More postseason-long player prop markets come with Wild Card Weekend. In most cases, you'll need the player you've backed to suit up at least three games. That means players on the Ravens and 49ers have to get to the Super Bowl, while others in action this week have to win only two contests and perform well in a losing cause in the conference title game.Passing leader oddsPLAYERMost Pass YardsMost Pass TDsDak Prescott+300+325Josh Allen+400+450Brock Purdy+500+550Lamar Jackson+850+900Patrick Mahomes+850+700Joe Flacco+1100+1600Jared Goff+1200+1100Matthew Stafford+1400+1600Tua Tagovailoa+1600+1400Baker Mayfield+2000+1800CJ Stroud+2000+1600Jalen Hurts+2000+1500Jordan Love+3500+2000Mason Rudolph+3500+4000Passing yardage: Jared Goff (+1200)

The New England Patriots are hiring Jerod Mayo as their new head coach following Bill Belichick's departure, the team announced Friday.

We hear the echoes of Favre-Aikman, or even Rodgers-Romo, as the Packers and Cowboys - the best "historical franchise matchup" of Wild Card Weekend - get the cornerstone late Sunday afternoon time slot.It wasn't always smooth, but Green Bay's transition from the Aaron Rodgers era is a first-year success. Meanwhile, an unusually consistent and relatively uneventful season in Dallas ended with an NFC East division title. But playoff failure - however Jerry Jones defines it - will surely send "America's Team" into offseason chaos again.Packers @ Cowboys (-7, 50.5)TEAMRATINGPROJECTED LINEPackers52/100Cowboys72/100-8It became clear early on (the 49ers game notwithstanding) that the Cowboys had the pieces to be a championship contender. The betting market agreed, consistently but gradually boosting their rating. After all, Dallas covered the sizable point spreads in the eight games they won up to and including Thanksgiving. From Week 13 on, though, the Cowboys went 2-4 against the spread, and the four categorical losses came against playoff or near-playoff teams.The ebb and flow of the Packers' season ended with a high tide, so their rating went up. They're now in the top of their range, which can be a precarious position.Asking the Cowboys to win a playoff game by more than a score comes down to whether you're willing to trust Mike McCarthy. Giving up win probability via a handful of suboptimal moves can be the difference between winning easily and sweating out the final two minutes, and possibly why the line has fallen back down to -7.Between the painted lines, some developing advantages for the Packers suggest they can keep up with the Cowboys, who we expect to move the ball with relative ease.Jordan Love had an 18:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio during the final eight games of the season - seven of which featured a quarterback rating in the 100s. His exceptional play has potentially overshadowed the element that makes the Packers dangerous.Aaron Jones struggled with his health throughout the season but finished the campaign with three straight games with at least 20 carries and 100 yards. A healthy Jones has finally provided the Packers with a threat on the ground that can open things up for Love even more.Even in victories, the Cowboys allowed 6.3 yards per play to the Lions and Seahawks and 6.2 to the Eagles in their final three home games. That punches a hole in the idea that Dallas is a force at home.Green Bay's had notable defensive players in and out of the lineup all season, but the signs suggest that Jaire Alexander, Darnell Savage, Quay Walker, and De'Vondre Campbell will all suit up together - a rarity in 2022-23. The Cowboys, meanwhile, aren't sure whether Johnathan Hankins and Stephon Gilmore will be 100%. The former is important in limiting Jones, and the latter is crucial in matching up with the Packers' depth at receiver - especially if they get Christian Watson back.Either way, we're in for a likely shootout at AT&T Stadium, where a finally-clicking Packers offense can keep up with the Cowboys.Pick: Packers (+7)Player propsDak Prescott: Over 34.5 passing attemptsIn a game we think will be tightly played, expect Prescott to be throwing often, late, and likely with success. In recent comparable matchups with the Lions, Eagles and Seahawks, Prescott sent the ball through the air 41, 39 and 38 times, respectively.Aaron Jones: Longest rush over 15.5 yardsAfter taking four weeks between November and December off to get healthy, Jones' explosiveness returned. He had rushes of 17+ yards in each of the four remaining games in the season. Likely to get another 20+ opportunities to weave through the Cowboys' front seven, Jones is a better than 50/50 bet to make it five in a row.Anytime touchdownsAaron Jones (+115)AJ Dillon doesn't seem ready to play, which paves the way for Jones to get the goal-line carries on Sunday. He's also a threat to score on a screen pass. And, since the only thing missing from Jones' recent stat lines is a touchdown, we'll bet he'll find the end zone one way or another at better than even money.Bo Melton (+440)Every week, it seems the Packers are missing a receiver - either before kickoff or midway through a game - but Bo Melton has filled all holes nicely. His snap share increased steadily as the injuries piled up, and he caught 11 passes for 162 yards in the final two games, even getting a pair of carries in the season finale. The rookie out of Rutgers should, at long odds, be one of Love's targets to score.Jordan Love (+750, 0.4 units)

The return of both Matthew Stafford and the NFL playoffs to Motown caps Sunday's trio of matchups we didn't see in the regular season.The Rams are a far cry from the Super Bowl LVI champion version of themselves, but they're still a popular pick for an upset. The relative ease in picking the former victors over a traditionally unlucky franchise might create some value on the home side.Rams @ Lions (-3, 51.5)TEAMRATINGPROJECTED LINERams52/100Lions60/100-4Los Angeles had the third-lowest total in regular season win total markets last summer. But, even without a first-round pick, the Rams sustained their roster with late-round steals in the 2023 draft like Byron Young, Kobie Turner and, of course, Puka Nacua after finding Kyren Williams and key members of the secondary late in 2022.Despite making the Lions bigger favorites at home against NFC teams that are comparable to the Rams like the Seahawks, Packers, and Vikings, the market's appetite for L.A. is high enough that +3.5 would be bet instantly if it became available.The Lions are 35-16 against the spread under Dan Campbell, and even with high expectations this season as favorites in the NFC North, they still had the best record in that category at 12-5.It's also the Lions' first home playoff game since 1993, and the Detroit crowd should be hyped on Sunday, loud whenever the Rams have the ball. Home-field advantage accounts for an average of 1.75 points within a given point spread. But you have to assume the Lions' boisterous fans will contribute more than a typical home crowd, giving the team an extra edge.L.A.'s rating rose thanks to a 7-1 run down the final stretch, with the lone loss coming in overtime against Baltimore. However, those seven wins came against five non-playoff teams. The other two came against the Browns in Joe Flacco's first start and a Week 18 virtual exhibition contest with the 49ers.After Week 14, the Rams were considered a 50/100, while the Lions were a 59/100. That would translate to a point spread of -4.5, and not enough has changed between Week 15 and now to warrant backing the Rams by this margin.Pick: Lions (-3)Player propsKyren Williams: Under 82.5 rushing yardsThe Lions quietly had one of the better run defenses this season, holding opponents to 3.7 yards per carry (third-best in the league). On the flip side, Detroit's third-worst against the pass, allowing 7.2 yards per attempt.Kyren Williams has enjoyed a breakout campaign, clearing that rushing total in seven straight games in which he played. However, those contests often featured scenarios where the Rams looked to run the clock down to close out a win or against subpar run defenses. It's not that Williams can't be effective, but throwing should be a more efficient way to move the ball against Detroit.David Montgomery: Under 67.5 rushing + receiving yardsMontgomery's rushing yards total is 55.5, so we might be getting an extra 12 yards of cushion with the bet's inclusion of his receiving yards. Since missing time in the middle of the season, Montgomery's only gained positive receiving yardage in three of nine games. He's only out-snapped Jahmyr Gibbs in two of those games, and Gibbs has 24 receptions to Montgomery's 10 in that stretch.Anytime touchdownsCooper Kupp (+135)Statistically, it was a down season for Cooper Kupp. But his production increased as his injury issues waned. Nacua may now be most dangerous between the 20s, but Kupp is still Stafford's favorite target when it's time to score. Kupp had a touchdown in four of his final five games, and the lone time he didn't, he uncharacteristically dropped two passes in the end zone. He'll have plenty of opportunity and, since it's a playoff game, Stafford will look to his reliable target.Demarcus Robinson (+340)Demarcus Robinson took over the third receiver role toward the end of the season. He was on the field for 86% or more of the Rams' snaps and scored a touchdown in four consecutive games before being kept out of the end zone against the Giants despite ten targets.Jahmyr Gibbs (-110)Gibbs has eight touchdowns in the last nine games, scoring in six separate outings (66% of the time or -150 implied win probability). Montgomery might still be the go-to back at the goal line, but Gibbs is good enough at finding the end zone - by ground or by air - that it might not come to a short-yardage scenario.Brock Wright (+500)Price is everything here. Sam LaPorta (ten touchdowns this season) seems unlikely to play, so Brock Wright will likely be the primary tight end at a position that accounted for 12 touchdowns in 2022-23. If LaPorta's out, Wright's odds to score shorten and become less appealing, so get something longer than +300 before that happens.Mega-long-shot SGPIf you promise to play all your other bets as single bets this postseason, we'll go for ice cream, metaphorically speaking. The same-game parlay is the high-calorie treat of sports betting but, for a couple of bucks, we'll take a shot with the following:PARLAY+Lions -2.5Over 48.5 pointsJahmyr Gibbs: Anytime TDCooper Kupp: Anytime TDMatthew Stafford: Over 1.5 pass TDMatthew Stafford: Over 39.5 longest passJared Goff: Over 33.5 pass ATTKyren Williams: Under 80.5 rushyardsDavid Montgomery: Under 1.5 REC+9100Matt 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.

Get your popcorn ready.Wild Card Weekend is upon us, and this year, it'll feature several must-watch matchups that include highly anticipated revenge games, two of the league's most popular teams squaring off, great comeback stories, and much more.Here's how each wild-card bout stacks up this season:6. Bills vs. SteelersOn paper, this is far from the most exciting playoff matchup, which is why it gets the last spot on our rankings. But that doesn't mean this game doesn't have the potential to be fun and worthwhile.In reality, the meeting between the Bills and Steelers represents the AFC's two hottest teams coming to blows. Buffalo has won five in a row to reach the No. 2 seed, while Pittsburgh has somehow ripped off three straight wins with Mason Rudolph under center to improbably take the final wild-card spot.Yes, Rudolph versus Josh Allen is as lopsided of a quarterback battle as you can get, but the former has a passer rating above 112 in all three of his starts. It should also be entertaining to see Allen - one of the NFL's best dual-threat passers - take on a Steelers defense that'll be missing T.J. Watt but should have Minkah Fitzpatrick back.Oh, and don't forget there's a possibility of windy weather and perhaps even snow, which is always a welcome addition to any playoff game.5. Buccaneers vs. EaglesTampa Bay and Philadelphia meet again in a wild-card clash after the Bucs eliminated the Eagles 31-15 in the same round back in January 2022. A lot has changed for both teams, though, as Tom Brady was still under center for the NFC South club, and Jalen Hurts was in his first season as Philly's starter. Now an established NFL signal-caller, Hurts will face former No. 1 pick Baker Mayfield on the other side.Both the Buccaneers and Eagles should feel good about the wild-card bout; these are arguably the most vulnerable playoff teams at the moment. Tampa Bay enters this postseason as the only division champion without double-digit wins and the only NFC team with a below-average scoring offense. To make matters worse, Mayfield - who revived his career in his first year with the Bucs - is dealing with ankle and rib injuries. Julio Aguilar / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Eagles have been dealing with their own injury issues, as Hurts and star receiver A.J. Brown are banged up following Week 18. Philadelphia currently doesn't look anything like the team that started the season 10-1. Nick Sirianni's outfit has since lost five of its last six games, showing no answers to its problems on both sides of the ball. In Week 3, Philly amassed 472 total yards - a team high this season - and defeated the Buccaneers 25-11.4. Texans vs. BrownsThis bout would feature Deshaun Watson facing his former team, but the Browns quarterback is sidelined with a shoulder injury. In at quarterback for Cleveland is Joe Flacco, one of this season's best storylines. The former Super Bowl MVP has had turnover issues, with eight interceptions in five starts, but has also provided the Browns with the offensive spark this team and its premier defense needed to become a real threat in the AFC. The 38-year-old - whose last playoff start dates back to 2015 - has averaged 323 yards per game with Cleveland. Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images Sport / GettyAwaiting Cleveland's top-ranked pass defense is C.J. Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick who's expected to be named Offensive Rookie of the Year after leading the NFL in passing yards per game. By also topping the league in TD-INT ratio, the Ohio State product joined Joe Montana and Tom Brady as the only QBs ever to top the sport in both categories in the same campaign. The 2023 Browns haven't faced a quarterback like Stroud, so it'll be fascinating to watch how the all-time great rookie matches up with the league's No. 1 defense. Cleveland defeated Houston 36-22 three weeks ago, but that was one of two games Stroud missed due to a concussion.The age difference between Flacco and the 22-year-old Stroud will be the biggest between two starting QBs in a postseason game that doesn't feature Brady.It'll also be interesting to see the battle between arguably this season's two most impressive coaching staffs. Injuries have sidelined Nick Chubb since Week 2 and forced Kevin Stefanski and Co. to start four different quarterbacks. Meanwhile, rookie coach DeMeco Ryans and his staff led the Texans to the playoffs after the team won only three games in 2022.3. Chiefs vs. DolphinsIt's going to be a cold night in Kansas City.Saturday night's prime-time game between the Chiefs and Dolphins is forecasted to feature frigid temperatures, with the possibility of it being the coldest game either franchise has ever participated in, according to CBS' John Breech.But that's not even close to the biggest reason to glue your eyes to this game. Because for the first time since the Chiefs traded him to the Dolphins, Tyreek Hill will return to Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday night. DeFodi Images / DeFodi Images / GettyHill has put up back-to-back 1,700-plus-yard campaigns since leaving the Chiefs, proving that he wasn't just a product of Patrick Mahomes' greatness. It's actually Kansas City who misses him, as the team's wide receivers have struggled to establish themselves outside of Rashee Rice. Hill will have a grand opportunity to remind the Chiefs what they're missing.Even though a matchup featuring the likes of Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and Andy Reid going up against Tua Tagovailoa, Hill, and Mike McDaniel should be full of fireworks, that might not be the case. The Chiefs have struggled scoring all year, while the Dolphins haven't exceeded 22 points in three straight games. Still, it wouldn't shock anyone if both offenses flipped a switch under the bright lights.2. Cowboys vs. PackersOne of the weekend's most interesting games will take place at AT&T Stadium between Dallas and Green Bay, teams that have faced each other in the playoffs eight times, including some remarkable matchups. Between the Ice Bowl in 1967, Dez Bryant's non-catch in 2014, and Aaron Rodgers' sideline dagger to Jared Cook in 2016, there's a lot of history behind this matchup.The 2023 versions of the Cowboys and Packers have a lot to offer, too. Dallas is led by Mike McCarthy, who coached the Packers for 13 years and won a Super Bowl with the team. The Cowboys will be under a lot of pressure, as they have won just one playoff game since 2019. It feels like this could be the year for McCarthy's outfit after it ranked first in points scored and fifth in points allowed during the regular season. The club's offense is led by Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, football's hottest duo at the moment. Defensively, Micah Parsons is a DPOY contender again, and DaRon Bland led the NFL in interceptions and set the single-season record with five pick-6s. Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images Sport / GettyOn the other side is a promising Packers squad that's shown a lot of flashes this season, especially in the second half of the campaign. It's been an encouraging year for the NFC North club as it transitions to the post-Rodgers era. Granted, Green Bay may lack consistency, but the offense has been sharp lately, largely thanks to Jordan Love, who's thrown for 18 touchdowns against just one interception in his last eight games.How will Love fare in his playoff debut? Can the Cowboys finally meet expectations early in the playoffs? Is Matt LaFleur ready to win in the playoffs without Rodgers? There'll be a lot at stake on Sunday.1. Lions vs. RamsIt doesn't get any better than this.Matthew Stafford returning to Detroit to take on his former team in its first home playoff game in 30 years. For the Rams quarterback and Lions fans, the storyline writes itself. Franchise legend leaves, wins the Super Bowl, and now comes back to the city where he built his craft and stands between them and a long-awaited playoff run. Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / GettyBut as much as Stafford's return will pull on heartstrings, it's a different story on the other side. Lions quarterback Jared Goff, who was traded away by the Rams for Stafford, has a chance to serve a cold dish of revenge to his former franchise.There's a lot at stake here for everyone involved. Even if you're not a fan of the dramatics, this should be a must-watch game on the field. Both teams own top-10 scoring offenses and defenses that are in the bottom half of the league in points allowed, meaning this marquee matchup should live up to its five-star billing.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews was designated to return from injured reserve and has returned to practice, the team announced Friday.Andrews hasn't played since he sustained an ankle injury against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11. Head coach John Harbaugh said at the time that Andrews had an "outside chance" at returning this season.The Oklahoma product played in 10 games before being placed on the reserve list, hauling in 45 receptions for 544 yards and six touchdowns.Isaiah Likely has started eight games this season and took over the Ravens' top tight end role in Andrews' absence. The Coastal Carolina product has 411 yards and five touchdowns on 30 receptions.Baltimore has a bye this week after securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC. It will play the lowest remaining seed in the conference after Wild Card Weekend.Andrews will need to be activated to the main roster within 21 days or he'll be moved to season-ending injured reserve. The divisional round kicks off on Jan. 21, the conference championship round on Jan. 28, and Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL coaching carousel is already off to the most chaotic of starts. Bill Belichick is out in New England, Pete Carroll is done in Seattle, and Jim Harbaugh is seemingly itching to get back in the league.In total, one-quarter of the NFL is looking for a new head coach. Let's play matchmaker with the current openings, identifying possible candidates for all eight teams.ChargersJim Harbaugh Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyNotoriously hesitant to spend big money on their coaches, it isn't difficult to envision a scenario where the Chargers find themselves losing out on the top candidates. This isn't exactly an organization known for bold moves. But if ever there were a season that could finally push ownership to step up, it's probably the embarrassing final year of the Brandon Staley era. The Chargers desperately need to nail this hire, and Harbaugh should be their No. 1 target.Harbaugh, now a national champion, has accomplished everything he set out to do at Michigan. With NFL interest seemingly at an all-time high and the threat of further NCAA sanctions looming, there would be no better time to make his return to the professional level. And in case you forgot about his four years in San Francisco, there should be no question about his ability to coach in the NFL. The Chargers job will come with some challenges, including a salary cap situation that's going to necessitate the departure of some key players. But the opportunity to team up with Justin Herbert and return to the West Coast should make this Harbaugh's top landing spot.FalconsBill BelichickThe greatest coach in NFL history roaming the sidelines in a cutoff Falcons hoodie? Yeah, it's a little bizarre. But the idea of Belichick coaching any other team after 24 years in New England is going to require an adjustment period for all of us. Once we get past the weirdness of it all, it's easy to see how this could be a match.Belichick is going to need a situation where he's given full control of the football operations, much like he had with the Patriots. The Falcons, fresh off a third straight 7-10 season, should have no hesitations about ceding such power to someone with this kind of resume. At some point, Arthur Blank has to take a big swing to drag this organization away from eternal mediocrity. He can offer Belichick a talented roster, full autonomy, all the money he wants, and the opportunity to coach in the NFC South. It wouldn't be long before he gets the 15 wins he needs to pass Don Shula for the all-time record, including playoffs.The Falcons would be wise to get this thing done as soon as possible. They're the best fit for Belichick right now, but that could change as certain teams start bowing out of the playoffs. (More on that below)PatriotsMike Vrabel Wesley Hitt / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt was time for change in New England. That reality could, in theory, lead to Robert Kraft going off the board and embracing an entirely new approach throughout the organization. But does anyone really believe this hire isn't going to be someone who already has ties to the organization? The "Patriot Way" has been far too successful - in Foxboro, specifically - for ownership to abandon it completely.Fortunately for Kraft, the Titans making the surprise decision to dump Vrabel presents him with a dream transition scenario. Vrabel played eight seasons in New England, winning three Super Bowls in the early stages of the Patriots dynasty. He was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame during his bye week this season, and his overwhelming praise for the organization reportedly wasn't well-received by Titans ownership. Most importantly of all, it just so happens that Vrabel is, at worst, one of the top 10 coaches in the game today. He's the perfect candidate to provide a new voice while also understanding everything that's long made this organization great. Vrabel would be a home-run hire.Editor's note: The Patriots hired linebackers coach Jerod Mayo to succeed Belichick.SeahawksMike MacdonaldPete Carroll moving on was another shocker. He'd been one of the NFL's best coaches for the extent of his 14 years in Seattle, and the organization now has some pretty big shoes to fill in the coming weeks. Dan Quinn has already been reported as a possible front-runner, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see the Seahawks take that route, opting for a familiar face by hiring their former defensive coordinator. But it shouldn't be that simple.This will be a desirable job with the potential to attract a number of qualified candidates around the league. While Quinn belongs in that conversation after continued success in Dallas, the ceiling seems significantly higher with an up-and-coming defensive mind like Macdonald. The Ravens coordinator has needed only two seasons to build the NFL's best defense since arriving from Michigan. And after statement performances against previously unstoppable offenses like that of the 49ers and Dolphins, his system may well be the future of the league. Macdonald and general manager John Schneider could be an extremely successful tandem.RaidersAntonio Pierce Ian Maule / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Raiders are going to cast a wide net in their search for their next head coach. Mark Davis has expressed a desire to be open to any and all candidates after previously zeroing in on those he wanted from the jump. While his affinity for big names will lead to some intriguing possibilities, this is a process that should mostly be carried out in the name of due diligence. Pierce deserves the job.A surprise midseason promotion after the firing of Josh McDaniels, Pierce took over as head coach with minimal expectations. The Raiders took on a completely new identity in his nine games, however, posting a 5-4 record that included a road win over the Chiefs and a 63-21 rout of the Chargers. The defense, most notably, was second only to the Browns in EPA/play allowed during Pierce's time as head coach, according to Ben Baldwin's database. While he may be short on experience, the locker room completely bought into his leadership style. Can Davis afford to make the same mistake as last time and look elsewhere when his players are so vocally in support of a beloved interim?CommandersBen JohnsonJohnson is seen by many as the most promising young coaching candidate in football. He had earned that distinction by this time last year before turning away the Panthers' overtures and opting to stay in Detroit. The intrigue around his name has only intensified after another year at the controls of a high-powered Lions offense. While that may make you wonder why he'd choose the Commanders of all teams, it's a new day in Washington.The stench of the Dan Snyder era is slowly but surely wearing off. New owner Josh Harris seems committed to reshaping the organization from the ground up, and we have every reason to believe he'll pay top dollar to get the right people in the building. That'll be an important factor with coaching contracts on the rise and Johnson reportedly seeking $15 million per year. The Commanders can also offer the ideal situation for a long-term rebuild. They've got the No. 2 pick in the draft, giving them the opportunity to select either Caleb Williams or Drake Maye as the quarterback of the future, and Washington heads into free agency with a projected $75 million in cap space, more than any other team, according to Over the Cap. This has become an especially interesting job, and Johnson should be the top candidate for a front office that appears poised to embrace analytics.PanthersFrank Smith Alex Grimm / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Panthers job is one of the few available that really isn't all that attractive. No. 1 pick Bryce Young is coming off a disastrous first season. While the disappointing start was likely more about the rest of the team than it was Carolina's young quarterback, that only drives home the point that this rebuild is going to be a grind. Making matters even more difficult: The 2-15 Panthers don't have the benefit of selecting No. 1 overall because the pick was traded to Chicago in last year's deal for Young. Add in the fact that working under David Tepper seems like the biggest drawback of all, and it could be tough for the Panthers to attract top candidates.Carolina's best course of action might be to take a shot on a coach who's perhaps a year or two away from skyrocketing up the ranks. It's still one of 32 jobs, no matter the challenges, and the Panthers can offer the rare opportunity to accelerate a young coach's timeline. Smith, the Dolphins offensive coordinator, is a potential star in the making. He'll fly under the radar because Mike McDaniel handles play-calling duties in Miami, but Smith isn't merely along for the ride. Bringing a Dolphins-style RPO offense to Carolina could be a great way for the organization to set Young up for success. This move could prove genius before long.TitansBobby SlowikNobody really understands what the Titans were thinking in moving on from Vrabel this offseason. At the very least, they should have been exploring opportunities to trade him for premium draft picks. Nevertheless, Tennessee is back in the market for a new head coach. This seems like another team that'll be hard-pressed to attract the biggest names, but there'll still be plenty of options.Some may consider it to be too early for Slowik. Maybe it is. But Texans fans will be terrified of losing him as their offensive coordinator, and that should tell you everything you need to know. Slowik has done some remarkable work in overseeing the rookie development of C.J. Stroud and leading a top-12 offense in his first year in Houston. Another member of the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, Slowik also has familiarity with general manager Ran Carthon from his time in San Francisco. This could be a sensible pairing for all parties.Playoff teams to watchCowboys Richard Rodriguez / Getty Images Sport / GettyJerry Jones desperately wants another Super Bowl. This year is perhaps his best chance since Dallas' last one in 1995. Nothing should be considered off the table if Mike McCarthy once again fails to get the Cowboys past the first two rounds. An opening in Dallas would throw the coaching carousel for a loop, as this remains one of the premier jobs in football. Could an early playoff exit result in the Cowboys swooping in to steal Belichick from another team?EaglesThis seems crazy. Irrational, even. But the Eagles have been a disaster over the second half of the season. Nick Sirianni's team getting so thoroughly outplayed and outcoached with this kind of roster is jarring. The departures of coordinators Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon proving this costly doesn't exactly reflect well on the head coach. Sirianni probably earned more patience than this - as he's one year removed from a Super Bowl appearance. But it isn't certain he's going to get it.ChiefsNo, the Chiefs aren't going to fire Andy Reid. But this will continue to be a situation worth monitoring after the retirement talk that preceded last year's Super Bowl. Reid later denied those rumors and continues to say he isn't thinking about retiring. The future Hall of Famer walking away any time soon would immediately make the Chiefs job, and the opportunity to work with Patrick Mahomes, the most coveted position in the league.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Commanders are working to hire San Francisco 49ers assistant general manager Adam Peters as their new GM, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Peters will be tasked with determining the structure of a leadership team to work alongside him, which includes the fate of Martin Mayhew, who was Washington's GM prior to Peters' hiring, Rapoport adds.Peters, 49, has worked with the Niners dating back to 2017 when he was hired as the vice president of player personnel. He was promoted to assistant GM, serving under John Lynch.The California native spent time with both the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots as a scout before joining the Niners.The Commanders had narrowed down their search for what was initially labeled the head of football operations to two candidates this week. Peters edged out Chicago Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham for the role.Friday's hire marks the first step in a front-office overhaul for new owner Josh Harris. Washington fired Ron Rivera after a 4-13 finish to the 2023 season.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis and safety Taylor Rapp won't play in Sunday's wild-card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, head coach Sean McDermott announced Friday.Davis sustained a PCL sprain in the regular-season finale against the Miami Dolphins, while Rapp suffered a calf strain in the win.The pass-catcher's injury reportedly isn't considered serious, but he won't be ready for the first round of the playoffs.Davis ranks second on the team behind Stefon Diggs with 746 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Receivers Trent Sherfield and Khalil Shakir and tight ends Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid will likely take on greater workloads with Davis sidelined.Rapp - who intercepted Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to seal the AFC East title for Buffalo - has appeared in 16 games this season (four starts) as a backup to Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer.Cornerbacks Rasul Douglas (knee) and linebacker Tyrel Dodson (shoulder) are questionable for the wild-card matchup, with the former missing practice Friday.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Saturday's AFC wild-card matchup between the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs could rank as one of the coldest games in NFL history, and it appears a lot of fans would rather watch the action from the comfort of their homes.Ticket prices have dropped significantly ahead of the game, with some listed as low as $42 on the secondary market as of Friday morning.

It's NFL playoff time. The Ravens and 49ers get to relax as a dozen teams duke it out on Wild Card Weekend. These questions will influence the outcomes of the NFC matchups.(All times listed are Eastern. Find our preview of the AFC games here.)Packers at Cowboys, Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

It's NFL playoff time. The Ravens and 49ers get to relax as a dozen teams duke it out on Wild Card Weekend. These questions will influence the outcomes of the AFC matchups.(All times listed are Eastern. Find our preview of the NFC games here.)Browns at Texans, Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

New England Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo is a strong candidate to replace Bill Belichick as the team's next head coach, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.If the Patriots chose to hire Mayo, they wouldn't have to go through the lengthy NFL hiring process, notes Rapoport. New England has established a contractual succession plan with Mayo in a prior contract and communicated it to the league.The Patriots and Belichick agreed to part ways on Thursday after 24 seasons and six Super Bowl titles.Mayo generated head coaching interest from multiple teams during the 2021 and 2022 offseasons. He interviewed with clubs but wasn't hired. The 37-year-old also turned down an offer to become the Cleveland Browns' defensive coordinator last year.A former All-Pro linebacker, Mayo was heavily involved in Belichick's defense in recent years. Mayo, who retired in 2015, has been with the team as an assistant since 2019.The Patriots, who went 4-13 in 2023, have struggled offensively since Tom Brady left the team, but their defense has been solid in that span. New England has ranked in the top 10 in points or yards allowed in each of the last four seasons.Mayo played 103 regular-season games for the Patriots from 2008-15. A two-time Pro Bowler, he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2008 after being drafted 10th overall out of Tennessee.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson flashed potential in his first month in the NFL, but his rookie season ended prematurely due to a shoulder injury.Despite playing only 12 quarters across four games in Year 1, the 2023 No. 4 overall pick - who also missed a game due to a concussion - said he doesn't plan to change his playing style as a dual-threat QB."It's just a matter of me just being out there and just learning when to get down, when not to get down," Richardson said Thursday, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder. "Some of the injuries were unfortunate. My ankle got stepped on, hitting my knee on the turf really hard. Just stuff like that. Stuff that I can't control."However, Richardson added he could've done things differently to avoid the issues that sidelined him in 2023."The (injuries) that I can control, I've got to prevent those," the Florida product added. "Like me slowing up near the end zone, getting a concussion, that was completely on me. Getting tackled (against the Tennessee Titans), I can't really prevent that. I was trying to brace myself for it, and just unfortunately, my shoulder just did what it did. But I don't think I have to change the way I play. Just being a little smarter."Richardson had a 59.5% pass completion rate to go along with 577 yards and three touchdowns against one interception before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery on his throwing shoulder following Week 5 versus the Titans. He also added 136 yards and four TDs on the ground.The Colts lost their win-and-in matchup against the Houston Texans in Week 18 and missed the playoffs with a 9-8 record. Richardson said Indianapolis would've advanced to the postseason had he not suffered the season-ending ailment."I do believe if I did play, we go to the playoffs, but even when I didn't play, we had opportunities to go to the playoffs. ... Playoffs (are) right there in our hands; we just have to execute every play," he said, according to NFL.com's Eric Edholm.Richardson, who's expected to start throwing again next month, was the third quarterback drafted in 2023 after Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After 24 years, Bill Belichick is no longer the head coach of the New England Patriots.Analysts and former NFL players, among others, reacted to Belichick and the Patriots parting ways Thursday.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and head coach Andy Reid believe they both have plenty of football left in them.Both men were asked about their respective futures as the Chiefs prepare for Saturday's wild-card game against the Miami Dolphins."I have no reason to not (keep playing) football," Kelce said Thursday, according to The Athletic's Nate Taylor. "I love it. I love the challenge it gives me every day. I have no desire to stop anytime soon."With both Pete Carroll (72) and Bill Belichick (71) currently not in head coaching roles, Reid, who turns 66 in March, assumes the mantle as the oldest head coach in the NFL."I haven't even thought about (retirement)," Reid said, according to KCTV's Jared Koller. "I figured that would come up, 'cause I'm old. But not that old."Reid, who's recorded an impressive 280 wins as a bench boss, is already the career wins leader for both the Philadelphia Eagles and Chiefs. His two Super Bowl wins in Kansas City place him in a tie for fifth-most in league history, according to Dave Skretta of The Associated Press.Reid will take the sideline for his 20th postseason game as the Chiefs' coach on Saturday.Kelce has spent the entirety of his 11-year career in Kansas City. The four-time first-team All-Pro didn't surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a season for the first time since 2015. However, Kelce was still among the most productive players at his position in 2023, recording 93 catches for 984 yards and five touchdowns.The nine-time Pro Bowler said that he thinks about retirement "more than anyone could ever imagine" in an interview with The Wall Street Journal's J.R. Moehringer that was published in November.Kelce admits that injuries have taken a toll on his career: He underwent at least 10 surgeries, with some of the effects of those procedures still lingering.The 34-year-old missed the Chief's regular-season opener as well as the team's 13-12 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18, sitting out of the latter to rest up for another playoff run."I felt I could get some rest. It never felt right (playing to get 16 yards for another 1,000-yard season). With a short week, I put some good work in with the guys," Kelce said, per Taylor.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We can pore over the rules and regulations and do all the math, but still: No one knows how the Steelers made the playoffs. While everyone assumed the Bills would get here before the season, things looked dicey for a long while. Buffalo somehow managed to secure the 2-seed, however, and while it will be typically brisk in Western New York on Sunday, the Bills get the first round's coziest matchup according to the betting line.Steelers @ Bills (-10, 36.5)TEAMRATINGPROJECTED LINESteelers37/100Bills72/100-9.5The Bills' five-game winning streak to end the season validated their high estimated market rating. However, they didn't cover either of their games when asked to win by a significant margin (at Chargers and vs. Patriots), and that's what's being asked of them again this Sunday, just like in the 2022 wild-card round against the Dolphins.Even though the Steelers were projected for nine wins and surpassed that to finish 10-7, a rating of 37 is more befitting of a six- or seven-win team. Oh, and now they're without T.J. Watt - their most irreplaceable player, considering they're 1-10 in games he's missed. But how much further can the Steelers' rating get downgraded?The Steelers go from allowing 19.8 points with Watt to 26.3 points without Watt, eerily in line with Pittsburgh allowing 19.1 points per game this season. Buffalo averaged 26 points per game. However, these teams didn't put up any of those numbers in 25 F (-4 C) weather with wind forecasted for 27 mph (43 km/h).The Bills' overarching issue in recent years is that they're built like a dome team, but they play their home games outdoors in Buffalo in the winter:DATEOPPONENTYPPRESULTDec. 31 ('23)vs. Patriots4.127-21 winJan. 22 ('23)vs. Bengals5.227-10 lossJan. 15 ('23)vs. Dolphins5.934-31 winJan. 8 ('23)vs. Patriots5.635-23 winDec. 17 ('22)vs. Dolphins6.332-29 winDec. 11 ('22)vs. Jets4.320-12 winThe Bills found themselves in high-scoring games with the Dolphins last season, but otherwise, they've averaged 4.8 yards per play in late-season home games and are 1-5 against the spread in those games. The team total for the Bills is lined at 22.5, which seems like a fair expectation, so can the Steelers score more than their prescribed total of 12.5?While backing Mason Rudolph on the road in a playoff game doesn't sound appealing, Pittsburgh went from 4.8 yards per play before he took over to 6.0 in the three games since he became the starter. The Steelers have also been more explosive - willing and able to find George Pickens or Diontae Johnson for long passing touchdowns - and Najee Harris has had three of his five best games of the season. Pittsburgh is still getting production from Jaylen Warren too.In a low-total game where a big play might be the difference in covering the spread, the Steelers are just as likely to create that play on offense as the Bills. Even without Watt, Pittsburgh can take advantage of turnover-prone Buffalo to keep this game close.Pick: Steelers (+10)Player propsMason Rudolph: Over 16.5 pass completionsWarren has caught 14 of 15 passes from Rudolph, and Harris added five more receptions in Week 18 as it rained in Baltimore. In poor conditions, Rudolph will take the easy throw. Lined as a two-possession game, we're expecting the Steelers to trail in the second half, which means they'll be forced to throw the ball to catch up.Even if they're not trailing, the weather has depressed all the offensive totals here, so Rudolph just has to complete enough short passes to get over this number.Najee Harris: Over 71.5 rushing + receiving yardsHis five catches in Baltimore suggest it's worthwhile to include the option of his receiving yards. Harris has 78, 122 and 133 yards from scrimmage in Rudolph's three starts.Josh Allen: Longest pass completion under 34.5 yardsOddsmakers have to respect Allen's arm, but he hasn't had the most reliable connection with his receivers on deep passes this season. With everyone a little slower in the cold, short passes are less likely to get turned into big gains as they were in the Bills' recent plays to Khalil Shakir and Dalton Kincaid.Anytime touchdownsAllen Robinson (+750, 0.6 unit)

Friction between Mike Vrabel and Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk played a part in the ex-Tennessee coach's surprise firing Tuesday, sources told Dianna Russini and Joe Rexrode of The Athletic.Two of the most notable disagreements between the two came during the Titans' general manager hiring process last offseason. First, Vrabel told Strunk he'd earned the right to have full personnel control over the roster, Russini and Rexrode report. Strunk disagreed, apparently pointing to the end of Jeff Fisher's Tennessee tenure as just one example for why she didn't want to grant Vrabel's wish.Then, as the Titans were close to hiring Ran Carthon as the club's new general manager, Vrabel reportedly proposed making the former San Francisco 49ers executive the assistant GM because he believed Carthon wasn't ready for the No. 1 job. Strunk wasn't pleased with the suggestion, and her relationship with Vrabel took a hit as a result, Russini and Rexrode note.Things reportedly worsened between the two after Vrabel's speech for his induction into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame during the Titans' bye week, where he said, "This is a special place with great leadership, great fans, great direction, and great coaching. Enjoy it. It's not like this everywhere."Strunk was apparently upset with the entire event but never talked about it with Vrabel and allowed it to fester.However, the Titans still planned to keep Vrabel as of November because Strunk strongly believed in the coach at the time, per Russini and Rexrode. Her belief that this faith wasn't being reciprocated by Vrabel, as well as worsening communication between the two, reportedly led Strunk to eventually change her mind.These incidents occurred after the Titans reportedly considered a fresh start after last season by moving on from Vrabel. Yet Strunk believed he was worth keeping due to his coaching abilities, Russini and Rexrode add.Vrabel spent six seasons as Tennessee's head coach. He finished his tenure with a 54-45 record, including an AFC Championship berth in 2019.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. declared for the NFL draft on Thursday.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and running back Raheem Mostert are questionable for the club's Wild Card Weekend matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Mike McDaniel said, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.McDaniel is "optimistic" both players will be available as they haven't suffered any setbacks, per Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post. Both Waddle and Mostert have been limited participants at practice this week.Waddle and Mostert missed Miami's final two regular-season contests due to an ankle injury and knee and ankle ailments, respectively.Safeties Jevon Holland and Deshon Elliott are also questionable for Saturday's contest.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The final piece of the New England Patriots' dynasty that dominated most of the 2000s is gone.The franchise and legendary head coach Bill Belichick have agreed to part ways after a run that spanned 24 seasons, the team announced Thursday.

The Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and Jacksonville Jaguars will each play international games in London during the 2024 NFL regular season, the league announced Thursday.The Carolina Panthers will also host a game in Munich, Germany.The opponent, date, and kickoff time for each game won't be revealed until the 2024 schedule is released this spring.Country (City)StadiumHome TeamGermany (Munich)Allianz ArenaCarolina PanthersUnited Kingdom (London)Tottenham Hotspur StadiumChicago BearsUnited Kingdom (London)Tottenham Hotspur StadiumMinnesota VikingsUnited Kingdom (London)Wembley StadiumJacksonville JaguarsThe league previously announced that it would play its first-ever game in South America at Neo Quimica Arena, also known as Corinthians Arena, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The teams for that matchup will be determined in the months leading up to next season's schedule reveal.There'll be no game in Mexico for the 2024 campaign due to renovations at Estadio Azteca. However, the league confirmed that games will return to the country once the renovations are completed.Following the expansion of the 2021 schedule, up to four teams are designated to host a neutral-site international game each year.NFL clubs approved an increase of league-operated international games from four to eight. The change will take effect in 2025.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For much of the season, it felt like Dolphins-Chiefs was the most likely AFC Championship Game matchup, but two teams with lofty expectations when they met in Germany in Week 9 are now looking for answers as injuries and ineffectiveness have put them in uncomfortable positions.The Chiefs getting a home playoff game is nothing unusual, but the high probability of this being their only game at Arrowhead Stadium this postseason is. Meanwhile, the Dolphins went from the prospect of Hard Rock Stadium's warm confines to the diametric opposite of that: frigid conditions causing a considerable shift in the point spread.Dolphins @ Chiefs (-4, 44.5)TEAMRATINGPROJECTED LINEDolphins62/100Chiefs68/100-1.5After starting the season with an estimated market rating (EMR) in the high 50s and as the third choice in the AFC East, the Dolphins excited fans and bettors, shooting their EMR into the 70s - the level of a Super Bowl contender.But injuries have struck. Miami lost edge rushers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb and center Connor Williams for the season. Meanwhile, Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert missed the pivotal Week 18 game against the Bills, and Tyreek Hill continues to hop on and off the field intermittently. The Dolphins' rating fell to the low 60s as they closed as home underdogs last Sunday night.Considering the grim injury report, a reputation for not being able to beat the league's top teams - especially away from home - and a potentially historically cold forecast, the market is selling the Dolphins in favor of a team that's underwhelmed constantly this season.The Chiefs' offense has been maligned, as the receivers have been ineffective, and Travis Kelce - once a touchdown machine - has scored just once since that matchup in Germany. Given how cold it'll be in Kansas City on Saturday night, the line creeping up over a field goal indicates an expectation that the Dolphins will play to the bottom of their range while the Chiefs will play close to their mean.Miami averaged 6.7 yards per play throughout the season, tied with the 49ers atop the league, but their YPP in the final three games fell to 5.8 against comparable defenses to the Chiefs' top-five unit in much better scoring conditions.As strange as it sounds, the hurdle in backing Kansas City is the offense's ability to stretch a lead to comfortably cover a spread higher than it would've been at any point this season outside of maybe Week 1. Just imagine Kansas City's wideouts trying to catch passes in freezing weather. In conditions nowhere near like what they'll experience this weekend - including a 21-14 win over Miami in Germany - the Chiefs topped 23 points just six times this season.Instead of backing Miami in a deep freeze or the Chiefs at an inflated number, we'll look to the total. After opening at 46.5, the over/under came down four points before seeing some buyback once it touched 42.5. Ideally, we'll see it back at the key number of 45 before betting the under.Pick: Under (Wait and shop for 45, play down to 44 if not available)Player propsTua Tagovailoa: Under 239.5 passing yardsOur player props adhere to a game script where ball control and security are crucial. The Dolphins got away from running against the Bills, but their best chance at moving the ball down the field in 15 mph winds is to rely on the ground game. The Chiefs' run defense allowed 4.5 yards per carry.With Mostert's availability clouding the market for Dolphins' rushers and the possibility for Tagovailoa relying on numerous short passes, the best way to bet on a methodical Miami offense is to fade Tagovailoa's yardage total, especially since he's topped 243 yards just twice in his last seven games.Isiah Pacheco: Over 3.5 receptionsPacheco has played in four games where pass-catching specialist Jerick Mckinnon was inactive. Pacheco caught a total of 19 passes in those four games, going over 3.5 receptions in three. With the short passing game the best way to limit risk, expect Pacheco to be a factor.Patrick Mahomes: Longest rush under 12.5 yardsIn the final six games of the regular season, Patrick Mahomes took off running 27 times with just one run of 13 yards. If you're thinking, "Well, it's the playoffs, so he'll use his legs more," I thought that too, only to find out that in his last three playoff games at Arrowhead, Mahomes ran the ball just three times in each game, with his longest rush being an 11-yard gain.Mahomes scrambles when the defensive line creates pressure and the secondary is stretched deep. With the expected conditions, Vic Fangio shouldn't be afraid to get beat over the top, and the Dolphins won't get the same pressure they would've if their best rushers were healthy.Anytime touchdownsRaheem Mostert (+130)We'll assume that the league leader in touchdowns will play, and even though we're expecting a lower-scoring game than the market projects, it's hard to pass on plus-money odds on Mostert, who scored 21 touchdowns in 15 games.Justin Watson (+420)We'll prefer size over quickness among Mahomes' options in the cold. Watson's scored three touchdowns in the final seven games, so he's one of few receivers that can be relied upon, and odds better than 4-1 are enticing for a big red-zone target.Mega-longshot SGPIf you promise to play all your other bets as single bets this postseason, we'll go for ice cream, metaphorically speaking. The same game parlay is the high-calorie treat of sports betting, but for a couple of bucks, we'll take a shot with the following:PARLAY+Under 45.5 pointsRaheem Mostert: Anytime TDJustin Watson: Anytime TDTua Tagovailoa: Under 237.5 pass. yardsPatrick Mahomes: Under 28.5 rush. yardsIsiah Pacheco: Over 18.5 rec. yards+13000Matt 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.

Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus is set to work alongside a revamped staff after the team dismissed offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and several other offensive coaches Wednesday, the Bears announced.Quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko is among those who were fired. Both Getsy and Janocko struggled to develop quarterback Justin Fields over the past two seasons.Wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert, running backs coach Omar Young, and tight ends coach Tim Zetts were also dismissed.The Chicago Bears decided to retain Eberflus for next season after extensive meetings Monday and Tuesday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Eberflus, Bears general manager Ryan Poles, and team president Kevin Warren will hold a news conference at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin.Eberflus' status with the team was in question after back-to-back losing seasons in his first two years in Chicago. The Bears displayed some improvement during their 2023 campaign, though, finishing with a 7-10 mark after posting a 3-14 record in 2022.The Bears were near the bottom of the league with 182.1 passing yards per game in 2023. Star wideout D.J. Moore was among the players who were most vocal about the clubs' inconsistency in generating explosive plays, according to Cronin.The Bears are tasked with finding new offensive and defensive coordinators. Eberflus took over defensive play-calling duties after Alan Williams resigned prior to Chicago's Week 3 matchup.Eberflus is expected to remain the team's defensive play-caller but is planning to bring in a true defensive coordinator, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The Bears' 86.4 rushing yards per game allowed led the NFL this past season.The Bears already began sending interview requests for their offensive coordinator position Wednesday, asking to speak to Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. The request came after it was announced Pete Carroll wouldn't return as Seattle's coach.Chicago still needs to determine whether Fields is part of the organization's future. The Bears can exercise the fifth-year option in his rookie contract later this year. However, they could instead select a passer with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Browns boast three top award candidates, including Kevin Stefanski (Coach of the Year) and Myles Garrett (Defensive Player of the Year). The third, Joe Flacco (Comeback Player of the Year), led Cleveland to a 4-1 stretch to clinch a playoff spot before Week 18.While Cleveland was getting hot, the Texans lost two of three after Rookie of the Year candidate C.J. Stroud got hurt. Unfortunately, Stroud's concussion made the Browns and Texans' Week 16 regular-season matchup meaningless in trying to figure out what to expect Saturday afternoon.Browns @ Texans (+2.5, 44.5)TEAMRATING PROJECTED LINEBrowns53/100-1.5Texans42/100After entering the campaign with the second-lowest regular-season win total, the market perceived Houston as a league-average team (50/100) going into the Jets game in Week 14. But even with Stroud returning for their final two games, the Texans only had an estimated market rating (EMR) in the low 40s. However, they proved the point spreads were too short.The Browns' rating made more of a U-shape throughout the season with their various headaches at quarterback. But with a current spread of almost -3, it's back where it was in Week 1 in the high 50s.With Cleveland at its high point in the market and the Texans rated around their mean, there's some surface-level value in Houston. However, each team comes into the game in a vastly different position.The Texans played in a de facto playoff game last week, putting forth their best effort on the road in a win-and-in contest with the Colts. Can they do that again?The Browns' Week 16 win gave them both a better record and an eventual week of rest. Cleveland sat its most important players in Week 18 while Houston fought for its playoff lives.The Browns' defense was better at home than on the road this season, but it should still be the best unit on the field Saturday. However, the second-best unit might also be Cleveland's offense.Here's how the Browns have progressed from a yards-per-play standpoint since Flacco took over:GAMEYPPWeek 13 (@LAR)4.7Week 14 (JAX)5.3Week 15 (CHI)5.6Week 16 (@HOU)5.6Week 17 (NYJ)7.4The Texans' offense was tied with Baltimore for fifth in yards per play at 5.8 before Stroud's injury. However, guard Tytus Howard and breakout rookie Tank Dell aren't returning, and their receiving corps has been further compromised with Noah Brown's back injury and a nagging issue with Robert Woods' hip.That's left Nico Collins as the primary target. He hauled in nine balls for 195 yards against the Colts, while other Texans receivers caught two passes for 11 yards. That won't work against the Browns, who have premier cornerback Denzel Ward. If Collins can't get open, the Texans' ground game (29th in yards per carry) shouldn't be expected to do much.Cleveland's in a better position to bring its best effort, while the season's already considered a success in Houston.Pick: Browns (-2.5)Player propsDevin Singletary: Under 16.5 rushing attemptsPlayer prop betting should correlate with your game handicap. If we think the Browns will win, we have to look at what the Texans' player usage would be if Houston loses. Devin Singletary has received 14-plus carries five times this season - all wins. When he's had 13 or fewer rushing attempts as the primary tailback, the Texans were 3-4. So, they could still win the game without excessively handing the ball off.Nico Collins: Under 71.5 receiving yardsCollins became a household star last Saturday. If the Browns weren't already familiar with his game, they know where he is now. With a steady diet of Ward in man-to-man, along with zone coverage rolling his way with help over the top, Collins will be hard-pressed to top a number inflated by his situation as the lone outside threat.Anytime touchdownsDavid Njoku (+175)The last we saw the real Browns, Flacco's favorite target, David Njoku, did everything but score a touchdown while catching six passes for 134 yards against the Jets. That snapped a run of four touchdowns in his previous three games. Now, Cleveland faces a Texans team that's allowed the most receptions (6.29) to opposing tight ends.Kareem Hunt (+230)You don't often get the rushing touchdown leader from the favored team at longer than +200 odds, but Kareem Hunt quietly had nine scores this season. Flacco isn't likely to vulture any goal-line carries from a trusted vet.Brevin Jordan (+625)If the Texans' receivers have a hard time separating from Cleveland's defensive backs, and the Browns keep a close eye on Dalton Schultz, Brevin Jordan is a feasible red-zone option. That makes him a viable long-shot scoring candidate. Jordan's been on the field for half the snaps in the last two games, as Houston's had to use more two-tight end sets to compensate for a lack of receiver depth.Mega-long-shot SGPIf you promise to play all your other bets as single bets this postseason, we'll go for ice cream, metaphorically speaking. The same-game parlay is the high-calorie treat of sports betting, but for a couple of bucks, we'll take a shot with the following:PARLAY+Browns MoneylineJoe Flacco: Over 271.5 passing yardsDavid Njoku: 60+ receiving yardsDavid Njoku: Anytime touchdownKareem Hunt: Anytime touchdownC.J. Stroud: Over 9.5 rushing yardsC.J. Stroud: Over 0.5 interceptionsNico Collins: Under 71.5receiving yards+10300Matt 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.

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has all the motivation he needs heading into the team's wild-card game against the Los Angeles Rams."I so badly want to win a playoff game for this city," Goff said Wednesday, according to Nolan Bianchi of the Detroit News. "That's so much more important than anything personal for me."The contest will be Detroit's first home playoff contest since the 1993 postseason and see both teams' signal-callers facing their former squads. Goff and L.A. quarterback Matthew Stafford were swapped as part of a trade between the clubs in 2021 that also netted the Lions a pair of first-round picks.Goff and Rams coach Sean McVay didn't split on the best of terms, with McVay looking for an upgrade. However, Goff acknowledged his former sideline boss' impact on his development."Obviously, we had our differences there at the end, but he's a great coach," Goff said, according to ESPN's Eric Woodyard. "He's a guy that taught me a lot."Goff has thrived over the last two seasons with the Lions, throwing for a combined 9,013 yards and 59 touchdowns against just 19 interceptions. Detroit owns a 21-13 record in that time.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.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest.In an effort to help you find trades that could improve your fantasy team, we present the Dynasty Trade Value Chart.You can use this chart to compare players and build realistic trade offers. Values are based on 12-team PPR leagues.Follow the links below to see the trade values for each position.Rookie rankings will be added in the coming weeks.Dynasty Rankings & Trade Values

Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has his eye on bringing back quarterback Kirk Cousins."I think I've been pretty consistent with that," Odofo-Mensah said Wednesday, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "Kirk, the player, is somebody that, as we saw what he does to this team, I thought we were playing really good football before he got injured, and it's the most important position in sports."He continued: "Now, ultimately, it always comes down to can you find an agreement that works for both sides and all those things, but as a player it's certainly my intention to have him back here."Cousins, scheduled to be a free agent this offseason, got off to a hot start in 2023 before a torn Achilles ended his season after eight contests. He threw 18 touchdowns and averaged 291.4 yards per game, his highest mark since 2016.The 35-year-old has been adamant about wanting to return to Minnesota. Cousins said earlier this week that "the dollars are really not what it's about" for his next contract, adding that "structure is probably more important," per team reporter Craig Peters.However, Adofo-Mensah said he'll consider age, injury, and performance during negotiations with Cousins."We try to measure it as best we can and protect ourselves and insure against it, but on his side, he's trying to take less risk, right?" Adofo-Mensah added. "That's his job, and they should do that. We'll try to find a place in the middle and see where we end up."Cousins has spent the last six seasons in Minnesota, compiling a 50-37-1 record. He's led the franchise to the playoffs in two of his six years.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pete Carroll agreed to step down as the Seattle Seahawks' head coach, the team announced Wednesday.Carroll will remain with Seattle as an adviser.

The Chicago Bears plan to look at every option when it comes to deciding the future of the team's quarterback position.With the No. 1 overall pick in their possession and Justin Fields coming off his third season, general manager Ryan Poles said Wednesday that the organization is in "information-gathering mode," according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin. Poles added that he still has confidence in Fields."We are going to turn every stone to make sure we make a sound decision for our organization," Poles said, according to The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain. "I do think Justin got better. I do think he can lead this team. At the same time, there's a unique situation and our staff has to look at everything."Fields ended the 2023 campaign with 16 touchdowns to nine interceptions through the air and four scores on the ground. However, the Bears finished below .500 for a third straight year.If Chicago chooses to retain Fields, it will also have to decide whether to exercise his fifth-year rookie option. Poles said the team hasn't made that decision, according to Cronin.The Bears could also opt to draft a premium quarterback prospect after landing the No. 1 overall pick via a trade with the Carolina Panthers last offseason. The top passers in the class are expected to include Caleb Williams (though he's yet to officially declare) and Drake Maye, among others.The Bears' brass elected to retain head coach Matt Eberflus for 2024, but the team dismissed offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and several offensive coaches Wednesday. Eberflus said the Bears split with Getsy because "the growth and development of the offense had to be better than what it was," according to Fishbain.Chicago has struggled offensively in recent years, ranking 23rd and 18th respectively in points scored over the last two seasons.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans requested to interview Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce for their head coaching vacancy, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The Raiders promoted Pierce to interim head coach after firing Josh McDaniels in late October. The team rallied around Pierce and finished the season 5-4 after a 3-5 start to the campaign.The 45-year-old was able to get the most out of a defense that lacks top-end talent outside of edge rusher Maxx Crosby. The unit ranked second in EPA per play allowed in the NFL after Pierce took over, according to Ben Baldwin's database.Las Vegas is expected to interview Pierce and consider keeping him as its head coach. Davante Adams and Crosby have been vocal about wanting Pierce to stay with the Raiders, and Pierce pleaded his case to owner Mark Davis in late December."My resume's on the grass. ... He'll figure that out," Pierce told reporters.Pierce was an associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Arizona State before joining McDaniels' staff in Las Vegas. He played in the NFL for nine years, winning a Super Bowl with the New York Giants in 2007.The Titans also asked to interview Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, and Detroit Lions coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, plus Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants and defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale have mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced.Wednesday's announcement comes after a recent report that Martindale was involved in a heated exchange with head coach Brian Daboll during a meeting Monday, according to the New York Post's Paul Schwartz.Martindale apparently became upset after the head coach informed him that the Giants were dismissing outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins and his brother, defensive assistant Kevin Wilkins. The defensive coordinator cursed out Daboll, said his piece, got up, slammed the door, and left the building, reports Schwartz.Both Wilkins brothers joined the Giants' staff after previously working with Martindale during his tenure with the Baltimore Ravens. Drew and Martindale were reportedly bypassing Daboll's authority, creating their own "fiefdom within the coaching staff, at times bypassing Daboll and believing they had to answer only to each other and, ultimately, ownership," Schwartz reports.The relationship between Martindale and Daboll had reportedly been described as being "in a bad place" back in November.General manager Joe Schoen said prior to Monday's incident that the club intends to retain both Martindale and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka. Martindale had one year and $3 million remaining on his contract.Considered one of the league's more respected defensive play-callers, Martindale has spent the past two seasons with the Giant after serving in the same role with the Ravens (2018-2021) and Denver Broncos (2010).New York fired offensive line coach Bobby Johnson and special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey following the conclusion of its season.The Giants' defense surrendered 23.9 points per game (27th in the NFL) and were also in the bottom half of the league in average yards allowed with 361.7. Yet New York's 31 takeaways were tied with the Ravens for the most in the NFL in 2023.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers tight end Hayden Hurst is blaming Bryce Young's disappointing rookie season on there being "too many voices" in the quarterback's ear."In my opinion, I think there were just too many opinions," Hurst said, according to Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer. "Kind of looking for the right answer from everybody - too much input - which sucks for Bryce. He had a lot of people in his ear telling him one thing. Cause when you come from a place like Alabama, (head coach Nick) Saban is king - what he says, goes."He added: "A lot of people trying to, I guess, right the ship. And I think it just got to the point where there were just too many voices."The Panthers hired a variety of offensive coaches last offseason. Former head coach Frank Reich rounded out his staff with quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, senior assistant Jim Caldwell, and passing game coordinator Parks Frazier.However, Carolina ranked last in points and yards per game this season. Young failed to live up to expectations, completing less than 60% of his throws with only 11 passing touchdowns and 16 turnovers.The Panthers fired Reich after a 1-10 start. They also dismissed general manager Scott Fitterer on Monday. Carolina is currently in the process of replacing Reich and Fitterer."It's a great opportunity to start fresh," Hurst said. "New guys are going to come in here, new staff - it's another prove-it year for everybody in this locker room."He added: "It'll be a good offseason for (Young) to get back to his roots. The kid won a Heisman trophy, he's pretty good. He's the first overall pick, he's pretty good."Hurst signed a three-year, $21.75-million contract with Carolina last March. He missed the final eight games of the campaign due to a concussion. Overall, he totaled 184 yards on 18 receptions in nine contests.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rookies don't get a second chance to make a first impression in the NFL. Here, we evaluate how every 2023 first-round pick fared in their debut seasons.1. Bryce Young, QB, Panthers Eakin Howard / Getty Images Sport / GettyBest game: vs. Packers (Week 16)

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest.Follow the links below to get an early look at his 2024 rankings. Rookies, PPR, and standard rankings will be added in future updates.Half PPR

The Tennessee Titans fired head coach Mike Vrabel, the team announced Tuesday."Earlier today, I spoke with Mike Vrabel and told him about my decision to make a change at head coach," owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement. "As I told coach Vrabel, this decision was as difficult as any I've made as controlling owner."I appreciate Mike's contributions to the Tennessee Titans both on and off the field. Anyone who has ever met him knows how passionate and genuine he is, and he's been a strong supporter of the Nashville community."Adams stated the team did consider trading Vrabel but ultimately decided to just move forward with firing him to speed up the process of his departure."A coach's contract, you can't trade them unless they are a willing partner to that trade. So yes, we thought about it. But at the end of the day, with league rules the way they are, it would have maybe put us back three weeks," Adams said in an interview released by the team.Vrabel has been the Titans' head coach since 2018 after spending four seasons as a defensive coach with the Houston Texans.Tennessee finished 6-11 in 2023, securing its second straight losing campaign. The team began its season 2-4 and was never a serious playoff contender.The Titans started 7-3 in 2022 but lost seven straight contests to finish the season and lose the AFC South. Vrabel went 6-18 in his final 24 games as Tennessee's head coach. The Titans previously had four straight winning seasons from 2018-21 under Vrabel."Wow. I'm shocked," Titans running back Derrick Henry told Russini. "Coach Vrabel is a leader of men. He is a great coach and teacher. I know he will get another opportunity right away. I look forward to it."Tennessee has struggled offensively over the last two years, ranking 28th and 27th in points per game. The Titans traded star wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2022 NFL Draft and have never replaced his production.The club selected quarterback Will Levis with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Kentucky product finished the season with a 3-6 record in nine starts, throwing for 1,808 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions.Tennessee is set for a roster overhaul, as Henry and veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill are not expected to return. The Titans own the No. 7 selection in the upcoming draft and currently have $71 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap.Vrabel finishes his tenure with a 54-45 record. He led the Titans to three playoff appearances, including an AFC Championship Game berth in 2019.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL proved once again in 2023 that it's king when it comes to television viewership in the United States.NFL games accounted for 93 of the top 100 most-watched U.S. TV broadcasts last year, according to Anthony Crupi of Sportico. That number is up from 2022, when the NFL had 82 of the top 100 broadcasts, and is significantly higher than the 61 slots the league claimed just five years ago.

Russell Wilson reportedly expects to be released by the Denver Broncos, but head coach Sean Payton remains open to reconciling for 2024.Payton said Tuesday that he believes there is a scenario where the quarterback returns next season despite his dramatic benching."That final decision has not yet been made," Payton said, according to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette.Payton added that he met with Wilson on Monday and told him a decision on the quarterback's future with the Broncos won't be a "long, drawn-out process."Denver sat Wilson for the final two games of the season, and Payton said it was primarily for on-field reasons.However, the Broncos reportedly told the quarterback in October that they would bench him and make him inactive for the rest of the campaign if he didn't defer the injury guarantee trigger date included in his contract for the 2025 season.Wilson's deal apparently wasn't changed, but Denver gained financial flexibility by turning to Jarrett Stidham for the last two weeks. The Broncos now have until five days into the new league year in March to decide on Wilson's future before the quarterback's $37-million salary for 2025 fully vests.General manager George Paton confirmed Tuesday that he reached out to Wilson's agent during the bye week to try to adjust his contract. He said that the quarterback's benching two months later was purely a football decision by Payton and "completely independent" from the failed contract talks, according to Troy Renck of Denver7.When asked why Wilson described the negotiations as a threat to bench him, Paton said the team approached its attempt to adjust the deal "in a way we felt was in the best interests of the Broncos."Denver's postseason chances were slim when it benched Wilson, and the team went 1-1 with Stidham to finish with a disappointing 8-9 record in Payton's first season in charge."The one thing that I know is how to win," said Payton. "Sometimes it may not be 480 yards. But understanding the strength of your team and playing to that. But we have to be great with the details. And we were not good enough. There were certain mistakes repeated. And that starts with coaching and teaching."Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Pittsburgh Steelers pass-rusher T.J. Watt won't play in Sunday's wild-card game against the Buffalo Bills due to a knee injury, head coach Mike Tomlin announced Tuesday, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor.Watt suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain, which is considered a multi-week injury, in last Saturday's win over the Baltimore Ravens.The linebacker was hurt after his leg was caught awkwardly in the turf after a collision with a teammate.In more positive news for the Steelers, Tomlin said he's optimistic safety Minkah Fitzpatrick will be able to suit up against the Bills. Fitzpatrick missed the last three games with a knee injury.The coach also confirmed that Mason Rudolph will remain the starting quarterback for the start of playoffs despite Kenny Pickett's return to health. Rudolph started the last three games, leading Pittsburgh to three wins to secure a postseason berth.Watt is the key piece of Pittsburgh's top-tier defense, which ranked sixth in points allowed. The 29-year-old led the NFL in sacks with 19, while the rest of the Steelers produced 28 total quarterback takedowns.Without its Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Pittsburgh is now facing a far tougher task to stop one of the league's best quarterbacks, Josh Allen, and one of the best overall offenses. Buffalo finished the season sixth in points per game, fourth in total yards per contest, and first in third-down percentage.The Steelers will rely more heavily on Alex Highsmith and Markus Golden with Watt out.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are moving on from defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell after two seasons, the team announced Monday.Several members of his coaching staff were also fired.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson lost crucial development time after sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 5, but head coach Shane Steichen believes it will ultimately benefit the rookie."Obviously, he got a chance to sit back, watch, and learn," Steichen said on Monday, according to Pro Football Talk's Myles Simmons. "I had some good meetings with him throughout the season, just individually me and him, sitting down talking football. Really just seeing the NFL season as a whole."Obviously, would've loved to have him out there for the season to learn that way but there's always reasons in life I think, why things happen. I think what happened to him was unfortunate but I think it's going to make him stronger at the end."Richardson flashed significant potential during his four appearances in 2023, throwing for 577 yards and three touchdowns against one interception while racking up 136 yards and four scores on the ground. He also missed one game with a concussion.Despite losing the former No. 4 pick, the Colts stayed in the playoff hunt right until the end of the season, losing to the Houston Texans in a win-or-go-home game on Saturday to finish 9-8.With Richardson expected to be back at full strength in 2024-25, Steichen is excited to see the young passer put his mental improvements into action."Just talking with him individually going through different stuff. Just football 101 stuff - coverages and fronts and going through what do we like versus this look and all that," Steichen said. "He was soaking it in, and he was wired in all year obviously doing his rehab. Looking forward to his future next year."Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones praised head coach Mike McCarthy for how he's handled the 2023 season."I couldn't be more pleased with what he's done and how he's coached. ... I really mean it. He has really made as big a difference from his head coaching vantage point as anybody could from any vantage point in the NFL," Jones said, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic.The executive added: "He's the big difference this year."McCarthy has led the Cowboys to a 12-5 record in each of the last three seasons. The club won two NFC East division titles during that stretch and made the playoffs in all three campaigns.The Cowboys' offense has soared to new heights under McCarthy. After four seasons, they moved on from offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, which has paid off: Dallas ranks first in points per game and fifth in yards per contest this year.Quarterback Dak Prescott is playing the best football of his career in 2023. He leads the league in touchdown passes (36) and is second among quarterbacks in EPA per play this season, per Ben Baldwin's database.Even though McCarthy has led the team to regular-season success, there's still doubt about the 60-year-old's future in Dallas. The Cowboys have failed to get past the divisional round since 1995 and have a 1-2 record in the postseason under McCarthy."The last thing that I want to do is spend any time talking with him about these kinds of things, on agreements, extension of agreements, especially when I've got one," Jones said when asked about McCarthy's future, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News.Dallas will face off against the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round on Sunday.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the 2023 NFL regular season in the books, it's time to make our predictions for each of the league's top individual awards. We also picked our favorite events of the campaign, including the best play and the wildest moment.Most Valuable PlayerLamar Jackson, QB, RavensIn a year where no player ran away with the MVP award, the quarterback on the best team will win it. In addition to helping Baltimore finish the season with the AFC's No. 1 seed, Jackson racked up a 67.2% pass completion rate - the highest of his career - to go along with 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns to seven interceptions across 16 games. He also rushed for 821 yards and five TDs. Jackson had fumble issues early in the campaign, and his numbers aren't close to what he produced when he won MVP in 2019 - he tossed a league-high 36 TDs and ran for over 1,000 yards that year. However, he thrived this season in Todd Monken's new system, becoming more efficient in play-action and throwing outside the numbers, according to PFF, while utilizing an improved group of receivers. Jackson's MVP X-factor, however, was his ability to improvise and make off-script plays on clutch time while making very few mistakes. He'll join a list of 10 other players to win multiple MVP awards. Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyDefensive Player of the YearMyles Garrett, DE, BrownsIt came down to Garrett, Micah Parsons, and T.J. Watt. They all have resumes strong enough to win DPOY, but the Browns star gets the edge for being more efficient and having a bigger impact on the opposing team's game plan. There was a moment this campaign when the Titans didn't snap the ball on time because they kept sending two tight ends in motion just to follow where Garrett would line up. Cleveland rested the 2017 No. 1 pick in Week 18, so he finished the season with 42 tackles (17 for loss), 30 QB hits, 14 sacks, and four forced fumbles. Yes, Watt's stats are better, and Garrett had a five-game streak without a sack a month ago. But this isn't a monthly award. Garrett was the NFL's most double-teamed edge, yet he had a higher pass-rush win rate than both Watt and Parsons, according to PFF, which also has him as the league's highest-graded defender.The best player on arguably football's best defense, Garrett is the main reason the Browns started the season 7-3 despite missing their top running back and struggling at quarterback until signing Joe Flacco.Offensive Player of the YearChristian McCaffrey, RB, 49ersWith MVP becoming essentially a QB-only award, OPOY often goes to the most productive non-quarterback. Football's best and most versatile running back, McCaffrey was the NFL's leading rusher and topped the league with 339 touches, 2,023 scrimmage yards, and 21 total touchdowns this season despite not playing Week 18. He was the only player to even reach the 1,900-yard mark. The 27-year-old scored at least one TD in 13 of the 16 games he played while averaging 5.4 yards per rushing attempt. Tyreek Hill is a threat for McCaffrey here, but the Dolphins receiver didn't have 100 yards in any of his final four games and found the end zone only once in that span. Christian Petersen / Getty Images Sport / GettyDefensive Rookie of the YearJalen Carter, DL, EaglesSeveral rookie defenders played well this season, but no one comes close to Carter when it comes to game-changing plays and dominance. The No. 9 overall pick, Carter finished Year 1 with 33 tackles (eight for loss), nine QB hits, six sacks, two forced fumbles, and a 42-yard defensive touchdown. The only knock on his campaign is that his production in the season's second half wasn't as spectacular as what he did in his first eight games, but that isn't enough to take DROY from him. Carter, who was one of very few Eagles players who didn't disappoint in the campaign's final stretch, enters 2024 as one of the NFL's finest interior linemen.Offensive Rookie of the YearC.J. Stroud, QB, TexansWhile the Panthers are concerned about Bryce Young after the first overall pick struggled in Year 1, the Texans should feel great about Stroud. The Ohio State product didn't set NFL rookie single-season records for passing yards and TDs - which seemed like a lock at one point - but he was by far the best first-year quarterback of his class. Despite missing two games due to a concussion, the No. 2 pick finished the season with 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns against five interceptions, helping turn around a Texans team that won three games in 2022. Stroud also joined Tom Brady and Joe Montana as the only QBs in the last 50 years to lead the NFL in both yards per game and TD-INT ratio. He enters his first postseason having not thrown a pick in his last 144 attempts. Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / GettyComeback Player of the YearDamar Hamlin, DB, BillsHamlin didn't see much playing time, but the fact he was even available to play is truly incredible. The 25-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest during a January 2023 game against the Bengals. He came back and managed to record two tackles and play 111 snaps combined on defense and special teams across five appearances this season. Other comeback stories, such as Flacco helping the Browns make the playoffs in his age-38 campaign, are also spectacular. But Hamlin probably secured this award when he made Buffalo's initial 53-man roster.Coach of the YearKevin Stefanski, BrownsFew award races were as close as Coach of the Year. A handful of coaches entered December as contenders, but three managed to separate themselves: Stefanski, Dan Campbell, and DeMeco Ryans. Campbell deserves a lot of credit for helping the Lions win their first-ever NFC North title. Ryans - a rookie head coach - led the Texans to the playoffs after the team won three games in 2022. But as impressive as those coaches are, none of them had to overcome as much adversity as Stefanski, who guided Cleveland to the postseason despite starting four different QBs due to injuries and losing Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb in Week 2. He brought in Flacco midseason, and the veteran QB has been great. Under those circumstances, the Browns having double-digit wins and boasting a top-10 offense should be enough for Stefanski to win his second COY award. Nick Cammett / Getty Images Sport / GettyAssistant Coach of the YearMike Macdonald, RavensThe last two NFL Assistant Coach of the Year winners were defensive coordinators, and that should be the case again this season. Macdonald's second year coaching Baltimore's defense couldn't have gone much better, as the Ravens ranked first in points allowed and second in EPA/play allowed. No other team ranked in the top three for both categories. With creative and aggressive play-calling, Macdonald coached to his defenders' strengths and got the best out of under-the-radar players, including former No. 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney at age 30. Macdonald will be a hot commodity on the head coaching circuit.Best playWeek 15 saw Tee Higgins make our favorite play of the season, thanks to an incredible second effort. With the Bengals down by seven in the final seconds versus the Vikings, Higgins went up to haul in a contested Jake Browning pass just outside Minnesota's 1-yard line and then extended the ball with one hand to cross the goal line and score the tying touchdown while being pulled out of bounds. Unbelievable. Cincinnati managed to kick the game-winning field goal in overtime minutes later.

The Los Angeles Chargers are requesting an interview with San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks for their vacant head coaching job, sources told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport.Wilks, 54, possesses some head coaching experience and has had several stints as a position coach and defensive coordinator. His first opportunity at leading a team came when the Arizona Cardinals hired him prior to the 2018 season. However, he was relieved of his duties at the end of the season after posting a league-worst 3-13 mark.Wilks received another opportunity when he was named the interim head coach of the Carolina Panthers in October of 2022, after the franchise dismissed Matt Rhule. He led the Panthers to a 6-6 record but was not offered the full-time coaching role after the season.San Francisco hired Wilks to be its defensive play-caller after his predecessor, DeMeco Ryans, was hired as head coach by the Houston Texans. The Niners' defense continued to play up to the franchise's standard in 2023, surrendering only 17.5 points per game while finishing in the top 10 in average yards allowed per contest (303.9).The Chargers have also sent requests to interview Detroit Lions coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. L.A. has also requested to meet with Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Rapoport reports. Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is another candidate that the club wants to speak with, per Pelissero.The Chargers are seeking their next head coach after dismissing Brandon Staley alongside general manager Tom Telesco in December. The AFC West franchise concluded the 2023 season with a 5-12 record.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers have requested to interview nine candidates for their vacant head coaching job, the team announced Monday.The list is headlined by Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, one of the league's most coveted assistants. Carolina also asked to speak with Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, and Baltimore Ravens coordinators Todd Monken and Mike Macdonald.Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales, Houston Texans OC Bobby Slowik, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, and Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith round out Carolina's initial group of candidates.Six of the Panthers' nine initial candidates are offensive coordinators. They're also interested in two former NFL head coaches to replace Frank Reich: Quinn and Morris.Carolina - which fired general manager Scott Fitterer after three seasons on Monday - also kicked off its search for a new GM. The team has requested permission to interview eight candidates:

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank said Monday he doesn't think his team made a mistake by not pursuing then-disgruntled Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson during the 2023 offseason."We felt we had an answer in (Desmond) Ridder," Blank said, per Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. "Younger player without that kind of contract that would've kept us from building the team we wanted to build."Blank's comments come a day after the Falcons fired head coach Arthur Smith following a third straight 7-10 season. Ridder - a 2022 third-round pick - finished the campaign with only 12 passing touchdowns to 12 interceptions and was eventually benched for Taylor Heinicke.Jackson, who's the MVP favorite this year, negotiated an extension with the Ravens during the 2023 offseason. Baltimore applied the franchise tag on the star passer after failing to sign a long-term deal before a March deadline. The non-exclusive tag placed on Jackson allowed other clubs to negotiate with him, but Baltimore would've been able to match another team's offer to retain his services. Jackson later revealed that he requested a trade from Baltimore before receiving the tag.The market for the former MVP was colder than expected, though, and he reportedly didn't receive any offers from other teams. Jackson has said that multiple clubs reached out to him, but he chose to stay with the Ravens, who rewarded him in April with a five-year, $260-million extension that includes $185 million guaranteed.Despite boasting $66.4 million in cap space last offseason, the Falcons were one of the teams that opted not to pursue Jackson. Blank, however, said on Monday his team didn't have enough salary cap room to build a competitive roster and sign Jackson to one of the most lucrative contracts ever."We want to be able to raise our own children and keep our own children as best as we can," Blank said Monday. "The result of that thinking was let's stay the course, let's continue to pursue the vision that we have now, continue to build a roster, build a foundation offensively and defensively, and go from there. It's not a criticism of Lamar."You can debate whether or not he would really have been available or not. Who knows whether they would've matched whatever offers were on the table."Consistency at quarterback has been one of Atlanta's main issues in the post-Matt Ryan era. The club has had three different Week 1 starters since 2021: Ryan, Marcus Mariota, and Ridder.The Falcons pursued a trade for Deshaun Watson in 2022 before the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback joined the Cleveland Browns. Watson signed a fully guaranteed $230-million contract after joining Cleveland.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham took to X to defend quarterback Jameis Winston following the controversial end of the team's 48-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday."Get off (Winston's) back," Graham wrote in a tweet on Monday. "This man is the best teammate I've ever had. Loves this city, this game, and embodies everything you can ask for in a leader."Saints players elected to score from the 1-yard line late in a blowout win despite head coach Dennis Allen calling for the team to kneel out the clock. Now-fired Falcons head coach Arthur Smith confronted Allen after the game about the play.Winston came under fire postgame when he confirmed that the players made the decision so running back Jamaal Williams could score his first touchdown of the season.Graham wrote that it "was a rare situation, and we all take responsibility," adding that "nobody thought it would get blown out of proportion."Graham, who has posted 70 receptions for 855 yards and 11 touchdowns in 15 career games against Atlanta, made sure to leave one last message for the longtime division rivals in his tweet."Also, f*ck the Falcons," Graham wrote.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints are considering hiring former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden as a member of their staff, sources told Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com.The interest between the two sides is mutual so long as Gruden does not fetch a head coaching offer this offseason, Duncan adds. However, Gruden would likely not replace offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael.Gruden reportedly attended a team meeting prior to the Week 17 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and met with officials, including general manager Mickey Loomis.It's not the first time the former Super Bowl champion coach has been around the Saints. Gruden visited the team in May 2023 to help with the transition to Derek Carr under center. Carr and Gruden spent three-plus years together with the Raiders.Gruden resigned as the Raiders' head coach during the 2021 season after leaked reports showed that he sent emails using racist, homophobic, and misogynistic language while working as an ESPN football analyst from 2009-17. He then sued the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell, claiming that the leaks ruined his career.The Saints went 9-8 in 2023 but missed the playoffs for the third straight year.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.1. Baltimore Ravens (13-4)Baltimore rested its starters in Week 18 and will enjoy another week off before getting back to action in the divisional round. The Ravens should be circling whoever their unfortunate prey ends up being in two weeks.2. San Francisco 49ers (12-5)Who's going to stop the 49ers from reaching the Super Bowl? A fully healthy San Francisco squad has already beaten numerous NFC foes such as the Eagles, Cowboys, Buccaneers, and Rams this season.3. Buffalo Bills (11-6)All odds were against Buffalo after the team dropped to 6-6 in November, but Josh Allen and Co. have since won five in a row to finish the regular season as the AFC's No. 2 seed. The Bills enter the playoffs as one of football's hottest teams.4. Dallas Cowboys (12-5)Cowboys fans may have a hard time getting their hopes up considering the franchise's recent track history of playoff letdowns. However, with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb firing on all cylinders, plus Micah Parsons causing havoc, this year might be different.5. Miami Dolphins (11-6)The Dolphins aren't coming into the postseason in their best form as they lost three of their final five games, including a division-deciding defeat to the Bills on Sunday. Mike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa will have to find a spark to get this offense going again if they want to beat the Chiefs' stout defense on Wild Card Weekend.6. Detroit Lions (12-5)The Lions exceeded expectations in the regular season despite some hiccups along the way. Their reward is a home playoff game for the first time since 1994. It just so happens to come against Matthew Stafford, the franchise's all-time leading passer.7. Kansas City Chiefs (11-6)Once known for their high-octane offense, the Chiefs scored 30 points just twice this year while leaning on an improved defense to win 11 games. If the receiving corps can give Patrick Mahomes any help at all in the playoffs, the defending champs will be tough to knock off.8. Los Angeles Rams (10-7)The Rams are back in the playoffs in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year. This team isn't star-studded like the Rams of years past, but Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Aaron Donald still give Los Angeles enough juice to take down any team on the right day.9. Cleveland Browns (11-6)Armed with the No. 1 defense and a hot quarterback in Joe Flacco, the Browns are as scary a wild-card team as you'll find. Cleveland went 4-1 in Flacco's starts after the veteran jumped off the couch to join the club in late November.10. Houston Texans (10-7)Not even the most optimistic Houston fan predicted the Texans would host a playoff game this season with a rookie quarterback and head coach. But after winning just three games in 2022, here they are. C.J. Stroud has been excellent and will now have a tough matchup against a solid Browns defense. He missed the teams' regular-season clash due to a concussion.11. Green Bay Packers (9-8)The Packers lack consistency but head into the playoffs hot thanks to Jordan Love. The quarterback, who's surrounded by one of football's most promising young group of pass-catchers, has passed for 16 touchdowns against just one interception in his last seven games. Green Bay is 5-2 in that span.12. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)No other playoff team is as desperate as the Eagles, who don't seem to have any answers to their current struggles. Philly has lost five of its last six games and most recently saw Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown suffer injuries. Thanks to a near-perfect first half of the season, though, Philadelphia secured the No. 5 seed and booked a matchup with a nine-win Bucs team that's also vulnerable.13. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)Mason Rudolph, an efficient rushing attack, and a stout defense dragged the carcass of this Steelers team into the playoffs. But now Pittsburgh has its biggest challenge yet: winning without T.J. Watt, who was diagnosed with a grade 2 MCL sprain.14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8)It wasn't pretty, but Tampa Bay claimed its third straight NFC South title with a 9-0 victory over Carolina. As the only division champions without double-digit wins this season, the Bucs have more question marks than any other playoff team. Their defense remains solid, but the offense is below average. Still, they should feel good about facing the struggling Eagles in the wild-card round.Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL playoffs finally are set.The last remaining spots were awarded in Week 18, capped by the Bills' AFC East-winning victory over the Dolphins.There are now 14 teams with a shot at winning it all, so let's take a look at each contender's odds of making it to the big game in Las Vegas and winning the Super Bowl.Super Bowl oddsTeamOdds49ers+225Ravens+325Bills+600Cowboys+750Chiefs+1000Eagles+1500Dolphins+1800Lions+2000Browns+3000Rams+5000Texans+6000Buccaneers+7500Packers+10000Steelers+15000NFC Conference OddsTeamConf. ChampTo Reach NFC Final49ers-130-400Cowboys+325-105Eagles+750+225Lions+900+260Rams+2200+600Buccaneers+3500+700Packers+4000+1300AFC Conference OddsTeamConf. ChampTo Reach AFC FinalRavens+130-250Bills+260-115Chiefs+500+200Dolphins+1000+300Browns+1200+450Texans+2200+550Steelers+6000+1400The 49ers have been the Super Bowl favorite for the majority of the season, and there's no reason to move off that position. Oddsmakers at theScore Bet are giving San Francisco a 56.5% chance of making it to Las Vegas and a 30.8% chance of getting crowned as champions. With a first-round bye and home-field advantage, it looks as though the road to the Super Bowl for NFC teams goes through the Bay Area.The Ravens are the favorites - in oddsmakers' opinion - to come out of the more competitive AFC. They have been given an implied probability of 43.5% to make the Super Bowl, with three other teams - the Bills, Chiefs, and Dolphins - also priced under +1000.But before we start looking toward the AFC and NFC Championship Games, teams not named the Ravens or 49ers will take part in the super wild-card round with six games on deck.Here are the odds as of Monday for the first set of playoff games with some mouthwatering matchups.Date (Time ET)LineTotalJan. 13 (4:30 p.m.)CLE (-2.5) @ HOU44.5Jan. 13 (8:00p.m.)MIA @ KC (-3.5)43.5Jan. 14 (1:00 p.m.)PIT @ BUF (-10)35.5Jan. 14(4:30p.m.)GB @ DAL (-7.5)50.5Jan. 14 (8:15p.m.)LAR @ DET (-3.5)51.5Jan. 15(8:15p.m.)PHI (-3) @ TB44.5The Browns and the Eagles are the only two road favorites, but both games are lined at a field goal or less.The Bills are the largest favorite of the week, with the betting market suggesting Buffalo should lay 10 points to the Steelers.The Lions are 3.5-point favorites over Matthew Stafford and the Rams in the highest-projected point total of the week.Playoff LeadersMost Playoff Passing YardsPlayerOddsDak Prescott+300Josh Allen+500Brock Purdy+600Lamar Jackson+800Patrick Mahomes+850Jared Goff+1000Joe Flacco+1100Tua Tagovailoa+1400Odds via theScore BetMost Playoff Rushing YardsPlayerOddsChristian McCaffrey+200James Cook+375Tony Pollard+800Devin Singletary+1200Kyren Williams+1200D'Andre Swift+1500David Montgomery+1800Isiah Pacheco+1800Jahmyr Gibbs+1800Most Playoff Receiving YardsPlayerOddsCeeDee Lamb+185Amon-Ra St. Brown+850Brandon Aiyuk+850Tyreek Hill+850A.J. Brown+1200Stefon Diggs+1200Amari Cooper+1400Rashee Rice+1600Copyright (C) 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.