San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York said head coach Kyle Shanahan told him in training camp of the 2022 season that Brock Purdy was the best quarterback on the roster."'I think our third-string quarterback is our best quarterback,'" York recalled Shanahan telling him after a training camp practice, per KNBR.York added that Shanahan never forced the team to adjust the depth chart, but he believed Purdy would be the starting quarterback for the 49ers at some point.Trey Lance entered the 2022 season as the team's starting signal-caller after the club traded three first-round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft to move up and select the North Dakota State product. He suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, which forced Jimmy Garoppolo into the starting role.The 32-year-old Garoppolo started the next 10 games for the 49ers. He went 7-3 during that stretch but ultimately went down with a foot injury in Week 13 that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.Purdy entered the Week 13 contest in the first quarter and led the 49ers to a 33-17 victory over the Miami Dolphins. He threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns in the game, helping him secure the full-time starting quarterback role."He's always honest," York said of Shanahan. "One thing that owners don't love to hear when they've invested money and or draft picks or both into two people is that the last pick in the draft is the guy that we think is best. That's generally not great news. But he's honest, and he let it play out the right way."Purdy has gone 17-4 in two seasons, throwing for 5,654 yards with 44 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens named Zach Orr their new defensive coordinator on Thursday.Orr spent the last two seasons as Baltimore's inside linebackers coach and will now replace Mike Macdonald, who left to become the Seattle Seahawks' head coach on Wednesday.Orr, 31, was part of Macdonald's impressive coaching staff that helped build football's top-ranked defense last year. The 2023 Ravens became the first team in NFL history to top the league in sacks, points allowed, and takeaways in the same season. Baltimore particularly stood out at linebacker, with Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen earning first- and second-team All-Pro nods, respectively.John Harbaugh's outfit finished the regular season as the AFC's No. 1 seed with a 13-4 record but fell short against the Kansas City Chiefs in the conference title game.Orr also played linebacker for the Ravens from 2014-16, earning a second-team All-Pro berth in his final season with the team. He was forced to retire from the NFL in 2017 due to a congenital neck and spine condition.He began his coaching career as a defensive analyst for the Ravens from 2017-20. Orr then had a one-year stint as the Jacksonville Jaguars' outside linebackers coach in 2021 before returning to Baltimore.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Commanders are hiring Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their new head coach, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Quinn has been Dallas' defensive coordinator since 2021. The Cowboys have finished top seven in points allowed in each of the last three seasons, including consecutive top-five finishes. Dallas also ranked fifth in yards allowed per game in 2023 with just 299.7.Dallas racked up 26 total takeaways and 46 sacks this year, led by cornerback DaRon Bland's nine interceptions and linebacker Micah Parsons' 14 quarterback takedowns.The Commanders also spoke with former New England Patriots sideline boss Bill Belichick before ultimately deciding to bring in Quinn, sources told The Athletic's Dianna Russini.Washington's defense struggled under former head coach Ron Rivera in 2023. The Commanders ranked last in yards (388.9) and points (30.5) allowed per contest while amassing the seventh-fewest sacks and turnovers. Rivera was let go following the final game of the regular season.The Commanders finished with a 4-13 record and own the No. 2 pick in April's draft.Quinn's lone head coaching stint came with the Atlanta Falcons between 2015-2020. He was fired after an 0-5 start to the 2020 season and finished his tenure with a 43-42 record.The 53-year-old has held various positions on defense since he began his NFL coaching career in 2001. He has spent time with the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, and Seattle Seahawks.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales is focused on elevating quarterback Bryce Young and building on his strengths as he takes over the team."We are going to become what Bryce is great at in the pass game," Canales said Thursday, per The Athletic's Joe Person. "We're going to grow to the capacity that he can handle. There's gotta be a commitment and a discipline about that. ... Let's get into these situations to see where he looks most confident."When I see that back foot planted in the ground and that ball rips out of there without any hesitation, I know we've got something."Young struggled in his rookie campaign after being selected No. 1 overall, throwing for 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions as the team limped to a 2-15 record.Despite stumbling out of the gate, Canales said he has faith in Young's ability to be the team's franchise quarterback."As a player, as a person ... I just got more and more fired up about the opportunity to have this amazing talent," Canales said of Young, per ESPN's David Newton. "He's the guy. He's the right guy that we all talk about ... that face of the franchise type of player."The 42-year-old was a first-time play-caller as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator in 2023 and will call Carolina's offensive plays, per Newton. He coached Baker Mayfield to career highs in completion percentage, yards, and touchdowns in his lone season with the Bucs.Canales added that he expects to retain defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero - who interviewed for several head coaching vacancies - calling him a "huge piece" of the team's success, per Steve Reed of The Associated Press.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid believes Patrick Mahomes already has a strong claim to the title of the greatest NFL player of all time.Reid talked up Mahomes in an interview with TMZ Sports, describing the Chiefs quarterback as a "force multiplier" who brings out the best in those around him."You can be down 24, you can be up 15. Whatever it is - as long as No. 15 has the ball in his hands, you know you've got a shot to win," Reid said. "So that's encouraging as a defense, that we just try to give him the ball as much as possible."The guy is a Hall of Famer. First ballot. Probably the best player in NFL history. And he just keeps getting better."Through his first six seasons as the Chiefs' starting quarterback, Mahomes has won two Super Bowl championships, a pair of NFL MVP awards, and two Super Bowl MVPs. The 28-year-old is set to make his fourth Super Bowl appearance on Feb. 11 against the San Francisco 49ers.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans will hire Baltimore Ravens defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson as their next defensive coordinator, sources told Dan Graziano and Turron Davenport of ESPN.Wilson was the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive backs coach for two seasons before landing with Baltimore in 2023. He was also the defensive backs coach for the New York Jets and the Los Angeles Rams. Titans general manager Ran Carthon was the director of player personnel during Wilson's time with the Rams.The 41-year-old also drew interest from the Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, and Los Angeles Rams for their defensive coordinator positions.Wilson played a crucial role in Baltimore's stellar defense this season. The club ranked sixth in passing yards allowed per game while dealing with injuries to star cornerback Marlon Humphrey and safety Marcus Williams.The Titans hired head coach Brian Callahan after moving on from Mike Vrabel. Wilson is the first coordinator Callahan has hired since taking the job.Wilson is now the second key defensive coach to leave Baltimore after defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald accepted the Seattle Seahawks' head coaching job Wednesday. The Ravens have also lost director of player personnel Joe Hortiz, who took the Los Angeles Chargers' general manager position.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Star pass-rusher Micah Parsons believes that the Dallas Cowboys are a few players short of a championship-caliber club."They're talking about how we're going 'all-in' this year. Man, that's what I would hope for," Parsons said on the latest episode of "The Edge" podcast. "I'm 24 years old. I've been in this league three years and I've kinda seen it all. I hope we go all-in. I hope that we go out and get the players that we're missing, because we didn't do that this year. I hope that we challenge ourselves to become better and become greater for us."Parsons' comments come after owner and general manager Jerry Jones said that the Cowboys will be going "all-in" this offseason. The franchise finished with 12 wins for the third consecutive season but struggled to translate that success into an extended postseason push.The Cowboys secured the No. 2 seed in the NFC but suffered a stunning 48-32 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round. The defeat marked the team's first loss at AT&T Stadium since the opening week of the 2022 campaign."To go out like that at home was completely embarrassing and unacceptable," Parsons said.Dallas boasted nine first- or second-team All-Pros in 2023.The franchise didn't sign any big-name free agents last offseason. Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore were acquired via trade, while some of its key contributors, such as Ezekiel Elliott, Dalton Schultz, and Connor McGovern, left in free agency.Improving the roster could be an issue for the Cowboys, who are projected to be over the league's salary cap by $19.7 million, per Over the Cap. Quarterback Dak Prescott is set to account for a $59.4-million cap hit next season in the final year of his contract, while CeeDee Lamb is set to enter the fifth and final year of his rookie contract and is eligible for an extension after a breakout campaign in 2023.Veterans Tyron Smith and Tony Pollard are among the Cowboys' pending free agents.Dallas can pick up the fifth-year option in Parsons' contract this offseason. The three-time Pro Bowler is also eligible for an extension. He quickly emerged as one of the league's elite pass-rushers, racking up 40.5 sacks and 51 tackles for loss in his first three pro seasons.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers are hiring Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley as their next defensive coordinator, the team announced Wednesday."We are excited to welcome Jeff, his wife, Gina, and their daughters, Hope and Leah, to the Packers and the Green Bay community," head coach Matt LaFleur said in a statement. "Jeff has had success at every stop of his coaching career with an impressive track record of developing players at every level. We look forward to him leading our defense."Hafley has spent the last four seasons at Boston College, posting a 22-26 record with the team (7-6 in 2023). One of the reasons behind the 44-year-old's surprising decision to go to the NFL is reportedly the current state of college football."He wants to go coach football again in a league that is all about football," a source told Pete Thamel of ESPN. "College coaching has become fundraising, NIL, and recruiting your own team and transfers. There's no time to coach football anymore."Hafley has spent time as an assistant in the NFL throughout his career. He coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' defensive backs in 2012 and 2013 before becoming the DBs coach for the Cleveland Browns (2014-15) and San Francisco 49ers (2016-18). The New Jersey native also had a stint as Ohio State's co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2019 before taking the Boston College job.The Packers have been looking for a new defensive coordinator since parting ways with Joe Barry on Jan. 24 after three seasons. Green Bay's defense lacked consistency under Barry, ranking 17th in yards allowed in the last two seasons. It also placed 23rd in EPA/play allowed and 10th in points.With head coach Matt LaFleur on the sideline and Jordan Love at quarterback, the Packers boast a promising team that posted a 9-8 record and reached the divisional round this season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks hired Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald as their head coach, the team announced.Seattle gave Macdonald a six-year contract, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. At age 36, he'll be the NFL's youngest sideline boss.Macdonald was a popular candidate around the league during this year's coaching carousel after doing an excellent job coordinating Baltimore's defense for two seasons.The 2023 Ravens became the first team ever to lead the NFL in points allowed (16.5), total sacks (60), and takeaways (31) in the same campaign. The Ravens' defensive unit had one of its best games of the season in a 37-3 victory over the Seahawks in Week 9, allowing just 151 total yards and six first downs.Macdonald will replace longtime head coach Pete Carroll, who posted a 137-89-1 regular-season record and won one Super Bowl in 14 seasons with the Seahawks. The team transitioned the 72-year-old Carroll into an advisory role in a stunning move on Jan. 12."We're going to have a lot of fun, we're going to work our tails off, and it's going to be an incredible ride," Macdonald said Wednesday. "We're going to be here for a long time, and we're going to win a lot of football games."Seattle missed the playoffs in 2023 after finishing third in the NFC West with a 9-8 record. Once considered one of football's premier defenses, the Seahawks have ranked 25th in points allowed in each of the last two years. Their offense placed 17th in scoring this season, down from ninth in 2022.Finding a new offensive coordinator will presumably be one of Macdonald's first challenges in Seattle. Following a Pro Bowl season in 2022, veteran quarterback Geno Smith took a step back in 2023, throwing for only 20 touchdowns against nine interceptions.The Seahawks have made the playoffs four times since 2018 but won only one postseason game in that span.The Washington Commanders are now the final NFL team without a head coach this year. Macdonald was a top target for Washington, along with Ben Johnson, who decided to remain the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator in a surprising move Tuesday.Copyright (C) 2024 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.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, Google, and Stitcher.In this episode, Brad Spielberger of PFF joins Boone to discuss the biggest fantasy questions heading into 2024 free agency.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown says offensive coordinator Ben Johnson told him he's staying with the team due to "unfinished business."St. Brown recalled how Johnson contacted him in the early hours of Tuesday morning to ask him about signing a jersey before the wideout asked the coordinator if he was leaving."He said he couldn't sleep last night," St. Brown said on the "St. Brown Brothers" podcast. "He was thinking about it, and he said, 'There's unfinished business.' He wants to stay. ... He said his heart is in Detroit."Johnson was thought to be one of the hottest head coaching candidates this offseason after his Lions offense ranked fifth in scoring and third in yardage. However, he surprisingly pulled out of the Washington Commanders' and Seattle Seahawks' coaching hunts and announced Tuesday that he'd be staying in Detroit.The coordinator said he arrived at the decision after consulting with his family."Some people, they really want to climb as fast as they can," Johnson said in a statement Tuesday. "I know particularly young coaches want to do that. That's not been the case for me, per se. I want to be around football. I want to win football games. I want to be around good people."Johnson, who has two years remaining on his deal with the Lions, reportedly didn't have his contract adjusted to remain with the team. It was also reported that his asking price "spooked" some teams.The Lions made it all the way to the NFC Championship Game but fell short in a 34-31 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers after squandering a 17-point lead.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston is optimistic that the arrival of head coach Jim Harbaugh will help him bounce back after a disappointing rookie season."I didn't really get a chance to show who I really was and what type of player I am, but I still got the world of confidence in myself even if nobody doesn't," Johnston told ESPN's Kris Rhim. "And so ... going into this next season, I can't wait. Like I said, I feel like I'm due for a breakout."Johnston failed to live up to the hype as one of four first-round wideouts from the 2023 NFL Draft. The TCU product, who was the second receiver off the board, struggled with drops and finished Year 1 with 38 catches for 431 yards and two touchdowns. His average of 0.88 yards per route run ranked 90th among 102 eligible wide receivers, according to PFF.It was a disappointing season for the Chargers as a whole as Los Angeles fired head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco in December. The AFC West club announced Harbaugh as Staley's replacement Jan. 24."His past experience with the (San Francisco) 49ers and then going to college, I have no doubt in my mind that he can get that done with this team at this level once again," Johnston said of Harbaugh. "We've got a world of confidence with him. I've been texting back and forth with some of the players, and we're very excited to get back to work."Harbaugh led Michigan to an 86-25 record and a national title during his nine seasons with the school. The 60-year-old also helped the Wolverines reach a College Football Playoff semifinal two years ago, but they fell short against the Horned Frogs and Johnston, who hauled in six catches for 163 yards and one touchdown.Harbaugh was previously on the 49ers' sideline. He coached San Francisco to three NFC title games and a Super Bowl appearance in a four-season span.In addition to Johnston, the Chargers' wide receiver depth chart features Pro Bowler Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Joshua Palmer, among others. However, L.A. is projected to be $45 million over the salary cap in 2024, according to Over The Cap. Allen and Williams, who missed 14 games in 2023 due to a torn ACL, currently have cap hits of $34.72 million and $32.46 million, respectively.The Chargers recently hired former Baltimore Ravens executive Joe Hortiz as their new general manager.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jerry Jones and Bill Belichick are two of the biggest titans around the NFL, but the Dallas Cowboys owner believes he and the longtime coach could co-exist in the same team if the opportunity ever arose."I know him personally and I like him," Jones told Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein on Tuesday. "There's no doubt in my mind we could work together. None."Jones has committed to Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy for next season despite another disappointing first-round playoff exit.McCarthy is out of contract after 2024, however, and with Belichick seemingly headed for a year away from football following his exit from the New England Patriots, the six-time Super Bowl-winning coach will likely be connected to all available high-profile vacancies next offseason.Jones said he didn't speak to any potential candidates before deciding to keep McCarthy."I don't want to get into, for reasons of talking about anybody that I may have talked to that's been bantered around about coaching," Jones said. "But I didn't talk to anybody. I haven't talked to anybody that is a head coaching candidate other than my own."Jones added he "wouldn't speculate" on whether he believes Belichick will get another top job in the NFL. Belichick missed out on the Atlanta Falcons' coaching opening, which ultimately went to Raheem Morris.The Washington Commanders have the lone remaining vacancy and haven't shown any interest in the former Patriots leader.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eagles receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith addressed Philadelphia's late-season struggles on Wednesday, saying head coach Nick Sirianni is still the right guy for the team."We tried to stop the bleeding, but I think we just kind of ran out of time," Brown said on the "Up & Adams Show."Smith said that Eagles players still believe in Sirianni, who's returning for a fourth season with the club despite speculation that he could be dismissed following a 32-9 wild-card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."I don't think he's lost the team," Smith added. "I think we just had some things that we needed to adjust to, and we just didn't do that well as a team. I don't think he's lost the team at all."The sideline boss, who's 34-17 in his head coaching career, recently admitted that the offense "got a little stale" in 2023.The Eagles started the regular season 10-1 but didn't keep their momentum in the campaign's final stretch, losing six of their last seven games. Some of Philadelphia's most prominent players were seen expressing their frustration during games, including Brown, who has repeatedly said he didn't have any issues with how often quarterback Jalen Hurts targeted him during the 2023 season.The three-time Pro Bowl wideout recently sparked speculation about his future after deleting several Instagram posts referencing the Eagles and deactivating his account on X. However, Brown explained that his social media actions "had nothing to do with football.""I kind of have been through this before; I'm a vet," said Brown, who was part of a blockbuster trade from the Tennessee Titans to the Eagles in 2022. Philly signed him to a four-year, $100-million deal following the move.Brown didn't deny the most recent trade rumors, saying that football is "a business.""I think you just gotta be prepared," he added.

Patrick Mahomes explained Sunday's pregame incident involving Kansas City Chiefs players and Justin Tucker, saying the Baltimore Ravens kicker was trying to "get under our skin."While stretching, Tucker left his equipment and footballs in an area where some Chiefs players - including Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce - were warming up. A viral video shows Kelce kicking Tucker's footballs and throwing his helmet away before the AFC championship.

Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has informed the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks that he's returning to Detroit instead of pursuing a head coaching position, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Johnson confirmed the reports Tuesday, saying he made a final decision after a conversation with his family."Talked to my wife about it, and we just came to a really good decision of, 'Hey, you know, we're happy where we are. We love where we are. We love being in Detroit, love the people here,' and just decided then to go ahead and put the brakes on it right now. Just wasn't the time for us," Johnson said, according to Kyle Meinke of MLive.While Johnson - who opted to return to the Lions last year as well after interest - was widely viewed as a favorite to earn one of the two remaining coaching vacancies, he wasn't a lock to earn a top job, and his asking price "spooked" some teams, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN."Some people, they really want to climb as fast as they can," Johnson added. "I know particularly young coaches want to do that. That's not been the case for me, per se. I want to be around football. I want to win football games. I want to be around good people. And when I finally had a chance to step back and take a deep breath and look at it, that was the most important thing."Washington officials found out about Johnson's decision while en route to Detroit to interview the highly regarded offensive coordinator and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, whom the Commanders are still interested in, adds Schefter.Johnson's contract, which has two years remaining, reportedly wasn't adjusted to bring him back.With the Commanders likely to draft a quarterback at No. 2 overall in April, many pegged Johnson as the best candidate for the NFC East team after he helped revitalize Jared Goff's career.In his two seasons as offensive coordinator, Johnson transformed the Lions into one of the NFL's best offenses. Detroit finished fifth in scoring in both 2023 and 2022.Alongside head coach Dan Campbell, the 37-year-old has helped bring the NFC North club back into contention. The Lions won their first playoff game in 32 years and came up just short of making their first Super Bowl appearance after a dramatic second-half comeback by the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC title game."I love Dan Campbell, I've known him for a long time. I believe in the direction of this organization," Johnson said. "And so that truly was the biggest drawing point for me to come back, was what we have here, what we're building here, is something I want to be a part of. I've been a part of a number of losing seasons in my 11 years in the NFL."The Commanders' other main candidates include Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. Washington had a second interview with Bobby Slowik, but the Houston Texans offensive coordinator has also reportedly agreed to stay put.Meanwhile, the Seahawks also are eyeing Quinn and Macdonald, with Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel in contention as well.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans are keeping their standout offensive coordinator.Bobby Slowik, who's generated interest as a head coaching candidate from multiple teams, has agreed to a new contract with Houston, reports Albert Breer of The MMQB.The 36-year-old will receive a significant raise as part of the deal, Breer adds.Slowik gained national attention after helping the Texans' offense improve while working with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud. Houston ranked 13th in points scored in 2023 - up from 30th in 2022 - and made the playoffs with a 10-7 record. Stroud is the front-runner for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award after leading the NFL in passing yards per game and TD/INT ratio.A former passing game coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, Slowik joined the Texans in 2023 as part of head coach DeMeco Ryans' staff. Slowik is one of five finalists for the NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award this season.Multiple teams interviewed Slowik for their vacant head coaching job in 2024, including the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks, who have yet to hire a new sideline boss this year.Quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson - another key member of Houston's staff - is also staying put, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Johnson generated offensive coordinator interest from several clubs this year, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who interviewed him Tuesday.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday that he'll prepare his team to be a contender this year, adding that he has no interest in a rebuild despite the franchise's recent disappointing playoff exits."We will be going all-in. I would say that you will see us this coming year, not build it for the future," Jones said, according to Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.Dallas has enjoyed regular-season success, having won 12 games in each of the last three seasons. Dak Prescott led the NFL with 36 touchdown passes in 2023, helping Dallas finish the year as the NFC's No. 2 seed. However, finding playoff success remains an issue.The Cowboys - whose last Super Bowl title dates back to the 1995 season - have gone one-and-done eight times in the postseason since 1996. The club most recently suffered a 48-32 home loss to the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round."There's no way they're going to explicitly trust you until you get it done," Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said Tuesday when addressing why Dallas fans may have lost faith in the team, according to Hill. "Until we compete at that level and we get the job done, there're going to be doubt."Jerry Jones said he doesn't think his team is far from finally making a deep playoff run, though. The 81-year-old said they can get it done with head coach Mike McCarthy, who's posted a 42-25 regular-season record but is only 1-3 in the playoffs with Dallas."I thought we made a pretty good move four years ago when we hired Mike McCarthy," Jones said, per Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News. "And he's had some great in-season success. He's come up short three times and advanced us in the playoffs. But I like the fact that he's hanging around the rim. ... We're not getting the ball in, but we're hanging around the rim. Let's not discount hanging around the rim."All of the Cowboys' postseason hopes ultimately rely on Prescott, according to Jones."Dak has done nothing to change my mind about any promise for the future," he said. "I think I've said that we will go as far as Dak takes us in the playoffs. Remember that. We will go as far as Dak takes us. And that is how far we went. That doesn't change a thing."Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to hire former Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith as their new offensive coordinator, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.Smith has agreed to what is expected to be a three-year contract, reports Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.The Steelers brought in Smith for an interview Sunday. He was one of three candidates the Steelers announced they were interviewing, along with Houston Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson and former Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown.Smith spent the past three seasons with the Falcons and was fired in January after posting a 7-10 record all three times.Prior to that, Smith was the offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans for two seasons. Led by star running back Derrick Henry, Smith's offense ranked 10th in scoring in 2019 and fourth in 2020. The Titans' rushing attack also placed in the top three in both his seasons.Smith will work with former first-round quarterback Kenny Pickett and the running back duo of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren in Pittsburgh. The Steelers also sport a wide receiver combo of Diontae Johnson and George Pickens.Pittsburgh has been on the lookout for a new offensive coordinator since firing Matt Canada during the 2023 season. Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan shared coordinator roles after Canada's departure.The Steelers ranked 28th in scoring (17.9 points per game) in 2023.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady is feeling like a rookie again as he gets ready to embark on a new career path.The future Hall of Fame quarterback is set to start his role as an NFL analyst for Fox Sports next season, and he told "The Pat McAfee Show" on Tuesday that he knows he has a lot to learn about the job."Naturally, there's skepticism with a lot of different things when you try new areas of growth," Brady said. "I don't think, naturally, I'm gonna go in on Day 1 and have everything figured out. A lot like when I was a rookie in football, I'm gonna be a rookie on Fox."Brady signed a 10-year, $375-million deal with Fox Sports in 2022 to become the network's lead NFL analyst alongside Kevin Burkhardt. He'll replace Greg Olsen, who's expected to be bumped to the No. 2 team at Fox."I think Greg's done an incredible job," Brady told McAfee. "I have so much respect for him, how he approaches his job. He's super prepared in what he does. I think he does an incredible job every time he's on, I love listening to him. And I'm just going to go in there and do the best I can do with my own perspective."Brady retired from the NFL in February 2023 following a 23-year career with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers are planning to hire Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers coach Brad Idzik as their next offensive coordinator, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Idzik will reunite with new Panthers head coach Dave Canales, who previously served as the Buccaneers' offensive coordinator. Canales will call plays for the Panthers, Fowler reports.Idzik has risen through the ranks quickly, as the 2023 campaign was his first as the Buccaneers' wide receivers coach. Before that, he spent time with the Seattle Seahawks from 2019-22, serving as the assistant wide receivers coach, assistant quarterbacks coach, and quality control coach.The Panthers shook up their offensive staff following Canales' hiring, including firing former offensive coordinator Thomas Brown.Carolina averaged under 14 points per game last season (13.9), finishing 30th in the NFL in scoring. First overall pick Bryce Young struggled in his rookie season, throwing 11 touchdowns to 10 interceptions while completing 59.8% of his passes.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers found their new general manager to pair with head coach Jim Harbaugh.Los Angeles agreed to terms with Baltimore Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz to take over as GM, the team announced Tuesday.Hortiz has been with the Ravens since 1998 and held several scouting positions throughout his executive career. He's been Baltimore's director of player personnel since 2019 and worked with Jim's brother, John Harbaugh, during most of his stint in the AFC North.In Baltimore, Hortiz helped build a perennial contender that won Super Bowl XLVII during the 2012 season. The Ravens finished the 2023 campaign as the AFC's No. 1 seed but were eliminated by the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game on Sunday.Hortiz replaces Tom Telesco, who was fired by the Chargers in December along with coach Brandon Staley. Los Angeles announced Jim Harbaugh as its new sideline boss on Jan. 24.Hortiz inherits a Chargers team that has made the playoffs just once since 2019 and is coming off a 5-12 season. However, Los Angeles owns the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and rosters franchise quarterback Justin Herbert, who signed a five-year extension in July.Harbaugh and Hortiz have big decisions to make, as L.A. is currently projected to be $44 million over the salary cap in 2024, according to Spotrac.New York Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown was the other finalist for the Chargers job.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Super Bowl is still 13 days away, but it's never too early to look at all the odds already available for the 49ers-Chiefs showdown in Las Vegas.The game line initially opened with San Francisco as 2.5-point favorites, but that's already been bet down to -1 - essentially a coin flip.The total opened at 47.5, and it appears oddsmakers got that one right, as it remains at that number for now.But before odds on what color Gatorade will get dumped on the winning coach or how long it'll take the anthem singer to finish "The Star-Spangled Banner," let's look at some of the most popular markets' opening lines.Patrick Mahomes is the favorite to win his third Super Bowl MVP. If you believe the Chiefs will win, you may be better off backing Mahomes at +125 to claim MVP instead of the Kansas City moneyline at -105 and hope to dodge huge games from Travis Kelce or Isiah Pacheco.Brock Purdy is the top option of any 49ers player, with Christian McCaffrey close behind. Purdy's never received the credit he's due because of all the talent around him and Kyle Shannan's masterful offensive scheme. If you think that trend may continue in the Super Bowl, backing McCaffrey or Deebo Samuel may be the play.McCaffrey is -230 to score anytime, which equates to an absurd implied probability of 69.7%. However, he scored in 15 of 18 games this season for a hit rate of 83.3%, so perhaps -230 is a valuable price.Mahomes is expected to throw for more yardage than Purdy in the Super Bowl, but both have the same odds of tossing over 1.5 touchdowns.Mahomes is averaging 239.3 passing yards per game in these playoffs after throwing for 261.4 per contest during the regular season. Purdy posted a 267.5 per-game average in the regular season and is at 259.5 in the postseason.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills are promoting linebackers coach Bobby Babich to defensive coordinator, the team announced Tuesday.Babich joined the Bills in 2017 as an assistant defensive backs coach. He acted as the team's safeties coach from 2018-21 before being named linebackers coach in 2022.Linebacker Matt Milano and safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde have earned All-Pro selections with Babich as their position coach. Milano and Poyer were first-team selections in 2022 and 2021, respectively.Buffalo's defense ranked ninth in yards (307.2) and fourth in points (18.3) allowed per game this season despite Milano, Tre'Davious White, and others missing extended time.The Bills didn't have a defensive coordinator in 2023, instead relying on head coach Sean McDermott to handle the bulk of the role's responsibilities. Leslie Frazier was the team's previous defensive coordinator from 2020-22.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find the biggest stories from across the soccer world by visiting our Top Soccer News section and subscribing to push notifications."Get me the fuck out of this poor-ass city."Jorge Bejarano will never forget those words, overheard in a conversation about the Raiders' future about two years before their wish to leave Oakland became public.Bejarano was working as a server at an upscale Japanese restaurant in the city when NFL executives met with Raiders owner Mark Davis in a private area at the venue. The area's seclusion was partly betrayed by its patchy perimeter of bamboo sticks. Davis was asked what he wanted for his franchise."That's exactly what he said," Bejarano recalled. "And that destroyed me."Bejanaro grew up a Raiders superfan. His earliest memory watching football at the Oakland Coliseum was when he was around eight years old. His mother painted his face to look like the Raiders pirate. He remembers taking a ride on the BART, the local transit system, with his father before walking through a tunnel that led to the raucous tailgate parties. He'll never forget being introduced to Oakland's iconic - and intimidating - NFL atmosphere."(There) was this rag doll of a Kansas City Chiefs person, and it was just being thrown in the air and people were pouring beer all over it and kicking it," said Bejarano, who moved from Mexico City to Oakland with his family when he was four."But yet, as scary as it looked, everyone was so welcoming. It felt like I was part of that family instantly."Those bonds tightened. Bejarano's Raiders fascination grew into an obsession.As a kid, Bejarano would ride his skateboard to the Coliseum and often snag a ticket as the game was starting. His passion occupied more time as he got older. Saturday nights and early Sunday mornings would be spent preparing tailgates; beer, ice, and food was needed. He and his friends regularly traveled to watch the Raiders on the road. They yelled and screamed through games, even when their team trundled toward yet another miserable season. He wore a menacing mask and tactical gear embellished with patches and pins. He was known as Savage Raider.Jorge Bejarano as Savage Raider Jorge BejaranoAs the Raiders' departure for Las Vegas loomed, Bejarano and his friends tried to prolong gamedays: earlier starts, and even later finishes. The Raiders' last home game in Oakland was on Dec. 15, 2019."It was a huge goodbye. It wasn't only a goodbye to the team, it was a really big goodbye to our lifestyle," Bejarano explained."I cried so much the day that they left."Bejarano said he barely had a social life after the Raiders departed. It was hard to find excuses to get people together once a week, or even once a month. The close ties between Bejarano and his hardcore Latino group started to unravel when their team bolted.Back then, it felt like that sense of belonging was gone for good.The exodusSports provide a valuable distraction from reality. A game can be the finishing line after another arduous week. In Oakland, where crime soared in 2023 and poverty is almost 2% higher than the national rate, following a team offered a welcome break from the struggles of day-to-day life.But, bit by bit, Oaklanders have been denied those opportunities to escape.The Raiders kicked off in Las Vegas in 2020. San Francisco, Oakland's glitzy neighbor, tempted the NBA's Golden State Warriors across the bay the previous year, and is set to host the Bay Area's new WNBA team beginning in 2025. MLB's Oakland Athletics' lease at the Coliseum expires in 2024 and the team doesn't plan to stick around; its owners voted unanimously last November to approve the franchise's long-touted move to Vegas.'For Oakland': Kids at the Warriors' last game at Oracle Arena Andrew D. Bernstein / National Basketball Association / GettyPaul Brekke-Miesner, an Oakland sports historian, can't recall another city losing three sports teams in such a short span."I think the biggest hurt of all is that rooting for your sports teams, it's a community event," Brekke-Miesner, 78, explained. "We have lots of different races and economic classes and cultures in Oakland. We're one of the most diverse cities in America and all these diverse groups of people come together and root for the home team."Brekke-Miesner blames greed for teams leaving Oakland, and is particularly bothered by the Athletics' ongoing departure. The acrimonious exit has contributed to a misconception about the city's relationships with its teams. The A's seemed to construct a narrative that blamed fans for dwindling attendance; a franchise with a .340 winning percentage over the past two seasons and that wanted taxpayers to cover significant costs relating to a proposed new stadium apparently wasn't at fault."They've turned the script and they've blamed Oakland and Oakland fans for not supporting the teams, which is total bullshit," Brekke-Miesner said. "Oakland has some of the most rabid fans of any city in America and we supported the teams."Investing in the communityEdreece Arghandiwal leads a fresh generation for sports in the city. He was born in Oakland to immigrants from Afghanistan and raised in the Bay Area. His family is infatuated with the area's identity, drawing parallels between the diversity and resilience of Oaklanders and Afghans. But they mostly love the elements that belong exclusively to Oakland: the social awareness that led to movements like the Black Panther Party, its music and other art forms, its food, and, most of all, its sports."Oakland truly made these organizations what they were," Arghandiwal said of the teams that turned their back on his city. "It was the people."As the co-founder of Oakland Roots and Oakland Soul Sports Club, a soccer organization that encompasses professional teams for both men and women, he's building a brand that focuses on hometown pride and promotes the community.Oakland Soul take on San Francisco Glens during inaugural 2023 season Doug Zimmerman/ISI Photos / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe club supports non-profit organizations that use sports and arts to serve disadvantaged Oakland youth. The club's youth academy is named Project 51O - a reference to Oakland's area code, but with the letter "O" as an extra nod to the city - and has already created a pathway to first teams through its partnerships with local soccer programs. There are numerous tales of people buying Roots and Soul's distinctive pro-Oakland merchandise, which is produced by local company Oaklandish, without knowing there's professional soccer in town. Bay Area music entertains diverse crowds on matchdays while local vendors provide sustenance.The club refuses to ask for public funding when Oakland has more pressing, non-sporting issues to address. So, Roots and Soul attracted 5,434 new owners to invest $3.17 million into the club between Sept. 13, 2023 and Nov. 1, 2023. Some of Oakland's prestigious sporting alumni, like Marshawn Lynch and Jason Kidd, along with big-name musicians like rap star G-Eazy and Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, hold equity in the company. Last year's influx of money, which was collected via a Wefunder page, is being used for general operations as the teams prepare to compete in the USL Championship and USL W League's 2024 campaigns."It's not just about what happens inside of the diamond or inside of the boundaries on the soccer pitch or a basketball court. It's much larger than that when you invest in the community. People will invest back into you and represent you in ways that you wouldn't have asked for," Arghandiwal explained."We designed our identity to not exist without Oakland."The Oakland Ballers, a new baseball team, are appreciative of the relationship they've forged with the Roots and Soul. Two weeks after the A's move from Oakland was green lighted, the Ballers - or B's - announced they'll begin their inaugural season in the independent Pioneer Baseball League in May."The Roots and the Soul are kind of like our Oakland sports big siblings," B's co-founder and CEO Paul Freedman told theScore. "They've been teaching us a lot and we admire and appreciate their mentorship. They've been wonderful for us."Oakland mayor Sheng Thao reps the Ballers Oakland BallersAnother organization that's leaned on the Roots and Soul is the Oakland Spiders, the only other active professional team in Oakland outside of its soccer teams and the departing A's. The Spiders, an ultimate frisbee team, promote their product at Roots and Soul matches, and the soccer club's helped them find field space and facilitated conversations with merchandise partners and sponsors."I respect the hell out of that. I think that's a testament to the people that are in the organization. It's a testament to their commitment, to their values," Spiders president Jackson Stearns said, noting that such genuineness and generosity goes a long way in Oakland.The Spiders are undertaking arguably the hardest job among their peers. Oakland has a long and proud association with baseball, and soccer is the world's biggest sport, but the Spiders often have to educate people on their game before trying to sell it. Still, it may help that all the teams are flying under the same flag in this new era for the city."There's a lot of shit being talked about what the Oakland fans are and a lot of what Oakland is as a city. If the Roots, the Soul, the Spiders, and the Ballers can be part of countering that bullshit messaging - (we're) proud to do it and we will fight for it," Freedman said.Finding a new homeThe buzz around the Roots and Soul eventually reached Bejarano."The moment we sat there, we realized how much of that Oakland pride was being brought into the stands," the former Raiders superfan recalled of his first Roots experience, attended with a close friend.The intimate party atmosphere was compelling. They had to be at the next match. Bejarano, a visual artist, started to create stickers featuring cartoon versions of the players and distributed the packs - named "Los Roots" - around the stands. But it was hard for Bejarano to commit to every home game while he "wasn't fully there with money."That's when a blend of luck and perseverance helped usher Bejarano into a world that "recreated everything" he and his friends thought they'd lost when the Raiders left for Vegas.Oakland Roots' Bryan Tamacas in April 2023 Doug Zimmerman/ISI Photos / Getty Images Sport / GettyThere was a promotion at an Easter-themed Roots match where two season tickets were hidden inside an egg. "We walk into the stadium and there are thousands and thousands and thousands of eggs everywhere. (In) bushes, on the booths, on the taco trucks, on benches, on the floor, everywhere," Bejarano recalled.Bejarano said he and his friend searched around the stadium three times before and during the game. They were pessimistic, and that feeling was compounded each time they saw groups of kids hurtling into bushes and diving under seats to find eggs. Eventually, they defeatedly slumped in their seats, until a staff member informed them the season tickets still hadn't been found. They revived their search. And when they were about to give up for good, there it was, the magical golden egg, underneath a seat, ensuring they could attend matches for the rest of the season.Soon, their support became more colorful. Bejarano and his friend, inspired by fans of their beloved Mexican club Chivas, wore luchador masks, brought flags and banners, and chanted while hanging over the railings. Over time, a Latin-forward contingent grew under the name "Los Roots." Some of the supporters latched on to the group through Roots and Soul matches, but Bejarano believes there are around 30 who now keenly support Oakland's soccer teams after passionately following the Raiders in the past.The Roots and Soul's move to another temporary home in Hayward (south of Oakland, in the East Bay) for the 2023 season brought the atmosphere even closer to what Bejarano loved from his days as an avid Raiders attendee. Open containers and music are allowed. Bejarano's clan is basically doing what it did near the Coliseum - there are DJs, beers, and tacos - with one crucial exception: at these games, an owner will text him to check if his crew has everything it needs."It's way more intimate. I tell all my friends all the time: we dedicated so much money and time and effort to the Raiders, yet the owner never knew who we were," Bejarano said.The Raiders moved to Vegas, but Bejarano and his friends moved their hearts to another city institution. It's a different team, and a different sport, but they're still supporting Oakland.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons announced Los Angeles Rams assistant head coach Jimmy Lake as their new defensive coordinator on Monday.A former college defensive coordinator and head coach at Washington, Lake worked with new Atlanta sideline boss Raheem Morris in Los Angeles in 2023. The 47-year-old helped the Huskies build a premier defense during his time with the school from 2014-21.Lake also had coaching stints as an assistant on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2006-07, 2010-11) and Detroit Lions (2008). He served as the assistant defensive backs coach for the Bucs in 2007 and crossed paths with Morris, then the team's DBs coach.Lake will replace defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, who recently left to take the same job with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2023, Atlanta's defense ranked 18th in points and 11th in yards allowed after ranking 23rd and 27th, respectively, in those categories in 2022.On Monday, the Falcons also officially announced former Rams pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson as their new offensive coordinator.Despite bringing in two new coordinators from the Rams, Morris won't change his special teams coach in his new staff. Marquice Williams is returning for a fourth season with Atlanta, the team said.

Odell Beckham Jr. knows what it takes for a team to win a Super Bowl, and the Ravens receiver said he thought this was the year for Baltimore and quarterback Lamar Jackson.Beckham addressed Baltimore's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game, saying he expects the Jackson-led Ravens to remain in contention despite yet another disappointing playoff exit with the star signal-caller under center."When you have a player like Lamar who, 30 years from now, we'll speak Lamar Jackson's name and everyone is gonna know and remember," Beckham said, according to Paul Mancano of The Baltimore Banner. "There are certain moments that define you, defining moments in your career. This is just one that will be in his career. The greats have all been through tough times, and I don't think this is gonna stop him from wanting to get to his ultimate goal."I think if anything he's gonna work even harder. He wants it bad. I had never seen somebody so locked in and just in that flow and in that era. I just felt like it was his time."Baltimore entered the postseason as the favorite in the AFC and finished the regular season as the No. 1 seed. Jackson is expected to win his second NFL MVP after passing for 24 touchdowns, rushing for five TDs, and posting a 102.7 passer rating in 2023, the second-highest of his career.Jackson had a four-touchdown outing in a divisional-round triumph over the Houston Texans, but he wasn't able to replicate that success in Sunday's 17-10 loss to the Chiefs. The 27-year-old - who's now 2-4 as a starter in the playoffs - completed just 54% of his passes with a 75.5 rating. He's had a passer rating of 80 or worse in five of those six career postseason starts.Brought in to be one of Jackson's main weapons, Beckham caught only three passes for 22 yards in the AFC championship. The star wideout joined Baltimore on a one-year, $15-million deal after not playing in 2022 while recovering from a torn ACL. He helped the Los Angeles Rams win Super Bowl LVI before suffering his knee injury in the big game."There have been some bumps in the road, and there have been some hard times," Beckham said. "It's a lot of demand on your body. It's a lot of hours people don't see where you're at home, you're doing rehab, you're doing all of these things. I was just finally starting to feel even better as this game approached, and just wanted to be able to leave my mark, like everybody in here. I was telling some of the younger guys, 'This is where your legacy is made.'"Beckham ranked second on the team with 565 receiving yards during the regular season. It's unclear if he'll re-sign with the Ravens, but the 31-year-old said Sunday postgame that he loved his time in Baltimore in 2023.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce says he wants to stay with the team in some capacity once he retires."I don't know what's going to happen for me," Kelce said, according to Olivia Reiner of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "But I do know I still want to be involved in the organization and still want to be a part of it, regardless of what the decision is."Because I don't want to ever feel like I'm on the outside looking in on these achievements and these accolades and these opportunities that largely represent entire cities and fan bases and organizations. It's too good a feeling to pass up."Kelce is contemplating retirement after finishing his 13th NFL season, all coming with the Eagles. Following the club's 32-9 defeat against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the wild-card round, Kelce reportedly informed teammates he'd retire. He cleared the air on his "New Heights" podcast, stating he was undecided on his future.The Eagles hired former Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore on Sunday to replace Brian Johnson. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland, who's coached Kelce since 2013, is expected to remain with the club next season."Incredibly disappointing season, especially at the end of it," Kelce said. "And I really, really look forward to next year. I look forward to trying to prove people wrong, especially with some of the recent hires and Nick Sirianni."And there's a lot of things up in the air for the Philadelphia Eagles. But I think that, as a player, you always look forward to go into battle with your guys."The six-time first-team All-Pro has started 193 games in his 13-year career.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs had ups and downs during the regular season, and their struggles were on full display during a stunning Week 16 home loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day.But the Chiefs, who had lost four of six games at that point, bounced back and are 5-0 since then, including the playoffs. Additionally, Kansas City's offense looks more like the explosive unit that helped Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, and Co. win multiple Super Bowls."That was a good wake-up call for us," Reid said Monday about his team's loss to Las Vegas.Reid said the energy from Raiders players might have inspired the Chiefs down the season's final stretch."They came out with great emotion," Reid said. "(Coach) Antonio (Pierce) had them ready to go. But that emotion was the thing that jumped out at you, that they played with. I think it gave our guys a nice little, for (lack of) a better term, wake-up call, that we need to step things up here, that things aren't just going to fall in our lap. ... Here's a team that went through some adversity, and they stepped up and were able to present themselves like they did."We were able to learn from it and move on. I felt all along, though, we had the ability to do that. We just, like I said, we needed a little kick in the tail there."Since that loss at Arrowhead Stadium, the Chiefs have won four games with their starters while averaging 23.7 points per contest, up from roughly 20 points over their previous appearances. Reid's outfit also took down the Los Angeles Chargers 13-12 in Week 18 while resting its main offensive players.The Chiefs entered the 2023 season as the reigning Super Bowl champs and with the NFL's top-ranked offense. However, the offensive unit dropped out of the top 10 in scoring for the first time in the Mahomes era. Kansas City finished the campaign with an 11-6 record, its most losses since 2017.Meanwhile, KC's defense has put on a show all year to help the club win despite its offensive inconsistency. The defensive unit most recently held MVP front-runner Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens to 10 points in the AFC title game to lead the Chiefs to their fourth Super Bowl appearance in the last five seasons.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Steelers owner and team president Art Rooney II said he's done seeing Pittsburgh fall short early in the playoffs, adding that he expects his team to end its postseason win drought sooner rather than later."We've had enough of this," Rooney said Monday, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "It's time to get some wins, it's time to take these next steps."The Steelers haven't had a losing campaign since head coach Mike Tomlin took over in 2007, and they reached the playoffs in three of the last four seasons. However, Pittsburgh hasn't won a postseason matchup since the 2016 campaign, going one-and-done four times in that span. The Buffalo Bills eliminated the Steelers with a 31-17 victory in the wild-card round this year.Tomlin has one year left in his current contract, and there was speculation that he would step away from the Steelers after the team's loss to the Bills. However, the 51-year-old told his players he'll return for the 2024 season.Rooney praised the veteran sideline boss."The players still respond to Mike and that's number one," Rooney added. "He still has the key characteristics that we saw when we hired him. He can keep the attention of a group of 20-year-olds for a whole season and keep them in the fight for the whole way."Still feel good about Mike. Obviously if I didn't, (we) would make a change, but if we didn't think Mike was able to lead us to a championship, he wouldn't be here and that's why he is here."Tomlin helped the Steelers reach the Super Bowl twice in his first four seasons in Pittsburgh, winning the first in February 2009. He's posted a 173-100-2 regular-season record throughout his career but is 8-10 in the playoffs.Tomlin's outfit heads into the offseason with a major question at quarterback after its Week 1 starter, Kenny Pickett, struggled in 2023. The 2022 first-round pick lost the starting job to Mason Rudolph in the season's final stretch.Pickett has thrown for 13 touchdowns against 13 interceptions with a 78.8 passer rating in 24 starts across two NFL seasons."We still feel good about Kenny Pickett and his future, but he knows he needs to work hard to take the next step," Rooney said Monday. "And we've talked about that, and one of the things I think we liked about Kenny in terms of his career at Pitt was (how) hard he worked, and he took a step every year. So, we're looking for that to happen here."Pittsburgh's had a top-10 scoring defense in each of the last two seasons, but its offense ranked 26th and 28th in points scored in 2022 and 2023, respectively.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu suffered a torn ACL in the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens, sources told Jonathan Jones of CBS.Omenihu sustained the ailment in the second quarter while trying to chase down quarterback Lamar Jackson. He was forced to leave the contest and didn't return. Omenihu made a key play in the game, strip-sacking Jackson early in the second quarter.

Brandon Aiyuk believes a good luck charm helped him make the miraculous 51-yard catch that spurred a comeback for the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.The 49ers were trailing the Detroit Lions 24-10 in the third quarter when quarterback Brock Purdy threw a deep ball that bounced off cornerback Kindle Vildor's facemask into Aiyuk's hands.

The San Francisco 49ers scored 27 straight points in the second half to erase a 17-point deficit and claim a 34-31 victory over the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday.The Niners entered the record books by overcoming the largest halftime deficit in an NFL conference title matchup. Their victory sets up a Super Bowl rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs, who beat the Baltimore Ravens for the AFC title. Patrick Mahomes won his first ring by defeating San Francisco in Super Bowl LIV in February 2020.Four San Francisco players topped 1,000 scrimmage yards in the regular season, and the team's biggest stars once again came up clutch. Christian McCaffrey amassed 132 scrimmage yards (90 rushing) and two touchdowns against Detroit, while Deebo Samuel caught eight passes for 89 yards.Brandon Aiyuk made arguably the game's biggest play, hauling in a 51-yard pass after the ball bounced off a Lions defender's helmet late in the third quarter. Aiyuk scored a touchdown minutes later to help his team storm back."Before the game, a ladybug landed on my shoe. And you all know what that means," Aiyuk told Fox Sports when asked about his spectacular catch. "That's all I can say. Other than that, I don't know."The Lions scored early with a 42-yard touchdown run from Jameson Williams on the club's first offensive drive. Detroit dominated the trenches early on, with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs each scoring a TD. Dan Campbell's outfit finished the night with 182 rushing yards (6.3 per carry) and three scores.Despite going into halftime with a 24-7 lead, the Lions couldn't keep their momentum and were outscored 17-0 in the third quarter. Detroit's three offensive possessions in the third frame resulted in a turnover on downs, lost fumble, and punt.Detroit went for it on a fourth-and-2 at San Francisco's 28-yard line midway through the third quarter while leading 24-10, but Josh Reynolds couldn't hold on to a pass from Jared Goff. The Niners got the ball back and changed the game, with Aiyuk pulling off his miraculous deep reception two minutes later.Campbell addressed his fourth-down calls postgame, explaining he felt good about his team at the moment."I don't regret those decisions," he said. "It's hard because we didn't come through. ... I understand the scrutiny I'll get. It's part of the gig."Brock Purdy once again helped the 49ers come from behind in the playoffs. After leading a clutch fourth-quarter drive in the divisional round against the Green Bay Packers, Purdy completed 20 of 31 passes versus the Lions for 267 yards and one touchdown against one interception. He also made an impact on the ground, rushing for 51 yards.By reaching Super Bowl LVIII with Purdy under center, San Francisco becomes the first club to reach the big game with five different starting quarterbacks: Joe Montana, Steve Young, Colin Kaepernick, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Purdy.The defeat marks a heartbreaking end to Detroit's Cinderella story. The Lions won their first-ever NFC North title in the 2023 regular season and were trying to advance to their first Super Bowl in franchise history.Coming off a strong season, Goff tossed 273 yards and one touchdown on 25-of-41 passing versus the 49ers. Detroit outgained San Francisco in total yards (442-413) and first downs (28-23) but was only 1-for-3 on fourth-down attempts. Reynolds also had a second costly drop on a third-down attempt with his team trailing late.Super Bowl LVIII takes place Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell has no regrets over his fourth-down decision-making during Sunday's 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game."I don't regret those decisions," Campbell said postgame, according to The Athletic's Colton Pouncy. "It's hard because we didn't come through. It wasn't able to work out but I don't (regret it)."I understand the scrutiny I'll get. It's part of the gig."The Lions twice opted to pass on field-goal attempts and go for it on fourth down in the second half, with both attempts failing. Josh Reynolds dropped a potential conversion on the first attempt, which came in the third quarter with Detroit up 14 points. The 49ers scored a touchdown on the following drive to halve the deficit.Then, down by three with just over seven minutes left, the Lions went for it on fourth-and-3 at the 49ers' 30-yard line but fell short on an incomplete pass by Jared Goff."I just felt really good about us converting. ... They were bleeding the clock, that's what they do," Campbell said. "And I wanted to get the upper hand back."The second failed fourth-down attempt appeared to take the wind out of the Lions' sails. The 49ers marched down the field to score a touchdown on the ensuing possession, making it a 10-point game with three minutes remaining.Detroit took a 24-7 advantage into halftime before being outscored 27-7 in the second half. With the loss, the Lions squandered the biggest lead in conference title game history."It's like getting your heart ripped out," Campbell told reporters, including Kyle Meinke of MLive. "It's hard."Campbell built a reputation as an aggressive play-caller during the Lions' 12-5 campaign in 2023. Only one team attempted more fourth-down attempts this season.Running back David Montgomery came to Campbell's defense postgame, calling him the "best coach in the league," per Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The San Francisco 49ers opened as favorites over the Kansas City Chiefs for Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on Feb. 11.The opening line at theScore Bet had the Chiefs as 2.5-point underdogs before an early shift dropped it to 1.5. The total for the championship game comes in at 47.5.The Chiefs advanced to the Super Bowl after shutting down the Baltimore Ravens 17-10 in the AFC Championship Game. Patrick Mahomes led Kansas City to 17 first-half points, and the defense stifled Lamar Jackson the rest of the way. Kansas City forced three turnovers, including a goal-line fumble on Ravens receiver Zay Flowers and an end-zone interception off Jackson.San Francisco took a different route to the Super Bowl, overcoming a 17-point deficit against the Detroit Lions in the NFC title game to punch their ticket.The 49ers-Chiefs game will be a rematch of Super Bowl LIV, where Mahomes captured his first Super Bowl MVP after beating San Francisco 31-20.Odds via theScore BetCopyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes are returning to the Super Bowl.Kansas City punched its ticket to a second straight Super Bowl and fourth over the last five years by upsetting the Baltimore Ravens 17-10 on the road in Sunday's AFC Championship Game.The Chiefs will meet the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 11 in a rematch of Super Bowl LIV. The Niners advanced to Super Bowl LVIII after overcoming a 17-point deficit to beat the Detroit Lions in the NFC title game.Mahomes carried the Chiefs to a 10-point halftime lead and then delivered the final dagger just before the two-minute warning with a 32-yard completion to Marquez Valdes-Scantling to convert a crucial third down.Kansas City's defense did its part by holding MVP front-runner Lamar Jackson and Co. to only 10 points and one touchdown as Baltimore tied its lowest offensive output this season.After falling behind 17-7 to start the third quarter, Baltimore squandered multiple opportunities to shorten the deficit. The Chiefs forced three takeaways with two coming while the Ravens were scoring position.The first of the two fourth-quarter turnovers came on the first play when cornerback L'Jarius Sneed punched the ball out from Zay Flowers at the 1-yard line before the wide receiver crossed into the end zone. The fumble was recovered by the Chiefs for a touchback.Safety Deon Bush was Kansas City's next defensive hero after intercepting Jackson on the Ravens' next drive with them nearing the red zone. Baltimore kicked a field goal with 2:43 remaining to narrow the Chiefs' lead to 17-10, but that was as close as the franchise came.The Chiefs' defense held Jackson to 272 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Jackson was sacked four times and finished with a 75.5 passer rating, his lowest since Week 10.Sunday's AFC title game initially looked like it would be a shootout between the two quarterbacks. Mahomes got to work first, engineering an 86-yard opening drive that culminated in a back-shoulder touchdown pass to Travis Kelce. Jackson quickly answered with a score of his own. Dodging the Chiefs' pass rush, Jackson flipped a 30-yard touchdown pass to Flowers to knot the game at seven. The Chiefs scored again with an Isiah Pacheco short touchdown run on a drive that was extended by a diving catch by Kelce on third down.Kelce not only played a huge factor in the victory with his team-leading 11 receptions for 116 yards, but he also made NFL history. The star tight end shattered Jerry Rice's record of 151 postseason receptions and is now the league's all-time leader with 156."I knew (Kelce) was going to show up," Mahomes said postgame, according to NFL Network's James Palmer. "He always does. When the lights get brighter, he plays better."Kelce was congratulated after the contest by his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, as the two embraced. Swift has been a frequent spectator this season and has attended all of the Chiefs' playoff games thus far. It's unknown whether she will be at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.Meanwhile, Mahomes completed 76.9% of his passes Sunday for one touchdown and no interceptions. He'll be aiming to win his third Lombardi Trophy in four appearances. The Chiefs could become the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champions since the New England Patriots in the 2003 and 2004 seasons.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers said he'll improve after his costly fumble during Sunday's 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game.Flowers said postgame he thought he crossed the goal line before losing control of the football. However, Chiefs defensive back L'Jarius Sneed knocked the ball out of Flowers' hands before the touchdown, resulting in a touchback early in the fourth quarter with Kansas City leading 17-7."I'll learn from my mistakes," the first-round wideout said, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce passed legendary receiver Jerry Rice to become the NFL's all-time leader in playoff catches.Kelce entered the game six receptions behind Rice's record of 151, and the Chiefs star eclipsed the Hall of Famer's mark in the second quarter of Sunday's 17-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens.He finished the AFC title game with 11 catches for 116 yards and one touchdown.The 34-year-old's career postseason totals in receiving yards (1,810) and receiving touchdowns (19) are second only to Rice, who had 2,245 yards and 22 scores.Kelce, who has spent his entire career with the Chiefs, played his 21st playoff game Sunday. Most of his appearances have come since Patrick Mahomes took over as starting quarterback in 2018.The two-time Super Bowl champion boasts an NFL-record seven straight 1,000-yard seasons by a tight end and fell just 16 yards short of his eighth after the Chiefs opted to rest him in Week 18.Among all tight ends in NFL history, Kelce sits fourth in career catches (907) and receiving yards (11,328) and tied for fifth in receiving touchdowns (74). His average of 71.2 yards per game is also the most ever at his position.Kelce has been named a first-team All-Pro four times, a second-team All-Pro three times, and a Pro Bowler nine times. He's also a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns are hiring Ken Dorsey as their new offensive coordinator, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Buffalo Bills fired Dorsey as OC midway through the 2023 campaign after four-plus seasons together.Dorsey replaces Alex Van Pelt, whom the Browns dismissed as part of an offensive coaching staff overhaul in early January.Cleveland's offense ranked 10th in points and 16th in total yards in 2023. Injuries affected Kevin Stefanski's outfit all season, as running back Nick Chubb suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 and quarterback Deshaun Watson missed the last eight games due to a shoulder injury.Helping Watson improve will be one of Dorsey's biggest challenges. The three-time Pro Bowler has completed just 59.8% of his passes while throwing for 14 touchdowns against nine interceptions in 12 starts since joining Cleveland.Led by an elite defense, the Browns made the playoffs with an 11-6 record. Their season ended with a wild-card loss to the Houston Texans.A former quarterback, Dorsey spent two seasons and started three games for the Browns in 2006 and 2008. He began his coaching career as the Carolina Panthers' quarterbacks coach in 2013.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jim Harbaugh cited unfinished business in the NFL as his reason for becoming the Los Angeles Chargers' head coach after nine seasons at Michigan."It was tough," Harbaugh told CBS Sports on Sunday. "I was torn, my wife, kids. I love Michigan. But I love the NFL, too. And there's no Lombardi Trophy in college football. And I got so many sands left in the hourglass. And I wanna take a crack at that. And there's nowhere better to do it than with the Los Angeles Chargers."The Chargers announced Harbaugh's hiring Wednesday, landing one of the NFL's top coaching candidates this year. The 60-year-old - who played quarterback for the Chargers in 1999 and 2000 - went 86-25 on Michigan's sideline and helped the school win the national title this past season with a 15-0 record. Los Angeles was looking for a new sideline boss after firing Brandon Staley midway through the regular season amid a 5-9 start.In addition to having a franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert, L.A. owns the fifth overall pick in the upcoming draft."I was a little starstruck meeting Justin," Harbaugh said.Herbert is coming off his worst NFL season. The 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year missed four games in 2023 due to injury, finishing the campaign with a 65.1% completion rate to go along with 3,134 yards and 20 touchdowns against seven interceptions.Helping Herbert put his game back on the right track will be one of Harbaugh's main challenges. He also needs to reshape L.A.'s roster, as the club is projected to be $44 million over the salary cap in 2024, according to Spotrac."We work together, we win together, and it's worth it," Harbaugh said Sunday when asked what message he wants to send his new team.This will be Harbaugh's second stint as an NFL head coach. He coached the 49ers from 2011-14, posting a 44-19-1 record and helping San Francisco reach the NFC title game thrice. The Harbaugh-led Niners also played in Super Bowl XLVII but fell short against the Baltimore Ravens.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith is interviewing Sunday with the Pittsburgh Steelers for their vacant offensive coordinator position, the team announced.The Falcons fired Smith on Jan. 8 after his third straight 7-10 season.The 41-year-old was hired by Atlanta after two successful seasons in charge of the Tennessee Titans' offense, with the unit finishing 10th in scoring in 2019 and fourth in 2020.The Steelers are looking for a new leader on offense after firing the much-maligned Matt Canada partway through the season. Pittsburgh promoted running backs coach Eddie Faulkner to offensive coordinator and gave quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan play-calling duties.However, head coach Mike Tomlin said after the Steelers' playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills that he would be looking at outside candidates for the role.Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury, Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, and ex-Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown are reportedly among Pittsburgh's other OC contenders.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills promoted interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady to their permanent position, the team announced Sunday.Brady took over the offense after Ken Dorsey was fired on Nov. 14, helping Buffalo win six of its last seven games to claim the AFC East title.The offense averaged 27 points and 370.7 yards per game during his seven regular-season games in charge. The Bills fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in their opening postseason matchup.Brady originally joined Buffalo as the quarterbacks coach in 2022, guiding Josh Allen to an impressive season that earned him MVP finalist honors.The 34-year-old rose to prominence after starring as LSU's passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach during the Tigers' national title-winning season in 2019.Brady was hired by the Carolina Panthers ahead of the 2020 season but was fired toward the end of his second campaign.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey is active for Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs.Humphrey, who the Ravens listed as questionable due to a calf injury, could be held to a rotational role in the contest, sources told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. He suffered the ailment in the club's Week 17 victory over the Miami Dolphins, forcing him to miss the divisional round against the Houston Texans.The 27-year-old also went down with a foot ailment in training camp, which resulted in him missing the first four games of the year, and sustained a calf injury in Week 10 that forced him to miss two contests.Humphrey is a key player for the league's top-ranked scoring defense. Baltimore has been terrific against the pass this year, allowing only 191 yards through the air per contest.The Alabama product has 26 tackles with five passes defended and one interception in 10 games this season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is active for Sunday's AFC title game against the Baltimore Ravens.Pacheco was listed as questionable on the Chiefs' final injury report due to ankle and toe injuries. He was a limited participant Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday's practices.The Rutgers product has been a key contributor during Kansas City's current playoff run. He rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown in the Chiefs' 27-24 win over the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round. Pacheco has surpassed 85 rushing yards and recorded a TD in each of the team's postseason contests.Kansas City will be without first-team All-Pro offensive guard Joe Thuney (pectoral), receiver Kadarius Toney (hip), and linebacker Willie Gay (hip) for Sunday's contest.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Receiver Kadarius Toney claims he isn't dealing with an injury despite the Kansas City Chiefs ruling him out of Sunday's AFC Championship Game with a hip ailment.In an expletive-laden rant Sunday on Instagram Live, Toney suggested the Chiefs lied about why they've kept him inactive."Man, that shit cap. I'm not hurt," said Toney, according to Gregg Giannotti of WFAN Sports Radio. "None of that shit. ... It goes from hip to ankle to this to that."The wideout is set to miss his sixth game Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.Along with the hip injury, the Chiefs listed Toney as out for personal reasons Saturday due to the birth of his first child, according to NFL Network's James Palmer.Outside of scoring twice in the Chiefs' Super Bowl win last season, Toney has struggled to establish himself with the AFC West club after being acquired from the New York Giants midway through the 2022 campaign.Toney has 27 catches for 169 yards and one touchdown in 13 appearances this season and has dealt with drop issues.The 25-year-old faced heavy criticism for lining up offside before scoring a potentially game-winning touchdown on a lateral from tight end Travis Kelce in a loss to the Buffalo Bills in early December.Toney had an injury-plagued rookie season with the Giants in 2021, dealing with ankle, hamstring, quad, oblique, thumb, and shoulder issues.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterback Jared Goff is set to get paid for helping to bring the Detroit Lions back into the spotlight.Goff and the Lions are expected to engage in contract extension talks in the offseason, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Goff's potential new deal will make him one of the NFL's higher-paid quarterbacks, Rapoport adds.Set to lead the Lions in Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers, Goff revitalized his career with the NFC North club after being part of the trade that sent Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in 2021.Seen as a bridge starter by many, Goff struggled to a 3-10-1 record in his first season in Detroit before putting together an impressive two-year stretch. The former No. 1 pick compiled a 21-13 regular-season mark while throwing for 9,013 yards and 59 touchdowns against 19 interceptions over the last two campaigns.Goff has pushed the Lions to new heights this season, guiding them to their first playoff appearance since 2016. He also helped them earn their first postseason win and conference championship appearance since 1991.The 29-year-old has one year remaining on the four-year, $134-million deal he signed with the Rams in 2019. His average salary of $33.5 million ranks 16th among all quarterbacks, with only rookies and a handful of aging veterans like Ryan Tannehill and Jimmy Garoppolo behind him, per Spotrac.Joe Burrow tops all players with an average salary of $55 million, while eight other quarterbacks earn over $43 million per season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to make Kellen Moore their new offensive coordinator, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.The 35-year-old Moore spent 2023 as the Los Angeles Chargers' offensive coordinator. He served in the same role for four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before joining L.A. last season.Dallas boasted the No. 1 scoring and total offense in 2021 with Moore in the fold. Now he'll be tasked with reigniting an Eagles offense that features Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith.The Chargers finished 18th in total yards (329.4) and 21st in points (20.4) in 2023. Quarterback Justin Herbert missed the final four games of the season due to injury, and Mike Williams and Keenan Allen also missed time due to various ailments.Moore was made available to interview with other teams after L.A. hired Jim Harbaugh as head coach.Philadelphia has reorganized head coach Nick Sirianni's staff following the conclusion of its campaign. Both offensive coordinator Brian Johnson and defensive counterpart Sean Desai were dismissed after the Eagles' loss in the wild-card round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Sirianni appeared open to fresh ideas following a dismal end to the Eagles' 2023 campaign. Philadelphia suffered six losses in its final seven contests, including its first-round playoff defeat."Whoever the new coordinator is, there's going to be things that they bring that are going to be fresh ideas for us to help our players grow and help our players play at the top level," Sirianni said Wednesday, according to Fox Sports' Ralph Vacchiano. "I'm excited about that, the new ideas meshing with some of the old ideas."It's unclear if Sirianni will continue to be a looming figure over the team's offensive play-calling like he has in previous seasons or give full autonomy to Moore.The Eagles also officially named Vic Fangio as their new defensive coordinator Saturday.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons are hiring Los Angeles Rams pass-game coordinator Zac Robinson to be their new offensive coordinator, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Robinson agreed to terms on a three-year deal, according to The MMQB's Albert Breer.The 37-year-old will reunite with Raheem Morris, who was named the Falcons' head coach Thursday. The pair worked together under coach Sean McVay's staff in L.A. over the last three seasons.Robinson has spent most of his coaching career under McVay, joining the Rams as an assistant quarterbacks coach in 2019. He gradually worked his way up to become the team's pass-game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022.The Colorado native was among the more popular names requested for interviews for various offensive coordinator vacancies after the 2023 season.After working closely with Matthew Stafford, Robinson will be tasked with helping the Falcons find more consistency at quarterback and on offense. Desmond Ridder provided uneven play in his sophomore campaign with 2,836 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 15 games. Veteran Taylor Heinicke didn't fare much better, posting a five-to-four TD-INT ratio in 2023.The Falcons do possess a young nucleus that could help make Robinson's job easier. Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson have all displayed flashes of real potential on offense.Atlanta's 334.3 yards per game ranked 17th in the league, and its 18.9 points per contest placed 26th last season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday's conference championships pit the Ravens against the Chiefs at 3 p.m. ET and the 49ers against the Lions at 6:30 p.m. ET. These battles within each title game will help determine the Super Bowl LVIII matchup.The QB duelsSuperstar quarterbacks still stand on the AFC side of the bracket. Adept facilitators have a shot to rule the NFC.Lamar Jackson's latest dominant performance helped Baltimore steamroll the Texans last weekend. He accounted for 252 total yards and four touchdowns in the contest. Playing keep-away, the Ravens controlled possession for almost 38 minutes and ran 20 more offensive plays than Houston. They're hard to beat when Jackson, the supreme dual threat, exerts his will.The pedestrian Chiefs offense ranked 15th in scoring, a career low for Patrick Mahomes, yet he reached a sixth straight conference title game anyway. Mahomes' all-time playoff stat line (13-3 record, 4,561 passing yards, 38-7 TD-INT split) would be an MVP resume in many regular seasons. None of his last 164 playoff pass attempts have been intercepted.Brock Purdy is the third quarterback to start in the conference championships in each of his first two seasons, joining Ben Roethlisberger and Mark Sanchez. He struggled in the rain in the divisional round but didn't commit a turnover and led one more touchdown drive than Green Bay's Jordan Love. Purdy tends to put the 49ers' wealth of great playmakers, including NFL scrimmage leader Christian McCaffrey, in positions to score.Jared Goff can become the fifth QB to guide more than one franchise to a Super Bowl appearance. Most of the others (Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner) are legends who retired with a ring or seven. Goff's crowning achievement is that he helped legitimize the Lions, of all NFL clubs, as a Lombardi Trophy contender. His offense gained 394.8 yards per game this season - only 3.6 fewer than San Francisco's star-studded group.Underdogs' weaknesses Kevin Sabitus / Getty ImagesBoth No. 1 seeds reached the conference finals in seven of the previous 10 postseasons. The Ravens and 49ers - juggernauts who smoked teams in 2023 - prolonged the trend. Each ranked in the top three in point differential, and the margin of victory exceeded 15 points in nine San Francisco wins and six Baltimore triumphs.The Lions won twice by that substantial margin, while the Chiefs won once. These No. 3 seeds do a lot well, but shortcomings that undermined them throughout the year could be exploited on the road Sunday.Kansas City lacks receiving depth. Travis Kelce didn't reach 1,000 yards for the first time since 2015. Rookie Rashee Rice (938 yards) doubled the output of the next-closest wideout, Justin Watson. Someone needs to help Mahomes solve a special Baltimore defense that allowed fewer scrimmage touchdowns (24) than any team since 2019, per Pro Football Reference. David Eulitt / Getty ImagesPass defense was the Lions' weakness. They allowed the sixth-most yards (247.4 per game) and sixth-most TDs (28 in total), and the problem worsened as 2023 progressed. Detroit's defense ranked 29th in expected points added per dropback over the second half of the season, per Ben Baldwin's database. The 49ers offense, torching rival secondaries, ranked first in EPA/dropback in the span.The first couple of playoff rounds produced promising signs. Kansas City's postseason-leading 15 explosive plays included seven long completions to Rice or Kelce, per Stathead. Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield threw for 349 yards against Detroit, but multiple Lions defensive backs sacked him on blitzes, and he was intercepted on one subsequent third-and-long play.Pressuring Ravens, Chiefs QBsThe Ravens (60) and Chiefs (57) topped the league in defensive sacks. No defense matched Kansas City's efficiency: Opposing quarterbacks got sacked on 9.3% of dropbacks. Meanwhile, Baltimore's destructive takedowns resulted in 454 lost yards, the second-biggest mark generated since 1989, per Stathead.Thanks to Justin Madubuike's breakout and Jadeveon Clowney's rejuvenation, three members of Baltimore's wrecking crew ranked in the top 32 in sacks. The Ravens couldn't take down C.J. Stroud last weekend, but they pressured the Texans rookie on 17 of 35 dropbacks and forced incompletions on 10 of those snaps, per PFF. Rattled in a hostile environment, Stroud and his offensive linemen combined to commit eight penalties. Perry Knotts / Getty ImagesPersuading Chris Jones to end his holdout after a Week 1 loss helped Kansas City get rolling. The All-Pro nose tackle promptly authored a five-game sack streak and equaled rising star George Karlaftis' season total. Karlaftis pestered Tua Tagovailoa in wild-card action, but the Chiefs failed to sack Josh Allen in the divisional round and couldn't prevent him from rushing for 72 yards (42 via scrambles) and two short touchdowns.This matchup will challenge both units. Notoriously hard to catch, Mahomes was sacked less frequently this season (4.3% of dropbacks) than every qualified passer but Allen. Jackson and Mahomes ranked 1-2 in yards gained from scrambling (421, 413), per PFF. By pairing elusiveness with composure, Jackson compiled the NFL's fourth-best passer rating and led all QBs in big-time throws on snaps when pressured.Defending Niners, Lions tight endsGeorge Kittle and Sam LaPorta help the NFC finalists push the ball downfield. They're about to face defenses that surrendered a touchdown apiece to tight ends (Green Bay's Tucker Kraft, Tampa Bay's Cade Otton) in the divisional round.The Purdy-Kittle connection is fruitful. The NFL's only 1,000-yard tight end this season, Kittle also led the position in yards per reception (15.7) and yards per target (11.3). Except for Baltimore's Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews, no tight end's targets produced a superior passer rating (123.8), per PFF. Michael Owens / Getty ImagesKittle's deployment is unique. Of the 33 tight ends who commanded 40-plus targets this season, none were inline on a greater share of passing snaps (61.4%). He shrugged off contact to get open for two of his career-high three scores in an October demolition of the Cowboys. Doing damage from the slot last week, the versatile Kittle juked Packers safeties to set up a pair of 32-yard grabs, one for a touchdown.LaPorta stepped up as a rookie to rank in the top five at his position in receiving yards (889), catches (86), catches on contested throws (13), and first downs (48). He was the only NFL tight end - and the youngest since Rob Gronkowski in 2011 - to catch 10 touchdowns.Shining when the field shortened, LaPorta snared a league-high eight TDs in the red zone, per Pro Football Reference. He scored again from point-blank range against the Rams in wild-card play while dealing with a knee injury. His yards per catch average has dipped (10.3 this season, 6.6 in the playoffs), but LaPorta remains an essential outlet for Goff between the hash marks.The kicker duelsMissed field goals derailed promising seasons last weekend. Whiffs from inside 45 yards in the fourth quarter cost the Bills and Packers in their three-point defeats.This quartet faces pressure to perform Sunday.Detroit promoted Michael Badgley from the practice squad in mid-December after he upstaged Riley Patterson in practice over several weeks. Despite nailing a field goal per game from as far as 54 yards out, Badgley is one of four kickers league-wide to miss multiple extra points on fewer than 25 attempts.Complementing San Francisco's potent offense, third-round rookie Jake Moody became the first kicker since 2018 to convert 60 extra points, per Stathead. But he ranked 20th in field-goal percentage and missed two of three recent tries - from 38 yards in Week 18 and from 48 last week via a Packers block.Justin Tucker's distance splits for Baltimore over the past two regular seasons (59-for-61 from inside 50 yards, 10-for-19 beyond it) delineate the aging legend's range. Harrison Butker's only misses in 2023 came when he lapsed from 36 and 39 yards in December. But he connected on 14 straight field goals over Kansas City's ongoing four-game win streak, continually bailing out Mahomes and his playmakers when they stalled shy of the end zone.Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions aren't activating tight end Zach Ertz off the practice squad for the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers, sources told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.Ertz worked hard this week to prepare for the contest, but the team will leave him on the practice squad for this week, Fowler adds.Detroit signed Ertz earlier in the week after backup tight end Brock Wright suffered a season-ending forearm injury in the divisional round against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sam LaPorta has also been dealing with a knee ailment, but he's off the injury report ahead of Sunday's contest.The Arizona Cardinals granted Ertz's release request in November. The 33-year-old has 27 catches for 187 yards and a touchdown in seven games this season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.