Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines the significance of those events moving forward.Chiefs just too much Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Dolphins gave the defending champs their best shot. Miami put consistent pressure on Patrick Mahomes throughout the day and even came away with three interceptions. Brian Flores' defense did everything it could. And although the final score ended up within a single possession, it never actually felt as though Kansas City were at risk of losing the game.That seems to be a running theme this year. You can throw everything you have at the Chiefs, but unless you're absolutely perfect, and get a few breaks along the way, a high-powered Andy Reid offense led by a generational quarterback talent is a nightmare to hold off for a full 60 minutes.Miami's defense has been spectacular, but the Chiefs' offense was always going to produce. It seems the only teams that truly stand a chance against Kansas City are clubs with the offensive firepower to keep pace in a shootout.There aren't many of those squads. At this rate, the Chiefs might run right through the AFC for a second year in a row.Steelers have issues Timothy T Ludwig / Getty Images Sport / GettySpeaking of teams unfit for a shootout against the champs, it's hard to believe just two weeks ago we were all wondering whether the Steelers could complete an undefeated season.With another anemic offensive performance in Sunday night's loss to Buffalo after a similarly dreadful showing in last week's defeat to Washington, Pittsburgh suddenly sits a game back of Kansas City for the AFC's No. 1 seed following two straight losses.The Steelers remain in an enviable spot. Nobody is hitting the panic button, and there are still a few games left to find their groove before the playoffs. But with a defense this stout and an offense featuring so much dynamic talent, nothing less than winning the Super Bowl is the goal.At some point on that road, the Steelers will need to trade blows with the Chiefs (or the Bills again). An offense that can't run the ball and refuses to push it downfield when passing isn't going to get it done.Fielding a great defense is awesome, but this isn't the mid-2000s. That alone isn't enough to carry a team through January.Bucs right the ship on offense Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / GettyEntering the day, Tom Brady's record after a bye week was 14-4, so one could have expected the Buccaneers would make some adjustments. They appeared to make a concerted effort to lighten the load on the 43-year-old quarterback's arm Sunday.Tampa's offense looked far more balanced than in previous games. Offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich dialed up 26 runs and limited Brady to just 23 passes, by far the fewest he's attempted in a game this season. Much of that had to do with game script and the Vikings dominating the time of possession for much of the game, but the Bucs also tried to make life easier on Brady in other ways.The Bucs swapped out Leonard Fournette for LeSean McCoy, who saw his most game action since Week 6. McCoy is a better pass-catcher out of the backfield and pass-protector, and his inclusion in the lineup allowed the Bucs to be more deceptive in short-yardage situations.

Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push notifications in the Betting News section.A massive AFC North tilt graces Monday Night Football, with a pair of wild-card hopefuls in the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns meeting in Ohio.We seem to be aligned in how we're looking to bet this one.Alex KolodziejRavens -3I don't trust Baker Mayfield in this spot. He's benefited from an easy schedule recently, facing five units that rank No. 24 or worse in the league in DVOA defense during the last six games.The Ravens rank No. 7 in that category and are back on the upswing following a dominant win against the Dallas Cowboys. John Harbaugh is a great bet late in the year with six straight covers in December, so I'll lay the chalk.Alex MorettoRavens -3Admittedly, the value has quickly disappeared with this line moving to three, but I'll still lay it with the Ravens.I agree that we can't trust Mayfield in this spot. He's playing better and coming off a huge game, but it's worth wondering whether that was a product of the signal-caller growing into this offense or of Kevin Stefanski scheming wide-open looks against a rather abysmal Tennessee Titans defense.For me, it's the latter. Mayfield is getting a Baltimore defense that hasn't played to its usual standards but is getting healthy. The Ravens have faced a mix of weird scheduling and COVID-19 issues, and though some are writing them off, I'd rather buy in.This is almost a must-win for Baltimore given the sheer congestion in the wild-card race, while Cleveland has some breathing room. We still haven't seen Mayfield put in even a respectable performance against a good defense, and he won't correct that trend against a feisty Ravens front. The cream tends to rise to the top in December, and Baltimore fits the billing.C Jackson CowartMark Andrews over 3.5 receptions (-130)It's been a disappointing year for Andrews - and he's missed the team's last two games - but this is an ideal spot for a bounce-back performance. The Ravens' top target recorded 12 receptions during his last two games and has logged at least three catches in eight of his 10 contests this year - including a five-catch effort in Week 1 against the Browns.Cleveland has struggled to contain tight ends all year, ranking in the bottom three in average targets allowed (8.33) and receptions allowed (5.75) to opposing tight ends. Expect Andrews to be used early and often in his return.(Odds source: theScore Bet)Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is openly questioning his play after the Pittsburgh Steelers' second straight defeat.The Steelers lost 26-15 to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night after a particularly poor outing from their offense.Roethlisberger completed 56.8% of his pass attempts for 187 yards and two touchdowns, and he also added two interceptions."If I don't play good enough football, then I need to hang it up," Roethlisberger said postgame when asked if the Steelers could regain their form. "But I still feel like I can do enough things to help this team win football games. And I'm going to do everything I can to get us back on track."Asked about his inaccurate passes, Big Ben sarcastically responded, "I'm just not very good."Roethlisberger was also critical of a rushing offense that averaged just 2.8 yards per carry en route to 47 yards overall on Sunday."Defenses can play pass if you can't run the ball, so we need to do better at being a more balanced offense, and we need to do better at executing the plays that are called," he said.Despite the two-game losing streak, the Steelers still hold the NFL's second-best record with three weeks to get back on track before the playoffs."We've lost two, we're facing some adversity, but we're not hitting the panic button," Roethlisberger said. "Offensively, we're not very good, and right now we're not playing good football and that starts with me."... We all need to be better. And I think that we will be."Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL Playoff Picture is a weekly look at the teams jockeying to secure their shot to make it to Super Bowl LV.AFCSeedTeamDivisionRecord1Chiefs (y)West12-12Steelers (x)North11-23BillsEast10-34TitansSouth9-45BrownsNorth9-36ColtsSouth9-47DolphinsEast8-5x = clinched playoff berth

The Las Vegas Raiders fired defensive coordinator Paul Guenther on Sunday, the team announced.Guenther's defense gave up 44 points in a blowout loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 14 to drop Las Vegas to 7-6.Defensive line coach Rod Marinelli will serve as interim DC for the remainder of the season.The Raiders' defense has struggled with consistency in 2020. Over the last four games, it's allowed an average of 37.5 points, with the team going 1-3 in those contests.Entering Sunday's slate, Guenther's unit ranked 23rd in yards allowed and 28th in points surrendered. Only the Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals have accumulated fewer sacks than the Raiders have.Guenther joined Jon Gruden when the head coach was hired in 2018. He was previously the defensive coordinator for the Bengals.Marinelli has plenty of experience on the sideline. The 71-year-old spent six seasons as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach for the Dallas Cowboys before joining the Raiders this offseason. He also spent three years as the Detroit Lions' head coach from 2006 to 2008 and the Chicago Bears' DC from 2010 to 2012.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense made history on Sunday night against the Buffalo Bills.With Tyson Alualu's sack of Josh Allen and forced fumble during the second quarter, Pittsburgh set a new NFL record after notching at least one sack in 70 straight games.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers previously held the record, establishing their mark between 1999 and 2003.The Steelers' defense has been among the league's most-dominant units this season, ranking second in yards allowed per game and first in points allowed heading into Week 14.T.J. Watt leads Pittsburgh with 12 sacks this campaign, while Stephon Tuitt and Bud Dupree - who recently suffered a torn ACL - have notched eight apiece.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford suffered a rib injury late in Sunday's loss to the Green Bay Packers.Stafford was hurt on a red-zone scramble midway through the fourth quarter when Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark hit him. The veteran stayed in for the next play, but he exited the field holding his left side.Detroit listed Stafford as questionable to return, and Chase Daniel played the remainder of the game under center.Interim Lions head coach Darrell Bevell said Stafford will undergo X-rays on his ribs, according to ESPN's Michael Rothstein.Bevell added postgame that it's "too early to tell" if Stafford will miss time, saying it would "take something drastic" for him to sit out next week, according to MLive's Benjamin Raven.The 32-year-old has played through several injuries during his career. He was even questionable for the Week 14 tilt with a thumb ailment.The Lions dropped to 5-8 with the defeat, and Green Bay clinched the NFC North for the second straight season.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Football Team quarterback Alex Smith injured his calf in the second quarter and didn't return to Sunday's 23-15 win over the San Francisco 49ers.X-rays on Smith's leg were negative, head coach Ron Rivera said, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.Dwayne Haskins replaced the veteran passer for the rest of the game. Rivera said he turned to Haskins "out of an abundance of caution."Smith exited the field with the team's medical staff to be evaluated in the locker room prior to the end of the first half. He was listed as questionable to return.The 36-year-old struggled to move the ball consistently against San Francisco prior to his exit, throwing for 57 yards and an interception.Meanwhile, Haskins finished his relief appearance with 7-for-12 passing and 51 yards.Smith entered the contest with three wins in his first four starts since returning to the field after what looked like a career-ending leg injury in 2018.Washington already lost quarterback Kyle Allen for the season after he dislocated his ankle in Week 9.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For the second straight year, the Green Bay Packers are kings of the NFC North.Green Bay clinched the division crown with a 31-24 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.Aaron Rodgers continued his dominant campaign in Week 14, completing 25-of-32 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns.More to come.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings kicker Dan Bailey had a historically poor outing in Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Bailey missed all three of his field-goal attempts and also failed to convert on his only extra-point attempt in Week 14.He's missed seven kicks over his last two games after failing on two extra points and one field goal last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars."We'll have to decide (our kicking situation) as we move forward," Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer told reporters following the loss, according to The Athletic's Chad Graff."At this point in time, we're not really worried about feelings anymore," Zimmer added.The last player to miss at least three field goals and an extra point without converting any other attempt was John Aveni for Washington in 1961, according to ESPN Stats & Info.Minnesota fell out of a playoff spot with the defeat, dropping to 6-7.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs clinched the AFC West for the fifth straight season after beating the Miami Dolphins 33-27 on Sunday.More to come.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes already owns one NFL MVP award and is making a strong case to win the honor again in his third season as a starter.Teammate Mecole Hardman thinks it may be time to rename the award after Mahomes."I think it gets to the point where ... I think I heard somebody say they should just name the award after him," the Chiefs wide receiver told NFL Media. "Name the MVP award the 'Mahomes Award.' Because I feel like, I'm a big LeBron fan, and every year I'm like, this man is averaging 27, eight, and eight, and taking his team to the Finals - you know what I'm saying? Nobody is doing that. He's in year 17 or 18, what's the discussion?"The year James Harden won it; LeBron definitely should have won it that year. He had more points than him that year, more assists, more rebounds. I think they do it to the point where they don't want to just have Pat win it every year or LeBron win it every year. ... Just name the award after him."Mahomes, who also won Super Bowl LIV MVP, has a league-leading 3,815 passing yards and ranks third in passing touchdowns with 31 entering Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys aren't planning to move on from head coach Mike McCarthy in the offseason despite his dismal first year at the helm, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.McCarthy has endured a rocky debut in the Lone Star State, with the three-win Cowboys underperforming even more than they did during their 8-8 campaign under Jason Garrett in 2019. Dallas was notoriously patient with Garrett, giving him 10 seasons despite frequent calls from fans to fire him.McCarthy may make changes to his staff at the end of the year, especially on defense where the Cowboys are surrendering a league-worst 32.8 points per game. Dallas ranks in the bottom 10 of the NFL in both scoring defense and scoring offense.Before arriving in Dallas, McCarthy posted a 125-77-2 record from 2006-18 and won Super Bowl XLV with the Green Bay Packers.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette was ruled inactive for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings.Fournette wasn't listed on the injury report heading into the Week 14 matchup. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports Fournette is a healthy scratch.The 25-year-old has struggled to gain a footing in Tampa Bay's backfield after being signed shortly before the season opener. The former Jaguars running back has taken a back seat to Ronald Jones for the majority of the campaign.Jones has accumulated 820 rushing yards, while Fournette has managed just 271.Fournette has just one 100-yard game and totaled fewer than 10 carries in each of his last four contests.The Buccaneers have lost two straight games and are looking to get back on track against the Vikings.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints are being cautious with Drew Brees' recovery and have no plans to hurry him back for Week 15, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Brees' status for next Sunday's tilt against the Kansas City Chiefs is questionable at best, sources told Schefter.There is no clear timetable for Brees' return from his 11 fractured ribs and collapsed lung, as the Saints want to ensure the quarterback makes a full recovery. The 41-year-old must first be able to throw without restrictions and have a full range of motion, Schefter adds.Sunday's contest against the Philadelphia Eagles will be the fourth that Brees has missed since being put on injured reserve.Taysom Hill has filled in under center in Brees' absence and has compiled a 3-0 record as a starter. A dual-threat weapon, the 30-year-old has rushed for four scores over the last three games and threw the first two touchdown passes of his career last week.The Saints have won nine straight games and sit atop the NFC with a 10-2 record. With a playoff spot already clinched, New Orleans will attempt to keep the Green Bay Packers at bay for the conference's highest seed.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was the winner of FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019, marking the seventh time he's placed in the top 10. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 14.Half PPR

The NFL nixed Tom Brady's multi-day golf trip with Bruce Arians during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' bye in Week 13, citing COVID-19 protocol, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Under the protocol, the league prohibits gatherings outside team facilities. Brady and Arians reportedly planned to play two or three rounds at Tampa's Old Memorial Golf Club.The Brady-Arians relationship has been scrutinized for much of the season. The fiery head coach has often criticized his new quarterback's play publicly in their first year together, while observers have questioned Arians' usage of Brady in his vertical passing scheme.Tampa Bay went into its bye with a 7-5 record. Brady has thrown for 3,300 yards with 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He hasn't thrown more than 11 picks since 2011.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles demoted Carson Wentz for Week 14 but intend to keep the quarterback for the foreseeable future, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Philadelphia still believes Wentz can revert back to being the quality signal-caller he's shown himself to be in years past, Schefter adds.Wentz's contract heavily complicates matters. He signed a four-year, $128-million extension in June 2019 and has an abundance of guaranteed money coming his way.The 27-year-old carries a $34.6-million cap hit next season and a dead cap charge of $59.2 million if cut. Wentz will be owed a $10-million roster bonus if he's on the team by the third day of the 2021 league year, which would fall sometime in March. His base salary for 2022 also becomes fully guaranteed on that day, Schefter adds.Trading Wentz wouldn't be easy, and the Eagles would still be on the books for a significant portion of his salary even if they manage to move him before the third day of the 2021 league year.Wentz leads the league in interceptions (15) and sacks suffered (50). His struggles have forced Philadelphia to turn to Jalen Hurts. A quality performance from Hurts in Week 14, and possibly down the stretch, would likely make the Eagles' QB decision even tougher.Hurts brought signs of life to an otherwise lifeless Eagles offense in Week 13, throwing for 109 yards and a touchdown. The Oklahoma product is set to take on the New Orleans Saints and their second-ranked defense in Week 14.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs is likely to play in Sunday's pivotal Week 14 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.The 22-year-old missed last week's game against the New York Jets with an ankle injury.Jacobs was listed as questionable for Sunday's game after limited sessions in practice Thursday and Friday.He was sorely missed in Sunday's 31-28 victory over the Jets. The Raiders struggled to run the ball, as backup Devontae Booker led the way with 50 rushing yards on 16 carries.Jacobs has 782 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the season.The 7-5 Raiders currently sit eighth in the AFC, while the 8-4 Colts occupy the conference's final wild-card spot.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions' offensive duo of Matthew Stafford and D'Andre Swift is expected to play in Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Stafford has been limited in practice all week with a right thumb injury. The quarterback was listed as questionable, but he's proven capable of playing through an injury for most of his career.The 32-year-old led the Lions to a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Chicago Bears last Sunday.Swift has missed Detroit's last three games. The rookie running back is over the concussion suffered in practice three weeks ago, but he's been battling an illness the past two weeks. The 21-year-old was a full participant in Friday's practice.The Lions have been relying on veteran back Adrian Peterson in Swift's absence.The 5-7 Lions are clinging to slim playoff hopes but will have to battle the NFC North-leading Packers without receiver Kenny Golladay and top draft pick Jeff Okudah. Both players have been ruled out for Week 14.Copyright © 2020 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.We split our four props in Week 13, but we were close to sweeping the card. Allen Robinson and Corey Davis effortlessly cashed their receiving totals, while Tyler Lockett and Nelson Agholor came up 1.5 and 4.5 yards short of their props, respectively.Let's keep the good times rolling in Week 14. Here are the prop bets we like this weekend.Russell Wilson over 284.5 passing yardsWilson could use a big game. The Seahawks had absolutely no answer for the Giants last week, but thankfully, the Jets' defense is in a completely different tier.The Jets currently own the league's worst DVOA pass defense, which could be the perfect remedy for Wilson after he completed just 62.8% of his passes for one interception and a season-low 31.8 quarterback rating against the Giants.Adam Gase's team has given up 381, 257, and 366 passing yards over its last three games, surrendering eight total touchdowns to just one pick.The Seahawks would be wise to let Russ cook.Keenan Allen over 72.5 receiving yardsThe Falcons' defense is a unit on the rise, allowing 19.6 points per game in its last six games after giving up an average of 30.6 over the first five.But the quality of competition is concerning.Atlanta has twice faced the Saints with Taysom Hill at quarterback over its recent surge, along with the Lions, Broncos, Panthers, and Vikings. Only one of those teams - Carolina - ranks better than the Chargers in DVOA pass offense, so L.A. is a breakout candidate - especially after getting blanked in Week 13.The market is expecting around seven touchdowns, and both these teams tend to get volatile. If this one gets wild, Allen might break the stat sheet.The veteran receiver ranks No. 1 in the league in targets, seeing double digits in six of the last seven. In four games against units ranked 20th or worse in DVOA pass defense, Allen has compiled 44 catches for 342 yards; the Falcons are No. 19 in that metric.Adam Thielen under 74.5 receiving yardsThielen is on a bit of a heater. He's had at least 75 yards in back-to-back outings after behind held under that number in four straight.But those two tilts were against the Jaguars and Cowboys. The Buccaneers are a different beast, ranking fourth in yards per completion allowed and eighth in DVOA pass defense.Fading a receiver who sees a ton of volume can be a headache, but Thielen is facing one of his toughest matchups of the year. Go under.(Odds source: theScore Bet)Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.Copyright © 2020 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.Our primetime best bets have been on an absolute heater and the timing couldn't be much better with the holidays just around the corner.We've got a huge AFC tilt on Sunday night as the Steelers visit the Bills. Here's what we like:Alex KolodziejUnder 48This number’s way too high for my liking – and that’s saying a lot because the Bills have been one of my favorite teams to bet over the total this season. Josh Allen worked the 49ers’ defense last weekend. Allen primarily picked apart the zone and wound up finishing with 375 yards and four touchdowns.Sunday’s game against Pittsburgh could be tough sledding. The Steelers’ secondary ranks No. 1 in the NFL in DVOA pass defense and is in for a bounce-back game after dropping their first contest of the year to Alex Smith and Washington.Pittsburgh’s offense deserves to be downgraded. The Steelers are no longer in the top half of the league in DVOA while the Bills have risen from No. 30 – where they were in Week 6 – to No. 16.This is too many points for this matchup.Alex MorettoDiontae Johnson over 6.5 receptions (+120)Ben Roethlisberger is going to be icing his elbows late into Monday morning because the Steelers are going to have to throw early and often. Buffalo's run defense has been among the worst units in the NFL this season, but we have to look beyond the numbers here.Tremaine Edmunds has been excellent the past couple weeks after finally getting back to full health, and fellow linebacker Matt Milano finally returned last week against the 49ers. With these two on the field, this is an above-average group that can contain an anemic Pittsburgh rushing attack, with or without James Conner.The Bills are content giving up yards in small chunks on defense, keeping everything in front of them. We can expect a lot of intermediate passes in a game where Roethlisberger is going to throw a ton, and that's Diontae Johnson's bread and butter. The 24-year-old's averaging 7.5 air yards per target this season, with Chase Claypool (12.9) as the deep threat and Juju Smith-Schuster (5.4) as the underneath guy.Johnson has hoarded targets since recovering from the pair of nagging injuries that slowed him earlier in the season. He's got at least 10 targets in each of the last five games - 62 total - and 40 receptions over that span. Johnson's gone over this number in each of the last three games and we're getting a great price on him to do so again in a game where he should be awfully busy.C Jackson CowartBills -2Oddsmakers are finally coming around on Buffalo, one of the more underappreciated teams in the league despite a 9-3 record and four-game ATS win streak.The club's offense has shown elite upside when Allen is dealing, as he was last week during a 375-yard, four-touchdown performance in prime time against the 49ers. And the Bills' defense, while oft-criticized, has actually been one of the more consistently average units in the league.The same can't be said for the Steelers' offense, which ranks 25th in yards per play and has been responsible for four or more touchdowns just three times this year. The way to beat Buffalo is a track meet, not a slugfest, and lately, Pittsburgh hasn't shown its capable of that task.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins running back Myles Gaskin will not play Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs after being placed on the COVID-19 list.Gaskin's absence weakens an already thin Miami rushing attack. Matt Breida is also on the COVID-19 list, while Salvon Ahmed was already ruled out for Week 14 due to a shoulder injury.

Detroit Lions rookie cornerback Jeff Okudah will miss the rest of the season due to a groin injury that will require surgery, a source told The Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett.The No. 3 overall pick in April's draft missed the last two games with a shoulder injury.While Okudah's shoulder is no longer an issue, he reportedly elected to have the procedure on his groin Tuesday in order to have a full offseason to get ready for 2021. The ailment has apparently plagued Okudah since his time at Ohio State.Detroit sits at 5-7 and is close to being eliminated from playoff contention.Okudah produced an inconsistent first season in the NFL. He allowed 41 catches and two touchdowns on 53 targets for a passer rating of 118.0 in nine appearances. The rookie also has one interception and 47 total tackles.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard will miss the remainder of the 2020 season and declare for the 2021 NFL Draft, head coach Mike Gundy said Saturday, according to Tulsa World's Frank Bonner II."Chuba’s chosen to go to the NFL," said Gundy.The redshirt junior has been dealing with a nagging injury for much of this year. He's missed the Cowboys’ last two games and had 14 carries in the entire month of November. He hasn't played since a 41-13 loss at Oklahoma on Nov. 21.The Sherwood Park, Alberta, native decided to return to Stillwater at the end of the 2019 season after leading the FBS in rushing with 2,904 yards and 21 touchdowns,Hubbard has 133 carries for 625 yards and five touchdowns this season.The announcement comes just hours ahead of Oklahoma State’s regular-season finale against Baylor. Along with Hubbard, the Cowboys could be without fellow running back LD Brown and star receiver Tylan Wallace, who are both game-time decisions.Dezmon Jackson is expected to see an expanded role on Saturday.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is expected to start Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, according to The Athletic's Dan Duggen.Jones missed the Giants' previous game due to a hamstring injury but returned to practice this week, participating in a limited capacity. A final check on the quarterback's hamstring Saturday also went well, Duggan adds.Colt McCoy started in Jones' place in Week 13 in an upset victory over the Seattle Seahawks. In his first start of the season, McCoy threw for 105 yards and one touchdown. The veteran quarterback will presumably return to backup duties.The 5-7 Giants are currently in first place in the NFC East, holding a tiebreaker over the Washington Football Team.Jones has completed just over 63% of his passes this season but has thrown more interceptions (9) than touchdowns (8) thus far.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers are expected to hand out fines of at least $10,000 to players who violated COVID-19 protocols during the team's bye week, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Wide receivers D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel, and Ishmael Hyman, defensive tackles Derrick Brown and Zach Kerr, linebacker Shaq Thompson, offensive tackle Greg Little, and punter Michael Palardy were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday.A number of those eight players met outside of the team facility. Players are prohibited from meeting or practicing outside team headquarters under protocols created by the NFL and NFL Players Association.The Panthers could also potentially be the latest team to face discipline from the league for violating COVID-19 protocols.The Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints were both fined $500,000 and lost sixth- and seventh-round draft picks, respectively, for breaking protocols. Meanwhile, the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots were hit with $350,000 fines for their violations.Carolina sits at the bottom of the NFC South with a 4-8 record and is set to play the Denver Broncos on Sunday.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks' Week 14 game against the New York Jets has slightly more meaning than a regular contest for Jamal Adams.For Adams, Sunday marks the first game against the former team he spent three eventful years with. Despite being vocal about his frustration towards the end of his tenure and requesting the trade that ultimately landed him in Seattle, the star safety still respects the Jets."Things happened the way it happened - I had to do what I had to do to get out of my situation and I'm happy to be here, man," Adams told reporters on Friday, according to SNY's Ralph Vacchiano. "I'm happy to be a part of an organization that values me and respects me for who I am on and off the field. ... but I have nothing but love for the Jets organization.""I pray one day they do figure it out and get the ball rolling because the fans deserve it over there ... They're so passionate and they're so loyal," he added, via team reporter John Boyle.The seeds of a divorce between Adams and New York were seemingly planted just before the 2019 trade deadline when the safety learned the club was mentioning him in talks with other teams. The 25-year-old also sought an extension before being dealt but complained about the time it was taking to receive an offer.The All-Pro defender also addressed his relationship with Adam Gase ahead of the Week 14 tilt, claiming he feels no ill will towards the Jets' head coach."I don't hate Adam Gase, I have no problem with Adam Gase," Adams said, according to Vacchiano. "I just didn't feel he handled certain situations well as a head coach. And that's just my opinion, everyone is entitled to their opinion."If Adam comes up to me and shakes my hand, I'm (going to) shake his hand, there's no love lost," he continued. "Listen, I'm at peace, man. I'm a different guy."Adams has amassed 58 tackles, seven sacks, and one forced fumble in eight games with Seattle this season.Copyright © 2020 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.Nothing feels better than perfect predictions, which we enjoyed after sweeping the best bets in Week 13 to bring my record to 5-1 against the spread over the last two weeks. Here are my best bets for this week.Titans (-7.5, 52.5) @ Jaguars, 1 p.m. ETSometimes the number dictates everything, and that's the case with this game. Yes, the Titans are clearly the better team, and they'll blow this contest open if they exploit the Jaguars' suspect run defense. Yet Jacksonville is one of the few teams to hold Derrick Henry under 100 yards this year, and it simply has a knack for sticking around in games that it shouldn't.Since their Week 8 bye, the Jaguars have lost four of their five games by a combined 11 points against the Texans, Packers, Browns, and Vikings. Much like the Titans, those latter three all boast top-10 rushing offenses, yet Jacksonville stayed within the number in each of those matchups. The Jaguars also nearly upset Tennessee back in Week 2 in a 33-30 loss as a 7-point underdog.Of the Titans' eight wins this year, only two came by more than seven points. This has "trap game" written all over it, and even if Tennessee avoids the stumbling block, expect the final score to be close.Pick: Jaguars +7.5Vikings @ Buccaneers (-6.5, 52.5), 1 p.m.The Buccaneers clearly haven't played their best football as of late with three losses in their last four games, but you have to consider the competition. Tampa Bay's three losses came against the Saints, Rams, and Chiefs - all rank in the top six in DVOA and PFF.Against all other teams this season, the Bucs are 5-2-1 ATS with an average scoring margin of plus-14.5 points, and six of their seven wins this year have come by at least seven points. They're also 3-1-1 ATS against teams without a winning record, beating them by an average of 12.8 points per game.The Vikings' best chance of pulling off the upset - or even keeping it close - is a potent rushing attack led by Dalvin Cook. That'll be a tough ask against Tampa Bay's top-ranked rush defense, which has allowed just two teams to run for 100 yards total in a game this year. This isn't a spot to short the Bucs.Pick: Buccaneers -6.5Washington @ 49ers (-3.5, 43.5), 4:25 p.m.This line suggests two things about the 49ers, neither of which is true. For one, it implies San Francisco is clearly a superior team to Washington. That's a tough sell, given how these teams have played over the back half of the season. The line also seems to value home-field advantage for the Niners, which is flimsy at best considering the team is playing in Arizona with no fans.Washington has played like a top-half team over its 5-1-1 ATS run, and its elite defense should create trouble for Nick Mullens, who is a dramatically different quarterback with and without pressure. Alex Smith has been the steadying force for this Washington offense, and he has enough support defensively to pull off the upset against the team that drafted him.Pick: Washington +3.5(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 © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans placed running back David Johnson on the team's reserve/COVID-19 list Friday.Johnson missed Thursday's practice due to a personal issue. Whether the matter is related to Johnson landing on the COVID-19 list remains unclear.The 28-year-old returned to Houston's lineup in Week 13 after missing three games due to a concussion and tallied 44 yards with a rushing touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts.Johnson has rushed for 452 yards and four touchdowns through nine games this season while adding 16 receptions for 161 yards and a score.The Texans also received some positive news when rusher Duke Johnson was upgraded to a full participant in Friday’s practice, according to Aaron Wilson of Houston Chronicle. The Miami alum is expected to see an increased role Sunday if David Johnson is unavailable.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Football Team running back Antonio Gibson won't play in Week 14 versus the San Francisco 49ers due to turf toe, according to the Washington Post's Nicki Jhabvala.Gibson's status was thought to be in doubt once his injury diagnosis was revealed. The rookie was injured Monday, early in Washington's victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.With Gibson out, Washington figures to split backfield duties between J.D. McKissic and Peyton Barber.Gibson rushed for 659 yards and 11 touchdowns while catching 32 passes for 233 yards over his first 12 games.Washington enters the weekend tied with the New York Giants for the best record in the NFC East at 5-7, but sits second in the division after dropping both head-to-head meetings with New York.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jason Peters will miss the rest of the season due to a toe injury that will require surgery, head coach Doug Pederson announced Friday, according to Stacey Dales of NFL Network.The 38-year-old - who missed most of October while on injured reserve - has played through the ailment in recent weeks but has failed to play up to the high standard he set throughout his likely Hall of Fame career.Philadelphia's playoff chances are slim with four games to go, so it appears the team opted to shut down the veteran.The longtime left tackle was re-signed by Philadelphia to play right guard, but a season-ending injury to Andre Dillard early in the year forced the Eagles to shift the nine-time Pro Bowler back into his original spot.However, Philadelphia moved the struggling Peters back to right guard and replaced him with Jordan Mailata several weeks ago.Nate Herbig is set to replace him for the rest of the campaign.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones won't play in Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers due to a hamstring injury that has sidelined him from practice this week, interim head coach Raheem Morris announced Friday.Morris added the team will decide later whether the star pass-catcher will be shut down for the rest of the season, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The 4-8 Falcons are all but eliminated from playoff contention.Jones missed one of last week's three practices with the hamstring issue but managed to suit up for the Week 13 loss to the New Orleans Saints, catching six passes for 94 yards in the contest.With Jones out against Los Angeles, Russell Gage is set for an expanded role alongside Calvin Ridley.The 31-year-old Jones - who has missed three games this season - has racked up 51 catches, 771 yards, and three touchdowns in nine starts. The veteran is averaging his worst yards-per-game mark (85.7) since his sophomore season in 2012.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 14 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 14 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartTom Brady, Buccaneersvs. Vikings Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhile the Buccaneers' offense remains a work in progress, Brady has still averaged the 11th-most fantasy points among quarterbacks this season, and he should be rested and ready coming off the team's Week 13 bye.Now the 43-year-old enters his easiest stretch of the campaign with matchups against the Vikings, Falcons, and Lions. The weather forecast is ideal for this week's date with Minnesota in Tampa, and then the Bucs hit the road for a pair of dome games in Atlanta and Detroit.Even if Mike Evans - who's dealing with a hamstring issue - is sidelined or limited against the Vikings, there's still plenty of skill-position talent for Brady to utilize in a contest with the third-highest projected point total on the Week 14 slate at 52.5.Brady is a locked-in QB1 with top-five upside if Kirk Cousins can help turn this game into a shootout.Boone's projection: 321 passing yards, 3 TDsOther QBs to start

The New England Patriots pulled Cam Newton in favor of Jarrett Stidham late in Thursday night's 24-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.Stidham took over for Newton with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter and the Patriots trailing by 21 points.Newton completed nine of 16 passes for 119 yards and an interception but was also sacked four times.Since the veteran passer entered the game dealing with an abdominal injury, the benching was likely part performance-based and partly to save him from further damage.Head coach Bill Belichick confirmed as much following the game, telling reporters "Cam's our quarterback" moving forward, according to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe.Thursday marked Newton's third consecutive poor passing day. The Patriots blew out the Los Angeles Chargers 45-0 last Sunday, but the former league MVP had just 69 passing yards and a touchdown pass. The 31-year-old completed nine of 18 passes for 84 yards and two interceptions in a narrow win over the Arizona Cardinals the previous week.Stidham finished the night completing five of seven passes for 27 yards and was sacked twice.The Patriots now have nine days to rest before visiting the Miami Dolphins on Dec. 20.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots' incredible run of dominance ended on Thursday Night Football with a 24-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.New England dropped to 6-7 with the defeat, meaning its streak of winning at least 10 games in a season will end at an incredible 17 years. Bill Belichick's squad achieved this goal in every campaign from 2003-2019.More to come.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens placed receiver Dez Bryant on the team's reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.Bryant will be sidelined for at least 10 days, forcing him to miss Monday's matchup against the Cleveland Browns.The Ravens' announcement comes just hours after Bryant said he received back-to-back negative COVID-19 results. The wideout tested positive before Tuesday's game against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Buffalo Bills signed general manager Brandon Beane to a multi-year extension, the team announced Thursday.Beane joined the Bills in 2017 and has built a roster that's produced three winning seasons. At 9-3, Buffalo is looking to win its first division title since 1995."Brandon is an outstanding leader, and he has brought a great level of stability throughout our organization," Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula said in a statement."One of the things we appreciate and respect about Brandon is that he is very thorough in his decision-making process. No decision he makes comes without a great deal of study and research."In his first draft with the team in 2018, Beane entered with two first-round picks and used the seventh overall selection on franchise quarterback Josh Allen. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds was selected with the 16th overall pick.Among the contributors Buffalo selected in the two subsequent drafts are defensive tackle Ed Oliver, tackle Cody Ford, running backs Devin Singletary and Zack Moss, tight end Dawson Knox, defensive end A.J. Epenesa, wide receiver Gabriel Davis, and kicker Tyler Bass.Beane also hit on his biggest offseason acquisition. The GM traded the team's first-round pick in this year's draft to the Minnesota Vikings for wideout Stefon Diggs. He formed an immediate rapport with Allen, as he's currently tied for the league lead in catches with 90 to go along with 1,037 receiving yards and four touchdowns."I really can't envision myself working with anybody else but Brandon moving forward," said head coach Sean McDermott, who also worked alongside Beane while with the Carolina Panthers from 2011-16.Copyright © 2020 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.Each week during the NFL season, we'll focus on one underdog with a chance to pull off the outright upset. We're on fire after buying the Lions (+140) as road underdogs against the Bears, which brings us to 6-6 on moneyline underdogs with +4.7 units won.We'll try to make it four straight this week with Washington (+150), which is being seriously undervalued against an underwhelming 49ers squad.Washington is worth your attentionIf you've dismissed the entire NFC East this season - and I can't blame you for doing so - then you're missing out on one of the hottest teams in football. Since losing to the Rams in Week 5, Washington has gone 5-1-1 against the spread while outscoring its opponents by 8.14 points per game.Much of that is thanks to a dominant defense, which ranks fourth in DVOA and second in PFF grades while being elite by standard metrics, too. Washington held the Steelers to 17 points in its stunning win Monday, the fifth time in seven games that it's held its opponent to 20 points or less.Washington is still a work in progress offensively, though Alex Smith has been exactly the stabilizing force this offense needed. The team has averaged 27.8 points since his first start in Week 10, which would tie the Bills for the eighth-best mark over a full season. That level of production is more than enough with the way this defense is playing.49ers struggling amid injuriesOn the other side is San Francisco, which has done little to convince me that it's worth being the clear favorite in this matchup. The 49ers have just one win in their last five games, which not-so-coincidentally coincides with injuries to Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle.San Francisco's offense has been predictably stagnant, but its defense hasn't played well in any of those losses, either. The 49ers have allowed at least 27 points four times since Week 8, tied for the third-most by any team in that stretch. That won't cut it when their offense is averaging just 22.2 points in six games without Garoppolo, and they've posted a 2-4 record in those contests as a result.Nick Mullens has been unreliable in relief and is simply ill-equipped to deal with the pressure coming his way. Among the 30 quarterbacks with at least 250 dropbacks, Mullens ranks 13th in passer rating when kept clean (109.4) and 25th when pressured (48.2), per PFF. Washington is tied for the third-most sacks (36) and should make it a long day for Mullens.Why Washington will winThese teams are virtually identical by most advanced metrics, though that takes into account the first half of the season when the Niners were healthy and Washington was floundering. Times have changed, yet oddsmakers are pricing this like an early-season matchup.Even the regular home-field bump doesn't apply here, as the 49ers settle into their new home in Arizona with no fans, either. Not only is Washington currently the better team, but it's also the better bet to win 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 © 2020 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.We swept our best bets in Tuesday's game, and we'll look to ride that momentum into Thursday after being deprived of TNF last week.Here's what we've got for a cross-conference matchup with major playoff implications as the Patriots visit the Rams.Alex KolodziejRams team total over 24.5Sure, Bill Belichick made life miserable for Jared Goff in Super Bowl LIII, but personnel was also crucial. And there's a noticeable difference between New England's 2018 defense and its current one.The Patriots are No. 23 in the league in DVOA defense this season. Los Angeles ranks No. 4 in DVOA offense and has played the seventh-toughest schedule. New England will arguably be the easiest opponent the Rams' offense has faced since the Cowboys (No. 30 in DVOA) in Week 1.Goff and Sean McVay will have infinitely more fun this time around.Cam Newton under 44.5 rush yardsI'll go under on Newton's yards against a dominant L.A. front. The Rams pace the NFL in DVOA rush defense and rank fourth in explosive rush rate allowed.Star defensive tackle Aaron Donald is going to wreak havoc up the middle; there's no way around it. If the Rams can force Newton to run sideways instead of up the alleys as he wants, the Patriots signal-caller will finish comfortably under this number.Alex MorettoRams win first half and game (-110)Just twice this season have the Patriots faced defenses that cracked PFF's top 10 - the Broncos and 49ers. New England scored one touchdown and managed a combined 18 points over those two games, with Newton throwing for just 255 total yards and five interceptions.Public perception of New England is high after the Patriots thumped the Chargers 45-0 for their fourth win in five games. But the competition hasn't exactly been fierce for Belichick and Co., and a Rams team ranked eighth offensively and third defensively by PFF is a massive step up in class.Donald and Jalen Ramsey will ensure this is a long night for Newton and the rest of the Patriots' offense, which will find itself in a lot of obvious passing situations thanks to a defense that's been torched by the league's more efficient attacking units.There are lots of ways we can use this script - I really like the Patriots' team total under 20 (-105), Rams -5 (-110), and Newton to throw an interception (-120). But my favorite bet on the board is for the Rams to dominate this game from start to finish. Getting L.A. to win the first half and game at -110 feels like stealing.C Jackson CowartJosh Reynolds under 32.5 receiving yardsReynolds' time as the Rams' No. 3 receiver may be coming to an end after he was on the field for just 46% of Los Angeles' offensive snaps in Week 13. It was the fourth-year wideout's lowest share of the campaign and notably lower than that of rookie Van Jefferson (48%), who tied his season highs with four catches on five targets.Reynolds has fallen short of this yardage mark in two of his last three games and faces a Patriots secondary allowing the seventh-fewest receiving yards to opposing pass-catchers. This is neither the time nor the matchup to bet high on Reynolds.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This season hasn't gone to plan for the Dallas Cowboys, who occupy last place in the NFC East and are slumping down the final stretch.Amid a forgettable campaign, one lingering question hovers over the franchise: how will the Cowboys handle Dak Prescott's contract situation?Prescott is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the campaign. He signed a franchise tag worth $31.4 million this past offseason.Dallas can once again tag Prescott should the two sides not come to a long-term agreement, but it's a risky proposition.One of the people calling for Dallas to lock up Prescott to a long-term deal is legendary Cowboys safety Darren Woodson."This guy is, I'm not going to say that he's a top-five quarterback, but he's the franchise quarterback of the organization, and he's the future of this organization," Woodson said on the "The Jake Asman Show" on SportsMap Radio. "So why not, instead of taking care of all the other players that you've paid, pay the most important player on your football team and make him happy."Prescott suffered a season-ending right ankle injury in Week 5 against the New York Giants. Prior to that, he was on pace for a historic campaign with 1,690 passing yards and 12 total touchdowns - nine passing and three rushing - to three interceptions through his first four full contests.Woodson believes the Cowboys signal-caller is worthy of a $40-million yearly salary."To me, that's a no-brainer. It's a no-brainer," he added. "Look, I often slept at The Star in Frisco that overlooks the Cowboys practice field ... and we look outside every day in the offseason, and you see Dak Prescott ... not just throwing balls to Amari Cooper or Michael Gallup, (but) he's throwing balls to the fifth-, sixth-string guys, the special teams' players."Woodson believes the team's recent struggles - particularly on offense - further illustrate Prescott's importance and should help him in negotiations."Every time they go out there, Dak Prescott gets more money," he said. "He makes more money ... every time Andy Dalton and the rest of the guys go out, because you know his importance."The Cowboys have just one win this season without Prescott at quarterback. Andy Dalton, Ben DiNucci, and Garrett Gilbert have all started in place of the 27-year-old, who remains the team's leading passer.Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has suggested he envisions a scenario in which Prescott remains with the team, but there's been no report yet of progress on a deal.For more, check out SportsMapRadio.com streaming live.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Christian McCaffrey's season continues to be ravaged by injuries.Carolina Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said he expects the star running back to miss Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos due to shoulder and thigh ailments, according to Joe Person of The Athletic.The All-Pro running back has already missed nine games with a high ankle sprain and a shoulder sprain.Carolina sits at the bottom of the NFC South and has been eliminated from playoff contention.McCaffrey - who led the league in scrimmage production by more than 500 yards in 2019 - has 225 rushing yards, 149 receiving yards, and six total touchdowns this season.Mike Davis has taken on most of Carolina's backfield work in McCaffrey's absence, racking up 504 rushing yards, 329 receiving yards, and five total scores in 12 appearances (nine starts).The Panthers made McCaffrey the NFL's highest-paid running back with a four-year, $64-million contract extension this past offseason.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was the winner of FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019, marking the seventh time he's placed in the top 10. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 14.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Half PPR

Houston Texans executive vice president and current interim general manager Jack Easterby was the first and most persistent voice behind trading receiver DeAndre Hopkins, according to Sports Illustrated's Jenny Ventras and Greg Bishop.Easterby reportedly began pushing to trade Hopkins as early as 2019, his first year on the job in Houston.One member of the Texans organization recalled Easterby saying on multiple occasions in 2019 in front of other people that the team needed to move on from Hopkins, according to Ventras and Bishop.The Texans eventually dealt Hopkins in a heavily criticized trade earlier this year, sending the four-time Pro Bowler and a 2020 fourth-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for running back David Johnson, a 2020 second-round pick, and a 2021 fourth-round pick.Easterby also openly discussed his perception of players on the roster with others in 2019, sources told Ventras and Bishop. The executive vice president shared his belief that Deshaun Watson and Hopkins didn't see eye to eye, a notion some other people disagreed with.Hopkins, amid a 1,000-yard receiving season with the Cardinals, hasn't been shy in sharing his dissatisfaction with his former team.

Although Marshawn Lynch says multiple teams have reached out to him to gauge his interest in returning to the NFL, the free-agent rusher would only come back for a Super Bowl contender."I've been asked the question by a couple teams here recently: 'Are you ready?' 'I'm ready if y'all Super Bowl ready,'" Lynch said on "The Conan O'Brien Show."Lynch continued: "That's what it would take for me to come out, to come and play again. It would have to be a guaranteed Super Bowl game for me."The former Seahawks running back came out of retirement for a second time last season, signing with Seattle before its season finale. Lynch scored four rushing touchdowns over three games in his return, including two postseason contests.Known for his physical running style, which earned him the nickname "Beast Mode," Lynch could be an effective short-yardage running back for teams entering the playoffs.During this past offseason, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said, "We'll see, you never know," when asked about the possibility of Lynch returning.Lynch, 34, was drafted by the Buffalo Bills before spending most of his career with Seattle. He also spent the 2018 season with the then-Oakland Raiders after returning from his first retirement.Lynch has won one Super Bowl and rushed for 10,413 yards over his career.Copyright © 2020 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.Another week, another winner. Our weekly teasers have been cashing at an incredible clip this season, and our bankrolls are grateful.Now, let's finish the season strong.Vikings at Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET on Dec. 13Line: Buccaneers -6.5Teaser line: Buccaneers -0.5The Vikings have bullied their way into a playoff spot with five wins in their last six contests. In doing so, they've moved to within a game of the Buccaneers, who stumbled into their bye with three losses in four weeks.Competition has been fierce for Tampa over that span, losing to three of the best that the NFL has to offer in the Chiefs, Rams, and Saints. Despite the Vikings' recent surge, this is a step down in competition for the Bucs and a friendly matchup for their struggling offense.Tampa's best solution for its offensive struggles is to give Tom Brady time to throw. Brady has been a deer in headlights under duress this year, posting a QB rating of 49, with five interceptions to just three touchdowns when under pressure. He's been close to unstoppable when kept clean in the pocket, with a 109 QB rating and a 25:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio.The Vikings rank 25th in the NFL in sack percentage, and their pass rush grades as the league's third-worst unit, according to PFF. Those rankings are even worse after the team traded away its leading sack-getter, Yannick Ngakoue, after Week 6. Minnesota has managed just eight sacks in six games since then, and Ngakoue still leads the team despite being gone for half the season. That spells trouble for the Vikings against a Bucs team in a get-right spot coming off a bye.Cardinals at Giants, 1 p.m. on Dec. 13Line: Giants +2Teaser line: Giants +8This game holds massive playoff implications for a pair of teams trending in opposite directions. The Cardinals have lost three straight and four of their last five - their only win coming via a last-second Hail Mary - and find themselves outside of a wild-card spot ahead of their trip to New York. There, they'll take on a Giants team that has won four consecutive and sits atop the NFC East.Kyler Murray's recent performances appear to be at the root of Arizona's struggles. Murray was playing at an MVP level through the first 10 weeks. He averaged 263.9 passing yards and 67.1 rushing yards through the Cardinals' first nine games, compared to just 204 and 20.3 in the last three. He also hasn't managed a single rushing touchdown over the last three contests after managing 10 through his first nine.Can this be attributed to the shoulder injury that he suffered early against the Seahawks in Week 11? Or have teams simply figured out how to contain him in the pocket, with Kliff Kingsbury not making the necessary adjustments?Whatever the case, there is legitimate cause for concern in Arizona. Things won't suddenly get better this week against a Giants team playing as well as just about anyone right now on defense. New York just made Russell Wilson look like Josh Rosen, and over its last four games, the club has registered 12 sacks, five interceptions, and 11 forced fumbles while allowing just three passing touchdowns. The wrong team is favored here.Full teaser: Buccaneers -0.5, Giants +8 ($110 to win $100)(Odds source: theScore Bet)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 © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

One month remains in the 2020 NFL regular season, and it's the most important one on the calendar when it comes to the MVP race.Russell Wilson felt like the leader in the clubhouse after the first half of the season, but that's no longer the case. Here are the top candidates through 13 weeks.5. Josh Allen Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyAllen hasn't always been at his best this season, but he's certainly had way more good days than bad ones. After a bit of a lull in the second quadrant of the schedule, the Buffalo Bills quarterback played some of his best football in November to vault back into the MVP mix.Thanks to his growth as a passer, the Bills have become capable of outlasting anyone in a shootout. And given their deficiencies in the running game and on defense, they often need an air raid to win. Allen is coming off arguably his best game of the season, as he completed 32 of 40 passes against the San Francisco 49ers and tossed four touchdowns on Monday Night Football. Buffalo is flawed, but it looks like a serious Super Bowl threat with a more polished Allen leading the charge.4. Dalvin Cook Stephen Maturen / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Minnesota Vikings were presumed dead after their 1-5 start, but with Cook stirring the drink more than ever before, they're suddenly in playoff position. Kirk Cousins, Adam Thielen, and Justin Jefferson are leading a quality passing attack, and Mike Zimmer's defense has come a long way since Week 1, but this is ultimately still Cook's team.The running back sits second in the NFL in rushing with 1,250 yards and 13 touchdowns and is averaging five yards per carry. He tops the league in broken tackles, with Derrick Henry the only person remotely near him in that category. If the Vikings wind up reaching the postseason, it will be because Cook dragged them there.3. Alvin Kamara Chris Graythen / Getty Images Sport / GettyKamara has been dynamite for the New Orleans Saints, serving as the constant for an offense that has gone stretches without Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, and Emmanuel Sanders. Between his contributions as a runner, receiver, and returner, Kamara is third in the league in all-purpose yards and has totaled 14 touchdowns.Even when the Saints have fielded a full lineup, Kamara has been their focal point. He's first in the NFL in yards after the catch, and 30th in receiving yards overall, ahead of established wideouts like Mike Evans, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and T.Y. Hilton. Similar to how Thomas drew MVP consideration last year, Kamara warrants recognition in 2020 as one of the most valuable offensive weapons in the sport.2. Aaron Rodgers Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Sport / GettyDespite once again putting up with a group of no-name receivers - outside of Davante Adams, who, granted, is awesome - Rodgers is putting up some of the biggest numbers of his career for the Green Bay Packers. In fact, Rodgers has arguably performed better in 2020 than he did during his MVP seasons in 2011 and 2014:YearYardsComp. %TDINT2011464368.34562014438165.638520204526*68.9*48*5**16-game paceThe man has been shredding defenses all year and is now a prime contender to take home his third MVP award. Of course, Rodgers really only cares about winning the Super Bowl at this stage of his career, but the Packers will have an excellent shot at accomplishing that mission as long as he maintains his pace.1. Patrick Mahomes Jamie Squire / Getty Images Sport / GettyLet's be real, Mahomes is the quarterback you least want to see in the final minutes of a close game if you're a fan of any team besides the Kansas City Chiefs. He proved it against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 11 with an effortless touchdown drive late, and again during wins in Weeks 12 and 13 when he refused to let the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos touch the ball with any real time left on the clock.The 25-year-old has a league-high 3,815 passing yards and ranks third in passing touchdowns with 31, while he's committed just two interceptions. Mahomes is the best player on a team tied for the NFL's best record, and unlike the Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger, he doesn't have an elite defense backing him up. When the ball is in Mahomes' hands, the Chiefs feel borderline invincible.Honorable mentions:Derrick Henry: He's the hardest man in the game to tackle, and he's the stabilizing force on a Titans team that is tied for the top spot in the AFC South. Henry is on track for a second consecutive rushing title, and his ability to drain the clock while moving the chains over and over again helps Tennessee's defense in a way that makes him both great and valuable.Aaron Donald: A defensive player will never win the award, but it's always worth noting Donald's dominance on his side of the ball. He's in the mix for a third Defensive Player of the Year trophy while sitting second in the league with 11 sacks despite seeing frequent double-teams and occasional triple-teams.Russell Wilson: Wilson was on a terrific pace early in the season, but both he and the Seahawks have slowed down over the last month or so. He's not completely out of the running, but unless he goes crazy down the final stretch, his first career MVP award will have to wait.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns and New York Giants are taking their Week 15 battle to Sunday Night Football, as the NFL announced Wednesday the game has been moved to prime time.The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers were originally slated to square off that night on NBC, but will instead meet at 1 p.m. ET. on CBS. Additionally, the league set kickoff between the New York Jets and Los Angeles Rams for 4:05 p.m. ET on FOX.The Browns-Giants flex marks the first time this season the NFL has changed the Sunday Night Football schedule to feature a more nationally relevant game. Previously, the league altered the Sunday Night Football slate for reasons related to COVID-19.Cleveland and New York have both leaped into playoff contention and still have paths to division titles, making the Week 15 affair one of the more interesting contests on the schedule.The Browns came into the season with two national TV games, one of which was part of the Thursday Night Football package. Cleveland will face the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football in Week 14 before meeting the Giants six days later.The Giants have also yet to appear on Sunday Night Football this season, previously playing twice on Monday Night Football and once on Thursday Night Football.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts will fulfill a childhood dream Sunday when he takes the field against the New Orleans Saints in his first NFL start."I've been ready to answer the phone. It rang. I answered," the 22-year-old said of head coach's Doug Pederson decision to name him the starter over Carson Wentz, according to John Clark of NBC Sports."I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my parents. My parents found out before I told them. As a kid, you grow up, you dream of opportunities like this."Philadelphia benched Wentz late in its loss to the Green Bay Packers this past Sunday and announced earlier this week that Hurts will take over under center in Week 14.The 2020 second-round pick racked up 109 yards and one touchdown against one interception during his brief appearance against the Packers.The 3-8-1 Eagles sit third in the NFC East behind the New York Giants and Washington Football Team, who each own a 5-7 record. Philadelphia currently has just a 5% chance of making the postseason, according to FiveThirtyEight.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kyler Murray has faced some criticism for his recent performances with the Arizona Cardinals on a three-game skid, but the quarterback isn't worried about the negative feedback."A lot of these games, we're right there, it's just a couple things don't go our way or we put pressure on ourselves," Murray said Wednesday, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. "We make it harder than it has to be. If we just simplify these games, it's pretty simple in itself, but at the same time, it's hard to execute at this level."But I'm not worried about the pressure or anything like that."Murray led the Cardinals to a 6-3 record through the first 10 weeks this season, posting a passer rating of 98.2 and rushing for 604 yards and 10 scores.However, he hasn't been able to replicate that production in recent games. The 23-year-old's passer rating dropped to 84.4 and he hasn't scored a touchdown on the ground during the last three games."I don't listen to outsiders," Murray added. "None of this affects me. I understand what's going to happen inside those lines, prepare for the worst. I'm not tripping over it. With the good and the bad, I understand what's going to happen. I'm not really too worried about it."Arizona's latest defeat - a 38-28 loss to the Los Angeles Rams - dropped the team out of a playoff spot in the NFC. The club hasn't scored 30-plus points since Week 10 after doing so in each of the five weeks prior.The 6-6 Cardinals will try to get back in the win column on the road Sunday against the New York Giants.Copyright © 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.