The Philadelphia Eagles are interviewing Ron Rivera for their vacant defensive coordinator job, sources told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.Rivera was fired as the head coach of the Washington Commanders following a 4-13 record in 2023. He accumulated a 26-40-1 mark across four seasons as the club's head boss.The 62-year-old spent nine years as the Carolina Panthers' head coach before landing in Washington. He led the Panthers to a Super Bowl appearance in 2015.Rivera has ties to the Eagles organization and owner Jeffrey Lurie. He coached in Philadelphia under defensive coordinator Jim Johnson from 1999-2003 before becoming the Chicago Bears' defensive coordinator in 2004. His last defensive coordinator job was with the then-San Diego Chargers from 2008-2010, where he led them to top-10 scoring defenses in his final two campaigns.Despite his struggles in Washington, the Commanders ranked eighth in defensive success rate from 2020-23 under Rivera, per Ben Baldwin's database.The Eagles reportedly fired defensive coordinator Sean Desai on Sunday. Senior defensive assistant Matt Patricia, who took over defensive play-calling duties late this season, is also not expected to be back with Philadelphia. The Eagles ranked 30th in points allowed per game in 2023.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers are expected to meet with Michigan's Jim Harbaugh for a second time regarding their head coach vacancy this week, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Harbaugh first met with the team on Jan. 15.The Wolverines sideline boss is also expected to meet with the Atlanta Falcons for a second time, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported last week.Harbaugh led Michigan to an undefeated season and the College Football Playoff National Championship this year. He owns a 118-46 overall record as a head coach at the collegiate level.He reportedly remains in negotiations to return to Ann Arbor in 2024 as well.The 60-year-old's lone tenure as an NFL head coach came from 2011-14 when he led the San Francisco 49ers to a 44-19-1 overall record and an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII.Los Angeles has been searching for a new head coach since firing Brandon Staley in December.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh Allen's very good, but it seems like bad things happen to him more often than any other star quarterback.While carrying the Bills on his back, Allen twice made the perfect throw, but Stefon Diggs and Trent Sherfield couldn't catch the ball. He made the correct read, envisioning Khalil Shakir coming open in the end zone, only to have Dion Dawkins get bull-rushed into him by Chris Jones - just enough to take five yards off the ball. Then, Tyler Bass swiped a field goal wide right.Maybe if the ball had gone through the uprights, or the Bills had scored an early touchdown, the Chiefs would've still done what they need to do to win. But Kansas City didn't do that in the regular-season meeting, nor did the team in last season's duel, lacking the explosiveness of the departed Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce in his prime.The game was so good that your bet on the Chiefs (+3) didn't matter, and you just wanted two more minutes or overtime. Of course, it helps if you spent the rest of the playoffs winning almost everything in sight, and if you're willing to take your chances with overtime to end a weekend where the Ravens' boosted accounts blew out the Texans, the Packers used long shot touchdown scorers to give the 49ers all they could handle, and the Lions outlasted the scrappy-but-overmatched Buccaneers.After a playoff weekend that was exponentially better than the one before it, we're left with two title games that have point spreads of over three but are still intriguing.Chiefs @ Ravens (-3.5, 44.5)If we're being specific, the AFC Championship is more like Ravens -3.25 - you're paying extra juice for both Ravens -3 or Chiefs +3.5, depending on which side you're more interested in backing. We'll see if one side or the other prevails, resulting in a flat -110/-110 price on either number. The total is already on the move. After an open of 45.5, money has come in to capture a key number in totals, dropping the over/under down to 44.5.Lions @ 49ers (-6.5, 50.5)It's the same story in pricing for the NFC Championship. If you want the Lions, you'll be compelled to pay a little extra for +7. If you think the 49ers will play much better than they did on Saturday, you'll pay a little extra to give Detroit just 6.5 points. Deebo Samuel is assigned a 50-50 chance of playing next week, and his status is enough to move the quarter-point one way or another and have the line settle at -6.5 or -7 with a flat -110 on either side. So far, the opening total has been sturdy at 50.5.Playoff team power ratingsThe ratings below are out of 100 and suggest the likelihood, as a percentage, of that team beating an average team on a neutral field. They are estimates based on recent closing point spreads.TEAMRATING (/100)49ers84Ravens77Chiefs70Lions60The Chiefs, Lions, and Ravens all won and covered. But would you change their estimated market rating if you were an oddsmaker? Probably not.We've discussed that 80/100 is a ceiling in our framework for estimating the market's opinion on NFL teams. You can break that barrier, but only if you're a historically great team. San Francisco's been in that neighborhood since going into Philadelphia in Week 13 with rest and motivation. Since that blowout, the 49ers are 2-3 against the closing line in games in which their starters played, an indication that referring to them as historically great might be an exaggeration.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Detroit Lions are signing tight end Zach Ertz to their practice squad, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Detroit plans to potentially elevate Ertz to the active roster for next Sunday's NFC Championship Game with the San Francisco 49ers, Pelissero reports.The move comes after Lions tight end Brock Wright suffered a forearm injury in the club's 31-23 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. Rookie standout Sam LaPorta is also dealing with a knee injury but has played in both of his team's postseason contests.The Arizona Cardinals released Ertz in November after he asked them to waive him. The three-time Pro Bowler posted 27 receptions for 187 yards and a touchdown in seven games this season.Ertz has 7,434 yards and 46 touchdowns on 709 career catches. The 33-year-old spent eight campaigns with the Philadelphia Eagles and won Super Bowl LII with the club before being traded to the Cardinals in 2021.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass took responsibility for his team's 27-24 loss Sunday to the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round after he missed a 44-yard field goal with under two minutes left."Ultimately, it's completely on me. I've got to do a better job of getting through to my target," Bass said postgame, according to ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg.He added: "I love this team and it hurts. This one hurts bad. Yeah, I've got to do a better job. Totally on me."Bass' potential game-tying field goal went wide right. Kansas City got the ball back and secured a first down on an Isiah Pacheco run to ice the contest.

And then there were four.The Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, and Kansas City Chiefs are still alive in the race for the Lombardi Trophy. Here's how the potential Super Bowl LVIII matchups stack up ahead of the conference championship games.4. Ravens vs. LionsNo matter the contestants, Super Bowl LVIII will be epic, evidenced by the fact that a potential meeting between two of football's hottest offenses ranks fourth on this list.Looking for their first Super Bowl title, the Lions made history this season by winning their first-ever NFC North title, hosting a playoff game for the first time since 1994, and clinching their first NFC championship appearance in 31 years. It's hard to keep up with Detroit's offense, which is led by quarterback Jared Goff and coordinated by one of the NFL's most creative play-callers, Ben Johnson. There's a reason Johnson probably won't be in Detroit next season - he's arguably the league's hottest commodity among head coaching candidates. Michael Owens / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Ravens also have an explosive offensive unit with a standout offensive coordinator on the sideline. Baltimore looks as good as it's ever looked in the Lamar Jackson era, as the star quarterback is expected to win his second NFL MVP award this year.The biggest difference between Baltimore and Detroit is on the defensive side of the ball. There may not be a defense better than the Ravens' this campaign. Meanwhile, the Lions do have a Pro Bowler in defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, but their unit has been below average all season. Detroit had a hard time stopping Jackson and allowed 503 total yards to Baltimore in Week 7 when the Ravens blew out the Lions 38-6.3. Chiefs vs. 49ersA Super Bowl rematch between the Chiefs and 49efs could be in play on Feb. 11 - and the storylines around both teams are relatively similar to when they first met in Super Bowl LIV.In addition to an elite defense, San Francisco once again has one of football's most balanced and talented rosters while being led by a quarterback who overachieves by playing in coach Kyle Shanahan's prolific offensive system. Meanwhile, Kansas City rosters all-time greats Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, who have won two Super Bowl titles along with coach Andy Reid. The Chiefs no longer have Tyreek Hill - who was clutch in the previous big game versus San Francisco - but their defense has significantly improved in recent years. MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images / MediaNews Group / GettyJimmy Garoppolo, Shanahan, and Co. had a 10-point fourth-quarter lead over the Chiefs in the 2020 Super Bowl but weren't able to hold on. That dropped Shanahan to 0-2 in Super Bowl appearances as head coach or coordinator. It'd be interesting to see if Brock Purdy could help Shanahan exorcise his Super Bowl demons in an epic championship rematch versus Mahomes and the NFL's newest dynasty.2. Chiefs vs. LionsThe final game of the 2023 season being the same matchup that kicked off the campaign would be fascinating. The Chiefs hosted the Lions in the season opener back in September, but Detroit showed that its year would be special by shocking the reigning Super Bowl champs 21-20 in a thriller at Arrowhead Stadium. A lot has changed since that bout, though.Kansas City didn't have Chris Jones and Kelce on the field when it played Detroit in Week 1, as the defensive lineman negotiated a new contract and the tight end battled a knee injury. They're back and remain cornerstones of a Chiefs team that continues to have unprecedented playoff success with Reid and Mahomes. Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyThe Lions are one of this season's best storylines. One of the least successful teams in NFL playoff history, Detroit has put on a show and established itself as a contender after going 12-5. The Lions may not be as balanced as the Chiefs, but Detroit's creative offense has been a threat to basically every defensive unit this season. This would also be another highly anticipated meeting between Mahomes and Goff, who seem to always offer thrilling matchups. In addition to their Week 1 meeting, Goff was also at quarterback for the Rams when Los Angeles beat Kansas City 54-51 in a historic Monday Night Football in 2018.One of 12 NFL teams without a Super Bowl title, the Lions trying to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the first time against a young NFL dynasty would be remarkable. Since the 2019 season, the Chiefs have played three Super Bowls, winning two of them.1. Ravens vs. 49ersFor a second straight season, the two No. 1 seeds can face off in the Super Bowl. Baltimore and San Francisco were the two best teams in the regular season, and both were quarterbacked by MVP contenders. But it's not the QB matchup that makes this potential tilt must-watch TV. As efficient as Purdy was in 2023, he isn't on the same level as Jackson, the MVP front-runner who's coming off an excellent divisional-round game.Expect explosive plays if those teams square off in Las Vegas next month. The 49ers roster the league's deepest group of skill-position players with Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk, all of whom topped 1,000 scrimmage yards in the regular season. The Ravens have less star power but surrounded Jackson with weapons like Zay Flowers, Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman, and Mark Andrews, who's expected to return from injury soon. Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhat also makes the 49ers and Ravens so good is their ability to win games on the other side of the ball. Baltimore and San Francisco ranked first and third, respectively, in points allowed in 2023. With the likes of Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Chase Young, and Javon Hargrave, the Niners' defensive unit - just like their offense - has stars on basically every level. The Ravens may not have as many superstars defensively, but Roquan Smith, Jadeveon Clowney, Kyle Hamilton, and Justin Madubuike, among others, have turned heads.Purdy threw four interceptions when these teams faced off in a December game that had big MVP implications. Jackson became the favorite over Purdy and McCaffrey for the league's top individual award after helping Baltimore defeat San Francisco 33-19. Would Purdy and Co. get the last laugh in a second meeting between them?There's also championship history here, as the Ravens earned a 34-31 triumph over the 49ers - then led by coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Colin Kaepernick - in Super Bowl XLVII back in 2013. We'd be in for a treat if these powerhouses headline another Super Bowl this year.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce made playoff history during Sunday's 27-24 win over the Buffalo Bills by combining for their 16th career postseason touchdown.After tying Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski with TD No. 15 in the second quarter, Mahomes and Kelce broke the record with another score in the third quarter.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has let go of defensive coordinator Sean Desai, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Sirianni, whose future in Philadelphia still hasn't been confirmed, stripped Desai of defensive play-calling duties prior to the Week 15 game against the Seattle Seahawks. Matt Patricia was tasked with calling plays instead.However, Patricia also won't return as he plans to explore other options, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. Patricia was not under contract for 2024.Giving play-calling duties to Patricia did little to improve the Eagles' poor defense. Philadelphia gave up 20, 25, 35, 27, and 32 points in the team's last five games - including the playoffs - under Patricia.The Eagles are expected to make numerous changes to their coaching staff if Sirianni returns. His future has been the focus of heavy speculation following his team's collapse down the stretch. Philly lost six of its last seven games, including a 32-9 blowout loss in the wild-card round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Sirianni reportedly met with team owner Jeffrey Lurie to present his ideas for improving the club, which include potentially bringing in new coordinators, according to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Brooks Kubena, and Larry Holder.Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman have reached out to former New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and ex-Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen over the last week, among others, per Russini.Desai spent only one season in Philadelphia. His unit ranked 30th in points allowed. He's likely to be in the mix for other defensive coordinator opportunities around the league, Rapoport adds.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baker Mayfield hopes he can return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 2024 season."It would mean a lot to me," Mayfield said after Sunday's 31-23 loss to the Detroit Lions in the divisional round, according to Greg Auman of Fox Sports. "I would love (to be back)."Mayfield, who played for three different teams in 2021 and 2022 combined, revived his career after signing a one-year contract with the Buccaneers during the 2023 offseason. The 2018 first overall pick set career highs this campaign with 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, helping Tampa Bay win the NFC South. Mayfield then threw for three touchdowns in a wild-card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.The 28-year-old passed for 349 yards and three touchdowns versus Detroit but threw two interceptions, including a pick with 1:35 left in the fourth quarter while trying to lead a potential game-tying drive."It sucks. I feel like my heart just got ripped out," Mayfield said of Sunday's loss, according to Sara Walsh of NFL Network.Mayfield praised wide receiver Mike Evans, whose contract also expires this offseason. Evans - the Buccaneers' all-time receiving leader who topped 1,000 yards for a record 10th straight season in 2023 - put on a show versus the Lions, catching eight passes for 147 yards and one touchdown."He makes my life easy. He did all year. He did it today, over and over," Mayfield said of the 30-year-old Evans, per Auman. "To get everybody back, there have to be sacrifices made. This team's about winning. We have a group of guys who are all about that. If I'm back, I want Mike back."Other key Bucs players who could test the open market in 2024 include All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. and linebacker Lavonte David.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks are ramping up their coaching search.Seattle is setting up second interviews with Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Dallas Cowboys DC Dan Quinn, Carolina Panthers DC Ejiro Evero, Las Vegas Raiders DC Patrick Graham, and New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.There will likely be other candidates brought back for another meeting, adds Pelissero.Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson, Miami Dolphins OC Frank Smith, and Houston Texans OC Bobby Slowik were the other contenders during the first round of interviews.The Seahawks are conducting their first head coaching search since 2010 after moving Pete Carroll into an advisor role. Seattle went 9-8 in 2023 to miss the playoffs for the second time in the last three seasons.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy interviewed for the team's head coach opening last week, a source told Josina Anderson of CBS Sports.The interview was "detailed" and "checked all of the boxes," Anderson reports.It's reportedly the first time the 54-year-old received interest from clubs looking for new head coaches this year. He interviewed for multiple openings in previous seasons.Bieniemy joined the Commanders ahead of the 2023 campaign after spending 2013-2022 with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was K.C.'s offensive coordinator for his final five seasons with the team.The Colorado alumnus was part of the coaching staff that helped quarterback Patrick Mahomes win two MVP awards, an Offensive Player of the Year honor, and five Pro Bowl selections.Bieniemy won two Super Bowls during his tenure with Kansas City while the team consistently ranked near the top of most offensive categories.He didn't enjoy the same prolific success in his first year with the Commanders, however. Washington's offense averaged 312.8 total yards and 19.4 points per game in 2023, ranking 24th and 25th in the NFL, respectively.Bieniemy played running back for the then-San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, and Philadelphia Eagles during his nine-year playing career. He accumulated 2,812 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns before starting his coaching career.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons plan to give a second head coaching interview to Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan this week, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.A previous report indicated the Tennessee Titans also want to meet with Callahan for a second interview for their head coaching job. The Bengals coordinator spoke to the Los Angeles Chargers for their vacancy as well.Callahan was a head coach candidate after the 2022 campaign, with the Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants, and Arizona Cardinals all showing interest.The 39-year-old took over the Bengals' offense in 2019. The unit ranked seventh in points scored in 2021 and 2022 and finished 16th in 2023 despite losing star quarterback Joe Burrow to a season-ending wrist injury in late November.Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson are among the other notable candidates the Falcons are considering.Johnson is also a candidate for the Panthers, along with Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, among others.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur feels like his team squandered opportunities in their 24-21 divisional-round loss to the San Francisco 49ers."I felt like we had plenty of opportunities to kind of put the game out of reach and unfortunately just didn't do enough," LaFleur said after the game, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "And it's never one play, 'cause I'm sure a lot of it's going to come down to the missed field goal, but there were plenty of opportunities."Rookie kicker Anders Carlson, whose botched kick would've increased the Packers' lead to seven points with under seven minutes remaining in the contest, admitted that he's been "inconsistent" this year.He said the wind wasn't a factor on the final miss and that he would need "to have a better hit next time." The Auburn product was 29 of 36 on field goals and 41 of 47 on extra points this season, including the playoffs."Obviously, didn't pan out the way we wanted it to," Carlson said. "After each kick, just staying ready for the next one, and there wasn't another one."LaFleur mentioned early red-zone woes among other issues in the defeat. The team scored just two touchdowns on five trips inside San Francisco's 20-yard line."You can go back in the first half and have three red-zone opportunities and have six points," the 44-year-old said. "There's a lot of plays out there that it just, if one play goes different, then probably have a different result right now."One of those costly plays was a game-sealing interception that quarterback Jordan Love threw to 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw with under a minute remaining in the contest. The 25-year-old quarterback scrambled right before attempting to throw the ball downfield across his body to wide receiver Christian Watson."Looking back on it, yeah, throw it away," said Love. "I don't know if I had an opportunity to be able to run, maybe get out of bounds. But force it across the middle late, which is a mortal sin, and it cost us."Love finished the contest with 194 passing yards on 21-of-34 passing. He had two touchdowns and two interceptions in the defeat.The loss dropped LaFleur's playoff record to 3-4 since he took over as head coach ahead of the 2019 campaign.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel was ruled out of his team's divisional-round win over the Green Bay Packers at the beginning of the second half due to a shoulder injury.The star pass-catcher is slated for further tests Sunday to determine his status ahead of next week's NFC Championship Game, according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner.Samuel took a hit in the first quarter and exited to be evaluated for a concussion. He was then cleared to return but left shortly after to be looked at for a shoulder injury. Samuel later returned to the sidelines in street clothes.The 28-year-old told some members of the organization that he was "OK," sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Samuel suffered a hairline fracture in the same shoulder in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns, forcing him to miss the next two contests."I don't know yet," coach Kyle Shanahan said when asked about Samuel's injury. "I mean he tried to come back (but) couldn't do it. I know he did something similar versus Cleveland."Samuel has been a vital part of the 49ers' offense since being selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He has 1,117 total yards and 12 touchdowns this season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Lamar Jackson was aware of the scrutiny around his lack of playoff success before the Baltimore Ravens' divisional-round victory over the Houston Texans - but he says he didn't pay it much attention."You know I heard that. I seen it, I don't even got to hear it," Jackson said after his team's 34-10 victory. "But it is what it is. I don't really care about what people say."Jackson entered Saturday's game with a 1-3 postseason record, including a 0-2 mark at home. However, he silenced his critics in a big way, scoring four touchdowns - two through the air and two with his legs - on Saturday as he earned his first home playoff win and his first postseason victory since the 2020 season."I'm trying to win day in, day out," Jackson added. "Every time I'm on that field, I'm trying to play to the best of my ability. Those guys just had our team's number in the past, but this is a different team, like I've been saying. We just gotta stay locked in on what's ahead of us."The Ravens and the Texans entered halftime deadlocked at 10 points each, prompting Jackson to talk to his teammates. Whatever Jackson said appeared to have worked: Baltimore scored 24 unanswered points over the final two quarters."It'd be inappropriate if I said (it) right here," Jackson said of his halftime message.Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans even had to show the opposing quarterback respect. "That's why he's the MVP," he said, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The 2023 MVP front-runner became only the second player in the Super Bowl era with two passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, and over 100 running yards in a game. He joins Colin Kaepernick, who did it in 2013, according to ESPN's Field Yates.The Ravens' win means they will host the first AFC Championship Game in franchise history. They'll take on the winner of Sunday's matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike McCarthy won't sign an extension with the Dallas Cowboys this year and is expected to coach the 2024 season on an expiring contract, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.McCarthy's future with the team was unclear after Dallas' 48-32 home loss to the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round. It was another disappointing postseason outcome for a Cowboys team that has gone one-and-done eight times since the 1996 season.Dallas opted to bring back McCarthy for another campaign, with owner Jerry Jones saying Wednesday that his team is "very close and capable of achieving our ultimate goals" with McCarthy on the sideline.Jones believes that coaching on an expiring contract could bring out the best in 60-year-old, according to Schefter, who notes that McCarthy's predecessor - Jason Garrett - coached into his deal's final year twice.A Super Bowl-winning coach as a member of the Green Bay Packers, McCarthy has posted a 42-25 record across four seasons with the Cowboys. However, he's only 1-3 in the playoffs.Several Dallas players - including quarterback Dak Prescott - showed support for McCarthy following the Packers matchup. Prescott, whose deal has only one season left, is expected to sign a new extension in the offseason. His current contract includes a cap hit of $59.45 million in 2024.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons have several head coach candidates on their radar, but team owner Arthur Blank has seemingly already decided who his main target is.Blank desperately wants Bill Belichick to be Atlanta's next head coach, a source told CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones.There's a "50-50" chance Belichick accepts the job, Jones reports.The Falcons are the only team that has publicly expressed interest in Belichick since the legendary coach parted ways with the New England Patriots after 24 seasons and six Super Bowl titles. Atlanta interviewed the 71-year-old for a second time Thursday.The NFC South team reportedly is also expected to meet with Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh for a second time. Other names who have generated interest include former Tennessee Titans sideline boss Mike Vrabel, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, and Buffalo Bills interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady, among others. The Falcons have requested initial interviews with those candidates, Jones adds.Atlanta has been looking for a new head coach to replace Arthur Smith, who was fired after leading the team to three straight 7-10 seasons.Belichick owns a career 333-178 record, including the playoffs. He's 15 wins away from becoming the NFL's all-time winningest head coach. Though Belichick's defenses in New England were solid, the Patriots are coming off back-to-back losing seasons. They went just 4-13 in 2023.Whoever takes over in Atlanta will inherit a team with an above-average defense but with big questions on offense, particularly at quarterback. The Falcons have had three different Week 1 starters since 2021 in Matt Ryan, Marcus Mariota, and Desmond Ridder.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons are scheduling a second interview with Michigan's Jim Harbaugh regarding their vacant head coach role, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Atlanta announced that they met with Harbaugh for the first time on Jan. 16. The following interview will be planned for next week, per Pelissero.Harbaugh isn't the only coach the Falcons will talk to twice: Former New England Patriots bench boss Bill Belichick conducted a second meeting with the club on Friday.Earlier in January, Harbaugh's Wolverines beat Washington in the College Football Playoff National Championship to complete an undefeated 2023 campaign.The 60-year-old coach has accumulated an 89-25 record with Michigan since joining the program in 2015 and, including his time at Stanford (2007-2010), owns a 118-46 collegiate record.Harbaugh last coached in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers during the 2014 campaign. He spent four seasons with the team and collected a 44-19-1 record. He also coached the Niners in Super Bowl XLVII against his brother John Harbaugh, the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Bills get what they've long wanted during their rivalry with the Chiefs - a chance to host at Orchard Park. With Patrick Mahomes away from Arrowhead Stadium and the Bills favored, Buffalo is running low on excuses for why they can't get over the hump.Chiefs @ Bills (-3, 45.5)TEAMRATINGPROJECTED LINEChiefs70Bills72-2.5 (-115)The betting market for the side in this game is pretty simple - you have to pay for the side you want. There likely won't be a flat -110/-110 pricing for the side at Bills -2.5 or -3, so you can pick your poison, betting either the Bills -2.5 at -120 or the Chiefs +3 at -120.This game requires some patience, but if flat pricing never comes, I'll be betting on the Chiefs at +3. The market's moved the Bills up to contender level, increasing excitement for anyone willing to take the Bills' futures as a long shot.There hasn't been that same enthusiasm for the Chiefs because the bumbling teams of the AFC West never threatened Kansas City's status, but the hand-wringing about the team not getting a bye means there was never an attractive buy point.Just because the Chiefs haven't played a true road playoff game with Mahomes doesn't mean they can't excel in one. And be assured, the market's accounted for the road trip.The Chiefs don't have the same explosive offense that was once their calling card. However, they're built better for unfamiliar conditions.Trading Tyreek Hill two offseasons ago was done to open up cap space and augment the defense. Only the Jets and Ravens allowed fewer yards per play than the Chiefs this season.Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has done more with less talent in past postseasons, and Josh Allen can be vulnerable to turnovers. Surprise rushers and unforeseen coverages lead to turnovers, and Spagnuolo is one of a handful of coordinators reliable enough to create those challenges for Allen.Travis Kelce is starting to feel his age and has drifted into a negative spotlight as the receivers struggle to catch the ball. Kelce and Rashee Rice had two-thirds of the targets and receptions against Miami. What if the supporting cast catches the ball on Sunday? It sounds simple enough, and, with injuries piling up in the Bills' secondary, those receivers will have more time and space than usual.Lastly, neither team is good at stopping the run, but the Chiefs are more willing to commit to it with hard-running Isiah Pacheco.The Chiefs have the experience and are built to win at this time of year.Pick: Chiefs (+3, -120 or better)Player propsJosh Allen: Over 227.5 passing yardsBacking the Chiefs doesn't rule out the Bills winning the game. Rather, it plays on the idea of a close game. The three prevailing potential game states - Bills' big lead, close game, or Chiefs' big lead - can all involve a high-volume passing day for Allen.Isiah Pacheco: Over 61.5 rushing yardsPacheco missed the regular-season matchup against the Bills, so the Chiefs attempted to take advantage of a suspect Buffalo run defense with Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who averaged 3.36 yards per carry in the three games where he carried the ball more than a few times. At 4.6 yards per carry this season, Pacheco should be able to clear this total with 12-15 carries. He got 24 last Saturday and will likely see at least half of that this time around.James Cook: Longest reception over 10.5 yardsCook's getting opportunities. He caught seven of eight balls - four targets last week and four in Miami - with the lone drop coming on a long prospective touchdown against the Dolphins. He also got loose for a long reception in Kansas City earlier this season as part of a stretch where he went over this number four weeks in a row.Last season, the Bills' starting tailback at this time, Devin Singletary, had five targets. He was never known for being a successful receiver out of the backfield. Throwing to the tailback has long been a Bills strategy against Spagnuolo's Chiefs, as they threw extensively to their runners in both recent playoff losses.Anytime touchdownsTravis Kelce (+130)Enough is enough. We'll call our shot and say that Kelce scores. Being uncomfortable with that take is unheard of, but that concern is finally reflected in the betting market:GAME (Date) TD ODDSMIA (1/13)+125CIN (12/31)-130LV (12/25)+100NE (12/17)+100BUF (12/10)-130GB (12/3)-115@LV (11/27)-145PHI (11/20)-115MIA (11/5)-135These are the longest odds Kelce's had to score in years, but with 10 targets last week, it's not like he isn't being used.Clyde Edwards-Helaire (+550)Edwards-Helaire might not be an efficient runner, but he still plays up to 40% of the snaps and shows up in personnel packages near the goal line, playing a role previously reserved for Jerick McKinnon, who had five touchdowns this season. When looking for reliable options for designed plays in the red zone, CEH might be one of the few players Andy Reid will trust.Dalton Kincaid (+275)The touchdown odds for Bills tight ends have tightened up since Dawson Knox (+450) scored for us on Monday as a 7-to-1 long shot, so we'll go with Dalton Kincaid, who scored on his six targets last week and had eight looks in Kansas City earlier this season.Mega-long-shot SGPWe came close with a couple of our low-investment, high-yield, lottery tickets last week, and we'll use a theme to build a Same Game Parlay for the divisional round matchups."Chiefs as road warriors"PARLAY+Chiefs moneylineTravis Kelce: Anytime TDDalton Kincaid: Anytime TDIsiah Pacheco: Over 51.5 rush ydsJosh Allen: Over 227.5 pass ydsJames Cook: Over 26.5 rec ydsJosh Allen: 0.5 INT+10400Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Las Vegas Raiders have hired Antonio Pierce as their full-time head coach, the club announced Friday.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis won't play for a second straight week in Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Sean McDermott announced Friday.Davis - who was second on the team in receiving yards (746) and receiving touchdowns (seven) - sustained a PCL sprain in the regular-season finale that reportedly wasn't considered serious.Meanwhile, cornerback Rasul Douglas and linebacker Terrel Bernard - both listed as questionable - will be game-time decisions.Douglas has a knee injury that kept him out of the wild-card round. Bernard missed practice Wednesday and Thursday with an ankle issue, but McDermott said he still "has a chance at this point" to play.All-Pro slot cornerback Taron Johnson said he's in the final stages of concussion protocol and is optimistic he can clear in time to play, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. Johnson is also questionable.Safety Taylor Rapp (calf), cornerback Christian Benford (knee), and linebacker Baylon Spector (back) will also miss the playoff game.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, Boone goes over more of his biggest takeaways from the first edition of his 2024 fantasy rankings.

The NFL's divisional round is on deck with four exciting matchups, capped by another battle between the Chiefs and Bills as they take their rivalry to Buffalo for the first time in the playoffs.The Bills are 3-point favorites and -150 on the moneyline as of Friday at theScore Bet, odds that suggest Buffalo has an implied win probability of 60%.However, bettors appear to favor the Chiefs as +130 road underdogs in this spot and are backing them heavily on both the spread and moneyline.As of Friday, at theScore Bet, the Chiefs have received 94% of the handle (money) on the +3 spread in both singles and parlays and 73% of the handle on the moneyline.Those betting splits are by far the most one-sided of the four divisional matchups. Let's take a look at the betting numbers for all four games.Texans @ Ravens (-9.5, -420 ML)SplitTexansRavensML Bets37%63%ML Handle21%79%Spread Bets60%40%Spread Handle16%84%The Texans getting points is being supported by the number of bets, but 84% of the spread handle has ended up on the Ravens as big home favorites. This is an indicator that bigger bettors - not necessarily sharps or the public - like the Ravens to cover.The matchup between C.J. Stroud and Lamar Jackson - the likely NFL OROY and MVP, respectively - is expected to be an exciting one. Stroud will play his first playoff game on the road after dismantling the Browns' defense last week. Interestingly enough, he has the same number of playoff passing touchdowns as Jackson does despite playing in three fewer games.Packers @ 49ers (-9.5, -450 ML)SplitPackers49ersML Bets60%40%ML Handle37%63%Spread Bets53%47%Spread Handle41%59%It looks as though the 9.5-point spread and -450 odds on the 49ers' moneyline are spot on, as the betting splits for this game are pretty even across the board.It's expected to see a higher number of bets on the moneyline underdog, especially with the Packers at +360, which makes the Ravens' split from above a bit surprising. And it's expected to see a higher percentage of the handle on the big favorite, since you have to bet far more on -450 to have any sort of return.Based on these numbers, you shouldn't see much line movement leading up to Saturday night's kickoff.Buccaneers @ Lions (-6.5, -300 ML)SplitBuccaneersLionsML Bets34%66%ML Handle23%77%Spread Bets49%51%Spread Handle83%17%There is a lot of love for the Lions at home as they host the Buccaneers, except for the percentage of handle.The Lions opened at -6, and the line has moved a half-point in their favor despite receiving only 17% of the handle. Use this as a reminder that oddsmakers do not attempt to even out the book by moving the line to get buyback action on the other side.Chiefs @ Bills (-2.5, -150 ML)SplitChiefsBillsML Bets50%50%ML Handle73%27%Spread Bets53%47%Spread Handle94%6%The Chiefs are getting plenty of support from bettors, garnering 73% of the moneyline handle and a whopping 94% of the spread handle. Whether this is a large number of big-money bets or a handful of bettors is unknown, but those types of betting splits are staggering.The opening line of this game was Chiefs +3, so there's a chance a large percentage of the spread handle accumulated on that number before the line moved to +2.5. Either way, these numbers shouldn't sway a betting decision one way or the other.The test for Patrick Mahomes & Co. is the fact that this will be their first playoff game away from Arrowhead that isn't the Super Bowl. This will be the third edition of Mahomes against Josh Allen, a rivalry in which the Chiefs won the first two games in shootout fashion.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday's games provide more of a level playing field, as we don't have to deal with the rest-versus-rust debate.It wasn't a high-profile game when the Buccaneers and Lions met in Tampa Bay in Week 6. There was no way of knowing the Bucs would be division winners, and Detroit was still trying to convince everyone that this edition was unlike any Lions team we can remember. This time around, the Lions are 6.5-point favorites in the divisional round of the playoffs. What a world.Buccaneers @ Lions (-6.5, 48.5)TEAMRATINGPROJECTED LINEBuccaneers43Lions60-6During the Buccaneers' second-half win over the disinterested Eagles, the Lions opened at -5.5. That was bet up to -6, and the market didn't stop there, going to -6.5 and occasionally threatening -7.The reason bettors like Detroit, at what may feel like a big point spread, is because just about everything sets up worse for Tampa Bay going into Ford Field than it did last week.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is aware of the pressure on him as Baltimore gets ready for the playoffs after a bye in the wild-card round."I remember coming into the building with all of those guys. Now, it's just like me, Gus (Edwards) and Mark (Andrews)," Jackson recently told The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec. "We had so many guys. It was incredible, man. They're all around the league right now and we're not in the same locker room anymore. It's crazy."It made me sit back and realize, 'Damn, I'm getting older. I've got to get a championship now.' That's one of the reasons I'm stressing that I need to win it. I'm not getting any younger. It's best to win it now."Led by MVP favorite Jackson, the Ravens host the Houston Texans on Saturday. They had a bye last week after finishing the regular season with a 13-4 record and the No. 1 seed in the AFC.Jackson and Co. have been in a similar situation in the past. During the 2019 season, the star signal-caller was named MVP unanimously while helping Baltimore post the conference's top record. However, the Tennessee Titans stunned the Ravens in the divisional round with a 28-12 win that year.The 27-year-old recently said that season is "over with," adding, "We're always talking about it. I find myself talking about it, but it's different."Jackson - who signed a five-year, $260-million extension in the offseason - finished the 2023 season with a 67.2% completion rate to go along with 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions. He also rushed for 821 yards and five scores.The 2018 first-round pick can become only the 10th quarterback to win multiple regular-season NFL MVP awards. The previous nine winners have won at least one Super Bowl title."When I first got here, that's been the only message. I know since he got drafted, he's always said he wants to bring a Super Bowl here," Ravens safety Geno Stone said about Jackson. "That's what he's been trying to do his whole career. All of the accomplishments that he's had individually, I know he likes them and everything like that, but he always preaches how he wants a Super Bowl."Jackson has posted a 58-19 record as an NFL starter in the regular season but is only 1-3 in the playoffs.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens aren't expected to activate tight end Mark Andrews from injured reserve ahead of their divisional playoff matchup against the Houston Texans, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.There's optimism that Andrews, who's been sidelined with an ankle injury, could be available if the Ravens advance to the AFC Championship Game next weekend, Rapoport adds.Andrews was upgraded to a full participant in both Wednesday's and Thursday's practice sessions after being limited to begin the week. The Ravens opened the 21-day window to activate him off injured reserve on Jan. 12.The former All-Pro missed the final six games of the regular season after being placed on the reserve list with an ankle injury and was listed as questionable for Saturday's matchup. Andrews tallied 45 receptions for 544 yards and six touchdowns before getting hurt.Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson dragged Andrews to the ground with a controversial hip-drop tackle during a Nov. 16 meeting, which sidelined the tight end for the rest of the regular season.Andrews will let others decide if the hip-drop tackle should be banned going forward but doesn't believe the Bengals defender had malicious intent."I don't blame the guy. He was just playing hard," Andrews said, according to team reporters Clifton Brown and Ryan Mink.Baltimore will likely lean on Isaiah Likely with Andrews sidelined. The Coastal Carolina product has impressed with 30 catches for 411 yards and five touchdowns in eight regular-season starts. Charlie Kolar is also in line to see more snaps.The Ravens have already ruled out cornerback Marlon Humphrey as he deals with a calf ailment.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey won't play in the team's divisional-round matchup against the Houston Texans due to a calf injury, the club announced Thursday.Tight end Mark Andrews is questionable to return from the ankle ailment that's sidelined him since Week 11.Humphrey has been out since being injured in Baltimore's 56-19 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 17.The 27-year-old cover man posted 26 total tackles, five pass deflections, and one interception in 10 games during the regular season.Andrews, meanwhile, was designated to return from injured reserve last week. He was a full participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday after being listed as limited Tuesday.The Oklahoma product led Baltimore's pass-catchers with six touchdown receptions in the regular season. He also had 544 yards and 45 receptions in 10 games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eight teams remain in Super Bowl contention ahead of the NFL divisional round. These players, one per championship hopeful, have the opportunity and potential to influence this weekend's games.Texans at RavensLamar Jackson, BAL quarterback: 2023 wasn't Jackson's finest season, but a brilliant finish solidified him as the MVP favorite. He passed for seven touchdowns without an interception to thump the 49ers and Dolphins in back-to-back weeks. Those wins affirmed Baltimore as the most complete title contender.The Ravens led the NFL in rushing yards, defensive sacks, and points allowed. Their plus-203 point differential ranks second in franchise history, trailing the 2019 powerhouse that flopped in the divisional round. That season's unanimous MVP winner, Jackson lost three turnovers and failed to convert four fourth-down attempts in a stunning home defeat to the Titans.Jackson exacted revenge on Tennessee on Wild Card Weekend in 2020, securing his only postseason win to date. The Ravens missed the cut in 2021, and he was injured for last year's prompt playoff exit. His growth as a passer this season - Jackson set personal bests in completions (307), completion rate (67.2%), and interception percentage (1.5%) - could finally spark a deep, triumphant run. Rob Carr / Getty ImagesNico Collins, HOU wide receiver: C.J. Stroud's impeccable playoff debut showcased the rookie quarterback's chemistry with Collins, a bona fide No. 1 wideout who raised his game following Tank Dell's season-ending injury. The Stroud-Collins connection on three explosive plays wrongfooted the Browns' defense and got the Texans rolling.Collins escaped tight coverage in the first quarter to haul in 21-yard and 38-yard catches. He carried a short pass 15 yards to the end zone when the defense sagged off of him. Houston's lead widened when Collins commanded a safety's attention and routed the defender away from Dalton Schultz, enabling Stroud to hit the tight end in open space for a 37-yard score.Collins' dynamism is irreplaceable. He ranked seventh this season in yards per game (86.5) and was third in yards per target (11.9). Only two of 26 NFL wideouts who also cleared 1,000 yards posted a superior rate of catches per target (Collins' was 73.4%). Between him and Stroud, the Texans have weapons who can test the Ravens' great defense.Packers at 49ersBrock Purdy, SF quarterback: A three-game skid in October seemed to signal that Purdy, the exceptional last pick of the 2022 draft, had turned into a pumpkin. Concerns resurfaced when he tossed four interceptions to the Ravens on Christmas Day. Aside from those slip-ups, though, Purdy distributed the ball efficiently for the NFC's top team.His chance to shine in January has arrived. Purdy didn't throw for a touchdown when the 49ers beat the Cowboys in last year's divisional round nor in the subsequent catastrophic loss to the Eagles that he exited with a UCL tear. He rebounded this season to lead all quarterbacks in yards gained per attempt, passing play success rate, and expected points added per dropback.People still doubt his talent. The splendid playmakers who surround Purdy - a league-high four Niners exceeded 1,000 scrimmage yards - undeniably help him succeed. Whatever the cause, he's won 19 of his 24 NFL starts (regular season or playoffs) and compiled a passer rating north of 110 in 15 of those games. Cooper Neill / Getty ImagesAaron Jones, GB running back: Green Bay's main ball carrier just went over 100 yards for the fourth straight week while duplicating his touchdown count (three) from an injury-marred regular season. Jones' powerful rushing scores in the wild-card round capped a couple of long drives and punctuated a short one following Dak Prescott's first interception, which initiated the Cowboys' epic collapse.No other running back eclipsed 100 yards or rushed for multiple TDs last week. Jones led all carriers in first downs (nine), missed tackles forced (four), and rushes for 10 or more yards (four), per PFF. It doesn't seem coincidental that Jordan Love's eight play-action throws against Dallas produced six completions, 107 yards, and touchdown strikes to Romeo Doubs and Luke Musgrave.From Week 16 through the playoff opener, the Packers averaged 270 net passing yards, 151.5 rushing yards, and 32.8 points per game to their opponents' 20.3. Their dominance resulted in the Cowboys' humiliation. Per Ben Baldwin's database, the 49ers ranked 26th this season in EPA/rush allowed, which opens the door for Jones to extend his hot streak and help Love win another shootout.Buccaneers at LionsAidan Hutchinson, DET edge rusher: Hutchinson's clutch contributions in the wild-card round helped seal Detroit's first playoff win in 32 long, wearisome years. He drew a holding penalty to push the Rams out of field-goal range on the Lions' final defensive stand.Detroit didn't score a touchdown after halftime but prevailed by a point because its defense bent without breaking. Rather than tally the decisive touchdown, the Rams settled for three field goals in as many red-zone trips. The Lions forced third-and-long situations that they proceeded to neutralize by having Hutchinson drop to help crowd Matthew Stafford's passing lanes.When he rushed Stafford, Hutchinson was destructive, recording multiple sacks for the third game in a row. His nine pressures and awesome 34.8% pass-rush win rate led all edge rushers in the round, per PFF. His next target, gritty Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, absorbed four sacks last week while playing through ribs and ankle injuries. Kevin Sabitus / Getty ImagesAntoine Winfield Jr., TB safety: Winfield and his teammates blanked the inept Panthers in Week 18, then ended the Eagles' tailspin in the playoff opener. The Buccaneers are 6-1 since the start of December and surrendered fewer yards than the NFL average (331.6) six times in the span.It'll be tougher to cage the Lions' offense, which failed to surpass the yardage average just once all season. In a groove, Jared Goff completed 14 of his first 15 passes against the Rams as Detroit mounted three straight touchdown drives. Giveaways sometimes blemish Goff's statline, but he didn't commit any for the second straight week.Goff passed for 353 yards against Tampa Bay in October, a 20-6 Detroit win that was a rare matchup Winfield didn't influence. The recipient of PFF's top safety grade, Winfield either forced a fumble or intercepted a pass in nine other Bucs games. He's the top candidate to induce a costly Lions mistake.Chiefs at BillsDalton Kincaid, BUF tight end: Josh Allen is hard to stop when he puts defenders on skates and connects with a multitude of pass-catchers. His favorite targets include Kincaid, the first-round rookie who led the Bills in receiving yards (76.7 per game) over the past three weeks.Kincaid's biggest catch in his playoff debut produced a 29-yard score right after Buffalo recovered a fumble. His 20-yard grab over a Steelers safety's outstretched arm prolonged another touchdown drive. This season, Kincaid ranked third among tight ends in catch rate (80.2%) and was sixth in receiving success rate (61.5%), signifying that Allen could count on him to move the chains.Tight ends inflicted minimal damage against the Chiefs. Collectively, they averaged 44.6 receiving yards with four touchdowns in 17 games, per Pro Football Reference. Buffalo edged Kansas City in December even though Travis Kelce outgained Kincaid, Dawson Knox, and Stefon Diggs by himself. If the next guy in this rundown slows Diggs again, Kincaid will need to work to get open in the middle of the field. Kathryn Riley / Getty ImagesL'Jarius Sneed, KC cornerback: Chiefs coach Andy Reid suggested recently that Sneed is the NFL's best cornerback. Certain numbers support the splashy claim.

Former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel interviewed with the Los Angeles Chargers about their head coaching job on Thursday, the club announced.It's Vrabel's first interview after spending six seasons with the Titans.The Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks are also interested in speaking with Vrabel, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The 48-year-old Vrabel accumulated a 54-45 mark during his tenure in Tennessee. He led the Titans to three straight postseason appearances from 2019-21 and was named Coach of the Year by the Associated Press in 2021.However, after producing winning campaigns in his first four years with the team, the AFC South club recorded back-to-back sub-.500 finishes, culminating with a 6-11 mark in 2023.Vrabel joins a growing list of candidates linked to the Chargers' opening. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks are among those who have interviewed for the role.L.A. dismissed Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco on Dec. 15 after the club dropped to 5-9 with a lopsided 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chargers compiled a 24-24 record with Staley on the sideline.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While the Cowboys experience the offseason hand-wringing we suggested could be in the cards last week, the Packers are going to San Francisco. What waits for the Cheeseheads, though, is a 49ers team that's rated in the betting marketplace as historically great, with a point spread that reflects that.Packers @ 49ers (-9.5, 50.5)TEAMRATINGPROJECTED LINEPackers5449ers84-10The Packers' showing in Dallas - and, presumably, the stellar play of Jordan Love from November onward - has resulted in some interest in Green Bay as an opening line of 49ers -10 has ticked down to -9.5.The 49ers are an easy team to prepare for - you know what they'll do. But they're a brutal team to play against. With their wide-ranging talent and precise offensive movements, you can't stop them even when you know what's coming. However, they haven't played a meaningful game in three weeks - will that hurt their precision?There's hope for the Packers' defense. Green Bay came into Dallas as healthy as it had been all season and disrupted the Cowboys enough to take an early lead, expand it, and then hold on. It's hard to imagine everything that went the team's way last week will again Saturday.The only time San Francisco has come up shy of 27 points since its midseason losing streak (except its meaningless finale) was against the Ravens' league-leading defense. With four touchdowns as the probable floor for the 49ers' scoring, the Packers must keep up.Only the Chiefs and Bills have allowed a lower sack percentage than Green Bay (4.75%), and Love's been sacked just twice in his last four games. That's come in conjunction with Aaron Jones' return to health, which has shown how important he is to the Packers' offense. Jones made it four straight games with 110-plus rushing yards.If you're judging the Packers by the totality of a season where they pieced together personnel on defense and ran an inefficient offense without a threatening run game, you'll easily side with the powerhouse 49ers. However, this version of Green Bay's offense might be in the early stages of being a top unit in the league. Given time, Love can exploit the closest thing San Francisco has to a weakness - its secondary - enough to stay within shouting distance.Pick: Packers (+10, -120)

After a minor upset last Saturday afternoon, the Texans are back in the same time slot, and their reward for running away from the Browns in the second half is a trip to Baltimore to take on the well-rested No. 1 seed in the AFC. The disparity in team rating, a notable home-field advantage, and the fact the Ravens have had three weeks since their stars last played a meaningful game add up to Baltimore as a significant favorite.Texans @ Ravens (-9.5, 43.5)TEAMRATINGPROJECTED LINETexans44Ravens77-9The Texans haven't looked like a slightly below-average team recently, although that's what the market rated Houston when it made the club a home underdog versus a merely decent Browns squad. However, the Ravens wrecked the 49ers and Dolphins in their last two relevant regular-season contests. If our estimated market ratings are off, we should have moved Houston and Baltimore up in equal measure.Either way, the point spread for this game is fair. Staying above -8.5 protects the sportsbook from bettors pulling the Ravens down under a field goal with 6-point teasers.Concern for Baltimore might stem from past postseason failures - specifically those of Lamar Jackson, who owns the fifth-largest passer decrease from the regular season to the playoffs in NFL history.Of course, a sample size of just three full playoff games (and none since he got hurt early in a 2020 divisional-round contest in Buffalo) doesn't mean Jackson will fall apart Saturday. He's got an offensive coordinator in Todd Monken calling plays to the tune of 7.9 yards per play this season - behind just the 49ers and Dolphins and tied with the Texans.Houston's defense nabbed a pair of Joe Flacco pick-6s in the wild-card round, flashy plays that stemmed from the Texans getting a two-score lead against the Browns, who couldn't effectively run the ball. But the game was a back-and-forth affair until that point, with Houston struggling to slow Cleveland.Now, the Texans go on the road to play outdoors in the cold. And their middle-of-the-road defense needs to slow a Ravens offense that ranked third in yards per carry on the ground, has a lethal option with Jackson's legs, and appears to be getting one of the league's top tight ends back in Mark Andrews.C.J. Stroud getting over a touchdown seems like an attractive option, and we won't judge him or the Texans' offense based on Week 1 when they managed 3.7 yards per play in Baltimore. However, the Ravens' defense already faced Houston and recently shut down the 49ers' high-powered offense. Baltimore is prepared to do a far better job than what the Browns' fraudulent defense managed last week.Pick: Ravens (-9.5)Player propsNico Collins: Under 79.5 receiving yardsYep, we're going back to this well. Fading Nico Collins failed last week when the Browns showed early that they couldn't stop the Texans' lone outside threat. Of course, it later became clear that Cleveland didn't have a plan that could contain much of anything.With the Texans playing outdoors against a defense that has all the time in the world to prepare multiple quality defensive backs (not to mention Collins' increased yardage total), it would be surprising to see Baltimore get beat deep and miss the tackles Cleveland did.Devin Singletary: Under 15.5 rush attemptsSpeaking of going back to the well, we'll do so with a winner from last week. As we previously cited, Devin Singletary only goes over his attempt number in wins, and luckily, he didn't do so in a blowout. We'll win this wager more traditionally when the Texans have to abandon the ground game after a fired-up Ravens front seven shuts down Houston's inefficient run game early.Odell Beckham: Over 31.5 receiving yardsZay Flowers is the toughest Ravens receiver to defend. Andrews is Jackson's favorite target (Andrews' player props aren't available since Baltimore hasn't officially ruled him in for the game). However, the Ravens signed Odell Beckham Jr. for big games. Whether it's a deep shot or more targets than usual for a player with modest production, look for a well-rested Beckham to have an impact despite only playing roughly half the offensive snaps.Anytime touchdownsDalton Schultz (+315)

Former Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury is expected to interview for the Chicago Bears' vacancy at offensive coordinator, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Kingsbury is a senior offensive analyst and quarterbacks coach at USC, the home of Caleb Williams. The star passer is the favorite to be the Bears' selection at No. 1 overall in April's draft.Chicago fired former OC Luke Getsy on Jan. 10 after two seasons.Kingsbury spent four seasons in charge of the Cardinals after six years at Texas Tech, compiling a 28-37-1 record and one playoff appearance. Arizona fired him following the 2022 campaign and he returned to the collegiate ranks with the Trojans for 2023.Chicago owns the top pick thanks to a trade with the Carolina Panthers last offseason. The franchise could draft Williams or decide to stick with former first-round selection Justin Fields. North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye is viewed as Williams' main competition to be the first overall pick.Williams' production dipped in 2023 after his Heisman-winning 2022 season. He threw for 3,633 yards and 30 touchdowns against five interceptions while USC finished with a disappointing 8-5 record.The Bears, who opted to keep head coach Matt Eberflus for 2024, have cast a wide net in search of a new leader on offense.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Thursday that quarterback Kenny Pickett will be the team's top quarterback heading into training camp."He will," Tomlin told reporters when asked if Pickett will be quarterback No. 1 next season. "But obviously, there will be competition. There's always competition in this thing."He added: "I'm extremely confident in him. I feel stronger about some of the intangible things than I did obviously when we first started doing business with him because I have evidence of it. He's highly competitive and professional. He doesn't run from challenges, he runs to challenges ... It is a huge year for him."Pickett started 12 contests for the Steelers this season, going 7-5 while throwing for 2,070 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions. He suffered an ankle injury in Week 13 that required surgery and lost the starting job when he recovered from the ailment after Mason Rudolph led the club to back-to-back victories before the team's season finale against the Baltimore Ravens. He suited up as the backup quarterback for the Steelers' final two games of the year, including their defeat in the postseason.The 25-year-old was selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft and is under contract for the next two years with a cap hit of $3.8 million in 2024.Pittsburgh fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada following the team's Week 11 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Running backs coach Eddie Faulkner was promoted to the interim role, but Tomlin said it's unlikely Faulkner or quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan will be hired as the offensive coordinator for next year."I'm looking at outside candidates and lining up the pecking order there," Tomlin said. "I am appreciative of their efforts in terms of what they did for us down the stretch, but I'm looking at outside candidates at this juncture.Tomlin has been the head coach of the Steelers for 17 years after being hired in 2007. He boasts a 173-100 record with one Super Bowl victory. The 51-year-old is open to signing an extension heading into the final year of his contract."Security is cool," Tomlin said of a possible new deal. "But it's not a top priority for me, I've seen a lot. I'm not job scared. But it does provide less questions and things of that nature certainly."Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cowboys' season ended in disappointment once again, but with his future secure, head coach Mike McCarthy is confident Dallas' Super Bowl drought will soon come to an end."We have established a championship program. It's just not a world championship yet," he said, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News.He added: "I know how to win. We will get over that threshold. I have total confidence, and that's why I am standing here today."Despite the Cowboys suffering a heavy first-round defeat to the seventh-seed Green Bay Packers, owner Jerry Jones announced Wednesday that McCarthy will return for 2024.Jones said he believes McCarthy is the man to lead the Cowboys to their first title in 29 years and proclaimed the club is "very close and capable of achieving our ultimate goals."I am very confident in the direction. I like where we are as far as moving forward," McCarthy said.The head coach added that he and Jones met for over three hours following the loss to Green Bay, McCarthy's former franchise."One team played to their standard and the other didn't," he said, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "Unfortunately, we didn't. So I'm very disappointed in our performance, just not playing to our standard."McCarthy has produced three straight 12-5 campaigns after going 6-10 in his first season in Dallas but has only earned one postseason victory. The 60-year-old will reportedly enter 2024 with one year remaining on his contract.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons will conduct a second head coaching interview with Bill Belichick over the weekend, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Belichick will meet with the Falcons' brass after he spoke one-on-one with owner Arthur Blank on Monday, Rapoport adds. At the time of the initial meeting, reports indicated a deal wasn't imminent, but the sides had mutual interest.Atlanta is the only team with a vacancy currently pursuing the former New England Patriots legend. The Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, Carolina Panthers, Washington Commanders, Seattle Seahawks, and Tennessee Titans are all looking for a new coach.Belichick and New England mutually parted ways after 24 seasons and six Super Bowl titles, with the AFC East club quickly naming Jerod Mayo as its new coach. The 71-year-old finished his Patriots tenure with a 266-121 regular-season record and a 30-12 postseason mark.The Falcons' job became available after the club fired Arthur Smith following his third straight 7-10 finish.Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, and Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan are among the other reported candidates for Atlanta's top job.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike McCarthy will be back as the Dallas Cowboys' head coach in 2024, team owner Jerry Jones announced Tuesday."I believe this team is very close and capable of achieving our ultimate goals, and the best step forward for us will be with Mike McCarthy as our head coach," Jones said in a statement, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Cowboys are keeping McCarthy despite a one-and-done playoff run in which Dallas suffered a 48-32 thrashing at the hands of the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round.Jones initially declined to comment on the head coach's fate following the defeat, though he said he was "floored" by the loss, which invited speculation over McCarthy's future.However, Jones defended McCarthy on Tuesday, stating that the loss is shared by the entire organization and that he "100%" backs the 60-year-old coach."Our loss on Sunday is shared by everyone here, not just coach McCarthy. Our players. Our coaches. Our front office. Myself. There is accountability for our results. I am accountable for our results," Jones said. "The lens we use to view and evaluate coach McCarthy is holistic. While we're all disappointed with the result on Sunday and with our playoff record, I am 100% supportive of him as our head coach and (his) ability to reach our goals."The Cowboys marched to a 12-5 record for the third straight season under McCarthy in 2023. However, the regular-season success has done little to change the franchise's postseason troubles. McCarthy has won just one playoff game since becoming the team's head coach. The Cowboys are still searching for their first conference championship game appearance since 1995, which was also the last time they won a Super Bowl."Mike has the highest regular-season winning percentage of any head coach in Cowboys history, and we will dedicate ourselves, in partnership with him, to translating that into reaching our postseason goals," Jones said.Multiple Cowboys also went to bat for McCarthy following the wild-card letdown. Quarterback Dak Prescott, who threw two interceptions, said postgame that McCarthy has been "amazing" and helped fuel his career season. Prescott finished the campaign with a league-leading 36 touchdowns and a career-high 105.9 passer rating.The 2024 season is the final year on McCarthy's contract, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.McCarthy has put up a 42-25 record with the Cowboys. He previously coached the Packers for 13 seasons, winning one Super Bowl during his time there.Dallas is also expected to retain defensive coordinator Dan Quinn if he's not hired as a head coach elsewhere during the offseason, according to ESPN's Ed Werder. The Cowboys defensive play-caller is reportedly scheduled to interview for five head-coaching vacancies.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams has zero plans to retire following the conclusion of the 2023 season."Oh yeah, 100%," Williams said when asked if he'd be back in 2024, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.Williams briefly pondered retiring after last season before deciding to return. The 35-year-old has a record in his sights as he hopes to become the first tackle to be selected to the Pro Bowl 12 times."I want to break the record for tackles. That's a big thing for me," Williams said.Williams was voted to his 11th straight Pro Bowl earlier this year after protecting the blindside for a 49ers team that went 12-5 and finished with the NFC's No. 1 seed.San Francisco is preparing to play the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round Saturday at 8:15 p.m. ET.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's speculation about Nick Sirianni's future as the Eagles' head coach after the team's 32-9 wild-card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but several longtime Philadelphia players don't want the sideline boss going anywhere."He's a hell of a coach," Eagles offensive lineman Jordan Mailata said Wednesday, according to Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports. "I don't understand that (job security speculation). Led us to playoffs three years. Took us to Super Bowl last year. That's gotta account for something."Sirianni has posted a 36-20 record across three years as Philly's sideline boss, including the playoffs. The team made the postseason in each of those seasons and won the NFC during the 2022 campaign. However, after a 10-1 start in 2023, the Eagles regressed in the season's second half and lost six of their final seven games, a run that included the playoff defeat to Tampa Bay.Eagles center and team captain Jason Kelce said he still has "faith" in Sirianni."I love Nick," Kelce said Wednesday, according to NBC Sports. "I think Nick's a great coach, I really do. ... Obviously, nobody was good enough this year. I wasn't. None of the players. None of the coaches were good enough down the stretch. That's the reality of this business, when you're that bad it's a collective thing."Philadelphia returned most of the starters from its NFC-winning squad in 2023, but Sirianni's staff lost offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. The Eagles regressed on both sides of the ball this past season, especially on defense, ranking 30th in points allowed. Coordinator Sean Desai began the campaign as Philly's defensive play-caller but lost play-calling duties to Matt Patricia in December as Sirianni and Co. tried to solve the club's issues.The Eagles' longtime defensive tackle Fletcher Cox called any speculation about Sirianni's future "crazy.""He's the head coach of this team," he said. "There ain't even a f-----g discussion."Cox added: "This man, he's a winner. He's a winning head coach. Did we have some bumps this year? Yeah, but every team, every organization, everybody goes through it. But we don't look at firing the man who, you know, obviously has won 10-plus games two years in a row. That's taken this organization to three playoff appearances, three years in a row. You know, that's respect."Sirianni isn't the only member of the Eagles whose future is uncertain in 2024. It was reported that Kelce has told his teammates he's retiring from football after 13 seasons. The 36-year-old recently denied the report, saying he has yet to make a final decision about his future.Cox and longtime defensive end Brandon Graham - whose contracts expire in March - are also contemplating what's next for their football careers. Graham recently said he hopes to return for a final season with the Eagles.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, Boone goes over his biggest takeaways from the first edition of his 2024 fantasy rankings.

Patrick Mahomes hopes his competitive rivalry with Josh Allen can be as memorable as the legendary battle that reigned over the AFC for a decade-plus between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning."I'm excited for the challenge," Mahomes said Wednesday ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs' matchup with the Buffalo Bills, according to ESPN's Adam Teicher. "I grew up watching those games (between Brady and Manning) and remember how many memories I have from that. Hopefully, we can play in these great games as well and give memories to the kids that come up behind us."Sunday's meeting will be the seventh between the two quarterbacks and the third postseason clash. Mahomes is undefeated so far against the Bills passer in the playoffs. However, the game will present a different challenge for the Chiefs signal-caller as it'll be his first-ever road playoff game."Now we get the great opportunity to go on the road, play in a hostile environment, one that I haven't been able to play with fans in the stands, and even though I know it's going to be hostile and there's going to be people talking trash and everything like that, I'm excited for it because it's one of the best environments in football," Mahomes explained.While Mahomes has had Allen's number in the playoffs, the Bills signal-caller has won three of four regular-season matchups against the Chiefs. That includes a controversial 20-17 win in December, which saw Kansas City's go-ahead touchdown with just over a minute remaining negated due to an offsides penalty on receiver Kadarius Toney.However, Mahomes says revenge isn't on his mind."The Bills are a great challenge," Mahomes said. "I think everybody understands that they've gotten my number a lot of times. We've been lucky enough to get them in the playoffs, but they beat us earlier this year. So, we understand that we're going to have to play our best football to win the game, especially at their place, but it's not about ending someone's season for us."He continued: "It's about just advancing, trying to find a way to survive and advance and get to the next round, and whatever that takes this weekend, we're going to try to do and try to go out there and win a football game."Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was one of the NFL's best quarterbacks under pressure in 2023, but Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt doesn't think the second-year passer will replicate that success when they face off on Saturday."When D-linemen just get pressure into him, he's always throwing off, or it's behind them or it's overthrown or short," Wyatt said of Purdy on Wednesday, according to Rob Reischel of Forbes.com. "There will be a lot of picks and stuff like that. So when you get pressure on him, it's a guarantee we'll get a turnover."Purdy ranked second in completion percentage, third in yards per completion, and fifth in passer rating under pressure among starting quarterbacks during the regular season, according to PFF. He did throw six interceptions when pressured, however, the sixth-most in the league.The NFL's most efficient passer in the regular season, Purdy finished the campaign with 31 touchdown passes against 11 interceptions. He's under center for a San Francisco offense that had four players with at least 1,000 scrimmage yards: Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle. McCaffrey led the league with 2,023 total yards and 23 touchdowns.The Packers are hot as they travel to face the 49ers in the divisional round after defeating the Dallas Cowboys in the wild-card matchup. Green Bay's defense has been below average in yards allowed but ranked 11th in QB pressures created in 2023. The unit also amassed 45 sacks during the regular season and took down Dak Prescott four times during Sunday's win.Wyatt - a first-round pick in 2022 - improved during his sophomore campaign after not playing much in Year 1. The Georgia product recorded 36 tackles (six for loss), 11 QB hits, and 5.5 sacks in 2023.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson wants to cash in this offseason after a career year."I feel like there's no reason I can't be the highest-paid corner in the league," he told Keyshawn Johnson on "All Facts No Brakes."He added: "I feel like that's what I'm aiming for, that's what I'm shooting for, that's what I think can be done and should be done."Johnson played out the final year of his rookie contract this season. He's slated to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year opens on March 13, but the Bears can elect to franchise tag the star corner.The 24-year-old was a second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in 2023, finishing the season with 36 tackles, 10 passes defended, and a career-high four interceptions. Johnson was terrific in coverage, allowing only 25 catches for 195 yards in 14 games, according to PFF, which also had him as its highest-graded cornerback this year."I feel like I've had a good enough resume from my rookie year until now. I think this really was just the icing on the cake," Johnson added. "I feel like there's not anything that anybody can say: I took the ball away, I got All-Pro, I got Pro Bowl. I mean, what else is there for me to get? ... The ball is really in my court."Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander is currently the highest-paid defensive back in the league after signing a four-year, $84-million deal in 2022, according to Over the Cap.Johnson was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has 41 passes defended and five interceptions in 53 career games.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera wants to continue coaching, even if it means no longer being front and center."I have several opportunities right now," Rivera told ESPN's John Keim. "I just want to make sure it's the right one."The 62-year-old says that he has spoken with some teams and is waiting to see what happens over the next week regarding coaching vacancies. Six teams have vacancies at head coach, including both of Rivera's former employers in Washington and the Carolina Panthers.Washington dismissed Rivera after four seasons following the team's 4-13 record in 2023. The veteran coach has compiled a 102-103-2 career record after also spending nine seasons coaching in Carolina.Rivera previously served as a defensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears (2004-06) and San Diego Chargers (2008-10). He said he isn't opposed to returning to a coordinating role. He took over play-calling duties for Washington after the team fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio on Nov. 24 and said he really enjoyed it.The former head coach called his final season with the Commanders "the greatest learning experience I've had in a while."Rivera said he regretted his handling of second-year quarterback Sam Howell. The coach named the former fifth-round pick as the team's starter last offseason. The North Carolina product threw for 3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns, and a league-high 21 interceptions with a 78.9 passer rating."I put a lot on Sam, and I probably shouldn't have put as much pressure on him, and I think that was probably one of the mistakes I made this year," Rivera said.Despite being fired by owner Josh Harris, Rivera praised Commanders ownership."If there's one thing that we can say over the four years, it's that I think the culture is headed in the direction it needs to be headed," he said.Washington has begun to fill some of its own vacancies this week, hiring Adam Peters as general manager.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis defended the decision to retain head coach Dennis Allen on Wednesday and is asking for patience as the team tries to rebound from a disappointing season."The easiest thing to do is look at the results and say, 'Oh no, we've got to have a change.' You've got to look beyond that," Loomis said, according to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.He added: "What are the reasons why we were 9-8 instead of 13-4? It's collective, it's the players, it's the coaches, it's me, it's the personnel staff, our roster, it's variables sometimes we don't have any control of. My assessment is Dennis Allen is a good coach."The Saints finished second in the NFC South with a 9-8 record. They rallied to win four of their last five contests after a 5-7 start but ultimately fell short of making the playoffs for a third straight season. Allen was promoted to head coach after Sean Payton retired for one campaign in 2022. He was previously the defensive coordinator under Payton for seven years.Allen's tenure as head coach got off to a rocky start as the club went 7-10 in his first season. The NFC South combined for a 29-39 record, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers taking the division crown by going 8-9."With Sean Payton we went 10-6 the first year, but then we were 7-9, 8-8, I heard some of the same noise, but at the time I knew we had a good football coach," Loomis said."I think sometimes the hard thing to do is be patient and recognize some of your other shortcomings and get those fixed. That's what we're doing."New Orleans will have to make several moves this offseason, as the club currently has minus-$82 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield addressed Detroit Lions defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson's criticism of Tampa Bay's QB situation ahead of their divisional-round matchup Sunday.On Tuesday, Gardner-Johnson praised the Bucs' wide receivers but suggested not having a solid quarterback under center holds them back."If you give that Tampa group a good quarterback, that's a great group. (Mike) Evans, (Chris) Godwin, (Russell) Gage, that's a great group. I played against them for real," the Lions defender said, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.Mayfield doesn't think Gardner-Johnson has a point."I don't think he's really watched film because he mentioned Russell Gage. We love Russell, but Russell hasn't played a snap all year for us. He must be going off the preseason stuff," Mayfield said Wednesday, according to Matt Matera of PewterReport.Tampa Bay was one of only four teams to employ multiple 1,000-yard pass-catchers in 2023. Evans finished the campaign with 79 receptions for 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Godwin caught 83 passes for 1,024 yards and two TDs. Gage, however, suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice last August.Running back Rachaad White and tight end Cade Otton ranked third and fourth on the Bucs in receiving with 549 and 455 yards, respectively.Mayfield joined the Buccaneers last offseason and revived his career after playing for three different teams between 2021 and 2022. The 2018 No. 1 pick completed 64.3% of his passes across 17 regular-season starts while setting career highs with 4,044 passing yards and 28 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. He then led the team to a 32-9 victory in the wild-card game against the Philadelphia Eagles.Mayfield had arguably his worst performance of the season in Tampa Bay's Week 6 loss to Detroit, finishing the game with a 51.3% completion rate, no touchdowns, and an interception. Gardner-Johnson missed out, as a pectoral injury sidelined him from Weeks 3-17."(Gardner-Johnson) didn't play our first game, so I'm excited to see him," Mayfield said Wednesday, adding, "He's a good player but, yeah, just gotta do a bit more film study."Since returning from injury, Gardner-Johnson has racked up 11 tackles, one pass breakup, and an interception in two games, including the Lions' wild-card game triumph over the Los Angeles Rams.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans contacted Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan about a second interview for their head coaching vacancy, a source told ESPN's Dan Graziano.Callahan conducted a virtual interview with the Titans last week and is expected to meet with team officials for an in-person meeting, Graziano reports.Callahan is among several candidates to interview for the job after the club parted ways with Mike Vrabel after six seasons.Tennessee is still conducting the first round of interviews after requesting meetings with several of the hottest names available during the current coaching cycle. Dan Quinn, Mike Kafka, and Antonio Pierce are among several other candidates who were reportedly requested.The 39-year-old Callahan is also a candidate for head coach openings with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Los Angeles Chargers.Callahan has served as the offensive coordinator for the Bengals since 2019 after stints with the Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, and Oakland Raiders as an assistant coach.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft officially introduced Jerod Mayo as New England's new head coach Wednesday, saying he's confident the team landed the right guy despite not launching a coaching search this year."I have that same conviction when I hired Bill Belichick, a decision that many questioned at the time and told me I was making a major error," Kraft said, according to Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports."I've learned to trust my instincts throughout my career, and I trust Jerod is the right person to lead the Patriots back to championship-level contention and long-term success," he added.The Patriots and Belichick parted ways after 24 seasons and six Super Bowl titles following a 4-13 season on Jan 11. New England wasted no time in hiring Mayo - its former linebackers coach - to replace Belichick on Jan. 12.New England didn't go through the NFL's lengthy hiring process and was able to promote Mayo quickly after reportedly establishing a contractual succession plan with him in a prior contract.The 37-year-old Mayo, now the league's youngest head coach, spent the last five seasons on Belichick's coaching staff. The former All-Pro linebacker knows he has big shoes to fill but intends to bring a different approach from his predecessor."I'm not trying to be Bill. I think Bill is his own man. If you can't tell by now, I'm a little bit different," Mayo said Wednesday, according to Epstein. "What I will say is - the more I think about the lessons I've taken from Bill, hard work works."Under Belichick's watch, the Patriots didn't always announce job titles for their offensive and defensive coordinators. With Mayo in the building, that will most likely change."I think it's important. I think titles are important. No knock to Coach Belichick," Mayo said when asked if he plans to name coordinators in 2024, according to Alex Barth of 98.5 The Sports Hub.Kraft and Mayo refused to get into specifics about how they will build New England's roster and coaching staff this year."You have to evaluate the culture and how the pieces fit. I don't want to be in an echo chamber," Mayo added, per Meredith Gorman of NESN. "I want people to be honest and open and hopefully come together and make a sound decision."New England is also looking for a new general manager, a role that Belichick occupied. Kraft said his team will consider options inside and outside the organization.The Patriots own the third overall pick in the 2024 draft. If New England keeps the No. 3 selection, it'll be the franchise's highest draft choice since Drew Bledsoe went first overall in 1993.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay announced tight end Tyler Higbee suffered a torn ACL and MCL in the club's 24-23 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday, according to Adam Grosbard of the Orange County Register.Higbee exited after taking a hard hit to the legs from Lions safety Kerby Joseph late in the fourth quarter. The 31-year-old finished the playoff contest with one target and no receptions.

The Cleveland Browns are parting ways with offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, he told ESPN's Jake Trotter.Running backs coach Stump Mitchell and tight ends coach T.C. McCartney were also dismissed, a source told CBS Sports' Josina Anderson.All three assistants had been part of Kevin Stefanski's staff since 2020. The Browns head coach informed the trio that he wanted to change course, according to Anderson.The 53-year-old Van Pelt could look to find a team that will offer a bigger role, as Stefanski handled the play-calling duties on game days.Cleveland finished the regular season No. 10 in scoring offense (23.3 points per game) and No. 16 in total offense (335.9 ypg).Injuries plagued the Browns for much of the campaign. Starting quarterback Deshaun Watson sustained a season-ending shoulder injury in November. However, Cleveland experienced a bounce-back after signing Joe Flacco, who led the team to a 4-1 record as a starter after signing.The Browns overcame the injuries to clinch a playoff berth but lost to the Houston Texans in a lopsided affair Saturday.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons interviewed Michigan's Jim Harbaugh for their vacant head coach role, the team announced Tuesday.Harbaugh owns a 118-46 record as a collegiate coach from his time with Stanford (2007-10) and Michigan (2015-23). The Wolverines recently beat Washington 34-13 to capture the College Football Playoff National Championship.He also amassed a 44-19-1 record leading the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-14, his lone stint as an NFL head coach. The team made Super Bowl XLVII during the 2012 season before losing to the Baltimore Ravens, coached by brother John Harbaugh.Harbaugh is the seventh coach to complete an interview with the Falcons, joining former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, Ravens assistant head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, and Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.The 60-year-old has also interviewed with the Los Angeles Chargers for their open head coach role. However, he reportedly remains in contract extension talks with Michigan as well. Potential sanctions from the NCAA stemming from multiple ongoing investigations into the program could complicate his situation.Atlanta is looking for a new head coach after firing Arthur Smith following a third consecutive 7-10 campaign.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.