| If The Season Ended Today in the NFC – it looks like the NFC South winner will be a couple of games below the Wild Card line: NFC ConfLA Rams West 9-2 4-2Philadelphia East 8-3 7-2Chicago North 8-3 5-2Tampa Bay South 6-5 4-2Seattle WC1 8-3 4-3Green Bay WC2 7-3-1 5-1-1San Francisco WC3 8-4 8-2 Detroit 7-4 4-3Carolina 6-6 4-3Dallas 5-5-1 3-4-1 Brian Baldinger asks the question – @BaldyNFLare there really 7 playoff worthy teams in the NFC? Yes, although with the NFC South required to fill the field, only six may make it leaving someone like Detroit, Green Bay or San Francisco on the outside looking in.- – -Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com explains why Thursday’s first two games could set records for TV audience: From the moment the NFL released the 2025 schedule, it became immediately clear that Thursday’s Chiefs-Cowboys game will be the most-watched regular-season game ever. The current record came three years ago, on Thanksgiving Day 2022. Then, 42.1 million watched the Cowboys beat the Giants, 28-20. The audience surpassed a Monday night game from 1990 between the 10-1 Giants and 10-1 49ers, which had attracted 41.5 million. Seven of the nine largest audiences games landed on Thanksgiving. The other happened in 1985, when the Dolphins gave the Bears their only loss of the season on a Monday night in December. Even if both squads didn’t have their postseason backs essentially against the wall, the game between the franchises that fancy themselves “America’s Team” was destined to set the record — especially with the new Nielsen system that is operating like reverse Ozempic for audience size. Here’s something else to consider, as the fourth Thursday in November approaches. With the second game of the day destined to finish first, the first game of the day could finish second. It’s a prediction that was made on Monday by John Ourand of Puck, in his Varsity newsletter. The underpinnings: it’s a consequential game between two currently popular teams, the new Nielsen bump, and the simulcast on Tubi, which added 13.6 million viewers to Fox’s broadcast of Super Bowl LIX. With the Lions ascending in recent years, the early game has shifted from captive audience to appointment viewing. This year, it’s must-see TV. And it’s not crazy to think that 42.1 million will be beaten by both of the Thanksgiving afternoon games. |
| NFC NORTH |
| MINNESOTAQB J.J. McCARTHY is concussed. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: The Vikings may be turning to Max Brosmer at quarterback in Week 13. Head coach Kevin O’Connell announced on Monday that J.J. McCarthy is in the concussion protocol. O’Connell said that McCarthy reported having concussion symptoms on the flight home after Sunday’s loss to the Packers in Green Bay. Brosmer will take the first-team reps while McCarthy is working his way through the protocol and will start against the Seahawks if McCarthy is not cleared for the game. The undrafted rookie is 5-of-8 for 42 yards in four appearances this season, but has never started an NFL game. McCarthy was 12-of-19 for 87 yards and two interceptions against the Packers. The 2024 first-round pick has thrown at least one interception in all six of his starts this season and missed five games with an ankle injury earlier this season..This as McCarthy is putting up numbers that are very, very bad. @MLFootball🚨🚨CRAZIEST STAT OF THE DAY🚨🚨 #Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy would have had a higher passer rating if he would have just SPIKED THE BALL on every player. 😳😳😳 Spike the ball on every play: 39.6 ratingMcCarthy rating today: 34.2 Disaster in Minnesota. Someone called The JPeep ain’t buying it: @TheJPeep“Reported symptoms on the flight home” Shut up. O’Connell and this Viking organization are lying out of their ass. Let me simplify. “JJ McCarthy sucks and we regret drafting him” More piling on: @WeBeatTheSpreadThe Vikings really watched JJ McCarthy go 10-18 for 140 yards and no TD’s in the national championship carried by Blake Corum and his defense and went “Yeah…we need that kid” We should point out, that dating back to high school, McCarthy’s teams were 61-3 in games he started. |
| NFC EAST |
| DALLASA key offensive lineman may be out for Thursday against the Chiefs. Todd Archer of ESPN.com on LT TYLER GUYTON: Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyler Guyton is unlikely to play on Thanksgiving against the Kansas City Chiefs because of a high ankle sprain suffered in the second half of Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, according to multiple sources. While the injury is considered to be on the “milder” side of a typical high ankle sprain, the four-day turnaround makes it difficult for Guyton to be ready to play Thursday. The Cowboys will hold a couple of walk-through practices this week in order to get ready for the Chiefs. The Cowboys’ Week 14 game is Dec. 4 at the Detroit Lions. After suffering the injury, Guyton was listed as questionable to return, but he did not re-enter the game. Nate Thomas would make his second start of his career if Guyton does not play. He started the Cowboys’ Week 5 win at the New York Jets with Guyton out because of a concussion. He played the final 31 snaps of the Eagles’ game and held up well against the Philadelphia front. Hakeem Adeniji would serve as the backup tackle. The 5-5-1 Cowboys would seem to have three wins in their remaining six games (provided they stay on top of their game as in the last two). That leaves three that are more challenging: Nov. 27 Kansas City Dec. 4 at Detroit Dec. 14 Minnesota Dec. 21 LA Chargers Dec. 25 at WashingtonJan. 4 at NY Giants- – -If we process this note correctly, WR CEE DEE LAMB has dropped six passes in two games with the Eagles this year and two in the other nine. Stat to know: Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb might be glad not to see the Eagles again this season. After officially dropping three passes (and maybe a fourth) in the season opener at Philadelphia, Lamb dropped three more Sunday, including a touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter that would have given the Cowboys the lead. He has eight drops this season, the most he has had in a full season in his career. — Todd Archer |
| NEW YORK GIANTSAt the beginning of the season, you might have thought the Giants had a receiver, MALIK NABERS, who could put up numbers like Vikings superstar JUSTIN JEFFERSON. After 12 weeks, it turns out they do. It’s just that his name is WR WENDALE ROBINSON. Receptions Yards TDJEFFERSON 60 795 2ROBINSON 66 794 3 We would say that Vikings QB J.J. McCARTHY has played a role in Robinson reaching Jefferson’s level – although Robinson’s trio of QBs this year (Russell Wilson, Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston) aren’t elite either. |
| WASHINGTONMore MARCUS MARIOTA Monday. Zachary Pareles of CBSSports.com: Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will return to practice this week but has not been cleared for contact and is considered unlikely to play in Week 13 against the Denver Broncos on “Sunday Night Football,” coach Dan Quinn announced Monday. Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow in Week 9 against the Seattle Seahawks and has not played or practiced since. Daniels, 24, has battled a bevy of injuries this season. He also sprained his knee late in the Commanders’ Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers and missed two games due to a hamstring injury. In total, Daniels appeared in just six of Washington’s 11 games this season and emerged healthy from just three of them. Overall, he has thrown for 1,184 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions and run for 262 yards and two touchdowns, though most of his numbers are down from his Offensive Rookie of the Year-winning 2024 campaign. Quinn said the team had not had internal discussions about shutting Daniels down for the year, even given the team’s record. He also did not have an exact timetable for Daniels’ return. The Commanders face the Vikings in Week 14 and the Giants in Week 15. Quinn said getting Daniels reps down the stretch was important as he’s “learning to play the position at the highest level,” though he later said the team will be smart with his return. “You just gotta try to do what’s best,” Quinn said. “By no means are we careless about that. It’s important, not just for Jayden, but for the entire team.” |
| NFC SOUTH |
| CAROLINAThe Panthers won the coin toss Monday night and lost the game. Prior to that, the winner of the coin toss in their previous 11 games had gone on to win the game. |
| NEW ORLEANSWith PK BLAKE GRUPE floundering (by 2025 standards), the greatest kicker of his time, Justin Tucker has been granted a tryout. Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com: The New Orleans Saints are bringing in former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker for a tryout, a source told ESPN, confirming multiple reports. Tucker was suspended for the first 10 weeks of the 2025 NFL season due to violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy and was made eligible for reinstatement on Nov. 11. This is his first tryout since his suspension ended. The Ravens released Tucker in May after he was investigated by the NFL for sexual misconduct. The investigation began after the Baltimore Banner reported that 16 massage therapists in the Baltimore area accused Tucker of sexual misconduct in incidents that reportedly occurred between 2012-2016. Tucker has denied the allegations. Tucker, 36, signed with the Ravens as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2012 and spent 13 seasons there. He was a five-time first-team All-Pro and made the Pro Bowl seven times. While Tucker led the league in field goal accuracy in 2021, his kicking percentage dropped to a career-low 73.3% in his final season in Baltimore. Tucker’s tryout comes after Saints kicker Blake Grupe missed two kicks on Sunday, bringing his total misses to eight this season. Grupe has made only 69.2% of his field goals this year, the worst percentage in the league for kickers with at least 20 attempts. |
| TAMPA BAYQB BAKER MAYFIELD’s left shoulder may be good enough to play, but we remember that’s the same banged up body part he played with in his final days in Cleveland. We hope Tampa Bay fans are kinder to the struggles ahead than some in Northeast Ohio were. Jenna Laine of ESPN.com: The MRI for Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield revealed a low-grade AC joint sprain in his left shoulder but no additional damage, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Monday. An additional source told ESPN that the general feeling is that Mayfield is pretty fortunate to have not sustained a more serious injury. Mayfield’s status for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals remains uncertain, but there are no long-term injury concerns. Mayfield was injured in the Buccaneers’ 34-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night — their third straight loss, which dropped them to 6-5 this season. After leading the Buccaneers on a touchdown drive late in the second quarter, Mayfield went into the medical tent on the Buccaneers’ sideline. He was listed as questionable to return because of the injury but returned for Tampa Bay’s next drive. “I mean, when he goes out, he’s obviously really hurt because he’s a tough guy,” coach Todd Bowles said Monday. “When he went in the tent, you could see it on his face when he came off the field, you kind of knew something happened right there.” After attempting a long pass on the final play of the first half from the Tampa Bay 37-yard line with 5 seconds to go, Mayfield fell to the ground and appeared to be in pain again. He was labeled doubtful to return after halftime, then was ruled out later in the third quarter. He was seen on the sideline with his left arm in a sling. He was replaced by Teddy Bridgewater, who would start for Tampa Bay if Mayfield, who has led the Bucs to two straight NFC South division titles, misses time. Bowles said earlier Monday that losing Mayfield would be a “big loss because of the way he’s been playing and carrying us the past few weeks — and even last year.” “At the same time, we all have confidence in Teddy. We know what he can do and we know what kind of confidence level he brings, too. It’s a different kind of energy, but yet energy that we all feed off of and expect.” Bridgewater completed 8-of-15 passes for 62 passing yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions after Mayfield had gone 9-of-19 for 41 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. “He’s a different quarterback, so schematically, we’ll have to do some different things for him to make him feel comfortable within the offense and do a lot of things he likes to do,” Bowles said of Bridgewater. “There are some similar things, but there are also some differences that way to make him more comfortable. He’s been here long enough to where if he had to go, we can tweak it the right way for him to be successful.” Mayfield has never missed a start in his three seasons with the Bucs, starting all 45 regular-season games thus far. The last time he missed a game due to injury was with the Carolina Panthers in 2022 when he suffered a high ankle sprain. The last time Bridgewater started a game was in 2022 with the Miami Dolphins, a 23-21 loss at the New England Patriots. |
| NFC WEST |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSThe 9-2 Rams seem headed for something between 15-2 and 13-4. ESPN.com: Can the Rams hold on to the No. 1 seed in the NFC? After the Eagles lost Sunday afternoon, the Rams’ win over the Buccaneers pushed L.A. past Philadelphia for the top record in the NFC. The Rams (9-2) are favored by ESPN Analytics in each of their six remaining games, including contests against the Lions (7-4) and Seahawks (8-3). Staying ahead of the Eagles in the standings could be crucial with Philadelphia owning the head-to-head tiebreaker after a win in Week 3. |
| SAN FRANCISCOAfter another stellar performance, RB CHRISTIAN McCAFFREY is on a 1,000/1,000 pace once again. Mike Florio: In only his third NFL season, running back Christian McCaffrey became the third player in NFL history to run for 1,000 yards and gain 1,000 yards receiving. He may now become the second to do it twice. Through 12 games, McCaffrey has 796 rushing yards and 785 receiving yards. With five games to play, that projects to 1,127 rushing yards and 1,112 receiving yards. Former Rams running back Marshall Faulk did it in 1999, and former 49ers running back Roger Craig did it in 1985. McCaffrey’s 1,000/1,000 season games with the Panthers, in 2019. And, yes, this would be the first time it happens in a 17-game regular season. That’s true of every single-season record. If the league expands the season (and it will again), it becomes easier to break existing mark based on what happens during a given season. Regardless, McCaffrey is currently on pace to get there in 16 games. So relax, guy. Appreciate the greatness of McCaffrey, who’s still getting it done at a high level at 29. |
| SEATTLEA stat from MLFootball: #Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has more receiving yards this season than #Jets QB Justin Fields has total passing yards. 🤯🤯🤯 JSN receiving yards: 1,313Fields passing yards: 1,259 And this from Austin Abbott: @AustinAbbottFFJaxon Smith-Njigba’s 17 Game Pace: – 124 Receptions– 2,029 Yards– 11 TD’s Calvin Johnson’s Best Season: (2012) – 122 Receptions– 1,964 Yards– 5 TD’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s on pace for 165 Targets Calvin Johnson had 204 Targets.. |
| AFC WEST |
| LAS VEGASAs anticipated, well-traveled Greg Olson will be the OC going forward in Las Vegas: Las Vegas Raiders coach Pete Carroll announced Monday that quarterbacks coach Greg Olson will be the interim offensive coordinator, following the firing of Chip Kelly. Olson is back in a familiar position with the Raiders. He was the team’s offensive coordinator in 2013-14, then from 2018-2021. Now he will once again call plays for the Raiders, who have one of the worst offenses in the league. Carroll said he does not intend to make further changes to the coaching staff. “He’s gonna be the playcaller, and we haven’t finalized the workings of anything past that at this point, but our guys are game-planning [for the Los Angeles Chargers], and we’re getting after it,” Carroll said. Carroll cited Olson’s coaching experience and their previous working relationship for his appointment to lead the offense. Olson has coached in the league for 24 seasons and was the quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks in 2023, Carroll’s final season with the organization. Olson also was an offensive coordinator for the Rams, Lions and Buccaneers. “He knows me inside and out, and I think it’s fortunate that we have a guy [who] has that much background to step into this role,” Carroll said. |
| AFC NORTH |
| BALTIMOREHave QB LAMAR JACKSON’s legs gone from great to just okay? Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com looks at the numbers: Throughout his career, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has been able to make plays with his legs like no other quarterback in NFL history. But not this year. Although Jackson’s passing stats are as good as ever this season, he has declined significantly in his ability to gain ground running the ball, and to use his mobility to avoid sacks. Jackson has run the ball just 46 times for 237 yards and one touchdown through eight games this season. He’s averaging career lows in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns per game. In fact, totaling seven carries for 11 yards on Sunday against the Jets, Jackson is all the way down to an average of 29.6 rushing yards per game this season. Less than 30 yards rushing per game is unheard of for Jackson; prior to this year, Jackson had never averaged less than 50 rushing yards per start in any season of his career. Jackson is also struggling to run away from the pass rush. He has been sacked on 11 percent of his dropbacks this season, by far the highest sack percentage in any season of his career. Jackson has already been sacked more times this year, while throwing just 195 passes, than he was all of last year, when he threw a career-high 474 passes. In the first game of this season, Jackson was moving as he always has: He ran the ball six times for 70 yards and a touchdown against the Bills. Since then, he hasn’t gained even 50 yards in any game, and hasn’t run for a touchdown. Jackson missed three games with a hamstring injury and is currently dealing with a toe injury, but the Ravens shook off a 1-5 start to win five games in a row and are now in first place in the AFC North. A healthy and mobile Jackson in the playoffs could make the Ravens a dangerous opponent, but so far this season we haven’t seen the Jackson of old. |
| CINCINNATIAll signs are pointing to the return of QB JOE BURROW for your Thanksgiving night viewing. Ben Baby of ESPN.com: Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is projected to make his return this Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens, coach Zac Taylor said Monday. Burrow has missed the past nine games with a turf toe injury he sustained on Sept. 14 against Jacksonville. “I anticipate him playing, but we’ll continue to work through the week,” Taylor said. The Bengals took a step toward adding Burrow back to the 53-player roster Monday by waiving Sean Clifford, who had held a roster spot as a reserve quarterback. Burrow had two full days of practice ahead of Sunday’s loss to the New England Patriots. Taylor ultimately made the decision to roll with veteran Joe Flacco to allow Burrow to get a couple of extra days of rest ahead of a short week. The Bengals are 3-8 entering the Thanksgiving Day showdown against the Baltimore Ravens, the game Burrow initially eyed for his comeback. He made significant progress without any setbacks, which forced Taylor to make the call for Week 12. Flacco will be Burrow’s backup moving forward, Taylor said. With Burrow out, the Bengals lost three games with Jake Browning at quarterback before trading for Flacco before Week 6. However, the team went 1-5 with Flacco as the starter. Burrow is no stranger to severe injuries in his six NFL seasons. Each season he has either sustained a major injury or spent time recovering from a significant surgery. Before this season, he had played at least 10 games each season. With his Week 13 return, Burrow can play in a maximum of eight games. However, as he noted earlier in November, this will be the first time he is able to come back from injured reserve in the middle of a season. After Sunday’s game, the Bengals were three games back of the Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers, who each have a 6-5 record. Cincinnati split its games with Pittsburgh this season and will face Baltimore twice in a three-week span. The Bengals have a 1% chance of making the playoffs, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index, which also projects the Bengals to lose the next three games. Even with slim odds, Burrow is determined to play again this season. “He’s worked really hard to get himself back,” Taylor said after Sunday’s 26-20 loss to the Patriots. “He’s a football player. He wants to play football. We want to win football games, so that will lead into that decision.” Speaking to reporters Monday, Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden said what Burrow did to come back from his turf toe surgery isn’t lost on the locker room. “What he did last week is inspiring,” Golden said. “It’s inspiring to us as a defense. It’s inspiring to the players, the coaches. It goes above.” |
| CLEVELANDWith the win in Las Vegas, QB SHEDEUR SANDERS will start at home against the 49ers Sunday even though QB DILLON GABRIEL has cleared the concussion protocol.ESPN.com: Shedeur Sanders will start at quarterback Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski announced Monday. Sanders will remain the starter even though Dillon Gabriel has cleared the concussion protocol, Stefanski said. With Gabriel sidelined, Sanders completed 11 of 20 passes for 209 yards with one touchdown and an interception in the Browns’ 24-10 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday in his first NFL start. Sanders, who became the 42nd quarterback to start for the Browns since 1999, also became the first Cleveland quarterback to win his first NFL start since Eric Zeier in 1995. The victory ended a 17-game losing streak for the Browns in games with a quarterback making his first career start. That was the longest streak by any franchise since 1950, when QB starts were first recorded. Ryan Wilson of CBSSports.com wants to see more of Sanders: It wasn’t perfect. But it was better — a lot better. And the game plan wasn’t complicated for Shedeur Sanders in his first NFL start: move the launch point, take some deep shots, mix in quick throws to Harold Fannin Jr. and Dylan Sampson, and let Myles Garrett and the defense cook. Sanders finished 11 of 20 for 209 yards with a touchdown and an interception Sunday, becoming the first Browns quarterback to win his first NFL start since 1995 — back when Deion Sanders was 28, already a four-time All-Pro, and in his seventh NFL season. After the game, Kevin Stefanski was noncommittal about his Week 13 starter, but on Monday the Browns coach announced Sanders will start again on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. But here’s the truth: Sanders shouldn’t just start against the 49ers. He should start the rest of the season. And here’s why. This has less to do with Dillon Gabriel, the team’s third-round pick, and everything to do with Cleveland needing to find out exactly what it has in Sanders, drafted two rounds later. With two first-round picks in 2026, the Browns are almost certain to take a quarterback early in next spring’s draft — unless Gabriel or Sanders can prove to be the next Brock Purdy or Kirk Cousins, late-round gems who turn into long-term starters. Through six games, we have a good idea that Gabriel isn’t yet poised to make that leap. Through six quarters, the jury remains out on Sanders. There’s no upside in reinstalling Gabriel as the starter. We already know who he is: a point guard who is at his best when he plays on time, especially on short and intermediate throws, but who struggles when he’s asked to push the ball down the field. In his six starts, Gabriel ranked last among rookie QBs in big-time throw percentage (1.5%), according to PFF, behind Jaxson Dart (5.9%), Tyler Shough (4.8%), Cam Ward (3.4%) and Sanders (6.3%). Gabriel’s average depth of target (ADOT) compared to other rookies … also last (6.4 vs. Shough’s ADOT-leading 9.9 and Sanders’ 9.8). In late September, when Gabriel replaced Joe Flacco, I wrote how Stefanski could structure the offense for him. Many of those principles remain true for Sanders — but the ceiling is different. (I will say – and this has everything to do with vibes and nothing to do with inside information — by outward appearances, Stefanski seems more hesitant to embrace Sanders over Gabriel. Maybe that’s because he would have happily taken Gabriel before the third round. And it was understandably odd that, two rounds later, the team decided to trade up for Sanders. Or maybe I’m just making this all up in my head. Either way, something feels off. whether it’s perceived or otherwise, I do not know.) Here’s what I wrote at the time: A league source explained it to me this way: Stefanski is one of the best in the league at meeting people where they are. He’ll only ask his quarterback to do things they’re comfortable doing. Instead of asking the player to change, Stefanski will tweak things on the back end to maximize the likelihood that the quarterback has success. It’s for many of the same reasons we applaud Kevin O’Connell’s ability to get the most out of Sam Darnold or Carson Wentz or Josh Dobbs. Stefanski is just as masterful but that message sometimes gets lost because it’s buried in all the baggage that comes with Cleveland Browns football. That message got lost for much of Gabriel’s time as the starter. But Sunday’s game in Las Vegas made it clear: Sanders gives Cleveland something worth exploring. He only completed 55% of his attempts, but he was immeasurably cleaner in the pocket than the week before, when he came in against the Ravens after having taken as many first-team reps as you or I and looked exactly like you might imagine. |
| PITTSBURGHWe didn’t know whether to put this in Pittsburgh or Dallas. And it’s not the “craziest stat ever”. But it is interesting. @MLFootball🚨🚨CRAZIEST STAT EVER🚨🚨 #Cowboys WR George Pickens has MORE RECEIVING YARDS than all the Pittsburgh #Steelers wide receivers combined this season. Pickens individual receiving yards: 1,044Pittsburgh WR corp total yards: 1,009 Pittsburgh traded Pickens for a 3rd rounder. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| JACKSONVILLEOther than the final line, this is a reasonable take: @J_CollyayJags won 4 games last year Jags were at 6.5 wins via Vegas before the year Jags currently have 7 wins Expectations have been surpassed This team was never built to win a superbowl this year Enjoy the wins you miserable bunch |
| TENNESSEEDon’t think it is going to happen, but this sounds like a plan for Lane Kiffin from Clay Travis: @ClayTravisThe Titans should hire Lane Kiffin as head coach. Would allow him to finish the Ole Miss playoff run, would give Cam Ward a quarterback guru coach who has worked with tons of young QBs and gotten the most from them, and would give boring Titans franchise some much needed buzz. The DB says Ditto for the Giants who have an opening and an old Kiffin QB. Kiffin could keep NFL teams on hold until after the CFB Playoff runs its course, which as a practical matter he couldn’t do with another SEC job. But does Brandon Walker know something? @BFWReminder: Don’t fall for the Ole Miss Lane Kiffin stuff. He’s not leaving. It’s all a ploy to make his return have more impact. He’s coaching at Ole Miss next year. I guarantee it. |
| AFC EAST |
| BUFFALOBy this standard, the Bills should hope that QB AARON RODGERS is able to start Sunday: @AjayCybulskiThe #Bills have defeated Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield The Bills have lost to Davis Mills, Michael Penix Jr., and Tua Tagovailoa In the same season. |
| NEW ENGLANDJay Busbee of YahooSports.com believes in the Patriots: In “The Usual Suspects,” the stone-cold-classic 1995 crime thriller, the bad guys seem pretty obvious — blindingly so, really, loud and in your face and claiming all of your attention every time they’re onscreen. But the real villain is lurking right there in plain sight, an apparently broken wretch who’s been pulling the strings all along without anyone noticing. Why do I lead an NFL column with a reference to a 30-year-old movie about a villain hiding in plain sight? Oh, I don’t know … have you checked the AFC East standings lately? The New England Patriots are back, friends. Winners of nine straight, led by an old-school lead-with-the-forehead head coach, quarterbacked by the best signal-caller to join the NFL since the pandemic, held together by one of the top scoring defenses in the league, the Patriots are now officially a legitimate capital-P Problem for the rest of the league. Again. You can understand why the NFL universe might be troubled by this development. After Tom Brady left the Greater Boston area for Florida and Bill Belichick decided to go re-enact the plot of Old School, the NFL thought it was done with the Pats for a decade or so. The Chiefs took up the “new dynasty” mantle, and everyone safely relegated the Pats to the six-win bin along with the Jets and Titans. Nightmares are never as scary in the daylight, and the Patriots’ two-decade run through the NFL faded into memory. Until this season. Their coach is Mike Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls with the Pats and — perhaps even more impressively — led the Titans to the AFC championship game and, later, a No. 1 seed as a coach. (The decisionmaking that led to Tennessee releasing him is one reason why Tennessee has a single win this year, and New England has 10.) Vrabel has rebooted the culture in New England, bringing back the Belichickian swagger but not the needless Belichickian crustiness. The former linebacker now oversees a team whose defense ranks sixth in points allowed, eight in yards allowed, and second in rushing yards allowed. He’s also unlocked an offense that thrown for more yards than any team in the league. The results have been obvious, as has the praise from players up and down the roster. “I think (Vrabel) has done a great job bringing us close together as a team, helping us to play for each other, not just for ourselves,” running back TreVeyon Henderson said after New England’s win over Cleveland. “So, I have been thankful to have him as a head coach. He has been doing such a good job of pushing me, pushing everyone on this team no matter who we are.” “He brings it every day, he challenges us but he also cares about us and cares about us outside of the building,” Drake Maye said in October. “He’s just awesome to play for.” Sure, players said that about Belichick too, but it always felt more like a hostage-video confession than a true expression of affection. Some wins come at more cost than others. Maye himself is a key factor in the Patriots’ renaissance. His 3,130 yards (without a bye) lead the league. He ranks second in yards per completion at 8.8 (to Sam Darnold) and passer rating of 110.7 (to Matthew Stafford), and as a result is very much in the MVP conversation. It’s way too early to compare him to You Know Who, but a reliable young quarterback is a rare asset in the modern NFL. And if you’ve got a quarterback with this kind of touch … … good things will follow. Five games remain in the regular season for New England, starting with next Monday’s battle with an old nemesis, the New York Giants. Following the very late Week 14 bye, New England wraps the year with a run through the division, plus a visit to Baltimore. Difficult but manageable, especially given the AFC East lead the Patriots have posted over the 7-4 Bills. And from there, who knows? If the Patriots were trying to get into the College Football Playoff, analysts would point to the ugly Week 1 loss to the Raiders, plus a whole bunch of high-calorie victories over teams like Miami, New Orleans, Tennessee, Cleveland, Atlanta and the Jets. But style points don’t matter in the NFL, victories do. Get into the playoffs — and they’re 99 percent likely to do so, per NFL.com — and the Patriots can do all kinds of damage. Again. “You want high expectations,” Maye said prior to the start of the season. “This city, the Patriots are used to winning, and that’s what we’re trying to get back to. You want people to expect you to play well.” Pat Patriot isn’t walking with a limp anymore, and the rest of the NFL has dropped its coffee cup. Only difference between this Patriots season and The Usual Suspects: the Pats’ season isn’t anywhere close to finished. Wow. It’s been 30 years since “The Usual Suspects.” It’s been 40 years since “Back To The Future.” It’s been nearly 50 years since “Star Wars, Episode IV” which was really the first one filmed. |
