The Philadelphia Eagles still can't get any respect. The No. 1 seed in the NFC will again enter a playoff game as the underdog.The Eagles were expected to lose at home to the sixth-seeded Atlanta Falcons last weekend. Philadelphia will again own home-field advantage in the NFC Championship Game against the Minnesota Vikings, however, the team is listed as a three-point underdog. Is the disrespect warranted?The loss of quarterback Carson Wentz during an MVP-caliber season was expected to derail one of the best campaigns in Eagles history, yet, the team has proven the whole may be greater than the sum of its parts.The team disappointed the week after Wentz tore his ACL, giving up 500 total yards in a narrow win over the Giants, but the defense rebounded to limit the Raiders' offense to 10 points the following week, kept a Cowboys team playing all of its starters to six points, and bent but did not break last week against the Falcons, allowing just 10 points.Without their franchise leader, the Eagles' anchors - its offensive and defensive lines - are at the forefront.The offensive line may not have opened craters for its running backs in the divisional round, but the unit kept backup quarterback Nick Foles upright, holding the Falcons' vaunted pass rush to one sack and four hits on their pivot.The defensive line harassed 2016 NFL MVP Matt Ryan all game and limited the Falcons' rushing duo of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman to 86 yards on the ground. Freeman was limited with ligament damage in his right knee, but the Eagles have been shutting down the run game all year, ranking first in rushing defense during the regular season.Philly should own the advantage against the run game against Minnesota on Sunday. The Eagles will face a less heralded set of running backs in Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon, a duo that was held to 3.1 yards per carry by the Saints' average run defense last week.That means the fortunes of the Vikings will likely rest on the arm of Case Keenum, a scenario many of Minnesota's opponents would prefer.Offensively, Philadelphia is limited without its franchise quarterback. There's no disguising that fact. Foles will be up against the second-ranked pass and run defense in the NFL, but the Eagles can counter with a third-ranked running game powered by Pro Bowl guard Brandon Brooks and two All-Pros in right tackle Lane Johnson and center Jason Kelce.Both clubs will go to battle hoping their backup quarterbacks can overcome top-tier defenses. In the NFC's championship game, the most distinct advantage may lie in home field, where the Eagles have lost just one game all year. On Sunday, Lincoln Financial Field may be as intimidating as ever.The Eagles have embraced the underdog role and are using the slight to fuel their fire. Johnson and defensive end Chris Long wore dog masks after their divisional-round victory, and fans are being encouraged to wear similar masks to Sunday's game. And they intend to.

Philadelphia is bracing for chaos ahead of the Eagles' NFC Championship showdown against the Minnesota Vikings.Businesses in northeast Philly received a memo from police advising them to have their security grates locked and secured, and to remove trash cans and other objects from outside their storefronts. Bar owners are also being asked to serve alcoholic beverages in plastic cups and avoid selling takeout bottles.

The New England Patriots are opting for the opposite approach.Rather than insult and demean Blake Bortles, their opponent on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game, the Patriots are building him up before they attempt to break him down on the field.Bortles has been called "trash" and a choker by previous rivals, and he's responded by taking the Jacksonville Jaguars to the conference title game."It's kind of crazy, you know, the guy is still playing football. All those guys that said that, I'm sure they want to be in his spot right now playing in the championship game," Patriots cornerback Devin McCourty said on Wednesday."The guy is a winner. ... To me, you see a winner. A quarterback that is smart and makes all the right plays. When he is out there, he's trying to put the team in the best situation, and it shows up."Bortles probably hasn't heard such praise since his college days. It's clear the Patriots are doing their best not to overlook their underdog opponent.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady is believed to have jammed his throwing hand at Wednesday's practice. Though the injury may have a slight effect on him in Sunday's AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, sources told ESPN's Mike Reiss that the New England Patriots pivot "should be OK."Brady collided with a teammate during a handoff play and suffered a cut on his right hand, a league source informed Jim McBride and Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.Brady skipped his media availability to be attended to by the team's medical staff. He underwent X-rays on the hand, which came back negative, according to the Globe.Teammates didn't notice anything out of the ordinary from their quarterback."He looked like the same old Tom out there," cornerback Eric Rowe said.The Patriots are scheduled to practice at 12:15 p.m. ET on Thursday and it's uncertain whether Brady will participate.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher has had a $125-million lawsuit filed against him by the mother of his 12-year-old son, according to Steve Schmadeke of the Chicago Tribune.Tyna Karageorge filed a defamation lawsuit Friday in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging Urlacher conspired with his attorneys and a newspaper reporter to portray her as "a bad Mother, unfit, and a killer."Karageorge is representing herself in the lawsuit, claiming she hasn't had custody of her son Kennedy since the Dec. 29, 2016 death of her husband, Ryan Karageorge.The death was ruled a suicide, according to a Cook County medical examiner.The Chicago Tribune and reporter David Haugh are also mentioned in the lawsuit as co-conspirators with Urlacher."The atrocities that the Defedants (sic) have done equates to a modern day lynching and witchhunt," Karageorge wrote in her lawsuit. "My life has been ruined by what transpired ... People perceive me as a murderer even to this date."Urlacher's attorneys say the lawsuit is essentially a reiteration of past false statements.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead will present a check to the Children's Minnesota Child Life Program during the week of Super Bowl LII, after donations to his What You Give Will Grow charity topped $100,000 on Wednesday.

Jalen Ramsey's Super Bowl guarantee apparently didn't sit well with New England Patriots rookie defensive tackle Adam Butler, who offered the Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback a dose of advice Wednesday."If you're going to make a statement like that, you better be able to back it up," Butler said, via Rich Cimini of ESPN.Ramsey, a second-year player, has quickly cemented himself as one of the game's top cornerbacks - and one of its top quotes. He said after the Jags took down the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round that Jacksonville will finish the season by hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl LII in Minnesota."It's a bold statement to make," Butler said. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. But like I said, be humble or be humbled. That's all I can really say about that."Ramsey had an appropriate response to Butler's advice:

The Tennessee Titans consider Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks a candidate to fill their head coaching vacancy, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.He was reportedly scheduled to interview for the position Wednesday, but it was postponed due to snow. Wilks has apparently also been considered for head coaching jobs with the Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, and New York Giants this offseason.Wilks held the Panthers' DC job for one season, helping the defense to a seventh-ranked finish, but has served as assistant head coach to Ron Rivera since 2015.The Titans are also reportedly interviewing Houston Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel and Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur for the job.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons special teams coach Keith Armstrong will have his second interview with the Arizona Cardinals on Friday for the team's head coaching position, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks will also have his second interview with the team, announced Cardinals official writer Darren Urban.Related - Report: Steelers' Munchak turns down 2nd interview for Cardinals' HC jobArmstrong has served as the Falcons' special teams coach since 2008, after previous stints with the Miami Dolphins (2001-07) and Chicago Bears (1997-2000) in the same role. He has never held a head coaching job at the NFL or college level.Wilks, 48, is also in consideration for the Tennessee Titans head coaching job and interviewed for other vacancies which have reportedly been filled. He served as defensive coordinator for the Panthers for just one season and filled the role of assistant head coach under Ron Rivera since 2015.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady was limited in practice on Wednesday as he deals with a right hand injury ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.The New England Patriots quarterback jammed his hand during practice after he was accidentally run into, though X-rays showed no structural damage, a source told Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald.Brady is not expected to miss the game versus the Jaguars. He has regularly been limited in midweek practices throughout the season, though he missed his media session Wednesday to get treatment and was unable to comment on the severity of his injury.The 40-year-old was listed with injuries to his Achilles and left shoulder during the season, but did not miss a single start.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets fired offensive coordinator John Morton after just one season, the team announced Wednesday.Quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates and former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley are among the potential replacements for Morton, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter."We appreciate John’s contributions and wish him the best moving forward," Jets head coach Todd Bowles said in a statement.Morton seemed to do an admirable job in his lone campaign with the Jets, engineering an offense led by journeyman quarterback Josh McCown and an unproven supporting cast that exceeded expectations. However, philosophical differences with head coach Todd Bowles and issues with certain players led to his dismissal, ESPN's Rich Cimini reports.Morton was coaching wide receivers with the New Orleans Saints when he was brought to New York as the offensive coordinator.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski isn't overlooking the Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of Sunday's AFC Championship Game.Many expected the Patriots to square off against the Steelers in a rematch of last year's conference title game, but the upstart Jaguars defeated Pittsburgh 45-42, and Gronkowski expects a tough battle."That is a big challenge," he said during his press conference Wednesday. "They have very talented players on both sides of the ball. Especially on defense, they have many, many great players. It is going to be a big challenge. It is the best team we are facing all year coming up in the AFC Championship Game this weekend. We have to be ready. We have to be prepared. It is going to be a big, tough challenge, for sure."Jacksonville sent four defensive players to the Pro Bowl, including cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye, defensive end Calais Campbell, and defensive tackle Malik Jackson. The Jaguars also finished second in scoring defense (16.8 points allowed per game)."They have a crazy amount of interceptions this year, eight touchdowns during the regular season on defense they have produced. They are good," Gronkowski added. "They are competitive. They compete every single time the ball is around them. They can go and get the ball. They are good at reading where the ball is, reading the quarterback, and reading the plays. That is why you have to be ready at all times and you have to compete because they compete at all times. That is what helps them get the turnovers."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone revealed a fairly stunning piece of information Wednesday.In the leadup to the Jaguars' AFC championship game versus the New England Patriots on Sunday, Marrone was asked if he'd studied the New York Giants' wins over the Pats in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI. In both of those championship victories, the Giants were coached by Tom Coughlin - who now serves as the Jaguars' executive vice president of football operations.Not only does Marrone claim to have not seen the Patriots' losses, the 53-year-old says he rarely watches television's annual highest-rated event."If I'm not in the Super Bowl, I usually don't watch it, unless I have to. I'm sorry," Marrone said, according to NFL.com's Marc Sessler. "But (Giants receiver) David Tyree made a great catch (in Super Bowl XLII), he's a Syracuse guy."What the coach means by "unless I have to" is unclear, but one thing is for certain: Marrone has never coached or played in a Super Bowl.Marrone has been a coach since 1992, but spent the bulk of his coaching years in the college ranks. In addition to his current job manning the Jaguars' bench since 2016, he's also had coaching stints with the New York Jets (2002-05), New Orleans Saints (2006-08), and Buffalo Bills (2013-14).It's possible Marrone snuck a peek at the TV during Super Bowl XLIV, as the Saints won it all just a year removed from his tenure. But surely he has every intention of watching the game this year - in person.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This year's conference title games involve an unusual trio of quarterbacks that's dominated the storylines leading up to Sunday.Case Keenum, Blake Bortles, and Nick Foles are all heading into their first appearances in a conference championship game. By going on to win the Super Bowl, any of these three passers wouldn't just overcome the odds - their stories would become the stuff of legends.Related - The Other Guys: After Brady, remaining QBs are a shocking bunchTechnically, Tom Brady's overcome the odds in his journey from the 199th overall pick in 2000 to a five-time Super Bowl winner, but the New England Patriots quarterback hasn't been an underdog for a long time. Plus, Brady winning a sixth ring isn't quite as special as someone else winning their first.So let's take a look at which of the three unlikely starters in this Sunday's title games would provide the best feel-good story should they move on to Super Bowl success.Blake BortlesThe Jacksonville Jaguars' third overall pick in 2014 has certainly experienced some rough patches in his career. Often the butt end of jokes from fans, media, and other players, the 25-year-old has shaken off criticism throughout his tenure in Jacksonville, even as it continued during the Jaguars' 2017 division-winning campaign.Bortles' everyman characteristics have disappointed some fans hoping their team would get an elite quarterback, though others have embraced him, as demonstrated through social media accounts like the "Blake Bortles wikipedia club" and Blake Bortles Facts.To beat the Patriots on Sunday or win the big game in Minnesota, the Jaguars need to lean on their top-ranked defense, but they'll also need some plays from the guy who touches the ball every snap.Seeing Bortles, who almost lost his starting job in training camp, even somewhat light up the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense in the divisional round was astonishing. If he hoists the Lombardi Trophy, we may all turn to stone.Nick FolesFoles didn't start for the Philadelphia Eagles this season until after the team lost Carson Wentz and was just one win away from clinching a first-round playoff bye. He can't get full credit for taking the Eagles to the conference championship. However, the 28-year-old's journey to being their starter (again) is unusual, to say the least.The Eagles drafted Foles in 2012, and in 2013, he made a name for himself by throwing 27 touchdowns against just two interceptions over 10 games. However, by 2015, he'd fallen out of favor with the team and was traded to the Rams in a deal for Sam Bradford (who'd later impact Keenum's journey to this postseason as well). Through 11 starts with the Rams in 2015, Foles didn't manage anything close to his 2013 performance, and he was reduced to a backup role. Foles signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a coveted second-stringer in 2016, then rejoined Philadelphia before the 2017 season.Related: Nick Foles missed getting booed by Eagles fansIt's hard to define why Foles - who's now started both Eagles playoff games since 2010 - hasn't been able to recapture his earlier success. If he can play well enough to take advantage of Philadelphia's best record since the team's last trip to the Super Bowl, though, the mystery won't need any solving.Case KeenumHow did this guy even end up here?The NCAA's all-time leading passer was never thought to have much pro potential. He entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans, staying in the same city where he attended college, and spent the first four years of his pro career bouncing around between the Texans and Rams as practice squadder, backup, and desperation starter. He lost his starting spot with the Rams in 2016 by going 4-5 to open the season, and then signed with the Vikings as a backup after the campaign.Related: In a world of star QBs, Case Keenum's comeback story is one to root forLike Foles, Keenum can thank Bradford for his opportunity to start, as the Vikings veteran injured his knee early in the season. The difference between Keenum and Foles is that the former didn't give his team a chance to pull him out of the lineup once Bradford was healthy.While the Minnesota Vikings have one of the league's elite defenses, the team's level of comfort with Keenum under center signals he'll be more than a bystander this weekend, and potentially beyond. And hey, Minnesota just so happens to be hosting the Super Bowl.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Houston Texans intend to keep Jadeveon Clowney in blue and red long term, and appear confident they'll get a deal done with the defensive end in the foreseeable future.While addressing reporters Wednesday, general manager Brian Gaine said an extension for the former No. 1 overall pick is "certainly on the horizon," according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.After battling injuries for his first two years in the league, Clowney has come into his own over the last two. He notched a career-high 9.5 sacks and forced a pair of fumbles in 2017, earning a Pro Bowl nod for the second consecutive campaign.The 24-year-old Clowney is under team control for one more year, as the Texans previously exercised their fifth-year option on the South Carolina product.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to name quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner their new offensive coordinator, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter.Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced Wednesday that offensive coordinator Todd Haley wouldn't be retained after his contract expired.Fichtner has served as the team's quarterbacks coach since 2010, and previously worked as its wide receivers coach from 2007-2009.Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak was previously believed to be in the running for offensive coordinator after turning down a second head coaching interview with the Arizona Cardinals.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry is frustrated with his stalled contract negotiations as free agency inches closer.Landry - who just finished playing out the last year of his current deal - apparently hasn't made progress in trying to secure a new contract with the Dolphins. Miami presented Landry's agent, Damarius Bilbo, with an offer in mid-December, which he and Landry counter-offered in response. Bilbo and Landry said the Dolphins haven't responded to their proposal.Although Landry wants to remain with the Dolphins, he couldn't help but voice his disappointment with the process."I displayed I was a team guy," he said to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. "My agent and I talked about being a leader and setting a good example so I silenced all those things by going to OTAs and training camp, by putting the team first and being a team guy. I feel like in the NFL, they preach loyalty and family and they have none for you. As a player, you see it’s not a family during negotiations, how it becomes them versus me or me versus them. That’s part of the NFL I believe the fans don’t see."Landry also called the Dolphins' tactics "disrespectful.""I tried to handle it the right way and figured if a team values you and wants you to be a part of the team, why haven’t they answered (the counter-offer) in the past month?” he added.Landry caught a league-high 112 passes for 987 yards and nine touchdowns in 2017.The Dolphins can elect to use the franchise tag on the receiver if the parties can't reach a new agreement before free agency.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There's little question that Bill Belichick is the best coach in the NFL, while Nick Saban has held the same title in the college ranks for a number of years.In the midst of an ESPN report of a fractured relationship with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and quarterback Tom Brady, there's been whispers that Belichick may leave the organization, despite the 65-year-old's insistence that he's not.Saban just finished winning his fifth national championship in nine years with Alabama, and once again has been mentioned as a target for some NFL openings.The speculation has caused online sportsbook Bovada to list a prop as to which of the legendary coaches will leave their current job first, with the Patriots boss the slight favorite:

The Pittsburgh Steelers will not retain offensive coordinator Todd Haley for the 2018 season, head coach Mike Tomlin announced Wednesday:

Colin Kaepernick announced Tuesday that he will complete his pledge to donate $1 million of his own money to charity by handing out the final $100,000. On Wednesday, he revealed he'll be donating $10,000 a day for the next 10 days.

It appears Mike Munchak will not be the next head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, as the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach turned down a second interview for the job, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter.Munchak, who appeared to be a front-runner for the Cardinals job, was previously the head coach of the Tennessee Titans from 2011-13 before being fired after posting a 22-26 record in that span.With Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley's contract having expired, Munchak could be in line for that position should the club decide to go in a different direction.With Munchak out of the picture, New England Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores is a name that's now in play for the Cardinals, reports Schefter.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.We find out which two teams will be participating in the Super Bowl this weekend but that isn’t stopping sportsbooks from offering early odds on the big game.Oddsmakers have come up with advance lines for every possible Super Bowl matchup involving the four teams remaining and there are even a few favorite Super Bowl prop bets already live at a number of sportsbooks.Here’s a quick peek all the Super Bowl bets available before the AFC and NFC championship games are played.Advanced Super Bowl spread and totalChecking out the advanced Super Bowl odds is a worthwhile task whether you plan on betting on them or not. It’s helpful to get an idea of what oddsmakers project the odds to be in each scenario before the teams' performances in the conference championship games and the changing winds of public opinion alter the Super Bowl pointspread and total.Advanced lines:Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots (-7, 45.5)

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is aware of the criticisms of his call for an onside kick late in Sunday's divisional-round game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but he's not going to let them change the way he coaches."I know analytically they probably fall in the lower percentages and things of that nature," Tomlin said, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. "If I err, I'm always going to err on the side of action in an effort to win. My guys know that about me. I think more importantly them knowing that about me, they expect that from me. I don't fear failure. I'm going to do what's required to pursue victory, even if it comes across as unconventional."Tomlin's call came with the Steelers trailing 42-35 with 2:18 left in the fourth quarter.The Jaguars recovered the onside kick, and though they weren't able to form a sustained drive, they were able to set up what would be Josh Lambo's difference-making 45-yard field goal in the 45-42 win.The poor look of the call in hindsight won't deter Tomlin from taking future risks in an effort to win."I'm certainly not going to steer away from decision-making for fear of ridicule," Tomlin said. "Those guys put a lot on the line when we step into stadiums to play. I, in turn, am responsible for putting a lot on the line and embrace doing so. I understand when things don't work out and the criticism that's associated with it. I embrace that. But I go to work with men every day that lay a lot on the line when they step in stadiums as well. I'm just going to provide the same efforts that they provide me."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons are expected to retain offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian for the 2018 season, but his return should come with a caveat: Be less like himself and more like his predecessor Kyle Shanahan.Shanahan led the Falcons to a league-leading 33.8 points per game in 2016 en route to a Super Bowl appearance in his second - and last - season in Atlanta. It was a vast improvement from his first campaign with the team, when the Falcons finished the 2016 regular season tied for 21st with 21.2 points per game.But the Falcons' offense regressed under Sarkisian this season, with the team finishing 15th in scoring.Here's what Sarkisian needs to do to get the Falcons' offense back on top in 2018.Use Tevin Coleman's passing-game abilitiesRunning back Tevin Coleman set a personal best with 156 carries in 2017, partly due to playing a career-high 15 games. His yards per attempt dropped slightly from his first two years in the league to 4.0, but he was still able to rack up a career best of 628 yards on the ground.The dropoff came in his contributions to the passing game in 2017. He averaged 2.5 fewer yards per reception, largely because he was targeted at an average depth of 1.8 yards in 2016, compared to 3.4 yards last season.Coleman excelled when given the freedom of shorter routes that allowed him to create his own separation and beat defenders closer to the line of scrimmage. Catching the ball closer to defenders took away from his ability to turn up field for large gains.Spread the ball aroundShanahan used four different rushers and 13 different pass-catchers to rack up a total of 58 touchdowns in 2016.Sarkisian got just two running backs and nine pass-catchers into the end zone, totaling 33 scores. Mohamed Sanu led the passing game with just five touchdowns, with four others tying with three.The biggest difference came in red-zone usage. Julio Jones was rightfully the team leader in targets with 18, but he managed to catch just five, while Sanu was the only other to receive more than 10 looks in 2017.Running back Devonta Freeman led the team with 17 targets under Shanahan, with Sanu again ranked second with 15. Four other players received at least 10 targets inside the opponents' 20-yard line, with all but Jones hauling in at least 50 percent of those passes.Freeman received the lion's share of red-zone rushing attempts in 2016, out-touching Coleman 53 to 22. That gap narrowed significantly in 2017, with Coleman getting 23 carries to Freeman's 33. The two running backs totaled just 12 red-zone targets, after both finished above that mark with Shanahan calling plays.Find an X-factor he can use properlyWide receiver Taylor Gabriel was a poster boy of Shanahan's diverse offense in 2016, as the diminutive pass-catcher set career highs in nearly all offensive categories.While his touches went up by two in 2017, his total yardage dropped significantly. He averaged five fewer yards per reception, scoring five fewer touchdowns.Gabriel was targeted much closer to the line of scrimmage in 2017, contributing to fewer first-down conversions. He was also used as a rusher twice as often, taking away from the element of surprise that allowed him to gash opposing defenses in 2016.Gabriel is now set to become the Falcons' most notable free agent on offense, with his 2016 form likely making him highly attractive to a large group of teams.Should the Falcons fail to retain his services, Sarkisian will need to do a better job of utilizing his replacement in a way that helps take pressure off of Jones, Sanu, and the running backs, by creating space and allowing a speedy receiver to take the tops off of defenses.The Falcons were rewarded by sticking with Shanahan after a disappointing first season in Atlanta. They're clearly hoping that some stability in the coaching staff and Sarkisian's first full offseason with the team can bring about the same results.He'll just need to be as adaptable as his predecessor.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton let himself enjoy his team's brief lead with under 30 seconds to play in last Sunday's divisional-round game against the Minnesota Vikings.Payton took a moment to give Vikings' fans a taste of their own medicine by demonstrating the famed 'Skol' clap they had been celebrating with for much of the game.

The Seattle Seahawks officially named Brian Schottenheimer offensive coordinator and Ken Norton Jr. defensive coordinator Tuesday.Schottenheimer previously served as quarterbacks coach for the Indianapolis Colts (2016-17) and has experience as the offensive coordinator of the New York Jets (2006-11) and the St. Louis Rams (2012-14).The 44-year-old replaces Darrell Bevell, who was fired after serving as Seahawks offensive coordinator since January 2011.Norton was most recently the defensive coordinator of the Oakland Raiders. The veteran coach was hired as assistant head coach of the San Francisco 49ers on Jan. 8, but left his position to join the Seahawks.This is Norton's second stint with the Seahawks. He was Seattle's linebackers coach from 2010-14 before accepting the Raiders job.Norton replaces Kris Richard, who served as defensive coordinator from 2015-17.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At this stage of his career, it should be no surprise that Tom Brady welcomes all challenges directed his way.Brady and the New England Patriots host the upstart Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Championship Game, in pursuit of their third Super Bowl title in four years.After defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jaguars star cornerback Jalen Ramsey guaranteed a Super Bowl victory, an ambitious task for a team that hadn't made the playoffs since 2007.Related: Ramsey guarantees Super Bowl victoryBrady reflected on Ramsey's comments Tuesday but noted that he wasn't remotely worried about his remarks."I think what I have learned for a long time is it's how you play, it's not what you say," Brady said on WEEI via CBS's John Breech. "Everyone has different ways of handling things - players do, coaches do. We do what works for us, other players do what works for them. The game is going to be decided by who plays the best, not who hypes the best or speaks the best. He's a really good player. I have watched a ton of film on him. He has a lot of strengths. He's obviously very confident. That is reflected in how he plays. I am more concerned about how he plays opposed to what he says."Ramsey has established himself as the NFL's best cornerback and trash-talker through two seasons and is full of confidence as the Jaguars seek to pull off one of the biggest upsets in recent memory. Brady, however, is looking to cement an iron-clad case as the best player of all time and win his sixth Super Bowl.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has no plans to go anywhere else this offseason.The 39-year-old is scheduled to become a free agent in March, and despite being sure to draw interest from other teams on the open market, made it clear he wants to remain with the Saints."I'm not in the mood to make anything secretive," Brees said, via ESPN's Mike Triplett. "It's the same way I felt two days ago. It's the same way I felt 12 years ago. That is that I'll be here as long as they'll have me, hopefully."Brees was named to the Pro Bowl for the 11th time in his career after completing 72 percent of his passes for 4,334 yards and 23 touchdowns against eight interceptions this season.But the Saints were eliminated by the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in heartbreaking fashion, and Brees noted that it's too early to seriously consider free agency, even with his next contract looming over the Saints' plans for the 2018 season."We're just two days removed, so I really haven't given it a ton of thought - other than, I know where my mindset's been the whole time, and that's that I'll be here," he said.It's likely Brees will command a deal that will continue to keep him among the league's highest-paid quarterbacks. New Orleans cannot apply the franchise tag on him due to a provision in his contract, however.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons are expected to retain offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian for the 2018 season despite the unit's poor performance in their divisional playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Sarkisian continues to have the full confidence of head coach Dan Quinn and his staff, though the team dropped from first in scoring in 2016 to 15th after his arrival this season.Sarkisian took over an offense that boasted the 2016 NFL MVP after Kyle Shanahan departed to join the San Francisco 49ers. Along with the dip in scoring offense, the Falcons ranked in the bottom third in the league in red-zone offense.In Saturday's loss to the Eagles, the Falcons went 1-for-3 in the red zone, including their final possession in which they failed to score the game-winning touchdown after taking four cracks from within the Eagles' 10-yard line.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Stefon Diggs' miraculous last-gasp touchdown to rescue the Minnesota Vikings is now the stuff of legend.The Vikings went from agony to ecstasy in a matter of seconds, proving once again that a game isn't over until the clock strikes triple zeroes."Seven Heaven" is now among the seven most improbable plays in NFL playoff history.Immaculate ReceptionFranco Harris' 60-yard touchdown reception - 1972 Divisional Playoffs

Taking a cue from the Bills Mafia, Cincinnati Bengals fans have been showing their appreciation to Blake Bortles and the Jacksonville Jaguars for eliminating the Pittsburgh Steelers by donating to the quarterback's charity.The Blake Bortles Foundation has received nearly $5,000 in donations from more than 100 Bengals fans since the Jaguars defeated the Steelers - Cincinnati's AFC North rival - in Sunday's divisional-round game, according to First Coast News."Fans are at the core of the football experience and it's truly exciting and rewarding when they band together, regardless of the team they cheer for, to make a positive impact in the lives of others," Bortles said. "I greatly appreciate the support displayed by Bengals fans and they should know their support will make a difference."Bills fans flooded Andy Dalton's foundation with donations earlier this month after the Bengals cemented a playoff berth for Buffalo by beating Baltimore in Week 17.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette was involved in a car accident Tuesday, but avoided injury and drove home, Jaguars senior manager of public relations Tad Dickman confirmed.Fournette is an integral part of the Jaguars' offense, rushing for 109 yards and three touchdowns during a 45-42 divisional round victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.Selected No. 4 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, Fournette has exceeded expectations and will be a focal point of the team's attack during the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The divisional round was memorable for every franchise that participated - except for the New England Patriots, who captured another uneventful playoff win. Other than Bill Belichick's team, the weekend's wins and losses will have lasting effects on each of the players, coaches, and fan bases.I consider myself extremely fortunate to have watched the Vikings-Saints game in person. It was one of the greatest sporting events I've ever witnessed live, whether as a player or spectator. Whether you're a Vikings or Saints fan, or even just a media member covering the game, quieting your mind enough to sleep on Sunday night surely wasn't easy.Let's take a look at the pivotal story lines from that contest - and from each of the others - while looking ahead to the conference championship games on Sunday.Drew Brees was outstanding in defeatLet’s start with the Saints and their Hall of Fame quarterback.Drew Brees turned 39 the day after the game, but played like he has a good five years left in his career. He sliced and diced his way through the No. 1 defense in the league like it was Ball State and he was still setting records at Purdue.If not for an illegal shift and a tipped pass by a Vikings defensive lineman, Brees would have put two more touchdowns on the board, and the game might not have been that close. His only mistake was a slightly underthrown deep post down the middle to Ted Ginn Jr. that Andrew Sendejo, who was playing shallow before the snap, dropped just deep enough to intercept. Other than that play, Brees was an absolute surgeon all day.Once the Saints finally got on the board in the third quarter, you could feel the momentum swinging in their favor. Brees and head coach Sean Payton had a brilliant game plan to attack Minnesota's "in your face" man-to-man defense.The Saints have a talented mix of receivers, tight ends, and running backs who create matchup problems. They are fast, disciplined, and extremely well coached. Rather than trying to beat bump-and-run coverage all day, Payton designed nearly every run and passing play out of formations that eventually caused the Vikings to back off the strategy.The Saints brought their receivers into "tight" formations where they lined up roughly 5 yards from the tight end or offensive tackles. They also motioned to a lot of bunch and stack sets. These types of formations can cause problems for Mike Zimmer's defense, as the Vikings' linebackers and secondary players get picked and cut off from the men they are covering, leaving the offensive players wide open.To counteract this, Zimmer instructed his defenders to back off, give the Saints some breathing room, and chase them as plays unfolded. This isn't ideal, and it leads to completed passes, but it also helps prevent explosive plays in man-to-man coverage. The Saints exploited this bunch technique all day.Conversely, early in the ballgame, the Vikings hit Jarius Wright for a huge gain, which led to a Minnesota touchdown. This occurred because of bump-and-run coverage against a stacked Vikings formation, while the Saints got "legally" picked on the play. But New Orleans took a chance and stayed with the bump coverage.The bottom line is that the Vikings didn't want to risk a big play and went away from their traditional pass defense. Despite the loss, Payton is an offensive genius because of his game planning, while his 39-year-old quarterback is still the perfect man to pull the trigger in his offense.Brees is a free agent this offseason, but he likely isn't going anywhere.Case Keenum, GunslingerThe Vikings had the No. 1 defense in the NFL this season, but got exposed by Brees. Luckily, they won't face him this week in Philadelphia.Meanwhile, Case Keenum played pretty much as he has all season. He was accurate on the majority of his throws, made a couple fantastic off-schedule plays, and made one huge mistake. This is why Vikings fans love Keenum, but it's also why they were chewing their fingernails in the second half against New Orleans.Let's remove the final (miracle) play of the game - which was a great throw by Keenum - and break down two others that hugely impacted the outcome.Despite Minnesota leading 17-7 with a minute left in the third quarter, the momentum had swung the Saints' way after they scored their first touchdown of the day. And Keenum immediately handed them a gift as he forced a throw to Stefon Diggs down the right sideline instead of taking a sack. Sometimes the best play is taking a small loss and moving on. That interception is the type of negative play that Keenum must stay away from in Philly.The best of Keenum, other than the final play, was on the Vikings' second-last drive. He got the snap, looked left to find his receivers blanketed, and looked back to the right where Adam Thielen was running a slant. Thielen and Keenum have developed a bond, and both instinctively saw the same thing.Thielen turned his slant into a corner, Keenum gave his No. 1 receiver a chance, and that combination resulted in an incredible play that set up a go-ahead field goal.The Vikings will need the best of Keenum against the Eagles. And if he can stay away from that one bad play he seems to make each week, Minnesota will have an extremely good chance of becoming the first team in history to play in a Super Bowl at home.Falcons underutilize their weaponsWe'll know in the coming weeks if the Atlanta Falcons opt to retain offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian.In football, coaching matters more than any other sport. After losing Kyle Shanahan to the San Francisco 49ers last offseason, Atlanta knew it would be nearly impossible to find someone who could fill his shoes. The team hired Sarkisian - who's a well-respected offensive mind - but after 18 games, it's obvious his creativity and detail didn't come close to what Shanahan created over the previous two seasons.The 2017 Falcons had as much offensive talent as any team in the NFL. They have two powerful and explosive running backs, an elite duo at wide receiver, and a quarterback in Matt Ryan who was the MVP twelve months ago. But every day, their offense's window is closing - running backs get old fast in the NFL, while players like Julio Jones begin to lose a step as they approach 30 years old.If Sarkisian stays, he must find a way to take advantage of his players' talents. If he gets fired, head coach Dan Quinn has to find the right replacement. This is the No. 1 decision that the Falcons must make this offseason, as scoring only ten points in the most important game of the year was unacceptable, even against a strong Eagles defense.Eagles need a great plan for VikingsHead coach Doug Pederson will need to come up with a unique game plan to attack the Vikings this week. The Falcons played a ton of zone defense, allowing free access to wide receivers. This gives up easy completions, but prevents explosive plays. That won't happen against the Vikings, as they prefer to pressure opponents in bump-and-run coverage whenever possible.Also, the Eagles don't have the same personnel threats in the passing game that the Saints do, which created havoc for the Vikings. Specifically, Alvin Kamara was a matchup nightmare for Minnesota, but the Eagles don't have that type of multi-dimensional player on their roster.Pederson will need to watch the Vikings-Saints tape and come up with formations and motions to help his players get open. Running the football, which is possible against the Vikings, will be the No. 1 component of Philadelphia's offensive game plan. If the offense can't move the ball on the ground, I'm not sure it has the passing firepower to beat the Vikings.Tom Brady makes it look easy (again)There's no need to say much about Tom Brady and the Patriots. They did what we all expected, dominating the Titans for the majority of the game. Yes, the officials made a few bad calls that went New England's way, but that’s like being up to your ears in cow manure and complaining about the smell.The Patriots were the better team because they have better players and coaches. Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time, and he's on track for another Super Bowl title.Marcus Mariota, Titans starting overTennessee's offense was underwhelming all season, and the team hopes to change that going forward, which is why it fired head coach Mike Mularkey.Regardless of who the Titans hire as their next head coach, the offensive coordinator needs to be creative enough to take advantage of Marcus Mariota's unique skill set. Tennessee is a good football team already, but has no chance of beating the NFL's elites with an offense still stuck in the '90s.Blake Bortles must be greatExperts have been doubting Blake Bortles since last year's mediocre campaign. His lack of production came to a boiling point during the 2017 preseason, when he looked like a poor backup quarterback. Yet, he ultimately played just well enough to get the Jaguars to the AFC Championship Game, but will need the best performance of his career to knock off the Patriots on the road.Belichick will game plan to take away the Jaguars' run game - if that’s possible - and put all the pressure on Bortles. Luckily for Jacksonville, the Patriots don't have a consistent pass rush, so Bortles should have time to find some completions. He has the talent, but we haven't seen his best very often across his four-year career. He will need it this weekend.Big Ben: If not now, when?A year ago, Ben Roethlisberger contemplated retirement. But as soon as the Steelers lost to the Jaguars on Sunday, he immediately announced that he'd be back next season. Still, whether next year or the year after, Big Ben will be retiring soon. The Steelers must be prepared as well, which means it's time to find a replacement. Even if Roethlisberger's successor doesn't play much for the first year or two, he could spend valuable time on the bench learning from a seasoned veteran.The NFL is increasingly becoming a league of quarterbacks who are accurate pocket passers as well as playmakers when the pocket breaks down. Those were Roethlisberger's strengths for the majority of his career, but his age (35) and size won't help in those areas moving forward. At this point, he's becoming more vulnerable in the pocket while making fewer off-schedule plays that helped define his Hall of Fame career.Sage Rosenfels is a former 12-year NFL quarterback who writes, does radio, and podcasts about the NFL and college football. Find him on Twitter @SageRosenfels18.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have only had three head coaches since 1969, but if it was up a few of the club's minority owners, they'd be hiring a fourth.Some members of the Steelers' limited partners, a group that owns a minority stake in the team, intend to lobby owner Art Rooney to fire Mike Tomlin and search for a new coach, a source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.The report comes just two days after the Steelers fell at home in the AFC divisional round to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tomlin made a few controversial choices, most notably his decision to attempt an onside kick with just over two minutes left and the Steelers trailing by seven.Jacksonville recovered, but moved the ball just 9 yards in four plays. Thanks to Pittsburgh attempting the onside kick, the Jaguars were already in field-goal range, and Josh Lambo connected on a 45-yard kick to put Jacksonville up by 10. That kick proved to be the winning margin, since the Steelers scored a late touchdown to cut the lead to three.Tomlin has won a Super Bowl with the club and taken them to another during his 11 years in command. The 45-year-old has an impressive overall record of 116-60, but the Steelers haven't won the AFC title since 2010, even though they've arguably had the best quarterback-running back-receiver trio in the league since Le'Veon Bell joined them in 2013.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After a wild divisional round, we now have the two championship games set, with Minnesota going to Philadelphia and New England hosting Jacksonville. Maybe these matchups are somewhat unexpected, but what was the overriding theme in each divisional round confrontation that brought us to this point?We examine these developments in hashtag form:Eagles 15, Falcons 10: #WinningInTheTrenchesNick Foles started slowly, but eventually played at a level where the Eagles could move the football and he was no longer a detriment to the team. In the end, it was an efficient performance by Foles, but the key to him finally getting comfortable was great play up front.The Eagles were the much more physical team in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Atlanta is lighter and more athletic in the defensive front seven and on a cold Philadelphia day, the Eagles big men manhandled them. Much of the Eagles' yardage came after the catch or from Jay Ajayi coming downhill and pounding the Falcons.On the other side of the ball, Atlanta’s weakness at guard was noticeable, as Fletcher Cox was highly disruptive in all circumstances. On passing downs, Brandon Graham also attacked from the interior with great effectiveness. The Eagles were the more physical team Saturday. It all started with their big men on both sides of the ball and now they get to host another playoff game.Patriots 35, Titans 14: #PatsDefensiveFrontThis game obviously wasn’t competitive in the second half, and New England was clearly the better team. We could focus on the obvious, like Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. But, instead, let's focus on a portion of the Patriots' roster that's often looked like an area of weakness: Their defensive front.Everyone knew that if the Titans were to have a chance at winning, they would have to be dominant on the ground. Marcus Mariota ran for 37 yards on four carries, but Derrick Henry averaged a measly 2.3 yards per carry on a dozen attempts. Clearly, rushing for 65 yards on the road wasn’t going to get it done against New England.Matt Patricia’s defense also has gotten better rushing the passer of late, which was on full display against Mariota, who was sacked eight times and was ineffective when pressured. Trey Flowers is New England’s best front-seven player and stood out in this contest. As usual, the Patriots are peaking at the right time and if they can turn a weakness such as their defensive front into a strength, they should be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy yet again.Jaguars 45, Steelers 42: #JagsOLineThere are a lot of factors that came into play in this one, to say the least. Clearly, you could point to a terrible Steelers defensive performance and inability to stop Blake Bortles and Leonard Fournette from start to finish. Ben Roethlisberger was spectacular for most of the afternoon, but his two turnovers hurt a great deal.Pittsburgh’s coaching staff and preparation also deserves a great deal of criticism. However, going into this game, the biggest advantage in Pittsburgh’s favor looked to be the matchup between their defensive front and a struggling Jaguars’ offensive line. That wasn’t how it played out at all. In fact, Jacksonville’s front five was exceptional in protection and pushed the Steelers around in the running game.The Steelers, who led the NFL in sacks, blitzed quite a bit, but still didn’t pressure Bortles. They might not be household names, but Brandon Linder and Patrick Omameh played fantastic on the interior. Pittsburgh did so many things wrong in the game, but the matchup that favored them most went the opposite direction than expected.Vikings 29, Saints 24: #BalanceOf course, the final play - aka “The Minnesota Miracle” - was a historic end to a huge game and was the difference in the Saints advancing or heading back to New Orleans. Stefon Diggs' huge game-winning play was remarkable, but he was a constant force in the game.Since Case Keenum took over as the starter, he and Pat Shurmur have done tremendous things together. Shurmur has played to the quarterback's strengths and Keenum’s performance has been anything but fluky. Having one of the league’s best defenses and a quality run game as well as excellent weapons to distribute the ball to have helped tremendously.As was the case against the Saints, balance has been key for this organization’s success. Running the ball was a bit of a chore, but Keenum distributed the ball very well, with six Vikings catching at least two passes. And of course, the Minnesota defense owned the first half of play.As the Eagles will find out this week, Minnesota is a difficult team to prepare for, as there isn’t just one singular thing to try to take away. The Vikings can beat you in many ways, including miraculous ones.Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast." Find him on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A 22-year-old man was arrested for punching a police horse and striking an officer following the Philadelphia Eagles' divisional-round win over the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday.Taylor Hendricks of Whitehall Township, Pa., was ejected from Lincoln Financial Field for being intoxicated and not having a ticket, FOX 29 reports. Police said Hendricks then repeatedly punched a mounted police officer's horse in the face and neck before striking the officer in the legs.Hendricks is due in court Jan. 30 on charges of aggravated assault, illegally taunting a police horse, simple assault, and defiant trespass. He could also face animal cruelty charges, according to police.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.Each week, Monty Andrews breaks down some of the underlying betting mismatches on the National Football League slate, giving you an inside edge when handicapping the schedule and setting your daily fantasy lineup. We are down to the final four teams and Monty has some dominant situations for you to consider.

The Arizona Cardinals are expected to file a second interview request to speak with Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak for their head coaching opening, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. They're rumored to be doing the same thing with Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports.Since head coach Bruce Arians announced his retirement Jan. 1, Cardinals president Michael Bidwill has said the team would take its time determining Arians' successor. They've interviewed nine candidates for the position.Munchak has three years of head coaching experience, leading the Tennessee Titans from 2011-2013. He's been the Steelers O-line coach in the four seasons since.DeFilippo is partly credited for Carson Wentz's development in his second year. The coach joined the Eagles in 2016 after spending the previous campaign as offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns.The Cardinals have also interviewed defensive coordinator James Bettcher, Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, and Atlanta Falcons special teams coach Keith Armstrong.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Common NFL thinking: "This is a quarterback-driven league and a team must have an elite player at the position to win in the playoffs."2018: "Yeah, about that ... "Heading into the conference championship games, this year's postseason is laughing in the face of that ideal with perhaps the most shocking list of starting quarterbacks to ever reach the final four.Sure, Tom Brady is arguably the greatest passer ever, and will take part in the AFC Championship Game for a record seventh straight season. But when it comes to the other three quarterbacks, not even their families would have predicted they'd be starting in the semifinals this season.

New Orleans Saints fans are rallying around rookie safety Marcus Williams following Sunday's divisional-round loss to the Minnesota Vikings.Kenny Lopez of WGNO News snapped a photo of a billboard on Interstate-10 that expresses support for Williams, who missed a tackle that led to Stefon Diggs' game-winning, 61-yard touchdown.

The Cleveland Browns may not be without an offensive coordinator for much longer as the team will reportedly interview former New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo for the position Tuesday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, citing a source.Head coach Hue Jackson occupied the role last year, but he previously said he would consider relinquishing play-calling duties, according to Ben Axelrod of WKYC.The potential addition of McAdoo would reunite him with new general manager John Dorsey. The pair worked for seven years together with the Green Bay Packers from 2006-12McAdoo was fired on Dec. 4 after leading the Giants to a 2-10 record in his second year with the club. His first season resulted in an 11-5 record and a trip to the NFC wild-card game in 2016, where it lost to the Packers.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson is using the team's underdog status to support a good cause.On Monday, Johnson unveiled a limited-edition T-shirt featuring him and Chris Long in dog masks with the phrase "Home Dogs Gonna Eat." The shirts are being sold through Johnson's website for $18, with all proceeds donated to the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia.

The New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars will meet for the first time since Week 3 of the 2015 season in this Sunday's AFC Championship, but the Patriots are fully aware they're facing a better team than the one they dismantled by a score of 51-17 two years ago.It's something they've known since an informal meeting during joint practices in this year's training camp."We knew from the beginning they were a good football team," safety Duron Harmon told reporters, according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio."You could just tell. You could tell the mood around the team - they came up here and instantly they wanted to show that they were a good football team just like we are a good football team, and they did. You saw it then and they didn't have Jalen Ramsey and Calais Campbell practicing at the time. ... We saw it. We saw it. We knew they were going to be a good football team and they just kept progressing, kept getting better, and that's the reason why they're here right now," said Harmon.Ramsey and Campbell are Pro Football Focus' No. 2 ranked cornerback and No. 4 ranked edge defender, respectively, helping the Jaguars finish the regular season as the league's second-best team by total defense.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL's annual coaching carousel continued on Monday, with some vacancies appearing to have been filled, but there remains one question that is no closer to being answered than it was when all these jobs opened up: Who will be the next coach of the Arizona Cardinals?Reportedly, the New York Giants will land Pat Shurmur, the Indianapolis Colts are set to hire Josh McDaniels, and the Detroit Lions are getting Matt Patricia, and now the Tennessee Titans will be competing for top candidates.The Cardinals have conducted one of the widest coaching searches in the league this offseason, reportedly considering nine candidates, though Shurmur and Patricia are already off the board. Here is a look at the nine most-likely candidates to be named as Bruce Arians successor.Immediate OptionsSteve WilksCurrent position: Panthers defensive coordinatorThe Panthers' playoff loss puts Wilks in solid contention because that makes him available for hire right away.The Carolina defensive coordinator has worked under two-time Coach of the Year Ron Rivera the past six seasons and performed marvelously as DC after Sean McDermott departed last offseason. Wilks, who has already interviewed once in Arizona, has taken on the duties of assistant head coach since 2015 and was also considered a candidate to coach the Giants.Mike MunchakCurrent position: Steelers offensive line coachMunchak is also ready to move in right away following the Steelers' playoff exit Sunday, provided he isn't too tempted to follow his staff to the Pro Bowl in Orlando.The former Titans head coach has a similar background to Arians, who retired following the season, as a member of Mike Tomlin's staff in Pittsburgh. Arians was Tomlin's offensive coordinator from 2007-11.Keith ArmstrongCurrent position: Falcons special teams coordinatorArmstrong isn't a well-known name or someone other teams have reportedly considered for their head coach job, but the 54-year-old managed to get an interview last Monday. He's been focused solely on special teams since 1997, having worked the same position in Atlanta the last 10 years.The one tie he has to the Cardinals is his playing time under Arians in college at Temple in the mid-'80s.James BettcherCurrent position: Cardinals defensive coordinatorBettcher, 39, had been with Arians for his entire NFL coaching career, starting with the Indianapolis Colts in 2012, and spending the last three years leading the Arizona defense. Arians has vouched for Bettcher to Cardinals ownership, but despite his in-house candidacy, it would seemingly be a risk to hire someone of such limited experience.Wait it outJim SchwartzCurrent position: Eagles defensive coordinatorEagles fans should be thanking Schwartz over everyone for keeping their team alive in the playoffs. The former Lions head coach has his defense buzzing and in the best scheme every week. With the wealth of versatile talent on the defensive side of the ball in Arizona, it is worth waiting for whenever the Eagles' season ends to land this defensive specialist.John DeFilippoCurrent position: Eagles quarterbacks coachDeFilippo has been hailed as this year's version of Sean McVay - young, great with quarterbacks, and diversity of experience under his belt already. Like Schwartz, the Cardinals will need to sit tight until the Eagles are done or headed to the Super Bowl to move forward with another DeFilippo interview. If they are planning to draft the next franchise passer this spring, DeFilippo will be hard to pass up.Brian FloresCurrent position: Patriots linebackers coachWith McDaniels and Patricia set to leave, Flores is getting a promotion somewhere, but it's unclear where. If he doesn't end up as the Patriots' DC or running the defense for one of New England's departing assistants, it may be as Arizona's head coach.Flores is well versed in the "Patriot Way," having started his career as a New England scouting assistant before moving to the coaching staff in 2008. The 36-year-old's three Super Bowl rings and resume under Bill Belichick makes him an attractive lesser-known option.Others to considerDave ToubCurrent position: Chiefs special teams coordinatorGiven his reputation as a prospective head coach and one of the best, most-consistent special teams coordinators in the league, it's surprising Toub has not already been linked to the Cardinals.Toub was rumored to be one of the favorites for the Colts job and has been considered for a head coach position since 2011. His special teams background makes him more a balanced coach who could spread focus around all three phases of the game instead of focusing on one side of the ball.Dennis AllenCurrent position: Saints defensive coordinatorThe Cardinals have built up a fairly impressive defensive roster in terms of talent through the draft the last few years, but have struggled to get everyone on the same page.Allen just took the Saints' defense out of the basement last season by relying heavily on the play of many young defenders with a few key veterans providing leadership. He has some experience as a head coach and has had the benefit of working under Sean Payton since 2015.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has an explanation for his two failed fourth-quarter challenge decisions in Sunday's divisional-round loss to the Minnesota Vikings."Our monitor was down," Payton said on Monday, according to Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune. "Our booth was the only booth that didn't have a feed to it. So, you just got to go with your gut, and fortunately, it wasn't an issue with the timeouts."There were no obvious spots for a challenge following his second failed attempt, and the lost timeouts didn't necessarily play a factor in the Vikings' last-second comeback, but the booth's inability to get a second look did impact Payton's two uncharacteristic throws of the red challenge flag.Payton had not used both challenges in a game all season and he entered Sunday's contest with a 2-2 record.The two calls for an official review came on the same Vikings drive, early in the final quarter. Wide receiver Jarius Wright's 27-yard catch was challenged and upheld, and three plays later, Payton erroneously believed quarterback Case Keenum's knee was down for a sack that could have forced the Vikings to punt instead of kicking a 49-yard field goal for a then 20-14 lead.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It is going to take a long time for the New Orleans Saints and their fans to get over what happened at the end of Sunday's game in Minnesota.For weeks, months, and maybe even years, members of the Who Dat nation will be muttering under their breath things like "61 yards? How does that happen?" just as they groaned about how Alex Smith broke their hearts in 2012.But a major silver lining is that it is awfully hard not to see this team back in the mix this time next year. And, for the first time in recent memory, the Saints enter an offseason after a winning year without a mountain of cap issues to deal with, a lineup of players to re-sign, or a laundry list of positions to upgrade.Drew Brees, who turned 39 on Monday, is the only must-sign free agent on the Saints and he has been adamant about coming back, essentially giving up his negotiating power and allowing the team to lock him up on another one-year deal. After the franchise quarterback, safety Kenny Vaccaro and defensive end Alex Okafor are the most impactful players set to hit the market, but both could be easily replaced by players on the roster or other free agents.The New Orleans defense, ranked in the bottom six for three straight seasons before 2017, emerged as a legitimately frightening unit this season thanks to a group of first- and second-year players. Seven of the 11 players who played at least 50 percent of defensive snaps for the Saints' 10th-ranked scoring defense entered the league in 2017 or 2016.PlayerPositionAgeDef. SnapsSnap %Marcus WilliamsS2196090.5%Ken CrawleyCB2482277.5%Sheldon RankinsDL2381276.5%Vonn BellS2378774.2%Marshon LattimoreCB2175471.1%David OnyemataDT2559856.4%Tyeler DavisonDT2558955.5%(Snap counts courtesy of Football Outsiders)Marshon Lattimore blossomed as a true lockdown corner to become a leader of the secondary, and is in solid contention to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Defensive end Cam Jordan earned the maiden First-team All-Pro nod of his seven-year career, of which he has not missed a single game.The linebacking corps of Craig Robertson, A.J. Klein, and Manti Te'o are all under contract for another season. Not the most impactful group of playmakers, their role in Dennis Allen's defense is to play things relatively safe and make the plays that come their way; another year of continuity only improves communication and reliability.With virtually every starter returning and no major changes expected to the coaching staff, the once-laughable defense is on the rise and has only one big need to address. Jordan has been a force and 300-pounders Sheldon Rankins, Tyeler Davison, and David Onyemata create a solid interior push, but the Saints still lack a speed rusher to pair with their All-Pro on the edge.Assuming Brees is re-signed for close to market value, the Saints won't have the cap space to pursue highly-profiled free-agent edge rushers like Ezekiel Ansah or Demarcus Lawrence. However, they could afford to sign a known talent coming off a down year like Dee Ford, Shaq Barrett, or Barkevious Mingo and pair them with a draft pick to hope for a boost of speed.The emergence of the defense matches well with the offensive transition seen in 2017 that will undoubtedly continue into the next season. In years past, the Saints' pass-oriented offense was offset by lack of depth and balance on a defense not often given much rest between up-tempo series, but not in 2017.Led by Mark Ingram and rookie sensation Alvin Kamara, the Saints finished with the fifth-most rushing yards in 2017 while averaging a league-high 4.7 yards per rush and the eighth-best time of possession. Brees' arm strength has somewhat started to fade, though his accuracy and competitiveness is as sharp as ever, but being able to lean on the rushing attack and, in turn, using play action will allow the future Hall of Famer to prolong his career.It's a shame Brees can't chuck the ball 40-plus times a game like he used to, because the most talented receiver the Saints have possibly ever had is a 6-foot-3, 25-year-old with two years left on his rookie contract. Michael Thomas has led the way, setting an NFL record for most catches through his first two seasons this year, and is only getting better.Thomas, who has just a $1.4-million cap hit next season, allows the Saints to no longer require a quality four-man receiving corps as he fits the bill of a No. 1 wideout who can fill all the roles. His low cap number will also help the front office recruit from the bevy of talented free-agent receivers who may want to join the Saints before their Super Bowl window closes.At 39, it is delusional to think Brees can continue to be the record-breaking force we've known throughout his career until his targeted retirement age of 45, but another year or two at his current level is certainly on the table. As long as he can work his magic, with the developing young defense and stellar run game behind him, the Saints aren't ready to stop marching toward another Lombardi Trophy.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. 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Ben Roethlisberger is tripling down on a public statement from Sunday when he said he's planning to play in 2018, as Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback told teammates he wants to play at least three more seasons.The 35-year-old has another two years remaining on his current contract, at a base salary of $12 million in both 2018 and 2019, according to Spotrac. His cap hit will be $23.2 million in each season.Roethlisberger completed 64.2 percent of 561 pass attempts in the regular season, totalling 4,251 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Five of those interceptions came in a Week 5 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.It was a performance Roethlisberger nearly avenged in Sunday's divisional-round mathcup with the Jaguars, as he threw for 469 yards and five touchdowns, with just one interception in the 45-42 loss.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ken Norton Jr., who was hired by the San Francisco 49ers as an assistant head coach last week, is expected to be named defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks, sources told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Norton will replace Kris Richards at the post, and will be tasked with developing a new slew of contributors to ease the expected declines of several aging stars.

Divisional-round losses won't provide extra rest for coaches of the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers.The NFL announced Monday that the staffs of Sean Payton and Mike Tomlin will lead the NFC and AFC, respectively, on Jan. 28. The Saints and Steelers were the top teams from either conference to lose in the divisional round.Payton's Saints went 11-5 in the regular season en route to an NFC South title, while the Steelers won the AFC North with a record of 13-3.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Before position coach Tom Cable was fired by the Seattle Seahawks and rehired by the Oakland Raiders last week, his Wikipedia page went through a bit of an overhaul, according to the Wall Street Journal's Andrew Beaton.Cable's wife, Carol, admitted to erasing sections that included an incident in 2009 in which he allegedly punched an assistant coach and allegations of domestic violence from his ex-wife, Sandy Cable, and ex-girlfriend, Marie Lutz."We weren't trying to hide anything," Carol told Beaton. "We lived through these false allegations. There was no documentation to back it up. It was false."Former Raiders assistant Randy Hanson accused Tom of punching him and breaking his jaw in 2009, but he was cleared of charges due to inconsistencies in both accounts.Later that year, Sandy and Lutz told ESPN that Tom had a history of violence against women. The coach admitted to slapping his first wife on one occasion, but he escaped punishment from the NFL because he wasn't employed by the league at the time.In an effort to have the allegations removed permanently, Carol engaged in a back-and-forth with another Wikipedia user in which the paragraphs were removed and republished on multiple occasions.They were finally restored to the page Sunday.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.