, meaning he - like the rest of the Bills - is peaking at the perfect time.9. Jalen Ramsey, CB, RamsWith passing attacks reaching new heights in 2020, many established cornerbacks struggled to maintain their high levels of play. Ramsey was one of the few exceptions. The Los Angeles Rams defender allowed a mind-boggling 20 yards per game despite routinely facing some of the best wideouts the NFL has to offer. If L.A. is going to make noise in the postseason, Ramsey and fellow star Aaron Donald will have to keep up their ridiculous levels of play.8. Josh Allen, QB, Bills Bryan M. Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyMany believed Allen could take a big leap in 2020 despite inconsistent play prior to the campaign. However, very few could have expected the Buffalo quarterback to make one of the most dramatic improvements in recent memory, challenging for MVP honors while setting franchise records for passing yards (4,544), touchdowns (37), passer rating (107.2), and completion percentage (69.2).7. Davante Adams, WR, PackersDiggs earned the receiving yards crown but only because Adams missed two games due to injury. The Green Bay Packers wideout led the league in yards per game (98.1) while catching an absurd 77.2% of his targets. Adams was also unmatched as a red-zone threat, finishing with an NFL-high 18 receiving scores. Only six other players caught more than 10.6. Travis Kelce, TE, ChiefsKelce will one day be donned in a gold jacket, and his 2020 campaign might be held up as his masterpiece. The Chiefs star topped the NFL in first-down receptions with 79, finished second in receiving yards with 1,416 despite sitting out Week 17, and led all tight ends with 11 scores. Kelce is among the few unstoppable offensive forces in football.5. Derrick Henry, RB, TitansAs if there was any doubt about who the best running back in the NFL is, Henry ended that conversation by becoming the eighth player in league history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. The bruising bell cow is the hardest player in football to get on the ground and tends to get better as games continue and opponents wear down. It should surprise no one if the two-time rushing king spearheads another deep playoff run for the Titans.4. T.J. Watt, LB, Steelers Joe Sargent / Getty Images Sport / GettyWatt was great in 2019, but with the Steelers producing a mediocre season, some didn't acknowledge that the pass-rusher ascended into the elite group of all players. No one can deny Watt now after he put together another truly dominant campaign. The 26-year-old improved his totals from last year in sacks (15 up from 14.5), tackles for loss (23 up from 14), and QB hits (23 up from 14), despite sitting out Week 17.3. Aaron Donald, DT, RamsIt's easy to become numb to Donald's ridiculous dominance at this point. He makes game-breaking plays look routine and top-tier offensive linemen seem like helpless rookies. The Rams star tied for second in sacks (13.5) and sixth in tackles for loss (14) in 2020. He also smoked the competition in pass-rush win rate at 24% - no other defensive tackle got above 20% and only seven others exceeded 13%. Watt would be a deserving Defensive Player of the Year, but let's not pretend voter fatigue for Donald wouldn't play a major factor.2. Patrick Mahomes, QB, ChiefsMahomes isn't No. 1 on this list, but he's still arguably the scariest player to face in the playoffs. The Chiefs quarterback can catch fire at a moment's notice (just ask the Texans about last year's divisional-round game). He isn't entering the playoffs in his usual game-destroying form, but the rest of the AFC would be foolish to hope for a dud from the 2018 MVP. Mahomes has an absurd five career games with a passer rating below 80 in 51 starts.1. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / GettyRodgers, who turned 37 in December, might have just put together the best season of his illustrious career. His mastery of Matt LaFleur's scheme was evident in Year 2, as he used his pre-snap IQ and post-snap adjustments to accentuate the system's strengths. After a couple of down seasons (by his standards), Rodgers led the NFL with 48 touchdown passes this year, tied for the fewest interceptions with five, and completed a ridiculous 70.7% of his throws. He would love nothing more than to finish the campaign with his paws on the Lombardi Trophy.(Stats source: Pro Football Reference and PFF)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.Few weekends are more exciting in the NFL than the wild-card round, which will feature two additional games this year to set up an absolute betting bonanza. It's also an ideal opportunity to cash in on player futures, which offer unique value within a smaller field.Here are the odds to lead the weekend in passing, rushing, and receiving yards and our favorite picks for each.Who will lead in passing yards?PLAYERODDSJosh Allen+225Tom Brady+350Ben Roethlisberger+400Drew Brees+1000Philip Rivers+1000Russell Wilson+1000Mitchell Trubisky+1400Ryan Tannehill+1800Baker Mayfield+2000Alex Smith+2000Lamar Jackson+3000It's easy to pick Josh Allen and move on, but he really is the right choice. The Bills quarterback ranks sixth in passing yards per game (284) and has topped 300 yards in three of his last five games. He also faces a decent matchup - the Colts have allowed 300 passing yards or more in five of their last seven games and could be without their best pass-rusher and No. 2 cornerback.The only other quarterback worth a look here is Ben Roethlisberger, based solely on the matchup. The Browns have allowed 247.6 passing yards per game - third-most of any playoff team - and watched Mason Rudolph torch their secondary for 315 yards a week ago. Still, Roethlisberger managed just 162 yards against Cleveland in Week 6 and is priced too short here to recommend.Pick: Josh Allen (+225)Who will lead in rushing yards?PLAYERODDSDerrick Henry-150Nick Chubb+500Jonathan Taylor+700J.K. Dobbins+900Lamar Jackson+1300Cam Akers+1400Chris Carson+1400Ronald Jones+1400David Montgomery+1400James Conner+2000Antonio Gibson+2000Zack Moss+2500I get why Derrick Henry is priced as the prohibitive favorite - he paced the NFL with 126.7 rushing yards per game this year and averaged almost 150 yards in three playoff games a year ago. Still, he isn't worth the price against the Ravens, who haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher since facing Henry in Week 11 and will surely game plan around the star back after last year's fiasco.My eyes are on Jonathan Taylor, who's averaged 123.5 rushing yards in his last six games and torched the Jaguars for 253 yards in Week 17. He's also got a plus matchup this week against a Bills defense that gave up 200-plus yards to the Chiefs and Cardinals and allowed at least 5 yards per carry in five of its last 11 games.Want a longer shot than Taylor? Try Lamar Jackson, who finished the season ninth in rushing yards (1,005) and has rushed for at least 50 yards in 12 of his 15 starts this year. He's averaging 86 yards over his past four games and rushed for 143 yards against the Titans in last year's postseason.Pick: Jonathan Taylor (+700)Who will lead in receiving yards?PLAYERODDSStefon Diggs+300Allen Robinson+600Michael Thomas+600Chris Godwin+1000A.J. Brown+1200Chase Claypool+1400Terry McLaurin+1400DK Metcalf+1400Diontae Johnson+1800Tyler Lockett+1800Corey Davis+2000Jarvis Landry+2000JuJu Smith-Schuster+2000Robert Woods+2000Mark Andrews+2500Cooper Kupp+2500T.Y. Hilton+2800Marquise Brown+3000Stefon Diggs has been on an absolute tear this year, leading the NFL in receiving yards (1,535) and receptions (127). He's recorded at least 130 receiving yards in three of his last four games and faces a Colts secondary that will be without Rock Ya-Sin on Saturday.Still, I'm not a fan of laying such a short price on something so volatile. That's why I've set my sights on Diontae Johnson, who has at least eight catches in five of Roethlisberger's last six starts and gets to face a Browns secondary allowing 175.3 yards per game to opposing wideouts, eighth-most in the NFL.What about a shot on Marquise Brown? The Ravens speedster was held off the board in a Week 11 meeting with the Titans, but he's always two catches away from pacing the field and faces an opportune matchup against Tennessee, which has allowed the fourth-most yards to opposing receivers (193.8). He's not our favorite choice, but this price makes him hard to ignore.Pick: Diontae Johnson (+1800)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.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.It's been over 17 years since the Browns last tasted victory in Pittsburgh and 26 years since they last won a playoff contest. Oddsmakers doubt their ability to break either streak against the Steelers (-6, 47), who have faltered down the stretch but could catch a break against an undermanned Cleveland squad.Trends and resultsThe Browns last made the playoffs in 2002 when they, fittingly, lost as road underdogs to the Steelers. Since then, they've struggled mightily to win at Heinz Field, losing in each of their last 17 tries with a 6-11 record against the spread over that stretch.Cleveland was an underdog in 16 of those 17 defeats and has gone 13-21 ATS in its last 34 games as a road 'dog, losing all but four of those contests straight up. It's also gone 7-29 ATS in that same time period when catching at least six points, averaging just 13.4 points per game with an average scoring margin of -15.Conversely, the Steelers are 5-2 ATS in their last seven as home chalk and have covered five of their last seven postseason games at home. They're also a remarkable 12-1 to the over in home playoff contests since 2002, surpassing the total by an average of 13.7 points.These two teams played last week when the Browns narrowly beat the Steelers' B-squad as massive favorites. That doesn't bode well for Cleveland. The last six clubs to win in Week 17 and face that same opponent a week later went 2-4 ATS/SU, and the four losing teams allowed an average of 40.5 points per game.X-factorBrowns' offensive line vs. Steelers' front sevenThis section could easily be about the Browns' COVID-19 outbreak, which has cost the team practice time and will keep head coach Kevin Stefanski and at least four players out for Sunday's game. Until we know the full extent of that, though, we'll go with another crucial storyline for this weekend - the Steelers' elite pass rush against Cleveland's top-graded offensive line.Only two teams blitzed at a higher rate this year than the Steelers, who led the NFL in pressure rate (32.3%) by a wide margin and also ranked first in sacks (56) and QB knockdown rate (11.6%). They recorded four sacks in each of their two games against the Browns, who allowed just 1.3 sacks on average in their other 14 outings. That would rank second-best in the NFL over a full season.Baker Mayfield has been mostly kept clean this year but has struggled throughout his career against pressure. This season, he was tied for the NFL lead in throwaways while pressured (26) and ranked near the bottom in passer rating (47.7) and completion percentage (43.7%) while under duress.The third-year signal-caller had his worst game of the season against the Steelers in Week 6 when he threw two interceptions in two-and-a-half quarters before sitting out the rest of the game due to injury. Without his coach on the sidelines helping with in-game adjustments, it could be a long day for Mayfield.Best betSteelers -6Before the Browns' COVID-19 outbreak changed the shape of Sunday's contest, I was already leaning toward the Steelers as short favorites thanks to their debilitating pass rush and general dominance of Cleveland in recent years.With Stefanski coaching from home, it's even harder to imagine the Browns being fully prepared for what Mike Tomlin and Co. will throw their way. The best plan to attack Cleveland is to mitigate its run game and force Mayfield into uncomfortable spots, which the Steelers are well-equipped to do Sunday.(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.

The Jacksonville Jaguars and Urban Meyer are set to meet Friday to discuss the team's head coaching vacancy, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport.A deal isn't imminent, report Pelissero and Rapoport, but Meyer has been heavily rumored as a candidate to replace the recently fired Doug Marrone on the Jaguars' sideline. Meyer reportedly told those close to him he expects to land the job.Meyer has enjoyed plenty of success as a college football coach but stepped away from coaching following the 2018 season. He's won three national championships: two with the Florida Gators and one with the Ohio State Buckeyes.The Jaguars have been eyeing other candidates since moving on from Marrone. The franchise already interviewed Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and Atlanta Falcons interim head coach Raheem Morris. San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is slated to meet with the team Saturday.Jacksonville owns the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and will be positioned to select a heralded prospect such as Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence or Ohio State signal-caller Justin Fields.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

JuJu Smith-Schuster isn't sweating the Cleveland Browns.Three days before the Pittsburgh Steelers host their division rival in a wild-card playoff game, Smith-Schuster offered up an honest assessment of his opponent.

Star quarterback Deshaun Watson isn't pleased with the Houston Texans.Watson is unhappy he wasn't involved in hiring new general manager Nick Caserio after team owner Cal McNair told the 25-year-old he would be a part of the decision, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Watson offered his input on general manager candidates, but the team didn't consult or consider those names before hiring the former New England Patriots executive, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing league sources.The Texans didn't tell Watson they were going to hire Caserio, and he learned of the move through social media, Schefter adds.That prompted Watson to tweet, "Some things never change." He later deleted the message.The team hasn't heard from its star player in the last few days, though it attempted to contact him, according to Rapoport.In addition, Watson advocated for the team to pursue Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy for its head-coaching vacancy, reports Albert Breer of The MMQB. However, the Texans are the only team with a head-coach opening to not request an interview with Bieniemy.Watson has been vocal about his desire for change within the Texans organization."We just need a whole culture shift," he said after the team's final regular-season game."We just need new energy. We just need discipline. We need structure. We need a leader so we can follow that leader as players. That's what we need," he added. "We've all got to be on the same page. There's too many different minds, too many different ideas, and too many people thinking they have this power, and it's not like that."Caserio wasn't on a list of GM candidates recommended to the Texans by a search firm, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.

The Green Bay Packers will allow more fans at Lambeau Field for their divisional-round playoff game next weekend.In addition to invited healthcare workers and first responders, the Packers will put roughly 6,000 tickets up for sale to their season-ticket holders, the team announced Thursday. Seating will be socially distanced, as fans will be seated in pods of two, four, or six.The Packers allowed only employees and their families in the stands of their cavernous 81,441-seat stadium for their final four home games of the regular season."Our players have enjoyed the energy provided by the limited fans we've had over the past four games," president Mark Murphy said. "We're looking forward to welcoming our season-ticket holders to add to that atmosphere in the playoffs."The Packers earned home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs by virtue of their conference-best 13-3 record.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jim Schwartz has parted ways with the Philadelphia Eagles after five seasons as defensive coordinator."This has been an incredible five-year run and I relished every moment of it," Schwartz said in a statement.Schwartz joined the team following head coach Doug Pederson's hiring in 2016 and helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl in 2017.After a tumultuous 4-11-1 season in Philadelphia, reports emerged that Schwartz wouldn't return to the Eagles and would consider retirement. He didn't make a determination one way or the other about his future."I have given my heart and soul to the game of football, not just over the last five years here, but throughout my 32 years as a coach. Although my passion for the game remains strong, it is best for me to step back from the day-to-day of coaching for the time being," he said.The Eagles' defense, which ranked fourth overall and in points against during the team's championship season, dropped to 19th and 20th, respectively, this campaign.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff is questionable for Saturday's wild-card matchup with the Seattle Seahawks due to a thumb injury, according to Omar Ruiz of NFL Network.Goff missed Week 17 after undergoing surgery. John Wolford played in his place against the Arizona Cardinals and would presumably get the nod in the first round of the playoffs if Goff is unable to go.Wolford helped L.A. secure its third postseason berth in four seasons under head coach Sean McVay. The backup completed 22 of 38 passes for 231 yards and one interception in the win over the Cardinals, adding 56 rushing yards on six carries.Goff resumed throwing on Wednesday. McVay said he doesn't plan to announce his starter this week, presumably to force Seattle to prepare for both options.Goff completed 67% of his passes for 3,952 yards and 20 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in 15 starts. His passer rating of 90.0 ranked 23rd in the NFL.The Rams received positive injury news Thursday as they activated left tackle Andrew Whitworth off injured reserve following a torn MCL in November.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow believes he'll be back under center for Week 1 of the 2021 season.Burrow's rookie campaign came to an end when he suffered a torn ACL and MCL along with other structural damage in his left knee during a Week 11 game against the Washington Football Team."I think I'll be ready. I think it'll be just fine," Burrow said Thursday on "The Herd."The 2020 No. 1 overall pick averaged 268 yards per game with 13 touchdowns to just five interceptions in his rookie campaign.There were some concerns Burrow wouldn't be available for the start of the 2021 season, but the young passer offered more optimism on his recovery."(The injury) was devastating for me but rehab has gone really well. I'm past the worst part. I'm starting to feel like a normal human again," Burrow said."Things are on track to start the season the way I need to, practice a little bit in camp and get ready to go," he added.The Bengals finished the season with a 4-11-1 record and are due to pick fifth in the upcoming NFL draft.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams activated left tackle Andrew Whitworth off injured reserve ahead of Saturday's wild-card game against the Seattle Seahawks, the team announced Thursday.Whitworth suffered a torn MCL in November but was expected to have a good chance at returning for the playoffs.It remains unclear who the veteran will protect in the first round of the postseason, as quarterback Jared Goff's status is still up in the air following thumb surgery. John Wolford started the Rams' Week 17 win over the Arizona Cardinals.Despite turning 39 years old in December, Whitworth has shown little sign of slowing down. He isn't anticipating this playoff run will be his last action in the NFL."I'm pretty jacked up to come back, that's for sure," said Whitworth, per Greg Bishop of Sports Illustrated. He added, "I don't see any reason why I wouldn't (return) next season."The four-time Pro Bowler has started 224 games in 15 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and Rams.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns will be down another starter for Sunday's playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers after safety Ronnie Harrison tested positive for COVID-19, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The Browns added Harrison to the COVID-19 list. They also activated safety Andrew Sendejo off the reserve group. Sendejo will likely replace Harrison and play alongside Karl Joseph.Harrison is the latest member of the Browns organization who will miss the contest due to the virus, joining head coach Kevin Stefanski, left guard Joel Bitonio, and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge.Cornerback Denzel Ward and linebacker Malcolm Smith also remain on the COVID-19 list, and their availability for Sunday is uncertain.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone answers listeners' mailbag questions on a variety of topics:

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.No team enters this weekend as a bigger favorite than the Saints (-9.5, 47.5). New Orleans is coming off its fourth straight season with at least 11 wins and its eighth such campaign since 2009. The Vikings cut the Saints' playoff trip short last year; can the seventh-seeded Bears pull off a similar upset?Trends and resultsNew Orleans is riding a stellar 8-1 run against the spread, but its tortured playoff history takes center stage here. The Saints are 3-6-1 ATS in the playoffs since winning the Super Bowl in 2010 - including 0-4-1 ATS since 2017 - with a brutal 1-6 ATS record as favorites.That includes four outright losses in those seven games, highlighted by the team's 2011 defeat to the 7-9 Seahawks and last year's overtime loss to Minnesota. New Orleans is also 0-3-1 ATS with three outright defeats in its last four playoff games that didn't come off a bye.It's not as though the Bears' playoff history is much rosier, however. Chicago is 2-6 ATS in the postseason this century with an 0-2 ATS record as an underdog. The team also enters this game having gone 2-5 ATS this year against clubs with winning records, averaging 17.4 points per contest in those seven games.That trend includes a Week 17 loss to the Packers in a contest the Bears needed to win to guarantee a playoff spot. Chicago got one anyway, but it doesn't bode well for this week. Since 2016, wild-card teams coming off a Week 17 loss are 5-8 ATS with a 9-4 record to the under, averaging 18.2 points per game.X-factorSaints' skill position playersIs it too simple to say this game hinges on the health of New Orleans' two stars? Perhaps it is, but it's also the most important factor ahead of Sunday's matchup for the NFC South champions.The Saints are 6-1 ATS this year when Michael Thomas is active and 4-5 ATS when he isn't. They've also had Alvin Kamara available for all but one game this season. Both are questionable for Sunday's contest against a Bears defense ranked fifth in PFF team grades and eighth in DVOA.Chicago is one of two teams this year not to allow a receiving touchdown to an opposing running back. The Bears are also tied for ninth in touchdowns allowed to opposing wideouts (15). They've been particularly vulnerable against top tight ends, however, though Jared Cook has been quiet since his hot start to the season.That puts pressure on Thomas and Kamara, two of the game's elite talents, to break through against one of the NFL's stingier scoring defenses. Will they be healthy enough to do so? And can New Orleans win big if they aren't?Best betUnder 47.5I have plenty of questions about both teams, but they're almost entirely on offense. Will Thomas and Kamara be effective in their potential returns? Can Mitchell Trubisky handle the Saints' pass rush? And can either team find the answer against a top-tier defense?There's also New Orleans' annual playoff letdown on offense - the team is 5-2 to the under in its last seven postseason games and has scored 30 points just once in those contests. If the Saints don't bust this game open, I don't see the Bears doing that, either.(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.

The Buffalo Bills listed wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley as questionable for Saturday's wild-card game against the Indianapolis Colts.Diggs is dealing with an oblique injury, while Beasley is still working his way back from a knee ailment. Both players were limited during Thursday's practice. Neither practiced on Wednesday.Diggs' injury appears to be new but isn't considered serious. He battled a foot ailment toward the end of the regular season but didn't miss any game action. The former Minnesota Viking told reporters Wednesday that he'll "be fine" as Buffalo searches for its first playoff win since the 1995 campaign.Beasley missed last week's contest after hurting himself in Week 16. Head coach Sean McDermott labeled him week-to-week at the time.Gabriel Davis and Isaiah McKenzie would see increased snaps should one of the Bills' starters not be cleared for Saturday.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.For the first time in NFL history, we get six games in the wild-card round, which provides us with some much-appreciated volume from both an entertainment and a betting perspective.Here's who we're backing this weekend.Colts @ Bills (-6.5, 51.5), Jan. 9 @ 1:05 p.m. ETIt only took me 17 weeks, but I'm ready to Bill-ieve. Though they say the best blueprint for postseason success is a strong running attack paired with a stout defense, that narrative is rapidly changing in a pass-first NFL.The return of deep threat John Brown adds another layer to this unstoppable Buffalo offense, which just dropped a 50-burger on one of the league's best defenses. Puppet master Brian Daboll is calling one flawless game after another, and he's doing too good a job for me to have any reservations stemming from Josh Allen's big-game resume.And now the Bills have a defense ranking sixth in DVOA since Week 7 to pair with the league's most frightening offense. The Colts know their only chance is to keep Buffalo's offense off the field, but as well as Jonathan Taylor has been playing, Allen might not need more than 20 minutes of possession to comfortably win this game.Pick: Bills -6.5Buccaneers (-8, 45) @ Washington, 8:15 p.m.The NFC East has been the laughingstock of the NFL this season, and most people will tune into this game Saturday night to watch Tom Brady, not the Washington Football Team. But is the disrespect warranted?Washington was 5-1 this season in games started by Alex Smith, and while the veteran quarterback has still had his struggles of late, the team's been able to lean on a suffocating defense to remain competitive. Washington hasn't allowed an opponent to score over 20 points since Week 10, and it's only happened once since Week 5.That might not seem like an issue for a Buccaneers offense that hummed along beautifully over the season's final month, but all four of its opponents ranked bottom 10 in the NFL in sacks. Washington was sixth with 47. Against teams with at least 45, the Bucs were 0-3 this season, averaging just 16.7 points. Brady, who hasn't looked a day under 43 when he's faced pressure this season, had a 4-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio in those games, topping out at 239 yards.The last time a team with a losing record made the playoffs was in 2014, when Ron Rivera's Panthers (7-8-1) beat Bruce Arians' Cardinals (11-5). Rivera's Football Team is well-equipped for another upset behind a ferocious defensive line ... or at the very least a cover, which would be a win in our books.Pick: Washington +8Ravens (-3.5, 55) @ Titans, Jan. 10 @ 1:05 p.m.Well, here we are once again. A late-season surge vaulted the Ravens back into the Super Bowl conversation ahead of another playoff date with the Titans, and everyone is talking about Baltimore's revenge tour.Yes, Baltimore went scorched earth on the NFL over the season's final month, but it beat up on a number of inferior opponents. The Ravens blitz a ton on defense, and against bad teams with bad quarterbacks, that's a great recipe for success. Against good teams with good quarterbacks, however, they get burned.The Ravens thrive under perfect conditions. They are the bully everyone's scared of until they get hit - then the facade breaks. The Titans will come out swinging as always, punching the Ravens square in the teeth through Derrick Henry, while Ryan Tannehill - who had 10 touchdowns to four interceptions under pressure this season - won't be fazed by their blitz-heavy attack. Don't underestimate the running ability of Tannehill, either; he had as many touchdowns on the ground this year (seven) as Lamar Jackson.Mike Vrabel has the blueprint for beating this Baltimore team and there's no reason to expect Sunday's game to go any differently. The Ravens are efficient on offense, but their low-volume passing attack isn't a formula to exploit Tennessee's biggest weakness on defense. The Titans handled the Ravens in the postseason last year and took care of business again during the regular season. Yeah, Baltimore is coming in hot, but we've seen this story play out before. To quote the great Roger Daltrey, "We won't get fooled again."Pick: Titans +3.5Alex Moretto is theScore's supervising editor of sports betting. A journalism graduate from Guelph-Humber University, he has worked in sports media for over a decade. He will bet on anything from the Super Bowl to amateur soccer, is too impatient for futures, and will never trust a kicker. Find him on Twitter @alexjmoretto.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans is set to be a game-time decision for Saturday's wild-card contest against the Washington Football Team due to a knee injury, head coach Bruce Arians said Thursday, according to Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times."I think he's got a chance (to play)," said Arians.The head coach added: "If (Mike) goes out there, he's healthy. We're not putting him out there limping on one leg. If he's playing, he's good to go."The star pass-catcher suffered the injury during Tampa Bay's regular-season finale win over the Atlanta Falcons.While Evans avoided the major injury that was first feared when he exited the game, the Bucs could be wary of rushing his return as they eye a deep playoff run. Chris Godwin, Antonio Brown, and Rob Gronkowski would lead the passing attack if the veteran is forced to miss the first round of the playoffs.Evans returned to practice Thursday after sitting out the prior day's session.The 27-year-old set an NFL record this season by racking up a seventh straight 1,000-yard campaign to begin his career.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers activated tight end Eric Ebron and outside linebacker Cassius Marsh from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, the team announced.Both players were placed on the reserve list last week and missed Pittsburgh's final regular-season game. They will be eligible to return for Sunday's wild-card game against the Cleveland Browns.Ebron, who signed with the Steelers as a free agent in March, amassed 56 catches for 558 yards and five touchdowns in 2020. His return to the field will have Ben Roethlisberger's passing attack at full strength.Marsh was signed off the Indianapolis Colts' practice squad on Dec. 9. He'll rotate behind starters T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.Meanwhile, the Browns are facing COVID-19 issues of their own. Head coach Kevin Stefanski, offensive guard Joel Bitonio, and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge won't participate in Sunday's game following positive tests.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 lone rematch from last postseason takes place in Tennessee, where the Ravens (-3.5, 55) are short favorites to avenge a stunning playoff loss to the Titans as massive chalk.Can Derrick Henry spark another upset this year, or will Lamar Jackson and Co. flip the script in Round 2?Trends and resultsTennessee beat Baltimore last year as a 9.5-point underdog, abruptly ending the Ravens' impressive run against the spread. Will it happen again? Baltimore enters this clash on a six-game ATS win streak - with the team's last loss coming in Week 11 against the Titans - and has gone 23-7-1 ATS on the road since 2017.The Ravens have also impressed in spots like this, covering five straight as favorites and nine consecutive contests on the road against opponents that entered with a winning record. They've also covered during seven of their last nine playoff games, though Jackson is 0-2 ATS and has led his team to a combined 29 points in those losses to the Chargers and Titans.On the other side, Tennessee is 2-1 ATS in the postseason under Mike Vrabel, with the club covering 57.1% of its games since Ryan Tannehill assumed the starting quarterback role in mid-2019. The Titans are also 20-6-3 to the over in Tannehill's 29 starts, while the Ravens are 4-2 to the over during their last six chalk spots, averaging 35 points per game throughout that stretch.X-factorLamar Jackson vs. Titans' defenseIt'd be easy to say Henry is the X-factor. After all, he carried the Titans to a win a year ago while running for 195 yards. Still, the Ravens would have won that playoff game if Tennessee's stellar defensive game plan didn't stifle Jackson.Since then, Tennessee's defensive coordinator Dean Pees has retired, and the Titans' defense plummeted to 29th in DVOA as a result. They held the Ravens to 24 points in a Week 11 overtime victory, though that was before Baltimore came alive over the final five weeks, with its dominant rushing attack rising up.The Ravens' offense is more spread out than a year ago, and Jackson has taken advantage while posting a combined 1,239 yards and 15 touchdowns to just four turnovers over the last five weeks. Conversely, the Titans' defense is less effective at pressuring the quarterback or containing speed off the edge.Can Jackson rewrite his playoff reputation against the team that sullied it?Best betRavens -3.5The Ravens were the better squad when these two teams met in the 2020 divisional round. It didn't matter, as a brilliant overall game plan led Tennessee to an easy victory. I don't expect John Harbaugh - who's riding a 10-3-1 ATS run against teams that beat him the previous two times - to get outcoached in this one.If he doesn't, his roster is well equipped to outmatch Tennessee. The Ravens' defense quietly ranks No. 1 in opposing points per play, while their offense ranks fifth in points scored per play and has dialed up its run game to 2019 levels. Even a Herculean effort from Henry may not be enough for the underdogs this time around.(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.

The Houston Texans signed new general manager Nick Caserio to a six-year contract that makes him one of the three highest-paid GMs in the NFL, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Caserio will average at least $6 million per year, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports, citing league sources.The Texans hired Caserio away from the New England Patriots. He served as New England's director of player personnel since 2008 and won three Super Bowls in that time.He signed a contract extension with New England in February 2020.Caserio reunites with Jack Easterby, the Texans' executive vice president of football operations. Easterby joined the Patriots in 2013 and moved to the Texans in 2019. He was promoted to his executive role with Houston in 2020.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.