AROUND THE NFL
Daily Briefing
| The staffs of the Lions and Jets will get to work the Senior Bowl. ESPN.com:
Coaches for the Detroit Lions and New York Jets were selected by the NFL on Tuesday as the coaching staffs for the 73rd Reese’s Senior Bowl next month in Mobile, Alabama.
For the first time in the college all-star game’s history, the head coaches will serve in an advisory role. Lions head coach Dan Campbell and Jets head coach Robert Saleh will promote assistants on their staffs into leadership roles for the week of the game. The change is being made to offer assistants development opportunities and as a way to showcase those coaches in front of other NFL teams.
Also this year, four coaches from historically black colleges and universities will be a part of the coaching staffs to connect HBCU coaches with NFL teams in the hopes it leads to future opportunities. |
| NFC NORTH |
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MINNESOTA
Chad Graff of The Athletic, agrees with Mark Wilf that the Vikings coaching job is the most attractive one available:
(Wilf) was comforted by what’s around him and what he can offer coaching candidates.
The Vikings don’t just have one of 32 opportunities for a coach to achieve his dream of leading an NFL franchise. They have the best head coaching job to offer among all the teams in search of new leadership.
Because of their GM search, the Vikings may have to take more time than other organizations to sign a coach. They may have a roster that needs change and major questions at some of the most important positions. But compared to the five other vacancies, the Vikings’ job offers the most opportunity, which should help them get whichever candidate they like best.
The Bears, Broncos, Dolphins, Giants and Jaguars are also looking for new coaches. There’s a chance the Raiders, Seahawks and Texans join them on the carousel. But either way, the Vikings can take comfort in the attractive nature of their job.
The Broncos and Dolphins have good rosters, but they both have serious questions at quarterback. The Bears have a quarterback of their future (they hope), but he struggled as a rookie, they don’t have a first-round pick, they have dealt with dysfunction in leadership and there are questions about the resources the staff is given. The Jaguars have their quarterback of the future, but the rest of the operation is such a mess that fans dressed up as clowns for the final home game to mock the team’s owner.
The Vikings, meanwhile, can offer not just a talented roster headlined by 22-year-old wide receiver Justin Jefferson, but perhaps as important for a head coach, they can offer stability. Mike Zimmer got eight years on the job despite missing the playoffs in three of the final four. He had complete autonomy over his staff, which coaches value. Ownership didn’t meddle in his duties.
The Wilfs will also give the next coach ample time to turn things around. They so badly want to become one of the NFL’s elite franchises that they are willing to try the Pittsburgh Steelers’ model: finding the right coach, then giving that person a long leash without fear of firing.
“We have an excellent organization,” Mark Wilf said. “We have great, great components of a roster here to build on. I think any coach and GM knows there’s something to build off here. Again, we’re really committed as owners to providing the resources to make sure we can keep competing year in and year out at the highest levels and try to get championships.”
That word — resources — is the other one that should help attract whichever coach the Vikings please. After questions at the start of the last decade about whether the Vikings would remain in Minnesota, the Wilfs have poured money into upgrading every aspect of the franchise’s facilities.
Four years ago, they unveiled their new practice facility in Eagan that is among the nicest in the NFL. It might surprise you to learn how few teams in the league have invested in a state-of-the-art headquarters, something that is slowly starting to change with teams like the Vikings and Cowboys trying to build up the entire area around their facility. Regardless, the new coach would have the benefit of the new setup there. Then there’s the home stadium, which is easily among the best.
Plus, the quarterback of the team that has dominated the NFC North is 38 years old, and the Packers can’t reign atop the division forever, right?
“We know there are a lot of good candidates, and at the same time we know that this is a highly desirable place for people to be,” Wilf said. “We have a great core of talent, great facilities, a great fan base, great community. We’re confident we’re on a good process and we’ve already gotten started on that work.”
Even if it’s a precarious situation, I’d argue quarterback is a strength in the Vikings’ search for a new head coach, too, because of the multitude of options provided. If the next coach wants a veteran quarterback, he can have that by extending Kirk Cousins and lowering his $45 million cap hit. If he wants to draft a rookie but have him learn for a year and develop, he can do that while Cousins plays out the final year of his contract before handing the reins over to the quarterback-in-waiting. And if he wants to start from scratch, he can trade Cousins for picks and set his sights on the next signal caller.
While the roster is currently over the projected salary cap, it’s not difficult to get compliant by cutting some veterans. Plus, everything the next regime does should be built around Jefferson, who is already one of the five best receivers in the NFL. The offensive line, for all of its struggles of late, now seems set at the two most important spots (left and right tackle) and just needs help on the interior. The defense could use an influx of talent.
Perhaps expectations would be the main hindrance in the Vikings job. Ownership doesn’t have the appetite for a full rebuild. In 2022, there won’t be the same playoff mandate that Zimmer and Spielman faced, but the owners also don’t want to see their team finishing 3-14 next season.
But as long as a coach was OK accepting those expectations, the Vikings might just have the best available head coaching job on the market. |
| NFC EAST |
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NEW YORK GIANTS
On Tuesday, the Giants disposed of Coach Joe Judge. Grant Gordon of NFL.com:
The New York Giants fired head coach Joe Judge after just two seasons on the job on Tuesday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.
The team later confirmed Judge’s dismissal and announced it would first hire a general manager, who would subsequently lead the search for the next head coach. Previous GM Dave Gettleman announced his retirement on Monday.
“Steve (Tisch) and I both believe it is in the best interest of our franchise to move in another direction,” team president John Mara said in a statement. “We met with Joe yesterday afternoon to discuss the state of the team. I met again with Joe this afternoon, and it was during that conversation I informed Joe of our decision. We appreciate Joe’s efforts on behalf of the organization.
“I said before the season started that I wanted to feel good about the direction we were headed when we played our last game of the season. Unfortunately, I cannot make that statement, which is why we have made this decision.
“We will hire a general manager and that person will lead the effort to hire a new head coach.”
The 40-year-old Judge was hired prior to the 2020 season as the latest new face on the Big Blue sideline looking to reignite the glory of yesteryear. But Judge, like Pat Shurmur and Ben McAdoo before him, was not given the opportunity to coach a third season.
Judge went 10-23 in his two seasons as head coach.
While the Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings fired their head coaches within 24 hours of the end of their seasons, Giants management went through two days of meetings with Judge regarding the direction of the team before coming to a decision to relieve him of his duties.
New York went 4-13 in 2021, tying a franchise-worst for losses in a season, with six consecutive defeats to end the campaign — and Judge’s tenure. His time in Gotham began much the same with Judge’s 2020 Giants losing their first five en route to a 6-10 showing. Down the stretch of that first season, the Giants showed some life and things appeared to be heading in the right direction.
However, the 2021 season was marked by Judge passionately speaking about how the team was making strides internally that would lead to 2022 success and defending his tenure by saying the Giants weren’t a “clown organization” following a 29-3 loss to the Bears in Week 17. But fiery press conferences hardly distracted from the mounting losses on the field.
The lack of results far outweighed the histrionics at the news conferences.
A former special teams coordinator with the New England Patriots, Judge brought an old-school approach to his first head-coaching opportunity that garnered headlines as he made players and even coaches run as punishment.
As his approach was seen by some as a method from the past, his teams failed to take steps toward the future.
Former first-round pick Daniel Jones battled injuries and failed to progress as the team’s hopeful franchise quarterback. Running back Saquon Barkley’s injuries carried on and his production waned. The offensive line remained an issue as the Giants offense averaged a paltry 16.3 points per game during Judge’s two years, which was last in the NFL during that time. The Giants fired offensive coordinator Jason Garrett midway through the 2021 season, but the move did not spark results as the unit regressed after Garrett was let go.
In that same span, his defenses breathed signs of hope but were still ranked 17th overall.
The Giants looked to make a splash in the 2021 offseason, signing wide receiver John Ross and tight end Kyle Rudolph, among others, while making the huge move to sign wide receiver Kenny Golladay. All of those moves fell reasonably flat.
The hope was Judge would resurrect a proud franchise from the doldrums of a postseason drought that dates back to 2016. Instead, Judge’s two seasons saw the Giants elongate a string of double-digit-loss seasons in a row to five. The team hasn’t won a playoff game since Super Bowl XLVI to cap the 2011 season and has just one playoff trip over the past 10 years.
The jury is in and Judge is out.
Another new dawn is on the horizon for the Giants. |
| NFC SOUTH |
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ATLANTA
Will the Falcons ever get a mentally-healthy WR CALVIN RIDLEY back in the lineup? The AP:
Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said Tuesday he’s not ready to make 2022 plans to be without Calvin Ridley, the team’s top wide receiver who missed the final 11 games of the season while addressing mental health issues.
Fontenot and his staff have launched their offseason which will include player evaluations and ranking needs for the NFL draft on April 28-30 and free agency. The Falcons have the No. 8 overall pick in the first round of the draft.
Ridley’s immediate and long-term future with the Falcons remained uncertain for the final two months of the season after he was a last-minute scratch before the team’s 19-13 loss to Carolina on Oct. 31.
On that day, Ridley explained his absence when he wrote on his Twitter account “I need to step away from football at this time and focus on my mental well being.”
Ridley has not provided another update on his plans.
“It really hasn’t changed,” Fontenot said in his first offseason news conference. “As an organization we’ve done the best job we could just to support Calvin and do everything we can for him.”
Added Fontenot: “Really up to this point nothing has changed.”
When asked if that means the Falcons must plan to be without Ridley next season, Fontenot said “No, I wouldn’t assume anything. Like I said, we handle each situation individually. There are so many variables we deal with. We’re going to try to add to every position this offseason.”
Added Fontenot: “Whatever player we’re talking about, whether under contract or not under contract, we have to be prepared for everything.”
The Falcons closed a 7-10 season with Sunday’s 30-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints. First-year coach Arthur Smith cast an o ptimistic review on the season when said he believes “we have a good foundation and better days are ahead.”
It would be easier for Smith and Fontenot to make plans for the future if they had more clarity on Ridley’s status. Ridley’s exit came after the franchise’s leading career receiver, Julio Jones, was traded to Tennessee before the season.
Ridley, the Falcons’ 2018 first-round draft pick who had 90 catches for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020, was expected to be quarterback Matt Ryan’s top playmaker.
Ridley had only 31 receptions for 281 yards and two touchdowns in his shortened season.
Rookie tight end Kyle Pitts, wide receiver Russell Gage and others tried to fill the void.
The lack of big-play threats in the passing game was a problem. There are needs in many areas after the Falcons finished last in the league in sacks while allowing the most quarterback hits. Those glaring weaknesses would make it difficult to rank wide receiver as a top priority, especially if the Falcons retain hope Ridley will return.
Smith said Tuesday some of the team’s weaknesses could be addressed if the Falcons could run more offensive plays by extending drives.
“We need more plays offensively,” Smith said. “We need to extend the drives. We need to get off the field on third down and we need to close the gaps in those games that we lost.” |
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TAMPA BAY
CB RICHARD SHERMAN will not be an on-field part of Tampa Bay’s offseason. Jenna Laine of ESPN.com:
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have placed veteran cornerback Richard Sherman on injured reserve with an Achilles injury, the team announced Tuesday.
Because it’s his second stint on IR, Sherman will not return this season, per league rules. He will, however, remain with the team throughout the postseason, continuing to assist the defensive backs who have largely benefited from his presence since joining the team in Week 4, with several of them affectionately calling him “Coach Sherm.”
“Didn’t go how I wanted it to but I’m grateful for the opportunity to strap it up again!” Sherman posted on Twitter. “Look forward to continuing this journey with my teammates and coaching my butt off. Thank you for all the support this season. The body gave all it had and I’m grateful.”
Due to an inordinate number of injuries to the Bucs’ cornerbacks, the five-time Pro Bowler was thrust into action immediately after signing with the team in late September, playing all but one snap in a 19-17 victory over the New England Patriots on Oct. 3, including a fumble recovery in the third quarter.
Sherman played three games in 12 days after being out of football for 288 days, suffering a hamstring injury in Week 6 on the seventh play of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles, which kept him out for six weeks. He attempted to return in Week 10 at Washington, but suffered a calf injury during warmups and did not play.
He returned in Week 14, helping the Bucs in sub-packages, and he lined up as safety due to injuries and the Bucs being without the suspended Mike Edwards. He notched an interception off Josh Allen in the second quarter of the Bucs’ 33-27 overtime victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Sherman last saw action in Week 16 at the Carolina Panthers, playing only three snaps after suffering an Achilles injury while covering tight end Tommy Tremble on a crossing route. He finished his season with 11 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery.
Also Tuesday, the Bucs activated outside linebacker Shaq Barrett from the reserve/COVID-19 list, paving the way for his return this week from a sprained ACL and MCL suffered in Week 15. They also activated practice squad kicker Jose Borregales from the reserve/COVID-19 list and signed wide receiver John Hurst to the practice squad. |
| NFC WEST |
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LOS ANGELES RAMS
An oldie but goldie, S ERIC WEDDLE, returns to the Rams. Josh Alper ofProFootballTalk.com:
Safety Eric Weddle announced his retirement in February 2020, but he’s putting it on pause to rejoin the Rams.
Weddle’s agent David Canter announced that Weddle is signing with the Rams and joining the team for their postseason run. Weddle started every game for the Rams during his final NFL season.
The move comes with the Rams shorthanded at safety heading into their Monday night home game against the Cardinals in the Wild Card round. Jordan Fuller is out for the year with an ankle injury and Taylor Rapp is in the concussion protocol, which could leave the team without both of its starters on the back end.
After two years out of the league, Weddle is an unorthodox choice to fill in for missing players but the Rams are obviously hoping that there’s enough muscle memory left in the former All-Pro for him to help their bid to advance to the divisional round. |
| AFC WEST |
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DENVER
For something around $4 billion you can soon buy the Broncos. That is the state of play after a ruling by Judge Shelley Gilman. Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com:
A Denver judge ruled Tuesday the heirs of former Broncos owner Edgar Kaiser Jr. cannot buy back any portion of the franchise as part of a right of first refusal agreement, clearing the way for a potential sale of the team.
A holdings group, representing Kaiser’s estate, had petitioned the court that it had right of refusal for any sale of the franchise dating back to when Kaiser sold the team to Pat Bowlen in 1984. Kaiser died in 2012 and Bowlen died in 2019.
Denver District judge Shelley L. Gilman ruled Kaiser’s heirs had no claim and the right of first refusal included in the 1984 sales agreement between Kaiser and Bowlen was “no longer valid or enforceable in any respect.”
The Broncos are currently owned by the Pat Bowlen Trust, put into place by Bowlen before he stepped away from the team’s day-to-day operations in 2014. Bowlen died in 2019 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Broncos CEO Joe Ellis, one of three trustees overseeing the operations of the team, has said if Bowlen’s children cannot agree on a majority owner the team would likely be sold. That agreement between the siblings is not expected — a lawsuit between them was poised to go to trial before it was dismissed last July — and the team is expected to formally go up for sale in the coming months.
“We’re glad to put this issue behind us and move closer to transitioning ownership of the Broncos,” Ellis said Tuesday in a statement. “While our focus is on our head coaching search, we plan to make an announcement regarding ownership shortly after that hire is completed.”
The Broncos fired head coach Vic Fangio on Sunday after he posted a 19-30 record in three seasons, including this year’s 7-10 finish. The Broncos have had five straight losing seasons and have missed the playoffs six consecutive years.
The Broncos have been valued at just under $4 billion and Hall of Fame quarterbacks John Elway and Peyton Manning have, at times, each expressed interest in potentially being part of any group that would bid on the team. Manning said earlier this season, when he was enshrined in the team’s Ring of Fame, he would “listen” to any proposals about joining an ownership group, but “that it would have to be the right fit.”
League rules state a “majority” owner must own at least 30% of a franchise so in a sale of $4 billion that would mean the majority investor would have to control $1.2 billion.
Ellis said when the Broncos opened training camp this past summer he expected the ownership transition to take place, potentially, before the 2022 season. He did touch on the ownership situation again Sunday as he took questions about the team’s head coaching search and said Tuesday’s ruling would have to come before he could offer a timetable.
“I had told you — I think back in July — that I would speak to you as soon as the season is over about a transition in ownership,” Ellis said Sunday. ” … Out of respect for the court, I’m going to wait and get back to you at a later date on that. … I want the court to be able to let its process see through to the end. From there, I’ll be able to get back to you and let you know where things stand.”
Woody Paige has his ear to the ground:
@woodypaige
With Bowlen-Kaiser lawsuit over, Broncos Joe Ellis will announce plan for new ownership quickly. According to my sources, six candidates to bid. Peyton Manning and John Elway will be in two different groups. Another Colorado-based group is doing the research for bid.
– – –
Nick Kosmider of The Athletic with some thoughts on the Broncos coaching search:
The Broncos will interview a number of candidates who will also be interviewing for jobs elsewhere, including Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who has already been requested by four teams, including the Broncos, for an interview. (Quinn already turned down a request to interview with the Jaguars.) The same goes for Dallas offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who is expected to interview with the Dolphins, among others.
So what do the Broncos have to offer a candidate that other franchises don’t if their top candidate has options? It starts with general manager George Paton, who has quickly drawn praise for his work repairing Denver’s roster and for his willingness to provide his head coach with the necessary resources to implement his game plan. Fangio, on more than one occasion this season, said Paton was “one of the best assets the Broncos have.” The cynical view would call that a coach simply trying to butter up a boss who would decide his fate, but that wouldn’t be Fangio’s style.
The Broncos also have roughly $43 million in available cap space, according to Over The Cap, third among the teams with potential openings. (Paton said Sunday that number is actually closer to $50 million.) Denver also has 11 picks in the 2022 draft, including five in the top 100, all of which could help the Broncos create a pathway to acquiring a top-tier quarterback, should one appear on the trade market. The Broncos were in playoff contention in December. A new head coach clearly wouldn’t be staring at a full rebuild. If the Broncos get the quarterback search right, this could immediately be a winning situation.
The other possible openings have their attractive qualities. A talented young quarterback in Chicago in Justin Fields. League-high cap space and a solid roster in Miami. Capable veteran quarterbacks — and shiny new stadiums — in Las Vegas and Minnesota. The Broncos as currently constructed don’t have a true answer at quarterback. Any prospective candidate will have written down “What’s the deal at QB?” on his list of questions for the Broncos when he heads into the interview. That is an obstacle the Broncos will have to overcome, as well as answering any questions about how the team’s transfer of ownership will look. But if Paton can assuage those doubts, while highlighting a roster that is arguably more talented than that of any team looking for a new coach, there’s no reason the Broncos can’t present themselves as one of the top two openings.
2. Paton was on the committee for one head coach search during his time as the assistant general manager with the Vikings. That came in 2014, when a nearly three-week search for Leslie Frazier’s replacement ended in Minnesota hiring Zimmer, who lasted eight seasons with the Vikings before being fired this week.
The lesson he learned from the experience? “Be very thorough,” Paton said Sunday. “Take your time. You don’t need to be in a hurry. There’s a lot of really good, quality candidates. It’s really important to talk to them all.”
The Vikings sought interviews with at least 10 different candidates in 2014 and ended up interviewing six, according to reports at the time. So perhaps it’s little surprise that the list of candidates the Broncos hope to interview this cycle reached 10 on Tuesday, when Denver scheduled an interview for next week with Brian Callahan, the Bengals offensive coordinator. Paton signaled during his lengthy address over the weekend that he wanted to interview a wide range of candidates and that’s certainly the path he seems to be constructing in the early days of the search.
Does that mean the Broncos are serious about all 10 candidates? I believe all interviews will be approached with an open mind, but part of this process is about making connections, finding out more about rising coaches around the league. For example, of the two Green Bay assistants the Broncos will interview this week, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett would appear on paper to be more ready for a head coach role than is Luke Getsy, the quarterbacks coach who has never been a coordinator and has no NFL play-calling experience. But interviewing both assistants gives Paton insight into different philosophies, allowing him to tuck away information — about the offseason plans of an MVP quarterback, perhaps? — that could be beneficial down the road.
I predict this process will eventually lead to two to four finalists who receive multiple interviews. But conducting an interview that connects the Broncos with many more coaches than that has clearly been a long-held plan for Paton.
3. Of the 10 candidates the Broncos have sought to interview, only Quinn has previous head coaching experience. Though it’s possible Paton may seek interviews with the likes of Doug Pederson, Jim Caldwell or even Flores at some point in the search, there are no plans to do so now.
Surprising? Yes and no.
The Broncos were guided to their last two Super Bowl appearances by coaches — John Fox (2013) and Gary Kubiak (2015) — who had previous experience as a head coach when they were hired in Denver. Since then, the Broncos hired two first-time head coaches in Vance Joseph and Fangio, who combined to go 30-51 over five seasons. That isn’t to suggest the Broncos should be hesitant about hiring another first-timer in that seat. Of the 14 teams in the upcoming playoffs, 10 are being guided by head coaches who are in their first stint in that role at the NFL level. And Paton, of course, didn’t hire Joseph or Fangio. His decision shouldn’t be influenced by the results of the previous five years. He will have his own process.
Still, it’s bit surprising there is only one former head coach on a list as long as the one the Broncos have built, if only because an interview with someone possessing that experience could be informing in a number of ways.
4. Quinn, if we are to gauge by the number of interview requests received, appears to be this cycle’s most sought-after candidate. That may have been hard to figure after he was fired by the Falcons following an 0-5 start in 2020, dropping his record in the four seasons after Atlanta reached Super Bowl LI to 26-29 with one playoff appearance.
So why has he flung him back onto teams’ shortlists so quickly? His work with the Cowboys this season has certainly helped. He has orchestrated a defense, led by linebacker Micah Parsons and cornerback Trevon Diggs, that is in the midst of a dramatic one-year turnaround, one that has seen Dallas jump from 23rd to third in defensive EPA. Quinn has shown a knack for maximizing the collective potential of star-caliber defensive players, something he did while calling a Seattle Seahawks defense that stifled the Broncos and Peyton Manning in a 43-8 Denver loss in the Super Bowl following the 2013 season.
Paton said multiple times during his address Sunday that he doesn’t want Denver’s stout defense “to take a step back,” but he also wants a coach who can effectively guide “the entire operation.” Quinn arrived in Atlanta carrying that defensive reputation from Seattle, but it was Atlanta’s offense that carried the team to impressive heights during much of his tenure with the Falcons. From 2015 to 2019 under Quinn, Atlanta finished no worse than ninth in offensive EPA in any season. The first two of those seasons came with Kyle Shanahan as offensive coordinator, including a No. 1 finish in offensive EPA during the 2016 season. But that unit kept clicking after Shanahan left, making the playoffs in 2017 under the guidance of Steve Sarkisian.
5. Ironically, it was the defensive side of the ball where Quinn had trouble maintaining continuity on his staff. At various times during his tenure, Quinn took over — and then relinquished — play-calling duties. He had three different defensive coordinators during his six seasons, and the team never finished better than 18th in defensive EPA.
The Broncos will want answers as to why Quinn’s units could never find footing on defense, especially during the post-Super Bowl portion of his tenure, and how he plans to put together a successful offensive staff once again.
6. Working with a great quarterback can certainly do wonders for a coach’s job prospects. The Broncos have requested interviews with five offensive coordinators: Hackett (Packers), Callahan (Bengals), Moore (Cowboys) Eric Bieniemy (Chiefs) and Kevin O’Connell (Rams). All of them coach quarterbacks who finished the regular season ranked in the top 10 in total QBR.
One interesting part of the selection process is assessing how much of a given offense’s success rests with the coordinator and how much of it rests with the quarterback. Aaron Rodgers, for example, won multiple MVP awards and a Super Bowl long before Hackett landed in Green Bay in 2019. But the past three seasons for Rodgers have constituted arguably the best stretch of his brilliant career. He has thrown 111 touchdowns against only 13 interceptions since 2019, and Green Bay has gone 39-9 in the span. Matthew Stafford has matched career-best marks in completion percentage (67.2) and touchdowns (41) while posting the second-best passer rating of his career (102.9) in his first season working with O’Connell and Rams head coach Sean McVay. Dak Prescott, too, has had his best professional seasons with Moore calling his plays.
The coordinators listed above have certainly helped the quarterbacks they coach. But part of assessing their candidacy will be predicting how much success they can produce team-wide if they don’t happen to have a top-10 quarterback to coach once they take a head role. |
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KANSAS CITY
The Chiefs offense has a tendency to start hot, finish slow. Adam Teicher of ESPN.com:
– Saturday’s final regular-season game began as many of the others did for the Kansas City Chiefs this season, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes leading the offense for a touchdown on its opening possession.
The game then continued into another familiar pattern, with the Chiefs struggling for points the rest of the way. They had to rely on their defense to come up with the winning touchdown, an 86-yard fumble return by linebacker Nick Bolton, during a 28-24 win over the Denver Broncos.
Starting and finishing fast is an emphasis for Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense in the playoffs, beginning with Sunday night’s wild-card-round game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Arrowhead Stadium (8:15 p.m. ET, NBC).
“It’s just little things here and there,” Mahomes said in explanation. “That’s how it is in this league. We’ve been blessed enough that we’ve been able to execute at a high level these last few years, including pretty much the beginning half of this season, that we don’t have to worry about them. But you’re seeing that with the little things here and there on drives. They’re stalling out, and that starts with me getting us into the right play and making the right throw to get the completion.
“You’ve seen it in every game pretty much that there’s been times where we kind of stall out and we don’t execute or I throw a ball and don’t hit the right spot, or the receiver doesn’t see it the same way I do, or penalties or turnovers.”
The Chiefs couldn’t have asked for a better opening-possession drive than the one they got in Denver. Mahomes completed passes to four different receivers as the Chiefs drove 91 yards in 17 plays and took almost eight minutes off the clock. They went 4-for-4 on third down, the drive ending on Mahomes’ 3-yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce.
The Chiefs led the NFL during the regular season with nine first-possession touchdowns. They were tied for the league lead in first-quarter scoring by averaging 7.65 points. They scored a first-quarter touchdown in their final 10 games, the third-longest streak within a season in NFL history.
In Denver, the Chiefs managed one more offensive touchdown and two field goals after their opening drive. During their 17 games, they were 20th in scoring from the second quarter on at 19.4 points per game. |
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LAS VEGAS
Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reminds us of the extraordinary nature of the Raiders first season with fans in the stands in Vegas.
With the ups and downs of the Las Vegas Raiders’ season rivaled only by the sheer ridiculousness of it all, books (plural) should be written about it, a 30 for 30 ESPN documentary filmed, a how-to-survive-the-utter-chaos-of-it-all instruction guide printed.
That the Raiders made it to the finish line contending for a playoff spot was a miracle. So said quarterback Derek Carr, whose own future with the team may be tied to those of general manager Mike Mayock and interim coach Rich Bisaccia.
Want to relive those highs and lows? Take a deep breath and jump in, the water’s warm. Here’s a timeline of the Raiders’ 2021 season:
July 19: President Marc Badain resigns
A week before training camp is set to open, Badain, who began his Raiders career as a training camp intern and ball boy in 1991, became team president in 2015 and served as point person in the team’s move to Las Vegas, resigned unexpectedly. Badain said in a statement, “Now that the [Allegiant Stadium] project is complete it is time for me to focus on my family and look ahead to new pursuits.” Other members of the Raiders’ business side also resigned, and owner Mark Davis later said reported financial irregularities meant the organization might have been paying too much in taxes and that issues could date back to the franchise’s days in Oakland. The whole episode set a strange tone for what’s to come.
Aug. 19: Raiders brawl with Los Angeles Rams in joint practice
The second of two joint practices ended with a flourish and massive fight at Cal Lutheran, a day after receiver Hunter Renfrow put on a clinic against Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The Raiders, though, lost two starters to season-ending injuries on Day 2 of the scrimmages in linebacker Nicholas Morrow (knee) and left guard Richie Incognito (right calf). The loss of Morrow, and Javin White in that weekend’s exhibition game at the Rams, would hasten the Raiders remaking their linebacker corps and acquiring Denzel Perryman and K.J. Wright.
Aug. 27: Maxx Crosby acknowledges stint in rehab
The third-year defensive end told ESPN.com he spent a month in rehab for alcoholism following his rookie season right around the start of the pandemic. He is following the path set by tight end Darren Waller, whose fight for sobriety has served as inspiration for others battling addiction.
Sept. 13: Raiders win wild season opener on Monday Night Football
It took a last-second, 55-yard field goal by kicker Daniel Carlson to send the game to overtime, and it appeared the Raiders would start the season with a walk-off, 33-yard touchdown pass to receiver Bryan Edwards on the first possession of overtime. But replay ruled Edwards down at the Ravens’ 1, Carr was intercepted in the end zone three plays later and all the Baltimore Ravens needed was a field goal for the win.
Instead, defensive end Carl Nassib, making history as the first openly gay active player in the NFL, strip-sacked Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, Raiders defensive tackle Darius Philon recovered the fumble and Carr hit wide-open receiver Zay Jones for a 31-yard TD, the first of Las Vegas’ record six walk-off wins of the season.
Not all was rosy, though, as the Raiders lost right guard Denzelle Good for the season with a left knee injury. The team’s already reimagined offensive line underwent another massive facelift.
Sept. 26: Las Vegas beats Miami in OT
The Raiders started a season 3-0 for the first time since 2002 with their second overtime win in three games. Cornerback Casey Hayward Jr. set the tone with a perfectly timed tackle for a safety on a pass after the Raiders had fallen behind 14-0. It would also be the last game Jon Gruden would win as Raiders coach.
Oct. 4: A strange night in Inglewood
What a weird night on the site where the late Al Davis was going to build a stadium for the Raiders in 1994 before pulling up stakes and moving back to Oakland in 1995. First, kickoff was delayed by a lightning storm, with SoFi Stadium having a roof but open concourses and a huge crowd waiting to get in. The Raiders were already on the field for the opening kickoff but had to find their way back to the locker room, which Gruden lamented for its maze- and labyrinth-like quality. Then, after the Chargers held on for a 28-14 win, defensive end Joey Bosa essentially questioned Carr’s manhood, saying the Raiders quarterback gets “shook” when he gets hit.
Oct. 6: Alex Leatherwood moves to right guard
The Raiders’ much-derided first-round pick, drafted to be a cornerstone right tackle, was moved to the interior with Brandon Parker setting up on the outside. The Raiders’ spin was that they were simply improving the offensive line, but it was nowhere near the biggest story of the week.
Oct. 8: Gruden’s emails go public
Minutes after Gruden left the podium following his Friday news conference, the Wall Street Journal published a nearly decade-old email written by Gruden to former Washington Football Team president Bruce Allen, using a racial trope to describe NFLPA president DeMaurice Smith. Gruden acknowledged writing the missives but said there was no racial intent meant, that he, as a football fan, was frustrated by the lockout at the time of his email.
The Raiders disavowed the tone of the emails, and Gruden was allowed to coach two days later against the Chicago Bears. But the team was obviously distracted. A locker room divide seemed obvious after the 20-9 loss, which featured former Raiders NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack, traded away by Gruden after Mack held out in 2018 training camp, throwing up an “O” to the Las Vegas crowd after a sack — presumably for “Oakland.”
Oct. 11: A bigger dump of Gruden emails seals his fate
Gruden appeared in a good mood at his Monday news conference, smiling and making jokes, despite the Raiders having lost consecutive games. The email controversy seemed to be behind him. But early that evening, The New York Times published a story with even more damning Gruden emails from the previous decade, when he was working as an analyst for ESPN. The missives were fraught with racist, misogynistic and anti-gay language.
After an emotional meeting with Raiders owner Mark Davis, Gruden, who was hired to a 10-year contract worth a reported $100 million in 2018, resigned. “I’m sorry,” Gruden said in a statement. “I never meant to hurt anyone.” Special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia was named interim coach.
Oct. 13: Davis addresses power structure
Davis told ESPN that Gruden once held a 51% to 49% decision-making advantage over general manager Mike Mayock. Now Mayock held it over Bisaccia. Asked about the entire situation, with rumors of the league leaking the Gruden emails that came to light in an investigation of the Washington Football Team’s workplace, a frustrated Davis said, “Ask the NFL. They have all the answers.”
Oct. 17: Raiders respond and thump Denver Broncos
A shocked Raiders team took it out on a division rival, outplaying the Broncos in Denver to the tune of a 34-24 thumping in the head-coaching debut of the 61-year-old Bisaccia, a venerated special teams coordinator who had never previously been a head coach at any level during a coaching career that began in 1983.
Oct. 24: Who are these guys?
Riding that emotional high, the Raiders put together another complete effort, with the offense humming in beating the visiting Philadelphia Eagles 33-22 to enter their bye week with momentum. But Carr said something that stuck when he acknowledged he hadn’t had a chance to “process” everything about Gruden. The bye gave the emotional Carr more than enough time to marinate in it.
Nov. 2: Henry Ruggs III involved in deadly crash
The Raiders returned from the bye on Nov. 1, and everything looked and felt good. All the players returned for meetings and physical therapy, and nobody tested positive for COVID-19. They were given explicit directions by Bisaccia and staff upon leaving Monday afternoon for a day off — be smart. Receiver Henry Ruggs III, after a night of hitting balls at Topgolf and sending video texts to Carr and Renfrow asking for tips on his swing, was involved in a deadly car crash.
Police said his blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit for Nevada and his Corvette was going as fast as 156 mph at 3:39 a.m. PT before ramming into the back of 23-year-old Tina Tintor’s RAV4 on a residential street, her car bursting into flames and Tintor and her dog perishing in the fire. The Raiders released Ruggs, a 2020 first-round pick who had been coming into his own as a playmaker, less than 24 hours later. He is facing four felonies, a misdemeanor and up to 50 years in prison.
Nov. 5-8: A listless weekend in New Jersey
As the Raiders’ bus was on its way to the team hotel in New Jersey on Friday night, video went viral of cornerback Damon Arnette (who was on injured reserve and not with the team on the cross-country trip) flashing guns and issuing death threats. Sunday, looking listless and lost, Carr played his worst game of the year, and the Raiders, heavy favorites, fell to the New York Giants 23-16, with Carr getting strip-sacked serving as an ignominious end. Monday, the Raiders cut Arnette, with Mayock taking the blame for the risky pick of him the year before. Within a week, the Raiders were without their two first-round picks of the 2020 draft. Las Vegas signed veteran wide receiver DeSean Jackson to help with speed on the outside.
Nov. 12: Gruden levies a lawsuit against the NFL
The former Raiders coach’s suit alleged the NFL “selectively leaked Gruden’s private correspondence to the Wall Street Journal and New York Times in order to harm Gruden’s reputation and force him out of his job. There is no explanation or justification as to why Gruden’s emails were the only ones made public out of 650,000 collected in the NFL’s investigation of the Washington Football Team or why the emails were held for months before being released in the middle of the Raiders’ season.”
Nov. 14: Blown out on national TV by Kansas City Chiefs
Las Vegas nearly swept the Chiefs in 2020, beating them in Kansas City and falling in the final minute at home. This one was not even close, with the Chiefs embarrassing their rivals on Sunday Night Football 41-14 as their fans took over Allegiant Stadium and delighted in doing the tomahawk chop.
Nov. 25: Giving thanks for Dallas Cowboys PIs
Reports of the Raiders’ demise were greatly exaggerated, Part I, as Las Vegas, which had lost three straight post-bye games, erupted in Dallas for a 36-33 overtime win. The Raiders were helped by Anthony Brown’s four pass interference penalties for 91 yards, but Jackson showed he still has speed with a 56-yard catch-and-run TD for the game’s first score. The Raiders were back, so it seemed, in front of the largest NFL regular-season TV audience since 1993.
Dec. 5: A dud at home vs. a familiar face
Even with extra rest, the Raiders came out flat against the Washington Football Team at home. Jack Del Rio, the Raiders’ coach from 2015 to 2017 and now WFT’s defensive coordinator, won the game of chess against Carr … even if refs missed a blatant defensive holding/pass interference call late that would have put the Raiders in position for a winning field goal attempt.
Dec. 9: Committing to specialists
The Raiders have always taken pride in keeping their specialists together and taking care of them, from Ray Guy and Chris Bahr to Jeff Gossett and Jeff Jaeger to Shane Lechler and Sebastian Janikowski. Las Vegas signed punter AJ Cole and kicker Carlson to multiyear extensions, a bold move for a front office and staff not guaranteed to return in 2022.
Dec. 12: Stick a fork in ’em
If the Raiders want to be mentioned in the same breath as the Chiefs, they’ve got a long way to go. There would be no celebratory bus ride around Arrowhead Stadium this time, not with Kansas City beating the Raiders 48-9 and Las Vegas having lost five of six since the bye to fall to 6-7. This after defensive end Yannick Ngakoue held a pregame meeting on the Chiefs’ midfield logo.
Dec. 20: Hurry up and wait
Reports of the Raiders’ demise were greatly exaggerated, Part II. Yes, the Raiders were facing a COVID-19-ravaged Cleveland Browns team starting a third-string quarterback in a game delayed 49 hours because of Cleveland’s outbreak (the Raiders, who had no players on the COVID-19 list at the time, were about to board their bus for the airport when the NFL delayed the game), but after Carr’s late interception on a deep ball with the Raiders trailing by one, it appeared as though the season was done.
Las Vegas’ defense, though, got a three-and-out, and Carr led the Raiders on a last-minute drive to set Carlson up for a 48-yard field goal and the win. Added good vibes on the day — Perryman, Crosby and Cole were named to the Pro Bowl.
Jan. 2: Stayin’ alive
A week after outlasting the Broncos at home, the Raiders went on the road and upset the Indianapolis Colts on another last-season field goal. It was Las Vegas’ record fifth walk-off win of the season, setting up a win-and-they’re-in-the-playoffs game against the Los Angeles Chargers in the finale, which was flexed into prime time. The Raiders clinched their first winning season since 2016, their second since 2002. Things were looking up. Until …
Jan. 3: Another DUI arrest
Hours after arriving home from the win at Indianapolis, rookie nickel cornerback Nate Hobbs was arrested on a DUI charge when he was found sleeping in his car in the exit of a Las Vegas Strip casino parking lot at 4:09 a.m. PT.
It came two months and one day after Ruggs’ wreck, one day shy of a year to the day when running back Josh Jacobs was arrested and charged with DUI after a single-car wreck near the Las Vegas airport. Bisaccia, though, said that while the organization takes the arrest seriously, it was a legal matter and he expected Hobbs to play against the Chargers. Meanwhile, names such as Jim Harbaugh, Leslie Frazier and Todd Bowles started to pop up in the rumor mill as possible head-coaching candidates for the Raiders.
Jan. 9: Playoff-bound
Of course, a million times of course, the Raiders’ regular-season finale would be a microcosm of their season — off to a quick start, go flat, take off again, only to be caught and forced to play OT after the Chargers scored 15 points in the last 4:28 of regulation. After the teams traded field goals to start the extra period, Carlson drilled a 47-yarder with no time (again, no time) on the clock for the win.
Yes, the Raiders had “conversations” about settling for a tie near midfield, and a draw would have put both the Raiders and Chargers into the postseason, but two Josh Jacobs runs got Las Vegas close enough for Carlson’s game winner — the Raiders’ record sixth walk-off win, the fifth by Carlson’s foot. And Las Vegas, in the postseason for the first time since 2016 and just the second time since 2002, is now off to face the Cincinnati Bengals. |
| AFC EAST |
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MIAMI
Cardinals DC Vance Joseph is on the Dolphins list. Charean Williams ofProFootballTalk.com:
Vance Joseph’s name hasn’t come up much for head coaching jobs since his two seasons in Denver, but he will get a chance to interview in this hiring cycle.
The Dolphins have requested permission to interview the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator, Albert Breer of SI.com reports.
Miami fired head coach Brian Flores on Monday after Flores went 24-25 in three seasons.
Joseph, 49, joined the Cardinals as an assistant coach after going 12-21 with the Broncos. The Cardinals have finished 11th in 12th in points allowed the past two seasons.
He began his coaching career in the NFL in 2005 as an assistant defensive backs coach with the 49ers. Joseph worked his way up from there, spending time with the Texans and Bengals before becoming the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator in 2016. The Broncos hired him as head coach the following season. |
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THIS AND THAT |
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FINAL AIKMAN RATINGS
The Buffalo Bills continued their near season-long dominance in the final 2021 Aikman Combined Ratings, finishing 5.4 points ahead of their division rivals, the Patriots. The Bills, who also have the lowest combined NFL Offense-Defense rankings, led Aikman Defense and ranked second in Aikman Offense.
The Buccaneers, 3rd in Aikman Combined, had the top Aikman Offense and ranked 5thin Aikman Defense.
The top eight teams in Aikman Combined made the playoffs. The Saints, edged out of the playoffs in the final moments of the season, were 9th. The two top seeds, the Titans and Packers, did not fare as well in the Aikmans as their record would indicate, finishing 10th and 11th respectively.
The Raiders, the last team into the playoffs, are the lowest-ranked team in the Aikman Combined at #24.
— Aikman — — NFL —
Rank W-L Team Comb Off Def Off Def Comb
1 11-6 Bills 172.0 91.9 80.1 5 1 6
2 10-7 Patriots 166.6 88.7 77.9 15 4 19
3 13-4 Buccaneers 165.6 93.9 71.7 2 13 15
4 12-5 Cowboys 162.8 91.2 71.6 1 19 20
5 12-5 Chiefs 159.2 91.3 67.9 3 27 30
6 10-7 49ers 159.3 88.7 70.6 7 3 10
7 12-5 Rams 159.0 87.7 71.3 9 17 26
8 11-6 Cardinals 158.5 89.4 69.1 8 11 19
9 9-8 Saints 156.8 80.6 76.2 28 7 35
10 12-5 Titans 156.0 85.5 70.5 17 12 29
11 13-4 Packers 155.2 89.1 66.1 10 9 19
12 9-8 Colts 154.7 86.5 68.2 16 16 32
13 7-10 Seahawks 154.0 86.6 67.4 20 28 48
14 8-9 Ravens 153.3 84.7 68.6 6 25 31
15 10-7 Bengals 153.1 85.9 67.2 13 18 31
16 7-10 Broncos 152.9 80.0 72.9 19 8 27
17 9-8 Eagles 153.0 89.7 63.3 14 10 24
18 8-9 Vikings 152.2 87.0 65.2 12 30 42
19 9-8 Chargers 148.9 90.0 58.9 4 23 27
20 8-9 Browns 148.3 82.1 66.2 18 5 23
21 9-8 Dolphins 146.5 76.6 69.9 25 15 40
22 9-7-1 Steelers 144.6 78.2 66.4 23 24 47
23 7-10 Washington 141.6 78.5 63.1 21 22 43
24 10-7 Raiders 140.3 81.0 59.3 11 14 25
25 5-12 Panthers 139.9 73.7 66.2 30 2 32
26 6-11 Bears 139.6 73.0 66.6 24 6 30
27 4-13 Giants 136.6 69.7 66.9 31 21 52
28 3-13-1 Lions 134.2 76.7 57.5 22 29 51
29 7-10 Falcons 134.0 74.4 59.6 29 26 55
30 4-13 Texans 133.1 72.5 60.6 32 31 63
31 3-14 Jaguars 132.3 72.3 60.0 27 20 47
32 4-13 Jets 131.6 75.6 56.0 26 32 58
NFL Average: 149.9 82.9 67.0 |
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TOP SUPER BOWL MATCHUPS
Marc Sessler of NFL.com offers his top five matchups:
I’ve been penning this item for years, annually getting ignored like a roaming fool. My five dreamy showdowns at the outset of last postseason:
Chiefs vs. Packers: NOPE
Bills vs. Buccaneers: NEGATIVE
Ravens vs. Saints: SORRY, BRAH
Titans vs. Seahawks: YOU’RE QUITE DUMB
Browns vs. Packers: PAUSE ON THE LSD
Here I am again, wheeled out like a rube to offer my absurd requests to the skies.
It’s a numbers game, too. No fewer than 49 potential matchups exist for Super Bowl LVI. That gives me a tick north of a 10 percent chance to nail one of these. I’m pushing for storylines and grandeur. Historical relevance and the juiciest possible clash to cap one of the league’s more bizarre campaigns.
What could go wrong?
Rank 1
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Green Bay Packers
Only three teams pumped out more points per game than Kansas City, a club that went 9-1 down the stretch. Yet, we’re disappointed. They feel a few ticks off from the explosive wonderwall that dominated the AFC over the past two seasons.
This projection, though, presupposes that K.C. turns on the jets and becomes the glowing entity we’ve witnessed before. A torrid playoff run that leads us to the dreamiest possible signal-calling tussle: Patrick Mahomes against Aaron Rodgers, with Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur at the motherboard in a duel with Andy Reid.
I think back to 2011, when the Packers, coming off a Super Bowl title, ripped through the NFL to a 15-1 mark that suggested total invincibility. Come January, they were wiped 37-20 by an imperfect but potent Giants team that went on to steal the crown. Rodgers has played chicken with the Super Bowl ever since. Will Mahomes share the same fate?
Perhaps that’s what depresses us about the Chiefs: What appeared perfect will never be. Last year’s Super Bowl tumble — followed by a good-but-not-great regular season — has Kansas City operating as a disheartening reminder: Human endeavors are inherently flawed. We’re all gonna get whacked at some point. There’s underlying melancholy to all we attempt.
There’s resilience, too. Something that keeps us watching, hoping Mahomes will avenge last year’s defeat; hoping Rodgers can return to the heights we assumed he’d casually thrive in a decade ago. This squaring off would guarantee that one of these quarterbacks win a second, career-altering title in a rematch of Super Bowl I.
Rank 2
New England Patriots vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I don’t believe I need to pen a dense Russian novel to explain the inherent pull here. Bill Belichick and Mac Jones, his fresh-faced rookie arm, in a made-for-cinema confrontation with 44-year-old Tom Brady. Even those worn out by the Patriots must agree the inherent storylines self-cook into an irresistible dish. WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR NEW ENGLAND’S SUCCESS? Realistically, it’s a slightly absurd debate — as if one of the two, Brady or Bill, quietly tugged the other to six rings. It’s also why fiery AM sports talk radio exists in the first place. As much as Mahomes vs. Rodgers would jack the needle, no matchup comes imbued with more blazing headlines, gossip and human drama than New England facing Tampa Bay.
Rank 3
Cincinnati Bengals vs.San Francisco 49ers
When clicking, the Niners are plenty of things at once: rugged, deceptive, creative and massively watchable. Their highest names — George Kittle and Deebo Samuel — form the core of an offense with the might to dominate on the ground and puncture teams through the air. I’m largely won over by the idea of this entire operation gaining revenge for the tight loss they suffered against Kansas City in Super Bowl LIV. Especially for Jimmy Garoppolo, seemingly destined to be replaced by first-round rookie Trey Lance, yet still kicking. Still making a string of high-level throws against the Rams to befuddle a Sean McVay squad he’s never known defeat against. It’s entirely unclear where that would leave the Niners — the quarterback they worked to replace turning around and lifting the Lombardi — but who wouldn’t invite that dilemma?
I’m throwing the Bengals in here because it brings Joe Burrow that much closer to carving out an immediate legacy for a team lost in the wilderness for decades. Cincy hasn’t sniffed gold since Boomer Esiason and Co. had their hearts ripped out by Joe Montana in Super Bowl XXIII. Amid a flawed pool of AFC contenders, the Bengals — at their ceiling — are a dangerous, big-play stage act with the power to drop a bushel of points. Can they pull it off in three games straight to get to LVI? In Burrow we trust.
Rank 4
Buffalo Bills vs. Dallas Cowboys
Josh Allen didn’t exist on our planet when the Bills dropped back-to-back stinkers to Dallas in Super Bowls XXVII and XXVIII. Perhaps he was being crafted in Valhalla by Gridiron Demigods as a slow-play revenge item for all of stung Western New York.
I’ve been a little down on the Bills after adoring them a season ago. The offense lands as a hot-and-cold act, but Buffalo has shown more balance on the ground of late while sporting one of the AFC’s top defenses. The Cowboys have been a streaky, sometimes-underwhelming vessel, but turned heads in dropping 56 points on Washington and 51 on Philly over the past three weeks. Dallas also sports the rare, difference-making defense under Dan Quinn. Imagine DeMarcus Lawrence and rookie fireball Micah Parsons burning around the field in chase of big-bodied Allen.
I’m not certain my psyche can handle two weeks of Jerry Jones crooning on the mic in the lead-up to a Dallas mountaintop tilt, but I’m willing to give it the old college try.
Rank 5
Tennessee Titans vs. Los Angeles Rams
Rain on the Titans’ parade, if you must. Plenty pooh-pooh them as inadequate material for the AFC’s top seed. From another angle, they’ve been the conference’s most resilient beast, surviving a sinking-Titanic swath of lost bodies to win four of five down the stretch. Derrick Henry’s return brings life, reuniting the thumping runner with devastating wideout A.J. Brown and Ryan Tannehill, one of the best quarterbacking stories in pro football. And Mike Vrabel’s squad certainly looked the part midyear in consecutively knocking off the Bills, Chiefs, Colts and Rams.
Yes, it’s a rematch of Super Bowl XXXIV, which boiled down to one hyper-notorious final play where Tennessee’s Kevin Dyson was halted 1 yard short of the goal line to preserve a 23-16 victory for the Rams. Large chunks of both rosters were in onesies playing castle Legos when that tilt went down. Coach Sean McVay is more interested in wiping away the foul stench of his team’s Super Bowl loss to the Patriots three seasons ago. Matthew Stafford has waited his entire career for a shot at February glory.
The NFL’s marketing limb would adore the Rams playing at home in shiny, new SoFi. The Titans — playing to type — would be ready to spoil the party. |
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TODAY’S STARS COMING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL
As colleges go after 5-star recruits, Joe Santucci of the Palm Beach Post remembers where the NFL QBs ranked coming out of high school:
The NFL playoffs are here and the star players reveal once again that football recruiting is an inexact science.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was a five-star recruit and the top quarterback in the nation as a senior in Texas and Titans running Derrick Henry was a five-star standout and the country’s No. 1 athlete at Yulee.
On the other end of the spectrum, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Bills quarterback Josh Allen didn’t have any offers out of high school and went the junior college route.
They weren’t the only ones who went under the radar or bloomed later in their careers.
Here’s a look at how one of the top offensive players for each of the 14 playoffs teams were rated as prep prospects.
AFC
Tennessee Titans
RB Derrick Henry
Henry was one of the premier recruits in the nation in the class of 2013 as a senior at Yulee. He was rated the No. 1 athlete in the nation and the No. 4 recruit in Florida on the 247Sports composite. Henry committed to Georgia before his junior year, but decommitted 11 months later and pledged to Alabama during his senior season. Henry won the Heisman Trophy and helped Alabama win the national title in 2015.
Kansas City Chiefs
QB Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes was a three-sport star at Whitehouse High School (Texas), but he wasn’t exactly a major college football prospect. He was a three-star recruit and the No. 22 pro-style quarterback on the 247Sports composite. Mahomes’ other offers were Oklahoma State and Rice. The top two pro-style quarterbacks that year were Texas A&M signee Kyle Allen (currently with the Washington Football Team) and Florida signee Will Grier (Cowboys).
Buffalo Bills
QB Josh Allen
Allen was unrated and had no major college offers as a senior at Firebaugh High School (California) in 2014. He spent one year at Reedley College and was the No. 5 ranked junior college prospect in the nation. Even then, the only two schools to offer were Eastern Michigan and Wyoming. He ended up being a Cowboy and the Bills drafted him seventh overall in 2018.
Cincinnati Bengals
QB Joe Burrow
The No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft was one of the top 300 recruits in the nation on the 247Sports composite as a senior at Athens High School (Ohio) in 2015. A four-star recruit and the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback in the nation – Kyler Murray was No. 1 and Sam Darnold was No. 5 – Burrow’s offers included Boston College, Iowa State, Kentucky, Ohio State and West Virginia. He signed with Ohio State before transferring to LSU, where he won the Heisman Trophy and a national championship.
Las Vegas Raiders
QB Derek Carr
Carr’s older brother, David, was the No. 1 pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, but that didn’t translate to a ton of offers. Derek Carr was ranked a three-star recruit and the No. 29 pro-style quarterback by Rivals as a senior at Bakersfield Christian (California) in 2009. He followed in David’s footsteps by going to Fresno State over offers from Southern Methodist and Utah.
New England Patriots
RB Damien Harris
Harris, who tied for second in the NFL with 15 rushing touchdowns, was one of the premier recruits in the nation as a senior at Madison Southern (Kentucky) in 2015. He was the No. 1 running back in the nation – ahead of Ronald Jones II (No. 4) and Saquon Barkley (No 13) and the No. 31 overall player on the 247Sports composite. Harris picked Alabama over Kentucky, Ohio State, Michigan and others.
Pittsburgh Steelers
QB Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben only had one year as a starting quarterback at Findlay High School (Ohio) because his coach thought the team was better with the 6-foot-5 prep star at wide receiver during his sophomore and junior years. Colleges liked his size — Ohio State was interested in him as a tight end — but Roethlisberger wanted to play quarterback. He went to Miami (Ohio) and won MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2003.
NFC
Green Bay Packers
QB Aaron Rodgers
The three-time NFL MVP was considered too small as a senior at Pleasant Valley High School (California) in 2002 to be a major college recruit. After a year at Butte Community College and a late growth spurt to 6-2, 195 pounds, Rodgers was ranked the No. 2 pro-style, junior college quarterback in the nation and signed with Cal.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
QB Tom Brady
Brady was a multi-sport star at Junipero Serra High School (California). After his family sent out VHS highlight tapes to more than 50 schools, Brady had offers from Cal, UCLA, USC, Michigan and Illinois. He opted for football at Michigan over a baseball career (the Montreal Expos selected Brady as a catcher in 1995).
Dallas Cowboys
QB Dak Prescott
Prescott, who broke the Cowboys single-season touchdown record last week, was a three-star recruit at Haughton High School (Louisiana) in 2011. He was ranked the No. 20 dual-threat quarterback in the nation – Teddy Bridgewater was No. 5, Johnny Manziel was No. 13 and Marcus Mariota was No. 18 – and the No. 23 recruit in Louisiana on the 247Sports composite. He picked Mississippi State over LSU.
Los Angeles Rams
WR Cooper Kupp
The NFL’s receiving triple crown winner was not a major recruit as a senior at Davis High School (Washington). Kupp was a first-team all-state defensive back and received honorable mention as a wide receiver in 2011 but was not even considered a one-star player by any major recruiting service. He picked Eastern Washington over Idaho State.
Arizona Cardinals
QB Kyler Murray
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft was a five-star recruit as a senior at Allen (Texas) in 2015. Murray was the No. 5 overall recruit in the state and the top dual-threat quarterback in the nation on the 247Sports composite rankings. Murray signed with Texas A&M over Oklahoma. He transferred to Oklahoma after his freshman season and won the Heisman Trophy in 2018.
San Francisco 49ers
WR Deebo Samuel
A first-time Pro Bowl selection, Samuel was a three-star recruit as a senior at Chapman High School (S.C.) in 2014. He was the No. 23 overall recruit in South Carolina and the No. 112 wide receiver in the nation on the 247Sports composite. Samuel picked South Carolina over Maryland, North Carolina, N.C. State, Vanderbilt and others.
Philadelphia Eagles
C Jason Kelce
The five-time Pro Bowl selection played running back and inside linebacker as a senior at Cleveland Heights High School (Ohio) in 2006. Kelce did not receive any college offers and chose to walk-on at Cincinnati as a running back. He eventually switched to fullback and ultimately to the offensive line.
What about the other QBs, not mentioned in the story?
Tennessee Titans
QB RYAN TANNEHILL
3-star recruit out of Big Spring, Texas. Said to have 6 offers with Texas A&M, where he went, being the biggest name.
New England Patriots
QB MAC JONES
3-star recruit from The Bolles School in Jacksonville. Was widely recruited, initially committing before junior year to Kentucky, then de-committing and going to Alabama as a senior. He was considered one of Kentucky’s top recruits.
Los Angeles Rams
QB MATTHEW STAFFORD
5-star recruit from Highland Park High School near Dallas. Chose Georgia over a bunch of other top tier programs.
San Francisco 49ers
QB JIMMY GAROPPOLO
2-star recruit from Rolling Meadows, Illinois. “A linebacker until late in his high school career”, he apparently was lightly recruited by Illinois and Indiana before choosing Eastern Illinois.
Philadelphia Eagles
QB JALEN HURTS
4-star recruit from Channelview High School in Houston. Widely recruited.
So, the rough order of their status – worst to first, would seem to be
Josh Allen
Aaron Rodgers
Ben Roethlisberger
Jimmy Garoppolo
Derek Carr
Ryan Tannehill
Tom Brady
Mac Jones
Patrick Mahomes
Dak Prescott
Joe Burrow
Jalen Hurts
Kyler Murray
Matthew Stafford
So that is 5 from Texas (including the top three), 4 from California (including the bottom two), 2 from Ohio and 1 each from Illinois, Florida and Louisiana. All 14 QBs from five states. |
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