Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston acknowledged he's under NFL investigation stemming from a sexual assault allegation against him, but told reporters on Thursday that he doesn't believe the league will find any grounds for suspension."I have no fear at all," Winston said, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. "But like I said, I have to respect our process."An Uber driver accused Winston of touching her inappropriately in Arizona on March 13, 2016. Winston has since released a defense statement, but the league's investigation of the incident is expected to stretch into the offseason."I put my statement out there discussing this allegation and I've got to respect the process on that part," he said. "I've been vindicated several times on the past situation, so, you know, my statements on those accusations stand firm, too."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With Thanksgiving behind us and Christmas anear, the unholiest of NFL seasons in recent memory is mercifully approaching the finish line. Twelve face-palming weeks in the books; five left to play.The lowlights of 2017’s iteration of pro football are well documented: Ezekiel Elliott’s seesaw suspension saga; Donald Trump’s objectionable foray into the national anthem debate; Colin Kaepernick remaining unsigned while Brock Osweiler has started three games at quarterback; significant injuries to Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson, J.J. Watt, Odell Beckham, and, now, Seattle’s Legion of Boom; Jerry Jones vs. Roger Goodell; and the bloated Jay Cutler and Mike Glennon contracts.But hey, the playoffs are in spitting distance and the lawlessness of the regular season portends a chaotic, unpredictable march to Super Bowl LII. When nobody’s good, everything’s in play. (The Lombardi Trophy should be awarded to the fans for putting up with an unconscionable amount of nonsense and a weekly dosage of scab-level quarterbacks.)There’s ample reason to distrust every contender, even the Pats and Eagles. So, without further ado, here’s why your favorite team will not win the Super Bowl.Mathematically eliminatedCleveland Browns (0-11)

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.NFL favorites are 45-20-4 against the spread in the last 30 days – a clip so high that even Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan couldn’t have lost money betting pro football in the last month.Sportsbook managers aren’t having the best November, as Covers senior writer Patrick Everson detailed, but the chalk won’t walk at a 69 percent clip over the last five weeks of the NFL season. Bettors will have to dig a little deeper to find ways to beat their bookies.Looking at double-digit spreads is a good place to start. Double-digit favorites went 3-1 ATS last weekend with the New England Patriots putting down the Miami Dolphins by 18 points, the Philadelphia Eagles burying the Chicago Bears by four touchdowns, the Atlanta Falcons tearing up the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by 14 points and the Pittsburgh Steelers inching past the Green Bay Packers.This could be a preview of what’s to come until the start of the postseason. We looked back over the last six years and found teams favored by 10 or more points are 38-29-1 ATS from Week 13 to Week 17. Even better, home teams are 41-26-1 ATS in games with double-digit spreads over the same time period.Just last season, all six home teams in games with 10-point or larger spreads went 6-0 ATS while favorites went 5-1. There’s only one double-digit spread on the board this weekend (Chargers -13.5 vs. Browns) but there should be quite a few in the weeks to follow as teams punt on the season and start taking a look at their backup players to see which are worth holding onto for next season.Here are some games to keep an eye on for potential double-digit spreads in Weeks 14 - 17:Week 14New England Patriots at Miami DolphinsThe Pats just covered as 17-point home favorites against the Phins last weekend. Barring an injury to Tom Brady or a brain tumor for Bill Belichick, New England will be large favorites at Miami.Week 15Chicago Bears at Detroit LionsThe Lions won’t be confused for world beaters, but the Bears’ offense is so putrid it’s hard not seeing them getting at least 10 points in this divisional game.Philadelphia Eagles at New York GiantsThe Giants are already planning for the future that probably doesn’t include Eli Manning as their starting quarterback. This could be another huge line if Geno Smith is still at QB for the G-Men and the Eagles are still playing for the top overall seed in the NFC.New York Jets at New Orleans SaintsGang Green has been a double-digit underdog just once this season and that was all the way back in Week 2 against the Raiders. That seems like a long, long time ago. Despite the Saints’ setback against the Rams, bettors still love backing Drew Brees and the boys from the Bayou.Week 16Oakland Raiders at Philadelphia EaglesThe Raiders are a mess. Head coach Jack Del Rio is presently prepping index cards with the names of his assistant coaches and assorting them by the likelihood who will be his next scapegoat to save his job.Week 17New York Jets at New England PatriotsIt’s safe to assume Brady will be playing in Week 17 because he did last season when the Pats had the first seed already sewn up.Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh SteelersWill the Browns still be winless on the last weekend of the season? Would the Steelers put the squeeze on their division rival in a meaningless game for them or would they protect Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell from injury?Chicago Bears at Minnesota VikingsThe Vikes have won a lot of games this season but have been double-digit faves just once – and that was against… you guessed it… the Browns. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer hates losing preseason games, so it’s safe to assume he wouldn’t take his foot off the gas pedal even if there was nothing to play for in Week 17 for his team.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

How good has this season been for the Philadelphia Eagles? The 10-1 club can clinch the NFC East on Thursday night without even playing.That's because Philly currently owns a five-game division lead with five weeks remaining in the regular season and their closest rivals, the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins, meet on Thursday Night Football.If the third-place Redskins top the second-place Cowboys or the game results in a tie, the Eagles would win their first division title since 2013.The Eagles would be the first team to clinch a playoff spot this season. No other team can qualify for the postseason in Week 13.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After a trio of games on Thanksgiving, the regular Thursday Night Football schedule returns this week with an NFC East matchup between the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys.While most teams play on Thursdays just days after a usual Sunday contest, the Redskins and Cowboys have had a full week to prepare after their Thanksgiving tilts.Here's the side to pick to get Week 13 started on a winning note.The wager: Washington Redskins (+2) at Dallas CowboysWashington's win over the New York Giants last week was certainly underwhelming, but there's just no reason to pick the Ezekiel Elliott-less Cowboys at this point. Since losing the star running back to suspension, Dallas has scored a total of 22 points in three games. For those scoring at home, that's just over seven points per contest, not nearly enough to be competitive in the NFL.The defense hasn't exactly stepped up in Elliott's absence either, allowing an average of 30 points per game without him keeping the offense on the field. With an offense that can put up points in bunches coming to town, that could be a major problem for the Cowboys.Elliott ran wild for Dallas in a previous win over Washington this season, finishing with 150 yards and two touchdowns, but without his presence, the offense will struggle yet again. Look for Kirk Cousins to have a big day and Washington to get the win. Redskins 27, Cowboys 20Thursday picks record: 8-4-1Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers tackle Russell Okung added his name to the growing list of players who have dropped out of the Players Coalition.The eight-year vet released a statement on Twitter on Thursday morning, decrying the decision-making process that led to a partnership between the NFL and a group of players that will result in a $100-million contribution to social justice causes over a span of seven years.

AFCTom Brady took home the AFC Offensive Player of the Month award for the 10th time in his career, the most in NFL history. The New England Patriots star quarterback continued to put himself in the thick of the MVP discussion with a stellar November. He threw 10 touchdowns to one interception and led the Patriots to three blowout wins, beating the Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, and Miami Dolphins by a combined 68 points.Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward took the AFC Defensive Player of the Month honors after recording three interceptions and fives passes defensed, helping the Chargers fight back into playoff contention.Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker earned the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month after a flawless November. Tucker made all eight field-goal attempts and successfully converted six extra points. The kicker now has the most Player of the Month awards in franchise history.NFCVikings quarterback Case Keenum won his first-ever NFC Offensive Player of the Month award after he led Minnesota to a 3-0 record in November. The journeyman quarterback completed more than 70 percent of his passes in each of the Vikings' three wins, along with eight total touchdowns and zero turnovers.New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month. The pass-rusher was a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks in November, racking up 4.5 sacks in four games.Greg Zuerlein became the first player in NFL history to win the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month award in consecutive months. The Los Angeles Rams kicker missed just one of 12 field-goal attempts and hit all 12 extra points.RookiesSaints running back Alvin Kamara took home Offensive Rookie of the Month honors. The first-year back scored five total touchdowns and produced four games with 100-plus yards from scrimmage, including a 188-yard performance in Week 12. Kamara's impressive month has pushed him to the forefront of the Rookie of the Year conversation.San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster won the defensive rookie award. The first-round pick was on fire in November after finally getting healthy, racking up 30 total tackles in three games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Andy Reid continues to defend quarterback Alex Smith amid the Kansas City Chiefs' midseason slump.The Chiefs have lost five of their last six games and have scored just one touchdown in the last nine quarters.The team's head coach believes the blame isn't on the quarterback alone."I think it's not just Alex," Reid said on Wednesday, via the team's website. "Each position has got to do better. This is a team game and so everybody has a piece of the pie. You're bringing it to Alex. I'm bringing it to all of us doing a better job. Alex is part of the team so he's included in that. But it's surely not just one person."After the team's latest loss, a 16-10 defeat at the hands of the Buffalo Bills, Reid said he did not contemplate replacing Smith with rookie backup Patrick Mahomes. He remained firm that the veteran will be under center in Sunday's game against the New York Jets."The thing I can do is stand before you and tell you that this isn't an Alex Smith thing, it's all of us," Reid said. "I know our players understand that and coaches. So we're all going to do better and raise our game up."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every month for the remainder of the 2017 season, theScore's Dane Belbeck and Mitch Sanderson will project the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft using the current standings to predict the order. Strength of schedule will be used as the first tiebreaker and theScore's weekly power rankings will be used as the second.Picks

The NFL and a select group of player representatives agreed in principle Wednesday on a partnership that will contribute millions of dollars to social justice causes, according to ESPN's Jim Trotter and Jason Reid.The plan is for the league to contribute nearly $100 million over seven years to projects dealing with criminal justice reform, law enforcement, and education.The agreement doesn't call for an end to player protests during the national anthem, but the league is hopeful that will occur naturally.The league's proposal has at least $89 million being earmarked over a seven-year period for national and local projects. Owners will allocate $5 million this year at the national level, with the commitment growing to a maximum of $12 million per year from 2021 through 2023.The owners are expecting players to match a $250,000 annual contribution at the local level, providing a total of $500,000 per team - an amount both sides can exceed, should they choose.The money would be split between the United Negro College Fund, the Dream Corps, and the Players Coalition, which has filed for nonprofit status.Owners will be able to finalize the agreement at the league meetings in March.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers safety Eric Reid says Colin Kaepernick was kicked out of the Players Coalition by the Philadelphia Eagles' Malcolm Jenkins, and it was one of the reasons he walked away from the group Wednesday."Malcolm, which is also a concern that I raised with him, Malcolm kicked Colin out of the coalition following the meeting in New York at the beginning of the season," Reid said, according to Tim McManus and Nick Wagoner of ESPN. "There was a group message, I guess he was the administrator of the message, and he took Colin out."Reid and Miami Dolphins safety Michael Thomas each withdrew from the coalition, which aims to bring together players and owners to address social injustices around the country.Jenkins said in a statement to ESPN that he didn't force or keep Kaepernick out of the group."It's false," he said. "I've talked with Colin numerous times about being a part of the Coalition. He thought it would be best to work and support us in an informal capacity."Reid and Jenkins have clashed before, with Reid accusing the Eagles defender of undercutting the players group. Jenkins, one of the primary voices of the coalition, has been adamant he's never done such a thing.The NFL reportedly proposed a partnership with the coalition that would see nearly $100 million go toward causes considered critically important to African-American communities over a seven-year period. Reid said Jenkins asked him if he'd end his pregame demonstrations if the NFL donated to the coalition, which played a role in his exit from the group."At that point, that was the last straw for me," he said. "He had a conversation with the NFL, we agreed that multiple people would be in all conversations with the NFL, it wouldn't just be him solely, so he didn't stand by his word on that. At no point did we ever communicate that an agreement with the NFL would end the protests, so for him to come to that point with the league, it was the last straw for me."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has been sidelined since Week 6 with a broken collarbone, is eligible to return for Week 15.According to teammate Clay Matthews, it's an unnecessary wait."This past week, being a part of that rehab group, to watch Aaron, what he's been doing in there, I think we probably should have kept him off IR," Matthews said Wednesday, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "The way he's coming along, some of the balls he's throwing, accuracy-wise, everything a quarterback has to do, is pretty remarkable."Rodgers will be able to return to the team's Saturday practice, but he must wait another two weeks to return to games, per the league's injured reserve rules.Third-year player Brett Hundley has gone 1-5 as the Packers' starter in place of Rodgers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Julia Nicoll and her 11-year-old son, Peter, were admiring the holiday decorations in Chicago earlier this month when they noticed Aaron Rodgers standing near them. What happened next was something neither expected.In an interview with Kendra Meinert of USA Today, Nicoll said she and Peter, who are Bears fans, spoke briefly with the Green Bay Packers quarterback and snapped a photo before continuing on their way. Rodgers wasn't ready to end their chat, though, and eventually caught up with them."He just started talking to us again like we were all neighbors and friends. We walked with him again for the next 15 minutes, 20 minutes to Michigan Avenue," Nicoll said. "The thing for me that really stood out as so awesome was he asked us questions. I would say he asked us more questions than I asked him, because I didn't want to be nosy and because I didn't want to invade his privacy."He was asking me questions that most people would think, 'Why would Aaron Rodgers care?' It was so amazing. It was really something, I have to say. It still is. I told so many people. We just couldn't believe it, my son and I."The Nicolls may have a hard time rooting against Rodgers the next time he faces the Bears.(Photo courtesy: USA Today)- With h/t to Sports IllustratedCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson is well aware of the issues that have kept wide receiver Josh Gordon off the field for the majority of the past three seasons.Related: Josh Gordon drank and/or used drugs before 'probably every game'As Gordon gets set to play his first game since Dec. 21, 2014, Jackson believes all those off-field problems are behind the receiver. That doesn't mean he's giving him a pass, though."He's still got to earn the right to be here," said Jackson, according to ESPN's Pat McManamon. "He's earned the right to get back here. He's got to earn the right to be here each and every day, and he's been outstanding thus far here. And again, all the things I think were talked about were past behavior."Jackson said earlier this week the Browns have "big plans" for Gordon in Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers will always be tied to New York Giants signal-caller Eli Manning as a result of the draft-day trade that swapped them.And Rivers wasn't happy to hear the announcement that Manning's consecutive starts streak will end Sunday, when he'll begin the game on the bench in favor of backup Geno Smith."I honestly thought it was pathetic," Rivers said Wednesday, according to Eric D. Williams of ESPN."He's been out there 210 straight games - with no telling how many bumps and bruises and injuries - for his team. He won two Super Bowl MVPs. And with the respect he's had in the locker room over the years, and really the respect he's gained throughout the league, you feel like the guy has earned the opportunity - if they are in fact deciding to go another direction - he's earned the opportunity to finish it off these last five weeks," Rivers said.The Giants offered Manning the chance to start, though he would have been subsequently replaced. Manning refused, saying it would "tarnish" the streak.Rivers, who's played 191 career games, has made 187 consecutive starts since replacing Drew Brees as the San Diego Chargers' starter ahead of the 2006 season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Cavaliers' win over the Golden State Warriors in the 2015-16 NBA Finals seems to have given the city's sports fans a thirst for parades.But with the Cavs failing to repeat and the Cleveland Indians falling short in the MLB playoffs two years in a row, it seems some fans are turning to the Browns to fill their need.It just won't be of the championship variety.Chris McNeil requested a permit from the City of Cleveland to have a parade outside FirstEnergy Stadium if the team finishes the 2017 season at 0-16, according to Brett Bodner of the New York Daily News. On Wednesday, McNeil was granted permission.McNeil has created a Facebook page for the event, calling it the "Perfect Season Parade." The cause is for "Celebrating perfection from the team that has given us nothing to celebrate since 1999."A parade was planned for last season as well, but an unexpected Browns victory over the San Diego Chargers in Week 16 forced the cancellation.This year's parade is planned for Jan. 6, during NFL Wild-Card Weekend.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Giants owner John Mara spoke to the media Wednesday after his team's decision to bench star quarterback Eli Manning set off a firestorm of criticism.Mara explained he initiated the conversation with general manager Jerry Reese to take a look at other quarterbacks on the roster as the Giants sputtered to a 2-9 record and was eliminated from postseason contention Sunday."I expected an emotional reaction from fans. It's been in excess of what I expected," Mara said, according to Tom Rock of Newsday. "Given what he has meant to our franchise, it's understandable."Mara said he made the suggestion to Reese a week or two ago and he spoke to head coach Ben McAdoo, who has drawn most of the vitriol from fans."There's no completely clean way to handle it," Mara added.Mara hoped Manning would be open to playing in the five remaining games before giving way to backups Geno Smith and Davis Webb. Manning chose instead to cede his starting role."I don't know that this will give us all the info, but it's better than nothing," Mara said of taking a look at the Giants' younger quarterbacks. "Obviously we'll have a high draft pick and there will be QBs available. (We) want to make that decision having watched these guys play."Mara insists no conversation has been had about Manning's no-trade clause, but discussions are coming on the futures of both Reese and McAdoo."We obviously have some decisions to make this offseason," Mara said.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Rishard Matthews has revealed his custom cleats for the NFL's "My Cause, My Cleats" campaign this weekend, and they recognize the work of a certain free-agent quarterback.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter named Jameis Winston his starter for Sunday against the Green Bay Packers after the quarterback returned to practice Wednesday.Koetter said Winston is healthy and cleared to go from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the past three weeks.Winston initially injured the shoulder in Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals. He continued playing for three weeks, but was pulled during a Week 9 loss to the New Orleans Saints when it was apparent he was struggling with the injury.During his three-week absence, he reportedly sought platelet-rich plasma injections in his shoulder that appear to have done the trick.Veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick held down the fort in Weeks 10-12, leading the 4-7 Bucs to two wins and one loss.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As a freshman at Glassboro High School in New Jersey, current Philadelphia Eagles rookie running back Corey Clement made a deal with his guidance counselor that if he was drafted into the NFL, she'd give him her family's car.Clement went undrafted, instead signing with the Eagles as a free agent out of Wisconsin. Nevertheless, his former counselor followed through on her promise.

Eli Manning had to hold back tears when he discussed the New York Giants' decision to bench him for the rest of the season.It's apparent the move deeply affected the 14-year veteran, but his father, Archie Manning, made that abundantly clear."This breaks his heart," the senior Manning said to Gary Myers of the New York Daily News on Wednesday."And that's OK. It's supposed to."The move signals the end of the Giants quarterback's streak of 210 consecutive games started, but it may also mark the beginning of the end of his time in New York.In the short term, however, the Giants are merely opting to give Geno Smith some playing time and afford the same to rookie Davis Webb."It's football. It's life," said Archie. "Eli has such a passion for playing for the Giants. I think people up there, people who have been around him the whole 14 years, kind of understand that. Eli just absolutely loves being the Giants' quarterback."Eli is not bitter. Just hurt."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler has cleared the concussion protocol and will start Sunday versus the Denver Broncos, head coach Adam Gase announced Wednesday.Cutler was injured in a Week 12 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and was replaced by Matt Moore under center.Cutler also missed last week's matchup against the New England Patriots.In nine games this season, Cutler has completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,602 yards, 13 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.The 4-7 Dolphins have lost five straight games and are in desperate need of a win streak to vault back into the AFC playoff picture.Copyright © 2017 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.Jay Rood’s first two words during a Monday conversation pretty much summed up the current mood of Las Vegas sportsbooks.

The NFL has proposed a partnership deal with its players of nearly $100 million to spark a change in social justice.According to Jim Trotter and Jason Reid of ESPN, the league submitted the proposal to players earlier this week in hopes of ending the peaceful movement that has resulted in many athletes opting not to stand for the national anthem.The money would be allocated towards causes considered critically important to African-American communities.Over a seven-year period, the owners' contribution would grow from $5 million to $12 million on the national level, with $250,000 being donated at the local level. Players would match the local amount.While many would view this as a positive step, it doesn't appear to be met with unanimous support, as San Francisco 49ers' safety Eric Reid and Miami Dolphins safety Michael Thomas announced earlier Wednesday that they've withdrawn from The Players Coalition citing differences with founders Anquan Boldin and Malcolm Jenkins.The duo tweeted matching statements Wednesday morning to explain the decision, claiming Boldin and Jenkins "no longer speak on our behalf" as their interests don't match the "coalition's beliefs":

AFCLos Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers had a Thanksgiving to remember, completing 81 percent of his passes for a season-high 434 yards and three touchdown passes to earn the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. Rivers' performance propelled the Chargers to a 28-6 blowout of the Dallas Cowboys, their fifth win in their last seven games.Cam Heyward of the Pittsburgh Steelers recorded six tackles and two sacks in Sunday's win over the Green Bay Packers and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week. He's only the second player in franchise history to win multiple PotW awards in the same season.Sam Koch was a difference-maker in the Baltimore Ravens' 23-16 Monday-night win over the Houston Texans. The AFC Special Teams Player of the Week punted six times for an average of 51 yards and dropped five of those inside the 20-yard line. He also completed a 22-yard pass on a fake punt that led to a Ravens touchdown.NFCAtlanta Falcons star Julio Jones was unstoppable Sunday, hauling in 12 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The receiver's performance earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.Luke Kuechly now owns the most NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in Carolina Panthers history after he received his fifth such award for his play in a 35-27 win over the New York Jets. The linebacker had 10 tackles in the game, but his forced fumble and 34-yard scoop and score gave the Panthers a fourth-quarter lead they wouldn't relinquish.Phil Dawson was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after he kicked a 57-yard game-winning field goal in the Arizona Cardinals' 27-24 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was the longest made field goal in the 42-year-old's career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman has cleared concussion protocol, paving the way for a return to action after a two-game absence."He's back practicing today so he's been cleared through the protocol and we're pumped to have him back in action," head coach Dan Quinn said on 92.9 The Game on Wednesday.Freeman hasn't played since Week 10, when he got in two carries before he left an eventual 27-7 win against the Dallas Cowboys with a concussion. He appeared to be injured on a helmet-to-helmet hit.The Falcons managed to chalk up three consecutive wins with Freeman out of the lineup, as Tevin Coleman took up the bulk of the workload and has since emerged as the team's leading rusher.Atlanta enters Week 13 a game behind the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers for the division lead.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Redskins have let it be known they hate the Color Rush.In March, the team proposed a bylaw that would allow teams to choose not to wear Color Rush jerseys when playing on Thursday nights. Their reasoning for such a request was summed up in two words: "Garish uniforms."The Redskins have yet to wear their monochromatic uniforms. Their first opportunity comes Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys, who will be wearing their white Color Rush outfits. Will the Redskins debut their yellow/gold set?"Ooh, man, that's a great question. One of the better questions I've had since I've been here at the podium," head coach Jay Gruden said to the press Tuesday, earning some laughs. "You came all this way to ask me that? If I say yes or no, what is your reply going to be? … I have absolutely no idea. Sorry, what a wasted trip."Rare is the occasion in which an NFL coach has no idea what the team will be wearing so close to gametime. A number of clues have surfaced in the Redskins locker room, however.One player told Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post that the players with Nike endorsements have already had their burgundy cleats shipped to them, suggesting the team will wear all-burgundy on Thursday.Another player answered directly that the team will be wearing burgundy."That would be dope. That would put us on edge, put us on go," corner Bashaud Breeland said to the Post's Master Tesfatsion about the burgundy look. "You feel good, look good, you play good. … We've been trying to bring that all-burgundy back for a minute now, you know what I mean? I'd love if they let us decide to play in 'em."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Oakland Raiders receiver Michael Crabtree has spoken for the first time since being ejected and suspended for exchanging punches with Denver Broncos corner Aqib Talib.Since the wild altercation between bitter divisional foes, Crabtree has heard all the commentary and believes he's being mischaracterized.For the second time in as many seasons, Talib ripped a chain off of Crabtree's neck. On Sunday, it led the latter to tangle with his opponent into the bench area, sparking a minor melee."I am just playing ball, man. ESPN said that I taped the chain to myself before the game because I was worried about it. I didn't. I don't care about no chains," Crabtree said to Vic Tafur of The Athletic."I am just playing ball. Not worried about nothing. I don't like how the whole thing got flipped and I am the bad guy."Talib's teammate Chris Harris said Crabtree sucker-punched him just plays before his confrontation with Talib. Crabtree denies he did such a thing.He also disputed the league's notion that his actions were premeditated, warranting a two-game suspension that was reduced to one on Tuesday."I'm not trying to get revenge. I'm trying to get a catch in my 122nd straight game and help my team win a big game. I don't want to get kicked out. I know what's at stake for my team," Crabtree said.There's no disputing the feud between Crabtree and Talib has escalated and could boil over when the two meet again next season. But the Raiders wideout insists he carries no ill will towards his Broncos counterpart."I don't have a problem with him. I can't figure it out. It's all him," Crabtree said of Talib."That was a big win (Sunday). I'm just mad I couldn't be a part of it because of some guy and his love of chains."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, Mitch Sanderson, and Arun Srinivasan.1. Philadelphia Eagles (10-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan1st1st1st2ndPrevious Rank: 1stThe Eagles are the first to 10 wins and can be the first to clinch their division with a victory in a prime-time test against the Seahawks. - McClymont2. New England Patriots (9-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan2nd2nd2nd1stPrevious Rank: 2ndThis is the team many believed could go undefeated this season. Since their last loss on Oct. 1, the Pats have won seven straight. Sign us all up for some recovery pajamas. - McClymont3. Minnesota Vikings (9-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan3rd4th3rd5thPrevious Rank: 5thCase Keenum is showing the talent that made him the NCAA's all-time leading passer, completing 70 percent of his throws in three straight games. Is Teddy Bridgewater the QB of the future still? - Sanderson4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan5th3rd5th3rdPrevious Rank: 3rdThe Steelers need to fix their habit of playing down to lesser opponents. Time to put the pedal to the metal the rest of the season. - Sanderson5. Los Angeles Rams (8-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan4th5th4th4thPrevious Rank: 6thSean McVay and the offense have received all the plaudits, but Wade Phillips showed why he's the best in the game, all but shutting down the dominant Saints offense. - Browne6. New Orleans Saints (8-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan6th7th6th6thPrevious Rank: 4thThe Saints' winning streak finally came to an end, but they should take solace in unearthing one of the best draft classes in recent memory with Alvin Kamara looking to capture Offensive Rookie of the Year. - Srinivasan7. Carolina Panthers (8-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan9th6th8th7thPrevious Rank: 10thDon't look now but the Panthers are surging and could sneak up on the rest of the NFC, two years removed from a Super Bowl berth. - Srinivasan8. Atlanta Falcons (7-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan7th8th7th8thPrevious Rank: 8thFinally, we all got the Julio Jones game we've been waiting for all year. Whether the Falcons have turned the corner offensively remains a mystery. - Srinivasan9. Seattle Seahawks (7-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan8th9th9th9thPrevious Rank: 9thIf the Seahawks get through this three-game gauntlet (Eagles, Jaguars, Rams) with their playoff hopes intact, Russell Wilson deserves serious MVP consideration. - Browne10. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan10th10th10th10thPrevious Rank: 7thAn unimpressive Colts team may be the perfect remedy for the Jaguars if they are to be taken seriously. - Srinivasan11. Tennessee Titans (7-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan13th12th12th11thPrevious Rank: 13thThe Titans may not be very fun to watch but their running game and underrated defense have the potential to seize the division. - Srinivasan12. Los Angeles Chargers (5-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan11th14th11th14thPrevious Rank: 17thIf Rivers and Allen stay hot, and Ingram and Bosa continue to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks, no one in the AFC will want to play the Chargers come playoff time. - Browne13. Baltimore Ravens (6-5)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan 12th13th14th12thPrevious Rank: 15thWith nothing but northern outdoor games remaining on the schedule, this is the ideal time for the Ravens to lean heavy on their run game and defense. - Sanderson14. Detroit Lions (6-5)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan15th11th13th13thPrevious Rank: 12thMarvin Jones is emerging as a star for the Lions with highlight-reel touchdown catches - just in time for the playoff push. - Sanderson15. Kansas City Chiefs (6-5)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan14th15th16th15thPrevious Rank: 11thWhen the Chiefs were 5-0 and the Chargers were 1-4, you'd be insane if you thought Kansas City would be in danger of losing the division to L.A. Now, that's the Chiefs' reality. - Browne16. Buffalo Bills (6-5)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan16th16th15th17thPrevious Rank: 20thThe Bills are going to finish one game out of the playoffs, aren't they? That Nathan Peterman start will go down as one of football's biggest blunders. - McClymont17. Arizona Cardinals (5-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan19th17th18th19thPrevious Rank: 22ndWho'd have thought a successful Blaine Gabbert revenge game would ever be a thing? - Browne18. Washington Redskins (5-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan20th21st17th16thPrevious Rank: 16thWashington deserves all kinds of credit for remaining competitive despite a slew of injuries. Kirk Cousins' one-year, $23-million contract looks like quite the bargain. - McClymont19. Oakland Raiders (5-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan17th19th19th20thPrevious Rank: 18thHey, Raider Nation, at least your pass defense is good enough to stop Paxton Lynch! - Browne20. Dallas Cowboys (5-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan18th20th20th18thPrevious Rank: 14thThe Cowboys don't look like they can survive another three weeks without Zeke. A loss to the Redskins on Thursday would all but end their season. - McClymont21. Cincinnati Bengals (5-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan21st18th24th26thPrevious Rank: 25thThe fact this team is 5-6 speaks volumes about how bad the AFC is this season. - Sanderson22. Green Bay Packers (5-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan22nd23rd21st23rdPrevious Rank: 23rdHope exists! After Brett Hundley played the best game of his life against the Steelers, Mike McCarthy hinted Aaron Rodgers could be practicing this week. Fingers crossed. - Sanderson23. New York Jets (4-7)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan23rd22nd23rd21stPrevious Rank: 19thFor a team that was said to have the worst receiving corps in the league, Robby Anderson deserves serious Pro Bowl consideration. - McClymont24. Houston Texans (4-7)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan26th24th22nd22ndPrevious Rank: 21stDeAndre Hopkins excels regardless of who's playing at quarterback, but you have to feel bad for one of the league's best wide receivers at this point. - Srinivasan25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan24th25th25th24thPrevious Rank: 24thThe Buccaneers are well-suited to tank for the rest of the year, with the rest of the division preparing for deep playoff runs. - Srinivasan26. Miami Dolphins (4-7)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan25th26th29th28thPrevious Rank: 27thMiami's lost five straight and won't be favored in any game the rest of the season. Jay Cutler came out of retirement for this? - McClymont27. Chicago Bears (3-8)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan28th30th26th25thPrevious Rank: 26thThat Firefox sign was hilarious. Now it is time to see the grizzled coach really get the boot. - Sanderson28. Indianapolis Colts (3-8)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan29th28th27th27thPrevious Rank: 28thChuck Pagano's press conference on Monday had the feel of a man who knows that he'll be unemployed by the end of the year. - Srinivasan29. Denver Broncos (3-8)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan30th27th28th29thPrevious Rank: 30thJohn Elway was a great quarterback, but he's showing that being a great quarterback doesn't necessarily mean you can identify them as a general manager. - Browne30. New York Giants (2-9)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan27th31st30th30thPrevious Rank: 29thHow bad are the Chiefs if they couldn't top this team? - McClymont31. San Francisco 49ers (1-10)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan31st29th31st31stPrevious Rank: 31stRarely does a one-win team have anything to get excited about in Week 13. But, 49ers fans will get to sample what 2018 could be like with Jimmy Garoppolo ready to make his first start. - Browne32. Cleveland Browns (0-11)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan32nd32nd32nd32ndPrevious Rank: 32ndHey, remember that one team the Browns beat last year? Guess who's up next on the schedule. - SandersonCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Eli Manning's benching drew criticism and skepticism across league circles Tuesday, but his father, Archie, doesn't appear all too concerned.Manning's streak of 210 starts will come to an end Sunday when Geno Smith takes over for the New York Giants against the Oakland Raiders.Although the elder Manning doesn't agree with the decision, he's confident his son will be alright."Eli's a big boy, he's played a lot. He's a very tough guy, and I'm very confident he'll handle it," Manning said to Tyler Cleveland of The Clarion-Ledger.Archie Manning noted the Giants are undergoing a nightmare season, ridden by injuries, inconsistency, and team-issued suspensions.Manning said he spoke to his son and they'll continue to present a unified front as the season reaches its merciless end."I'm proud of Eli," Manning said. "They were going to keep starting him for the (consecutive games) record, and that just wasn't a good taste to him, but he's fine. It's like he told me, he said 'I'll handle it. I don't like it, but I'll handle it.'"Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Giants' decision Tuesday to bench franchise quarterback Eli Manning in favor of a Geno Smith-Davis Webb combination not only brings a tentative end to Manning's streak of 210 consecutive starts, but could lay the groundwork for the end of an era in New York.While McAdoo and the Giants have been met with warranted criticism from fans and media personalities, the team has made no indication it plans on releasing Manning this season."Time will tell," Ben McAdoo replied when asked about the quarterback's future, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.Here are three possible ways New York could choose to deal with the situation following the 2017 season.Draft replacement, let Manning spend 2018 as mentorWhile McAdoo told James Kratch of NJ.com that the Giants' primary job "is to win football games," Week 13 starter, Smith, comes equipped with a career completion rate of 57.7 percent and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 28-36. He doesn't seem like the best bet.Smith is signed to a one-year deal, and while he could be brought back for next to nothing, the 27-year-old lost a starting job to Josh McCown before the start of this season.Webb, a third-round pick in the 2017 draft, completed 61.6 percent of his passes and a total of 43 touchdowns (passing and rushing) in his final college season at Cal. His long-term potential will be assessed by New York over the remainder of the campaign.Currently holding the third overall pick in the 2018 draft, the Giants are likely to draft a top-tier quarterback in a loaded class that includes Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson.Manning could then return as starter for the beginning of 2018, allowing a high-profile rookie to begin the year by watching him work. It would mirror Manning's first seven games of his rookie 2004 season, with a then-33-year-old Warner leading the Giants' offense.Trade him, let another team use him as stopgapShould the Giants be uninterested in watching him work, they're bound to find another team willing to try it out.Cleveland Browns rookie DeShone Kizer has already admitted this season to wanting an experienced quarterback to learn from. Trading for Manning would accomplish this, while saving the Browns from using yet another high-end pick in search of an answer under center.The Jacksonville Jaguars, with Manning's former coach Tom Coughlin serving as executive vice president, could also be interested.The Jaguars have committed to Blake Bortles' fifth-year option, but if he holds them back this season with the rest of the team looking like a true Super Bowl contender, they may opt to eat his 2018 salary in favor of a better chance of winning.Ride it out, try again in 2018It's not your fault, Eli. Sometimes, things just don't go your way.The Giants began the season with Super Bowl aspirations. They then started 0-5 and lost wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall for the season.Manning wasn't left with much and is still ranked as Pro Football Focus' No. 18 quarterback at this point in the season. Not a great ranking, but better than the seemingly playoff bound Matthew Stafford and Blake Bortles, as well as upstart rookie Deshaun Watson.The Giants could opt to use their high draft pick on a running back such as Penn State's Saquon Barkley, or trade down for multiple assets to help in several areas.Then, potentially with a new coach replacing McAdoo, the Giants could attempt a redo of their disastrous 2017 season with a quick return to contention in 2018.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fourth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his early rankings for Week 13.Updated rankings (including PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Standard

Oakland Raiders wide receiver Michael Crabtree and Denver Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib had their two-game suspensions reduced to a single game after appeals, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.The two players had been suspended two games each for unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness violations, following an on-field altercation in their Week 12 meeting.The Raiders will play the New York Giants at home in Week 13, while the Broncos play a road game against the Miami Dolphins.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Odell Beckham Jr. recently launched his first lifestyle sneaker with Nike, the Special Field Air Force 1 Mid "OBJ," which pays tribute to New York City and his home state of Louisiana.The Giants wide receiver made sure to hook his friend LeBron James up with a pair:

The San Francisco 49ers announced Tuesday quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will start Sunday against the Chicago Bears.Head coach Kyle Shanahan will speak to media Wednesday to discuss his decision. Shanahan met with the team's quarterbacks before announcing the decision publicly.Garoppolo was acquired in a midseason trade with the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2018 second-round pick. The 26-year-old started two games in 2016 during Tom Brady's suspension and has completed 67.7 percent of his passes for 708 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions over his career.Garoppolo replaces C.J. Beathard as the team's starting quarterback.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin came to the defense of his one-time protege Tuesday, vehemently opposing Eli Manning's benching.Manning has been benched in favor of Geno Smith, setting the table for his 210-game starting streak to be snapped as the Giants are stuck in a nightmare 2-9 season.Related: Manning declined chance to keep consecutive starts streak aliveCoughlin, the Jacksonville Jaguars' executive vice president of football operations, expressed shock and disbelief during a radio appearance Tuesday."Surprised is not the word. My sentiments are totally with Eli Manning. I love the kid. He is a class act. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion. He is the finest, most humblest young man in that locker room. I haven't followed the Giants. I know it's a disappointing year but my thoughts are strictly with Eli. I'm very upset about when I heard that," Coughlin said on 1010 XL via Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Coughlin coached Manning for the first 12 years of his career, winning Super Bowl titles in 2007 and 2011.Manning's benching drew visceral reactions from across the league and Coughlin isn't the only former Giants great to weigh in, with Phil Simms, Carl Banks, and Brandon Jacobs among those expressing their support for the four-time Pro Bowler.The Giants resume their season Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the Chicago Bears' struggles continue under John Fox, some fans are using the Mozilla Firefox logo to express their desire for a coaching change.

Although the football world is frantically anticipating a Week 15 clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots, Ben Roethlisberger is taking things a week at a time.As many anticipated, the Steelers and Patriots emerged as the class of the AFC, boasting identical 9-2 records, and are seemingly on a collision course to meet in the AFC Championship Game for the second consecutive year.Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin predicted "fireworks" between the teams, but Roethlisberger isn't concerned about the Dec. 17 game at the moment."For me, I am 100 percent on Cincinnati and nothing else. That is my biggest focus because these guys are going to come out to get us. They want to ruin our playoff chances. I know those guys are going to want to get after us and try to ruin our Christmas," Roethlisberger said via ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.Roethlisberger also shot down the notion of advanced scouting, saying the Steelers merely focus on their weekly opponent before moving onto rivals like the Patriots and Baltimore Ravens."There is zero Patriots, Ravens film," Roethlisberger said. "(No) work talk of anything like that with any team other than the Bengals. I know there's a lot of Patriots talk and a lot of Steelers-Patriots and all that stuff. What I see, especially from me and in the locker room, there isn't that talk.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Running back Darren McFadden announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday in a statement released on Twitter.The 10-year veteran was released Sunday by the Dallas Cowboys, with the team saying it was a mutual decision."I just want to say that I make this decision not with sadness or without further opportunity, but with a couple of days to reflect on how I feel and where I am at this stage of life. I know that this is the right move for me. I look forward to what the future holds - spending some more time with my family, pursuing some outside interests and, of course, going to a few Arkansas football games," McFadden wrote.The Oakland Raiders drafted McFadden out of Arkansas fourth overall in 2008. He played his first seven seasons with the Raiders, joining the Cowboys in 2015 and spending three seasons with the team.McFadden played just one game this season, carrying the ball once for a loss of 2 yards.He had two 1,000-plus yard seasons in his career, totaling 1,157 rushing yards on 223 carries over 13 games with the Raiders in 2010, and 1,089 yards on 239 carries over 16 games with the Cowboys in 2015.He finishes his career with 5,421 rushing yards, 2,114 receiving yards, and 33 total touchdowns over 103 games.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants planned to play Geno Smith at quarterback this weekend against the Oakland Raiders, but it wasn't until Eli Manning declined the chance to start that Smith became the No. 1 option.Manning released a statement obtained by Mike Garafolo of NFL Network on Tuesday, stating head coach Ben McAdoo offered him the chance to begin the game at quarterback to keep his 210-game starting streak alive. Manning declined that chance after being told Smith and Davis Webb would then come on in relief.

The New York Giants will start backup quarterback Geno Smith in Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders, head coach Ben McAdoo confirmed Tuesday.McAdoo added that 2017 third-round pick, Davis Webb, will also get a look under center."Geno will start this week. Over the last five games, we will take a look at Geno, and we will also give Davis an opportunity," McAdoo said.The decision ends Eli Manning's streak of 210 consecutive games started. McAdoo gave the 36-year-old the option to start in order to continue the streak, but Manning declined."Our No. 1 priority every week is to go win a game, but we owe it to the organization to get an evaluation of everybody on the roster, and that includes the quarterback position," McAdoo said. "I'll say it again, I have the utmost respect for Eli and everything he has done for this organization throughout his career."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In what is essentially a two-horse race at this point, Carson Wentz and Tom Brady are battling it out for Offensive Player of the Year honors. But what about on the other side of the ball? It's an interesting year, statistically speaking, as there isn’t one guy who just leaps off the page on defense.Zach Brown leads the league in tackles, followed by Joe Schobert. Kevin Byard has the most interceptions with six, and Micah Hyde is the only player in the league with five. But with respect to those four players, none of them are worthy of the Defensive Player of the Year title.As for sack numbers, Calais Campbell and Chandler Jones now lead the league with 12 apiece. There's no doubt a dozen sacks through 11 games is outstanding. But it isn’t rare air, as we have seen sack artists on pace to possibly threaten the all-time record (22.5) in years past, and Campbell and Jones are both projected to finish well shy of that number. There are great pass-rushers in the NFL, but one doesn’t currently stand above all others to grab a hold of the Defensive Player of the Year award.Here are some candidates to strongly consider, but it's safe to say that this is a tight race right now.Calais CampbellAs mentioned, Campbell leads the league in sacks. He's quite possibly been the best addition to a team this year, at any position, providing a tough veteran presence to what is currently the NFL's best defense. The Jaguars' young core is swarming with talent, but it's perhaps Campbell who stands out the most. And he even scored a touchdown this week!Some may argue star cornerback Jalen Ramsey is more valuable to Jacksonville's defense than Campbell is. And while that's debatable, the general consensus seems to have Campbell at the top of the list for Defensive PoY.Aaron DonaldDonald is the most disruptive interior player in football. He impacts games and offensive game plans more than any player in the NFL, and he does it at a remarkably consistent level, week after week, down after down. This is one of the best combinations of leverage, power, and quickness that has ever walked onto a football field.You mix all that with great effort and you have an extremely special player. Donald's ability to instantly penetrate is even more valuable in a league where teams are relying on quick passes more often than in the past. Flat out: Donald is the best defensive player in the league right now, but that doesn't necessarily guarantee him the award.Bobby WagnerThe underappreciated Seahawks linebacker is probably having his best season as pro, and that's really saying something.Wagner, who has the third-most tackles in football, rarely gets the credit he deserves or is mentioned in the same conversation as other great LBs such as Luke Kuechly. But the fact is, Wagner is on a Hall of Fame pace and has been an absolutely critical component of one of the elite defenses of this generation.Wagner is better than ever right now, and is playing on a defense that's had to withstand several major injuries. This is a player without a discernible weakness, who excels against the run and the pass. He covers a ton of ground and is able to do anything and everything asked of him.Wagner has an extremely strong case for Defensive Player of the Year and was outstanding again in Week 12. He's a rock of consistency and production.The Winner: Aaron DonaldRunner Up: Bobby WagnerHonorable Mention: Joey Bosa, Jadeveon Clowney, Everson Griffen, Casey Hayward, Cam Heyward, Chandler Jones, Cameron Jordan, Kuechly, Marshon Lattimore, Von Miller, Patrick Peterson, Ramsey, Harrison SmithMatt 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 © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After another look, Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio offered a more tempered response to the hit that injured receiver Amari Cooper in Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos.Cooper attempted to make a catch over the middle, but was hit by Broncos safety Darian Stewart. Cooper sustained a concussion on what Del Rio initially deemed "a vicious hit.""In looking at it, in being honest, I think Amari did duck his head as the guy was approaching. That makes it a little harder on the defender," Del Rio said after seeing replays, according to Paul Gutierrez of ESPN."That was probably the one piece that I didn't have access to prior to that comment. The reality is, it's harder to be a defensive guy when the offensive guy is ducking his head. That makes it a little more complicated."Also of note on the play was that Stewart hit Cooper with the side of his body, rather than with his helmet or shoulder.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

No NFL team is perfect. Whoever ends up winning the Super Bowl this year will do so not because they have no weaknesses, but rather because their strengths and determination will outweigh their faults.With only five weeks left in the regular season, the race for the twelve playoff spots is getting tight. In the AFC, after the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers, the rest of the conference is up for grabs. The AFC South and West are completely wide open, with teams who looked out of the playoffs a few weeks ago suddenly back in the picture.Here's a breakdown of who legitimately has a shot in each AFC division, and what issues may keep them out of the playoffs.AFC EastNew England PatriotsAfter starting the season 2-2, the NFL world had exactly one week for their annual “what’s wrong with the Patriots” storylines. Seven weeks and seven wins later, the Patriots look to be on a crash course with the Steelers in the AFC Championship game.Any 9-2 team has very few real weaknesses. Unlike last year, when the Patriots led the NFL in defensive points given up, their main issues lie on that side of the ball.They are giving up 385 yards of offense to opponents, including 270 through the air. Both stats are ranked in the NFL's bottom three. This statistic is a bit deceiving as the Pats have been up by two or more touchdowns in multiple games during their seven-game winning streak.Teams who are losing throw the ball more, and the Pats are fine with giving up yards as long as their opponents aren’t scoring points. Fortunately, they are only giving up 20 points per game, good for 11th in the league.The Pats are making another run, but Tom Brady might have to carry the load a little more than last year.Buffalo BillsBuffalo is the Jekyll and Hyde franchise of 2017.Early in the season, they looked like a team that was finally turning the corner and could find themselves in the playoffs for the first time since 2000. At Halloween, the Bills were 5-2 and getting ready for a three-game run against three teams who missed the playoffs last year.Sure enough, Buffalo lost all three.The Bills saved their season Sunday with a huge win at the Chiefs. At 6-5, they are squarely in the playoff picture. What do they have to do over the next five weeks to secure their first playoff berth in 17 years?Buffalo is one of those rare teams with a winning record, yet has been outscored by opponents. Their offense and defense both rank in the NFL's bottom fifth. They are giving up almost 60 more yards a game than they are earning.During that three-game losing streak, they gave up 34, 47, and 54 points to the Jets, Saints, and Chargers, respectively. Their defense came to play Sunday​​​​​​, allowing only 10 points to the struggling Chiefs. But the offense mustered only 16 points to squeak out a win.The Bills play New England twice during their next five games, which would make you believe they won’t make the playoffs. But, their other three games are two against Miami and the Colts at home. They have a legitimate shot at going 9-7 and getting into the postseason since the AFC is top-heavy this yearAFC NorthPittsburgh SteelersBen Roethlisberger just doesn’t have it anymore. Yeah ,right.The Steelers have won six in a row since Big Ben announced he isn’t the quarterback he used to be. They're sitting at 9-2 and are walking away with the division. I have little doubt that home field advantage is on the minds of Mike Tomlin’s team.They have few weaknesses. Statistically, they are highly ranked in most major categories on offense and defense. They don’t have a lot of serious injuries as we head down the stretch. Rookie standout JuJu Smith-Schuster didn’t play Sunday, but usually hamstring injuries don’t last more than a few weeks.The suspension of right tackle Marcus Gilbert for performance-enhancing drugs is an issue for the next three weeks. The final game of his suspension, against the Patriots, could be a preview of the AFC Championship game.Roethlisberger is a playoff and Super Bowl veteran who is dispersing the ball to the NFL's best collection of weapons. If he and his teammates can stay healthy, we could see Roethlisberger ride off into the sunset with a third Super Bowl victory.Baltimore RavensThe Ravens don’t look like a playoff team but are still in the hunt at 6-5. Their offense is one of the NFL's worst; the Joe Flacco-led passing attack is sitting dead last at 165 yards a game. But they're still in contention thanks to a defense that's giving up only 17 points per game.After playing the Lions and Steelers, the Ravens end the season with possibly the league's easiest three-game stretch. They play at Cleveland, then at home versus the Colts and Bengals. Nine wins is a real possibility for Baltimore, and it may be just enough to get them into the postseason.AFC SouthTennessee TitansSomehow, Tennessee is 7-4 despite being outscored by 27 points on the season. When they lose, they lose badly.This team doesn’t win pretty, either. They are one of the NFL's best at stopping the run, and control the ball on offense by using both DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry effectively. Combined, they should rush for around 1400 yards this year.Tennessee’s passing attack is their biggest concern. They lack a true No. 1 receiver, which is why tight end Delanie Walker is leading the team in receiving. Teams without multiple weapons on the outside don’t get far in the NFL’s postseason.More importantly, quarterback Marcus Mariota has been struggling. His career high four interceptions versus the Steelers was followed by two interceptions last weekend. He's thrown eight interceptions in his last four games. By contrast, he's only thrown nine touchdowns all season.Jacksonville JaguarsThe Jaguars have the NFL's best team/worst quarterback combination. They have the No. 1 defensive unit, giving up only 15.3 points per game. They're also ranked first in rushing as Leonard Fournette and Co. are averaging 154 yards per game on the ground. Five players, including their quarterback, have at least 179 yards rushing.Since the preseason, quarterback Blake Bortles has been the biggest question mark. It’s a significant issue given the Jaguars are built to win now in almost every other area. His saving grace is that his interceptions and sacks are down this year, but so are his touchdowns and yards.He's also helping with his legs, something that shouldn’t be overlooked. A quarterback who can run (Bortles has 257 rushing yards) can be extremely effective getting key first downs, and touchdowns, in close playoff games.AFC WestKansas City ChiefsThe Chiefs have taken the 2016 Vikings' role as the squad with the hottest start to the year, followed by a dreadful middle third of the season. They've lost three in a row, including a rare Andy Reid loss after a bye week. The only team to beat the Eagles has lost to Dallas, the Giants, and the Bills in its last three games. This team is falling fast.Their defense has been poor most of the year, and their offense has gone dry since Halloween. They rank 27th in total defense, struggling to stop both the run and pass.In their last three games, the Chiefs have averaged only 13 points. Their untraditional “Spread Coast” offense seems to have been figured out by opposing defenses. Benching Alex Smith and starting rookie Patrick Mahomes II is a hot topic among Chiefs fans, but I don’t see that happening until Kansas City loses the division lead.Los Angeles ChargersFor the record, I hate typing "Los Angeles Chargers." It doesn’t feel right. Having said that, I also don’t love writing about teams with sub-.500 records getting into the postseason at this stage of the season either. But because the AFC West is having a disaster of a year, I guess I'll have to move forward.Philip Rivers is quietly having a very good season. He has a 95 quarterback rating, with 20 touchdown passes to just seven interceptions. Two young stars - Keenan Allen and Melvin Gordon - are the main reasons for Rivers’ success.Their No. 1 concern is their inability to stop the run. They are giving up 133 rushing yards per game, which is dead last in the league. Fortunately, they keep teams out of the end zone. Opposing offenses are only scoring 18 points per game against them.The Chargers started the year 0-4 and have since won five of seven. The Chiefs are reeling. The Broncos are all but done. The Raiders have serious defensive issues. Add it all up and the Chargers have a real shot to win the division. This would be huge for the organization in general, as the move to Los Angeles has been unpopular since the day it was announced.Oakland RaidersLike the Chargers, the Raiders have crept back into the hunt for the AFC West title, having won two of their last three during the Chiefs three-game slide.Their strength since Jack Del Rio became head coach has been their offense. Derek Carr is having a solid, but unspectacular, season. He has three receiving threats in Jared Cook, Michael Crabtree, and Amari Cooper. We'll know this week if Crabtree's two-game suspension is upheld on appeal.The issue with their offense is their lack of big plays. Cook, Crabtree, and Cooper all have 42 catches this season. Cook, a tight end, is leading the team in yards per catch average at 12.8. That's almost never a good sign.The main story this year in Oakland has been their defense. They are ranked 24th in total defense, which is one reason why defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. was fired last week.The Raiders should win this week versus the Giants, and then they'll head to Kansas City for a game which could decide their season’s fate.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 © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFLers will be mixing fashion and charity this week when they break out new designs for "My Cause, My Cleats" week.Here are a few fresh cleats players couldn't wait to unveil:

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.

For the second consecutive season, NFL players will support charitable causes near and dear to their hearts by participating in the "My Cause, My Cleats" campaign in Week 13.Players will be given license to decorate their cleats with images and messages representing the charities of their choice. The campaign began last year and the majority of players participated.A number of athletes have already released the designs they intend to wear for this week's slate of games.

The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles are the favorites to meet in Super Bowl LII in updated odds released Tuesday by the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook.It should come as little surprise, as the Patriots and Eagles own two of the best records in the league. And, since Oct. 25, the Super Bowl odds for both teams have improved.Team Nov. 28 Oct. 25Patriots2-17-2Steelers7-29-2Eagles9-27-1Vikings8-112-1Falcons12-114-1Rams14-118-1Saints16-114-1Panthers18-130-1Seahawks20-110-1Chargers30-160-1Chiefs30-18-1Jaguars30-160-1Titans30-140-1Raiders40-125-1Ravens100-1200-1Lions100-150-1Cowboys200-120-1Packers200-160-1Also of note are the improved odds of the Los Angeles Rams, which jumped up to 14-1 from 18-1 a month ago. Meanwhile, the Carolina Panthers own 18-1 odds to reach the Super Bowl after sitting at 30-1 last month, and the Los Angeles Chargers also made a leap to 30-1 from 60-1.Among the teams that have fallen down the list are the Kansas City Chiefs, whose odds dropped to 30-1 from 8-1, and the Dallas Cowboys, who moved to 200-1 from 20-1.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It remains to be seen whether Sam Darnold will return to USC for his junior year or if he'll head to the NFL, but he's made it clear that avoiding the Cleveland Browns won't be a factor in his decision."I didn't say anything about the Browns," Darnold said after practice on Monday, as per ESPN. "I've never said anything bad about (an NFL) team. They know I would never say anything."The rumor stems from a report from Albert Breer of the MMQB earlier in the month, saying Darnold would wait to see who has the top picks in the draft before making his final choice.