The NFL regular season is winding down, and there are plenty of exciting stories and developments to follow. Here are some of the topics that are trending in the NFL today:
Playoff Picture
The playoff picture is getting more apparent as the final week of the regular season approaches. The Green Bay Packers have clinched the top seed in the NFC, securing home-field advantage and a first-round bye.
The Packers are led by MVP frontrunner Aaron Rodgers, who has thrown for 4,115 yards and 35 touchdowns with only four interceptions. The Packers have won five straight games and have a 13-3 record.
The Kansas City Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans are fighting for the No. 1 spot in the AFC, which also comes with home-field advantage and a first-round bye. The Chiefs have a 12-4 record and have won eight consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NFL.
The Chiefs are led by Patrick Mahomes, who has thrown for 4,835 yards and 36 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. The Titans have an 11-5 record and have won three straight games. The Titans are led by Ryan Tannehill, who has thrown for 3,601 yards and 21 touchdowns with 14 interceptions, and Derrick Henry, who has rushed for 1,777 yards and 18 touchdowns, leading the league in both categories.
The other playoff spots are still up for grabs, and there are several scenarios and tiebreakers that could determine the final standings. Some of the teams that are still in the hunt include the Los Angeles Rams, the Arizona Cardinals, the San Francisco 49ers, the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles, the New England Patriots, the Buffalo Bills, the Cincinnati Bengals, the Indianapolis Colts, the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Las Vegas Raiders.
MVP Race
The MVP race is heating up, with several players having strong cases for the award. Aaron Rodgers is the favorite, as he has led the Packers to the best record in the NFC and has been dominant in every aspect of the game. Rodgers has a 68.1% completion percentage, a 111.9 passer rating, and a 9.0 touchdown-to-interception ratio, all of which rank first in the league.
Rodgers has also been clutch in late-game situations, leading four game-winning drives and three fourth-quarter comebacks.
Tom Brady is another contender, as he has led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 12-4 record and a playoff berth in his first season with the team. Brady has thrown for 4,633 yards and 40 touchdowns, both of which rank second in the league. Brady has also been consistent and durable, starting all 16 games and throwing at least two touchdowns in 14.
Jonathan Taylor is a dark horse candidate, as he has been the focal point of the Colts’ offense and has carried them to a 10-6 record and a playoff spot. Taylor has rushed for 1,734 yards and 20 touchdowns, both of which rank second in the league. Taylor has also been explosive and efficient, averaging 5.5 yards per carry and having 11 runs of 20 yards or more.
Cooper Kupp is another dark horse candidate, as he has been the best receiver in the league and has helped the Rams clinch a playoff spot with a 12-4 record. Kupp has 138 receptions for 1,829 yards and 15 touchdowns, all leading the league. Kupp has also been reliable and versatile, catching 75.9% of his targets and lining up in different positions on the field.
Coaching Carousel
The coaching carousel is spinning as several teams are expected to make changes at the end of the season. The Jacksonville Jaguars have already fired their head coach, Urban Meyer, after a disastrous 2-14 season that was marred by controversy and dysfunction. The Jaguars are looking for a new leader who can develop their young quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, and turn around the franchise.
The Las Vegas Raiders are also likely to have a new head coach, as they have been playing under interim coach Rich Bisaccia since Jon Gruden resigned in October amid a scandal involving his past emails. The Raiders have a 9-7 record and a chance to make the playoffs, but they may want to hire a permanent coach who can bring stability and vision to the organization.
The Chicago Bears are another team that are likely to have a new head coach, as they have had a disappointing 6-10 season and have failed to meet expectations. The Bears have a promising rookie quarterback, Justin Fields, but they have struggled to protect him and to utilize his talents. The Bears may want to hire a coach to improve their offense and unlock Fields’ potential.
Other teams that could make coaching changes include the Denver Broncos, the Minnesota Vikings, the New York Giants, and the Carolina Panthers.
NFL Draft
The NFL Draft order is also taking shape, as the teams with the worst records will have the highest picks. The Detroit Lions have secured the No. 1 overall pick, as they have a 2-13-1 record and have been the worst team in the league. The Lions have many needs, but they may want to draft a franchise quarterback who can be their long-term solution at the position.
The Houston Texans have the No. 2 overall pick, as they have a 4-12 record and have been plagued by injuries and off-field issues. The Texans have a uncertain situation at quarterback, as their star player, Deshaun Watson, has requested a trade and is facing multiple lawsuits alleging sexual assault and misconduct. The Texans may want to draft a quarterback who can be their new face of the franchise, or they may want to trade the pick for a haul of assets.
The New York Jets have the No. 3 overall pick, as they have a 4-13 record and have been rebuilding under their first-year head coach, Robert Saleh. The Jets have a young quarterback, Zach Wilson, who has shown flashes of potential but has also been inconsistent and injury-prone. The Jets may want to draft a player who can help Wilson, such as an offensive lineman, a receiver, or a tight end.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have the No. 4 overall pick, as they have a 2-14 record and have been the second-worst team in the league. The Jaguars have a young quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, who was the No. 1 overall pick last year and who has had a rough rookie season. The Jaguars may want to draft a player who can protect Lawrence, such as an offensive lineman, or a player who can complement him, such as a receiver or a running back.
The Jaguars also have the No. 5 overall pick, which they acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in the trade that sent cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Rams in 2019. The Jaguars have many needs, but they may want to draft a defensive player who can improve their pass rush, secondary, or linebacker corps.
These are some of the main topics that are trending in the NFL today. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis as the season concludes and the offseason begins.
Ravens Soar to the Top of the Power Rankings
The Baltimore Ravens have been on a tear lately, winning their last six games and clinching the AFC North title. Led by MVP candidate Lamar Jackson, the Ravens have been dominating their opponents with their explosive offense and stingy defense. They have scored at least 30 points in each of their last six games and have allowed only 15.2 points per game in that span.
The Ravens have also beaten some of the top teams in the league, such as the Patriots, the Seahawks, the Texans, the 49ers, and the Bills. They have secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They are the clear favorites to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, and many experts have ranked them as the best team in the NFL right now
Chiefs Fall to No. 9 After Losing to the Bengals
The Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the most disappointing teams this season, despite having one of the most talented rosters in the league. The Chiefs started the season with a 4-0 record, but have since lost six of their last 12 games, including a shocking 31-24 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17.
Injuries, turnovers, penalties, and inconsistent play on both sides of the ball have plagued the Chiefs. Their defense has been especially vulnerable, allowing 25.6 points per game, which ranks 24th in the league. Their offense has also been underperforming, scoring only 23.8 points per game, which ranks 16th in the league. This is a far cry from last season, when they led the league with 35.3 points per game.
The Chiefs have fallen to the No. 9 spot in the power rankings2, and have lost the AFC West title to the Los Angeles Chargers. They will have to play on the road in the wild-card round of the playoffs, where they will face the Houston Texans, who beat them 31-24 in Week 6.
Injury Updates and Roster Moves
As the NFL season winds down, several teams deal with injuries and roster changes that could affect their playoff chances. Here are some of the notable injury updates and roster moves from Week 17:
- Colts TE Andrew Ogletree suffered a torn ACL in the first quarter of the game against the Titans, and will miss the rest of the season. Ogletree was the team’s leading receiver with 68 catches for 787 yards and six touchdowns. He will be replaced by Jack Doyle, who had four catches for 46 yards and a touchdown in Week 17.
- Texans QB C.J. Stroud sprained his ankle in the third quarter of the game against the Jaguars, and did not return. Stroud was having a breakout season, throwing for 3,842 yards, 28 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, with a passer rating of 101.7. He will be evaluated weekly, and his status for the wild-card game against the Chiefs is uncertain. He will be replaced by Tyrod Taylor, who completed 10 of 14 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown in relief of Stroud.
- Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter of the game against the Texans, and was ruled out for the rest of the game. Lawrence, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, had a promising rookie season, throwing for 3,674 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, with a passer rating of 89.4. He will have to clear the concussion protocol before he can play again. He will be replaced by Gardner Minshew, who completed 8 of 12 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown in Week 17.
- Commanders QB Jacoby Brissett was placed on the injured reserve list with a torn pectoral muscle, ending his season. Brissett, who was acquired by the Commanders from the Patriots in a trade before the season, threw for 2,942 yards, 18 touchdowns, and six interceptions, with a passer rating of 93.1. He led the Commanders to a 10-6 record and the NFC East title. Nick Foles, who signed with the Commanders as a free agent in the offseason, will replace him. Foles has not played a snap this season, but has previous playoff experience, including leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl win in 2018.
Latest News
- Alabama’s top pass rusher, Dallas Turner, has declared his intention to enter the 2024 NFL Draft. Following Alabama’s loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl, Turner, who is widely regarded as one of the premier edge rushers in his draft class, announced his decision. He is projected to be a first-round pick in the draft. In his junior year, he delivered a strong performance, which included finishing the season with 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles​.
- The 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship game features an exciting matchup between two undefeated teams, the No. 1 seed Michigan and the No. 2 seed Washington. The game is scheduled for January 8 at NRG Stadium in Houston. Michigan secured its spot in the championship by defeating Alabama 23-20 in overtime at the Rose Bowl, while Washington earned its place by overcoming Texas with a 37-31 victory in the Sugar Bowl. This championship game marks the first time both Michigan and Washington are competing in the CFP era’s title game.
- Christian McCaffrey, the running back for the San Francisco 49ers, will miss the team’s Week 18 game against the Los Angeles Rams due to a mild calf strain. This decision comes as the 49ers have already secured the NFC’s top seed. McCaffrey sustained the injury during San Francisco’s Week 17 victory over Washington and was subsequently held out of the remainder of that game as a precaution. Despite this setback, coach Kyle Shanahan expressed confidence that McCaffrey will be ready for the team’s postseason opener in the NFC Divisional Round. McCaffrey has had an impressive season, achieving a career-high 1,459 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, along with 564 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns
