The Minnesota Vikings announced Thursday that they dismissed defensive coordinator Ed Donatell after just one season."Today I informed Ed Donatell we will be going in a different direction at defensive coordinator in 2023," head coach Kevin O'Connell said in a statement. "While this was a difficult decision because of the tremendous respect I have for Ed as a person and a coach, I believe it is the right move for the future of our football team."Donatell's departure comes just one day after O'Connell was noncommital on the coordinator's future.The Vikings' defense struggled mightily under Donatell despite the team's 13-4 record. The unit allowed 25.1 points per game, good for 28th in the NFL, and ranked 31st in yardage allowed. Minnesota surrendered 30 points or more on six occasions in 2022.The dismissal follows the Vikings' 31-24 loss to the New York Giants in the wild-card round. The defense allowed a staggering 431 yards and failed to record a takeaway.O'Connell added that the search for a new defensive coordinator will begin immediately.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons wants his team to embrace its underdog status in the divisional-round matchup against the San Francisco 49ers."What everybody's saying, we hear it. 'No way the Cowboys are going to win,'" Parsons said Thursday, according to The Athletic's Jon Machota. "I think you should feed into it; you should love that stuff. When no one believes in you, that's the best feeling. I really like being the underdog. It's always a great story to tell.""I'm super excited. This is who I wanted. If this is the three-headed dragon, we need to cut one of the heads off. Either way, you're gonna meet them at some point. Are you gonna be ready for your moment? I'd rather it now than later," he added.Sunday's matchup between the 49ers and Cowboys is arguably this week's most anticipated game, featuring two of the best teams in the NFL. San Francisco - currently on an 11-game win streak - posted a 13-4 record in the regular season, while Dallas went 12-5."No," Parsons said when asked if they've faced anything like the 49ers' offense this season, "but I don't think they've faced nobody like us yet this year, either. I think we're pretty hard to stop. That's what we gotta focus on, not beating ourselves."The 49ers eliminated the Cowboys in the wild-card round in Dallas last season. Parsons didn't register a sack or a quarterback hit in that game."I don't want to go out there and try to outcompete the 49ers," Parsons said Thursday. "They're gonna beat my ass if I play their game. I'm going to play my game."Parsons has put on a show this campaign, racking up 13.5 sacks and three forced fumbles during the regular season. He also had one sack and two pass breakups in the wild-card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said he's "200%" confident star quarterback Lamar Jackson will be the future of the franchise."There's no question about it. Lamar Jackson is our quarterback," Harbaugh said Thursday. "Everything we've done in terms of building our offense and building our team … is based on this incredible young man and his talent."Jackson completed the final year of his rookie contract and is set to become a free agent. Both sides have until July 15 to work on an extension before the Ravens would need to place the franchise tag on the former MVP to retain him for 2023.Baltimore would have to pay around $32.5 million to keep him on the one-year tender, according to OverTheCap. The team concluded talks with Jackson about a potential extension before the start of the 2022 campaign based on his self-imposed deadline."(General manager Eric DeCosta) wants him here, I want him here, (owner) Steve (Bisciotti) wants him here, and Lamar wants to be here," Harbaugh said. "It's gonna work out."For the second straight campaign, Jackson was unable to close out the regular season due to injury. A nagging knee ailment also forced him to miss the team's wild-card round loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday. Jackson missed 10 of the Ravens' past 22 games.Harbaugh said the Ravens have been in communication with the quarterback since the conclusion of their season.DeCosta said he's "confident" the team will work out a deal with Jackson but refused to answer when asked if it'd be willing to entertain trade offers."Our focus right now is to get a long-term deal done," he said. "That's our singular focus."The franchise extended Roquan Smith earlier in January and previously worked out extensions for other key members such as Ronnie Stanley and Mark Andrews.Harbaugh also said Jackson will have input regarding the "highly sought-after" offensive coordinator role after Greg Roman stepped down Thursday following four seasons with the club.Baltimore was among the top three rushing teams each season since Roman joined the franchise ahead of the 2019 season.The Ravens' offense averaged 338.8 yards per game and 20.6 points per contest in 2022. Baltimore's average passing yards per game was 178.8, which ranks in the bottom five.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson looks ready to return in the divisional round against the New York Giants on Saturday. He had no injury designation on Thursday's injury report.The four-time Pro Bowler missed the final two games of the season with a torn groin. The injury will eventually need surgery, but Johnson told "The Pat McAfee Show" last week that he opted to postpone the procedure in hopes of playing in the playoffs.Johnson's return is a big boost for the league's third-ranked scoring offense, as the Oklahoma alum has yet to allow a sack or quarterback hit this season.Cornerback Avonte Maddox will miss his third straight game due to a toe injury. Maddox is the only Eagles player with an injury designation.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins fired defensive coordinator Josh Boyer, a source told Jordan Schultz, theScore's NFL insider.

Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said Thursday that he never considered firing head coach Brandon Staley despite the team's epic playoff collapse in the wild-card round, according to Ava Brand of ABC7."The front office's belief in Brandon hasn't changed," Telesco said. "He's got our belief, our players believe in him. He's a tremendous leader, he's detail-oriented, and he's a fighter. That's the type of people that I want to be with me. … I understand the season didn't end quite the way we would've liked it, but he's got our full support."Staley faced heavy criticism through most of the 2022 season. Pressure on him mounted after Los Angeles blew a 27-point lead to lose the wild-card round 31-30 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It's the third-largest comeback in NFL postseason history."Disappointing end of the season, obviously, losing in the playoffs," Telesco said. "(We were) 10-7 going into the playoffs, feeling pretty good that we can make a run. To lose in the opening week of the playoffs. Any playoff loss is painful, but losing in the first round is difficult, and the manner in which we lost just stings a little bit more."He added, "(Fans are) dying for a championship just like we are, so you have that little feeling of letting people down. I will say this: Our current team of players and our coaches are really mentally tough people, and that's not by accident. That's intentional. That's the type of people we bring in here, it's important to us because you have to be able to withstand these types of situations. … That's what we're gonna work on this offseason. We're gonna lick our wounds a little bit here and then rise and fight again."The Chargers, who averaged 23 points per game this season, fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Shane Day on Tuesday."We'll have a new coordinator this year," Telesco said. "I don't think we ever wanna play scared where we don't want to make a change because we're afraid of how that change may affect. We're trying to get better."Telesco, who became the Chargers' general manager in 2013, hired Staley in 2021 to replace Anthony Lynn. Los Angeles posted a 19-15 record over the last two seasons, making one playoff appearance.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.This cheat sheet is intended to brief fantasy managers on the top skill position players available in free agency and where they'll be playing in 2023.Free agents are ranked based on their projected fantasy impact. They may move up or down the table depending on their new team.The lists will be updated as players get signed, released, tagged, or if they retire.QuarterbacksRunning BacksWide ReceiversTight EndsRFA - Restricted free agent

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers parted ways with nine assistant coaches, including offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, the team announced Thursday.Leftwich, 43, had been an assistant with the Buccaneers since 2019.Wide receivers coach Kevin Garver, offensive quality control coach Jeff Kastl, assistant defensive line coach Lori Locust, specialists coach Chris Boniol, and running backs coach Todd McNair were also dismissed.Quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen, senior offensive assistant Rick Christophel, and outside linebackers coach Bob Sanders opted to retire."We appreciate the hard work and contributions that all of these coaches made to our successes over the past four seasons," head coach Todd Bowles said in a statement. "As a collective group, we did not meet the high standards that had been set for this past year, and my focus now is on doing what is needed to ensure a successful 2023 season."Bowles is set to assemble his own offensive staff after taking over from Bruce Arians last March, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report. Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken is considered an option to replace Leftwich.Leftwich helped lead the franchise to the Super Bowl LV title during the 2020 season alongside quarterback Tom Brady. However, Tampa Bay's offense regressed this past season. It ranked 25th in the NFL in 2022 with 18.4 points per game after averaging 30.1 in 2021.The Bucs mustered just 14 points in their wild-card game loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday. They failed to score 20 points in six of their final eight games, including their opening-round loss.Leftwich's departure comes nearly a year after he interviewed to be the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The AFC South club opted to hire Doug Pederson instead.Tampa Bay's offense could look much different in 2023 as Brady is set to become an unrestricted free agent.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Greg Roman is stepping down after four seasons as the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator, the team announced Thursday."After visiting with (head) coach (John) Harbaugh and after huddling with my family, I have decided that now is the right time to move on from the Ravens so that I can explore new challenges and opportunities," Roman said in a statement obtained by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo."I'll truly miss Baltimore, but at the same time, I am excited to attack my next opportunity with focus and passion," Roman added.Baltimore's offense ranked 16th and 19th in yards and points scored this season, respectively, down from sixth and 17th in 2021.Roman, who previously served as offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers (2011-14) and Buffalo Bills (2015-16), joined Baltimore in 2017 as a senior offensive assistant and tight ends coach. He became the team's assistant head coach in 2018 before taking over as coordinator in 2019. He was named Assistant Coach of the Year in his first season on the job.Roman had an immediate impact on the Ravens' offense, improving the unit from 13th to first in scoring during his first year and helping Lamar Jackson win the MVP award."Greg has led the development and success of a record-setting offense in Baltimore for several seasons," Harbaugh said Thursday.He added, "Greg devised and led our offense to no fewer than 26 historical NFL and franchise achievements. He established an identity for our offense. We are grateful for Greg's great work and abilities, and we wish him and his wonderful family the utmost happiness going forward."Baltimore hasn't been able to replicate that success in recent years, ranking below the league average in total points in each of the last two seasons. Jackson missed 10 regular-season games combined in that span due to injuries, including this season's final five contests.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase believes he's the best wide receiver in the league."Hell yeah," Chase said when asked if he's the NFL's premier wideout, according to Geoff Hobson of the team's site. "I just put up how many stats with four missed games? Who knows what would have happened."Although Chase missed four games this season due to a hip injury, he finished 17th in receiving yards in 2022 with 1,046. He also hauled in 87 catches and nine touchdowns over 12 games. Additionally, Chase ranked fourth in receiving yards in his rookie campaign last season."I've been thinking it. I'm not a cocky person. I'm humble. I know what I can do," Chase said. "I don't need to prove it. Everybody knows what I can do. Never a doubt in my mind."The 22-year-old receiver and star quarterback Joe Burrow have built on their chemistry from their time together at LSU. Chase's seven catches of 50-plus yards lead the NFL since the start of last season. He's also been targeted 72 times in six games since returning from his injury in Week 13."I need to be here, too," said Chase when he was asked if he wants to stay in Cincinnati. "Yeah, man. Keep this going. Try to get as many AFC championships as we can get. Make it to the Super Bowl as many times as possible. Me and (Burrow), we're like bread and butter. As long as he's got me and I've got him, I should be here for a good time."Chase is eligible for a contract extension after the 2023 season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The betting market didn't like either the Giants or Vikings all season long, so it shouldn't have been a surprise that the team that regularly covered as an underdog beat the team whose metrics never added up to its 13-4 record. However, New York has its work cut out for itself in Philadelphia this week.The Eagles were the last team to lose a game this season, but that undefeated run put their rating on a pedestal that was hard to live up to as they finished 3-7 against the spread. Week 18's home game with the Giants isn't going to tell anyone much given all the key players New York rested. If anything, the close score might give the underdog some confidence, particularly defensively.Giants @ Eagles (-7.5, 48.5)There's some confusion about the point spread in this game. On the one hand, the Eagles closed -7 in the one legitimate matchup these two teams played this season in Week 14 at MetLife Stadium. Assuming the same rating for both teams, that would result in the Eagles being approximately 11-point favorites at home, especially since Philadelphia won at New York 48-22.On the other hand, the Giants finished the season with a key prime-time road win over the Commanders, handled the Colts with ease to clinch a playoff berth, and racked up 431 total yards while going up and down the field in Minnesota last week. On top of that, the betting market is often inherently attracted to an underdog of over a touchdown the further along we go in the playoffs. Plus, the Giants had the best record ATS this season.In Week 14, the Eagles took a 21-0 lead that would be insurmountable for almost any Philadelphia opponent, let alone the Giants. However, how they accumulated that lead is worth investigating.After a 14-play opening-drive touchdown, the Eagles went for it on fourth-and-7 from no man's land on their second drive. What should've been a relatively simple pass breakup was botched by backup safety Julian Love, resulting in a touchdown instead of good field position for the Giants. Then a botched New York punt led to an immediate one-play Eagles touchdown drive. That forced Daniel Jones into a pass-heavy game script and allowed Philadelphia to grind out 253 rushing yards on the way to almost 50 points.In the season finale, facing Eagles starters who played their usual number of snaps, the Giants' steadily improving defense slowed Philadelphia, and there were far fewer misplays in high-leverage situations. Run-stopping anchor Leonard Williams missed the first meeting, so there's reason to believe that New York is worth a look at covering +7.5 as the team can have success minimizing the Eagles' big-play-centric offense.Saquon Barkley played just 20 snaps in the first meeting and sat out the second game entirely. However, the Giants go from facing arguably the worst defense in the league - the Vikings allow 5.9 yards per play - to an Eagles defense that gave up a league-best 4.8 yards per play.If the Giants don't cover, it'll likely be because of their offense. So, instead of taking a side, we'll bet that both offenses will have a tougher time than expected and that this game will stay under an above-average total.Pick: Under 48.5 pointsDaniel Jones under 223.5 passing yardsLike Barkley, Jones has had minimal reps against the Eagles. He was taken out early in the Week 14 blowout, managing just 169 passing yards through 80% of the snaps of a pass-heavy game state.The Eagles' defense allowed just 5.5 yards per pass attempt, a league-best mark. So, Jones will see a polar-opposite opponent coming off his 300-yard game against Minnesota. Two of his three 300-plus-yard games this season came against the Vikings. Aside from those three contests, his next highest yardage output was 228 at Dallas, where 50 of those yards came in a late garbage-time touchdown drive.Hopefully, a low-scoring, competitive game will allow the Giants to rely more on Barkley's and Jones' legs.Jalen Hurts under 50.5 rushing yardsJalen Hurts' first game back saw him run nine times for just 13 yards. Was that just a function of Hurts not trying to do too much because of his lingering shoulder injury? Or was it because of better preparation from the Giants the second time around?It's hard to tell, but given pre-injury Hurts averaged only three more rushing yards per game than this total, there are enough variables to take a shot on the under here. That's especially true since the Eagles may save potential heavy-contact play calls for short-yardage and red-zone situations.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.

Trevor Lawrence couldn't stop throwing interceptions. Whether it was because of a bad read, a bad throw, great coverage, or a great catch by the defense, Lawrence threw four picks in the first half of his first playoff game. Coming off of a do-or-die game against Tennessee where Lawrence was bailed out by a Jaguars defensive touchdown, it looked like Jacksonville and its young quarterback were cooked. Then the stars aligned in the second half, and the Jaguars came back from 27-0 to pull off a 31-30 win versus the Chargers.Now Lawrence and the Jaguars go to Kansas City to face the rested and experienced Chiefs, who've been somewhat out of sight and out of mind for bettors given their bye.Jaguars @ Chiefs (-8.5, 52.5)The Chiefs have been here before. This is the fourth season in a row where Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and Co. won't have to play a road playoff game. (However, they could potentially face the Bills in the AFC Championship Game in Atlanta.)Jaguars-Chiefs is a rematch of a Week 10 game where the Chiefs toggled between 9.5- and 10-point favorites all week. The Chiefs' rating hasn't changed - they remain highly thought of - but the Jaguars' rating has increased.Kansas City won that first matchup at Arrowhead Stadium comfortably 27-17 despite losing the turnover margin by three. The game featured a somewhat troubling trend for the Jaguars this season - slow starts:GAME OPPONENT HALFTIME DEFICITWeek 9vs. RaidersDown 10Week 10@ ChiefsDown 13Week 13@ LionsDown 17Week 15vs. CowboysDown 14These first halves are actually flattering to the Jaguars. They were down 17-0 to the Raiders and 20-0 to the Chiefs, they lost by 24 in Detroit, and they trailed by 17 to the Cowboys. Meanwhile, they fell behind in both games against the Titans in Weeks 14 and 18. Of course, the Jaguars pulled off comeback wins against Las Vegas, Dallas, and the Ravens - who they trailed by nine heading into the fourth quarter.There's nothing much to learn about the Chiefs' offense. This team is so dialed-in that it has extra time to practice choreographed huddle dances that lead into trick plays. Defensively, though, Kansas City fortified its glaring weakness by drafting George Karlaftis and Trent McDuffie in the first round, as well as adding Carlos Dunlap for pass-rushing depth.While the Chiefs should get pressure on Lawrence, McDuffie, the rookie cornerback, is the key. Kansas City went through a spell where its pass defense was among the worst in the NFL, allowing 7.6 yards per pass attempt while McDuffie was out from Week 2 to Week 7. Despite that rough stretch, the Chiefs finished sixth in the NFL in YPA.In their previous four playoff openers, the Chiefs led by a combined score of 92-41, a disparity that would be much larger were it not for Kansas City spotting Houston 24 points before winning its 2019 divisional round game 51-31.Out of respect for the Jaguars' will to stay in the game, we'll avoid backing Kansas City as big favorites, where they've struggled to cover. Instead, we'll expect Reid's Chiefs to hone their script and have a decent-sized halftime lead off of the bye.Pick: Chiefs -5.5 (First half)Travis Etienne under 67.5 rushing yardsMaybe we got away with one last week. We cashed on Travis Etienne having a long rush of more than 17.5 yards on his last carry, which was a fourth-down gamble. Etienne had a hard time cracking the Chargers' woeful run defense in his first 19 carries, and he shouldn't be expected to have the same volume Saturday. Even 4.4 yards per carry - which the Chiefs allowed on average this season - on a generous 15 rushes keeps Etienne under this prescribed total.Travis Kelce over 80.5 receiving yardsCall it familiarity, but AFC West opponents had decent success in guarding Travis Kelce this season. In six games, Kelce averaged just 57.1 yards per contest, even including a 115-yard night in Los Angeles. That means no one outside the division knew what to do with him.Given Kelce's season-long average of 80 yards per game, the Mahomes-to-Kelce combination is seemingly a bigger problem than expected for teams that don't see it twice per season.The Jaguars gave up the most yardage to opposing tight ends this season and just allowed 109 yards to Gerald Everett. They might not have the personnel to deal with Kelce.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.

The NFL's Black Monday was more of a light gray this year, with only two head coaches getting canned after the regular season's conclusion. When you add in the midseason firings, the number of vacancies sits at an abnormally low five.Which gig is most appealing? Below, we assess factors including roster strength, team culture, and even off-field lifestyle to rank all five openings from least to most attractive for prospective candidates.5. Denver BroncosPros

Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said Wednesday he anticipates Kirk Cousins returning as the team's quarterback in 2023 and that he's had an "initial dialogue" with Justin Jefferson's agent on an extension."It's our expectation that he'll be our quarterback," Adofo-Mensah said, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. "I can't say exactly how that would look. We have everything at our disposal. We'll consider all those things just like we would with everyone else on the roster."Cousins signed a one-year, $35-million extension last offseason that expires after the 2023 campaign. The final year of Cousins' contract will account for a $36.25-million cap hit, though the Vikings can likely lessen that figure with another extension.Jefferson is coming off a historic 2022 campaign in which he set a new franchise record with 1,809 receiving yards. The Vikings receiver has made the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons since entering the NFL and has totaled 324 catches for 4,825 yards and 25 touchdowns. He's eligible for an extension this offseason."You've got a special player (and) a special person. Those aren't problems," Adofo-Mensah said. "We get back to that in the planning, but again it really starts from the player, the person, and we'll work on solutions from there on."Minnesota finished the 2022 season with a 13-4 record but fell to the New York Giants in the wild-card round.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell wouldn't commit to retaining defensive coordinator Ed Donatell when speaking to reporters Wednesday.O'Connell avoided answering directly when asked if Donatell would return next season, instead pointing to ongoing staff evaluations."That is an ongoing process that is continuing as we speak and will continue throughout the rest of this week," O'Connell said. "I think it's important to do, and I think after the success we had this year and then coming up short of where we ultimately wanted to get to, I think it's the right thing to do. To make sure I go through that thorough process in doing so."The Vikings went 13-4 this season, but Donatell's defense struggled with limiting opposing offenses. Minnesota allowed 388.7 yards per game, which ranked 31st in the league. The 65-year-old coordinator's unit also gave up the 28th-most points per contest at 25.1, ranking ahead of just four non-playoff teams.Despite the winning record, the Vikings finished the regular season with a minus-3 point differential.The defensive struggles continued in the team's 31-24 loss to the New York Giants in the wild-card round. New York gained 431 total yards, with quarterback Daniel Jones racking up 301 passing yards and 78 rushing yards in the Giants' win.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.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone goes over his biggest takeaways from the first edition of his 2023 fantasy rankings.

Four days after his team blew a 27-0 lead in the wild-card round, Chargers head coach Brandon Staley expressed his disappointment Wednesday with how Los Angeles' season ended."I'm as frustrated as anybody that's a Chargers fan over what happened," Staley said. "Because there's no one investing as much as we are in what happened."After leading 27-7 at halftime against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles gave up 24 second-half points while only scoring three of its own."I've been the head coach for 25 games. Twenty-five. And that is the first time, that a lead like that ... has happened," Staley said.Following the collapse, Staley fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and quarterbacks coach Shane Day on Tuesday."There's a different level that we need to play at offensively, particularly at the line of scrimmage and the run game," Staley said.He added: "I think there is just a style of play that's still out there for us. And I think we made improvements each season toward heading where I think we can ultimately go as a football team. And again, these aren't easy decisions, but I think you're not trying to, you know, stay in a certain place. You're always trying to take your game to a different level."Quarterback Justin Herbert had a remarkable campaign, finishing second in the NFL in passing yards with 4,739 while throwing 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. However, the Chargers finished 30th in rushing yards per game.L.A. made a number of moves last offseason, including bringing in star pass-rusher Khalil Mack and cornerback J.C. Jackson."I'm really excited to get this process started," Staley said. "Because just like last year when we made a lot of big improvements in our football team, it gave us this chance to compete for a championship."Los Angeles owns the 22nd pick in the 2023 NFL Draft but has $-19,553,901 in cap space, according to Spotrac.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Atlanta Falcons are set to interview Vic Fangio for their vacant defensive coordinator role Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Fangio was the head coach of the Denver Broncos from 2019-21, compiling a 19-30 record. He served as a defensive consultant for the Philadelphia Eagles this season.Dean Pees stepped down as the Falcons' defensive coordinator on Jan. 9. Atlanta finished 22nd in points allowed this season.The Falcons have also reportedly requested to interview Brian Flores and completed an interview with Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Al Holcomb on Wednesday.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets are interviewing former Denver Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett for their open offensive coordinator role, sources told ESPN's Dianna Russini.Hackett, 43, was fired prior to the end of the 2022 season after compiling a 4-11 record.The Jets are searching for a new offensive coordinator after agreeing to mutually part ways with Mike LaFleur after two seasons. New York averaged 318.2 yards (25th in the NFL) and 17.4 points per contest (29th).Prior to joining Denver, Hackett spent time as a player-caller and OC for the Buffalo Bills (2013-14), Jacksonville Jaguars (2016-18), and Green Bay Packers (2019-21). He also served on Jacksonville's coaching staff at the same time as Jets head coach Robert Saleh.Hackett's father, former NFL and college coach Paul, served as an offensive coordinator for the Jets from 2001 to 2004.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Last week, the NFL released its annual All-Pro teams, and the NFLPA issued its first all-star squad as voted by the players. There's only room for so many names but theScore's NFL insider Jordan Schultz looks at some of the players who deserved recognition on one of the lists.Christian McCaffreyIt's baffling not to have the 49ers running back on any All-Pro roster. Not only was he involved in one of the best midseason trades ever, but McCaffrey has outperformed expectations in San Francisco. Between the Panthers and Niners, he amassed nearly 1,900 total yards and 13 touchdowns and instantly changed the 49ers' entire offense. "It's unfair for Kyle (Shanahan) to have him," one NFL head coach told me. "All the motion, all the deception, then you have McCaffrey just killing teams."Maxx CrosbyTalk about a return on investment. Crosby, the Raiders' fourth-round pick out of Eastern Michigan, isn't just one of the best edge rushers in football, but flat-out one of the best defensive players in the league. After signing a four-year, $94-million extension last offseason, the 25-year-old had arguably his best year yet, totaling 81 pressures, according to PFF - second only to Micah Parsons (98) and Nick Bosa (90) - and leading the position with 41 defensive stops. Crosby is super-durable as well. He logged 1,082 snaps, almost 90 more than Parsons.Tyson Campbell Tim Warner / Getty ImagesCampbell is as tough as he is talented, the perfect embodiment of Jacksonville's young defense. At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, the cornerback can press with the best of them - not only because of his physicality, but because of his raw technique and speed. Plus, he gets better every week. In 17 starts, Campbell totaled three interceptions, 15 pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, two tackles for loss, and a defensive touchdown. "Without question, one of the best young DBs in the league," the head coach told me.Dre GreenlawThose who know, know: the 49ers' Greenlaw is one of the best linebackers in the league. Fred Warner gets most of the credit - and for good reason - but Greenlaw is as sure-handed a tackler as any, not to mention he can cover, a huge bonus for defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans and the NFL's top-ranked defense. The former fifth-round pick from Arkansas set career highs in solo tackles (82), forced fumbles (two), and fumbles recovered (two).Lavonte DavidAt 32 years young, David remains a machine for Tampa Bay. He's extremely sound and skilled, with the addition of the classic Nebraska Blackshirt toughness. He's very smart and well-prepared, and he's athletic enough to reach gaps he really has no business filling - hence the impressive 127 tackles.Laremy TunsilThere weren't a ton of bright spots for Houston this year, but don't blame superstar left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Equally deft in pass protection and the running game, Tunsil's wide body and short area quickness help him against the game's premier edge defenders.Quinnen Williams Kathryn Riley / Getty ImagesWilliams was an absolute wrecking ball for the Jets' interior defensive line all season. He plays the run, the pass, he tracks down plays on the sideline two gaps away - he's just awesome. He received a first-team nod from the NFL's All-Pro voting panel but was left off the NFLPA list in favor of Aaron Donald. Only 25 years old, the former Alabama superstar and third overall pick has cemented himself as a building block in Robert Saleh's defense. Williams is currently under contract for less than $10 million next season, and extending him long-term will surely be a top priority for GM Joe Douglas.Austin EkelerForget the Pro Bowl. Ekeler's biggest snub was not making an All-Pro team. The NFL leader in touchdowns each of the past two years (20 in 2021 and 18 in 2022), Ekeler's an equally dominant runner and pass catcher. The former undrafted free agent from Division 2 Western Colorado is the engine that makes the Bolts' offense tick.Derrick BrownBrown had a sensational season in Carolina, showcasing the full arsenal of tools that made him the seventh pick in the draft three years ago. A space-eating run stuffer, he's now added some pass-rushing chops, too, sprinkling in seven pass deflections - which tied for second-most by a defensive lineman. Brown also surpassed Kawann Short's single-season club record of 55 tackles by a Panthers defensive tackle.Christian Darrisaw David Berding / Getty ImagesHe's one of my favorite players in the league, regardless of position. Darrisaw, a 23-year-old Vikings left tackle, is a true dancing bear with finesse, skill, and raw power. The former first-round pick out of Virginia Tech was one of the best linemen in the league before a concussion sidelined him for multiple games.CeeDee LambLamb took a big step in his third season, proving to be Dak Prescott's favorite target once again in Dallas while also dominating corners with his special blend of speed, skill, and raw talent. Lamb, 23, ranked sixth in touchdowns (nine), fifth in catches (109), and sixth in receiving yards (1,359). "He's almost unguardable because of his combination of size and speed," a personnel executive told me. "His releases have really improved too."Geno SmithAfter eight years backing up the likes of Eli Manning and Russell Wilson, Smith earned his first Pro Bowl while guiding Seattle to an unlikely playoff appearance and leading the league in completion percentage. At 32 years old, Smith's maturity and appreciation for the game are as much to credit for his success as his talent. Smith and Patrick Mahomes were the only QBs that recorded 10 games with a QB rating of 100 or more this season. He is a surefire bet to sign a massive, multi-year deal in the offseason.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.

The Tennessee Titans are hiring San Francisco 49ers director of pro personnel Ran Carthon to be their general manager, the team announced Wednesday."We are excited to add Ran to our organization as our new general manager," owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement. "He brings a variety of valuable experiences to our team as a former player and a successful personnel executive for multiple teams."Carthon joins Tennessee after spending six seasons with the 49ers. The 41-year-old also spent five seasons with the Los Angeles Rams as director of player personnel, as well as four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons as a pro scout.Additionally, Carthon had a brief playing career in the NFL. He spent time with the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions as a running back from 2004-06 after going undrafted out of Florida.The 49ers will receive two third-round compensatory draft picks, one each in the 2023 and 2024 drafts, because Carthon is a minority executive taking a general manager role, according to ESPN's Field Yates.Since joining the 49ers, Carthon has played a role in drafting players like Deebo Samuel, Fred Warner, Talanoa Hufanga, and Brock Purdy.Jordan Schultz, theScore's NFL insider, also reported that Carthon was one of the names to watch in this hiring cycle thanks to his ability to build relationships and command respect from around the league.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns have hired Jim Schwartz as their new defensive coordinator, the team announced Wednesday.Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers coach Brian Flores, Seattle associate head coach Sean Desai, and Philadelphia Eagles defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson were the other top contenders for the job, according to ESPN's Dianna Russini.Schwartz spent the last two seasons as a senior defensive assistant for the Tennessee Titans. He was previously the Detroit Lions' head coach from 2009-2013, earning a 29-51 record and one playoff appearance.After being fired by the Lions, the 56-year-old spent one year as the Buffalo Bills' defensive coordinator before taking the same role with the Philadelphia Eagles for the next five seasons.Schwartz's fourth-ranked defense helped drive the Eagles to a Super Bowl win in 2017. However, his unit steadily regressed over the next three campaigns.Schwartz is replacing Joe Woods, who was fired Jan. 9 following three seasons. Cleveland's defense finished 20th in points allowed and turnovers forced last campaign.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

San Francisco 49ers assistant coach Anthony Lynn is enjoying his time in the Bay Area after a less gratifying tenure as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers."This organization will do whatever it takes to win," Lynn told the Los Angeles Times' Sam Farmer. "Resources out the (ears). That was different for me compared to what I was going through in L.A. So it's just like, man, this is what it's supposed to be like. I forgot how that felt."The Chargers went 33-31 under Lynn over his four seasons as head coach. He was fired after posting a 7-9 record in 2020.Lynn knew what a winning culture felt like as a player, as he won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos under Mike Shanahan in the 1990s. Lynn praised head coach Kyle Shanahan, son of Mike, for establishing an environment that allowed the 49ers to go 13-4 this season."We had more of a veteran, blue-collar team back then (with the Broncos), but the culture here is the same," said the 54-year-old. "Players feel like they can be vulnerable with coaches and with each other, and that's not a typical environment in the National Football League with this generation."Lynn, who's also the 49ers' running backs coach, has loved working with midseason acquisition Christian McCaffrey. Lynn sees similarities between McCaffrey and the rusher's father, Ed McCaffrey; the former wide receiver was Lynn's teammate with the Broncos."Ed passed (the hard work) gene right down to his son," Lynn said. "Christian is so much like his dad. I'm telling him that all the time: 'That reminds me of Ed.'"McCaffrey totaled 746 rushing yards, 464 receiving yards, and 10 total touchdowns in 11 games with the 49ers this season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said no decision has been made regarding offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich's future with the team during his end-of-year press conference Tuesday.Bowles responded, "No, there hasn't been any decision yet" when asked if the team would move on from Leftwich, and declined to provide any assessment of the offensive play caller's performance this year."I don’t have any assessment. Right now, we are evaluating players. We meet as a coaching staff later in the week," Bowles said. "I’ll meet with individual coaches as well as the staff, which we do every year, and we will make those assessments then."Leftwich's offense failed to consistently move the ball on the ground this year, averaging a league-worst 76.9 yards per game. This led to leaning on quarterback Tom Brady and the passing game. Brady attempted a single-season NFL record 733 passing attempts this year, completing 490 of them. This also broke Brady's own completions record.The offense's inability to find balance was a key factor in the unit's 25th-ranked scoring output, averaging a paltry 18.4 points per game.Despite the offense's shortcomings, Tampa Bay won the NFC South and made the playoffs with an 8-9 record this season. The offense gained 386 total yards in the team's 31-14 Monday night loss to the Dallas Cowboys, with Brady completing 35 of 66 attempts for 351 yards.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said quarterback Jalen Hurts will be a full participant in Tuesday's practice ahead of Saturday's divisional-round matchup versus the New York Giants."He'll be ready to roll today, full go," Sirianni said.Hurts wasn't listed on the injury report Tuesday. He suffered a shoulder sprain in the Eagles' Week 15 matchup against the Chicago Bears. Hurts missed the next two games before suiting up against the Giants in the regular-season finale.The 24-year-old threw for 229 yards with one interception in the Eagles' Week 18 victory. Hurts was limited in the three practices leading up to the last Giants game."He's better today than he was two weeks ago," Sirianni said. "He's continuing to get better, and he feels good."The Eagles were reluctant to use Hurts' legs in the season finale, as he ran for 13 yards on nine attempts, but none of the carries were designed runs.Hurts' rushing ability was a massive part of the Eagles' offensive success, as he ran for 760 yards and 13 touchdowns."I've got a bounty on me every week I take the field," Hurts said Tuesday on Giants defenders coming after him, according to John Clark of NBC Philadelphia. Hurts opened his press conference by saying he's "feeling good," according to Geoff Mosher of Inside The Birds.The Eagles are 14-1 in games Hurts has started this season.Sirianni gave an update on cornerback Avonte Maddox as well, saying, "we'll see" when asked if he'll play this weekend. Maddox missed the final two games of the season with a toe injury.Philadelphia hosts the Giants in the divisional round on Saturday at 8:15 p.m. ET.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL experienced a big jump in attendance numbers this season.The average crowd size at an NFL game during the 2022 regular season was 69,442, the highest mark since 2016 and the second-largest figure in the last 19 years, according to an analysis by Sports Business Journal.The league also set a new record for total attendance at 18.8 million, though that number was boosted by the addition of a 17th game for each team.The Detroit Lions had the biggest increase in attendance at 23.1%, followed by the Jacksonville Jaguars (10.8%) and Washington Commanders (10.15%). The Chicago Bears had the biggest decline among teams that didn't lose a home game to play internationally, dropping 1.7% from 2021.Across the league, 96.7% of all seats were sold - an increase from the pre-pandemic mark of 94.6% in 2019.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is open to continuing his playing career outside of Green Bay."I think I can win MVP again in the right situation. ... Is that Green Bay or somewhere else? I'm not sure," Rodgers said on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Tuesday, per NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "But I don't think you should shut down any opportunity."Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said after the season that Rodgers will take some time to decide on his playing future. Gutekunst added that he'd like Rodgers to return as their starting quarterback.Rodgers signed a three-year contract extension last offseason, which includes $101.4 million in guarantees. He has a $31.6-million cap hit in 2023, according to Over The Cap."It's got to be both sides actually wanting to work together moving forward," Rodgers said. "I think there's more conversations to be had. I think no player wants to be a part of any type of rebuild."Several Packers starters are set to become free agents this offseason, including wide receiver Allen Lazard, tight end Robert Tonyan Jr., and safety Adrian Amos.Some of Rodgers' longtime teammates, including tight end Marcedes Lewis and wide receiver Randall Cobb, are also set to hit the open market."This game is about relationships," Rodgers said. "It's about guys you rely on, even if they don't show up huge in the stat book. A guy like Marcedes Lewis, he's an important cog in the wheel of the locker room and the momentum of the team. That's a guy I want to finish my career with. ... I want the Randall Cobbs of the world, if he wants to keep playing, in my locker room."Green Bay drafted quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 draft. Love - who has a fifth-year option for 2024 - stepped in for an injured Rodgers in Week 12 against the Philadelphia Eagles, completing six passes for 113 yards and one touchdown.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Wild Card Weekend was a profitable three days for us between our best bets in the AFC and NFC, our 7-5 record in player props, and a near-perfect round-robin anytime touchdown parlay that was good enough for a net gain of +19 units (+21.3 units overall).The opening lines have tightened up in this week's divisional round as we have way more certainty regarding quarterbacks. It shouldn't come as a surprise that the Dolphins and Ravens, whom the betting public was down on because of their quarterback situation, both covered.With that increase in certainty this week, we aren't likely to see the big moves we saw last week, where the Bengals moved from -6 to -9.5 before settling just over a touchdown and the Bills went from -11 to -9 to as high as -14. Three of the four spreads opened Sunday night, while the Cowboys' win over the Buccaneers meant that a line for their game in San Francisco opened late Monday night. All four spreads have settled as of Tuesday afternoon.Jaguars @ Chiefs (-8.5)

The Los Angeles Chargers have fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Shane Day, the team announced Tuesday.Lombardi and Day have been with the team for the last two seasons.Chargers head coach Brandon Staley hired Lombardi in January 2021. Many have criticized Lombardi for failing to maximize the potential of star quarterback Justin Herbert, who ranks 33rd out of 37 quarterbacks in air yards per pass attempt over the last two seasons.Lombardi spent time as the New Orleans Saints' quarterbacks coach and Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator before landing with the Chargers.Day, whom Staley also hired in January 2021, previously spent time as the San Francisco 49ers' quarterbacks coach.Jordan Schultz, theScore's NFL insider, reported Monday that the Chargers are strongly considering keeping Staley as their head coach.Los Angeles' season ended Saturday with a wild-card loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars after the Chargers squandered a 27-0 lead.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.Brady's last dance? Julio Aguilar / Getty Images Sport / GettyAnd now we wait.The Bucs getting blown out by the Cowboys in Monday night's wild-card game means that speculation over Tom Brady's future can officially begin. It'll make for a fascinating offseason storyline, and one that's getting increasingly complicated to size up.There have been times this year where it seemed obvious to say that Brady can still play. It was only two weeks ago that he torched the Panthers with one big-time throw after another to save Tampa Bay's season and lock up the division title. The arm talent, which is typically one of the first things to escape aging quarterbacks, undeniably remains. In fact, it's somehow still probably better than it was early in his career.Brady also continues to take care of the football at a high level - he finished the regular season with just nine interceptions despite an NFL-record 733 pass attempts, and his turnover-worthy play percentage tied for the seventh-lowest mark league-wide, according to PFF.But the player we saw throughout a disastrous Bucs loss Monday night was one that showed up at times throughout this bizarre season - he's simply not a fan of contact right now. It's tough to blame a 45-year-old for doing whatever he can to avoid taking hits, but that will be a major part of the evaluation for teams that desperately want to avoid losing a bet on a quarterback who is older than 11 NFL head coaches.Brady is one of the best we've ever seen at working under pressure and extending plays in the pocket. If this new antsy approach is more so a result of him losing faith in the Bucs' dumpster fire of an offense, and less so a sign of his age, perhaps he gets back to that with new surroundings. But there's also a chance that this is just the way he is now.The future Hall of Famer not quite looking himself in that sense, and seeming outmatched in a non-competitive trip to the playoffs, would appear to indicate that retirement is very much on the table. But is Brady, of all people, really going to be satisfied going out like that? Remember: he was reportedly set on going to Miami last offseason before reluctantly returning to Tampa Bay when that didn't work out as planned. One would assume he'd like a little more control over the way he puts a cap on his career.The 49ers will be a popular potential landing spot, but that's becoming more and more unlikely the further they advance with Brock Purdy under center. Kyle Shanahan also passed on Brady at the spry age of 42, the last time he was a free agent. The Dolphins make sense given the previous connection, and Stephen Ross' apparent willingness to get Brady involved at an ownership level, but Tua Tagovailoa's breakout season should give Miami a more attractive in-house option than what may only be a single season of the GOAT.That could leave the Raiders, who apparently had a deal in place to bring both Brady and Gronk to Las Vegas in 2020 before Jon Gruden got cold feet. It would be a sensible move for Josh McDaniels to reunite with his old quarterback, and for Mark Davis to get some more hometown fans in the seats. And perhaps a return to McDaniels' system would be good for Brady. The question is whether they can offer him a path to contention right away.However it shakes out, Brady's decision will be the story of the offseason. And while his 2022 campaign will cause many to write him off, we know better than to do that by now, don't we?A coaching masterpiece Courtney Culbreath / Getty Images Sport / GettyDoug Pederson immediately leading the Jaguars to the playoffs after they held back-to-back No. 1 overall picks was impressive. It turns out that was just the appetizer.The main course was one of the best coaching displays you'll ever see on a football field.Jacksonville looked to be outmatched early in Saturday night's game against the Chargers, with four first-half interceptions from Trevor Lawrence leading to a 27-0 deficit and a seemingly impossible task. Pederson and the Jaguars weren't so inclined to accept their fate, though.A key touchdown at the end of the second quarter finally got them on the board and gave them a chance to make a run. After the half, Pederson and his staff ramped up the tempo and made some adjustments to the coverage looks that were presenting issues early on. The second-half result was three consecutive touchdown drives, highlighted by a masterfully designed deep strike to Zay Jones that demonstrated the in-game swing in schematic advantage.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady said Monday he'll take his time before deciding on what's next for his legendary football career."I'm going to go home and get a good night's sleep," Brady said after the Buccaneers' 31-14 wild-card loss to the Dallas Cowboys. "This has been a lot of focus on this game. It'll just be one day at a time, truly."In his possible final career game, Brady completed 35 of 66 pass attempts for 351 yards and two touchdowns against one interception. The Buccaneers fell behind early, and didn't get their first points until the Cowboys were up 24-0."Just feels like the end of a season," Brady said when asked about his feelings walking off the field after the defeat.Brady briefly retired last February but decided to return to the Bucs 40 days later for his 23rd NFL season. The 45-year-old - who led the league in passing yards and touchdowns in 2021 - took a step back in 2022, finishing the regular season with 25 touchdowns in 17 games, his lowest TD total since 2019.Tampa Bay, which won the NFC South despite its 8-9 record, averaged only 18.4 points per game, ranking 25th in the NFL. It was the team's first year with head coach Todd Bowles, who was promoted in March to replace the retiring Bruce Arians."There are lessons for all of us every year of our life," Brady said of Tampa Bay's 2022 campaign. "You always want every year to end great. Unfortunately, in sports, it doesn't work that way. There's going to be 32 teams in the league, they're all very competitive, and only one of them's really going to feel great at the end of the year. ... That's why it feels good to be when you're on top, when you win it all."This was Brady's third season with the Buccaneers. He's posted a 32-18 regular-season record with the club to go along with a 5-2 mark in the playoffs. Tampa Bay won Super Bowl LV over the Kansas City Chiefs in Brady's first year with the team.The seven-time Super Bowl champion and owner of virtually every major passing record in the NFL joined the Bucs following a remarkable 20-year stint with the New England Patriots. He's scheduled to become a free agent for the second time in his career in March."We're going to sit down and have a conversation, and we'll talk about it," Bowles said when asked about Brady's chances of returning in 2023. "It's not anything publicly that needs to be said."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With the conclusion of Wild Card Weekend, the NFL announced the schedule for next week's divisional round.AFCMatchupDateTimeNetworkJaguars at ChiefsSaturday4:30 p.m. ETNBCBengals at BillsSunday3 p.m. ETCBSNFCMatchupDateTimeNetworkGiants at EaglesSaturday8:15 p.m. ETFOXCowboys at 49ersSunday6:30 p.m. ETFOXBrock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, and Deebo Samuel put on a show to kick off the wild-card round, helping the San Francisco 49ers defeat the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday. San Francisco - which has reached the NFC title game in two of the last three campaigns - will host the Dallas Cowboys. Led by Dak Prescott's five total touchdowns, Dallas crushed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday.Coming off their first-ever 14-win season, the No. 1 seed Philadelphia Eagles will host the New York Giants, who upset the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars will visit the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs topped the Jaguars 27-17 in Week 10 but will likely face a tougher test this time, as Jacksonville brings in some momentum after claiming the third-largest comeback in NFL postseason history to beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card game.Finally, Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals will travel to Buffalo to face the Josh Allen-led Bills. Cincy edged the Lamar Jackson-less Baltimore Ravens at home in the wild-card round, while Buffalo overcame three turnovers to defeat the Miami Dolphins. The Bills and Bengals were also scheduled to face off in Week 17, but the game was canceled after Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest in the first quarter.If Kansas City and Buffalo advance, the AFC Championship Game will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta next week. The NFL picked a neutral site for a potential Bills-Chiefs AFC title game due to the cancellation of the contest between the Bengals and Bills, the latter of whom could've finished the regular season as the conference's No. 1 seed if they had played a 17-game schedule.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageLos Angeles Chargers pass-rusher Joey Bosa sounded off on officials after he picked up two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in his team's 31-30 wild-card loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.Bosa picked up his first unsportsmanlike penalty after appearing to bring up a missed call to an official. He was also flagged for slamming his helmet into the ground following a fourth-quarter touchdown by the Jaguars.The four-time Pro Bowler took responsibility for his actions but argued that there "needs to be more accountability" for officials."I think there just needs to be more accountability," Bosa said Sunday, according to ESPN's Lindsey Thiry. "I mean, 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.'"I guarantee it, that's what they're f-----g talking like in the back," Bosa continued. "I'm sick of those f-----g people."

USC receiver Jordan Addison has declared for the 2023 NFL Draft ahead of Monday's deadline.Addison is widely expected to be a first-round pick and is in contention to be the first wideout selected in April.

Sean Payton candidly addressed the head coach openings around the NFL this year Monday on "The Herd with Colin Cowherd," saying he'll meet with the Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, and Carolina Panthers this week.Payton - who's still under contract with the New Orleans Saints - is the most coveted head coaching candidate in the league this offseason. The Arizona Cardinals have also requested to interview him.The 59-year-old said ownership stability and the quarterback situation are the most important things for him to decide on his next team."It starts with ownership," Payton said. "Generally speaking, if the quarterback is there, they're probably a team that's playing well. The teams that have openings - I'm not going to say are broken - but they've had problems, that's why there's an opening. So I think that element is critical."He added: "It's hard to win in this league, and it's certainly harder to win in this league if there's internal problems before even playing an opponent."Payton also said he'd "absolutely" consider coaching the Texans, who've had two different coaches in as many years and currently don't roster a franchise quarterback."I know (Houston's) ownership group," he said. "We practiced against the Texans in New Orleans four of five different times, so Cal McNair (and) his late father, we'd see them. So I don't know them well, but I know them."He continued: "They've got really good draft capital. ... I think there's growth potential immediately there from two or three wins that they had this year."Any team that hires Payton would need to compensate the Saints.Houston - which finished 2022 with a 3-13-1 record - owns two top-12 picks in the 2023 NFL Draft, including the second overall selection. Arizona is set to pick at No. 3 overall, while Carolina owns the ninth choice. Denver currently has the 29th overall selection, a pick acquired in a trade with the Miami Dolphins via the San Francisco 49ers, who're still in the playoffs."Ultimately, the compensation for the Saints would be a mid- or late-first-round pick," said Payton, who added he's already discussed a potential compensation with New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis. "Each team has different ammo or different pick selections. It could be a future one where maybe you have to throw in something."Payton posted a 152-89 regular-season record across 15 seasons with the Saints. He stepped down after the 2021 season with the 2006 Coach of the Year award and a Super Bowl ring under his belt.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh will return for his ninth season with the program, university president Santa Ono announced Monday.Harbaugh reportedly attracted interest from the NFL's Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers to fill their head coaching vacancies and interviewed with the Broncos last week, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero."I just got off the phone with Coach Harbaugh and Jim shared with me great news that he is going to remain as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines," Ono wrote Monday. "That is fantastic news that I have communicated to our athletic director Warde Manuel."Harbaugh was named Michigan head coach in December 2014. He has a 74-25 record there, including two Big Ten championships.The Wolverines lost to TCU in the College Football Playoff semifinal this season, finishing with a 13-1 record. Harbaugh was named Big Ten Coach of the Year."I love the relationships that I have at Michigan - coaches, staff, families, administration, President Ono, and especially the players and their families," Harbaugh said via the Wolverines' Twitter account. "My heart is at the University of Michigan."The 59-year-old Harbaugh coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-14. He was previously head coach of Stanford from 2007-10.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens ended their 2022 season without Lamar Jackson, but multiple members of the locker room made it known that they hope the quarterback sticks around long term.Speculation has run rampant over Jackson's future in Baltimore after the signal-caller missed the last six games of the season with a knee injury. He also didn't travel for the wild-card loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, though he's been dealing with an illness, ESPN's Jamison Hensley reports.Defensive lineman Calais Campbell said Monday that it's in the "best interest" of the Ravens to give Jackson a long-term contract, according to Hensley."You can't let a guy like him go," Campbell told reporters. "There's always some new exciting kid that has potential to go out there and be great. But this is a business of 'for sures' and 'knowns,' and you know who Lamar Jackson is."Campbell wasn't the only member of the team to back Jackson, with tight end Mark Andrews also following suit."I hope that he's going to be back. That's my guy," Andrews said. "I have nothing but love and respect for No. 8 as a person, as a player, and as a friend."Jackson went into this season on the last year of his rookie contract after he couldn't agree to a long-term deal with the Ravens before the start of the campaign. Baltimore is reportedly still interested in committing to the star passer and plans to franchise tag him if a new contract fails to materialize."He's a competitor. He wants to win," offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley said, per Hensley. "This is his team and this is his offense. The money is not the most important thing with Lamar. He really wants to win, contrary to popular belief."A former league MVP, Jackson tweeted last week that his knee was still inflamed and unstable due to an injury suffered in Week 13.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals hired Monti Ossenfort as their new general manager on Monday, the team announced.A former director of college scouting, Ossenfort was part of four Super Bowl-winning seasons with the New England Patriots. He spent the last three years as the Tennessee Titans' director of player personnel.Ossenfort brings 21 seasons of experience to Arizona. He gained recognition among NFL executives after spending 15 years with the Patriots (2003, 2006-19) in multiple roles. The Minnesota native has also worked for the Houston Texans (2002-05) and started his career as an intern with the Minnesota Vikings in 2001."It was critically important for us to find the right person to lead us as general manager and there is no doubt in my mind that we have that in Monti Ossenfort," team owner Michael Bidwill said in a statement. "He possesses every attribute of a successful GM - passion, leadership, intelligence, work ethic - and his extensive experience has clearly prepared him for this role. We could not be more thrilled to have Monti and his family joining the Cardinals."He replaces Steve Keim, who stepped down from the position on Jan. 9 after taking a leave of absence for health-related reasons in December. With Ossenfort's hiring, the Cardinals will now focus on bringing in a new head coach. The club recently received permission from the New Orleans Saints to interview Sean Payton for the role.The Cardinals are coming off a disappointing 4-13 season and fired coach Kliff Kingsbury last week. Arizona - which hasn't won a playoff game since the 2015 season - also saw quarterback Kyler Murray go down with a torn ACL on Dec. 13. Murray signed a five-year, $230.5-million extension in July.Meanwhile, Ossenfort's exit adds to a list of recent departures from Tennessee. The Titans, who finished 2022 with a 7-10 record and missed the playoffs, fired general manager Jon Robinson in December with the club leading the AFC South. Tennessee interviewed Ossenfort for its GM vacancy last month.The Titans also parted ways with offensive coordinator Todd Downing at the end of the season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams suffered a dislocated left kneecap in Sunday's wild-card win over the Baltimore Ravens and is considered week-to-week, head coach Zac Taylor said Monday, according to Ben Baby of ESPN."Hard to tell," Taylor said when asked if Williams will be available for the divisional round, per Baby.The 25-year-old left Sunday's game in the second quarter and did not return. He underwent an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the injury, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Williams previously played through a dislocated right kneecap he suffered in Week 5 against Baltimore, according to Chris Roling of USA Today.Selected by the Bengals in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Williams has started 16 games at left tackle this season.Offensive lineman Jackson Carman stepped in for Williams at left tackle for the remainder of the game against the Ravens. Cincinnati drafted Carman in the second round in 2021.Williams' reported ailment is the latest in a lengthy list of injuries for Cincinnati's offensive line. Right tackle La'el Collins suffered a torn ACL in Week 16, and guard Alex Cappa remains out with an ankle injury he suffered in Week 18.The Bengals will face the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers are strongly considering keeping head coach Brandon Staley, a source told Jordan Schultz, theScore's NFL insider.Staley, 40, is expected to meet with ownership in the near future, according to Schultz. He's currently earning close to $4 million per season.The Chargers continue to have ongoing internal discussions about the matter.If Staley does return for the 2023 season, there's a possibility that he'll need to make significant changes to his staff, per Schultz.L.A. concluded its season by squandering a 27-0 lead in a devastating wild-card loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars capped the epic comeback with a game-winning field goal to defeat the Chargers 31-30.It marked the second consecutive season in which L.A.'s campaign has ended in disappointment. The franchise dropped three of its final four contests in 2021, including a must-win game against the Las Vegas Raiders in the regular-season finale.Staley also came under fire for leaving his starters in a meaningless game against the Denver Broncos in Week 18. As a result, wideout Mike Williams suffered a season-ending back injury.Staley has posted a 19-16 record, including Saturday's playoff loss, in his two seasons at the helm. He led the Chargers to their first postseason berth since 2018 despite dealing with several injuries to key players throughout the campaign.Several players have come to Staley's defense, including quarterback Justin Herbert."Everyone would be lucky to have a coach like Staley," Herbert said, per The Associated Press' Joe Reedy. "He's been an incredible leader and has the respect of everyone on our team. He's genuine, he's himself, and (he's) been the same person for the past two years."Star pass-rusher Joey Bosa, who appeared frustrated late in Saturday's loss, noted that expecting a young coaching staff to know everything immediately is "kind of silly."Staley previously served as the defensive coordinator at James Madison University. He also spent time as an outside linebackers coach for both the Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears before joining the Los Angeles Rams as their DC in 2020.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud has declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, he announced Monday.Stroud, a Heisman Trophy finalist in both his seasons as a starter, is expected to be a top-five selection and one of the first quarterbacks picked in April's draft.

Running back J.K. Dobbins believes the Baltimore Ravens would have won Sunday's wild-card game against the Cincinnati Bengals with better play-calling.With Baltimore on the Bengals' 2-yard line in the fourth quarter, Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley fumbled attempting to leap into the end zone. Cincinnati's Sam Hubbard recovered the ball and rumbled 98 yards for a touchdown to break a 17-17 tie."He should have never been in that situation," Dobbins said, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "I don't get a single carry. I didn't get a single carry. He should never have been in that situation. I believe I would have put it in the end zone, again."Dobbins finished the contest with 13 carries for 62 rushing yards, along with four receptions for 43 yards and a score. The 24-year-old didn't record a carry in the red zone in the second half."I'm a guy who feels like I should be on the field all the time," he said. "It's the playoffs. Why am I not out there?"Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said the quarterback sneak was a "good call" but wasn't executed as intended. He added that Huntley should have gone low trying to reach the end zone instead of jumping over the top.Baltimore's season came to an end with star passer Lamar Jackson missing his sixth straight game due to a knee injury. While some of his teammates didn't expect Jackson to be available for the opening round of the playoffs, Dobbins felt his presence would have changed the final result."If we'd have had Lamar, we'd have won too," he said.The Ravens halfback did praise Huntley's performance despite the costly turnover."Snoop played a hell of a game," Dobbins said, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Huntley, 24, completed 17 of 29 pass attempts for 226 yards, throwing two touchdowns and one interception.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Carolina Panthers are the latest team to receive permission from the New Orleans Saints to interview Sean Payton for their vacant head coaching position, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Payton is this hiring cycle's most sought-after candidate. The Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, and Houston Texans have reportedly also been given the green light to speak with the 59-year-old.The Saints, who retain Payton's rights following his retirement last offseason, are apparently expected to want at least a first-round pick for their former head coach.In-division coaching trades are rare in the NFL. Bill Belichick's move from the New York Jets to the New England Patriots in 2000 is the most notable such deal.The Panthers are looking for a new head coach after firing Matt Rhule on Oct 10. Interim head coach Steve Wilks, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, and 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans are reportedly among Carolina's other candidates.Payton boasts one of the most impressive resumes in the NFL. He has won one Super Bowl and produced a 152-89 regular-season record in 15 seasons in New Orleans. The Saints also finished with a top-five scoring offense in 10 of his campaigns in charge.The Panthers also interviewed former Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio for their defensive coordinator job, sources told The Athletic's Joe Person. It was previously reported that Fangio could be a potential target for a DC position on Payton's next NFL staff.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants rode an aggressive offensive gameplan to a 31-24 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Sunday's wild-card showdown, earning a divisional-round matchup against the top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles.Giants quarterback Daniel Jones produced one of the best games of his career. He threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns while adding 80 yards on the ground.New York head coach Brian Daboll helped guide his team to the victory with several gutsy fourth-down calls in the second half.More to come.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins almost pulled off an incredible upset over the Buffalo Bills in Sunday's wild-card matchup, but communication issues on the offense stymied their efforts throughout the contest.A delay-of-game penalty on a critical fourth-and-1 play in the final minutes proved particularly damaging. Miami failed to convert after being pushed back 5 yards, allowing Buffalo to take over and run out the clock to seal the 34-31 win.Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said postgame that his staff upstairs told him they'd earned a first down on the previous play, which led to the substitutions and a delayed new play call for the fourth-down attempt, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.Miami had already used multiple timeouts to avoid being flagged for not getting the snap off in time earlier in the second half."It will be a point of emphasis in the offseason," said McDaniel, according to Yianni Kourakis of WPBF 25 News. "There were some compounding variables - crowd noise, issues in (the) huddle with communication and getting to (the) line of scrimmage, and the excuse of multiple … people in (the) huddle."The Dolphins started rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson since Tua Tagovailoa was out due to a concussion and Teddy Bridgewater was only healthy enough to suit up as a backup after suffering a finger injury.Thompson - who finished with 220 yards and one touchdown to two interceptions on 45 attempts - said he was to blame for the procedural issues on the offense."I felt like our operation, in general, today struggled at times," he said. "I'll take full responsibility for it."After losing five straight games entering Week 18, the Dolphins secured the final AFC wild-card berth in McDaniel's first season in charge by beating the New York Jets.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Quarterback Justin Herbert showed support for head coach Brandon Staley despite the Los Angeles Chargers' epic collapse in Saturday's wild-card game."We believe in coach Staley. We believe in the front office," Herbert said Sunday, according to Bridget Condon of NFL Network.He added, "Everyone would be lucky to have a coach like Staley."The Chargers blew a 27-point lead to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who advanced to the divisional round with a 31-30 victory. It's the third-largest comeback in NFL postseason history.Staley faced heavy criticism after L.A. became the first team to ever lose a playoff game with a five-plus turnover margin. But running back Austin Ekeler backed the 40-year-old coach Sunday."I would be shocked (if Staley was fired). ... You're looking for someone who's going to give you a chance and this guy's given you a chance," Ekeler said.Pro Bowl safety Derwin James, one of the Chargers' captains this season along with Ekeler, also wants the club to keep Staley."That's my guy. He's put a lot into it," James said. "A lot of guys believe in him in the locker room. I definitely believe in him."Los Angeles entered 2022 with high expectations after adding multiple high-profile players to an already solid roster, including edge rusher Khalil Mack and cornerback J.C. Jackson. The Chargers - who dealt with a slew of injuries all year - finished the campaign with only the 13th-ranked offense and 21st-ranked defense en route to a 10-7 regular-season record before falling short in the playoffs.Staley, who didn't make the playoffs in his first campaign, is 19-15 during the regular season in two years as the team's head coach.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens declined to name a starting quarterback Friday and plan to play both Tyler Huntley and Anthony Brown in Sunday's wild-card game against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Starting quarterback Lamar Jackson remains sidelined with a PCL sprain that forced him to miss the team's last five games. Baltimore did not elevate practice squad quarterback Brett Hundley for Sunday's game despite listing Huntley as questionable with shoulder and wrist injuries.The Ravens intend to utilize both Huntley and Brown to challenge the Bengals' defense, Rapoport reports.Huntley, who joined Baltimore in 2020 as an undrafted free agent, appeared in six games this year. The 24-year-old combined his arm (112 pass attempts, two touchdowns, three interceptions) with his legs (43 rushes, 137 yards, one touchdown) to help Baltimore to a 2-2 record in his four starts.Brown, 24, spends more time in the drop-back pass game. In his one start this year - a Week 18 loss to the Bengals - the rookie completed 19 of 44 pass attempts for 286 yards and two interceptions. He didn't have a rushing attempt in that game.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins are expected to bring back quarterback Tua Tagovailoa as their starter next season, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Tagovailoa has been in concussion protocol since suffering his second concussion of the season in Miami's Christmas Day loss to the Green Bay Packers.Medical professionals believe Tagovailoa should be able to continue his playing career next season, Schefter adds.If the Dolphins beat the Buffalo Bills in Sunday's wild-card matchup, Tagovailoa could clear concussion protocol and play later in the playoffs, Schefter reports.Tagovailoa is under contract with Miami through the 2023 season. The team will have to decide this offseason whether to pick up his fifth-year option for the 2024 campaign.The Dolphins have apparently been content with Tagovailoa's development under head coach Mike McDaniel. The 24-year-old has 3,584 passing yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 13 starts this season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Head coach Sean McVay explained Saturday why he decided to return to the Los Angeles Rams for the 2023 season following a disappointing 2022 campaign."I wanted to take some time to really know I could restore and renew the passion and zest I need, and after leaning on family and friends and taking time to reflect, it became clear to me I don't want to run away from adversity. I want to run through it," McVay told Jay Glazer of FOX Sports.Coming off his first losing season with the Rams, the 36-year-old said last week he'd "take the appropriate time" to evaluate his future. The coach has also been linked to multiple TV networks in recent years.McVay has already begun interviewing candidates for the Rams' vacant offensive coordinator job after Liam Coen's departure, according to Glazer. Coen joined Kentucky this week following just one season with Los Angeles.The Rams failed to meet expectations this campaign after winning the Super Bowl last season. Los Angeles - which saw key starters go down with injuries, including Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald, and Cooper Kupp - finished 2022 with a 5-12 record, the most single-season losses ever by a defending Super Bowl champion.McVay is 60-38 since joining the club in 2017. He became the youngest head coach in NFL history to win the Super Bowl with a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals last year.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.