Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 2/25/25. Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links … Jalyx Hunt: Vic Fangio called defensive performance in second half of Super Bowl “unacceptable” – PFTThe Eagles won the Super Bowl in blowout fashion. But defensive coordinator Vic Fangio wasn’t pleased. Specifically, he didn’t like that the Philly defense surrendered 22 points in the second half, after shutting out the Chiefs through the first two quarters. Linebacker Jalyx Hunt said on the Pete Takes podcast (via @PHLEaglesNation) that, during a meeting four days after the game, Fangio let the defense know their performance in the second half wasn’t good enough. “‘Unacceptable,’” Fangio told the defense regarding the second-half performance, according to Hunt. “He wants perfection.” Report: Eagles DO plan on visiting the White House as Super Bowl champions, if invited – BGNDespite a previous report claiming that the Philadelphia Eagles are not interested in attending a White House visit as Super Bowl LIX champions, now multiple reporters are saying the Eagles DO have interest in the tradition … assuming an invitation is extended to them. Detailing a blueprint for Howie Roseman’s 2025 offseason – NBCSPRe-sign Zack Baun and Mekhi Becton. Both resurrected their careers with the Eagles and seem enamored with the organization. That could help keep their prices from skyrocketing. There are only three linebackers who make more than $15 million per year, so making Baun one of the top paid players at his position should be doable and the team’s top priority. At 28-years, a deal in the range of $45 million over 3 years feels like it could get the job done. Howie doesn’t usually pay linebackers, but he also never lets star talent walk out the door. Becton’s market is tougher to gauge. He’s a former first rounder who is still only 25. They have a dirt-cheap option in Tyler Steen waiting in the wings. If they can get Becton for something under $10 million per year, they’ll do it. I wouldn’t go beyond that, though. Push It – Iggles BlitzHaason Reddick is one of the FAs. He did not have a good year in 2024. Reddick got out-produced by Bryce Huff, if that gives you an idea of how things went. It was a bizarre season for a lot of reasons. Some have asked if it would make sense for the Eagles to bring back Reddick. I don’t think so. He wanted to get paid last year and that led to a lot of issues with the Jets. He’ll want good money this year. I don’t know if anyone will pay it. Maybe you sign him to an incentive-laden deal. The problem with that is he would be focused on sacks and personal goals. Reddick is a good player. He was a key part of the 2022 SB team. I just wonder if he’s the right fit for who the Eagles are at this point. Vic Fangio wants his defenders to be very disciplined. That’s not always Reddick’s strength. But he is a talented pass rusher and those guys can be game-changers. We saw what he did to Brock Purdy in the playoff game. I don’t think a reunion is likely, but never say never. CJGJ came home and loved it. Let him talk to Reddick and see what happens. Spadaro: Howie Roseman embraces the challenge of jumping back into the roster-building process – PE.comThe mindset at the NovaCare Complex, back and buzzing after a week off in the post-Super Bowl Championship days, is that the 2025 NFL season is here and that the focus so quickly has turned to the present and the near future. In other words, take a deep breath folks, because next season is here. Technically, of course, the new NFL Year starts on March 10, when teams are able to enter into contract negotiations with certified agents of players due to become unrestricted free agents on March 12. And even more immediate is the NFL Scouting Combine this week in Indianapolis. So, yeah, it’s back to the grind for the Eagles after the brief glory of the Super Bowl LIX victory. Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman, of course, has been through this before and he knows how quickly the turnaround happens. This is something that he discussed in a pre-Super Bowl press conference with reporters at the NovaCare Complex – the challenge of getting right back into the roster-building process. Packers submitted rules change proposal to ban the ‘Tush Push’ – Acme Packing CompanyAdding to the Packers’ motivation to eliminate the play is the fact that they lost to Philadelphia twice during the 2024 season, with each game featuring at least one Eagles first-down using this play. Jalen Hurts converted a 4th-and-1 early in the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ Wild Card victory when the Packers were down by just six points, and he converted a 3rd-and-1 in the second quarter of the teams’ week one matchup in Brazil. (The Packers did get a stop on a 3rd-and-1 early in the week 1 game, but then were flagged for encroachment when the Eagles lined up for another attempt on the ensuing 4th down.) 2025 NFL draft class: Strengths, weaknesses, big questions – ESPNThis could also mean more trades starting in the middle of Round 1 through Round 2 due to a lack of leaguewide consensus regarding the top players in the draft’s strong middle class. The reverse seems unlikely, as there could be fewer trades into the top 10 because of the lack of blue-chippers and elite quarterback talent. The narrative change for this draft class was supported by the Philadelphia Eagles’ dominant Super Bowl LIX win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The position groups that fueled Philly’s win — defensive end, defensive tackle and versatile defensive backs — are the strengths of the 2025 draft. “This is a meat-and-potatoes draft,” one NFL area scout said. Philly high school standouts will be well represented at NFL scouting combine,
The Linc – Vic Fangio wasn’t pleased with the Eagles’ second half defense in their Super Bowl win
Carolina Panthers 7-round mock draft: Bryce Young gets some help, defense gets reinforcements
The Carolina Panthers need reinforcements at every level of the defense. Derrick Brown and Jaycee Horn provide a solid foundation, but the team must build around them this offseason. Carolina Panthers 7-round mock draft: Bryce Young gets some help, defense gets reinforcements 2W9CTA4 FILE – Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan lines up for a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Pullman, Wash. Arizona can make a lasting impression before leaving the Pac-12 to join the Big 12 next season. The Wildcats ? two seasons removed from winning one game ? face traditional power Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl. (AP Photo/Young Kwak, File) By Josh Liskiewitz Posted Feb 25, 2025 8:30 am EST A playmaking receiver in Round 1: Adding a true dominant X receiver like Tetairoa McMillan would help the Panthers unlock the full potential of 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette. Despite frequently facing rolled coverage, McMillan still put up elite production in 2024, hauling in 86 catches for 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns. Georgia’s Malaki Starks in Round 2: Starks’ production dipped in 2024, but his coverage performance in 2023 showcased his impact. That season, he allowed just 18 completions on 37 targets while recording three interceptions and seven pass breakups. 2025 NFL Draft season is here: Try PFF’s best-in-class Mock Draft Simulator and learn about 2025’s top prospects while trading and drafting for your favorite NFL team. Estimated reading time: 2 minutes While the Carolina Panthers’ roster still needs reinforcement, the team has to feel encouraged by their trajectory — particularly with the growth of their young quarterback. Despite a rough start to the 2024 season, Bryce Young made notable strides down the stretch, showing the game is beginning to slow down for him. Yes, he needs his team to continue adding weapons for him, and it could certainly do so with the eighth overall pick, but his development is a promising sign for the franchise. However, the Panthers need reinforcements at every level of the defense. Derrick Brown and Jaycee Horn provide a solid foundation, but the team must build around them this offseason. Round 1, Pick 8: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona Adding a true dominant X receiver like McMillan would help the Panthers unlock the full potential of 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette. Despite frequently facing rolled coverage, McMillan still put up elite production in 2024, hauling in 86 catches for 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns. He thrived in contested situations, securing 18 of 32 such targets—often against multiple defenders—while also forcing an impressive 29 missed tackles. Round 2, Pick 58: S Malaki Starks, Georgia Starks’ production dipped in 2024, but his coverage performance in 2023 showcased his impact. That season, he allowed just 18 completions on 37 targets while recording three interceptions and seven pass breakups. Round 3, Pick 74: DI Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech Peebles pairs his agility and quickness with excellent hand usage, making him a highly effective interior pass rusher. He led all defensive interior players in college football with a 27.3% win rate on true pass sets. Round 4, Pick 109: T Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, Florida Crenshaw-Dickson transferred to Florida from San Diego State for the 2024 season and delivered the best performance of his career, allowing just one sack and no quarterback hits. Click here to subscribe to PFF+ today! Round 4, Pick 112: DI Jordan Phillips, Maryland Phillips is a force against the run, recording 20 stops and seven tackles for loss or no gain in 2024. Round 5, Pick 140: LB Kobe King, Penn State King’s 89.2 run-defense grade in 2024 ranked fifth among all linebackers in this year’s draft class. Round 5, Pick 146: LB Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma Bowman has a natural instinct for making plays in coverage, tallying 11 interceptions and 10 forced incompletions over the past three seasons at Oklahoma. Round 5, Pick 163: WR Antwane Wells Jr., Mississippi Wells was a big-play machine in 2024, averaging 19.4 yards per reception. He converted 20 of his 29 catches into first downs, including six touchdowns. Round 7, Pick 228: CB Mac McWilliams, UCF McWilliams transferred to UCF from UAB last year and allowed just 23 receptions for 137 yards on 41 throws into his coverage.
Random Ramsdom: Rich Eisen doesn’t get why team would trade Stafford
Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Los Angeles Rams News and Links for 2/25/25 Rich Eisen was talking about the Matthew Stafford rumors and the fact that the Los Angeles Rams may want to move him when the host came his conclusion of, “I don’t get it.” Eisen more or less thinks L.A. was so close to beating the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL Divisional Round with Stafford, so why move him? L.A. could get younger at the quarterback position, Les Snead could recoup some draft capital, the Rams could save money and a number of other explanations are fair. I get where Eisen is coming from, I get where the organization could be coming from, and I get the idea of Stafford wanting more security. I am beyond curious to see how this all turns out. Thank you for checking out Turf Show Times, please comment on whatever you want and have a great Tuesday! Rams grant QB Matthew Stafford’s camp permission to talk to other teams (nfl.com) “The Los Angeles Rams have granted quarterback Matthew Stafford and his agent permission to talk to other teams about his market value, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Saturday. By doing this, the Rams and Stafford can gain a better understanding of his worth, Rapoport added. Stafford has a $49.7 million cap number in 2025, but the Rams can save $27 million by trading him as a post-June 1 transaction or $23 million by designating him a post-June 1 cut, per Over The Cap — although doing either would also incur a sizable amount of dead money over the next two years.” Watching Fiske combine highlights: “Oh yeah” #NFLCombine starts Feb. 27 on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/ZMvzSbfeq5 — Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) February 24, 2025 ESPN: Teams ‘Skeptical’ Matthew Stafford Would Leave Rams amid Contract, Trade Rumors (bleacherreport) “Fowler reported Monday on SportsCenter how Stafford and the Rams are open to continuing their partnership, though that requires a new contract. That’s not a deal-breaker for L.A., but it’s unclear how high general manager Les Snead is prepared to go. Fowler went on to say that allowing Stafford’s agents to gauge his general market may not be a sign he’s going anywhere. “So, if somebody comes with a big number and he gets that kind of feedback, takes it to the Rams, they might not want to match that, then that could lead to a million dominoes that would dominate this offseason,” the NFL insider said. “But as of now, cooler heads could prevail. Both sides do want to shake something out, and a lot of other teams I’ve talked to, including teams that need a quarterback, are skeptical that Stafford would leave the Rams.” The @RamsNFL 2025 coaching staff is set:https://t.co/g9BFasOatD — Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) February 24, 2025 Random Ramdom Fandom: I Just Don’t Get Matthew Stafford Salary Dispute (By RamsFanSince51 on Feb 22, 2025) “Someone please explain in it to me. Stafford demanded a rewrite of his contract last spring so that more of this 2024 salary would be guaranteed. He was accommodated by management. Now he is demanding that they do it again? What happens if the Rams just say no? He can’t play for another team, can he? Yes, he can walk, but that seems like a poor choice for a 37 year old quarterback. If a guy is good, why does he need a guarantee that the team will keep him? Most of the rest of the employed world works without guarantees. Why does he need them? True, he could be injured and his career is over, but if he doesn’t play because he dislikes his contract, it is also over. Oh, is it that they don’t want an unhappy player? At $50 million or whatever he gets per year, how can he be unhappy? And what about his team? It is sometimes reported that some quarterbacks have sacrified some potential pay so that a team could attract other good players. Am I seeing a little selfishness here on the part of Matthew Stafford? Someone please enlighten me. Thanks!” Inspiring the next generation. Today we unveiled our Black History Month mural in honor of our trailblazers through the years at Nickerson Gardens. pic.twitter.com/Zwuye3MjSA — Rams Community (@RamsCommunity) February 22, 2025 Hidden gem? A 6’4” 123 lb WR with sneaky speed and great hands (By CDNGolfer on Feb 24, 2025) “Many thanks to Mr.Grisak for hooking me up with the link to these guys with the GPS metrics from the Senior Bowl. Hmmm not loading as a link. I’ll add it in the comments. The company is Zebra Technologies and they do all the GPS stuff for the NFL. I went there looking for passing metrics on ball speed by individual QB’s, fascinating, and quickly went to the offensive speed charts. You can get all 4 days on a player or specifically game speed. The leading names stood out to me because I’d not looked any of them and then I landed on this guy. Isaac TeSlaa. Draft Buzz link also in the comments. Some of their bullet points on him; Super athletic – Made Bruce Feldman’s 2023 Freak’s List at #83. He Wrote: “ the 6-4, 216-pound senior has impressed his new coaches. TeSlaa has displayed good strength for a wideout (a 315-pound bench) to go with terrific athleticism (38-inch vertical jump and a 10-5 broad jump) and excellent size and reliable hands.” Excellent size and length at 6’4” with a muscular 216-pound frame Showcases good strength for a wideout, boasting a 315-pound bench press Reliable hands catcher who plucks the ball away from his body and secures it through contact Dominates in contested catch situations, using his length and leaping ability to high-point passes TeSlaa’s raw tools and athletic prowess make him an intriguing developmental prospect at the next level. His imposing frame, vice-grip hands, and above-the-rim playing style suggest untapped potential as an X-receiver. In the Senior Bowl, he had the second fastest top speed
2025 Cincinnati Bengals Position Review: Linebackers
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images What can Al Golden do to fix this group? It’s common to claim that linebacker is not an important position. Because unlike cornerback and defensive end, they don’t have a direct impact on the quarterback. Well, I say ”poppycock.” Linebackers have to do it all. They fill gaps in the run game, drop into zone coverage, man up with tight ends and running backs, and blitz the quarterback. Linebacker is a vital position and the Cincinnati Bengals need to see more production from this group. Key Players Logan Wilson Germaine Pratt Year In Review The Bengals linebackers started to slide two years ago. This year, the loss of D.J. Reader in front of them predictably accelerated this problem. Germaine Pratt had some good moments, but they became fewer and farther between as the season went on. Pratt had career-high tackle numbers but also led the team in missed tackles. Wilson failed to take his game to that next level we’ve all been anticipating and ended the season on Injured Reserve. Potential Free Agents Akeem Davis-Gaither Joe Bachie What to Do Next? Germaine Pratt was seen by many as a potential cap casualty, and now he has requested a trade. The good news is that he didn’t seem to be in the plans for next year anyway. In interviews, new defensive coordinator Al Golden has lavished praise on Logan Wilson while mentioning Pratt in passing. Golden was the linebacker’s coach who developed Pratt, Wilson, and Markus Bailey, along with potential free agents Akeem Davis-Gaither and Joe Bachie. As part of their developmental process, Golden (who was responsible for third-down defense even as an assistant) would pull Pratt and Josh Bynes on third downs in favor of Wilson and Davis-Gaither. Golden seems focused on getting Wilson to finally reach his All-Pro potential after injury setbacks in recent years. With Pratt likely gone, look for the Bengals to acquire a young linebacker to pair him with. Maema Njongmeta could be the guy, but I don’t think it’s smart to commit to him after a limited snap count. Plus, Golden has never coached him. Believing in the development of a player you see every day is one thing, but committing to a player based on a handful of snaps is another thing altogether. While Njongmeta and Shaka Hayward could bring depth to the position, I expect to see someone new. What I would do With so many other needs, it isn’t being talked about much, but I see the Bengals using a Day 2 pick on a linebacker who makes an immediate impact. While I suspect Bama’s Jihaad Campbell may go off the boards too soon for the Bengals’ liking, I think Oregon’s Jeffrey Bassa or Iowa’s Jay Higgins could be just the ticket. I’d start with Wilson and, let’s say, Higgins, with Njongmeta and Hayward rounding out the depth. I’d love to hedge my draft bet with a Bynes-esque cheap veteran as well.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73926145/usa_today_7607333.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "Is trading into the top three to get a quarterback ever worth it?")
Is trading into the top three to get a quarterback ever worth it?
Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images I’m sorry to say, New York Giants fans, but there are still two full months to go before the 2025 NFL Draft. The wait already seems interminable, since the Giants do not have a single quarterback under contract, and whatever else they do in the interim to improve the team will pale in comparison to the big decision they will have to make in late April. Sure, there’s the palate cleanser of the NFL Combine this week, and the appetizer of a likely bridge quarterback signing in free agency a little over two weeks from now. There could even be the have-a-big-lunch-even-though-you-have-reservations-for-dinner of a trade for Matthew Stafford at any time. Most likely, though, the key moment will be on or shortly before Day 1 of the draft, when the Giants will either sit tight at position No. 3 and hope that a QB they like is still on the board, or try to move up to No. 1 or 2. The stakes seem to be increasing lately, because rightly or wrongly, Cam Ward’s arrow has been pointing upward in recent weeks while Shedeur Sanders’ ship be sinking a bit in the eyes of draftniks: Courtesy of NFL Mock Draft Database Courtesy of NFL Mock Draft Database At No. 3 the Giants are in a very precarious position, behind two teams that could easily justify drafting the two top-ranked QBs and leaving the Giants on the outside looking in. There could also be one that drops to them, but not the one they want. It’s entirely possible that the Giants will just sit tight, let the board come to them, and then take a more developmental QB in Round 2 if both top ones are off the board. Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll, though, have to feel that they are on the hot seat this year after two failed seasons out of three. That may cause them to be more aggressive than they might ordinarily be and seek to move up. Moving up in the draft to “get your guy” is often the preferred course of action for Giants fans, if comments on this site and on the app formerly known as Twitter are any indication. Ed made such a move in his recent mock draft, spending this year’s and next year’s second round picks to move up to No. 1. He drafted Cam Ward and paired him with a Jameis Winston free agency signing. I have to admit – I love that idea. Jameis is the football equivalent of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s little girl with a curl. When he’s good, he’s very good indeed. But when he’s bad he’s horrid. Often in the same game. Still, wouldn’t it be better than the recent forced marches through Siberia in winter that recent Giants games call to mind? And Ward is definitely my favorite QB in this draft, just based on watching Ward, Sanders, and the other QB prospects in real time on TV. Ed was able to get Ward without sacrificing a 2026 first-round pick. That eases the pain somewhat. Losing those second rounders stings, though, for a team that needs an edge defender, an IDL, and a cornerback. The questions for trade-ups high in the draft are: How often does the result justify the cost? How often does it even solve the problem? Let’s briefly review some of the big moves in the 21st Century NFL, focusing only on those that got teams into the top 1, 2, or 3 picks, because those are the most costly. I realize that the Giants are already in the top three, but in this year’s draft No. 3 isn’t high enough to sleep well at night. 2004: Giants-Chargers Photo by Bob Leverone/Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images This doesn’t actually qualify because rather than a trade of picks, it was a bizarre dance between a player and two teams. San Diego drafted Eli Manning No. 1 even though he had indicated he didn’t want to play for them, the Giants drafted Philip Rivers No. 4, and then the two teams traded players, with the Giants giving up their third round pick plus 2005 first and fifth-round picks. There may not be a single Giants fan that is dissatisfied with this trade, given the two rings Eli brought home. Much of the NFL community likely feels that San Diego won the trade, though. If Rivers makes the Hall of Fame before Eli, that will be an indicator. The Giants missed out on Shawne Merriman, a Pro Bowl linebacker that San Diego chose with that extra first, and another Pro Bowl linebacker, Derrick Johnson, was there as well, but that’s a small price to pay. Rivers was a more consistently top-notch quarterback over his career. Eli reached higher heights for about six years but had lower lows before and after. Would Rivers have won rings as a Giant? Would Eli have as a Charger? We’ll never know. 2012: Washington-Rams Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post via Getty Images Washington moved from No. 6 to No. 2 in order to draft Robert Griffin III, giving the Rams the No. 39 pick as well as first round picks in 2013 and 2014. RGIII looked like he’d become the real deal, but after getting Washington to the playoffs as a rookie, a serious knee injury in the playoffs ended his season and he was never the same. (He had probably been injured initially in a late regular season game but was foolishly allowed to keep playing.) Washington went 3-13 and 4-12 the next two seasons. Interesting note: Washington also drafted Kirk Cousins in Round 4 of the same draft. Schoen has never drafted a quarterback in three seasons, 2016: Rams-Titans Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images This time it was the Rams giving up a boatload to trade up. Los Angeles moved from No. 15 to No. 1 to draft Jared Goff, getting the No. 133 and 177 picks from
Can you guess this Vikings kicker in today’s in-5 trivia game?
Think you can figure out which Vikings player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game! Hey Vikings fans! We’re back for another day of the Daily Norseman in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form. Today’s Daily Norseman in-5 game If you can’t see the game due to Apple News or another service, click this game article. Previous games Monday, February 24Sunday, February 23Saturday, February 22 Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games NFL in-5MLB in-5MMA in-5 Behind the Daily Norseman in-5 instructions The goal of the game is to guess the correct Vikings player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it. After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form. Enjoy!
More Lions make PFF’s top 101 players than rest of NFC North combined
Filed under: More Detroit Lions make PFF’s top 101 players than rest of NFC North combined The Detroit Lions roster was stacked in 2024, and it remains in a strong place moving into 2025. By Feb 25, 2025, 9:00am EST If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.
NFL Combine preview: 10 linebackers the Lions should watch
What’s new at Pride of Detroit Direct? If you want more Lions coverage, our newsletter is the answer for you. There, we have weekly columns, deep analytical dives, and exclusive podcasts to offer comprehensive coverage of free agency, the draft, and everything in between as we prepare of a momentous 2025 Detroit Lions season.
Vote on the Detroit Lions’ 2024 Play of the Year
Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images The Detroit Lions had a ton of crazy plays from the 2024 season, but only one can be the best. Vote on the 2024 Detroit Lions Play of the Year. There are not enough staff members on Pride of Detroit to nominate all of the worth candidates for the Detroit Lions’ 2024 Play of the Year. Some teams only get one or two unforgettable moments for a season. The Lions had upwards of 20, and it happened in all phases of the game: offense, defense, and special teams. If you need a trip down memory lane, this highlight reel of the best plays from the Lions’ 2024 season offers 13 of Detroit’s most memorable moments. Which one of these @Lions‘ plays this season was your favorite? ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/1zQa4pzAsy — NFL (@NFL) February 19, 2025 But there can only be one winner for this award. Here are our nominees for 2024 Detroit Lions Play of the Year. Scroll down to the poll at the bottom of the post to determine the winner. Previous awards: Breakout Player of the Year Special Teams Player of the Year Rookie of the Year Coach of the Year Game of the Year Pride of Detroit Moment of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Offensive Player of the Year Detroit Lions 2024 Play of the Year Jeremy Reisman: David Montgomery bulldozes Devon Witherspoon DAVID MONTGOMERY IS A BEAST. : #SEAvsDET on ABC : Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/OiTpKUNzPB — NFL (@NFL) October 1, 2024 In a season filled with crazy trick plays and high-pressure moments, the play that will stick with me the longest is David Montgomery stealing the soul of Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon. What should have been a checkdown pass for 2 yards turned into a 40-yard explosive play I’ll never forget. He made just about every single player on the Seahawks defense miss a tackle on the way to one of the most impressive single efforts of any play in 2024. Max Gerber: Dan Skipper’s TD vs. Bills OL DAN SKIPPER RECEIVING TOUCHDOWN. : #BUFvsDET on CBS/Paramount+ : https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/fmdNnVDnPe — NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024 Who doesn’t love to see an offensive lineman get the ball? Especially when it’s fan-favorite Dan Skipper, who the crowd erupts for every time he reports as eligible. The man who looms over the rest of the offense, nearly seven-feet tall, laid out a quick block against a Buffalo defensive lineman and released to a shoddy out route. The cherry on top was when he lowered his shoulder and attempted to truck a defender just for the fun of it as he crossed into the end zone. A year after the Dallas debacle, Skipper finally got six. Al Karsten: 4th-and-inches conversion vs. Packers The @Lions go for it… and get it!#GBvsDET on Prime VideoAlso streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/uHtmLGvCWW — NFL (@NFL) December 6, 2024 Moving past some of the genius and razzle dazzle of the hook-and-ladders, the tackle eligible pass, the reverses, flea flickers, and even the Stumbleroski—the Lions’ most impactful play of the season was a hand-off on their fifth fourth-down attempt of their Week 14 Thursday night bricktacular Jake Bates walk-off. It was a tie ballgame with 43 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and the Lions had fourth-and-inches at the Packers 21-yard line. Dan Campbell elected to go for it and went off right tackle for 7 yards with David Montgomery. Campbell told everyone when he was hired that they would drag opponents into the abyss and outlast them and that’s what they did right there. It was the personification of gritty winning. Ending the game on their terms. Ty Schalter: 4th-and-inches conversion vs. Packers Jared Goff is never gonna run for 900 yards in a season. He’s never gonna run an RPO and have a linebacker more afraid of him keeping it than giving it to his All-Pro tailback. He might not even ever catch his own pass for a touchdown. But in one play, Jared Goff committed every bit of athleticism he had to compensating for adversity and putting the ball right in David Montgomery’s gut as if nothing had happened. And in what was the most important—and Most Lions—play of the season to that point, Monty got not only the inches he needed but seven damn yards on top of it. Erik Schlitt: Walk-off David Montgomery TD vs. Rams David Montgomery runs it in for the @Lions win! pic.twitter.com/iKUEHAvgMK — NFL (@NFL) September 9, 2024 The Lions opened the season by hosting the Los Angeles Rams on “Sunday Night Football” and both teams battled to a 20-20 tie at the end of regulation. Detroit won the coin flip and the Lions showed the world who they really were. The Lions ran eight plays in overtime, one pass (to Jahmyr Gibbs), and seven runs, with five of them going to David Montgomery. The Lions’ physicality shined and the offensive line bullied the Rams at the line of scrimmage, while Montgomery took away their will to fight. Finally, with the ball on the 1-yard line, the Lions turned to Montgomery once more and he bulldozed his way into the endzone for the win. Hamza Baccouche: Hook-and-ladder vs. Cardinals Little hook n ladder shenanigans for the score #DETvsAZ | FOX pic.twitter.com/EBUcoJeBn5 — Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 22, 2024 I wrote about this (specific to trick plays) in December, and my answer hasn’t changed. The hook and ladder from Amon-Ra St. Brown to Jahmyr Gibbs in Arizona was unlike any other trick play we’ve seen, and it was so perfectly timed and executed that it’s my favorite. John Whiticar: Stumblerooski vs. Bears We told ya he’s an athlete #ProBowlVote | @JaredGoff16 | @samlaporta pic.twitter.com/Fx4NZvBrGE — Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 22, 2024 I’m not the oldest football fan out there, but I have never seen a play call like that before. The creativity alone is insane—draw up a play where your quarterback and running back stumble intentionally?! Factor in
NFL considering more adjustments to kickoff rule for 2025
Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images The NFL’s revamped kickoff format may be in for another shake-up ahead of the 2025 season. After implementing the “dynamic kickoff” rule in 2024 to encourage more returns and reduce injuries, the league is now weighing further modifications to improve the play’s impact on the game. One of the biggest potential changes under discussion is moving the touchback spot from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line. If approved, this would mark the third adjustment to the touchback placement in less than a decade, following previous shifts in 2016 and 2024. Another proposal would move the kickoff spot back five yards to the kicking team’s own 30-yard line, a move designed to further increase return opportunities. The goal behind these potential tweaks is to strike a balance between player safety and the excitement of special teams play. In 2024, the dynamic kickoff rule led to a notable increase in returns—jumping from 21.8% in 2023 to 32.8%. The new format, which prevented players from moving until the ball reached the designated “landing area,” helped reduce high-speed collisions while keeping the kickoff as an active part of the game. In addition to changes on kickoffs, the league’s competition committee is also exploring ways to make onside kicks more viable. Under the current system, onside kick attempts can only be made in the fourth quarter, and teams must announce their intent in advance. With a success rate below 10% in recent years, some have argued for alternative options—such as allowing a team to convert a fourth-and-15 or fourth-and-20 play instead of attempting an onside kick. The league is also considering expanding the use of replay assist for certain penalty reviews. A key focus of these discussions is whether to allow replay officials to intervene on penalty calls related to quarterback slides. This stems from a controversial roughing-the-passer call in the Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff victory over the Houston Texans earlier this year. While the league wants to ensure correct calls are made, it remains hesitant to open the door for reviews of all subjective penalties. Any proposed rule changes will be voted on during the NFL’s annual league meeting in late March. To pass, a proposal must receive at least 24 votes from team owners. If the dynamic kickoff sees another adjustment, it could reshape special teams strategy once again in the 2025 season.