Fans have raised more than $7 million for Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin's charity toy drive after he suffered a cardiac arrest during Monday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals.The 24-year-old Hamlin's initial goal for the fundraiser, which he started in 2020, was to raise $2,500. The foundation had brought in just over $2,900 prior to Hamlin's collapse. More than 220,000 people have donated to the charity.New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, and Denver Broncos signal-caller Russell Wilson are among the top donors."As I embark on my journey to the NFL, I will never forget where I come from and I am committed to using my platform to positively impact the community that raised me," wrote Hamlin on the GoFundMe page."I created The Chasing M's Foundation as a vehicle that will allow me to deliver that impact, and the first program is the 2020 Community Toy Drive. This campaign gives you the opportunity to contribute to our first initiative and positively impact children who have been hardest hit by the pandemic."Hamlin is in critical condition after his heartbeat was restored on the field. He is currently sedated while undergoing additional testing at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.The defensive back was drafted in the sixth round in 2021 following a standout career at Pittsburgh.After playing sparingly as a rookie, Hamlin took on a key role this season following Micah Hyde's season-ending neck injury, starting 13 games and appearing in two more.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Derek Carr's time with the Las Vegas Raiders appears to be coming to an end, but wide receiver Davante Adams said Wednesday that he doesn't plan to follow his close friend out the door."Yeah, absolutely, I wouldn't have been here or ended up here, originally, probably if Derek wasn't here," Adams said, according to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez. "But that doesn't necessarily mean that I won't be here in the event that he's not here. That's my boy. Obviously, I've got his back through anything. I think I've made that more than clear at this point. I support him and I support everything that he has moving forward as well."But my dream was to play for this team before he was a Raider, and at this point I want to try to make this thing work and continue on doing what I'm doing here, myself get better and see the team grow and get better as well."The Raiders benched the veteran quarterback for the last two games of the season amid a disappointing first campaign under head coach Josh McDaniels, seemingly to avoid an injury that would put the club on the hook for $40 million in 2023.Las Vegas is reportedly expected to explore a trade for Carr, who has led the club for the last nine years, in the offseason.The Raiders turned to Jarrett Stidham for an overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He impressed in his first career start, throwing for 365 yards and three touchdowns against two interceptions.Adams, meanwhile, continued his standout campaign despite the change under center, breaking the Raiders' single-season receiving mark (Tim Brown's 1,408) with a 153-yard, two-touchdown day.While the star pass-catcher intends to stay in Las Vegas, he wants to be kept in the loop regarding the team's plans at quarterback."Me, Josh, Ziggs (general manager Dave Ziegler), we've all got a really good dynamic and it's something that I really appreciate, and I've mentioned it to them as well," Adams said. "They don't have to do anything - I'm not a part of the front office - but they know the reason why I came here."And a step like this is something that means a lot to me and my personal career and what I'm trying to chase as far as the ultimate pursuit, to get that ring. We've got a good understanding for one another and that helps this whole process."Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Joe Thomas, Dwight Freeney, and Darrelle Revis have been named finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility, headlining a list of 15 modern-era candidates.The Hall of Fame's selection process began with 129 nominees that were reduced to 28 semifinalists in November.Here's the full list of finalists:PlayerPositionYears ActiveTeamsJared AllenDE2004-15Chiefs/Vikings/Bears/PanthersWillie AndersonOT1996-2008Bengals/RavensRonde BarberCB1997-2012BuccaneersDwight FreeneyDE2002-17Colts/Chargers/Cardinals/Falcons/Lions/SeahawksDevin HesterKR/PR2006-16Bears/Falcons/Ravens/SeahawksTorry HoltWR1999-2009Rams/JaguarsAndre JohnsonWR2003-16Texans/Colts/TitansAlbert LewisCB1983-98Chiefs/RaidersDarrelle RevisCB2007-17Jets/Buccaneers/Patriots/ChiefsJoe ThomasOT2007-17BrownsZach ThomasLB1996-2008Dolphins/CowboysDeMarcus WareLB2005-16Cowboys/BroncosReggie WayneWR2001-14ColtsPatrick WillisLB2007-1449ersDarren WoodsonS1992-2003CowboysFreeney was a force on the Indianapolis Colts' defensive line for over a decade, helping lead them to a pair of Super Bowl appearances during his career. A menace for opposing quarterbacks, his 47 forced fumbles rank third all time, while his 125.5 sacks place 18th. Freeney was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a three-time first-team All-Pro selection.Revis is regarded as one of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history and was always counted on to shut down some of the game's best receivers. A seven-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time All-Pro, he recorded 29 interceptions in 11 seasons, primarily with the New York Jets.Thomas was a rock for the Cleveland Browns, crafting one of the greatest careers ever for an offensive lineman. A model of consistency on Browns teams that never made the playoffs during his career, Thomas lined up for a record 10,363 consecutive snaps before finally missing a play in his final season. He was named to eight All-Pro teams, including six first-team selections, and 10 Pro Bowls and is a member of the Browns Ring of Honor.The Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2023 will be announced on Feb. 9.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

You can't coach the teams for them. That's been a consistent theme this season, as we've seen seemingly more blown leads than ever before. The Panthers led the Buccaneers 14-0, but Tom Brady found Mike Evans on a basic go route not once but three times past C.J. Henderson.The Panthers collapsed, and a 50-50 game between the Cardinals and Falcons went the wrong way, so it was another 2-3 week even after a dramatic Steelers road win in the final minute versus the Ravens.If you thought last week was tricky, may I introduce you to Week 18 - the two wackiest words in football betting.How it worksWe parlay five underdogs we like against the spread in 10 different three-team parlays. Using every combination of a three-team parlay is called a round robin. We'll use a total of 1.1 units to make 11 different bets: 10 three-team parlays and one five-team parlay, each for .1 units. You'll likely double your money if three teams pull off the upset. If four teams win, you're connecting on four separate parlays and will be very pleased with the return. If all five teams win, you'll be diving into a silo of gold doubloons like a young Scrooge McDuck.Who to playRaiders +340Anything can happen in Week 18, and as much as we assume the Chiefs will be trying their hardest, that effort level still had them in trouble twice against the Broncos and in overtime with the Texans in the last four weeks.More importantly, let's point out a lack of congruency on this week's trip to #ValueTown. The Chiefs were -7 at home to the Raiders earlier in the season. While you might suggest there's a drop-off in rating for the Raiders since then, +7 on the road would convert to just over a field goal underdog at home. Since that moneyline would be around +160, we'll take double that on a Raiders team that showed life against the best defense in the league last week.Titans +220If you've followed this piece each week, you know we want to traffic in uncertainty and high-volatility variance. That's what the Titans are bringing to the party on Saturday night.Joshua Dobbs showed flashes of capability against the Cowboys last week without getting much help from his receivers and missing Tennessee's greatest weapon. For his career, Derrick Henry averages 118 total yards per game against the Jaguars - his best against any team he's faced more than three times. With a week and a half for the ultra-smart Dobbs to focus on a game plan, the Titans should have more success on offense than with Malik Willis.In the past, we've seen that Mike Vrabel has pieced enough together defensively - even shorthanded - to make enough plays to keep a big game like this interesting late. One big turnover off young Trevor Lawrence could swing an upset.Panthers +160We're not going to overthink the only game on the board where neither team is playing for anything - playoff seeding or first overall pick position - but both are going to play their starters anyway.Given the circumstances, this is a coin-flip game where we're getting +160 on one side. The Panthers discovered their smash-mouth style late in the season, so I expect Carolina to still play hard in the finale - hitting a disappointed veteran Saints team repeatedly on the ground. Meanwhile, Andy Dalton won't be able to take advantage of the hole in the Carolina secondary that Brady and Evans exposed last week.Rams +240The last two games are somewhat tied together, deep in the heart of #ValueTown. Maybe this line should convert to -9.5 based on the earlier meeting in the season (Seahawks -6.5 in L.A.). But with Baker Mayfield running the Rams' offense, L.A. is more than three points better than with John Wolford, based on recent point spreads.Lacking a first-round draft pick again, the Rams have no reason not to try this week in a bid to play spoiler. Admittedly, we said that last week, but L.A. was victimized by explosive plays and turnovers, despite continuing to run the ball well. The Rams logged 171 rushing yards in the first meeting against Seattle, even when they didn't get much at quarterback.Lions +180If the whole point of the RR MLP is to connect the wins together, then a Rams upset would have us spending the night in #ValueTown. Once the Lions get the hypothetical shot of life that a Seahawks loss would provide, you'll see this moneyline dip under +150 before kickoff. Rarely do we get the implied value of the price of one underdog moneyline attached to another, so when it's available, we have to make a play on it.Here's how the odds look this week:PARLAYODDS (Approx.)LV+TEN+CAR+3700LV+TEN+LAR+4700LV+TEN+DET+4000LV+CAR+LAR+3900LV+CAR+DET+3300LV+LAR+DET+4200TEN+CAR+LAR+2700TEN+CAR+DET+2300TEN+LAR+DET+2955CAR+LAR+DET+2400LV+TEN+CAR+LAR+DET+36300Who are your five underdogs 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.

New York Giants rookie pass-rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux brushed off criticism surrounding his decision to celebrate while lying next to injured Indianapolis Colts quarterback Nick Foles in last Sunday's matchup."Who's the gatekeeper of when to do something? So, once we figure out who the gatekeeper is, then we can write the rules, and then we can establish the narratives and things like that," Thibodeaux said Wednesday, according to SNY. "But until you guys are actually in the sport and do it and be in the moment, you can't create a narrative on it."Reporters then informed Thibodeaux that Colts interim coach Jeff Saturday criticized his actions. Saturday, who spent 14 years in the NFL prior to his coaching career, called the pass-rusher's celebration "tasteless" and "trash" earlier this week."I don't know who he is," Thibodeaux said. "Anybody who comments on it, unless I know who they are, it doesn't really affect me."The 2022 fifth overall pick broke out a snow angel on the ground after sacking Foles late in the second quarter. Foles walked off under his own power before being carted to the locker room and ruled out with a rib injury.Thibodeaux said none of his teammates or coaches brought up any issues with the optics of his display."You don't play the game for anybody to get injured, but I play defense. They brought me here to be a savage and to take over the game and to impact the game," Thibodeaux told reporters. "We preach that impacting the game is affecting the quarterback. That's what I'm here to do."The rookie said Sunday following the game that he wasn't aware that Foles was injured on the sack.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Washington Commanders will start rookie quarterback Sam Howell in the Week 18 finale against the Dallas Cowboys, head coach Ron Rivera announced Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.Rivera said Taylor Heinicke will serve as Howell's backup, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.The meeting with the Cowboys will be Howell's NFL debut. The 2022 fifth-round pick spent the year behind Heinicke and Carson Wentz.ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported earlier Wednesday that Heinicke was expected to receive the start with Howell slated to play, too.The quarterback change marks the end of Wentz's second stint as starter, which lasted just one game. After being tasked with leading the team in Week 17 - his first start since Week 6 - Wentz threw for no touchdowns and three interceptions in the loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The Commanders were eliminated from postseason contention later that day.Heinicke had been Washington's starter since Wentz suffered a fractured finger in Week 6. He kept the starting job when the veteran returned from IR but was benched during the loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16.Heinicke won five of his nine starts this season while throwing for 12 touchdowns to six interceptions.The Commanders entered the final stretch of the 2022 campaign with a favorable 7-5 record before enduring a four-game slide of one tie and three consecutive losses.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields will miss his team's regular-season finale against the Minnesota Vikings due to a hip strain, head coach Matt Eberflus announced Wednesday, according to the Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs.Nathan Peterman will serve as the Bears' starting quarterback for the Week 18 contest, Eberflus added.Eberflus told reporters Fields underwent an MRI after reporting a sore hip Monday. Tests revealed a strain, though the Bears head coach said he doesn't expect it to be a long-term injury.Fields will finish the 2022 campaign with 1,143 rushing yards - just 63 shy of tying the single-season quarterback rushing record set by Lamar Jackson (1,206) in 2019.Fields rushed for over 130 yards on three occasions this season. He also eclipsed 80 yards on the ground in seven games.The 23-year-old improved on his 2021 rookie season during his second NFL campaign, posting higher figures in completion percentage (60.4%), touchdowns (17), and passer rating (85.2).Sunday will mark Peterman's first start since Week 9 of the 2018 campaign. The 28-year-old has thrown six passes this season for three completions and one interception.The Bears enter Week 18 with a 3-13 record.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tests revealed that Miami Dolphins quarterback Teddy Bridgewater dislocated the pinky finger on his throwing hand in last Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Whether Bridgewater suits up for Week 18 will depend on swelling and how well he can grip the football, Rapoport adds."I can't forecast his availability," Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday, per CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones.Skylar Thompson took over for Bridgewater in the loss to the Patriots and would be in line to start if the veteran can't go in the must-win finale against the New York Jets. The Dolphins signed veteran Mike Glennon to their practice squad, and he would presumably be next in line after Thompson.McDaniel said earlier this week that Tua Tagovailoa, who is in the concussion protocol, is not in the team's plans for the meeting with the Jets.The Dolphins do not control their own destiny entering Week 18. Miami will claim one of the AFC wild-card spots with a victory in the final game and a Patriots loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 18.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Jim Harbaugh doesn't plan to ditch Michigan amid recent rumors linking him to NFL head coaching vacancies."Although no one knows the future, I think I will be coaching Michigan next year," Harbaugh told Queen City News' Will Kunkel and Connor Lomis.Reports in December suggested multiple NFL teams were doing background work on Harbaugh. Since then, the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos have reportedly reached out to the Michigan sideline boss about their open head coaching positions.The Panthers have been under the command of interim coach Steve Wilks since firing Matt Rhule after a 1-4 start. Meanwhile, the Broncos fired first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett on Dec. 26.Denver's ownership group apparently plans to be aggressive in its pursuit of a new head coach, with former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton among the other top targets.Harbaugh interviewed with the Minnesota Vikings last offseason before returning to Michigan and vowing that he was done entertaining NFL offers.The Michigan boss led the Wolverines to the CFP for a second consecutive season in 2022. However, they were defeated 51-45 by TCU.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper spoke with Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh about his team's head coaching vacancy, a source told Joe Person of The Athletic.Harbaugh will seemingly be in demand for an NFL return this offseason, with the Denver Broncos reportedly also reaching out to him about their job opening.The 59-year-old is expected to leave the Wolverines if an NFL club offers him a job, sources close to Harbaugh told The Athletic. His buyout is reportedly $3 million.Carolina fired Matt Rhule in mid-October after a 1-4 start to the season. He left with an 11-27 overall record and zero playoff appearances in two-plus campaigns.Steve Wilks took over as interim head coach, but after leading the Panthers to five victories over the next 10 games, hopes of winning the NFC South ended with Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team had already been eliminated from wild-card contention.After returning to Michigan last offseason following an interview with the Minnesota Vikings, Harbaugh said was done seeking a return to the NFL. He coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-14.The Wolverines were upset by TCU on Saturday to fall short in the CFP semifinals for the straight second season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Monday night's postponed matchup between Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals won't resume this week, the NFL announced Tuesday.The league said that it hasn't made a decision about potentially rescheduling the AFC matchup for a later date. The NFL hasn't made any changes to the Week 18 schedule either.The prime-time game was called off after Buffalo defensive back Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a tackle in the first quarter. Hamlin's heartbeat was restored on the field after he received emergency medical treatment.The 24-year-old remains in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, the Bills said Tuesday.Buffalo is set to host the New England Patriots on Sunday, while Cincinnati is scheduled to host the Baltimore Ravens.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin is in critical condition after suffering a cardiac arrest during Monday night's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the team announced.Hamlin's heartbeat was restored on the field, and he's currently sedated while undergoing additional testing at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.The 24-year-old appeared to take a blow to the chest while making a tackle on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins in the first quarter. He briefly stood up after the collision but then fell back to the ground. Hamlin received medical care for over 10 minutes and was administered CPR before leaving in an ambulance."Please continue to pray for Damar and his family," Hamlin's agent, Ira Turner, said in a statement. "We currently have no update at this time. Will ask that you keep the family in your prayers."Players and coaches on both teams were visibly emotional as Hamlin was treated and transported from the field. Both sides headed back to their respective locker rooms following a conversation between Bills head coach Sean McDermott and Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, and the game was temporarily suspended. The league later confirmed that play wouldn't resume Monday.ESPN's broadcast initially suggested that the two teams would be given five minutes to warm up before restarting, but NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent said in a conference call with reporters that the league did not consider finishing the game."It never crossed our mind to talk about warming up to resume play," Vincent said, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. "That's ridiculous. That's insensitive."Vincent also confirmed that the Bills will fly back to Buffalo on Monday night. The league didn't provide an update on the status of the game going forward."The NFLPA and everyone in our community is praying for Damar Hamlin," the players' union said in a statement. "We have been in touch with Bills and Bengals players and with the NFL. The only thing that matters at this moment is Damar's health and well-being."Hamlin joined the Bills as a sixth-round selection in the 2021 draft after a five-year college career at Pitt.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL announced Monday that the matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions will feature as Week 18's Sunday Night Football game.Both teams are 8-8. The Packers will make the playoffs with a win at Lambeau Field, while the Lions can earn a postseason berth with a victory and a Seattle Seahawks loss against the Los Angeles Rams.Green Bay and Detroit are two of football's hottest teams right now. The Packers were 4-8 heading into December but have since won four in a row, including Sunday's 41-17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.The Lions have lost just two of their last nine games after starting the 2022 season 1-6. Detroit beat Green Bay 15-9 at Ford Field in Week 9.On Sunday, the NFL announced its Week 18 Saturday slate. The Las Vegas Raiders will host the Kansas City Chiefs at 4:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 7, while the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans will collide at 8:15 p.m. ET in a win-and-in matchup.The league also released a finalized timetable of its Sunday afternoon slate for Week 18.MatchupTime (ET)Buccaneers at Falcons1:00 p.m.Patriots at Bills1:00 p.m.Vikings at Bears1:00 p.m.Texans at Colts1:00 p.m.Jets at Dolphins1:00 p.m.Panthers at Saints1:00 p.m.Browns at Steelers1:00 p.m.Ravens at BengalsTBDChargers at Broncos4:25 p.m.Giants at Eagles4:25 p.m.Cardinals at 49ers4:25 p.m.Rams at Seahawks4:25 p.m.Cowboys at Commanders4:25 p.m.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Monday he doesn't expect quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to play in Sunday's must-win game against the New York Jets, according to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques.McDaniel added that they are preparing to start Teddy Bridgewater or rookie Skylar Thompson under center in Week 18.Tagovailoa missed Sunday's 23-21 loss to the New England Patriots due to a concussion. The 24-year-old has been in concussion protocol twice this season. His first placement in the protocol came in a Week 4 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and kept him sidelined for two games.Bridgewater started Miami's Week 17 matchup versus New England but left the game with a finger injury. He passed for 161 yards, one touchdown, and one interception before exiting. Thompson replaced Bridgewater, finishing the day with 12 completions on 21 attempts for 104 yards, one touchdown, and one pick.McDaniel said Monday that he believes Bridgewater's right pinky is dislocated but not broken, according to Louis-Jacques. Injuries have been an issue for Miami lately, as the team also faced New England without pass-rusher Bradley Chubb, offensive tackle Terron Armstead, and cornerback Xavien Howard.The Dolphins have lost five in a row to drop to 8-8 this season. Miami will claim one of the AFC wild-card spots with a win over the Jets and a Patriots loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 18.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Alabama quarterback Bryce Young joined teammates Will Anderson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Brian Branch in declaring Monday for the 2023 NFL Draft."Coming here was the best decision of my life," Young said, according to Mike Rodak of AL.com. "I'm forever grateful for the University of Alabama."Young is regarded as a candidate to go first overall. The signal-caller became the first Alabama quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy in 2021 after throwing for 47 touchdowns against seven interceptions.His final campaign was capped off with a magnificent 321-yard, five-touchdown performance in a victory over Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl. Young ended 2022 with 32 touchdowns to five interceptions.Anderson is also expected to go early in the first round after posting 34.5 sacks in three campaigns. The pass-rusher put himself on the map in 2021, leading the nation with 17.5 sacks. He followed that up with a 10-sack year in 2022. Anderson was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year in those seasons.Gibbs enjoyed a productive 2022 season after transferring from Georgia Tech. The running back averaged 6.1 yards per carry and tallied 926 yards on the ground. He also showcased his ability as a receiving threat with 44 receptions for 444 yards.Branch, a safety, posted 90 total tackles and two interceptions in 2022.The Houston Texans are currently slated to hold the No. 1 pick.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks suffered a torn ACL in Sunday's victory over the New York Jets, a source told Jordan Schultz, theScore's NFL insider.

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.Brady still inevitable Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images Sport / GettySome of you were certainly getting excited about a playoff year without Tom Brady. It was close! You didn't actually believe it would happen, though, did you?The Bucs haven't been fun to watch for much of the season, and that remained the case for parts of Sunday's must-win game against the Panthers. But in a development we probably should have expected, even if all evidence pointed to the contrary, Tampa's offense finally figured it out. It felt like 2020 all over again.Brady rose to the occasion with his best performance of the season, completing 34 of 45 passes for a season-high 432 yards and three long touchdowns to Mike Evans. Oh, and the master of quarterback sneaks all but sealed the win with his first rushing score of the campaign. Against all odds, the NFC South title officially remains in Tampa Bay.It's been impossible to put a finger on what exactly has held the Bucs' offense back this year. Sometimes it's the protection. Other times it seems like Brady isn't his usual self. More often than not, the entire operation feels bizarrely out of sync. The protection will likely remain an issue heading into the playoffs, but Brady's masterpiece in a big spot against the Panthers is all the proof you need that the old guy's still got it. If this was the offense finally figuring out how to piece it all together and again getting its best receiver involved downfield, the NFC playoff picture just got a whole lot more interesting.Tampa Bay will presumably rest key players for a meaningless Week 18 finale against the Falcons and start preparing for Wild Card Weekend. Barring a collapse from the Eagles next week, the Bucs will host the Cowboys in the opening round. That's undoubtedly a challenging matchup. Dallas has a legitimate case as the best team in football right now. Based on everything we've seen this year, it should be a cupcake first-round matchup for the visitors. But don't we know better than to count Brady out?There's just something so incredibly juicy about a game between a Cowboys team known for playoff disappointments and a Bucs squad that, for all its faults, has the ultimate equalizer. Don't let the GOAT get hot.Packers back? Kayla Wolf / Getty Images Sport / GettySpeaking of teams we may have ruled out too quickly, how about those Packers?Green Bay sat at 4-8 heading into December, needing to the run table and get help elsewhere to save its season. Four weeks later, everything is turning up green and gold.Last week's Christmas Day win over the Dolphins gave the Packers three straight, putting them back in the mix for a wild-card spot. Sunday's home date with the Vikings was supposed to be the toughest test yet. But all we got was further evidence that Minnesota is one of the more fraudulent 12-win teams we've ever seen.The 41-17 final in favor of the Packers doesn't even do justice to the beatdown they delivered to their NFC North rival. This was a 41-3 rout before a pair of garbage time scores from the Vikings made the result appear the faintest bit respectable.Green Bay's late-season resurgence differs from Tampa Bay's in that this isn't about a high-powered passing attack finding its groove at the right time. That's no longer the way this team is built. The 40-burger from the Packers came despite just 159 passing yards from Aaron Rodgers, his fifth sub-200-yard effort of the season.Rodgers still has a critical role, as any quarterback would, but Green Bay was always going to go as far as the defense would take them. The issue early in the season was that the talented group on that side of the ball didn't live up to expectations. That's no longer the case.The defense put the clamps on Tua Tagovailoa and a high-powered Dolphins passing attack last week with three second-half interceptions. The Packers recorded another trio of picks against Kirk Cousins in Sunday's blowout of the Vikings. However, the real story is how well they defended the league's best receiver after allowing him to go off for 184 yards in Week 1.

NFL Playoff Picture is a weekly look at the teams jockeying to secure their shot to make it to Super Bowl LVII.AFCSeedTeamDivisionRecord1Chiefs (y)West13-32Bills (y)East12-33Bengals (x)North11-44JaguarsSouth8-85Chargers (x)West10-66Ravens (x)North10-67PatriotsEast8-8x = clinched playoff berth

Week 18's Saturday slate is set.The Las Vegas Raiders will host the Kansas City Chiefs at 4:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 7, while the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans will collide at 8:15 p.m. ET, the NFL announced Sunday.The winner of Titans-Jaguars will clinch the AFC South title and host a playoff game in the wild-card round. Jacksonville, which defeated Tennessee in Week 14, improved to 8-8 with a Week 17 victory over the Houston Texans. The Titans, having recently lost quarterback Ryan Tannehill for the season with an ankle injury, dropped to 7-9 after suffering their sixth consecutive defeat on Thursday Night Football to the Dallas Cowboys.While Saturday's matchup is a must-win for Tennessee, Jacksonville can make the playoffs even with a loss. If the Jaguars fall short against the Titans, they will advance as the AFC's No. 7 seed if the New England Patriots (at Buffalo Bills), Miami Dolphins (versus New York Jets), and Pittsburgh Steelers (versus Cleveland Browns) all lose in Week 18.Meanwhile, the Chiefs could clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC on Saturday. Kansas City jumped into the conference's top spot with its 13th victory of the season on Sunday, but the Buffalo Bills can leapfrog the Chiefs if they beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football. If Buffalo loses to Cincinnati, a win over Las Vegas will be enough for Kansas City to claim a first-round bye in the playoffs.The 6-10 Raiders, after losing in overtime to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, have already been eliminated from playoff contention. Las Vegas started Jarrett Stidham at quarterback versus San Francisco after benching Derek Carr.The NFL will announce its full Week 18 Sunday slate after Monday Night Football.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos have contacted Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh about their coaching vacancy, a source told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.The Broncos fired first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett on Monday amid a disastrous rookie campaign in which the team expected to be a playoff contender.Meanwhile, the Wolverines fell short in the College Football Playoff semis for the second straight season on Saturday, suffering an upset loss to TCU.In early December, Harbaugh vowed to return to Michigan next season after it was reported NFL teams were exploring him as a head coaching candidate.The 59-year-old interviewed with the Minnesota Vikings last offseason, but after opting to go back to the Wolverines, he said he was closing the door on an NFL return.Denver's new ownership group reportedly intends to be "ultra-aggressive" in securing the team's next head coach.Harbaugh coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-14, earning a 44-19-1 regular-season record and one Super Bowl appearance in three postseason berths.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Fueled by a four-touchdown day from Daniel Jones, the New York Giants blew out the Indianapolis Colts 38-10 to clinch their first postseason berth since 2016.Jones threw for two touchdowns and added another two scores and 91 yards on the ground.More to come.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants consider running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Daniel Jones as part of their long-term future, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.New York plans to try working out a contract with the two impending free agents this offseason, Rapoport adds.The star running back and quarterback found their groove under first-year head coach Brian Daboll this campaign. Barkley rushed for 1,254 yards entering Week 17 for a career-high 83.6 yards per game.Jones led the Giants to an 8-6-1 record through 15 games. He's also shown improvement in his accuracy and ball protection, completing a personal best 66.5% of his passes while only tossing five interceptions. He totaled 13 passing touchdowns and five rushing TDs.The Giants declined the fifth-year option on Jones' rookie contract in April 2022.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to explore trades involving quarterback Derek Carr this offseason, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels said Wednesday the team would bench Carr in favor of Jarrett Stidham for the club's final two games amid a disappointing 6-9 campaign. Carr threw four touchdowns to six interceptions over the last three games.The Raiders will have to decide on Carr's future prior to the third day of the waiver period after the Super Bowl, which is when he's due contract guarantees, Rapoport adds. Carr's 2023 base salary of $32.9 million and an additional $7.5 million of his 2024 salary will become guaranteed on Feb. 15, according to Spotrac.Carr would be required to sign off on a potential trade because his contract contains a full no-trade clause.The 31-year-old signal-caller told people close to him that he has no plans to retire if the Raiders move on from him, sources told Rapoport. Carr previously said that he'd likely quit football than play for a different team.Carr has been the Raiders' starting quarterback since he was drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He's made three Pro Bowls over his nine-year career while posting a 63-79 record.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is expected to be able to play in Week 18 after missing time with a shoulder injury, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The result of the Eagles' matchup with the New Orleans Saints on Sunday will determine Hurts' level of involvement in the regular-season finale against the New York Giants, Schefter adds.Philadelphia is one win away from securing home-field advantage throughout the postseason. A victory against the Saints would make it unnecessary for Hurts to play in Week 18, though he could still get some action to work off any rust from his absence, Schefter reports. If the Eagles lose Sunday, Hurts would be slated to return versus the Giants.Gardner Minshew started Week 16's loss to the Dallas Cowboys and will start Sunday, head coach Nick Sirianni confirmed to NFL Network's Stacey Dales. Hurts was listed as doubtful for the game.Hurts reportedly suffered an SC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder against the Chicago Bears in Week 15. He returned to the practice field this week, participating in a limited capacity on Thursday and Friday.The Eagles have no concerns about Hurts' effectiveness and availability for a playoff run, a source told Schefter.Before Hurts' shoulder injury, the 24-year-old was in the midst of a breakout campaign that launched him into MVP candidacy. He's posted a 104.6 passer rating, 22 touchdowns, and an average of 248 passing yards per game this season, all career highs.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas doesn't plan to explore trading quarterback Zach Wilson in the 2023 offseason, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Wilson's difficult second season has included multiple demotions. He was benched for Mike White in Week 12 after a string of inconsistent performances. He returned to the starting lineup when White was sidelined with a rib injury but was benched once again for Chris Streveler at halftime of a Week 16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. After White was cleared to return, Wilson was named the third-string quarterback in Week 17.However, head coach Robert Saleh has maintained his commitment to Wilson throughout the signal-caller's struggles. He told reporters this week that he still believes the 23-year-old has a "future" with the organization.The Jets selected Wilson second overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He's posted a 8-14 record with more interceptions (18) than touchdowns (15).Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos' ownership group is expected to be "ultra aggressive" in securing the team's next head coach, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Penner-Walton group, which owns the team, won't be frugal in its attempt to boost the franchise, Schefter adds.Former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, Michigan sideline boss Jim Harbaugh, and Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn are slated to be among the top targets, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.Denver fired Nathaniel Hackett before he was able to finish his first season as a head coach after the club went 4-11 through 15 games.Owner Greg Penner said in a statement following Hackett's dismissal that he'll lead the search for the new head coach, with additional support from the ownership group. Senior assistant coach Jerry Rosburg is serving as the interim sideline boss to finish out the campaign.Hackett was part of an offseason makeover that also included quarterback Russell Wilson's arrival via a trade with the Seattle Seahawks. However, the two struggled to make it work, as the offense averaged 15.5 points per game while Wilson posted a career-low 82.6 passer rating in 2022.The Broncos haven't made the postseason since winning the Super Bowl at the conclusion of the 2015 season.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 see his rankings for Week 17.Half PPR

They might not own the best record in the conference, but the Cincinnati Bengals still are the team to beat in the AFC, according to running back Joe Mixon."At the end of the day, what people got to realize and understand, we the big dog of the AFC, and that's just what it is," Mixon said Saturday ahead of Monday's pivotal matchup against the Buffalo Bills, according to ESPN's Ben Baby. "For anything to happen, it goes through us."Monday night's prime-time contest pits the 12-3 Bills, who own the first seed in the AFC, against the 11-4 Bengals, who are the reigning conference champions. Both clubs come into the game red-hot, with Buffalo owning a six-game winning streak while Cincinnati has won seven in a row.Mixon added that he's eager for the challenge of an opponent like the Bills."The Bills, what better team would you be able to go up and put your best against?" Mixon noted. "It's a great opportunity for us, but at the same time, I know our guys, we (are) ready."The Bengals enter Week 17 as the No. 3 seed in the AFC, trailing the Bills and Kansas City Chiefs in a fight for home-field advantage in the postseason."We know what our end goal is, and in order to get to that end goal, we got to get through Buffalo. We got to keep one week at a time, and everything else take(s) care of itself," Mixon added.Mixon, along with the likes of Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins, and Ja'Marr Chase, has aided Cincinnati to an average of 26.1 points per game, fourth most in the NFL this season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will miss Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons due to a knee injury, the team announced Saturday.Hopkins, who was initially listed as questionable for the matchup, is the latest major injury to a Cardinals offense that's down to its fourth quarterback of the season.David Blough is set to start at quarterback Sunday after Colt McCoy began reexperiencing concussion symptoms. McCoy took over the starting role after Kyler Murray was lost for the season due to a torn ACL. Trace McSorley got the nod for the Week 16 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Hopkins has grabbed 64 receptions for 717 receiving yards and three touchdowns in nine games this season. He missed the first six games of the season due to a suspension for violating the league's PED policy.The Cardinals hold the worst record in the NFC West this season at 4-11.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL and NFLPA say they found no violations of the concussion protocol after determining Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa didn't exhibit concussion symptoms in last Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers."The joint review determined the protocol was not triggered. The protocol is initiated when a player receives an impact to the head and exhibits or reports signs or symptoms suggestive of a concussion. The review established that symptoms of a concussion were neither exhibited nor reported until the following day, at which time the team medical personnel appropriately evaluated and placed Mr. Tagovailoa in the concussion protocol," the league and union said in a joint statement.Tagovailoa played every snap in the loss to the Packers. An investigation was launched following his placement in the concussion protocol Monday after self-reporting symptoms to team doctors.The 24-year-old has been in concussion protocol twice this season. His first placement in the protocol came in a Week 4 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals after the back of his head hit the ground. The incident, which resulted in a brief hospitalization, came after Tagovailoa stumbled after getting up from another big hit the week prior, though he only missed three plays before returning in that Week 3 contest.Tagovailoa's earlier stint in the concussion protocol also led to an NFL investigation that resulted in modifications to the protocol and the termination of an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant due to how the QB's situation was handled in Week 3.The former fifth overall pick was ruled out for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots. He's thrown for 25 touchdowns to eight interceptions while putting up an 8-5 record across 13 starts this season.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

In the twilight of his film career, Woody Strode reflected on the opportunities he was denied and others he seized. The pioneering Black character actor relocated from the United States to Europe for a while to pursue bigger and more interesting roles.“Race is not a factor in the world market," Strode said. "I once played a part written for an Irish prize fighter. I've done everything but play an Anglo-Saxon. I'd do that if I could. I'd play a Viking with blue contact lenses and a blond wig."In movies and life, Strode's range was remarkable. He wrestled professionally before rapt audiences. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, unloading bombs in the Pacific.As an athlete, he helped integrate the NFL.Woody Strode. Supplied by UCLA Born in Los Angeles in 1914, Woodrow Wilson Woolwine Strode died at age 80 on New Year's Eve 1994. He was interred with military honors at Riverside National Cemetery, east of his hometown. Strode's Associated Press obituary praised his work in Westerns and period dramas, but didn't mention the trail he blazed on the gridiron.He signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 1946 alongside Kenny Washington, an electrifying rusher and college teammate at UCLA. The Cleveland Browns brought aboard Marion Motley and Bill Willis that same year. This quartet struck a blow for racial inclusiveness in pro football as Black Americans sought it nationwide.Marion Motley (76) rushes the ball for the Browns. Vic Stein / Getty ImagesKeyshawn Johnson wrote a book about them. The retired NFL wideout, in tandem with his co-author Bob Glauber, persuaded the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2022 to recognize the so-called Forgotten Four as pathfinders. This past August in Canton, Ohio, family members accepted the Ralph Hay Pioneer Award on the players' behalf at the enshrinement gala that precedes the NFL season."It's heart and guts. Perseverance. I couldn't do it. But it says a lot about them to be able to do what I would call something for the greater good," Johnson, reflecting on the Forgotten Four's feat, told CBS News this year."You can't tell the story of the National Football League without telling the story of these four men," he added.Once dubbed "the Jackie Robinson of cinema" by Jet Magazine, Strode shared a backfield with Robinson and Washington in 1939. Robinson played college football at UCLA before he shifted to baseball full time and made history. Robinson debuted in the majors with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, breaking the color barrier in that sport several months after his Bruins teammates reached the NFL.L-R: Strode, Robinson, and Washington. Bettmann / Getty ImagesStrode and Washington, an All-American in 1939, linked up the following year with the Hollywood Bears of the minor Pacific Coast Professional Football League. Racial discrimination slowed their progress in the game. A handful of Black players suited up in the NFL in the league's earliest seasons, but franchise owners at the behest of George Preston Marshall, the segregationist founder of the Washington team, conspired to exclude them from 1934 to 1946."The ban mirrored the status of Black Americans at the time: separate, unequal, and living in a de facto apartheid state via Jim Crow in the South and a patchwork of exclusionary laws and customs everywhere else," Patrick Hruby has written at The Guardian.The ban collapsed when the Rams, founded in Cleveland, uprooted to Los Angeles in 1946. Local sportswriter Halley Harding, a retired Negro Leagues shortstop, led a civic campaign that pressured the Rams to integrate as a condition of playing in the publicly funded L.A. Coliseum.The club signed Washington and Strode that spring. The expansion Browns, trying to build a winner in the upstart All-America Football Conference, added Motley and Willis and went on to claim four straight league championships before the AAFC and NFL merged."These four men created a foundation on which generations built," Lonnie Bunch, the founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, once said. "Their actions on and off the field opened a door that allowed other people to follow."At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Strode was an athletic marvel in his prime. He did 1,000 push-ups, sit-ups, and knee bends daily. He could beat Glenn Morris, the 1936 Olympic gold-medal decathlete, in all of his events except sprints. But by 1946, Strode was 32 and the oldest member of the Rams as a rookie.An offensive end, Strode caught four passes for 37 yards and bowed out of the NFL after 10 games. Four years Strode's junior, Washington scampered for a 92-yard touchdown in 1947 and spent three seasons with the Rams before retiring. Meanwhile, Motley ran rampant as a Browns halfback and Willis was an All-Pro defensive tackle, which landed them Hall of Fame nods as players.Strode encountered racism in the NFL. Rams owner Dan Reeves didn't like that Strode's marriage was interracial: his first wife, Luana, was descended from a Hawaiian queen. Opponents from the Deep South resented having to share the field with Black men, the producer of a documentary film about the Forgotten Four, Ross Greenburg, told the UCLA newsroom in 2014."On every play, if you're a (skill player) like Motley, Washington, or Strode, you can get pounded on the ground and beaten up," Greenburg said. "They suffered on the field. We heard stories about Kenny Washington where he was just battered throughout the entire football game."Strode moved north and won the Grey Cup with the 1948 Calgary Stampeders, Canadian pro football's only undefeated team. He enabled the Stamps to score twice in the title game. Strode hauled in a pass while a teammate lay on the grass at the far sideline, which left that receiver wide open on the next snap. Doubling as a defender, Strode scooped an errant lateral at midfield and returned the fumble to the opposing red zone, teeing up a TD rush.Strode (42) catches a pass in the title game. Calgary beat the Ottawa Rough Riders 12-7 in Toronto. Reveling in the win postgame, Strode rode a horse into the lobby of the team hotel.Broken ribs and an ailing shoulder spurred Strode to retire in 1949. He wrestled intermittently, once defeating Gorgeous George. Producers approached him in 1950 to portray a Maasai warrior in a "Bomba, the Jungle Boy" adventure flick. The role set his Hollywood career in motion.Strode racked up 91 acting credits in six different decades, according to IMDb. He graced the screen alongside Sean Connery, Kirk Douglas, Burt Lancaster, and John Wayne, plus Joe Namath when the Jets quarterback toyed with acting in the afterglow of his Super Bowl triumph. An able stuntman, Strode shot fire arrows and went so far as to bring his own 80-pound bows to set, he told The New York Times in 1971.Often typecast as a physical specimen, commentators tended to dwell on Strode's athleticism and chiseled figure, ignoring his acting prowess, the film scholar Frank Manchel once wrote in the Journal of Black Studies. Strode brought the best out of his castmates while stealing scenes, sometimes before he spoke a line."Visually, he is a tower of strength and also a tower of endurance," film historian Donald Bogle said about Strode in a Turner Classic Movies segment a couple of years ago. "He is one of the most charismatic actors to work in American motion pictures. He simply does not have to say a word."L-R: Strode, Jeffrey Hunter, and Constance Towers in 'Sergeant Rutledge.' Hulton Archive / Getty ImagesHis big break came in 1960. Strode's performance in "Spartacus" as the gladiator Draba - who fells Douglas' titular character in a duel, but spares his life to defy the Roman elite - secured him a Golden Globe nomination for best supporting actor."I would have lost that role if I hadn't been in shape, and if I hadn't had a lot of experience as a wrestler," Strode told the Pittsburgh Courier after the film's release, according to Slam Wrestling. "It took skill to do that fight scene without actually hurting myself or hurting Douglas."That same year, Strode played the eponymous soldier in "Sergeant Rutledge" - director John Ford's Technicolor Western - who is falsely accused of murder and rape. It was "one of the first mainstream Hollywood films to address racism frankly," the Hollywood Reporter's Seth Abramovitch wrote last year. Valuing his toughness, Ford cast Strode as Rutledge over future Oscar winners Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte."I've never gotten over 'Sergeant Rutledge,'" Strode told The New York Times years later. "It had dignity. John Ford put classic words in my mouth.""Sergeant Rutledge" boosted Strode's profile but didn't catapult him to superstardom, the Times wrote in 1971, surmising "he and the film, with its sympathies strongly on the side of the Black man, were ahead of their time." He went on to depict myriad gunslingers at home and abroad. Never billed as a leading man in Hollywood, Strode moved to Rome in the late '60s to pick up prominent and lucrative roles in Spaghetti Westerns."I'll continue to work in Europe because I'm a star there," Strode said in 1982, per TCM. "I have the world market on my side even if I don't have the American market."Strode last appeared on screen posthumously in 1995. Sam Raimi's Western "The Quick and The Dead," starring Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe, and Leonardo DiCaprio, is dedicated to him.More tributes followed. Sheriff Woody, the beloved "Toy Story" protagonist, was said to be named after Strode. The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City last year enshrined him in the Hall of Great Western Performers.Canton called this summer, feting Strode and the rest of the Forgotten Four at Johnson and Glauber's urging."To me, it's truly the beginning of more awareness of who they were, what they did, and why they were so important," Glauber told The New York Times ahead of the Canton ceremony in August."They are not household names like Jackie Robinson. I don't know if they ever will be. But they should be."Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Head coach Brandon Staley said the Los Angeles Chargers plan to activate edge rusher Joey Bosa from injured reserve for Sunday's matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, per NFL Network's Bridget Condon.Bosa has been unavailable since he suffered a groin injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3. He underwent surgery for the ailment.The 27-year-old recorded 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble before being placed on IR.Meanwhile, the Chargers have ruled out safety Derwin James for Sunday's contest due to a concussion.James has missed two games this season. He was ejected from Monday's contest against the Indianapolis Colts for an illegal hit.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is doubtful to play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints due to a shoulder injury, the team announced Friday.Gardner Minshew would be in line to make his second straight start if Hurts is unable to go.Hurts participated in practice Thursday - his first session since the injury - in a limited capacity. Head coach Nick Sirianni noted earlier Friday that he was impressed with Hurts' showing in practice but declined to officially name a starter for Sunday's contest."Jalen had a good practice yesterday and went out and did some things very well," head coach Nick Sirianni said. "Still going to sort through all those things. Haven't decided anything yet."He added: "(Hurt's) health is always taken into consideration first and if it's safe for him to be out there."Hurts reportedly suffered an SC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder against the Chicago Bears in Week 15. He missed last week's 40-34 loss to the Dallas Cowboys due to the injury.The 24-year-old was off to an MVP-caliber season prior to getting injured. He set personal bests in completion percentage (67.3%), passing yards (3,472), and passing touchdowns (22).The Eagles have used Hurts' efforts to power themselves to a 13-2 record, the best in the NFC. The franchise can wrap up home-field advantage in the postseason by winning one of its final two games.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson will miss his fourth straight game due to a knee injury, the team announced Friday.Tyler Huntley will get the starting nod again for Sunday night's prime-time bout against the Pittsburgh Steelers.Jackson has been sidelined since exiting the club's Week 13 victory over the Denver Broncos. The Ravens have won two of the three games that Jackson has missed, including a road victory over the Steelers in Week 14.Huntley completed eight of his 12 passes for 88 yards in the previous victory over Pittsburgh. He was held without a passing touchdown, but he added 31 yards on the ground.Offensive coordinator Greg Roman stressed the Ravens were taking a patient approach to Jackson's on-field return with the playoffs looming."The way we feel, the sooner we can get him back, the better," Roman said, according to ESPN's Jamison Hensley. "Especially heading into the playoffs, (we'd) love to get some work in before then, but you can't rush Mother Nature. We have to make sure he's right at the same time."Baltimore clinched a postseason berth last Sunday, but the team remains in the fight for the AFC North title. The Ravens (10-5) currently trail the Cincinnati Bengals (11-4), but the two sides will meet in the regular-season finale.Copyright © 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.Welcome to theScore Fantasy Football Podcast, hosted by Justin Boone.Find the show on iTunes, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, and Anchor.In this episode, Boone goes over the notable injury updates heading into Week 17.

The Arizona Cardinals will start quarterback David Blough against the Atlanta Falcons after Colt McCoy began reexperiencing concussion symptoms, head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters Friday.Trace McSorley started in Arizona's Week 16 overtime loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.McSorley completed 24 of 45 attempts for 217 yards and an interception against the Buccaneers, but Kingsbury is opting to switch to Blough, who has yet to attempt a pass for the Cardinals in a regular season game.Blough started five games for the Detroit Lions in 2019. He completed 54% of his passes for 984 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions. The Lions lost all five of those starts.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said he "fully expects" left tackle David Bakhtiari to play Sunday versus the Minnesota Vikings, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky.Bakhtiari hasn't played since he underwent an appendectomy following a Week 12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. He earned an 86.4 pass blocking grade from PFF before being shelved.LaFleur didn't have an update on rookie wide receiver Christian Watson's status for Sunday's matchup. Watson left the team's win over the Miami Dolphins last Sunday with a hip injury and didn't return.The Packers can still reach the playoffs if they take down the Vikings on Sunday and the Detroit Lions in Week 18 and get some help from the other teams currently ahead of them in the NFC standings.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

With two weeks to go, we can take away a handful of lessons from the 2022 NFL season when it comes to our best bets:

The Miami Dolphins will be without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots due to a concussion, head coach Mike McDaniel announced Friday, according to ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques.Veteran passer Teddy Bridgewater is set to start under center.Tagovailoa entered the concussion protocol Monday when he self-reported symptoms to team doctors following last week's loss to the Green Bay Packers. McDaniel later confirmed Wednesday that the signal-caller did suffer a concussion in the matchup.It's the second time this season that Tagovailoa has landed in the protocol - the first stint came when he was hospitalized after the back of his head hit the ground during Week 4's loss to the Bengals.Bridgewater has thrown for three touchdowns to three interceptions across four appearances this campaign.The 8-7 Dolphins head into Week 17 holding the final AFC wild-card spot despite being amid a four-game losing streak.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Multiple league sources - both executives and scouts - believe quarterback Zach Wilson has played his final game with the Jets, losers of four straight. Wilson, the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft, has struggled mightily this season, completing under 55% of his passes with six scores and seven picks.All is not lost for the 7-8 Jets, though. Their roster is very talented and very young, and Wilson - only 23 years old - can still command draft capital, perhaps multiple picks or a Day 2 selection. Here are five possible solutions for Gang Green at quarterback in 2023 and perhaps beyond.Jimmy GaroppoloHere's the good news: Jimmy G has previously worked with Robert Saleh, whose offense is similar to the Niners'. Garoppolo doesn't have the highest ceiling, but you're hard-pressed to find someone with a higher floor. A cheaper option with legitimate playoff experience, Garoppolo would instantly provide stability to an offense full of talented playmakers. We've seen him have success with Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk; why couldn't he replicate that with uber-talented youngsters like Garrett Wilson and Elijah Moore? "He's probably the safest option for them," a scout told me. "Safe isn't a bad thing. It's not sexy, but it's not bad, either."Derek CarrCarr will be linked to several teams this offseason, as sources tell me the Raiders are likely to cut or trade the three-time Pro Bowler. Money is always a factor, and while Carr is soon to be owed over $40 million from Mark Davis, the Raiders will save $29.25 million in 2023 salary cap space if they trade or cut him. So, the Jets could sweep in for cheap and lock him in at a significant discount. Carr's not without his flaws, but at 31 years old, he's still more than capable of winning games and putting up big numbers. "To me, Carr's the best, most realistic option for them," the scout told me.Lamar JacksonThis would be the ultimate boon for general manager Joe Douglas. Jackson's a former league MVP and only 25 years old. In essence, Big Truss gives you a top option for the foreseeable future instead of merely a Band-Aid. New York would be in contention right away, and Douglas could continue to build his roster inside out via the draft. I'm still not sure Baltimore would part ways with Jackson, but given how contract talks have broken down, it's not out of the realm of possibility, either. "Lamar's frustrated with them, and they're frustrated with Lamar," a former NFL executive told me. "I'm not sure the Jets are the best option for him, but nothing would really surprise me. If the Ravens wanted to move on, I wouldn't be that surprised."Geno SmithSmith has earned himself a massive contract after a brilliant season in Seattle and his first Pro Bowl selection. While I'm told the Seahawks want to bring him back, a reunion in New York would make for a hell of a story. Smith, the only signal-caller in the league to amass a 100 QBR in nine games this season, is 32 years old, but he's barely played football over the last eight campaigns. That means eight years of not being hit and battered. That means a fresh quarterback. "Someone's going to pay him a lot of money," the scout told me. "Pete (Carroll) and John (Schneider) are gonna try and sign him for cheap, but that's not gonna work. He's gonna hit $100 million, probably more. If the Jets had him this year, with how good he's played, they're an 11-12-win team."Gardner MinshewArguably the best backup passer in the league, Minshew - the former sixth-round draft pick and current No. 2 to Jalen Hurts in Philly - has been successful pretty much whenever he's been on the field. He boasts healthy numbers, including a 63% completion percentage with 43 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Only 27, he's still young enough to develop into a legit starting passer in the rugged AFC East. I asked the retired executive about the former Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner: "He's good enough to win you games, but he can lose you games, too. Honestly, I haven't really seen enough of him, but he moves well, he throws it pretty well. I wouldn't hate that move for them."Jordan Schultz is theScore's NFL insider and senior NBA reporter. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SSSQ is a weekly look at underappreciated fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 17 rankings, or you can also listen to the Week 17 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.StartJared Goff, Lionsvs. Bears Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / GettyGoff has been red-hot of late, with three top-five weekly fantasy finishes in his last four contests.Now, he returns home to the comfort of Ford Field where he's been at his best this year.The Lions will also be facing a Bears defense that's been obliterated by fantasy quarterbacks in the second half of the season. Chicago is allowing the 10th-most fantasy points to the position, including five top-six performances since Week 8.There's a reason why this game has the week's highest projected point total (52.5). The end result will see Goff deliver another strong fantasy outing.Boone's projection: 297 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 7 rushing yardsOther QBs to start

Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander doesn't believe that Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson can repeat his outstanding performance from the season opener.The Pro Bowl wideout racked up nine receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-7 victory over the Packers to start the 2022 campaign."He's a really good receiver," Alexander said, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "But at the end of the day, I'm a really good corner. We've got really good corners, we've got really good linebackers, D-line, whatever it is."You don't want to put too much focus on that one person because it's like, the first game, that was a fluke."While Alexander doesn't believe that Jefferson can replicate Week 1 totals, he considers the third-year wideout among his top three at the position."Davante Adams No. 1, and I think (Miami's Jaylen) Waddle might've snuck in there as of this past weekend," Alexander said. "I think he's a really good receiver."Jefferson has recorded one of the most prolific receiving campaigns in NFL history. He's just 209 yards away from breaking Calvin Johnson's single-season receiving yards record, and he's hauled in a league-leading 123 receptions, 1,756 yards, and eight touchdowns while sporting a 117.1 yards-per-game average going into Sunday's matchup.The Packers have made some adjustments to their defense since that first meeting. Alexander has been allowed to follow a specific wideout for entire games, while fellow corner Rasul Douglas was shifted from slot to outside cornerback.Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur understands that Jefferson will "get his touches." He said that providing different looks and awareness of where the dynamic wide receiver lines up are keys to trying to limit Jefferson's impact.Meanwhile, the Packers (7-8) must win Sunday against their rivals if they hope to keep their playoff hopes alive. A loss and win by either the Detroit Lions or Washington Commanders would eliminate Green Bay from postseason contention.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Pollard won't play Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans due to a thigh injury.Pollard didn't practice this week after sustaining the injury in Dallas' Week 16 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles.Ezekiel Elliott is slated to shoulder the majority of the carries for the Cowboys, with Malik Davis also getting reps.Pollard has 1,359 total yards with 12 touchdowns this season.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tennessee Titans will start quarterback Joshua Dobbs on Thursday Night Football against the Dallas Cowboys, a source told Jordan Schultz, theScore's NFL insider.

The Tennessee Titans placed quarterback Ryan Tannehill on injured reserve, the team announced Thursday.The former Pro Bowl passer suffered an ankle injury in Week 15 against the Los Angeles Chargers. Although there was optimism that Tannehill could return to action after undergoing surgery last week, he'll now miss the rest of the regular season.Tannehill led Tennessee to a 6-6 record as a starter in 2022. He recorded 2,536 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions with a 65.2% completion rate.Tennessee also placed linebackers Bud Dupree and Zach Cunningham on IR.The Titans are giving Joshua Dobbs his first career start for their Week 17 Thursday night matchup against Dallas Cowboys.Dobbs will start over rookie Malik Willis, who's started three games. The Liberty product has completed 31 of 61 pass attempts for 276 yards, zero touchdowns, and three interceptions while going 1-2. Willis has also rushed for 123 yards and one score.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Los Angeles Chargers designated edge rusher Joey Bosa to return from injured reserve Thursday.The 27-year-old was shut down following a Week 3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars because of a groin injury that required surgery.Bosa is now able to practice with the team. He has 21 days to be activated to the 53-man roster before he reverts back to IR for the rest of the season.The Chargers face the Los Angeles Rams at the shared SoFi Stadium on Sunday before traveling to Denver to take on the Broncos in Week 18.The Chargers already guaranteed their spot in the postseason, but their final two games will affect seeding with the other wild-card teams. The Kansas City Chiefs secured the AFC West crown with a 30-24 overtime win over the Houston Texans in Week 15.Before being shelved, Bosa had seven combined tackles, 1.5 sacks, four quarterback hits, and a forced fumble.Copyright © 2022 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 see his rankings for Week 17.The final rankings will be released Sunday morning.Half PPR

Last season, we rocked and rolled our way to the Super Bowl with music-themed Thursday Night Football player props, joyfully celebrating the start of a new NFL week. This year, we'll use an episode from "Must See TV" cornerstone "Seinfeld" each week to remind us that betting is supposed to be fun, even when an absurd series of events leads to a losing bet."You said going up the steps to her apartment was like being taken to a cell." - Jerry

Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren is considered one of the top candidates to be the next president of the Chicago Bears, reports ESPN's Pete Thamel.The team views Warren as a strong enough candidate that his interview took place in person, sources told Thamel.Current Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips is set to retire after 39 years with the team. Chicago has been searching for a replacement since the summer.Warren has led the Big Ten since 2020. He helped attract USC and UCLA to the conference and helped broker a new television deal valued at over $7 billion.The 59-year-old spent 15 years working with the Minnesota Vikings before taking over as Big Ten commissioner. He spent the final five of those as the Vikings' chief operating officer, playing a role in U.S. Bank Stadium's creation.The Bears purchased 326 acres of land in Arlington Heights earlier in 2022 and are likely approaching a new stadium project in the coming years.Warren also spent time with the Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams from 1997-2003 before joining the Vikings in 2005.Copyright © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Week 16 was much of the same for our valuable underdogs this season, but with a twist. The Saints came back from 10-0 to beat Cleveland, and the Patriots appeared ready to top that with a goal-to-go situation left to complete a 22-point comeback. Then Rhamondre Stevenson had his forward progress stopped, no whistle blew, and he fumbled away New England's chances. Later on Christmas Eve, the Eagles blew multiple 10-point leads in Dallas, and our 'dogs finished 2-3.Finding viable underdogs is most difficult at the end of the season. Inferior teams aren't just perceived that way - they actually are inferior - so the betting market is more accurate. These clubs are also less likely to play above their weight at this time of year, with nothing to play for beyond pride.How it worksWe parlay five underdogs we like against the spread in 10 different three-team parlays. Using every combination of a three-team parlay is called a round robin. We'll use a total of 1.1 units to make 11 different bets: 10 three-team parlays and one five-team parlay, each for .1 units. You'll likely double your money if three teams pull off the upset. If four teams win, you're connecting on four separate parlays and will be very pleased with the return. If all five teams win, you'll be diving into a silo of gold doubloons like a young Scrooge McDuck.Who to playPanthers +135Normally, we'd loathe to give out the Panthers at such a small price. But this late in the season, we have to trust what we've seen week after week. In this case, it's that the Buccaneers are a bad football team. If you sweat out Tampa Bay teaser legs on Christmas night - or have seen any other Bucs game this season - you know this squad can't protect Tom Brady long enough for him to throw accurately deep. A sub-standard offensive line doesn't allow the Bucs to run the ball effectively, either.Meanwhile, the Panthers have a dominant run game, which can only be taken away when the opponent takes an early lead. That's not what the Bucs do, as they have the second-fewest first-half points (eight) this season. Carolina has averaged 15.25 points in the first half in its 3-1 run with Sam Darnold at quarterback. Plus, Tampa Bay's run defense has been poor in 2022, giving up 4.5 yards per carry, including 5.3 to James Conner last week.Cardinals +150Colt McCoy is back behind center for the Cardinals in a meaningless game in Atlanta. His presence should revive DeAndre Hopkins - who Trace McSorley wasn't able to use in a near-win versus Tampa Bay - against the Falcons' fourth-worst passing offense on a per-attempt basis.Desmond Ridder showed improvement statistically in Baltimore last week, but Drake London helped that with some impressive catches in the cold. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has shown an ability to turn his opponents over, so Ridder might finally be baited into his first interception.Saints +200This point spread is on the move, going from Eagles -7 down underneath a touchdown, which confirms the suspicion that Jalen Hurts will miss another game. Gardner Minshew wasn't the reason Philadelphia lost in Dallas - the defense was. Injuries are mounting, and though we don't expect the Saints' offense to rack up 400-plus yards, the Eagles are still consistently giving up 4.6 yards per rush. New Orleans will need Chris Olave back at receiver, and Marshon Lattimore's return would be critical defensively.Rams +240The more we see from Kevin Stefanski - who had Deshaun Watson throw 31 times in the wind last week - and the less we see of Matt Rhule, the more likely we are to owe Baker Mayfield an apology. It took no time for Mayfield to click with a legitimate offensive mind in Sean McVay. With the Rams' stars out, the rest of the roster is full of players working for their next contract, meaning McVay and the team are energized. Meanwhile, the Chargers come home to this neutral-site game on a short week after clinching their first playoff spot in five years. The Rams could jump on their SoFi Stadium counterparts in a modest letdown.Steelers +125Let's not be fooled by the Ravens covering a big number last week - Tyler Huntley completed nine passes. With Lamar Jackson nowhere to be found, the Steelers should hold up against the run and get their second chance at Huntley after knocking him out of the first meeting.Kenny Pickett had to leave that game, too, only to see Mitch Trubisky throw three interceptions in plus-territory. That Ravens road win was just the second Steelers loss in the eight games that T.J. Watt has played this season, so look for Pittsburgh to exact revenge in Baltimore and keep its season alive.Here's how the odds look this week:PARLAYODDS (Approx.)ARZ+CAR+NO+2000ARZ+CAR+LAR+2100ARZ+CAR+PIT+1400ARZ+NO+LAR+2800ARZ+NO+PIT+1800ARZ+LAR+PIT+1900CAR+NO+LAR+2600CAR+NO+PIT+1700CAR+LAR+PIT+1800NO+LAR+PIT+2300ARZ+CAR+NO+LAR+PIT+16000Who are your five underdogs 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 © 2022 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.