Notable NFL players who could be traded this offseason

In the NFL, the only constant is change.

The term NFL stands for Not For Long as teams churn their rosters each offseason. This offseason is no different, as NFL personnel have gathered in Indianapolis this week to meet with college prospects & player agents at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Indy is an ideal spot for player trade opportunities as teams drum up interest for their talent by pitting potential suitors against each other in a time-sensitive setting. Other offseason trade opportunities, like the franchise tag deadline, remain as well. That said, let’s look into the hottest player names who could be on the trade block.

Justin Fields

Bears GM Ryan Poles hinted at a potential Fields trade recently in his comments that, “if we go down that road, I wanna do right by Justin as well… no one wants to live in [the] gray… I know that’s uncomfortable…. we’ll move as quickly as possible.”

This feels like a situation that could play out rather quickly at the Combine this week as the Falcons, Steelers, and Raiders have emerged as prospective suitors for Fields. The Bears QB is the most likely player on this list to be traded during the offseason.

L’Jarius Sneed

L’Jarius Sneed was recently given permission to seek a trade with other NFL teams. A “tag and trade” scenario involving the Chiefs use of the franchise tag & later trade of Sneed was also discussed as a possibility that could benefit both team and player.

It’s not often that young superstar defensive backs such as Sneed reach the open market, but the Chiefs are in a unique situation as two-time Super Bowl champions trying to keep all of their in-house talent together in a parity-driven salary cap era. The Atlanta Falcons have emerged as a potential trade suitor for Sneed’s services.

Davante Adams

Now that Derek Carr is gone, why would Adams choose to stick around in Las Vegas? Adams is a great player and the team’s next starting QB would certainly benefit from having him around to throw to, but would Adams really be willing to waste more seasons of the prime of his career waiting for this team to become competitive?

Adams would love to be traded to the Jets in a move that could benefit all parties. The Raiders would get rid of a disgruntled player & get his contract off their books, while Adams would be reunited with Aaron Rodgers on a team built to win in 2024. This idea was initially proposed by the Jets leading into last season’s trade deadline.

Brian Burns

Brian Burns was a hot commodity at last season’s trade deadline, with at least five teams expressing some interest in trading for the two-time Pro Bowler’s services. He’s consistently proven himself as one of the best pass rushers in the league ever since the Panthers wisely elected to select him in the first round of the 2019 draft.

The Panthers are rebuilding once again after finishing with a 2-15 record in 2023. Could Burns, who is on the last year of his rookie deal, be traded to a contender? The Bears, 49ers, Falcons, Jaguars, & Ravens demand an answer to that question.

Patrick Surtain II

It’s no secret that the Broncos will be aggressive in their pursuit of a franchise QB. Trading Surtain II, a star player on the last year of his rookie contract, could prove beneficial in facilitating a potential trade up the draft board to get their prospect. Contending teams in need of a cornerback would be wise to chat with the Broncos.

Braves Spring Training Preview: Rotation

We’re less than a month away from the start of another exciting Braves baseball season with pitchers and catchers set to report to Spring Training on February 15th. With that in mind, now seems as good a time as any to take stock of where the team is at before heading into their Grapefruit League season opener on February 24th. You can check out a previous installment in the series discussing the bullpen here. Let’s continue on in this series by discussing the starting rotation for the Braves, which seems like a well-built unit with some depth issues heading into the season.

The locks

Spencer Strider, Max Fried, and Charlie Morton return to fill their usual top three spots in the Braves’ starting rotation staff pecking order for the 2024 MLB season. These three guys can compete with any pitching staff in the league when healthy.

Strider is coming off of a fantastic season for the team in which he struck out the most batters in MLB (281) while placing 4th in the NL Cy Young Award balloting. Fried only pitched in 77.2 innings for the team last year as he dealt with a litany of ailments including a forearm strain, and blister issues; however, he was effective when he was on the field in pitching to a 2.55 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 14 starts. Morton excelled once again in his typical workhorse role for the Braves last year, pitching to a 3.64 ERA and 183 strikeouts in 161.2 innings (30 starts) on the season.

Joining this fearsome trio for the 2024 season is LHP Chris Sale, who was acquired via a December offseason trade that sent SS Vaughn Grissom to the Boston Red Sox. Sale then quickly pivoted after the trade and signed a two-year contract extension with the team that includes an $18M club option for 2026, ensuring that he will have a role in the middle of the Braves starting pitching rotation for the next few years. Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos set his expectations for Sale in the aftermath of the trade and contract extension in his media comments, “we feel like this is the first normal offseason [Sale] will have had in a long time, but at the same time, he’s still coming off just a hundred innings pitched last year, so we’ll be mindful of that.”

Sale agrees with Anthopoulos’ assessment of his role & health in his comment that, “this is the first time in quite a while that I’ve been able to have a normal offseason.” He’s embracing his new role as the Braves fourth starter quite well, going so far as to joke with the notion that, “I can go out and suck and no one’s going to hate me now.” Nobody’s rooting for that to happen obviously, but Sale won’t be put under the same pressures as he was during his Red Sox tenure when he was the ace of the rotation.

Other candidates

Righties Bryce Elder, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Reynaldo López will be the primary candidates in the battle for the fifth spot in the Braves starting rotation this season. Elder was a surprising All-Star last year, but he struggled mightily down the stretch. Smith-Shawver, the Braves top pitching prospect, went all the way from High-A to the major leagues last year in a whirlwind season for the 21-year old out of Texas. MLB Pipeline recently mentioned him as a Rookie of the Year candidate for 2024. López could start if needed, but my expectation is that he will stick in the bullpen.

Long shot options

Darius Vines, Allan Winans, Dylan Dodd, Ian Anderson, and Huascar Ynoa are five other guys who should see an opportunity at some point during the 2024 season. Vines and Winans are the only two who are currently healthy amongst that crew. Dodd and Ynoa could end up as either starters or relievers for the team this year. Anderson will need to bounce back from Tommy John surgery, which is tough to do.

The verdict

The full slate of rotation options seems a little thin in comparison to year’s past. Gone are the days of having guys like Michael Soroka, Jared Shuster, and Kolby Allard available as fill-in options to ensure the very survival of the Braves starting pitching staff rotation through another tumultuous 162-game MLB season in 2024. I’m not saying that’s necessarily a bad thing, but those guys had roles for a reason.

My concern is that we have three key starters (Fried, Morton, and Sale) who could have some workload concerns in 2024, and I’m not sure that our depth is up to snuff. That said, our depth won’t matter as much if we can keep our top four guys healthy. Those top four guys are amongst the best in the game, and I feel confident in their abilities to carry the rotation through the regular season and into the postseason.

Braves Spring Training Preview: Bullpen

We’re less than a month away from the start of another exciting Braves baseball season with pitchers and catchers set to report to Spring Training on February 15th. With that in mind, now is as good a time as any to take stock of where the team is at before heading into their opener of the Grapefruit League season on February 24th. Let’s begin this series by discussing the bullpen for the Braves, which seems like one of the team’s greatest strengths (on paper anyway) heading into the 2024 season.

The Locks

Raisel Iglesias, Joe Jiménez, Pierce Johnson, AJ Minter, and Jackson Stephens are holdovers from last year’s unit who will certainly have a role during the 2024 season. Lefties Tyler Matzek and Dylan Lee will join them if they are healthy enough to play. The team further bolstered the unit this offseason via their trade for Aaron Bummer and crucial signings of RHP Reynaldo López, RHP Penn Murfee, and LHP Ray Kerr. That’s nine guys who should have big roles for the bullpen in 2024 already in hand.

Other candidates

Let’s not forget about Huascar Ynoa, who is expected to be ready for Spring Training this season after missing all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Speaking of pitchers who recently had Tommy John surgery, the Braves signed one in the form of LHP Angel Perdomo to a one-year contract back in early December. Daysbel Hernández is another name that could get a look out of the bullpen in 2024. Hernández’ stock was on the rise before right forearm inflammation derailed his season by causing him to be placed on the team’s 60-Day Injured List in September. A return to health from any or all of these guys would certainly boost the bullpen.

Long shot options

It’s possible that we see Ian Anderson, Dylan Dodd, or AJ Smith-Shawver out of the bullpen at some point during the 2024 season, but likely only in the event of injury. This leaves fan-favorite Charlie Culberson as a lone longshot option out of the ‘pen. Culberson is trying to rejuvenate his career in MLB as a right-handed relief pitcher. He will go into Spring Training camp as a non-roster invitee with an opportunity to earn himself a role within the team’s bullpen at some point during the 2024 season.

The Verdict

The Braves bullpen, on paper, looks like the best in Major League Baseball this year. I’m not worried about this unit at all unless injuries strike, and even then the team should have enough depth in key spots to survive bad stretches during the season. Individual reliever performances can vary wildly year by year, but the Braves have positioned themselves well to roll out an elite bullpen unit during the 2024 season.

What does the Raheem Morris hire mean for the Atlanta Falcons?

Get the scoop on the new Atlanta Falcons head coach

The Atlanta Falcons recently hired former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris on Thursday evening to become the franchise’s newest head coach. Morris’ hiring comes on the heels of an expansive interviewing process that saw the team hold interviews for fifteen candidates across a nearly three-week time period.

Coaching legends such as Bill Belichick and Jim Harbaugh, along with up-and-coming talent such as Ben Johnson and Bobby Slowik, all interviewed with the team and some of those dudes even got the opportunity to interview with the team twice. A surprising under-the-radar candidate in Raheem Morris outlasted all of the other candidates though in order to become the next head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.

What does this key signing mean for the Atlanta Falcons franchise going forward? How will the Raheem Morris signing change the culture of the franchise in Atlanta? These are both great questions that will be answered in due time, but for now we’ll discuss the current impact of the signing & what Raheem Morris bring to the table.

Rich McKay stays in the building

Make no mistake that keeping Falcons CEO Rich McKay in the building (for some reason) played a key role in the hiring process of the franchise’s next head coach. Arthur Blank wanted to hire Bill Belichick, but doing so presented a challenge in that he would’ve had to fire McKay, his right hand man since 2003, in order to do so. I’m not saying that was a smart decision for Arthur Blank to make, but it is what it is.

Lost in the footnotes of the team’s press release on Raheem Morris’ hiring though was a compromise of sorts between Blank, McKay, GM Terry Fontenot, and Morris. McKay will no longer be involved in football operations for the Falcons, as Fontenot and Morris will instead report directly to Blank on these matters moving forward. This arrangement ensures that McKay maintains his role within the organization.

Blank’s familiarity with Morris in working with him when he was an assistant on Dan Quinn’s staff from 2015-2020 allowed him to dictate these terms in a direct way. McKay once recommended Morris to Rams GM Les Snead when he was looking for a new defensive coordinator in 2021, so he was probably fine with the arrangement. Morris should already have an understanding of how the organization’s twisted system works, given his role as interim coach after Dan Quinn’s 2020 dismissal.

Accountability of defensive players

Now that we’ve discussed the prevailing negative in regards to the Raheem Morris hire, let’s get to some of the positives regarding the hire, of which there are plenty. For starters, the Rams won Super Bowl LVI with Morris at the helm of a dominant defense that held the Bengals to 20 points and just over 300 yards in the big game. That was such a remarkable defensive performance on the game’s brightest stage, but what he managed to do with his team’s defense this year was just as impressive.

Aaron Donald was still on the roster, but many of the defensive players involved in the team’s recent Super Bowl run were traded away, released, or lost in free agency. Gone were mainstays Jalen Ramsey, Leonard Floyd, Taylor Rapp, and many others. This meant that younger players would be called upon to step up in order for the team to have any chance of success in 2023, and boy did they ever answer the call.

Rookies Byron Young and Kobie Turner, along with young defenders Ernest Jones, Cobie Durant, and Derion Kendrick spearheaded a Morris-led defense this season. The results speak for themselves as the Rams defense stiffened down the stretch, resulting in much-improved defensive play during the team’s unlikely playoff run.

A true leader of men with deep connections

This is the bottom line for Falcons fans as we rid ourselves of the previous regime. This guy, unlike Arthur Smith, has over two decades worth of work experience at both the college and pro levels in a variety of different roles including head coach, interim head coach, defensive coordinator, and even passing game coordinator. Raheem Morris is simply a player’s coach, in that his players love to play for him.

Similar things were said about Arthur Smith and Dan Quinn during their tenures, but eventually their lack of accountability & mixed signals ran its course over time. Could history repeat itself here with this Falcons head coaching hire? Absolutely. But I have much more faith in Morris’ ability to assemble a stronger coaching staff than Arthur Smith or Dan Quinn ever did for the team during their tenures here. Don’t believe me? Listen to Rams GM Les Snead’s review on the former Rams DC.

One of Morris’ first coaching staff hires in Atlanta could be a big one in Rams passing-game coordinator & quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson, who is currently interviewing for several vacant offensive coordinator positions around the league. Robinson has worked well with QBs Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford over the years, leading the pair of them to two Super Bowl berths, including one clutch win in 2021.

Now, there’s no guarantee that the pairing happens, but it’s a strong starting point. Hiring coaches like Robinson would go a long way towards success for the Falcons. Raheem Morris has had the allure of having his coaches and players follow him wherever he goes over the years, and his latest stop has brought him into Atlanta. I’m excited about that proposition, and I believe that other fans should be as well.

One burning question for each AFC playoff team

Funny enough, the Browns are one of the seven teams you’ll hear about in this article.

The playoffs are upon us, as there are 14 teams in contention for a championship. These teams have fought valiantly to enter into the tournament, but Super Bowl championships are won in February, so the previous game results no longer matter. Today’s focus will be on the seven teams in the AFC, & what needs to happen (or not happen) in order for each of them to glorify themselves forever in football history. Teams will be listed in order from highest to lowest seeding in the playoff format. Without further ado, let’s see what each team must do in order to win in February.

Ravens

When does TE Mark Andrews make his return?

The Ravens designated TE Mark Andrews to return from injured reserve on Friday. This means that the team just activated their 21-day window in which they’re required to make a decision upon whether or not to bring him back on the roster. That’s huge news for a loaded Ravens squad looking to make noise in the playoffs. TE Isaiah Likely has stepped up big time in Andrews’ stead, but having the two of them healthy on the field at the same time would give defenses serious problems. OC Todd Monken loves having two tight ends on the field, dating back to his days at Georgia when he had Brock Bowers and Darnell Washington tearing up defenses.

Bills

Can they weather their storm of turnovers?

Say what you will about Josh Allen’s greatness, but the man is a turnover machine. His career turnover total is 102 in 94 games, an average of more than one per game. Allen was starting to turn the ball over at a much lower rate though since the firing of former OC Ken Dorsey…. until last week’s game against the Dolphins happened. The Dolphins defense generated three turnovers, but they still lost their matchup. It’s going to be a tall order to win like that again against other playoff contenders.

Chiefs

Will road games play a factor in their success?

Patrick Mahomes has never played in a road playoff game in his seven-year career. That’s because the Chiefs typically locked up the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the playoffs. Not this year though, as the team may play a road game(s) if they advance this week. Arrowhead Stadium has provided an incredible home field advantage for the Chiefs during their dominant Super Bowl runs, but can the team win without that benefit? Will their much maligned offense be able to maintain their composure on the road?

Texans

How much further can they expect to advance?

Nobody expected the Texans to be here, with a first year head coach and rookie QB. That doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve to be here however, as the team won their division by defeating the Colts 23-19 in a de-facto road playoff game last weekend. QB CJ Stroud has been phenomenal, as he’s the favorite to win Rookie of the Year. Shoot, DeMeco Ryan is in the running to win the AP NFL Coach of the Year award. It’s been a great year for the Texans, but how much longer will the magical run last?

Browns

Is Joe Flacco able to stiff arm Father Time again?

We’ve seen this movie before from Joe Flacco, as he had an incredible Super Bowl run with the Ravens in 2012 throwing for 1,140 yards & 11 TDs in four playoff games. Now 11 years older, will the crafty veteran be able to catch lighting in a bottle again? Flacco has a 10-5 career playoff record, but he hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2015. He’s already exceeded all expectations as a surprising mid-November signing, but another Super Bowl run would certainly cement his legacy as a clutch quarterback.

Dolphins

Are they able to beat multiple contending teams?

Writer Jacob Camenker at The Sporting News beat me to the punch when it comes to describing the Dolphins failures against contenders in his piece published here. Jacob Camenker published his piece on the same morning that I will publish mine. Anyways, the Dolphins have a 1-5 record against playoff teams, and they’re fresh off of an awful 21-14 loss to the Bills in which the AFC East division title was on the line. Things are not looking good for the Dolphins as they prepare to play in “dangerously cold temperatures” at Arrowhead Stadium versus the Chiefs in the Wild Card round. Can they rewrite the script and win a road playoff game against a playoff contender?

Steelers

Does Mason Rudolph have what it takes to win?

No offense to Mason Rudolph, but he is the worst starting QB amongst contenders. That’s “on paper” of course, so it’s up to him to prove us all wrong moving forward. Also, the Steelers will be without star pass rusher TJ Watt this weekend, which puts even more pressure on the offense to carry the load in their game against the Bills. Pittsburgh is a heavy underdog against the Bills, but their script isn’t written just yet. Can Mason Rudolph lead them to pull off several road upsets in an epic playoff run?

One burning question for each NFC playoff team

These are the games that count.

The playoffs are upon us, as there are 14 teams in contention for a championship. These teams have fought valiantly to enter into the tournament, but Super Bowl championships are won in February, so the previous game results no longer matter. Today’s focus will be on the seven teams in the NFC, & what needs to happen (or not happen) in order for each of them to glorify themselves forever in football history. Teams will be listed in order from highest to lowest seeding in the playoff format. Without further ado, let’s see what each team must do in order to win in February.

49ers

Will they dominate the games and play from in front?

You know how they say a picture’s worth a thousand words? Well check this out. Kyle Shanahan has an 0-37 record when trailing by 8+ points in the 4th quarter. What this means is that in order for the 49ers to make a Super Bowl run, they must play from in front (with a lead) and dominate time of possession within each game. That’s a tall order for any team to complete, but this is the 49ers formula for success. Will they be able to stick to the game script against more formidable competition?

Cowboys

Can they advance beyond the Divisional Round?

The last time the Dallas Cowboys advanced past the Divisional Round was in 1996. Read that sentence again, then read this article so that you can further understand the level of playoff futility the franchise has endured since winning Super Bowl XXX. Maybe this team is different, as QB Dak Prescott is having a career year and DC Dan Quinn has his unit playing at a much higher level than we’re accustomed to seeing. HC Mike McCarthy also knows their first round playoff opponent (the Packers) very well, as he was previously Green Bay’s head coach for 13 seasons from 2006-2018. That said, I’ll believe it when I see it as far as a Cowboys Super Bowl run goes…

Lions

Do their head coaching interviews become a distraction?

OC Ben Johnson is the hottest head coaching candidate on the planet right now as the Panthers, Chargers, Commanders, and even the Titans (who literally just fired Mike Vrabel) have each requested an opportunity to interview the Lions candidate. Meanwhile, the Chargers and Commanders have each requested an opportunity to interview Lions DC Aaron Glenn for their vacant head coaching position openings. When will these interviews start becoming a distraction to the team’s preparation? Johnson & Glenn need to be focused on doing their jobs as they prepare their team to face off against the Rams, but will they be able to do so given the circumstances?

Buccaneers

Are they going to be able to get it done without Brady?

The Buccaneers have been here before, as they won Super Bowl LV back in 2021. They’ve also won the NFC South in three straight years, but things are different now. This time, the team doesn’t have the GOAT to lean on in their times of desperation. That said, the roster from the team that won it all three years ago is relatively intact. Stranger things have happened in the NFL, as the Bucs are a darkhorse contender.

Eagles

How likely is it that their star players return in time?

MetLife Stadium’s turf took several more victims last week, as Eagles WR AJ Brown, S Reed Blankenship, S Sydney Brown, & G Cam Jurgens left the game with injuries. QB Jalen Hurts also hurt his finger during the game, but he returned to play later on. These are key players for the Eagles, who prepare to face the Bucs on Monday night. A timely return to full strength from all of these players would surely be welcomed.

Rams

Is this the last call for McVay, Stafford, and Donald?

It’s no secret that Sean McVay, Matt Stafford, and Aaron Donald all considered retirement last offseason after an abysmal 2022 season ending in a 5-12 record. There were also rumblings of each of them retiring after winning Super Bowl LVI. These three men seem to be a package deal, so do they have one more run in them? WR Puka Nacua, RB Kyren Williams, & LB Ernest Jones are newcomers to the team who could help that trio in achieving their ultimate goal on Sunday, February 11th.

Packers

Does their defense have what it takes to win big?

Packers fans have been calling for the firing of DC Joe Barry for some time now. There are times when the Packers defense plays well, like in Week 18 against the Bears, & other times where they play poorly, like in Week 16 against the Panthers. Honestly, that’s been the story of the season for the Packers, as the team is streaky. Defensively though, it’s anyone’s guess as to what type of performance they will get. Can they string together some consistent performances in order to win big games?

Why the Colts deserved to lose on Saturday Night

Mmm, that looks pretty tasty.

The game of football is built on winners and losers, as there are no moral victories. Troy Aikman & Joe Buck appear to have forgotten about this fact, as they repeatedly indicated during the broadcast that it sucks that both teams couldn’t win the game. I’m here to dispel that notion, as there are several reasons why the Colts deserved to lose the game, along with several reasons why the Texans deserved to win the game. My primary focus will be on analysis of the Colts though, so let’s dive right into that.

Defensive game plan was suspect

Facing off against the red-hot CJ Stroud, the defensive gameplan for the Colts should’ve been centered on stopping the Texans explosive passing game at all costs. Instead, the Colts’ defensive gameplan was centered on stopping the run, and they were successful in holding the Texans to 2.14 yards per carry on their 28 attempts. The problem for the Colts is that their defense forced only 6 incompletions from CJ Stroud as they allowed him to throw for 264 yards and 2 TDs in the Texans victory. Their defense also allowed WR Nico Collins to haul in 9 passes for 195 yards & 1 TD. Letting the other team’s best players make big plays is how you lose football games.

Gardner Minshew inaccuracy

Gardner Minshew played his worst game of the season at a very inopportune time. He completed just 13 of 24 passes (54%) for 141 scoreless yards in their 23-19 loss. Minshew repeatedly overthrew his receivers on potential chunk plays all night long. On a night when the team ran for 227 yards on 6.13 yards per carry, the Colts’ passing offense was inexplicably anemic, and so much so that it cost them the game. Head coach Shane Steichen admitted as much after failing to convert a 4th down play to end the game, telling Minshew from the sideline, “that’s on you, we had it.”

The 4th down playcall and result

Speaking of that dreadful 4th down play, what an awful sequence of events that was. Let’s set the scene here, as the Colts had the ball on the Texans’ 15- yard line with 2 timeouts and 1:06 left in the game, facing a decisive 4th & 1 opportunity on offense. The playcall (and the football) should have gone to red-hot RB Jonathan Taylor, as he had rushed for 188 yards and a touchdown on 6.26 yards per carry in the game. I’ve also previously highlighted Minshew’s struggles in throwing the football here.

Instead, the Colts inexplicably decided to take Taylor off the field for this pivotal play in the game and subbed in third-string RB Tyler Goodson as his replacement. Even if Taylor wasn’t going to get the ball on the play, he still should’ve been on the field so that the defense had to respect the threat of him making another big play. With the game on the line, Steichen decided to draw up a passing play for Goodson.

The results of the play speak for themselves, as Goodson inexplicably dropped a slightly underthrown 1-yard pass from Minshew to lose the game for the Colts. Putting backup players in unadvantageous situations in crucial moments within the game is the very reason behind why it is that you deserve to lose the football game.

NFL games that matter in Week 18

I can’t believe that the regular season is almost over…

Let’s face it, just about every game in Week 18 matters for somebody as there are five playoff spots still up for grabs with eleven teams in the hunt for these coveted spots. The last week of regular season action is finally upon us, and so it’s important to sift through the noise and find out which games really matter for the teams that matter. Without further ado, let’s break down the matchups that matter most in Week 18. Games are listed by the order in which they appear on the Week 18 NFL schedule.

Steelers vs Ravens (Saturday)

Steelers fans and Bills fans will be interested to learn the outcome of this contest. For the Steelers, this is a “win & in” scenario with the Ravens resting their starters. Meanwhile, the Bills & their fans are rooting for a Steelers loss as that outcome would give them a playoff berth & a shot to take the AFC East title on Sunday night. This matchup also highlights one of the best rivalry series in the NFL, so don’t expect the Ravens to just roll over & give the Steelers the victory on Saturday night.

Colts vs Texans (Saturday night)

I’m loving this marquee Saturday night matchup before Sunday’s festivities begin. Three teams, including the two featured here plus the Jaguars, are in a three way tie atop the AFC South division with identical 9-7 records on their respective ledgers. The Colts just need a win here and they’re in the playoff tournament; however, a win & a Jaguars loss on Sunday would secure them their first division title since 2014! Similar things can be said for the Texans, who would secure a playoff spot with a win & their first AFC South title since 2019 with a win in tandem with a Jaguars loss. It doesn’t really get much better than a de-facto playoff game on a Saturday night.

Jaguars vs Titans (Sunday early)

Regardless of Saturday night’s outcome, the Jaguars would secure the AFC South division with a win due to their head to head tiebreakers over the Colts & Texans. That said, all of the pressure is on the Jaguars in order to make that happen, and it’s not like these Mike-Vrabel led Titans are just going to sit around and let them win. Trevor Lawrence is on track to play for the Jags this week, which is surely welcome news as his health has been shaky down the stretch due to an awful shoulder injury. Losing here would obliterate their playoff hopes, as they would then be thrown into a weird fiasco dependent on tie game(s) in order to secure the final Wild Card slot.

Bucs vs Panthers (Sunday early)

Okay, surely no sane NFL fan will be actively watching this appalling matchup here. That said, the significance of this key game’s outcome shouldn’t be lost on NFL fans. This is basically a “win or go home” game for the Buccaneers, as with a win they would be NFC South division champions; however, a loss would throw them into a frenzy with Green Bay & Seattle in order to possibly secure the final Wild Card spot. A Buccaneers loss would also mean that the winner of the Saints-Falcons game would secure the NFC South title, which brings us to our next game on the docket…

Falcons vs Saints (Sunday early)

Things are very simple for the Falcons, as it’s win or go home for them on Sunday. Unfortunately for them, their division rival Saints are basically in the same boat. Both teams need a win & some help (read: a Buccaneers loss) to win the NFC South. Making matters more interesting is the fact that these teams won’t know the results of the Buccaneers game until their game is over, as they start at the exact same time. These two head coaches are also fighting for their jobs, so this should be interesting.

Packers vs Bears (Sunday late)

A Packers win would guarantee their ticket to the playoffs; however, a loss wouldn’t necessarily be detrimental to their hopes, as there are many routes they could take. Losing though would open the door for the Seahawks and Saints to steal their spot. The Bears were eliminated from contention long ago; however, they are surging as of late & their offense finally came alive in last week’s 37-17 victory over the Falcons. This is a great matinee game leading into a fantastic Sunday Night Football clash.

Bills vs Dolphins (Sunday night)

We’ve saved the best for last, as I will surely be watching this matchup attentively. It’s amazing to me that the Bills could end up anywhere from the AFC’s No. 2 seed & AFC East winner to the No. 6 or No. 7 seed to bounced from the postseason entirely. That’s such a wide range of outcomes for them, so it’s easier to say win & you’re in. Of course, the Bills have been playing that way for the past month or so anyways. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have already punched their playoff ticket, but they could secure their first division title since 2008 (!) with a win over the Bills in primetime. There’s also still an outside chance that Tyreek Hill could break the single season receiving yards record previously set by Calvin Johnson all the way back in 2012. Grab your popcorn & watch the final Sunday Night Football game of the season!

The future of head coaching in the NFL

The term NFL stands for “Not For Long,” as some of these coaches will learn this offseason.

The NFL currently has three head coach vacancies as Josh McDaniels (Raiders), Frank Reich (Panthers), & Brandon Staley (Chargers) were fired during the season. According to this CBS report, there could be as many as five more vacancies created after the conclusion of the regular season, and even that figure might be optimistic. Teams like the Patriots, Commanders, Jets, Bears, and Falcons will be looking for new head coaches during the offseason; however, teams like the Saints, Cowboys, & Buccaneers could also wind up joining them in the hunt for their next commander.

With several of the league’s thirty two teams probably looking for a new head coach this offseason, the future of the position as we know it is very much in the balance. With that being said, this seems like an ideal time to get the scoop on the position. Who are the hottest names amongst this upcoming group of coaching candidates? Which amongst them will eventually separate themselves from the rest of the pack?

Bill Belichick; Patriots HC

It’s not often that you see a six-time Super Bowl winning coach hit the open market. Bill might join the broadcast booth next season, but if he continues coaching he would be an ideal candidate for a team like the Chargers, who are in win-now mode. I still believe that Belichick is one of the best coaches in the league, but giving him all of the football power that he got with the Patriots could prove to be dangerous. His drafts in recent years have left much to be desired, so any football owner should be hesitant about giving him all of the say so when it comes to personnel decisions. Belichick does bring instant credibility, a strong resume, & a penchant for winning trophies though, so it will be quite difficult for any owner to ever turn him down.

Ben Johnson; Lions OC

Johnson, after interviewing for several head coaching vacancies last offseason, instead decided to remain as the Lions offensive coordinator for one more season. This decision turned out to be a brilliant one in hindsight, as he’s now one of the most coveted candidates this offseason after another fantastic campaign in Detroit. The Lions just won the NFC North for the first time ever by utilizing an offense built on a strong offensive line, a punishing running game, & an explosive passing game.

There’s an elephant in the room when it comes to hiring Johnson though, which is this key rumor that he’s seeking $15M per year as a rookie head coach in the league. That figure ranks in the top-five of current NFL head coaches, with the likes of Bill Belichick ($20M), Sean Payton ($18M), Pete Carroll ($15M), & Sean McVay ($15M). Ben Johnson won’t bring the instant credibility that those guys have, but he’s still an exciting young head coaching candidate who will be highly coveted this offseason.

Jim Harbaugh; Michigan HC

Harbaugh’s track record speaks for itself as he’s won in every place that he’s been against both college and NFL competition during his extensive coaching career. Unfortunately, he just hasn’t been able to win the big game in any of those settings. His Michigan teams were caught cheating, yet they were still outclassed by Georgia.

Despite his few flaws, the man does bring instant credibility to an NFL locker room. Teams like the Falcons, Commanders, & Raiders, who lack any sort of identity could certainly do much worse than hiring Harbaugh to lead their franchise next season. Michigan will try to keep him, but NFL teams will surely throw more money at him.

Dan Quinn; Cowboys DC

Dan Quinn isn’t my personal favorite coaching candidate, considering how things went south in a hurry for the Falcons after losing Super Bowl LI way back in 2016. There’s also the fact that he’s improved dramatically as a coach after moving up to the booth as a defensive coordinator instead of being “the guy” on an NFL sideline.

Buyers should beware when it comes to hiring Quinn; however, his track record as the Cowboys defensive coordinator the past three years simply cannot be ignored. That unit has transformed from one of the worst in the NFL to one of the NFL’s best. Some team will come calling for Quinn’s services, but will the relationship work out?

Eric Bienemy; Commanders OC

Here’s a familiar name to NFL fans, as the longtime Chiefs offensive coordinator brought his talents to Washington last offseason as their offensive coordinator after interviewing for several head coaching positions for the third consecutive offseason. Teams don’t want to hire this guy for whatever reason, & nobody knows why that is. Take one look at the Kansas City Chiefs offense this year in comparison to last year though, & it’s clear that Bienemy knows how to run an offense with the right talent. Will he be able to convince an NFL owner that he has what it takes to lead a team?

Raheem Morris; Rams DC

Don’t look now, but the Rams are rolling after suffering a lengthy midseason skid. After giving up a season high 43 points in their Week 8 loss to the Cowboys, the Rams defensive unit has since given up an average of only 21 points per game. Morris is in charge of that unit, and the unheralded group is on quite a roll lately. Aaron Donald is a star, but outside of him the Rams are working with a whole host of unheralded players on defense and excelling with said players in a playoff push. Will Morris’ 21-38 career record as a head coach prevent teams from hiring him?

Other names: Brian Flores (Vikings), Bobby Slowik (Texans), Ejiro Evero (Panthers)

Arthur Blank should fire everyone if the Falcons lose to the Panthers this weekend

FanDuel Sportsbook has the Falcons at +155 odds (37% chance) of winning the NFC South after their devastating 29-25 home loss to the Buccaneers this past weekend. Despite the team’s playoff hopes dwindling, a new piece from Breacher Report suggests that Arthur Smith’s job is, “safe in Atlanta, barring a late season collapse.” What does the term “late season collapse” mean to you? Does this mean that if the team doesn’t win the division that Smith will be gone at the end of the season? Or could a late season collapse involve losing one game in the worst way possible, like what happened to Brandon Staley and the Chargers against the Raiders this week?

I was in attendance for the Falcons week 1 win over the Panthers at Mercedes Benz. The Falcons were in complete control of the game, & the game was never in doubt. We ran the ball well that day, averaging 5 yards per carry on 26 carries for 130 yards. Desmond Ridder only had to throw for 115 yards on 18 attempts in the 24-10 victory. I’m saying all of this to say that losing to the 1-12 Panthers, a division rival & the worst team in the entire league, would represent a clear regression from the team.

This is the NFL though, and in today’s parity driven league even the crappiest teams are often long overdue for a win, and it can happen against a far superior opponent. That concept is where the term “trap game” originated from, when a vastly superior opponent faces a far lesser opponent, gets too cocky, and ends up blowing the game. My belief is that the Falcons are heading into a trap game here against the Panthers.

After all, the team is favored by only 3 points against their division rival on Sunday. Arthur Smith’s track record in one score games looks great on paper, as he has a 17-15 career record in one score games, including recent wins against the Saints & Jets. Football games aren’t won on paper though, as his record in one score games since 2021 is 10-13, painting a different picture of how his teams have fared in the clutch. The team has played tons of close games recently, and without much to show for it. A loss to the Panthers on Sunday would give Arthur Smith a 20-28 career record and a slim chance of clinching a playoff berth in the worst division in football this year.

GM Terry Fontenot shouldn’t be absolved from blame in this scenario here either. The team, as currently constructed, has no franchise quarterback, no pass rush, & an inconsistent offensive line that’s being paid as one of the best units in the league. That’s a recipe for disaster in today’s NFL, and the team hasn’t been successful at all. Sure, Fontenot has signed some impactful free agents like S Jessie Bates, RB/WR/KR Cordarrelle Patterson, & K Younghoe Koo, but his draft picks have included the likes of TE Kyle Pitts, S Richie Grant, OG Jaylen Mayfield, & some other non-contributors. Overall, it’s been a mixed bag of results for the third year GM of the Atlanta Falcons.

This is why owner Arthur Blank should clean house if the team loses on Sunday. Falcons fans have been anxiously waiting for a home playoff game in Mercedez Benz Stadium, & there haven’t been any to attend since the stadium opened in 2017. It’s been six years since the Falcons had a winning season as a playoff contender. Regardless of Sunday’s game outcome, a culture change is likely needed in Atlanta. Will Arthur Blank make the change? Or will he succumb to mediocrity once again?