Tyrod Taylor will be without his newest weapon in his return to the starting lineup.Buffalo Bills wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin was downgraded to out for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs due to a knee injury, the team announced Saturday. He was initially listed as questionable.Benjamin has suited up for two games since his trade-deadline move from the Carolina Panthers, but has struggled to make an impact, totaling four catches for 62 yards and zero touchdowns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

UCLA announced Saturday the hiring of Chip Kelly as its head coach on a five-year deal worth $23.3 million with a $9-million reciprocal buyout."I am thrilled to welcome Chip Kelly to Westwood," said athletic director Dan Guerrero in a statement. "His success speaks for itself, but more than that, I firmly believe that his passion for the game and his innovative approach to coaching student-athletes make him the perfect fit for our program. 'Champions Made Here' is more than just a mantra at UCLA, and I'm confident that Chip will lead UCLA Football back to competing for championships."Kelly was expected to choose between vacancies at UCLA and Florida after meeting with officials from both programs, though the Gators reportedly dropped out of considering the former Oregon coach."It is an absolute honor to join the Bruin Family, and I am grateful to Chancellor Block and to Dan Guerrero for this incredible opportunity," said Kelly, who will be formally introduced on campus Monday. "UCLA is a world-class institution with a distinguished history in athletics, and we will do our part to uphold its tradition of excellence."The hiring of Kelly on Saturday, his birthday, comes after former UCLA head coach Jim Mora Jr. was fired on his own birthday, Nov. 19, following the team's third straight loss. Jedd Fisch, the former offensive coordinator, has been acting as interim coach, helping the Bruins became bowl-eligible with a win over Cal on Friday night.Kelly has been working as a college football analyst after being fired from his position as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers following the 2016 season. He hasn't coached at the college level since 2012.He compiled a record of 46-7 at Oregon from 2009-12, leading the team to the Rose Bowl in his first season, and guiding the school to three consecutive conference championships and the 2010 national championship game.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.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.

It's a wonder it hasn't happened yet, but after Thursday's debacle of a performance, the New York Giants have no recourse but to sit Eli Manning.Facing the Washington Redskins in a dreadful Thanksgiving night game, Manning threw for 113 yards and one interception. If not for a 27-yard completion in the game's dying minutes, he would've finished with less than 100 yards passing.The 14-year veteran has had a notable career and will likely end up in the Hall of Fame on the strength of his two Super Bowl victories, but at this point in the 2017 season, both the team and player have nothing to gain from Manning continually taking a physical and statistical beating the rest of the campaign.At 2-9, the Giants' season has long been over, and Manning has already been robbed of just about every offensive weapon he was expected to have.Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall have been on the shelf since Week 5, while Sterling Shepard has missed the last two games with migraines. The Giants have one of the NFL's worst rushing attacks and rank 29th out of 32 teams in total offense.With no help for Manning and nothing to play for, it's time for the Giants to see what they have in third-round pick Davis Webb."I guess the normal procedure would be to start taking a look at more younger players but we're doing that, really, already, with the way things have come out injury-wise," head coach Ben McAdoo said Friday after the Giants' latest loss.But they haven't done that at quarterback. Nothing should stop them from doing so now.The Giants drafted Webb this year in the hopes that he could be Manning's successor. Now that New York is on pace to own a top-five pick in the 2018 draft, they need to see whether the 6-foot-5 Cal product is worth the team using that top pick at another position. If not, they could land one of the heralded quarterbacks expected to come out of the college ranks.Is Webb a foundational piece, merely a depth piece, or a disposable asset? It would be ideal for the Giants to figure that out before they're on the clock with the option of picking or passing on Baker Mayfield, Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold, Lamar Jackson, or Josh Allen.If the only thing keeping the Giants from sitting Manning is his remarkable streak of 210 consecutive starts, a simple resolution would be to let their franchise stalwart start the remaining five games - either the first series, quarter, or half - and allow Webb to replace him and get his necessary work.Manning can continue to build on his iron-man streak, and be spared the embarrassment of being asked to bow out.Regardless, the Giants would be wise to find a quarterback who could grow with Beckham, much like the connection Houston Texans rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson has already formed with DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller.Will Beckham be making one-handed catches off Webb's passes, or will Mayfield, Rosen, or another quarterback be on the other side of that partnership?The future is already the focus for the Giants with a quarter of a season left to play."We need to get more out of the young players on our roster," McAdoo said.That should include more information.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As the NFL playoff picture reveals itself, several of the contending teams are being led by familiar names with plenty of star power under center.Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson - you've seen them all before.But there's certain 6-foot-1 journeyman joining the playoff conversation, who may become the real star of postseason football. Minnesota Vikings quarterback Case Keenum has been overcoming the odds and exceeding expectations this season, and is now steering his team in the direction of the Super Bowl.While we've become accustomed to seeing the same names trot up and down the field in January and February - all but two of the last 14 Super Bowls have featured one of the aforementioned Brady, Brees, Roethlisberger, Newton, and Wilson - Keenum's unconventional path to his current role makes him the real underdog this season, and everyone loves an underdog.Keenum got his start in the heart of Texas, scoring 89 total touchdowns over 42 starts and leading Wylie High School to its first and only state championship as a junior in 2004. But the undersized passer got just two stars as a high school prospect, resulting in a limited number of options for college ball.The University of Houston landed Keenum to be a potential replacement for four-year starter Kevin Kolb, but they got much more than just a replacement player. Over five seasons at Houston, Keenum set NCAA records for passing yards (19,217), completions (1,546), passing touchdowns (155), 300-yard passing games (14), touchdowns responsible for (178), and many more.But, as was the case after high school, Keenum's success was downplayed. His college numbers were downgraded due to the Air Raid offense he played in, which allowed him to regularly exceed 40 passing attempts per game, evidently sinking his draft value. Keenum signed as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans - seemingly as a gesture of goodwill by the team to sign the local college hero - spending his rookie year on the practice squad.As a second-year pro, Keenum got his first start for a 2-6 Texans team that was struggling to score points. He lost all eight of his starts that year and appeared to establish himself as a backup at best.He then played musical chairs with the Texans and then-St. Louis Rams in the years that followed. He signed with the Rams in 2014, got waived to their practice squad, was re-signed to the Texans' roster by December, and then traded back to St. Louis in March.Playing under Jeff Fisher, Keenum had a tough time getting into a rhythm or building any confidence as he had little offensive creativity around him. Keenum started 14 games for the Rams between 2015 and 2016, going 3-2 down the stretch in his first year before starting 4-5 in his second season. The Rams ranked 32nd in total offense both years, reflecting so poorly on Keenum that it became debatable whether he was even worth a roster spot.Since signing with the Vikings last March as a possible third-stringer behind Sam Bradford and then-injured Teddy Bridgewater, Keenum has done everything in his power to dig himself out of his hole and play his way back into relevancy.After losing two of his first three starts in relief of Bradford, Keenum has led the Vikings to seven straight victories, fending off fan-favorite Bridgewater for the team's starting QB job, and showing it was no fluke he broke all those records in college.Since the team's Week 9 bye, Keenum has topped 280 passing yards each week while completing at least 70 percent of his throws, and led his team to wins over opponents that all had at least a .500 record before they met the Vikings.Despite his elite college success, it's rather startling how quickly Keenum has risen to success after appearing destined to hold a clipboard. But it would be even more shocking - and thus, satisfying - if he leads the Vikings past the likes of Wilson, Brees, Newton, and Carson Wentz to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.And to make this underdog tale even more improbable, Super Bowl LII will be played in Minnesota, and no team has ever gotten to play the big game on home turf.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady landed on the injury report this week after aggravating his Achilles last week, but the New England Patriots quarterback shrugged off any questions about his Week 12 availability."I feel great. Ready to go," Brady said Friday, according to Doug Kyed of NESN. "So, I'll be excited for Sunday. It was good just to get a little extra treatment. I'm feeling great this time of year. It will be a fun week. Nothing to worry about."Brady was listed as a limited participant at practice both Thursday and Friday. Nonetheless, the 40-year-old left no doubt he'll be on the field for Sunday's divisional matchup with the Miami Dolphins.Achilles injuries can be significant. Seattle Seahawks corner Richard Sherman said he had been dealing with an Achilles problem all season and he knew it would eventually give. It did just that when he ruptured his Achilles in a Week 10 contest against the Arizona Cardinals. The extent of Brady's injury has not been revealed, however.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New Orleans Saints announced Friday that top cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Ken Crawley won't play in Sunday's key game against the Los Angeles Rams.Lattimore didn't practice due to an ankle injury, while Crawley is nursing an abdomen ailment.The Saints will now have to contend with the Rams' fifth-ranked offense with P.J. Williams, De'Vante Harris, and Sterling Moore handling most of the coverage responsibilities.The Saints (8-2) and Rams (7-3) enter Week 12 as the current No. 3 and No. 4 seeds, respectively, in the NFC. They're both chasing the Philadelphia Eagles, who sit at 9-1 and own the top seed in the conference.Both New Orleans and Los Angeles also own one-game leads in their respective divisions, making Sunday's head-to-head battle the biggest game of the week across the league.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The landscape in the AFC and NFC couldn’t be more different.Teams that are playing at a playoff level will be left out of the NFC tournament while, on the other side, at least one questionable AFC team is going to be playing in the postseason. Nonetheless, the picture is crystallizing and there are a few key matchups this Sunday that could have strong implications.Saints at RamsAaron Donald vs. Saints' interior offensive lineThe Rams just lost in Minnesota last week and are now 7-3 with a difficult schedule ahead of them. The Saints record is one game better, but both teams sit atop their respective division with a one-game lead. It is safe to say that both franchises have exceeded preseason expectations.We know Drew Brees is still a premier quarterback, but it has been the combination of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara that have become the foundation of the Saints offense. But, what can be lost about this group is that New Orleans' offensive line could be the best in football.Donald is the best interior defensive player in the NFL and should be the front-runner for Defensive MVP honors. Whether he receives the award or not, Donald is a dominant player week after week. Wade Phillips does a great job of getting his best player in advantageous matchups and while New Orleans offensive line is excellent, right guard Larry Warford is probably the weakest link.Next to Warford is rookie Ryan Ramczyk, who has done well in his first season, but hasn’t seen anyone like Donald in his short career. Expect Donald to spend a lot of time lined up on Warford’s outside shoulder and attacking the gap between Warford and Ramczyk. Donald is capable of wrecking New Orleans’ offense.Dolphins at PatriotsBrandin Cooks vs. Xavien HowardIt is probably a stretch to say that Miami is a playoff contender considering how they are playing. The Dolphins have lost four in a row, but are only one game back of the wild-card race in the underwhelming AFC. If they could pull off the upset in New England, the Dolphins can revive their season.This is just the first of two matchups between Miami and New England, and therefore between Howard and Cooks. Cooks will not always align in the same location, but usually lines up to Tom Brady's left side. Howard is the Dolphins right cornerback and will often get help in trying to slow down Cooks, especially with Chris Hogan unlikely to play in Week 12.New England is throwing deep at a high percentage and Howard is having a rough season. But, Howard is a talented young man with a size advantage over Cooks and Miami could generate some pass-rush to make long developing routes difficult for Brady and Cooks. Considering how both teams are playing, maybe that is wishful thinking on Miami’s part.But in order to save their season and stay competitive on Sunday, Howard cannot afford to let Cooks get behind him as a gamebreaker. Cooks had two catches last week of 52 yards or longer and Miami has allowed far too many deep completions this season. Tackling also has been a problem for Howard, which could come into play on Cooks’ shorter receptions. This is a dangerous receiver that must be contained. That task falls on Howard.Packers at SteelersDavante Adams vs. Coty SensabaughThe Packers' season has flatlined after Aaron Rodgers went down with injury. But, Rodgers could conceivably return late in the year, and if Green Bay - currently at 5-5 - can tread water in the meantime, Rodgers might just save the season. The Steelers have a history of playing down to “lesser opponents,” but such instances usually occur on the road. And, Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger's record in prime-time games is impeccable.There has not been many bright spots of late in Green Bay’s offense, but Adams certainly qualifies as one. Adams has stepped his game up this year and is clearly Brett Hundley's most trusted and dangerous target. Since Hundley took over, Adams has accounted for a high percentage of Green Bay’s production in the passing game.Pittsburgh has a great defense, but they have started to allow big plays in the passing game over the past three weeks. Artie Burns is a talented player, but consistently has mental gaffes and is susceptible to biting on double moves. The Steelers don’t flip their cornerbacks, and with Joe Haden sidelined, it will be Sensabaugh lined up exclusively at left corner with Burns on the right side.Sensabaugh has held up well with Haden out of the lineup, but is certainly at a disadvantage against Adams. The Packers will align Adams all over the formation, but most of his snaps come to Hundley’s right side, which will pit him against Sensabaugh most of the time. To pull off the upset, Adams must explode on Sunday night. That is a possibility.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 © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase has ruled out quarterback Jay Cutler for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots due to a concussion suffered in Week 11, according to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald.Backup Matt Moore will start in his place. David Fales will serve as his backup.Cutler spent the week in the league's concussion protocol, participating in some light throwing in Thursday and Friday's practices.Moore replaced Cutler last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and finished the game by going 17-for-28 for 282 yards and a touchdown.Cutler had gone just 6-for-12 for 83 yards and one touchdown, while throwing three interceptions.Moore's first start of the season was against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8. He completed 25 of 44 passes for 176 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions.He's participated in a total of three games, completing 59.1 percent of 93 pass attempts for 646 yards, and an equal three touchdowns to three interceptions. All three of his touchdown passes have gone to wide receiver Kenny Stills.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers safety Desmond King recorded the first interception of his career in Thursday's 28-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys, and in doing so, fulfilled a seven-month-old prediction.In April, the rookie tweeted that his first interception would be a pick-6:

The Atlanta Falcons will be forced to play without its star running back for the second consecutive week.Head coach Dan Quinn announced Friday that Devonta Freeman has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a concussion, according to beat writer Kelsey Conway.The ruling marks the second consecutive absence for Freeman, who suffered the concussion against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10.Prior to the injury, Freeman had rushed for a total of 515 yards and five touchdowns on 116 carries, adding 137 receiving yards on 19 catches.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers will officially activate tight end Greg Olsen from injured reserve after the veteran went down with a foot injury in Week 2, head coach Ron Rivera announced, per Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer.Rivera says the Panthers will use Olsen "judiciously" this Sunday against the New York Jets.Olsen returned to practice Monday following Carolina's bye week. His recovery should provide a boost for the Panthers' offense as Olsen led the team in receiving yards in each of the previous three campaigns. Between 2014-2016, Olsen became the first tight end in league history to record three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons.To make room for Olsen on the roster, the Panthers will place rookie receiver Curtis Samuel on injured reserve with an ankle injury.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey says he won't be able to play Sunday's road game against the Arizona Cardinals after suffering an injury in Friday's practice, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.Ramsey reportedly jammed his hand while going for a ball in practice and is officially considered questionable for the Week 12 game.Ramsey is ranked as Pro Football Focus' No. 5 corner this season. The sophomore has recorded 36 combined tackles and two interceptions through 10 games. He is yet to miss a game in his two-year career.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Donald Trump continues to be easily set off by any NFL player who chooses not to stand at attention during the American national anthem.After blasting the league for reportedly considering forcing players to stay in the locker room during the anthem, Trump was again angered by the sight of players kneeling on Thanksgiving.Trump responded to a tweet attempting to call out New York Giants defensive end Olivier Vernon for kneeling during the anthem Thursday night, drawing the conclusion that Roger Goodell has lost control of the NFL.

SSSQ is a weekly look at the under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting, and the potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut. For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 12 rankings.StartAndy Dalton, QB, Bengalsvs. BrownsDalton has gone four consecutive games without throwing an interception, tossing multiple touchdowns in three of those four outings. The Browns allow two passing scores per game.Fearless prediction: 257 yards passing, 3 TDsOther QBs to start

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen had a lot to be thankful for Thursday.Ahead of the Vikings' 30-23 victory over the Detroit Lions, Griffen and his wife, Tiffany, welcomed their third child, a boy. Griffen couldn't be there in person for the birth of his son, who joins brothers Greyson and Ellis, but he was able to watch it on FaceTime."Seven pounds, 2 ounces, born right before the game, so I was doing my warmup watching the birth on FaceTime," he told ESPN's Courtney Cronin. "So wife is healthy, baby is healthy, we don't know his name yet, but it's not about that. I'm happy to have a new addition - three boys."Griffen hopes fans will help choose a name for the baby. After sacking Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, he lifted up his jersey to reveal the message "I just had a baby boy. What should we name him?" written on his undershirt.

Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys suffered their third straight loss Thursday - an ugly 28-6 blowout at the hands of the Los Angeles Chargers.After the game, Chargers defensive end Chris McCain rubbed more salt in Prescott's wounds with this tweet:

Each week during the NFL season, theScore's Dane Belbeck will handicap every matchup and offer up a three-pack of picks.Week 11 record (includes TNF pick): 7-6-1

A number of contenders have dropped out of the NFL's MVP race recently - some due to injury (Deshaun Watson), others due to a steep decline in individual and team success (Alex Smith and Kareem Hunt).But the battle at the top is only just heating up with six weeks remaining in the regular season.1. Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles2,430 passing yards, 59.7 completion percentage, 25 TDs, 5 INTsThe Philadelphia Eagles' offense is a well-oiled machine, and at its center is Wentz, who has exceeded even the most optimistic expectations for his sophomore season.He has the eye-popping stats, the wins (the Eagles sit at 9-1), and, maybe most importantly, the new-kid-on-the-block factor over his closest rival, Tom Brady. MVP voters are always looking to crown a new king.Wentz could seal it next week if the Eagles walk into CenturyLink Field in prime time and take it to MVP rival Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks.2. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots3,147 passing yards, 68.7 completion percentage, 22 TDs, 2 INTsBrady isn't far behind front-runner Wentz - especially after a near-flawless Week 11 outing in which he torched the Oakland Raiders for 340 yards, three touchdowns, and an 81.1 completion percentage.The veteran is throwing downfield as well as he has in years, and while the New England Patriots' defense is improving, he still can't rely on the unit to back him up consistently. Perhaps only the next man on this list is required to do more to help his team win than Brady.If Wentz slips up, even a little, Brady is in position to claim his third MVP award (and his first since 2010).3. Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks2,801 passing yards, 62.6 completion percentage, 21 TDs, 7 INTs, 376 rushing yards, 2 TDsWilson's always been a star, but most people would agree that he enjoyed one of the league's top supporting casts over the first five years of his career.But oh, how things have changed this season. Long gone are the days of Marshawn Lynch grinding the will of opposing defenses into dust, and injuries have decimated the Legion of Boom.That's left Wilson to carry the load almost single-handedly, and he's accounting for 82.8 percent of the entire team's offensive production. To catch Wentz and Brady, though, Wilson will likely need to drag the Seahawks to 11 wins.4. Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers70 catches, 1,026 receiving yards, 6 TDsThe quality of MVP contenders falls off significantly after Wentz, Brady, and Wilson, but Brown is at the top of the next tier following a 144-yard, three-touchdown performance in Week 11.The star receiver has been in amazing form all season, and he leads the NFL in catches. However, he's not on pace to get close to any all-time receiving record, and he's set to fall short of his own career highs. Brown needs an otherworldly last six games to gain serious consideration.5. Drew Brees, QB, Saints2,783 passing yards, 71.6 completion percentage, 15 TDs, 5 INTsFor the first time in years, the Saints are more than just their franchise quarterback. New Orleans is relying on a newly dominant run game and a rejuvenated defense to win, lessening the load on Brees.Consequently, his numbers are far from the historic ones he's put up since landing in New Orleans. Still, the veteran pivot showed he remains the engine of this team during a spectacular 15-point overtime comeback against the Washington Redskins.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Thanksgiving provides us with family, friendship, and football, the latter of which captivated us with three games Thursday as the NFL season enters its home stretch.The holiday is often used for a period of reflection, and we're no different here at theScore. Below are grades for Thursday's key performances.Keenan Allen/Philip Rivers Allen recorded a career-high 172 yards while Rivers was cool and composed as the Chargers stomped the Cowboys 28-6 during the second game of Thursday's tripleheader. Rivers absolutely scorched the Cowboys, finishing 27 of 33 for 434 yards and three touchdowns - including a 42-yard strike to Allen - as the Chargers cruised past a worn-out secondary during the second half. There's a growing sentiment that the Chargers will catch the Chiefs in the AFC West, and the team's top two offensive players took matters into their own hands in this one.

The Dallas Cowboys were embarrassed on their home field in a 28-6 Thanksgiving Day loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, extending their losing skid to three games.Despite the recent struggles, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wanted nothing to do with any talk of coaching changes."No, absolutely not - and I mean it, no," Jones said after the game, per David Helman of DallasCowboys.com."We all know that it has to get better, has to get together. I really think this coaching staff is tops. I think (head coach Jason Garrett) is able to use everything that he's learned, as coordinator, as coach over these last years, and we've just got to get it together."The stats have not been favorable to the Cowboys during their skid.Related: 3 shocking stats from the Cowboys' 3-game slideOn Thursday, quarterback Dak Prescott was outgunned by Chargers pivot Philip Rivers 434-179 in passing yards, and 3-0 in touchdowns.The loss pushed the Cowboys to 5-6 and 10th in the NFC standings.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The nightcap of the NFL's Thanksgiving tripleheader has been predictably dull.A game featuring the depleted Washington Redskins and New York Giants has been short on intrigue and entertainment.After one half of play, the NFC East foes went to the locker room deadlocked at 3-3. A look at the numbers shows just how unwatchable the first two quarters were:9 puntsThe two teams combined for six points ... and nine punts. Seven of the first eight drives of the game ended in punts. That string was broken up only by a turnover on downs. Yuck.12 rushing yardsRedskins running backs Samaje Perine and Byron Marshall, and quarterback Kirk Cousins combined for 12 rushing yards on seven attempts. Together, they averaged 1.7 yards per carry. In fact, Cousins led the team in rushing at the break, with seven yards on one carry.54 passing yardsThat's how many yards through the air the Giants had. Eli Manning is without many of his weapons, including Odell Beckham Jr., Brandon Marshall, and Sterling Shepard. He made due by throwing to Roger Lewis, Evan Engram, Orleans Darkwa, Rhett Ellison, and Wayne Gallman, who combined for the paltry total.6 penaltiesThat's right, the game had as many penalties as points. There weren't even any turnovers to get excited about.Anyone that hasn't turned off the TV or changed the channel is openly trying to ruin their Thanksgiving.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys were blown out for the third straight week on Thursday, leaving the entire team searching for answers.Quarterback Dak Prescott - who had a Thanksgiving to forget with two interceptions, including a pick-6 - didn't hide his disappointment after the 28-6 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers."We're all frustrated, and we're going to be frustrated, and I'd be pissed if somebody in there isn't," Prescott said, according to David Helman of DallasCowboys.com.Over the past three games - all without suspended running back Ezekiel Elliott - the Cowboys have been outscored 92-22. Dallas also went 10 quarters without scoring a touchdown, a franchise record.Still, Prescott maintains he's optimistic moving forward."We're not going to lose confidence in ourselves," he said. "Those guys in there - the Pro Bowls that they have and what they've done in this league - we've got the answers, we've just got to get off our own feet and be better."Now at 5-6 and 4.5 games behind the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East, the Cowboys will look to get back on track next Thursday against the Washington Redskins.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys are quickly falling out of playoff contention, and continued their slide with a 28-6 blowout at the hands of the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday.Now in the midst of a three-game losing streak, the Cowboys (5-6) will need to win the majority of their final five regular-season games to make the postseason for the second consecutive year.Here are three ugly stats that encapsulate Dallas' recent struggles:10 straight quarters without a TDQuite simply, the Cowboys have been a completely different team without Ezekiel Elliott. The offense has struggled immensely with last season's leading rusher suspended, and clearly misses Elliott's breakaway speed out of the backfield. Although Thursday's game was lopsided, Cowboys fans might have let out a begrudging sigh of relief when Rod Smith finally punched in a 2-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. It had been 10 quarters since the Cowboys last scored a touchdown, and they've shown no signs of figuring things out without Elliott.Outscored 72-6 in second halvesDallas has been particularly dreadful in the second half during its three-game losing streak, with mere deficits quickly turning into insurmountable barriers. During the skid, the Cowboys have been outscored by a combined 66 points after halftime, and have failed to show any fight against the Falcons, Eagles, or Chargers. That lack of resiliency is troubling, and could spell further doom.Prescott's worst stretch yetDak Prescott has surprisingly been the player most responsible for the Cowboys' collapse.

The Los Angeles Chargers were written off and left for dead after their ugly 0-4 start to the 2017 season. Yet, after their blowout of the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, the Bolts have won five of their last seven games and are a serious threat to make the postseason.Related: Rivers, Chargers beat fading Cowboys 28-6 on ThanksgivingThe Chargers currently sit at 5-6, half a game behind the Baltimore Ravens, the team that currently occupies the sixth and final AFC playoff spot.It was an improbable prospect in October.At the time of their winless start to the season, it was repeated ad nauseam that only one team since the AFL-NFL merger has made the playoffs after starting 0-4. One team out of 113. That team? The 1992 San Diego Chargers.In that season, the Chargers reeled off four straight wins after their 0-4 start and won 11 of their last 12 games. They finished the year as AFC West champs and participants in the divisional round of the playoffs.This year's iteration of the Chargers is on pace to make a similar run.With weapon Keenan Allen finally healthy, Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler providing balance in the running game, and the defense ranking third in takeaways and turnover differential, the Chargers are firing on all cylinders.They're also the hottest team in the AFC West. The division-leading Kansas City Chiefs have lost four of their last five and currently sit only a game and a half up on the Chargers. Los Angeles has leapfrogged the fading Oakland Raiders and Denver Broncos, who both fired coordinators to begin the week.Not only are the Chargers challenging in what was thought to be the toughest division in football, they're also in the mix for one of two wild-card spots. They're currently the eighth seed in the conference and own one of the easiest remaining schedules.Of their final five games, only one has a winning record: the reeling Chiefs.Week Team Record13vs. Browns0-1014vs. Redskins4-615at Chiefs6-416at Jets4-617vs. Raiders4-6Now these are the Chargers, and they're known to suffer demoralizing losses. Even their matchup next week against the Cleveland Browns is no guarantee, as they were the lone team to allow the 1-15 Browns to record a win last season.If the Bolts can avoid a similar letdown, they'll enter the final quarter of the season with a 6-6 record and a favorable schedule in a weak conference."Never in a million years did I think we'd be here at 0-4," head coach Anthony Lynn said after the Chargers' awful start. "I look at football in four quarters, just like a game. And we just stunk the first quarter of our season. We've got three quarters left to figure some things out and gets this thing turned around."Now, it appears the Chargers have things moving in the right direction, and could be on course to repeat franchise history.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs doesn't mind being out of the spotlight.Diggs started the year on fire but has since been surpassed by teammate Adam Thielen, who topped the 1,000-yard mark for the season during Thursday's 30-23 victory over the Detroit Lions.After the game, Diggs couldn't be more proud of Thielen."It’s remarkable ... I have the utmost respect for (him). And I love him. That’s my brother. That’s more than just my teammate. And to see him hit that 1,000-yard mark, it's like your brother graduating from college," Diggs said via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.Thielen's 1,005 yards through 11 games are a career-high and the 27-year-old is a good bet for his first All-Pro selection if he keeps up this pace, while the Vikings separate from the rest of the NFC North at 9-2.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Dallas Cowboys' offensive line took another blow Thursday as standout guard Zack Martin exited the Thanksgiving contest in the third quarter to undergo concussion testing.Martin was ruled out for the remainder of the game and was replaced by Joe Looney.The Cowboys missed stud left tackle Tyron Smith the previous two games and were blown out in both contests. He returned for Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers, only to be followed by Martin's absence.The Cowboys' offense has struggled since Ezekiel Elliott began serving his six-game suspension in Week 10. Without Elliott and Smith, Dallas went 10 consecutive quarters without scoring a touchdown, the longest string in franchise history. The streak was broken in the fourth quarter against the Chargers.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageDez Bryant was held without a catch in the first half of Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers and, perhaps coincidentally, the Dallas Cowboys were held off the scoreboard.Former NFL receiver Chad Johnson took a break from his Thanksgiving festivities to roast the Cowboys for ignoring Bryant.

Los Angeles Chargers rookie receiver Mike Williams was carted to the locker room with a knee injury in the first half of Thursday's Thanksgiving game against the Dallas Cowboys.The team announced he's out for the rest of the game.It's been a disappointing year for the seventh overall draft pick, in which he's only appeared in six games and accumulated just nine catches.He went catchless in Thursday's game before sustaining the injury.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sean "Diddy" Combs continues to throw support behind Colin Kaepernick and his cause.The hip-hop mogul, who urged NFL players to "stick together" after president Donald Trump called on owners to fire those who protest during the national anthem, shared a photo Thursday on Instagram from a recent meeting he had with Kaepernick."I'm inspired by what he's doing for our people," Diddy wrote. "Times like this we need to be united."

Thanksgiving is a day to appreciate what you have, but for the Lions, Thursday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings highlighted what Detroit sorely needs to find: a running game.The Lions failed to produce a 100-yard rusher against the Vikings, extending a streak that dates back an embarrassing four years, almost to the day:

They still remember Justin Verlander in the Motor City ... maybe?Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford appeared to honor the legendary ex-Tigers star, who now pitches for the Houston Astros, with an audible call during Thursday's Thanksgiving Day game against the Minnesota Vikings. Needless to say, Verlander was surprised and honored to hear his name while watching from home.

Thanksgiving is a time for family, food, and football, and NFL players around the league took to social media to celebrate the festivities.

Dwight Freeney had the chance to accomplish an extremely rare NFL feat Thursday, but unfortunately for all trivia nuts out there, it was not to be.The 37-year-old defensive end had an outside chance to compete in two games in a span of approximately 64 hours, however, his new team, the Detroit Lions, officially listed him as inactive for Thursday's afternoon contest against the Minnesota Vikings. As of 8:30 a.m., Freeney had still not taken his physical with his new club, according to Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press.Freeney suited up for the Seattle Seahawks in Monday night's 34-31 defeat to the Atlanta Falcons, but was waived less than 24 hours after the contest. The Lions wasted little time in snagging the seven-time Pro Bowler, claiming him off waivers Wednesday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fletcher Cox is being sued by a North Carolina man who claims the Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle had an affair with his wife and ruined their marriage.The plaintiff, Joshua Jeffords, alleges Cox slept with his wife while she was in Pennsylvania on a work trip in April and "continued the relationship via text messages," according to TMZ Sports. He also claimed in his lawsuit, filed Nov. 22, that Cox sent his wife a picture of his genitalia on Snapchat and told her in a text "I want to get you pregnant."Jeffords is suing Cox for alienation of affection and seeking more than $25,000 in damages.According to North Carolina state law, to win an alienation of affection case, it must be proven the plaintiff and their spouse "had a genuine love and affection," that love and affection was "alienated and destroyed," and that the "malicious acts of a third party produced the alienation of affection."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 updated rankings for Week 12.The final rankings will be released Sunday morningStandard

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.Thanksgiving is a day where the plate can often runneth over. Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, candied yams, stuffing, pumpkin pie, stuffing. Oh, and stuffing. Don’t forget stuffing. Plus, you have to save enough space to put three NFL games on your plate. Covers checks in on the action and line movement for this trio of Week 12 games, with insights from Will Bernanke, lead analyst for CG Analytics in Las Vegas, and Scott Cooley, odds consultant for offshore sportsbook Bookmaker.eu.

The NFL's yearly gift to fans in the form of a tripleheader on Thanksgiving is upon us, with the usual teams taking the field Thursday.As is tradition, the Detroit Lions will host the early game before the Dallas Cowboys welcome the Los Angeles Chargers in the afternoon. The evening kickoff will see the Washington Redskins square off with the New York Giants.Home teams are the pick this week for all three matchups:Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (+3)The Vikings are arguably the hottest team in football with six straight victories, but face a tough divisional road game on short rest in Detroit. The Lions already scored a win against Minnesota this season, holding Case Keenum to one of his worst games of the year in Week 4. And while the Vikings' defense is tough against the run, Lions rusher Ameer Abdullah had one of his strongest games of the season in the win over Minnesota. Look for Matthew Stafford to feed off the run game with some quality play-action passes, and for the Lions to knock off the Vikings again. Lions 21, Vikings 17Los Angeles Chargers at Dallas Cowboys (+2.5)Offensive tackle Tyron Smith looks set to return to the Cowboys' lineup at just the right time - just as the terrifying pass-rush tandem of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram comes to Dallas. The Chargers utterly embarrassed the Buffalo Bills and rookie quarterback Nathan Peterman last week, but face a tougher test in Dak Prescott on Thursday. The Cowboys have flopped without Ezekiel Elliott, but Smith's absence was just as important. Alfred Morris is no Elliott, but should be able to find running room against the Chargers' league-worst rushing defense. That will take some pressure off Prescott and help the home side get the win. Cowboys 28, Chargers 23New York Giants at Washington Redskins (-7.5)The Giants cobbled together one of the most shocking wins of the season last week by knocking off the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs. But despite the momentary respite from a dismal year, expect New York to return to losing form against Washington on Thursday. The Giants' offense is still woefully short on playmakers, and Sterling Shepard is no guarantee to play as he recovers from migraines. That's bad news against a Washington team that's hit the 30-point mark in each of its last two games. This one could be over early. Redskins 31, Giants 17Thursday picks record: 8-2-1Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While this season hasn't been the most satisfying campaign NFL fans have been subjected to, Thursday is Thanksgiving in the United States, which should give everyone a chance to reflect on what they're thankful for this year.It's pretty easy to come up with a list of things we're not so thankful for from the 2017 season:

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz has received 273,367 fan votes for the 2018 Pro Bowl thus far, good for most in the league.The second-year sensation is roughly 33,000 votes ahead of New England Patriots pivot Tom Brady. Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell, Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley, and Steelers receiver Antonio Brown round out the top five.PlayerVotesTeamC. Wentz273367EaglesT. Brady239989PatriotsL. Bell227771SteelersT. Gurley215687RamsA. Brown215584SteelersAfter showing positive signs as a rookie, Wentz has taken the league by storm as a sophomore. The North Dakota State product leads the NFL with 25 touchdown passes, and has steered the Eagles to the best record in football at 9-1.Voting for the Pro Bowl runs until Dec. 14.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Known as the ultimate businessman for the first 10 years of his NFL career, Darrelle Revis put his raw passion for football on display Wednesday upon signing with the Kansas City Chiefs."The reason for me returning is the fire I have, the fuel I have to continue to play this game at a high level," the seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback said, according to ESPN's Adam Teicher.Revis signed what's been reported as a two-year contract with the Chiefs that includes zero guaranteed money, a stray from the business-minded approach he became famous for earlier in his career.The 32-year-old isn't sure what role Kansas City will carve out for him, but head coach Andy Reid indicated Revis could step into the starting lineup."My role is to help win," Revis told reporters. "Whatever is best for the team, whether my position is playing a few downs or playing in the slot - wherever coach wants to play me and feels he can utilize me to help win.''Revis noted he's lost weight since the end of last season, saying he's down to 208 pounds after playing in 2016 at a significantly higher weight with the New York Jets, according to Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs have signed free-agent cornerback Darrelle Revis, the club announced Wednesday. The deal is a two-year contract that will pay Revis the veteran minimum for 2017 with no guaranteed money in 2018, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

The Detroit Lions claimed veteran pass-rusher Dwight Freeney off waivers Wednesday after he was released by the Seattle Seahawks, the team announced.Freeney will be reunited with Lions head coach Jim Caldwell, who coached him with the Indianapolis Colts from 2009-11.The 37-year-old sack specialist appeared in just four games for the Seahawks this season, notching three sacks and one pass deflection.It's unlikely Freeney plays for the Lions this week, as he'll have little time to prepare before the team faces the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday.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.Winning cures everything. It doesn’t matter how toxic a locker room is or how much animosity players feel towards their head coach: you win and all is forgiven.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians said Wednesday that he doesn't expect quarterback Carson Palmer or running back David Johnson to return from injured reserve this season, according to Darren Urban of the team website.Palmer was originally placed on injured reserve after suffering an arm injury in a Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.Johnson suffered a wrist injury in the Cardinals' season opener against the Detroit Lions.Safety Tyvon Branch, offensive tackle D.J. Humphries, tight end Ifeanyi Momah, center Daniel Munyer, long snapper Aaron Brewer, offensive guard Mike Iupati, and wide receiver Aaron Dobson are also on injured reserve and not expected to return this season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While most fantasy managers have learned to be hesitant when it comes to lone Thursday night games, the three-game holiday slate provides too much value with solid fantasy plays on the schedule.Here's a look at an option from each of Thursday's three games to help get your Week 12 matchup off to a good start.Minnesota Vikings at Detroit LionsKyle Rudolph, TE, VikingsRudolph has received seven targets in each of his past four games and no less than that amount since Week 4. Though he's trending for fewer receptions, targets, yards and scores than last year, part of the decrease in his usage can be blamed on the emergence of wide receiver Adam Thielen, who's already topped last year's targets total and will almost surely surpass his receptions and yardage marks this week.The Lions' funnel defense ranks third and 17th, respectively, against No. 1 and No. 2 receivers, according to Football Outsiders' DVOA, but just 29th against opposing tight ends. Quarterback Case Keenum won't need to force passes to Thielen or Stefon Diggs with Rudolph likely to be left open in the middle of the field.Los Angeles Chargers at Dallas CowboysChargers D/STCowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has been sacked 12 times over his past two games, though he wasn't sacked more than twice in any of the first eight games of the season when accompanied by running back Ezekiel Elliott. Left tackle Tyron Smith - sidelined for the past two games due to a groin injury - remains questionable for Week 12.That means Prescott should be in for more of the same treatment Thursday. The Chargers rank third in the league with 30 sacks, ahead of his past two opponents, the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles. The vaunted pass rush has led to 12 interceptions for the defensive unit, though that's inflated by the five picks Buffalo Bills rookie Nathan Peterman threw in Week 11.Prescott threw a career-high three interceptions against the Eagles, and he's failed to score a passing touchdown in each of his past two games and three of his past four.Meanwhile, replacement running back Alfred Morris is averaging 5.1 yards per carry in Elliott's absence, but he's yet to score a touchdown and the Cowboys are making fewer trips to the red zone.New York Giants at Washington RedskinsSamaje Perine, RB, RedskinsPerine, a fourth-round pick in the 2017 draft, rushed for just 210 yards on 66 carries in his first nine NFL games, adding six receptions for 55 yards and one touchdown.His role expanded significantly when he filled in for injured starter Rob Kelley in Week 11. Perine finished that game against the New Orleans Saints with 177 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, adding one 9-yard reception.Now that he's proved himself to Redskins coaches and fantasy managers, Perine is in for an even larger role in the absence of pass-catching back Chris Thompson.Perine could approach 30 touches against a Giants defense ranked 25th against the run by Football Outsiders.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Bill Belichick is usually very careful not to give opposing teams any bulletin-board material, but his relentless compliments may have drifted into unintentional sarcasm on Wednesday.Preparing to face the Miami Dolphins this weekend, the New England Patriots head coach had high praise for the quarterbacks who run the league's 30th-ranked offense."Well, the Dolphins have very good depth at quarterback. Both players are outstanding players," Belichick said Wednesday when asked the difference between facing Jay Cutler and Matt Moore. "They can throw the ball well, they're smart, they can handle the different looks that coach (Adam) Gase gives them to make the defense declare what they're in and then attack it."So, I think they have a very good and healthy quarterback situation. They have two guys that can come in and play at a high level and move the ball and score points for their team. So, it's a good position the Dolphins put themselves in."The Patriots still don't know which play-caller they'll face Sunday as Cutler may be held out due to a concussion.Both Cutler and Moore have had trouble finding success and consistency this season, ranking 39th and 44th in league passer rating this season, with their head coach unafraid to call out their struggles publicly.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

While most of the NFL has moved on from the anthem issue, President Donald Trump remains upset that some players still aren't standing for "The Star-Spangled Banner."Trump tweeted Wednesday morning that the NFL is thinking of forcing teams to stay in the locker room during the anthem, referring to a report from the Washington Post on Tuesday.As with most ideas involving the anthem that do not force everyone to stand, Trump is not a fan.

Alshon Jeffery found his way into headlines last January - while still a member of the Chicago Bears - when he guaranteed a Super Bowl victory.While Jeffery was laughed at by many for his lofty expectations at the time, the now Philadelphia Eagle is the one getting a chuckle out of it, given his current situation."I never said a team, though," he said on Tuesday regarding his Super Bowl prediction, according to ESPN's Tim McManus.The 9-1 Eagles will host Jeffrey's former squad, which currently sits last in the NFC North, on Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

AFCPittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown wins his fifth Player of the Week Award, having captured two offensive titles and three on special teams. Brown caught 10 of 13 targets for 144 yards and three touchdowns on Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans.Linebacker Matt Judon recorded his second two-sack game of 2017 and also forced a fumble to help the Baltimore Ravens shut out quarterback Brett Hundley and the Green Bay Packers. His seven combined tackles were the second most he's recorded in a single game this season.Stephen Gostkowski went a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra point attempts in the New England Patriots' 33-8 victory over the Oakland Raiders in Mexico. Gostkowski used the high altitude to his advantage to kick two 50-plus yard tries, including a season long of 62 yards.NFCNew Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram continued his second-half surge with 134 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries against the Washington Redskins. It was Ingram's second consecutive game with at least 130 rushing yards, scoring four touchdowns over the two-game span.Safety Landon Collins was the major reason for the New York Giants' best defensive performance of the season, holding the Kansas City Chiefs to just nine points. Collins recorded 15 combined tackles and his second interception of the season.Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett returned five kicks for a total of 197 yards against the Atlanta Falcons, earning him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. It marked the highest single-game return yards total since the 2016 rule change that moved starting field position to the 25-yard line following a touchback.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.