Just like his famously inventive offenses, Mike McDaniel had many options.
He interviewed for several head coaching jobs after his four-year tenure in charge of the Miami Dolphins ended this month, and he could have been an offensive coordinator pretty much anywhere he pleased.
McDaniel still wants to be a head coach again someday, but he chose to join the Los Angeles Chargers alongside Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert because the combination of time, place and personnel seemed perfect for this idiosyncratic coach who also happens to be one of the top offensive minds in football.
“It didn’t take long for me to feel this is what I was looking for,” the Bolts’ new offensive coordinator said Tuesday. “You just want to be a part of a hungry organization with like-minded football people that are doing anything and everything to win. And for me, the opportunity to work with Coach Harbaugh was too good to pass up. It felt like I was extremely fortunate to be afforded this opportunity.”
Harbaugh and the Chargers seem equally fortunate to land McDaniel, an ideal candidate for the crucial job of directing Herbert’s career into something worthy of his prodigious talent.
In his introductory news conference, McDaniel immediately went into great detail about what he wants to do for Herbert, who has thrown for 24,820 yards and 163 touchdowns while emerging as one of the NFL’s top passers in his six seasons with the Chargers.
“You have a competitive player that each and every year is trying to get better at his craft, (but) I think he hasn’t neared the ceiling to what he’s capable of,” McDaniel said.
Herbert has consistently shined despite playing with three permanent head coaches, four offensive coordinators and a changing collection of playmakers and linemen around him.
Despite playing in some offensive schemes perceived to be relatively primitive by modern NFL standards, particularly in the past two years under Harbaugh and fired coordinator Greg Roman, Herbert has frequently carried the Chargers through his improvisation, arm strength and sheer competitive will.
Essentially, McDaniel doesn’t want Herbert to have to work so hard.
“There’s a lot of incredible plays Justin has made,” McDaniel said. “He’s firmly capable, and sometimes as a coach you can rely upon that a little too much. … It can be taxing over time for a player to necessitate an incredible play too often, so you try to take it off of him by creating some low-cost, high-reward offense that he’s firmly capable of doing, but maybe a player of lesser talent would be capable of doing as well.”
McDaniel said the Dolphins’ struggles when Tua Tagovailoa was out with injuries reinforced his determination to keep Herbert safer. The Chargers quarterback took 96 sacks in the past two seasons.
“He has an incredible ability to do off-schedule (throws),” McDaniel said. “I think I’ll be firmly coaching away from the off-schedule stuff at the front end, because he can always go back to that comfort zone as you work out other things. I think a primary focus on how to have offense without putting him in a vulnerable position will be a starting point, and we’ll extrapolate from there.”
McDaniel and Herbert spoke last week, and the quarterback is ready to work.
“He was in high spirits and just excited about attacking something,” McDaniel said. “You lose in the playoffs in the first round, it’s a lot of work that you feel kind of like (left you with) an empty stomach. So that hunger, I could hear in his voice.”
McDaniel is joining a good team that needed a spark after consecutive 11-6 seasons followed by two playoff losses under Harbaugh. The Chargers have needed that spark to join the NFL’s upper echelon ever since they moved north from San Diego, posting six winning records over nine years with just one postseason victory.
McDaniel could be the ingredient to put the Bolts into championship contention if this partnership with Harbaugh flourishes. The 42-year-old coordinator hit it off immediately with his famously square-looking new boss.
“I feel like we’re the same guy,” McDaniel said while Harbaugh laughed at the back of the room. “He’s just taller. No, I think one thing we share is that Jim has never patterned himself after somebody. He’s his own person, and I would say that hopefully I would be described in a similar fashion. Who knows? I might be a 100% Dockers coach now.”
The fashion-forward McDaniel’s line was even funnier because he delivered it while wearing what appeared to be a $12,000 Bottega Veneta woven leather jacket.
The chance to learn from Harbaugh was important in his decision, but McDaniel also paid his respect to past Chargers coaches Sid Gillman and Don Coryell, two offensive innovators who changed football forever.
“There was a lot that I found very attractive,” McDaniel said. “I was fortunate to have some opportunities, but it started with Coach Harbaugh. To be a part of an organization that has the legacy of Sid and Air Coryell, I was super attracted to. Got a quarterback who I’ve always admired, and just a lot of young players. A great situation for my family and me to go to the next chapter.”
Regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s game, the New England Patriots are already making dreams come true.Shelly Sepulveda, a local NICU nurse, has been battling cancer for the last two years. The mother of six, five of whom were adopted, has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer three times since 2024.”I know I have limited time here on this Earth, so I created a bucket list and one of the things on that bucket list was to go to a Pats game,” she said.Sepulveda didn’t go to just any game; she went to last week’s playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers.”I got to go on the field, I got to go in and see the players up close and personal,” she said. “I cried when I went on the field. It was just an amazing experience.”The game was a highlight for Sepulveda in what has been an unimaginable two years.The Kraft Foundation heard she was a fan and invited her to the game. And the excitement didn’t stop there.Kraft gifted her a ticket to the Super Bowl. “I’ve been on Cloud Nine ever since, even though I had some unfortunate news,” Sepulveda said.This past Tuesday, she found out her body is no longer responding to chemotherapy.She’s now trying to get into a clinical trial.The Super Bowl ticket is giving her hope and inspiration as she fights this disease.”I know that it’s a gift from them, but I don’t know really if they really understand how much it impacts me mentally, physically,” she said. “I want them to know how much this is keeping me going. And I have the Pats to thank for that.”
Regardless of the outcome of Sunday’s game, the New England Patriots are already making dreams come true.
Shelly Sepulveda, a local NICU nurse, has been battling cancer for the last two years.
The mother of six, five of whom were adopted, has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer three times since 2024.
“I know I have limited time here on this Earth, so I created a bucket list and one of the things on that bucket list was to go to a Pats game,” she said.
Sepulveda didn’t go to just any game; she went to last week’s playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
“I got to go on the field, I got to go in and see the players up close and personal,” she said. “I cried when I went on the field. It was just an amazing experience.”
The game was a highlight for Sepulveda in what has been an unimaginable two years.
The Kraft Foundation heard she was a fan and invited her to the game.
And the excitement didn’t stop there.
Kraft gifted her a ticket to the Super Bowl.
“I’ve been on Cloud Nine ever since, even though I had some unfortunate news,” Sepulveda said.
This past Tuesday, she found out her body is no longer responding to chemotherapy.
She’s now trying to get into a clinical trial.
The Super Bowl ticket is giving her hope and inspiration as she fights this disease.
“I know that it’s a gift from them, but I don’t know really if they really understand how much it impacts me mentally, physically,” she said. “I want them to know how much this is keeping me going. And I have the Pats to thank for that.”
The idea that the outcome of the Broncos’ biggest game in a decade hinges on a running back who has been inactive for nine weeks is ridiculous. You are probably laughing at this premise. Cackling at the idea that Payton will actually lean on the ground attack.
But Payton has made a career of pushing the right buttons and finding answers. And this one is staring at him from inside the fieldhouse walls, where McLaughlin can often be found after practice getting in extra reps to stay sharp.
All Payton needs to do is follow the script written by Gary Kubiak, the last Broncos coach to win a playoff game.
As Denver clumsily reached the end of the 2015 season, creating doubts about reaching the Super Bowl, Kubiak spent part of his day checking video from Peyton Manning’s workouts with receiver Jordan “Sunshine” Taylor inside the fieldhouse as he recovered from a plantar fasciitis injury.
Kubiak refused to close the door on Manning returning. And Manning was tired of waiting. At one point, he flipped off the cameras, knowing Kubiak would see it. Kubiak finally took the suggestion, turning to Manning in the second half of the season finale, a move that triggered a Super Bowl 50 victory.
McLaughlin does not possess the gravitas to give his coach the middle finger. And he is not the key to a championship run. But he is the key to winning this game.
You see, backs have run through the Bills like Taco Bell after a night on Pearl Street. Only the 2006 Indianapolis Colts allowed more than 5 yards per rush and won the Super Bowl, per CBS Sports. The Bills have yielded 5.2 in 18 games. It is their fatal flaw.
McLaughlin can expose it. His entire football journey has built up to this moment. He never had a backup plan. He slept in a car for a time growing up. He refused to give up on his dream. His resilience helped him make the roster three years ago as an undrafted free agent.
This is different. He can go from a feel-good story to the headliner.
Look, this might backfire. But he is the best option to exploit the Bills, even if injured defensive lineman Ed Oliver returns. The trade deadline long ago passed, and Denver declined to deal for Breece Hall.
Then J.K. Dobbins got hurt, and R.J. Harvey has not filled his cleats. Forget attacking downhill, Harvey has been going downhill. He has averaged 3.36 yards per carry over the past three games on 36 carries, and if you subtract his 38-yard touchdown against the Jaguars, it shrinks to 2.37.
Compare that to McLaughlin, who has 118 yards on 18 carries during the same stretch. That is 63 percent of his season total, and 6.56 a pop.
“He outworks just about everybody in the building,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. “It’s not a shock to anybody that, when his opportunity came, he did a great job with it.”
So, lean on McLaughlin and call more designed runs for Bo Nix (102 rushing yards since Dec. 21).
Who says no? Payton?
Not so sure. Not this time. He appears to have learned his lesson from abandoning the run last year at Buffalo, from turtling against the Chiefs and Chargers.
It was encouraging to hear Payton’s tone publicly last Friday when asked if he held stuff back over the final two weeks. He made no excuses. Used zero qualifiers. Made it clear that the Broncos have to execute better and become more explosive.
If Payton is not stubborn, the Broncos will win because of the run game in general and McLaughlin specifically.
Don’t believe it?
The Jaguars are watching this weekend because they simply did not run the ball enough. They were gashing the Bills on the ground, and inexplicably finished with 30 passes and 23 carries. They posted 154 yards rushing, and Liam “Keep Your Head Up” Coen decided to keep putting the ball in the air.
If Payton is similarly hard-headed with Nix, the Broncos will follow the Jaguars to the emergency exit.
My insistence on running is rooted in winning.
The best way to neutralize Josh Allen is to play keep away. If the Broncos produce long drives and impose their will upfront, it will create urgency from the Bills.
We all know Josh Allen is not going to play like Woody Allen. It is safe to assume the Broncos are going to struggle at times as Allen bullies his way for yards or finds his tight ends and running backs for easy completions. How Denver’s defense performs in the red zone will be critical.
But the offense has to do its part.
It won’t be easy. It never is with this group. The Broncos have only reached the red zone five times in the last three games, scoring two touchdowns, and only once in a goal-to-go situation.
That won’t cut it on Saturday.
Let McLaughlin provide the body shots. And Harvey or Nix, the haymaker (the Bills have allowed eight touchdown runs of 30-plus yards, most in a season in NFL history).
McLaughlin was already known for rolling up his sleeves and breaking a sweat before the sun wakes. But he added night duty to stay sharp, to be ready, when he lost his role on game day as the fourth running back in the three-man rotation of Dobbins, Harvey and Tyler Badie.
“It was a real challenge just because I am so competitive,” McLaughlin said. “But I just had to trust and believe in what coach Payton was telling me.”
Everyone is running their mouths again. All the Broncos need to do is run the ball with McLaughlin to shut them up.
EL SEGUNDO — If you go strictly by the numbers, then the 2025 regular season wasn’t the best of quarterback Justin Herbert’s six seasons in the NFL. He didn’t top 5,000 yards passing, as he did during the 2021 season. He didn’t limit his interceptions to only three, as he did in ’24.
So, Herbert’s regular season totals were as follows: He completed 340 of 512 passes (66.4%) for 3,727 yards with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 16 games, leading the Chargers to an 11-5 record and earning his second Pro Bowl selection. Trey Lance will start Sunday and Herbert will not suit up.
It wasn’t what Herbert accomplished, but how he did it, according to Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman. After all, Herbert played the past five games with a fractured hand that required surgery one day after he hurt it in the first quarter of the Chargers’ victory Nov. 30 over the Las Vegas Raiders.
What’s more, Herbert played the entire season without left tackle Rashawn Slater, his blind-side protector who suffered a season-ending knee injury during training camp in August. Herbert also played the past seven games without top right tackle Joe Alt, who sustained a season-ending ankle injury Nov. 2.
“Well, to me, it was an MVP season,” Roman said Thursday.
Roman praised Herbert for the many things great and small that he did to weather the twin storms of playing at a high level with a debilitating injury and behind a patchwork offensive line that lacked cohesion because of the injuries to Slater and Alt, two Pro Bowl candidates going into the season.
“When you look around the league with the other teams that have had attrition such as this, the results aren’t quite the same,” Roman said. “So, when you go back and look at it, just the way he has gutted through and found a way to will us to victory, and I’m not going to name the games.
“But those are the games that get you to the playoffs. You don’t come by it easy, and when you have so much attrition like that, it just funnels to him. It rolls uphill to him. It changes everything, so his ability to navigate through that with a steel mind and, really, just not blink. Not for one second was there a ‘Why us?’
“Not at all.”
Roman could have mentioned comeback victories such as the Chargers’ 23-20 victory over the Broncos on Sept. 21, their 29-27 win over the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 12 or consecutive victories over the Philadelphia Eagles, 22-19, and the Kansas City Chiefs, 16-13, last month.
Herbert missed only 10 snaps total after breaking his hand against the Raiders, eight while he was being checked by the Chargers’ medical staff in the SoFi Stadium locker room and two at the end of the game when Lance performed two kneel-downs to kill the final seconds off the clock.
So, if 300-yard games have been few and far between this season, it certainly hasn’t dimmed the Chargers’ appreciation of Herbert. Things could have turned sour in the wake of the injuries to Slater and Alt, but Herbert shouldered a heavy burden despite being sacked a career-high 54 times.
“That’s where we are right now,” Roman said of Herbert’s ability to lead the Chargers to the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2008 and’09. “It’s the whole team, obviously, but in terms of Justin and what he’s had to deal with this year, I think it’s a career-defining type of year.”
(CNN) — It’s been a long 2025 NFL season so far with twists, turns, shocking injuries, surprising contenders and disappointing years from preseason favorites.
As we come off another intriguing week of action across the league and approach the end of the season, the playoff picture is becoming more and more clear.
With just one week of the NFL regular season left, who’s in, who’s out and who still has a shot at making a postseason run for a spot in Super Bowl LX and a chance to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Who’s in?
(All teams listed by current seeding in each conference)
AFC
1. Denver Broncos (13-3, 1st AFC West): The Broncos already qualified for the postseason but still beat the Patrick Mahomes-less Kansas City Chiefs 20-13 on Friday. A win against the Los Angeles Chargers at Mile High in Week 18 will earn Denver top seed status in the AFC.
2. New England Patriots (13-3, 1st AFC East): New England will be lurking should Denver fail to wrap up the conference and the Pats will play the Miami Dolphins to close out the season.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4, 1st AFC South): The Jags are also still in the running for the first-round bye after beating the Indianapolis Coltsin Week 17. They now host the Tennessee Titans in Week 18.
5. Houston Texans (11-5, 2nd AFC South): Houston’s sensational defense has fired the franchise into the postseason for a third straight year. The team confirmed its place in the playoffs with a 20-16 win against the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (11-5, 2nd AFC West): The Chargers will be happy to have already locked up a postseason spot as they face a motivated Denver squad in the final week of the regular season.
7. Buffalo Bills (11-5, 2nd AFC East): After losing in dramatic circumstances against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bills close out the year with a home game against the Jets having already secured their berth in the playoffs.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker hits Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix during the second half at Empower Field at Mile High on December 21. Credit: Ron Chenoy / Imagn via CNN Newsource
NFC
1. Seattle Seahawks (13-3, 1st NFC West): After missing the playoffs in the last two campaigns, the Seahawks are back in the postseason and tightened their grip on the No. 1 seed after beating the Carolina Panthers 27-10 in Week 17. Seattle now faces the San Francisco 49ers in its last regular season game.
2. Chicago Bears (11-5, 1st NFC North): Da Bears haven’t made the postseason since 2020, so some celebration in the Windy City is merited, but Chicago has only made the playoffs twice since 2010 – and lost in the wild card round both times. After spending so many years in the proverbial wilderness, the team won’t be content with just making it. The Bears take on the Detroit Lions in Week 18.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, 1st NFC East): The defending Super Bowl champions are back in the postseason to defend their title, but with hopes of a first-round bye now over, Philly may look to rest players ahead of a game against the Washington Commanders in Week 18.
5. San Francisco 49ers (12-4, 2nd NFC West): After missing the postseason last year, the Niners are back and looking dangerous. Starting QB Brock Purdy is back and playing incredibly as they host the Seahawks in Week 18 with the No. 1 seed in the conference at stake.
6. Los Angeles Rams (11-5, 3rd NFC West): The Rams round out an incredible NFC West, which has three teams in the playoffs. Los Angeles, though, suffered a surprise defeat against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17 and closes out the regular season with a game against the Arizona Cardinals.
7. Green Bay Packers (9-6-1, 2nd NFC North): The Pack lost to Baltimore in Week 17 but still secured the NFC seventh seed heading into the playoffs. Off the back of three straight defeats, Green Bay heads to Minnesota in Week 18 to take on the eliminated Vikings.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) scrambles with the ball in Monday’s win against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski / Imagn via CNN Newsource
Who’s still got a chance?
AFC
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, 1st AFC North): The Steelers only had to beat the Cleveland Browns on the road last Sunday to secure their place in the playoffs, but blew the opportunity after losing 13-6. Pittsburgh now faces a winner-takes-all clash against its bitter rival, the Baltimore Ravens, in Week 18. Pittsburgh currently has a 40% chance of making the playoffs, according to the NFL.
9. Baltimore Ravens (8-8, 2nd AFC North): The Ravens had Super Bowl aspirations before the year kicked off with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and star running back Derrick Henry, but it all seemed to fall apart with Jackson missing significant time due to injury. But results went their way on Week 17 andthey beat the Packers 41-24. It all means that the NFL says the Ravens now have a 60% chance of reaching the postseason still.
NFC
4. Carolina Panthers (8-8, 1st NFC South): Carolina is still sitting first in its division despite losing to the Seahawks in Week 17. The Panthers still have a chance of reaching the postseason as they face a win-or-go-home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 18. The NFL says Carolina has a 72% chance of making it to the playoffs.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9, 2nd NFC South): The Bucs lost to the Miami Dolphins in Week 17 and now everything hangs on the final game of the regular season against the Panthers. We’ll see what happens but the NFL gives Tampa Bay justa 28% chance of progressing.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers have little to play for in Week 18, which raises the question of whether quarterback Justin Herbert should take the field in the regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos and their league-leading pass rush.
Coach Jim Harbaugh said after a 20-16 loss to the Houston Texans on Saturday he hadn’t thought about it yet. Herbert talked as if he expects to play. But if the Chargers (11-5) are going to have any meaningful chance to win in the wild-card round and be a real threat in the playoffs, they need Herbert at full strength, which might require holding him out of the game.
Everything that transpired against the Texans and their elite defensive line indicated the best way to ensure the Chargers QB is ready for the postseason would be to sit him.
Herbert was under siege, as he could be in Denver. The Broncos are averaging four sacks per game, with outside linebackers Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper combining for 20 1/2 sacks this season. And with the top seed in the AFC, a first-round bye and home-field advantage all at stake, that defense will have plenty of incentive to go all-out.
Already playing with a surgically repaired non-throwing hand, Herbert went to the sideline with that left hand and arm dangling after being sacked on the first drive of the game against the Texans.
Fortunately for the Chargers, he was able to keep playing without issue, showcasing Herbert’s immense importance in trying to rally the Chargers out of an early 14-0 deficit.
“I mean, every week he does things that are reserved for only the best in the game — heroic,” Harbaugh said. “It’s just the kind of competitor he is, and so many feed off of him, we all feed off him. I kind of ran out of superlatives, really.”
Herbert is what makes the Chargers go. He is the main reason they are back in the playoffs in spite of constant uncertainty at the offensive tackle spots caused by injuries to starters Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. Herbert’s ability to keep making plays with his arm and legs despite being one of the most hit quarterbacks in the NFL has Los Angeles with consecutive 11-win seasons for just the third time in franchise history.
Herbert has been the on-field avatar of Harbaugh’s competitive philosophy, “attacking everything with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind,” as Harbaugh described it at his introductory news conference in February 2024.
“Every game is the most important,” Herbert said when asked about the significance of facing the Broncos. “You dive into it and you give it your all each week. I’ve got no doubt that this team will do that again next week.”
That mindset is what might lead to Herbert playing in Denver, with the intention of trying to establish some momentum.
What’s working
Herbert was 21 of 32 for 236 yards, one touchdown and an interception, while also leading the team with 37 yards rushing.
What needs help
The typically sturdy Chargers secondary had major issues on its first two drives, which ended up costing the team the game. CB Donte Jackson tried to pass off Jayden Higgins, but there was no safety help, resulting in a 75-yard touchdown pass. Jaylin Noel followed that up with a 43-yard scoring catch coming across the field against S Elijah Molden.
Stock up
WR Quentin Johnston kick-started the Chargers offense with a 60-yard catch and finished with five receptions for 98 yards. If the growth he has shown in the first two seasons of the Harbaugh era continues, Johnston can cement himself as the dominant passing game option outside the numbers Herbert has needed.
Stock down
TE Oronde Gadsden II had two crucial drops, with one of them ending up being picked off by the Texans at the goal line late in the second quarter. The rookie did respond in the second half, finishing with three receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown.
Injuries
The Chargers seemingly got through the game without further issue, but the absences of LT Jamaree Salyer (hamstring), return specialist Derius Davis (ankle), CB Benjamin St-Juste (shoulder) and rookie S R.J. Mickens (shoulder) all loomed large in the defeat.
Key number
68 — K Cameron Dicker had made all 68 field-goal attempts inside of 40 yards before missing a 32-yarder wide right late in the first half. Dicker also missed an extra point.
Next steps
The Chargers face the Broncos next week. Los Angeles is 5-0 against the AFC West this season, including a 23-20 win over Denver on Sept. 21.
Charger fans cheer during the second half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. The Houston Texans defeated the Chargers 20-16 in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, left, and Chargers quarterbac Justin Herbert, right, meet on the field following the Texans 20-16 win at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. The Houston Texans defeated the Chargers 20-16 in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Texan kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn (15) reacts to teammate Tommy Townsend (6) after making a second half field goal against the Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. The Houston Texans defeated the Chargers 20-16 in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Los Angeles Chargers place kicker Cameron Dicker (11) watches his field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Houston wide receiver Jayden Higgins (81) scores on a 76-yard first quarter touchdown pass from quarterback C.J. Stroud against the Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. The Los Angeles Chargers host the Houston Texans in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Charger fans cheer during the second half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. The Houston Texans defeated the Chargers 20-16 in a National Football League (NFL) game. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
INGLEWOOD – Saturday’s game against the Houston Texans was the Chargers’ final home game of the 2025 regular season, and – belying the reputation attached to this franchise – the announced paid attendance of 73,066 represented a true home field advantage.
It didn’t help. And now the chances are that this might be the Chargers’ last SoFi Stadium appearance of the season.
Two quick strikes in the first six minutes of the game by Houston quarterback (and Rancho Cucamonga’s own) C.J. Stroud, touchdown plays of 75 and 43 yards to Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, put the home team on its back foot. And a myriad of miscues – including an uncharacteristic two missed kicks by the Chargers’ Cameron Dicker, on a 32-yard field goal try that went wide right near the end of the first half and an extra point that he doinked off the left goalpost – helped produce a 20-16 loss that put any chance for a division title out of reach.
At 11-5, they’re two games behind Denver with one left to play. And with the No. 7 spot in the AFC standings seemingly theirs unless they win at Denver next week and the Texans (also 11-5) stumble at Indianapolis, chances are their first playoff game will be at New England, 12-3 and facing the woeful Jets (3-12) Sunday on the road and Miami (6-9) next week at home.
In a word: B-r-r-r-r-r-r. Have your parkas ready, guys.
It’s easy to be pessimistic and assume the Chargers’ story will be one-and-out, given the team’s history. It’s up to the current club, which had won seven of eight before Saturday, to change that narrative. Maybe next week’s regular season finale in Denver will turn out to be far more important than it seems at this moment.
And yes, the tone (and verbiage) in the locker room, as expressed by quarterback Justin Herbert, is what you might expect.
“It’s been a one-game season each week,” he said. “Every game is the most important, and you dive into it and you give it your all each week. And I’ve got no doubt that this team will do that again next week.”
And, when asked if the regular season finale is vital in regaining momentum to take into the postseason:
“Every game is important, especially that one, because it’s the next one. They’re a very good opponent. We know how good they are offensively, defensively and on special teams. And so it’s gonna take a good week of preparation for us. We gotta be on our stuff, dialed, locked in and have a good week of practice.”
The hometown crowd was boisterous as the afternoon began, hushed after those back-to-back daggers on the Texans’ first two series made it 14-0, and noisy again as the Chargers fought back to within 17-10 in the third quarter and trailed 20-16 with 3:37 left in the game on Omarion Hampton’s burst into the end zone, before Dicker’s doink put them out of range of a potential tying field goal.
Beyond those two defensive blemishes at the start, the Chargers were 2 for 5 in the red zone, The other touchdown was a 1-yard scoring reception by Oronde Gadsden in the third quarter, sort of atoning for the Herbert bullet that slipped through his hands and was picked off by Houston’s Azeez Al-Shaair at the Texans 1.
That pick was one of the three missed red zone opportunities. The others: Dicker’s made field goal early in the second quarter, settling for three rather than a chance at seven after the Chargers had gotten to the Houston 9, and that missed field goal at the very end of the first half, after Eric Molten had made up for Gadsden’s muff by intercepting Stroud at the Houston 32 with 45 seconds left in the half.
“We know what we’re capable of,” coach Jim Harbaugh said. “But yeah, things that were just off a little bit. (There’s) things to clean up and make us better going forward.”
Yeah, there was plenty to clean up.
Besides Dicker’s issues, punter JK Scott had an off day as well, a 38.4 average on seven punts including a 22-yard shank early in the third quarter, leading to a field goal that gave Houston a 17-3 lead. There was also a 34-yarder early in the fourth quarter, and after that one Scott heard some boos.
Saturday’s result, and the way it developed, “definitely leaves a bad taste in my mouth,” safety Derwin James Jr. said. “But at the end of the day, our end goal’s still right there, winning that Super Bowl. So, just get better from it, look at the film, get better. You’re not going to beat nobody in this league spotting them 14, so you got to go out there and play hard.”
True progress will be determined from here on. And, as noted, in all likelihood it’ll take place away from SoFi. But the crowd and atmosphere on this day suggested that the Chargers’ fan base need not apologize to anyone.
Fact is – and yes, this might hurt if you were a fan in San Diego and felt that the team was ripped away from you – if you squinted real hard Saturday it might have seemed like the atmosphere of the good old days at Qualcomm Stadium, right down to the navy blue throwbacks the home team wore.
This was so different from all those occasions the last few years when visiting fans have made the most noise in this building, both for the Chargers and for the Rams. That was, and is, the consequence of two decades without the NFL in this community.
“Thought it was awesome,” Herbert said, adding that with “the environment and how much the community has given us, I think it’s really cool to be able to see that from the fans. And I’m sorry that we didn’t get it done for them. We felt their support, felt their noise, but it was a cool experience to see so many Chargers fans.
“… It’s on us to be able to deliver and give them a performance that is worthy of their support.”
That process starts now, even if it figures to be from long distance.
Plus, holiday cocktails at The Spare Room and Bar Etoile Sunday chicken frites dinner
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Justin Herbert and co. also take on Texas for a Saturday afternoon game, bringing game day excitement to the lull between Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
Opening up for a noteworthy afternoon service, Bar Etoile honors Poulet Frites du Dimanche in Paris’s 11th Arrondissement with a family-style menu of roast chicken frites served with a chicory salad and chocolate mousse. Plant-based eaters can opt for the tagliatelle with vegetarian bolognese.
Make a round of bowling festive with a visit to The Spare Room, serving holiday-themed drinks alongside its lineup of games. Menu highlights include the Seas and Greetings with run, cinnamon and dash of mole bitter and the herbal and the tequila-based Pardon My Poinsettia.
The Shay, a Destination by Hyatt, in Culver City makes giving back throughout the holidays easy with its Westside Food Bank lobby donation bins. Bring by non-perishable food items and canned goods between visits to Butterfly for rooftop cocktails and dinner at Zaytina.
On Dec. 16, HiHo Cheeseburger brought its cheesy goodness to Pasadena. Stop in to try its signature menu alongside fried chicken dishes made in collaboration with James Beard Award-winning Willie Mae’s Scotch House in New Orleans and house-made desserts like milkshakes and banana cream pie in a to-go cup.
Quarterback Dak Prescott completed 21 of 30 passes for 244 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Here’s everything he said to the media after the game:
On the team responding today knowing that it had been eliminated from the playoffs
“Unfortunately we lost, but the effort, the focus, the mentality, all that was there. They executed the game playing better, played a better full game than us. I mean, at the end of the day, we didn’t play complementary football. The first half, we were rolling, and we didn’t get the stops on defense. Second half, we got the stops on defense, and we weren’t doing much. The lack of that is where you’re going to get the result like that against a good team who’s great at controlling the ball. They did that tonight. I mean, I know there’s plenty of times where I’m on the sideline getting antsy and fidgety because they do a great job of controlling the clock and just marching their way downfield. We didn’t make the stops when we needed to, and ultimately, we didn’t score enough points.
On his thought process on the fourth-and-1 handoff
“Just do my job. It was just a dive play, not much more for me to do. [I] handed it off, and we unfortunately didn’t get it. [It was] a play that we’ve had success in the past. Seems like they were just more ready for it than our execution, and they stopped us and that was the end of it for the offense.”
On what happened to the team’s continuity with the passing game in the second half
“I’ve got to go back and watch the film, honestly. I think as much as anything, it’s that fourth down. If we get that fourth down, we’re still rolling. We go score a touchdown there, it’s a one-score game or a three-point game. You’re just looking for a stop for us to go down, take the lead and tie it up. When you’re playing a team like that, who’s really good at controlling the clock, we only had three drives in the first half. And I told the guys in the second half, we’re probably only going to get three, maybe four. I think we got four. When you’re playing a team like that, you’ve got to take advantage of those opportunities. You have to execute on every possession. And we didn’t do that in the second half. So, when we didn’t get that fourth down, that was kind of the air out of the bubble right there.”
On keeping the intensity up while playing knowing the team has been eliminated from the playoffs
“Honestly, I guess it’s different when you do this. I’m not firing any shots, but I’ve said it over and over; this is our job. We’re blessed. You know how hard we’ve worked and the sacrifices we’ve got to even get to this league, 10 years in for myself, to be healthy. I said it to the team, I think it was Friday or Saturday when we were breaking down. This game has given us so much, how could you cheat it? So to answer, I don’t know anything else. I’m not going to cheat this game. I’m going to give this game everything that I have, and that’s just how my mind works. It’s not a, ‘Oh, I’ve got to flip back in or flip back or I can turn it off or it’s not to play.’ Now, that’s how you get hurt. That’s how you go out there and embarrass yourself. That’s how you lose a job. So for me, it’s about preparing, staying true to the process and staying true to how I play this game or prepare to play this game. A lot of work has went into this. I think [defensive tackle] Osa [Odighizuwa] said it best when he just broke down the team after the game. We’ve got two weeks left, and nothing’s promised in life. Our football careers damn sure aren’t, so nothing in life is. Let’s enjoy these two weeks, cherish these moments, these practices, the time together with the men and the brothers that we love and we’ve got an opportunity to play with. This team won’t be the same next year. Let’s enjoy this and give it our best.”
On the optimism that year 11 will be different
“The work that I put into this. From last year to this year, I think you can go back to every year and there’s been improvement. When you control the things that you can control, and you do it with a great attitude, put God first, you’re not going to question yourself. You’re not going to question your ability to accomplish something. We’re going to keep working. I’m going to keep working. This team is going to keep working. The organization, obviously, is going to do things in the offseason, and hopefully everything is just building for us to have a better year than we did this year. And I know for myself and anybody that I’m leading or that’s following me, that’ll be the message.”
“Put him at center. He can do it all. We’re good at center, but honestly, I mean, he can play whatever he wants, and that’s credit to that guy. I mean, I go back to his rookie year when he was taking all the snaps [at] guard, Tyron [Smith], the left tackle, gets hurt the week of the game. Everybody’s like, ‘Oh gosh, they got to put this first-rounder out there who hadn’t taken snaps at tackle all offseason. Can he do it? Will he be good enough?’ And the guy goes and has a Pro Bowl year at left tackle. So then, the next year moving back to guard and All-Pro at guard. The moment they told me this early in the week that we’re going to go with Tyler at left tackle, I was great with it. There was no hesitation in my mind. There was no doubt of what he was going to be able to do and the way that he was going to play. I watched him obviously practice and just his intentionality and his approach. That’s a true football player, and we’re blessed to have him on our side. He can play wherever we need him to.”
On what kind of fire do you still see from owner Jerry Jones now after being with Dallas for 10 years
“Yeah, a lot of fire, maybe as much here recently as I’ve seen. And whether it’s him right against the clock and him knowing, which he’ll tell you that, or the deals and the things that we’ve done have been invigorating. You can tell he’s excited to help this team to make moves and do whatever he can and his power. For me, it’s about controlling what I can. Enjoy these last two weeks with these guys, and we’ll have those conversations or answer any questions I’m asked when we get there.”
On if the team will be experimental during the rest of the season
“Probably after action. Yeah, for me, like I said, I’m very routine, very process-oriented. So, I’m going to just keep doing what I know and the way that I know to approach the game to attack the game plans. When conversations like that come my way, and I’ll approach with them, I’ll handle them then. But I’m not sure if that’ll happen. Right now, to me, it’s about building. We got a hell of a group, a hell of an offense. And it’s about building on our side of the ball and whatever we can and just taking anything good, good momentum, good plays into the offseason.”
On wide receiver George Pickens’ bounce-back game
“George being George. Them giving us opportunities, one-on-one opportunities, the coverage. A week ago, they [Minnesota] did a good job. And honestly, in this game, I think that might’ve been some of it in the second half if they started rolling his way a little bit more. And I don’t know if we quite made the adjustments enough, but once again, I just go back, just really was that fourth down, that was the telltale there. But yeah, just the way the guy approaches the game, he had a hell of a week of practice, and when the coverage gives us opportunities, I’m attacked no matter if it’s George, CeeDee [Lamb] or whoever it is.
On offensive line performance despite frequent movement
“I give them a lot of credit. They’ve had a hell of a year, and that’s a group of a bunch of young guys who you just said were asked to do a bunch of different things, whether it was guys coming in, playing when they weren’t expected to playing, being Nate [Thomas], Brock [Hoffman], coming in for a few games. Now Tyler’s [Smith] going outside to left [tackle]. It hasn’t been a lot of continuity, right? However, whatever they’re asked to do, that group is winning there, and I credit [coaches] Connor Riley, Klayton Adams, and obviously each and every one of those men in that room of just their preparation, the professionalism and just handling whatever they’ve been asked to do at a high level. And I know it goes both ways. I tell them all the time, right, fight your ass off and I’m going to fight for you. We’re in this together when it comes to sacks and protecting the ball. They’ve done a hell of a job.”
On if it’s difficult without continuity
“Not necessarily. No. I think that that challenge of that has been fun and watch these guys answer the bell and produce and keep me upright. And even games that I’ve got hit a little bit more than the others, watching their demeanor, watching their mentality, watching them respond to that and get better. No.”
On not making playoffs despite his bounce-back season
“It’s football. It’s a team game. That’s what makes this game special. It’s what makes this game unique. It’s the ultimate team game. It’s not even just about me. It’s not even just about the offense at times, right? It’s not just about the defense. It’s a full unit. It’s a full team effort, and everybody has to play together and they have to play complementary. You’ve got to take advantage of your opportunities, the situations that the game gives you, the different matchups each week presents. It’s just unfortunate. It’s exciting knowing in year 10 I’m playing my best and to go back to [a reporter] to answer his point, I’m only going to get better in my mind about the way that I work and what I put into this game. It’s tough. It’s frustrating, but it’s what this business is about, and that’s what makes it special.”
On Tyler Smith claiming a loss of attention to detail, especially against playoff teams
“I don’t know if I feel the same just yet. Got to watch the film. When you present that question, I guess I think about the three-game winning streak playing against some good teams and when it got tougher, guys were actually producing more and making the plays in those games actually on the tougher side of the game rather than in the beginning. So it’s hard to say that exactly, but I know as a leader of this team, especially as the offense, it will be addressed at some point or another, whether it’s now or whether it’s at the end of it. But I think maybe youth has a good reasoning for that, if that is the case. And guys will understand as they get older, right? Sometimes the guys put a lot on themselves, and hell, I did it when I was young, right? You put more pressure on yourself than ever is called for rather than just going and executing and doing what you’ve done your whole life and what you’ve been coached to do. Some of that comes with great leadership. Fixing that comes with great leadership. And then the other part comes with just experience, understanding that you’ve made it harder on yourself in those moments. How can you fix that communication as well? That’ll be something I’m sure Schotty [head coach Brian Schottenheimer], myself and all of us, that’ll be talked about at the end of these two weeks more than tomorrow.”
On preferring the shorter period before Thursday’s game after today’s loss
“I’d rather the shorter period. Win, lose or draw. I’m a fan of Thursday games. I know I’m probably one of the only men in the league, but I’d just rather go out and play. Love practice, don’t get me wrong, it’s where you get better. You got to have it, but there’s just something about the game, that’s what we do it for. Being in it so long, I understand the process and taking care of my body for the next couple of days to be ready to play my best on Thursday. But yeah, in the situation particularly that we’re in, not playing for the playoffs or things like that, yeah, you just want to get back out there and redeem yourself.”
Game schedule dates, times, locations
Dec. 22 at New Orleans, 7 p.m., KFAA, MavsTV
Dec. 23 vs. Denver, 7 p.m., NBC
Dec. 25 at Golden State, 4 p.m., ABC, ESPN
Dec. 27 at Sacramento, 4 p.m., KFAA, MavsTV
Dec. 29 at Portland, 9:30 p.m., NBC
Dec. 29 vs. Jackson State, 7 p.m., ESPN+
Jan. 3 vs. Baylor, 1 p.m., TNT
Jan. 6 at Kansas, 8 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
Jan. 10 vs. Arizona, 3 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2
Jan. 14 at BYU, 10 p.m., ESPN2
Dec. 31 at BYU, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Jan. 3 at Utah, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Jan. 7 vs. Oklahoma State, 6:30 p.m., ESPN+
Jan. 11 vs. Arizona State, 4 p.m., ESPN+
Jan. 14 at West Virginia, 6 p.m., ESPN+
Dec. 23 at Detroit, 5:30 p.m., TNT, truTV, Victory+
Dec. 27 vs. Chicago, 7 p.m., Victory+
Dec. 31 vs. Buffalo, 7 p.m., Victory+
Jan. 1 at Chicago, 7:30 p.m., Victory+
Jan. 4 vs. Montreal, 1 p.m., Victory+
Alamo Bowl
Dec. 30 vs. USC (at San Antonio), 8 p.m., ESPN
New Mexico Bowl
Dec. 27 vs. San Diego State (at Albuquerque, N.M.), 4:45 p.m., ESPN
Dec. 25 at Washington, noon, Netflix
Jan. 3 or 4 at N.Y. Giants, TBD
End of the regular season
May 1 NASCAR Truck Series: SpeedyCash.com 250
May 2 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series: Andy’s Frozen Custard 340
May 3 NASCAR Cup Series: Wurth 400
This story was originally published December 21, 2025 at 6:28 PM.
Jim Barnes is the Star-Telegram’s sports editor. A Fort Worth native and graduate of Castleberry High School, he returned to Texas after 13 years at the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He previously was sports editor of the Waco Tribune-Herald and a freelance high school sports reporter for The Dallas Morning News.
The Kansas City Chiefs are reeling after being eliminated from playoff contention and losing star quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a season-ending knee injury.
A 16-13 loss to the Chargers proved costly as Kansas City will miss the playoff for the first time in the Mahomes era and just the second time in 13 seasons under head coach Andy Reid. As the team prepares for the final three games of the regular season, star tight end Travis Kelce knows they might the final three games of his career.
“It’s just integrity, man,” Kelce said following Friday’s practice. “I signed up to be a Chief, and I love doing what I do. I know I’ve been dreaming of being in these moments and playing for an NFL team since I was a kid. Getting back to that will give you more motivation than you could ever need. That’s just how you need to go about work, whether you’re in the [playoff] race or not.”
As Kelce prepares for the final three games, he was bracing for a potential punishment from the NFL after declining to speak with reporters following the 16-13 loss. According to Pro Football Talk, players who are not in the concussion protocol must make themselves available to the media when asked.
“Players have been fined in the past, if/when the failure to comply with media obligations becomes chronic, and if the media covering the team complains about it. Sometimes, the media doesn’t make waves,” PFT said.
In the end, the NFL decided against a punishment for Kelce, who admitted a conversation with Mahomes sparked his decision not to speak with the media.
“I mean, that’s my brother. I know everything he’s going through and all that. But yeah, I’ll just keep it personal,” Kelce said. “I talked to him afterwards. I know it was before the MRI and stuff, but that’s why I kinda chose not to speak to the media right after that game.”
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Sherrone Moore was being held in jail Thursday while police investigate the situation that led to his arrest hours after the once-promising coach was fired at Michigan for what the school said was an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
Authorities have yet to release details on Moore’s arrest, other than to say he has been held since Wednesday night in the Washtenaw County Jail and remains under investigation.
Pittsfield Township police had issued a statement that said officers were called to investigate an alleged assault and took a person into custody, without mentioning anyone by name. The statement, however, was released in response to media inquiries about Moore.
The police department updated its statement in the morning to say the suspect is scheduled for arraignment on Friday.
Moore, 39, was fired by Michigan, college football’s winningest program that has been mired in scandal, after the school verified evidence of his relationship with the staffer.
Athletic director Warde Manuel said the behavior “constitutes a clear violation of university policy.”
The announcement did not include details of the alleged relationship. Moore, who is married with three young daughters, did not return a message from The Associated Press seeking comment.
His departure ends an up-and-down, two-year tenure that saw the Wolverines take a step back on the field after winning the national championship in January 2024 and getting punished by the NCAA for a sign-stealing scandal.
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore celebrates with kicker Dominic Zvada (96) after an extra-point kick during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore celebrates with kicker Dominic Zvada (96) after an extra-point kick during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
He led the 18th-ranked Wolverines to a 9-3 record this year after going 8-5 in his debut season.
Moore signed a five-year contract with a base annual salary of $5.5 million last year. According to the terms of his deal, the university will not have to buy out the remaining years of his contract because he was fired for cause.
His firing leaves Michigan suddenly looking for a third coach in four years, shortly after a busy cycle that included Lane Kiffin leaving playoff-bound Mississippi for LSU.
Moore, the team’s former offensive coordinator, was promoted to lead the Wolverines after they won the national title. He succeeded Jim Harbaugh, who returned to the NFL to lead the Los Angeles Chargers.
Michigan is set to play No. 14 Texas on Dec. 31 in the Citrus Bowl. Biff Poggi, who filled in for Moore when he was suspended earlier this season in relation to the Harbaugh-era sign-stealing scandal, will serve as interim coach. Moore was suspended for two games as part of self-imposed sanctions for NCAA violations related to the scandal.
The NCAA added a third game to the suspension, which would have kept Moore off the sideline for next year’s opener against Western Michigan.
Moore previously deleted an entire 52-message text thread with former staffer Connor Stalions, who was at the center of the team’s sign-stealing operation. The texts were later recovered and shared with the NCAA.
Just a few years ago, Moore was Harbaugh’s top assistant and regarded as a rising star.
Moore, who is from Derby, Kansas, didn’t start playing football until his junior year of high school. He played for Butler County Community College in Kansas and as an offensive lineman for coach Bob Stoops at Oklahoma during the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
His coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Louisville before moving on to Central Michigan, where he caught Harbaugh’s attention. Harbaugh hired him in 2018 as tight ends coach.
Moore was promoted to offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator in 2021, when the Wolverines bounced back from a 2-4, pandemic-shortened season and began a three-year run of excellence that culminated in the school’s first national title in 26 years.
He worked his way up within the Wolverines’ staff and filled in as interim coach for four games during the 2023 championship season while Harbaugh served two suspensions for potential NCAA rules violations.
Earlier in the 2023 season, Michigan State fired coach Mel Tucker for cause after he engaged in what he described as consensual phone sex with an activist and rape survivor. In 2012, Arkansas fired coach Bobby Petrino due to a sordid scandal that involved a motorcycle crash, an affair with a woman who worked for him and being untruthful to his bosses.
It appeared through three quarters that it was another ugly Eagles performance, with the Chargers marching into the end zone courtesy of an Omari Hampton four-yard touchdown reception from Justin Herbert and subsequent five Jalen Hurts turnovers.
In between all of those events, the Eagles and Chargers on Monday night football was like a game mixed together in that fruit juicer that DeVonta Smith is so fond of.
Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Eagles squandered big-play opportunities and quality offensive possessions featuring AJ Brown, Saquon Barkley, and Dallas Goedert, but did come within 13–9 through three quarters.As the fourth quarter began , the Eagles ran a hurry-up and a fake Tush Push to take the lead 16–13. Following another Hurts interception, the Eagles’ defense responded once again, but the Chargers ultimately tied the game at 16–16. With less than three minutes left in the game up 16–13 — Jalen Hurt lofted a perfect pass to AJ Brown at the back of the end zone that was dropped.
Los Angeles then tied the game at the end of the 4th quarter. Philadelphia also squandered a near-complete defensive performance featuring seven sacks on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and three takeaways of their own. Then, in overtime , the Chargers took the ball first and kicked a go-ahead field goal.
The Eagles responded by connecting on big plays on the next drive, featuring connections from Hurts to Devonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and AJ Brown. On 1st and 10 inside the Chargers 20 — Hurts faked a handoff and was intercepted at the one-yard line by Los Angeles Safety Tony Jefferson.
After the Eagles barely made it out with a victory in Green Bay Monday Night. It was time to start preparing for another PrimeTime spotlight against the Eagles 3rd NFC North opponent of the year.
The Detroit Lions
Sundays match against Detroit will be the 2nd time the Sirianni/Hurts led Eagles will play the Campbell/Goff Lions. Previously, the Eagles won both matchups that took place at Ford Field. Winning 44-6 in 2021, and 38-35 in 2023.
And while this matchup won’t have nearly as much excitement as the NFC Championship Game that could have been last year. The winner and loser of this game could see a huge impact on playoff seeding within the next 5-6 Weeks.
The Cluttered NFC Race
Luckily for the Eagles. The NFC East is the only division that isn’t filled with multiple contenders, or teams just outside the wildcard bubble. Like the 49ers(6-4), Panthers(5-5) & Vikings(4-5). However, with two games left against NFC North opponents. The Eagles will be able to pull ahead in the division, and from the rest of the NFC.
Already having victories against the Rams(7-2), Buccaneers(6-3) and Packers(5-3-1) currently gives the Eagles the head to head tiebreaker against the current 5th, 4th and 7th seed in the NFC playoff race. While the odds of the Eagles dropping into a wildcard spot are low with a 4 game lead on the NFC East race. It has happened before. Being able to chain together wins during the toughest stretches of the schedule will help the Eagles lock up the division race as fast as possible, while still being in the thick of it for the Bye Week, or as much home field advantage as possible in the playoffs.
Schedule Down The Stretch
Following the Lions this weekend, the Eagles will see a total of three more teams in the current playoff picture, including:
6-3 Bears (Week 13)
7-3 Chargers (Week 15)
6-3 Bills (Week 17)
There will also be a gutsy game against the 3-5-1 Cowboys, who for some reason decided to be buyers at the deadline. Acquiring Quinnen Williams and Logan Wilson.
With some more breathing room between playoff opponents, the Eagles will also see the following teams who’s season is approaching an ugly finish:
2-7 Raiders (Week 15)
3-7 Commanders (Week 16 & 18)
Both teams will most likely be playing for a top 5-10 pick come December. The wins might not matter that late for the Eagles depending how the rest of this “gauntlet” unfolds.
With an impressive 7-2 run to start the season. How many wins will it take to clinch the NFC East?
The city of Pasadena, California, and the Rose Bowl Operating Company have reportedly sued UCLA for allegedly trying to move its college football games from one of the sport’s most iconic stadiums to the much newer SoFi Stadium.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the suit claims the university is “profoundly” betraying its trust by attempting to relocate its home games from the site the Bruins have called home for 43 years to the home of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.
The Times reported UCLA’s outside counsel, David L. Schrader, sent a letter to Pasadena attorney Nima Mohebbi in March, saying the school’s efforts to conduct “preliminary discussions” about relocating games did not constitute a “material breach” of its contract.
A game between the California Golden Bears and the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl Oct. 29, 2011, in Pasadena, Calif.(Harry How/Getty Images)
“This lawsuit arises in an era when money too often eclipses meaning and the pursuit of profit threatens to erase the very traditions that breathe life into institutions,” the suit claims. “Some commitments are too fundamental to be traded away.”
“The City expects UCLA will honor the terms of the [lease] agreement, and the City Council will do everything in its power to protect and defend the City’s contractual rights,” the city of Pasadena said in a statement to ESPN on Thursday.
“The City of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Stadium, steadfast partners to UCLA for more than four decades, are extremely disappointed with UCLA’s attempt to terminate the lease.
UCLA has played at the Rose Bowl since 1982.(Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
“The Rose Bowl has acted with transparency and integrity, not only fulfilling but exceeding its obligations under the lease agreement, investing significant time, effort, and financial resources into the partnership with UCLA, including ongoing major renovation work,” the statement continued. “The potential economic and reputational damage of UCLA’s attempt to break its lease is significant to the Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena residents, and the local and regional economy.”
UCLA’s current lease runs through 2044, but the stadium is 26 miles from campus, while SoFi Stadium, which opened in 2020, is about 12 miles away.
The Bruins (3-5, 3-2 Big Ten) have struggled with attendance in recent years. UCLA’s average attendance for its four home games is roughly 35,000. The stadium has a capacity of more than 89,000. SoFi Stadium’s capacity is about 20,000 fewer.
In an aerial view, the Rose Bowl is seen as preparations are made for the Rose Bowl Dec. 27, 2023, in Pasadena, Calif.(David McNew/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings were all-in on developing quarterback J.J. McCarthy this season, after his rookie year was lost to injury, with the belief they could insulate him from some of the natural struggles of inexperience by surrounding him with a stacked veteran team and a savvy coaching staff.
After a bumpy start put some holes in the plan, the blueprint all but disintegrated in a blowout to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday. Not only have the players and schemes on offense and defense failed to deliver, but they’ve had all of two games during which to test McCarthy.
“I told our team, ‘This is where we’re going to find out what we’re all about,’” coach Kevin O’Connell said after the 37-10 defeat that was the second worst in his four seasons.
The Vikings were dealt a tough blow when McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in the draft last year, needed meniscus surgery on his right knee before making it to the regular season. The high sprain of his right ankle he finished his second game with has been even more devastating, considering the way Sam Darnold mostly flourished in 2024 and Carson Wentz has mostly flopped in 2024.
After going 2-3 with Wentz, who played through a non-throwing shoulder injury that took plenty of hard hits during an increasingly painful night, McCarthy is line to return next week. With the Vikings (3-4) currently in 12th place in the NFC, and last by two losses in their daunting division, even remarkable progress by McCarthy over the last 10 games might not be enough to get them in the playoffs.
Wentz had the misfortune of playing most of the game without stalwart tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill because of knee injuries, not to mention center Ryan Kelly, who’s hardly been available. On the other side, the free agent spending spree on defensive tackles in their 30s, Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, has not paid dividends. And the lack of production from recent drafts has left them without enough depth at cornerback, not to mention other positions.
“That’s all a team effort,” wide receiver Justin Jefferson said, “and we’re just not doing enough.”
What’s working
There’s not much for the Vikings to feel good about. Rookie Myles Price had a 27-yard average on five kickoff returns, continuing to show an aggressiveness and a burst that appears to be close to breaking him free for a score. Fittingly, he had a 46-yard runback to open the game and a 42-yard return in the third quarter, both of which were wiped out by holding penalties on rookie Tyler Batty.
What needs help
The defense against the run has been the most frequent and damaging issue this season. Just four days after Flores loaded up to keep 2024 rushing champ Saquon Barkley at bay and keep a spy on nimble Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, the Vikings were trampled by second-year bruiser Kimani Vidal. Justin Herbert scrambled seven times himself for a backbreaking 62 yards, as the Chargers became the second team to top the 200-yard mark on the Vikings this season. They held 10 different opponents to 86 rushing yards or fewer last season.
Stock up
Winning performances were in short supply, but edge rusher Jonathan Greenard — matched up against the fifth overall pick in the 2024 draft, Joe Alt — was in the backfield often. He had six tackles, three for loss, and one sack with two hits on Herbert. Defensive tackle Jalen Redmond also stood out, playing 86% of the snaps, by far the most of all the interior linemen.
Stock down
OLB Dallas Turner. The 2024 first-round draft pick has been forced into a critical role with Pro Bowl pick Andrew Van Ginkel missing five of the first seven games to injury, and the consistency and production haven’t been there for a player the Vikings traded up to get last year. Turner has not yet shown he can be a reliable run-stopper, and he has just 1½ sacks. Turner also took a 15-yard penalty for a helmet-first hit on Herbert in the first quarter that gave the Chargers a first-and-goal.
Injury report
After fielding their most complete lineup of the season last Sunday against Philadelphia, the Vikings took a concerning step back with their overall health, thanks in part to the grueling four-day turnaround for the trip to Los Angeles. Darrisaw left after two series, and O’Neill couldn’t make it at all. Kelly (concussion) must miss at least one more game, but there’s no telling when or if he’ll return. Fullback C.J. Ham (hand) was inactive on Thursday along with Van Ginkel (neck). The return of running back Aaron Jones from a four-game absence was one positive.
Now the Vikings have three extra days of recovery for a potential boost prior to their Nov. 2 game at Detroit, with McCarthy likely to lead the list of returners. New injuries that popped up against the Chargers were to Greenard (ankle) and tight end Josh Oliver (foot), whose departure in the first quarter was a hindrance to getting the running game going before the score got out of hand with another key blocker Ham already out.
Key number
0-6 — The Vikings have lost all six night road games they’ve played in four years under O’Connell, including three on Thursdays. O’Connell is 4-11 overall at night, including the loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the playoffs last season. The Vikings have dropped four straight in prime time by a combined score of 117-34. But this pattern predated O’Connell. Over the past 20 years, encompassing four coaching staffs, the Vikings are 9-28 on the road at night and 24-42 overall. They’re 1-9 all time on Thursdays on the road, last winning in 1978.
Up next
The Lions (5-2) will be more rested than the Vikings, coming off their bye week. Minnesota has lost to Detroit five times in a row, the longest skid since their first five matchups from 1961-63. The Vikings have also dropped four straight games in Detroit.
The Minnesota Vikings under coach Kevin O’Connell have focused — and prided themselves — on situational success from third downs to special teams to the red zone.
That winning in the margins, as they’ve labeled their philosophy, is occurring far too infrequently this season. They scored only one touchdown in six trips inside the 20-yard during Sunday’s 28-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
“We understand what’s going on. We have the players out there who can make the plays and do what we need to do to go down and score,” wide receiver Justin Jefferson said. “We just need to finish those drives, especially in games like this.”
For the third straight game, the Vikings had two giveaways without a takeaway. They won one of those games, in London on Oct. 5 with a late comeback to beat the Cleveland Browns.
“I told our team that is rare and not a formula to win games consistently,” O’Connell said Sunday, reflecting on his postgame speech in London. “That showed up again today and was very unfortunate.”
In a transitional season at quarterback, with J.J. McCarthy’s takeover soon to resume after his latest setback, the situational mastery was already going to be critical.
Throw in some bad luck on the injury front, and these struggles have been too much to overcome. The Vikings (3-3) will try to fix these issues quickly with a Thursday night road game looming against the Los Angeles Chargers.
“We put ourselves in some of the situations of the football game that, although they competed, we’ve got to clean up,” O’Connell said.
What’s working
After giving up far too much on the ground in four of their first five games, the Vikings defense held reigning AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year award winner Saquon Barkley to 44 yards on 18 rushes.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores seized on the return of linebacker Blake Cashman and frequently put safety Josh Metellus and linebacker Eric Wilson next to him in the box, effectively benching Ivan Pace Jr.
While the focus on stopping the run might well have created vulnerabilities to the deep passes that crippled them against the Eagles, progress was vital with three of the next four opponents ranking in the top 10 in the NFL in rushing.
What needs help
The offense’s struggle inside the 20-yard line was the most concerning of the situational categories, regressing toward a three-year trend. The Vikings ranked 28th in the NFL (47%) in 2023 and 19th (58%) in 2024 in red-zone touchdown rate. They’re 22nd now (52%) after going 10 for 15 over the first five games to rank tied for eighth entering Week 7.
Wentz and center Blake Brandel were the two most obvious players who got in the way on Sunday, but Jefferson blamed himself for a drop in the end zone that Cooper DeJean knocked out. Plain old bad luck factored in, too, with the disputed overturn of T.J. Hockenson’s diving touchdown catch by the replay officials and a hard-to-figure holding call on Brandel that erased a touchdown pass to Jalen Nailor.
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Jordan Addison had a career-best nine catches for 128 yards on 12 targets, matching his career high. Addison, who served a three-game suspension from the NFL to start the season and a disciplinary first-quarter benching by the team in London in Week 5, passed 2,000 yards receiving in his 35th career game to tie for the fifth-fastest player in Vikings history to do so.
Brandel drew rave reviews after his first career start at center on Oct. 5 against a stout Browns defensive line, but his struggles against the Eagles were pronounced, in and out of the red zone.
Stock down
Brandel, the third option at the critical position after Ryan Kelly was sidelined by a concussion and Michael Jurgens struggled and then missed a game with a hamstring injury, was beaten badly with a swim move by Jalen Carter to allow the pressure that preceded the pick six thrown by Wentz in the second quarter.
Injury update
The health forecast looks a lot brighter than it did a few weeks ago, after three starters returned on Sunday: Cashman, left guard Donovan Jackson and right tackle Brian O’Neill. McCarthy is close, though in a truncated week without a full practice his status remains uncertain. O’Connell said after the game no decision had been made. Running back Aaron Jones (hamstring) is eligible to return this week from his four-game absence.
Three role players have minor injuries that could affect their availability in a short week: fullback C.J. Ham (hand), running back Zavier Scott (wrist) and defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (hip). Ham and Scott were hurt during the game.
Key number
387 — The Vikings posted their season high in total yards on offense against the Eagles. They topped that six times last year.
Up next
While the short-week trip to the West Coast is always a tough draw, the Chargers have lost three of their last four games. The Vikings will then have the benefit of a mini-bye before playing at the Detroit Lions on Nov. 2.
If nothing else, quarterback Justin Herbert and the Chargers proved to be resilient in Sunday’s victory over the Miami Dolphins, the second time in six games this season they have rallied in the closing minutes or seconds to overtake an opponent that seemed to have them defeated.
Here’s what we learned, what we heard and what comes next after the Chargers’ 29-27 come-from-behind victory ended a two-game losing streak, gave them a 4-2 record to start the season and also enabled them to keep pace with the Denver Broncos atop the AFC West:
WHO ARE THOSE GUYS?
The Chargers found a way to win a game with a lineup that was unfathomable when they convened for training camp back in July. The injury-depleted Chargers were a shadow of themselves when they ran onto the Hard Rock Stadium field to face the Dolphins and, ultimately, win.
That says more about the Chargers than the fact that they had to eke out a victory over a Dolphins team that has won only once in six games. It says they have depth. It says they are tough. It says they have a quarterback who can work his magic without the A-team on the O-line.
Herbert completed 29 of 38 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns and was sacked only once while playing behind an offensive line that was without tackles Joe Alt and Trey Pipkins III because of injuries and top backup guard/tackle Jamaree Salyer, who also was hurt.
Running back Kimani Vidal, filling in while Omarion Hampton is on injured reserve, rushed for a career-high 124 yards on 18 carries for an average of 6.9 yards per attempt behind a makeshift line of Austin Deculus, Zion Johnson, Bradley Bozeman, Mekhi Becton and Bobby Hart.
Nyheim Hines, who is filling in as the Chargers’ kick returner while Derius Davis is sidelined by a knee injury, set up the winning drive by returning a kickoff 40 yards to his own 41-yard line. The Chargers elevated Hines from their practice squad Saturday to play in Sunday’s game.
“Great for morale,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said of rallying to beat Miami. “Great for the belief. Believe. Guys were talking about it on the sideline. Every time things got tough, you saw our guys (acting) as the tough get going and believing in each other, believing in themselves.”
No one is going to confuse the Dolphins with the Buffalo Bills or the Indianapolis Colts or the Pittsburgh Steelers, three one-loss teams leading their AFC divisions. But, as several Chargers pointed out after Sunday’s game, it’s not so easy to win games in the NFL in these days of parity.
“Hey, I know how hard it is to win in this league,” Bozeman said. “I was on a 1-16 team once.”
Actually, Bozeman and the 2023 Carolina Panthers were 2-15, but you get the idea.
DICKER THE KICKER
Cameron Dicker kicked a career-high five field goals, including the game-winning, 33-yarder with five seconds remaining Sunday. It was the fourth game-deciding kick of his career and his second this season, after a 43-yarder beat the Denver Broncos, 23-20, as time expired.
Dicker’s fifth and final field goal was straight and true despite a high snap on the winning kick against the Dolphins, a mortal lock if ever there was one. You see, Dicker has never missed from inside the 40-yard line in his four-season career, including 50 of 51 games with the Chargers.
Overall, he has made 105 of 111 field goals, including 2 of 2 during a one-game stint with the Philadelphia Eagles before initially signing with the Chargers’ practice squad on Nov. 3, 2022. He’s only missed once from inside the 50-yard line and five times from 50 or longer.
The Chargers enter the heart of their 2025 schedule when they play host to the Colts on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. Next, they host the Minnesota Vikings at SoFi Stadium on “Thursday Night Football” before hitting the road again to face the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 2 in Nashville.
The Minnesota Vikings trailed Cleveland by three points with 3:05 left in London to salvage an arduous road trip, with this season of high expectations at an unexpectedly early crossroad.
The circumstances were hardly ideal.
After beginning the game with three starting offensive linemen out — left guard Donovan Jackson, center Ryan Kelly and right tackle Brian O’Neill — their best blocker of all was sidelined down the stretch when left tackle Christian Darrisaw bowed out for the afternoon as a precaution with soreness in his surgically repaired knee.
Jackson’s replacement was an undrafted rookie, Joe Huber, because Blake Brandel had to play center for the first time in his career in relief of Kelly’s injured backup, Michael Jurgens. After Justin Skule switched from right tackle to left to fill in for Darrisaw, the Vikings sent 2024 sixth-round draft pick Walter Rouse into the deep end against a Browns defensive line that’s one of the best in the NFL.
Versatile and reliable veteran running back Aaron Jones was out, too. Quarterback Carson Wentz, who joined the team about five weeks ago and suddenly found himself starting for the injured J.J. McCarthy, was fighting pain in his shoulder from a hard hit earlier in the game.
Leaning on the excellence of superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson and a capable group of pass-catchers around him and letting coach Kevin O’Connell lead him with precisely the right play calls in the right moments, Wentz delivered by going 9 for 9 for 71 yards on the final drive with the go-ahead touchdown pass to Jordan Addison with 25 seconds remaining for a 21-17 victory over the Browns.
“I feel like this team didn’t flinch at all,” Jefferson said. “We continued to fight, and we continued to move forward.”
For all the questions about the Vikings (3-2) that are left to be answered after their much-needed bye week — from the development of McCarthy to the long-term prognosis for the long list of key players out with injuries — they showed again a hidden strength of being able to win close games in adverse conditions.
“You don’t win a game like that unless you are a very, very connected football team,” O’Connell told the players in the locker room at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
They fully realize that, too.
“In my brief time here, it’s a very unique group of guys in this locker room, and I mean that in a really good way,” Wentz said. “Everybody is so close.”
What’s working
Though the quarterbacks have changed, not to mention the blockers in front of them, the Vikings’ offense under O’Connell’s direction consistently has been able to generate productive possessions in clutch situations. Over four seasons since he was hired, the Vikings are 28-10 in games decided by eight points or fewer, the fourth-best winning percentage in NFL history among coaches with a minimum of 25 such contests.
The Vikings have scored touchdowns on all five of their drives after the third quarter that reached the red zone. They’re averaging 6.65 yards a play in the fourth quarter, the second-best mark in the league, according to Sportradar data.
What needs help
The defense has been dangerously vulnerable against the run in four of five games, with Browns rookie Quinshon Judkins the latest ball carrier to take advantage. Two injury-sidelined starters in the front seven, linebacker Blake Cashman and edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel, clearly have been missed.
The Vikings are tied for 24th in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game and 22nd in rushing yards allowed per play.
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Ryan Wright covered 286 yards on five punts, including a career-long 77-yard kick late in the third quarter that pinned the Browns on the 1-yard line after a holding penalty. That came with the Vikings trailing 17-14 after a three-and-out by the offense that followed Cleveland’s go-ahead touchdown. Wright ranks fourth in the NFL with a net average of 45.5 yards per punt. The fourth-year player is 10th in the league with a gross average of 49.1 yards per attempt.
Stock down
Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen has had a quiet start to his Vikings career, with only one tackle for loss and minimal quarterback pressure in five games despite playing 73% of the snaps, the most on the team among the three interior line positions.
Injury report
The Vikings expect Jackson (wrist), Jurgens (hamstring) and McCarthy (ankle) to resume practicing next week, and O’Connell sounded optimistic on Monday about their post-bye availability. Cashman (hamstring) also will have his return window opened after hitting the four-game minimum on injured reserve.
Getting O’Neill (knee) or Van Ginkel (neck) back on the field for Week 7 appears far less certain. Kelly (concussion) is out indefinitely. Jones (hamstring) must miss at least one more game.
Key number
9 — The Vikings have at least two sacks in nine consecutive regular-season games, the longest such active streak in the league.
Up next
After the bye, the Vikings enter a daunting three-game stretch against three division leaders. They host the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (4-1) on Oct. 19, hit the road on short rest to face the Los Angeles Chargers (3-2) on Oct. 25 and then visit the NFC North rival Detroit Lions (4-1) on Nov. 2.
Note: The above video first aired on Oct. 5, 2025.
The offensive line is going to be a focal point for the Los Angeles Chargers for the next few weeks. The Chargers lost Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater for the entire season after he suffered a torn patellar tendon during training camp. In Week 4, offensive tackle Joe Alt suffered a high-ankle sprain that will keep him sidelined for several weeks.
Those injuries are concerning for a Chargers offensive line that has allowed star quarterback Justin Herbert to be sacked 12 times this season, the ninth-most sacks given up in the league through the first four weeks. Keeping Herbert upright and healthy is a priority if Los Angeles wants to stay atop the competitive AFC West.
Per Daniel Popper of The Athletic, offensive coordinator Greg Roman told the media on Thursday that Herbert is taking too many hits early in the season. He thinks the offensive line needs to play better, but also thinks Herbert needs to adjust his style so he doesn’t absorb so many blows.
“Absolutely not. He’s getting hit too much, too many unnecessary hits,” Roman said of Herbert. “There’s gonna be some. But not that many. And he can help that, too. But it starts with everybody.”
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There’s only so much the Chargers can do to protect Herbert with a patchwork offensive line. 2022 sixth-round pick Austin Deculus, who has made one career start back in 2023, earned reps with the first team on Thursday with Alt not participating in practice. Offensive guard Mekhi Becton is still in the concussion protocol, though he did some individual drills.
Herbert is going to have to choose his time to play hero ball until the offensive line can prove they’re able to give the Pro Bowl quarterback time to hold onto the ball and wait for a talented receiver corps to bust coverage. Roman will need to rely on a strong running scheme and dial up some quick passes to help protect Herbert.
With their impressive 27-21 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1, Los Angeles has shown they can be a threat to win the AFC. But they’ll only go as far as a healthy Herbert can take them.
If I’m Sean Payton, the first thing I’m doing with Nix is sitting the quarterback down in my office. The second thing is popping open my laptop. The third is showing Nix a clip of the last 45 seconds from the first half of Broncos-Chargers this past Sunday.
The fourth is congratulating the kid for finding Courtland Sutton over the top for a sumptuous 52-yard score on fourth-and-2. The fifth is asking Nix to lean in closer to the laptop. To take a long, careful look at his tootsies on that perfect rainbow to Sutton.
They’re set.
Like a mighty oak. Right foot planted. Rock back. Smooth release. Easy money.
We love Bo because he can go “off-script,” which is football shorthand for improvising when stuff hits the fan. The ability to turn nothing into something.
The problem: Nix’s feet are so fast, they’re sometimes two steps ahead of his brain.
He’s a talented young man locked in an almost constant internal struggle. His upper half is running the play while his lower half is plotting an escape route.
When the two are in tandem, you get Sutton walking, untouched, into the end zone. But those joys are rare these days. Bo’s mechanics won’t allow it.
If Nix had set his feet while hitting on just one of three more wide-open heaves against the Bolts, the Broncos are 2-1 — and the AFC West is thrown into beautiful chaos.
Can Nix be fixed? Heck, yeah. That’s why Payton makes the big bucks. But the Broncos coach needs to do these four things in order to get the No. 10 Express back on the right track:
1. Get somebody — anybody — running routes in the middle of the field again
Nix’s passing chart so far this season resembles the back of a medieval monk’s head: Healthy business down low, a smattering of action up top, and this great, big bald spot in the middle.
Crazy, isn’t it? The Broncos offense rarely runs the stuff right now that the Broncos defense can’t defend. Namely, the middle of the field. Middle linebackers being forced to backpedal or cover sideline to sideline rather than chugging downhill. It’s the “inside triangle” that Payton vowed to fix after getting run out of the playoffs — tight ends, slot receivers, backs.
You know who’s got that “triangle” working right now? The Colts. The Chargers. The Cardinals. The Jaguars. The Steelers. Combined record: 12-3. The Chiefs Dynasty (RIP), like the Patriots one before it, was rooted in the notion of a GOAT QB1 getting repeatedly bailed out by a Hall-of-Fame tight end.
Evan Engram isn’t that. So far. Yet even something that’s 60% peak Kelce or peak Gronk would be better than what Nix has seen through three games. Yes, Engram’s been dinged up. Not his fault. But boy, are we getting Greg Dulcich vibes again.
2. Move Courtland Sutton around
Just because you lost a front-line tight end doesn’t mean you can’t get creative with big targets. Courtland Sutton is 6-foot-4. Troy Franklin is 6-3. Pat Bryant Jr. is 6-2.
Move them around. Run them up the seam. Work them inside.
Payton helped make Jimmy Graham a star. He knows. Or at least, he used to.
3. Tempo, tempo, tempo
Nix seems afraid to throw an interception. Afraid to make a mistake. Here’s an idea: Why not give No. 10 less time to overthink?
According to Pro-Football-Reference.com, Nix has thrown the ball just eight times while working in a no-huddle offense this season. He’s completed six of them for 72 yards and two first downs. He’s posted a 102.1 passer rating in a no-huddle scheme vs. 81.7 after huddling up. Last fall, Nix put up the same completion rate without a huddle (66.27%) as he did while using one (66.32%).
A lifetime 87.2 passer rating while going no-huddle is below what Payton wants — but NIx’s 2.2% interception rate is right in line. Mix it up.
Dude also looks as if he’s playing with all the unbridled joy of a root canal.
You gotta Bo-lieve? Nix right now appears as if he’s more scared to fail than he is embracing the biggest stage on the Front Range.
It’s as if he’s trying to live up to Bo Nix 2024, trying to live up to The Greatest Rookie QB Season In Denver History. Trying to live up to his coach’s Super Bowl target.
In short, he’s pressing.
Sunshine Sean needs to lighten the mood and brighten the room. The Broncos are never going anywhere while Nix remains trapped inside his own head, feet dancing in the darkness while he fumbles for the door.
