Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury isn't in a rush to coach again and has purchased a one-way ticket to Thailand, according to FOX Sports' Peter Schrager.Kingsbury declined interest from several NFL teams that contacted him regarding potential interviews, reports Schrager. It's unknown at this time when Kingsbury will return from Thailand or coach again.The Cardinals fired Kingsbury on Monday after going 4-13 this season. He went 28-37-1 with the club.The 43-year-old joined Arizona after six seasons as Texas Tech's head coach. Despite his 35-40 record at the college level, he was widely regarded as an offensive guru who would elevate the Cardinals.Though Kingsbury is no longer with the team, he'll remain on Arizona's payroll for the next five years after signing a contract extension before the 2022 season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks are expected to bring back Geno Smith as their starting quarterback for the 2023 season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Smith, 32, is slated to be a free agent at the end of the season.The Seahawks will try to reach a new deal with Smith this offseason and have the franchise tag available, Rapoport adds.The tag will be worth over $30 million, which is almost double Smith's career earnings of $17 million, according to Spotrac.Smith signed a one-year, $3.5-million contract with Seattle last April. The Seahawks named him their starting quarterback in August after he beat out Drew Lock for the role in training camp. Seattle traded former starter Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos last offseason.Smith led the Seahawks to a playoff spot and set a single-season franchise record with 4,282 passing yards. He threw for 30 touchdowns against 11 interceptions as Seattle went 9-8 in the regular season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All season long we've had fun with the NFL's version of "Must See TV" Thursdays, as we've tried to keep things light, using famous Thursday night appointment television show "Seinfeld" to help with our look at the prop markets, and get us in the right state of mind. While the playoffs mean it's more serious for the players, we should be reminded that it's still just any other game for bettors and there's still lessons to be taken from Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer."I think that you think that a certain something is not all that it could be, when in fact, it is all that it should be and more!" - George, to his latest girlfriend, after rumors swirl about his manhood in the Hamptons.The Cowboys and Buccaneers meet 18 weeks after they opened their seasons in prime time - both carrying a public perception that has seen some "shrinkage" since then.In Episode 20 of Season 5 of "Seinfeld," the gang heads out to New Yorker vacation hot-spot The Hamptons because, for the second time in series history, they "have to see the baby." There will be very few youngsters on the field in Tampa, as both are veteran-laden teams that suit the honor of getting invited to a prestige broadcast location - Monday Night Football. The expectation is that it won't be a day at the beach for either team.'The Hamptons'George's new girlfriend, Jane, shows the gang more than he would have liked, just as the Cowboys give Ezekiel Elliott the ball more than many Dallas backers would like to see.Opposing tailbacks used to run into the Buccaneers' front-seven like a frightened turtle, but Tampa's run defense has been merely average this season. Part of that is due to how infrequently both veteran defensive lineman Vita Vea and Akiem Hicks have been on-field together.Here's the list of games where Vea and Hicks both played more than 50% of the snaps, along with their opponents' yards per carry and the total points the Bucs allowed:GAME (Opponent) YPC PTS ALLOWEDWeek 1 (@ DAL)3.93Week 9 (vs. LAR)2.913Week 10 (vs. SEA)2.816Week 12 (@ CLE)4.823Week 13 (vs. NO)2.616Week 17 (vs. CAR)3.424Only Nick Chubb and the Browns - at home - were able to have respectable success running against the Buccaneers when Vea and Hicks were both available.Of course, no one will tell Jerry Jones that Elliott's carries are inefficient as it's a "must-lie situation" around AT&T Stadium. Much has been made of the Cowboys' 1-3 record when they've played on grass, away from the comfy confines of a fast track, but even with a nice game in Philadelphia - at a time when the Eagles were struggling on run defense - Elliott's averaged just 3.3 yards per carry on grass and 3.8 YPC overall this season. Repeated hand-offs to Elliott will get the Cowboys in more trouble than Kramer after he poaches lobsters.Pick: Ezekiel Elliott under 47.5 rush yardsA TD that's definitely going to happenWe'll be ordering lobster in everything if the round-robin touchdown parlay hits, so if that's still alive come Monday night, we don't need to do anything here.However, even on its own, I'm crazier about Chris Godwin to score a touchdown than George's mom is about Hampton tomatoes. Coming off of ACL surgery, it took a while for Godwin to get back up to speed, and he certainly wasn't 100% in Week 1 at Dallas. By Week 4, though, Godwin was starting a run of 8+ targets per game that ended in Week 18 only because he played just 26 snaps (and still caught six passes).The price is this long because Godwin has just three touchdowns this season, but he's by far the most reliable target for Tom Brady, and after missing the playoffs last season, Godwin's got a level of vengeance matched only by George after Jerry's girlfriend walked in on him after he "was in the pool!"Pick: Chris Godwin anytime touchdown (+175)A TD that probably won't happen ... but maybe it doesElliott has 12 touchdowns, and Tony Pollard has nine more. It's safe to say the Cowboys have a tendency to give him the ball near the goal line. However, in keeping with the capability of the Bucs' run defense detailed above, maybe those Cowboys carries are better served to "trying to create a buzz" in a scouting report.Dak Prescott only has one rushing touchdown, so it would be "breathtaking" if the Cowboys broke tendency and had Prescott pull the ball on a read-option and let Elliott crash into the Bucs' defensive wall, allowing Prescott to skip into the end zone untouched. If that's the case, at 6-1 odds, you can find us basking in the sunshine to the 'Beach Boys'' "Wouldn't it be nice?"Pick: Dak Prescott anytime touchdown (+600)How to bet: The first two bets should be single-unit wagers to win a unit on minus prices and more than a unit on a plus-money bet. The last wager should be smaller, trying to win back your standard unit size.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 Washington Commanders will likely start the 2023 season with quarterback Sam Howell as their starter, according to CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones.Jones reports that offensive coordinator candidates are being told they will be working with Howell under center.The Commanders selected Howell in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft after he spent three seasons at North Carolina.Howell made his first career start in Washington's Week 18 contest against the Dallas Cowboys after the Commanders were eliminated from playoff contention. The 22-year-old completed 11 of 19 attempts for 169 yards with one touchdown and interception each in the 26-6 victory.Veteran Carson Wentz, who the team acquired via trade from the Indianapolis Colts last offseason, is under contract through 2024. He can be cut or traded this offseason without the Commanders incurring any dead cap, according to Spotrac.The Commanders fired offensive coordinator Scott Turner on Tuesday after the team went 8-8-1 and failed to find stability at the quarterback position.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Despite quarterback Lamar Jackson's knee injury, the Baltimore Ravens are still committed to their star quarterback. They will begin negotiating a long-term contract with Jackson whenever the season ends, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The Ravens are expected to franchise tag Jackson if they cannot agree on a deal, Rapoport adds. He has not played since Dec. 4.Jackson played this season on the fifth-year option, which was $23 million. He is hoping to get as much guaranteed money as possible, close to the five-year, $230-million fully guaranteed contract Deshaun Watson signed with the Cleveland Browns last offseason.The 26-year-old will not play in the Ravens' wild-card game against the Cincinnati Bengals due to a sprained PCL. Jackson posted on Twitter Thursday saying his knee is still swollen and unstable.Jackson has started 12 games this season, totaling 3,006 yards with 20 touchdowns and nine turnovers.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was in disbelief Friday when reporters asked whether Mike McCarthy would be coaching for his job in Monday's wild-card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."It's comical, in a sense," Prescott said, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. "First, what back-to-back 12-win (seasons) in y'all tell me how long, and we're talking about a guy's job in jeopardy? That just shows you, when you play for this organization, what comes with it."Since joining the franchise three seasons ago, McCarthy has posted a 30-20 record. He capped his 2022 campaign with a 12-5 regular-season mark. The 59-year-old head coach has two years remaining on his contract.Prescott said the implication that McCarthy's job is on the line reinforces the need to create a "safe place" in the locker room."What matters is the men that go out there and get in between the lines and put the work in throughout the week for us to go out and win," he added.Team owner Jerry Jones said earlier this week that McCarthy wouldn't be on the hot seat if the Cowboys lost to the Buccaneers in the opening round.Dallas is attempting to buck several trends in its upcoming postseason contest. The club is 0-7 against Tom Brady and hasn't advanced past the divisional round since 1995. The franchise also hasn't won a road playoff matchup since the NFC Championship Game in 1992.McCarthy recently showed the team 10 baby pictures of players who were alive when the Cowboys defeated the San Francisco 49ers to usher in their impressive run during the 1990s."This is about our opportunity," McCarthy said, per Archer. "It's about what's in front of us."Dallas will look to avenge its season-opening loss to the Buccaneers. Prescott sustained a thumb injury during the contest and was replaced by Cooper Rush.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We've had fun all season long with the NFL's version of "Must See TV" Thursdays. We've tried to keep things light by using the famous Thursday night appointment television show "Seinfeld" to help with our look at the prop markets and get us in the right state of mind. While the playoffs are more serious for the players, we should remember that it's still just any other game for bettors, and there are still lessons to be taken from Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer."I'm telling you right now. If you're kidding around, I'm not going to be able to be your friend anymore. ... If this is a lie, if this is a joke, if this is your idea of some cute little game, we're finished." - George to Jerry after he's told the "it girl" from college will call him.For all the public excitement about the Bengals' current eight-game winning streak, the Ravens were a sizeable division favorite more than halfway through the season. Then Lamar Jackson got hurt. If someone had told a Bengals fan at the time that Jackson wouldn't return, they'd think you were messing with them. Unfortunately, his absence has largely ruined the anticipation for this Sunday night wild-card game as the point spread creeps toward double digits.'The Marine Biologist' Just like George and Elaine in "The Marine Biologist," we're going to take on an intimidating character for Ravens-Bengals.Both offenses will have a difficult time scoring Sunday, so we're looking to play our first under of Wild Card Weekend. Fading Joe Burrow is as nerve-racking as facing a longtime college crush or an ill-tempered writer like Yuri Testikov, but Burrow's prescribed yardage total has been set 10-15 yards higher than in similar matchups.John Harbaugh's defensive staff knows everything about the Bengals' offensive plan and has the personnel to slow it down. Pass rushes of similar talent - like the Buccaneers', Panthers', and Cowboys' units - were able to vex Cincinnati's "golden boy." Now, the right side of Burrow's offensive line is compromised after recent injuries to La'el Collins and Alex Cappa.Baltimore has given up more than 16 points just twice since adding Roquan Smith. One was a late-game collapse in Jacksonville where the Ravens held the Jaguars to 10 points through three-and-a-half quarters, and the other was last week when Anthony Brown kept giving the Bengals short fields, as well as seven points on a fumble recovery.Burrow hasn't recorded more than 217 passing yards against Baltimore this season, including last week's walk-through where he threw 42 times. Another clock-churning slugfest won't provide Burrow the opportunity to match his biggest passing games from this season.Pick: Joe Burrow under 269.5 passing yardsA TD that's definitely going to happen"The sea was angry that day my friends, like an old man trying to send back soup at a deli."The classic moment of this episode occurs when George gets backed into trying to save a beached whale. He's not exactly the guy you'd want to rely on in a tight spot, but he gets the job done. In a game where field goals will be valuable currency, Ja'Marr Chase is the most reliable target to win a contested matchup.Chase scored in four of seven games before his midseason injury, and in three of five since returning. He's also seen double-digit targets in 10 of 12 games. No matter the coverage, Burrow is looking to Chase in crunch time, and he can throw through a tighter window than Testikov with an electronic organizer.Pick: Ja'Marr Chase anytime touchdown (+100)A TD that probably won't happen ... but maybe it doesTyler Huntley will continue to try to be a reasonable facsimile to Jackson, but the Ravens know their best approach is to try to load up with numerous tight ends and run the ball repeatedly.We're taking a bigger swing than Kramer trying to hit Titleists into the ocean, but Josh Oliver averaged a roughly 50% snap share in the latter half of the season and could see even more of the field Sunday. If that's the case, his chances of scoring on a play-action pass are at least better than the original title of Tolstoy's "War and Peace" being "War, What is it Good For?"Pick: Josh Oliver anytime touchdown (+1400)How to bet: The first two bets should be single-unit wagers to win a unit on minus prices and more than a unit on a plus-money bet. The last wager should be smaller, trying to win back your standard unit size.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.

Head coach Sean McVay informed the Los Angeles Rams that he will be staying on as head coach for next season after contemplating his future over the last few days, the team announced Friday.McVay said last week he'd "take the appropriate time" to evaluate his future but added that he didn't expect to feel ready to walk away from coaching.After hinting that he was undecided about his future following L.A.'s Super Bowl win last February, the 36-year-old opted to return and signed an extension through the 2026 campaign.The Rams are coming off a disappointing title defense, finishing with a 5-12 record. It was McVay's first losing season with the NFC West club after going 55-26 and making two Super Bowl appearances over his first five campaigns.McVay was widely expected to be courted for a TV role if he opted to leave.L.A. will also get back quarterback Matthew Stafford, who missed half the season with a bruised spinal cord. Stafford said in December that he isn't planning to retire despite another injury-riddled campaign.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We've had fun all season long with the NFL's version of "Must See TV" Thursdays. We've tried to keep things light, using the famous TV show "Seinfeld" to help with our look at the prop markets and get us in the right state of mind. While the playoffs mean it's more serious for the players, we should be reminded that it's still just any other game for bettors, and there are still lessons to be taken from Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer."I'll tell you what, Chubs. If that yogurt has fat in it, I'll put myself on an all-yogurt diet for a week."

We've had fun all season long with the NFL's version of "Must See TV" Thursdays. We've tried to keep things light, using the famous TV show "Seinfeld" to help with our look at the prop markets and get us in the right state of mind. While the playoffs mean it's more serious for the players, we should be reminded that it's still just any other game for bettors, and there are still lessons to be taken from Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer."I had a feeling this was too good to be true. I knew there had to be another side to you."

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is officially out of Sunday's wild-card showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals due to a knee injury, the team announced Friday.Jackson, who missed the final five games of the regular season, suggested that he'd be unable to play in a tweet Thursday."I'm still in good spirits as I continue with treatments on the road to recovery," he wrote. "I wish I could be out there with my guys more than anything, but I can't give a 100% of myself to my guys and fans. I'm still hopeful we still have a chance."Meanwhile, backup Tyler Huntley is questionable with shoulder and wrist injuries, though he practiced in full Friday. Huntley said he expects to be a game-time decision but also expressed optimism after sitting out Week 18."Shoot, it's up there. It's a good percentage. I think we're pushing 90, 99, around there," he said Friday, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "We're up there. We practiced today, and we're just seeing how we're gonna feel these next couple days."If Huntley can't play, rookie Anthony Brown - who started the regular-season finale loss to Cincinnati - would be in line to lead the Ravens in the AFC North clash.Jackson has yet to return to practice with what he says is a Grade 2 PCL sprain. He also revealed that his knee "remains unstable."The 2019 MVP has thrown for 2,241 yards and 17 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 12 starts. He's also produced 764 yards and three scores on the ground.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL playoffs have arrived. The Chiefs and Eagles get to rest this weekend while 12 teams battle Saturday through Monday in the wild-card round. Here's one storyline to watch in each of the AFC matchups.(All times listed are Eastern. Click to read our breakdown of the NFC games.)Chargers at Jaguars, Saturday at 8:15 p.m.

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams suffered a fracture in his back that's expected to sideline him for two-to-three weeks, according to Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.Williams has been ruled out for Saturday's wild-card matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 28-year-old Williams was injured in the second quarter of the Chargers' Week 18 matchup against the Denver Broncos.The initial X-ray and MRI didn't reveal the fracture. After Williams didn't progress this week, further tests were run that revealed the injury, according to Thiry.The Chargers were locked into the AFC's fifth playoff seed before their Week 18 game. Head coach Brandon Staley kept his starters in for the majority of the contest.Williams missed time due to an ankle injury earlier in the year. He has played in 13 games, hauling in 895 yards and four touchdowns this season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is going to "take some time" to decide his future in the league, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said Friday, according to CBS Sports."I want all these guys back," Gutekunst said when asked if he wants Rodgers as his quarterback next year.Gutekunst added: "He's (Rodgers) certainly going to take some time. You know, I think that's fair. As we work through this, I think as he takes his time, kinda makes his decision just on his playing career in general, then we will get together and move forward that way."Rodgers signed a three-year, $150-million contract with the Packers in March 2022. He received $101.4 million in full guarantees and has a $31.6-million cap hit in 2023, according to Over The Cap.The Packers drafted quarterback Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has started one game in his NFL career, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021 while completing 55% of his passes and throwing for one touchdown and one interception.Love stepped in for an injured Rodgers in Week 12 against the Eagles. He completed six passes for 113 yards and one touchdown."I definitely think he's ready to play," Gutekunst said on Love, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. "I think he feels that way. I think he's chomping at the bit."When asked who he thinks gives the Packers the best chance to win next season, Gutekunst mentioned that Rodgers is the four-time MVP, according to Schneidman.Rodgers started all 17 games for the Packers this season. He threw for 3,695 yards, his fewest since 2017. The Packers finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The games are bigger come playoff time, but there are also fewer - meaning there's less to choose from when picking out the most valuable underdogs of the week. Sure, if you're desperate for five plays for a round-robin underdog moneyline parlay, you could go on a kamikaze mission with the Seahawks, Dolphins, and Ravens. However, with short prices in the other three games this Wild Card Weekend, there's just not much to work with.The show must go on, though, and with the focus that six standalone games provide, we'll shift our approach to individual success - combing through the anytime touchdown markets for five players at medium-sized prices to find the end zone.How it worksWe parlay five touchdown scorers in 10 different three-player parlays. Using every combination of a three-player parlay is called a round robin. We'll use a total of 1.1 units to make 11 different bets: 10 three-player parlays and one five-player parlay, each for .1 units. You'll likely double your money if three players find the end zone. If four score, you're connecting on four separate parlays and will be very pleased with the return. If all five players score, you'll be diving into a silo of gold doubloons like a young Scrooge McDuck.Who to play*All odds from theScore BetElijah Mitchell (+260)Mitchell's price is longer than his bigger-name 49ers teammates - Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel - but given the extremely rainy conditions set for San Francisco on Saturday, it might be a situation where more hands mean less work. Mitchell looked spry in his return from an MCL sprain during Week 18 when he ran five times for 55 yards and two touchdowns. In three earlier games sharing the workload with McCaffrey, Mitchell had either more carries, more yards, or both. So he could be in for double-digit carries in a run-heavy game plan.Evan Engram (+240)Engram hasn't found the end zone as much as you'd think for a player with career highs in receptions and yards in his first season with the Jaguars, but that only means his anytime touchdown odds creep longer - which is a good thing.The Chargers do well against opposing tight ends, likely because of Derwin James' presence in the middle of the field, but he may have his hands full with the other more notable Jaguars targets. Even Doug Pederson admits Engram is more of a receiver than a traditional tight end, and they could go against habit and look for him in the end zone more than once on Saturday night.Dawson Knox (+200)When the calendar turns to December, and the weather gets grim, that's Knox season. The Bills tight end has quietly scored in four straight games to close the season and has had a pair of touchdowns in each of the last two Bills playoff runs. The Dolphins allowed the fourth-most receptions and touchdowns to opposing tight ends this season, including one to Knox in their most recent meeting.Isaiah Hodgins (+270)Hodgins has been a favorite of ours since the Giants plucked him from the Bills' practice squad midway through the season, almost immediately giving him a key role. He was lucky to see the field at the start of the season, but he ended it by being so valuable that New York rested him in Week 18. With four touchdowns in his last five games and another touchdown called back on Thanksgiving in Dallas, we're getting a great price on someone who's on the field for upwards of 90% of the Giants' offensive snaps. Daniel Jones' best game of the season came against the Vikings' porous pass defense, so there should be opportunities aplenty.Chris Godwin (+160)Godwin and Mike Evans are similarly priced, but I prefer Godwin's chances to score against the Cowboys on Monday night. Evans is the deep threat, but long bombs will be less likely to work, given the Cowboys' pass rush isn't likely to give Tom Brady time to go deep. Instead, Tampa Bay will rely on short passes to work its way down the field, and at least a few of Godwin's usual double-digit targets - from lining up in the slot - should happen in and around the end zone.Here's how the odds look:PARLAYODDS (Approx.)Mitchell+Engram+Knox+3000Mitchell+Engram+Hodgins+3700Mitchell+Engram+Godwin+3000Mitchell+Knox+Hodgins+3600Mitchell+Knox+Godwin+2800Mitchell+Hodgins+Godwin+3300Engram+Knox+Hodgins+2700Engram+Hodgins+Godwin+3000Engram+Knox+Godwin+2300Knox+Hodgins+Godwin+2800Mitchell+Engram+Knox+Hodgins+Godwin+30000Who are your five 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.

The Arizona Cardinals have requested permission from the Pittsburgh Steelers to interview linebackers coach Brian Flores for their vacant head coaching position, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Flores was the Miami Dolphins' head coach from 2019-21, posting a 24-25 record before being controversially fired in January 2022.The 41-year-old filed a lawsuit against the NFL and three teams - the Dolphins, the New York Giants, and the Denver Broncos - following his dismissal in Miami, alleging racial discrimination in hiring practices.Flores also said Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered him $100,000 per loss during the 2019 season. However, after an independent investigation, the NFL didn't find evidence supporting the tanking allegations.The league did conclude that Miami had impermissible communications with Tom Brady and former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton. Ross was suspended and handed a $1.5-million fine, and the Dolphins were stripped of their 2023 first-round pick and their 2024 third-rounder.Flores was a hot candidate after being fired by Miami, interviewing with the Giants, Saints, Chicago Bears, and Houston Texans. But after filing his lawsuit, he joined the Steelers as a senior assistant.The Cardinals, which fired head coach Kliff Kingsbury on Monday, are the first team this offseason to request an interview with Flores for a head coaching job. The Cleveland Browns requested to speak to him about their defensive coordinator position.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We've had fun all season long with the NFL's version of "Must See TV" Thursdays. We've tried to keep things light, using the famous TV show "Seinfeld" to help with our look at the prop markets and get us in the right state of mind. While the playoffs mean it's more serious for the players, we should be reminded that it's still just any other game for bettors, and there are still lessons to be taken from Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer."This is found money. I want to parlay it. I want to make a big score!" - George

The NFL playoffs have arrived. The Chiefs and Eagles get to rest this weekend while 12 teams battle Saturday through Monday in the wild-card round. Here's one storyline to watch in each of the NFC matchups.(All times listed are Eastern. Click to read our breakdown of the AFC games.)Seahawks at 49ers, Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

theScore's NFL insider Jordan Schultz breaks down the resumes of the six hottest general manager candidates. Currently, Arizona and Tennessee have openings for a GM.Ran CarthonThe 49ers director of player personnel is among the most respected people in NFL circles. Beyond the football side of things, Carthon's considered one of the premier relationship-builders in the business."He commands respect because he gives respect," a current AFC executive told me. Carthon, who played at Florida and spent three seasons on the Colts' and Lions' rosters, worked his way up in management over the last 15 years, first as a scout with the Falcons, then with the Rams and now in San Francisco since 2017.He's well-liked within the building and has already received requests from both the Cardinals and Titans for their vacant GM jobs. During his tenure in the Bay, the 41-year-old has helped draft Brock Purdy (Mr. Irrelevant), Deebo Samuel (second round), Fred Warner (third round), Dre Greenlaw, and Talanoa Hufanga (both fifth round).Brandon HuntThe Eagles director of scouting is revered around football for his ability to integrate scouting with culture-building. An MBA with more than 15 years of NFL experience - mostly with the Steelers - Hunt is adept at creating a common goal. "He's a winner," a former executive told me.What I've also gathered is that Hunt doesn't take shortcuts. He puts in the time but also holds everyone in high regard so that they're empowered to make good decisions collectively. Considering he's been in both the AFC and NFC, as well as scouted both college and pro, Hunt's a highly qualified candidate with a bona fide philosophy on how to mold a championship-caliber roster. Michael Reaves / Getty Images"He believes in building through one's strengths," the former executive said.Finding what you do well and doing it better than anyone else is a pretty good formula. We've seen this come to fruition on Philadephia's roster as it bolstered an already talented receiver group with A.J. Brown, added to an already talented defensive front with Jordan Davis and Haason Reddick, and laid the groundwork in the secondary by acquiring James Bradberry and C.J. Gardner-Johnson last offseason.In Pittsburgh, Hunt helped acquire All-Pros Minkah Fitzpatrick and Joe Haden, as well as identify the team's quarterback of the future in Kenny Pickett. It may sound overly simplistic, but Hunt's refusal to settle and consistent grind toward solutions is why he's on his way to becoming a GM.Alec HalabyThe Eagles assistant GM spent his entire career with Philadelphia, starting with a college internship in 2007. A Harvard grad and English major, the talented 36-year-old is well-regarded for his capacity to balance scouting and modern data analysis in his evaluations.But Halaby's not limited to the "Moneyball" approach. League sources laud him for his excellent communication skills with coaches and an ultra-high football IQ - the lifeblood of any front office. Halaby successfully navigates these high-level conversations while understanding that scheme and fit - as well as personality - all factor into whether a player will achieve success in the Eagles' program. His forward-thinking approach will serve him very well whenever his first GM opportunity comes calling.Thomas Dimitroff Mark Brown / Getty ImagesThe former Falcons general manager grew up around football as the son of a CFL coach and long-time NFL scout. While Dimitroff cut his teeth with Bill Belichick and the Patriots, he's best known for his construction of the Falcons team that eventually lost to the Patriots in Super Bowl LI.During his 13-year tenure in Atlanta, Dimitroff made several key decisions, including trading up for Julio Jones, drafting Matt Ryan, and hiring Dan Quinn even though he didn't have any head coaching experience at the time.Dimitroff hangs his hat on his ability to create a healthy work environment - hence the "brotherhood" he established with Quinn. He prides himself on working hand-in-hand with the head coach while also relying on his history in scouting (2003-07 with New England) to inform his decisions. It's been two years since the 56-year-old worked in the league, but there's certainly a place for him should he choose to return.Dan MorganMorgan followed an outstanding college career at Miami with seven years in the NFL playing linebacker for Carolina. He immediately set his sights on the front office after his playing days and has been on a fast track ever since.Well-regarded for his scouting ability, the 44-year-old got his first stint in upper management with Brandon Beane and the Bills. He's been with the Panthers since 2020, serving as assistant GM. "Dan's a really cool dude," a current Panthers player told me. "You can tell he played and knows what that means." Sporting News / Getty ImagesAdam PetersLike Carthon, Peters comes from the impressive Niners tree. Known as an excellent talent evaluator, Peters has been in the NFL for two decades. He gained an excellent reputation during his five-year tenure as the Broncos' director of college scouting before joining the Niners and earning a promotion to his current role as assistant GM two seasons ago.The 42-year-old is "easy to work with and knows how to build a roster," the AFC executive told me. It's worth noting that Peters declined the Titans' request for an interview this week, and several people I've spoken with believe he'll eventually replace John Lynch in San Francisco.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 Indianapolis Colts interviewed Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy for their head coaching vacancy Thursday, owner Jim Irsay announced.Bieniemy interviewed for numerous head coaching vacancies across the league in recent years but hasn't secured a position.He has served as Kansas City's offensive coordinator since 2018. The Chiefs finished first in scoring and yardage under Bieniemy this season and have never ranked lower than sixth in points per game during his five-year run as OC.Bieniemy joins Colts special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone and Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero as candidates who have already interviewed for the job.Indianapolis has reportedly also requested an interview with Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn for the vacancy.Jeff Saturday, who served as the interim coach in 2022 following the dismissal of Frank Reich, is also interested in taking over the job full time. General manager Chris Ballard said Tuesday that Saturday is a candidate.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

We've had fun all season long with the NFL's version of "Must See TV" Thursdays. We've tried to keep things light, using the famous TV show "Seinfeld" to help with our look at the prop markets and get us in the right state of mind. While the playoffs mean it's more serious for the players, we should be reminded that it's still just any other game for bettors, and there are still lessons to be taken from Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer."You're the consolation guy!"

The New England Patriots will begin interviewing candidates for their offensive coordinator role next week, the team announced in a statement obtained by Ben Volin of The Boston Globe.The Patriots didn't name an official offensive coordinator for the 2022 campaign, instead tasking assistant coach Matt Patricia with handling play-calling duties on that side of the ball. The 48-year-old had never called plays on offense before.With Patricia calling plays, New England's offense ranked 17th in scoring and 26th in yardage. The Patriots also finished as the worst red-zone offense, converting just 19 of their 45 trips into touchdowns.Patricia began his NFL coaching career as an offensive assistant with the Patriots in 2004. However, the majority of his tenure with the organization has come on defense. He spent time as linebackers coach and safeties coach before holding the defensive coordinator role from 2012-17. He then served three seasons as head coach of the Detroit Lions before returning to New England in 2021.The Patriots also opened talks on a contract extension with linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, who's attracted both coordinating and head coaching interest around the league.The Carolina Panthers reportedly requested to speak to Mayo for their head coaching vacancy, while the Cleveland Browns sought him for their defensive coordinator opening.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson tweeted Thursday that his knee "remains unstable" as he works his way back from a Grade 2 PCL sprain that's forced him to miss the last five games."I'm still in good spirits as I continue with treatments on the road to recovery," he said. "I wish I could be out there with my guys more than anything, but I can't give a 100% of myself to my guys and fans. I'm still hopeful we still have a chance."The former league MVP hasn't practiced since suffering the injury in a Week 13 victory over the Denver Broncos. He's yet to participate in any sessions this week and is reportedly in doubt to face the Cincinnati Bengals in Sunday's wild-card game.Tyler Huntley started four of the five games Jackson missed. The former didn't play the regular-season finale due to shoulder and wrist injuries and was a limited participant in both practices this week. If Huntley can't go against the Bengals, Anthony Brown - who started in Week 18 - would likely lead under center.Jackson put up an 8-4 record across 12 starts this season with 17 passing touchdowns to seven interceptions. He also pitched in 764 yards and three scores on the ground. The Ravens have gone 2-3 without him.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.In an effort to help you find trades that could improve your fantasy team, we present the Dynasty Trade Value Chart.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 trade values for each position.Rookie rankings will be added in the coming weeks.Dynasty Rankings & Trade Values

The New York Jets are mutually parting ways with offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, head coach Robert Saleh said Thursday, according to SNY TV.Saleh is allowing LaFleur to seek other opportunities with several teams inquiring about the coordinator's availability.LaFleur served as the Jets' offensive coordinator for the last two seasons after coming from the San Francisco 49ers alongside head coach Robert Saleh in 2021. LaFleur served as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach while with the 49ers.New York's offense struggled to put up points during LaFleur's tenure. The Jets averaged just 18.2 points per game in 2021 and 17.4 points per contest in 2022.Inconsistent quarterback play hampered LaFleur's stint in New York. Former second overall pick Zach Wilson has failed to develop into a franchise signal-caller, leading to multiple benchings during the 2022 campaign.The Jets have shuffled through various quarterbacks since 2021, including Wilson, Mike White, Joe Flacco, Josh Johnson, and Chris Streveler.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Jets are intent on making improvements on the offensive side of the ball, head coach Robert Saleh declared Thursday."We're gonna attack the heck out of our O-line with regards to getting healthy and adding to it, and we are going to be aggressive as heck when it comes to quarterback play and making sure that we do everything we can to satisfy that position," Saleh said, according to SNY TV.Jets quarterback Zach Wilson struggled in his second season, finishing with a 5-4 record with six touchdowns and seven interceptions. Wilson's 1,688 passing yards in 2022 ranked 33rd in the NFL.Owner Woody Johnson conceded that Wilson had a difficult season."Zach had a tough year. There's no denying that," Johnson said, according to Andy Vasquez of NJ.com. Johnson added that he saw the same "kernels of talent" Wilson displayed during his college career at BYU and remains hopeful the 23-year-old can bounce back.Wilson was the second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Quarterbacks Trey Lance, Justin Fields, and Mac Jones were all selected after Wilson, who posted a 3-10 record in his rookie season.Johnson said he's ready to open his checkbook to get a better signal-caller."Absolutely," Johnson said when asked if he's willing to spend what it takes to upgrade at quarterback, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic."It's the missing piece," the owner added.The Jets have already made moves to alter their offense, parting ways with offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur and offensive line coach John Benton.Johnson has been adamant with Saleh that it's necessary to overhaul the offensive staff, and quarterbacks coach Rob Calabrese will also likely be fired, sources told theScore's NFL insider Jordan Schultz.Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo are slated to become free agents this offseason, while Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is on the trade block.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

A potential AFC Championship Game between the Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs will take place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the NFL announced Thursday.The decision comes following the cancellation of the Week 17 contest between the Bills and Cincinnati Bengals due to Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest. Both the Bills and Chiefs approved the move last week."As part of the standard NFL contingency planning, Atlanta was designated a possible backup host for postseason games prior to the start of the 2022 season and is almost equidistant from both potential participating teams' cities," the NFL said. "All other potential AFC Championship Game matchups would take place at the home stadium of the higher seed."The move to the Mercedes-Benz dome will also eliminate weather as a factor in the potential matchup.Meanwhile, Hamlin was released from the hospital Wednesday. He'll continue his rehab and recovery at home, as well as at the Bills' facilities."We are heartened by the continued improvement and progress of Damar Hamlin in his recovery, and Damar and his family remain top of mind for the entire NFL community," said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.The AFC championship will be played Jan. 29.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Veteran quarterback Derek Carr penned a heartfelt goodbye to the Las Vegas Raiders amid reports the team will trade him in the offseason.Carr's message comes on the heels of sources telling NFL Network's Ian Rapoport that the Raiders organization will start evaluating the trade market for the three-time Pro Bowl selection.Carr has a no-trade clause and is expected to be involved in the process.

The Denver Broncos interviewed former Stanford coach David Shaw about their head coaching vacancy Wednesday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Shaw stepped down as head coach of Stanford last November after 12 seasons in charge. He's the school's winningest coach but oversaw back-to-back 3-9 campaigns in his final two seasons.The 50-year-old comes equipped with previous NFL experience, having spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Oakland Raiders, and Baltimore Ravens from 1997 to 2005. He began his NFL journey as a quality control coach in Philadelphia but also served as a quarterbacks and wide receivers coach.The Broncos have actively pursued a head coach since the conclusion of the 2022 season. The biggest names the franchise will reportedly interview include Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and former New Orleans Saints sideline boss Sean Payton.Denver reportedly also requested to speak with Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, and San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans. Former Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell is also reported to be on the team's shortlist.The Broncos fired former sideline boss Nathaniel Hackett before he could finish his first season after posting a 4-11 record through 15 games.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans have received permission from the New Orleans Saints to interview Sean Payton for their respective vacant head coaching positions, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Arizona, which went 4-13 in 2022, fired head coach Kliff Kingsbury on Monday. General manager Steve Keim also stepped down. Payton is the first coaching candidate linked to the Cardinals, which have reportedly interviewed multiple executives for their GM opening.Team owner Michael Bidwill said Monday that quarterback Kyler Murray will have input on the Cardinals' next head coach.The Texans fired coach Lovie Smith on Sunday after just one season. Houston went 3-13-1 in 2022.Payton - the most coveted head coaching candidate on the market this offseason - has done homework on the Cardinals' vacant job, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. He's also expected to speak with the Denver Broncos after they recently fired coach Nathaniel Hackett.The 59-year-old Payton is still under contract with the Saints. Arizona and Houston would need to compensate New Orleans if one of them hires the 2006 Coach of the Year. Under NFL rules, no team can conduct an in-person interview with him until at least Jan. 17.Payton stepped down as the Saints' head coach after 16 seasons following the 2021 campaign. One of football's brightest offensive minds, he posted a 152-89 regular-season record with New Orleans between 2006-21, helping the club win Super Bowl XLIV.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has been released from a Buffalo hospital and is headed home, the team announced Wednesday.Hamlin arrived in Buffalo on Monday after being discharged from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He underwent a series of cardiac, neurological, and vascular testing on Tuesday before being released."We have completed a series of tests and evaluations, and in consultation with the team physicians, we are confident that Damar can be safely discharged to continue his rehabilitation at home and with the Bills," Jamie Nadler, chief quality officer at Kaleida Health, said in a statement released by the team.This comes nine days after Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on Monday Night Football against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin had his heartbeat restored on the field and was transported to a Cincinnati hospital that night.Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said the team will leave it up to Hamlin when he wants to return to the Bills' facility."His health is first and foremost on our mind as far as this situation," McDermott said Wednesday, according to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. "And then when he feels ready, we will welcome him back."The 24-year-old Hamlin was a sixth-round pick of the Bills in 2021. He had 91 tackles and one forced fumble this season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson faces an "uphill battle" to play in the wild-card round against the Cincinnati Bengals due to his PCL sprain, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Jackson is rehabbing and doing his best to get on the field, but the knee doesn't feel quite right, according to Rapoport. If Jackson can't go, Tyler Huntley will likely start.The former MVP hasn't practiced since sustaining the injury, including sitting out Wednesday's session, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and Jamison Hensley.The 26-year-old Jackson missed the final five games of the season due to the injury. He hasn't suited up since Dec. 4.Head coach John Harbaugh said Friday that he was hopeful Jackson would be cleared for the start of the playoffs.Meanwhile, Huntley didn't throw a pass during the media viewing portion of Wednesday's practice due to tendinitis in his right shoulder, per Schefter and Hensley.Huntley has played in five games this season, totaling 795 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. He first filled in when Jackson went down in the Ravens' Week 13 contest against the Denver Broncos. Baltimore is 2-2 in games Huntley has started this season.Jackson is slated to be a free agent at the end of the season. He has 3,006 total yards with 20 touchdowns and 10 turnovers in 12 games this season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

If familiarity breeds contempt, we're going to have some ornery teams in Wild Card Weekend, as all six games are rematches from the regular season. The NFC provides three different types of rematches: a third meeting between division rivals, a rematch between teams that met recently, and a return meeting between two teams that played so long ago it's hard to remember it even happened.See also: Where does value lie in the AFC?We have a season's worth of data, making every spread and total tight as a drum; within hours of Sunday's soft openers, the lines were bet into their appropriate place.Seahawks @ 49ers (-9.5, 42.5)In Week 2, the Seahawks were coming off their big win over Russell Wilson and the Broncos on Monday night, while the Trey Lance-led 49ers had lost 19-10 to the Bears. The 49ers closed at -8.5 at home, gave up just 219 yards and no offensive touchdowns, and beat Seattle convincingly. Then San Francisco closed at -3 in Seattle in mid-December - a 5.5-point change due to home-field flipping and a marginal upgrade to the Seahawks, which were having a better season than expected.Now flipping back to Levi's Stadium, there's an implication in the line that the 49ers are better than they were perceived to be on Dec. 15. I attribute that to Brock Purdy proving himself repeatedly since then, including that first road start on a short week. Again, Seattle wasn't able to crack 300 total yards on offense. It took Geno Smith and the Seahawks over 116 minutes to score a touchdown against the 49ers' defense over the course of two meetings.Defensively, the Seahawks held the Rams to 269 yards in last week's must-win game - their first contest without leading tackler Jordyn Brooks. Going to San Francisco will be a different challenge, given the 49ers have scored 37 (vs. Commanders), 37 (vs. Raiders), and 38 (vs. Cardinals) to close out the season. Even a healthy Hawks defense is worse than those opponents in rushing yards per carry, and San Francisco's offense starts with success on the ground.Pick: 49ers -9.5Giants @ Vikings (-3, 48.5)The Vikings closed at -4.5 at home to the Giants on Christmas Eve and failed to cover in a 27-24 win. That game came amid four straight non-covers for the Vikings - a streak snapped when the Bears rolled over for Minnesota in Week 18. Meanwhile, the Giants finished the season covering four straight to take the mythical "against the spread" title, going 13-4 ATS this season.This matchup, between a team that always seems to cover versus one that looks bad even when they do, should lead to a line adjustment just a few weeks later, but what should bettors do about it for one game? It's tricky, especially given that it's not just a point-and-a-half line move, it's a move onto the key number of three - which would have registered a push the first time around.The issue for the Vikings is getting a stop when they need one, or at all. Daniel Jones had just two games where he threw for more than 228 yards, and one of them was a 334-yard performance in Minnesota. That's in line with a Vikings defense that's third-worst in yards per pass attempt.The Giants lost the turnover battle with a minus-2 margin, and the Vikings converted three of four trips in the red zone, while New York had just one of two conversions on their trips inside Minnesota's 20-yard line. But the Vikings still needed a 61-yard field goal to win.Pick: Giants +3 (+100)Cowboys @ Buccaneers (+2.5, 45.5)The Buccaneers started the season by tormenting the Cowboys' offense in Dallas on the way to a 19-3 win. The market continued to buy into Tampa for way longer than it should have - which is why the Bucs finished with the worst record in the league ATS. It took the betting market about 16 weeks to figure out that the Bucs are merely average this season, finally setting a line they could cover - as 3.5-point favorites at home to the Panthers in Week 17.Dak Prescott was hurt late in Week 1, and that started a sell-run on Dallas. Since Prescott's returned, though, the Cowboys have gotten more credit in the market than they deserve - like the Bucs for much of the year. The difference, based on the Cowboys opening as road favorites, is that the market hasn't figured out Dallas's mediocrity in the way it finally did with Tampa.The Cowboys excel in the red zone on both sides of the ball, and their defense totals enough takeaways to offset Prescott's league-high 15 interceptions in just 12 games. However, Tom Brady isn't as easy to take the ball from as some of Dallas' other opposing quarterbacks, like Carson Wentz, Matthew Stafford, Jared Goff, Matt Ryan, Davis Mills, Trevor Lawrence, Gardner Minshew, and Joshua Dobbs. The Bucs' pass protection is a concern, but if they can get Ryan Jensen back at center as expected, Tampa's offense can have success against a Cowboys defense that's struggled in the latter half of the season.Last season, the Rams thought they had vanquished Brady numerous times, but the GOAT single-handedly kept Tampa close, and I expect him to do the same here if not win the game outright in an unfamiliar role as a home underdog, which allows us to tease them up with the best teaser leg on the AFC side.Pick: Buccaneers +8.5 (Teaser leg No. 2)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.

Like the NFC, the AFC half of Wild Card Weekend has three rematches from the regular season. However, there's very little to take away from the previous matchups because of various quarterback injuries from either the past or upcoming games.See also: Where does value lie in the NFC?We'd expect the spreads and totals to be bet into place shortly after Sunday's openers but, with a pair of questionable QB situations, there's room for movement as news comes down about who starts do-or-die games.Chargers @ Jaguars (+1, 47.5)In Week 3, the Jaguars walked into SoFi Stadium and crushed the Chargers by four touchdowns. In what might be a hint of things to come, Justin Herbert played despite an injury to his ribs that drastically hindered him. Herbert's on-target throw percentage was roughly half of what it had been in Weeks 1, 2, and 4. The Chargers then refused to follow common strategy in Week 18 that would have suggested resting Herbert, Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler, Joey Bosa, and Derwin James. Four of these players have missed time this season, and two left Week 18 with a nagging injury.Even the most ardent Brandon Staley defenders have jumped off that bandwagon, which might be why the Jaguars took money instantly Sunday when the Chargers opened 2.5-point favorites. How quickly we forget that there was real concern for much of Saturday night's game that Jacksonville would lose at home to the Titans who were starting a quarterback that joined just two weeks prior.For all of Herbert's inaccuracy in the teams' earlier meeting, yards per play were even at 5.5 to 5.4. The Chargers continue to be willing to give up yards on the ground, while the Jaguars' defense has shown perhaps even more improvement than Trevor Lawrence through the latter half of the season.With the Jaguars holding up well against opposing rushers, the Chargers' offense will rest on Herbert's arm. Meanwhile, we saw Lawrence fight bouts of inaccuracy in last Saturday's big prime-time game, so Travis Etienne should get more carries than usual because of the matchup. In both cases, we might see less scoring than we'd expect from a pair of quarterbacks who will get top-billing.Pick: Under 48 (-120 or better)Dolphins @ Bills (-13, 43.5)The Dolphins and Bills have together partaken in two of the stranger games of 2022. The first, in Miami, the Dolphins narrowly won despite being outgained by 285 yards on 51 more Bills plays. The second was a shootout in freezing cold and eventually snowy conditions that Buffalo won by a field goal.The obvious issue in handicapping this game is figuring out which Miami QB will start. The Bills were favored by seven in their Week 14 game, so with Tua Tagovailoa ruled out Wednesday, we never saw a line close to that, even after a brief line dip to Buffalo -9 when it was thought Tagovailoa might be available. Now, the starting job is between Teddy Bridgewater and Skylar Thompson, and we're nearing a two-touchdown spread.With all these moving pieces and uncertainty, we'll pinpoint a total. The Dolphins averaged 7.1 yards per play in Buffalo with just 234 yards passing from Tagovailoa. The Bills' run defense isn't trustworthy right now - an issue that's plagued them in past seasons. Even if Raheem Mostert isn't available for Miami, Jeff Wilson and Salvon Ahmed can replace most of his production, forcing Buffalo to push its scoring.Buffalo was largely bailed out by a pair of kick-return scores last week, but the offense should be able to move the ball against the Dolphins given that they've done so in each of the previous meetings, with Josh Allen throwing over 100 times without an interception. They would be best served to spread out Miami.The total mirrors the number for that cold night in Buffalo when the weather couldn't stop either team. There's obvious concern that the Dolphins won't score 20 points without Tagovailoa, so we'll pass over the full total and rely on just the Bills since they can get to 28 points regardless of who starts at QB for the other side.Pick: Bills' team total over 27.5 points (-120)Ravens @ Bengals (-7, 43.5)Where is Lamar Jackson? This point spread moving up to - and potentially through - a converted touchdown, suggests we're increasingly unlikely to see him on the field Sunday night. If there was optimism for Jackson, we'd see a line closer to Bengals -4 if not shorter.Tyler Huntley was rested last week on the chance he'd be starting this one. Covering for Jackson this year, Huntley has three touchdowns, three interceptions, and three fumbles, averaging a full yard less per pass attempt and half the yards per carry as Jackson.It's out of respect for John Harbaugh and the Ravens' ability to get by when they're the less talented team that I don't want to ask anyone to beat Baltimore by two scores. However, there's room to maneuver in using the Bengals as the first leg of a two-team, six-point teaser, as it would be viable even if the line goes up to -8.5 with confirmation of Huntley getting the call.Pick: Bengals -1 (Teaser leg No. 1)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.

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel ruled out quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for Sunday's wild-card game against the Buffalo Bills, according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe.McDaniel said Wednesday that Tagovailoa still hasn't been cleared to resume football activities. The signal-caller entered concussion protocol Dec. 26 after suffering a concussion against the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 25.McDaniel also said Teddy Bridgewater won't be able to practice much, if at all, this week, per Wolfe. The plan is for Skylar Thompson to start the game, while Bridgewater would be used on an as-needed basis.Thompson has made seven appearances, including two starts, due to injuries to Tagovailoa and Bridgewater. The 2022 seventh-rounder has completed 57.1% of his passes for 534 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.Miami and Buffalo split their regular-season matchups this season. The Dolphins won 21-19 in Week 2, while the Bills prevailed 32-29 in Week 15.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors.1. San Francisco 49ers (13-4) Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt may seem odd to have a team led by seventh-round rookie Brock Purdy sitting in the top spot heading into the playoffs, but the 49ers are just that good. Outside of the quarterback position, this is the best roster in football. And San Francisco has maintained its success no matter who's under center, with Purdy and Jimmy Garoppolo each seeing five starts amid a 10-game winning streak to close out the regular season. Forget the seeding - this is the team to beat in the NFC.2. Cincinnati Bengals (12-4)Riding an eight-game winning streak, Cincy is the AFC's hottest team right now. This Bengals squad looks more dangerous and competitive than the team that stunned the NFL and reached the Super Bowl last season. Maybe it's because Joe Burrow - who set a franchise single-season record with 35 touchdown passes - has been playing the best football of his career.3. Buffalo Bills (13-3)You don't want to face the Bills. Granted, Buffalo has turned the ball over six times in its last two games. But few teams can keep up with the Bills when it comes to scoring. As if stopping the Josh Allen-led offense wasn't hard enough, Buffalo put on a show on special teams in Week 18 with Nyheim Hines scoring two kickoff-return touchdowns. After last season's heartbreaking divisional-round loss to the Chiefs, the Bills head into the playoffs as football's No. 2-ranked offense and defense.4. Kansas City Chiefs (14-3)Not only do the Chiefs roster Patrick Mahomes - who's expected to win his second regular-season MVP - and football's best offensive play-caller in Andy Reid, but they also finished the season as the AFC's No. 1 seed. With an extra week to rest and prepare for its divisional-round contest, a fifth straight AFC title game appearance seems inevitable for Kansas City.5. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / GettyThe Eagles were football's best team for much of the regular season. However, with Jalen Hurts still nursing a shoulder injury, it's fair to wonder whether their playoff potential has taken a hit. The star quarterback clearly wasn't at full strength as Philly had to sweat out a win over the Giants' backups in the regular-season finale. If the bye week can help Hurts get back to the level we saw earlier in the season, the Eagles are a Super Bowl favorite. If not, they could be in for a major letdown.6. Dallas Cowboys (12-5)Finishing the regular season with a loss to the Commanders, despite playing their starters in the meaningless finale, isn't exactly how the Cowboys wanted to go into the playoffs. Naturally, this will only exacerbate concerns that they're once again primed to disappoint. But don't be too quick to overlook everything else this team has shown us this season. Dallas has a real chance to make a Super Bowl run.7. Baltimore Ravens (10-7)It's all about Lamar Jackson. Without the former MVP, Baltimore arguably isn't a playoff team. However, Jackson - who reportedly could return for the team's wild-card matchup against Cincinnati after a five-game absence due to a knee injury - makes the Ravens a threat in the AFC. With Jackson in the lineup, Baltimore edged Cincy in the teams' first meeting in Week 5.8. Minnesota Vikings (13-4)The Vikings have their work cut out for them, as this 13-win team somehow enters the postseason with a negative point differential. That kind of overachieving typically leads to playoff disappointment. That's not to say there isn't any hope, though. Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook lead a supremely talented group of playmakers that give Minnesota the ability to hang with anyone in a shootout.9. Los Angeles Chargers (10-7)Despite playing their starters for almost three full quarters, the Chargers couldn't beat the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Los Angeles' ceiling is as high as any other team's in the postseason, and the club's defensive performances down the stretch were very encouraging, but its lack of consistency and preparation remains an issue.10. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8) Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyIt was good seeing the Jaguars win a crucial game thanks to their defense - not the offense - to clinch the AFC South title. With Trevor Lawrence enjoying a breakout campaign in his sophomore season, Jacksonville could win at least one playoff game if its defense carries its momentum into the wild-card round.11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)This is a severely flawed Bucs team. The safe bet, if regular-season performance is any indication, is that Tampa Bay will be headed for an early exit. But are we really going to write off Tom Brady that easily? The future Hall of Famer once again came through when his team needed it most down the stretch, with a masterful performance against the Panthers securing the division title for the Bucs. Who's to say he can't keep the magic going in the playoffs?12. New York Giants (9-7-1)Brian Daboll has done a masterful job getting the Giants to this point. A lack of star power limits their playoff ceiling - it's tough to imagine them advancing against a few powerhouse teams - but who knows? The football world has spent the whole year doubting them, and they just keep proving us wrong. The Vikings are going to have their hands full.13. Seattle Seahawks (9-8)Another team that nobody expected to be here, Seattle has to be thrilled with its season no matter how the playoffs turn out. This is Pete Carroll's most impressive work as a head coach. The Seahawks will be a massive underdog against the juggernaut 49ers, but they're not going to go out without a fight. Could the scrappy nature of this team, and some divisional familiarity, make for a more competitive game than we might expect?14. Miami Dolphins (9-8)Based on what we saw from the Dolphins midway through the season, it feels right to see them in the playoffs. However, Miami hasn't scored more than 21 points in each of its last three games and won't sniff a chance against the Bills if the team doesn't fix its offensive issues. The potential return of Tua Tagovailoa, who was sidelined in the last two games due to a concussion, would be huge for the Dolphins.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Arizona Cardinals plan to trade former All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins this offseason, sources tell Jordan Schultz, theScore's NFL insider.Hopkins has two years and $34.36 million left on his contract but will likely seek a new deal, according to Schultz.Owner Michael Bidwill plans to express the idea of moving Hopkins to general manager candidates, adds Schultz.Hopkins' contract holds a no-trade clause, and he'd have to approve any deal.The 30-year-old is set to earn $19.45 million in base salary and carries a $30.75-million cap hit for the 2023 season, per Spotrac.The five-time Pro-Bowler missed the campaign's first six games due to suspension. The Cardinals ruled him out of the regular season's final two contests with a knee injury.The three-time All-Pro receiver has played in 19 of 34 games over the last two years.Hopkins has recorded 221 receptions, 2,696 yards, and 17 touchdowns over three seasons in Arizona.He led the Cardinals with 717 receiving yards this campaign while adding three scores in just nine games.The Houston Texans dealt Hopkins to Arizona in March 2020 after he established himself as one of the premier receivers over his first seven NFL seasons.The Cardinals reportedly received inquiries about Hopkins' availability prior to the league's trade deadline, but the club wouldn't part with its star pass-catcher.Arizona is amid significant change after the club fired head coach Kliff Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim stepped down Monday.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Commanders announced Tuesday that they parted ways with offensive coordinator Scott Turner.Washington ranked 20th in offensive yards per game (330.3) and 24th in points per game (18.9) this season as the club stumbled to an 8-8-1 record.Quarterbacks Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke showed a few flashes under Turner, but neither played well enough to hang onto the No. 1 job. Rookie Sam Howell started the team's Week 18 win over the Dallas Cowboys after the Commanders were eliminated from playoff contention.Turner joined the Commanders in 2020 after two seasons as the Carolina Panthers' quarterbacks coach. The 40-year-old has also spent time with the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes said Tuesday he's committed to quarterback Jared Goff in 2023."It's a lot easier to get worse at QB than to get better at QB," Holmes said about his quarterback plans for the Lions, who own the sixth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft from the Los Angeles Rams, according to Eric Woodyard of ESPN."I do think that Jared has proven that he's the best quarterback for us."Holmes joined Detroit in January 2021 and, in his first major move with the franchise, traded longtime quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Rams for a package that included draft picks and Goff.Many around the NFL originally assumed Goff wasn't Detroit's long-term plan under center as the team started to rebuild following the Stafford trade, but Holmes always believed in the signal-caller."I never deemed him as a bridge. I think everybody else did, but I think it was a little bit of recency bias," Holmes said, according to Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News."I was always confident in him because I've been with him from the get-go," the 43-year-old added, per Brad Galli of WXYZ Detroit.Goff - the first overall pick in 2016 - posted one of the best seasons of his career in 2022. The 28-year-old completed 65.1% of his passes for 4,438 yards and 29 touchdowns through 17 games, up from 3,245 yards and 19 TD passes in 14 appearances a year ago. After going 3-10-1 as a starter in 2021, Goff helped the Lions post a 9-8 record this season.Overall, Detroit went from having the 25th-ranked scoring offense in 2021 to boasting the fifth-best unit in the league this campaign.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers designated left tackle Rashawn Slater to return from injured reserve, head coach Brandon Staley announced Tuesday.Slater - who was thought to be lost for the season after rupturing his biceps tendon in September - won't play in Saturday's wild-card game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.However, Slater's 21-day window to begin practicing is now open, and Staley said he expects him to take part in this week's sessions.The No. 13 pick in the 2021 draft made the Pro Bowl and was named a second-team All-Pro in his rookie season.His return would be a major boost for the Chargers' hopes of making a postseason run.Rookie sixth-round pick Jamaree Salyer started at left tackle over the last 14 games of the season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It doesn't sound like an NFL coaching job is in Deion Sanders' future.In an interview with Donovan X. Ramsey of GQ, the Pro Football Hall of Famer and new Colorado head coach revealed he has no interest in taking his talents to the NFL."I just have no desire to coach rich men," Sanders said. "I'd rather have an impact on a younger man that needs direction."While Sanders doesn't wish to become an NFL coach, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, whose team Sanders played for from 1995-99, believes he would fare well at the professional level."Deion is very capable of being a head coach in the National Football League," Jones said in December, according to Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "You couldn't be talking to anybody that knows him any better than I do."Sanders was hired by Colorado last month after three seasons at Jackson State, where he compiled a 27-6 record and back-to-back SWAC titles. He spent nearly a decade coaching at the high school level before joining Jackson State.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens have agreed in principle to a five-year, $100-million contract extension with Roquan Smith, making him the highest-paid off-ball linebacker in NFL history, Saint Omni - a non-NFLPA-certified agent who represents Smith - told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Smith, who represented himself in the negotiations, will make $60 million in total guarantees as part of the new deal, according to Rapoport. Non-NFLPA-certified agents are prohibited from negotiating player contracts.

General manager Chris Ballard said Tuesday that he'll lead the Indianapolis Colts' head coaching search but owner Jim Irsay "will make the final call," according to team reporter JJ Stankevitz.Ballard confirmed interim head coach Jeff Saturday is among the candidates for the full-time role."He's smart. He's a good teammate. And he's a leader," said Ballard. "Those things are real."Asked about Saturday's 1-7 record, which included seven straight losses to end the season, Ballard said the former center faced an uphill battle after replacing Frank Reich halfway through the campaign."We put him in a tough spot. I'm not judging him by that," Ballard said. "The things I did like, he stayed positive, he kept working, held the team accountable, wasn't afraid to hold players accountable."Saturday vowed earlier in the week that there would be "significant change" in Indianapolis if he earns the job.The AFC South club is also reportedly set to interview Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, and Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen.The Colts also requested to speak to Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.Indianapolis was widely expected to challenge for a playoff spot this season after going 9-8 in 2021 and replacing Carson Wentz with Matt Ryan.But the team limped to a 4-12-1 record and became the victim of the biggest comeback victory in NFL history when the Minnesota Vikings erased a 33-0 deficit Dec. 18."Look, I failed. I'm not going to sit up here and make excuses," Ballard said. "I failed a lot of people. Highly disappointed about where we're at, how the season went."With Ryan seemingly unlikely to return and Sam Ehlinger and Nick Foles failing to impress, the Colts are expected to target a quarterback early in the 2023 draft. They currently own the No. 4 pick.Ballard said he's prepared to be aggressive and trade up for a quarterback he's convinced of while also acknowledging the significance of anointing a player the new face of the franchise."We gotta be right," he said. "We understand the magnitude of where we're at in the draft, and we understand the importance of the position. To get one that you can win with and be right is the most important thing."The Colts have a 45-52-1 record and two playoff appearances in six seasons under Ballard.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.Follow the links below to get an early look at his 2023 rankings. Rookies, PPR, and standard rankings will be added in future updates.Half PPR

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said head coach Mike McCarthy's job won't be in jeopardy, no matter the outcome of Monday's wild-card game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."No. That's it," Jones said told 105.3 The Fan when asked Tuesday whether a loss to the Bucs could impact McCarthy's status. "I don't need to go into all the pluses or minuses, but I've got a lot more to evaluate Mike McCarthy on than this playoff game."The Cowboys have seen key starters battling injuries throughout the season, but McCarthy still helped them post a 12-5 record. In doing so, he became the team's first head coach since 1994-95 to post consecutive 12-win campaigns. The 59-year-old, who's 30-20 as Cowboys coach, has two years left on his contract."I can't tell you how much confidence I've got in Mike and our coaching staff," Jones said, adding: "They've got every nuance. They understand every frailty that we might have or we might have shown Sunday night (in a 26-6 loss to the Washington Commanders). They've got everything in their grasp and in their understanding, and I have complete confidence in this coaching staff."Dallas heads into the postseason under a lot of pressure due to its recent playoff history. The Cowboys, who lost at home to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round last year, haven't advanced past the divisional round since the 1995 season.Tom Brady has never lost to the Cowboys in seven all-time meetings, but Jones doesn't want to make Monday's matchup only about the legendary quarterback."When you really think about it, we're not playing Brady. ... We're playing Tampa Bay, the team," Jones said. "And it's conceivable that we could make Brady not play well and get our tails beat by the rest of the team. And I'm not trying to be cute. ... This Brady thing has got to be sensitive. I know it's there and I respect that - gives us a challenge to do something we haven't done before, and that's beat Tom Brady."Tampa Bay topped Dallas 19-3 in the season opener in September. The Cowboys finished that game with Cooper Rush at quarterback after Dak Prescott went down with a thumb injury that sidelined him for five weeks.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles said Tuesday that he'd have to be "absolutely blown away" to take a quarterback with the first overall selection.Justin Fields, selected 11th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft by former GM Ryan Pace, was Chicago's starter this year when healthy."Yeah, we had good conversations," Poles said when asked if Fields will continue to be the starter. "I'm excited for the direction he's going. He knows where he needs to improve."The Bears earned the No. 1 pick after they lost to the Minnesota Vikings and the Houston Texans beat the Indianapolis Colts in Week 18, securing Chicago's league-worst record.Alabama's Bryce Young, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, Kentucky's Will Levis, and Florida's Anthony Richardson are considered the top QB prospects in this year's draft. If the Bears elect to continue with Fields as their starter, then defenders Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) and Jalen Carter (Georgia) could be in play for the first overall pick. Chicago could also trade the top selection to a QB-needy team.In 25 starts, Fields has a 5-20 record, 4,112 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions. The 23-year-old is a major threat with his legs, accumulating 1,563 rushing yards and 10 scores on the ground. His 1,143 rushing yards in 2022 are the second-most all time by a QB in a single season, trailing only Lamar Jackson's 1,206 from his 2019 MVP campaign.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tom Brady believes Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers should be given as much time as he needs to decide whether to return to the NFL for another season.Brady weighed in on Rodgers' future on Monday's episode of his "Let's Go!" podcast and stressed the importance of patience, noting that he rushed his own retirement decision last year."I think the important thing is the day after the season, and I made this mistake, is not to decide the future," the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback said. "I think there's such an urgency now to, 'Who's gonna retire first?' and 'Who's this' and 'Who's that.'"Aaron, in my belief, is spectacular. He can obviously continue to play and he has all the ability in the world to do that. There's a lot of other things that come into play and he'll make that decision when it's right for him, and everyone should give him the time and space to do it."Rodgers brought up the possibility of retirement Sunday after the Packers were eliminated from playoff contention, telling reporters "it could be time to step away."Brady, who briefly retired last offseason before returning to the Bucs, also has question marks surrounding his future. The 45-year-old is set to become a free agent in March and is reportedly considering all options for next season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter declared for the 2023 NFL Draft hours after his team earned a second straight national championship with a blowout win over TCU on Monday.Carter is widely projected to be a top-five pick in April and is a contender to go first overall to the Chicago Bears. If he does, it will be back-to-back No. 1 picks for Georgia after the Jacksonville Jaguars took pass-rusher Travon Walker in 2022.

With the NFL's 2022 campaign officially coming to a close, many of the league's best players and coaches put together a convincing closing argument in their cases for the top individual awards over the final stretch of the season.Here's a look at the five best candidates for each major honor:Coach of the Year5. Pete Carroll, Seahawks Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt wasn't supposed to go like this. The Seahawks traded franchise passer Russell Wilson, let go of defensive leader Bobby Wagner, and left the quarterback position up to Geno Smith or Drew Lock. The thought of a postseason berth appeared more delusional than realistic. Yet somehow Carroll gave the NFL a brash reminder of why he's one of the best in the business after leading Seattle to a wild-card berth with the almost-forgotten Smith leading the charge.4. Brian Daboll, GiantsThe Giants have been excluded from the postseason ever since their infamous boat picture during the 2016 season. However, Daboll has steered the ship back in the right direction by securing a playoff berth in his first season at the helm. While Daboll has arguably not had a star-studded roster at his disposal, he's managed to extract a career year from Saquon Barkley and, even more impressively, he got Daniel Jones to play like a winning quarterback for the first time in his NFL career.3. Kyle Shanahan, 49ersInjuries have seemed to be a constant part of the 49ers in recent years. However, 2022 hit them with extra cruelty as they lost not only opening-day starting quarterback Trey Lance, but also his backup and longtime starter Jimmy Garoppolo. While this would be a death sentence for most, Shanahan made it work with seventh-round rookie signal-caller Brock Purdy and the NFL's stingiest defense. Despite their battle wounds, Shanahan has the 49ers thinking of championship aspirations once again.2. Doug Pederson, JaguarsPederson was brought into Jacksonville to unlock Trevor Lawrence's potential and gradually turn the Jaguars into a competitor again. Pederson has done both in record time as Lawrence displayed the ability that made him a generational prospect, and the Jaguars snuck into the postseason after winning six of their last seven games. Urban Meyer may have left Jacksonville in shambles, but Pederson led a world-class cleanup effort that's reversed the club's fortunes faster than anyone could have expected.1. Nick Sirianni, Eagles Tim Nwachukwu / Getty Images Sport / GettySirianni's body of work for 2022 wasn't technically perfect, but it was about as close as you can get to perfection. In just his second season in charge, Sirianni has gotten the Eagles home-field advantage in the playoffs after a 14-3 record. That's not all - he also had Jalen Hurts providing MVP-caliber play before a late-season injury. There have been some exceptional NFL coaching jobs this season, but none can hold a candle to what Sirianni has accomplished in Philly.Defensive Rookie of the Year5. Jaquan Brisker, BearsThere haven't been many bright spots for the Bears this season, but they've appeared to find a long-term contributor in their secondary with Brisker. The second-round pick has flashed as a tough, downhill safety in his first year in the big leagues. Despite being a defensive back, Brisker led the Bears in sacks with four while his 104 tackles rank second on the team.4. Kayvon Thibodeaux, GiantsThe 2022 fifth overall pick ascended into the Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation as a late bloomer. Three of Thibodeaux's four sacks have come over his last five games, plus he's added six tackles for a loss and one forced fumble in that span. It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Giants pass-rusher fighting for some more prestigious NFL defensive awards in the coming years.3. Tariq Woolen, SeahawksWhen it's all said and done, the Seahawks may have turned a fifth-round pick into one of the league's most ball-hungry cornerbacks. Exceeding expectations doesn't do Woolen's play justice; he's done victory laps over his 2022 projections. Not only are his six interceptions the most among all first-year players, and a new Seahawks rookie record, but they're also tied for most in the league.2. Aidan Hutchinson, Lions Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / GettyA lot of credit should be passed around for the Lions' turnaround, and Hutchinson deserves his fair share. The No. 2 overall pick is first among all rookies in sacks with 9.5, but he's proven to be a magnet for game-changing plays with his three interceptions as well.1. Ahmad Gardner, JetsIt's hard to tell that Gardner is still just in his first NFL season when you watch him on the field. That's what makes him a shoo-in for the top rookie defensive honor. The top-five pick has locked down some of the league's premier receivers throughout the campaign, racking up two interceptions and a league-leading 20 pass defenses. He's also PFF's highest-graded cornerback, finishing ahead of the likes of Jalen Ramsey and Patrick Surtain.Offensive Rookie of the Year5. Chris Olave, SaintsThe Saints were supposed to feature a three-headed beast at wide receiver with Olave, Michael Thomas, and Jarvis Landry. Instead, it's been a one-man show with the rookie carrying the workload thanks to injuries to Thomas and Landry. Olave has been a trustworthy security blanket for a New Orleans team that's struggled to find an offensive identity, as he's racked up 1,042 yards and three 100-yard games.4. Kenny Pickett, SteelersOne look at the stat sheet won't have you walking away thinking Pickett is a credible Rookie of the Year contender, but his poise in do-or-die moments kept the Steelers in the playoff race right until the very end. Since Pittsburgh returned from its bye in Week 10, the Pitt product has orchestrated four game-winning drives, including memorable ones against the Raiders and Ravens.3. Brock Purdy, 49ers Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / GettyThere's magic in the air in the Bay Area, and it's because of a rookie quarterback who's turning heads each week. Purdy, taken with the last pick of the 2022 draft, has become anything but irrelevant to the 49ers' title hopes. The signal-caller has thrown at least two touchdown passes in each game since taking over while also becoming the third rookie quarterback to win their first five starts. While the 49ers' defense is still the team's strong point, Purdy has been stealing the show as a great secondary act.2. Garrett Wilson, JetsIf Wilson had better quarterback play this season, there's a strong possibility he'd take the top spot on our rankings. But even after having to catch passes from the likes of Mike White, Zach Wilson, Joe Flacco, and Chris Streveler, the rookie still managed to put up monster numbers - a testament to his talent. Wilson broke the 1,000-yard barrier with a game to spare before finishing the year with 1,103 yards.1. Kenneth Walker, SeahawksOffensive Rookie of the Year has been Walker's award to lose for the majority of the second half of the season. The Seahawks running back led all rookies in rushing yards (1,050) and touchdowns (9). His consistency is perhaps the biggest trait to admire as he's averaged over four yards per carry in eight of his 15 contests this season.Defensive Player of the Year5. Chris Jones, ChiefsAfter a slow start to the season, there wasn't a better defensive player over the last 12 weeks than Jones. Since Week 6, no one recorded more sacks than Jones' 13.5 over the final 12 games. He was even more impressive in the final month of play, recording 4.5 sacks and 11 quarterback hits over the Chiefs' last three contests. In total, his 15.5 sacks in 2022 evened a personal best and were tied for fourth most in the NFL.4. Haason Reddick, Eagles Mitchell Leff / Getty Images Sport / GettyIt's time for the world to stop ignoring Reddick. Perhaps the best value free-agent signing of the offseason, Reddick's play has paid dividends for the Eagles. The versatile linebacker has displayed a nose for the football with a league-leading five forced fumbles and 16 sacks, tied for second most in the NFL. In any other season, there's a good chance that Reddick's numbers would be enough to take home the DPOY honor.3. Micah Parsons, CowboysThe DPOY trophy will likely evade Parsons for another season after he came down to earth during the season's final stretch. The 23-year-old only mustered 1.5 sacks over his final six games, but he still ended the campaign with a career-high 13.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and a defensive touchdown. While the Cowboys' defense has earned massive praise around the league, there's no doubt that Parsons has been the biggest star in Dallas.2. Myles Garrett, BrownsGarrett was nearly unblockable over the closing stretch of the season, recording six sacks over his final five games. His season total of 16 sacks matched a career high, while no other player on the Browns even reached more than three. While some other candidates on our rankings played on some impressive defenses, Cleveland's defensive performances were directly tied to Garrett's production.1. Nick Bosa, 49ersSelecting the 2022 DPOY will likely be the easiest decision voters make all year. It's just impossible to construct an argument that could take the trophy away from Bosa, who's had a season that outpaces the field. The 49ers pass-rusher led the NFL in sacks with 18.5 despite missing one game. His league-leading 48 quarterback hits are also 13 more than his next closest competitor, while his 19 tackles for a loss are tied for second most in the NFL. If that doesn't seal the deal, there were only three games this season in which Bosa failed to record a sack and only one contest where he couldn't register a single quarterback hit.Most Valuable Player5. Justin Jefferson, Vikings Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / GettyIf there was any non-quarterback who deserved to be in consideration for the NFL's most prestigious individual award, Jefferson has to be the pick. While he fell short of the 2,000-yard benchmark after a pedestrian final two weeks of the season, his 1,809-yard campaign and 10 100-yard-plus games still led the NFL. Whether it was the monster games or highlight-reel catches, no non-QB took the league by storm like the Vikings wideout.4. Josh Allen, BillsIt's been another season of excellence for the Bills quarterback. With 4,000-plus yards and 35 touchdowns, as well as 762 yards and seven more scores on the ground, Allen initially had the Bills slated for the AFC's No. 1 seed. Boosting his resume for MVP includes a memorable victory against the Chiefs and Mahomes, another candidate for the top individual award. With the Wyoming product under center, the Bills haven't lost a game since Nov. 13.3. Jalen Hurts, EaglesHurts' 2022 season is a reminder that life can often be cruel. The Eagles signal-caller appeared to be cruising to his first-ever MVP accolade before a shoulder injury forced him to miss two games late in the season. Despite the lost momentum, Hurts still holds a 14-1 record as a starter in 2022 with career bests in completion percentage (66.5%), passing yards (3,701), passing touchdowns (22), and rushing scores (13). While he may not be in play for MVP anymore, he could make it a forgotten point if he can lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl.2. Joe Burrow, BengalsHe's doing it once again. With ice in his veins and natural swagger in his walk, Burrow has led the Bengals back into the mix for another Super Bowl appearance. For that, he's become a leading MVP candidate. Winners of eight in a row, Cincinnati has been carried by its star quarterback, who has had to do it without Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Mixon for stretches due to injury absences. His play over the eight-game win streak is what's elevated him near the top of our rankings as he's thrown 18 touchdowns to just six interceptions while also compiling a 99.6 passer rating.1. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs Jeff Bottari / Getty Images Sport / GettyPerhaps the one objective truth about the 2022 NFL season is that there was no better player in the NFL than Mahomes. Though many have likely become desensitized to the superstar's ability, it shouldn't take away from what he's been able to accomplish in a Chiefs offense that was briefly questioned following the offseason loss of Tyreek Hill. Mahomes' numbers this season are his best since his first MVP campaign in 2018, and for that reason, there should be no shock when he takes home his second MVP honor later this year. The 27-year-old threw for a whopping 5,250 yards, fourth most in NFL history, and also led the league with 41 touchdown passes.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Indianapolis Colts requested an interview with Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris for their head coaching job, a source told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.The Colts also sent in requests to talk to Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen also received an interview request, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.Morris has spent the last two seasons in charge of the Rams' defense. Los Angeles ranked 21st in points allowed this season after finishing 15th in 2021.The 46-year-old previously served as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-2011, posting a 17-31 record. He also served as interim head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in 2020, guiding the team to a 4-7 mark.Johnson has received notable attention after the Lions averaged 26.6 points per game in 2022, fifth most in the NFL. The former tight ends coach was promoted prior to the 2022 season. Glenn has spent the last two years as Detroit's defensive coordinator, though the team hasn't finished higher than 28th in points allowed during his tenure.The Colts named Jeff Saturday interim head coach after firing Frank Reich in November. Saturday, who'd never coached higher than the high school level, finished 1-7.Saturday stressed Monday that there'd be "significant change" if Indianapolis hires him on a full-time basis.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.