{"id":6529,"date":"2025-01-03T16:30:48","date_gmt":"2025-01-03T16:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/?p=6529"},"modified":"2025-01-03T16:30:48","modified_gmt":"2025-01-03T16:30:48","slug":"the-daily-briefing-thursday-january-2-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/the-daily-briefing-thursday-january-2-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"The Daily Briefing Thursday, January 2, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

NFC NORTH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CHICAGO<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charlie Campbell hears that Lions OC Ben Johnson is not enamored with the thought of Ryan Poles picking his players and that Poles isn\u2019t enamored of picking Johnson to lose his job:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rumors I’m hearing on Bears head coach opening via team sources:<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Lions OC Ben Johnson wants the job, but Ryan Poles has reservations. There is a lot of belief that Johnson would push Poles out.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Johnson is said to want Commanders assistent GM Lance Newmark as the GM. Newmark was with Johnson in Detroit.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Poles has a history with Vikings DC Brian Flores, and Flores is a top candidate for Poles.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Albert Breer of SI.com<\/a> with more along the same lines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In moving on from Matt Eberflus the day after Thanksgiving, the Chicago Bears gave themselves a five-week headstart on their head coaching search, allowing the powers that be the luxury to put together a search committee, a plan and a roadmap to start vetting candidates without sneaking around behind anyone\u2019s back to do it.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also allowed for nights like Thursday to happen.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On one end, the 6\u20133 snoozer against the Seattle Seahawks is a result of how this season was handled. You can\u2019t take a pass-game coordinator, make him offensive coordinator and then head coach in 19 days, and expect all to be O.K. with your rookie quarterback. And it hasn\u2019t been O.K. The Bears scored 45 points total in December.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other end, there\u2019s a lesson learned, and Thursday\u2019s flatline after weeks of the offense circling the drain only further colors the complexion of the Bears\u2019 search.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Chicago set out to find its replacement for Eberflus a month ago, it was with the idea that there was much more to fix than just the quarterback. A culture change was needed, and a Dan Campbell\u2013style leader of men would be best to turn around a franchise that last won a playoff game when Jay Cutler was quarterback and Lovie Smith was the head coach.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That logic remains sound.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, so does the idea that Caleb Williams must be developed\u2014and the Seattle stat line (16-of-28, 122 yards, 1 INT, 53.0 rating, seven sacks taken) and the operational issues Williams was buried under (clock management was a disaster down the stretch again) only highlight it.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And a whole lot more. But we\u2019re going to start this week with a spin around the NFL\u2019s coaching carousel through the reporting I did ahead of Thursday night\u2019s game. (Don\u2019t worry, we\u2019ll get to everything else, too.)<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what\u2019s changed in Chicago? Well, the company line may have shifted a bit from the idea that the Bears are solely looking for a \u201cleader of men.\u201d One thing that was emphasized to me over the past week was that if that \u201cleader of men\u201d wasn\u2019t specifically a quarterbacks guy, then he\u2019d have to have a very clear and sustainable plan for the quarterback (while Campbell himself did fire an offensive coordinator before getting to his, he had a veteran in Jared Goff at the position).<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s some more on where I see their search going \u2026<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 The biggest question that prime candidates have is about the role of team president Kevin Warren, and I think the McCaskey family is aware of that.<\/em><\/strong> To that end, GM Ryan Poles is set up to run point on the search, and I\u2019m told it\u2019s because that\u2019s the way ownership wants it. Warren will have a seat at the table and a major say, of course. But Poles will, too, as the McCaskeys seek alignment on the football operations side.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson\u2019s name has been linked to Chicago forever. I think last year, the Bears would\u2019ve been near the top of his list. This year? It\u2019s probably more wait-and-see. He\u2019ll be selective this year taking interviews, likely only to sit down with teams he can see himself working for. And while I expect him to take an interview with Chicago, his criteria will remain as we\u2019ve outlined, with Johnson seeking alignment with a GM and an ownership group willing to identify and fix its mistakes. Maybe he\u2019ll find that in Chicago. Maybe not. We\u2019ll see.<\/strong><\/em><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel and current Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn are two leader-of-men types who fit the mold. I think the experience of both as players and Vrabel\u2019s as a head coach and Glenn\u2019s in the NFC North, would be pluses. But both will have to have quarterback plans, as we said.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Kliff Kingsbury is on the list. He\u2019s been a head coach in college (Texas Tech) and the NFL (Arizona Cardinals). He worked with Williams at USC in 2023, knows the good and bad, went through a tough year with the quarterback and they came out of it with a solid bond. Kingsbury also coached Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech and told me in \u201923 that parallels between the Chiefs\u2019 QB and Williams are \u201ceerie.\u201d The Bears interviewed Kingsbury for the OC job in January, so they have a feel for him. That said, Kingsbury\u2019s found football rejuvenation in D.C. and won\u2019t jump just to jump.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Another name connected to the position is Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores. He was a Boston College teammate of Poles in 2003, and the two have similar roots in the Bill Belichick system (Poles worked under Scott Pioli in Kansas City). I\u2019m also told that Warren\u2019s vetting of Flores with all his old connections in Minnesota (Warren worked for the Vikings for 15 years) yielded strong reviews for the 43-year-old. He will, of course, have to lay out a plan for how things would be different with Williams than they were with Tua Tagovailoa in Miami.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Interim coach Thomas Brown will get a look. As tough as the past month has been, the brass has sympathy for the challenge he\u2019s faced, going from pass-game coordinator (where he wasn\u2019t even running a position group) to interim OC to interim head coach in November.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Then, there\u2019s Pete Carroll, whose record speaks for itself. He\u2019s won a Super Bowl, been to two Super Bowls and had success that transcended all levels of the sport, with two national titles on his r\u00e9sum\u00e9 from nine seasons at USC. He also oversaw the development of three first-round quarterbacks with the Trojans, two of whom won the Heisman Trophy, and then Russell Wilson in Seattle. The question, of course, is his age. He\u2019s 73. But the Bears, at the very least, would like to sit down and talk with him.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NFC EAST<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DALLAS<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Veteran WR DARIUS SLAYTON stands up for embattled Coach Brian Daboll.  Paul Schwartz of the New York Post:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The longest-tenured Giants player still standing and playing says this about Brian Daboll:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Give him another shot.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think so,\u201d wide receiver Darius Slayton told The Post on Wednesday after practice. \u201cIt\u2019s been three years, I think another year to try to give him a chance to really get things rolling would be warranted.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slayton does not have a contract for 2025, so this is not simply a case of a player making nice with the boss.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daboll could be working through his final few days with the Giants, which is a stunning reversal of fortune, considering he was named the NFL\u2019s Coach of the Year in 2022.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Giants are 3-13 heading into Sunday\u2019s season finale against the Eagles \u2014 who will not be using their starters, including Saquon Barkley \u2014 and not long after that trip to Philly, the decision will come down from ownership whether Daboll stays as the head coach and Joe Schoen remains as the general manager.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf Joe and Dabes are gone, those are the guys that drafted me, so yeah, it definitely would affect me,\u201d third-year receiver Wan\u2019Dale Robinson told The Post, \u201cbut at the end of the day, still got to make this thing work.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making things work this season has been exceedingly difficult and darn near impossible for Daboll.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has kept the locker room together, which is a plus, but there also has been a franchise record 10-game losing streak, which is quite a minus.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside linebacker Brian Burns is finishing up his first season with the team and thus his reference point with Daboll does not go back to 2022, when Daboll arrived to take his first-ever head coaching assignment at any level of football.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Giants last week accomplished something rare and unexpected \u2014 actually winning a game, beating the Colts 45-33 \u2014 and Burns was asked if the players had rallied around Daboll to claim this victory.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been around him all year,\u201d Burns said.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was that. A simple declarative statement devoid of much emotion.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That seems to sum up the feeling about Daboll inside the Giants locker room. Most of the players have not been on the scene long enough to display a strong personal attachment.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the prominent players who were with Daboll for the lone winning season in three years \u2014 Andrew Thomas, Dexter Lawrence \u2014 are on injured reserve and not really a part of the fabric of the team right now.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUltimately, it\u2019s up to the ownership and what they decide,\u2019\u2019 said Slayton, who has been through three head coaches in his six years. \u201cIt\u2019s a tough business and just like there\u2019s tough decisions made on players, there\u2019s tough decisions made on coaches. I remember when Joe Judge got fired, he didn\u2019t get fired and then the next day he came into meetings and he was fired. You just never know.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PHILADELPHIA<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coach Nick Sirianni will deny RB SAQUON BARKLEY his first and perhaps only shot at the NFL season rushing record. Erich Richter of the New York Post:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There will be no Saquon Barkley record-breaking party Sunday.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni confirmed Wednesday that Philadelphia will be resting players, including Barkley, in Week 18 vs. the Giants as it prepares for the playoffs after winning the NFC East.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barkley, 27, ends his season with 2,005 rushing yards, just 101 yards away from breaking Eric Dickerson\u2019s record of 2,105 yards set in 1984.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s the head coach for a reason. He makes those decisions, and whatever decision he wanted to make, I let him know if you let me play, I\u2019m going to go out there and make sure I get it. And if I don\u2019t, I am OK with that, too,\u201d Barkley told reporters Wednesday.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cObviously it\u2019s a very special record that\u2019s been standing for a very long time by a great player. It\u2019s a team record that everybody\u2019s involved in. You weigh all those things,\u201d Sirianni told reporters Wednesday. \u201cBut at the end of the day, you just try to do what\u2019s best for the team. When the bye was, how guys are feeling, the bumps and bruises we can take care of. We\u2019ve put ourselves in a position to be in this situation.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barkley, who spent the first six years of his career with the Giants after being drafted with the No. 2 overall pick in 2018, was swiped away by the division rival Eagles in free agency.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The three-year contract for $37.75 million has immediately paid dividends for the Eagles, as they are 13-3 going into the season\u2019s final week.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NFC WEST<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

ARIZONA<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LOS ANGELES RAMS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

QB MATTHEW STAFFORD will not start against the Seahawks on Sunday.  Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford will not play in the team’s regular-season finale against the Seattle Seahawks, with coach Sean McVay saying Wednesday that Jimmy Garoppolo will start instead.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 10-6 Rams clinched the NFC West in Week 17 but are still playing for playoff seeding. They will finish with the No. 3 seed with a win or a tie against Seattle on Sunday or a loss by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A Rams loss and a Buccaneers victory would give Los Angeles the No. 4 seed.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garoppolo signed a one-year deal with the Rams in March to back up Stafford. Stetson Bennett, the Rams’ 2023 fourth-round pick, will serve as Garoppolo’s backup.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

McVay said the decision comes from “weighing the pros and cons” in what is “an important game for us.”<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’m always trying to make decisions that I think are best for our football team,” he said. “It might not be best for everybody else, but if you said risk-reward, I think it’s some great opportunity for Jimmy to be able to play. I think it’s also an awesome opportunity for Matthew to be able to get rested, rejuvenated and ready to go for the playoffs. He’s accumulated so much experience, and I think that’s the important thing.”<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right tackle Rob Havenstein, who injured his shoulder during a Week 17 practice, will not play Sunday. McVay said “everything is tilting towards” Havenstein being ready for a playoff game.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garoppolo signed with the Rams this offseason after he was released by the Las Vegas Raiders at the start of the new league year.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When asked whether he sees this game as an audition for a chance to start next season, Garoppolo said, “I think anytime you get on the grass in live action, that’s your r\u00e9sum\u00e9.”<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“What you do out there, everyone sees around the league,” Garoppolo said. “They’re going to break that tape down, good, bad or indifferent. They don’t really care who’s playing, what week it is, whatever it is. That’s your r\u00e9sum\u00e9. So that’s how I’ve always approached it. It’ll be no different this week.”<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SAN FRANCISCO<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEATTLE<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AFC WEST<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DENVER<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

KANSAS CITY<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coach Andy Reid has been fulsome in his praise for QB CARSON WENTZ.  The Dolphins and Bengals now hope he wasn\u2019t blowing smoke as Wentz will be entrusted with beating the Broncos in Denver and keeping Miami and Cincinnati\u2019s playoff hopes alive.  Adam Teicher of ESPN.com<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Coach Andy Reid said the Kansas City Chiefs would hold key players, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, out of Sunday’s final regular-season game at the Denver Broncos and that the decision wasn’t a difficult one.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reid’s decision means Mahomes and the others who won’t play against the Broncos will have a break of more than three weeks between game action. The 15-1 Chiefs have clinched the AFC’s top playoff seed and a first-round postseason bye.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carson Wentz will make his first start of the season at quarterback against the Broncos.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’ve been through that before, so I’m not too worried about all that,” Reid said. “It gives the other guys an opportunity here to grow and you can use everybody.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The primary thing is to make sure that we stay sharp in all areas through this game and for the upcoming weeks … We want to stay sharp mentally and physically and then that’s our responsibility to do that and how we manage the time. I make sure I do that practice-wise and the guys go out, players and coaches, and work on that.”<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Sunday’s game means nothing for Kansas City, it is pivotal for Denver. The Broncos would clinch a playoff berth as the No. 7 seed by beating the Chiefs, earning a trip to Buffalo for their postseason opener. If the Broncos lose, they would need the New York Jets to beat the Miami Dolphins on Sunday and the Pittsburgh Steelers to beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday night.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reid wasn’t specific about which players wouldn’t play in Denver other than to say Mahomes would be one of them. The Chiefs had a similar situation last season for their final regular-season game against the Los Angeles Chargers and Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, running back Isiah Pacheco, safety Justin Reid, defensive end George Karlaftis, cornerback Trent McDuffie and linebacker Nick Bolton were among those who didn’t play.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wentz has played sparingly in two games as a backup. He is 2-of-2 for 20 yards passing.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’m going to prepare to go out there and win and then have a good performance with this offense,” said Wentz, who started one game for the Rams last season after seven seasons as a starter with the Eagles, Colts and Commanders.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I got one shot last year and so for me it’s just not taking these chances for granted and having fun with it [and] cutting it loose.”<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wentz said preparing as a backup for a full season was a different experience for him. But he said he has always felt ready if the Chiefs needed him and that playing against the Broncos would be valuable for him if he has to play in the postseason.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I think it would be tremendous just getting reps,” Wentz said. “Obviously preseason is helpful, but that was even limited and seems like another lifetime ago already. This will definitely be helpful if needed in whatever capacity down the stretch there in the playoffs. But quite frankly, I’m just excited to get out there and play ball.”<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wentz signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs. He wouldn’t speculate on his future or what a good showing against the Broncos might do for him.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’m confident in myself,” he said. “I’m confident in my abilities and what I’ve done in the past is in the past — good, bad, indifferent. I’m so confident I can play and play at a high level and so I’m looking forward to hopefully doing that this weekend and having fun while I’m at it.”<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AFC SOUTH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

INDIANAPOLIS<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Has Jim Irsay soured on GM Chris Ballard? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That and other issues explored by Zak Keefer and James Boyd in The Athletic<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back in July, the boss brimmed with his trademark optimism.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the best team we\u2019ve fielded in a while,\u201d Jim Irsay boasted. Weeks later, during a preseason game, the Indianapolis Colts\u2019 65-year-old owner spelled out his hopes for the coming season. \u201cI think we have the kind of football team that can really make a difference and go beyond just making the playoffs, but winning playoff games.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a man who has never shied away from speaking his mind \u2014 be it on social media, in postgame scrums outside the locker room or in late-night calls to local reporters \u2014 Irsay has largely been invisible of late. No X posts of consequence. No state of the union videos from inside his office or outside his private jet. No mention of \u201call chips in,\u201d probably because the chips were never really all-in to begin with.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Sunday, for the second time in four seasons, the Colts sealed their playoff fate with a humiliating loss to the worst team in football. Three years ago, it happened in Jacksonville, where Jaguars fans showed up in clown masks to mock the home team on the final Sunday of the season, then watched them roll the Colts 26-11. Irsay was so irate that by the third quarter, he was asking confidants what it would take to rid himself of quarterback Carson Wentz\u2019s contract.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Four days ago in East Rutherford, N.J., the two-win Giants lit up Irsay\u2019s team for 45 points, the most New York has scored in nine years. The loss cemented Indianapolis\u2019 fourth straight season without a playoff berth and sixth straight without a playoff win. The Colts haven\u2019t won the AFC South \u2014 as wide-open a division as there is in the NFL \u2014 in 10 years.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe sh\u2014 the bed,\u201d defensive tackle DeForest Buckner said in the aftermath.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe standard has to be raised,\u201d running back Jonathan Taylor added.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe just gotta do something different,\u201d wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. said. \u201cI don\u2019t know what that is, but \u2014 something.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the middle of it all is the general manager who built this roster and has repeatedly defended an approach that has netted a 61-69-1 record in eight seasons. \u201cIf it gets me fired, so be it,\u201d Chris Ballard said in August. He believed his team was ready to compete. He was wrong. Again.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Irsay has long stood up for his GM, whom he once compared to Michael Jordan, believing strongly in Ballard\u2019s ability to build through the draft. \u201cI think a lot of Chris,\u201d the owner said in 2022. \u201cYoung GMs make mistakes. He\u2019s been up against it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Ballard is no longer a young GM. And for Irsay, a man who\u2019s always selling hope \u2014 in many respects, he\u2019s the biggest Colts fan out there \u2014 there is little left. Fans are fed up, exhausted by false promises and underwhelming seasons. Ballard\u2019s approach has grown stale. After a promising debut in 2023, head coach Shane Steichen regressed this year both as a play caller and franchise figurehead; his refusal to answer direct questions during news conferences created multiple PR messes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then there\u2019s the 22-year-old franchise quarterback who tapped out of a divisional game in Houston because, he admitted afterward, he was \u201ctired.\u201d Anthony Richardson\u2019s injuries, inaccuracy from the pocket and two-game benching have raised serious questions about his ability to become Indianapolis\u2019 long-term answer at the position. For now, according to a team source, the Colts plan to keep Richardson under center in 2025 in hopes he continues to develop.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But who will be calling the shots above him? Are Ballard and Steichen\u2019s fates tied together?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Irsay has yet to speak on the matter, and if the past is a prelude, that usually means change is coming.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEveryone knows when you\u2019re going in the right direction,\u201d the owner said two years back. \u201cEven if you\u2019re 6-11, you can tell. That\u2019s what I wanna see and feel.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a season full of storms, more could be coming. Over the past few months, conversations with team and league sources, many of whom were granted anonymity in order to speak openly without fear of reprisal, painted a picture of a fractured franchise stuck in a cycle of mediocrity since the night Andrew Luck walked out the door.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was nearly six years ago. Irsay\u2019s team still doesn\u2019t know where it\u2019s going.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no vision,\u201d one veteran Colts player said. \u201cFrom the top down \u2014 from the front office, to the coaches, to the players \u2014 no one is ever on the same page, and every year at the end, we\u2019re sitting here losing. If you look at the best teams in the league, they all have a vision, and they commit to it. The Chiefs keep winning because they have a vision. The Lions turned things around because they have a vision.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no vision here.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the shock of Luck\u2019s retirement wore off, the future came into focus. It was August 2019, and for the first time in 20 years, the Colts didn\u2019t have a plan at quarterback.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to draft one every year,\u201d Ballard told his scouts the following spring.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So while the team churned through veteran stopgaps at the position to varying degrees of disappointment \u2014 Philip Rivers in 2020 being the lone exception \u2014 the Colts took successive Day 3 swings in the draft, hoping to hit.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2020 Ballard wanted Oklahoma\u2019s Jalen Hurts, whom he graded as a third-round talent. \u201cThere\u2019s something about this guy,\u201d Ballard kept telling the room. Problem was, Eagles GM Howie Roseman felt the same way and took Hurts in the second round. Sixty-nine spots later, the Colts drafted a quarterback for the first time in eight years. Then-coach Frank Reich pushed for Washington\u2019s Jacob Eason, a relatively raw prospect with a rocket arm, after the two hit it off during a pre-draft visit.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Eason never made a regular-season start in Indianapolis. Two years later, he lost his job to Sam Ehlinger, a less-talented but more polished prospect out of Texas whom Ballard grabbed in the sixth round in 2021. Irsay pushed Ehlinger into the lineup during the disastrous 2022 season, but by the end of that campaign \u2014 one that began with Matt Ryan at the helm \u2014 the Colts found themselves in a familiar spot: aimless at the most important position on the field.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ballard\u2019s failure to find an answer at quarterback was costing the franchise. Stellar seasons from linebacker Shaquille Leonard, Buckner and Taylor, among others, were being wasted because the Colts couldn\u2019t find stability on offense. Or, in some cases, even competency.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTaking (a quarterback) will get y\u2019all off my ass for a little bit, but the second that guy doesn\u2019t play well? I\u2019m gonna be the first one run out of the building,\u201d Ballard vented after the 2020 season. \u201cI promise you, we get the importance of the quarterback position.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But he never got it right. And while Ballard has found success in the draft \u2014 something that has always endeared him to Irsay \u2014 the Colts\u2019 top talent came at the wrong positions. Quenton Nelson has made three All-Pro teams at guard. Before a debilitating back injury, Leonard was an elite off-ball linebacker. Taylor was undeniably the league\u2019s best running back in 2021.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Colts have little to show for it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No elite edge rusher since Robert Mathis in 2013. No true No. 1 receiver. Middling tight ends the past few years.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ballard\u2019s drafted some great players. He\u2019s also failed to build a great team.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A frustrated fan base has been watching the same story on repeat: The Colts draft reasonably well, remain prudent in free agency, pay solid players solid money, underachieve in the regular season and narrowly miss the playoffs.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gamble on Richardson, whom the Colts took fourth in the 2023 draft, was both necessary and justified. Irsay would later say the Colts would\u2019ve taken him first overall if they had the chance. And had he not been there, Irsay added, the pick would\u2019ve been Kentucky\u2019s Will Levis, who ultimately tumbled out of the first round.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Colts knew Richardson\u2019s development was going to take time. He was 20 years old. He\u2019d started just 13 games in college, where his completion percentage was a dismal 54.7. \u201cTen years ago, he\u2019s not a first-round pick,\u201d said one league source. \u201cFive years ago, he\u2019s not a first-round pick.\u201d Assistant GM Ed Dodds was initially skeptical, calling Richardson\u2019s one season as a starter at Florida \u201ca roller coaster,\u201d though he later came around on the quarterback.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ballard had been preaching patience for years. Now he stressed it. \u201cHe\u2019s not going to be Superman from Day 1,\u201d the GM said of the new face of the franchise.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the next year-plus, the team would learn Richardson was as raw as they come. \u201cThe preparation stuff isn\u2019t there yet. He just doesn\u2019t know,\u201d said one NFL talent evaluator.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA good kid but na\u00efve to what it takes to be a pro QB,\u201d another added.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

None of it should have been a surprise. Asked in March 2023 about where Richardson would need to improve most at the next level, Florida head coach Billy Napier offered a telling response: \u201cGrowing as a leader. Having conviction \u2026 with his voice, speaking with clarity \u2026 to be kind of the standard-bearer for the entire organization.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One scout who studied Richardson in the draft was surprised to learn he was voted team captain after his first training camp. \u201cThey put a C on his chest, which is not him,\u201d the scout said.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entering the 2023 season, the Colts added veteran Gardner Minshew, who could start while Richardson acclimated to the pro game. Privately, Irsay wanted Richardson to play. After just one preseason game, Steichen made the call: the rookie was named the starter.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A year later, Ballard would come to question the decision, wondering if the young passer would have benefited more from watching and waiting. Because 10 starts into the QB\u2019s career, Steichen sent Richardson to the bench.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wish we hadn\u2019t played him as a rookie,\u201d Ballard told The Athletic last month.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Colts needed to clean up Steichen\u2019s mess. Hours after Richardson was ruled out of last week\u2019s game against the Giants, a team source contacted local reporters to clear the air the coach had filled with a smokescreen all week.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The source revealed that Richardson wasn\u2019t just \u201creally sore\u201d with back and foot injuries, as Steichen said. The quarterback was dealing with severe back spasms, resulting in a \u201clack of mobility and movement.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Translation: Richardson wasn\u2019t quitting on the season or his team, which at the time still had a shot to make the playoffs. He\u2019d missed practice all week. He couldn\u2019t play.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI should\u2019ve said spasms,\u201d Steichen admitted after the Colts\u2019 loss. \u201cIt was soreness\/spasms.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Wednesday, Richardson revealed that last week\u2019s back pain was so severe he \u201ccouldn\u2019t even stand up.\u201d An MRI revealed \u201ca disc thing\u201d that the quarterback said \u201cmight be chronic,\u201d though he doesn\u2019t think he\u2019ll need surgery. Richardson\u2019s status for Sunday\u2019s season finale against the Jaguars remains uncertain.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The episode wasn\u2019t the first time Steichen\u2019s reticence to share information left his young QB exposed. After benching Richardson in late October, Steichen refused to explain the decision other than to say Richardson was going through \u201ca process\u201d and that he believed Joe Flacco gave the team \u201cthe best chance to win now.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked if his players were on board with the decision, Steichen demurred, saying \u201cI can\u2019t speak for our team.\u201d He wouldn\u2019t even commit to Richardson ever playing for the Colts again. It wasn\u2019t until two weeks later, after Richardson was thrust back into the lineup following back-to-back flops from Flacco, that Steichen explained himself. Sort of.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the attention to detail in everything he does. From the classrooms to the walk-throughs to practice to the weight room, all those little things, it\u2019s just gotta be at a higher standard,\u201d the coach said. \u201cHe\u2019s shown strides. He really has.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Steichen didn\u2019t say: Flacco had been so awful there was simply no way he could keep playing him. While the coach flip-flopped, several players privately questioned the direction of the franchise.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey were trying to hold (Richardson) accountable, which is understandable, but then the guy they put in wasn\u2019t the guy either,\u201d one Colts veteran said. \u201cSo when they went back to A.R., at that point it\u2019s like, \u2018OK, but what are we doing?\u2019 That really affected the team.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multiple players met with Richardson privately to tell him he wasn\u2019t meeting the standard, Buckner among them. \u201cI signed an extension here because I believed in you,\u201d Buckner told Richardson, according to The Athletic\u2019s Jim Trotter. \u201cBut you\u2019ve got to do your part.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of it \u2014 the benching, the waves of criticism, the harsh words from veteran teammates \u2014 appeared to resonate with Richardson, who around this time began reading James Clear\u2019s \u201cAtomic Habits\u201d at Ehlinger\u2019s suggestion. The third-string QB implored Richardson to reconfigure his \u201csystem\u201d in order to maximize his potential.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, put in more time. Commit.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe guys ask me to do certain things,\u201d Richardson said after being named the starter again. \u201cEven if I didn\u2019t feel like doing it, man, you gotta do it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Days later, he capped the best outing of his young career with a six-play, 70-yard game-winning drive to beat the Jets at MetLife Stadium, plowing through New York cornerback D.J. Reed on a designed run for the deciding score. It was one of Richardson\u2019s three touchdowns that day, and he finished with a career-high 66.7 completion percentage.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the locker room afterward, tears welled in his eyes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLord knows, the last couple of weeks have been a little challenging mentally,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I stuck with it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Richardson led another game-winning drive at New England two weeks later, convincing his teammates and some in the building that he\u2019d turned a corner. \u201cHe\u2019s a superstar in the making,\u201d linebacker Zaire Franklin said.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steichen started calling games differently, leaning more on Richardson\u2019s ability as a runner. Before the benching, the Colts dialed up 3.3 designed QB runs per game; after Richardson returned to the lineup, the number jumped to 6.4. It begged the question: Even weighing the quarterback\u2019s injuries \u2014 Richardson has missed 16 games in two seasons \u2014 why didn\u2019t the team employ a more run-friendly offense to start the season?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because, to this point, he remains too inconsistent from the pocket, especially on short-to-intermediate throws. Richardson\u2019s completion percentage is a league-worst 47.7, though drops from his receiving corps and uneven line play have factored into that. His EPA per dropback is the second-worst in the league, behind only Levis, who was benched by the Titans earlier this season.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two years into his career \u2014 through injury, criticism and the occasional highlight \u2014 Richardson is very much the same player he was at Florida.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leave it to one of the franchise\u2019s most famous alums to dish on the sorry state of his former team.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pat McAfee, the former punter and now ubiquitous host of his namesake midday show on ESPN, unloaded on the Colts organization after Sunday\u2019s loss to the Giants. In a lengthy message posted on X, McAfee spoke to what he sees as a \u201ccultural issue\u201d inside the franchise.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA blind person could see the red flags on this team,\u201d he wrote.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He went off regarding Richardson\u2019s tap-out in Houston: \u201cSomehow A.R. thought it was OK to do that. That\u2019s a locker room issue \u2026 that\u2019s an indicator of a loser attitude radiating thru (sic) a building that was built by greats.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He ripped the veterans on the roster. \u201cYour unwarranted arrogance, laziness, and lack of professionalism has led you to ANOTHER early vacation \u2026 which is probably what most of you entitled bums have been hoping for.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And he questioned their commitment. \u201cLate to meetings, NEVER happens on good teams. Late to\/skipping treatment, NEVER happens on good teams.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steichen and Buckner did little to dispel those accusations in the days after the loss to the Giants.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think with any team, not everyone\u2019s gonna be on time every time,\u201d the coach said. \u201cBut there is accountability, and guys are held to a standard, and that is talked about in-house.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had some issues where we haven\u2019t had people being accountable and stuff like that,\u201d Buckner admitted. \u201cAnd we\u2019ve called people on it. I mean, that\u2019s what happens (on) almost every team.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not the good ones, as McAfee said. The Colts\u2019 issues have lingered for months. Seven weeks ago, after a loss to the Bills, veteran cornerback Kenny Moore II called out the team\u2019s preparation and intensity. \u201cI don\u2019t think the urgency is there,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t think the details are there. I don\u2019t think the effort is there.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moore was right, and the Colts\u2019 most recent late-season collapse revealed this team was never a legitimate playoff contender to begin with. In Week 15 at Denver, Taylor dropped the ball inches from the goal line on what would\u2019ve been a 41-yard touchdown run, a mistake that swung the game in an instant. Then came the embarrassment in East Rutherford last week.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Franklin, a five-year captain and one of the team leaders the Colts urged Richardson to learn from after he arrived in Indianapolis, had begged for the matchup on his podcast earlier this season.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wanna play a team I know we gonna spank, like the Giants or some sh\u2014,\u201d Franklin said in October. \u201cI wanna play a team that ain\u2019t good with a big market. I\u2019m trying to get my rank up \u2026 Gimme the 4-11 Giants.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Giants \u2014 actually 2-13 entering Sunday \u2014 are now 3-13 after spanking the Colts.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cObviously, something I shouldn\u2019t have said,\u201d Franklin said Wednesday. \u201cPoor choice by me. \u2026 I just gotta be better with my words moving forward.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

McAfee hasn\u2019t been the only former Colt to express his disgust. Former Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday, who played a role in the franchise\u2019s downward spiral as Irsay\u2019s out-of-left-field choice for interim coach in 2022, weighed in. \u201cI didn\u2019t like the tap-out,\u201d Saturday said of Richardson on \u201cThe Domonique Foxworth Show\u201d back in November. \u201cAs an offensive lineman, my QB ain\u2019t coming out because he\u2019s freaking tired.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday\u2019s quarterback was Peyton Manning, who, along with a host of future Hall of Famers, used to set the standard in Indianapolis. The Colts were a model organization back then, contenders for a championship year after year.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s what Irsay\u2019s been chasing for a decade. It\u2019s never felt further away.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AFC EAST<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BUFFALO<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It sounds like QB JOSH ALLEN insisted on at least a start Sunday in New England.  Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bills have clinched the No. 2 seed in the AFC, but quarterback Josh Allen will start Sunday\u2019s regular-season finale even while some other playoff-bound quarterbacks will sit out. Allen says it matters to him that he shows up to work every day.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allen has started 114 straight regular season and postseason games, and although he\u2019d have to keep going for more than a decade to break Brett Favre\u2019s record of 321, the streak is important to him.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not close to anywhere near that record, it\u2019s a long ways away,\u201d Allen said. \u201cIt\u2019s something that means a lot to me. Just making sure that I\u2019ve been available, playing through things throughout the years. Yeah, it means a lot to me, so I\u2019m glad I get to start.\u201d<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allen isn\u2019t expected to stay on the field for long, and Bills head coach Sean McDermott probably won\u2019t be calling any designed quarterback runs for his MVP candidate quarterback. But Allen will make it 115 straight starts on Sunday, and then hope to extend the streak to 119 straight starts in the Super Bowl.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEW YORK<\/strong> JETS<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charlie Campbell collects Jets rumors (Rex Ryan ?!?!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

@DraftCampbell<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rumors I’m hearing on Jets openings via team sources:<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Rex Ryan is a real possibility for Jets, so is Brian Flores.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Aaron Glenn is said to want the job.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Phil Savage is a serious candidate to be permanent GM. Savage knows team better than external candidates. Savage is very experienced and well-regarded around the league. He could work with any HC, Ryan, Flores, Jon Gruden, Mike Vrabel, etc.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

– – –<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QB AARON RODGERS will start Sunday, trying to Miami out of playoff contention while starting the game with 499 career TD passes.  He acknowledges he might never start again.  Rich Cimini of ESPN.com<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers will make his 241st career start Sunday. It could be his last.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Yeah, of course,” he said Wednesday, acknowledging that the thought is on his mind as he prepares for Sunday’s season finale against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rodgers, 41, said he will decide before free agency in March on whether to play in 2025, joking that he won’t need a darkness retreat this time to help his thought process.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a reflective mood, Rodgers said he has “a lot of gratitude for the last 20 years,” adding that he’s thankful for the many coaches and teammates he has encountered on his football journey from high school to the Jets. He sounded as if he’s thinking hard about retirement.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This game has given me a lot,” he said. “I’ve given a lot back to it, and I’m thankful for it. I won’t be thinking about that on game day. I’ll just be enjoying this. I’m trying to stay in the moment, but, of course, it’s been a long career. I’m really proud of what I’ve been able to be a part of, what I’ve been able to accomplish, and I’m also looking forward to a nice mental and physical rest.”<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The former Green Bay Packers legend left open the possibility of returning to the Jets — if the new regime wants him back — but he didn’t appear overly optimistic about that happening.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’m just more resigned to the reality of the situation,” Rodgers said. “I think there’s going to be change here, and if I’m a part of the change, then I just want to make sure everybody knows I have nothing but gratitude for my time here.”<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rodgers, brought in by the Jets in April 2023, called these “the best two years of my life.” He certainly wasn’t referring to what has transpired on the field. After missing nearly the entire 2023 season with a torn Achilles, Rodgers hasn’t played up to expectations. He’s ranked 25th out of 33 qualified passers in Total QBR, with 24 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions — only the fourth time in his career that he has hit double-digit interceptions. The Jets, who began the season with Super Bowl aspirations, are 4-12.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’m disappointed about the performance with myself and as a team, but really thankful for the opportunity,” Rodgers said. “If I feel good coming back and they want to make another run at this, that’d be fantastic, but I’m not naive to the situation we’re in.”<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Jets, who fired coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas during the season, have begun the search for replacements. A new regime likely means a change at quarterback. Rodgers, who is under contract for 2025, said he hopes to speak with the next GM at some point to get a feel for the organization’s thinking.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, he wants to rest. The grind of rehabbing his surgically repaired Achilles exacted a physical and mental toll, he said. He believes that, with proper rest in the offseason and another year removed from surgery, he could be better in 2025.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I need a break, mentally,” he said.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rodgers is on the verge of becoming the fifth player in NFL history with 500 touchdown passes. With 62,678 yards, he needs only 115 to pass Matt Ryan for seventh on the career list.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“To even be a small part of his story is, it’s an honor,” interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said. “And if it happens to be his last game, let’s take him out on the right note.”<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wide receiver Garrett Wilson, whose relationship with Rodgers has come under scrutiny, told ESPN “it’s a blessing” to play with the four-time MVP. “It’s something I’ll tell my kids about.”<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wilson has expressed frustration about his role in the offense, fueling speculation that he’s at odds with Rodgers.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Yeah, I’ve seen some of that,” Wilson said. “Yeah, I mean, there’s no truth to that. At the end of the day, I don’t speak on things like that because social media is not real.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This is my first time addressing it,” he continued. “That stuff is just words for people trying to figure out a way to divide us more than they’ve already tried, like the record isn’t enough. Obviously, we’ve got a lot going on here, especially this season, trying to dig ourselves out of this hole. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to. But my feet are where my feet are at, and I’m going to try and finish this thing the right way.”<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

THIS AND THAT<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

RECORDS WATCH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jacob Robinson of The Athletic highlights various NFL records that are to discussed during Week 18:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Ditka to Bowers<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Through the 1950s, if you played tight end, you were typically attached to the hip of an offensive tackle. Occasionally, you caught a pass. That changed in 1961, when a rookie named Mike Ditka revolutionized the position. <\/strong> In just 14 games, he caught 56 passes for 1,076 yards and 12 touchdowns. No tight end had ever approached that trio, which each ranked among that season’s top five receivers. Among rookie tight ends, two of his records then stood for 62 years, even as two new record-holders overtook the receptions category: <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
This year, another 22-year-old phenom wearing No. 89 \u2014  <\/strong>Brock Bowers \u2014 has already rewritten the record books<\/a>, setting new rookie TE marks for receptions (108, a record for any<\/em> rookie, besting Puka Nacua’s 105 from last season) and yards (1,144) with one game to play. Ditka’s touchdown record will remain intact (Bowers has just four), as should Nacua’s for rookie receiving yardage (1,486), but plenty of other records could be set in Week 18. Here are seven more records to watch, starting with the oldest. <\/strong>For each, I’ll assign a likelihood of either <\/strong>or \"\u26d4\"\ufe0f. 1984: Eric Dickerson’s 2,105 rushing yards.<\/strong> <\/strong>\ufe0f <\/strong>Last Sunday, the former Rams star, now 64, explained why he hopes Saquon Barkley \u2014 currently at 2,005 yards \u2014 falls short. From USA Today: “These people who say, \u2018Records are meant to be broken,\u2019 you ain\u2019t got no record. When you get those records, you want to hang on to them.”Dickerson can take solace in Eagles HC Nick Sirianni “probably” resting Barkley<\/a> in an otherwise meaningless Week 18 game. (Worth noting Barkley’s carried the ball 34 fewer times than Dickerson did.) Of course, Barkley setting that record against his former Giants would be poetic. <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
If Barkley rests, he will also finish 226 scrimmage yards short of tying Chris Johnson’s 2,509 from 2009. 1996: Jerry Rice’s 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. <\/strong>Mike Evans’ career began<\/em> with 10 straight four-digit seasons, something even the GOAT didn’t accomplish, having assembled 927 as a rookie. This season, despite Evans missing three games with a hamstring injury, he’ll just need 85 yards against the Saints to tie Rice, albeit with the benefit of a 17th game. 2003: Torry Holt’s 6,784 receiving yards through five seasons. <\/strong>Despite missing seven games last season, Justin Jefferson smashed this record by 2024’s midseason. The NFL’s all-time leader in receiving yards per game (97.1), he is now at 7,378 yards with one game to play. To catch him, Ja’Marr Chase would need to set a single-season receiving yardage mark next season. 2011: Aaron Rodgers’ 122.5 season passer rating. <\/strong>\ufe0f <\/strong>Lamar Jackson’s current 121.6 is the second-best mark ever, assisted by his 3,955 passing yards, 39 touchdown passes and mere four interceptions. His Ravens play the Browns this weekend, but his rating against them during a loss earlier this year was only 101.8. 2018: Drew Brees’ 74.4 completion percentage. <\/strong>\ufe0f <\/strong>If Tua Tagovailoa (72.9, third-best all time), Baker Mayfield (71.7, fifth) and Jared Goff (71.4, sixth) all finish with completion rates of 70-plus, they’ll become the first trio to do so in a single season. 2024 quarterbacks could also finish with the highest average completion percentage (65.3) in NFL history. As for besting Brees’ record, Tagovailoa would have needed to complete at least 25 of 25 passes on Sunday against the Jets, but he’s missing that game<\/a> due to injury. 2020: Justin Herbert’s 31 touchdown passes as a rookie. <\/strong>\ufe0f <\/strong>Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix are each at 25, making it even more impressive that Herbert set this record in just 15 games. 2021: Receiving triple crown.<\/strong> \"\u2705\" Since 2000, only Cooper Kupp and Steve Smith Sr. have led the league in receptions, yards and touchdowns in the same season. Expect Ja’Marr Chase to join that group, as he currently has significant breathing room in each category:<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Another<\/strong> record to spotlight: Myles Garrett’s 14-plus sacks in four consecutive seasons. <\/strong>An incredible feat, considering the constant double teams and uncalled holds he regularly faces. (After eight years and one playoff win, this could be his last year in Cleveland<\/a>.) Trivia answer: <\/strong>As for Jayden Daniels’ rookie quarterback rushing record, the previous holder was Robert Griffin III, who had 815 yards on the ground in just 15 games, one fewer than Daniels so far.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

BROADCAST NEWS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The power of the NFL is shown again as the DB admits to being among the 11 million who watched the Seahawks-Bears game.  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After each Thursday night game of the year, Amazon usually sends out an email with the audience numbers. After the final Thursday night game of the year \u2014 a 6-3 stinker between the Seahawks and Bears \u2014 no press release was sent.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That created the impression the numbers reflected the quality of the game. However, given how bad the game was, the ratings weren\u2019t.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Via SportsMediaWatch.com<\/a>, 11.04 million tuned in for the Week 17 contest. That beat the 2023 game between the Jets and Browns by seven percent, and the 2022 game between the Cowboys and Titans by 13 percent.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was still the second lowest audience of the year for TNF, ahead of only Broncos-Saints in October.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prime Video will televise one of the wild-card games. The goal will surely be to beat the streaming records set by Ravens-Texans (24.3 million) and Chiefs-Steelers (24.1 million) by the Netflix games on Christmas Day.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, it comes down to the quality of the matchup. The better the game that the NFL gives to Prime Video, the more likely a new high-water mark will be established.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For perspective, the World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees drew about 16 millions eyeballs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CFP Playoffs \u2013 Tennessee at Ohio State    14.2 million<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NBA Finals \u2013 7.6 million<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woman\u2019s Final Four \u2013 Uconn vs. Caitlin Clark  14 million<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                    South Carolina vs Caitlin Clark 18 million<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NCAA Men\u2019s Final Four \u2013 14.8 million<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Week 17 Lions-49ers game on Monday Night Football \u2013 22 million<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRO BOWL GAMES ROSTERS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the rosters for the Pro Bowl (Games).  QB PATRICK MAHOMES cannot be found on the AFC team, and QB BAKER MAYFIELD isn\u2019t on the NFC team (not that we know who we would kick off to make room for them):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NFC Pro Bowl roster<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Position           Player                            Team<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QB                  Jayden Daniels              Commanders<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QB                  Sam Darnold                  Vikings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QB                  Jared Goff                      Lions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RB                  Saquon Barkley              Eagles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RB                  Jahmyr Gibbs                 Lions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RB                  Josh Jacobs                   Packers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FB                   Kyle Juszczyk                49ers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WR                  Justin Jefferson             Vikings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WR                  CeeDee Lamb               Cowboys<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WR                  Terry McLaurin              Commanders<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WR                  Amon-Ra St. Brown       Lions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TE                   George Kittle                  49ers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TE                   Trey McBride                  Cardinals<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OT                   Lane Johnson               Eagles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OT                  Penei Sewell                  Lions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OT                  Tristan Wirfs                   Buccaneers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OG                  Landon Dickerson         Eagles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OG                  Chris Lindstrom             Falcons<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OG                  Tyler Smith                    Cowboys<\/p>\n\n\n\n

C                     Cam Jurgens                 Eagles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

C                    Frank Ragnow                Lions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DE                  Nick Bosa                       49ers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DE                  Rashan Gary                  Packers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DE                  Micah Parsons               Cowboys<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DT                  Jalen Carter                   Eagles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DT                  Dexter Lawrence           Giants<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DT                  Vita Vea                         Buccaneers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LB                  Zack Baun                      Eagles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LB                  Fred Warner                   49ers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OLB               Jonathan Greenard        Vikings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OLB               Andrew Van Ginkel        Vikings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OLB               Jared Verse                    Rams<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CB                   Jaycee Horn                 Panthers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CB                  Jaylon Johnson             Bears<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CB                  Byron Murphy               Vikings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CB                  Devon Witherspoon      Seahawks<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FS                    Xavier McKinney         Packers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SS                    Budda Baker              Cardinals<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SS                    Brian Branch               Lions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

P                      Jack Fox                     Lions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

K                      Brandon Aubrey          Cowboys<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LS                    Andrew DePaola         Vikings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RS                   KaVontae Turpin         Cowboys<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ST                   KhaDarel Hodge          Falcons<\/p>\n\n\n\n

AFC Pro Bowl roster<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Position           Player                           Team<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QB                   Josh Allen                    Bills<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QB                   Joe Burrow                   Bengals<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QB                  Lamar Jackson              Ravens<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RB                  Derrick Henry                 Ravens<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RB                   Joe Mixon                     Texans<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RB                  Jonathan Taylor            Colts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FB                  Patrick Ricard                Ravens<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WR                  Ja’Marr Chase              Bengals<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WR                  Nico Collins                  Texans<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WR                  Zay Flowers                  Ravens<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WR                  Jerry Jeudy                   Browns<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TE                   Brock Bowers               Raiders<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TE                   Travis Kelce                 Chiefs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OT                  Dion Dawkins                Bills<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OT                  Rashawn Slater             Chargers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OT                  Laremy Tunsil               Texans<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OG                 Quenton Nelson            Colts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OG                 Trey Smith                     Chiefs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OG                 Joe Thuney                   Chiefs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

C                   Creed Humphrey            Chiefs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

C                   Tyler Linderbaum           Ravens<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DE                  Maxx Crosby                 Raiders<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DE                  Myles Garrett                Browns<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DE                  Trey Hendrickson         Bengals<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DT                  Cameron Heyward        Steelers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DT                  Chris Jones                   Chiefs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DT                   Nnamdi Madubuike      Ravens<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LB                    Zaire Franklin               Colts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LB                   Roquan Smith              Ravens<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OLB                Nik Bonitto                    Broncos<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OLB                Khalil Mack                   Chargers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OLB                T.J. Watt                       Steelers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CB                  Marlon Humphrey         Ravens<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CB                  Derek Stingley Jr.         Texans<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CB                  Patrick Surtain II           Broncos<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CB                  Denzel Ward                 Browns<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FS                  Minkah Fitzpatrick         Steelers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SS                  Kyle Hamilton                Ravens<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SS                  Derwin James               Chargers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

P                     Logan Cooke                Jaguars<\/p>\n\n\n\n

K                     Chris Boswell                Steelers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LS                   Ross Matiscik               Jaguars<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RS                  Marvin Mims Jr.            Broncos<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ST                  Brenden Schooler         Patriots<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kevin Patra of NFL.com<\/a> looks over the rosters and offers 10 \u201csnubs\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A snub is in the eye of the beholder.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now that the 2025 Pro Bowl Games rosters have been announced, discussion and debate about players from both conferences will abound. Some will be aghast at an omission from the Games. Others will take solace that a particular player or two finally garnered deserved attention. Everyone has their own list — it’s only natural.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With 88 total spots broken up between two conferences and each position being capped, it’s impossible for every worthy player to be honored. There is a zero percent chance of everyone having the same 88 names. That’s why “snub” lists like this exist.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In undertaking this endeavor yet again, I personally am less offended by players left off. Instead, I’d like to use this opportunity to highlight those men who have had outstanding years and might have just missed the cut. Some on my list will be outliers to a greater degree than others. The game of “who would you replace” is wholly unfair to the talented players who did have their names on the initial rosters. It’s also not necessary. This is an all-star event for fun, not a cabinet position — and a swath of players on the initial roster will be replaced, some due to making the Super Bowl, others because of injuries or for other reasons.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before I get to my list, know that there is one name you won’t see below, and you can consider him a snubbed snub, if you must: Patrick Mahomes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The quarterback of the No. 1-seeded Chiefs has basically been a shoo-in for the Pro Bowl, earning a nod in every season since becoming the team’s starter in 2018. Given Mahomes’ standing as the back-to-back Super Bowl MVP guiding Kansas City to a 15-1 record, you could easily make a case for him to be a Pro Bowler again in 2025. Yet, by all standards outside of the win column — which surely Mahomes would say is all he cares about — this has been a down year for the all-world talent.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Mahomes set to sit out a Week 18 contest against the Broncos that is meaningless to the Chiefs, he will have set career lows (going back to 2018) in passing yards (3,928), success rate (50.7%, per Pro Football Reference), yards per attempt (6.8) and yards per game (245.5) while tying for his lowest mark in TD passes (26). For most QBs, those numbers would be fine, if not excellent. For Mahomes, they’re just OK. It makes his ability to deliver clutch plays in the crucible of big moments all the more impressive.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mahomes’ omission also speaks to the insane level at which Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson are currently playing. Allen is leading a juggernaut Bills offense with both his arm and legs. He’s creating fewer negative plays (taking just 14 total sacks so far) than ever. Burrow leads pretty much every statistical category and would probably be the MVP if not for the sieve-like defense holding Cincinnati back. And Jackson is having a better season than he did in 2023, when earned his second career MVP.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wouldn’t detest anyone who insists that leaving off the QB of a 15-1 club is a snub; Mahomes simply didn’t make my list this season.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

10  Cooper DeJean<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Philadelphia Eagles \u00b7 CB<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider DeJean a stand-in for the entire Eagles secondary, which was shut out of the Pro Bowl. The rookie has been sensational since entering the lineup in Week 6, proving to be the top slot corner in the NFL. His EPA when targeted (-28.3) is the best mark among all nickel backs and No. 2 among all defensive backs. His -0.46 EPA per target ranks second among all corners (minimum of 300 coverage snaps), behind only Pat Surtain II. DeJean is allowing a league-low 4.8 yards per target when aligned in the slot (minimum of 20 targets) and hasn’t given up a TD as a slot defender, with five passes defended. The stingy rookie has helped transform Philly’s defense under Vic Fangio. Entering Week 18, the Eagles D had allowed over one full fewer yard per pass attempt with DeJean on the field (5.6) than when he was off it (7.0).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

9  James Cook<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buffalo Bills \u00b7 RB<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 13-3 Buffalo Bills have just two Pro Bowlers on the initial list: QB Josh Allen and offensive tackle Dion Dawkins. It’s a nod to Allen’s otherworldly play this season. But voters appear to have overlooked Cook’s vital role in helping Buffalo to the AFC East title. Cook leads the NFL with 17 scrimmage TDs this season, including 15 rushing scores. Failing to clear 1,000 rushing yards (he has 981 rushing yards entering Week 18) before voting ended likely hurt his standing among voters, some of whom surely look only at backs who cross that threshold — but Cook’s 5.0 yards-per-carry mark ranks sixth among players with at least 150 carries. The Bills offense (which racks up 365.4 yards and 31.8 points per game) wouldn’t be nearly as potent without Cook combining his ability to burn past defenders and mash out scores at the goal line. Buffalo has been at its best when the back is picking up chunk plays and Allen is play-actioning for deep throws. We knew that Buffalo was asking Allen to carry the passing load entering the season, but Cook deserves to be recognized for his role in a powerful offense.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

8  Kyren Williams<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Los Angeles Rams \u00b7 RB<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NFC West champs received a single Pro Bowl nod, which went to rookie Jared Verse. Williams was overlooked despite serving as the engine of the Rams’ offense, generating 1,299 rushing yards (third most in the NFL) and 14 rushing touchdowns (tied for second). Williams’ efficiency (4.1 yards per carry) to date has not been as great as other backs, but his ability to churn out 316 totes over a long season is noteworthy. Sean McVay leaned heavily on Williams to carry the load and keep the offense in favorable situations. Williams’ 85 rushing first downs are second only to Derrick Henry (89), and he ranks fourth in missed tackles forced (77, two more than Saquon Barkley), per Next Gen Stats. The lack of explosive plays likely hindered Williams’ candidacy, but it’s not hyperbole to say that the Rams would not have won their division without the running back.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

7  Jonnu Smith<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miami Dolphins \u00b7 TE<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately for Smith, Brock Bowers put up a historic season, and Travis Kelce is, well, Travis Kelce. However, the Dolphins’ tight end put up Pro Bowl-worthy numbers in his own right, ranking fourth among NFL TEs in receiving yards (828) and tying for third in receiving TDs (seven). Smith grew into a key cog in Miami’s offense, providing an outlet and run-after-catch ability that was previously missing from his spot on the field. With Tyreek Hill having a down season while Jaylen Waddle dealt with injury, Smith helped buoy the passing attack. His 57.4 receiving EPA ranks second among all tight ends (behind only George Kittle), his 0.58 EPA per target ranked third, his 502 yards after the catch ranked fourth and his 2.1 yards per route finished fifth. (For reference, Kelce had a mark of 1.6 yards per route.) This was the type of season that Bill Belichick surely envisioned Smith was capable of when the ex-Patriots coach signed him to a four-year, $50 million deal with New England in 2021.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

6  Kaden Elliss<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Atlanta Falcons \u00b7 LB<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one stuffed the stat sheet across the board quite like Elliss in 2024. The Falcons linebacker has generated 139 tackles, 34 QB pressures (tied for most among off-ball ‘backers, per NGS), five sacks, three pass breakups and one INT. He became the first Falcons player since tackles began to be officially tracked in 1994 to record 100-plus tackles, five-plus sacks and an interception in a single season. Atlanta used Elliss as a movable chess piece, lining him in the box, along the line and in the slot. After offenses began to key on his rushes, the Falcons started to use him as a bluff-dropper to fool quarterbacks. He missed some tackles, but his 14.1 percent tackle rate is tied for best among all linebackers, per NGS. The Falcons defense improved immensely as the season went on under Raheem Morris. Elliss’ versatility and playmaking were a large reason why.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5  Baker Mayfield<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tampa Bay Buccaneers \u00b7 QB<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several Bucs players could warrant nuggets on this list, including Bucky Irving and Mike Evans, but let’s go with the firecracker QB. Mayfield has powered the Bucs to the precipice of another NFC South title, zooming lasers and dropping dimes on defenses. Even though he lost Chris Godwin for the season in Week 7 and had to work without Evans for a spell, Mayfield didn’t miss a beat. Through 16 games, Mayfield ranks third in the NFL in passing yards (4,279), is tied for second in touchdown passes (39), is tied for second in completion percentage (71.7%) and ranks No. 2 in success percentage, per Pro Football Reference (54.2%). Mayfield rarely gives up on a play, consequently generating sack numbers (39 sacks) that likely hurt his case, but his total EPA of 73.3 still ranks tied for sixth among QBs. Last season, Mayfield was added to the Pro Bowl after an impressive first season in Tampa. He not only doubled down on the 2023 campaign but he improved upon it. He should be the first QB added in the NFC if another drops out.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4  Brian Thomas Jr.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jacksonville Jaguars \u00b7 WR<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe Thomas suffered from a bias against rookies. Maybe it was playing all those forgettable games in Jacksonville. Maybe voters had already made up their minds before Thomas exploded down the stretch. Whatever the reason, Thomas was overlooked despite stacking numbers as a clear-cut No. 1 WR. Thomas sits at No. 5 in the NFL in receiving yards (1,179) and is tied for fifth with 10 receiving touchdowns. The 23rd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft displayed an ability to win from every position, lining up wide and in the slot. He also showed advanced route-running techniques that left defenders in his dust. Thomas piled up the all that production despite being Jacksonville’s obvious go-to target, someone that defenses game-planned to slow. Consider that all other Jags wideouts combined have fallen short of Thomas’ yardage total, managing just 1,153 receiving yards through Week 17. Christian Kirk, who played in eight games before being lost to injury, still ranks second on the team in receiving yards with 379. Every other player — including wideouts, tight ends and running backs — combined for just eight receiving TDs. Oh, and Thomas put up some of his best games with backup Mac Jones under center. An ability to win even when defenses gear up to stop him down signifies a great receiver. Thomas flew under the radar as a rookie but likely won’t for much longer.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3  Zach Allen<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Denver Broncos \u00b7 DL<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pressure is production — unless you’re voting for the Pro Bowl, apparently. Allen has been a backfield menace this season, leading all interior defensive linemen with 65 QB pressures (ninth-most among all defenders). When an interior player is getting the kind of push Allen has provided this season, he wrecks games. The pocket-pusher has keyed Vance Joseph’s defense, eating up blockers and still producing; his 14 QB pressures when double-teamed are tied for fourth-most in the NFL. The 27-year-old sits third in sacks among all interior D-linemen with 8.5 (half a sack behind Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams). Allen’s 20 stuffs lead all defenders, per NGS. Beyond the numbers, Allen has helped propel the Broncos into playoff contention on the strength of their defense. Nik Bonitto rightfully was given due attention for his big plays this season, but somehow, Allen was spurned.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2  Kerby Joseph<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Detroit Lions \u00b7 S<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Voters might have chosen the wrong Lions safety. I jotted down that line before Joseph came up with two additional interceptions, changing the game in a Week 17 win over San Francisco. That’s not a knock on Brian Branch, who has been sensational; it’s just that Branch’s play seems to have somehow overshadowed Joseph’s. The Lions free safety owns a league-high nine INTs, two more than the next-closest player (Packers Pro Bowler Xavier McKinney). The majority of those have come in high-leverage situations, with Joseph taking away points via end-zone interceptions (four). The ballhawk’s advanced metrics blow those of other DBs out of the water. Per NGS, he’s No. 1 in target EPA (-55.3) this season (No. 2 is Cooper DeJean at -28.3), EPA per target (-1.84; McKinney is at -0.75) and ballhawk rate, or the percentage of targets where the nearest defender made a play on the football via a pass defensed or INT (40%). The Lions’ defense might have become a sieve due to injuries, but Joseph has helped keep the patchwork crew from completely crumbling.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 Danielle Hunter<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Houston Texans \u00b7 DE<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is it with Texans pass rushers being overlooked? In 2023, it was Jonathan Greenard, who apparently had to move to Minnesota to get his deserved flowers. Now it’s Hunter, who made a Pro Bowl last season with the Vikings but was boxed out in Houston. It’s mind-bending. Hunter leads the NFL with 90 QB pressures, five more than No. 2, Trey Hendrickson. Hunter’s 19.3% QB pressure rate is tied for No. 1 with Micah Parsons (minimum of 300 pass-rush snaps). Hunter’s omission might have been less head-scratching if he had been putting up pressure and not generating any sacks — some voters surely still cling to that metric. But Hunter has 12 sacks, two behind the NFL co-leaders (Myles Garrett, Hendrickson). Given that he’s been one of the league’s best pressure producers on a defense that has scrambled the likes of Josh Allen and other top QBs and is on a playoff team, Hunter profiles as a shoo-in. Apparently, the nation collectively forgot about a Texans edge rush<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NFC NORTH CHICAGO Charlie Campbell hears that Lions OC Ben Johnson is not enamored with the thought of Ryan Poles picking his players and that Poles isn\u2019t enamored of picking Johnson to lose his job: Rumors I’m hearing on Bears head coach opening via team sources: – Lions OC Ben Johnson wants the job, but…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[6,7,11,8,13],"class_list":["post-6529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-daily-briefing","tag-chris-myers","tag-chris-myers-sports","tag-daily-briefing","tag-fox-sports","tag-nfl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6529","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6529"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6529\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6529"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6529"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chrismyerssports.com\/cmi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6529"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}