The playoff picture is complete.Following an enthralling final week of the regular season, the 12 playoff participants have been decided.Here are the matchups and schedules for the 2018 postseason:AFCSeedTeamDivisionRecord1ChiefsWest12-42PatriotsEast11-53TexansSouth11-54RavensNorth10-65ChargersWest12-46ColtsSouth10-6Wild Card WeekendMatchupDateTimeNetworkColts at TexansSaturday Jan. 54:35 p.m. ETESPNChargers at RavensSunday Jan. 61:05 p.m. ETCBSThe Chiefs finally clinched the top seed and home-field advantage in the AFC with a win over the lowly Raiders on Sunday. The Patriots also earned a first-round bye by blowing out the Jets.The Texans won the AFC South for the third time in the past four years and, as a result, will again host a playoff game in the first round.Wild Card Weekend will feature a rematch of the Week 16 battle between the Ravens and Chargers. The Baltimore defense shut down Philip Rivers in the previous encounter, but Los Angeles will likely have Melvin Gordon back for this meeting.With a win on Sunday night over the Titans, the Colts grabbed the final wild-card spot to set up a third meeting with the Texans this season. The two division rivals split the season series and were even in points scored (58) in the two matchups.NFCSeedTeamDivisionRecord1SaintsSouth13-32RamsWest13-33BearsNorth12-44CowboysEast10-65SeahawksWest10-66EaglesEast9-7Wild Card WeekendMatchupDateTimeNetworkSeahawks at CowboysSaturday Jan. 58:15 p.m. ETFOXEagles at BearsSunday Jan. 64:40 p.m. ETNBCThe Saints and Rams each amassed 13 victories and will rest during the first round of the playoffs.The Bears helped the Eagles reach the postseason on Sunday and will face them on Wild Card Weekend. Chicago played their regulars in Week 17 and knocked Minnesota out of playoff contention. Nick Foles led Philly to three consecutive wins to end the season and has the defending champions in position to defend their crown.The other wild-card matchup will feature a rematch of a Week 3 contest between the Cowboys and Seahawks. The Hawks took that early-season meeting 24-13 in Seattle, but Round 2 will take place in Texas.Divisional RoundMatchupDateTimeNetworkTBD at ChiefsSaturday Jan. 124:35 p.m. ETNBCTBD at RamsSaturday Jan. 128:15 p.m ETFOXMatchupDateTimeNetworkTBD at PatriotsSunday Jan. 131:05 p.m. ETCBSTBD at SaintsSunday Jan. 134:40 p.m. ETFOXConference ChampionshipsMatchupDateTimeNetworkTBD at TBDSunday Jan. 203:05 p.m. ETFOXTBD at TBDSunday Jan. 206:40 p.m. ETCBSCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens clinched the AFC North title and booked their ticket to the playoffs with Sunday's 26-24 win over the Cleveland Browns, sealing the thrilling victory with a late interception on 2018 first overall pick Baker Mayfield.

The Jacksonville Jaguars informed running back Leonard Fournette that the remaining guarantees in his contract have been voided, a source familiar with the situation told AP's Mark Long.Fournette is in the second year of his pro career and missed eight of the team's 16 games this season for various reasons. He's scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency in 2022.The power back was scheduled to make $7.1 million in the final years of what had been a fully guaranteed rookie contract. If Fournette fails to win an appeal, the Jaguars could move on from him without taking on future financial obligations, Long reports.The guarantees were voided after Fournette's suspension last month for fighting with Shaq Lawson of the Buffalo Bills.Jaguars executive vice president of football operations Tom Coughlin took Fournette to task on Sunday for "disrespectful" and "selfish" behavior while on the bench during a blowout loss. He and T.J. Yeldon were seen sitting on the bench apart from their teammates during the game.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets have relieved head coach Todd Bowles of his duties, the team announced Sunday.Bowles was hired in 2015 and put together a cumulative record of 24-40 during his four-year run."I would like to thank Coach Bowles for his dedication to the New York Jets for the last four years. After carefully evaluating the situation, I have concluded that this is the right direction for the organization to take," Jets chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson said in a statement.The Jets went 10-6 in his first season, however, New York failed to make the playoffs during his tenure.Bowles entered the 2017 season on the hot seat, but despite being saddled with one of the worst rosters in the league, the team overachieved to reach five wins. The Jets took a definite step back this season and finished with a 4-12 record.The Jets have been rumored to be interested in former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A fourth-quarter injury on Sunday caused Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles to fall four snaps shy of a $1-million playing-time bonus, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Foles needed to play 33 percent of his team's offensive snaps this season to cash in on the incentive. He finished a hair short of the benchmark after being forced to leave the Eagles' 24-0 win over the Washington Redskins with a chest ailment. He played 61 of the Eagles' 71 offensive snaps in Week 17.Foles started two games to open the season while Carson Wentz was still recovering from a torn ACL, and started the last three with Wentz sidelined by a back injury.The Eagles won all three of Foles' starts down the stretch to sneak back into the playoffs.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles clinched the last NFC playoff spot Sunday after defeating the Washington Redskins and watching the Minnesota Vikings lose to the Chicago Bears.The defending Super Bowl champions earned the No. 6 seed and will face the Bears on Wild Card Weekend. They defeated the Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, and Redskins over the final three weeks of the season to sneak into the postseason.They did so behind backup quarterback Nick Foles, who threw for 221 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in Week 17 in the Eagles' 24-0 win. Foles completed 25 straight pass attempts at one point, tying an NFL record.It was a different story in Minnesota, where Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins tossed for a mere 132 yards with a touchdown against the Bears. The Vikings were a preseason Super Bowl favorite after signing Cousins to a three-year, $84-million contract in free agency.The Eagles finished the campaign with a 9-7 record, while the Vikings wrapped up the schedule with a mark of 8-7-1.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have fired head coach Dirk Koetter after three seasons at the helm, the team announced."We sincerely appreciate the hard work and commitment shown by Dirk over the past several years. Working with Dirk has been a pleasure and we wish him and his family all the best in the future. Our search for a new head coach will begin immediately and will be conducted by General Manager Jason Licht," owner/co-chairman Joel Glazer said in a statement.Koetter was initially hired by the Buccaneers as offensive coordinator in 2015 and was promoted to head coach after Lovie Smith was dismissed following that campaign. He compiled a record of 19-29-0 with only one winning season.The Buccaneers finished second in the NFC South at 9-7 but missed the playoffs in Koetter's debut campaign as head coach, but they finished fourth in 2017 and 2018.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles believe quarterback Nick Foles suffered bruised ribs and will be okay moving forward, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Foles left Sunday's game with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter and was taken to the locker room. He was deemed questionable to return.Foles had the Eagles up 17-0 on the Washington Redskins in a must-win game. Nate Sudfeld threw a 22-yard touchdown in Foles' absence as the Eagles held on for a 24-0 victory.The reigning Super Bowl MVP will be counted upon if the Eagles are to make another deep playoff run.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) The Chiefs finally clinched their third consecutive AFC West title and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, and Patrick Mahomes and the rest of Kansas City's offense continued to shatter records in a 35-3 whitewash of the rebuilding Oakland Raiders on Sunday.Mahomes threw for 281 yards, highlighted by a 67-yard TD pass to Tyreek Hill and an 89-yard TD toss to Demarcus Robinson. That gave the first-year starter 5,097 yards and 50 touchdown passes, joining Peyton Manning as the only QBs to hit 5,000 and 50 in the same season.Manning had 5,477 yards and a record 55 TD passes for the Broncos in 2013.Hill finished with five catches for 101 yards, becoming the Chiefs' single-season leader for yards receiving with 1,479, while adding a fourth-quarter touchdown run. Damien Williams added 51 yards and a score on the ground as the Chiefs (12-4) beat the Raiders for the eighth time in nine games.The decisive win came after Kansas City squandered a chance to clinch the division with a fourth-quarter collapse against the Chargers and again in a shootout loss last weekend in Seattle.Derek Carr had his league-leading streak of 332 passes without an interception snapped when the Chiefs' Daniel Sorensen returned a pick for a touchdown in the first quarter. Carr threw another pick and lost a fumble as Oakland (4-12) turned the ball over on its first four possessions.He finished 23 of 32 for 184 yards, while Doug Martin ran for 100 yards but also lost a fumble.The Chiefs eliminated any postseason drama in the first 20 minutes.Mahomes started the scoring barrage when he threw a perfect post pass to Hill, who waltzed into the end zone for his long touchdown reception. And a few minutes later, Sorensen stepped in front of tight end Jared Cook - who had inexplicably stopped his route - for a 54-yard pick-6.The Chiefs defense kept causing turnovers, and Williams capped another effortless drive with a short touchdown run to give Kansas City a 21-0 lead late in the first half.The league's highest-scoring offense continued its onslaught after the break.Mahomes delivered the dagger when he floated a pass deep downfield to Robinson, who ran out of the grasp of his would-be tackler. Robinson was so far ahead of the defense that he turned around at the 15-yard line and backpedaled into the end zone - getting a taunting call as his reward.Not that it mattered for the Chiefs, who were already celebrating their postseason bye and what they hope is a Super Bowl road through Arrowhead Stadium. Hill merely added to the party when he added his rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to put the game away.MORE RECORDSThe Chiefs' Travis Kelce had five catches for 62 yards, giving him 1,336 yards for the season. That broke the NFL record for tight ends set by the Patriots' Rob Gronkowski in 2011. ... Mahomes was 14 of 24, giving him a franchise-record 383 completions this season. He began the day tied with Trent Green with 369. ... Andy Reid broke a tie with former Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer for seventh on the NFL's career wins list with his 206th.INJURIESRaiders: DT Maurice Hurst was inactive after dealing with an ankle issue all month. He finished with four sacks, matching the lowest total to lead the Raiders since sacks became a stat in 1982.Chiefs: SS Eric Berry (heel), WR Sammy Watkins (foot) and RB Spencer Ware (hamstring) were among the inactives. ... LB Reggie Ragland left after his interception with a hip injury. FS Jordan Lucas (neck) and DT Derrick Nnadi (concussion) also left the game.UP NEXTRaiders: Draft prep begins with Oakland holding three first-round selections.Chiefs: A postseason bye and divisional-round game at home await.---More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles tied Philip Rivers' record for consecutive completions in a single game by completing 25 straight passes against the Washington Redskins on Sunday.Foles' attempt to set a new mark fell just short on an incomplete pass to wide receiver Nelson Agholor near the goal line. He completed a touchdown pass to Agholor on the next play that had been initially ruled incomplete before a challenge by the Eagles.The Super Bowl LII MVP entered the game having completed 59 of 80 pass attempts for 741 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions while leading the Eagles to two straight victories since replacing the injured Carson Wentz under center.Foles had missed on just three passes before falling short of the record.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars executive Tom Coughlin voiced his anger Sunday over a pair of running backs who sat on the bench by themselves while their teammates battled the Houston Texans."I am disappointed in the behavior today from T.J. Yeldon and Leonard Fournette," Coughlin said, according to ESPN's Michael DiRocco. "They were disrespectful, selfish and their behavior was unbecoming that of a professional football player."Fournette was held out of the season finale and Yeldon was active but didn't play. Jacksonville lost 20-3 to conclude a disappointing 5-11 campaign; the Jaguars were in the AFC Championship last year and appeared poised to make a Super Bowl run entering this season.

Xavien Howard wants a contract extension from the Miami Dolphins this offseason that will make him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, he told Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald.Howard earned his first Pro Bowl selection this year after notching seven interceptions in 12 games. He missed the final four contests of the season due to injury.The 25-year-old Baylor product was a second-round pick of the Dolphins in 2016 and has one more year remaining on his rookie deal.Miami finished the season 7-9 after dropping its final three decisions.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock has interviewed to be the next general manager of the Oakland Raiders, he told Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal at Sunday's game between the Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs.Mayock told Gehlken the Raiders have "interviewed a whole bunch of guys," but sources told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network that Mayock is "firmly in the mix" for the opening.The 60-year-old analyst has never held a position with an NFL team but has been with NFL Network in various roles since 2004.The Raiders fired Reggie McKenzie earlier in December during his seventh season as general manager.The Raiders' next hire is expected to be working alongside head coach Jon Gruden, who's believed to have control over the roster.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

HOUSTON (AP) The Houston Texans clinched the AFC South title as Deshaun Watson threw for 234 yards and ran for a touchdown, and DeAndre Hopkins had 147 yards receiving in a 20-3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.The Texans (11-5) won nine in a row after starting 0-3 to save their season and will make their fifth playoff appearance after winning the division for the fifth time in franchise history. Houston returns to the postseason for the third time in four years after bouncing back from last year's 4-12 record in a season where Watson and J.J. Watt sustained season-ending injuries.Houston built a 14-point lead in the first half behind rushing touchdowns by Watson and Lamar Miller and made it 20-3 on a 24-yard field goal with about 11 minutes left. The Jaguars had a chance to cut the lead later in the fourth period, but Blake Bortles was intercepted in the end zone by Andre Hal.Jaguars owner Shad Khan issued a statement urging his director of football operations, Tom Coughlin, the keep the status quo with coach Doug Marrone and general manager Dave Caldwell - even though the team flopped from a spot in the AFC title game to last place.The Jaguars (5-11) returned to Bortles as starter after benching the quarterback following a loss to Buffalo on Nov. 25. But he did little to get Jacksonville's offense going, the Jaguars managing one first down in the opening half and finishing with six. Bortles was 15 of 28 for 107 yards.Watt sacked him 1 1/2 times to give him 16 this year for his fourth season with 15 or more sacks, second most in NFL history to Reggie White (5).The performance by Hopkins gives him 1,572 yards receiving and 115 receptions this season, both career highs. His receptions are tied with Andre Johnson (2008) for most in franchise history.Dede Westbrook muffed a punt late in the first quarter recovered by Zach Cunningham. The Texans got a first down at the 10 after rookie Tre Herndon received a 27-yard pass interference penalty.Two plays later Watson scrambled 5 yards to make it 10-3 early in the second quarter.The Texans faced a third-and-6 late in the second quarter when Myles Jack deflected a pass and Hopkins grabbed it for a 13-yard gain. Miller ran 7 yards for a touchdown on the next play, dragging two defenders into the end zone to make it 17-3.DeAndre Carter fumbled a punt in the first quarter and it was recovered by Jacksonville at the 10. But the Jaguars couldn't move the ball and settled for a field goal that made it 3-0.The Texans tied it at 3 with a 23-yard field goal on their next possession.TEXANS NUMBERSHopkins is the fourth player in NFL history (Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison and Brandon Marshall) to have at least 100 receptions, 1,500 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns in multiple seasons. He had 111 receptions for 1,521 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2015.Watson, who ran for 66 yards on Sunday, is the first player in NFL history to throw for at least 4,000 yards (4,165) and 25 touchdowns (26) and rush for 500 yards (551) and five touchdowns (5) in a season.INJURIESJaguars: Jacksonville was without starting cornerback A.J. Bouye (toe injury) and running back Leonard Fournette was inactive because of an ankle injury.Texans: Starting cornerback Johnathan Joseph sat out with a neck injury.UP NEXTJaguars: Jacksonville must decide what to do with Bortles before next season. Most believe he won't return in 2019 after going 24-49 in five seasons. The third overall pick in the 2014 draft also is due to count $21 million against the salary cap, and the Jags can save $9.5 million by cutting him with a post-June 1 designation.Texans: Will host the winner of Sunday night's Colts-Titans game next Saturday or Sunday, barring a tie between those teams.---More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/tag/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) Tom Brady threw for three first-half touchdowns and the New England Patriots clinched their ninth straight first-round bye in the playoffs on Sunday with a 38-3 victory over the New York Jets.The Patriots (11-5) finished the season undefeated at home, and they guaranteed themselves at least one playoff game in Foxborough. New England could still earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC if both Kansas City and the Los Angeles Chargers lose later Sunday.In what could be the final game for Jets coach Todd Bowles, New York (4-12) lost for the ninth time in 10 games. Rookie Sam Darnold, who had been playing well since returning from a foot injury, completed 16 of 28 passes for 167 yards, but he also had a fumble that gave New England a touchdown.Brady completed 24 of 33 passes for 250 yards and four scores overall, bouncing back from his worst performance since 2006 - a 48.3 passer rating in a 24-12 win over Buffalo. After punting on their first possession, the Patriots scored on three straight drives.Brady hit James White for a 17-yard TD late in the first quarter, and then connected with Rex Burkhead early in the second. After Elijah McGuire fumbled on the Jets' first play of the second quarter, Devin McCourty picked it up and ran it 14 yards to the 8.Five plays later, Brady rolled right and found Phillip Dorsett in the back of the end zone to make it 21-3. New England opened a 28-3 lead in the third quarter when defensive lineman Adam Butler knocked the ball out of Darnold's arm as he raised it to throw; Kyle Van Noy picked it up and ran 46 yards for the score.SAM'S SETBACKDarnold had strung together three solid games before Sunday's dud.The No. 3 overall draft pick had completed 66 percent of his passes, with six touchdowns and just one interception, in the three games since he returned from a foot injury. But he won just one of them.DYNASTYThe Patriots earned their 13th playoff bye since 2001. ... They are the only team that went undefeated at home this season. It's their seventh time since 2002. ... They scored more than 400 points for the 12th straight season, extending their record. ... The ninth straight playoff bye also extended a record; Dallas and San Francisco (1992-95) and Denver (2012-15) went four straight. ... It was the 500th regular-season victory in franchise history. ... The ninth straight 11-win season is also a record; Indianapolis had seven from 2003-09. ... Coach Bill Belichick's 16th 11-win season is the most in history (Don Shula had 13). ... Brady threw for four touchdowns for the 29th time in his career, third-most all-time. He also threw for his 6,000th career completion. ... Stephen Gostkowski had a field goal and five extra points to move into 12th on the NFL's all-time scoring list, passing Norm Johnson with 1,743 points in his career.INJURIESPatriots' DB Devin McCourty sustained a head injury early in the third quarter and left the game. LB Dont'a Hightower and S Patrick Chung were also injured on the play but they returned within a few plays.UP NEXTJets: Finished with five or fewer wins for the third straight season.Patriots: Will host the winner of a wild-card game on weekend of Jan. 12-13.---More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense won't be at full strength for Sunday's crucial regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals, as star receiver Antonio Brown won't play due to a knee injury, the team announced.However, running back James Conner is active after being questionable with an ankle injury, which sidelined him for the past three games.Brown finishes the regular season with 104 receptions, giving him his sixth straight campaign with more than 100 catches.The Steelers can only make the playoffs if they beat the Bengals and the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens either lose or tie against the Cleveland Browns.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a concussion in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions, the team announced.DeShone Kizer replaced Rodgers on the field.The Packers have long since been eliminated from playoff contention, but Rodgers has insisted on finishing the season despite dealing with a knee injury for the majority of the year and sustaining a groin injury several weeks ago.Even if Rodgers had passed the concussion tests, it was unlikely Green Bay would've risked allowing him to re-enter the game.The two-time NFL MVP set a franchise record with his seventh 4,000-yard season and threw 25 touchdowns with just two interceptions prior to Week 17.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On Saturday, Kyler Murray played his last football game at the collegiate level, but there's still much to be resolved over which path the two-sport athlete will pursue."I love him," one anonymous MLB scout told Jeff Passan and Pete Thamel of Yahoo! Sports regarding the Oakland Athletics prospect and Heisman Trophy winner. "He can be a star. Plus speed, good raw power, legitimate center fielder. But he's so far behind the curve because of football, it's going to take longer for him to develop. And I really wonder if the football bug is too strong for him to say no."Murray, 21, is coming off a remarkable Heisman-winning season for the Oklahoma Sooners, beating out Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa. The diminutive star quarterback finished the season with 4,053 passing yards, 892 rushing yards, and 51 total touchdowns.When Alabama and Oklahoma met in the College Football Playoff though, it was Tagovailoa who prevailed, leading his team to a 45-34 victory in the Orange Bowl.Despite finishing as the NCAA's best, Murray has remained steadfast in his commitment to MLB, having been selected ninth overall by the Athletics in last June's draft. Oakland allowed their first-round selection to complete his final season of football, but declaring for the NFL draft would reportedly lead to Murray forfeiting a large portion of the $4.66-million signing bonus he was awarded by the A's.Murray's stature is the most commonly cited reason he would choose baseball over football, with many NFL scouts believing his 5-foot-9 frame would not work at the professional level."He's an NFL quarterback with everything other than height," former general manager and vice president of the Cleveland Browns Mike Lombardi said. "Do I think he’s going to be a first-round pick? I think he has more of a skill set than Russell Wilson and he’s got a (Patrick) Mahomes kind of arm. I don’t know his baseball skills, but I think the high-end is higher in football."The deadline for college players to declare for the NFL draft is Jan. 14.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has set another benchmark statistic - this time, without even stepping onto the field.By sitting for the regular-season finale with the Saints already securing the No. 1 seed, Brees' 74.4 percent completion percentage is locked in as the new single-season record, according to ESPN's Mike Triplett.The MVP candidate breaks his own previous record of 72.0 percent, which he set last season. Brees now owns five of the top 11 single-season completion marks in NFL history.Teddy Bridgewater will start Week 17 as Brees rests for a run at a second Super Bowl title.Earlier this season, Brees passed Peyton Manning to become the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Although the Baltimore Ravens recently announced they will retain head coach John Harbaugh for the 2019 season and are working on a contract extension, other NFL teams could still inquire about his availability.At least one team considering a head-coaching change will be interested in Harbaugh if the Ravens don't advance to the playoffs, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.That team believes that Baltimore could part ways with the 56-year-old if they fall short of the postseason, Schefter reports.Harbaugh has posted a cumulative 103-72 record since taking over as head coach in 2008 and won the Super Bowl in 2012. He currently holds the fifth-longest tenure in the league with the same team.The Ravens lead the AFC North heading into Week 17, and will lock up the division with a win over the Cleveland Browns.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets cornerback Trumaine Johnson is listed as inactive for the team's Week 17 matchup with the New England Patriots.Johnson is healthy but reportedly did not attend some meetings and practices during the week, a source told ESPN's Josina Anderson.The high-priced defensive back was held out of Wednesday's session due to a disciplinary violation but participated in practice Thursday, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini.Johnson is in the first season of a five-year, $72.5-million contract and leads the Jets with four interceptions.Cornerback Darryl Roberts may not start after he was late for some scheduled team events.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is not expected to play in Sunday night's win-and-you're-in game against the Indianapolis Colts due to the stinger he suffered last week, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.The Titans were warned by an independent spine specialist that further damage could impact Mariota's long-term ability to throw the football, Mortensen added.Blaine Gabbert will get the start and Austin Davis will serve as the No. 2 QB. Gabbert played in relief of Mariota in last week's win over the Washington Redskins, throwing for 101 yards and a game-winning touchdown.Tennessee is reportedly hopeful the added rest will allow Mariota to play in the postseason if it punches its ticket with a win over the Colts.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers intend to retain Jameis Winston as the team's starting quarterback for the 2019 season, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Winston will enter the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, which is worth $20 million. He could be cut without affecting the Buccaneers' salary cap but the team believes the former No. 1 overall pick is still its best option at quarterback.The 24-year-old was suspended for the first three games of the 2018 season and was the backup to veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick for a Week 4 blowout loss to the Chicago Bears.Winston started the next three games before being replaced by Fitzpatrick as Tampa Bay's starter. He reclaimed his job three weeks later.The Buccaneers have never extended a second contract to any quarterback they've drafted.Winston has battled inconsistencies in his fourth campaign, completing 64.7 percent of his passes for 2,647 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

For one final time during the regular season, let's go over the key point spread and total moves for Week 17.Detroit Lions at Green Bay PackersOpening odds: GB -8 / 44Current odds: GB -8 / 45.5The Detroit Lions-Green Bay Packers game has seen more movement on the total, which went from 44 to 45.5 late on Saturday. The Lions have gone under the total in six straight games as their offense is depleted of starting skill players. Bettors are hitting the Packers at MGM resorts in Las Vegas with six times as many tickets on Green Bay as of Saturday night.Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Open: ATL -2 / 50Current: ATL -2 / 52Both the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been listed as favorites during the week, with the opening line shifting to Tampa Bay -2 before coming all the way back around. There was a slight uptick in the total for two teams who combined for 63 points in their first meeting.Carolina Panthers at New Orleans SaintsOpen: NO -7.5 / 44.5Current: NO -7 / 43It'll be a battle of backup quarterbacks when the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints meet in the regular-season finale. Carolina's Kyle Allen is the backup to the backup, Taylor Heinicke, who was injured in his first career start last week. The Saints are giving the nod to Teddy Bridgewater, who will fill in for MVP hopeful Drew Brees. The market shaped the Saints as seven-point favorites and two backup quarterbacks starting the game brought the total down a few points.New York Jets at New England PatriotsOpen: NE -14 / 47.5Current: NE -13.5 / 46.5The New England Patriots are one of the public's favorite teams to bet on a weekly basis due to name alone. In Week 17, however, New England was hit off -14 and down to -13.5 against the New York Jets, who just placed cornerback Morris Claiborne and wide receiver Quincy Enunwa on injured reserve over the weekend. The Patriots saw their hot run covering the spread as a double-digit favorite snapped last weekend against the Buffalo Bills.Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston TexansOpen: HOU -9 / 40.5Current: HOU -7 / 40.5A big swing in line movement in the Jacksonville Jaguars-Houston Texans game might come down to when bettors got their number. The Texans opened as nine-point favorites, trickled all the way down to -6.5, and bumped up to -7 on Saturday in most shops. The Jaguars are handing the reins back to quarterback Blake Bortles, who was benched for Cody Kessler a few weeks ago. With two teams trending in opposite directions, the Texans were garnering five times as many betting tickets as Jacksonville.Miami Dolphins at Buffalo BillsOpen: BUF -3.5 / 38.5Current: BUF -5.5 / 39.5There's no surprise the Buffalo Bills saw action during the middle of the week - the Miami Dolphins have been incompetent away from home, covering only two of the previous 12 spreads as visitors. They'll play in what's expected to be below-freezing temperatures Sunday. Buffalo is a hot team for the public in Week 17, with seven times as many tickets riding on the Bills at MGM.Dallas Cowboys at New York GiantsOpen: NYG -6 / 42.5Current: NYG -6 / 41Oddsmakers are expecting the Dallas Cowboys to lay down in Week 17 with a playoff bid already secured. The five-win New York Giants are giving a whopping six points at home and will close the season without star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who hasn't played since Week 13. The Cowboys are the third-worst scoring offense on the road but have held their last seven opponents to the team total under when playing away from home.Philadelphia Eagles at Washington RedskinsOpen: PHI -6.5 / 42Current: PHI -7 / 41.5Sitting as 6.5-point road favorites with backup quarterback Nick Foles and looking for some magic one final time this season, the Philadelphia Eagles finally hit -7 in most shops early Saturday. Getting five times as many tickets as the Washington Redskins, the Eagles need a win and a Minnesota Vikings loss to make the playoffs.Chicago Bears at Minnesota VikingsOpen: MIN -6.5 / 41.5Current: MIN -6 / 40.5Bettors are put in a tricky spot with the Chicago Bears, who need a win and some help in Week 17 to get a first-round bye. It's uncertain whether the Bears starters will even be in for the second half if the No. 2 seed Los Angeles Rams are taking care of the San Francisco 49ers, but oddsmakers have shaded this one toward the Minnesota Vikings. The Bears will be down safety Eddie Jackson, wide receiver Allen Robinson, and linebacker Aaron Lynch.Arizona Cardinals at Seattle SeahawksOpen: SEA -13.5 / 40Current: SEA -13 / 38.5The Arizona Cardinals-Seattle Seahawks game figures to be one of the more boring games of the day, and that's what bettors are likely thinking with the lowest total on the board dropping a couple more points since the opener.San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles RamsOpen: LAR -6 / 50Current: LAR -10 / 48It took one 22-point win over the Cardinals for the Rams to get bettors back on the bandwagon. A team that took a significant step back over the previous month was steamed from -6 to -10 during the week, despite being down star running back Todd Gurley. The 49ers will also miss key players on offense as wide receivers Dante Pettis and Marquise Goodwin are out.Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh SteelersOpen: PIT -16.5 / 47Current: PIT -14 / 45.5The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the week's double-digit favorites and could have been the chalkiest, had it not been for the -16.5 dropping down and settling at -14. The Cincinnati Bengals are limping to the finish line and won't have cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick or wide receiver Tyler Boyd for the finale.Los Angeles Chargers at Denver BroncosOpen: LAC -6.5 / 41.5Current: LAC -6.5 / 43.5Off a loss to the four-win Oakland Raiders, the Denver Broncos have become fade material for bettors. The Los Angeles Chargers are one of the trendy teams in Week 17, getting seven times as many tickets at MGM. Two teams on hot runs to the under have seen a two-point jump on the total since the opener.Cleveland Browns at Baltimore RavensOpen: BAL -6.5 / 41.5Current: BAL -6.5 / 40.5Bettors hit the Cleveland Browns earlier in the week to move the number down to four, only to see the Baltimore Ravens bet back up to the original spread just days later. The total is on the move down as these two combined for 21 points in the previous meeting.Oakland Raiders at Kansas City ChiefsOpen: KC -13.5 / 54Current: KC -14 / 52The Raiders put up 33 points at home on the Kansas City Chiefs in the first meeting, but initial movement on the spread and total has bettors thinking otherwise in Week 17. The Raiders are off an emotional win in the presumed final game in Oakland and now have to go on the road, where they're averaging a league-low 13.9 points per game this season.Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee TitansOpen: IND -1.5 / 44Current: IND -3 / 44.5The Week 17 prime-time game features a win-or-go-home game between the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. The Colts received a bulk of the early action, getting pushed up to three-point favorites. Titans starting quarterback Marcus Mariota isn't expected to play.Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts tight end Eric Ebron is expected to clear the concussion protocol and suit up for Sunday night's win-and-you're-in game against the Tennessee Titans, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Ebron was listed as questionable for the crucial matchup as he additionally deals with a knee injury.Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton is also expected to play after being tabbed as questionable due to an ankle ailment which has kept him sidelined from practice for all of the past two weeks.Ebron leads the team with 12 touchdown catches and is 21 yards from breaking his career-high mark of 711.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Green Bay Packers are in the midst of an extensive search to replace Mike McCarthy and are expected to target Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald for their head coaching vacancy, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The Packers will conduct a wide-ranging search, Rapoport adds, that could include 10-12 candidates. Interim head coach Joe Philbin will receive an interview, but is not expected to receive the full-time position.Fitzgerald has ties to the organization, as CEO Mark Murphy hired the Wildcats' boss when he was the school's athletic director.The 44-year-old is a hot name in both NFL and NCAA coaching circles, as he's compiled a 35-17 record over his last four seasons, including a first-place finish in the Big Ten West in 2018. He has coached Northwestern since 2006.Jim Caldwell and Chuck Pagano have also been linked to Green Bay's head coaching job, reportedly interviewing with the team already.McCarthy was fired earlier in December after 13 seasons.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles do not expect quarterback Carson Wentz to return for the playoffs, should they qualify, as he nurses an injured back, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.Wentz will, however, get a scan on his back following the regular season to see if he has any shot of playing in a potential playoff game, Rapoport added.Eagles head coach Doug Pederson confirmed earlier this month that his star signal-caller was battling a stress fracture that "evolved over time" but won't require surgery, while adding that a full recovery will take three months. He's also made it clear that Wentz will not be rushed back from the injury.Nick Foles will start Sunday in a do-or-die matchup with the Washington Redskins.The defending Super Bowl champions, who currently sit at 8-7, need a win and a Minnesota Vikings loss to the Chicago Bears in order to qualify for the postseason.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are not optimistic that wide receiver Antonio Brown will be available to play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals due to knee soreness, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Although Brown is listed as questionable for Sunday's pivotal matchup, he apparently hasn't responded well after playing on turf against the New Orleans Saints in Week 16 and didn't participate in Saturday's practice.The seven-time Pro Bowler caught 14 of 19 targets last week for 185 yards and two touchdowns. He hasn't missed a game this season.Running back James Conner's availability will be determined following pregame tests as he attempts to return from an ankle sprain, Schefter adds. Conner hasn't played since Week 13 but is determined to make his return.The Steelers enter Sunday's game second in the AFC North to the Baltimore Ravens with a record of 8-6-1. Pittsburgh will need a win or tie against the Bengals coupled with a Ravens loss to the Cleveland Browns in order to win the division and make the postseason.They could also get in with a win and a tie between the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets are planning to fire head coach Todd Bowles following Sunday's Week 17 matchup with the New England Patriots, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Bowles is wrapping up his fourth season with the Jets, who currently sit at the bottom of the AFC East with a 4-11 record. 2018 will be his third straight losing season after finishing 10-6 in 2015.Former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy and former Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts boss Jim Caldwell figure to be among the candidates to replace the 55-year-old, according to Rapoport.New York hired Bowles after successful stints as a defensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals.The Jets have struggled mightily in the latter of his fourth campaign in charge, losing eight of their last nine games.Bowles' job will be an attractive position once he and the team part ways, with rookie first-round pick Sam Darnold at quarterback.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Speculation in NFL circles is that the Arizona Cardinals will part ways with first-year coach Steve Wilks at the conclusion of this season. Cardinals star corner Patrick Peterson disagrees."I honestly think coach will be here next year," Peterson said, according to Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic."It's been a tough season for us, but we all love coach. He's a heck of a motivator, just the way he's able to get guys going for games and the messages that he sends across. ... Just everything about coach, he's a man's man."Fellow Cards star Larry Fitzgerald also threw his support behind his embattled head coach"We all would want him back," Fitzgerald told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport through text.Arizona is 3-12 on the year. If the season were to end today, they'd own the first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.Despite the rough campaign, Peterson says he and his teammates are proceeding with the belief that Wilks will join them for the 2019 campaign."I definitely hope those speculations are false, but at the end of the day, that's something that's out my control. But as players, we're planning to have coach back next year," he said.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield was fined $10,026 for making a lewd gesture in Week 16 versus the Cincinnati Bengals, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.The NFL issued the punishment under the category of unsportsmanlike conduct. Mayfield will appeal the fine, his agent told Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal.The gesture was one of two controversial incidents involving Mayfield against the Bengals. The rookie also gave former coach and current Bengals assistant Hue Jackson an extended glare after scoring a touchdown.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We're fortunate enough to close out the season profitable in the NFL market, well above the 52.4 percent mark in both top and overall plays, no matter the outcome for Week 17.Be sure to shop around for the best numbers one last time during the regular season. Let's close out the year on a high note.Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs Wagers: Chiefs -14 and Raiders team total under 19.5The Oakland Raiders enjoyed their Christmas Eve in Week 16, winning their fourth game of the season, but more importantly, their final home game at Oakland Coliseum in an emotional victory over the Denver Broncos. They're set up for a big letdown in the regular-season finale when they play the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.Home-road splits aren't always predictive, but it's tough to ignore Oakland's contrast in production - 25.1 points per game at home and 13.9 on the road (last in the NFL). They had their way against the Chiefs with 33 points in the previous meeting, but we don't see the Raiders getting up for this one.Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers Wager: Under 44.5We'll ride the Detroit Lions' under streak when they travel to take on the Green Bay Packers. The Lions have seen a second-half shift in their identity, becoming more reliant on the defense while struggling on offense. After trading wide receiver Golden Tate in Week 9 and losing Marvin Jones Jr. to injured reserve a week later, Detroit suddenly has one of the worst offenses in the entire league. The Packers' offense did whatever it wanted last weekend in a 38-35 overtime win against the New York Jets, but we don't see the points coming as easy in the finale.Extra PointsPhiladelphia Eagles at Washington RedskinsRecommended Pick: Redskins +7After sitting as 6.5-point underdogs for most of the week, the Washington Redskins finally hit +7 on Saturday afternoon. Although motivation is on the Philadelphia Eagles' side, we recommend banking on the home team keeping it within a touchdown.Dallas Cowboys at New York GiantsRecommended Pick: Under 41.5Expect the points to be at a premium when the New York Giants host the Dallas Cowboys, who have been fine defensively playing away from AT&T Stadium this season, holding all seven opponents to the team total under. Dallas has also been one of the worst offensive teams as a visitor, averaging 14.7 points per contest in 2018. With no Odell Beckham Jr. for the Giants in the finale, we feel a low-scoring game is in the works.Top plays: 29-16-2 (64.4 percent)Overall record: 41-31-1 (58.4 percent)Alex Kolodziej is theScore's betting writer. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 11 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore breaks down the playoff ramifications of every meaningful matchup in the final week of the regular season, as well as how results can impact the race for the No. 1 overall pick.Jets at Patriots (1:00 p.m. ET)What's at stake?: One of the few meaningful early-slate games, it will require one of the upsets of the season to shake up the AFC playoff picture. It's simple: If the Patriots win, they lock up at least a first-round bye once again. A New England victory and losses by both the Chiefs and Chargers will push the Pats all the way to the top of the conference, while defeat to the Jets and wins by the other three division leaders could cause Bill Belichick and Co. to fall all the way down to the No. 4 seed. New York also still has an outside shot at the No. 1 overall pick if it loses to its AFC East rival.Rooting for Jets win: Texans, Ravens, Chiefs, Cardinals, 49ersJaguars at Texans (1:00 p.m. ET)Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhat's at stake?: The Texans could end Week 17 as any of the top three seeds or, in a worst-case scenario, as the No. 6 seed. The top seed is a long shot that requires the Chiefs, Chargers, and Patriots to all lose, while the Texans will drop to a wild-card spot if they lose to the Jaguars and Colts-Titans doesn't end in a tie.Rooting for Jaguars win: Colts, Titans, Ravens, PatriotsEagles at Redskins (4:25 p.m. ET)What's at stake?: The significance of this matchup is simple. First and foremost, the Eagles must win to stand any chance of making it back to the playoffs. If they do and the Bears beat the Vikings, they're the NFC's No. 6 seed.Rooting for Redskins win: VikingsChargers at Broncos (4:25 p.m. ET)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWhat's at stake?: The Chargers have already secured a playoff berth, but Week 17 is still a boom-or-bust scenario. Los Angeles can either end the day atop the AFC or as the first wild-card team. A slip-up for the Chiefs against the Raiders is a must.Rooting for Broncos win: Chiefs, Texans, PatriotsRaiders at Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET)What's at stake?: Like the Chargers, the Chiefs' most likely outcomes are either the No. 1 or No. 5 seed. All Kansas City needs to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs is to beat Oakland. If the Chiefs and Chargers both lose/tie, Andy Reid's team could be pushed down to the No. 3 seed by the Texans and Patriots. The Raiders' Week 16 win over the Broncos eliminated them from contending for the No. 1 overall pick.Rooting for Raiders win: Chargers, Texans, PatriotsBears at Vikings (4:25 p.m. ET)Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWhat's at stake?: The Bears could cap off a dominant season by kicking their NFC North rivals out of the postseason. Chicago will be motivated, as a Rams loss would open the door for a first-round bye thanks to the Bears owning the head-to-head tiebreaker. A Vikings win or tie likely locks them into the No. 6 seed, with the No. 5 seed only up for grabs if the Cardinals take down the Seahawks. If Minnesota loses and Philadelphia wins, the champs are in.Rooting for Bears win: Eagles

Kansas City Chiefs fan David Leach fulfilled a two-year-old bet on Friday when a tattoo of Patrick Mahomes was inked on his lower back.Leach, a native of Raytown, Mo. who now lives in Los Angeles, bet his friends that the Chiefs would never draft a quarterback in the first round, according to Stephanie Graflage and Marcus Officer of WDAF-TV.After the Chiefs selected Mahomes with the No. 10 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and Leach lost the bet, his friends decided he would get a Chiefs-themed lower back tattoo, which they dubbed a "champ stamp."

Ron Rivera believes he will be back as head coach of the Carolina Panthers in 2019 despite missing the playoffs twice in the last three years."I feel pretty good. My intention, everything I've been doing is working towards the future and we'll go from there," Rivera said Friday, according to Adam Maya of NFL.com. "My conversations with the owner have been all positive. That's why I am just going forward."The Panthers looked like contenders early in the season, but an active seven-game losing streak dashed any hope they had of competing for a championship. Their struggles in the second half of the season could be tied, at least in part, to the shoulder woes of quarterback Cam Newton."I think we're better than our record says, but at the end of the day you are what your record says you are," Rivera said, who's authored a 6-9 mark this year. "That's been the hard pill for me to swallow."A report surfaced Dec. 2 claiming new Panthers owner David Tepper was prepared to make sweeping changes if the losing continued. Tepper was also reportedly concerned about the Panthers' resistance to analytics.Carolina will wrap up the season Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Rams will hold out star running back Todd Gurley for their regular-season finale versus the San Francisco 49ers, according to Myles Simmons of the Rams' official site.It will be Gurley's second consecutive absence due to a knee injury.The NFL's second-leading rusher hasn't practiced since playing in Week 15 as he's been dealing with inflammation in his knee. Gurley revealed Thursday that he initially picked up the injury in the first week of the season.The 24-year-old has 1,251 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns on the season, but he's been quiet his last two times on the field. He rushed 11 times for 28 yards in a Week 14 loss to the Chicago Bears and took 12 carries for 48 yards in the Week 15 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles.C.J. Anderson filled in admirably for Gurley last week, rushing 20 times for 167 yards and a touchdown in a 31-9 win over the Arizona Cardinals.The Rams already have a playoff spot and the NFC West title wrapped up. They can clinch a first-round bye in the playoffs with a win over the 49ers or a loss by the Chicago Bears against the Minnesota Vikings.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With home-field advantage and the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs wrapped up, the New Orleans Saints will start backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in their regular-season finale versus the Carolina Panthers, the team announced Friday.Sunday will mark Bridgewater's first start since 2015. He missed the entire 2016 season after suffering a serious knee injury that required extensive surgery and rehabilitation. He returned to the sidelines last year.The move will give Drew Brees, who's put together an MVP-caliber season in leading the Saints to a league-best 13-2 record, an additional week of rest ahead of New Orleans' divisional-round matchup.The New York Jets signed Bridgewater to a one-year, $6-million contract and watched as he flourished in preseason action. Weeks before the start of the season, the Saints traded a third-round pick in the 2019 draft for Bridgewater and a sixth-rounder.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee is headed to the squared circle.McAfee announced on the latest episode of "The Pat McAfee Show" that he's come to terms on a deal with WWE, according to Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet."WWE has formally offered me a multi-year contract," McAfee said. "Who knows what we're going to be doing over there, they just want me to come make some content. And we'll see where it goes.""I am very excited for this," he added. "This is a dream come true."McAfee had dreams of becoming a professional wrestler before pursuing a football career and trained with wrestling legend Rip Rogers after retiring from the NFL last year.A seventh-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, McAfee compiled 26,669 punting yards and 21 tackles during his eight-year career.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL's regular season is unpredictable, a chaotic tapestry unlike any other major American sports league. The 2018 campaign was especially stocked full of shocking falls from grace for supposed contenders and unexpected rises from unheralded teams.Here, we go division by division to highlight the most surprising overachievers and biggest disappointments from the last 17 weeks of gridiron action:AFC I NFCNFC WestBiggest surprise: Seattle SeahawksIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWhat went right?: The Seahawks came into the season with little hype - some even suggested they could contend for the No. 1 overall pick. But Pete Carroll turned in arguably the best year of his coaching career to get his team back to the playoffs. Despite an offseason dismantling and a season-ending injury to Earl Thomas - the last member of the Legion of Boom - the defense ranked 11th in scoring and performed well enough to support Russell Wilson. The veteran signal-caller already tied his career high in touchdown passes and could very well post his lowest-ever interception count after the Seahawks returned to a run-based offense; his attempts were cut from 553 in 2017 to 406 entering Week 17 while the Seahawks have produced the league's top-ranked rushing attack.Looking ahead: No team should be happy just to make the tournament but any postseason success should be the icing on the cake in what was expected to be a rebuilding year for Seattle. In 2019, the Seahawks are set to become Wilson's team like never before as the quarterback is likely to sign an elite-level extension in the offseason. Any danger of the league's oldest coach unexpectedly retiring was erased when Seattle inked Carroll to an extension through 2021 on Christmas.Biggest disappointment: San Francisco 49ersWhat went wrong?: San Francisco was a trendy wild-card pick but those hopes were dashed when Jimmy Garoppolo's season prematurely ended in Week 3. While Nick Mullens was an upgrade on first-choice replacement C.J. Beathard, the 49ers were limited by their lack of top-tier weapons outside of George Kittle, one of the team's lone bright spots. Kyle Shanahan's play-calling and scheme helped keep the 49ers competitive, as five of their nine post-Garoppolo losses were by one touchdown or less. But the defense failed to step up after the offense lost its leader, giving up the ninth-most points per game and forcing a league-worst seven turnovers - six fewer than their closest competition.Looking ahead: Shanahan should receive a pass for the Garoppolo injury but the heat will undoubtedly start to build on the head coach if the team doesn't take a significant step forward. The one positive of the quarterback's injury is that it occurred early enough that he should be ready for training camp. Only seven teams are projected to have more cap space than San Francisco, so a possible splurge on defenders could be the plan for general manager John Lynch.NFC NorthBiggest surprise: Chicago BearsIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWhat went right?: It might be easier to examine what didn't go right for Chicago. The trade for Khalil Mack looked like a steal even before he donned the "C" on his helmet, but the pass-rusher somehow managed to exceed expectations - injuries were the only thing that slowed him down. The rest of the defense fed off Mack's arrival. Eddie Jackson and Akiem Hicks emerged as elite players and Chicago enters Week 17 in the top five in points allowed per game, 3rd-down defense, and yards per play allowed. The Bears also easily lead the league with 36 takeaways. On offense, first-year head coach Matt Nagy helped conjure a top-10 scoring unit despite growing pains from Mitchell Trubisky, who flashed his potential but struggled with consistency.Looking ahead: The Bears are in midst of a small window to chase a title while their starting quarterback is locked into a cheap rookie deal. Trubisky will make relative peanuts until 2021, enabling Chicago to use its extra resources aggressively until then. While affordability is a great quality in a quarterback, quality is still vital; Trubisky can look like a world-beater one week and a backup the next. The defense is good enough to win this postseason, so the pressure is on Trubisky to step up - sooner or later.Biggest disappointment: Green Bay PackersWhat went wrong?: The Packers were considered a Super Bowl contender after they added Muhammad Wilkerson and Jimmy Graham in free agency and drafted several young corners to finally fix their secondary. But it quickly became apparent Green Bay wasn't nearly as talented as some presumed and this time, Aaron Rodgers couldn't mask their deficiencies. Graham was a bust, providing nowhere near the value his top tight-end contract demanded, and his inability to make an impact was exacerbated by the lack of development from a group of young wideouts. The Packers have missed the playoffs before in the Rodgers era, but not when he's played all 16 games (though he was limited by an early knee injury). All of this ultimately led to the shock dismissal of Mike McCarthy after Week 13 when it became clear he was no longer the man to get the best out of Rodgers.Looking ahead: This is the most pivotal offseason for Green Bay in recent memory. The Packers are likely hiring the coach who will oversee Rodgers' remaining years; to say the pressure is on for the front office would be a major understatement. The first two reported candidates - Chuck Pagano and Jim Caldwell - are unlikely to excite a fanbase desperate for an offensive wizard to pair with Rodgers in the mold of Sean McVay, Shanahan, and Nagy.NFC EastBiggest surprise: Dallas CowboysIcon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyWhat went right?: The 2018 Cowboys can be viewed as two separate teams: pre- and post-Amari Cooper. The Cowboys sat at 3-4 and Dak Prescott's long-term future was starting to come into question before the team traded a first-round pick for the receiver. Fast-forward 10 weeks and Dallas has already secured the NFC East by rattling off six wins in eight games. Cooper stepped up in critical matchups, producing 397 yards across two games against the Eagles and Redskins to help fire the Cowboys into the postseason. The offense's driving force was still Ezekiel Elliott; he didn't hit his rookie numbers but he arguably performed better in his third pro season considering the injuries to the offensive line and his leap in receiving production. Meanwhile, rookie Leighton Vander Esch emerged as the heir apparent to Sean Lee, potentially giving the Cowboys the league's best young linebacker duo with Jaylon Smith.Looking ahead: Jerry Jones' wallet will get a lot lighter this offseason. Prescott, Cooper, and DeMarcus Lawrence all need long-term extensions so the Cowboys' projected $53 million in cap space is something of a mirage. Head coach Jason Garrett appeared to have one foot out the door halfway through the season but he's now a lock to return next year regardless of the team's postseason results. But while Jones is certain to hand out whatever cash it takes to keep his stars, the pressure to deliver in 2019 could be enormous - especially Dallas fails to win its first playoff game of the Prescott era.Biggest disappointment: Philadelphia EaglesWhat went wrong?: For a team lauded as the most complete in football after winning Super Bowl LII, entering Week 17 needing help to make a wild-card appearance must be classed as an unsatisfactory result. Carson Wentz put up comparable statistics to last season's MVP-type year in his return from an ACL injury, but he missed the first two games and hasn't played since Week 14 after suffering a back stress fracture. Injuries ravaged the Eagles elsewhere, too. Alshon Jeffery missed time, Jay Ajayi ended up on injured reserve at the start of October, and Darren Sproles sat out 10 games. The secondary was hit so hard that when the Eagles faced the Giants on Nov. 24 they started three defensive backs who'd only joined the team in the last month. The offensive coaching staff exodus also appeared to put too much strain on head coach Doug Pederson, who struggled to hit the play-calling heights of 2017.Looking ahead: The Eagles' future starts and ends with Wentz. He's already being hit with the injury-prone label but any talk of moving forward with Nick Foles instead is ludicrous. Philly is projected to be a league-worst $12 million over the cap next season so it will need to move on from Foles - who has a $20-million option - and franchise stalwart Jason Peters to get into a manageable situation. The Eagles are still among the NFL's most talented teams. But with others in the conference rising fast, the defending champions no longer appear to be a lock atop the NFC for the next several seasons.NFC SouthBiggest surprise: New Orleans SaintsScott Cunningham / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhat went right?: The NFC South has historically been one of the league's most volatile divisions with champions rarely able to repeat. It can therefore certainly be considered a shock that the Saints not only retained their crown with ease but did so while improving their 11-5 record from 2017 by three games (assuming a Week 17 win against the Kyle Alle-led Carolina Panthers) to cement their status as the NFC's top team. Drew Brees performed at an MVP level for the vast majority of the season and Michael Thomas had a career year to ensure only the high-flying Kansas City Chiefs scored more points. The defense looked shaky early on but has allowed an eye-popping average of just 14.6 points per game since Week 10.Looking ahead: Brees could win the MVP award but there were still worrying late-season signs of an impending decline for the 39-year-old. The presence of Alvin Kamara and the talented defense means the Saints are well-prepared to ease Brees' workload in 2019 and beyond. But it's fair to say 2018 could be the best remaining title shot of the Brees era thanks to home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and no 2019 first-rounder.Biggest disappointment: Atlanta FalconsWhat went wrong?: Vital defensive pieces Deion Jones, Keanu Neal, and Ricardo Allen and top running back Devonta Freeman were all hurt within the first three weeks. Only Jones was able to return - late in the season with Atlanta's playoff hopes already done. With the defense unable to stop so much as a nosebleed all year, the weekly heroics of Matt Ryan and Julio Jones meant little. Much-maligned offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian had a strong start to the season but the offense has exceeded 25 points only once after a 38-14 win over the Redskins in Week 10.Looking ahead: The Falcons don't appear to be panicking, and rightly so. They lost three of their first games by a touchdown or less while besieged by injuries and were unable to dig themselves out of that hole. Freeman's future is in doubt due to his large contract but the skill positions should be set for the foreseeable future. The man in charge of the offense will likely change as Sarkisian should be sacrificed to regain some goodwill among fans. With a top-ten pick, Atlanta will be a prime candidate for a bounce-back season in 2019.Contract statistics courtesy: Over The CapCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets signed wide receiver Quincy Enunwa to a multi-year extension, the team announced on Friday.The Jets didn't disclose the terms of the deal, but Eric Edholm of Pro Football Weekly reports that Enunwa inked a four-year extension worth up to $36 million with $20 million guaranteed."I knew when I got here that I wanted to be a Jet for a very long time," Enunwa said, via the team's official website. "Now, I'll get my opportunity and it feels really good."Enunwa caught 38 passes for 449 yards and a touchdown in 11 games this season."Quincy is a key part of our foundation, and we are thrilled that this contract will keep him here for years to come," Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan said.Enunwa has established himself as the Jets' No. 2 wide receiver behind Robby Anderson, and with an extension in place, he should remain a key component of the team's offense for the foreseeable future.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone and David P. Woods.Find the show on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, and Anchor.Boone hands out his Fantasy MVPs for the 2018 season.Topics for this episode include:

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin revealed that wide receiver Antonio Brown is questionable for Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.Tomlin said the veteran is undergoing tests on his knee after missing practice Friday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Brown is a vital component of the Steelers' offense, and he's recorded 104 receptions for 1,297 yards and a league-best 15 touchdowns in 2018.Pittsburgh can capture the AFC North with a win over Cincinnati, combined with a Baltimore Ravens loss to the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers can also get the last AFC wild-card spot with a win against the Bengals, combined with a tie in the Indianapolis Colts-Tennessee Titans game.Brown hasn't missed a game this season and will be counted upon to anchor the team's passing attack on Sunday alongside JuJu Smith-Schuster.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL's regular season is unpredictable, a chaotic tapestry unlike any other major American sports league. The 2018 campaign was especially stocked full of shocking falls from grace for supposed contenders and unexpected rises from unheralded teams.Here, we go division by division to highlight the most surprising overachievers and biggest disappointments from the last 17 weeks of gridiron action:AFC I NFCAFC WestBiggest surprise: Los Angeles ChargersHarry How / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhat went right?: The 2018 Chargers have finally fulfilled preseason expectations after years of disappointment, thanks to a career year from Philip Rivers, Pro Bowl seasons from Melvin Gordon and Keenan Allen, and a top-10 defense. Head coach Anthony Lynn has bounced back from a forgettable rookie year, masterfully guiding the Chargers this season despite being hit with major early injuries, most notably to Joey Bosa and Hunter Henry. Perhaps most importantly to the health of Chargers fans, though, was the emergence of kicker Michael Badgley, who put to bed L.A.'s insane run of bad luck at the position.Looking ahead: This team is built for the present. Fair or not, the Chargers must win in this postseason. They've missed the playoffs in seven of the last eight years, a ridiculous streak considering the play under center and overall talent level of past iterations. Moreover, the Chargers' future in L.A. could rely on continuing their momentum into next season ahead of their stadium move in 2020, with the Rams unlikely to fall off anytime soon.Biggest disappointment: Oakland RaidersWhat went wrong?: Where to start? As feared, Jon Gruden's dated offensive scheme failed to bring the best out of Derek Carr, causing speculation the quarterback could follow departed stars Amari Cooper and Khalil Mack out the door. Mack and Cooper couldn't have played better with their new teams, putting even more pressure on the Raiders to nail the picks they received for them. The argument can be made Oakland will be better in the future because of both moves, but the team would've undeniably been more competitive than 4-11 this season if both had stayed.Looking ahead: The Raiders have struggled to replace general manager Reggie McKenzie after he was forced to watch his two most successful draft picks depart and then shown the door, as GM candidates are reportedly wary of essentially working under the head coach. Although Oakland has an enviable stable of picks after Gruden dismantled the top of the team's roster, the value of the acquired first-rounders could fall even further with the Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys making the playoffs. Carr is likely to return, but his long-term future is far from secure and Gruden could potentially look to bring in his guy, which has historically been a reliable veteran whose best skill is protecting the football. The team should be focusing on how best to retool for next season and getting a GM who can rein in Gruden's worst tendencies, but the lack of a home for 2019 hangs over the franchise.AFC NorthBiggest surprise: Baltimore RavensRob Carr / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhat went right?: After the Ravens looked down for the count at 4-5 following a Week 9 loss to the Steelers, the team turned to Lamar Jackson. The rookie phenom kickstarted the offense in a way Joe Flacco, who went down with an injury, couldn't muster, as the Ravens' running game exploded for 230.4 yards per game in Jackson's first five starts. This grind-it-out style of offense was the perfect compliment to the team's defense, which tops the league in both total yardage and scoring.Looking ahead: Baltimore is one win away from its first playoff appearance since 2014, but the switch to Jackson should mean less pressure to make a deep run. John Harbaugh's future appears secure after the team announced he will return in 2019 and that extension talks have already begun. Cutting Flacco will incur a $16-million dead money hit, so the Ravens are reportedly hoping to trade him, though what return he could get with his bloated contract remains to be seen. Jackson has cemented his place as the QB of the future, but Baltimore can't rest on its laurels. The young pivot needs more weapons if he's to develop as a passer.Biggest disappointment: Pittsburgh SteelersWhat went wrong?: Outside of the Le'Veon Bell saga, inconsistency, poor discipline, and struggles against far less talented teams once again plagued Mike Tomlin's squad. James Conner was one of the few pieces for the Steelers that managed to exceed or even meet expectations. Pittsburgh gave away the fifth-most yards through penalties; Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown looked out of sync for a significant part of the season, with the receiver leading the NFL in targeted passes resulting in an interception (11); and the Steelers' pass defense ranked 21st in Football Outsiders' DVOA metric, likely caused by the lack of development by young defensive backs such as Artie Burns, Sean Davis, and 2018 first-rounder Terrell Edmunds.Looking ahead: Pittsburgh's ownership is famous for its unmatched patience with coaches. However, if the team is sitting at home in January, Mike Tomlin will be feeling intense heat, as the Steelers lost to or tied with teams they should've easily taken care of, such as the Raiders and the Hue Jackson-led Browns. Roethlisberger has teased retiring before, but if Tomlin is gone, the QB might follow. Regardless of their futures, Pittsburgh needs to find a way back to its days of defensive dominance after coordinator Keith Butler's unit tied for 26th in total takeaways.AFC SouthBiggest surprise: Indianapolis ColtsAndy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhat went right?: The Colts produced a near-perfect second half to the season after starting 1-5. Andrew Luck's arm strength has returned and he's put up career numbers in Frank Reich's scheme. GM Chris Ballard's rookie class is among the league's best, as Quenton Nelson - who's turned the Colts' much-maligned offensive line into an elite unit - and Darius Leonard are legitimate All-Pro candidates. Indy's top free-agent addition, Eric Ebron, has the third-most touchdown receptions in the league (12), while Matt Eberflus' young and mostly anonymous defense emerged as a fringe top-ten unit.Looking ahead: All of a sudden, Indy looks like one of the AFC's up-and-coming powerhouses. Luck and Reich are a match made in heaven, and the QB should have MVPs in his future. Even if the Colts can't beat the Tennessee Titans in a win-and-you're-in game and become just the third team to start 1-5 and make the playoffs since the merger, they'll have the most cap space in the NFL this offseason and an extra second-round pick to round out their roster for a 2019 run.Biggest disappointment: Jacksonville JaguarsWhat went wrong?: What a difference a year makes. Unsurprisingly - except, apparently, for the Jaguars' staff and management - Blake Bortles regressed after appearing to take a leap forward during last year's run to the AFC title game. However, Jacksonville simply wasn't the QB-friendly environment it was a year ago. The team's feared pass rush evaporated as quickly as it appeared, falling from second to 28th in sacks, and Leonard Fournette only suited up for eight games, which meant the Jaguars couldn't grind out victories while keeping the training wheels on Bortles. Jalen Ramsey spent the offseason firing shots at seemingly everyone in the league, but, due to in large part to the defense falling off around him, the All-Pro was forced to eat crow for much of the year.Looking ahead: It might get worse before it gets better for the Jaguars, as only the Eagles have less projected cap space in 2019. Major moves can be made to improve the team's poor financial outlook, but Jacksonville could be hamstrung by its decision to extend Bortles this past offseason, as the team will incur a $16.5-million dead money hit if they cut him after the year. Finding a new franchise pivot should be priority No. 1, but a close second for the Jaguars should be repairing their relationship with Ramsey after trade rumors surfaced, leading the cornerback to demand that extension talks begin to prove the team's commitment to him.AFC EastBiggest surprise: Miami DolphinsMichael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhat went right?: The East, as usual, was among the most predictable divisions in all of football. However, calling the Dolphins a default pick would be an injustice to a team that stayed in playoff contention right until the penultimate game of the regular season despite very limited expectations at the beginning of the year. The Miami Miracle was by far the highlight of the Dolphins' season, but it wasn't a one-off. Adam Gase's squad came up clutch in 2018, going 7-1 in single-possession games despite a rash of injuries to the offensive line. Meanwhile, Frank Gore produced one of the feel-good stories of the year by enjoying his most efficient season since 2009.Looking ahead: Ryan Tannehill wasn't bad in 2018, but he wasn't good either. It's the story of his career so far, and with a $26.6-million cap hit in 2019, this chapter might be closing for the QB. The futures of both head coach Adam Gase and vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum are also in question. Miami has been reluctant to clean house completely in years past, but will the fan base accept another attempt to paper over the cracks?Biggest disappointment: New England PatriotsWhat went wrong?: Disappointment is relative. The Patriots won the AFC East, got to double-digit wins, and can secure a first-round bye in Week 17. However, it wasn't a typically dominant season from New England, which endured embarrassing losses to the Titans, Dolphins, and Detroit Lions. Tom Brady finally showed signs of decline, Rob Gronkowski was plagued by injuries, and Josh Gordon received another indefinite suspension. Also, the defense relied heavily on turnovers, ranking sixth in forced takeaways, and could be exposed come playoff time.Looking ahead: Few will be surprised if New England pulls it all together and goes on another championship run, but that's arguably due to the team's history rather than any evidence from its play this year. Although questions swirl around weapons like Gronkowski and Gordon, Brady's future will be the main topic of conversation for every offseason from now until he retires; how Bill Belichick approaches the QB position in the offseason could be the biggest indicator of how long he believes this current iteration of the team can last.Contract statistics courtesy: Over The CapCopyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay became the first undrafted offensive rookie to make the Pro Bowl earlier this month, but if he chooses to go, he'll have to pay his own way.Lindsay is recovering from a wrist injury and won't be able to play in the Pro Bowl, which means he's not eligible to be compensated for the trip to Orlando, according to 9News' Mike Klis. The NFL only covers travel expenses for full participants, who also receive $70,000 for being on the winning team and $35,000 if they're on the losing side. The collective bargaining agreement also prohibits the Broncos from paying for Lindsay.One Broncos fan is determined to get Lindsay to the Pro Bowl, though, and has set up a GoFundMe page to pay for his trip. The campaign has raised more than $3,400 as of Friday afternoon."Pro Bowl rules stipulate that in order to have your trip/everything paid for, you must be playing. Let's not let that stupid rule ruin this opportunity for Phillip and Broncos fans as well," the page reads. "Let's fight for #30 like he fought for our team and get him out to Orlando!"Colby Vanderbeck, the creator of the campaign, notes that the money will go to a charity of Lindsay's choice if he chooses not to accept the donations.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here's a breakdown of four significant positional mismatches in Week 17:Steelers DL Cameron Heyward vs. Bengals LG Clint BolingThe Pittsburgh Steelers need help from the Cleveland Browns to have a shot at making the playoffs, but Cameron Heyward won’t need any help in his matchup against Cincinnati Bengals left guard Clint Boling.The box-score scouts may look at Heyward’s sack totals over the last two years and conclude the two-time Pro Bowler has taken a step back this season, as he's recorded six sacks thus far in 2018 after posting 12 in 2017. That couldn’t be further from the truth because Heyward has produced a similar pressure rate.Heyward is the rare defensive end in an odd front (3-4 base defense) who can still perform at a high level, accumulating 50 tackles (eight for a loss), 16 quarterback hits, six sacks, three pass deflections, and one forced fumble this season. Typically, defensive ends in a 3-4 defense don’t produce a ton because their primary job is to keep linebackers clean and occupy blocks instead. They don't penetrate upfield as often as defensive ends in 4-3 base defenses.However, on a Steelers front seven that’s littered with talent, Heyward is the king of the castle. He possesses immense raw strength, deliberate hands, and sound footwork, and knows how to leverage his 6-foot-5, 295-pound frame to batter and bludgeon opposing blockers:Here, Heyward is aligned across from the Panthers' left guard. After the snap, he immediately expands his rush to the outside, stressing the guard’s pass set. Once he gets close, Heyward initiates contact with a powerful two-hand strike, knocking back the guard to create enough separation as he continues to build momentum.From there, Heyward attempts to initiate contact again. This time he drops his pad level, allowing him to get underneath the guard’s chin and win the leverage battle, maximizing his power output at the point of attack. Once Heyward rolls his hips, the guard gives ground and is driven to his back (with the help of a slight trip from the left tackle), giving Heyward an easy path to bring down a scrambling Cam Newton for the sack.Heyward's skill set doesn't bode well for Boling, as the Bengals' left guard struggles mightily against power. Here’s a great example:Boling is tasked with blocking Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins. After the snap, he lets his hands get too wide and pad level too high while attempting to mirror Rankins’ initial movement, making it nearly impossible for the veteran to anchor against the bull rush.Rankins then easily walks him back into the pocket before bringing down the quarterback.Making matters worse, Heyward is a more skilled power rusher than Rankins, and the Bengals' defensive lineman was still able to find success with his power. That means Heyward should have a field day during a crucial game on Sunday.Colts DL Denico Autry vs. Titans RG Josh KlineTo the surprise of many, Denico Autry has been one of the NFL's most productive interior defenders this season. After recording just 10.5 sacks over his first four seasons, Autry has blossomed as a pass-rusher, accumulating nine sacks and 11 quarterback hits in 2018.This week, he has an opportunity to take advantage of Titans right guard Josh Kline during a game Indianapolis has to win to make the playoffs. The Colts move Autry around the defensive line quite a bit, but he spends much of his time against opposing right guards.The last time these teams met, Autry leveraged his sublime hand technique to muscle past Kline for a sack:Here, he's aligned as a wide three-technique defensive tackle with an outside shade over Kline. After the snap, Autry pushes forward for two steps, which slightly widens Kline’s pass set to provide an opening for the inside move.He then puts his left foot in the turf and explodes laterally to cross Kline’s face and beat him inside, using a forceful club technique to parry the guard's initial strike.Kline does a good job recovering, as he slides inside to obstruct Autry’s path to the quarterback. Unfortunately for Kline, Autry then uses a fork-lift move to eliminate the blocker's anchor before bullying his way into the pocket and bringing down Marcus Mariota for the sack.Expect more of the same this week, as Autry’s silky smooth hand technique and quickness should be too much for Kline’s plodding movement.Vikings DE Everson Griffen vs. Bears LT Charles Leno Jr.After missing five games earlier this season, Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen has returned to his old form, recording a sack with multiple pressures in each of his last two games.The Vikings need a win in Week 17 to get into the playoffs, and you can bet Griffen will beat Bears left tackle Charles Leno Jr. often. Leno is playing well this season, but he still allows multiple pressures per game.At his best, Griffen is one of the most difficult defensive ends to block, as he combines incredible burst and timing with a deep pass-rush tool kit. Griffen's speed is the foundation of his pass-rush plan. That quickness allows him to be successful with his best move: the inside spin.Here’s an example:On this play, Griffen is aligned with a wide outside shade over Lions left tackle Taylor Decker. After the snap, he explodes out of his stance and pushes forward, mimicking his speed-rush move up the edge to set up his inside spin.Once Decker turns his shoulders perpendicular to the line of scrimmage and commits to stopping the speed rush, Griffen executes a long-arm stab with his inside arm to maintain the separation necessary to execute the inside spin.Decker’s only option is to commit an egregious hold on Griffen, which still isn’t enough to keep the defensive end from taking down the quarterback for the sack.Against Leno this week, don’t be surprised if you see Griffen use his inside spin to record a sack, as the tackle often turns his shoulders too early and makes himself vulnerable.Ravens LB Za’Darius Smith vs. Browns RT Chris HubbardZa’Darius Smith is one of the most unappreciated defenders in the NFL. He's been one of the better playmakers on Baltimore’s dominant defense while racking up 43 tackles (nine for a loss), 25 quarterback hits, 8.5 sacks, two pass deflections, and a forced fumble.Unable to rely on his athleticism to speed past offensive tackles, Smith leans on his timing and refined hand usage instead, which is why he’s able to generate pressure from a variety of different alignments.In a must-win game for Baltimore, Smith is the defender best positioned to take advantage of his matchups up front. Baltimore moves him all around the front seven to take advantage of the opposing offensive line's weakness. This week, the weak link is right tackle Chris Hubbard.These two aren’t strangers, as Smith has been successful against Hubbard in the past. That includes the last time Baltimore played Cleveland when Smith beat Hubbard for a sack:Smith is aligned with a wide outside shade over Hubbard. After the snap, he fires out of his stance, looking to execute a stab-club to get around the edge.While Smith’s initial move doesn’t work, it does make the inside counter move available. With Hubbard’s momentum taking him up the edge, Smith re-directs inside using a slingshot entry into an arm over move, allowing him to penetrate the pocket and take down Baker Mayfield for the sack.Because of his success against him early this season, Baltimore will probably look to pit Smith against Hubbard as much as possible in an effort to make Mayfield’s life in the pocket miserable.John Owning is a football writer at theScore. He has written for Bleacher Report and Football Insiders. He was also the lead NFL content editor at FanRag Sports. John provides analysis on the Dallas Cowboys for the Dallas Morning News and edits for The Quant Edge. Find him on Twitter @JohnOwning.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Seattle Seahawks corner Richard Sherman moved down the coast to play for the San Francisco 49ers, and he believes his new team will pursue Seahawks safety Earl Thomas in free agency."Would I love to play with Earl Thomas III? I would love to. I would love to have him back in the locker room. But I'm sure he'll have a plethora of opportunities, and I'm sure we're going to throw our hat in the ring," Sherman said Thursday, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.Sherman and Thomas were teammates in Seattle from 2011 to 2017. They won a Super Bowl together and were on the Seahawks team that came within a yard of taking the lead with seconds remaining in Super Bowl XLIX.Now, Sherman is hoping to bring a championship to San Francisco, and he's willing to help the 49ers with the recruiting pitch to Thomas."If they need me to be, I have no problem with it," he said. "I think this is a pretty attractive destination as is. But money is the best recruiter. I'll give my two cents. I'll give you my best recruiting pitch."Thomas broke his left leg in Week 4 while playing in the final year of his contract with the Seahawks. He'll turn 30 after becoming a free agent in March.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rob Gronkowski isn't one to look too far ahead.Despite teasing retirement following Super Bowl LII, the New England Patriots tight end claims he isn't having those same thoughts as 2018 winds down."I haven't been thinking about (retirement) at all," Gronkowski said Thursday, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook. "We're on the last game. Going into Week 17, we've got the Jets. That's all I'm really worried about as of now."The 29-year-old has battled various injuries this season, missing three games earlier in the year. His production has taken a step back in the process, as the former All Pro has amassed 658 receiving yards and three touchdowns in 12 contests.Though he's looked sluggish on the field, Gronkowski is only focused on what he's able to control."I would say every season presents a different challenge," he said. "You go through things, you get dinged up a little bit. It's a different challenge... Every season brings it's own little challenges. You've just gotta keep on grinding, keep on staying positive. Stay focused. That's all you got to really do. You can't ever get too down and then you dig yourself a bigger hole."I love the grind. I'm all in. I've been all in all season."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Todd Gurley has been hampered by a knee injury for much longer than originally thought.The Los Angeles Rams running back said his knee "felt like s---" after his Week 1 battle with the Oakland Raiders."It was bad," Gurley told ESPN's Lindsey Thiry. "I was contemplating on giving the Rams back their money and everything. It was bad. It was real bad."Gurley missed the Rams' Week 16 win over the Arizona Cardinals while nursing the injury. Head coach Sean McVay said the star rusher is questionable for Sunday's season finale after not practicing Thursday, according to Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times."Some days you wake up feeling pain," Gurley said. "Some days you wake up feeling much better.""I could've played (versus Arizona)," he continued. "But who knows how long I would've been able to play."Despite being slowed by the injury, the fourth-year back has accumulated 1,251 rushing yards, 580 receiving yards, and 21 total touchdowns across 14 games in 2018.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Don't tell Adrian Peterson he's a 33-year-old running back set to hit free agency.The Washington Redskins back topped 1,000 rushing yards for the eighth time in his illustrious career and doesn't believe 2018 is his final season."If you watch football, if you know anything about football, then you know that he's still got a lot left," Peterson told reporters Thursday, according to ESPN's John Keim. "If you can't see that, you're blind."The Redskins signed Peterson to a one-year, veteran minimum contract in August, one week after rookie running back Derrius Guice tore his ACL.Guice is expected to be fully healed in time for the 2019 campaign but Peterson is still interested in re-signing with Washington."I would love to come back here and finish off on a better note," the future Hall of Famer said. "We have a great group of guys here - all the adversity we've faced this year and how guys have responded. To come to work and really stay focused shows a lot about this team, this locker room, coaches as well ... That's something I would love to be a part of.""I feel (a committee with Guice) can work," he continued. "It's always good to have a couple backs in there with the different styles. Obviously, CT is more a third-down back; he can run the ball as well. So having two guys that can pound the ball and have a no-plays-off mentality if it's that type of game plan, why not?"Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.