Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones won't play in Sunday night's game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to a knee injury, the team announced Friday.Jones missed the Thanksgiving win over the Detroit Lions after being hurt in Week 11 and has yet to return to practice.The running back has been limited to just seven games this season. A hamstring injury also sidelined him earlier in the year.Jones has struggled on the field, averaging just 35 rushing yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry. The veteran produced 65.9 yards per contest and averaged 5.3 yards per rush last season en route to a career-high 1,121 yards on the ground.AJ Dillon will continue leading Green Bay's backfield in Jones' absence, while Patrick Taylor will be his backup. Dillon has also seen a decline in his efficiency this season, rushing for just 3.4 yards per carry.The NFC North club has eight players listed as questionable, including leading receiver Jayden Reed (chest), cornerback Jaire Alexander (shoulder), and linebacker De'Vondre Campbell (neck). Alexander hasn't played since Nov. 5 and has missed six total games this season.Meanwhile, cornerback Eric Stokes (hamstring) is doubtful.The 5-6 Packers have won three of their last four games to get back into the NFC playoff hunt.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones believes Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders has a strong case to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft.Jones chatted with Sanders and his father, Colorado head coach and former Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders, at AT&T Stadium before Dallas' win over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday. During that conversation, the Cowboys' owner paid the 21-year-old signal-caller a big compliment."Very easily could be the top pick in the draft," Jones could be heard telling Shedeur in a video posted on the Well Off Media YouTube channel.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, Google, and Stitcher.In this episode, Boone goes over the notable injury updates heading into Week 13.

Rookie running back De'Von Achane is set to make his return to the Miami Dolphins' lineup after missing the team's Week 12 win with a knee injury.Head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed Friday that the tailback has the green light to play against the Washington Commanders on Sunday.The Texas A&M product returned from injured reserve in Week 11 but appeared to re-aggravate the ailment after just two touches. Achane exploded out of the gates, tallying three straight games with over 100 rushing yards, including 203 yards and four touchdowns in a win against the Denver Broncos.The 22-year-old sports a league-high 11.8 yards per carry average.Miami has been leaning on Raheem Mostert as its lead back, with Jeff Wilson Jr. and Darrynton Evans also receiving snaps.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.Consult our Week 13 rankings for the rest of your lineup decisions. You can also listen to the Week 13 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartBrock Purdy, 49ersat Eagles Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe 49ers have plenty of motivation this week. They take on the Eagles, who beat them in last year's NFC Championship after Brock Purdy injured his throwing arm.This time around, the Niners are favored on the road as Purdy is healthy and has been capitalizing on good matchups.Purdy threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns against the Jaguars in Week 10. The 23-year-old followed that up with 333 yards and another three scores versus the Bucs in Week 11.The Eagles are the second softest opponent for fantasy quarterbacks, so get ready for Purdy to show them what they missed in January.Boone's projection: 327 passing yards, 3 passing TDsOther QBs to start

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill has offered to cover the lost wages of the photographer whose credentials were suspended by the NFL.Kevin Fitzgibbons, a content creator the NFL hired to cover Dolphins home games, revealed in a video posted to social media Tuesday that he was suspended for the remainder of the season for his role in Hill's viral backflip touchdown celebration against the Carolina Panthers in Week 6.

The Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks put on one of the best games of the season Thursday, but the contest was marred by an abundance of penalties.Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was upset with the performance of the officials - who called 19 total penalties for 257 penalty yards - after the Cowboys' 41-35 win."It's unfortunate that it feels like there was a whole 'nother factor in this game," Carroll said, according to ESPN's Brady Henderson. "I don't know, you guys saw it a lot better than I did, but there was just way too many penalties in this game, for both sides. We've got to get out of that kind of football."Carroll called the officials' decision late in the first quarter to flag for a delay of game prior to a field-goal attempt an "error," saying the play clock should've been reset. The penalty pushed the kick to 42 yards, and Jason Myers missed it wide right."Officials moved the football from the middle to the hash, and they're supposed to reset the clock, and they didn't do it," Carroll said. "And so we're griping about that and the time, it got me."Referee Clete Blakeman disagreed with Carroll, saying "there wasn't any undue delay in any way" and that "it was a normal procedure."Carroll said he'll try and address the issue of over-officiating after the season."They know the game, they know how to make these calls, but they can't call everything that when there's a little this and a little that, and particularly when it doesn't affect the play," he said. "I'll spend some time on this in the offseason for sure."And I'm not saying I've got all the answers. I'm not saying that at all. I'm just saying that I think the game needs to be adjusted here somewhat because there's too much emphasis on those situations."Seattle and Dallas are the two most penalized teams this season, with 91 and 90 called infractions, respectively.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys haven't won the Super Bowl since the 1995 season, but quarterback Dak Prescott's red-hot play has them believing they can go all the way this year."Dak's playing great ball. It's fun when you're in this rhythm," head coach Mike McCarthy said after the Cowboys' 41-35 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. "He has such great command. And it's just a connection with his teammates."We're getting in and out of things seamlessly. We're playing with really good pace. And that's how we want to attack. You can only do it with a championship-caliber quarterback. And Dak is that guy."Prescott has been among the best quarterbacks in the league during Dallas' 6-1 run, thrusting himself into the MVP conversation. He threw three touchdowns against Seattle, pushing his production over that span to 21 scores against just two interceptions.The 30-year-old's 26 total passing touchdowns lead the NFL. He also ranks first in QBR (70.2), second in passer rating (108.3) and completion percentage (70.1%), and third in passing yards (3,234)."He's getting better, which is saying something when you've got his experience and has had the reps that he's had in his career, had the successes if you will," owner Jerry Jones said. "But he's also had his share of downturns. Dak's playing the best. He's getting better. In my mind, he's the best he's ever been."Prescott entered this season under the microscope after throwing a league-leading 15 interceptions in 2022 despite missing five games with a thumb fracture.But after a relatively slow start to the year in which he threw one touchdown or fewer in five of the first six games, the signal-caller has the 8-3 Cowboys in the hunt for the NFC's No. 1 seed.Prescott could cement his MVP candidacy over the next four weeks. An all-important home clash with the 10-1 Philadelphia Eagles is set for Week 14 before games with the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and Detroit Lions - three other potential playoff teams.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys stopped the Seattle Seahawks on their final drive to secure a wild 41-35 victory on Thursday Night Football.Dak Prescott hit tight end Jake Ferguson for a touchdown with just under five minutes left in the fourth quarter for the go-ahead score. The Cowboys offense moved the ball all night, totalling 33 first downs and 410 yards.Dallas improved to 9-3 with the victory, while Seattle dropped their third game in a row and now sit at 6-6.More to come.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals released tight end Zach Ertz after he asked to be waived, Ertz's former teammate J.J. Watt reported Thursday.The 33-year-old Ertz has 27 receptions for 187 yards and a touchdown in seven games this season.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy isn't thinking about the team's 31-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in last season's NFC Championship Game ahead of Sunday's long-awaited rematch."I got hurt there and everything, but for me, it's Week 13," Purdy said, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.He added, "We're going on the road in a hostile environment. We're late in the season, so every game is, obviously, big for us. And so, that's where I'm at with my mindset. ... It's a new year, two new teams, slightly different in different ways."Purdy was forced to leave the conference championship in the first half after injuring his elbow on a Haason Reddick sack. After backup quarterback Josh Johnson also got injured in the second half, Purdy went back into the game but was unable to throw effectively.The 49ers' offense turned one-dimensional without a passing attack. San Francisco failed to score a single point in its four second-half possessions, punting twice, fumbling, and turning the ball over on downs.Purdy had offseason elbow surgery and has bounced back to become one of the most efficient quarterbacks this season. The 23-year-old leads the league in EPA per play among signal-callers heading into Week 13, throwing for 19 touchdowns to just six interceptions."Am I going to go in there and get all sentimental about, 'I've come a long way since?' It's not really like that," Purdy said. "Am I going to go into the game saying I want revenge and all this kind of stuff? It's not like that. So, I'm just going to try to go do my job and be the best Brock that I can be for this team."San Francisco is one of the league's hottest teams, winning three straight games by a combined 62 points. On the other side of the ball, the Eagles hold the NFL's best record at 10-1 and are coming off a thrilling Week 12 victory over the Buffalo Bills.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills linebacker Von Miller turned himself in to the Glenn Heights Police Department on Thursday after an arrest warrant was issued for a charge of assaulting a pregnant person, WFAA's Rebecca Lopez reports.Miller was taken to the DeSoto regional jail before posting a $5,000 bond and being released.Police said officers responded to a "major disturbance" call in uptown Dallas at 11 a.m. local time Wednesday.The victim was treated for minor injuries at the scene but wasn't taken to hospital, police said.Miller grabbed the neck of the alleged victim and applied pressure multiple times during an argument, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by Jamie Landers and Kelli Smith of The Dallas Morning News. Miller also caused her to fall by yanking her hair and pulling a chunk of it out, the affidavit states.Police said the woman had "minor abrasions" on her left hand and bruising on her abdomen, left bicep, and neck that's "consistent with applied pressure."The alleged victim is Miller's longtime girlfriend, police sources told Lopez. Assaulting a pregnant person is a third-degree felony charge in Texas."This morning, we were made aware of an incident involving Von Miller," the Bills said in a statement Thursday. "We are in the process of gathering more information and will have no further comment at this point."Miller was the subject of a criminal investigation while playing for the Denver Broncos in 2021, though prosecutors declined to file charges, and authorities didn't disclose details of the probe.The Bills are on a bye week, and Miller was born in Dallas.The 34-year-old is in his second season in Buffalo after previously playing for the Broncos and Los Angeles Rams.Copyright (C) 2023 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. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 13.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Half PPR

There's "zero" chance the Buffalo Bills will fire head coach Sean McDermott despite the club's struggles this season, sources told The Athletic's Tim Graham.The Bills are in a rut, having lost four of their past six outings. Buffalo (6-6) is currently outside the playoff picture with under two months remaining in the regular season.McDermott's seat became a bit hotter after he dismissed offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey earlier this month despite the team ranking inside the top 10 in points and yards per game. The Bills promoted Joe Brady to interim offensive coordinator.Owner Terry Pegula has no desire to dismiss McDermott after the season, according to Graham. The owner reportedly holds McDermott in high regard and doesn't want to meddle with the chemistry his coach shares with general manager Brandon Beane.Both McDermott and Beane signed extensions through 2027 this past June.In his seventh season with the Bills, McDermott has posted a 68-41 record and boasts the highest winning percentage in franchise history after being hired in 2017. The Nebraska native is credited with helping the team halt its 17-year playoff drought in 2017.Despite leading the Bills to playoff appearances in five of the past six seasons under McDermott and winning the AFC East crown in three consecutive years, criticism of the 49-year-old coach has only increased.Buffalo is at risk of missing the postseason after making it to the AFC Championship Game during the 2020 season, followed by a pair of divisional-round appearances in the last two years.The Bills will play the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14 following their bye.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It wouldn't have resulted in a windfall. Still, Jake Elliott's 59-yard squeezy cut 4-iron inside the right upright on a rainy Philadelphia evening eventually kept us from another winner in our weekly guilty pleasure. The Raiders fell short of a 17-point lead on a missed indoor kick that probably rattled many others. However, our favorite underdogs again went 3-2 against the spread, negating much of the loss.As we hit December, one of the main throughlines for our selections will be motivation. Betting underdogs early in the season is advised because the perception built during the offseason has a shaky foundation. Then, in the middle of the season, the small sample size of 8-11 games creates overreaction in the market. In December, big favorites are more likely to win outright because the underdogs - confirmed bad teams - lack the desire to win by any means necessary.How it worksWe parlay five underdogs together - which we also bet against the spread - in 10 different three-team parlays. Using every combination of a three-team parlay is called a round robin, so we'll use a total of 1.1 units to make 11 different bets: 10 three-team parlays and one five-team parlay, each for .1 units. You'll likely double your money if three teams pull off the upset. If four teams win, you're connecting on four separate parlays and will be very pleased with the return. If all five teams win, you'll be diving into a gold doubloon silo like a young Scrooge McDuck.Who to playBroncos (+155) over TexansWe start with a team on a five-game winning streak getting over a field goal against a squad still rated below average in the market.It seems like Sean Payton has coached Russell Wilson to remove the turnovers from his game. Payton wants Wilson scrambling forward and not side-to-side, which led to fumbles and dangerous throws. Meanwhile, a look at the NFL landscape shows that if you don't turn the ball over, a well-coordinated defense can take advantage of opponents' sloppy play. It's not a coincidence that defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has seen his unit take advantage of inexperienced and veteran quarterbacks while limiting explosive plays.The Broncos drag this game into a lower-scoring affair, something they've been comfortable with in beating five teams in the top 14 of opponents' yards per pass attempt. But Wilson faces the Texans this week, a club that ranks third-last in the same category.Patriots (+200) over ChargersThe Patriots had a clutch loss to the Giants last week and now have some leeway to get a top-three pick, even if they beat the Chargers, whose season ended Sunday night versus the Ravens.At 4-7 with a bad defense, Los Angeles' offense is also approaching below-average status. The team's most dangerous weapon - Keenan Allen - isn't 100% and should have Bill Belichick's attention.None of the Patriots' last three losses have come by more than four points, as the defense has played well enough to win games. By all reports, Mac Jones needs a reset, so we'll hope for Bailey Zappe to start. That doesn't sound enticing. However, Zappe is 2-0 as a starter, suggesting he might be better after appropriate practice reps than constantly getting thrown in when no one can watch Jones any longer.Saints (+167) over LionsThe Saints should be without Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, and Rashid Shaheed, and the market has soured - rating New Orleans as low as it has all season - after losing a pair of coin-flip games on the road. The issue for the Saints isn't getting into the red zone but scoring touchdowns once they get there.Luckily, New Orleans welcomes the third-worst defense in allowing red zone touchdowns Sunday. The Lions also allowed 7.8 yards per pass attempt to the Packers, Bears, and Chargers - far worse than what those teams have managed in their other November games. Expect a better-than-anticipated offensive effort, keeping the Saints in the contest late as they try to stay in the NFC South hunt.Panthers (+200) over BuccaneersCall it a "fired coach bump" if you like, but we're looking at a banged-up Baker Mayfield as a significant favorite against a defense that's top 10 in yards per play this season and might get multiple starters back in the secondary.Interim head coach Chris Tabor took over from Frank Reich and immediately fired offensive assistants Duce Staley and Josh McCown. Since it can't get worse for Bryce Young's unit, we'll consider this a step in the right direction as the Panthers take on the Buccaneers, losers of six of their last seven games. Tampa Bay also has a defense tied with the Chargers and Texans in opponents' yards per pass attempt.Packers (+225) over ChiefsWhat if the Packers pull off another upset?The Cheeseheads likely know that winnable games with the Giants, Buccaneers, and Panthers follow Sunday night's visit from the Chiefs. A 9-6 record heading to Minnesota isn't out of the question, so motivation should still be high in Green Bay. That's what we need from our underdogs.The Packers' defense is just outside the top 10 in opponents' yards per pass and among the leaders in preventing touchdowns when the opponent gets in the red zone. We'll hope Green Bay can get a lead like the Raiders but do a better job closing out Kansas City in what should be a sneaky-good game between a contender and a team finally starting to meet preseason expectations.How the odds look this week:PARLAYODDS (Approx.)DEN+NO+NE+2000DEN+NO+CAR+2100DEN+NO+GB+2200DEN+NE+CAR+2400DEN+NE+GB+2400DEN+CAR+GB+2500NO+NE+CAR+2400NO+NE+GB+2500NO+CAR+GB+2500NE+CAR+GB+2800DEN+NO+NE+CAR+GB+21000Who are your five underdogs for a football betting lottery ticket?Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks will host the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football in Week 15 on Dec. 18, replacing a matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots, the NFL announced Thursday.It's the first-ever flex of a Monday night contest after the league expanded its rules for shifting games ahead of this season.The NFL also announced a Saturday tripleheader for Dec. 16, all between teams in the thick of the playoff hunt.

Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is expected to generate interest from the Carolina Panthers for their vacant head coaching job during the 2024 offseason, a source told Josina Anderson of CBS Sports.The Panthers have discussed Johnson, among other names, since firing head coach Frank Reich on Monday, according to Anderson.Johnson is expected to be one of the most coveted head coach candidates next cycle. The 37-year-old has helped the Lions build an elite offense that ranks second in yards and seventh in points this season. Detroit ranked fourth and fifth in those categories, respectively, last year.Known for his creative play-calling, Johnson has been with the Lions since 2019. He had multiple roles on the team before being named offensive coordinator in 2022.Teams looking for head coaches also pursued Johnson during the 2023 offseason. The Panthers requested a second interview with him back then, but he opted to return to the Lions. Carolina eventually agreed to terms with Reich.The Panthers' next head coach will inherit a struggling offense led by rookie quarterback Bryce Young. With the No. 1 overall pick under center, the NFC South team ranks 29th in points per game.Carolina - which hasn't made the playoffs since 2017 - is 1-10 this season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, Google, and Stitcher.In this episode, Victoria Geary of Football Guys joins Boone to discuss the biggest fantasy questions heading into Week 13.

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young doesn't think fired head coach Frank Reich was the only reason for Carolina's struggles this season."We all share in that," Young said on Wednesday, according to ESPN's David Newton. "We never want to see people get fired. We wanted to come in and conquer things together and accomplish our goals together. We all take responsibility in that."Following a Week 12 loss to the Tennessee Titans, the Panthers dismissed Reich in his first season with the team. Reich - an offensive-minded coach and former quarterback who was expected to help Young's transition to the NFL - went 1-10 in Carolina. The NFC South club also fired quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and assistant coach Duce Staley.Young's rookie campaign has been a major disappointment, as the No. 1 overall pick has completed 61.8% of his passes for 1,877 yards and nine touchdowns against eight interceptions in 10 games. The Alabama product, who's been sacked 40 times, has also lost four fumbles."We all take ownership, especially offensively," Young said of the Panthers' disappointing year. "It's all of us. We all want to do better. It's a collective unit. There's no finger-pointing from players, coaches. Nothing. We all could have been better."The Panthers - who rank in the league's bottom five in points scored and allowed - drafted Young in April after acquiring the top selection in a trade from the Chicago Bears. Chicago owns Carolina's first-round pick in 2024, which would be the No. 1 choice in the draft if the season ended today.Despite Young's rookie struggles, Panthers owner David Tepper recently said the team remains "totally confident in that pick."Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers made the next step in his rehabilitation from an Achilles injury Wednesday as the New York Jets officially opened the quarterback's practice window.New York will have 21 days to either activate Rodgers from injured reserve or shut him down for the rest of the campaign."This isn't so much getting ready to play as it is a progression in his rehab," said head coach Robert Saleh.Saleh added that Rodgers is cleared for functional football activities but not contact, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network.

For the second straight week, the Cowboys and Seahawks have a Thursday game, which means a full week of rest - a situation that TNF combatants aren't usually afforded.On a short week, Seattle got unloaded upon by the 49ers, while the Cowboys spent less time legitimately worried about the Commanders than most families spent at the Thanksgiving dinner table.Those opposing results have created a market where the expectation is that the Cowboys are on the level of a Super Bowl contender, and Seattle might not be worthy of a playoff spot, even amongst the grim second tier of the NFC.Seahawks @ Cowboys (-9, 47.5)Before Thanksgiving, the lookahead line projected this number to be Cowboys -7. So you can see the effect of a national audience on back-to-back holiday games.We can look at estimated market ratings or listen to the buzz via the national media about Dak Prescott's play this season, and it would be hard to make the case that Dallas is underrated ahead of this game. That said, if you have future positions on "America's Team," Prescott, or CeeDee Lamb, it's tempting to just sit back and hope the Cowboys' offense continues to vibe at home.As for the Seahawks, even though Geno Smith and the Seahawks' passing offense has dipped over the last three games, they're still just outside of the top 10 in the NFL in yards per pass attempt and might be getting back starting right tackle Abraham Lucas. Unlike the Commanders, Panthers, and Giants, the Seahawks' offense should be able to move the ball, especially when trailing late.It doesn't look like Kenneth Walker will be able to go for Seattle, so Zach Charbonnet gets a second chance to be the primary ball carrier - something that Seattle was trending toward - against the Cowboys, who've allowed 4.5 yards per carry to the aforementioned opponents (Washington, Carolina, and New York) with otherwise inefficient offenses.With a week to get healthy after being questionable to play on Thanksgiving, Smith should have a better chance to use play-action to extend drives and keep Seattle in touch, with an ability to manage a late score to get inside the number if necessary.Pick: Seahawks (+9.5)Dak Prescott: Under 13.5 rushing yardsAfter a stretch where he was using his legs in important games - against the Chargers and Eagles - Prescott's taken off just five times in three games against lesser competition, content on sitting back in the pocket and picking apart defenses.Pete Carroll is famous for playing zone, among the highest percentage in the league, which means Prescott won't have wide-open spaces with members of the secondary having their backs turned in man-to-man coverage. In a game the Cowboys are expected to win comfortably, he'll continue to let his teammates do the yardage accumulation.Brandin Cooks: Anytime touchdown (+215)Speaking of zone-beaters, veteran receiver Cooks fits that bill. It took about a month for the new guy in Dallas to get integrated into the offense, but he's got four touchdowns in the last six games, often hauling in contested balls in tight spaces. Cooks' snap totals have always been high, but now he's earning the targets that used to go to Michael Gallup when opponents roll coverage toward Lamb.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans offensive lineman Tytus Howard will miss the rest of the season due to a knee injury, head coach DeMeco Ryans announced Wednesday, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston.The 27-year-old was placed on injured reserve, officially ending his campaign.Howard missed the first month of the season with a broken hand but had since started every game at left guard.He was replaced by second-round pick Juice Scruggs, who made his NFL debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars after being activated from injured reserve ahead of Week 12.Howard has been a mainstay on Houston's offensive line since being selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.The veteran primarily played right tackle before shifting inside this season but has also been used at multiple spots during his career.Howard signed a three-year, $56-million extension before training camp.The 6-5 Texans are in the thick of the wild-card hunt and host a fellow AFC playoff hopeful - the 6-5 Denver Broncos - on Sunday.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL suspended the credentials of an employee who orchestrated a touchdown celebration with Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill that went viral."We can confirm that the league pulled his gameday credentials for this season," the league said in a letter to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.Kevin Fitzgibbons, a content creator, was hired in 2022 to cover the Dolphins' home games and continued to do so during the 2023 season. The 20-year-old was involved in Hill's backflip celebration, which came after he scored against the Carolina Panthers in Week 6.Miami's star was penalized for his actions but wasn't fined by the league.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson says he apologized to teammates for not showing enough effort in recovering a loose fumble in Sunday's win over the Cincinnati Bengals."I feel like I did the right thing by standing up in front of the team and telling them, owning up to my mistake," Johnson said, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "All I can do is just move forward."He added: "Next time it occurs or whatever, I own up to it. I'm not perfect."Johnson was heavily criticized for not showing any effort on a first-quarter fumble by running back Jaylen Warren, which was recovered by the Bengals. He did not chase down the play, either.The 27-year-old said he wasn't aware the play was still alive but would "jump on the ball" if he could relive the play.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.In an effort to help you find trades that could improve your fantasy team, we present the Trade Value Chart.You can use this chart to compare players and build realistic trade offers. Values are based on 12-team leagues.Follow the links below to see the trade values and rest of season rankings for each position.Trade Values

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers expect quarterback Baker Mayfield to play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers even though he's dealing with ankle soreness, head coach Todd Bowles told reporters Wednesday, according to Pewter Report.Mayfield suffered an ankle injury early in last Sunday's loss to the Indianapolis Colts but finished the game after exiting briefly. Kyle Trask is Mayfield's backup on the depth chart.The upcoming game could be the first time Mayfield faces his former team. The former No. 1 pick played seven games with Carolina in 2022 before finishing the year with the Los Angeles Rams.The Bucs will aim to get their season back on track against the 1-10 Panthers. After starting the campaign 3-1, Tampa Bay lost six of its last seven to fall to 4-7.Mayfield has enjoyed a productive campaign, throwing for 17 touchdowns to seven interceptions while averaging 235.3 passing yards per game.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce have a No. 1 hit on their hands with their new holiday single.The brothers' duet "Fairytale of Philadelphia" climbed to the top spot on Billboard's Rock Digital Songs Sales chart this week and also came in at No. 1 on the Holiday Digital Song Sales."That song was fun. That song was actually pretty sweet, man," Travis said on the Oct. 25 episode of the brothers' "New Heights" podcast. "I enjoyed doing it. The guys, the team, came out and hung out with me in Kansas City for a few hours and we knocked it out."Released Nov. 15, "Fairytale of Philadelphia" is a rendition of The Pogues' 1987 classic "Fairytale of New York." It will be included on the upcoming album "A Philly Special Christmas Special," which features songs from several Eagles players as well as R&B icon Patti LaBelle.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Caleb Williams is the odds-on favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but the USC quarterback isn't quite ready to officially close the door on his college career.Williams said declaring for the NFL will be "a game-time decision," according to the Los Angeles Times' Ryan Kartje.Prospects have until Jan. 15 to announce their decision.Players considered near-locks to be taken first overall rarely return for another season, though the college landscape has changed dramatically due to name, image, and likeness deals.Andrew Luck was the last consensus top pick to return to school, and he ultimately went No. 1 the following year.Williams' potential final season in college didn't go to plan. He fell short of winning a second straight Heisman Trophy, failing to match his production from 2022."I've never been in this situation, where I'm 7-5 and there are no playoff hopes at the end of the season," Williams said. "I'm dealing with it emotionally, dealing with it spiritually and physically. It's been one of the most important years I think I've had."It's tricky. I've had to have talks with Lincoln (Riley, USC's coach) - because obviously, I haven't been through it - or with my family members or people like that, just how to deal with this and lead, how to stay the same person I was before the season or after our first loss or second loss. So it was different. It was a learning process."If the 22-year-old does declare, his main competition for the No. 1 spot will likely be UNC quarterback Drake Maye. Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison is the other player widely projected to be a top-two selection.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

DeSean Jackson, one of the biggest vertical threats of this era, is retiring as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles after 15 NFL seasons, the team announced Wednesday.Jackson will officially retire Friday and will be made an honorary captain by the Eagles for their home game Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers."DeSean Jackson was a dynamic playmaker who captivated Eagles fans with his game-breaking speed, unique skill set, and explosive play," team chairman Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. "What made DeSean truly stand out during his accomplished 15-year career was his ability to make miraculous plays look routine."Selected in the second round of the 2008 draft, Jackson spent the first six seasons of his career and eight years total in Philadelphia. He instantly built a reputation as one of the fastest wide receivers in the game.The biggest play of Jackson's career was undoubtedly the "Miracle at the New Meadowlands," when he returned a punt for a game-winning touchdown with no time remaining. Jackson's walk-off score capped off an unanswered 28-point fourth-quarter run by the Eagles to beat the New York Giants 38-31.

Closing lines are the best way to take the pulse of the betting market. They show how teams are viewed by entities willing to back their opinions with money. However, using only the closing line of a point spread to analyze results can be wildly misleading.Very few people should have bet the Bills at +2.5 considering Buffalo was available all week at +3.5 and +3, and only mere minutes before the game did the line move to Eagles -2.5. So when you see someone post a GIF about Buffalo bettors losing on +2.5 as the Bills failed to cover the closing line, don't pour one out for them. Many Bills bettors were likely happy holding a +3.5 ticket.How ratings workEvery week, we'll look at what the betting market thinks of each team based on the closing lines from that week's games. The "rating" column is an educated guess at the oddsmakers' rating to create a point spread, with the specific number being the percentage chance that the team beats an average opponent on a neutral field. Ratings aren't rankings. The closing line is considered a better reflection of a team's value than one game.The range column is my evaluation of what each team is capable of. It's our job as handicappers to determine where, within its range, a team will play based on factors like on-field matchups and roster/injury issues. The earlier it is in the season, the wider the range a team may have.Market ratings and our rangeTEAMRATINGRANGE49ers7960-80Chiefs7560-80Cowboys7460-80Eagles7360-80Dolphins7155-75Bills7155-75Ravens6755-75Lions6350-70Jaguars5945-65Chargers5140-60Rams5035-55Saints4840-60Vikings4835-55Seahawks4740-60Texans4730-50Browns4640-60Steelers4540-60Bears4530-50Broncos4535-55Packers4235-55Colts4135-55Falcons3735-55Buccaneers3730-50Patriots3525-45Raiders3530-50Cardinals3320-40Commanders3225-45Titans3130-50Bengals3030-65Jets2925-50Panthers2420-40Giants1520-40If a team drifts to the high side of its range, it's probably time to fade it. When, like the 49ers, a team pushes historic heights of 80/100 - reserved for the best regular-season teams of all time (2007 Patriots, 2013 Broncos, etc.) - you definitely should be skeptical. San Francisco covered easily in Seattle and now finds itself a road favorite in Philadelphia in Week 13.The Cowboys are outpacing market expectations differently. Futures positions on Dallas are gaining equity by the week, as no spread seems too high with a 127-37 scoring margin against bottom-tier teams in the Cowboys' last three games. This week's question is whether the Seahawks should be lumped in with the Giants, Panthers and Commanders.A pretty significant gap is developing between the top nine teams in the league and the rest. That should make for larger point spreads in the wild-card round. The alarming part for Bills fans is that Buffalo's the only one of those teams in grave danger of missing the playoffs. The Bills were expected to play to the top end of their range in Philadelphia. They delivered, but still came up short thanks to a 59-yard field goal from Jake Elliott.It's always something with the Chargers. Without Mike Williams, Joey Bosa, and Corey Linsley, L.A. lacks upside, and each week, the roulette wheel of failure stops on some element of play - defense, the running game, turnovers, dropped passes, negative fourth-down variance - making the Chargers no better than an average team.As we discussed regarding the Bears on Monday night, the Packers are also getting back to where they were rated coming into the season, as Jordan Love has been excellent in his last three games. Green Bay's rise will be put to the test as the Chiefs visit Lambeau. Chicago and Minnesota both got bumps after close Week 11 losses and then subjected everyone to ... whatever that was in Week 12's prime-time finale.The Falcons had the second-biggest drop due to the well-known rule that if you lose to the Cardinals, you plummet in the market. Credit the low rating or the Saints going 0/5 in the red zone with a fumble and a pick-6, but Atlanta snapped its losing streak.Of course, the Joe Burrow-less Bengals took the biggest tumble. Despite a good record, the Steelers are widely considered a below-average team. Otherwise, they wouldn't have fired their offensive coordinator. Still, the market thought so little of Cincinnati that the Bengals were home underdogs of nearly a field goal to Pittsburgh - and they didn't do anything to disprove that evaluation, either.If a team drifts to the low side of its range, it's probably time to hold your nose and bet it. The Giants were again rated below our artificial floor of 20/100 as home underdogs of over a field goal, but they've now covered and won outright in back-to-back games. We'll see what the market says about New York when the Giants return from their Week 13 bye.Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on social media @mrussauthentic.Copyright (C) 2023 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. Follow the links below to see his rankings for Week 13.Updated rankings (including Standard and PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Half PPR

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor will undergo thumb surgery on Wednesday, team owner Jim Irsay told The Athletic's James Boyd.Taylor, who suffered the thumb injury during Sunday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is hopeful he can return in two-to-three weeks.The 2021 Pro Bowl halfback was apparently hurt in the first half of Sunday's game and continued to play during the second half. Taylor rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries in the win.With Taylor sidelined, the Colts presumably will lean on Zack Moss. He leads Indianapolis with 672 rushing yards to go along with seven scores, the result of Taylor missing the first four games of the season while on the PUP list with an ankle ailment.Taylor's absence is a serious blow to a Colts offense that already lost rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson for the season. Indianapolis (6-5) is currently among the contenders for a playoff spot in the AFC.Taylor requested a trade in July following a meeting with Irsay about a new deal. The Wisconsin product ultimately signed a three-year, $42-million contract extension in October. He became the third-highest-paid player at his position, earning an average annual salary of $14 million.The 5-foot-10, 226-pound halfback has tallied 414 yards and four scores while averaging 4.1 yards per carry. He was the league's rushing champion in 2021, racking up 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground.The Colts visit the Tennessee Titans in Week 13 before another road matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill thinks extremely highly of his current team.During an interview with CBS Sports on Tuesday, Hill said he believes Miami has what it takes to win a Super Bowl this season and is even better than the Kansas City Chiefs' squad with which he won a championship in 2020."The way we practice, the way we play for one another is something that I've never seen before in a team," Hill said. "I won a Super Bowl and I feel like this is probably the better team than when we won a Super Bowl back when I was on K.C."The 29-year-old went on to stress the importance of showing up prepared on game day, saying the only thing that can stop the Dolphins is themselves."It can look good on paper, but we obviously gotta get it done on Sundays," he said.Hill spent the first six seasons of his NFL career with the Chiefs and was part of their Super Bowl LIV-winning team.The Dolphins enter Week 13 with an AFC East-best record of 8-3 and are the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoff race, trailing the Baltimore Ravens, Chiefs, and Jacksonville Jaguars.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers says his potential return from a torn Achilles will come down to his health and New York Jets' playoff odds."It's always been first, 'Am I healthy?' And then, 'Are we alive, are we in it, are we playing good enough to make a run, can I step in and protect myself and play at the level that I feel like I'm capable of playing?'" Rodgers said Tuesday on "The Pat McAfee Show."Rodgers, who suffered the injury on Sept. 11, has reportedly been targeting Dec. 2 for his return to practice. The veteran has shown progress in his recovery by throwing a football during warmups ahead of recent Jets games."There's a natural progression here to the rehab," Rodgers added. "That's going to involve actually getting back onto the field to start to do some things that are more football related."However, the 39-year-old said he can't yet make a decision on his comeback as he lacks "the ability to play at this point."After a 4-3 start, the Jets have lost four in a row and fallen out of the AFC's playoff picture. With tiebreakers factored in, the 4-7 franchise is currently second-last in the conference's wild-card race.The Week 16 matchup against the Washington Commanders on Dec. 24 is reportedly the most likely date for Rodgers to return if he does make another appearance this season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson is expected to return to the field once Minnesota is back from its Week 13 bye, a source told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.That schedules the star pass-catcher to play a Week 14 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.Jefferson returned to practice earlier this month after a hamstring injury suffered in Week 5 landed him on injured reserve. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year was activated from the reserve list on Tuesday.Minnesota has stressed a cautious approach with Jefferson's return, with the wideout previously tweeting that his health was more important than fans' fantasy football implications.Jefferson was off to a hot start before his injury, racking up 571 yards through five contests. His 114.2 yards per game was a career high for the three-time Pro Bowler.Despite Jefferson's six-game absence, the Vikings are 5-2 without him and 6-6 on the season. The NFC North club is back in the thick of the conference's playoff picture with their midseason surge.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Mike Tomlin believes the NFL's best defensive player is none other than Pittsburgh Steelers star pass-rusher T.J. Watt."Let's be honest," Tomlin said Tuesday. "T.J. is the best defensive player on the planet right now. He proves that week in and week out with the plays that he delivers us.""I get a bird's-eye view of it. I see the lengths that people go through to minimize his impact on the game," Tomlin added. "I know the type of games that we've been in, close ball games, and how that at times minimizes a guy that plays his position's ability to impact the game. None of those things slow down the train that we all know is coming. We're just appreciative of it."A former Defensive Player of the Year winner, Watt is off to another terrific start in 2023. He's tied with Minnesota Vikings pass-rusher Danielle Hunter for the league lead in sacks (13.5), though Watt has also added one interception, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and a defensive touchdown.The five-time Pro Bowler's efforts have been instrumental in getting Pittsburgh to a 7-4 record. The Steelers' defense ranks fifth in points allowed and has held its opponents to 20 or fewer points in seven straight games.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel is standing behind his criticism of Philadelphia Eagles cornerback James Bradberry ahead of their rematch Sunday."I don't regret nothing I said," Samuel told reporters Monday when asked if he regrets calling Bradberry "trash."Samuel made the comment about Bradberry while discussing the "holes" in the Eagles' defense on the "I Am Athlete" podcast in February. He then threw more shade at Bradberry on X after the cornerback was called for a holding penalty late in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LVII.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.Bye Weeks

Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper is still all in on No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young after firing head coach Frank Reich amid serious struggles on offense."As far as Bryce Young is concerned ... I cannot say this, you know, for myself, and I think everybody in this would share this sentiment ... We are totally confident in that pick," Tepper told reporters Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano.The Panthers swung a pre-draft deal with the Chicago Bears and moved up to the No. 1 pick to select Young. But their investment hasn't gone as hoped. The Alabama product has started his career with nine touchdowns, eight interceptions, and a 74.9 passer rating. Making matters worse, the Panthers sent a 2024 first-round pick to the Bears in the trade that would currently be the first overall selection.Tepper revealed there was initially a different plan in which the Panthers would get the No. 2 selection and take C.J. Stroud, who is in the midst of an impressive rookie campaign."Originally we were gonna go to the No. 2 pick and we thought we'd get C.J., because we thought the Texans were gonna pick Bryce," Tepper added, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer. "And listen, we preferred Bryce. He was our No. 1 pick. We had a lot of conviction."Young's disappointing start, along with the offense's struggles, led to the termination of Reich just 11 games into his first season as head coach. Carolina is 1-10 with an offense that ranks 29th in scoring and 30th in yardage.Reich became the third head coach to be fired midseason since Tepper took over the Panthers' ownership in 2018. It's also the second straight year he has dismissed a head coach after Matt Rhule's removal last season. Despite the constant changes in leadership, Tepper defended himself against criticism of his impatience."In other aspects of my life, we have people for 20-30 years who work for me," the owner said, per USA Today's Jori Epstein." No one ever leaves me. I do have patience. My reputation away from this game is one of extreme patience."Special teams coordinator Chris Tabor is taking control of head coaching duties for the rest of the season.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings will re-evaluate their starting quarterback options following their bye week. The uncertainty comes after Joshua Dobbs threw four interceptions during the Minnesota Vikings' 12-10 loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football."We're going to take a look and really evaluate the inventory of plays we have of Josh," head coach Kevin O'Connell said, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. "We got healthy. We got Jaren (Hall) back available to us, and then Nick Mullens is available as well."O'Connell also admitted that the club began to weigh their options during Monday's contest. "We definitely had started to get to the point where I was just trying to think, almost, what would give us a spark," he said.Dobbs was immediately pressed into action after the Vikings acquired him from the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 31. Hall sustained a concussion during the first quarter of Minnesota's matchup against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9, so Dobbs led the team to a 31-28 victory after joining the club five days prior.Turnovers have plagued the 28-year-old through four games. Dobbs has committed eight turnovers (five interceptions, three fumbles lost) since taking over as the team's starting passer. Minnesota owns the 31st-ranked turnover margin (-8) and the team is responsible for 24 giveaways, the highest in the league after Week 12.Dobbs, who's thrown three touchdowns to five interceptions over his past three starts, acknowledged frustration with his play on Monday. He's focusing on how to be a better "teammate" and "quarterback," but avoided making the case to remain the starter."Honestly, I think that's a coaching decision," Dobbs said.The Vikings have attempted to find a solution under center after Kirk Cousins was lost for the season when he tore his right Achilles on Oct. 29 against the Green Bay Packers.Minnesota will take on the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 10 following their bye week.Copyright (C) 2023 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. Philadelphia Eagles (10-1) Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 1The Eagles extended their winning streak to five games by edging the Bills in an epic clash. There's no doubt Philadelphia is currently the NFL's most complete team.2. Baltimore Ravens (9-3)Previous rank: 2It wasn't pretty, but the Ravens beat the Chargers on Sunday Night Football to keep the AFC's No. 1 seed. Baltimore's defense has been must-watch TV this season.3. Dallas Cowboys (8-3)Previous rank: 4The Cowboys head into their toughest stretch as one of football's hottest and most balanced teams. Dallas - whose strength of schedule so far hasn't been very strong - faces the Seahawks, Eagles, Bills, Dolphins, and Lions next.4. Kansas City Chiefs (8-3)Previous rank: 3The Chiefs scored 30-plus points for the first time in four games and got back in the win column against the Raiders. Tough matchups versus the Packers and Bills await as the reigning Super Bowl champs continue to fight for the AFC's No. 1 seed.5. San Francisco 49ers (8-3) Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 6San Francisco has outscored opponents 92-30 since its Week 9 bye and looks more than ready for its highly anticipated Week 13 clash against the Eagles in a rematch of last season's NFC title game.6. Miami Dolphins (8-3)Previous rank: 7Since Jalen Ramsey's season debut in Week 8, Miami ranks first in EPA/play allowed. It's fair to question the level of competition in that span, but the Dolphins' defense has been on another level with the cornerback on the field.7. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3)Previous rank: 9The Jaguars beat the Texans in Week 12 in Jacksonville's most important game so far. That said, the Trevor Lawrence-led offense isn't firing on all cylinders and ranks only 19th in EPA/play.8. Detroit Lions (8-3)Previous rank: 5A Thanksgiving home loss to the Packers wasn't part of the plan, but the Lions are still in the NFC North driver's seat. The team's biggest issue lately has been ball security, as Jared Goff has committed six turnovers in two games.9. Houston Texans (6-5)Previous rank: 8Jacksonville snapped Houston's three-game winning streak Sunday, but the Texans have a big chance to bounce back against the Broncos in a Week 13 bout that could have significant implications on the AFC's wild-card race.10. Denver Broncos (6-5) Jamie Schwaberow / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 13Here come the Broncos, winners of five straight. Up next for Sean Payton's outfit are three consecutive road matchups, starting with the Texans in Week 13.11. Buffalo Bills (6-6)Previous rank: 10Buffalo matched up well with Philadelphia on the road but couldn't close out what would've potentially been a season-altering statement win. The Bills now have only a 15% chance of making the playoffs.12. Cleveland Browns (7-4)Previous rank: 11Turnovers, turnovers, and more turnovers. By turning the ball over three times Sunday, the Browns have a league-worst 23 giveaways in 2023. In case you were wondering, Cleveland's offense has scored 20 total touchdowns.13. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4)Previous rank: 17Topping 400 yards on offense for the first time in three years was big for the Steelers, who have a 73% chance of reaching the playoffs. Putting up points remains an issue, though.14. Seattle Seahawks (6-5)Previous rank: 14With three losses in four games and a sputtering offense to boot, Seattle is at a crossroads. Pete Carroll is now reassessing his receivers' roles in an attempt to get the train back on track.15. Green Bay Packers (5-6) NurPhoto / NurPhoto / GettyPrevious rank: 26It's time to buy stock in Jordan Love. The young signal-caller has been lights out the last two weeks, and both he and the Packers are turning around what was becoming a very disappointing season.16. Minnesota Vikings (6-6)Previous rank: 15Has Joshua Dobbs run out of magic? The journeyman quarterback stood out in his first appearances after joining the Vikings to replace the injured Kirk Cousins but hasn't replicated that success in the last two games. His four picks in Minnesota's Week 12 loss were tough to watch.17. Los Angeles Rams (5-6)Previous rank: 18The Rams are up this week after wins over the Seahawks and Cardinals, but their lack of consistency could easily drop them back down next week.18. Indianapolis Colts (6-5)Previous rank: 19The Colts have been taking advantage of bad teams, but that's not their problem. Indianapolis occupies a wild-card spot in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year.19. Atlanta Falcons (5-6)Previous rank: 25A win over the Saints moved the Falcons into first place in the NFC South, though quarterback play continues to hold this team back.20. New Orleans Saints (5-6) Stephen Maturen / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 16New Orleans employs the NFL's most disappointing offense, and now the injury bug is starting to bite. In any other division, the Saints would be dead meat.21. Los Angeles Chargers (4-7)Previous rank: 20Another week, another narrow loss, another squandered opportunity to salvage this soon-to-be wasted season. Being a Chargers fan must be torturous.22. Cincinnati Bengals (5-6)Previous rank: 12Just when this team was starting to round into form, Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury. Now, the Bengals are back below .500 with a tough remaining schedule.23. Las Vegas Raiders (5-7)Previous rank: 21The good vibes emanating from the post-Josh McDaniels era will only take the Raiders so far. Aidan O'Connell must be better for Las Vegas to get hot down the stretch.24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7)Previous rank: 22Contrary to Baker Mayfield's belief, the Buccaneers' struggles have more to do with a lack of talent than players not being pissed off enough.25. Tennessee Titans (4-7) Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 30In another dimension, A.J. Brown is still with the Titans and Tennessee is still a threat in the AFC. The club hasn't been the same since trading him to the Eagles.26. Chicago Bears (4-8)Previous rank: 27A win is a win, even when you don't score a touchdown. Bears fans should like what they've seen from their defense, as the unit has forced eight turnovers in the last two games after struggling in that category in the season's first half.27. New York Jets (4-7)Previous rank: 23The defense continues to do its part, but the Jets simply aren't going to win games with the likes of Tim Boyle - who's getting another start in Week 13 - at quarterback.28. New York Giants (4-8)Previous rank: 29A couple recent wins should lighten the mood around the Giants, but even in those games, it was abundantly clear that this team is bad.29. Washington Commanders (4-8)Previous rank: 24Washington has lost eight of its last 10. It's going to take a lot more than a change at defensive coordinator to save this sinking ship.30. Arizona Cardinals (2-10) Mike Christy / Getty Images Sport / GettyPrevious rank: 28The emotional spark that Kyler Murray's return provided has worn off quickly. The Cardinals were blown out at home by the Rams on Sunday and have now lost two straight.31. New England Patriots (2-9)Previous rank: 31No matter how many times Patriots fans ask Santa, Tom Brady ain't coming down that chimney. It's bad in New England.32. Carolina Panthers (1-10)Previous rank: 32The Panthers are officially at rock bottom after firing Frank Reich just 11 games into his tenure as head coach.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins are signing pass-rusher Jason Pierre-Paul off the New Orleans Saints practice squad, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Pierre-Paul confirmed the move Monday on social media."I'm coming home," wrote the Florida native, who also thanked the Saints and his teammates.Pierre-Paul has appeared in one game this season, suiting up on the Sunday after joining the Saints on Nov. 13. The 34-year-old finished the matchup with two tackles while playing 27% of New Orleans' defensive snaps. Miami will reportedly add him to its 53-man roster.The move comes after the Dolphins lost starting edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to a season-ending Achilles injury during Friday's win over the New York Jets. Phillips racked up 6.5 sacks in 2023, tied for a team high.With Phillips sidelined, Bradley Chubb headlines Miami's pass-rush rotation. Chubb has amassed six sacks and forced four fumbles this season. The AFC East team has also generated pressure from the inside, as defensive tackles Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler have recorded 6.5 and five sacks, respectively.Pierre-Paul took the NFL by storm early in his career after the New York Giants drafted him 15th overall in 2010. He posted 16.5 sacks in his second pro campaign to earn a first-team All-Pro berth and help the Giants win the Super Bowl that season.The Dolphins will be Pierre-Paul's fifth career team after the Giants (2010-17), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2018-21), Baltimore Ravens (2022), and Saints. In Tampa Bay, Pierre-Paul had a solid 2020 season when he earned a Pro Bowl nod while being part of a Super Bowl-winning team.The Dolphins made the defense one of their offseason priorities in 2023 and brought in veteran coordinator Vic Fangio. Miami's defensive unit lacked consistency to start the season, but the group leads the NFL in EPA/play allowed since star cornerback Jalen Ramsey made his Dolphins debut in Week 8.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans claimed defensive end Derek Barnett off waivers, the team announced Monday.Barnett, a first-round pick in 2017, was released by the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday.The Texans considered trading for him before the deadline earlier this year, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.Barnett fell out of favor in the Eagles' defensive line rotation prior to his release. He reportedly requested a trade this past offseason. He played just 20% of their defensive snaps in 2023 and hasn't recorded a sack.Barnett missed all but one game in 2022 due to an ACL tear, but he started 45 games for Philadelphia between his second season in 2018 and 2021. He set career highs in 2019 with 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for a loss.He joins a Texans team that finds itself in the AFC playoff race after compiling a 6-5 record through 11 games. He'll aim to add more pass-rushing ability to a unit that has produced 24 sacks, tied for eighth-lowest in the NFL.To make room for Barnett, the Texans released kicker Matt Ammendola, who missed a game-tying 58-yard field goal Sunday.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Las Vegas Raiders released veteran cornerback Marcus Peters, the team announced Monday.The move comes after interim head coach Antonio Pierce benched Peters in the second quarter of Sunday's 31-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs following a missed tackle. The two had a brief exchange on the sideline at halftime.Tackling has been an issue for Peters, who joined the Raiders on a one-year, $3-million contract in July. The 30-year-old entered the Chiefs matchup with 11 missed tackles in 2023, according to Football Reference.Peters racked up 43 tackles (one for loss), five pass breakups, and one interception - a 75-yard pick-6 - across 12 games with Las Vegas. He allowed a 103.2 passer rating when targeted.The Raiders nearly parted ways with Peters earlier this season, sources told The Athletic's Vic Tafur.A former Kansas City Chiefs first-round pick, Peters was once considered one of the NFL's most dangerous corners. The Washington product paced the league with eight interceptions and 26 pass breakups as a rookie in 2015, and he led the league in pick-6s twice.In addition to Peters, the Raiders also parted ways with safety Roderic Teamer. Both players will be available on waivers.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Panthers fired head coach Frank Reich after an NFL-worst 1-10 start in his first season in charge, Carolina announced Monday.The NFC South club also dismissed quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley.Pressure had continued to mount on Reich after Carolina lost four straight games while the offense's woes worsened, scoring just 11.5 points per contest over that span.The struggles of No. 1 pick Bryce Young also appeared to put Reich on the hot seat.Carolina hired Reich under the assumption he'd be able to help Young transition into the NFL following impressive work with quarterbacks during his time in charge of the Indianapolis Colts.But the former Alabama star has fallen far short of expectations, completing 62.1% of his passes for 1,683 yards and just nine touchdowns against eight interceptions.The Panthers' offense as a whole has been among the NFL's worst amid Reich's inconsistent approach to play-calling. Reich initially called plays to start the year before ceding the duties to offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, only to take them back several weeks later.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on Spotify, Apple, Google, and Stitcher.In this episode, Boone discusses the latest injuries and the top players available on the waiver wire.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is considered day-to-day due to a shoulder injury, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced Monday, according to Jake Trotter of ESPN.Stefanksi added that Garrett's shoulder is "sore."The four-time Pro Bowler, who's the front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year this season, suffered the ailment during Sunday's 29-12 loss to the Denver Broncos. Garrett was seen wearing a sling postgame and said that he heard a pop in his left shoulder during the contest.The 2017 No. 1 overall pick, Garrett has posted arguably the best season of his career in 2023, boasting 32 tackles (12 for loss), 13 sacks, and four forced fumbles.The 7-4 Browns also saw rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and star wide receiver Amari Cooper go down with injuries versus the Broncos. Thompson-Robinson suffered a concussion in the third quarter, while Cooper exited the matchup in the fourth quarter after injuring his ribs.Stefanski said Monday that it's unclear if Thompson-Robinson will clear the concussion protocol before Cleveland's Week 13 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams."It's hard to say," he added, according to Tom Withers of The Associated Press.Stefanski also thinks Cooper avoided a major injury and will be OK, per Scott Petrak of The Chronicle-Telegram.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.Payton turns it around Jamie Schwaberow / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Broncos have won five games in a row. Yes, the Broncos.There were a lot of bad things said about this team after the first month of the season. Surely, there'll be some Denver fans looking for apologies, but make no mistake: it was all true at the time.But things change quickly in the NFL. After an impressive win over the Browns, the Broncos now find themselves sitting at 6-5 and effectively tied for the final AFC wild-card spot. Is anyone questioning the Sean Payton hire now?The defense, of course, has been the main factor in Denver's stunning turnaround. Just six weeks ago, it seemed like a matter of time before Payton would have to admit a mistake and move on from defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. Denver was off to a historically bad start on that side of the ball, and the 70 points allowed in Miami was no fluke.Payton opted to stay the course. Joseph, to his credit, has delivered better results than anyone could've expected. The Broncos have given up just 80 total points across their five-game win streak, including nine to the Chiefs and 22 to the Bills.The monumental defensive improvements have taken some pressure off the rest of the operation, allowing the offense to play more on schedule. It's still not the most explosive unit, but the consistent play the Broncos have gotten out of Russell Wilson speaks to the upgrade made in the coaching department.Wilson has just four interceptions on the season and hasn't thrown a pick since Week 6. It also took him only nine games to top last season's 16 touchdowns.The Broncos probably don't have the pieces for a deep playoff run if they even make the postseason, but the message has been sent. Payton can still coach, and his staff is in the process of laying the foundation for a bright future. The AFC West is going to be fun for a long time.A new day in Pittsburgh Dylan Buell / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt's official: Matt Canada was the problem.OK, maybe that's a little bit harsh. There were certainly more factors at play for the Steelers' offense, including some terrible quarterback play, but how else are we supposed interpret what we saw this week?Pittsburgh's offense looked like a completely different unit in Sunday's win over Cincinnati. While it didn't quite show up on the scoreboard, a closer look reveals a largely effective change in philosophy under new offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner and play-caller Mike Sullivan.Most notably, this version of the Steelers' offense seems to understand the value of pushing the ball downfield and attacking over the middle. It's no coincidence that Kenny Pickett completed 24 of 33 passes for a season-high 278 passing yards.

New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen projects Daniel Jones to be the team's starting quarterback once he's recovered from the torn ACL he sustained in November."The expectation is when Daniel is healthy that he'll be our starting quarterback," Schoen said Monday.Schoen pointed to the team's success in 2022 with Jones under center when asked why he remains confident in the 26-year-old."You guys all saw last season. The guy won 10 games. He won a road playoff game for the Giants. You guys saw the preseason," Schoen said. "I just think we got punched in the nose early on and we dug ourselves a hole and we weren't able to get out of it. We're trying to right now, but we still believe in Daniel."The team opened the 2023 season 1-4 with Jones before he missed three games with a neck injury. Jones tore his ACL when he returned for the club's Week 9 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.Jones' completion rate increased this season to a career-high 67.5%, but his yards per game (151.5), touchdown percentage (1.3%), and interception percentage (3.8%) were all career worsts. The Duke product finished his campaign with 909 yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions in six appearances.Schoen anticipates adding a quarterback this offseason despite backing Jones, in part due to the unpredictability involved in rehabbing a significant injury."I think we're going to have to do something on the quarterback, whether it's free agency or the draft," the 44-year-old general manager said. "I mean, just where we are, Tyrod (Taylor)'s contract is up, (Tommy) DeVito is obviously under contract, and Daniel, we don't know when he's going to be ready. So, just from an offseason program standpoint, I think that'll be a position that we'll have to look at."Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jalen Hurts is the front-runner to win the NFL MVP award after the Eagles' overtime win against the Bills on Sunday.Hurts was +225 going into Week 12 at theScore Bet but widened the gap over his next closest threats, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes.After throwing for three touchdowns and running in another two, Hurts is now +150 to win the NFL's top award, an implied probability of 40%, which is twice as likely as both Jackson and Mahomes.MVP oddsPlayerOddsImplied probabilityJalen Hurts+15040%Lamar Jackson+40020%Patrick Mahomes+40020%Dak Prescott+80011.1%Tua Tagovailoa+10009.1%C.J. Stroud+16005.9%Brock Purdy+18005.3%Christian McCaffrey+18005.3%Josh Allen+40002.4%Trevor Lawrence+40002.4%Tyreek Hill+50002%Odds via theScore BetHurts finds himself in a very similar position to last year. He was the heavy favorite before a late-season injury forced him to miss two games and gave Mahomes the opportunity to overtake him in the MVP race.If Hurts can stay on the field and the Eagles continue to rack up wins, he'll be tough to catch.But a lot can still happen in December, and the MVP award does ask the question: "What have you done for me lately?"The AFC is by far the deeper conference. Right now, Jackson's counting stats don't compare to the other elite quarterbacks, but if he leads the Ravens to the No. 1 seed in the AFC, he has to be in the MVP conversation.The Ravens have marquee matchups against the Jaguars, 49ers, and Dolphins remaining on their schedule. A sweep of these games, two of which are in prime time, would bode well for Jackson's resume.Dak Prescott's odds plummeted over recent weeks. He's thrown 17 touchdown passes in his past five games and sits as the fourth favorite at +800. He was as long as +5000 before the Cowboys' offensive explosion, but they've averaged 38.6 points per game since their Week 7 bye.Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.