Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict avoided a fine for making contact with an official Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, Tom Pelissero of USA TODAY Sports reports.Burfict was ejected from the game but avoided a suspension. It was the first ejection of Burfict's career.Related: Bengals' Burfict blames NFL officials for provoking him into ejectionHe's been suspended and fined several times throughout his career, serving a three-game sanction during the 2017 season for an illegal preseason hit.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has been listed as questionable for Sunday against the Buffalo Bills due to a concussion, putting his 194-game start streak in danger of being snapped.Rivers finished last week's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but was placed in concussion protocol Monday. It's believed Rivers suffered the concussion on his final play of the game attempting to make a tackle on an interception return.He saw limited participation in Wednesday's practice, but was upgraded to full for Thursday's and Friday's sessions, according to the team's injury report.Should he be unable to play Sunday, veteran backup Kellen Clemens would be the starter. Clemens attempted one pass last year and hasn't thrown more than six times in a season since 2013.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict was ejected from Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans for making contact with an official, but it wasn't entirely his fault, at least according to the player himself.Burfict asserted he was egged on by the referees, though he did recognize he acted in an inappropriate way.Related - Watch: Bengals' Burfict ejected vs. Titans for contacting official"The refs, they come up to me, talking to me disrespectfully, wanting me to curse back at them, but me cursing back at them isn't going to help me," Burfict said Friday, according to Laurel Pfahler of ESPN. "I'm not going to get a flag in my favor next time around, but that's the way they handle business, I guess. I told Coach I'm just going to try to stay out of the refs' way."Burfict added: "Obviously, you are not supposed to touch the officials, but I didn't think I touched him maliciously at all. I pretty much said, 'Excuse me.'"Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis told ESPN's Adam Schefter earlier in the week that Burfict needs to let the officials do their job and focus on his own."They have a job to do and they are going to separate players, and players are in a situation where they are there," Lewis said. "That's not what this is about, where the NFL should be. So, get back to the huddle and get going, and that's the most important thing."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the Cleveland Browns sitting at 0-9, plans are underway to celebrate a potentially winless season.Chris McNeil, the same fan who came up with the idea for an 0-16 parade last season, launched a GoFundMe campaign for the "Browns Perfect Season Parade 2.0." The $3,000 he's hoping to raise will help pay for security, public restrooms, medical personnel, and other costs associated with throwing a parade.McNeil's 2016 campaign raised $10,591, which was matched by the Browns and donated to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank after they defeated the Chargers in the final game of the season. If the Browns pull off a win this season, all funds will once again go to the food bank.

Would NBA commissioner Adam Silver consider taking his administrative talents to the world of professional football? Not for a second, apparently.With NFL commissioner Roger Goodell seeking an incentive-based contract extension that would pay him as much as $49 million per year plus additional perquisites, the confidant of one NFL owner reached out to Silver to gauge his interest in hypothetically switching leagues, "to which Silver immediately said no," ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham report.Silver has worked in the NBA for 25 years, with his responsibilities ranging from president of NBA Entertainment, to NBA chief of staff, to special assistant to the commissioner, to deputy commissioner, before finally taking his seat in the big chair in 2014. It seems that, at least for now, he's intent on staying there.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL felt the wrath of "South Park" once again Wednesday.In an episode titled "Moss Piglets," a group led by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones shows up at a special education science fair to find a solution to the NFL's ratings drop. Two of the students are studying "water bears," which Jones has decided is the key to the league's survival.

Jameis Winston has released a statement attempting to defend himself against allegations that he groped a female Uber driver in March 2016, which the NFL is investigating.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback claims that the report from BuzzFeed News, which he does not call by name, is incorrect.

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette continues to battle a lingering ankle injury that caused him to miss the team's Week 7 game against the Indianapolis Colts.Fournette is listed as questionable for this Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns, according to the club's official injury report.After being benched in Week 9, following the Jaguars' bye, for violating a series of team rules, he returned for his worst game of the season against the Los Angeles Chargers.Should Fournette suit up for the game, he's likely to see limited action, according to Florida Football Insiders.If he's inactive, Chris Ivory will likely make his third start of the season. Over nine games, Ivory has rushed 78 times for 280 yards and a touchdown, while catching 20 passes for 172 yards and another score.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

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 11 rankings.StartBlake Bortles, QB, Jaguarsat BrownsBortles begins a favorable stretch of games with a matchup against the Browns. As an error-prone figurehead of a run-first offense, his ceiling isn't that high, but his fantasy floor should be the benchmark managers base their starting decisions on.Fearless prediction: 269 yards passing, 2 TDsOther QBs to start

The NFL is currently investigating Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston over an allegation that he grabbed a female Uber driver's crotch in Arizona in March 2016, league spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.In a letter obtained by BuzzFeed News' Talal Ansari, NFL's special counsel for investigations Lisa Friel told the Uber driver: "The League has been informed that you may have been the victim of such a violation perpetrated by Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Jameis Winston. The league takes allegations of this nature very seriously and has opened an investigation into this matter."The driver reportedly alleges she picked up Winston around 2:00 a.m. on March 13, 2016. He was with a group of men who told her who he was before he entered the vehicle. Winston was the only passenger, sitting in the front seat and acting unruly, at one point shouting homophobic slurs at pedestrians, before asking to stop for food. The driver alleges that Winston, who she described as "very physically imposing," reached over and grabbed her crotch while waiting in a drive-thru line."I wasn't just creeped out," said the driver. "I was frozen ... I mean he's an NFL quarterback and I'm 5-foot-6. I'm not prepared for that. So I completely froze."The driver says that she was fearful to come forward as she did not want to become known as "the woman who Jameis Winston groped," but eventually decided she wanted to tell the truth "about a powerful man who felt entitled to my body when all I wanted to do was my job.""If I'm silent, I fear that further harm will come to other women, if it hasn't already," she said. "He sexually assaulted me, and I have every right to tell the damn truth about it."Winston's representatives have denied the allegations, claiming that it was someone else using Winston's Uber account, and told BuzzFeed that they had not heard of such a letter from the NFL prior to being contacted.The Buccaneers released a statement Friday.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott dropped the appeal of his six-game suspension and is leaving the country to clear his head, but a report on Cowboys owner/general manager Jerry Jones' initial reaction to the suspension is reigniting the issue.According to ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham, Jones was enraged when he learned of Elliott's suspension on Aug. 9, telling commissioner Roger Goodell over the phone: "I'm gonna come after you with everything I have."He then referred to the New England Patriots' fight for quarterback Tom Brady over Deflategate. "If you think Bob Kraft came after you hard, Bob Kraft is a p---y compared to what I'm going to do."Jones recently threatened to sue the league if it continues negotiations to extend Goodell's contract, though he's met resistance from opposing NFL owners in favor of the current regime.Related - Report: NFL owners to meet Dec. 13 to discuss potential Goodell extensionHe has laughed off suggestions that those owners will have him ousted.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Each week during the NFL season, theScore's Dane Belbeck will handicap every matchup and offer up a three-pack of picks.Week 9 record (includes TNF pick): 6-7-1

The Arizona Cardinals signed wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald to a one-year contract extension that will keep him with the club next season, the team announced.The 34-year-old has spent his entire 14-year career with the Cardinals. His upcoming free agency was setting up a murky offseason for the team, with the futures of quarterback Carson Palmer and head coach Bruce Arians widely in question.Fitzgerald has caught 60 passes for 677 yards and three touchdowns through nine games this year, totaling 1,185 receptions for 15,066 yards and 107 touchdowns in 211 games. He's added 10 more TDs in nine playoff games, including a trip to the Super Bowl in 2008.The Cardinals appeared set to send out the franchise's star receiver on top of the football world this year, beginning the season with Super Bowl aspirations.Through 10 weeks, they're a disappointing 4-5 and sit third in the NFC West, having played all but the season opener without running back David Johnson and their past two games without Palmer.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL's owners will hold an exclusive meeting to discuss Roger Goodell's potential contract extension on Dec. 13, Andrew Beaton of The Wall Street Journal reports.Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been lobbying for a meeting due to his opposition to the commissioner.A meeting was already scheduled for Dec. 13 but it will now include Jones' request to discuss his criticism of the extension.Related: NFL owners reportedly deny Jones' request for meeting to discuss GoodellGoodell's contract expires in 2018, and if extended, he'll remain in power through 2024."This is not the time for the League to undertake massive contractual obligations which are inconsistent with the League’s performance," Jones wrote in a letter contesting Goodell's extension.Many believe Jones' opposition to Goodell's extended tenure is directly related to the league suspending Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott for a violation of the personal conduct policy. Jones has denied this notion.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL owners have denied Jerry Jones' request for a special meeting to discuss Roger Goodell's contract extension.Ken Belson of the New York Times reports that the NFL rebuffed the request shortly after Jones made it on Thursday evening.Jones wrote a letter to the NFL a day after the league sent the Cowboys owner a letter itself, alleging he engaged in "conduct detrimental to the league's best interests."Since contract negotiations began, Jones has been vehemently opposed to an extension for Goodell. The NFL suspended Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott for a violation of the personal conduct policy, and while Jones has denied that factored into his opposition, many believe it's the impetus for his actions.Related - Report: Jerry Jones would only face potential fine, legal fees if he sues NFLJones stated he's worried about the "severe threats of retaliation" in trying to block a potential extension for Goodell."This is not the time for the League to undertake massive contractual obligations which are inconsistent with the League’s performance," Jones reportedly wrote in the letter, according to the Journal.Goodell's contract expires in 2018 and an extension would keep him in power through 2024.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears Larry Fitzgerald's run with the Arizona Cardinals won't be ending after 2017 as the club and the star receiver are close to a one-year contract extension, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, citing a source.The 34-year-old is once again the team's best threat in the passing game, leading the roster by a massive margin in virtually every receiving category. Fitzgerald has 60 catches this season for 677 yards and three touchdowns, more than 25 catches and 300 yards ahead of the next closest Cardinal.Fitzgerald has been with the Cardinals for his entire 14-year career after being selected third overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He holds the franchise records for catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns and ranks in the top eight in NFL history in each category.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith will be sidelined for a second straight game Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, Jane Slater of NFL Network reports. Smith is dealing with groin and back issues, which forced him to miss the Cowboys' Week 10 game against the Atlanta Falcons. Slater added that Byron Bell is expected to play in his place versus the Eagles.It was evident against Atlanta how important Smith is to the Cowboys, as Falcons pass rusher Adrian Clayborn teed off for six sacks.Dallas is trying to stay in the hunt in the NFC East and a loss to the Eagles would almost certainly put the division title out of reach.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh Gordon's return to the Cleveland Browns appears to be going swimmingly, as his attitude has already impressed his head coach.Browns bench boss Hue Jackson spoke about Gordon's presence in the team's facility in Berea on Thursday, praising both the wide receiver's work ethic and punctuality."He's doing well. He's here in the building every day. On time for everything. Involved. A big smile on his face," Jackson said. "He's a pleasure to be around."Gordon will become eligible to officially return to team practice on Nov. 20, and later for game action on Dec. 3 against the Los Angeles Chargers.Ricardo Louis currently leads Browns wide receivers with 307 yards on 25 catches.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Aaron Rodgers has taken the next step in his rehab from a broken collarbone, returning to the practice field, though he's still not throwing a football.The Green Bay Packers quarterback participated in Wednesday's team practice, though he stuck mostly to conditioning drills and working on his throwing motion using a towel."It was just good being back on the practice field," Rodgers told ESPN's Jason Wilde.But the timeline for his return to action hasn't been expedited."Schedule hasn't changed. Out eight weeks. Only back if it's completely healed," he said.Rodgers suffered the injury in mid-October when he was driven into the turf by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr in Week 6. He required 13 screws to put the collarbone in place.It's been a month since the injury, and the Packers are happy with how far Rodgers has come."I think he's making really good progress," head coach Mike McCarthy said at Thursday's press conference, according to Wes Hodkiewicz of Packers.com. “I know the training staff and strength and conditioning staff are pleased with where he is.”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 11.The final rankings will be released Sunday morningStandard

Jerry Jones would only be subject to a potential fine and the prospect of paying for legal fees for both sides if he moves ahead with his plan to sue the NFL and its compensation committee, an unnamed team owner told Mark Maske of the Washington Post.Jones has tried to stand in the way of the committee's efforts to finalize a contract extension for Roger Goodell that would keep the commissioner in office until 2024."If he files a lawsuit, he could be subject to attorney fees and maybe a fine," the team owner said.On Wednesday, it was revealed the NFL sent a letter to Jones' attorney urging the Dallas Cowboys owner to drop his litigation threats. Jones is not, however, at risk of losing his franchise."I don't know where this is coming from about stripping him of his franchise," the owner said. "That's ridiculous. That's not going to happen."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tashaun Gipson has given the Cleveland Browns some bulletin board material.The Jacksonville Jaguars safety made headlines this week by saying the Browns would probably go 0-16, something that didn't go unnoticed in Cleveland."Definitely, anybody would be disrespected with that,'' Browns defensive tackle Danny Shelton said, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "We just have to go out there, play our game, and be dominant."Cleveland head coach Hue Jackson also spoke to his team about Gipson's comments."Oh I did,'' he said emphatically. "You can bet your bottom dollar I did.''Gipson played with the Browns for four seasons before signing with Jacksonville in 2016. Cleveland is the only winless team remaining in the league at 0-9.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

As sports bettors, we know all too well that whatever you think will happen will often not. But you don’t have to be amongst the degenerate sect to know that the universe doesn’t give two shits about your “best laid” plans.

This offseason could see a historic number of quarterbacks change teams. The draft class also appears to have several starting-caliber signal-callers, which will add to the chaos.But right now, we're entering Week 11 and have a good feel for which teams are contenders and which ones need to think about tomorrow.Buffalo just announced it's playing Nathan Peterman behind center at the expense of Tyrod Taylor. Taylor's recent years have been shakey, and it doesn't appear this new coaching staff wants a QB with his playing style.Also, given the sorry state of the AFC, the Bills might just fall into a playoff spot and hinder their long-term rebuilding goals with a few more wins. So, they're turning to Peterman to see what the rookie can do in the final stretch.Let's decide what nine other teams should do with the most important position on the field, whether it's in their coaches' best interests or not.Baltimore RavensThe Ravens haven't done a good job planning for the future at this position, and it's now safe to say Joe Flacco is more of a liability than someone they should rely on. Amazingly, though, Baltimore, which has a favorable schedule the rest of the way, could still sneak into the playoffs.If there was a promising young quarterback on the roster, the Ravens should go in that direction, but that isn't the case.Verdict: Stick with FlaccoCincinnati BengalsThe AFC is a disaster - so much so that Cincinnati could also end up in the playoffs. But it sure would be nice to see what AJ McCarron could do in real games for an extended stretch before he enters free agency.You could make the case for Andy Dalton, who hasn't been terrible, to remain the starter, or for the Bengals to see what McCarron can do. But with the playoffs still a possibility, it isn't time to rock the boat.Verdict: Stick with DaltonCleveland BrownsThe error was already made here in pulling DeShone Kizer in and out of games throughout his rookie season. Kizer hasn't been successful, but the Browns have done little to help him.He needs to play out the remainder of the season, without question.Verdict: Stick with KizerDenver BroncosThis is one of the NFL's worst quarterback situations. Brock Osweiler played OK last week as the Broncos got drubbed, but he and Trevor Siemian shouldn't be viewed as long-term options.Paxton Lynch has done little to inspire confidence that he can become that guy during his short stretch in the league, but Denver needs to give the former first-round pick a chance as soon as possible to see what he can do.Verdict: Switch to LynchMiami DolphinsDespite its record, Miami is a bad football team. But would pulling Jay Cutler out of the lineup and putting in a known commodity like Matt Moore have any long-term benefit for the Dolphins? Not really.In fact, while this is a long shot, these final games of the season will give Adam Gase more to go off when comparing Cutler to Ryan Tannehill if Cutler chooses to stay unretired. Nonetheless, Tannehill should own this job in 2018.Verdict: Stick with CutlerMinnesota VikingsThis was touched on earlier in the week, but Case Keenum, despite two terrible throws against Washington, deserves to remain Minnesota's starting quarterback. Can he lead one of the NFL's best rosters to a championship? The truth is, probably not.But what's often lost here is that Teddy Bridgewater wasn't all that impressive before his injury and has never played in this offensive system. Not to mention, he'll likely be rusty when he returns, and the Vikings are going to the playoffs. Keenum is the better option.Verdict: Stick with KeenumNew York GiantsFew have noticed, but Eli Manning has played OK of late and the offense as a whole has improved, even without Odell Beckham and Brandon Marshall. Manning has thrown for just under 500 yards with four touchdowns over the past two games.Still, he's in decline, and the best thing for the Giants would be to see what Davis Webb brings to the table. New York's season is obviously over.Verdict: Switch to WebbNew York JetsThe Jets are in a similar situation to their New York counterpart. Josh McCown hasn't been the problem this year. In fact, he has exceeded all expectations. While their situation isn't as dire as that of the Giants, though, the Jets' season is over.New York should strongly consider bringing McCown back next year, maybe even as their opening-day starter, but the time has come to see if Christian Hackenberg can bring anything to the table at the NFL level.Verdict: Switch to HackenbergSan Francisco 49ersThis one is tough because we don't know how well Jimmy Garoppolo knows Kyle Shanahan's complicated offense. Compounding matters, we've seen C.J. Beathard take a beating at times with the 49ers' suspect supporting cast. Will throwing an unprepared Garoppolo into the mix to watch him get abused really help the organization?Probably not, but San Francisco still should be gaining a much better understanding of what they have in their new quarterback with extended reps during the week and within the quarterback meeting room. Garoppolo needs to see the field this year, but San Francisco would be wise not to rush it.Verdict: Stick with BeathardMatt 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.

Clay Matthews has joined the chorus of Green Bay Packers players offering public support to their team doctor.Former Packers tight end Martellus Bennett claimed last week that Packers physician Dr. Patrick McKenzie knew about an existing shoulder injury and tried to persuade him to play through it. The allegation came after the veteran was released by Green Bay and subsequently scooped up by the New England Patriots.Related: Rodgers backs Packers doctor following Bennett's claims"We all got a good laugh from it," linebacker Clay Matthews said of Bennett's claims, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "It is what it is. Martellus is in their locker room now and not here anymore. So now we're just focused on the guys we have in here."Bennett had planned to end his season early and undergo shoulder surgery, but before he could go under the knife, the Packers cut him for "failure to disclose a medical condition."Bennett responded with a tirade on Instagram, claiming the Packers panicked about having to pay the remainder of his salary."I think everybody knows the story there - we don't need to talk about it much more," Matthews said. " ... We're focused on the guys in the locker room, but it's an interesting story that will probably be talked about for a while."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Researchers say former NFL linebacker Fred McNeill was the first living person identified with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).A case study was published this week and Dr. Bennet Omalu, credited with discovering the disease in football players, confirmed to CNN's Nadia Kounang that the unnamed subject in the report was McNeill, who died in 2015.Only a brain exam after death can confirm the diagnosis of the degenerative brain disease. However, the presence of CTE was first discovered in 2012 through an experimental brain scan that revealed the presence of tau, a signature protein of CTE.McNeill played for 12 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, from 1974-1985.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Rookie Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Dede Westbrook isn't short on confidence.Yet to make his NFL debut, he's set to line up for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns and expects to make an immediate impact."I always set the standard high for myself. For me, and this has nothing to do with the Cleveland Browns at all, but my expectation is a 200-yard receiving game," said Westbrook, according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.Westbrook isn't the only Jaguar expecting big things against the Browns. Teammate Tashaun Gipson said earlier this week he hopes the Jags score 40 on their opponents."Their offense probably shouldn't score against our defense," Gipson said on ESPN Radio's "Freddie and Fitz Show."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Players Association announced on Thursday its investment into a venture capital fund focused on finding treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, such as those associated with dementia."This investment continues the NFLPA's commitment and legacy to research that can improve the long-term health and well-being of NFL players," a release from the NFLPA reads.The players union began looking into the investment about a year ago, and will be investing in the Dementia Discovery Fund based in London, England, and Boston."We believe the DDF's novel model presents a real opportunity to improve the treatment of neurological diseases, and, importantly for us, provide valuable insights into neurodegenerative disorders which have been associated with our sport," said Ahmad Nassar, president of NFL Players, Inc.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The CFL's Ottawa RedBlacks broke out the limbo bar after a touchdown last weekend, and the celebration made waves south of the border, impressing many of their NFL brethren.But the reaction from one team was disappointment.The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had been working on a similar touchdown celebration."I saw that video, and I was like, 'Dang, man, I guess that one's gone,'" Buccaneers receiver Adam Humphries told Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.In Tampa's version, the 195-pound Humphries would have filled the role of the limbo bar. But he conceded the team will have to scrap its plans now that the celebration has been used.The Bucs were waiting for the right moment to break it out, but they've only scored two touchdowns in the last three weeks - one of which came in garbage time of a blowout loss."I wish we were scoring more touchdowns so our players were getting to do it more often," head coach Dirk Koetter said.- With h/t to Sports IllustratedCopyright © 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.Baltimore Ravens at Green Bay Packers (+2, 38)Ravens' ruthless pass rush vs. Packers' poor O-line playYou might see the Ravens sitting in the middle of the pack in sacks (22) and wonder how this pass rush could be considered among the elite. A closer look reveals that Baltimore ranks 12th in sack rate (7.24 percent) and has forced a league-high 13 interceptions, leading to an NFL-best 270 interception return yards and two returns for touchdowns. Baltimore is coming off a three-sack effort in last week's 23-20 loss to the Tennessee Titans.The Packers have already lost one quarterback to injury this season, and will need to do a better job of protecting the backup. Green Bay is one of only six teams to have already surrendered at least 30 sacks, and its 8.7-percent sack rate against is fifth-worst in the NFL.Brett Hundley was taken down three times for a total of 30 yards lost in last week's victory over Chicago, and could be in for a long afternoon if the Ravens are able to exert their pass-rush dominance over Green Bay's suspect O-line.Jacksonville Jaguars at Cleveland Browns (+7.5, 37.5)Jaguars' ball-thieving prowess vs. Browns' turnover troublesJacksonville has reeled off three wins in a row, and boasts one of the league's top point differentials at plus-92. Winning turnover battles has played a bit part in the Jaguars' resurgence, and they'll look to continue that success against a Cleveland team struggling to hang onto the ball.One year has made all the difference in the world for Jacksonville, in a variety of areas. Turnovers is near the top of that list; after finishing with an abysmal minus-16 turnover differential last season - only the New York Jets and Chicago Bears fared worse - the Jaguars have completed a dramatic 180-degree turn, coming into this week ranked fifth with a plus-7 differential.

After a few weeks of divisional action, Thursday Night Football is headed to Pittsburgh for the Tennessee Titans' trip to the AFC North-leading Steelers.Both clubs sit first in their division, and, with their combined record of 13-5, this could be the best Thursday night matchup of the season.Here's how to bet the kickoff to Week 11 action:The wager: Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers (-7)The Titans come in having won four straight games, but that shouldn't fool bettors into thinking they're among the league's upper echelon. Tennessee has failed to cover the spread in each of the last three wins, barely squeezing past the Browns, Ravens, and Bengals. Despite a 6-3 record on the campaign, the Titans have a minus-8 point differential, and that will catch up to them Thursday.Pittsburgh barely got past the Colts last weekend and has surprisingly struggled to score lately despite a multitude of weapons on offense. The defense has stepped up and taken over, leading the Steelers to four wins in their last five games. Look for Antonio Brown and the passing attack to get on track against an average Titans secondary, and Ben Roethlisberger to have one of his better games this season. Steelers 28, Titans 17Thursday picks record: 7-2-1Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL wrote a letter to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, accusing him of "conduct detrimental to the league's best interests" regarding his blatant refusal to agree to an extension for Commissioner Roger Goodell.The Associated Press obtained a copy of a letter addressed to Jones' attorney, David Boies, on Wednesday. Jones is threatening to sue the NFL if an extension is approved for Goodell, whose contract expires in 2018.An extension would put Goodell in charge through the 2024 season.Jones is involved in another feud with the NFL, vehemently disagreeing with the league's decision to suspend Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott for a violation of the personal conduct policy. Elliott withdrew his appeal Wednesday and Jones has defended him against any allegations levied by the league, or otherwise.The Cowboys owner previously denied that his objection to a Goodell extension is rooted in the Elliott conflict.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFLPA released a statement Wednesday in defense of Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.Elliott withdrew his appeal against the remainder of his suspension and will be eligible to return during Week 16.Related: NFL says Elliott's decision to drop appeal speaks for itselfThe statement reads as follows:

Carolina Panthers safety Kurt Coleman was fined $24,309 for a hit delivered on Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman during the team's Week 9 victory.Coleman avoided sanction during last week and wasn't penalized during the play. However, Coleman was disciplined for "unnecessary roughness" and is planning to appeal the fine, according to ESPN's David Newton.Freeman appeared to be concussed but remained in the game. The running back was placed in the concussion protocol during the Falcons' Week 10 game against the Dallas Cowboys, appearing to aggravate the injury.Falcons head coach Dan Quinn denied Monday that Freeman suffered a concussion during the Panthers game.Freeman is in danger of missing Monday's game against the Seattle Seahawks.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is all too excited about his upcoming business trip.Gronkowski and the Patriots square off against the Oakland Raiders at Mexico City's legendary venue Estadio Azteca on Sunday, and the 28-year-old is looking forward to a brief change of scenery."It's always cool to change up the atmosphere," Gronkowski said during his media availability Wednesday. "It always gets you excited heading into a new atmosphere not knowing what to expect exactly, so it's going to be something different. It's going to be something fun."Gronkowski is in the midst of another stellar season, recording 38 receptions for 583 yards and five touchdowns in eight games.While Gronkowski initially tried to downplay his preparation for Sunday's game in typical Patriots fashion, he couldn't help but express his joy when asked if he had a message for the people of Mexico."My old message: Yo soy fiesta, baby."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL officially responded to Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott withdrawing his appeal of his suspension Wednesday."His decision speaks for itself," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said via Tom Pelissero of USA TODAY Sports.Elliott's suspension has been vacated and reapplied several times before it was once again reinstated by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on November 9. The running back left the country shortly thereafter to clear his head.Related: Ezekiel Elliott to withdraw appeal, serve remainder of suspensionAfter dropping his appeal, Elliott will be eligible to return in Week 16.Elliott ranks third in the NFL with 783 rushing yards and his absence is a crushing blow to the Cowboys' offense.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver John Ross is in the proverbial doghouse for a perceived lack of effort during Sunday's loss to the Tennessee Titans.Ross gave up on a route during the second quarter of the game, and Andy Dalton failed to connect with him as a result.Head coach Marvin Lewis did not spare the Bengals' first-round pick during his press availability Wednesday."John had a play last week we weren't very thrilled with," Lewis said via Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "For Andy, against that coverage to throw him that football, he should understand how the quarterback feels about him. That he expects him to be where he needs to be. He let his teammates down. He let me down. He let Andy down."Ross has struggled throughout his rookie season, failing to record a catch in three games. The Bengals selected Ross ninth overall in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Washington after they were enamored with his blazing speed."Maybe that ball is not supposed to go there in that coverage, but if you do it right and run like you can run that ball can go there and it can be a big play for us,” Lewis said. "The receiver can’t dictate where the ball goes. The quarterback has to make the read and do what he does and throw the ball based on the coverage and his progression. In that case, he chose John. Made a nice throw and put the ball where it needed to be and it ended up from you to me away. Had he been running, likely he catches it."It remains to be seen whether Ross' snap count will be impacted as a result.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageArizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians is comfortable starting Blaine Gabbert against the Houston Texans on Sunday, defending his quarterback's reputation.Gabbert became a punchline after his abysmal stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Francisco 49ers, but Arians believes he received an unfair rap."He was on really shitty teams," said Arians, via ESPN's Josh Weinfuss.Gabbert is thrust into the starting role with Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton both nursing injuries."I can honestly say this is the best feeling I've ever had about playing a third quarterback. If he plays, I feel really good about it," Arians said.Gabbert last played for the 49ers in 2016, completing 56.9 percent of his passes for 925 yards, five touchdowns, and six interceptions.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ezekiel Elliott will forego his appeal and serve the remainder of his suspension, the Dallas Cowboys running back's agents told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Elliott consulted with the NFLPA about his decision, but his agents made it clear in a statement that he isn't admitting wrongdoing."This decision is in no way an admission of any wrongdoing, and Mr. Elliott is pleased that the legal fight mounted by he and his team resulted in disclosing many hidden truths regarding this matter as well as publicly exposing the NFL's mismanagement of its disciplinary process," the statement read.The 22-year-old was suspended for six games by the NFL after a lengthy investigation into allegations of domestic violence. Elliott appealed the ruling through the courts, which saw the ban postponed and reinstated multiple times.Elliott served the first game of the suspension last week against the Atlanta Falcons and will be eligible to return in Week 16.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr. spent his bye week trying out for a spot on the reboot of "American Idol."ESPN aired a clip Sunday of Jones auditioning for judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan, but it looks like fans will have to wait until the show's premiere on March 11 to find out how far he made it."It was just a good opportunity," Jones told ESPN's Michael Rothstein. "Usually, it's funny because I've been in the league six years and there's still people who don't know I can sing. I've never really put myself out there like that, just when people were nagging me to do it."Just a change. Just something I thought it would be a cool experience before I get too old."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With ownership behind him for the time being, New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo held a meeting with his players on Wednesday where many truths were revealed."We had a long, hard and honest meeting this morning," McAdoo said. "We had some open conversations and some hard talks ... we played some film and were brutally honest with each other."The Giants were embarrassed 31-21 by the previously winless San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, a week after the defense was shredded for 51 points by the Los Angeles Rams. Many Giants tacklers showed subpar effort in both weeks.McAdoo hinted, based on the effort displayed last week, that there could be changes in the lineup for this week's meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs.As for his job security, though co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch issued a statement proclaiming their support for McAdoo, the second-year head man acknowledged the final seven weeks of the season will be crucial."It's probably the greatest opportunity in my life these next seven weeks," he said. "A lot of doubt out there, whether it's in the building or not, but there's doubt definitely on the outside. So, we have a chance to flip the script these last seven weeks."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills' decision to move on from quarterback Tyrod Taylor and get a look at what they may have in 2017 fifth-round pick Nathan Peterman is the right choice - just not for the same reasons head coach Sean McDermott is claiming.“We are in the playoff hunt and we are always focused on becoming the best team possible. We were made for better than 5-4,” McDermott said at a Wednesday morning press conference, announcing the change at quarterback.The bold move comes in the midst of a season where the Bills sit in second in the AFC East, and in control of the conference's second wild-card spot.The claim that the team was built for better than 5-4 would've been met with much more dismay in September, following an offseason where the team traded wide receiver Sammy Watkins and cornerback Ronald Darby, mostly for future assets, and received Pro Football Focus' current 109th-ranked receiver Jordan Matthews and 35th-ranked cornerback E.J. Gaines. Watkins ranks as the 37th receiver, while Darby's season has been mostly lost to an ankle injury.It was largely the play of Taylor and his motley crew of pass catchers consisting of Matthews, second-round receiver Zay Jones, tight end Charles Clay, and various other castoffs, that set the Bills in the right direction.His benching now comes as punishment for the team's current standing and over achievements.Taylor ranks as PFF's No. 9 quarterback through the first 10 weeks of the season. After being a major reason for the Bills' 5-2 start, he rightfully takes the fault for back-to-back losses to the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, dropping the team to 5-4.Now on the brink of losing their hold on an unlikely playoff spot, McDermott and offensive coordinator Rick Dennison have decided it's time to cut Taylor loose of a system not designed for his athleticism and run-happy personal preference. The team needed just one look at the offense with recently-acquired wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin to arrive at this conclusion.The choice to investigate the abilities and future potential of Peterman should have come this offseason, before Taylor was signed to a two-year, $30.5-million contract. The team opted to stick with known mediocrity in Taylor instead of resetting with any one of the veteran journeyman quarterbacks available in free agency.It would have come then as just the next logical move in a year meant for moving forward, instead of now, with so many fans expecting a playoff spot believed to be well out of reach not long ago.Those fans can only take solace in the fact that 2017 looks more than ever like a rare season in which an 8-8 record may be good enough for that coveted playoff spot. They're just relying on a fifth-round rookie to go 3-4 in the most difficult time of the season to get them there.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Teddy Bridgewater's return to the field will have to wait at least a little longer.The Minnesota Vikings will continue to start Case Keenum at quarterback this week against the Los Angeles Rams, the team announced Wednesday. Minnesota has won five straight games and sits atop the NFC North at 7-2, so it's not surprising head coach Mike Zimmer is sticking with the same formula.The 29-year-old Keenum has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards this season along with 11 touchdowns to just five interceptions.Bridgewater was active last week for the first time since 2015 after recovering from a devastating knee injury, but didn't enter the game.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

On a Sunday afternoon in Toronto, eight of Canada's best Madden players gather inside The Rec Room to compete in the final stage of the Madden 18 NFL Canadian Challenge. The winner will receive $8,000. A stage has been set up with a projector screen behind the players as the crowd, which includes curious spectators and the gamers' family and friends, arrives to take in the action.Feroz Khan, who goes by the name Mr. Ferozious, is a 33-year-old account manager from Brampton, Ontario. He's also the No. 1 seed in this tournament after going undefeated during the online qualifying stage. In the first match of the afternoon, Khan, playing as the Seattle Seahawks, is matched up against the Atlanta Falcons and Michael Booth, a 19-year-old from Oakville, Ontario.Playing five-minute quarters on the Xbox One, Khan falls behind 10-0 in the first quarter and needs a touchdown with less than three minutes left in the fourth quarter to even the score at 21. An interception on the ensuing possession proves costly for Booth, as Khan takes advantage and kicks a game-winning field goal as the clock hits zero. Khan lets out a sigh of relief. He has narrowly escaped an upset.__________While competitive esports gaming is dominated by video game titles like Dota 2, Counter-Strike, League of Legends, Call of Duty, and Overwatch, there's an increased push across professional sports leagues in North America to carve out their own space in esports. The Madden 18 NFL Canadian Challenge serves as a small example of that.With the launch of the Madden NFL Club Championship, the NFL became the first American sports league to have all of its teams participate in an esports league. In February, the NBA announced a 2K esports league for 2018 which will include 17 teams. Last week, longtime NBA writer Lang Whitaker announced he was joining the Memphis Grizzlies to run their 2K franchise.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Professional athletes and owners are also pouring their money into the industry. Rodger Saffold, an offensive guard for the Los Angeles Rams, owns Rise Nation, a team that competes globally in Call of Duty and Overwatch. Michael Strahan and Joe Montana are other former NFL players who have invested in esports.New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has a Boston-based esports team. Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Rick Fox is the owner of the League of Legends team Echo Fox. Shaquille O'Neal and Alex Rodriguez are among the investors in NRG Esports, a team that competes in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch.Others who have invested in this space include Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis, Golden State Warriors co-owner Peter Guber, and Magic Johnson. Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin, an avid Dota player, launched his own esports team last year, while Mark Cuban has invested in an esports betting platform. A study by Eilers Research estimates esports wagering will surpass $23 billion by 2020.Sports gaming titles, though, still lag well behind the leaders in esports. According to e-Sports Earnings, Madden was 15th in total prize money across gaming titles this year, with $904,000 across four tournaments. These numbers pale in comparison to Dota 2, the leader with $35 million in prize money across 126 tournaments.League of Legends live championship events have sold out arenas like New York's Madison Square Garden and Toronto's Air Canada Centre. At the 2014 League of Legends World Championships, more than 40,000 fans watched at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in South Korea.Viewership online for the championships exceeded 40 million people in 2016. In comparison, when the NFL Network broadcasted the Madden Challenge earlier this year, it drew 91,000 viewers.(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Wim Stocks is the CEO of WorldGaming, a company owned and operated by Cineplex which organized the Madden 18 NFL Canadian Challenge and has been in the competitive gaming space for more than a decade. Stocks has worked on the business side of video gaming for most of his career, starting with GT Interactive Software on titles such as Doom, Quake, and Duke Nukem.Stocks believes sports titles are a natural fit for where esports is going."If you think about it, playing video games is all about competition," Stocks told theScore. "You want to win, you want to perform well, and that's what drives a player no matter if it's traditional sports or esports. It's a very natural evolution."Stocks compares the esports model to the NBA in the 1960s and Major League Soccer 15 years ago, professional leagues that were just starting to figure out how to attract and keep an audience. He envisions leagues - whether it's Madden or NBA 2K - filled with sponsors and a local fan base that roots for its own franchise.Stocks believes the demographic that has embraced esports is no different than the traditional sports fan. After all, Madden has been one of the best-selling video game franchises for years.Another appeal of esports tournaments for Stocks is the presentation aspect. As the gamers compete at The Rec Room, Larry Ridley, a television anchor for SportsNet New York and a voice on the Madden franchise, is providing play-by-play commentary. The stream and his commentary are airing live on Twitch, the go-to video-streaming platform for gamers.Ridley's approach to calling esports is the exact same as with traditional sports. "We do it exactly the same way as we would on television," Ridley said.Although many aspects of the traditional gaming experience can be replicated, if Madden and NBA 2K want to make a permanent dent in the esports space, they'll need one thing: star players.___________(Photo courtesy: Cineplex)Khan's semifinal opponent is Robert Chirwa, better known as Rob Gambino. Chirwa is the most charismatic player at the event, with a charming smile and relaxed demeanor that exude confidence. He has a day job working in sales and runs a photography company.He started playing Madden competitively for cash prizes in 2008 and hasn’t played a game for fun since. "My skill level is too high for fun," Chirwa told theScore. "When my friends ask me to play, I'll be like, at least put $20 on it. I'm not getting on the sticks unless we're playing for money."He has thought about quitting his job. "I see people making $25,000 or $50,000 in a single tournament, and of course I think about it," he said, laughing. He said he spends at least 60 hours a week playing Madden, but knows that number has to go up if he wants to compete with the best in the world."The higher-ranked guys are on another level," Chirwa added. "If I really wanted to do this, I would have to put in like 12 hours a day to get to their level."Ridley has seen the Madden esports boom in the U.S. One example he points to is Eric Wright, better known as "Problem," a 29-year-old based in West Covina, Calif., who started playing Madden competitively in 2005 and has won three Madden Challenges and two Madden National Championships, earning more than six figures in prize money."These guys are putting time into their craft and they're becoming stars in their own right," Ridley said. "Just like LeBron James or Tom Brady, these players are the best in the world at what they do. They're putting in work, developing a following and making a name for themselves."Khan views the Madden Canadian Challenge as a stepping stone, and even though he doesn't disagree when I suggest he might be the best Madden player in Canada, he's hesitant about doing this full-time. "There are opportunities," he said, "but it's about the commitment level you want to put in. It takes commitment and a lot of sacrifice. Your financial situation has to be stable because you might not win every time. It's tough."__________The matchup between Khan and Chirwa turns out to be anti-climatic. Khan is dominant from the start and leads 24-0 in the third quarter, when Ridley wonders whether there's a Madden mercy rule in Canada (apparently, it's 32 points). Khan breezes to the finals with a 24-6 victory. There's some consolation for Chirwa, though. The night before the tournament, he officially signed with SetToDestroyX, a professional esports team.(Photo courtesy: Cineplex)Before the finals, Brandon Marshall, a wide receiver for the New York Giants who's out for the year after season-ending ankle surgery, arrives to catch the action at The Rec Room. Marshall, like many other NFL players, is a serious Madden gamer who played with Elvis Dumervil after every practice when they were teammates on the Denver Broncos.As he watched the gamers compete on stage, Marshall remarked, "When you understand coverage, you're light-years ahead of everyone else in Madden."Khan proves Marshall's point in the finals. Facing Nemanja Tepavcevic, a 34-year-old from Niagara Falls, Khan's defense is dominant and he's in complete control of his play calls. He wraps up the tournament win with a 13-0 victory. Afterward, Khan is thrilled."I wanted to put my name out there," Khan said, "and let everybody know that Canada is here to compete."In addition to the $8,000 cash prize, he earned himself a spot in another Madden Challenge, which will run from late November to early December with 288 players competing for eight spots in the finals with $150,000 in total cash prizes available.If esports continues to grow and professional sports leagues continue to make a dent in the industry, we might one day be rooting for gamers like Khan and Chirwa the same way we do our favorite athletes. We might even be watching them at a basketball arena or football stadium.For now, Khan is satisfied with his cash prize and excited to spend it on a honeymoon with his newlywed wife. After snapping photos with friends and spectators, it was time to head home, get some sleep, and prepare to go back to his day job the next morning.Alex Wong is an NBA freelance writer whose work has appeared in GQ, The New Yorker, Sports on Earth, and Complex, among other publications.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor addressed the media Wednesday despite being informed he'd been benched.Taylor stepped to the podium after head coach Sean McDermott announced that rookie Nathan Peterman will start Sunday versus the Los Angeles Chargers."I'm obviously disappointed. I don't agree with the decision, but the decision was made and I have to move forward," Taylor said, according to Matthew Fairburn of Syracuse.com.Taylor admitted he was shocked by the news and that he believed the offense was being tailored to himself and star running back LeSean McCoy.Behind Taylor, the Bills raced out to a 5-2 start. They've lost their past two games - including a 47-10 drubbing at the hands of the New Orleans Saints - but currently own the AFC's final playoff spot if the postseason were to begin today.Taylor completed just 9-of-18 passes for 56 yards and an interception in Sunday's loss and was replaced by Peterman when the outcome was already determined. Peterman went 7-for-10, throwing for 79 yards and a touchdown.Taylor said he had no idea McDermott had been considering a change, and still believes his abilities make him an elite starter."I have full confidence that I can be a franchise quarterback when that opportunity presents itself," Taylor said, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

AFCTom Brady garnered his 30th career AFC Offensive Player of the Week award after throwing for 266 yards and three touchdowns in a Sunday night win over the Denver Broncos. It's the New England Patriots quarterback's third such award of the season.Jacksonville Jaguars corner A.J. Bouye was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his crucial play in a 20-17 overtime win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. In overtime, Bouye intercepted Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and returned the pick 51 yards, setting up the game-winning field goal.Patriots running back Dion Lewis took home the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after recording a 103-yard kickoff return touchdown in a 41-16 victory over the Broncos.NFCCam Newton won his ninth career NFC Offensive Player of the Week award - the most in Carolina Panthers franchise history - after running roughshod over the Miami Dolphins Monday night. The former MVP threw for 254 yards and four touchdowns, adding 95 yards on the ground - including a dazzling 69-yard run - in a 45-21 blowout win.Atlanta Falcons defensive end Adrian Clayborn registered a career-best six sacks and two forced fumbles in a 27-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Clayborn took advantage of the absence of Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith to earn NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.Greg Zuerlein is petitioning to have the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award renamed in his honor. The Los Angeles Rams kicker won it for the second time this season after nailing four field goals, including a 50-yarder, in a 33-7 defeat of the Houston Texans on Sunday. Zuerlein was also the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month in October.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott announced Wednesday that rookie quarterback Nathan Peterman will start Week 11 against the Los Angeles Chargers in place of Tyrod Taylor."We are in the playoff hunt and we are always focused on becoming the best team possible. We were made for better than 5-4," McDermott added.Taylor got the Bills off to a 5-2 start and into the thick of the AFC playoff race before they dropped the last two games to the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints by a combined score of 81-31.Peterman, the Bills' fifth-round pick out of Pittsburgh in the 2017 draft, got his first taste of regular-season action when he replaced a struggling Taylor in the 47-10 Week 10 home loss to the Saints. He went 7-of-10 and threw his first career touchdown - the Bills' only six-point score of the game."I've been impressed with the maturity from Nathan Peterman. I'm comfortable making a calculated risk to try and get us where we need to go," said McDermott.Taylor, in his third year with the Bills and seventh in the NFL, heads to the bench with a 64.2 percent completion rating on 254 passes for 1,684 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions this season. He added 237 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 53 attempts.He's due $10 million in base salary for 2018 with a $6-million roster bonus. He can also be cut, creating $8.64 million in dead cap, according to Spotrac.Joe Webb is listed as the third quarterback on the Bills' depth chart.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

At this time of year, when coaches start losing their jobs, former Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden's name tends to surface as a possible candidate.This year, the Gruden rumors have centered around Tennessee, though athletic director John Currie recently declined to comment on the school's potential search for a replacement for Butch Jones.Gruden was asked about the Volunteers gig on Wednesday and passively dismissed the idea of leaving Monday Night Football for a return to coaching."I don't know what's going to happen in the future, I just know this: I'm going to continue to give my best effort to the game, stay prepared, and I love Monday Night Football, don't plan on leaving, but as you know in life you never say never to nothing," Gruden said on ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike.While the school where Gruden got his coaching start as a graduate assistant has been the most widely-discussed destination, the Buccaneers have also been thrown into the mix, with sources telling CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora that a return to Tampa Bay "would not be a bridge too far."The 3-6 Buccaneers remain led by second-year head coach Dirk Koetter."I'm really sensitive to the coaches that are out there coaching, so I don't speculate," Gruden said.Gruden, who hasn't coached at any level since 2008, is believed to be ESPN's highest-paid on-air personality. With the network's rights for Monday Night Football set to expire in 2021, expect another four years of midseason speculation."I just love football, I'm trying to hang on to the job I have. I'm very fortunate to be with the people I'm with," Gruden said.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 (8-1)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan1st1st1st2ndPrevious Rank: 1stThe top of the NFC got a little crowded while the Eagles enjoyed their bye, but they can clear some room Sunday night against the Cowboys. - Sanderson2. New England Patriots (7-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan2nd2nd2nd1stPrevious Rank: 2ndThe Patriots' defense appears to have woken up against the Broncos last week. The Raiders' offense should present a tougher test. - Sanderson3. Los Angeles Rams (7-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan3rd3rd3rd4thPrevious Rank: 4thThe Rams are averaging a league-best 32.9 points per game. The 1999 Rams also averaged 32.9 points per game en route to the lone Super Bowl in franchise history. Will history repeat? - Srinivasan4. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan5th4th5th3rdPrevious Rank: 3rdThe Steelers are still playing down to inferior competition. It's evident they're hoping to sleepwalk into their heavyweight fight with the Patriots in Week 15. - McClymont5. New Orleans Saints (7-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan4th6th4th5thPrevious Rank: 6thJust as we all predicted in the offseason, the Eagles, Saints, and Rams are the class of the NFC. We know nothing. - Browne6. Kansas City Chiefs (6-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan6th7th6th8thPrevious Rank: 5thWhich Chiefs team is going to show up in the second half? During the home stretch, Kansas City needs to prove that hot start wasn't a fluke. - Srinivasan7. Minnesota Vikings (7-2)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan8th5th8th6thPrevious Rank: 8thThey're quietly riding a five-game win streak, but the Vikings will truly be put to the test when they meet the fellow 7-2 Rams on Sunday. - McClymont8. Seattle Seahawks (6-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan7th9th7th7thPrevious Rank: 9thRussell Wilson will have to continue to play like an MVP candidate if the Seahawks are to weather the Richard Sherman injury while trying to contend for a Super Bowl. - Srinivasan9. Carolina Panthers (7-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan9th8th11th9thPrevious Rank: 10thCam Newton finally looks like himself, and that's a frightening thought for the rest of the league. - Browne10. Jacksonville Jaguars (6-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan13th10th10th10thPrevious Rank: 11thThe 6-3 Jaguars have a cupcake schedule remaining. Get ready for playoff Blake Bortles! - Browne11. Atlanta Falcons (5-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan10th11th13th11thPrevious Rank: 15thThe next time Tyron Smith asks for a raise, all he'll need is the tape of Adrian Clayborn eviscerating Chaz Green over and over and over again. - Browne12. Dallas Cowboys (5-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan11th13th9th13thPrevious Rank: 7thThe answer is very simple: Don't let Chaz Green play left tackle. - Sanderson13. Tennessee Titans (6-3)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan14th14th12th12thPrevious Rank: 13thTennessee needs a signature win to legitimize its status as an AFC contender, and the inconsistent Steelers are the perfect opportunity to send a message. - Browne14. Detroit Lions (5-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan12th12th14th14thPrevious Rank: 14thDetroit's right in the middle of the playoff picture and owns one of the easier remaining schedules. - McClymont15. Washington Redskins (4-5)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan15th15th15th15thPrevious Rank: 16thPutting up 30 points on the Vikings' defense is something to be proud of, but allowing 38 points to Case Keenum is not. - Sanderson16. Buffalo Bills (5-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan17th16th16th16thPrevious Rank: 12thBills fans spent so long being patient and not totally buying into Buffalo's playoff chances before finally starting to believe. Then the Saints ripped that hope apart. - Sanderson17. Oakland Raiders (4-5)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan16th17th17th17thPrevious Rank: 17thIf the Raiders are going to turn around their season, they'll need more from Derek Carr and Khalil Mack. - Srinivasan18. Baltimore Ravens (4-5)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan18th18th22nd20thPrevious Rank: 23rdWhat an awful display by the Ravens on Sunday. They ... what's that? They didn't play this week? My apologies. I just assumed ... - McClymont19. Arizona Cardinals (4-5)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan19th21st23rd18thPrevious Rank: 19thAgeless wonder Larry Fitzgerald ranks second in receptions this season and the Cardinals would be wise to run their offense almost exclusively through him. - Srinivasan20. Green Bay Packers (5-4)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan21st19th19th22ndPrevious Rank: 24thBrett Hundley proved capable of leading a dialed-down version of the Packers' offense, but the cards will be even more stacked against him if the team's top two running backs have to miss any time. - McClymont21. New York Jets (4-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan20th20th25th19thPrevious Rank: 21stThe tank is back on ... for now. The Jets can't seem to decide if they'd rather have that juicy draft pick or a chance to compete in the AFC's wide-open playoff race. - Sanderson22. Los Angeles Chargers (3-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan22nd23rd18th25thPrevious Rank: 20thThe Chargers may enter Sunday's game without Philip Rivers, intensifying their identity crisis. - Srinivasan23. Miami Dolphins (4-5)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan24th22nd20th23rdPrevious Rank: 22ndBills: "No one in our division could possibly take a beating like the one we just did." Dolphins: "Hold my beer." - Sanderson24. Denver Broncos (3-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan23rd25th21st21stPrevious Rank: 21stIt's hard to believe that the core of this team won the Super Bowl two years ago. - Srinivasan25. Houston Texans (3-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan26th24th26th24thPrevious Rank: 25thTom Savage shouldn't be on an NFL roster, let alone starting for a playoff-caliber team. Fans should be angry at the Texans for essentially throwing in the towel. - Browne26. Indianapolis Colts (3-7)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan29th27th24th28thPrevious Rank: 26thAndrew Luck's future may be uncertain, but the Colts should count themselves fortunate for finding Jacoby Brissett, who's performing far beyond reasonable expectations. - Browne27. Cincinnati Bengals (3-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan25th26th28th29thPrevious Rank: 28thVontaze Burfict avoided suspension for contact with an official. Now can he avoid controversy for a week? - McClymont28. Chicago Bears (3-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan27th29th27th26thPrevious Rank: 27thThe fact that the rebuilding Bears can't beat an Aaron Rodgers-less Packers team at Soldier Field has to be sobering. - McClymont29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-6)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan28th28th29th27thPrevious Rank: 29thThe Bucs looked ready to give up before Week 10. Dirk Koetter deserves credit for getting a team without Mike Evans or Jameis Winston rolling in a win over the Jets. - Browne30. San Francisco 49ers (1-9)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan30th30th30th30thPrevious Rank: 31stThe 49ers received their first win of the season, and since they have their quarterback of the future in Jimmy Garoppolo, they should be happy with the No. 2 pick in next spring's draft. - Srinivasan31. New York Giants (1-8)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan31st31st31st31stPrevious Rank: 30thRegardless of what they say, the Giants have given up this season. Don't believe it? Watch Janoris Jenkins avoid tackles like he was Barry Sanders. - Sanderson32. Cleveland Browns (0-9)BrowneMcClymontSandersonSrinivasan32nd32nd32nd32ndPrevious Rank: 32ndWhile facing the only franchise to record an 0-16 season, the Browns showed why they'll do it next. - McClymontCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.