Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remains in the concussion protocol and won't participate in the Pro Bowl Games, a source told ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques.Tagovailoa topped Pro Bowl fan voting and was set to replace Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow - who face off Sunday in the AFC title game for a spot at Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12. The Pro Bowl Games take place Feb. 5.Tagovailoa last entered the concussion protocol on Dec. 26 following Miami's Week 16 defeat to the Green Bay Packers. The 24-year-old - who also entered the protocol in Week 4 - missed his team's final three games of the season, including the wild-card round. He's been meeting with doctors and specialists and hasn't encountered any setbacks, reports Louis-Jacques.The NFL and players' association conducted two investigations into how Tagovailoa's concussions were handled last year. The league ultimately altered its protocol during the season.The league and Dolphins garnered heavy criticism for letting Tagovailoa return during Miami's Week 3 game after he hit his head on the ground and stumbled while trying to get to his feet.Some around the NFL speculated that Tagovailoa could retire this offseason due to the series of head injuries, but his parents said the Dolphins signal-caller will be back in Miami in 2023."He comes back. That's their guy," Tua's father, Galu, recently said, according to Jonathan Sherman of Dolphin Nation. "They love him, we love them and what they're doing and how they are helping with his recovery and trying to get him back."Tagovailoa completed 64.8% of his passes for 3,548 yards and 25 touchdowns against eight interceptions through 13 games in 2022. The 2020 No. 5 overall pick missed eight games over the last two seasons due to multiple injuries.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans has emerged as a top candidate for the Houston Texans in their head coaching search, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.Ryans is expected to meet with the Texans next week with mutual interest on both sides, Rapoport and Pelissero add.The 49ers defensive coordinator has been a hot name in the head coaching cycle after drawing attention from the Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, and Denver Broncos.Ryans has been the mastermind behind a 49ers defense that ranked first in points and yardage allowed in 2022.The 49ers promoted Ryans to defensive coordinator in 2021 after he spent the previous three seasons coaching the inside linebackers. His unit finished ninth in points allowed and third in yardage during his first season running the defense.Ryans spent the first six seasons of his playing career with the Texans after the franchise drafted him in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He made two Pro Bowls during his Houston stay and took home Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.The Texans' last two head coaches - David Culley and Lovie Smith - were fired after just one season each at the helm.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Frank Reich is returning to the Carolina Panthers.Carolina is hiring Reich as its next head coach, the team announced Thursday. He played quarterback for the team during its inaugural 1995 season.Reich, the sixth head coach in Panthers history, was a finalist for the job along with Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and Steve Wilks, who posted a 6-6 record as Carolina's interim head coach this season.Wilks was initially the team's defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach in 2022. The Panthers promoted him after firing Matt Rhule in October following a 1-4 start.Reich, who played quarterback for four different teams from 1985-98, threw the first touchdown pass in Panthers history.

Sean Payton denied reports suggesting he's concerned about taking the Denver Broncos' vacant head coaching job due to fears of conflict with the ownership group.A source told Mark Maske of The Washington Post earlier Thursday that Payton likes the idea of coaching quarterback Russell Wilson and having Denver's solid defense but fears a potential power struggle with a member of the Broncos' ownership group.

Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has informed interested teams that he'll be returning to the NFC East club for next season, he told Jordan Schultz, theScore's NFL insider.

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said Thursday that owner Jerry Jones wants him to coach the team as long as Tom Landry did."OK, that's a long time," McCarthy said, replying to Jones' comments, according to Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports.Landry was the head coach of the Cowboys for 29 years, leading them to two Super Bowl championships. McCarthy has been the head boss for three seasons, posting a 30-20 record, including 1-2 in the playoffs.McCarthy acknowledged that he is aware of the external talk about his job security, but he believes he and Jones are in an "excellent spot," according to Epstein.Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore interviewed for the Carolina Panthers job, but they decided to go with Frank Reich. With Moore not getting the Panthers' head coaching role, McCarthy needs to make a decision on Moore's future with the team.He did not guarantee Moore would be back next season."I really don’t want to play this game today," McCarthy said when asked about Moore's future, according to Pro Football Talk's Charean Williams. "It’s been a long couple of days. Kellen Moore, just like the rest of the coaches, will be evaluated. Every coach will be evaluated. The evaluations, it takes more than one day."Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn informed teams Thursday that he will return to the Cowboys for the 2023 season. The Arizona Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Denver Broncos all interviewed Quinn for their vacant head coaching jobs.The staff around McCarthy will look different in 2023 regardless of Moore's future. Offensive line coach Joe Philbin, running backs coach Skip Pete, and senior defensive assistant George Edwards did not get their contracts renewed.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The two best teams in the NFC finally meet, as football fans and bettors alike have waited for each side to be pushed to the brink at full strength. Their schedule strengths have been a hot topic these days, as the 49ers have won 12 straight games but haven't faced a top-five team since losing 44-23 to the Chiefs.Meanwhile, when it comes to high-level competition, what do we really know about the Eagles? Their two games against the Cowboys featured backup quarterbacks on the road. Their five other wins over playoff teams came against the Jaguars amidst their rough start, the Vikings, and the Giants three times. According to Football Outsiders' DVOA, Jacksonville is the best of the group as the 13th-ranked team.49ers @ Eagles (-2.5, 46.5)The Eagles have seen betting interest after they crushed the Giants. This line was projected at pick'em before opening at -1.5 and rising to -2.5. However, we knew Philadelphia was better than New York. Does that make this team better than the 49ers? Home-field advantage and an extra day of rest wholly account for a potential closing line of 2.5 points.We knew the Eagles could run the football against the Giants' league-worst run defense by DVOA and second-worst run defense based on yards per rush against. Last week, we theorized that New York's offense would struggle with the Eagles after looking capable against the Vikings. Could the same shift happen with Philadelphia versus the 49ers, who have arguably the league's best run defense? And if the Eagles can't score as easily as they did last week, are they incapable of winning?Offensively, the game will be on the arm of Jalen Hurts. With the 49ers' struggles in the secondary against CeeDee Lamb last week and DK Metcalf in the wild-card round, Hurts could have success throwing deep.The 49ers have their own arm to worry about, as Brock Purdy continues to graduate up the ladder of tests. He'll now go on the road against a defense that's comparable to what he faced at home last week when the 49ers only scored one touchdown.With overall uncertainty, the only thing that stands out is how each team wins its games. The Eagles led the league with 18 first-half points per game this season, while the 49ers have done most of their work in the second half. I don't expect Philadelphia to rack up its 18-point average in this first half, but I'm willing to bet it'll have a lead at halftime. At that point, maybe the 49ers will be worth a bet to either tighten the game or win it outright in the second half.Pick: Eagles first half -0.5Player prop best betsJalen Hurts over 247.5 passing yardsWhether it's because the Eagles' run game isn't working or Hurts has success pushing the ball down the field, Philadelphia won't be able to take the air out of the ball in the second half. That's what's frequently depressed Hurts' air yardage this season.Miles Sanders under 14.5 rushing attemptsAs implied above, plowing Sanders into the line isn't going to work the same way it did against the Giants. Sanders has only gone over this total in four of the last 11 regular-season games.Dallas Goedert under 19.5 longest receptionDallas Goedert, who popped up repeatedly against the Giants, is back at full speed. However, the 49ers have the personnel to shut down opposing tight ends, having allowed the second-fewest yards per catch in the NFL to the position at 8.7. He may score like Dalton Schultz did, but Goedert should also be close to Schultz's stat line of five receptions for a long catch of nine yards.Jauan Jennings over 13.5 longest receptionJauan Jennings acts as a hybrid receiver-tight end, frequently blocking for the 49ers' elaborate run designs. However, you can expect Jennings to receive two-to-five targets, often via play-action passes over the middle where he can catch and run for 14-plus yards, which he's done in four of the last five games.Anytime touchdown best betsPLAYER ODDSJalen Hurts+130DeVonta Smith+150Jauan Jennings+450We thought Hurts would be saved for the red zone last week, and he scored against the Giants. Dak Prescott almost scored on a keeper in San Francisco, so we'll play Hurts to get to the outside and score on a goal-to-go situation.Depending on matchups, DeVonta Smith might be the deep target of choice while also being the best option to snake his way for a score when the Eagles run a wide receiver screen or read-option near the goal line.As we mentioned, we like Jennings' chances for usage. With the Eagles' elite corners handling things on the outside, maybe Jennings falls through the cracks in Philly's red-zone defense.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Unlike the NFC championship, we should know what to expect in the AFC title game given that this is the fourth time the Bengals and Chiefs will have played in the past 13 months.Of course, it's never that easy. A week after injuries to the Bengals' offensive line were the headline in their handicap, the biggest X-factor Sunday is the right ankle of Patrick Mahomes.Bengals @ Chiefs (-1, 47.5)We looked at the timeline for the very interesting line movement in this game earlier in the week. Since then the Bengals, have moved to as high as 2.5-point favorites before moving back across pick'em after a prominent pick service revealed they were on the Chiefs +2.5. Plus, there's been optimism about Mahomes' ankle.Think about what we've seen and heard about Mahomes' ankle. We saw him get rolled up on but stay in the game for a play. He complained about needing to get looked at. We saw him get a large wrap on the ankle, which would hamper anyone's mobility. He returned to the game and played very well, including a mobile touchdown pass. We saw him celebrating after the game, and we haven't seen him on the injury report as early as Wednesday.So, how worried should we be about the Chiefs' offense? Kansas City rebuilt its offense in the offseason in order to be more varied, and it averaged 6.5 yards per play against Cincinnati earlier this season. The Bengals' secondary still features Eli Apple, and I trust Andy Reid to keep coming up with different ways to counter what Cincinnati defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has done to slow the Chiefs in the past.The Bengals are getting a big boost in the market, as many bettors seem uninterested in acknowledging how close they were to a loss to Tyler Huntley and the Ravens. They'll instead cite the Bengals' three straight wins over the Chiefs, as though victories by three, three, and three are solid evidence of what would happen in a fourth game. Kansas City also had leads of 18, 14, and seven in those contests, two of which were played in Cincinnati.Even though we saw the Bengals' offense have trouble with the Ravens, bettors seemingly think it's fixed because of one game. However, the Bills finished 19th in sack percentage as it dropped from 7.16% to 6.47% following the loss of Von Miller. The Chiefs were in the top five. It's commonly understood that snow is good for offenses because of the unstable footing it creates for pass-rushers, something Buffalo couldn't deal with. Chris Jones and the eight other Chiefs with multiple sacks won't have the same slippery conditions that vexed the Bills.We know projections for this line with a healthy Mahomes were between a field goal and a touchdown in favor of Kansas City. That's in line with Chiefs -2 in Cincinnati in Week 13. We're left with picking a winner, and while either team can win a high-stakes game, betting is still about searching out value. This could close closer to a field goal.Pick: Chiefs -1Player prop best betsPatrick Mahomes over 279.5 passing yardsMahomes is regularly lined at over 300 yards and was as high as 315.5 last week. This total has dropped 12% primarily because of concerns that he may not finish the game. Even a troublesome ankle that forces Mahomes to stay in the pocket and throw should lend itself to more yards, especially in what the line suggests should be a close game. Andy Reid is anticipating that this injury isn't as bad as the last time Mahomes played through this ailment - in Week 2 of 2019 when he threw for 443 yards.Jerick McKinnon over 58.5 rushing + receiving yardsWith D.J. Reader locking down the interior of the line of scrimmage for Cincinnati, look for the Chiefs to use the outside run game, screens, and swing passes to Jerick McKinnon to create easy yardage for Mahomes.Joe Burrow under 37.5 longest pass completionThe first of two "back to the well" bets that were successful as part of a 10-2 prop run last week, Joe Burrow should be looking to make quick throws again, with little time to fire deep balls. The Bengals' offensive line issues didn't go away after one week, and Cincinnati should know that.Samaje Perine over 15.5 receiving yardsWe'll also try this winner from last week due to Burrow's necessity to dump off to the tailback to keep the pressure at bay. Perine cleared this number in the first half last week and had a long touchdown on a screen pass in last year's AFC title game.Anytime touchdown best betsPLAYERODDSTravis Kelce+100Tee Higgins+175Kadarius Toney+275Samaje Perine+400Travis Kelce's price has a minus in front of it every week, but not this week, presumably because of concerns surrounding Mahomes. Chad Henne threw Kelce a touchdown last week, so we're getting an unwarranted discount on the most likely player to score Sunday night.Tee Higgins had 100-plus yards and a touchdown in this game last year. He was also a wide-open dropped pass away from a two-touchdown day against the Chiefs earlier this season. L'Jarius Sneed should see a lot of Ja'Marr Chase, and while 5'11 rookie Trent McDuffie is good, he doesn't match up well against the 6'4 Higgins.Kadarius Toney needed to be dragged down at the 4-yard line last week, but you could see why the Chiefs want to get him the ball. At +275, that's good for someone we expect to get another chance.Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there’s a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite Pittsburgh's struggles under offensive coordinator Matt Canada, Steelers president Art Rooney II said Thursday that the team retained Canada based on quarterback Kenny Pickett's development."They seemed to work well together," Rooney said, according to the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette's Gerry Dulac. "With a new offensive coordinator, you'd have to start all over again. We felt there was enough there to build on."Canada has been at the helm of Pittsburgh's offense for the past two seasons. The Steelers' 18.1 points per game and 322.6 yards per contest during that span both rank 23rd in the league.However, Pittsburgh's offense tallied at least 20 points in five games following the team's Week 9 bye. The Steelers went 7-2 during that stretch after beginning the season 2-6."I liked the way that the team kept fighting down the stretch and keeping us alive," Rooney said.The 2022 campaign marked Pittsburgh's first season without Ben Roethlisberger on the roster since 2004. After taking over for Mitchell Trubisky, Pickett passed for 2,404 yards, seven touchdowns, and nine interceptions with a 76.7 passer rating across 13 games, including 12 starts.Rooney said it was "great to see" progress from the franchise's 2022 first-round pick. He also believes the offense - which includes players such as George Pickens, Pat Freiermuth, and Mason Cole - has the necessary young weapons surrounding Pickett.Pickett, for his part, has said he's pleased that Canada remains with the Steelers."I'm excited to continue to work with him this offseason," Pickett told teammate Cam Heyward earlier this month on "Not Just Football."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Few NFL teams have as much offensive firepower as the red-hot Cincinnati Bengals, but Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay is unimpressed with what he's seen from his team's AFC Championship Game opponents."Nothing," Gay said Thursday when asked what about the Bengals' offensive unit impresses him the most, according to PJ Green of FOX4 News Kansas City.Kansas City boasted the league's top-ranked offense during the regular season, while Cincinnati ranked seventh in total points. But the Bengals are also one of football's hottest teams, having won 10 straight dating back to Week 9.This is the second straight year the Chiefs and Bengals will face off in the AFC title game, and the matchup is the fourth between the two powerhouses over the last two seasons. Cincinnati, which took down Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium in last year's playoffs, also edged K.C. in Week 13 at home this season."Stop the run, for sure," Gay said when asked what he needs to do to have his best game Sunday. "You know they're gonna try to act like they can big-boy us, but our front six, seven is gonna do its job to try to slow that down."The Bengals rushed for 172 yards in last week's divisional-round win against the Buffalo Bills, their second-best mark on the ground all season.The biggest individual matchup in Sunday's tilt is at quarterback, with Joe Burrow looking to improve to 4-0 in his career against Patrick Mahomes. Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton recently referred to the Chiefs' home stadium as "Burrowhead," but Gay isn't worried about what's going on off the field ahead of kickoff."I'm just excited to be playing football; that stuff is just what comes with the game," Gay said. "Like (Chiefs head) coach (Andy) Reid said, we don't do any talk. We just go handle business when it's time to go."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets hired former Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett as their offensive coordinator, the team announced Thursday.Hackett will replace Mike LaFleur, whom New York fired on Jan. 11 after two seasons.Denver brought in Hackett as its head coach last year after he spent the previous three seasons as the Green Bay Packers' offensive coordinator. However, Hackett didn't even last one full campaign with the Broncos, who fired him in December amid a 4-11 record. He garnered heavy criticism for his game management and decision-making throughout the season.The 43-year-old also previously served as offensive coordinator and called plays for the Buffalo Bills (2013-14) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2016-18). Hackett and Jets head coach Robert Saleh worked together in Jacksonville.With Hackett on the sideline, Jacksonville ranked 25th and 31st in points scored in 2016 and 2018, respectively. It did, however, boast a top-five offense in 2017, the year the team reached the AFC Championship Game.Hackett landed a head coaching job after being on the Packers' sideline when Aaron Rodgers won back-to-back MVP awards in 2020 and 2021. Hackett's hiring fueled speculation on social media about Rodgers and the Jets, who have been linked as a possible destination for the superstar quarterback if he plays in 2023. Rodgers, who said he's taking time to evaluate his future, is still under contract with Green Bay for two more seasons, but a trade has been reported as a possibility this offseason.The 7-10 Jets - owners of one of the league's most improved defenses this season - struggled offensively while navigating through four starting quarterbacks: Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, Mike White, and Chris Streveler. New York ranked 29th in the NFL with just 17.4 points per game in 2022 and missed the playoffs despite starting the season 6-3.Former Tennessee Titans offensive line coach Keith Carter is also joining the Jets as their O-line coach and run game coordinator, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jeff Saturday remains Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay's top choice to be the team's next head coach, sources tell Jordan Schultz, theScore's NFL insider.

Facing the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs - who'll host their fifth consecutive AFC Championship Game this weekend - is a daunting task for any team in the NFL. But Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said he can't wait to visit Arrowhead Stadium again on Sunday."We've been in these spots," Burrow said Wednesday, according to Kelsey Conway of The Enquirer. "We have the experience. We know what team we're playing. … They're the team to beat - and we're coming for them."Burrow is 3-0 in his career against Mahomes, including in the playoffs. They last met in Week 13 when Cincinnati claimed a 27-24 home win.The Bengals also beat the Chiefs in the AFC title game last season. Kansas City took a 21-3 second-quarter lead in that game, but Cincinnati bounced back en route to a 27-24 overtime victory."We have the best coaching staff in the league," Burrow said, per Charlie Goldsmith of The Enquirer. "We make better adjustments than anyone. It's about attacking what we're seeing. They do an unbelievable job figuring out the best way to attack.""Last year, we found a lot of different ways to win a lot of different games," he added, per Conway. "I just think this year, we're a much more complete team from top to bottom."The Bengals are one of football's hottest teams, having won 10 in a row. Their last defeat came on Oct. 31. Meanwhile, the Chiefs - who finished the regular season with an AFC-best 14-3 record - suffered just one loss in their last 12 games.With Mahomes under center, Kansas City won one of two Super Bowl appearances. Burrow led Cincinnati to its first big game in 33 years last season, but the Bengals fell short against the Los Angeles Rams.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.theScore's Justin Boone was first overall in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition in 2019 and finished among the top seven each of his last seven years in the contest.For fantasy managers looking to get a head start on the competition, here's the first look at our 2023 dynasty rookie rankings.You can use this chart to compare players and build realistic trade offers. Values are based on 12-team PPR leagues.Follow the links below to see the dynasty trade values for veterans at each position.Dynasty Rankings & Trade Values

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, and Anchor.In this episode, Ray Garvin of The Draft Network and Destination Devy joins Boone to break down the top NFL prospects in the 2023 draft class.

It may have been championship or bust for Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, but this season was hardly a failure despite Sunday's 19-12 loss to the 49ers. The club put together a second consecutive 12-5 season, made the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time since 2006-07, and won its first road playoff game in 30 years.Dallas is projected to have precious little cap space going into free agency, which means a lot of hard decisions will have to be made. Let's examine three key aspects of the Cowboys' outlook for 2023.Dak PrescottAs stellar as Prescott was against Tampa Bay in the wild-card round, the Cowboys quarterback was equally poor against San Francisco, tossing a brutal first-half interception on either side of his one touchdown drive in an overall effort he called an "unacceptable."Prescott tied for the league lead in interceptions this season (15) despite missing five games. Against the Niners, he became the first Cowboys quarterback since Troy Aikman in 1998 to throw two or more picks in a postseason contest.Let me be clear: Dak's a good quarterback - sometimes very good - but he's not going to topple the league's best defense in a do-or-die game. He's not Patrick Mahomes or Joe Burrow - and that's OK. But he needs more help. CeeDee Lamb is an elite young receiver, but Prescott needs another dude that can command the football in the passing game. (That dude's name would be Amari Cooper, but that's another story.)Complicating Dallas' roster-building in the offseason is the huge pay increase Prescott has coming in 2023. He had a $19.7-million cap hit in 2022, but that balloons to $49.1 million in 2023 and $52.1 million in 2024. Jones has been adamant in the past that No. 4 is the guy. But is he the guy when he occupies 20% of the salary cap?Tony PollardIn his first season as a feature back, the fourth-year pro proved he could handle a heavy workload and deliver game-breaking plays on a weekly basis. He had 232 touches this season for 1,378 yards, including 1,007 on the ground. Adding in his pass-catching, Pollard's 5.9 yards per scrimmage touch led all running backs who had at least 150 scrimmage touches. He trailed only Nick Chubb, Derrick Henry, and Kenneth Walker in 20-plus-yard runs (nine, which tied him with Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, and Miles Sanders).Pollard's an electric talent whose game is built on speed and agility. He has a smaller frame, but the former Memphis standout clearly showcased the capacity to carry an offense. Despite suffering a fractured fibula against San Francisco, the 25-year-old will remain a top priority for Dallas. I'm told either a long-term deal or a franchise tag are realistic options. The Cowboys "love Pollard," a league source said.Mike McCarthyConsecutive 12-win seasons are nothing to scoff at, but failing to advance past the divisional round is not good enough. McCarthy's clock management at the end of the Niners' game was inexplicable - a common theme throughout his career as a head coach dating back to his Packers tenure.Jones has already said his bench boss is safe, but that doesn't take away from his gaffes against the 49ers. After a Prescott sack led to a quick three-and-out with 2:50 left in the game, McCarthy astonishingly let 39 precious seconds tick away before punting. The Cowboys eventually got the ball back with 45 seconds left but had no timeouts and 94 yards to gain - an all-but-impossible task.The job of a head coach is to put his players in the best situation to succeed, and McCarthy didn't do it. These are the little things that make the difference, and we've grown accustomed to seeing McCarthy botch them. How much longer Jones will tolerate it remains to be seen.Then, there's the matter of current defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who is in the running for the head coaching vacancies in Arizona, Denver, and Indianapolis. Losing Quinn would be a devastating blow to McCarthy's staff. In McCarthy's first season, before Quinn took over the defense in 2021, the Cowboys gave up the most points in franchise history (473 points, 29.5 per game).Quinn's philosophy is built on cultivating trust and love between his players and coaching staff, hence the successful "Brotherhood" he built with the Falcons. To summarize what his former players and even former Atlanta GM Thomas Dimitroff have told me, he's a leader of men who knows how to maximize talent with on-field schemes and motivational tactics while simultaneously building a championship-caliber team from the ground up.Jordan Schultz is theScore's NFL insider and senior NBA reporter. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Kansas City Chiefs signal-caller Patrick Mahomes headlined the finalists for NFL MVP, the Associated Press revealed Wednesday on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football."Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Philadelphia Eagles passer Jalen Hurts, and Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson rounded out the finalists for the accolade.Name Position TeamJosh AllenQBBillsJoe BurrowQBBengalsJalen HurtsQBEaglesJustin JeffersonWRVikingsPatrick MahomesQBChiefsThe AP also revealed front-runners for seven other major awards Wednesday. Award winners will be announced at the NFL Honors ceremony on Feb. 9.Here's the full list of finalists for the remaining AP awards:Offensive Player of the YearNamePositionTeamJalen HurtsQBEaglesJustin JeffersonWRVikingsPatrick MahomesQBChiefsDefensive Player of the YearName Position TeamNick BosaDE49ersChris JonesDTChiefsMicah ParsonsLBCowboysComeback Player of the YearName Position TeamSaquon BarkleyRBGiantsChristian McCaffreyRB49ersGeno SmithQBSeahawksCoach of the YearNameTeamBrian DabollGiantsDoug PedersonJaguarsKyle Shanahan49ersAssistant Coach of the YearName Role TeamBen JohnsonOCLionsDeMeco RyansDC49ersShane SteichenOCEaglesOffensive Rookie of the YearName Position TeamBrock PurdyQB49ersGarrett WilsonWRJetsKenneth WalkerRBSeahawksDefensive Rookie of the YearName Position TeamAhmad "Sauce" GardnerCBJetsAidan HutchinsonDELionsTariq WoolenCBSeahawksCopyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane doesn't see Stefon Diggs' reactions to the team's 27-10 divisional-round loss to the Cincinnati Bengals as an issue, according to NFL.com's Grant Gordon."I'd rather have guys I got to cool off and just, you know, he wants to win," Beane said. "I can live with that versus, I've been around people that I question, are they just here for the Monday paycheck."Beane added, "(Diggs) wants to win and so he wears his emotions on his sleeve, but that's what makes him really, really good."Diggs spoke out on Twitter following a sideline spat with Josh Allen, defending the display as his desire to win. The 29-year-old receiver hasn't spoken to the media since his team was eliminated from the playoffs.Diggs was selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl this season after posting 108 receptions, 1,429 yards, and a career-high 11 touchdowns in 16 games.The 46-year-old GM didn't hesitate to put himself in Diggs' shoes, either. "I'm an emotional guy, too, and if I was losing out there, sometimes I probably think I'd be worse than Steph."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers acknowledged that his contract isn't viable for the Green Bay Packers - or other teams - as he continues to contemplate his future this offseason."I don't think there'd be a scenario where I'd come back and that would be the number. Definitely things would have to shift," Rodgers said Tuesday on "The Pat McAfee Show."Rodgers added, "There's a lot of teams, because of COVID, that are strapped, and you're seeing with a lot of different contracts, they're pushing more money out in deals. They're creating ... void years to allow for an easier cap hit. So there would have to be some adjustments for sure."The four-time MVP signed a three-year, $150.8-million contraction extension last offseason that will see him earn $59.5 million fully guaranteed in 2023.A $31.6-million cap hit and $99.7-million dead-cap hit serve as possible roadblocks to a potential trade. However, Rodgers dismissed the idea of being dealt as he continues to weigh all options."All the other ideas about (a) trade and whatnot, that's all conjecture until I decide what I want to do moving forward for myself," Rodgers said, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky.Rodgers previously said he planned to finish his career with the Packers. However, last week, he suggested a change was possible."But, again, that doesn't open the door for any conjecture, honestly, on my side, " he said.He added, "I've got to figure out what I want to do and then we'll see where all the parties at and what kind of transpires after that."The 39-year-old's numbers dropped in 2022 compared to his back-to-back MVP campaigns as he passed for 3,695 yards and 26 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Rodgers posted a 8-9 record with Green Bay, which finished third in the NFC North and missed the postseason for the first time since 2018.Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said in December that the team would be interested in bringing Rodgers back.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New England Patriots are naming Bill O'Brien their next offensive coordinator, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and Chris Low.O'Brien, who served as Alabama's offensive coordinator, previously spent 2007-11 on the Patriots' staff. He began his first stint with New England as an offensive assistant but also coached wide receivers and quarterbacks and served as offensive coordinator in 2011.The Patriots announced earlier in January they would begin looking for candidates after going the entire 2022 season without officially naming an offensive coordinator. The franchise opted to give offensive play-calling duties to assistant coach Matt Patricia, who had never called plays on that side of the ball before.New England's offense regressed mightily in 2022, as its average points per game fell from 27.2 in 2021 to 21.4 this season. The Patriots also ranked 26th in yardage, 27th in third-down conversion rate, and last in the red zone.O'Brien previously served as head coach of the Houston Texans for seven seasons, compiling a 52-48 record from 2014-20 while earning four playoff appearances. Houston fired him during the 2020 campaign after an 0-4 start.O'Brien's replacement at Alabama will be head coach Nick Saban's sixth offensive coordinator in the last eight seasons, Low adds.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

And then there were four.The Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, and San Francisco 49ers are still alive in the race for the Lombardi Trophy. Here's how the potential Super Bowl LVII matchups stack up ahead of the conference championship games.4. Bengals vs. Eagles Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / GettyNo matter the contestants, Super Bowl LVII will be epic, evidenced by the fact that at No. 4 on this list is a potential meeting between two of the league's most complete teams in the Bengals and Eagles.The most appealing aspect here is the quarterback competition. Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts played at an MVP level during the regular season and kept their momentum in the playoffs. Burrow has accounted for four touchdowns and has yet to turn the ball over through two postseason appearances this year, while Hurts had three TDs in Saturday's straightforward win over the New York Giants. More importantly, Hurts looked better physically after missing two games with a shoulder injury.Burrow and Hurts highlighted a marquee matchup not long ago. Burrow enjoyed the most dominant performance of his college career against Hurts' Oklahoma in the 2019 College Football Playoff semifinals, accounting for eight touchdowns and guiding LSU to a 63-28 victory. This is the only possible Super Bowl LVII matchup between QBs from the same draft class.It would also be interesting to see the Eagles' pass rush face the Bengals' offensive line. Burrow's protection was a major issue in 2021, and Cincy addressed it by adding three new starters. The moves paid off for the most part, but Cincinnati's O-line is banged up and still has flaws. The unit did impress in the divisional round, but playing Philly - which this season became the first team in NFL history to have four defenders with 10-plus sacks - would be a tougher task.The Eagles and Bengals have faced off only five times since 2005. Cincinnati beat Philadelphia on three occasions and the other two contests ended in a tie, including a 23-23 draw during Burrow's rookie year in 2020.3. Bengals vs. 49ers Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt's the second straight year that a 49ers-Bengals Super Bowl is a possibility. Cincy did reach the big game last season, but San Francisco fell short against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC title game. Both teams have improved over the last 12 months.Burrow is playing the best football of his career and leading an offense featuring an elite trio of receivers in Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. Combine that with an improved O-line and a scalding-hot defense, and it's easy to understand why the Bengals haven't lost a game since Halloween.The 49ers are riding an even more impressive winning streak at 12 games. Their last loss dates to Oct. 23. The Niners, owners of the league's top-ranked defense, also roster the likes of Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle, who've been on fire since rookie signal-caller Brock Purdy took over.Some history would also be at play. Cincy, the only remaining team this year without a Super Bowl title, has played in the showpiece event three times and lost to the Niners twice. Only one pair of teams - the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys - have met in the Super Bowl three times.2. Chiefs vs. 49ers MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images / MediaNews Group / GettySpeaking of Super Bowl rematches, here's a great one. Kansas City and San Francisco are again one win away from reaching the big game. The Chiefs edged the 49ers in Super Bowl LIV three years ago in Patrick Mahomes' second season as the starter, but while KC's offense remains a juggernaut, San Francisco has more power on both sides of the ball than it did back then.The Niners are going with Purdy under center instead of Jimmy Garoppolo, and the rookie passer has yet to lose a game as a starter. They also brought in McCaffrey in a huge midseason trade that changed the team offensively. Yes, the Chiefs have a clear advantage at quarterback, but the 49ers have enough individual talent and playmakers to pose a threat to anyone, including Kansas City and its No. 1-ranked offense.No other potential Super Bowl LVII clash has as many must-watch individual matchups as this one. Who wouldn't want to watch Mahomes - the league's best player who's about to win another MVP - against football's top defense led by Nick Bosa? And how about the epic battle of tight ends between Travis Kelce and George Kittle? Would head coach Kyle Shanahan have the last laugh against Andy Reid this time?Kansas City did beat San Francisco 44-23 in Week 7 - the Niners' most recent loss. But that was McCaffrey's short-notice debut with the club, and the 49ers still had Garoppolo at QB. A lot has changed since, and those two powerhouses squaring off at full force next month would be a dream come true for NFL fans.1. Chiefs vs. Eagles Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / GettyA Super Bowl LVII clash featuring the Chiefs and Eagles has virtually everything fans could ask for. A pair of No. 1 seeds? Check. Reid - Philly's all-time winningest coach - facing his former team? Check. This season's top two quarterbacks and most productive offenses? Check and check.Oh, and let's not forget about the Kelce brothers, Travis and Jason, who are among the best in the business on the Chiefs and Eagles, respectively. Need another reason? Philadelphia head coach Nick Sirianni - the favorite for the Coach of the Year award this season - was an assistant for Kansas City between 2009-12.The Chiefs and Eagles may not be the NFL's two hottest teams right now - that title belongs to the Bengals and 49ers - but they were the only ones with 14 regular-season wins. Many didn't expect KC to be this good after losing Tyreek Hill, but Mahomes, Reid, and Co. figured things out. Meanwhile, the Eagles put on a clinic in the offseason as they build a juggernaut. Philly, which rosters stars on essentially every level on defense, can also move the ball effectively through the air and on the ground.Reid led Philadelphia to five NFC Championship Games but ultimately left town without a Super Bowl ring. He did win his first Lombardi Trophy as a head coach with Kansas City two years after the Eagles won their first-ever title with someone else on the sideline. Whether you want to call it the Reid Bowl, Kelce Bowl, or something else, a Chiefs-Eagles Super Bowl would be extra special.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is willing to take a pay cut to remain with the team next season, a source told Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News.Elliott is currently scheduled to earn a $10.9-million salary in 2023. He ranks second behind Aaron Jones of the Green Bay Packers ($20.02 million) with a $16.72-million cap hit.The 27-year-old said after Sunday's divisional-round loss to the San Francisco 49ers that he hopes to stay with the Cowboys."I've definitely thought about it," said Elliott. "I want to be here. I don't have a crystal ball; I can't tell you the future. But I definitely want to be here."Dallas is also interested in keeping Elliott for an eighth year, added Gehlken.Elliott has struggled to live up to his top-tier contract over the last three campaigns after a standout first four seasons in the NFL.Though he's remained one of the league's most consistent scorers with 28 touchdowns on the ground since 2020, Elliott's rushing yards per game dipped to a career-low 58.4 in 2022. He averaged 101.2 yards per game from 2016-18.Dallas reportedly also wants to retain impending free-agent running back Tony Pollard and is willing to use the franchise tag; his situation could be complicated by a reported fractured fibula he sustained against the 49ers.Pollard, 25, enjoyed a breakout season in 2022, earning his first 1,000-yard campaign and Pro Bowl nod.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills' season came to a disappointing end Sunday with a one-sided loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, and receiver Stefon Diggs took the loss hard.Diggs had a sideline spat with quarterback Josh Allen late in the divisional-round matchup. After the game, Diggs left the locker room before some of the Bills coaches had even reached the tunnel, with running back Duke Johnson stopping Diggs before he left the stadium and bringing him back, according to The Athletic's Joe Buscaglia. Diggs then reportedly left a few minutes later.The star wideout defended his actions in a series of tweets Monday.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen said Monday that the right elbow injury he suffered in Week 9 against the New York Jets bothered him for most of the season's final stretch, forcing him to change his throwing motion for several weeks.Allen, who downplayed the impact of his elbow ailment on Sunday's 27-10 divisional-round loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, added that he and the team don't believe offseason surgery is "necessary at this time.""There was a period obviously right after for a few weeks where it was pretty bothersome ... Just kind of felt like maybe I was trying to throw it a little differently," Allen said, according to Heather Prusak of News 4 Buffalo. "Mechanically, (I) had to change a few things and got away a little bit from how I'm used to throwing the ball. That's just kind of a byproduct of that. But again, it didn't affect me too much."He added: "Rest and recovery is going to be really good for it."Allen said his throwing mechanics didn't improve until the start of the playoffs."Really, two weeks ago was when I kinda felt I got back to, mechanically, what I like," he said."Being the rotational thrower, it's very kind of elbow-prevalent, and maybe I got a little bit to more of a linear-type deal cause I just couldn't really use all that much force and kind of flicking it out there. But, again, just adapting."Allen sustained the injury in November late in the fourth quarter against the Jets. He didn't miss any snaps because of the issue, but the Bills listed him on their injury report for multiple weeks.The 26-year-old posted a 59.2% completion rate for 617 yards and three touchdowns against three interceptions in two playoff games this season. He added one score on the ground.Allen emerged as an MVP front-runner in the first half of the season as Buffalo won six of its first seven games. But the star signal-caller couldn't sustain that pace and finished the campaign with an NFL-worst 23 total turnovers (including the playoffs). The Bills' defense also regressed, giving up at least 400 total yards in three games following Week 9 after holding its opponents under 400 yards through the first eight weeks of the season.Weeks 1-910-18*Comp.%6462Yds/G300235TD1916INT86TD run43* Week 17 vs. Bengals canceled.Buffalo entered the playoffs as the AFC's No. 2 seed after going 13-3. The Bills averaged 28.4 points per game during the regular season to rank second behind the Kansas City Chiefs.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is considered day-to-day due to a calf contusion, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Monday, according to David Lombardi of The Athletic.Shanahan said he expects McCaffrey to play Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC title game.McCaffrey, who's become a key member of San Francisco's explosive offense since joining in a midseason trade, carried the ball 10 times for 35 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's win against the Dallas Cowboys. He also caught six passes for 22 yards.The calf ailment bothered McCaffrey on Sunday, forcing him to spend periods of time on the sideline in the second half. He ended up playing 44 of his team's 66 offensive snaps."I was fighting but made it through. Made it through great," said McCaffrey, who led San Francisco with 1,210 scrimmage yards to go along with 10 total touchdowns in 11 games this season, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports.Elijah Mitchell topped the 49ers with 14 rushing attempts for 51 yards versus Dallas. He'll also be listed as day-to-day this week with a groin injury, Shanahan said.The 49ers have reached the conference title game in three of the last four seasons. They fell short against the Los Angeles Rams in the championship game last year.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Following a 9-7-1 record and a divisional-round appearance, the New York Giants are hoping to bring back their two main free agents: quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley."We'd like Daniel to be here," general manager Joe Schoen said Monday, according to team reporter Dan Salomone."We would like to have Saquon back if it works out," Schoen added.Jones is set to become a free agent this offseason after the Giants declined the fifth-year option in his rookie contract before the campaign. He passed for a career-high 3,205 yards this season to go along with 15 touchdowns, five interceptions, a 92.5 passer rating, and 708 rushing yards."He's done everything we've asked him to do," head coach Brian Daboll said, per Fox Sports' Ralph Vacchiano. "He's done a really good job operating our offense. He made strides in a lot of areas. He played the quarterback position well."On Saturday, the 2019 first-round signal-caller expressed his desire to return to the franchise."I've really enjoyed being here, have nothing but love and respect for this organization," Jones said, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan. "I'd love to be back."Meanwhile, Barkley is scheduled to enter free agency after completing his rookie deal with the club. He rushed for a career-high 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns.Barkley said Sunday that he's "realistic" and isn't interested in resetting the market at his position, per Raanan. San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey currently tops all tailbacks with a $16-million annual salary, per Over The Cap.However, Schoen said extension discussions with Barkley's representatives during the team's regular-season bye week "weren't really that close," per Vacchiano. Both sides opted to table further talk until the offseason.The Giants can franchise tag either Jones or Barkley before the March 7 deadline.Additionally, Schoen, citing the strength of the NFC East, said "there's a talent gap there that we need to close," per Salomone. New York posted a 1-4-1 mark against divisional opponents in 2022 while finishing third in the East.The Giants ended their season with a 38-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott took responsibility for his play after throwing two first-half interceptions in a 19-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday's divisional-round game."I can't put the team in jeopardy like that," Prescott said, according to The Dallas Morning News' Tim Cowlishaw. "The defense gave us an opportunity to win the game, they did a great job against a good offense. For us to put up the points we did, it's unacceptable, and that starts with me."The Cowboys limited the 49ers' offense throughout most of the contest, particularly San Francisco's rushing attack. However, Dallas' offense couldn't capitalize on its own possessions. The Cowboys also lost standout running back Tony Pollard, who will reportedly undergo surgery to repair a fractured fibula after leaving the game prior to halftime.Prescott finished the regular season tied with a league-leading 15 interceptions despite missing five contests due to injury. Including the playoffs, Prescott concluded the season throwing 17 interceptions in 14 games.The two-time Pro Bowler said he would address his turnover issues this offseason."The number it has gotten to is ridiculous. I can promise it will never get this high again," Prescott said.Prescott completed 23 of 37 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown as the Niners ousted the Cowboys from the postseason for a second consecutive year. Dallas is now 0-3 in the divisional round with Prescott under center.Despite the Cowboys failing to reach the NFC Championship Game, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said he's confident Prescott will be part of the solution to ending the franchise's 27-season title drought."Give me that set-up a year in advance, a month in advance, give me Dak as quarterback, and I feel very strong we will win," Jones said.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard suffered a fractured fibula in Sunday's playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers, sources told ESPN's Todd Archer.Pollard, a pending free agent, will reportedly need surgery. A fibula fracture typically takes around three months to return from.Pollard sustained the injury before halftime in the divisional round. The Cowboys later ruled him out with an ankle injury.A fourth-round pick in 2019, Pollard notched his first 1,000-yard rushing season in 2022 and earned his first Pro Bowl selection. He split carries with Ezekiel Elliott and ran for 131 more yards than his partner on 38 fewer carries.The Cowboys went 12-5 in the regular season and defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Wild Card Weekend before seeing their campaign come to an end in San Francisco with a 19-12 defeat.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.Bengals dominate up front Bryan M. Bennett / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Bengals missing three starters on the offensive line always figured to be a key storyline heading into their divisional-round matchup with the Bills. That indeed proved to be the case, but not in the way any of us could have expected.Cincinnati's patchwork front five didn't miss a beat in snowy Buffalo. One would have thought La'el Collins, Alex Cappa, and Jonah Williams were all in the lineup, given the way that group whipped the Bills' defensive line to control the game throughout.The Bengals' offense appeared far better equipped for the elements than the home-side favorites, moving the ball at will on the ground with 172 yards on 34 attempts for 5.1 yards per carry. By contrast, the Bills' running game couldn't take any workload off Allen's shoulders: Devin Singletary and James Cook combined for 32 yards on 10 attempts.Consistent yardage in the run game was key to Cincinnati mounting one methodical drive after another - putting points on the board and effectively keeping the defense off the field and the ball out of Allen's hands.Buffalo's defense will draw intense criticism for the helpless performance at home, and it was certainly fair to expect better from a unit that finished the regular season ranked fifth in rush EPA, according to Ben Baldwin's database. But this was just as much about the Bengals having mastered their offensive system as it was about the Bills coming up short in a big spot.Cincinnati's run game has been on an upward trajectory ever since a rough first month of the season, providing the perfect complement to a high-powered passing attack. Continuing that trend, despite some key personnel losses, and getting yet another stellar performance from Lou Anarumo's defense is the latest evidence that this team is different from the one that went to the Super Bowl last year; it's miles better.The Bengals heading back to Arrowhead for a rematch of last year's AFC Championship Game is exactly the way this conference should be decided.Mahomes injury watch Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / GettyPatrick Mahomes was at his best early Saturday afternoon against the Jaguars. He started by effortlessly marching the Chiefs down the field on an opening drive that included a ridiculous jump pass from a collapsing pocket and a jaw-dropping sidearm throw to create a passing window. He also made a few of his patented second-effort plays to find yards that weren't there in the first place. It was more ho-hum highlight-reel stuff from your soon-to-be MVP.Everything changed when Mahomes got his right leg caught underneath a defender late in the first quarter. He returned for the second half and finished the game after reluctantly coming out and agreeing to head to the locker room for X-rays. He even came through with a few big plays to help the Chiefs seal the win. But he was a completely different player with his movement so restricted.Mahomes has eight days to recover before next week's AFC title game at home against the Bengals. It's tough to imagine the injury keeping him off the field, so we won't even dive into that possibility. The question is whether he'll make enough progress to have any semblance of the mobility that makes him such a nightmare to defend. Unfortunately, that's no sure thing with high ankle sprains.Make no mistake, Mahomes isn't just an improv artist - he can kill you from the pocket, too. There are still plenty of big-time throws for him to make sitting back and running the offense on schedule. But that puts more on his pass-catchers to consistently win within the structure of the play. Mahomes' ability to create magic when that doesn't happen is a big part of what makes Kansas City so unstoppable.Any limitations in that regard should make the running game a focal point for the Chiefs next week. That may seem like an unappealing option when you look at the raw numbers from the regular season - Kansas City ranked 20th in rushing yards - but that's more a byproduct of Andy Reid leaning on the best quarterback on the planet more often than not. Kansas City's ground game has still been productive, finishing the year ranked 10th in rush EPA and sixth in rush success rate.So don't be so quick to write off the Chiefs' chances if the coaching staff needs to dial back what they ask of Mahomes. Standout rookie Isiah Pacheco carrying the load behind one of the league's best run-blocking offensive lines can also be a recipe for success, however unspectacular it may be. Controlling the clock against an offense like that of the Bengals isn't such a bad idea, either.Then again, this is Mahomes we're talking about. Would you really be that surprised if he comes out looking better than ever with a shot at the Super Bowl on the line? Whatever the formula ends up being, the Chiefs can make it work.There's a reason they're playing for the AFC title for the fifth year in a row.Different levels of good Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Giants were a nice story. Nobody gave them a chance to make the playoffs, and going on the road to knock off a 13-win Vikings team is undeniably fun. Getting results before the rebuilding process ever truly has a chance to begin is also an incredibly promising sign for what's to come.However, matching up with this Eagles team was always going to be a tall task. This is arguably the NFL's premier roster. The talent disparity is far too significant.Philadelphia bounced back from an underwhelming finish to the regular season and came out of the bye week to stomp a division opponent in a 38-7 rout. That's a testament to everything Howie Roseman has done to turn this roster around over the last two years. The quality of players at nearly every spot on the field, particularly in the trenches, is overwhelming.And most importantly for Philly, Jalen Hurts appears to be back to where he needs to be. The shoulder may not be feeling 100% right now or at any time in the playoffs, but there was nothing he couldn't do against the Giants. An early deep ball to DeVonta Smith was the first promising sign. The way Hurts went back to Smith later in the game, anticipating an out-breaking route under pressure from a blitz off the edge, all but confirmed there are no limitations on his ability to throw.Hurts making minor improvements on the level of play we saw last season would have been enough for a team with this much talent to emerge as a contender. Growing into a high-level passer was the final piece to the puzzle for Philly to become the Super Bowl favorite. There's no denying that status now.Dream NFC title game Lachlan Cunningham / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt doesn't get any better than this.The 49ers taking care of business against the Cowboys set the stage for the best conference title matchup we could have asked for. If ever there was a team built to at least contain the juggernaut Eagles, if not send them home early, this is the one.Philly's offense is nearly impossible to defend. An expertly designed run game that includes the quarterback and is led by the NFL's best offensive line is enough to overwhelm most opponents. And as soon as you adjust to stack the box, Hurts and an outstanding group of pass-catchers will feast on their one-on-one matchups. They've got an answer to everything you want to throw at them.But the 49ers essentially have the defensive equivalent. San Francisco's defense finished the regular season ranked second in rush EPA, rush success rate, total rushing yards, and rushing yards per carry. And while parts of their secondary are susceptible to giving up big plays, finding opportunities to attack downfield becomes difficult when a scary group of pass-rushers can constantly pin their ears back in obvious passing situations. This is going to be a slugfest and chess match wrapped into one.Don't sleep on the inverse matchup, either. Philly is every bit as talented on the defensive side, and its top-four unit by EPA/play presents a unique challenge to the 49ers and their group of superstar playmakers. But running the ball is the best way to attack the Eagles defense, which finished the year ranked bottom-10 in rush EPA. And nobody presents as many schematic challenges in the ground game as Kyle Shanahan.All in all, this is going to be a fascinating matchup of two absolute powerhouses. Sunday can't get here soon enough.Quick slantsMcCarthy still safe? Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / GettyJerry Jones stressed that Mike McCarthy wasn't going anywhere before the playoffs even started, and then the Cowboys got their first postseason win since 2018. The veteran head coach probably doesn't deserve to go, but don't be surprised if it at least becomes a possibility after Sunday's loss in San Francisco. McCarthy's decision to punt while trailing by a touchdown with just over two minutes left in the game was a bizarre move, and the circus play on the final snap made it two straight years that Dallas fell to the 49ers in embarrassing fashion. While neither should decide his fate, Sean Payton is out there looking for a job. Could Jones change his mind and capitalize on this last chance to hire the superstar coach he's long admired?Allen needs some helpAllen remains one of the most unstoppable talents in the game today. He regularly makes awe-inspiring plays while breaking all conventional rules of the quarterback position. But one man can only do so much. As strange as it may feel to say that a Bills offense featuring Stefon Diggs needs more talent at the skill positions, that's where we're at right now. Buffalo hasn't been able to get consistent production out of anyone other than their No. 1 wideout for the better part of the last three years. Loading up on weapons needs to be the top offseason priority if the Bills are going to maximize the generational talent they have behind center. If spending on a running back feels irresponsible for a team that's going to live and die by the passing game, then go get two receivers. Do something to make the most of this Super Bowl window.Big decision for GiantsDaniel Jones has earned himself a chance to show he can be the quarterback of the future. However, there's still reason for caution from a team perspective. While Saturday night's blowout loss to the Eagles was more about the roster not being ready for that kind of opponent, it's still fair to expect a franchise quarterback to elevate those around him when faced with such a challenge. Questions remain about whether Jones can still become that kind of player. As the Giants set out to make that determination for themselves, perhaps the best course of action is to work out a long-term deal with Saquon Barkley and reserve the franchise tag for Jones. The quarterback tag won't be cheap - OverTheCap currently projects a number of $32.4 million. But the short-term commitment is far more palatable than overreacting to a promising first season under Brian Daboll and locking in such a salary on a long-term deal.Future bright in Duval Jason Hanna / Getty Images Sport / GettyWhat a run. The Jaguars getting to the divisional round in Kansas City just one year removed from the disaster that was Urban Meyer's abbreviated foray into NFL coaching is a remarkable turnaround. Doug Pederson's guidance has helped Trevor Lawrence take some major steps toward becoming one of the league's next great quarterbacks. The offense only figures to get better next season with the addition of former Falcons wideout Calvin Ridley. If Jacksonville can navigate some of its cap constraints to make key additions in the secondary, the window for true contention could open as soon as next campaign. And it won't be a short one.Free-agent steal in ReddickA roster with this much talent getting the steal of free agency doesn't seem fair. Haason Reddick was the star of the show in Philly's beatdown of the Giants, getting to Jones for 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hits. The veteran pass-rusher's standout playoff performance comes on the heels of his 16 sacks in the regular season, which had him tied for second behind Nick Bosa for the league lead. Reddick giving the Eagles this level of production after joining the team on a three-year, $45-million contract is the kind of value you just can't expect from free agents. While everyone loves to claim "bust" about struggling young players, this is another reminder that the situation matters, too. The Cardinals trying to make their former first-rounder an off-ball linebacker sure looks silly now.Stat of the week

Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard won't return to Sunday's divisional-round game against the San Francisco 49ers after suffering an ankle injury late in the first half.Pollard had his left ankle trapped under a 49ers defender while being tackled and needed help to get off the field. He was quickly carted to the locker room after being evaluated on the sideline.

The Cincinnati Bengals took down the Buffalo Bills 27-10 in Sunday's divisional-round matchup to book an AFC Championship Game rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs.Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow produced another highly efficient playoff effort despite the snow, completing 23 of 36 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Joe Mixon also racked up 105 yards and one score.Cincinnati's defense, meanwhile, kept Josh Allen and Buffalo's high-flying offense mostly in check, with the star signal-caller running for the team's lone touchdown.More to come.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni offered high praise for quarterback Jalen Hurts after his team's 38-7 win over the New York Giants on Saturday."I know this is high praise, but to have him out there is like having - I shouldn't even go there - it's like having Michael Jordan out there," Sirianni said, according to ESPN's Tim McManus. "He's your leader. He's your guy."Sirianni added, "To me, nobody has played any better football than him this year."Hurts completed 16 of 24 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns in the divisional-round victory against the Giants. He also had one rushing touchdown. The 24-year-old played through a sprained sternoclavicular joint in his throwing shoulder sustained in the Week 15 matchup against the Chicago Bears.Sirianni also praised Hurts' role in the Eagles' rushing attack and his ability to draw attention from the defense as a dual-threat quarterback. Philadelphia racked up 268 yards on the ground, including 34 from Hurts.The signal-caller described his physical health as "good enough" but "nowhere close to 100%." He also said he came down with an illness late in the week.While Sirianni offered lavish praise, Hurts' teammates thought his performance was par for the course."Seemed like the old Jalen to me," said running back Miles Sanders.Hurts set career highs with 3,701 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns, and 13 rushing touchdowns this season. He led the Eagles to a 14-1 mark as a starter, earning his first Pro Bowl nod in the process.With the rout over their NFC East rivals, the Eagles advanced to the NFC Championship Game and will host the winner of the contest between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said he'll be ready to play in the AFC Championship Game after fighting through an ankle injury in Saturday's divisional-round win against the Jacksonville Jaguars."X-rays were negative. They haven't diagnosed anything yet, but I'll be good to go," he told NBC's Melissa Stark postgame, according to Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.Mahomes had his right ankle rolled up on by Jaguars linebacker Arden Key in the first quarter. The star signal-caller stayed on the field for several more plays but was clearly hobbled and went to the locker room in the second quarter.He was replaced by Chad Henne and ruled questionable to return. But Mahomes quickly returned to the sideline and re-entered after halftime to lead Kansas City to its fifth straight AFC title game appearance.An MRI confirmed that Mahomes sustained a high ankle sprain in Saturday's win, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Dallas Cowboys want to keep impending free agent Tony Pollard and could use the franchise tag to stop the running back from hitting the open market, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The franchise tag for running backs is expected to be around $10.1 million, according to Over The Cap.Retaining Pollard would give Dallas one of the NFL's most expensive backfields, as Ezekiel Elliott has a $16.72-million cap hit in 2023.The 25-year-old Pollard produced a career 2022 season, racking up 1,007 rushing yards, 371 receiving yards, and 12 total touchdowns.Pollard is set to be part of a loaded free-agent running back class, including Saquon Barkley, Miles Sanders, Kareem Hunt, and Josh Jacobs.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Star running back Saquon Barkley said he's optimistic that Saturday's division-round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles won't be his final opportunity suiting up for the New York Giants."I can't envision that being my last time in a Giants uniform," Barkley said following the 38-7 loss, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.New York will have to figure out what it wants to do with its backfield, as Barkley's and quarterback Daniel Jones' contracts expire at the end of the season.Barkley has made it clear that he'd like to remain with the franchise that selected him second overall in the 2018 NFL Draft."I've been vocal about how I feel, where I want to be, where I want to stay," he said. "It's out of my hands, and that's part of the business. Everyone knows how I feel."Barkley garnered the second Pro Bowl nod of his career in 2022, posting a career-high 1,312 rushing yards for 10 touchdowns while averaging 4.4 yards per carry. He also added 57 receptions for 338 yards.Despite turning in his best campaign since breaking out as a rookie, Barkley couldn't find his stride Saturday. The Eagles limited the tailback to 61 yards on nine carries as New York mustered 227 total yards."We really got beat in all facets, so it wasn't one thing in particular," Giants head coach Brian Daboll said, per ESPN's Jordan Raanan. "It was a team game, and we just didn't get it done."Jones was reluctant to discuss his pending free agency and future with the franchise following Saturday's contest. Prior to the campaign, New York declined Jones' fifth-year option on his rookie contract."Like I said, we will cross that bridge when we get there," Jones said. "I really enjoyed playing here."The Giants finished with a 9-7-1 record in Daboll's first season at the helm. New York defeated the Minnesota Vikings in the wild-card round before Saturday's defeat.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Philadelphia Eagles booked their spot in the NFC Championship Game after overpowering the New York Giants 38-7 on Saturday night.Running back Kenneth Gainwell contributed 112 of the Eagles' 268 rushing yards against the Giants.The Eagles, who entered the playoffs as the NFC's No. 1 seed, will host the conference title game against the winner of Sunday's matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers.More to come.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Head coach Doug Pederson is "excited" for the Jacksonville Jaguars' future after the club's first playoff run since the 2017 season came to an end Saturday."I feel like we're close. Obviously, we've got the right leader in Trevor (Lawrence). Feel really good about him, obviously. What he's done, how he's played this season. ... I'm excited for the future in Jacksonville," Pederson said postgame after the 27-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round.The Jaguars made a remarkable turnaround in Pederson's first season as head coach. Jacksonville, which picked first in the last two NFL drafts, won six of its last seven games to clinch its first playoff berth and AFC South title in five years. The Jaguars then stormed back from a 27-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round before falling to the Chiefs on Saturday.Jacksonville never trailed by more than 10 points against Kansas City, but a failed onside kick in the final minute ended any hopes of a comeback."Nobody expected us, the Jaguars, to be in this football game from the beginning of the season to today. ... Our expectation is to be in these games every year," Pederson told reporters.Lawrence enjoyed a breakout year under Pederson, completing 66.3% of his passes for 4,113 yards, 25 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. The 2021 No. 1 overall pick also expressed confidence that the team will be able to build on its playoff berth."This is more the beginning than the end for us," Lawrence said postgame, according to The Athletic's Jeff Howe. "It's just getting started."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL announced Saturday that Los Angeles Chargers pass-rusher Joey Bosa was fined $55,546 for unsportsmanlike conduct and public criticism of officiating following last week's playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Bosa was fined $29,785 and $13,261 for two instances of poor sportsmanship and $12,500 for his comments regarding NFL referees.The four-time Pro Bowler called out officials hours after the Chargers blew a 27-0 second-quarter lead and lost in the wild-card round Sunday. He said there "needs to be more accountability" for officials."If I say something to them I get a $40,000 fine but if they blow a call that ruins an entire team's season, they'll probably be back in the locker room after the game like, 'Haha, got that asshole, oh yeah, got him 15 yards, what a loser,'" Bosa said Sunday."I guarantee it, that's what they're f-----g talking like in the back. I'm sick of those f-----g people."Bosa's first penalty came after he appeared to bring up a missed call to an official, and he was later flagged for slamming his helmet into the ground following a fourth-quarter Jacksonville touchdown.The 27-year-old played just five games in the regular season due to injuries and finished the campaign with 2.5 sacks. He registered just one tackle and a quarterback hit versus Jacksonville.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Derek Carr tweeted Saturday that he won't reveal what went wrong internally between him and the Las Vegas Raiders, adding that he'll give his best wherever he goes next."Thank you to all the people reaching out trying to give me their platform to tell my side of what happened," Carr wrote. "It's the hardest thing in the world not to jump on every interview and tell the whole truth. Thank you, but I'm choosing to move on and give our next city our best."The Raiders are expected to trade Carr, their starting quarterback since 2014. Las Vegas benched the 31-year-old for its final two games of the 2022 season and gave him permission to walk away from the team to avoid being a distraction.Carr's comment comes days after Hondo Carpenter of Sports Illustrated reported what went wrong between the signal-caller and the team. His relationship in the Raiders' locker room reportedly began to shift after their Week 10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Jeff Saturday's NFL head coaching debut. By the end of the season, trust between head coach Josh McDaniels and Carr "was non-existent," a source told Carpenter.Carr recently bid farewell to the franchise, stating he "never envisioned it ending this way."Coming off a 10-7 season, the Raiders entered 2022 with high expectations after adding high-profile players - including receiver Davante Adams and pass-rusher Chandler Jones - and hiring McDaniels, who'd been part of six Super Bowl-winning campaigns as the New England Patriots' offensive coordinator. However, Las Vegas went 6-11 this season and missed the playoffs.The Raiders are reportedly expected to find a trade partner for Carr before Feb. 15, the deadline for his $40.4 million in salary for the next two years to become fully guaranteed. He has a no-trade clause and is expected to be involved in the process.Carr, the Raiders' all-time leading passer, finished 2022 with a 60.8% completion rate - his lowest since his rookie year - to go along with 3,522 yards and 24 touchdowns to 14 interceptions in 15 games.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cincinnati Bengals are targeting this offseason to sign quarterback Joe Burrow to a contract extension, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Cincinnati is expected to exercise the fifth-year option on Burrow's rookie contract before the May 1 deadline, Rapoport adds.The 26-year-old threw for 4,475 yards and a career-high 35 touchdowns this past season. He also rushed for 247 yards and another five scores en route to earning his first Pro Bowl nod.Cincinnati's offense dealt with injuries to key players throughout the season, including Ja'Marr Chase, La'el Collins, and Jonah Williams. Despite missing some starters, Burrow led the Bengals to a second consecutive AFC North title.The LSU product led Cincinnati to a Super Bowl appearance and a 10-6 mark in 2021, his second campaign. Burrow led the league that year with a 70.4% completion rate to go along with 4,611 passing yards and 34 touchdowns.The Bengals take on the Buffalo Bills in the AFC divisional-round game Sunday.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon isn't quite ready to share his assessment of starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill's future."I don't think that's fair at this point," Carthon said Friday, according to ESPN's Turron Davenport. "We're still evaluating the roster. Ryan has been great here. He's won a lot of football games. I look forward to us winning football games. But I still need more time to evaluate and make those decisions.""(Head coach Mike Vrabel) and I will confer, and we'll figure it out," he added.Tannehill passed for 2,536 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions this past season, recording a 65.2% completion rate. Tennessee boasted a 6-6 record with him as a starter but went 1-4 when he was sidelined with a season-ending ankle injury.Since joining the franchise in 2019, Tannehill has provided a steady hand for the offense. He posted a 36-19 record as a starter over four seasons and led the Titans to postseason appearances from 2019-21.The 2019 Pro Bowl passer will carry a $36.6-million cap hit next season. Tennessee could save $27 million by moving on from the veteran signal-caller after June, according to OverTheCap.Vrabel said during his season-ending press conference that Tannehill would remain the team's starting quarterback "if he is healthy."Tannehill, 34, said he's confident he has "plenty of football" left in him.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dillon Brooks was among a number of Memphis Grizzlies players irritated by Fox Sports on-air personality Shannon Sharpe's behavior during Saturday's 122-121 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers."I ain't talking about that," Brooks said of his heated exchange with Sharpe, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "You can ask him. He's the blogger or whatever he is. I don't really care about all that. Next question."Sharpe was jawing at Brooks as the halftime buzzer sounded, prompting a courtside altercation between the Pro Football Hall of Famer and members of the Grizzlies.Security and officials quickly intervened to prevent the situation from escalating further. Sharpe was then allowed to return to his seat for the third quarter, which didn't sit well with Brooks."A regular pedestrian like him? No, he should have never come back in the game," Brooks said. "But this is L.A."However, at least one person at Crypto.com Arena had Sharpe's support.LeBron James showed some love for the former Denver Broncos tight end, whose comments in defense of the Lakers superstar ignited the whole incident."I mean, I ride with Shannon for 365 days, 366 on a leap year, 24/7," James said postgame. "So that's my guy. So I'll always have his back, and he's got mine. He can talk with the best of them, for sure."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Several players from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers believe that Tom Brady won't return to the club in 2023 based on their final interactions with the star quarterback."I'd be surprised if he was back," an anonymous player said, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport."He sounded like a person saying goodbye for good," another teammate added.Brady said following the Buccaneers' wild-card game loss to the Dallas Cowboys that he'd take some time after the season to decide his future.He retired for 40 days last offseason before returning for a 23rd campaign in 2022. The seven-time Super Bowl champion's numbers plummeted to 4,694 passing yards and 25 touchdowns after leading the league in both categories last season with 5,316 yards and 43 touchdowns.The Buccaneers fired several assistant coaches after the season, including Byron Leftwich. He became their offensive coordinator in 2019 - a year before Brady joined the franchise.Tampa Bay's offense struggled throughout the majority of the regular season. The club won the NFC South with an 8-9 record despite posting 18.4 points per game (25th in the NFL).Brady has a 32-18 record as a starter in three seasons with Tampa Bay after spending the first 20 years of his career as a member of the New England Patriots. He led the Bucs to a Super Bowl LV win in his first campaign with the franchise.Brady plans to spend time with his family while he weighs his options for the future. He reportedly signed a 10-year, $375-million contract to be a broadcaster with Fox Sports once he retires.The 15-time Pro Bowler could also opt to return for his 24th campaign with a new club, as he's set to become a free agent for the second time in his illustrious career.Tampa Bay will conduct a search for a new offensive coordinator while it awaits a decision from the quarterback.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A bizarre confrontation unfolded courtside during Friday's encounter between the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies.As players on both teams began walking off the floor at halftime, members of the Grizzlies suddenly walked over to confront Pro Football Hall of Famer and current Fox Sports on-air personality Shannon Sharpe, with Ja Morant's father Tee also joining the altercation.Security had to restrain the Memphis players as Sharpe continued to shout at them from his spot courtside.

Eight teams remain in the NFL playoff bracket as the divisional round begins. The following players span every position group on the field and will help determine which squads advance this weekend.Jaguars at ChiefsTravis Etienne, JAX running back: Trevor Lawrence's torrid finish to the wild-card win over the Chargers overshadowed Etienne's productive evening. While Lawrence took a while to heat up, flinging four interceptions before he fired four touchdown passes, Etienne was a bright spot in the first half and gained 121 total yards from scrimmage to help power Jacksonville's legendary comeback.Etienne converted four first downs on the Jaguars' various second-half scoring drives. Feeding him the ball diverted pressure from Lawrence and opened space for the quarterback's downfield strikes. Facing fourth-and-1 on the final series, Etienne bounced outside and rushed for 25 yards to tee up Riley Patterson's decisive field goal. The NFL's ninth-leading rusher in 2022 was influential in his playoff debut.The Chiefs gave up more than 100 rushing yards in two of their three losses this season and in seven of the 10 one-possession games they played. Establishing the run could help Jacksonville move the chains and keep the score close while Lawrence tries to go shot for shot with Patrick Mahomes. David Rosenblum / Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesTrent McDuffie, KC cornerback: Lawrence made Asante Samuel Jr. look elite in the first half of the Chargers matchup. The Los Angeles cornerback was the first player to intercept three balls and defend six passes in a playoff game, per Stathead. No one had recorded those numbers in the regular season since 2001.By PFF's player grades, Samuel was the NFL's 13th-best cover corner this year. He ranked one spot ahead of McDuffie, the first-round rookie who missed close to two months with a hamstring injury. Healthy since November, McDuffie allowed a season-high six catches for 59 yards when Kansas City beat Jacksonville in Week 10, though only three went for first downs.Jacksonville's top receivers, Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, combined to catch 11 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns in the second half of the wild-card game. They burned L.A.'s coverage all over the field. The Chiefs will count on McDuffie to clamp down on one of them and, perhaps, nab his first career pick.Giants at EaglesKayvon Thibodeaux, NYG edge rusher: The No. 5 draft choice in 2022 stumbled to start his rookie season. Thibodeaux recorded a scant three QB hits through his first eight appearances. Then he landed five QB hits against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, powering a late-year glow-up for himself and New York's pass rushers.Thibodeaux was named the NFC's top defensive player in Week 15, when he scored on his own strip-sack and racked up 12 tackles against the Commanders in prime time. His rise coincided with edge rusher Azeez Ojulari's breakout, complemented nose tackle Dexter Lawrence's All-Pro campaign, and helped boost the Giants to 13th in the NFL in sacks, up from 21st around the midseason mark.The Giants sacked Jalen Hurts seven times over a pair of losses to Philadelphia. The quarterback's shoulder sprain continued to affect him in the regular-season finale, but Thibodeaux was a healthy scratch in that game. He'll only faze Hurts if he can circumvent the Eagles' offensive line, which earned PFF's top collective pass-blocking grade. Tim Nwachukwu / Getty ImagesT.J. Edwards, PHI linebacker: Philly's defensive linchpin was a member of our midseason All-Riser team, which celebrated his ascent to stardom as a fourth-year pro.Edwards remained excellent all season. The No. 3 linebacker in PFF's player grades finished second in the NFL in tackles with 125. About 40% of them were stops, defined as a tackle that caps an ineffective offensive play. Edwards broke up more passes (seven) than every linebacker except Buffalo's Tremaine Edmunds and allowed the lowest reception rate for the position when targeted (65.7% with no touchdowns conceded), per PFF.Edwards, who played 94% of Eagles defensive snaps in 2022, didn't leave the field in Week 18 despite facing the Giants' backups. Emergent dual threat Daniel Jones will test the scope of his abilities on Saturday. The rest Edwards enjoyed during Super Wild Card Weekend could be restorative: His best performance in coverage this season (89.1 PFF grade) came in a blowout win over the Steelers right after the Eagles' bye week.Bengals at BillsHakeem Adeniji, CIN offensive tackle: Decimated by injury, the Bengals' O-line thrust three backups into starting roles in recent weeks. One of them is Adeniji, who was responsible for three sacks as the right guard in last year's Super Bowl defeat and was demoted to the bench when Cincinnati revamped the line in the offseason.Adeniji allowed three pressures and a sack in the wild-card round as La'el Collins' replacement at right tackle. After Collins tore his ACL on Christmas Eve, right guard Alex Cappa (ankle) and left tackle Jonah Williams (dislocated kneecap) went down in back-to-back games against the Ravens and are out week to week. Those were big blows to a line that was finally safeguarding Joe Burrow (29 sacks in the first half of the season, 12 in the second half).Burrow doesn't flinch when the pocket collapses. He ranked second behind Josh Allen in passer rating this season on dropbacks where he faced pressure, per PFF. Obviously, the Bengals would prefer to keep him upright. They need Adeniji to repel Bills edge rusher Gregory Rousseau when the second-year budding star lines up across from him. Timothy T. Ludwig / Getty ImagesJosh Allen, BUF quarterback: No QB booms and busts like Allen, which makes him riveting to watch. He led the NFL in approximate value, Pro Football Reference's catchall performance metric, for the second straight year. But he also committed the most turnovers in the league (19) and gave away the ball three times in the wild-card round.Allen's gunslinging ultimately buried the Dolphins last weekend. He completed a season-high seven big-time throws, defined by PFF as a downfield toss that's perfectly placed. Yet his carelessness allowed Miami to storm back from 17 points down, forcing Buffalo to rally to beat a pedestrian opponent. Dolphins passer Skylar Thompson was the only wild-card starter who added fewer expected points per play, according to Ben Baldwin's database.Allen is much better than that. Mahomes was the only QB who threw and ran for more touchdowns in 2022. The Bills put up 30 or more points in eight games, equaling the league high. Still, Allen could stand to be more judicious against the Bengals, whose defense ranked sixth in points against and eighth in takeaways after finishing 17th in both categories last season.Cowboys at 49ersMichael Gallup, DAL wide receiver: The Cowboys' pass attack runs through CeeDee Lamb, the All-Pro who ranked fifth in catches and sixth in receiving yardage this season. But a secondary playmaker occasionally steps up. Gallup and tight end Dalton Schultz combined to snag 12 passes for 141 yards and three touchdowns in the wild-card round, clicking with Dak Prescott as Dallas routed the Buccaneers.San Francisco's defense is mightier than Tampa Bay's. The 49ers allowed the fewest points against (16.3 per game), snatched a league-high 20 interceptions, and ranked fourth in DVOA against opposing No. 1 receivers, per Football Outsiders. But the Niners were 18th in DVOA when defending No. 2 wideouts and 30th in DVOA against the opponent's remaining receivers.If they blanket Lamb, could Gallup have a big afternoon? The fifth-year pro returned in October from an ACL tear and only surpassed 50 receiving yards once in 2022. That said, Gallup overtook Noah Brown as Prescott's No. 2 wideout in the latter half of the season, and he made impressive downfield grabs against the Bucs shortly before Schultz and Lamb scored touchdowns. Ezra Shaw / Getty ImagesGeorge Kittle, SF tight end: San Francisco's wealth of playmaking talent is peerless. Four of Brock Purdy's receiving targets average more than 40 yards per game, the highest figure in the league. Brandon Aiyuk stretches the field, Deebo Samuel's 12 broken tackles led all NFL wideouts, and Christian McCaffrey doubles as a 1,000-yard rusher.Purdy and Kittle forged a connection down the stretch. Seven of Kittle's 11 touchdown snags, the league's third-best total, came as Purdy helmed the offense in the final four weeks. No tight end generated a higher passer rating for his quarterbacks when targeted this season, per PFF. Throwing to Kittle is smart and fruitful, though the Seahawks limited him to two receptions for 37 yards in the wild-card round.San Francisco edged Dallas in the playoffs last January even though Kittle only hauled in one pass. The 2022 Cowboys held tight ends to one paltry TD catch in the regular season (Cole Kmet for the Bears in Week 8). Will they stifle Kittle, will Purdy target his passes elsewhere, or will Kittle rebound to peak form and carry the Niners to their 12th straight win?Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We had quite a ride last week, as our makeshift round-robin parlay saw our first four touchdown scorers find the end zone - all in the first half. It all seemed so easy. Then, on Monday night, Tom Brady couldn't, or wouldn't, find Chris Godwin for a touchdown despite 13 targets and numerous forays near the goal line. Nevertheless, we were pleased with what was at least a 15-unit win, and we're back by popular demand for a reworked divisional round robin.How it worksWith just four games, and most sportsbooks unwilling to allow more than one scorer per game in a parlay, we have to tweak the format. We'll parlay four touchdown scorers in five different parlays. Using every combination of a four-player parlay is called a round robin. We'll divide one betting unit into five mini-bets: four three-player parlays and one four-player parlay, each for .2 units. Three players scoring should pay in the neighborhood of 4-to-1. If all four players score, you'll be diving into a silo of gold doubloons like a young Scrooge McDuck.Who to play*All odds from theScore BetKadarius Toney (+190)Kadarius Toney joined the Chiefs midseason only to miss time with an injury after just a couple of weeks. However, upon his return, Toney's seen the field for at least 30% of the Chiefs' offensive snaps. Whether that usage goes up or not, Toney's specialty might still be scoring touchdowns.Toney scored in two of three games to close the season and was the target of the Chiefs' "Ring around the Rosy" trick play against the Raiders in Week 18. With an extra week for scheming, Toney should continue to play in the same role that saw Mecole Hardman - still out with a pelvic injury - score six combined rushing and receiving touchdowns in just eight games this season.Daniel Jones (+200)Daniel Jones had seven total rushing touchdowns in five of his 16 starts this season, so +200 odds are about right from an implied probability standpoint. However, one of those touchdowns came in Jones' lone game against Philadelphia. The Eagles allowed the second-most yards per rush to opposing quarterbacks this season despite a schedule that only featured Jones, Justin Fields, and Kyler Murray as truly dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks.The 6'5 Jones is tipping the scales at over 230 pounds, making both his size and rushing stats look a lot like Josh Allen, but without the short price to score.PLAYERLISTED SIZERUSH YDSTDODDSDaniel Jones6'5 - 2307087+200Josh Allen6'5 - 2377627+140James Cook (+220)We relied on James Cook to find the end zone in a singular wager last week, and he came through for us. We'll include him here under the same premise - his price to score a touchdown is too long compared to Devin Singletary's (+160) and Allen's.Over Buffalo's final five regular-season games, as well as last week's wild-card game, Cook has had 67 touches to Singletary's 70. Cook also finished the season with 5.7 yards per rush to Singletary's 4.6, showing he's more capable of a long touchdown should he burst past D.J. Reader and the Bengals' defensive line.Brandon Aiyuk (+220)The 49ers' leader in receiving yards this season didn't have the biggest explosive play last week, as both Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey took off for massive gains. However, Brandon Aiyuk averaged 24 yards on his three catches, showing he's just as dangerous.Aiyuk led the 49ers in targets, receptions, and yards in last year's playoff game in Dallas. I expect Samuel to be more involved as a rusher like he was last season, while George Kittle will likely have to stay in to help block against the Cowboys' formidable pass rush. Aiyuk runs more routes than any of his Niner teammates, making him just as likely to be on the end of a Brock Purdy touchdown pass as any of his shorter-priced teammates.Here are how the odds look:PARLAYODDS (Approx.)Toney+Jones+Cook+2700Toney+Cook+Aiyuk+2800Toney+Jones+Aiyuk+2800Jones+Cook+Aiyuk+2900Toney+Jones+Cook+Aiyuk+9000Who are your four touchdown scorers for a football betting lottery ticket?Matt Russell is a betting writer for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals left tackle Jonah Williams and right guard Alex Cappa won't play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills, head coach Zac Taylor announced Friday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Williams suffered a dislocated left kneecap in the first half of last week's win over the Baltimore Ravens, while Cappa is dealing with an ankle ailment. Cappa didn't play versus Baltimore.Their absences are a big blow to the Bengals, who'd already lost right tackle La'el Collins for the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL. Cincinnati brought in Cappa and Collins, as well as center Ted Karras, in the offseason after allowing 55 sacks during 2021, the third most in the NFL. Quarterback Joe Burrow was also sacked 19 times in four playoff games that season, including seven times in the Super Bowl loss to the Los Angeles Rams.The Ravens registered four sacks on Burrow - who was taken down 41 times this regular season - in the wild-card round.Max Scharping is expected to start at right guard for the second straight week to replace Cappa, while Jackson Carman could be in line to play left tackle in place of Williams on Sunday.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady enters the offseason as a free agent at age 45 after setting NFL single-season records for pass attempts and completions in the last two campaigns with the Buccaneers. I'm told he plans to take a month or two to evaluate all his options to not make an emotional decision following Monday night's season-ending loss to Dallas. In the meantime, here are his best and most realistic options.RaidersBrady would instantly vault the Silver and Black into contention status. He'd have an arsenal of top-tier receiving threats with perennial All-Pro Davante Adams and former Pro Bowlers Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow. You could add 2022 rushing champion Josh Jacobs if the Raiders sign him to an extension rather than let him walk as a free agent.Perhaps just as importantly, Brady could finally reunite with coach Josh McDaniels. They spent roughly two decades together in New England and maintained a good friendship predicated on mutual respect and trust. Las Vegas currently has more than $22 million in cap space, according to OverTheCap, which slots as ninth most in the NFL. Money shouldn't be an issue.Traditionally, Brady has excelled playing with a dominant tight end. Waller isn't Rob Gronkowski - who is? - but he's a true vertical seam threat capable of dominating in the red zone. Renfrow is a slot assassin whose short area quickness rivals Julian Edelman, Wes Welker, or Deion Branch. Add Adams, a first-ballot Hall of Famer smack-dab in his prime, and Jacobs, a true bell-cow back, and the Raiders are very appetizing.Panthers Mike Ehrmann / Getty ImagesThe Panthers are a sneaky team for a couple of reasons, none more significant than the potential to join forces with head coach Sean Payton. As great as Brady is, has he ever had anyone as good as Payton in his corner? With due respect to McDaniels, Bill O'Brien, and Bill Belichick, Payton is one of our generation's truly great offensive minds. Remember, he took Drew Brees - cast off by the Chargers in 2005 - and helped transform him into one of the greatest quarterbacks ever.Granted, Carolina is a long shot to land Brady, but it's far from a crazy idea. Brady would get to stay in the NFC South, a weak division he's familiar with. Payton and Brady would also have the luxury of a talented repertoire of receiver D.J. Moore and running backs Chuba Hubbard and D'Onta Foreman - should he sign an extension. The Panthers also have one of the NFL's better offensive lines.Here's the real key, though. Owner David Tepper is hell-bent on making a splash with a sexy head-coaching hire and is willing to pay top dollar. As I've reported, Payton is seeking a multi-year deal worth at least $20 million per season. It's my understanding that Tepper would be willing to pony up the big bucks for Payton but also wants a true franchise quarterback - the team hasn't had one since Cam Newton's heyday - to complement the uber-creative coach. Despite Brady being in the back half of his 40s, that won't tame Tapper's excitement if he can secure the two as a package for 2023.DolphinsMiami's a bit murky given the unknown status regarding quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. When he was healthy this season, Tagovailoa played like a franchise quarterback: decisive, accurate, and well on his way to his first Pro Bowl. We also know the Dolphins were very close to getting Brady a couple of years ago. Its efforts were torpedoed after the NFL disciplined the franchise in August 2022 for making impermissible contact with Brady in 2019 and 2020 while he was still under contract with the Pats. Brady and owner Stephen Ross are both Michigan alumni, which helped lead to an onslaught of rumors that Brady wanted to buy a stake in the team.However, from a football perspective, the bottom line is Miami has the right personnel to accommodate the GOAT. The club has two of the game's fastest - and best - receivers (Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle) and an offensive guru in head coach Mike McDaniel, who helped elevate Tagovailoa's game in their first year together.One key component we need to consider is Bruce Beal, Stephen Ross' longtime business partner, who previously helped orchestrate the Brady-to-South-Beach efforts. But Beal no longer seems to have the juice inside the organization to pull off such a maneuver after getting the Dolphins docked for tampering. While that doesn't necessarily put the kibosh on getting Brady, it certainly doesn't help, particularly when Brady has several other enticing options. He also has two children residing in Miami.Jets Icon Sportswire / Getty ImagesBefore you scoff at Brady going to the Jets, consider the veteran quarterback returning to the AFC East and being supported by an excellent young roster on both sides of the ball. The organization was on the verge this season of earning its first playoff appearance since the 2011 campaign, missing out because its quarterback play fell apart.Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Garrett Wilson (83 catches, 1,103 yards, four TDs) is already one of the premier young wideouts in football and has the tremendously talented Elijah Moore flanking him. Don't sleep on what promises to be a devastating one-two punch of Breece Hall and Michael Carter in the backfield. The Jets just fired offensive coordinator Mike Lafleur, and finding a capable replacement will be crucial with a new QB - whether it's Brady, Lamar Jackson, or anyone else.What better way to add to Brady's already unparalleled legacy than to bring a winner back to Gang Green - a once proud franchise whose lone Super Bowl victory came in 1968? It's also worth noting that Brady has a son living in New York.BroadcastingThe elephant in the room is the 10-year, $375-million contract with FOX Sports waiting to be activated when he retires. As good as Tony Romo has been at CBS, who says Brady can't achieve similar success? Nobody knows the game better. And, like Romo, he'll have the added benefit of knowing all the players, trends, and tendencies of each team and coordinator.The competitive juices might coerce Brady into playing a 24th season, but broadcasting is an awesome avenue for guys who love the game and want to remain connected. Just ask Romo, Greg Olsen, and Troy Aikman.Naturally, I'm biased. But it's not a bad alternative when considering the drastic difference in stress and time commitment compared to playing. You get to perch up on the 50-yard line inside a toasty broadcast booth with nothing but a microphone and your hair gel to worry about.Jordan Schultz is theScore's NFL insider and senior NBA reporter. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

This is arguably the most interesting game of the divisional round because we didn't get to see it the first time around. If Week 17's contest had been completed, we'd have a better understanding of the legitimacy of one of the most divisive pregame point spreads of the regular season.The Bills closed -2.5 on the road at kickoff that night, which makes the opening line of Bills -3.5 for this week's game in Buffalo perplexing. Going by market-based power ratings of that Week 17 game - and after flipping home-field advantage - Buffalo should theoretically be favored by at least six points. A Bengals win on that fateful Monday night would've helped disprove those ratings, but now bettors have jumped on the Bills - stabilizing the line at -5.5.Bengals @ Bills (-5.5, 48.5)Now that this line is more closely balanced to when the market closed the first time around, bettors are required to ask a single question in handicapping this game on the field: Can the Bengals move the ball with a makeshift offensive line?The market is fully aware that Cincinnati's re-made offensive line has been suddenly torn down with injuries to household names in La'el Collins (Week 16), Alex Cappa (Week 18), and Jonah Williams (wild-card round). They're replaced by the poorly rated Hakeem Adeniji, Jamal Jackson, Andre Jackson, Max Scharping, and Cordell Volson. That group is so anonymous that you probably didn't notice that the Jacksons aren't even Bengals, but rather a fictional offensive line brother duo from the 2000 film "The Replacements."Once Williams exited the wild-card round, the Ravens sacked Joe Burrow whenever the Bengals ran plays that required time for receivers to get downfield. That forced Cincy to mostly abandon five-step drop-backs. It survived despite just 234 total yards on offense and thanks to the highest-leverage play of the playoffs: a 98-yard fumble return for a touchdown.The case for the Bengals to find success on offense is that they're not facing the Ravens this week and that the Bills allowed 24 offensive points to Skylar Thompson. The problem with that argument is that the Dolphins only mustered 3.3 yards per play, so the Bills' defense wasn't as vulnerable as the final score suggested. The healthy Bengals were a top-five team in converting red-zone opportunities to touchdowns this season, but the Bills were second in that category defensively.Last season, the Bengals made the Super Bowl with a sub-par offensive line. In their last four games, they've only exceeded four yards per play once - thanks to a big first half in New England.The Ravens went for long, sustained drives that chewed up enough time to limit Cincinnati to just seven drives last week. Josh Allen, however, will continue to stretch opposition defenses. The Bengals allowed 11.2 yards per completion this season, which ranks 29th in the NFL, so they'll surely miss star cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who suffered a season-ending injury at the end of October.Pick: Bills -5.5 / Bengals team total under 21.5 pointsJoe Burrow longest pass completion: Under 36.5 yards (-115)We faded Burrow last week and won with 60 yards of cushion on his total because Cincinnati couldn't find a connection longer than 19 yards through the air. Burrow's total, at 279.5 yards, is worth a look to the under, but the Bengals' struggles to run block, along with the Bills' ability to score, means the quarterback could crawl over this total on a high volume of short passes.Buffalo should be prepared for Burrow's best option - the three-step drop. Even if they're not, being forced to nickel-and-dime the Bengals down the field means Burrow will need a complete breakdown in the Bills' tackling to have a long completion.Devin Singletary under 41.5 rushing yardsThere are three hurdles to Singletary going over this total: