Washington Football Team defensive end Chase Young isn't backing down from his comments of wanting to take on Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady."Tom Brady, Tom Brady, I'm coming. I want Tom. I want Tom," Young said after Washington’s NFC East division-clinching victory over Philadelphia this past Sunday, according to ESPN’s John Keim.The rookie pass-rusher doubled down on his remarks after a few days to think about it."I'm excited to go against the best,” Young said Wednesday. "If you know me, I'm excited for every game. Tom Brady, you think I'm not excited to play against the GOAT? You trippin'. I'm not going to apologize for saying I want Tom. No, I want every quarterback I play against."Young, who produced 7.5 sacks and a team-high four forced fumbles this season, will be tasked with applying pressure on Tampa Bay’s 43-year-old signal-caller. He'll try to cool off a Bucs offense that has caught fire down the regular season's final stretch. Brady threw 12 touchdowns and one interception in the team’s last four outings."Ask any edge rusher in the league who they want to sack, and most might say Tom Brady," Young said.Washington head coach Ron Rivera believes the Buccaneers will use Young’s statements as bulletin board material, saying, “You've got to chalk it up to youthful exuberance.”For his part, Brady complimented Young ahead of the quarterback's NFL-record 42nd postseason game."He's obviously a great young player," Brady said. "We've got our hands full with that D-line, one of the best D-lines in the league."Washington (7-9) will host the Buccaneers (11-5) on Saturday evening during the first day of wild-card weekend.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay has refused to name a quarterback for Saturday's playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, but Jared Goff is progressing in the right direction to make his return.Goff was throwing at practice Wednesday, nine days after undergoing surgery on Dec. 28 on his right thumb.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has earned numerous accolades early in his NFL career, but one accomplishment has evaded him: a playoff win.Jackson has twice led the Ravens to the postseason, including after a 14-2 campaign following his 2019 MVP season. But the passer hasn't experienced any playoff success.The 2018 first-rounder will get another crack at silencing the buzz over his playoff performances Sunday against the Tennessee Titans."It's win or go home right now, I want to win regardless. I don't really care about what people got to say," Jackson said Wednesday. "I've only been in the playoffs twice (in) my young career. Other people been in the league forever, haven't been to the playoffs at all, but it is what it is. Definitely trying to erase that narrative right there, that's the No. 1 right now in my mind."Jackson has struggled in the postseason, going one-and-done in consecutive years. The Ravens lost to the Los Angeles Chargers during his rookie year, and the Titans upset them in 2019.The 23-year-old has recorded a completion percentage of just 51% and a passer rating of 68.3 in the playoffs. The dual-threat weapon has also struggled to protect the ball, losing two fumbles and tossing three interceptions over two postseason contests.The Ravens enter Wild Card Weekend as one of the league's hottest teams. Baltimore has won its last five games while scoring 27-plus points in each matchup.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Clemson quarterback and likely No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence announced Wednesday he will enter the 2021 NFL Draft.

The Los Angeles Rams activated wide receiver Cooper Kupp from the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of Saturday's playoff matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, the team announced.Kupp tested positive in the final week of December, forcing him to miss the Rams' Week 17 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.Los Angeles clinched a playoff berth in the final week of the regular season by defeating the Cardinals 18-7.Kupp has hauled in 13 receptions for 166 yards during the past two games against the Seahawks. The 27-year-old brought in 92 receptions for 974 yards and three touchdowns this season.It remains unclear if Rams quarterback Jared Goff will start this weekend. Head coach Sean McVay said the signal-caller is a game-time decision after undergoing surgery last week to repair a thumb injury.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns didn't produce any new positive COVID-19 tests on Wednesday, head coach Kevin Stefanski said, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Browns also didn't identify any high-risk close contacts after multiple members of the organization tested positive for the virus Tuesday, including Stefanski.The sideline boss, offensive lineman Joel Bitonio, and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge won't participate in Sunday's wild-card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.Stefanski added that he's feeling fine since contracting the virus, according to The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot. He also serves as the club's play-caller, and Stefanski said offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will handle those duties Sunday."I put my finger on a chart and I read, it's not very hard, so Alex Van Pelt can do that much better than I can," the coach said, according to Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal.The Browns have been dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak recently, losing the majority of their receiving group for Week 16, and multiple defenders for the season finale.Cleveland's matchup against the Steelers is its first playoff game in 18 years.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 Buccaneers (-8, 45) entered the year among the shortest title contenders, and they looked like the NFL's best team at one point.A few letdowns knocked them down to the NFC's No. 5 seed, but they're still the overwhelming road favorites against Washington - just the fifth team in NFL history to make the playoffs with a losing record.Trends and resultsWhile Tampa Bay has fallen flat multiple times this year, it rarely disappoints in a spot like this. The Buccaneers are 7-2-1 against the spread this campaign when favored by four-plus points, and they're 6-2-1 ATS against teams that ended the year with a losing record.Tom Brady isn't the same player as during his prime, and this roster isn't the same, either. But the passer's credentials are compelling. He's 22-8-1 ATS over his last 31 games as a touchdown favorite or more, and Brady is 9-4 ATS in his previous 13 contests as a playoff favorite. Yet he's dropped four of his last six road playoff games, and the veteran is 3-9 ATS in his last 12 postseason matchups that didn't follow a bye week.What about Washington, which ended the year on a 5-2 run to win the NFC East? The team went under in six of those seven games while holding each opponent to 20 points or fewer thanks to the No. 3 defense per DVOA. Washington also went 4-1-1 ATS this year during Alex Smith's six starts, with the one loss coming last week when the line ballooned from a pick'em game to -7 ahead of a six-point victory over the Eagles.Worried about betting on a team with a losing record? Don't be. The last two clubs to enter the playoffs after going 7-9 were the Seahawks (+10) and the Panthers (-5.5), and both squads won outright while covering by a combined 20.5 points.X-factorTom Brady vs. Washington's pass rushBrady may have declined, but he still threw for 4,633 yards and 40 touchdowns this season, including 1,137 yards and 10 TDs over his final three games. That effectiveness came in part because he was sacked on just 3.3% of his dropbacks, the second-lowest rate of his career.Still, as was the case a year ago, he's struggling mightily when facing pressure. Among the 35 quarterbacks who logged 250-plus dropbacks in 2020, Brady ranks 24th in passer rating (54.5) and 31st in adjusted completion percentage (57.9%) when pressured. And despite being pressured just 24.4% of the time (32nd among 35 QBs), he's tied for ninth with five interceptions when dealing with heat.Washington's front seven is among the league's best. It ranks fourth in pressure rate (25.6%), even while slotting in outside the top 10 in blitz rate (32.4%). The best way to fluster the Bucs' offense is to force Brady's hand without blitzing, and Ron Rivera's defense should be up for that task.Best betWashington +8I've been a fan of both these teams all year, and this is a reasonable number given the talent on each side. The Bucs' offense isn't built to run up the score against an elite Washington defense, especially if Rivera dials up pressure against Brady.Conversely, Washington has averaged 25.7 points in Smith's six starts while scoring 20-plus points in every contest - even against the Steelers' and 49ers' top-tier defenses. If Smith can continue his steady play during the veteran's postseason return, this one will stay within the number.(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.

Jason Kelce provided some clarity on reports of a sideline altercation during the Philadelphia Eagles' Week 17 game.Kelce said in an Instagram post he was surprised when head coach Doug Pederson pulled quarterback Jalen Hurts for Nate Sudfeld against the Washington Football Team, but added that rumors of internal issues were exaggerated."At no point was anything from me or anyone else confrontational," Kelce wrote. "We all knew leading into the game that Sudfeld was told to be ready to play, and that Doug wanted to see what he could do in a game situation."I understand the optics of how it looked, and I'd be lying if I wasn't a little surprised given the circumstances that the move happened when it did, but every one of us did our best, and all of us believe we can win with Nate Sudfeld."Reports surfaced Monday that two Eagles defenders were held back from approaching Pederson and Kelce and another offensive player asked the coach directly why he removed Hurts with 12 minutes remaining in the game.The veteran lineman said he did approach Pederson but received an explanation and immediately went to help Sudfeld prepare."It was a difficult situation (for Sudfeld) to be put into, especially when you have a 10-year veteran center who doesn't snap the ball to you accurately on your second drive of the game," Kelce said.Meanwhile, Eagles running back Miles Sanders said Tuesday that "nobody liked the decision" to pull Hurts.Pederson said postgame he wanted to reward Sudfeld for four years of service with the franchise and denied sabotaging the game to improve his club's draft position.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Chan Gailey resigned just one season after coming out of retirement, the team announced Wednesday."I want to thank Chan for all of his hard work and dedication in what was a unique year. He played an important role on the staff and in the development of our young roster. I wish him all the best," head coach Brian Flores said.Gailey retired following the 2016 campaign but made his NFL return with the Dolphins this season. The 69-year-old was expected to play a key role in the development of Tua Tagovailoa, but the rookie quarterback struggled with consistency and was benched multiple times during his first year.The Dolphins' offense finished middle of the pack with Gailey this season, ranking 15th in points per game and 22nd in yardage.Gailey's resignation comes just one day after Flores said he expected all the team's coordinators to return for the 2021 season. The Dolphins will now be searching for their fifth offensive coordinator in as many years.Gailey, who also previously served as the Dolphins coordinator during the 2000 and 2001 seasons, has 21 years of coaching experience in the NFL.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's optimism that Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans could play in Saturday's wild-card game against the Washington Football Team, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Evans is considered day-to-day with a hyperextended knee, and his MRI came back relatively clean while showing no structural damage. Head coach Bruce Arians told reporters postgame on Sunday that he doesn't believe the injury is serious.The three-time Pro Bowler wouldn't have practiced Tuesday had the team held an official session, according to Rapoport, and his status for this weekend's matchup has yet to be determined.Evans suffered the injury when he slipped on the turf in the Atlanta Falcons' end zone during a Week 17 contest. It came just one play after he produced 1,000-plus receiving yards for the seventh straight campaign, surpassing Randy Moss' record.Tampa Bay earned the NFC's No. 5 seed and is riding a four-game win streak.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns rookie left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. and wideout Rashard Higgins were cited for drag racing Tuesday morning, ESPN's Jake Trotter reports.Police pulled the players over around 9:30 a.m. ET and handed them $124 tickets, according to a Westlake police report obtained by ESPN. A probable cause search of one of the vehicles reportedly found a suspected marijuana joint, but neither player was cited for it.A Browns spokesperson said the team is aware of the incident and gathering more information, according to Trotter.Higgins tweeted Tuesday evening that his "foot slipped," and he was trying to "get away from" COVID-19 before deleting both posts, according to Trotter.The two will plead not guilty to the charges, according to their attorney, via NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Cleveland has been dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak, resulting in head coach Kevin Stefanski, guard Joel Bitonio, and receiver KhaDarel Hodge testing positive, the team announced Tuesday. They'll all be unavailable for Sunday's wild-card playoff game against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. The team's facility was closed Tuesday too.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 2020 NFL season, played during a global pandemic, was the most unique ever witnessed. Though there were bumps in the road, the year was also full of excitement, with several players establishing themselves as bona fide stars amid the madness.Here are theScore's All-Pro selections for 2020:

The Houston Texans have found their next general manager - and it's a known name for Texans fans.Houston hired New England Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio as the team's next general manager, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Texans pursued Caserio two years ago for their vacant general manager position but ended the pursuit after the Patriots filed tampering charges against the team. The charges were dropped after Houston backed off.Houston also interviewed ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, Texans director of player personnel Matt Bazirgan, Seattle Seahawks vice president of player personnel Trent Kirchner, and Pittsburgh Steelers vice president of football and business administration Omar Khan.Caserio had been with the Patriots since 2001. He held multiple roles with the club - including wide receivers coach in 2007 - before being named director of player personnel in 2008. The 45-year-old inked a contract extension with New England in February 2020.Caserio's main challenge with the Texans will be giving star quarterback Deshaun Watson a solid supporting cast. Despite Watson's stellar 2020 campaign, Houston finished the regular season 4-12, marking its worst record since 2017.Caserio will have to adjust his new roster without great draft capital - the Texans currently don't have first- or second-round picks in 2021 - and with a tight salary-cap situation.Houston's general manager role has been vacant since the team fired Bill O'Brien in October after an 0-4 start to the 2020 season. Executive vice president of football operations Jack Easterby replaced O'Brien for the rest of that campaign.Easterby previously worked with Caserio for six seasons while with the Patriots.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants signed defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Patrick Graham to a contract extension, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Graham had been garnering interest for head coaching vacancies. The New York Jets reportedly requested an interview with him.In his first season, the Giants' total defense improved from 25th to 12th. New York finished ninth in points against after finishing 30th the year prior.Graham has spent just two seasons as a defensive coordinator. He led the Miami Dolphins' defense in 2019.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed the 15 finalists for the 2021 class Tuesday.The group is highlighted by Peyton Manning, Calvin Johnson, Charles Woodson, and Jared Allen, who all made the cut in their first year of eligibility.Ronde Barber and Clay Matthews Jr. are also first-time finalists, though both were previously eligible for the Hall of Fame. Matthews has been eligible for 20 years, the longest among this year's finalists.John Lynch tops all former players on the list with his eighth appearance as a finalist.The 15 finalists are:

theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and has finished among the top seven each of the last seven years.Follow the links below to get an early look at his 2021 rankings. Rookies will be added closer to the NFL draft in April.Half PPR

Kansas City Chiefs strength and conditioning coach Barry Rubin tested positive for COVID-19, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports, citing sources.The Chiefs, who own a bye in the first round of the NFL playoffs, have been away from the team facility for two days and aren't expected back until Thursday, Pelissero adds.Back in November, the Baltimore Ravens disciplined their strength and conditioning coach for failing to report his symptoms or consistently wear a mask or contact tracer. The Ravens then dealt with a lengthy COVID-19 outbreak that resulted in the postponement of games.The Chiefs won't play again until the divisional round. They own home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has some advice for young NFL players: Save your money.Kelce revealed on the "Club Shay Shay" podcast with Shannon Sharpe that he spent his entire rookie contract, and the six-time Pro Bowler cautioned others not to follow in his footsteps."I spent it all, Shannon. I should've been on the '30 for 30: Broke,'" he said. "... All the young guys in the league, all the guys that have the opportunity to get that big first check from the NFL - save it, man."Find a financial advisor you trust that's gonna do right with your money, because I was searching around for cart deals after my first year trying to just pay rent."Kelce's first big purchases included a pair of self-lacing Nike Mag sneakers - a replica of the shoe featured in "Back to the Future: Part II" - and a Rolex watch."Man, I was walking in this empty apartment with some Marty McFlys on and a Rolex," he said. "I felt like the coolest guy in the world, man."Kelce's financial situation is looking much better these days. He signed a reported four-year, $57.25-million extension in 2020 that included $28 million in guaranteed money.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and two players tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of Sunday's wild-card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team announced Tuesday.Left guard Joel Bitonio and wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge are the two players in question, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.Two additional members of the coaching staff also tested positive, and the team facility has been closed.Stefanski and the four others will be unable to partake in Cleveland's first playoff game in 18 years, according to Pelissero, who adds that the contest remains on as scheduled.The Browns announced special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will serve as acting head coach. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will assume play-calling duties, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Cleveland has been dealing with virus issues over the last two weeks, losing Jarvis Landry and the majority of its receiving group for the Week 16 game against the New York Jets due to protocols. While the receivers returned for the season finale, the club then placed various members of the defense on the COVID-19 list, including Denzel Ward and Andrew Sendejo.The Browns closed their facility three times in the buildup to Week 17.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite an unconvincing rookie season, the Miami Dolphins are committing to Tua Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback."I'm very happy with Tua," general manager Chris Grier told reporters Tuesday, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. "He's our starting quarterback."Tagovailoa took over the Dolphins' starting job in Week 8, but he was benched multiple times down the stretch in favor of veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. The offense seemed to flow better under Fitzpatrick, who became a mentor to Tagovailoa once the Dolphins drafted him fifth overall.The underwhelming early returns from Tagovailoa prompted speculation that Miami could draft another quarterback in 2021. The Dolphins own two first-round picks, including the No. 3 overall selection, which they acquired from the Houston Texans."We want to be clear: Tua is our starter and we are pleased with his development," Grier reiterated, according to NFL Network's Michael Giardi.The Dolphins' outlook on Fitzpatrick is less certain. He'll become a free agent this offseason following two campaigns in Miami."Obviously Fitz, along with all the free agents, will be part of the conversation because we know them," head coach Brian Flores said, according to Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "But those decisions, we're not going to sit here and say we might want to do this."Flores also said he expects offensive coordinator Chan Gailey to return for a second season.Miami went 10-6 in 2020, but a Week 17 loss to the Buffalo Bills ended the team's playoff hopes. Tagovailoa threw three interceptions in that final defeat.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.And so they meet again. After splitting their regular-season series, the Seahawks (-4.5, 42.5) and Rams will face off for a third time under slightly different circumstances. Los Angeles' starting quarterback, Jared Goff, is unlikely to suit up Saturday, leaving backup John Wolford as the likely playoff starter in what would be only his second career appearance. Is that worth laying the points with Seattle?Trends and resultsOne of the NFL's best rivalries has also been one of the most unpredictable in recent years. Since the Seahawks drafted Russell Wilson in 2012, 12 of these teams' 18 meetings have been decided by one possession, with six coming within five points.The underdog is 11-5 ATS in those games (two were pick 'em), while the home team has gone 13-5 ATS. And while Seattle has a 4-3 ATS mark in its last seven against Los Angeles, it's also 2-5 straight up in those seven meetings with a -53 point differential.This still isn't a great spot for the Rams, who have lost two of three ATS, including an 11-point defeat to the Seahawks as road underdogs in Week 16. Seattle is 6-2 ATS as home chalk this year and has hit 56.7% of the time in that spot with Wilson under center.Will either offense break through on Saturday? After setting the league ablaze in their first eight games, the Seahawks have gone under in seven of their last eight, averaging 23.1 points over that stretch and holding opponents to 16 points per contest. Conversely, the Rams are riding an 11-2 under run behind the NFL's top scoring defense (18.5 points per game).X-factorJohn Wolford vs. Seahawks defenseThis is certainly the key to Saturday's game, and it's also why the Seahawks enter this matchup as clear favorites.L.A. was a 2.5-point favorite the first time these teams met in Week 10 and was a 1-point road 'dog just two weeks ago. Is this adjustment warranted? Wolford wasn't perfect Sunday but still managed the game well and became the only quarterback in NFL history to throw for 200 yards and rush for 50 yards in his first career appearance.The former AAF star missed some throws but also executed on some deep looks that Goff has simply been missing this year. His mobility is also a plus against Seattle, which has relied on pressure to spark its midseason defensive turnaround.Best betUnder 42.5This number is strikingly low for two teams that have proved capable of lighting up the scoreboard. I'm taking the under, anyway. Wolford showed some promise in Week 17, but I don't expect Sean McVay to test his young quarterback - or a recovering Goff - against the Seahawks' defense, which brings pressure from all three levels.Conversely, the Rams have arguably the NFL's best defense and forced Wilson into possibly his worst performance of the season in Week 10 when he threw two picks with no touchdowns. Expect both teams to lean on the run game Saturday, which bodes well for the underdogs and the under.(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.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.After tearing through the AFC with a franchise-record 13 wins, the Bills (-7, 51.5) face an immediate test against the Colts (11-5), who almost became one of the best teams in recent memory not to make the playoffs. Instead, Indianapolis gets an early chance to knock off the team with the second-shortest Super Bowl odds.Trends and resultsNo team is hotter than the Bills, who have covered eight straight against the spread and won each of their last three games by at least 29 points. Sunday's rout of the Dolphins was Buffalo's sixth consecutive double-digit win and fifth ATS win as a home favorite in six tries this season.Four of the Bills' five ATS losses this year came during a four-game stretch in which the offense scored 24 points or fewer each time. That hasn't happened once in Buffalo's last eight games, during which it's averaged 37.9 points with six overs.Can the Colts' defense keep pace? Indianapolis stumbled down the stretch with a 2-3-1 ATS record, but it's allowed an opponent to score 30 points just three times this season - tied for the third-best mark by any defense. The Colts' defense held opponents to 18.7 points per game in 11 wins and 31.2 points per game in five losses.Still, this could be a difficult spot for Indianapolis, which is 0-5-1 ATS in its last six as an underdog and hasn't caught this many points since 2019. The Bills are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 as touchdown favorites and 7-1 ATS in their last eight giving points at home.X-factorColts' rushing offense vs. Bills' rushing defenseIf the Colts are going to win, they'll need to lean heavily into their offensive identity against an improving (but susceptible) rushing defense.The Bills allowed two teams (Chiefs, Cardinals) to go over 200 rushing yards this year and ceded at least 5 yards per carry in five of their last 11 games. That's trouble against Indianapolis, which ran wild for 273 yards on 7.4 yards per carry last week against the Jaguars. Jonathan Taylor (30 carries, 253 yards) carried the load in that game and boasted at least 7 yards per carry for the third time in five weeks.Barring a herculean effort by the Colts' defense, the Bills will convert most of their possessions into points. It's up to Indianapolis' backfield to help its offense keep pace and reduce the opportunities for Josh Allen and Co.Best betUnder 51.5Yes, I know what you're thinking: under on a Bills game? It's true that Buffalo blew most of its totals out of the water during its recent win streak, but it also hasn't faced a defense this stout on all three levels - save for the Steelers, who held the Bills to 26 points in Week 14.The Colts' best way to stay alive Saturday is by pounding the rock, which should shorten the opportunities for either side. It will also suit the weather conditions, as it's expected to remain below freezing from kickoff to the final whistle. I'd be surprised if either side tops 30 points.(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 Philadelphia Eagles' benching of quarterback Jalen Hurts in a competitive Week 17 battle didn't sit well with running back Miles Sanders."Man, if I'm being honest, nobody liked the decision, nobody," Sanders said Tuesday on 94WIP. "That's all I can say really. I don't know who was the main person behind that decision. All I know is that a lot of people on the team was confused."The Eagles were down three to the Washington Football Team when head coach Doug Pederson pulled Hurts for Nate Sudfeld early in the fourth quarter. The fourth-year veteran committed turnovers on his first two drives, dooming the Eagles and all but handing the NFC East crown to Washington.A report Monday noted that the move stunned a number of Eagles players and coaches, and two defensive players were held back from approaching Pederson on the sideline. Pederson said afterward that he wanted to reward Sudfeld for four years of service with the Eagles, and he denied sabotaging the game to improve Philadelphia's draft position.Sanders was inactive for the contest because of a knee injury. He was one of several Eagles regulars who didn't dress for the season finale.The New York Giants also disapproved of the decision. They needed the Eagles to defeat Washington to take the division title and advance to the playoffs.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is one of the NFL's most experienced negotiators, but he knows quarterback Dak Prescott will hold most of the cards during offseason talks for a big-money extension.The Cowboys won just four out of 11 games and missed the playoffs after Prescott suffered a right ankle dislocation and compound fracture in Week 5."I don't know how you could have any more leverage," Jones said on 105.3 The Fan Tuesday. "... His evolving into an NFL quarterback has been nothing short of a perfect picture. He has great ability, in my mind, to win games. He's talented. He certainly has the experience, and so he has all the things, as substantiated by what we've offered Dak."You wouldn't offer Dak what we offered in the past had you not thought he was very special. The issue is how do you come together? And that's no stranger to me. I've been doing it all my life, I've got here putting things together. And we've got to get it together."Prescott played under a $31.4-million franchise tag this past season after failing to come to terms with Dallas on a new contract. The sticking point was reportedly the length of the deal, with the passer seeking a four-year pact and the Cowboys wanting five years.While Jones knows Prescott's value to his team, he emphasized - as the owner did often during last year's talks - that Dallas needs to be able to build a competitive roster around the signal-caller."We have a certain amount, period, that can be paid to players every year. It's a very competitive thing. The longer the term, the more flexibility you've got in any number that you have in a contract," Jones said. "The planning ahead, the looking ahead at what you can spend, what you can give on any other free agent, that's your overall planning."The Cowboys reportedly offered Prescott an extension worth $34.5 million last season. But even with the salary cap expected to decrease in 2021 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFC East team could be forced to up its proposal.If Dallas uses the franchise tag again on the 2016 fourth-round pick, it will cost the club $37.7 million.Prescott was on pace to shatter Peyton Manning's NFL record of 5,477 passing yards through five games in 2020. His average of 371.2 yards through the air would have resulted in a 5,939-yard campaign over 16 games.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera says he'll "look at" possibly rotating Alex Smith and Taylor Heinicke in Saturday's playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to Smith's calf injury, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post.Rivera clarified that in-game circumstances could determine if Heinicke gets playing time, Jhabvala adds.Smith has been bothered by the calf ailment in recent weeks, missing two games before returning to play every snap in the Week 17 win-and-in matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.Heinicke became the primary backup option after Washington cut former first-round pick Dwayne Haskins shortly before the conclusion of the regular season. The 27-year-old Heinicke threw for 137 yards and a touchdown in Week 16, his only appearance of the campaign.Smith played a leading role in Washington's run to the playoffs, taking over after Kyle Allen was lost for the season due to injury. Smith, who's battled back from his own injuries, held a 5-1 record in starts in 2020.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets running back Frank Gore didn't rule out returning for a 17th season in 2021.Gore told reporters Tuesday he hasn't made a decision on retirement yet and will take some time to evaluate his future, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. The veteran also said he's still having "fun" playing the game.Retirement questions have surfaced often at the end of each season for the 37-year-old, with Gore ending talks last offseason by signing a one-year deal with the Jets.Gore finished the 2020 season as the leading rusher for a 2-14 club that experienced various issues, such as subpar play and injuries. He accumulated 653 rushing yards but was unable to finish the year on his terms, missing the season finale due to a lung injury.The 2005 San Francisco 49ers draft pick has produced a lengthy and impressive career at a position where players don't often remain effective as they age. He ranks third all time with 16,000 rushing yards.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Another NFL regular season is in the books.After 17 weeks, both the MVP and Rookie of the Year rankings have significant differences compared to the early-season lists.Here are our final rankings for the awards.MVP5. Alvin Kamara, Saints Chris Graythen / Getty Images Sport / GettyThere are plenty of ways to show how valuable Kamara is to the Saints, but here are the easiest points: He led the team in rushing yards and touchdowns, as well as in receptions and receiving yards. He also topped the NFL with 21 scrimmage touchdowns, and he didn't even play in Week 17.Kamara's production helped New Orleans finish the 2020 campaign 12-4 despite playing without some of its biggest stars - including quarterback Drew Brees and wide receiver Michael Thomas - for multiple games. Kamara's versatility and explosiveness were big factors in the Saints being the NFL's fifth-highest scoring offense even as Brees' arm strength took a step back.4. Derrick Henry, TitansIt may sound weird ranking Henry No. 4 in the MVP race in a year he became the eighth player in NFL history to top 2,000 rushing yards, but it illustrates how quarterback-dominated this award is. It came down to a debate among the best running back in football and this season's top three signal-callers.Tennessee won eight of 10 games this year when Henry rushed for at least 100 yards - both losses came in contests where the defense allowed at least 360 yards and over 25 first downs. On the other hand, the Titans went 3-3 when the running back didn't reach the 100-yard mark. In one of those wins, though, he still contributed two touchdowns.The 11-5 Titans needed Henry to succeed, and the star runner's sensational campaign played a huge role in Tennessee winning the AFC South. Henry led the NFL in attempts (378), yards (2,027), and touchdowns (17) on the ground for the second straight season.3. Josh Allen, Bills Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThere's a reason Buffalo is starting the postseason with Super Bowl aspirations.The narrative that Allen might be holding the team back was completely scratched this season, as the third-year signal-caller posted arguably the most successful campaign by a Bills quarterback ever. His jaw-dropping year was crucial in keeping Buffalo competitive despite disappointing outings for its defense and running game.Allen set single-season Bills records in pass completion percentage (69.2%), passing yards (4,544), and touchdown passes (37), helping Buffalo clinch its first division title since 1995.2. Patrick Mahomes, ChiefsOK, Mahomes is human. The quarterback didn't play in the season finale, but he wasn't as stellar in four December games as he was earlier in the season. He threw four interceptions in the month and completed less than 56% of his pass attempts in two of those contests.Don't let the few late-season flaws fool you. Mahomes finished his fourth NFL campaign completing a career-high 66.3% of his passes for 38 touchdowns and averaging a league-high 316 yards per game. The Chiefs also won 14 of the 15 games he was under center.Would Mahomes be the MVP frontrunner with those numbers in other seasons? Yes. But when two all-time great quarterbacks post excellent campaigns, nitpicking is the only way to determine a winner - and that's what was done here.1. Aaron Rodgers, PackersWe needed something to break the tie between Rodgers and Mahomes in the regular season's final stretch, and their performances in December and January provided that.PlayerGamesComp. %YardsTDsINTRateAaron Rodgers576.51199151131.9Patrick Mahomes46012438489.5Granted, Mahomes' numbers are excellent this year, and the Chiefs (14-2) posted a better record than the Packers (13-3). However, Rodgers' essentially flawless season was vital for Green Bay to clinch the NFC's No. 1 seed despite a questionable supporting cast around him. He was more efficient and consistent than Mahomes, even though the Chiefs QB had better offensive weapons.In his 16th NFL season, Rodgers led the league in completion percentage (70.7), touchdown tosses (48), and passer rating (121.5). His rating in 2020 ranks second all-time, trailing his own mark from 2011.Honorable mentions: Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Aaron Donald (Rams), Tom Brady (Buccaneers).Offensive Rookie of the Year5. J.K. Dobbins, Ravens Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / GettyFew young running backs in the NFL finished the season hotter than Dobbins, who scored a touchdown in each of the last six games he played - including two in Week 17. He averaged 6.4 yards per rushing attempt in those games and played an important role in Baltimore's late-season playoff push.Dobbins' early workload in 2020 hurt his case (only 25 carries in the first six weeks), but his overall production earns a spot in the top five. The Ohio State product finished his rookie year with 925 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns through 15 games.4. James Robinson, JaguarsThe Jaguars roster has holes all over it, but the running back position isn't one of them. Jacksonville will welcome the first overall pick of the 2021 draft - likely quarterback Trevor Lawrence - with a 1,000-yard runner in its backfield.Despite missing two games due to injury, Robinson amassed 1,070 rushing yards while adding 344 yards and three scores on 49 catches. With 1,414 total yards, the undrafted rookie out of Illinois State was one of just two rookies ranked in the top 10 for scrimmage yards during the regular season.3. Jonathan Taylor, Colts Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport / GettyRobinson was considered the best first-year running back for most of the 2020 campaign, but Taylor's late-season greatness - and its relevance to the Colts' playoff run - changed that narrative.The second-rounder was unstoppable in the schedule's final stretch, scoring eight touchdowns through the last five games while averaging over six yards per carry. His amazing performances included an outing with 253 rushing yards (ninth-most ever in an NFL game) and two touchdowns in a win-and-in Week 17 tilt.Taylor led all rookie runners with 1,468 scrimmage yards and 12 total touchdowns through 15 games.2. Justin Jefferson, VikingsIt's hard not ranking Jefferson No. 1 for the Offensive Rookie of the Year.The first-round wideout broke the single-season receiving yards record by a rookie in the Super Bowl era with 1,400 yards. He also added 88 receptions and seven touchdowns to become just the third rookie receiver in NFL history to post at least 80 catches, 1,200 yards, and seven scores. Anquan Boldin (2003) and Odell Beckham Jr. (2014) are the other two pass-catchers, and both took home the first-year award in those years.Despite sharing the field with veteran star wide receiver Adam Thielen, Jefferson also topped Minnesota in targets, catches, receiving yards, and yards per reception.As anticipated, it's tough to argue against Jefferson being No. 1 on this list. However, there might be a first-year offensive player who was even more impressive than the Vikings receiver.1. Justin Herbert, Chargers Joe Scarnici / Getty Images Sport / GettyHerbert's freshman campaign has "Offensive Rookie of the Year" written all over it.Here are some of the NFL rookie records he broke in 2020:

New York Giants head coach Joe Judge didn't like what he saw from the Philadelphia Eagles at the end of their 20-14 loss to the Washington Football Team on Sunday night.Not only did the Eagles' loss cost the Giants a playoff spot, but Judge suggested Philadelphia's late-game decisions disrespected the game of football.Trailing 17-14 late in the third quarter, the Eagles opted not to kick a chip-shot field goal to tie the game and wound up turning the ball over on downs. Then, early in the fourth quarter, Eagles head coach Doug Pederson benched quarterback Jalen Hurts in favor of third-stringer Nate Sudfeld. Sudfeld threw an interception and lost a fumble on the next two drives.

The Los Angeles Chargers are looking for a new head coach, and New York Giants offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is an early candidate for the job.The Chargers requested an interview with Garrett for the vacant role, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The 54-year-old coach was one of the multiple names to reportedly receive an interview request from Los Angeles on Monday. The reported list, shown below, also includes Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, the offseason's hottest head coaching candidate:CoachRoleCurrent teamJason GarrettOffensive coordinatorGiantsEric BieniemyOffensive coordinatorChiefsBrian DabollOffensive coordinatorBillsJoe BradyOffensive coordinatorPanthersArthur SmithOffensive coordinatorTitansBrandon StaleyDefensive coordinatorRamsMatt EberflusDefensive coordinatorColtsGarrett coached the Dallas Cowboys for 10 seasons from 2010-19, posting an 85-67 record in that time. The 54-year-old was dismissed at the end of the 2019 campaign and named the Giants offensive coordinator days later.Garrett was heavily criticized for his results with Dallas - the club only made the playoffs three times with him at the helm - but he helped develop quarterback Dak Prescott, who was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2016 and has been to two Pro Bowls.The Giants scored 17.5 points per game and gained less than 300 yards per contest during the 2020 regular season, ranking 31st in the NFL for both categories.Meanwhile, Bieniemy has been the Chiefs' offensive coordinator since 2018. The 51-year-old has received significant praise for his role in turning Kansas City's offense into a juggernaut and particularly his work with quarterback Patrick Mahomes.The Chargers fired head coach Anthony Lynn on Monday after four seasons.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants weren't the only team surprised by the Philadelphia Eagles' late-game decision on Sunday Night Football.Players and coaches on the Eagles sidelines were stunned by head coach Doug Pederson's choice to pull Jalen Hurts for third-stringer Nate Sudfeld with the team down by three points, reports Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.Two defensive players were held back from approaching Pederson, and center Jason Kelce and another offensive player asked the coach directly why Hurts was lifted with 12 minutes left in the game, McLane reports, citing team sources.Already eliminated from the postseason, the Eagles had nothing to play for in the regular-season finale. However, Philadelphia was embroiled in a winnable game that was a must-win for Washington to clinch the NFC East title. The Giants would have been crowned division champs had Washington lost.Sudfeld hadn't appeared in a game since 2018, and many Eagles players and coaches didn't foresee him entering the contest if the score was close, according to McLane.Pederson defended the move postgame, saying he was "coaching to win" and also wanted Sudfeld to get some snaps.The Giants took issue with the decision, with head coach Joe Judge suggesting the Eagles disrespected the game by not putting forth a full effort with everyone in the league sacrificing to play during a global pandemic.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson pulled no punches when asked what he'd like to see in a new head coach."We just need a whole culture shift,” he answered on Monday, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN."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."The Texans concluded the 2020 season with a 41-38 loss to AFC South rivals the Tennessee Titans. Houston finished 4-12 and missed the postseason for the first time since 2017.The organization fired head coach and general manager Bill O'Brien in October after an 0-4 start. Romeo Crennel took over head coaching duties on an interim basis and Jack Easterby was named interim general manager."We've all got to be on the same page," Watson said. "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. We need someone that stands tall, and this is who we follow and this is the way it goes."Houston began the search for O'Brien's successor during the season, starting with candidates who weren't employed by teams. The Texans have now reportedly requested permission to interview Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus for the head coaching role. Houston also apparently asked to speak with New England Patriots executive Nick Caserio.Watson said he discussed the team's vacancies with Texans CEO Cal McNair on Sunday and advocated for offensive coordinator Tim Kelly potentially remaining with the franchise.Despite Houston's struggles, the 25-year-old passer put up career numbers in his fourth season. Watson led the league with 4,823 passing yards to go along with 33 touchdowns to seven interceptions. He also rushed for 444 yards and three touchdowns.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Schaub is retiring after 16 years in the NFL, owner Arthur Blank revealed Monday."He's been a great player for us," Blank told reporters, including William McFadden of AtlantaFalcons.com.Schaub, a former Pro Bowl MVP, spent his first three and final four seasons with the Falcons. His career peaked with the Houston Texans, where he started 88 games over seven campaigns from 2007-13 and earned a pair of Pro Bowl selections. He topped the NFL with 4,770 passing yards in 2008 and steered the Texans to their first-ever playoff berth in 2011.Schaub is known mostly for his time in Atlanta and Houston, but he also suited up for the Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Ravens.A former third-round pick out of Virginia, Schaub finishes his career with 136 passing touchdowns and 91 interceptions. He earned over $95 million throughout his career, according to OverTheCap.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A relatively calm Black Monday resulted in the firings of Doug Marrone and Anthony Lynn, adding two more openings to the list of NFL head coaching jobs available.The Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Chargers join the New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, and Houston Texans in the search for a new head coach.The six gigs offer varying degrees of appeal. Below, we rank the desirability of the openings:6. Lions Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / GettyProsConsPatient ownershipLack of cap spaceMinimal talent on rosterMost of the appeal - or lack thereof - of the Lions opening is tied to Matthew Stafford's uncertain future in Detroit. The Lions are facing a cap crunch and may look to move on from their longtime starter, who has two years and $42.1 million remaining on his deal. If so, they'll embark on a rebuilding process that will likely take years. This is one of the NFL's least talented rosters, and it may not be possible to find the next franchise quarterback with the No. 7 overall selection in 2021. The Lions could also look to solve their cap issues by extending Stafford's contract and pushing some money into the future, but that would potentially force the team to allow Kenny Golladay - one of scant few offensive weapons on the roster - to walk in free agency.Regardless of which direction the Lions go, the other openings around the league offer far more immediate on-field upside.5. Falcons Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / GettyProsConsPatient ownershipLack of cap spaceTalented rosterKey players are over 30The Falcons job isn't undesirable by any stretch; Atlanta is still viewed as a strong organization with an owner who's demonstrated patience - even to a fault - in allowing a head coach to see things through. But it's just not that great of a job. There are a few young pieces to build around on both sides of the ball, but some of the key players - Matt Ryan and Julio Jones being the main ones - are heading toward the tail end of their careers.The No. 4 overall pick presents an opportunity to draft Ryan's replacement, but it's suboptimal to have to make that selection after at least two quarterbacks likely already come off the board.Somehow, with still so much work to do to improve the roster, Atlanta finds itself in a poor cap situation, needing to shed a ton of salary before being able to make any meaningful additions in free agency. Though top candidates certainly won't shy away from this job, it's not one they'll fight over.4. Texans Carmen Mandato / Getty Images Sport / GettyProsConsSuperstar QBLack of cap spaceLack of draft capitalMinimal talent on rosterDeshaun Watson is probably the second-most valuable building block in the entire NFL after Patrick Mahomes, but nearly everything else about this job is undesirable.Though Watson is under contract through 2025, the Texans have very little talent around him. J.J. Watt has made it clear he doesn't want to stick around for a rebuild and is all but out the door already. The Texans could try to trade him, but a soon-to-be 32-year-old with an injury history as exhaustive as any player in football probably won't fetch more than a mid-round pick.And mid-round picks are all the Texans have. Bill O'Brien's disastrous dealings left the Texans without first- or second-round picks in 2021. They traded what became the No. 3 overall selection in a package for Laremy Tunsil, whom the Texans believed could be a franchise cornerstone but was rated as the 28th-best tackle in football in 2020 by PFF.The salary-cap situation isn't much better. The Texans project to have less than $10 million to spend on free agents this spring. They'll have to make some tough cuts - and get even worse - before they can begin the long road toward getting better.3. Jets Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / GettyProsConsNo. 2 pick in draftDysfunctional ownershipExtra draft capitalDifficult media marketAmple cap spaceMinimal talent on rosterThe two late-season wins that dropped the Jets below the Jaguars in the 2021 draft order could go down as landmark moments in this woebegone franchise's dark history if Trevor Lawrence proves to be a superstar.However, Lawrence isn't the only potential franchise passer in the draft. Early indications are Justin Fields and Zach Wilson are premier prospects, too, and the Jets could even entertain the idea of sticking it out with Sam Darnold for another year to see if he blossoms under a new coach.Though the cutthroat New York market isn't everyone's cup of tea, and Woody and Christopher Johnson are generally considered to be some of the NFL's least competent team owners, there are reasons to believe this job has appeal. This is essentially a ground-up rebuild and the Jets are among the league leaders in salary-cap space and have extra first-round picks in 2021 and 2022 from the Jamal Adams trade.The ghosts of failures past are enough to scare away the faint of heart, but there's no market that can offer the kind of eternal glory that comes with winning a title in New York.2. Jaguars Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyProsConsNo. 1 pick in draftMeddling ownershipExtra draft capitalMinimal talent on rosterAmple cap spaceMore than $75 million in cap space to reshape the roster, the right to select Trevor Lawrence, and extra draft picks in the first, second, fourth, and fifth rounds make the vacant head coaching and general manager jobs in Jacksonville among the most attractive gigs in recent memory. The warm climate and favorable income tax situation in Florida don't hurt, either, as concerns that once existed about the team relocating to London have largely disappeared.Perhaps the only downside to the Jaguars job is owner Shad Khan's plan to run the team's football operations. Though Khan's patience with previous coaches will appeal to many, his meddling in personnel decisions won't. And Khan has made it clear he plans to retain the final say in the roster and draft. The Jaguars made nine top-10 draft picks in the 2010s and only one of those players is still on the roster; maybe Khan's involvement in football decisions is a far bigger problem than anyone realizes.1. Chargers Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / GettyProsConsPotential superstar QBDysfunctional ownershipTalented rosterPatrick Mahomes in divisionDesirable cityThis time last year, it would have been tough to envision the Chargers job being the most sought-after position in any coaching market, let alone one that features openings that come with the top two picks in the draft. Things change quickly when you hit a home run with a young franchise quarterback. The Chargers still aren't seen as a premier organization, which may have something to do with ownership's less than stellar reputation, but everything else about this job - aside from having to play Mahomes twice a year - is about as desirable as it gets.Justin Herbert's arrival has the potential to maximize what was already an outstanding roster. With a few smart offseason moves to shore up their remaining holes and some better luck on the injury front, there's no reason this team can't immediately open a window for contention, and it can do it all in a brand new stadium in one of the world's biggest markets. There's just so much to love about this job, and the Chargers will have no excuse not to nail the hire when the NFL's top up-and-comers line up to get it.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is among the most sought-after head coaching candidates.The Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, and Detroit Lions each requested interviews with Saleh, 49ers general manager John Lynch confirmed Monday.Saleh just completed his fourth season as the Niners' defensive coordinator. His unit ranked second in total defense in 2019 and fifth in 2020. It was also the catalyst for San Francisco's run to the Super Bowl a season ago.Saleh garnered interest from other teams last coaching cycle, but he ultimately remained with the 49ers. This time around, head coach Kyle Shanahan doesn't expect Saleh to stay."I will be very surprised if we don't lose him," Shanahan said Sunday, per Jacob Hutchinson of KNBR. "I don't know what's wrong with people if they don't hire him. I mean, he's as good as you can get."The 49ers also received a general manager interview request for personnel executive Adam Peters and expect to field another for vice president of player personnel Martin Mayhew.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

John Elway is staying with the Denver Broncos, but he'll surrender the general manager position and final say on roster moves, the club announced Monday.Elway, who occupied the GM's chair for 10 years, will hire the incoming personnel head. The Hall of Fame quarterback will serve as president of football operations."Working in this role for the last 10 years and going back to my playing days, I've always tried to do everything I can to help the Broncos win and get better," Elway said in a statement. "As part of a transition I've thought about for a long time, I have made the decision to step up into an elevated role and hire a general manager to lead our personnel and football staff."Elway noted that head coach Vic Fangio will be involved in the search process for a new GM, as will CEO Joe Ellis.Elway built the Broncos into contenders shortly after taking over as GM in 2011, culminating in a Super Bowl 50 win. However, the franchise has fallen on hard times over the last five years and posted its fourth straight losing record in 2020.Since Peyton Manning's retirement, quarterback instability and ineptitude have held back the Broncos. Over the last five years, they've started Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, Brock Osweiler, Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, Brandon Allen, Jeff Driskel, Brett Rypien, and Drew Lock at the pivotal position.Elway played for the Broncos from 1983 to 1998 before returning as general manager and vice president of football operations in January 2011.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs was arrested early Monday morning and charged with DUI, police told Fox 5's Kevin Bolinger and Elaine Emerson.Officers said Jacobs was involved in a single-car accident near the McCarran Airport tunnel in Vegas. Police suspected the driver was impaired prior to the arrest.The second-year tailback was released from custody Monday afternoon, according to court records, and his next court appearance is scheduled for March 8.Jacobs was the Raiders' leading rusher in 2020, amassing 1,065 yards on the ground with 12 touchdowns across 15 starts. He added 238 yards receiving on 33 catches.The running back and club have yet to comment on the incident.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ESPN retracted its report that the Miami Dolphins parted ways with offensive coordinator Chan Gailey on Monday after the story was incorrectly attributed to Adam Schefter.The network issued an apology after reporting the news on its online and TV platforms:

Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak is leaning toward retiring, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Kubiak has yet to make a final decision, but he could do so in the days and weeks ahead, Pelissero adds.The 59-year-old currently also serves as Minnesota’s assistant head coach. The club initially hired Kubiak as an offensive advisor, and he was promoted to the coordinator role after Kevin Stefanski left to become head coach of the Cleveland Browns last offseason.Kubiak previously retired from the Denver Broncos due to health issues in 2016. He served as the Broncos' senior personnel advisor in 2017 and 2018 before returning to coaching. Kubiak was also head coach of the Houston Texans from 2006 to 2013.Minnesota finished the regular season with the NFL's fourth-ranked offense, averaging 393.3 yards per game. The Vikings' rushing offense completed the campaign ranked fifth (142.7 yards per game).The team could be searching for its sixth offensive coordinator during head coach Mike Zimmer’s tenure. Minnesota previously hired Norv Turner, Pat Shurmur, John DeFilippo, Stefanski, and Kubiak.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns edge rusher Olivier Vernon will miss the playoffs due to a torn Achilles, head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Vernon went down with what the Browns called an ankle injury during their Week 17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers."He's a leader for our football team in how he plays," Stefanski said of Vernon, according to Tony Zarrella of 19 News. "Hard to replace."Vernon and Myles Garrett formed one of the NFL's top pass-rushing duos this season, with the former contributing nine sacks across 14 appearances. The 30-year-old endured a rough 2019 campaign following a trade from the New York Giants, managing just 3.5 sacks over 10 games.A nine-year veteran, Vernon is set to enter free agency at the end of the season.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The red-hot Bills just added another weapon ahead of the playoffs.Buffalo signed wide receiver Kenny Stills to its practice squad, the team announced Monday.The veteran speedster, who was released by the Houston Texans in November, will likely be called up to the active roster for Saturday's wild-card game against the Indianapolis Colts.Stills only had 114 yards and one touchdown in 10 appearances for Houston this season. However, he racked up 95 catches for 1,400 yards and 12 scores over the previous three seasons (one in Houston, two with the Miami Dolphins).Buffalo needed reinforcements with Cole Beasley, its second-leading receiver, missing Week 17 after suffering a knee injury the previous game.NFL receiving-yards king Stefon Diggs leads the Bills' passing attack, while John Brown was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list for the season-finale rout of the Dolphins.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers fired head coach Anthony Lynn on Monday after four seasons with the club.Lynn ends his tenure with a 33-31 record. He finished 12-4 in 2018, but his time in Los Angeles was otherwise marred by inconsistency, special-teams blunders, and late-game collapses."I'm not sure there is another person in this league more respected as a human being than Anthony, and I want to sincerely express my deepest gratitude for his leadership during a time of great change for our organization," Chargers owner Dean Spanos said in a statement. "As we all know, this is a result-driven business and, simply put, the results of the past two years have fallen short of expectations."Lynn was a surprising hire in 2017 after he was running backs coach and interim head coach for the Buffalo Bills the year prior. The 52-year-old was regarded as an excellent leader and was well-liked by his players.The Chargers' head coaching job instantly becomes one of the league's most attractive vacancies. Defensive stars Joey Bosa and Derwin James feature on the roster, while the team appears set at quarterback with likely Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert.With Lynn's exit, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley isn't expected to return in 2021 either.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 NFL playoff field is set, and the Kansas City Chiefs (+150) are predictably the Super Bowl favorites, as they have been the entire season. But the rest of the oddsboard may come as a surprise to some.We've been highlighting the Buffalo Bills (+450) as legitimate title contenders since the summer, and they enter the postseason with the second-shortest odds after blasting the Miami Dolphins by 30 points in Week 17 - their biggest win of the season and third straight by at least 29 points. That victory helped secure the AFC's No. 2 seed for Buffalo, which will avoid Kansas City until at least the conference championship game.On the other side, the Green Bay Packers (+500) have the shortest odds in the NFC after clinching the No. 1 seed on Sunday. They're the top-ranked team, according to PFF, and tied with the Bills for the longest winning streak in the NFL (six). Still, the New Orleans Saints (+700) are the best team by DVOA and priced shortly behind those other clubs, in part thanks to a favorable wild-card matchup with the Chicago Bears.Here are the updated Super Bowl odds and three potential value plays outside of the four favorites:TEAMODDSKansas City Chiefs+150Buffalo Bills+450Green Bay Packers+500New Orleans Saints+700Tampa Bay Buccaneers+1000Seattle Seahawks+1000Baltimore Ravens+1300Tennessee Titans+1800Los Angeles Rams+2000Pittsburgh Steelers+2000Indianapolis Colts+3000Cleveland Browns+4500Washington Football Team+6000Chicago Bears+7500Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1000)There was a time when the Buccaneers looked like the best team in the NFL, fulfilling the expectations many set for them entering the year. A blowout loss to the Saints flipped that perception quickly, but it's hard not to feel like Tampa Bay is the most balanced team in the league.The Buccaneers are the only team ranked in the top two in DVOA, PFF, and net yards per play. They're also the only one with a top-six ranking on offense and defense by DVOA and PFF, sitting third in points scored and eighth in points allowed.Tampa Bay gets an opponent with a losing record in the first round, and it would likely face the Packers - a team the Buccaneers beat by 28 points earlier this year - in the divisional round. This price isn't a bargain, but it's still worth it for one of the best teams in the NFL.Baltimore Ravens (+1300)The Ravens entered the year with some of the shortest Super Bowl odds, and they now own the NFL's best point differential (+165). Yet they're somehow priced as a secondary contender ahead of the postseason.Baltimore has scored at least 34 points in four of its last five games and held its opponents to 17 points or less in each of those four contests. Its five-game win streak coincides with Lamar Jackson's return from the COVID-19 list, and he's helped the Ravens' rush offense average 267.4 rushing yards over that stretch.A first-round matchup with the Titans is sure to scare any Baltimore bettor, especially those who saw their tickets go up in flames a year ago in a similar spot. Still, the Ravens' upside is too high to ignore at this price.Indianapolis Colts (+3000)I've been a fervent supporter of the Bills all season, so perhaps it's counterintuitive to suggest their first-round matchup as a potential value. But I'm also been high on the Colts, who have the balance and upside to make noise in the AFC.Indianapolis' defense has been among the best in the NFL this year and may be one of the few units that can cause problems for the Bills. As can the Colts' rushing offense, which logged an incredible 273 rushing yards on 7.4 yards per carry on Sunday. The Bills have struggled against the run at times this year, allowing over 200 yards to the Chiefs and Cardinals and 5.0 yards per carry in five of their last 11 games.We know from recent years that a potent rushing attack is an effective way to beat teams such as the Chiefs and Ravens, who would be the Colts' biggest threats if they can survive this weekend. If they do, this ticket will skyrocket in value.(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.

Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman doesn't expect to move on from reportedly disgruntled quarterback Carson Wentz this offseason."When you have players like that, they're like fingers on your hand," Roseman told reporters Monday, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. "You can't imagine that they're not part of you, that they're not here. That's how we feel about Carson."Wentz endured the worst season of his five-year career in 2020, and he lost his starting job to rookie Jalen Hurts for the final four games. Despite signing a four-year, $128-million extension with the Eagles in June 2019, Wentz is reportedly prepared to seek a trade if he's not named the starter again.Asked specifically about trading Wentz, Roseman said "that is not anything we're talking about right now."Wentz's relationship with head coach Doug Pederson reportedly deteriorated this season. The 28-year-old was also rumored to be frustrated with the Eagles over a lack of talent around him."I'm not going to speak for Carson, but the relationship is good, it's fine, and it's something we're going to continue to build upon," Pederson said, according to Reuben Frank of NBC Sports Philadelphia.Wentz was playing at an MVP level in 2017 before tearing his ACL late in the season. His play has gradually tailed off since then, and he posted a career-low 72.8 passer rating in 2020 as the Eagles produced a 4-11-1 record.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL's hottest head coaching candidate is already receiving a ton of interest.Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is virtually interviewing with the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions on Monday, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The New York Jets also requested to meet with Bieniemy regarding their head coaching vacancy, added Schefter.Bieniemy entered last offseason as one of the favorites to land a head coaching job but was surprisingly passed over by the entire league.The 51-year-old received widespread praise for his role in turning the Chiefs' offense into a juggernaut and particularly his work with former MVP Patrick Mahomes.Bieniemy has been Kansas City's offensive coordinator since 2018 after acting as the running backs coach for the previous five seasons.Under his and head coach Andy Reid's guidance, the Chiefs finished first in scoring in 2018 (35.3 points per game), fifth in 2019 (28.2), and sixth this year (29.6). The unit also starred on the Chiefs' way to a Super Bowl win last season, averaging 39 points.The Falcons fired head coach Dan Quinn and the Lions parted ways with Matt Patricia during the season, while the Jets canned Adam Gase on Sunday.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alex Smith's old leg brace has been given a new life as a piece of art.Elizabeth Smith, the Washington Football Team quarterback's wife, shared a photo on Instagram showing the brace shaped into a replica of the Lombardi Trophy.

Zac Taylor will return in 2021 as the Cincinnati Bengals' head coach, team owner and president Mike Brown announced Monday."Our fans wanted a fresh new direction two years ago, and that is what we aimed to do in hiring a bright, energetic head coach in Zac Taylor," Brown said in a statement. "We remain bullish on the foundation Zac is building, and we look forward to next year giving our fans the winning results we all want."In Zac's two years, we have added many new starters and contributors through the draft, we have invested heavily in free agency, and we have acquired a talented young quarterback with a bright future."Cincinnati hired Taylor in 2019 after his two-year stint as an assistant with the Los Angeles Rams. His record stands at 6-25-1, though the Bengals displayed improvement on offense with rookie Joe Burrow at quarterback prior to his injury.The Bengals ranked 29th in both total offense and points per game in 2020.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars fired head coach Doug Marrone after four full seasons in charge, the team announced Monday.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson shocked the football-watching community when he pulled quarterback Jalen Hurts with 12 minutes left in a tight, primetime game.The Eagles trailed the Washington Football Team 17-14 and Hurts had scored Philly's only two touchdowns. Nonetheless, Hurts was replaced by Nate Sudfeld for the remainder of the game.After the game, Pederson defended the decision."Yes I was coaching to win, yes that was my decision solely," Pederson said. "Nate has been here for four years and I felt that he deserved an opportunity to get some snaps."Washington needed to win the game to clinch the division and a playoff spot and the New York Giants were counting on an Eagles victory to claim the final postseason position in the NFC.Washington's victory was all but secured when Sudfeld entered the game. He threw an interception on his second pass and the Eagles wouldn't come close to scoring again."If there's anything out there that thinks that I was not trying to win the game, (tight end Zach) Ertz is out there, (defensive lineman) Brandon Graham's out there, (cornerback) Darius Slay's out there, our top guys are still on the field at the game. So we were going to win the game," Pederson insisted.With the loss, the Eagles finished the year 4-11-1 and will pick sixth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sean McVay doesn't know who will be under center for the Los Angeles Rams against the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday.The head coach said he's "not sure" whether quarterback Jared Goff will be available to play in the first round of the playoffs next week, according to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic.Goff was sidelined for Sunday's 18-7 win over the Arizona Cardinals due to a thumb injury he suffered against the Seahawks in Week 16.McVay added he's also undecided on whether or not John Wolford will draw his second consecutive start.Wolford completed 22 of 38 pass attempts for 231 yards against one interception versus the Cardinals.The 25-year-old, who made his first career start Sunday, said he's going to prepare for next week regardless of Goff's status."I'm here to do a job, and I have no idea where he's at," Wolford said, per Greg Beacham of The Associated Press. "I'm just trying to enjoy this win, and then I'll put my head down and work on Seattle."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Adam Gase era in New York is over.The Jets officially fired the head coach after two seasons on Sunday, the team announced."While my sincere intentions are to have stability in our organization - especially in our leadership positions - it is clear the best decision for the Jets is to move in a different direction," CEO Christopher Johnson said in a statement."We knew there was a lot of work that needed to be done when Adam joined us in 2019. Our strong finish last year was encouraging, but unfortunately, we did not sustain that positive momentum or see the progress we all expected this season."To our fans, it is obvious we have not been good enough. We are committed to building a strong organization, on and off the field, and will continue to provide the necessary resources to field a team that you can be proud of."After starting the 2020 season 0-13, the Jets finished with a 2-14 record, which marks the team's worst campaign since 1996.New York posted a 9-23 record under Gase, who was hired in 2018. The club also owned one of the NFL's lowest-scoring offenses in both seasons during the 42-year-old's tenure.The Jets own the second overall pick in the 2021 draft, and will now look for a new head coach for the third time over the past four seasons.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.