ReportWire

Tag: Mike McCarthy

  • Texans Need Titans to Botch Head Coaching Hire – Houston Press

    [ad_1]

    Six weeks into the 2025 NFL season, one of the biggest surprises is just how competitive the AFC South has become. The Houston Texans were the clear cut favorite to win the division coming into the season, but the Indianapolis Colts (5-1) and Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) have both jumped out in front, leaving the Texans as a +650 underdog to win the division in which they’ve ruled supreme the last two seasons. 

    With the Colts and the Jaguars looking like they’ve figured a few things out, the last thing the Texans need is the Tennessee Titans evolving into a threat. This week, the Titans fired their head coach, Brian Callahan, after a 4-19 record over one full season plus six games. This was bad news for the rest of the AFC South, as Callahan appeared to be a dope. 

    The Titans drafted a talented quarterback, Miami’s Cam Ward, with the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, so a big part of Callahan’s termination had to be concern that he might damage the most valuable asset in the organization, the future franchise quarterback. Thus, the last thing that the Texans (and Colts and Jags, for that matter) need is Tennessee stumbling into a good head coaching hire. 

    The Titans actually HAD a good head coach in Mike Vrabel, who has put together a 4-2 record this season with the New England Patriots, but they fired him after the 2023 season. Now, the Titans are giving themselves another bite at the head coaching apple. Who are the candidates that would concern me, as a Texans fan? In other words, whoa re the candidates that might get the bets version of Ward? Here are four:

    MIKE McCARTHY, former Packers and Cowboys head coach

    McCarthy is the only Super Bowl winning head coach on this list, and in two of the more high pressured jobs, 13 seasons in Green Bay and 5 seasons in Dallas, McCarthy stacked several division titles and a very respectable 174-112-2 overall record. Most importantly, Aaron Rodgers won multiple MVP awards in McCarthy’s offense with McCarthy calling plays, and he also got the best version of Dak Prescott at times in Dallas. His experience is his weapon, as he would know a thing or two about establishing a culture and garnering respect from the locker room. 

    KLIFF KINGSBURY, former Cardinals head coach and current Commanders OC

    Kingsbury had a very pedestrian 28-37-1 record in his four seasons in Arizona, and more importantly, developed a reputation as kind of a soft touch, so if he’s looking at second chance as a head coach, hopefully Kingsbury has read a few books on culture setting. The big thing in Kingsbury’s favor is his role in developing 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Jayden Daniels, with the Commanders. Kingsbury coaching Cam Ward is a scary proposition for the rest of the division. 

    JOE BRADY, Bills offensive coordinator 

    Brady has had an interesting career trajectory. He really burst onto the scene at the collegiate level as the passing game coordinator for the national champion LSU Tigers in 2019. From there, he was probably humbled a bit as the offensive coordinator in Carolina in 2020-2021. The last couple seasons in Buffalo have been outstanding, though, as he has orchestrated the best rushing offense in football this season, and was the play caller for Josh Allen’s MVP season in 2024. 

    BRIAN FLORES, former Dolphins head coach and current Vikings DC

    Let’s throw one defensive head coach into the mix, shall we? Flores did some good things with the Dolphins in his three seasons (2019-2021) there, finishing about .500 his final two seasons. However, his undoing was the perception that he ruined a young QB in Tua Tagovailoa, with his rough style of head coaching. I think we have enough data now to know that Tua might be a little soft, and perhaps Flores wasn’t the problem. Obviously, Flores would need to come in with a real plan on the offensive side of the ball, including a convincing offensive coordinator hire.  

    This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

    [ad_2]

    Sean Pendergast

    Source link

  • How will Trump balance campaign duties with busy legal schedule?

    How will Trump balance campaign duties with busy legal schedule?

    [ad_1]

    How will Trump balance campaign duties with busy legal schedule? – CBS News


    Watch CBS News



    There are new developments Monday in the criminal cases that are increasingly complicating former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign schedule. A judge set the trial date in the federal 2020 election conspiracy case for March 4, 2024 — one day before Super Tuesday. CBS News’ Nancy Cordes and Robert Costa have more.

    Be the first to know

    Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.


    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Analysis: How ’bout them Cowboys! Dallas is most impressive

    Analysis: How ’bout them Cowboys! Dallas is most impressive

    [ad_1]

    Dak Prescott was nearly perfect in directing a balanced, dynamic offense. Micah Parsons again wreaked havoc in leading a dominant defense.

    Behind Prescott and Parsons, Dallas dismantled Minnesota and put the rest of the NFL on notice with a convincing 40-3 victory on the road Sunday against a team that had won seven straight games.

    How ’bout them Cowboys! No team owns a more impressive win this season.

    “This is exactly what I expected,” Cowboys safety Jayron Kearse said. “We knew we were going to come in here and knock them down. We showed them who the tougher team is, and it is us. That is the type of that we can play week in and week out if we continue to stay together and do our job.”

    The Cowboys (7-3) are unlikely to win the NFC East. They trail the Philadelphia Eagles (9-1) by two games and already lost to them. But they proved why they’ll be a dangerous team that nobody will want to face in January following the biggest road win in team history.

    “This team has got the work ethic. It’s got the attitude. They’ve got a hard mindset, which you have to have,” coach Mike McCarthy said.

    The Cowboys have averaged 28.8 points per game in Prescott’s five starts. Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott, who scored two touchdowns apiece against the Vikings (8-2), provide a strong 1-2 running attack. They may end up adding Odell Beckham Jr. to join CeeDee Lamb, giving Prescott another weapon.

    “Right now the challenge is handling success,” Prescott said. “Having a game like this in the NFL is tough to do. To be able to do that, we’ve got to put this behind us and know that we’ve got to go out there — we’re as good as our last game. We’ve got to turn the page and go put another one together on Thursday.”

    The Cowboys host the Giants (7-3) on Thanksgiving in a fight for second place in the division.

    For now, the Buffalo Bills are the best second-place team in the NFL. They rebounded nicely from a mistake-filled, overtime loss at home to the Vikings with a 31-23 victory over Cleveland.

    Despite a chaotic week that saw them forced to play a “home” game in Detroit because a storm dumped several feet of snow in western New York, the Bills (7-3) got back on track against the Browns.

    Josh Allen didn’t turn the ball over after a rough three-week stretch and the offense scored on all five possessions in the second half.

    “We still don’t feel like we played very well, but it goes to show you we played smart and put up 31 points and didn’t play to our standard,” Allen said.

    The Bills may eventually surpass Miami (7-3) in the AFC East — the Dolphins won the first matchup and the teams meet in Buffalo on Dec. 18. Like Dallas, the Bills also play Thursday, when they face the Lions (4-6).

    The Cincinnati Bengals are another second-place team finding its groove. The reigning AFC champions beat Pittsburgh 37-30 for their fourth win in five games. Even without Ja’Marr Chase, the Bengals (6-4) are rolling on offense. Joe Burrow led the way with four TD passes and running back Samaje Perine set a franchise record with three TD catches.

    The Bengals are one game behind the Baltimore Ravens (7-3) in the AFC North. The Ravens won in Cincinnati in October and the division could be on the line when the teams meet in Baltimore in Week 18.

    “I think we’re playing as good as anybody,” Burrow said. “We’re hitting our stride offensively. Still left some points out there. There’s always room to improve, obviously.”

    In a season filled with close games and comeback wins, the last team standing may be one that doesn’t finish the regular season in first place.

    ———

    Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter at https://twitter.com/robmaaddi

    ———

    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP—NFL

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Green Bay Packers’ Win Over The Dallas Cowboys

    The Good, Bad And Ugly From The Green Bay Packers’ Win Over The Dallas Cowboys

    [ad_1]

    Mike McCarthy threw his headset in disgust.

    Aaron Rodgers jumped as high as a 38-year-old can, pumped his fist and flexed.

    McCarthy’s return to Green Bay had been spoiled. The Packers’ losing streak was over.

    Kicker Mason Crosby drilled a 28-yard field goal with 3:09 left in overtime Sunday, lifting the Packers to an improbable 31-28 win.

    Green Bay improved to 4-6, ended its first five-game losing streak since 2008 and saved its season for the time being. Dallas, which let a 14-point second half lead slip away, fell to 6-3.

    Here’s the good, bad and ugly from Green Bay’s win over the Dallas.

    THE GOOD

    CHRISTIAN WATSON: The Packers’ rookie second round pick has been a major disappointment most of his first season, struggling with injuries and drops.

    Watson missed much of training camp after undergoing knee surgery. He’s missed three games with a hamstring injury — and was knocked out of the last two games with a concussion and a chest injury. And he entered Sunday’s game with just 10 catches.

    But Watson had his coming out party Sunday, scoring the first three touchdowns of his career and giving the Packers’ passing game life for the first time in 2022.

    Watson beat single coverage and hauled in a 58-yard TD pass from Aaron Rodgers with 4:54 left in the second quarter that tied the game, 7-7. Early in the fourth quarter, Watson got loose and hauled in a 39-yard TD from Rodgers that pulled the Packers within 28-21.

    And Watson ran a crossing route with 2 ½ minutes left and nabbed a 9-yard TD from Rodgers that tied the game, 28-28.

    Watson had a couple of early drops that proved costly. But he more than redeemed himself with three touchdowns that kept Green Bay in the game.

    After being invisible for months, Watson showed why Green Bay traded up into the second round and used the 34th overall pick in April’s draft on the wideout from North Dakota State.

    RUDY FORD: Ford entered the day having played just 12.48% of the defensive snaps this season. But with cornerback Eric Stokes on injured reserve, Ford moved into the starting lineup and shined.

    The Packers moved slot man Rasul Douglas to cornerback, safety Darnell Savage into the slot and Ford to safety. Ford proceeded to have the biggest game of his career with a pair of interceptions that led to 14 points.

    With Dallas leading, 7-0, midway through the second quarter and facing a third-and-goal from Green Bay’s 11, Ford intercepted Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott and returned it 34 yards.

    The Cowboys were in scoring range at the time and about to take a two-score lead. But Ford’s huge play changed that — and momentum of the game.

    Just three plays later, Aaron Rodgers hit Christian Watson for a 58-yard touchdown that tied the game, 7-7.

    Then with 2:30 left in the half, Ford intercepted Prescott a second time and returned it 34 yards to the Cowboys 24. Three plays later, Aaron Jones had a 12-yard touchdown run to give Green Bay a 14-7 lead.

    PAYING THEIR RESPECTS: The Packers paid their respects to Mike McCarthy before the game, putting a picture of their former head coach on the JumboTron next to the heading, ‘Welcome Back.’

    McCarthy led the Packers to a Super Bowl championship in the 2010 season. And McCarthy, who coached in Green Bay from 2006-18, was the second-longest tenured coach in team history behind only Earl “Curly” Lambeau (1921-’49).

    But McCarthy wasn’t the only former Packer coach or player now working in Dallas that was recognized before the game.

    The others included offensive line coach Joe Philbin, coaching assistant Scott Tolzien, defensive backs coach Al Harris, assistant special teams coach Rayna Stewart, assistant head coach Rob Davis, linebackers coach Scott McCurley, defensive passing game coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., assistant offensive line coach Jeff Blasko and quality control coach Ryan Feder.

    THIS AND THAT: Green Bay ran for 207 yards on 39 carries — an impressive 5.3 yards per attempt. The Packers set the tone early with 13 rushes for 65 yards in the first quarter (5.0) and pounded away throughout the day. … Isaiah McDuffie, filling in for the injured De’Vondre Campbell, had a team-high 13 tackles. … Aaron Rodgers had his best game of the season, completing 14-of-20 passes for 224 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Rodgers also finished with a 146.7 passer rating. … Allen Lazard had a 36-yard catch in overtime that set up Crosby’s game-winning kick.

    THE BAD

    COVER THAT MAN: Green Bay had no answers for Dallas wideout CeeDee Lamb.

    Lamb finished with 11 receptions for 150 yards and a pair of touchdowns. That marked the first time this season Lamb hit the 100-yard mark in a game.

    Lamb had a three-yard TD reception in the second quarter that gave Dallas a 7-0 lead. Then late in the third quarter, Lamb whipped cornerback Jaire Alexander for a 35-yard TD that put the Cowboys ahead, 28-14.

    Lamb is one of the more dangerous wideouts in the league. But the Cowboys aren’t particularly gifted after that, and the Packers should have made slowing Lamb their top priority.

    TURNOVER WOES: Green Bay had just 13 turnovers the entire 2021 season. They already have 15 in 2022.

    Midway through the second quarter Rodgers was sacked by DeMarcus Lawrence and Jayron Kearse recovered. That was the third time Rodgers fumbled this season and the Packers have lost all three.

    Then in the third quarter, return man Amari Rodgers fumbled and lost a punt (more on that below).

    The 2022 Packers have little room for error, and the turnovers have proven extremely costly.

    THIS AND THAT: Safety Johnathan Abram, a player Green Bay signed this week, was called for holding on a second quarter kickoff. That penalty forced the Packers to start a drive at its own 10-yard line. … Dallas running back Tony Pollard had 115 rushing yards, as Green Bay’s struggles against the run continued.

    THE UGLY

    AMARI RODGERS: Green Bay’s second-year wide receiver has been one of the Packers’ most disappointing third round draft picks in recent memory. Rodgers has just eight career catches and lost his job as Green Bay’s kick returner earlier this year. But the Packers have continued to trot Rodgers out on punt returns, even though he entered the game averaging just 7.0 yards per return and has struggled mightily with ball security.Green Bay’s loyalty to Rodgers proved costly — again — on Sunday.

    Midway through the third quarter, Rodgers fumbled a punt for the fifth time this season and Dallas’ Sean McKeon recovered at the Packers’ 45. Four plays later, Tony Pollard shot up the middle for a 13-yard touchdown run that gave Dallas a 21-14 lead.

    Keisean Nixon replaced Rodgers on punt returns for the rest of the game. By then, though, the damage was done.

    [ad_2]

    Rob Reischel, Contributor

    Source link

  • Prescott’s return on track as Cowboys prepare for Lions

    Prescott’s return on track as Cowboys prepare for Lions

    [ad_1]

    FRISCO, Texas — Dak Prescott will be “in the lead chair as far as reps” for practice in the latest sign that the star quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys will return from injury Sunday against Detroit.

    Coach Mike McCarthy left little doubt about the end of Prescott’s five-game absence because of a fractured thumb on his throwing hand. The quarterback said over the weekend he expected to play.

    Prescott threw 40 passes during a scaled-back practice Wednesday coming off a late game at Philadelphia.

    “I thought he looked very good,” McCarthy said. “We’ll look to expand that (Thursday) and put him in the lead chair as far as reps just to give him the opportunity to prepare to play.”

    The Cowboys (4-2) lost to the undefeated Eagles 26-17 with first place in the NFC East on the line.

    Now they face the Lions (1-4), one of two one-win teams in the NFC. Dallas gets another struggling opponent at home next week against Chicago.

    Dallas won four consecutive games with Cooper Rush replacing Prescott after the 2016 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year fractured his right thumb in a season-opening loss to Tampa Bay.

    The winning streak pushed Rush’s career record to 5-0, including a victory last season at Minnesota.

    Although Rush no longer has a perfect record, the Cowboys are one of just four teams in the NFC with a winning record through six weeks. Three of those teams are in the NFC East.

    McCarthy credited the players’ participation in the offseason program and a mostly healthy training camp in California with helping Dallas stay in contention without Prescott.

    “I think it’s a credit to the whole team, especially what Cooper Rush was able to do,” McCarthy said. “I think it’s all those things, they add up and then it’s all part of keeping the train on the tracks.”

    ———

    More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP—NFL

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Cowboys preparing for another start from Rush against Eagles

    Cowboys preparing for another start from Rush against Eagles

    [ad_1]

    FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys are preparing for another start from quarterback Cooper Rush in an NFC East showdown with undefeated Philadelphia as Dak Prescott’s recovery from a broken right thumb continues.

    Coach Mike McCarthy said Prescott was set to do some light throwing at the end of practice Wednesday after starting the workout in the rehab group.

    The division lead will be on the line when the Cowboys (4-1) visit the Eagles (5-0) on Sunday night.

    Rush has won four consecutive starts, including over last year’s Super Bowl teams in Cincinnati and the defending champion Los Angeles Rams.

    Prescott fractured the thumb on his throwing hand in a season-opening loss to Tampa Bay.

    McCarthy has said he wanted Prescott to get a full week of practice before playing, and he indicated Wednesday’s activity didn’t count toward that.

    “I think we’re still in the medical rehab phase,” McCarthy said. “So once he clears this phase and he’s fully activated, then I think that’s when we have our conversation.”

    The Eagles can take a two-game lead on the defending division champions with a victory. Prescott is 7-3 in his career against Philadelphia.

    It would be the first start against the Eagles for Rush, who has won the first five starts of his career going back to a victory at Minnesota last season.

    McCarthy said Rush’s winning streak wasn’t a factor in the decision on when Prescott would return.

    “You’ve got to trust the medical process,” McCarthy said. “I know Dak didn’t want to hear it. You’ve got to make sure that he’s right for the long haul, too. Not that I’m saying we’re being conservative because that doesn’t really line up with him the way he approaches preparing to play.”

    ———

    More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP—NFL

    [ad_2]

    Source link