LUJAN, Argentina (AP) — Lions, tigers and bears that managed to survive in substandard conditions at a now-shuttered zoo on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, paced weakly in their claustrophobic cages on Thursday, waiting their turn to receive urgent veterinary care for the first time in years.
The 62 big cats and two brown bears were being evaluated and treated before their eventual transfer to vast wildlife sanctuaries abroad — one of the largest and most challenging yet after a recent arrangement between Argentina and an international animal welfare organization.
Argentine authorities in 2020 shut down the Lujan Zoo — famous for letting visitors handle and pose for pictures with tigers and lions — over mounting safety concerns.
But the plight of the captive cats there only worsened. For the past five years, the animals were sustained by little more than a few loyal zookeepers who, despite having lost their jobs at Lujan, took it upon themselves to feed and care for the stranded lions and tigers left behind.
Most didn’t make it.
When Four Paws, an international animal welfare organization, first visited the zoo in 2023, caretakers counted 112 lions and tigers — already down from the more than 200 big cats believed to have been housed in the zoo at the time of its closure.
Two years on, almost half of the animals have succumbed to illnesses from poor nutrition, wounds from fights with animals they’d never encounter in the wild, infections from lack of medical attention and organ failure from the stress of living in such cramped conditions.
“It was really shocking,” said the organization’s chief program officer, Luciana D’Abramo, pointing to a 3-meter by 3-meter cage crammed with seven female lions. “Overcrowded is an understatement.”
Next-door, two Asian tigers shared a tiny cage with two African lions — a “social composition that would never be found in nature,” D’Abramo said. “There’s a lot of hostility, fighting.”
A single lion typically gets 10,000 square meters to itself at Four Paws’ sanctuaries around the world.
After striking an agreement with Argentina’s government earlier this year, Four Paws took over responsibility for the surviving wild animals in Lujan last month.
The memorandum of understanding involved Argentina committing to end the sale and private ownership of exotic felines in the large South American country, where enforcement efforts often run aground across 23 provinces that have their own rules and regulations.
“Here, the number of animals and the conditions where they are kept make this a much bigger challenge,” said Dr. Amir Khalil, the veterinarian leading the group’s emergency mission. “This is one of our biggest missions … not only in Argentina or Latin America, but worldwide.”
On Thursday, veterinarians and experts from the organization were scrambling around the derelict zoo to assess the animals one by one. Most had not been vaccinated, sterilized or microchipped for identification.
The team whisked sedated lions and tigers onto operating tables, dispensing nutrients, antibiotics and doses of pain medication via IV drips.
The quick checkups frequently transformed into emergency surgeries. One tiger was treated for a bleeding gash in its tail last week, another for a vaginal tumor on Thursday. Several tigers and lions needed root canals to repair infected molars that had been broken on the steel cage bars.
Others received treatment for claws that had grown inward from walking too much on unnatural, plank flooring in the spartan enclosures.
After evaluating each animal in the coming weeks, Four Paws will arrange for their transfer to more expansive, natural homes around the world.
Some Argentine zookeepers who spent decades feeding and caring for the big cats say they’re happy to see Four Paws improving the conditions. But there was also a sense of nostalgia for how things were.
“It used to be a very popular place … I’ve seen people cry because they could touch a lion or feed a tiger with a bottle,” said Alberto Díaz, who spent 27 years working with the wild cats at the Lujan Zoo, overseeing hands-on experiences that catered to countless tourists.
“Time changes, laws change, and you have to adapt or get left behind.”
The Detroit Lions were one of the most injured teams in 2024, and the team was already facing some big injuries in 2025. Star cornerback Terrion Arnold suffered a shoulder injury that was believed to be season ending, but the young defender received some huge news on the status of the injury.
According to multiple reports, a second opinion on Arnold’s shoulder injury revealed that things may not be as severe as initially thought. Not only is there hope that he will return, but there is a belief that he may be back before the end of October.
Had Arnold suffered more structural damage that needed to be surgically repaired, he may have been sidelined for the remainder of the 2025 season. Now, it appears he may just need to miss a few games.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell may also discuss the possibility of putting Arnold on IR, which would knock him out for four games. However, this new injury update seems to indicate that the corner will only miss a few matchups.
Arnold might also come back into action with a sling or brace on his shoulder, similar to Xavier Worthy. Worthy suffered a dislocated shoulder, but was able to return to action in Week 4 after essentially missing three games.
Arnold has 22 total tackles and four passes defended through five games. He has also given up a 69.0 completion percentage, 122.2 passer rating, and two touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks who have targeted him.
The second-year corner now gets a chance to reset and heal from his shoulder injury. Should he miss the next three games, he will be out for the Lions taking on the Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Minnesota Vikings.
Comerica Park, where the Detroit Tigers play, attracts tens of thousands of fans to downtown every game.
Detroit could generate tens of millions of dollars each year with a tax on tickets to sports and entertainment events, raising revenue that could reduce property taxes, fund city services, and help attract national events, according to a new study.
The Citizens Research Council of Michigan released the study Wednesday, pointing out that “Detroit is one of the few major cities in the U.S. that does not levy entertainment/amusement/admissions tax.”
Detroit has four professional sports teams downtown — the Tigers, Red Wings, Pistons, and Lions. Detroit City Football Club, a professional soccer team, is building a new stadium in Southwest Detroit set to open in 2027. The city is also home to dozens of entertainment venues, such as Fox Theatre, the Fillmore Detroit, Little Caesars Arena, the Masonic Temple, Detroit Opera House, the Fisher Theatre, the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre, and Saint Andrew’s Hall, among many others.
While the city has missed out on revenue from the tax, the report said Detroit can learn from its experiences.
“Several Michigan cities serve as regional hubs for culture, commerce, sports teams, concerts, and conventions,” Eric Lupher, president of the Citizens Research Council, said. “Detroit stands alone as the largest city in this role, with four major professional sports teams, concert halls, theaters, and other venues that attract attendees from throughout Southeast Michigan and beyond.”
Detroit could raise more than $50 million a year with an admission tax, depending on the rate and how it’s applied. A 3% tax on admissions would bring in about $14.1 million, while a 10% rate could generate as much as $36.9 million, according to the report.
The study broke down how much each of Detroit’s professional sports teams could contribute based on ticket sales. In the most recent seasons, an admissions tax would have generated:
Lions (Ford Field): $0.99M at 3% to $3.3M at 10%.
Tigers (Comerica Park): $1.95M at 3% to $6.5M at 10%.
Red Wings (Little Caesars Arena): $2.31M at 3% to $7.7M at 10%.
Pistons (Little Caesars Arena): $1.29M at 3% to $4.3M at 10%.
At their attendance peaks in the past decade, Detroit’s four teams could have generated more than $28 million from a 10% admissions tax.
That estimate doesn’t include the numerous other concert venues in Detroit, or big music festivals such as Movement. Revenue could also be generated at events like the Detroit Grand Prix.
The revenue from the tax could be used to bolster city services that are stretched thin during major events, to diversify Detroit’s tax base, or to reduce the city’s notoriously high property taxes.
“An admission tax has the potential to contribute meaningful property tax relief to Detroiters who pay among the highest tax burdens in the nation,” the study noted.
It estimated that admissions tax revenue could lower Detroit’s property tax millage by as much as 5.7 mills.
Lupher said a local admissions tax would be “a strategic tool to diversify revenue, reduce resident tax burdens, and ensure that economic activity benefits municipal sustainability.”
Lupher added, “While it cannot solve all fiscal challenges, a local-option admissions tax provides a pragmatic, targeted means of recovering costs and investing in core services. With careful legislative drafting, public education, and transparent allocation, this tax could strengthen Detroit’s financial position and improve fairness in urban tax policy.”
The report also suggested dedicating a portion of the revenue to a fund for attracting major events, such as the NFL Draft, NCAA tournament games, or even a Super Bowl. The idea is “self-perpetuating as major events would draw attendees to pay the tax and position the city to draw new events.”
To impose a local admissions tax, state lawmakers would need to authorize it, the report states.
Even though they didn’t as much win their division, the Philadelphia Eagles looked like they might hold the top record in the NFC in back-to-back seasons, starting their 2023 season with a 10-1 record.
Philadelphia’s severe regression to an 11-6 record by the end of the season was a pretty wild scene, and it obviously took them out of contention for the one-seed.
Acquiring it might not have changed their fate, which ended up being a one-and-done finish in the postseason, but having it is essential in the NFL. Once they didn’t, there was little chance for a run to be made.
Considering each of the Eagles’ three Super Bowl appearances in the 21st century were guided by a first-round bye week, they probably want to make that happen again. Can they?
Eagles’ Path to NFC Glory
Since the Eagles didn’t win the NFC East, they get the benefit of having a somewhat easier schedule than they did in 2023. They face the entire NFC South (which might be the weakest division in the conference), the entire AFC North, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Los Angeles Rams, the Green Bay Packers, and every single NFC East team twice.
There are obviously some pretty good teams here, but there are very few that the Eagles aren’t better than. They should be able to handle themselves, especially considering their upgrades in the offseason. There is no true ceiling or floor for Philadelphia, but getting 13 wins is not out of the question. It’ll be a challenge, but achieving this would set them up nicely.
Predicting the 49ers’ Record
Since they were the top seed in the NFC in 2023, the San Francisco 49ers don’t have the easiest schedule. While they could certainly do some damage, they face five teams that won at least a playoff game (Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Packers, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers). In addition, playing the Rams twice, the Dallas Cowboys once, the Miami Dolphins once, and the New York Jets once isn’t exactly the easiest set of games, either.
That said, the 49ers are quite possibly the best team in the NFL entering the 2024 season. Sure, they play some tough teams, but they should also win most of them. At 12-5 last season, they were the NFC’s best team. Having a potentially tougher schedule this time around, just matching that campaign would be a likely success for them.
Even though the 49ers are a very good team, the Eagles can expect them to be at 12-5 again. If that ends up being the case, that should be beatable for Philadelphia.
Predicting the Lions’ Record
The Lions are a fascinating team to analyze, considering the massive jumps they have made. When the Eagles had a 38-35 showdown against them in Week 1 of the 2022 season, even then, it was obvious that they could be a special club. After going 9-8 that season, they had their first 12-win season since 1991 and their first playoff win since that time in 2023. How much further can they go?
Just like the 49ers, they are being punished somewhat heavily for their success. Considering this is something the Lions didn’t really have to deal with in 2023, their breakout was made just that much easier. They have the Bills, the 49ers, the Packers twice, the Bears twice, the Houston Texans, the Jaguars, the Buccaneers, the Cowboys, and the Rams, which could all give them issues. It’s hard to see a world where they improve upon their 2023 campaign, especially considering they didn’t make any major upgrades in the offseason.
The Lions are certainly a team to look out for, but an 11-win season seems to be about right. Depending on how well some of the younger teams on that list develop, 2024 could be a seriously challenging campaign for Detroit.
Predicting the Cowboys’ Record
The Cowboys are probably the biggest team for the Eagles to look out for, and they will remain that for a long time. For as much as Eagles fans don’t want to admit it, Dak Prescott played sensational football in 2023 and was one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Dallas didn’t do much of anything in the offseason, but their core is formidable.
As for their schedule, it is pretty similar to Philadelphia’s, with some slight changes. They take on all of the same teams, minus the Packers, Jaguars, and Rams. Instead, the Cowboys have to face the Lions, Texans, and 49ers. Considering the Eagles are in the same tier as the Cowboys, if not better than them, in terms of where they rank in the NFL, making Dallas suffer just a little bit more is a good sign. It’s a big reason why the NFC East is notorious for never having repeat champions.
Overall, a 12-5 record seems right for the Cowboys. Other than the Eagles, they consistently have their way with the division’s bottom feeders, the New York Giants and Washington Commanders. No team beats the rails off of bad NFL teams quite like Dallas does, so it would only make sense for them to do it again.
Other NFC Contenders?
There will surely be another team in the NFC that emerges as a legitimate threat. In 2023, the Rams, Buccaneers, and Packers were all surprisingly competitive.
In 2024, a team like the Atlanta Falcons could see some improvement now that they have a solid quarterback in Kirk Cousins, and perhaps the Bears could see their young core see a progression like the Texans did in 2023. Still, the true top-end regular season contenders are minimal in the NFC.
The Packers are another team that could build off of what they did, but they still only had nine wins. Seeing a boost of three or four would be possible but unrealistic.
By no means are the Eagles in the clear, but they have a really good chance of being the best team in the NFC. It took an utter disaster in 2023 to get them out of the race, and even then, they were two wins shy of doing so.
Now that they are stronger, the Eagles should put up an even better fight.
NAIROBI, Kenya — Police in Kenya on Monday recovered the body of a man believed to have been attacked by a lion while he was riding a motorcycle near a national reserve in the south of the country.
Police were notified by community members of an abandoned motorcycle along a road near the Marere forested area near the Shimba Hills National Reserve.
Officers saw lion footprints that led from the motorcycle to a thicket where they found the remains of an unknown dead man, according to a police report.
The lion population was declining in Kenya just over a decade ago, primarily due to human-wildlife conflict. The government listed lions as endangered, with an estimated population of 2,000 in 2010. A more recent survey put the number at 2,489.
Quarterback Brock Purdy became first San Francisco 49ers quarterback to throw four interceptions in a game since Colin Kaepernick in 2015; Baltimore Ravens and 49ers both remain top of their respective conferences and can still clinch No 1 seeds
Last Updated: 26/12/23 9:44am
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Highlights of the Baltimore Ravens against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16 of the NFL season.
Highlights of the Baltimore Ravens against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16 of the NFL season.
Lamar Jackson led the Baltimore Ravens past the San Francisco 49ers in a stunning 33-19 victory after throwing two touchdown passes in 18 seconds in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
Kyle Hamilton and the Ravens defense intercepted quarterback Brock Purdy on three of the first four drives of the game for the 49ers to turn a 16-12 halftime lead into a commanding 30-12 advantage.
Purdy became the first 49ers quarterback to throw four interceptions in a game since Colin Kaepernick in 2015 and finished 18 for 32 for 255 yards before leaving the field after sustaining a left shoulder stinger in the fourth quarter with Sam Darnold replacing him.
Jackson took an intentional grounding safety after he tripped over a fallen official in the end zone and attempted a pass to give the 49ers the first points of the game.
On first-and-10 at Baltimore’s 15, Purdy attempted to force a pass to wideout Deebo Samuel that Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton stepped in front of for an interception.
After Baltimore forced a punt on the opening drive of the second half, Jackson capped a drive by throwing a 6-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Agholor.
Williams injured his groin attempting to tackle Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen after Purdy’s fourth interception. Jackson immediately turned that into another score with a 9-yard TD pass to Zay Flowers that made it 30-12. Jackson threw for 252 yards, ran for 45 more and vaulted past Purdy to take the limelight.
Umpire Alex Moore falls as Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs from San Francisco 49ers defensive end Chase Young (92) during the first half
San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey set a franchise record with his eighth straight game with at least 100 yards from scrimmage.
Darnold replied for the 49ers with a fourth-quarter touchdown after replacing an injured Purdy but by then it was already too late.
Both teams remain on top of their conferences. The Niners are in a three-way tie with Philadelphia and Detroit for the best record in the NFC and can still clinch the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye with wins in their final two games.
The Ravens remained a game ahead of Miami for the best record in the AFC and can clinch the No. 1 seed with a win next week against the Dolphins.
What did they say?
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh: “Our guys work hard. They compete hard. Everybody wants to be respected. There’s one way to be respected, and that’s to go out there and earn that. I thought Lamar had an MVP performance tonight. It takes a team to create a performance like that, but it takes a player to play at that level, to play at an MVP level, it takes a player to play that way. Lamar was all over the field.”
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson: “We got the W. I don’t really care about performance. I just want to win. That’s what happened tonight. On Christmas, I got my gift.”
San Francisco 49ers Kyle Shanahan coach: “I didn’t mind his [Purdy] demeanour. He stayed in there and kept battling. Our whole team struggled there in the second half, so it wasn’t just him.”
What’s next?
The Ravens host Miami Dolphins while the 49ers visit Washington on Sunday December 31.
Make sure you tune in to Sky Sports NFL every Sunday at 6pm for the first game of our triple-header of live action. The evening’s entertainment also includes NFL Redzone action as hosted by Scott Hanson, as well as Sunday Night Football to round off the night.
Sky Sports will broadcast two exclusive live games every Sunday throughout the regular season in the 6pm and 9pm slots, while also showing every Thursday Night, Sunday Night and Monday Night match-up.
Fans can also watch every minute of the playoffs across January, followed by Super Bowl LVIII at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on February 11.
Dak Prescott is playing the best football of his career – can he lead Dallas to the Super Bowl?
The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills are primed for a 13 seconds rematch, the Dallas Cowboys have their sites on snatching the NFC East title from the Philadelphia Eagles. Week 14 is shaping up nicely; we guide you through the latest news, views and build-up ahead of Sunday in the NFL…
Editor’s note…
There might not be a quarterback playing better football in the NFL than Dak Prescott at this moment. He has entered the MVP conversation, and so too the Dallas Cowboys to-be-taken-seriously Super Bowl contention. Yes, you might have heard that before.
It can often be what goes unnoticed that can be so impressive and so defining to the way Dak plays. From the mastery of his rhythmic and hoodwinking pre-snap cadence, to the speed at which he can diagnose a field and slide protections, adjust assignments or alter play concepts accordingly at the line of scrimmage. “He plays the position” as Aaron Rodgers said recently on the Pat McAfee Show, igniting a ‘Texas Coast’ offense that has buried its early-season teething issues.
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Highlights of the Seattle Seahawks against the Dallas Cowboys in week 13 of the NFL season.
Highlights of the Seattle Seahawks against the Dallas Cowboys in week 13 of the NFL season.
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December 11, 2023, 1:15am
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Only Brock Purdy owns a better EPA+CPOE composite (an advanced metric on quarterback play-by-play value and efficiency) than Prescott this season, the Dallas quarterback having put up a passer rating of at least 115.0 in five of six games since the Week Seven bye week. In that time he has completed 156 of 221 passes (70.59 per cent) for 1,901 yards and 20 touchdowns to two interceptions. He also happens to be the league’s best quarterback on third down this year, which tends to serve as a nice indication of how well a passer is faring in decisive moments of a game, which always comes with an added caveat of pressure as an expectation-burdened Cowboys play-caller.
McCarthy’s offense is purring as it empowers its quarterback to take command of games with more aggressive pass designs and opportunities to use his legs alongside an increased use of play-action, while dressing up the line of scrimmage with pre-snap motion and crowning CeeDee Lamb as their focal point by shifting him across multiple spots in the formation.
Lamb has taken a seat at the table alongside the league’s most dynamic receivers with 90 catches for 1,182 yards and seven touchdowns, Brandin Cooks has answered the Cowboys’ call for a legitimate No 2 receiver, Jake Ferguson is peppering the seam as his threat continues to increase as the team’s lead tight end. Tony Pollard’s multi-purpose production out of the backfield has meanwhile picked back up after a minor lull as a crucial sell for the Cowboys play-action game.
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The Her Huddle team discuss whether this could be the season which sees a player who doesn’t play at quarterback win the NFL’s MVP award, with Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill the frontrunner.
The Her Huddle team discuss whether this could be the season which sees a player who doesn’t play at quarterback win the NFL’s MVP award, with Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill the frontrunner.
Dallas rank third in EPA/play and sit at the top of scoring rankings on offense, while Dan Quinn’s stunting, route-jumping defense continues to be among the NFL’s elite at third in EPA/play and third in total yards. ‘Our year’ sentiment has been long-exhausted and long-unfulfilled in Cowboys territory amid their pursuit of a first Super Bowl appearance since their victory at the end of the 1995 season.
The 49ers are nagging frontrunners to prolong that pain, and beckon as a potential ultimate test somewhere down the line in the playoffs. Before then, Dak and the Cowboys have the opportunity to force home their respective MVP and Championship credentials across a home stretch that sees them face the Philadelphia Eagles – who they could yet leapfrog in the NFC East – and Mike McDaniel’s Miami Dolphins.
How ’bout them Cowboys? We are about to find out.
Around the league…
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was limited on his return to practice Thursday having appeared to swerve serious injury after suffering a high ankle sprain in Monday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals; Lawrence said he was hopeful of facing the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, with head coach Doug Pederson insisting he won’t sacrifice a player’s health for one game.
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh confirmed Zach Wilson will start at quarterback against the Houston Texans having been demoted for Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian in the last two games.
Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane said Von Miller remains available to play against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday following allegations of domestic violence against the edge rusher.
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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence shows his frustration after suffering an injury against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence shows his frustration after suffering an injury against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Former Indianapolis Colts three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Shaq Leonard signed a one-year deal with the Eagles this week.
Miami Dolphins right tackle Austin Jackson agreed a three-year, $36m extension on Thursday amid his impressive 2023 campaign.
Justin Jefferson is set to make his return for the Minnesota Vikings against the Las Vegas Raiders after missing seven games due to a hamstring injury.
Carolina Panthers tight end Hayden Hurst has been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Amnesia by an independent neurologist after suffering a concussion in the Week 10 game against the Chicago Bears, his father announced.
Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy is expected to coach at the weekend despite undergoing surgery on Wednesday after being diagnosed with an acute case of appendicitis.
What to watch…
Week 14 live on Sky!
Los Angeles Rams (6-6) @ Baltimore Ravens (9-3): The Ravens struck gold with Kyle Hamilton, who has arrived as advertised since entering the league as the No 14 pick at the 2022 Draft. He stands to be the quintessential modern NFL safety as Mike Macdonald’s disguised blitzer, hybrid box tackler, slot demon and sideline-to-sideline blockade. With Marcus Williams on hand to play deep, Hamilton has free rein to wreak havoc as Baltimore’s most dangerous disruptor at the line of scrimmage. And while attention has been on the Rams’ young offensive playmakers, the audition process for Aaron Donald’s supporting cast has been intriguing. Third-round rookie nose tackle Kobie Turner has quietly amassed a rookie-leading 5.5 sacks, while fellow third-rounder Byron Young is close behind on five sacks.
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December 10, 2023, 9:15pm
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Buffalo Bills (6-6) @ Kansas City Chiefs (8-4): Tight ends, assemble. For years the Bills have watched Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce torch the NFL as the league’s most dynamic quarterback-tight end tandem, shattering Buffalo’s Super Bowl hopes on a couple of occasions in the process. In a bid to add their own Kelce-esque dimension, the Bills went and drafted Dalton Kincaid in the first round earlier this year. The vision was tight splits in multiple tight end sets from which he and Dawson Knox could sell the run game, lure defenses downhill and open up shots for Josh Allen downfield, as well as leaking out into routes of their own. The production (56 catches, 474 yards) has been sporadic, not helped by the absence of Knox, with flashes of an integral supporting role behind Stefon Diggs, while Kelce, without lighting up the world, leads the Chiefs with 813 receiving yards and five scores.
Philadelphia Eagles (10-2) @ Dallas Cowboys (9-3): Do we call this the Shaq Leonard bowl? There was little surprise when the Eagles edged out the Cowboys to wrap up a deal for the former Indianapolis Colts man, not because Howie Roseman is one of the savviest operators in the market but because of the extent to which the 49ers exposed Philly’s linebackers in Week 13. Time and time again Kyle Shanahan disorientated the likes of Nicholas Morrow and Christian Ellis, standing in for the injured Zach Cunningham, with Deebo Samuel’s pre-snap reload motion to muddy the play direction, eventually disguising it to unleash the Niners receiver for his first-half catch-and-run touchdown out of the backfield. Morrow bit hard on a Christian McCaffrey out-route at the sideline before later being shrugged off by Samuel again on his 48-yard touchdown; it was a torrid day, Nick Sirianni’s safeties included as Shanahan toyed with the middle of the field. Can Leonard step in immediately? And will the Cowboys similarly plot to exploit the Eagles’ weakness at the second level?
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Jeff Reinebold says Baltimore Ravens’ defense create mental as well as physical problems for their opponents, and backs them to beat the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14.
Jeff Reinebold says Baltimore Ravens’ defense create mental as well as physical problems for their opponents, and backs them to beat the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14.
Best quotes
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on his injury against the Bengals: “I’m thankful it’s not a worse injury than what I thought on the field.”
Taylor Swift, in her interview for 2023 Time magazine’s person of the year: “Football is awesome, it turns out. I’ve been missing out my whole life.”
Nick Bosa suggests the 49ers showed the NFL how to stop Jalen Hurts: “You see it on tape. Obviously, we put the blueprint out there. Hopefully, the Dallas Cowboys watch the tape. We made Jalen stay in the pocket and escape outside instead of those B-gaps. And it paid off.”
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers on The Pat McAfee Show: “The most disappointing thing about the whole rehab process was December 24 was literally on my mind. It would have been like 14-and-a-half weeks, I thought that would be reasonable based on my progress.”
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Speaking on Inside The Huddle, Neil Reynolds and Jeff Reinebold discuss the Miami Dolphins’ season so far and why sealing home matches in the playoffs could be crucial to their success.
Speaking on Inside The Huddle, Neil Reynolds and Jeff Reinebold discuss the Miami Dolphins’ season so far and why sealing home matches in the playoffs could be crucial to their success.
Live NFL
December 10, 2023, 5:00pm
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Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel on his team’s 9-3 record at the top of the AFC: “Call me when it’s a 13-game season. That’s all nice, but we have a job to do today. If we short-change and are worried about anything other than the Tennessee Titans when we’re game planning, then all those conversations and stories literally don’t matter at all.”
Ravens coach John Harbaugh on Rams receiver Puka Nacua: “I liked him (in the Draft). He was one of my highest-rated guys. You can ask anybody here, he was way up on my board. He’s playing exactly how I thought he would, for the record.”
Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on facing Houston’s CJ Stroud: “He’s a very unique young quarterback. He’s a guy I really wish we would’ve played Weeks One to Four when he was still trying to figure out this game.”
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Speaking on Inside The Huddle, Neil Reynolds and Jeff Reinebold discuss the San Francisco 49ers’ impressive win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13.
Speaking on Inside The Huddle, Neil Reynolds and Jeff Reinebold discuss the San Francisco 49ers’ impressive win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13.
The stats
Tyreek Hill’s 938 yards on vertical routes so far this season are the most of any receiver in a single campaign since 2018
Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen currently has 898 catches in 138 games and has the chance to surpass Antonio Brown (143 games) as the fastest player in history to reach 900 career receptions
Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson sits on 5,396 career receiving yards, leaving him needing just 117 more to overtake Michael Thomas for most by a player in his first four seasons in history
Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons, who has 11.5 sacks on the year, is looking to become the second player since sack statistics began in 1982 to record at least 13 sacks in each of his first three seasons – Hall of Famer Reggie White having been the first
CJ Stroud needs 253 passing yards to overtake Andrew Luck for the second-most by a player in his first 13 games
Brock Purdy can become the fourth quarterback in NFL history to post a completion percentage of 70-or-higher in seven straight games this weekend
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Jeff Reinebold describes the Packers’ win over the Chiefs as a ‘magical night’ and hails the performances of quarterback Jordan Love.
Jeff Reinebold describes the Packers’ win over the Chiefs as a ‘magical night’ and hails the performances of quarterback Jordan Love.
The NFL playoff race has reached the home stretch in one of the most wide-open seasons in recent memory, with surprise teams occupying postseason spots and expected contenders battling for their place.
All is not rosy in the land of the mighty. The defending champion Kansas City Chiefs have been marred by drops and deficiencies on a limping offense, behind which Patrick Mahomes and Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive subterfuge have between them retained some level of serious contention, with question marks over an 8-4 team speaking volumes as to the self-imposed expectations in Arrowhead.
And in western New York the Buffalo Bills are fighting for their playoff lives as they play catch-up having endured marquee injuries, suffered late heartbreak, fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and slipped behind the pack in what is still deemed a Championship window for under-pressure head coach Sean McDermott and his high-powered team.
Hannah Wilkes and Phoebe Schecter talk to Italy Women’s flag football captain Nausicaa Dell’Orto about the challenges she faced in forming a female team in Milan.
Neil Reynolds and Jeff Reinebold discuss the San Francisco 49ers’ emphatic win over the Philadelphia Eagles and the red-hot form of the Miami Dolphins…
Thursday night rewind…
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Highlights of the New England Patriots up against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14 of the NFL season.
Highlights of the New England Patriots up against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14 of the NFL season.
Bailey Zappe threw three first-half touchdown passes as the New England Patriots snapped a five-game skid while damaging the Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff hopes with a 21-18 victory on Thursday night.
Watch the Baltimore Ravens host the Los Angeles Rams from 5pm (kickoff at 6pm) live on Sky Sports NFL this Sunday, followed by the Buffalo Bills at the Kansas City Chiefs and the Dallas Cowboys against the Philadelphia Eagles
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson says “everything is stable” with Trevor Lawrence after the quarterback suffered an ankle injury in Monday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals; Pederson has not ruled Lawrence out of Sunday’s clash with Cleveland Browns
Last Updated: 05/12/23 7:48pm
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Highlights of the Cincinnati Bengals’ clash with the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13 of the NFL
Highlights of the Cincinnati Bengals’ clash with the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 13 of the NFL
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson says quarterback Trevor Lawrence was “very fortunate” to avoid a more serious injury after damaging his ankle in Monday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Lawrence was injured in the fourth quarter as Jake Browning threw for 354 yards and a touchdown in his second career start to lead the Bengals to a stunning 34-31 overtime win.
Browning also ran for a score as the Bengals (6-6) won on Monday Night Football for the first time since 1990 on Evan McPherson’s 48-yard field goal in the extra frame, with Lawrence’s injury for the Jaguars (8-4) appearing to be potentially the biggest blow of the evening for the home team.
Left tackle Walker Little stepped on Lawrence’s ankle, causing him to twist it as he was sacked. Lawrence tried to get up, but dropped to the ground, ripped off his helmet and threw it in disgust. He was helped off the field and into the tunnel for X-rays.
Pederson said on Tuesday tests on Lawrence’s right ankle showed “everything’s stable, everything’s good”. He added surgery “is not necessarily something that would be warranted at this time”.
“We’ll see where he’s at in a couple days,” Pederson said roughly 12 hours after the game had finished.
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The Bengals took the lead with Ja’Marr Chase’s 76-yard touchdown reception, his team’s longest play of 2023
The Bengals took the lead with Ja’Marr Chase’s 76-yard touchdown reception, his team’s longest play of 2023
“[It] looked worse than it really was. Very fortunate there.”
It ended an otherwise stellar night for Lawrence, who completed 22 of 29 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a score.
Pederson has not ruled Lawrence out of Sunday’s upcoming clash with the Cleveland Browns.
“I’m not going to put that timetable on Trevor,” he added. “Not going to put him in a box like that. We’ll see how he is in a couple of days.”
Browning was equally stout in place of star Joe Burrow, who watched and coached from the sideline while wearing a cast and a sling. Browning completed 32 of 37 passes and directed the overtime drive that set up McPherson’s winner.
McPherson, who played collegiately at nearby Florida, banged a 57-yarder off the crossbar in the same direction early in the game.
Jacksonville backup CJ Beathard completed nine of 10 passes for 63 yards in relief of Lawrence. Beathard put the Jaguars in position for Brandon McManus’ 40-yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining in regulation.
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A Bengals trick play went all wrong when Tyler Boyd’s pass was picked off by Jaguars’ Josh Allen
A Bengals trick play went all wrong when Tyler Boyd’s pass was picked off by Jaguars’ Josh Allen
Ja’Marr Chase caught 11 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown, a 76-yarder in the third quarter that got the Bengals going. Joe Mixon ran for 68 yards and two scores, and rookie Chase Brown added 61 yards on the ground for the league’s worst rushing attack. Mixon also had six receptions for 49 yards.
The Bengals made it harder than it should have been when coach Zac Taylor called a trick play that turned into a debacle in third.
Browning lateraled to receiver Tyler Boyd, who inexplicably threw directly to pass rusher Josh Allen. Allen caught the ball for his second career interception. The Jaguars scored four plays later when Lawrence jumped and stretched the ball across the goal line.
It was the second bungled trick play for the Bengals, who also lost seven yards when Chase completed a double pass to Browning. Still, the Bengals finished with 491 yards and were eight of 14 on third down.
Scoring summary
Scoring summary
FIRST QUARTER
Bengals 0-7 Jaguars
Travis Etienne four-yard rushing TD (extra point)
SECOND QUARTER
Bengals 7-7 Jaguars
Joe Mixon six-yard rushing TD (extra point)
Bengals 7-14 Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence 22-yard TD pass to Evan Engram (extra point)
Bengals 14-14 Jaguars
Joe Mixon two-yard rushing TD (extra point)
THIRD QUARTER
Bengals 21-14 Jaguars
Jake Browning 76-yard TD pass to Ja’Marr Chase (extra point)
Bengals 21-21 Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence 14-yard TD pass to Parker Washington (extra point)
Bengals 21-28 Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence one-yard rushing TD (extra point)
FOURTH QUARTER
Bengals 28-28 Jaguars
Jake Browning one-yard rushing TD (extra point)
Bengals 31-28 Jaguars
Evan McPherson 54-yard field goal
Bengals 31-31 Jaguars
Brandon McManus 40-yard field goal
OVERTIME
Bengals 34-31 Jaguars
Evan McPherson 48-yard field goal
What did they say?
Jags quarterback C.J. Beathard on injury to Lawrence: “First instinct was ah, it sucks for Trevor when you see him on the ground hurting. That sucks. It kind of takes the breath away from the guys on the sidelines and stuff when you see your starting quarterback hurting like that. But then you quickly flip into going into that two-minute drive to try and tie the game or win the game. Obviously, don’t have much time for the news to kick in, just kind of got to go.”
What next?
The Bengals are back in action at home to the Indianapolis Colts (7-5), while the Jaguars prepare for a spell without Lawrence on the road against the Cleveland Browns (7-5).
DaRon Bland made it five interceptions returned for a touchdown in a single season, breaking the record he had equalled in Week 11; Dak Prescott passed for 331 yards and four touchdowns in a big win for the Dallas Cowboys; Washington Commanders QB Sam Howell was sacked four times
Last Updated: 24/11/23 1:21am
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Highlights of the Washington Commanders against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12 of the NFL season.
Highlights of the Washington Commanders against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12 of the NFL season.
DaRon Bland capped a 45-10 Thanksgiving victory for the Dallas Cowboys over their NFC East rival Washington Commanders by breaking the NFL record for most interceptions returned for a touchdown in a season.
Rico Dowdle put the Cowboys (8-4) ahead at AT&T Stadium with 46 seconds remaining in the first quarter with a 15-yard touchdown, and further scores from Brandin Cooks and Tony Pollard helped the home side into a 20-10 lead at half time.
Joey Slye’s field goal and a rushing touchdown from Commanders quarterback Sam Howell, who ended the day with 300 yards and completed 28 of 44 passes but was sacked four times, ensured the visitors kept within touching distance of their NFC East rivals.
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But after a scoreless third quarter Brandon Aubrey’s field goal, a sixth receiving touchdown of the season for CeeDee Lamb and KaVontae Turpin’s grab in the end zone ensured a sixth-straight home game of Dallas scoring 30-plus points, with quarterback Dak Prescott passing for 331 yards and four touchdowns.
There was still time for Bland to make NFL history though, coming up with a pick-six with under five minutes remaining as he snagged a pass from Howell and raced 63 yards downfield for his fifth of the season – breaking the record of four he had jointly held with Eric Allen (1993), Jim Kearney (1972) and Ken Houston (1971).
The dichotomy that is Howell’s 2023 season was shown again on Washington’s opening drive as the NFL’s passing yard leader heading into this game was sacked for a league-leading 52nd time this season, and the Commanders were forced to punt after their first two possessions of the game stalled at midfield.
Having punted at the end of their first possession, the Cowboys built steadily on their second, despite back-to-back penalties which left them facing second and 25, and put together a 15-play, 110-yard drive which ended in Prescott’s short pass to Dowdle sending the running back streaking away for the opening score.
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DaRon Bland created history with his fifth pick-six of the season, a new NFL record.
DaRon Bland created history with his fifth pick-six of the season, a new NFL record.
The Commanders responded with a strong second-quarter drive led by Howell and running back Brian Robinson Jr earning consecutive first downs, yet some strong defensive plays from the Cowboys saw the visitors pushed back to third and 18, and eventually have to settle for a 43-yard field goal from Joey Slye.
Dallas were soon on the board again though as Prescott unleashed a pass to Cooks, who broke double coverage and sprinted away for a 31-yard touchdown to extend the home side’s advantage.
Despite being sacked for the second time in the game, Howell was able to guide Washington up to within striking distance and finished off the 67-yard drive with a four-yard run for a touchdown which closed the gap to four points inside the two-minute warning.
The Cowboys stunned the Commanders with a third touchdown before half time though, taking over possession with 1:51 of the second quarter remaining and going 70 yards for a drive which was finished by Pollard rushing seven yards up the middle to score, although Aubrey missed the extra point attempt.
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Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys celebrated their touchdown with a turkey leg!
Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys celebrated their touchdown with a turkey leg!
Washington’s offense clicked more into gear in the third, but each time they found themselves thwarted by some determined defense from the Cowboys and were unable to make further inroads despite preventing the hosts from adding to their tally as well.
Dallas eventually managed to add some points to their tally early in the fourth quarter as rookie kicker Aubrey notched his record-extending 22nd-consecutive field goal with a 52-yarder.
Micah Parsons’ 11th sack of the season and Johnathan Hankins taking down Howell as the Commanders went for it on fourth then earned the Cowboys a turnover on downs, and they put the game to bed soon after when Prescott connected with Lamb for a 15-yard touchdown pass which was followed by a successful two-point conversion.
The Cowboys were not done there though as Prescott found Turpin with a 34-yard pass, followed by cornerback Bland putting the icing on the cake and writing his name in the NFL history books.
Scoring summary
Scoring summary
FIRST QUARTER
Commanders 0-7 Cowboys
Dak Prescott 15-yard pass to Rico Dowdle (extra point)
SECOND QUARTER
Commanders 3-7 Cowboys
Joey Slye 43-yard field goal
Commanders 3-14 Cowboys
Dak Prescott 31-yard pass to Brandin Cooks (extra point)
Commanders 10-14 Cowboys
Sam Howell 1-yard rush (extra point)
Commanders 10-20 Cowboys
Tony Pollard 7-yard rush
FOURTH QUARTER
Commanders 10-23 Cowboys
Brandon Aubrey 52-yard field goal
Commanders 10-31 Cowboys
Dak Prescott 15-yard pass to CeeDee Lamb (two-point conversion)
Commanders 10-37 Cowboys
Dak Prescott 34-yard pass to KaVontae Turpin (extra point)
Commanders 10-45 Cowboys
DaRon Bland 63-yard interception (extra point)
What was said?
Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland, after breaking the individual pick-six season record on Thanksgiving: “To do it on Thanksgiving just means everything, in front of fans and family.”
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott on what was behind his team’s big win: “I credit a lot around me, the offensive line protected great, look back at a couple of those touchdowns and they gave us a lot of time. We are playing free.”
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Dak Prescott and DaRon Bland celebrated their Thanksgiving win with some well-earned turkey!
Dak Prescott and DaRon Bland celebrated their Thanksgiving win with some well-earned turkey!
What’s next?
The Dallas Cowboys open Week 13 at home to the Seattle Seahawks, who face NFC West rivals the San Francisco 49ers in the late game on Thanksgiving, in the Thursday night encounter.
The Washington Commanders, meanwhile, face a tough task when they host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, December 3.
The New York Jets (4-6) then take on the Miami Dolphins (7-3) in the NFL’s first ever Black Friday game from 8pm.
Mac Jones was benched for Bailey Zappe in the final minutes of the fourth quarter as the New England Patriots fell to a 10-6 defeat to the Indianapolis Colts in Frankfurt, Germany; Jonathan Taylor rushes for a first-half touchdown while Julian Blackmon comes up with late interception
By Cam Hogwood from Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt
Last Updated: 12/11/23 5:40pm
Jonathan Taylor waltzes in for the Colts touchdown
Mac Jones was benched in the fourth quarter as Jonathan Taylor’s first-half touchdown helped the Indianapolis Colts to a 10-6 victory over the New England Patriots in Frankfurt on Sunday.
Julian Blackmon came up with a sucker-punch interception to derail a late Patriots drive, marking the final straw on a tough day for Jones as he exited the game for Bailey Zappe with two minutes to play.
His backup did not fare much kinder, throwing a game-icing interception to Rodney Thomas II as the Colts improved to 5-5 on the year in the final international regular-season game of the season.
Jones finished 15 of 20 passing for 170 yards and an interception, while Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew went 18 of 28 for 194 yards and a pick.
Both teams missed field goals either side of half-time, which the Colts had entered with a 7-3 lead thanks to Taylor’s second rushing touchdown of the season and three sacks from Dayo Odeyingbo.
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New England Patriots’ Mac Jones throws away the go-ahead opportunity with a league-leading 10th interception as he looked to find Mike Gesicki
New England Patriots’ Mac Jones throws away the go-ahead opportunity with a league-leading 10th interception as he looked to find Mike Gesicki
The Patriots threatened a perfect start to the second half when Myles Bryant was well-positioned to collect Minshew’s tipped pass off the hands of Michael Pittman Jr for an interception at the half-way line.
Jones almost landed himself in trouble as he attempted a dangerous under-arm shovel while scurrying to try and escape pressure.
The pick eventually went unrewarded as the Patriots failed to convert on third-and-three before Chad Ryland skewed his 35-yard field goal attempt wide of the posts.
New England’s next drive was all about the run, Stevenson carrying the ball five times alongside two Ezekiel Elliott runs and a 15-yard Mac Jones scramble to set themselves up at the Colts 24 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Jones was almost intercepted by Julian Blackmon as the Colts safety got hands on a lofted pass in the end zone, the Patriots settling for a 24-yard field goal at the end of a 15-play drive lasting eight minutes.
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Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor gets his team on the board against the Patriots in Frankfurt
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor gets his team on the board against the Patriots in Frankfurt
Stats leaders:
Indianapolis Colts
Passing: Gardner Minshew, 18/28, 194 yards, 1 INT
Rushing: Jonathan Taylor, 23 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD
Receiving: Michael Pittman Jr, 8 catches, 84 yards
Matt Gay’s 51-yard field goal pushed the Colts’ lead to 10-6 on the ensuing drive after Isiah McKenzie had ignited the response with a 42-yard kick return.
The Patriots would come up short once again in their efforts to turn the game on its head when Blackmon snagged Jones’ pass at the goal line with four minutes to play, much to the despair of the New England sideline at the end of a nine-play series.
Zappe entered the game with two minutes remaining, before any hopes of a late twist fizzled out when the Patriots quarterback was intercepted by Rodney Thomas II.
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The Colts defense blunted Jones and the Patriots to the sight of five sacks heading into the break, three of which came courtesy of Odeyingbo.
New England flashed signs of mending their stuttering offense during a 13-play opening drive that ended in Ryland’s 37-yard field goal after an Odeyingbo had derailed the series on third-and-six.
Taylor capped an immediate response when he skipped outside to run in for a one-yard touchdown at the end of a 14-play, 75-yard, seven-minute march ignited by Minshew’s off-script 30-yard throw to Isaiah McKenzie on third-and-six.
The sides then exchanged seven punts to test Deutsche Bank Park’s low-hanging scoreboard, Kwity Paye joining the sacks tally for the Colts having returned from an injury scare earlier in the half.
Minshew put the Colts in position to extend their lead late in the first half when he connected with Josh Downs for 12 yards on fourth-and-four, only for Matt Gay to miss the 57-yard field goal attempt.
Scoring summary
Scoring summary
FIRST QUARTER
Colts 0-3 Patriots
Chad Ryland 37-yard field goal
Colts 7-3 Patriots
Jonathan Taylor one-yard rushing TD (extra point)
SECOND QUARTER
THIRD QUARTER
FOURTH QUARTER
Colts 7-6 Patriots
Chad Ryland 24-yard field goal
Colts 10-6 Patriots
Matt Gay 51-yard field goal
What’s next?
The Patriots enter a bye week before returning to face the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in Week 12, while the Colts are due to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after their break.
Week 10 in the NFL concludes on Monday night when the Denver Broncos visit the Buffalo Bills in the early hours of Tuesday, before the Cincinnati Bengals take on the Baltimore Ravens in Thursday Night Football to kick off Week 11.
The Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars find themselves as potential challengers for the Super Bowl this season
Jacksonville Jaguars. Detroit Lions.
Two of the harder sells in terms of the NFL in recent years. Decades even.
The two teams form part of a foursome of franchises to have never before reached a Super Bowl, joining the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans as the only teams never to do so.
The Lions haven’t even been to the playoffs in seven years and, staggeringly, are without a postseason win since the 1991 season!
The Jaguars’ recent history isn’t quite so bleak perhaps. Established as a franchise four years after Detroit’s last playoff win, they actually shocked the world with a run to the AFC Championship game in just their second season, getting back there again in 1999 and, more recently, in 2017.
Last year, after a few barren seasons which saw them earn the No 1 pick in back-to-back NFL drafts (2021 and 2022), Jacksonville again made the playoffs, riding the coattails of the very man they selected first overall in the first of those drafts, quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
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Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson was full of praise for Trevor Lawrence and labelled him as ‘the real deal’
Jacksonville Jaguars coach Doug Pederson was full of praise for Trevor Lawrence and labelled him as ‘the real deal’
They pulled off a remarkable 27-point comeback to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 31-30 in the wild card round, and then pushed eventual champs the Kansas City Chiefs all the way before ultimately succumbing to a 27-20 defeat in their divisional matchup.
The Chiefs (7-2) are again top dogs in the AFC through the opening nine weeks of the 2023 season, while last year’s NFC winners, the Philadelphia Eagles (8-1), are again sitting pretty on their perch. But, below both, poised, ready to pounce are the Lions (7-2) and Jaguars (6-2) at second and third in their respective conferences.
There is a new elite forming in the NFL and we’ve got to get used to the unusual sensation of seeing Detroit and Jacksonville very much at the heart of it.
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Highlights of the Las Vegas Raiders against the Detroit Lions from Week Eight of the NFL season
Highlights of the Las Vegas Raiders against the Detroit Lions from Week Eight of the NFL season
Gone are the days of the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady axis in New England that saw the Patriots sweep all before them in claiming six Super Bowl titles (seven for Brady when you add in his three-year dalliance with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), and while storied franchises like the Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys are all certainly in the mix, it has been a long time since any of them got their hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Could we be witnessing the start of the era of the Jaguars? Or is there a dynasty forming in Detroit?
We’ll get the chance to see both squads up close and personal this Sunday, when Jacksonville host the 49ers (6pm kickoff) and the Lions then travel to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers (9.05pm kickoff) – both games live on Sky Sports NFL and Main Event.
Campbell’s ‘kneecap biters’ delivering on promise
But what has led to the sudden optimism for these two down-trodden NFL teams? It starts with the coaching and, specifically, the two leaders entrusted with establishing a winning culture and turning the teams’ fortunes around.
Dan Campbell certainly got everyone’s attention when, at his introductory press conference with the Lions in 2021, he said: “This team’s going to be built on: we’re going to kick you in the teeth, all right, and when you punch us back, we’re going to smile at you and when you knock us down, we’re going to get up. And, on the way up, we’re going to bite a kneecap off.
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“And, we’re going to stand up, and then it’s going to take two more shots to knock us down. And, on the way up, we’re going to take your other kneecap, and we’re going to get up and then it’s going to take three shots to get us down. And, when we do, we’re going to take another hunk out of you. Before long, we’re going to be the last one standing. That’s going to be the mentality.”
Campbell’s kneecap-biters took a while to work up an appetite, however, with a 3-13-1 season following in his debut campaign, before a 1-6 start to 2022 had him firmly on the hot seat.
Eight wins followed over Detroit’s final 10 games, the team agonisingly falling short of a playoff spot but the coach earning a stay of execution which he has certainly made the most of.
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Highlights of the Detroit Lions against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week One of the NFL season
Highlights of the Detroit Lions against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week One of the NFL season
The Lions bettered the defending-champion Chiefs in a thrilling 2023 season-opener, and have only been bested by the Seattle Seahawks (5-3) and Baltimore Ravens (7-2) so far this year. They rank second, behind only the explosive Dolphins, in total offense, registering 390.6 yards per game, while their underrated defense is top five, allowing only 296.9 YPG.
The fulcrum of the Lions defensive unit is second-year standout Aidan Hutchinson. The sophomore star has 4.5 sacks this year following the 9.5 the Michigan alumni registered in his rookie campaign, while he also has a pick to go with the three he logged last year.
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Highlights from Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson’s 2022 NFL Scouting Combine workout
Highlights from Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson’s 2022 NFL Scouting Combine workout
It’s another way in which the Lions and Jaguars will be linked, and the success of both teams compared, over the next decade, as Hutchinson was taken with the No 2 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, having been overlooked by the Jaguars, who owned the first selection.
Jacksonville instead opted for Travon Walker out of Georgia, the NFL Combine stud with the eye-catching measurables. Though he didn’t flash as much as Hutchinson in his rookie season, there are signs to suggest Walker is coming good on that selection, with his 3.5 sack total this year already matching his tally for 2022.
He forms part of an imposing Jaguars defense that ranks in the top-10 in scoring, allowing only 19.5 points per game, and is tied with the New Orleans Saints for the most takeaways this season with 18 (11 interceptions, seven forced fumbles).
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The Jacksonville Jaguars made defensive lineman Travon Walker the first pick of the 2022 NFL Draft
The Jacksonville Jaguars made defensive lineman Travon Walker the first pick of the 2022 NFL Draft
Josh Allen, namesake of the Buffalo Bills quarterback, has two of those forced fumbles to his name and is the standout on Jacksonville’s defense, with his nine sacks for the year already placing him only one behind league-leader Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings and on course for a career-best total to beat his 10.5 set in his rookie 2019 season.
The Jaguars are currently in the midst of a five-game win streak, coming off their bye, as they get set to welcome San Francisco this Sunday. Their only losses on the year came in consecutive weeks when dropping games to Kansas City and Houston following an opening win over the Indianapolis Colts.
It’s all a far cry from the team that was in turmoil as recently as 2021 when then-head coach Urban Meyer was fired from the team midway through a dismal 3-14 season which saw him clash with both his coaches and players, as well as be caught up in a viral video scandal which appeared to show the married man dancing inappropriately with a women at a restaurant one day after a defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Jacksonville Jaguars fired head coach Urban Meyer after a disastrous 2021 season on and off the field
Lawrence leaves London a franchise quarterback
Doug Pederson, Super Bowl winner in 2017 with Philadelphia, came in and though the team got off to a slow 2-6 start, seven wins in nine followed to secure a playoff berth, with Lawrence in particular stepping up following a Week Eight loss to the Denver Broncos in London.
Lawrence completed over 70 per cent of his passes for an average of 252.6 yards per game down the stretch, returning a 102.6 passer rating and a sparkling 15-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He registered three 300-yard passing games over the final nine games of the season, matching his tally from the first 25 games of his NFL career.
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Quarterback Jared Goff is having his best season for the Detroit Lions, here’s a look at some of his best plays so far this season
Quarterback Jared Goff is having his best season for the Detroit Lions, here’s a look at some of his best plays so far this season
But Lawrence isn’t the only top-drafted quarterback delivering against his lofty position. Jared Goff, a former No 1 overall pick for the Los Angeles Rams in 2016, was much maligned for the first five years of his NFL career – in spite of taking the team to the Super Bowl in his third season – but he’s enjoying quite the renaissance in Detroit.
Traded to the Lions in 2021 in a deal that also included two first-round picks in 2022 and 2023, and a 2021 third-round selection, in exchange for QB Matthew Stafford, Goff was viewed as nothing more than a stopgap at the position until such time as Detroit could find better.
But Campbell and co have stuck with him and are now reaping the rewards, with Goff throwing 29 TDs to only seven interceptions last season and having tallied 12 already this year, along with 2,174 passing yards which places him fifth in the NFL when broken down into yards per game (271.8).
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Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs lept high into the stands to join the crowd after scoring on a 27-yard touchdown run against the Las Vegas Raiders
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs lept high into the stands to join the crowd after scoring on a 27-yard touchdown run against the Las Vegas Raiders
The weaponry available to both Goff and Lawrence is plentiful also. They each boast a sizeable threat in the backfield, with Lions rookie Jahmyr Gibbs boasting a breakout performance of 189 scrimmage yards and a score in their latest win over the Las Vegas Raiders, while the Jaguars have Travis Etienne who saved his best for their win over the Bills in London as he racked up 184 scrimmage yards and two TDs.
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Highlights of the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Buffalo Bills at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Week Five of the NFL season
Highlights of the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Buffalo Bills at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Week Five of the NFL season
In terms of pass-catching targets, Lawrence boasts Calvin Ridley and Christian Kirk in Jacksonville, while Goff has Amon-Ra St. Brown leading the way, backed up by promising second-year speedster Jameson Williams. There’s also tight end talents Evan Engram (Jaguars) and Sam LaPorta (Lions), who by some strange coincidence both have 434 yards on the season to date – albeit the latter logging four TDs along the way.
Simply put, these two teams are stacked. And it’s time the NFL took these two teams seriously as, who knows, we could well have a Super Bowl first-timer on our hands this season. Or two of them.
Watch the Indianapolis Colts take on the New England Patriots in Frankfurt, Germany live on Sky Sports NFL from 1.30pm Sunday, with kick-off at 2.30pm; the San Francisco 49ers then face the Jacksonville Jaguars from 6pm followed by the Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Chargers.
Trent McDuffie starred as the Kansas City Chiefs defense proved instrumental yet again to inspire Andy Reid’s defending Super Bowl champions to victory over the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt; the Chiefs built a 21-0 half-time lead before denying the Dolphins overtime late in the game.
By Cam Hogwood from Deutsche Bank Park, Frankfurt
Last Updated: 06/11/23 12:12am
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Highlights of the Miami Dolphins against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week Nine of the NFL season.
Highlights of the Miami Dolphins against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week Nine of the NFL season.
How fitting it would prove of a Steve Spagnuolo unit to play a defining role on his return to Frankfurt as the Kansas City Chiefs marched to victory over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
Spagnuolo, who coached for the Frankfurt Galaxy in 1998, watched on as a Trent McDuffie-inspired unit contained one of the league’s most potent attacks to underline the story of the season so far for the defending Super Bowl champions.
Tyreek Hill was limited to 62 yards while Tua Tagovailoa threw for a season-low 193 yards as Mike McDaniel’s side suffered their third loss to a team with a winning record this season.
“The fact that they’re so good at all three levels, they’re deep,” said Patrick Mahomes. “Guys rotate in. They can play. It’s hard to get everybody snaps, that’s how good they are. It’s got to be the top defense in the NFL.
“That’s a great offense. To hold them to 14 points where I fumbled in our own area for seven of those points, that’s a tremendous job. I think they’re going to continue to get better because they’re young and they love it.
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Sky Sports’ Olivia Harlan Dekker and Cam Hogwood give their verdict on the Kansas City Chiefs’ win over AFC rivals Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany.
Sky Sports’ Olivia Harlan Dekker and Cam Hogwood give their verdict on the Kansas City Chiefs’ win over AFC rivals Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt, Germany.
McDuffie paved the way for the Chiefs to take a 21-0 lead into half-time when he dislodged the ball from Tyreek Hill to set up Bryan Cook’s 59-yard fumble recovery.
Leo Chenal meanwhile stood firm in the face of Miami’s wide zone running scheme, L’Jarius Sneed took ownership over the task of shadowing Hill, and 2020 undrafted free agent Tershawn Wharton was on hand to deliver a drive-derailing sack late in the fourth quarter.
“I knew they were going to be good. You look at the end of last year, they played great football and no one really noticed. I knew they were going to be good,” said Mahomes.
“They brought back so many people, so many young guys, they were going to develop. I mean, the fact they’re all developing this fast, I don’t know if anyone could have guessed it. I knew they were going to be great as their careers went on. Good to have a lot of young guys that can play like that.”
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The Kansas City Chiefs defence comes up with an amazing play as their former teammate, Tyreek Hill is stripped by Mike Edwards who laterals the ball to Bryan Cook for the score.
The Kansas City Chiefs defence comes up with an amazing play as their former teammate, Tyreek Hill is stripped by Mike Edwards who laterals the ball to Bryan Cook for the score.
It marked the latest instalment of a standout year for McDuffie, who was notably acquired in the 2022 NFL Draft with one of the picks the Chiefs received during Hill’s trade to the Dolphins.
“I’m blessed, look at what football can do, take it all across the world and put it in front of a whole new crowd, I love it,” McDuffie told Sky Sports NFL. “They were whistling, yelling, clapping, I wanted to see what that soccer atmosphere look like and they brought it.
“Like I said you’ve got to get your hands on that man (Hill). He’s fast, he’s elusive, he can make a lot of plays, it’s about limiting the explosives.”
Miami threatened an unlikely comeback in the third quarter when Cedrick Wilson Jr and Raheem Mostert both found the end zone to cut the Chiefs’ lead to seven points, only for Spagnuolo’s defense to ice the game.
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Travis Kelce hails ‘special ‘Kansas City Chiefs as his side moves to 3-0 in International games with a win over the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt.
Travis Kelce hails ‘special ‘Kansas City Chiefs as his side moves to 3-0 in International games with a win over the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt.
“We went in there (at half-time) and knew the game would come back to the defense, we had them at zero and the only way they could win was if we gave it up. Gotta love the tenacity we showed the whole game,” added McDuffie.
“This defense has been wanted to score and create turnovers, it shows how great this defense is becoming.”
Offensive fireworks have often been at the heart of Super Bowl charges for Andy Reid’s Chiefs in recent years. This year has a different feel. The frightening prospect being the might of the defending champions should Mahomes and co. begin to pile up the points.
“Defensively, what a first half,” said Reid. “What a second half. The fourth quarter was really something, which made a very exciting. The McDuffie strip of Tyreek, punching the ball out, Mike Edwards picking it up, Cook scoring. Doesn’t get any better than that. Sneed’s ability to match up most of the day on Tyreek was big, although Tyreek is a heck of a football player. He made a couple real nice plays in there, too.”
“Typically two good offenses, that being the No. 1 offense, the Dolphins, in the National Football League right now,” said Reid. “For the things that our defense did right there, that was a tremendous achievement. Obviously we got to keep it going. You’re just as good as the next game that you play in. That was a heck of an achievement. [Defensive coordinator] Steve [Spagnuolo] did a great job with scheming it. The players executed very well.
Week Nine concludes on Monday night when the Los Angeles Chargers visit the New York Jets, live on Sky Sports NFL from 1.15am in the early hours of Tuesday; Stream the NFL and more with NOW
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports NFL, Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league is expecting to make a decision on a new host partner for 2024 in “30 to 45 days”; He added: “I think it may be the single most important growth moment in our history.”
Last Updated: 04/11/23 1:03pm
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league is ‘analysing where we go next’
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has confirmed to Sky Sports that the league will stage a regular season game in a new host country in 2024.
The league’s international expansion is celebrating another milestone over the next fortnight as it prepares to play the first-ever regular season matchups in the city of Frankfurt when the Kansas City Chiefs meet the Miami Dolphins on Sunday before the New England Patriots take on the Indianapolis Colts the following weekend.
It comes a year after the league introduced Germany as a host partner alongside the UK and Mexico as Tom Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Munich.
Spain and Brazil have recently emerged as possible candidates to enter the fold, with Commissioner Goodell telling Sky Sports NFL’s Neil Reynolds that a decision is close to being made.
“We’re looking and analysing where we go next year,” Goodell told Sky Sports in an exclusive interview. “We will certainly go to a new market next year for sure. We’re debating on that and I think we’ll have a decision in the next 30-45 days. So we’ll be ready to. I think that’ll be exciting for us.”
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The Dolphins are currently affiliated with both Spain and Brazil as part of the NFL’s Global Marketing Program, while the Chicago Bears also own rights to market in Spain.
With the league’s growing presence overseas has come comparisons to Formula One’s global presence as it delivers its sport from city to city across the world. Goodell agreed with the likening and insists further progress is still to come.
London, Germany, Mexico. Spain? Brazil? The interested parties are forming a queue, Ireland notably among those eyeing a game of their own such is their relationship with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I actually went to my first NFL event in Montreal back in June and just to see and experience what we could learn from it (was great),” Goodell continued. “When we expanded our regular season from 16 to 17 games we talked at one time about whether the 17th game would be all international games.
“We didn’t feel we were in that position, because we didn’t feel we had the markets developed enough for that. And so I think this is something that will get a lot more attention but I do expect to expand in regular game series quite dramatically.”
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Cameron Hogwood and Neil Reynolds discuss the NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt and where the sport will head to next season.
Cameron Hogwood and Neil Reynolds discuss the NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins in Frankfurt and where the sport will head to next season.
The Jacksonville Jaguars made history in October as they became the first team to play back-to-back games overseas by facing the Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills on a two-week road trip in London, the reward being two victories amid what has since become a five-game winning streak.
Last year had seen the league achieve the clean sweep in the UK when the Green Bay Packers became the 32nd and final franchise to play across the pond, ultimately falling to the New York Giants at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
While travel requirements and changing time zones remain topics of conversation, the feedback over international games continues to be positive. Positive feedback serves as a springboard for further growth.
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As the NFL touches back down in Germany this weekend, relive last year’s game in Munich, where Tom Brady showed the fans why many called him the Greatest Of All Time.
As the NFL touches back down in Germany this weekend, relive last year’s game in Munich, where Tom Brady showed the fans why many called him the Greatest Of All Time.
“I think they (team owners) completely understand the potential of it,” said Goodell. “Every one of our teams has played an International Series game, every one of them come back with the exact same reaction and there’s clearly something powerful here. And there’s an opportunity for us to become a global sport.
“I think the debate is, how fast and what we do to sort of accelerate that growth. But that’s healthy debate, that that’s what we expect to have. How we make decisions is making sure we hear all the different perspectives including the people on the ground.
“We have made it clear to our ownership that we think this is a unique time in our history and to advance our growth particularly. I think it may be the single most important growth moment in our history. Because we now get a chance to share our game.”
Chase Young made the most notable move of the NFL’s trade deadline day as he switched from the Washington Commanders to the San Francisco 49ers; listen to Neil Reynolds and Jeff Reinebold every week on Inside the Huddle as they break down the biggest stories around the league.
Last Updated: 01/11/23 4:13pm
Chase Young will provide a much-needed boost to the San Francisco 49ers pass rush amid their pursuit of a Super Bowl, believes Jeff Reinebold.
The 49ers landed the biggest move of the day ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline as they reinforced their defensive front by adding Young via a trade with the Washington Commanders.
Young joins a San Francisco side that have posted a joint-second-fewest 18 sacks so far in 2023, despite having a third-most 86 pressures across a contrasting start to the year that has seen them follow up a commanding 5-0 run with a three-game losing streak.
The former No 2 overall pick teams up with one of his old college companions to form one of the league’s most impressive edge rush duos.
“I think it’s really going to be really interesting watching that because him and Nick Bosa were college teammates at Ohio State and they reunite,” said Reinebold. “When they were at Ohio State you talk about coming off both edges, they were a dynamic pass rush and that’s what the 49ers are lacking.
“In the last few games, they’ve struggled to get pressure on the passer to finish up the quarterback and Chase Young will certainly do that.
“This is an interesting one because there’s been some discontent with Chase young in Washington, which I couldn’t figure it out. I did a little digging, and what I heard was that sometimes he has a tendency to go off-script and try and make splash plays on his own. I think he’s kind of wore out his welcome a little bit that way with the defensive coaches and head coach.”
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Highlights of the Cincinnati Bengals against the San Francisco 49ers from Week 8 of the NFL season.
Highlights of the Cincinnati Bengals against the San Francisco 49ers from Week 8 of the NFL season.
Young was not the only departure in Washington on Tuesday, with the Commanders also trading Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears for a second-round draft pick. Sweat, a former first-round pick, has 35.5 sacks over four-and-a-half seasons in the NFL, including 6.5 this season as he joins a unit that has recorded a league-fewest 10 sacks and just 46 pressures in 2022.
“It’s it’s just perplexing to me,” added Reinebold. “When you look at the Commanders give up two pass rushers, and you think about it and say, ‘Okay, what’s the premium right now, in the NFL?’. If you can draft pass rushers, you’ve got to get pass rushers, they have pass rushers and they let them go.
“You’re in a division where you better be able to rush the passer because you have got great passers in your division. So it was really a surprising to see both of those guys leave the Commanders.”
Elsewhere in Minnesota, the Vikings acquired veteran quarterback Joshua Dobbs in a trade with the Arizona Cardinals following the news that Kirk Cousins will miss the remainder of the season with a torn Achilles.
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Christian McCaffrey equalled an NFL record by scoring a touchdown in the 17th consecutive game for the San Francisco 49ers against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Christian McCaffrey equalled an NFL record by scoring a touchdown in the 17th consecutive game for the San Francisco 49ers against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Dobbs had been the starter across the first half of the season in Arizona as the team waited on the recovery of Kyler Murray, whose return from a torn ACL suffered last year is imminent. The Vikings are riding a three-game winning streak and sit 4-4 to stay alive despite losing Justin Jefferson to injury a couple of weeks ago.
“I think he gives them a guy who has started,” says Reinebold .”If you think Josh Dobbs is going to go over there and be Kirk Cousins and do Kirk Cousins type things, you better think again.
“I think Josh Dobbs is a serviceable quarterback, he’ll be a very good backup quarterback, a bridge guy for them. And they got him for a seventh round draft pick, you have got to say that’s a good trade, because you’re going to get an experienced starter.
“He’s not Cousins by any stretch of the imagination. He’s not an elite quarterback, but he is a guy who has started proving he can win games. He took a Cardinals team and helped them beat the Dallas Cowboys earlier in the year, we’ve seen him do enough to say that’s a good move by Minnesota.”
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins left his team’s 24-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday with what the team believe is an Achilles tendon injury which will rule him out for the rest of the campaign
Last Updated: 29/10/23 9:39pm
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) is carted off the field after sustaining an injury against the Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins is likely to miss the rest of the NFL season due to an Achilles injury picked up during his team’s 24-10 victory against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Cousins walked gingerly to the sideline in the fourth quarter after getting sacked for a second consecutive play, a series that ended with Green Bay’s Karl Brooks blocking Greg Joseph’s 44-yard field-goal attempt.
The 35-year-old was getting treatment on the sideline during the Packers’ ensuing possession, which ended with them losing the ball on downs at the Minnesota 10-yard line.
Backup quarterback Jaren Hall – a rookie fifth-round pick from BYU – entered the game when the Vikings regained possession with 7:15 left in the game.
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“We are fearing an Achilles injury,” an emotional head coach Kevin O’Connell said after the game. “The severity of that, I do not know at this point.”
O’Connell said further testing to confirm the initial diagnosis at Lambeau Field would be completed in the next 24 hours.
“We’re thinking about our leader… our guy right now and I’m just so proud of him and way he’s played all season,” O’Connell said, adding Cousins was given the game ball in the locker room after leading the Vikings to a 4-4 record following an 0-3 start.
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Cousins completed 23 of 31 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns before his injury.
The Vikings have no decision on whether Hall or Nick Mullens would start if Cousins is out for the season, but O’Connell said Mullens could be an option moving forward because his back injury has improved.
As the NFL’s Week 7 matchup for Monday Night Football draws near, football fans are gearing up for an exciting clash between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Detroit Lions. Here’s what you need to know about the key players and storylines.
Listen live to your choice of the home, away, or national feed on the SiriusXM App. Kickoff is October 30 at 8:15pm.
Quarterback Jared Goff showcased his arm in Week 7, passing for 284 yards. Goff boasts a 105.9 rating in 20 home starts with the Lions, with 45 touchdowns (43 passing, 2 rushing) against 8 interceptions.
Rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs finally showcased his skills, setting career highs with 9 receptions and 126 scrimmage yards in Week 7, including his first career rushing touchdown. David Montgomery, who was out due to injury last week, looks to continue his primetime success for his 17th consecutive game with over 50 scrimmage yards under the lights. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown remains a top target, with a career-high 13 receptions and 102 receiving yards last week. He’s aiming for his third consecutive game with 10+ catches and 100+ receiving yards.
Aidan Hutchinson had his first fumble recovery of the season in Week 7, and he’s the only player with 4+ interceptions and 4+ fumble recoveries since 2022. Isaiah Buggs added his second tackle for loss of the season, while linebacker Alex Anzalone continues his impressive tackle streak with 50 tackles in 2023.
Detroit Lions Home Feed
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National Feed
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Away: Las Vegas Raiders
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has a history of success against Detroit, going 2-0 with 520 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. Backup quarterback Brian Hoyer, in his first start of the season last week, passed for 129 yards. Rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell secured his first career touchdown pass last week.
Running back Josh Jacobs has been strong, recording 80+ scrimmage yards in 4 of his last 5 games. WR Davante Adams has consistently delivered on the road, with 6+ catches and 55+ receiving yards in each of his four road games this season; look for him to make an impact in Detroit. Jakobi Meyers aims for his fourth consecutive game with 5+ catches, 50+ receiving yards, and a receiving touchdown.
Defensively, Maxx Crosby looks for his sixth consecutive game with 0.5+ sacks. Rookie Tyree Wilson made an impact with his first career sack and forced fumble in Week 7. Linebacker Robert Spillane is seeking his fourth consecutive game with 7+ tackles.
The New York Giants are still yet to score an offensive touchdown in the first half of a game in the 2023 NFL season; Cincinnati Bengals rookie Andrei Iosivas scores his first NFL touchdown on his birthday in the win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Last Updated: 17/10/23 6:26am
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder
Sky Sports Cricket statistician – and big Buffalo Bills fan – Benedict Bermange dives into the 2023 NFL season to pick out the best stats from each week…
It was a ‘Kickathon’ in London as there were nine field goals in the Ravens’ 24-16 victory over the Tennessee Titans – only the 10th game in NFL history with that many field goals. There were 10 in the 2019 meeting between the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.
Justin Tucker made six field goals in the game, and Nick Folk tied Tucker’s record with his 70th consecutive field goal under 40 yards.
The Atlanta Falcons’ loss to the Washington Commanders was Desmond Ridder’s first home defeat in either his College or NFL career. Prior to this weekend’s 24-16 defeat, he was 5-0 at home in the NFL having gone 26-0 at home over the course of his college career in Cincinnati from 2018 to 2021.
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Highlights of the Seattle Seahawks against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week Six of the NFL season.
Highlights of the Seattle Seahawks against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week Six of the NFL season.
Andrei Iosivas of the Bengals scored his first career touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks. He became the first wide receiver to score his first NFL touchdown on his birthday since Chris Conley of the Kansas City Chiefs against the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 25, 2015.
It was another one-score game for the Minnesota Vikings as they defeated the Chicago Bears 19-13. They improved their record this season to 2-4 having been a perfect 11-0 in one-score games in last year’s regular season.
The Jacksonville Jaguars defeated the Colts 37-20 and in doing so raised their record to 4-2. This marks the first time for 82 games that they have been at least wo games above .500. The last time was when they were 3-1 after four games of the 2018 season. However, they then proceeded to lose 10 of their last 12 games to end 5-11.
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Tyreek Hill celebrated his touchdown by taking a phone and recording a selfie of himself doing a back flip.
Tyreek Hill celebrated his touchdown by taking a phone and recording a selfie of himself doing a back flip.
Having scored two touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills in London last week, Travis Etienne scored two more against the Indianapolis Colts. He joined Frank Gore of the San Francisco 49ers as the only players to have scored at least two touchdowns in back-to-back games in different countries. Back in 2013 Gore achieved the feat in Week Seven against the Tennessee Titans and then in Week Eight against the Jaguars in London.
Etienne’s two touchdowns this week came in the space of 16 seconds. Only three players have scored two touchdowns in a shorter span in the same half:
Shortest span between touchdowns in one half
Player
Team
Opposition
Year
Time (seconds)
Shaun Alexander
Sea
Minn
2002
0.09
Jeremy Chinn
Car
Min
2020
0.10
LaDainian Tomlinson
SD
Cin
2006
0.15
Travis Etienne
Jax
Ind
2023
0.16
Derrick Henry
Ten
Jax
2019
0.16
The Cleveland Browns became the first team to defeat the 49ers in the regular season since the Chiefs in Week Seven of last year. The 49ers had won 15 straight regular-season games, tying the longest winning streak in franchise history.
Christian McCaffrey became the fourth player in NFL history to score a scrimmage touchdown in 15 straight games including the playoffs. He now trails only Lenny Moore for the most consecutive games with at least one touchdown scored of any kind. Moore scored in 17 consecutive games from 1963 to 1964.
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Highlights of the San Francisco 49ers against the Cleveland Browns in Week Six of the NFL season.
Highlights of the San Francisco 49ers against the Cleveland Browns in Week Six of the NFL season.
The Houston Texans defeated the New Orleans Saints despite CJ Stroud throwing his first career interception. It came on his 192nd pass attempt, a new record for the most consecutive pass attempts without an interception to begin a career.
The New York Jets won their first-ever game against the Philadelphia Eagles after a run of 12 straight defeats which dated back to their first-ever meeting back in 1973. It was the Jets first win against an opponent that was undefeated in Week Six or later since they beat the Colts in Week 16 of the 2009 season.
The Giants have still not scored an offensive touchdown in the first half of a game this season. The only teams to have had worse starts to a season in that respect were the 1998 Chargers and Buccaneers, neither of whom scored an offensive touchdown in any of their first seven games of the season.
Week Six in the NFL begins when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos, live on Sky Sports NFL from 1.15am in the early hours of Friday morning. Stream the 2023 NFL season and more with NOW.
Around the NFL’s Gregg Rosenthal joins Hannah Wilkes and Phoebe Schecter on this week’s Her Huddle to look ahead to Sunday’s final NFL London game of the season; coverage of the Baltimore Ravens against the Tennessee Titans begins at 1pm ahead of kick-off at 2.30pm live on Sky this Sunday
Last Updated: 13/10/23 5:33pm
On this week’s edition of the Her Huddle podcast, Hannah Wilkes and Phoebe Schecter were joined by Around the NFL podcast hero Gregg Rosenthal to preview Sunday’s NFL London match-up between the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans.
It was an offseason of change in Baltimore as Todd Monken arrived from College Football national champions Georgia to lead a new era for the Ravens’ offense. In replacing Greg Roman he sought to install the most diverse offense yet, designed to preserve not only Lamar Jackson’s explosiveness but showcase his passing talents in a more expansive aerial attack.
“Lamar Jackson to me is different, I was curious as to how he was going to look in this offense,” said Rosenthal on Her Huddle. “I know they [the Ravens] are 3-2 and have blown two games they shouldn’t have, but as a Lamar Jackson fan this is what I’ve always wanted, which is a normal offense.
“That’s not just a unique and creative tough-to-stop running game, it’s like ‘ohh there’s open receivers down the field, I haven’t seen that in the past!’
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A look at Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s top plays from the 2023 season so far
A look at Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s top plays from the 2023 season so far
“They still have a good running game because Todd Monken coaches that up, the offensive line is good and Lamar makes the running game better. But you see Odell Beckham open, Zay Flowers open, Mark Andrews open; I see Lamar more accurate and better from the pocket.
“I know people will say ‘Lamar has always been good from the pocket’, but guys do get better as they age, mentally he’s even better than he was four years ago and he’s really playing well.”
Derrick Henry remains the ever-familiar heartbreak of the Tennessee offense as he comes up against a Ravens defense that has ranked second against the run through five weeks this season.
“Henry is so hard if he can get to the second level, to take down,” added Rosenthal. “Roquan Smith on the Ravens’ defense has been one of the very best defensive players in the league, he is key to it.
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A look at the best plays from Titans running back Derrick Henry from this season so far
A look at the best plays from Titans running back Derrick Henry from this season so far
“They lose a lot of players but they are so well-coached it’s hard to run against them.
“If he can get to the second level he can make big plays. I’d love to see him with a big long run. It’s not just him, though. They have a rookie Tyjae Spears who went to my alma mater Tulane, he is making a really nice impact as a second running back.”
Which Titans team will turn up?
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Dan Hanzus and Marc Sessler from the Around the NFL podcast preview the London game between the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans
Dan Hanzus and Marc Sessler from the Around the NFL podcast preview the London game between the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans
Fellow Around the NFL podcast hero Dan Hanzus has questioned which Mike Vrabel-led Titans team will show in London this weekend amid their to and fro form that has seen them cruise beyond the Cincinnati Bengals and lose to the Indianapolis Colts in recent weeks.
“The Titans are a team that is hard to figure out week to week, but they have playoff potential,” Hanzus told Sky Sports this week.
“Their offense is ranking near the bottom of the league in a lot of categories but there are pieces there. They added a veteran receiver in DeAndre Hopkins who has really played well for them, Ryan Tannehill is a veteran quarterback who has proven before he can lead a team to a deep playoff run.
“King Henry (Derrick Henry) is one of the great running backs of his era, it will be tough against the Ravens defense but he has the ability to go for 150 yards.”
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Odell Beckham Jr shows his excitement at being able to link up with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and says he is worth all the money in the world
Odell Beckham Jr shows his excitement at being able to link up with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and says he is worth all the money in the world
Marc Sessler is, meanwhile, braced for the most dynamic and dangerous MVP-winning Jackson yet as the Ravens seek to bypass the Titans’ stern ground blockade.
“They’ve been real up and down the Titans, and it starts with their quarterback play,” said Sessler. “I really think Tennessee’s strength in most games has been their run defense, and Baltimore wants to attack you with the run but they are much more competent through the air right now.
“This is a much more different Ravens offense through the air than we’ve seen in the past. We’re getting the best version of Lamar Jackson that we’ve gotten in a while.”
Watch the Baltimore Ravens against the Tennessee Titans in the final NFL London game of the season live on Sky Sports this Sunday, with coverage beginning at 1pm ahead of kick-off at 2.30pm at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Elsewhere Buffalo Bills linebacker Matt Milano looks set to miss the rest of the 2023 season after suffering a leg and knee injury during his team’s defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London; New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones also suffers an injury
Last Updated: 08/10/23 11:14pm
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson was banged up yet again
The Indianapolis Colts were dealt a scare on Sunday as quarterback Anthony Richardson exited with a right shoulder injury in his side’s 23-16 win over the Tennessee Titans.
Richardson was officially ruled out early in the third quarter and replaced by Gardner Minshew after going down hurt at the end of a four-yard run.
NFL Network reported after the game that X-rays on Richardson’s shoulder came back as negative.
Richardson stayed down for several minutes before walking slowly to the injury tent, with his shoulder noticeably drooping on the right side. After spending several more minutes in the injury tent, he headed to the locker room with team medical personnel.
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The fourth overall pick at this year’s Draft has been banged up on multiple occasions in his rookie year, missing the final minute of Indy’s season-opening loss to Jacksonville with minor knee and ankle injuries before going into the concussion protocol after scoring two touchdowns the following week at Houston and sitting out Week Three having not cleared the protocol.
Richardson was nine of 12 with 98 yards. He also ran twice for five yards and took a sack on a backward pass. He is 20 yards rushing away from passing Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas (155 in 1956) for the franchise’s third-highest single-season rushing total by a Colts rookie quarterback.
Milano likely out for season
The Buffalo Bills suffered another huge blow to their season as star linebacker Matt Milano was carted off with a leg injury during Sunday’s defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London.
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Highlights of the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Buffalo Bills in Week Five of the NFL season
Highlights of the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Buffalo Bills in Week Five of the NFL season
Milano went down after 11 snaps in the first quarter at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after seemingly getting his leg caught in a pile of players.
NFL Network reported that Milano sustained a fractured leg while there are also fears he picked up a season-ending knee injury.
“It’s a knee and lower leg injury,” said Bills head coach Sean McDermott. “I know it’s not looking good right now, but I don’t know any details beyond that at this point.”
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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell discusses the possibility of a Super Bowl being played in London and whether there will be a UK franchise in the future
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell discusses the possibility of a Super Bowl being played in London and whether there will be a UK franchise in the future
Jones goes down for Giants
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones meanwhile exited Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins early in the fourth quarter due to a neck injury.
Jones was sacked by Miami linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel with 12:11 remaining in the game. The hit took Jones by surprise, as it came from his blind side, with his neck cocked back before he was driven to the turf.
Tyrod Taylor took over under center for the Giants, who were trailing 31-13 at the time of Jones’ departure.
Prior to exiting, Jones completed 14 of 20 passes for 119 yards while being sacked six times.
HANK’S HONEYS: The Packers don’t beat the Saints if Derek Carr doesn’t get hurt but that’s football. Now they must face the up-and-coming Lions with injuries of their own. Jordan Love could be missing his starting left guard and tackle against a Lions pass rush that recorded seven sacks last week. Love keeps getting away with throwing into tight coverage (seven TDs, one INT) but his luck is due to run out if he’s under that much pressure. The Lions have been particularly stingy against the run so Love will have to bring it.
The Packers have been money at home with an NFL-best record ATS since Matt LaFleur took over in 2019. But that hasn’t been the case against Detroit. The Lions love it at Lambeau, where they knocked the Packers out of the playoff race on the final day of last season and Jared Goff, whose offense is averaging 381 ypg, loves to play the Packers with a 4-2 record against them.
Detroit seems ready to take control of the NFC North where it has won its last six games ATS. Dan Campbell’s team is also 7-2 ATS following a win since the start of last season. It will be close like Green Bay’s last two games but the bottom line is that they have more talent spread out across the roster and that should come through in a short week.
