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Josh Allen and the Bills are on fire at the right time after ending New England’s 10-game win streak. In the NFC, can the Rams cling to the No.1 seed without Davante Adams?
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Geoff Mosher
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Tag: Joe Burrow
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NFL Week 15 Power Rankings: After win over Patriots, Bills are back in business
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Ja’Marr Chase breaks silence on Joe Burrow’s concerning retirement hint
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The Cincinnati Bengals are already in a precarious position, sitting at 4-9, three games back of the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6) and just outside of the playoff picture.
That’s why Joe Burrow’s surprising comments during Wednesday’s media session sent shockwaves through the NFL.
Burrow, returning from a turf-toe absence that limited most of his 2025 season, said he’s been “doing some reflection” and that if football stops being fun, he has to reassess why he’s playing.
“If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing it,” Burrow said. “I’ve been through a lot, and if it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for. That’s the mindset I’m trying to bring to the table.”
Ja’Marr Chase, Burrow’s longtime friend and college teammate at LSU, was asked about the comments on Thursday.
“I thought this was an AI,” Chase said. “At the end of the day, I see him the same every day. To me, he loves football. But that’s a him question. I can’t answer that for him.”
“From what I see, I see the same person every day. He comes to work. He loves work. He doesn’t look like he’s bummed to be here… Honestly, nothing’s wrong with a little emotion at the end of the day, especially coming back from injury. The man loves the game.”
“The narrative that y’all are trying to paint on him right now, I don’t see it,” Chase added.
Through Week 14, Burrow has thrown for 734 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions across four appearances, including a recent 284-yard, four-TD performance against Buffalo.
Yet the Bengals are 4-9, hampered by one of the league’s worst defenses and significant injuries to core players, including Tee Higgins (concussion, questionable) and Trey Hendrickson (hip/pelvis, placed on IR).
After their 2021 Super Bowl appearance, the Bengals, led by Burrow and Chase, went 12-4 in 2022 before posting back-to-back 9-8 seasons in 2023 and 2024, and now sit on the verge of their first losing campaign since 2020.
That backdrop helps explain why Burrow’s quiet line about “fun” drew outsized attention.
Read More: Chiefs’ Chris Jones Makes Strong Patrick Mahomes Statement With Season on the Line
Read More: Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes Face Concerning Injury News Before Chargers Game
At this point, the Bengals’ only realistic playoff path requires winning out and getting help elsewhere.
Their next four opponents — Baltimore, Miami, Arizona, and Cleveland — include two teams still fighting for seeding and one familiar divisional test (Baltimore) that effectively decides whether Cincinnati remains alive.
Given the circumstances, ESPN recently gave the Bengals a mere 3% chance of making the playoffs.
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Bengals’ Joe Flacco indifferent about Joe Burrow’s return to practice: ‘I really don’t care’
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has returned to the practice field, but veteran backup Joe Flacco appears indifferent about the news.
Burrow returned to practice Monday, opening a 21-day window for the star to return to the lineup, but Burrow’s return to the field was not a concern for Flacco.
“I don’t know, I think backups probably do it a good amount where they know like, ‘Hey, this guy’s coming back, he’s got a three-week injury or whatever it is,’” Flacco said, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco runs off the field before a field goal attempt in the fourth quarter of a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati Oct. 16, 2025. (Sam Greene/The Enquirer/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
“I’m honestly not really thinking about it. It’s not really a part of my process. I really don’t care. It’s this week, and that’s all that matters. And I think to think about that stuff would just be a distraction. So, it’s not really something I’m worried about. Like I said, I’m just worried about doing my job, and this week that’s going out and playing against Pittsburgh.”
Burrow sustained a toe injury in September that forced backup quarterback Jake Browning into the lineup. Browning struggled, and the team acquired Flacco from the Cleveland Browns to take over.
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was unable to put weight on his ankle after getting injured against the Jaguars. (Imagn)
Flacco, who struggled with the Browns prior to being benched for Dillon Gabriel, has filled in admirably for Burrow. In four starts with the Bengals, Flacco has completed 64.7% of his passes for 1,254 yards with 11 touchdowns and two interceptions.
By comparison, in Flacco’s four starts with the Browns, he completed just 58.1% of his passes for 815 yards with two touchdowns and six interceptions.
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco throws a pass against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter at Paycor Stadium Nov. 2, 2025. (Katie Stratman/Imagn Images)
While Flacco has played well, the Bengals are just 1-3 in his four starts because of their porous defense. The Bengals are 3-6 and need to get hot down the stretch to give themselves a chance at making the playoffs.
Their next game is a key divisional matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4) Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
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Bengals Trade Prediction Lands 10-Time Pro Bowl Replaceme…
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The Cincinnati Bengals offense has been a horror show of turnovers since quarterback Joe Burrow went down in Week 2, and if backup Jake Browning can’t get his act together soon, the team will likely need to explore alternate options.
Aside from Browning, the only other signal-caller on the active roster is Brett Rypien, who was a castoff of the Minnesota Vikings late in the preseason. Meanwhile, Burrow could miss most of what remains of the year after surgery to repair damage from turf toe that is likely to sideline him until at least December.
Cincinnati inked both Mike White and Sean Clifford to the practice squad on Sept. 17 in the wake of Burrow’s injury, but Rypien and White have just 11 NFL starts between them (4-7 record), while Clifford has thrown just three passes in two regular-season appearances since joining the league in 2023.
Read More: Bills QB Josh Allen Could Face NFL Punishment for Celebration vs Dolphins
Browning was relatively impressive across a long stretch two years ago as Burrow’s replacement, leading the team to a 4-3 record in nine appearances and tallying 1,936 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. However, he hasn’t been able to replicate that success across two games in 2025, he’s leading the NFL with five interceptions, and the Bengals offense has turned the football over eight times total in his two appearances.
None of the current options in free agency are promising, as Cincinnati’s decision to sign White and Clifford to the practice squad after elevating Rypien into the QB2 role clearly indicates. The trade market isn’t much better, however 10-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson may be worth a flier after the New York Giants benched him earlier this week in favor of rookie Jaxson Dart, as Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report proposed.
“With Jameis Winston in the fold as Dart’s backup/mentor, the Giants should immediately view [Wilson] as expendable,” Knox wrote. “While Wilson has only looked good in one of his three outings this season, he’s a very experienced starter who could potentially fill in for one of the myriad of injured quarterbacks for a game or two. Perhaps more importantly, Wilson’s $2 million base salary would make him a reasonable target for virtually any team.”
Wilson is now 36 years old, but he can still get it done against average and below-average defenses. He proved as much in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys, when he threw for 450 yards and three scores in a 40-37 overtime road loss.
And with Wilson recently being benched — a move head coach Brian Daboll made clear was for the rest of the season — perhaps the Giants would be inclined to part with Wilson and recoup any form of draft compensation with Jameis Winston a capable backup behind Dart.
Read More: Shedeur Sanders Breaks Silence on Browns’ Rumored QB Plans
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Joe Burrow’s foundation severs ties with Ohio judge over comments celebrating Charlie Kirk’s killing
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The Joe Burrow Foundation has severed ties with Hamilton County Municipal Judge Ted Berry after the Ohio judge allegedly made celebratory comments on social media about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The foundation, founded by Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, released a statement Friday announcing that it had “terminated” a member of its advisory board.
Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals looks to pass during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paycor Stadium on Sept. 14, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
“The Joe Burrow Foundation was founded on the belief that everyone has the responsibility to do good. We have terminated an advisory board member that made inappropriate remarks in light of recent events and they are no longer associated with the Foundation,” the statement read.
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“Their comments do not reflect our values or our mission. We are committed to accountability and respect for all.”
Berry was listed as a member of the advisory board previously on the foundation’s website. The statement did not name Berry or directly reference Kirk’s killing. Fox News Digital reached out to the organization for a statement to clarify whether Berry was the member terminated.
Ohio State Rep. Adam Mathews shared the foundation’s statement on social media, and confirmed to Fox News Digital Tuesday that Berry was the advisory board member terminated by the foundation. The Republican lawmaker previously released a statement calling for the judge’s resignation following social media comments that Mathews said celebrated Kirk’s killing “with vitriolic, racially charged and political language.”
Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an event Thursday in Utah. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via Reuters)
CUBS HONOR ‘LIFELONG’ FAN CHARLIE KIRK WITH ‘MOMENT OF REFLECTION’ AFTER UTAH ASSASSINATION
“A judge must be a pillar of fairness and impartiality in our community,” Mathews said. “To see a sitting judge post comments like ‘Rest in Hatred & Division!’, ask ‘How’s he feel about gun violence & gun control in Hell, now?’, and then celebrate the race of the killer by stating ‘So, a white guy killed him! Color it KARMA!’ is shocking and completely unacceptable.”
He continued, “This is not the conduct of a neutral arbiter of the law; it is the behavior of a political activist who has abandoned the core principles of his office.”
Mathews warned that if Berry did not resign from his position, he would file a formal grievance with the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
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Berry, who is due to retire in January 2026, told the Cincinnati Enquirer that he does not “condone any type of violence on any human being.”
“I regret if I caused division,” he continued. “That was not my intent. And I hope there can be peace.”
Memorials honoring Charlie Kirk have been held across the country and overseas, including in Berlin. Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10, 2025 ( Ilkin Eskipehlivan /Anadolu via Getty Images)
Berry could not be reached by Fox News Digital for comment. Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair Alex Linser told FOX 19 that in response to Berry’s “disappointing and divisive comments,” the judge would not be recognized at an upcoming judicial event.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Mathews commended Linser for his response and renewed calls for the judge’s resignation.
“As a follow up, I am pleased to see fellow attorney and Chairman of the Democratic Party Alex Linser speak out against Ted Berry’s behavior and stripping Berry out of their upcoming fundraising celebration of judges. It’s the right decision. The bipartisan condemnation of his horrific and racist language is proof that we can come together. Ted Berry must resign.”
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Bengals’ Joe Burrow could miss 3 months as surgery an option for turf toe injury: report
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The Cincinnati Bengals could be facing a major setback with star quarterback Joe Burrow.
Burrow left Sunday’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars with a toe injury, and NFL Network reported he is feared to have Grade 3 turf toe. That type of injury usually requires surgery and comes with a lengthy recovery.
The Bengals reportedly sent images of Burrow’s injury to Dr. Robert Anderson, a foot specialist, to determine whether surgery is necessary. If so, recovery could sideline Burrow for up to three months — essentially the entire regular season.
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is injured on a play in the second quarter of the NFL Week 2 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025. (IMAGN)
The team confirmed Burrow is dealing with a toe injury, though no decision has been made on whether he will need surgery. The injury occurred in the second quarter when Arik Armstead sacked Burrow. He stayed on the turf and slammed his helmet in frustration.
JOE BURROW SUFFERS TOE INJURY AS BACKUP JAKE BROWNING LEADS BENGALS TO LAST-SECOND WIN VS JAGUARS
On the next series, after the Bengals intercepted Trevor Lawrence, backup Jake Browning entered the game while Burrow was helped to the locker room for evaluation.
Browning went on to lead the Bengals to a comeback win, diving into the end zone with just seconds left in the fourth quarter to seal a 31-27 victory.
Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals looks to pass during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Paycor Stadium on Sept. 14, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Cincinnati improved to 2-0 to start the 2025 season, but the franchise is holding its breath that Burrow could return sooner rather than later. The Bengals missed the playoffs last year despite Burrow’s strong season, when he led the NFL with 4,918 passing yards and 43 touchdowns on his way to being named Comeback Player of the Year.
Injuries, however, have been a recurring challenge for the 28-year-old quarterback. He tore multiple ligaments in his left knee in 2020 and suffered a torn wrist ligament in 2023, with both injuries ending his season prematurely.
Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals plays against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field on Sept. 7, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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An announcement from the Bengals could come as early as Monday, but it is expected that Burrow will be ruled out at least for next week’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
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Bengals QB Joe Burrow Suffers Potential Devastating Injury
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The Cincinnati Bengals were dealt a massive blow Sunday, as quarterback Joe Burrow is feared to have suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury that will require surgery, according to NFL Network insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport. The procedure could sideline the star quarterback for at least three months, potentially derailing Cincinnati’s playoff hopes before midseason.
Burrow left the stadium on crutches following the Bengals’ win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. While he’ll undergo second opinions, early reports suggest the organization is preparing for a long-term absence.
Jake Browning Next Man Up
Backup Jake Browning finished Sunday’s victory after Burrow’s exit and is now in line to start next week against the Minnesota Vikings. Browning, who joined the Bengals in 2021, will inherit one of the league’s most talented offenses but faces the tall task of keeping Cincinnati competitive without its franchise cornerstone.
Burrow’s Career Impact
Burrow, the former No. 1 overall pick in 2020, has already cemented himself as one of the league’s elite passers. He’s thrown for more than 19,000 yards and 142 touchdowns in just over four seasons while leading the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance. His absence not only hurts Cincinnati’s Super Bowl aspirations, but it also significantly changes the AFC playoff picture.
A Note for Detroit Lions Fans
For those wondering, the Detroit Lions are scheduled to play the Bengals in Cincinnati on October 5. If Burrow does undergo surgery, he will certainly miss that matchup, meaning Lions fans may be watching Browning under center instead of one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks.
The Bottom Line
Cincinnati is bracing for a long stretch without Burrow, and the ripple effect will be felt across the league. For now, all eyes turn to Jake Browning and how the Bengals adapt without their leader.
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Don Drysdale
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Walking Similar Paths – Who Will Be the Winner? – Philadelphia Sports Nation
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For Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow In 2024 — the Best Football Is About to Be Played.
During the Covid-restricted 2020 NFL Draft — it was Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback Joe Burrow who would become the first selection. As a sophomore at LSU — Burrow didn’t just break FBS records- he shattered them throwing sixty touchdowns in a season that captured not only the Heisman Trophy but also the National Championship.
In the opening week in 2020 — Burrow was the only one of the rookie quarterbacks to start before suffering a season-ending knee injury against Washington. Much like Jalen Hurts — Burrow’s second season was magical. The Bengals roared into the AFC Playoffs and defeated the Raiders 26–19, the Titans 19–16, and the Chiefs in Overtime stunning Arrowhead Stadium in the AFC Championship Game by a score 23–20 before falling to the Rams in Super Bowl LVI 23–20 — Cincinnati’s first appearance since 1988.
And like the Eagles- the Bengals have been trying to get back to the Super ever since. In 2022, they would lose a rematch in the AFC Championship Game to those Chiefs. In 2023 — Cincinnati wouldn’t even qualify for the playoffs with a 10–8 record. So far in 2024 — the Bengals are 3–4 and clutching to the hope of a narrowing window that they can still make the AFC Playoffs with some Burrow and Ja’marr Chase late-season magic.
In perhaps one of the most quarterback-rich NFL Drafts since 1983 that included Justin Herbert, Jordan Love, and Tua Tagovailoa — Jalen Hurts was selected by the Eagles in the second round with the 53rd pick. Jalen’s path to become the franchise quarterback was quite different from Burrow’s. He had to supplant Carson Wentz — who had just signed a four-year $128 million extension a year earlier. But on a cold 2020 evening in Green Bay — when Wentz headed to the bench and Hurts headed to be the future of the Eagles — the era of Jalen began.
Two years later — the high-powered Eagles offense was also in the Super Bowl. Even now in 2024 — the Eagles are striving to overcome that loss to the Kansas City Chiefs 38–35. The team that Kansas City beat to earn a trip to Super Bowl LVI and a matchup against the Eagles was Burrow’s Cincinnati Bengals.
What is at stake this Sunday in Cincinnati isn’t just a week eight NFL matchup. For Burrow and the Chiefs — it’s a must-win home matchup. Five losses this early in the NFL season don’t bode well for a crowded AFC Playoff field. For Hurts, Barkley — it’s another matchup to prove that the Eagles offense is once again prolific with the return of Devonta Smith and Brown coupled with an Eagles defense that once again matches rookie talent against one of the best wide receivers in the NFL and a young secondary featuring Quinyon Mitchell desperately waiting for that first professional pick.
The answer to the question about whether Hurts or Burrow were the better pick themselves is not yet clear.
PHOTO: —
The post Walking Similar Paths – Who Will Be the Winner? appeared first on Philadelphia Sports Nation.
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Michael Thomas Leibrandt
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Bengals offense starting to click entering Week 5 showdown against rival Ravens
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Despite their 1-3 start, the Cincinnati Bengals are starting to play better with a big challenge set for next week.
Joe Burrow is making smart decisions, displaying poise in the pocket along with accuracy. Ja’Marr Chase again resembles one of the league’s top playmakers after an offseason of contract dispute, and running mate Tee Higgins is rounding into form after missing the first two weeks with an injury.
And then there’s the Bengals running game.
Second-year back Chase Brown picked up 80 yards on 15 carries and ran for the first two touchdowns of his career in Sunday’s 34-24 win over Carolina, while Zack Moss added 51 yards on the ground and caught four passes for 27 yards and a score helping to soften the blow from the trade of Joe Mixon.
After being held to 11 yards rushing in the first half, the Bengals had 130 yards on the ground after intermission to take control of the game.
“We’re explosive,” Brown said. “I mean, we can put up 30 points against anybody. That’s our mindset.”
Burrow finished 22 of 31 for 232 yards with two touchdowns and one interception coming on a miscommunication with Chase. But over the past two games Burrow and Chase have mostly been on the same page, hooking up 13 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns.
It’s probably no coincidence that Chase’s increased production have coincided with the return of Higgins, who takes added pressure off the team’s No. 1 wideout.
“We’ve been moving around, making plays,” Chase said. “The team looked pretty good starting out the first half, which is what we needed, someone to keep the momentum up for us, and all around everybody is making plays.”
The Bengals have now increased their point total with each game and Burrow said the offense is now “playing at a high level.”
The amount of playmakers has coach Zac Taylor excited about the future, especially with Burrow at quarterback.
“There are certainly plays where we are trying to target key guys,” Taylor said. “If they take them away defensively with whatever they’re doing, Joe progresses and finds the next option. There are so people that can make plays for us. About everyone in that game made critical plays for us in big moments. And the line is playing its tails off, giving great protection so Joe feels like he can call anything.”
Of course, few things make an NFL coach happier than the ability to run the ball late in a game and burn the clock.
The Bengals did just that on Sunday.
Leading by seven with 4:23 left, the Bengals ran the ball nine straight times to move into field-goal range for Evan McPherson, who made it a two-possession game with a 46-yarder with 1:17 remaining.
“No doubt it was important,” Brown said. “They were stacking up the box, they were gapped out. We know what’s coming. We play for those moments in those four-minute situations and we know we just want to put points up at the end. The thing is, you keep the rock on our side and kick the field goal to really push on the dagger at the end.”
The win gives the Bengals some needed momentum heading into an important home game Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.
“We knew we needed this one this week, especially going into a divisional game next week,” Brown said. “We just want to carry that momentum and that energy into next week and the rest of the season and just continue this style of football.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
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How To Look Cute This Football Season
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As a girl who’s a die-hard football fan, it’s tough out here. I have men who don’t believe that I actually follow the sport and women who complain about having to watch the game in general. Football has been a male-dominated territory for a long time, but Taylor Swift is making groundbreaking changes.
With her regular attendance at Kansas City Chiefs games in support of her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, Swift is basically guaranteeing that women will be there for NFL games now…even if it’s only to catch a glimpse of Miss Swift herself.
And even if you’re not a Swiftie, more and more women are watching football more than ever. Whether it’s because your father, brother, uncle, friend, or boyfriend forced you to watch alongside them…or because you and your gal pals started an all female fantasy football league just for fun.
Where I live, Sundays are great days to go out and socialize. Bars are packed with people watching the games, so even if you’re not a fan it’s a fantastic excuse to get out of your house.
Morning Consult Brand Intelligence reported that, in December 2023, 64% of Gen-Z and millennial women held the NFL in a favorable view. The interest surrounding football goes beyond Swift now, and the NFL must do something to continue to capitalize on that.
Yes, it helps that heartthrobs like Joe Burrow exist simply to keep women interested. But what’s more interesting is that women are starting to care about the game itself.
I’m in an all girls fantasy league, where almost no one cared about football beforehand. However now, everyone is super invested in their teams.
But even more critical is looking good during the football season. For so long, the NFL neglected their women’s merch. Even more egregious, all the team apparel for women was hideous.
However, since football has turned over a new leaf…things have improved significantly. Now, it’s about looking trendy this 2024 football season. And I’m here to make sure you do just that.
Here are my favorite women’s NFL apparel picks for 2024:
Abercrombie
Abercrombie genuinely has some of the best NFL apparel for both men and women. It’s all on-trend, vintage in the right way, and a fan favorite. Seriously, every girl I know has one of the NFL sweatshirts from Abercrombie.
My roommate has this sweater and swears it changed her life because it’s so incredibly soft. Plus, the designs for your designated team are actually cute. Whether you like the quarterback because he’s handsome or because he can escape a sack like a magician…these sweaters are a staple this football season.
There was a time where only a few stores carried women’s NFL apparel. Since we’re in better days, plenty of women-focused stores now sell NFL gear that you’d actually wear.
This American Eagle Dolphins crewneck is oversized in the best way. Fine to wear with baggy jeans, leggings, a nice skort, or just biker shorts a la Princess Diana. An oversized crewneck is a staple for your closet…so make it NFL-themed.
Junk FoodJunk Food is the go-to for graphic tees and sweatshirts. So it should be easy to find something for your NFL team on this site, because everything is simply adorable.
This thermal is outstanding for everyday wear during the colder months when you’ll be rooting for your fave team (in this case, the Eagles) while still serving looks. Not a fan of the Birds? Don’t fret, they have every team on this site.
NFL ShopVintage is very in right now, which is why this Buffalo Bills sweater by Tommy Hilfiger is a must-have. With a double v-neck and the red, white, and blue trim, this sweatshirt gives the perfect dose of nostalgia.
Order one a few sizes bigger than your normal and you have an excellent oversized sweatshirt for the fall!
New EraThe perfect NFL baby tee does exist, and it’s sold at New Era. With a simple embroidered cursive font and logo, this baby tee doesn’t have a lot going on. But it works with jeans and a leather jacket for a cute gameday fit.
It’s one of the most popular NFL apparel pieces this season for a reason, so get it while you can!
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Jai Phillips
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Setting The WR Market, Eagles Extend DeVonta Smith – Philadelphia Sports Nation
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The Eagles front office has done it again.
After speculation that the Eagles would be paying their WR2 next after agreeing to a 3-year $66M extension with Jordan Mailata just two weeks ago. News finally broke on Monday that not only would DeVonta Smith’s 5th year be picked up, but it also came with a nifty 3-year extension.
Happy Monday Eagles fans ‼️
We’ve exercised the fifth-year option on WR @DeVontaSmith_6 and have agreed to terms on a 3-year contract extension through 2028.@Toyota | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/1w6VEnIKKV
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) April 15, 2024
The Eagles will now have the following players on the offense under contract through 2026:
- QB Jalen Hurts
- QB Kenny Pickett
- WR A.J. Brown
- WR DeVonta Smith
- RB Saquon Barkley
- LT Jordan Mailata
- LG Landon Dickerson
- OL Tyler Steen
- RT Lane Johnson
Not a bad thing to have 8 offensive starters under contract for the next 3 seasons!
But how did the Eagles get all these top tier players under contract without being well over the cap? (like the Saints have been for years)
Ahead Of The League
This is now back to back off-seasons where Howie Roseman and co. have been able to extend franchise cornerstone players before the other 31 teams in the league came to terms with their counterparts.
QB Frenzy
Starting with Jalen Hurts on April 17th 2023. A 5 year, $255M contract was signed ahead of the following quarterbacks
- Joe Burrow – 5 years, $275M signed on September 7th 2023
- Justin Herbert – 5 years, $262.5M signed on July 25th 2023
- Lamar Jackson – 5 years, $260M signed on April 27th 2023
Offensive Line Mania
Not only did the Eagles get away with drafting Jordan Mailata in the 7th round of the 2018 draft. They’ve now extended him. Twice! While doing so, the Eagles have gotten ahead by signing Mailata to a 3 year, $66M deal. Now under contract until 2029.
There weren’t many Offensive Tackles looking to be signed this off-season, but getting an extra 3 years from Mailata at $22M was perfect value giving some previously signed OT’s including:
- Laremy Tunsil – 3 year, $75M signed on March 19th 2023
- Andrew Thomas – 5 year, $117.5M signed on July 26th 2023
However, this was the perfect market to get the Left Tackle signed for those extra years. Because the following will be due for a 5th year option and probable extensions in the next year.
- Penei Sewell – drafted 7th overall 2021
- Rashawn Slater – drafted 11th overall 2021
- Ronnie Stanley – 5 year, $98.75M signed in 2020
Setting The WR Market
And that’s exactly how the Eagles have set the WR market with DeVonta Smith’s new deal.
Had the Eagles not worked as quickly as possible on this deal. They would’ve been at risk of the following Receivers potentially getting record breaking deals done first.
Since we don’t have contract money for these other receivers, let’s keep it simple and compare Yards/TDs.
- DeVonta Smith – 50GP, 3,178 Rec Yards, 19 TD. signed a 3 year, $75M deal.
- Justin Jefferson – 60GP, 5,899 Rec Yards, 30 TD. On a 5th year option for $19.74M
- Ja’Marr Chase – 45GP, 3,717 Rec Yards, 29 TD.
- Tee Higgins – 53GP, 3,684 Rec Yards, 24TD. On a $21.8M Franchise Tag
- CeeDee Lamb – 61GP, 5,145 Rec Yards, 32TD. On a 5th year option for $17.99M
With DeVonta Smith’s extension checked off the offseason to-do list. The next big milestone will be the draft. Just one week away.
Who do you have the Birds taking at 22nd?
Photo Credit: Matt Slocum / AP Photo
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Tyler L’Heureux
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LSU QB Jayden Daniels wins 2023 Heisman Trophy
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LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels is a Heisman winner.
The senior quarterback won the award over Oregon QB Bo Nix, Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. after a phenomenal dual-threat season. Daniels was one of the nation’s leading passers in nearly all the major metrics and also one of only two quarterbacks to rush for over 1,000 yards during 2023.
Daniels finished with 503 first-place votes while Penix finished with 292 first-place votes. The total margin between the two quarterbacks, 2,029 points to 1,701 points, was the closest Heisman voting has finished since 2018.
Daniels finished the regular season 236-of-327 passing for 3,812 yards and 40 TDs. He threw just four interceptions and completed over 70% of his passes. Just six players — including Nix at 77.2% — completed a higher percentage of their passes.
But Daniels had everyone easily beat in yards per attempt. He was by far the nation’s leader in that category as the LSU offense averaged 11.7 yards every time he threw the football. Alabama QB Jalen Milroe, the player in second in yards per attempt, averaged 1.3 yards fewer per throw.
Daniels also tied for the lead in passing touchdowns with Nix despite playing one fewer game. Nix played in 13 games in 2023 as Oregon went to the Pac-12 title game. But Penix and the Huskies beat the Ducks to get to the College Football Playoff. It was a game that likely sealed Daniels’ status as the Heisman winner as Nix fell below the all-time single-season record for completion percentage (Mac Jones’ 77.4% in 2020).
In addition to being a threat with LSU receivers Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas to break a big play from nearly anywhere on the field through the air, he was also a big play waiting to happen on the ground.
Daniels rushed 135 times for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns over 12 games. He averaged the most yards per carry of any qualified player in college football at 8.4 and was over a full yard ahead of Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright in second place.
It’s a remarkable rushing total and rushing average for a quarterback who dropped back to pass as much as Daniels did. College football statistics count sacks against a quarterback’s rushing totals and Daniels was sacked 22 times. Penix, for example, has rushed for minus-18 yards this season.
Daniels had five games with at least one run longer than 40 yards and his signature performance came in a 52-35 win over Florida on Nov. 11. Daniels was 17-of-26 passing for 372 yards and three touchdowns through the air while rushing 12 times for 234 yards and two scores. Daniels broke touchdown runs of 85 yards and 51 yards during that game and then threw three touchdowns in the final 18 minutes as the Tigers pulled away from the Gators.
It was the first time in top-level college football history that a player had thrown for over 350 yards and rushed for over 200 yards in the same game.
He also powered the Tigers’ comeback win at No. 9 Missouri on Oct. 7. After briefly leaving the game early in the fourth quarter following a crushing hit at the goal line, Daniels returned to engineer two go-ahead touchdown drives on LSU’s next two possessions.
He broke a 35-yard TD run on third down to give the Tigers a 35-32 lead over Mizzou with less than eight minutes to go, and then accounted for all 75 yards on LSU’s next drive as the Tigers went up for good with less than three minutes to go.
That drive also included a monster third-down run. Daniel broke a 31-yard run on third down to get to the Missouri 29 yard-line and a play later hit Nabers for a 29-yard score that put LSU up 42-39.
A three-loss Heisman winner
Players on teams with more than two losses don’t win the Heisman very often. Especially in recent seasons. Last year, USC was 11-2 when Caleb Williams lifted the award. The year before that, Alabama was 12-1 when Bryce Young won and undefeated when DeVonta Smith won in 2020.
Williams, in fact, became just the second player to win the Heisman in the playoff era as part of a team that wasn’t in the four-team playoff. As Daniels joins that group, he’s the first player since Lamar Jackson in 2016 to be a part of a team that had three losses before the Heisman ceremony.
Like Daniels, Jackson was a dynamic passer and rusher and his season-long performance was too good to ignore. Jackson threw for over 3,500 yards and rushed for nearly 1,600 that season as he accounted for 51 touchdowns.
Overall, Daniels is just the 15th player on a team with three or more losses to win the Heisman and the fourth in the 2000s along with Jackson, Baylor’s Robert Griffin III in 2011 and Florida’s Tim Tebow in 2007.
A Heisman transfer trend
Daniels is also the fifth player in the past seven seasons to win the Heisman at his second school, a sign of the normalization of player transfers. Nix and Penix are also transfers in their second seasons at their new schools. Nix transferred to Oregon from Auburn while Penix transferred to Washington from Indiana.
Williams won in his first season at USC after transferring from Oklahoma, while LSU QB Joe Burrow won in his first season at LSU in 2019 after joining the Tigers from Ohio State. Before Burrow, Kyler Murray won in his second season at Oklahoma after transferring from Texas A&M, and Baker Mayfield was in his third season at Oklahoma after he started his college career at Texas Tech.
Daniels came to LSU before the 2022 season after the school hired Brian Kelly from Notre Dame. Daniels spent the first three seasons of his career at Arizona State and appeared in all but one game for the Sun Devils in that span.
He transferred from Arizona State after he threw for 2,381 yards and rushed for 710 yards in 2021 but accounted for only 16 total touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
He immediately became a star and improved on those numbers at LSU in 2022 as the Tigers won the SEC West. Daniels completed 69% of his passes in 2021 and threw for 2,913 yards while rushing for 885. He entered the season as one of the favorites to win the Heisman, based on his leap from 2021 to 2022, but hardly anyone could have predicted the eye-popping statistics he accumulated.
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Nick Bromberg, Yahoo Sports
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Bengals QB Joe Burrow becomes NFL’s highest-paid player with $275 million deal: AP source
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By ROB MAADDI and MITCH STACY
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow became the highest-paid player in the NFL on Thursday, agreeing to a five-year, $275 million contract extension, according to a person familiar with the deal.
The contract includes more than $219 million guaranteed, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because it hadn’t been announced.
The deal, which will pay Burrow an average of $55 million a year, puts him ahead of other top quarterbacks in the league who signed new contracts in the offseason.
Beloved and teammates and fans in Cincinnati, Burrow has reversed the fortunes of the franchise while earning a reputation as a decisive and creative leader with a knack for figuring out how to pick up yards when plays break down.
Signing the 2022 Pro Bowler and 2021 AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year to an extension was a goal of the team this summer, but the deal wasn’t finalized until three days before the Bengals’ season opener at Cleveland.
“This is where I want to be my whole career,” Burrow told reporters on Wednesday. “You’ve seen what the front office has done and what (coach) Zac (Taylor) has done in their time here. I’m a small part of that. I’m excited to be a part of that. And we have great people in the locker room that grind every day, that are excited to go and showcase their talents and excited to go and do it in the city of Cincinnati.”
Burrow has led the Bengals to two straight AFC North titles and a Super Bowl after the 2021 season, a 23-20 loss to the Rams. Cincinnati finished 12-4 last year, with Burrow setting franchise single-season records for completions, pass attempts and passing touchdowns.
Burrow had season-ending knee surgery in 2020, his rookie year. He immediately became one of the NFL’s best passers upon his return. The notoriously frugal Bengals had not reached a Super Bowl since 1998 or even recorded a playoff win since 1990.
Burrow strained a calf muscle early in this summer’s training camp and was out of action until last week. He said Wednesday he’s on track to start against the Browns on Sunday.
The market for quarterbacks was set for Burrow in late July when Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert agreed to a five-year, $262.5 million extension.
Herbert’s total value and $52.5 million average per season surpassed the $260 million, five-year extension ($52 million average) that Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson signed in April. Deshaun Watson agreed to a fully guaranteed $230 million deal with Cleveland in 2022.
Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes is in the third year of a 10-year contract worth $450 million, the largest overall deal for a quarterback.
Cincinnati picked up the fifth-year option on the 26-year-old Burrow’s rookie contract in April ahead of the expected megadeal, which wasn’t as quick to get done as both sides would have preferred.
Bengals owner Mike Brown said a year ago that the team had begun restructuring finances in order secure a long-term deal for Burrow. The Bengals cleared more salary cap space when running back Joe Mixon accepted a restructured deal and pay cut this month.
With Burrow locked up, the Bengals can turn their attention to other players, including wide receiver Tee Higgins, who is also eligible for an extension. Linebacker Logan Wilson agreed to a four-year extension last month worth up to $37.25 million.
Star receiver Ja’Marr Chase will be eligible for an extension after this season. Higgins and Chase both will command salaries that put them among the highest-paid receivers in the league.
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Dress Like The NFL’s Most Stylish Men: Gameday-Inspired Fits
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Since September, every Sunday has been reserved for football. It’s the only subject anyone can talk about: the all-consuming, seemingly endless football season that has America in a chokehold…and I’m no exception.
While the games themselves are worth the watch, one of the most highly anticipated events this season is the reveal Gameday Fit. It comes before the game when the players arrive at the facility in their literal Sunday Best….and the players are coming to serve.
The Tunnel is the new Runway. Some of the best players in the NFL sport bold colors, fun prints, standout shoes, vests, and ski masks. Others choose leathers, oversized sweaters, and iced-out chains. Regardless, the men of the National Football League are showing they have talent and style.
We’re in a new era of men’s fashion where we’ve begun holding men to higher standards. Instead of just the trusty sweatpants and t-shirt combo we’d have normally expected, we’ve come to expect an ostentatious Gameday Fit. It’s each player’s chance to let their personality shine through before they shove into their pads for 3 and a half hours.
NFL stars like the Buffalo Bills’ wide receiver, Stefon Diggs, are known for donning insane fits that rival fashion week. And we’re not the only ones paying attention, GQ now has readers voting for the NFL’s Most Stylish Player 2023 – much like they did for the NBA and winner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
GQ
Amongst a star-studded bracket with names like Travis Kelce, Ceedee Lamb, and Saquon Barkley, the resounding winner was the Philadelphia Eagles’ wide receiver Devonta Smith. Smith defeated Stefon Diggs in the final round of voting. While Smith looks forward to the Super Bowl this upcoming Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, I’m sure this award is equally important to him.
If you want to find a menswear outfit that could give Joe Burrow’s Cartier glasses a run for their money…here are our fave gameday-inspired fits.
Dress Like Joe Burrow
Cartier glasses, fur jackets, floral suits, and turtlenecks with an icy chain a la The Rock…he has the nickname “Joe Shiesty” for a reason. One of his most iconic looks, when asked if his diamonds were real he responded “I make too much money for them to be fake.”
An easy way to elevate your look is with a statement jacket and sunglasses. While your diamonds may not be real, you can still achieve the Joey B look with ease. All you need is a chain, this oversized fur bomber, a black turtleneck, and rectangle-frame glasses for the Joey B look.
Dress Like Devonta Smith
Devonta Smith has a Heisman Trophy, an NCAA Championship, and some of the finest fashion taste under his belt. King of the wide brim hat and fitted suit, he is always looking polished…down to his tie complementing his bag.
If you want the “Skinny Batman” look, Smith is a fan of matching his colorway from head-to-toe. If you’re wearing pink, include subtle accents throughout your entire outfit…not just the suit. These
Ralph Lauren Shorts and Blazer pair perfectly with Nike Air Force 1’s to complete a Devonta-esque outfit.Dress Like Stefon Diggs
Credited as the king of NFL fashion to many, Stefon Diggs never misses. A fan of the bomber jacket, layering and experimenting with oversized pieces, and an advocate for crossbody bags…but he never regrets a fit. He told GQ,
“Hell, no. If I put it on, then it was the right shit. [laughs] I don’t regret any fit. I look at all my fits like, “That was the time in my life when I felt like that was okay.”
Dress like SD with a pair of oversized jeans, a bomber jacket, and t-shirt for a relaxed, comfortable fit that still serves.
Dress Like Jason Kelce
It wouldn’t be an NFL fashion article with Philadelphia’s Jason Kelce, who will meet his brother Travis in the Super Bowl next week. The Kelce Bowl is all the rage right now, but may I introduce you to one of the best dressed players in the league?
Kelce is known for saying things like “I’m not here to play dress up” when wearing flip flops on gameday. He’s famously dressed as Doug Whitmore from 50 First Dates or in an Ocean Drive shirt (a Sea Isle City, NJ bar where Kelce holds fundraisers). If you want to dress like the older Kelce, buy a pair of Rainbows and cut your jeans to short length…it’s about fun and comfort.
Dress Like Travis Kelce
Jason’s younger brother, Kansas City tight end, Travis Kelce, has his own clothing line “Tru Kolors,” selling 90’s-inspired athleisure. He wears different styles of peacoats, experiments with different prints, and is not afraid of accessorizing. Travis has always been interested in fashion outside of football.
A Travis Kelce look is not complete without a statement peacoat like this one. From there, don’t be afraid to accessorize with chains, watches, sunglasses, and hats. It’s an easy way to spice up any old “basic” outfit.
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Jai Phillips
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Onion Sports’ NFL Divisional Round Picks
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Jaguars at Chiefs
Jaguars: Expect Chiefs coach Andy Reid to have something special up his sleeve for this game. Unfortunately, that will just be a dozen hot dogs.
Offensive Player To Watch: Jaguars
Zay Jones: The Jags wide receiver has the field awareness needed to witness numerous Trevor Lawrence interceptions.
Defensive Player To Watch: Jaguars
Josh Allen: This could be a perfect opportunity for the pass rusher to pick up a loose quarterback on the ground and return it for a touchdown.
Offensive Player To Watch: Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes: Kansas City’s star QB is expected to have his best State Farm commercial yet.
Defensive Player To Watch: Chiefs
Chris Jones: Expect the massive defensive tackle to struggle to make it out of the Jaguars’ backfield.
Giants at Eagles
Eagles: Jalen Hurts and the Eagles have what it takes to bring a small dollop of joy to Philadelphia citizens’ otherwise bleak, empty lives.
Offensive Player To Watch: Giants
Daniel Jones: The quarterback has a bright future with his next team.
Defensive Player To Watch: Giants
Dexter Lawrence: The Giants colossal nose tackle will rely on his flexibility and athleticism, which allow him to change direction at least once per game.
Offensive Player To Watch: Eagles
Jason Kelce: The Eagles’ Pro Bowl center is reportedly practicing a knuckleball hike
Defensive Player To Watch: Eagles
Ndamukong Suh: Though playing as a backup, the veteran Suh is hoping he still has a few more dirty plays left in him.
Bengals at Bills
Bengals: After Week 17’s suspended matchup, Cincinnati will be eager to get revenge on Damar Hamlin.
Offensive Player To Watch: Bengals
Joe Burrow: Pretty much just needs to go out there and not throw 20 picks to go down as the best quarterback in Bengals history.
Defensive Player To Watch: Bengals
Eli Apple: The feisty cornerback will do whatever it takes to be dragged into the end zone while clinging to Josh Allen’s back.
Offensive Player to Watch: Bills
Stefon Diggs: Buffalo’s wideout has shown the ability to make seemingly impossible catches, rending the delicate fabric of our so-called “reality” and plunging NFL fans into a horrid abyss of unfathomable madness.
Defensive Player To Watch: Bills
Tremaine Edmunds: The middle linebacker is the heart and soul and lower intestine and trachea and stapes bone of the Bills defense.
Cowboys at 49ers
49ers: San Francisco has better defenders, a more explosive offense, and it’s just really gratifying to see Jerry Jones absolutely fucking miserable.
Offensive Player To Watch: Cowboys
Dak Prescott: He has the kind of arm that can ruin the hopes and dreams of any Cowboys fan.
Defensive Player To Watch: Cowboys
Micah Parsons: Keep a close eye on the Dallas linebacker, who is a dual threat as a pass rusher and a player who can turn completely invisible for multiple quarters.
Offensive Player To Watch: 49ers
Brock Purdy: Luckily for San Francisco, Brock Purdy has zero professional experience with losing and barely comprehends the concept of defeat.
Defensive Player To Watch: 49ers
Nick Bosa: Expect Bosa to come out strong on every play in order to sack Dak Prescott before he has the chance to throw a pick.
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Your Guide To The 2023 NFL Playoffs
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This Saturday kicks off the biggest holiday weekend since New Years: the NFL Playoffs. With the Wild Card round beginning January 14 and streaming acrossing all ESPN platforms, America is about to run on football playoffs.
All 32 teams play 17 regular season games for a chance to get to the Playoffs and win it all. And we’ll be updating you with all of the 2023 NFL Playoff news you’ll need each week. Starting off with this weekend’s Wild Card Round:
The Wild Card Round
Joe Burrow
Jeff Dean/AP/Shutterstock
The NFL splits their 32 teams into two conferences: the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference. During the Wild Card round this weekend, there will be six games: three AFC games and three NFC games.
Since the #1 team from each conference has a bye week, they won’t play until the weekend of the 20th during the Divisional Round. Both the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will benefit with the rest from the bye, and will face the lowest seed from the winners of the Wild Card Round.
According to the ESPN website, the games will go as follows:
NFC
(7) Seattle Seahawks at (2) San Francisco 49ers
(6) New York Giants at (3) Minnesota Vikings
(5) Dallas Cowboys at (4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bye: (1) Philadelphia EaglesAFC
(7) Miami Dolphins at (2) Buffalo Bills
(6) Baltimore Ravens at (3) Cincinnati Bengals
(5) Los Angeles Chargers at (4) Jacksonville Jaguars
Bye: (1) Kansas City ChiefsAfter the Wild Card round, teams will be re-seeded by the NFL. This ultimately becomes more fun if there are upsets. For example, if the New York Giants beat the Minnesota Vikings and Justin Jefferson, the Giants may have a chance to play the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round. Since both the Giants and the Eagles are in the same division during the regular season, this would be their third time playing each other this year.
The Divisional Round
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Jeff Lewis/AP/Shutterstock
Typically throughout the playoffs, the highest seeded teams get home field advantage until the Super Bowl. The Divisional Round games will be played in Kansas City and Philadelphia, as will the AFC and NFC Championships if both teams advance.
Conference Championships
Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Abbie Parr/AP/Shutterstock
On January 29, the final two games before the Super Bowl will commence. The remaining highest-seeded teams will have home field advantage. However, if the Chiefs end up playing the Buffalo Bills, the game will be held at a neutral site in Atlanta.
The neutral location decision was determined after the tragic Damar Hamlin injury during the Bengals-Bills game. Since the game was ruled a “no contest,” the Chiefs automatically became the #1 seed.
Super Bowl LVII
Josh Allen
Joshua Bessex/AP/Shutterstock
The respective winners from the AFC and NFC Championship games will meet in Glendale, Arizona on February 12 for Super Bowl LVII. Get ready for commercials, the Rihanna halftime show, and some of the best football you’ll see all year.
What Makes The Playoffs Fun?
Jalen Hurts
Chris Szagola/AP/Shutterstock
This year, everyone has something to prove in the playoffs. We are potentially seeing Tom Brady’s final year at QB after a 27-year reign in the NFL. Fan favorite Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals is looking for a return to the Super Bowl after losing to the Los Angeles Rams last year – and that’s not all.
The New York Giants are seeing playoff contention for the first time in years, and the San Francisco 49er’s will be led by third-string QB, last pick in the NFL Draft, Brock Purdy. Purdy has 1,374 yards and a pass completion of 67.1%, showing he maybe isn’t Mr. Irrelevant after all.
Young teams like the Los Angeles Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars will have chances to prove themselves. Lamar Jackson will make his return to the Baltimore Ravens after battling an injury towards the end of the season, while the Buffalo Bills led by a Josh Allen-Stefon Diggs duo will be hard to beat.
The Pittsburgh Steelers had a slow start to the season, but have had a Cinderella story throughout. We have more exciting teams like the Seattle Seahawks, led by potential Comeback Player of the Year, Geno Smith, and the Philadelphia Eagles and KC Chiefs are looking to prove why they’re the #1 seed.
The stakes are high. Playing at the highest level of the game means anything can happen. While you may think the script is written and the best teams on paper will win, I have a feeling the playoffs are going to consist of some major upsets.
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Jai Phillips
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Bills, Bengals AFC showdown highlighted by Allen vs. Burrow
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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Had he not been traded to Buffalo two months ago, Bills running back Nyheim Hines knows exactly where he would have been on Monday night.
Hynes would be glued to his TV watching the first of what could be many-more-to-come duels between two of the NFL’s rising star quarterbacks in Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow.
“Absolutely,” Hines said. “Allen versus Burrow, two great quarterbacks, top five in my league and I could even say higher for either guy, it’s definitely something the world is watching and something that as a fan like myself is excited to see.”
Hynes will not only enjoy a ringside seat for a late-season showdown that will go far in determining who finishes first in the AFC, he also has some inside perspective on both quarterbacks.
“Probably how he was in high school is probably how he is now, very calm,” Hines said of Burrow, whom he played with in the All-American high school game in California in January 2015.
“He was kind of like my head coach, Frank Reich,” he added , referring to his former coach in Indianapolis, who was fired after Hines was dealt to Buffalo. “Very stoic. Cold-blooded. Never panics. I see Joe the same way.”
Hines’ respect for Allen has grown tremendously since joining the Bills.
“By any means necessary. If it’s third-and-10, he’s gonna jump in the air, put his body on the line to get that first down,” he said. “And then one thing that people don’t realize about him is how smart he is. … I knew of his playmaking ability, but his playmaking ability overshadows his brain.”
Allen has the Bills (12-3) holding the inside track to finishing first in the conference, and having already clinched their third straight AFC East title — their best run since a four-year stretch spanning 1988-91. The fifth-year player ranks fourth in the league with 4,029 yards passing and third with 32 TDs passing entering Week 17.
Burrow has the Bengals (11-4) a win or tie away from clinching their second consecutive AFC North title — something they’ve not done since winning consecutive AFC Central titles in 1981 and ’82. And the third-year player ranks second in the NFL in both yards passing (4,260) and TDs passing (34) entering Week 17.
Together, since the start of the 2021 season, they’re tied for second with 68 touchdown passes, trailing only Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes (’74) entering Week 17.
“I can’t wait to watch,” said Ryan Fitzpatrick, the ex-journeyman quarterback who played for both Buffalo and Cincinnati and now works as an analyst for Amazon Prime on “Thursday Night Football.”
“What gets me excited about the Bills is they have found ways to win without solely relying on Josh,” Fitzpatrick said. “But Josh has proven time and again he has broad enough shoulders to carry this team on his back.”
As for Burrow, Fitzpatrick believes the Bengals quarterback could work his way into the NFL MVP conversation should Cincinnati vault both Buffalo and Kansas City (12-3) to win the AFC’s top seed.
No matter the outcome, Fitzpatrick said he foresees “matchups between Burrow, Allen and Mahomes will be deciding the top seed in the AFC for many years to come.”
What’s captivating about Monday night’s game is it being the first between Burrow and Allen. The teams haven’t met since 2019, a year before the Bengals selected Burrow with the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Burrow, meantime, is 3-0 against Mahomes, including a win in the AFC championship game last season. Allen is 2-3 in meetings against Mahomes, including playoff losses in each of the past two years.
Both quarterbacks played down the hype focused on their individual matchup, while acknowledging they’re friends and have a healthy respect for one another.
“Everybody watches Josh. There’s no secrets about why he’s so good,” Burrow said. “He makes throws nobody else can make.”
Allen returned the compliment.
“The dude’s all ball. He loves . Honestly, he’s a heckuva talent, a heckuva player,” Allen said. “It’s been super impressive to watch and see his whole story, too. Going to Ohio State, transferring out, spending two years at LSU and arguably having one of the greatest seasons in college history.”
Both hail from small towns, Burrow is from The Plains, Ohio, and Allen from Firebaugh, California. And their college trajectory is similar in the challenges they’ve had to overcome.
While Burrow was overlooked at Ohio State, leading to his move to LSU, Allen was ignored by most every Division I school before landing a scholarship at Wyoming.
“I think adversity hit them both,” said ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. “There’s humility there with both of these guys. And at the same time, there’s this uber confidence that is so infectious and contagious that your teammates are like, ‘Let me just be around you.’”
To Hasselbeck, it’s similar to what he saw during his years backing up Brett Favre. Not only did Favre’s competitiveness provide the Packers confidence, his mere presence influenced opposing teams especially in how they approached the final minutes of a close game.
“There’s something about that style of competitiveness that opposing defenses and opposing coaches say, ‘Ah, shoot, we left too much time on the clock,’” Hasselbeck said. “Both these guys have captured that, which is pretty special.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP—NFL
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Analysis: How ’bout them Cowboys! Dallas is most impressive
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Dak Prescott was nearly perfect in directing a balanced, dynamic offense. Micah Parsons again wreaked havoc in leading a dominant defense.
Behind Prescott and Parsons, Dallas dismantled Minnesota and put the rest of the NFL on notice with a convincing 40-3 victory on the road Sunday against a team that had won seven straight games.
How ’bout them Cowboys! No team owns a more impressive win this season.
“This is exactly what I expected,” Cowboys safety Jayron Kearse said. “We knew we were going to come in here and knock them down. We showed them who the tougher team is, and it is us. That is the type of that we can play week in and week out if we continue to stay together and do our job.”
The Cowboys (7-3) are unlikely to win the NFC East. They trail the Philadelphia Eagles (9-1) by two games and already lost to them. But they proved why they’ll be a dangerous team that nobody will want to face in January following the biggest road win in team history.
“This team has got the work ethic. It’s got the attitude. They’ve got a hard mindset, which you have to have,” coach Mike McCarthy said.
The Cowboys have averaged 28.8 points per game in Prescott’s five starts. Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott, who scored two touchdowns apiece against the Vikings (8-2), provide a strong 1-2 running attack. They may end up adding Odell Beckham Jr. to join CeeDee Lamb, giving Prescott another weapon.
“Right now the challenge is handling success,” Prescott said. “Having a game like this in the NFL is tough to do. To be able to do that, we’ve got to put this behind us and know that we’ve got to go out there — we’re as good as our last game. We’ve got to turn the page and go put another one together on Thursday.”
The Cowboys host the Giants (7-3) on Thanksgiving in a fight for second place in the division.
For now, the Buffalo Bills are the best second-place team in the NFL. They rebounded nicely from a mistake-filled, overtime loss at home to the Vikings with a 31-23 victory over Cleveland.
Despite a chaotic week that saw them forced to play a “home” game in Detroit because a storm dumped several feet of snow in western New York, the Bills (7-3) got back on track against the Browns.
Josh Allen didn’t turn the ball over after a rough three-week stretch and the offense scored on all five possessions in the second half.
“We still don’t feel like we played very well, but it goes to show you we played smart and put up 31 points and didn’t play to our standard,” Allen said.
The Bills may eventually surpass Miami (7-3) in the AFC East — the Dolphins won the first matchup and the teams meet in Buffalo on Dec. 18. Like Dallas, the Bills also play Thursday, when they face the Lions (4-6).
The Cincinnati Bengals are another second-place team finding its groove. The reigning AFC champions beat Pittsburgh 37-30 for their fourth win in five games. Even without Ja’Marr Chase, the Bengals (6-4) are rolling on offense. Joe Burrow led the way with four TD passes and running back Samaje Perine set a franchise record with three TD catches.
The Bengals are one game behind the Baltimore Ravens (7-3) in the AFC North. The Ravens won in Cincinnati in October and the division could be on the line when the teams meet in Baltimore in Week 18.
“I think we’re playing as good as anybody,” Burrow said. “We’re hitting our stride offensively. Still left some points out there. There’s always room to improve, obviously.”
In a season filled with close games and comeback wins, the last team standing may be one that doesn’t finish the regular season in first place.
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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter at https://twitter.com/robmaaddi
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP—NFL
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Eagles are largest of 8 road favorites in Week 9
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Jalen Hurts and the undefeated Eagles are looking for the first 8-0 start in franchise history while the rest of Philadelphia is focused on beating another team from Houston.
When the Eagles (7-0) visit the Texans (1-5-1) on Thursday night, the Phillies will host the Astros in Game 5 of the World Series. It will be a potential Series-clinching game for the Phillies if they can win Game 4 Wednesday night.
The Eagles rarely take a backseat to another team in Philly, but they understand they haven’t accomplished anything yet.
“Dawg mentality is that nothing matters of what happened before,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “We’re ready to go get ready to go 1-0 this week. That’s something that it’s just a mindset that we have as an organization.”
The Eagles are the largest among eight road favorites in Week 9. They’re 13 1/2-point favorites, per FanDuel Sportsbook.
Pro Picks considers this a second bye in three weeks for the Eagles.
EAGLES, 34-13
Los Angeles Rams (plus 3) at Tampa Bay
Tom Brady and the Buccaneers (3-5) are struggling. They’ve lost five of six, the offense can’t score, the defense is poor and coaching has been a problem. The Rams (3-4) have their own issues, but Aaron Donald could dominate a weak interior offensive line in a rematch from last January.
UPSET SPECIAL: RAMS, 22-20
Los Angeles Chargers (minus 3) at Atlanta
The Chargers (4-3) are supposed to be championship contenders. The NFC South-leading Falcons (4-4) are supposed to be rebuilding. This week both teams play like it.
BEST BET: CHARGERS, 31-20
Green Bay (minus 3) at Detroit
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers have lost four in a row and are 3-5 for the first time since Brett Favre was in Green Bay. The Lions (1-6) have lost five in a row after the “Hard Knocks” hype. The Packers are due for a breakout win.
PACKERS, 30-23
Seattle (plus 1) at Arizona
Kyler Murray has been a major disappointment and the Cardinals (3-5) are 11-17 at home under coach Kliff Kingsbury. Seahawks QB Geno Smith is thriving in his first full season as a starter since 2014, leading Seattle (5-3) to first in the NFC West.
CARDINALS, 27-24
Miami (minus 5) at Chicago
The Dolphins (5-3) reloaded at the trade deadline, bolstering both sides of the ball. The Bears (3-5) were sellers and buyers.
DOLPHINS, 24-20
Carolina (plus 7 1/2) at Cincinnati
Joe Burrow and the Bengals (4-4) need a rebound like the Panthers (2-6) after the Browns whipped them.
BENGALS, 27-16
Las Vegas (minus 1 1/2) at Jacksonville
The Jaguars (2-6) have lost five straight. The Raiders (2-5) went from nearly knocking off eventual AFC champion Cincinnati in the playoffs to last place.
JAGUARS, 20-17
Indianapolis (plus 5 1/2) at New England
This isn’t Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady anymore.
PATRIOTS, 23-20
Buffalo (minus 12 1/2) at New York Jets
The Bills (6-1) outscored the Jets 72-27 last season. But these aren’t the same old Jets.
BILLS, 28-17
Minnesota (minus 3 1/2) at Washington
The Commanders (4-4) have won three in a row, including two straight with Taylor Heinicke. Kirk Cousins beat his former team the only other time he faced them.
VIKINGS, 24-19
Tennessee (plus 12 1/2) at Kansas City
Chiefs coach Andy Reid is 20-3 after a regular-season bye. The Titans (5-2) have won five in a row. One streak will end.
CHIEFS, 27-17
Baltimore (minus 2 1/2) at New Orleans
The Ravens (5-3) are aiming for two straight road wins against the NFC South opponents. It won’t be easy against the Saints (3-5).
SAINTS, 26-24
2022 RECORD
Last Week: Straight up: 7-8. Against spread: 7-8.
Season: Straight up: 71-52. Against spread: 65-57-1.
Thursday Night: Straight up: 5-3. Against spread: 4-4.
Monday Night: Straight up: 5-4. Against spread: 4-5.
Best Bet: Straight up: 6-2. Against spread: 6-2.
Upset Special: Straight up: 3-5. Against spread: 4-4.
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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter at https://twitter.com/robmaaddi
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP—NFL
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Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Geno Smith silence critics
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Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa shouldn’t hear about their teams pursuing other quarterbacks anymore.
The former Alabama teammates continued their MVP-caliber seasons with spectacular performances Sunday. They’ve silenced critics who questioned their ability to be franchise quarterbacks and are setting themselves up for huge contract extensions in the offseason.
Geno Smith is another QB who has proved people wrong this season. A full-time starter for the first time since 2014, the 32-year-old Smith has the surprising Seahawks (5-3) leading the NFC West.
Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles are off to a 7-0 start following a 35-13 rout of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tagovailoa again rallied Miami from a double-digit, second-half deficit in a 31-27 victory over the Detroit Lions. The Dolphins (5-3) are undefeated in the five games Tagovailoa has finished. He missed 2 1/2 games with a concussion.
Hurts threw four touchdown passes of 25-plus yards against the Steelers, including three to A.J. Brown in the first half. He has 1,514 yards passing and 10 TDs with only two interceptions. Hurts also has run for 293 yards and three scores.
The biggest question mark surrounding the Eagles entering the season centered on Hurts. They made the playoffs last year mainly because they had the best rushing offense in the NFL with Hurts leading the way. They were blown out by the Buccaneers in a wild-card game and knew they needed to improve their passing attack to compete for a championship.
The team considered trading for a quarterback in an offseason that saw Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson and several other big-name QBs switch uniforms. But Philly stuck with Hurts for another season and the third-year pro has been outstanding.
He still hasn’t even reached his potential.
“Jalen is the type of guy that’s going to continue to get better because of the type of person he is, the type of football IQ he has, the football character he has, the toughness he has, how much he loves football,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. “I was always taught those are the types of guys that reach their ceiling. I don’t know if we know what his ceiling will be. I know this: He’s getting better every day and he’s committed to that. That’s a good thing for the rest of your team when your best players and captain is getting better every day.”
Hurts is also a bargain. A second-round pick in 2020 who replaced Carson Wentz as the starter late in that season, Hurts is making $1.6 million. A total of 53 QBs make more.
“He’s not focused on what his next contract might be or what we’re going to do in three weeks or what the outcome of this season is or anything like that,” Sirianni said.
Just don’t ask Hurts to talk about himself.
“People don’t see the work that’s put in, not just by me individually but. … by everybody,” Hurts said. “It takes work. It’s a grind. The beautiful thing about this team is that we’ve grinded together.”
Hurts led Alabama to the national championship game as a true freshman in 2016 only to lose to Clemson. He took them back to the national title game against Georgia the following season but was benched at halftime and watched Tagovailoa lead a comeback win. Hurts transferred to Oklahoma for his senior season and finished runnerup to Joe Burrow for the Heisman Trophy.
Now, he’s the man in Philly.
Tagovailoa left Alabama after suffering a serious hip injury during his junior season, was drafted by the Dolphins fifth overall in 2020 and went 13-8 in his first two seasons. Still, there’s been plenty of doubt about his future in Miami.
The Dolphins pursued Watson before the 2021 trade deadline and were penalized for tampering with Tom Brady after the season. Left with Tagovailoa, they surrounded him with more talent, acquiring star receiver Tyreek Hill in a blockbuster trade to team with Jaylen Waddle.
Hill has been dynamic, helping Tagovailoa take his game to another level. Despite battling injuries and a concussion, Tagovailoa has 1,678 yards passing, 12 TDs, only three picks and a passer rating of 112.7.
Tagovailoa was sensational against the Lions on Sunday, completing 29 of 36 for 382 yards and three TDs.
“That was a game that we all know he’s capable of,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “He was relentless during the game with worrying about the right stuff. I didn’t see him press and make forced decisions. He took what was there and protected the ball while being aggressive.”
Like Hurts, he’s not satisfied.
“The greatest thing about this game is that you can never get content,” Tagovailoa said. “You have to continue to keep growing. We’ll go and watch the film and look at things that we could’ve done better. So, that’s the best part about it.”
Smith tossed two TD passes and played another error-free game for Seattle in a 27-13 win over the New York Giants.
Playing for his fourth team, Smith was considered a placeholder for the rebuilding Seahawks until the team finds a franchise QB. So far, he’s outplayed the superstar he replaced — Wilson — and has resurrected his career after starting only five game in the previous six seasons.
Smith has thrown for 1,924 yards with a 72.3 completion percentage, 13 TDs and just three interceptions for a 107.2 passer rating.
“He’s the real deal,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “There’s no mystery he’s going to run out of gas or something. It’s not like that. He knows exactly what he’s doing and he shows you week in and week out, throw after throw after throw. There’s nothing for us to hold him but in the highest of expectations really. What a thrilling story for the kid. He just hung in there so tough and outlasted it, and now he’s enjoying all the fun of it. He did great.”
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Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter at https://twitter.com/robmaaddi
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More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP—NFL
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