NFC NORTH

DETROIT

The Lions, still on the fringe of playoff contention, may get RB D’ANDRE SWIFT back. NFL.com:

Detroit Lions interim coach Darrell Bevell said rookie running back D’Andre Swift, who’s missed the past three games in part because of an illness while also spending time in the concussion protocol, is trending in the right direction toward playing Sunday against the Packers.

NFC EAST

DALLAS

RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT has a balky calf, but he won’t shut himself down.  Kevin Patra ofNFL.com:

As if the Dallas Cowboys offense haven’t experienced enough injuries this season, running back Ezekiel Elliott is now dealing with a calf issue.

“It’s more of a contusion … like a big bruise,” Elliott said, via the Dallas Morning News.

Zeke has been limited in practice this week but plans to play Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

“I’m sure it’s going to be sore during the game, but it’s Week (14),” he said. “Everyone is going to be sore. I don’t think it should limit me much at all. I mean, it might be a little tender, but I’m tough.”

Elliott isn’t sure when during Tuesday’s loss to the Ravens he suffered the injury but intends to push through against a Bengals defense that has been shredded this season.

With the Cowboys sitting in the basement of the NFC East at 3-9, it wouldn’t be unheard of for a player like Elliott to sit out with the injury. The veteran running back, however, said he needs to battle through it for his teammates.

“I mean, we look at what the team has gone through this season just losing so many key players,” Elliott said. “We lost a lot of key players here on offense.

“I think it’s important, one, just because we’re not out of it. Then two, just for my brothers. That’s why I go out there and play. I go out there and play for my brothers and my teammates.

“I’m not going to sell them short.”

Zeke’s injury could pave the way for the Cowboys to up the workload of Tony Pollard who has looked more explosive in limited opportunities this season.

Are we being cynical if we wonder if he has financial incentives as well?

PHILADELPHIA

NFL.com:

Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson said offensive tackle Jason Peters will undergo toe surgery and miss the remainder of the season.

WASHINGTON

With the bad guys gone, T TRENT WILLIAMS says he doesn’t have any grudges against what remains in Washington per Kevin Patra of NFL.com:

Trent Williams fought his way out of Washington after a decade in D.C. Ahead of Sunday’s grudge match between his new team and old, the San Francisco 49ers left tackle said he holds no ill will towards his former teammates.

“I won’t sit here and hold grudges for no reason,” Williams said Thursday, via ESPN. “The people I had an issue with, they’re not there. The people who helped instigate the situation are no longer a part of the organization. I’m not going to sit here and carry some grudge because people expect me to carry it.”

Those that Williams took most issue with were former team president Bruce Allen and head athletic trainer Larry Hess, neither of whom is with the club any longer.

Williams said his desire to leave Washington was more than just for a new contract.

“It wasn’t about the money,” Williams said. “It was about respect. It felt I didn’t get that from them at that point. Nine years previous to that, I didn’t have an issue. I’ve seen issues happen [there] but I overlooked them because they didn’t happen to me. It was my first time being on that side of things. The better decision was to just go my separate way.”

Williams didn’t play in his final year with Washington after a medical ordeal prompted him to request a trade. The problems with his former club had nothing to do with teammates, several of whom supported the left tackle’s position last season.

“I didn’t have an issue with those guys in the locker room,” Williams said. “Those guys in the locker room supported me from Day 1 until now. They publicly showed support and privately showed support. I have nothing to prove to those guys who are going to be taking the field.”

NFC SOUTH

ATLANTA

Just in time for your Fantasy Football playoffs.  NFL.com:

Julio Jones will miss another game.

Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris told reporters Friday that Jones would not play Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers due to a hamstring injury.

Morris added the team will determine at another time whether to shut down the star receiver for the balance of the season.

Jones played 94 percent of the snaps against the Saints in Week 13, a season-high, but missed the teams’ previous game and hasn’t practiced this week due to the hamstring issue. The Pro Bowler will miss his fourth game this season due to injury.

NFC WEST

SAN FRANCISCO

CB RICHARD SHERMAN thinks his time in San Francisco (or to be more specific, wherever Santa Clara County allows him to be) is coming to an end.  Nick Wagoner ofESPN.com:

With the NFL’s salary cap expected to drop and the San Francisco 49ers unlikely to have much space to re-sign their many pending free agents, cornerback Richard Sherman believes this could be his third and final season with the team.

In fact, Sherman said Thursday it would take something out of the ordinary for him to return to a team that is slated to have about 40 players reach some sort of free agency, including left tackle Trent Williams, and is expected to make signing star linebacker Fred Warner to a lucrative extension one of its top offseason priorities.

“If there’s some miracle that happens, then sure there’s an opening,” Sherman said. “But there’s 40 free agents and they’ll probably have $30 million or less in cap and they have got to bring back Trent, who costs over $20 million. They have to pay Fred, who costs $18 million-plus a year. So anybody who knows the situation understands that.”

Sherman, who represents himself in contract negotiations, said his pessimism about remaining with the Niners is tied both to his direct knowledge of what could happen with the salary cap from his work with the NFL Players Association and his conversations with team management.

Those economic and roster realities undoubtedly figure to make it difficult to keep Sherman, but that doesn’t mean the Niners are eager to lose him. In fact, coach Kyle Shanahan said last week that he’d like to find a way to keep Sherman with the team.

“Sherm’s a guy that I know I personally, and I know [general manager] John [Lynch] feels the same [that] we want on our team at all times,” Shanahan said. “Sherm’s a guy that when he does get older and he does descend, he’s such a good football player, he finds a way. I understand his contract issue this year. I understand there’s a number of guys on our team with that this year, but whoever can help us win football games, our guys are trying to figure out how to bring [them] back, especially guys who do it the right way.

“Sherm is as good as anyone in those categories. Now, there’s lots of stuff that go into it at the end of the year and how we’re going to balance all this out and wait to figure out what the salary cap is and stuff with what happens, but I know Sherm’s time here, he’s been everything we’ve hoped and more. And I really hope that these next whatever games we have left, I really hope that’s not the end of it.”

In his 10th NFL season, Sherman, 32, returned in Week 12 against the Los Angeles Rams from a calf injury that had kept him out since Week 1. Before this season, Sherman had served as not only a stabilizing locker room presence but returned to form in 2019, when he earned second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as the 49ers won the NFC championship.

Sherman signed a three-year, $27.15 million contract with incentives making it worth more than $30 million in 2018 after spending seven seasons with the Seattle Seahawks.

Wagoner also has this on what life is like in exile for the 49ers:

Under normal circumstances, San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan would rush home after a long day of work and try to spend any remaining time in his day with his family. Perhaps for yet another re-watch of “The Office” or a quick shellacking in the video game Halo courtesy of 8-year-old daughter Lexi.

But in the most unusual of situations in the most unusual of years, Shanahan’s options are limited right now while sequestered in Arizona.

“It’s kind of pathetic,” Shanahan said, laughing. “But on downtime I enjoy watching film.

“I’ve always enjoyed watching football and it’s more fun when you’re doing it just because you don’t have anything else to do at the time. That was a pretty bad answer, but there’s not anything else to do.”

Evicted from their home at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, late last month because of county COVID-19 guidelines temporarily banning contact sports, the 49ers have set up shop at the Renaissance Hotel in Glendale, Arizona. And in their downtime, the 49ers are trying to manage their mental health.

The move happened quickly and without warning. The county announced the restrictions Nov. 28 as the Niners were headed to Los Angeles to play the Rams. Four days later, the 49ers flew to Arizona, where the Cardinals provided them a home for games — State Farm Stadium — as well as the use of surrounding practice fields.

Those fields sit within walking distance of the Renaissance, which houses the Niners’ entire football operation. There’s a nearly 15,000-square-foot ballroom that has been turned into a part-time locker room as well as enough space for what Shanahan calls a “minor” weight room.

The setup has drawn positive reviews from players and coaches, with Shanahan calling it the “best scenario for us.”

With the logistical challenges solved, Shanahan turned his attention to his players. Shanahan pulled about 20 players aside once they arrived in the desert and asked them to be vigilant in looking out for one another, particularly when it comes to mental health.

The 49ers aren’t in a strict bubble. While players have the option to bring their families to Arizona and find other accommodations with those family members (and a few have), the time at the hotel when the workday is done isn’t a time to gather. This isn’t like the NBA bubble, where players had entertainment options on the hotel grounds and could meet in their rooms for long card games or in-person video game battles.

“You read about the NBA players in the bubble and all the mental issues they went through,” Shanahan said. “Those guys were at least allowed to hang with each other. We’re not. We’re basically just in rooms here. … It’s just understanding that it’s human nature. Some stuff’s going to come up over the next three weeks and no one ignore it. Just always bring it to someone’s attention because the worst thing you could be in these situations is feel kind of alone on an island and we’ve got a big group going through it, so we can rally together and make sure we help each other through it.”

Much of the Niners’ first week in Arizona was spent trying to get used to their surroundings. Players worked to understand the layout and the schedule so they could fall back into a routine. At night, they’d retire to their rooms and various activities.

Many turn to video games. Call of Duty is the game of choice and offers the best opportunity to bond, as teammates can put on a headset and chat while they play. To maximize the gaming, assistant Nick Kray has even put in some extra time working to increase the internet bandwidth at the hotel.

“You can’t sit there and bond and play cards and shoot the stuff,” cornerback Richard Sherman said. “That’s what’s cool about technology. We can sit there with mics and play video games and still social distance and have a good time and still have some version of brotherhood.”

LOS ANGELES RAMS

The Rams unleashed RB CAM AKERS on Thursday night, dismantled the Patriots and staked their claim for playoff glory. This from Charean Williams of ESPN.com:

For the second week in row the New England Patriots were a part of a blowout result at SoFi Stadium.

But this week they were on the wrong side of the ledger.

Cam Akers rushed for 171 yards, Jared Goff threw for a touchdown and ran for one as well, and Kenny Young delivered a 79-yard interception return touchdown off Cam Newton as the Los Angeles Rams cruised to a 24-3 victory over the Patriots on Thursday night.

Akers is just the ninth running back to gain at least 150 yards on the ground against a Bill Belichick team in New England in either the regular season or postseason. Derrick Henry was the last to do so last January in the playoffs for the Tennessee Titans. Akers has now rushed for 327 yards for the Rams over the last three weeks against the Patriots, Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers.

After authoring a 45-0 win over the Chargers last week, the Patriots could not get anything together against the Rams. They had three possessions into the L.A. red zone in the first half with only three points to show for it.

This from Clay Travis:

@ClayTravis

Really impressed with Sean McVay. Exploded into league as an offensive genius, but has already evolved rapidly enough in year four to let his defense lead the team because that’s where the talent is. Most young coaches aren’t willing to adjust & evolve this fast.

AFC WEST

DENVER

Broncos DC Ed Donatell, one of the few NFLers whose “battle” with Covid was actually a Battle, returns to the field this Sunday.  Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com:

After an extended bout with COVID-19 that included a five-day hospital stay, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ed Donatell expects to be on the headset again for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.

Donatell was notified of his positive test on Nov. 1 and has missed the team’s past six games during his recovery. He said they were the first games he has missed since his coaching career began in 1981 at the University of Washington. Asked about his recovery Thursday, Donatell said he had many moments when he was both uncertain and nervous about his illness.

“I think everybody should be nervous,” Donatell said. “I wouldn’t be telling the truth if I didn’t think so, because there are so many unknowns about this virus. There are so many unknowns about it, it’s not like another disease where people can tell you what’s happened in the past … You’re wondering how far is this thing going to go.”

Donatell said he had few symptoms initially after his positive test results, but then “on the ninth day I started getting really heavy symptoms” and he was eventually hospitalized for five days, a stay that came almost two weeks after his positive test.

Donatell said beyond the often-talked-about symptoms like fever and body aches, his list of symptoms included insomnia, something he said the Broncos medical staff is still checking on with him and one of the reasons he did not travel to this past Sunday night’s game in Kansas City, given the team did not return to Denver until late Sunday night.

Donatell profusely thanked the Broncos trainers and doctors as well as assistant coaches Renaldo Hill and Chris Beake, whom he called “extraordinary” as the two coached the team’s defensive backs in Donatell’s absence. During practice Donatell can usually be found working with the team’s secondary.

Now in his third career stint with the Broncos, Donatell has spent the past 10 seasons on Broncos coach Vic Fangio’s defensive staff, including time with the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears.

AFC NORTH

CINCINNATI

While you could debate how good a QB ANDY DALTON might be, there is no doubt he is a good guy.  He adopted Cincinnati and vice versa, and now he returns.  Josh Alper ofProFootballTalk.com:

When the NFL schedule was released this spring, Andy Dalton had recently signed to be the backup quarterback in Dallas so noticing that his new team was set to face his former team in Week 14 probably didn’t conjure up memories of a triumphant return to Cincinnati.

Dak Prescott‘s injury has changed the outlook for Dalton. The Bengals’ all-time leader in touchdown passes will be starting this weekend’s game and he said that he is “excited about the opportunity” to face the team he led for the last nine seasons.

“It will be different being on the other side of the field, the other locker room and all that kind of stuff. It’ll kind of feel a little weird being on the other side of it, but it’s because I spent so much time there and everything,” Dalton said, via Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “I’m looking forward to it and looking forward to getting back and playing in Cincinnati.”

Prescott isn’t the only starting quarterback missing from this matchup. Joe Burrow‘s knee injury means that Dalton won’t get to square off against the guy who helped push him out the door and that the veteran’s return is the only real headline in a matchup of last place teams.

This from Fox19 from this spring.

“We’re trying to bless others with the blessings that we’ve gotten.”

Andy Dalton: former Bengals QB, husband, father of three, family man, a contributor to the Queen City and those in need.

Dalton was drafted in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played his entire nine-year career with the Bengals.

The foundation, which has five programs, was able to touch the lives of 1,149,723 people in 2019.

ANDY & JJ’S HUB: The Hub provides patients and their families access to entertainment and educational resources, including iPads, computers, mobile television and theater systems and gaming consoles to help pass the time during hospital stays.

DATE NIGHT: Parents are invited to drop off their children for a safe and secure evening hosted by Andy and JJ that includes music, face painting, Wii gaming, photo booths, an ice cream sundae bar and more. The parents then get to enjoy a quiet, all-expenses-paid private dinner date.

KING FOR A DAY: This program provides families of seriously ill and physically challenged children with an all-expense-paid dream day at Kings Island Theme Park.

PASS IT ON FUND: This program aims to provide medical equipment to families with seriously ill or physically challenged children who are in financial need.

THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS: December, Andy, JJ and a few of Santa’s elves pass out gifts to spread holiday cheer to children and their families at Cincinnati area children’s hospitals.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Dalton and JJ stepped-up in a major way when they donated $150,000 to the UC Health Crisis Response Fund.

“For the last nine years, Cincinnati has been our home, and we’ve seen what UC Health means to our friends and neighbors and our region,” Andy said. “We’re honored to support our health care heroes in this fight.”

The Dalton’s family donation will go towards purchasing personal protective equipment for healthcare workers and lab supplies that will help to expand testing during the coronavirus pandemic.

In January 2018, Bills fans donated more than $400,000 to the Andy and JJ Dalton Foundation after the Bengals helped send the Bills to the playoffs for the first time in 17 years.

CLEVELAND

GM Andrew Berry sings the praises of QB BAKER MAYFIELD on the Huddle & Flow podcast:

“I think Baker deserves a lot of credit in terms of how he’s approached this year,” Berry said. “I don’t know that the challenge of going into a third offensive system, no offseason can be appreciated enough externally. That’s no easy task for any player, let alone a young quarterback.”

As Berry pointed out, the 2020 campaign, already greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, marked Cleveland’s third straight with a reshuffled coaching staff. The sense of urgency was heightened by the need for the well-touted offense to live up to expectations after being scrutinized heavily for underperforming under Freddie Kitchens and coordinator Todd Monken a year ago.

Injuries to Nick Chubb in Week 4 and Odell Beckham, who suffered a torn ACL on the second play of Week 7’s opening drive, threatened to lead to another bout with regression, but the ever-confident Mayfield was able to flip the switch and show he can handle an increased load.

“I think the growth that Baker has shown, in terms of his decision-making, protecting the football and ultimately making plays that help us win games [is impressive],” Berry said. “I think everyone can see his growth really from quarter to quarter to quarter over the course of the season and he certainly deserves a lot of credit for the work that he’s put in.”

AFC SOUTH

INDIANAPOLIS

Jim Irsay thinks Andrew Luck is happy in anonymity.  Michael Silver of NFL.com:

Sixteen months ago, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay experienced one of the most excruciating moments of his professional life. Sitting in a room with general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Frank Reich, Irsay’s stomach dropped as franchise quarterback Andrew Luck informed the power trio of his desire to retire.

“I sometimes wonder if that was just a bad dream I had,” Irsay recalled Tuesday. “It’s just very, very, very difficult.”

A few weeks shy of his 30th birthday and coming off a season in which he’d earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection and been named the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year after leading the Colts to a road playoff victory, Luck stunned his bosses — and, soon after, the football world — with the news that he’d abruptly chosen to walk away. At the time, just a couple of weeks before the start of the 2019 NFL season, Irsay seemed hopeful that Luck’s decision wouldn’t prove to be a permanent one. In a press conference announcing the move, Irsay referenced Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods as athletes who’d made successful comebacks after stepping away and said of Luck doing something similar: “I don’t rule it out.”

Should Luck, now 31, choose to resume his career, Indy would retain his rights for two seasons under the terms of his existing contract. Yet, two starting quarterbacks later, with the Colts (8-4) tied with the Tennessee Titans atop the AFC South and closing in on another postseason appearance, Irsay sounds far more pessimistic about a potential Luck comeback.

“You know, I don’t think so — I really don’t,” Irsay said Tuesday, in an interview with NFL Media to reflect upon the 40th anniversary of John Lennon’s death. “I think that door’s closed.”

Luck, who has since become a father — he and his wife, Nicole, have a 1-year-old daughter named Lucy — still has a house in the area and remains in contact with many of his former teammates and others in the organization. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft has given no indication to those close to him that he plans to resume his career — at least, no one who has felt compelled to share. On Thursday, star receiver T.Y. Hilton was asked the question on Good Morning Football and answered: “Coming back? I don’t know. He’s pretty happy in retirement life. He’s just enjoying it and enjoying it with his daughter, Lucy.

“I don’t think we will (see him). He’s just enjoying himself. I’m happy for him.”

The question is especially intriguing because the Colts don’t have a clear plan at the position for 2021 and beyond. Their current quarterback, 39-year-old Philip Rivers, signed a one-year, $25 million contract last March and will need offseason foot surgery. Backup Jacoby Brissett, who served as the team’s starter in 2017 (which Luck spent on injured reserve after undergoing surgery to his throwing shoulder) and 2019 (having signed a two-year, $30 million extension before that season), will also be a free agent.

In recent days, there has also been speculation about a possible pursuit of Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, whose benching (for second-round draft pick Jalen Hurts) was announced by Philadelphia coach Doug Pederson on Tuesday. Wentz, the second overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft, has a strong relationship with Reich, who served as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator during Wentz’s first two NFL seasons. Should the Eagles make Wentz, whose current contract runs through 2024, available via trade, the Colts are viewed in league circles as a likely suitor.

In the meantime, Irsay is enjoying the team’s chemistry under the leadership of Rivers, who has completed 68.1 percent of his passes while throwing for 3,263 yards and 18 touchdowns, along with nine interceptions. The longtime Chargers quarterback has been playing through a plantar plate rupture in his right foot, putting off surgery until after the season.

Indy, which eked out a 26-20 victory over the Houston Texans last weekend after recovering a fumbled snap in the final two minutes — with Houston 2 yards from a potential go-ahead touchdown — faces a pivotal road test Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders (7-5), who, like the Colts, are in the mix for a wild-card spot in the AFC.

“It’s just such a great group of guys,” Irsay said, “the blend of these young, outstanding players kinda getting to know Philip Rivers, who’s just — I think, if it’s possible — underestimated on his leadership and toughness. His guys rally around him; I mean, everyone loves that guy. We’ll see what happens. We’ve got four more, and it was a little too close for comfort in that Houston game, man. It was like Maradona: I think it was the Hand of God that knocked the ball out.”

AFC EAST

BUFFALO

Contractually, GM Brandon Beane will be in Buffalo through 2025.  Grant Gordon ofNFL.com:

The Buffalo Bills are back among the best in the AFC and they are making sure the architect of the current AFC East frontrunners will be around for the foreseeable future.

The Bills announced they have signed general manager Brandon Beane to a multi-year extension on Thursday. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports Beane’s new deal will keep him in Buffalo through 2025.

As the Bills have been resurrected from a club long absent from the playoffs to a division favorite and one of the AFC’s top squads, Beane and coach Sean McDermott have led the way. Thus, Beane’s extension is through the same year as McDermott’s, which the coach signed in August.

“Brandon is an outstanding leader, and he has brought a great level of stability throughout our organization. One of the things we appreciate and respect about Brandon is that he is very thorough in his decision-making process. No decision he makes comes without a great deal of study and research,” Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula said in a statement. “We appreciate his strong communication skills, and he works extremely well with us, with Sean and with all levels of the organization. We are happy to extend his contract and to have Brandon and Sean leading our football team for many years to come.”

Though Beane replaced former GM Doug Whaley after the 2017 NFL Draft and McDermott’s signing, Beane and McDermott have gone hand-in-hand, season-by-season in the Bills’ turnaround. Their first season (2017) in Buffalo saw the Bills return to the playoffs for the first time since 1999, ending the league’s longest playoff drought at the time.

Heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Steelers, the Bills can clinch another postseason berth, which would be the third in the last four seasons, also known as the Beane-McDermott era.

Beane, who came to the Bills after a tenure with the Panthers just like McDermott, looks to have hit big in his first draft, selecting quarterback Josh Allen and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds with a pair of 2018 first-round draft picks.

McDermott signed his four-year extentsion through 2025 in August.

NEW ENGLAND

QB CAM NEWTON was just taken out of the line of Rams fire, but not permanently benched per Bill Belichick.

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick decisively said he isn’t changing quarterbacks after pulling Cam Newton early in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s 24-3 road loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

“Cam’s our quarterback,” Belichick said in his postgame news conference, cutting off the question to give his answer.

Newton finished 9-of-16 for 119 yards against the Rams, with one costly interception that was returned 79 yards for a touchdown, as the Patriots’ passing offense sputtered once again.

He was replaced by Jarrett Stidham with 10 minutes, 14 seconds remaining and the Patriots trailing 24-3.

Stidham, the 2019 fourth-round draft choice from Auburn, had been a top candidate to be Tom Brady’s replacement at the start of the season before Newton signed a one-year contract on July 8.

Asked why he wouldn’t now switch to Stidham and what Newton has shown for Belichick to stick by him, Belichick said simply: “He’s our quarterback. I think I just answered that one.”

The Patriots (6-7) still have slim odds to qualify for the postseason, with ESPN’s Football Power Index giving them a 6% chance. They visit the Miami Dolphins (8-4) on Dec. 20 before finishing with back-to-back home games against the Buffalo Bills (9-3) and New York Jets (0-12).

As for Newton, he has been most effective as a rusher this season, totaling 451 yards in 113 carries with 11 touchdowns. But when opponents limit Newton’s rushing yards, and by extension the Patriots’ overall running game, the offense hasn’t consistently been able to move the ball through the air.

Newton, when asked if he is worried he will be replaced, said, “That’s not my call. I’m just doing what I’m asked, with the mentality of getting better, and that’s what I keep planning on doing.”

He is 199-of-301 for 2,172 yards passing on the season with five touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

That, coupled with Belichick twice pulling Newton, 31, late in blowout losses, has sparked questions about a possible change.

Asked if he is happy with Stidham’s development and what he has seen from him this season, Belichick said: “Jarrett has worked hard. He’s tried to take advantage of his opportunities. But that’s not really the point.”

Newton may be the quarterback for the next four games, but Mike Florio ofProFootballTalk.com is convinced someone else will be at the helm next year:

On Sunday night against the Broncos, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had 318 passing yards. In the last three games combined, Patriots quarterback Cam Newton has 272 passing yards. Total.

From 84 against the Cardinals to 69 against the Chargers to 119 against the Rams, Newton is struggling when it comes to throwing the ball. He has five touchdown passes for entire the season, along with 10 interceptions.

In 2015, Newton’s MVP season, he threw five touchdown passes in a single game. Three times.

And so it’s looking less and less likely that Newton will be back with the Patriots in 2021. If he isn’t, the question becomes, Who will the New England quarterback be?

The options are the usual ones that teams in search of quarterbacks utilize: Draft one, sign a free agent, make a trade.

Like 2020, the 2021 offseason potentially will feature plenty of quarterbacks with NFL experience. We ripped through some of them on Friday’s PFT Live. Sam Darnold, Philip Rivers, Matthew Stafford, Andy Dalton, Matt Ryan. Dak Prescott, if the Cowboys don’t tag him again. (They’d be crazy not to.) Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett. Maybe Alex Smith, if Washington doesn’t want to pay his $16 million salary and releases him.

The idea of the Patriots drafting a potential franchise quarterback raises a question the franchise never has had to ponder, at least not with Bill Belichick as the head coach: Should they “evaluate” younger players for the rest of the season in the hope that 6-7 becomes 6-10 and in turn a higher spot in the draft pecking order?

The easy answer is absolutely. Then again, with upcoming games against the Bills and Dolphins, the Patriots may not have to insert backup and assorted slappies in order to lose games.

Things will get very interesting come Week 17, if a New England loss to the Jets will keep New York from getting Trevor Lawrence.

However it plays out, the Patriots are essentially playing out the string in 2020, for the first time in 20 years. Whether they’ll contend in 2021 depends on whether they can sufficiently upgrade the quarterback position.

NEW YORK JETS

No WR DENZEL MIMS for the Jets this week in Seattle.  Rich Cimini of ESPN.com:

Rookie wide receiver Denzel Mims, one of the few bright spots in the New York Jets’ 0-12 season, has been ruled out for Sunday’s game even though he is healthy.

Mims is tending to a family emergency in his home state of Texas and has missed his daily COVID-19 tests. Under the NFL’s coronavirus protocols, Mims is not eligible to play against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field, the team said.

Under the protocols, Mims needed to be tested at the team facility by 10 p.m. Wednesday. He is still out of town, according to coach Adam Gase.

“Obviously he’s been trending in the right direction,” Gase said Thursday. “He’s been a big reason why we’ve had some better games since he’s been playing. The protocols are what they are. He had to handle family business, which we support because we felt like it was the right thing for him to do.”

Mims, a second-round pick from Baylor, has played well since returning from hamstring injuries that cost him the first six games of the season. In six games, he has 19 receptions for 324 yards and no touchdowns in a starting role. He likely will be replaced by Jeff Smith or Vyncint Smith.

– – –

It’s a happy day for the next coach and GM of the Jets.  At least as long as Manish Mehta does not get hired by someone else to cover the team.  Joe Lucia of Awful Announcing:

Manish Mehta’s time as the New York Jets beat writer for the New York Daily News is over. The paper tweeted the news on Thursday.

Last month, current FTW and former NYDN writer Charles Johnson accused Mehta of using his observations from Jets practice and training camp without giving Johnson credit and also funneling Johnson questions for press conferences (which he also wrote up as if he had been the one to ask the questions).

That’s just the tip of the iceberg regarding Mehta’s often contentious relationship with the team, which reportedly resulted in his credentials being pulled over the summer.

Over the years, Mehta has gotten into it with several figures around the Jets, including the mother of former defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson (after he accused Wilkerson of having issues with alcohol) and former coach Rex Ryan, and also completely botched a report about NFL Network and Fox reporter Peter Schrager. He also was accused of running an Adam Gase burner account, which is a pretty pathetic move from any reporter.

After all that, it’s stunning that it took until Week 14 of the 2020 season for the NYDN to pull Mehta from the beat. As far as we can tell, Mehta’s future role at the paper hasn’t been announced.

We understand that besides the re-assignment, Mehta is no longer employed by theDaily News.

THIS AND THAT

QB RANKINGS

Let’s check in on Cody Benjamin’s latest QB rankings from CBSSports.com.

We know last week was just a snapshot, but we’re struck by how high KYLER MURRAY is ranked by Benjamin and how low he has JARED GOFF:

How are the QBs ranked? We try to factor in their current standing, their history of success and their future upside, but it’s probably simpler to think of the rankings as a general answer to this question: Which QB would we rather have right now, not only for this week but for the rest of 2020?

Now, without further ado, let’s get to the Week 14 rankings:

WEEK 13 QB POWER RANKINGS

1 – Patrick Mahomes

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

The only reason you might be even a little concerned (and we mean a little ) entering the playoffs is the fact he and the Chiefs have basically been playing half-hearted backyard ball for, like, half the year. Still, the talent here is unparalleled.  Last week: 1

2 – Aaron Rodgers

GREEN BAY PACKERS QB

This guy probably deserves the MVP at this point. Mahomes has been spectacular without even seemingly trying, but Rodgers has been almost equally as dominant — and in effortless form. Green Bay will be a problem in the postseason. Last week: 2

3 – Russell Wilson

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS QB

The MVP is basically out of reach now, but who’s betting against him with a game on the line down the stretch? Last week: 3

4 – Deshaun Watson

HOUSTON TEXANS QB

He doesn’t get enough flak for the way he hangs onto the ball sometimes, but man, he’s quietly been tremendous all year.  Last week: 4

5 – Josh Allen

BUFFALO BILLS QB

This guy is so fun to watch when he’s in rhythm. Call us crazy, but there are small shades of the Chiefs in this Bills offense.  Last week: 7

6 – Kyler Murray

ARIZONA CARDINALS QB

The rocket arm and electric legs don’t always offset his throws into closed windows. But he’s an every-down threat, all the time.  Last week: 5

7 – Ryan Tannehill

TENNESSEE TITANS QB

His Week 13 numbers were boosted by playing from behind for so long, but still, he’s almost always unfazed in Tennessee.  Last week: 8

8 – Ben Roethlisberger

PITTSBURGH STEELERS QB

It’d help if his receivers could catch the ball. One little worry: What happens when he has to throw deep in the playoffs?   Last week: 6

9 – Lamar Jackson

BALTIMORE RAVENS QB

There’s just no way you can defend him running in open space. His athleticism alone warrants respect on a down-to-down basis.   Last week: 12

10 – Tom Brady

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS QB

There might be serious big-picture concerns about his place in Bruce Arians’ offense, but when he’s clicking, the Bucs’ offense remains one of the most tantalizing in the game.   Last week: 11

11 – Justin Herbert

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS QB

He just got dunked on by the Patriots’ defense, but Anthony Lynn and Co. are doing him no favors. For his sake, the Chargers would be wise to consider a regime change.  Last week: 9

12 – Derek Carr

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS QB

The miracle heave to beat the Jets was exciting, but was it convincing? After a really underrated start to this year, Carr has at times looked dangerously close to falling off as the Raiders fight for their playoff lives.  Last week: 10

13 – Kirk Cousins

MINNESOTA VIKINGS QB

By the end of this year, Cousins’ numbers are going to shock some people. The guy hasn’t been perfect, but he’s been darn good during Minnesota’s turnaround.  Last week: 13

14 -Teddy Bridgewater

CAROLINA PANTHERS QB

Can he help the Panthers play spoiler on the home stretch? It’s going to be very interesting to see him in 2021 after another full offseason of work in the system.  Last week: 15

15 – Jared Goff

LOS ANGELES RAMS QB

Good Goff was back to help the Rams get a huge divisional win. His performance really will dictate how far this team goes. If he’s on, they can surprise in the playoffs.  Last week: 19

16 – Matt Ryan

ATLANTA FALCONS QB

We’re probably not talking enough about how pedestrian Ryan has been in 2020, even considering the circumstances.  Last week: 14

17 – Philip Rivers

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS QB

Rivers has played fairly well, all things considered, but how he finishes just might determine whether Frank Reich looks to reunite with another old friend in 2021 (see: Wentz, Carson).

Last week: 16

18 – Matthew Stafford

DETROIT LIONS QB

Get him out of Detroit. Stafford has been largely hit or miss in 2020, but just imagine him with a fresh culture and supporting cast. It just might happen.  Last week: 17

19 – Baker Mayfield

CLEVELAND BROWNS QB

He’s been pitch-perfect as of late considering what the Browns ask of him; it’s just hard to slot him much higher because of the ceiling he’s shown as a passer. A legit playoff run would solidify his position in Cleveland.   Last week: 20

20 – Cam Newton

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS QB

If New England continues to ascend/dominate on defense, he won’t have to worry about much. As a bruising run-based game manager, he’s actually built to thrive.  Last week: 21

21 – Tua Tagovailoa

MIAMI DOLPHINS QB

Tua’s at least starting to come into his own, but the Dolphins — like their AFC East counterparts, the Patriots — are contending right now because of their “D.” Let’s see how he fares down the stretch.  Last week: 18

22 – Daniel Jones

NEW YORK GIANTS QB

The G-Men are legitimate contenders to host a playoff game. And Jones’ anticipated return solidifies that, so long as he can keep playing smarter football after the injury.

Last week: Unranked

23 -Jalen Hurts

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES QB

It’s finally time. Hurts looked comfortable relying on his own athleticism in relief of Carson Wentz against Green Bay. The key will be doing that even more; his natural elusiveness is probably his best trait. Last week: Unranked

24 – Taysom Hill

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS QB

Drew Brees is on track to return soon, but Hill is probably in line to make a final start against the Eagles. He’s also probably getting close to his limit in terms of what he can bring to the table as a “traditional” QB.  Last week: 25

25 –  Alex Smith

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM QB

He deserves all the props in the world for his comeback and never-say-die mentality for a potential playoff team. But 150 yards is just not going to cut it in the postseason, or for a full year in 2021.  Last week: 23

26 –  Drew Lock

DENVER BRONCOS QB

He’s got all the talent in the world, and his personality makes him a fiery leader. The issue is, he’s always making a handful of killer mistakes. Denver almost has to explore QBs entering 2021.

Last week: 24

27 – Nick Mullens

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS QB

Good for him not backing down as San Francisco tries to stay alive in the playoff race. His ceiling, however, is probably top-17ish material, which means the rest of the Niners need to be rolling for them to have a shot.  Last week: 27

28 – Mitchell Trubisky

CHICAGO BEARS QB

No one needs a reboot of the QB position quite like the Chicago Bears.  Last week: 26

29 – Andy Dalton

DALLAS COWBOYS QB

Dallas has been rocked by injuries and some poor coaching, but Dalton failing to consistently capitalize on Grade-A weapons means he should not be a lock to back up Dak Prescott in 2021.

Last week: 28

30 – Mike Glennon

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS QB

The Real Mike Glennon came out to play against the Vikings, although, honestly, he still gave his team a chance. This is a nice little audition for a backup role elsewhere in 2021.  Last week: 29

31 – Brandon Allen

CINCINNATI BENGALS QB

It’s not all his fault. But boy, do Bengals fans sure miss Joe Burrow.  Last week: 30

32 – Sam Darnold

NEW YORK JETS QB

How many more weeks do we have to discuss him as a New York Jet? It’s honestly a little astounding how much he’s avoided “bust” talk, even considering the team’s total ineptitude.

Last week: 32