| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGOSix straight losses now for the Bears, four excruciating, two offensive. Ari Meirov summed them up (although we edited them into the right order): @MySportsUpdateThe #Bears losses during their 6-game losing streak: – A game-winning Hail Mary to lose vs. WSH.– Scored just 9 points vs. Cardinals.– Scored just 3 points vs. Patriots.– A blocked game-winning field goal attempt vs. GB.– Had a late comeback vs. the Vikings to force overtime where they got the ball first but then still lost.– Let the clock run out despite having a timeout available vs. Detroit. Of Chicago’s eight losses, six by one score. This from Josh Dubow of The AP: @JoshDubowAP221 coaches have had 20+ career games decided by 7 points or fewer. Matt Eberflus’ .227 win percentage in those games (5-17) ranks 221st Now on to the final 36 seconds of Thursday’s turkey of a finish in Detroit. Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com: – With 36 seconds remaining, trailing by three points after putting together a furious second-half comeback, the Chicago Bears were in position to tie or defeat the Lions on Thanksgiving Day. But late-game clock mismanagement assured the Bears would not get the chance to complete a come-from-behind victory against their division rival. As time ran out on Chicago to solidify a sixth consecutive loss in a 23-20 defeat, coach Matt Eberflus defended his decision to not call a timeout in the final moments of the game. “We’re at 36 seconds right there and our hope was, because it was third [down] going into fourth [down], that we would rerack that play at 18 seconds, throw it inbounds, get it in field goal range and then call a timeout,” Eberflus said. Upon getting the ball back at Detroit’s 1-yard line with 3:31 to play, the Bears ran 13 plays before facing second-and-20 from the Lions’ 35-yard line. Quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked for a 6-yard loss with 32 seconds remaining as Detroit defensive end Za’Darius Smith went untouched to bring the rookie down. Instead of calling a timeout ahead of what became Chicago’s final play while facing third-and-26 from Detroit’s 41-yard line, the Bears let the clock wind down. About 10 seconds passed before Williams frantically alerted the offense to get lined up for a pass play, and the ball was not snapped until there were six seconds remaining. Williams launched a deep ball to rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze that bounced off the turf inside the 5-yard line as time expired. “I knew when we snapped the ball that the [clock] was going to run out, so I was trying to get to the end zone,” Odunze said “We just didn’t get a great coverage for it. Moving forward, I’ll know what I need to do to get there.” When asked postgame how the Bears should have managed the final sequence in retrospect, Eberflus doubled down on the team’s late-game operation. “I like what we did there,” Eberflus said. “Again, once it’s under seven [seconds], you’re going to call a timeout there — actually under 12 and then really you don’t have an option because it’s third to fourth, you have to throw it into the end zone then. “To me it’s — I think we handled it the right way, I do believe that you just rerack the play, get it in bounds and call timeout, and that’s why we held it and didn’t work out the way we wanted it to.” Twenty-six seconds elapsed from the time Williams was sacked to when the ball was snapped on the final play. The quarterback had called a timeout earlier in the drive but intimated that he was not in position to do so again, which led him to change the play with 13 seconds remaining to take one final shot. “I made an adjustment because I saw the clock running down, knowing that if we complete a ball inbounds or anything like that, we won’t have time to kick a field goal or anything like that,” Williams said. “So, I made an adjustment and knew Rome was either going to be one-on-one or he was going to beat the safety and be one-on-one there and I tried to give him a shot and we got the shot and missed.” Adam Jahns of The Athletic senses something in the postgame locker room: At some point, Chicago Bears chairman George McCaskey will have to ask team president Kevin Warren what he thinks of this season and the direction of his beloved team. Or maybe it’s Warren who asks McCaskey what he sees and believes is happening. Maybe Warren has already decided what comes next for the franchise, along with general manager Ryan Poles. After the Bears’ 23-20 loss against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, it could be time for Warren to convince McCaskey to break his longstanding preference of not firing a head coach during the season. Maybe that meeting comes Friday back at Halas Hall. Inside Ford Field, Warren lingered in the Bears locker room longer than he typically has this season. He talked at length to special adviser Ted Crews, who came from the Kansas City Chiefs, and he briefly met with some players. Poles also put his arm around quarterback Caleb Williams for a few private words before exiting the locker room. Williams’ three-touchdown performance in the second half against the Lions is undoubtedly a positive. The Bears went from being blown out on national television to having a chance to win because of what Williams did with receivers Keenan Allen and DJ Moore. In the second half, Williams was 15-for-24 for 222 yards and three touchdowns. But the Bears, as a team, still aren’t in a good place. Something is off and has been since the team’s Hail Mary loss against the Washington Commanders. Poles and Warren didn’t have to be in the locker room in Detroit to experience and learn that. The Bears have lost six consecutive games, and the fashion in which the Bears are losing is beyond alarming. It’s maddening. This week’s controversy/blunder was Eberflus’ decision to not call a timeout for his rookie quarterback in the final 30 seconds after Williams was sacked for a 6-yard loss by pass rusher Za’Darius Smith on what Williams later said was a draw play on second-and-20 from the Lions’ 35. Williams snapped the ball on third down with six seconds remaining. “Yeah, once I seen the Detroit Lions walking on the field, I’m like, ‘Damn, what they doing? What’s going on?’” Allen said. “I didn’t realize the time had ran out. I’m like the time was running the whole time. … And then you look up and you realize we got a timeout. And it’s like, ‘Ah …,’ yeah.” The remaining timeout definitely makes the loss sting more. “Oh, absolutely,” Allen said. Several players were surprised that a timeout wasn’t called. “I thought we were at least going to kick a field goal,” nickelback Kyler Gordon said. Cairo Santos’ career-long field goal is from 55 yards. He said he was looking at a potential 59-yarder if he came in during that situation. The illegal use of hands penalty on left guard Teven Jenkins and the sack on Williams moved the Bears back to what he described as the “fringe” of his range at Ford Field. But he got himself ready to kick if needed. “We rehearse these scenarios and I imagine myself kicking that,” Santos said. “I know we want to play for the win, but I was kind of imagining myself at least getting a shot there. But … I don’t know what was communicated between the offense.” Eberflus’ argument was that the Bears wanted to run one more play and then call a timeout to set up Santos for a shorter field goal. That makes sense, but the situation changed as literally every second came off the clock. Williams said he didn’t want to call a timeout after calling one earlier on the final possession. It would have to come from Eberflus. Williams got to the line with 13 seconds left and then made an adjustment based on what he was seeing. He said he knew then that his deep shot to rookie receiver Rome Odunze would be his last play of the game. “Whatever that situation is, that’s going to be coach’s call,” Williams said. “Maybe in the later years of my career, but right now, I get the call, I’m trying to lead the guys to win and I’m trying to get everybody lined up. And from there, I’m trying to make a play for the Chicago Bears.” Did Williams mess up? Yes, he did. But Williams was also a rookie quarterback playing against the Super Bowl-favorite Lions in a deafening stadium for the first time. He needed help in those anxious, heart-pumping moments and he didn’t get it from Eberflus. Thursday was Williams’ 12th game in the NFL. But it was Eberflus’ 46th as the Bears’ head coach. This is why a tough conversation among Warren, McCaskey and Poles feels necessary right now. Are the Bears really on to something with offensive coordinator Thomas Brown and Williams? Are the Bears as close to winning as the final scores against their NFC North rivals suggests they are? Do they really need to see more of Eberflus? Or why should they continue to put off what seems inevitable? Bill T Zimmerman, a member of the Bears media, chimes in: @BillTZimmermanSpoken to some people locally and nationally. There’s a growing swell that believe Eberflus will lose his job at some point this weekend. One said, “They absolutely know what they have to do, it’s just a matter of when they do it.” I won’t believe the mentality at Halas Hall has changed until I see it, but many people connected around the league think it has. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, as is his style, goes gently on Eberflus and company: Everyone thinks Bears coach Matt Eberflus botched the opportunity to send Thursday’s game against the Lions to overtime. Everyone, that is, except Bears coach Matt Eberflus. In his post-game press conference, Eberflus defended the disastrous clock management that kept the Bears from trying a game-winning field goal. “I like what we did there,” Eberflus said when asked how he should have handled the closing seconds of the game. “I think we handled it the right way.” No, Matt. You didn’t. And everybody knows it. It was one of the worst examples of clock management in NFL history. And that’s not an exaggeration. The Bears have never fired a head coach during the season. The handling of the end of Thursday’s game is a fireable offense. Eberflus’s stubborn refusal to admit the mistake makes it even more necessary to get him out and put someone else in. That sounds harsh, I know. But the highest level of pro football is unforgiving. If any coach handles any game in a way that makes him seem to be unfit for the job, there are plenty of other qualified candidates who should be given a chance to give it a try. Eberflus was asked about his job security. “This is the NFL,” Eberflus said. “I know where it is. And I’m just gonna put my best foot forward, and I’m gonna get to work and keep grinding. So that’s what we do.” Does he expect to remain the head coach this week?? “Like I said, I’m just gonna keep grinding and working and that’s what I do.” What he did today should be the thing to get Bears management to do what they’ve never done — fire a coach during the season. And here’s the usually placid Matt Ryan: “This is unacceptable from the head coach position. Your responsibility is to not panic in critical situations. To put your team in the best opportunity to win games. That’s a massive, massive fail by Matt Eberflus” – CBS’ Matt Ryan🔥 Jimmy Johnson: @MySportsUpdateJimmy Johnson on FOX: “In 70 years of coaching at all three levels, I’ve never seen dysfunction that cost a team an opportunity to win the game. … When Matt Eberflus saw that they were off track, he should’ve called timeout.” |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASIt was only the DEAN LOCK Giants, but any home win seems good for the Cowboys right now. And my goodness, as Todd Archer points out they are 5-7 and staring at 7-7. The Dallas Cowboys remembered what it felt like to win at AT&T Stadium again with their 27-20 Thanksgiving Day victory against the New York Giants. You can forgive some of them if they had forgotten, since 334 days had passed since their most recent home win, against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 30, 2023. “It was definitely overdue,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “It was important to get the win on a lot of fronts, but it was really important to get a home win.” Before January’s loss to the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round, the Cowboys had won 16 straight home games, the second-longest streak in franchise history. Before Thursday, the Cowboys had lost six straight games at AT&T Stadium and set an NFL record by trailing by at least 20 points in all six. With Thursday’s win, the Cowboys avoided the third 0-6 home start, happily skipping away from the 1960 team that went 0-11-1 in the first year of the franchise and the 1989 Cowboys who went 1-15 in Jerry Jones’ first year as owner and general manager. “I hate it so much for our fans to have this run of losses when we’ve been so proud of our home winning streak,” Jones said. “So it’s good to get this win here at home.” In a span of five days, the Cowboys have won two NFC East games, having beaten the Washington Commanders 34-26 at Northwest Stadium on Sunday. It’s the Cowboys’ second two-game winning streak of the season. They beat the Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers in Weeks 4 and 5 to improve to 3-2 before losing their next five games. At 5-7, the Cowboys are outside the playoff chase at the moment, but their next two games come against the 4-7 Cincinnati Bengals on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” on Dec. 9 and the 3-8 Carolina Panthers on Dec. 15. “We feel a lot differently today than we did Saturday night going into Washington. That’s fair and accurate. It’s a good feeling,” McCarthy said. “This is where we deserve to be. We’ve had to fight to get here. We’re still in the valley of adversity. We’ve taken two steps forward, but we’ve still got a long ways to go. We recognize that.” And the final three are TAMPA BAY, at Philadelphia, WASHINGTON. The Buccaneers game looms. Win that one, and the Cowboys could be 8-8 even with a loss at the Eagles, going into a home finale with a Washington team that might be 9-7. And Dallas with a win would secure the tiebreaker with the Commanders with their sweep. |
| NEW YORK GIANTSThis from Ari Meirov: @MySportsUpdateFrom bad to worse: #Giants star DT Dexter Lawrence dislocated his elbow during today’s vs. Dallas and was in a sling after the game. He will undergo further testing to determine the full severity. @MySportsUpdateThe #Giants now, again, currently have the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Ari Meirov@MySportsUpdateThe #Giants have now lost 10 or more games for the ninth time in 11 years. |
| AFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSIt could have been worse for RB J.K. DOBBINS. YahooSports.com: A knee sprain knocked running back J.K. Dobbins out of Monday night’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens and now the injury will force him to miss time for the Los Angeles Chargers. He will definitely miss this week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. Beyond that, his status is considered week-to-week. Dobbins, who missed the 2021 season with a torn ACL and then suffered a torn Achilles in Week 1 last season, was having a bounce-back year with 766 rushing yards and eight touchdowns through 11 games for the 7-4 Chargers. |
| AFC NORTH |
| PITTSBURGHOC ARTHUR SMITH’s alma mater has a vacancy for head coach – and he is on their short list. Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com says he is downplaying it for now: Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said Thursday he had a preliminary conversation with North Carolina about their head coach vacancy following the dismissal of Mack Brown, but Smith also emphasized his happiness in Pittsburgh. Smith, who was an offensive lineman for UNC from 2001-05, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for his alma mater in 2006 under John Bunting. “Reality is [UNC] reached out on preliminary call,” Smith said. “I appreciate it, love that place. But that’s not my focus. I mean I’ve got one of the best jobs in football right now. There’s a lot to be said too about [how you] can’t put a price on personal and professional happiness, which I have here.” Smith, 42, joined the Steelers’ coaching staff in February after a three-year stint as the Atlanta Falcons head coach. “I’ve got an awesome job here,” Smith said. “Love it here in Pittsburgh. [I] probably [have] a different mindset than I had five, four years ago where any head job, I probably would’ve walked there to take it. “Now my perspective’s different, and when you got something good like I got here in Pittsburgh right now, family loves it here. I like the working environment, love being a Steeler.” Smith was fired by the Falcons after missing the playoffs each season and compiling a 21-30 record. Prior to his tenure in Atlanta, Smith served on the Tennessee Titans’ coaching staff from 2011-20 in a variety of roles, including offensive coordinator in 2019 and 2020. Under Smith, the Titans’ offense had a prolific run game anchored by Derrick Henry. Smith’s teams were also efficient in the red zone, scoring touchdowns on at least 75% of trips in 2019 and 2020. Though the Steelers’ offense under Smith hasn’t been as effective — scoring touchdowns on just 44.4% of red zone trips — the run game is eighth in the league with 135.2 rushing yards per game. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| JACKSONVILLEQB TREVOR LAWRENCE is going to play with his ailing left shoulder. YahooSports.com: Surgery could be on the horizon for Trevor Lawrence, but the Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback is expected to play on Sunday against the Houston Texans, head coach Doug Pederson said on Friday. Lawrence has missed the past two Jaguars games due to a sprained left shoulder suffered on Nov. 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles. But after returning to practice this week there was hope he would be able to get back on the field this week. “I think [the sprained AC joint] has been a pretty difficult thing to gauge, honestly, of what’s the best path forward,” Lawrence said Wednesday. “[Surgery is] definitely something that I’m considering and not off the table at all. It’s something that we’re going to have to just [approach] truly day-by-day, week-by-week. Said Pederson, “He’s had a good week. I would say as of right now yes he will play.” |
| AFC EAST |
| MIAMIWas Thursday night’s loss as simple as that the soft Dolphins can’t/won’t tackle in cold weather? Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com: At least one Miami Dolphins player believed the team allowed the cold temperatures to dictate its performance in Thursday’s 30-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the Dolphins missed 20 tackles in the loss, which directly led to 132 additional yards for the Packers. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks bluntly said he thought the mid-20-degree temperatures played a role. “I thought we were soft,” Brooks said after the game. “Simple as that, I thought we were soft today. I don’t know if guys was too cold. … I don’t know what it was. I feel like the elements played a part in how we played as a group, and that was the result that we got.” After going five straight games without allowing an opponent to rush for 100 yards, the Dolphins allowed 108 rushing yards in the first half Thursday. They also allowed Green Bay to average more than 7 yards per play and failed to force a turnover for the first time since Week 8. Though Miami outscored the Packers 14-6 in the second half, the poor defensive effort and 24-3 first-half deficit were too much to overcome. Defensive linemen Calais Campbell grimaced when told the final number of missed tackles after the game. “That’s the game right there, man. Twenty missed tackles — it’s hard to win,” he said. “I think it was one of those days where what could go wrong, went wrong. … I don’t ever want to make excuses, but I felt like today, the ball bounced their way and they made the plays to win the ball game. When we had our opportunities to make tackles in critical spaces, we have to find a way.” |
| THIS AND THAT |
| NFC NORTH DOMINATIONMike Sando of The Athletic wrote this before Green Bay beat Miami – but it’s a long look at the greatness of the NFC North in 2024: The NFL’s Thanksgiving schedule delivers three-fourths of what could become the most dominant division since the league realigned in 2002. The 2024 NFC North is the first division since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger to feature three teams with at least eight victories through Week 12, led by the 10-1 Detroit Lions, who have tied an all-time NFL mark for most victories in a season by at least 38 points (three, all outside the division). With the Lions facing the division-rival Chicago Bears (4-7) in the early game Thursday before the 8-3 Green Bay Packers play the late game against the AFC East’s Miami Dolphins, the 2024 NFC North — which also includes the 9-2 Minnesota Vikings — stands apart. It could well decide who takes home the Lombardi Trophy. The Lions (+260), Packers (+750) and Vikings (+850) are among the top seven in Super Bowl odds, per BetMGM, and the top four in odds to win the NFC, along with the Philadelphia Eagles (+325). The Lions remain Super Bowl favorites, comfortably ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs (+450), while the NFC North has the shortest odds to produce the champion at +175, half of the second-place AFC West (+350). Only the 2022 NFC East (26-7) had a better record than the 2024 NFC North (26-8) in non-division games through Week 12, but the current NFC North had a far better average point margin (+9.5 to +5.1) in these games. Here’s what you need to know about where the NFC North stands and what it must do to become the most dominant division over a full season since realignment. 1. The NFC North is by far the most dominant division this season.The scheduling rotation (which we’ll explore later) is part of the equation, but this level of dominance is extreme. 2024 non-divisional game scorecardNFC North 26-8 (.765) +323AFC West 19-12 (.613) +74AFC North 17-16 (.515) +56NFC West 15-15 (.500) -33NFC East 15-16 (.484) -33AFC East 13-18 (.419) -38NFC South 10-18 (.357) -138AFC South 11-23 (.324) -211 AFC North teams lead the way in total victories over opponents who currently have winning records (11) and total non-divisional victories in these games (nine). The NFC North is second with eight and six. Since 2002, the NFC North’s +323 point margin ranks first by 64 points over the runner-up 2013 NFC West (+259) through Week 12. That is larger than the difference between the 2013 NFC West and the sixth-ranked division in that span, the 2011 NFC North (+200). The table below shows the only divisions since 2002 with PPG margins greater than 7.0 through Week 12, led by the 2024 NFC North. 2002-24 non-division PPG margin (Wk 1-12) 2024 NFC North 26-8 (.765) +9.52013 NFC West 23-9 (.719) +8.12002 NFC South 17-8-1 (.673) +7.32008 NFC South 22-8 (.733) +7.22011 NFC North 19-9 (.679) +7.12005 AFC West 20-10 (.667) +7.1 2. Strong defense has been the key to the NFC North dominating its non-divisional schedule.The 2024 NFC North ranks first among 184 divisions since 2002 in defensive EPA per play against non-division opponents, compared to a No. 69 ranking in offensive EPA per play. All four NFC North teams rank among the NFL’s top 10 in defensive EPA per play across all games this season. They are all in the top five when isolating non-divisional games only. The Lions and Packers also rank among the top 10 on offense across all games and in non-division games. 3. Dominating a weak AFC South accounts for 61 percent of the NFC North’s +323 point differential in non-division games.NFC North teams are 8-0 with a +144 differential against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans. They are 14-2 with a +197 differential against the full AFC South. Bad teams get blown out. The NFC North has played its share of them. 2024 NFC North non-division scorecardJacksonville Jaguars 4-0 +73Tennessee Titans 4-0 +71Dallas Cowboys 1-0 +38San Francisco 49ers 2-0 +34Indianapolis Colts 3-1 +27Carolina Panthers 1-0 +26Houston Texans 3-1 +26New York Giants 1-0 +22Seattle Seahawks 1-0 +13Arizona Cardinals 2-1 +8Los Angeles Rams 3-1 +7New York Jets 1-0 +6Washington Commanders 0-1 -3Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-1 -4Philadelphia Eagles 0-1 -5New England Patriots 0-1 -16Totals 26-8 +323 Forty-five percent of the +323 differential in non-division games stems from facing the Jaguars and Titans, while 61 percent stems from facing the AFC South overall. The six other divisions are a combined 9-9 against the AFC South, with a +14 differential. That includes a 6-7 mark with a +21 differential for AFC East teams. 4. The NFC North has a 6-4 record against non-divisional opponents who had winning records through Week 12. Here’s a full accounting.The Bears are the only NFC North team without a victory over a team that currently has a winning record. They are 0-3 in those matchups, headlined by their defeat at Washington on a Jayden Daniels Hail Mary. The rest of the NFC North has a 6-1 record in those games, with three victories over Houston, two over Arizona and one over Seattle. 2024 NFC North vs. teams now above .500Minnesota Vikings 3-HOU W, 34-7 +27Green Bay Packers 6-AZ W, 34-13 +21Detroit Lions 4-SEA W, 42-29 +13Detroit Lions 3-AZ W, 20-13 +7Detroit Lions 10-HOU W, 26-23 +3Green Bay Packer 7-HOU W, 24-22 +2Chicago Bears 8-WAS L, 18-15 -3Green Bay Packers 1-PHI L, 34-29 -5Chicago Bears 2-HOU L, 19-13 -6Chicago Bears 9-AZ L, 29-9 -20 The NFC North’s record would be 6-3 if we adjusted the parameters to feature non-divisional games against teams that had winning records at kickoff. Victories over Dallas, San Francisco and Tampa Bay would come into play. 5. NFC North teams play 10 more games against non-division opponents this season. Here’s what the division must do to become the most dominant since 2002.The NFL pushes most division games later in the season for competitive reasons. That leaves only 10 remaining non-division games for the NFC North to build upon its dominance or fall in the rankings. Those games are listed below chronologically and with point spreads pulled together from various sources where available. Remaining non-division opponentsMinnesota Vikings 13 -3.5 (vs. AZ)Green Bay Packers 13 -3 (vs. MIA) W +13Chicago Bears 14 +6.5 (at SF)Minnesota Vikings 14 -5.5 (vs. ATL)Detroit Lions 15 -2 (vs. BUF)Green Bay Packers 15 -1 (at SEA)Minnesota Vikings 16 +2 (at SEA)Green Bay Packers 16 -5 (vs. NO)Chicago Bears 17 +3.5 (at SEA)Detroit Lions 17 -5 (at SF) The 2013 NFC North holds the full-season record for PPG margin against non-divisional opponents since realignment (+359 in 40 games, for 8.975 per game). That division featured the 13-3 Super Bowl champion Seahawks, the Jim Harbaugh-coached 49ers (12-4), the Bruce Arians-coached Cardinals (10-6) and the 7-9 Rams. NFC North teams must outscore their 10 remaining non-divisional opponents by 72 points to beat the 2013 NFC West for the best full-season differential since 2002. That would leave the division +395 in 44 games for a +8.977 PPG differential. The best full-season record against non-divisional opponents since 2002 is shared by the 2013 NFC West and the 2007 NFC South at 30-10 (.750). The NFC North (currently .765 at 26-8) would equal that mark with a 7-3 finish against foes outside the division. The best team in the NFC North (Detroit) will be at home for the division’s toughest remaining opponent (Buffalo). The Seahawks’ recent improvement on defense could complicate efforts for Chicago, Minnesota and Green Bay to win at Seattle. The 49ers’ decline could help Chicago (Week 14) and Detroit (Week 17). Green Bay and Minnesota can set the tone in Week 13. Both are favored at home against non-division opponents. |
| BROADCAST NEWSMADDEN afficienados, is this something? Richard Deitsch of The Athletic: The famed Madden video game franchise, one of the top-selling sports video games of all time, is about to enter a new frontier: It is becoming an alt-cast. NBC Sports and Peacock, as announced at halftime of Thursday’s game between the Miami Dolphins and the Green Bay Packers, will collaborate with the NFL, EA Sports and Genius Sports to present “EA SPORTS Madden NFL Cast” for the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs game on Dec. 21 at 1 p.m. ET. The Madden NFL Cast will exclusively stream on Peacock while the game airs on both NBC and Peacock. The Madden alt-cast will blend video game elements and live action and inject Madden NFL’s brand elements as animated overlays, per NBC Sports. The alt-cast will include Madden NFL 25 graphics, route trees, play cards and player ratings. There will be a dedicated commentary team for the alt-cast: Paul Burmeister will be the play-by-play announcer and former NFL quarterback and YouTuber Kurt Benkert will utilize graphic overlays to discuss and predict play options. Six-time Bengals Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Ochocinco will serve as a real-time player “ratings adjuster.” Henry Leverette, who won the Ultimate Madden Bowl championship ring in February and is the first player in Madden NFL Championship Series history to reach $1 million in career earnings, will also be part of the broadcast. The Madden NFL Cast will be produced by Steve Greenberg and directed by Geoff Butler. “This first-ever Madden NFL Cast marks a new milestone as Peacock’s first sports alt-cast,” Fred Gaudelli, NBC Sports’ executive producer of NFL, said in a statement. “It has long been a point of pride for John and the Madden family that their video game has helped generations of fans and gamers learn and enjoy football, and we are thrilled to continue that tradition.” One important note: NBC Sports said execution of the Madden NFL Cast is weather-dependent given the visibility required. For example, if there is heavy snow on the field in Kansas City that day, there’s a chance the overlays/route trees/graphics won’t show up on the white field. There are 11 players on the Texans and Chiefs rosters who have a Madden rating above 90, including Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce, who were two of only six players to begin this NFL season in the “Madden 99 Club” with 99 overall ratings. Houston tackle Laremy Tunsil (95 rating) and running back Joe Mixon (93) are the top Texans in Madden ratings. |
| 2025 DRAFTA 2025 Mock Draft from Josh Edwards of CBSSports.com – with a non-QB going first: 1 – JACKSONVILLETravis Hunter ATHColorado • Jr • 6’1″ / 185 lbsJacksonville would certainly be willing to listen to trade offers if there were a quarterback worthy of that consideration. There are no trade projections in this mock draft, so it stands pat and takes the most versatile player in college football. 2 – NY GIANTSShedeur Sanders QBColorado • Sr • 6’2″ / 215 lbsNew York waived Daniel Jones, so that era has already come to an unceremonious end. Shedeur Sanders would probably be happy to land in a big market like the Big Apple, and he has been the most consistent quarterback this year.Round 1 – Pick 3team logoteam logo 3 – LAS VEGASCam Ward QBMiami (FL) • Sr • 6’2″ / 223 lbsLas Vegas changes its starting quarterback on a near weekly basis. The Raiders aim to find some consistency in the 2025 NFL Draft with the selection of Cam Ward, who is a volatile quarterback who has willed his team to victory on a few occasions this season. 4 – NEW ENGLANDTetairoa McMillan WRArizona • Jr • 6’5″ / 212 lbsDrake Maye is the future at quarterback in New England. His supporting cast is not good enough. The biggest issue is the offensive line, but Tetairoa McMillan is better than the offensive line options available at this stage. 5 – CAROLINAWill Johnson CBMichigan • Jr • 6’2″ / 202 lbsBryce Young has regained his confidence in recent weeks and is playing at a higher level. Carolina needs to funnel some of its assets back to the defensive side of the ball. The Panthers need pass rushers and secondary players. Will Johnson has the potential to be the best player out of this draft. 6 – TENNESSEEAbdul Carter EDGEPenn State • Jr • 6’3″ / 252 lbsTennessee has the seventh-worst pressure rate in the NFL, according to TruMedia. It needs a pass rusher who can step in and make a difference within the structure of that defense. Abdul Carter is a versatile talent that, at the very least, knows how to move the quarterback off his spot. 7 – NY JETSMason Graham DLMichigan • Jr • 6’3″ / 320 lbsNew York is one of the teams that has already made the decision to move on from its head coach, so change is afoot. New leadership will have its own vision for how it wants to play and the personnel necessary to make that work. There is no question Mason Graham and Quinnen Williams would be a fun duo, however. 8 – CLEVELANDWill Campbell OTLSU • Jr • 6’6″ / 323 lbsNeither Jedrick Wills nor Dawand Jones seem to be the answer at left tackle in Cleveland. The Browns will need to identify and acquire a replacement. There is no better position in which to do that than in the draft if they are out of range to draft a perceived top quarterback prospect. 9 – NEW ORLEANSNic Scourton EDGETexas A&M • Jr • 6’4″ / 285 lbsNew Orleans has always had a fascination with powerful pass rushers, and those are the pass rushers finding success in the NFL right now. Chase Young is a free agent, and the next head coach will want a young pass rusher to build his defense upon. 10 – CINCINNATIMykel Williams EDGEGeorgia • Jr • 6’5″ / 265 lbsThis projection is largely dependent upon what happens with Trey Hendrickson, who requested a trade earlier this year. If he returns, along with Sam Hubbard and Myles Murphy, then perhaps the Bengals use this draft capital to address cornerback or another position of need. 11- DALLASAshton Jeanty RBBoise State • Jr • 5’9″ / 215 lbsAshton Jeanty eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards this past week. Dallas needs an upgrade at the position, and Jeanty is a net positive in both the run game and the pass game. It also would not be a surprise to see the Cowboys consider a wide receiver like Luther Burden III. 12 – CHICAGOKenneth Grant DLMichigan • Jr • 6’3″ / 339 lbsAn offensive coordinator change has breathed life into the Chicago offense. If it can end the season on a positive note, then perhaps the front office will feel more confident in allocating assets to the defense. The Bears have a few, young attacking interior defenders, but would benefit from a staunch defensive tackle to elevate the floor of the run defense. 13 – INDIANAPOLISBenjamin Morrison CBNotre Dame • Jr • 6’0″ / 190 lbsBenjamin Morrison is recovering from a pretty significant injury, but a lack of first-round caliber players may allow Morrison’s draft stock to remain steady. Indianapolis needs a big-time cornerback and is willing to wait in this instance. 14 – MIAMITyler Booker IOLAlabama • Jr • 6’5″ / 325 lbsAfter losing Robert Hunt in free agency last offseason, Miami elects to address the interior offensive line. Center Aaron Brewer has played well and now the interior becomes even more stingy. 15 – TAMPA BAYLuther Burden III WRMissouri • Jr • 5’11” / 205 lbsWhen Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen was at Kentucky, he used Wan’Dale Robinson as a multi-purpose tool. Luther Burden III would give them a player capable of getting the ball in space and taking it the distance in the event that Chris Godwin leaves in free agency. 16 – LA RAMSKelvin Banks Jr. OTTexas • Jr • 6’4″ / 320 lbsLos Angeles invests in the future of its offensive line with the selection of Kelvin Banks Jr. The Rams have done a great job accumulating talent on defense and need to focus more of their energy on the offense, as odd as that may sound. 17 – SAN FRANCISCOCameron Williams OTTexas • Jr • 6’5″ / 335 lbsTrent Williams has slipped a bit this year, and his health and availability have come into question. Dominick Puni has been a good find, but the 49ers need more on that offensive line. Cameron Williams replaces Mike McGlinchey at right tackle. 18 – ARIZONADeone Walker DLKentucky • Jr • 6’6″ / 345 lbsArizona has invested in the supporting cast of Kyler Murray, but the defense needs more difference-makers beyond safety Budda Baker. Deone Walker is not a finished product, but he is a massive interior defender with the potential to collapse the pocket. 19 – ATLANTAJames Pearce Jr. EDGETennessee • Jr • 6’5″ / 243 lbsJames Pearce Jr. is more flash than power right now. He has good flexibility at the high side of his rush and good first-step quickness. Atlanta has the second-lowest applied pressure rate this season (26.6%), according to TruMedia. It has been a problem for years, and Pearce could be part of the solution. 20 – SEATTLEMalaki Starks SGeorgia • Jr • 6’1″ / 205 lbsI have been hammering this point for a month, but Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is building his version of the Baltimore defense in the Pacific Northwest. Ernest Jones IV and Tyrice Knight are his version of Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen. Malaki Starks could be his Kyle Hamilton in the sense he would bring a level of accountability to the secondary. 21 – WASHINGTONJonah Savaiinaea OTArizona • Jr • 6’5″ / 336 lbsJonah Savaiinaea has played right tackle for Arizona but may project as an interior offensive lineman. As time has passed, it has become clear that Washington still needs to upgrade the protection of Jayden Daniels. Savaiinaea is an immediate upgrade. 22 – HOUSTONEmeka Egbuka WROhio State • Sr • 6’1″ / 205 lbsStefon Diggs is a free agent at season’s end. Rather than throw a significant amount of money at the position or move to acquire another veteran, Houston selects a player familiar with franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud. Nico Collins and Tank Dell will have had another year to come into their own, so the Texans no longer need Diggs to be that player. 23 – DENVERColston Loveland TEMichigan • Jr • 6’5″ / 245 lbsDenver recently waived Greg Dulcich and has gotten little support from the tight end position. Colston Loveland gives the Broncos more reliability in the run and pass games. 24 – LA CHARGERSJT Tuimoloau EDGEOhio State • Sr • 6’5″ / 269 lbsBud Dupree is playing significant reps for this team and Khalil Mack is in the final year of his contract. Joey Bosa and Tuli Tuipulotu are the present, but the rotation continues with the powerful J.T. Tuimoloau in the fold. 25 – BALTIMOREJosh Simmons OLOhio State • Sr • 6’5″ / 310 lbsRonnie Stanley, who is in the final year of his contract, has missed significant time due to injuries in recent years. Josh Simmons is not the best candidate to replace him considering he is coming off an injury of his own, but his early-season play was consistent with that of a potential first-round pick. 26 – PITTSBURGHDaylen Everette DBGeorgia • Jr • 6’1″ / 190 lbsPittsburgh has its secondary locked in long-term with Joey Porter Jr., Beanie Bishop Jr. and Daylen Everette as the three starting cornerbacks. Minkah Fitzpatrick on the back end allows the Steelers to capitalize on a havoc-wreaking defensive front. 27 – GREEN BAYWalter Nolen DLOle Miss • Jr • 6’3″ / 305 lbsGreen Bay continues its defensive investment with the selection of Walter Nolen, who is a rising interior defender. The Packers could continue making over the offensive line or investigate available cornerbacks as well. 28 – MINNESOTATyleik Williams DLOhio State • Sr • 6’3″ / 327 lbsMinnesota’s defensive personnel has exceeded expectations this season, but that is not a sustainable approach. The Vikings need to address the secondary, in addition to defensive tackle this offseason. 29 – PHILADELPHIADonovan Jackson IOLOhio State • Sr • 6’4″ / 320 lbsDonovan Jackson is a versatile prospect who has played guard, but transitioned to left tackle when Josh Simmons suffered an injury. Philadelphia has always valued versatility amongst its offensive lineman, and the interior play has not been up to par in 2024. 30 – BUFFALOLT Overton DLAlabama • Jr • 6’5″ / 283 lbsBuffalo has had an affinity for powerful, raw pass rushers during the Sean McDermott-Brandon Beane era. L.T. Overton is still coming into his own but gives the Bills depth alongside A.J. Epenesa and Gregory Rousseau. 31 – KANSAS CITYDenzel Burke CBOhio State • Sr • 6’1″ / 193 lbsIn the spirit of the holidays, Kansas City begs the question, ‘What do you get the kid that has everything?’ Sure, the Chiefs have positions of weakness, but it hardly seems to matter for the back-to-back Super Bowl champions. Cornerback is a spot that was not adequately addressed once L’Jarius Sneed was traded last offseason. 32 – DETROITJalon Walker EDGEGeorgia • Jr • 6’2″ / 245 lbsDetroit will be able to bring pressure from all angles next season with Za’Darius Smith and Aidan Hutchinson on the edge, and linebackers Jalon Walker and Jack Campbell capable of spot rushing. |
