Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images Some good news for Bengals fans. The Cincinnati Bengals have already had an eventful offseason after landing Al Golden as their new defensive coordinator. After helping lead the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to the College Football Championship game, Golden is now excited to get to work with a team as talented as the Bengals. It also sounds like some of the players are excited to get to work with their new coach on defense. Logan Wilson, a linebacker who played for Golden when he was the linebackers coach in the Queen City, spoke with Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com and is excited to get to work with a familiar face. Wilson is also excited about the style of play he allowed during his time with the Bengals previously. “Golden] allowed things to be simpler when he was with us,” Wilson said. “And so I feel like that’s why we were able to play fast and I’m sure he’ll be doing some similar stuff that we used to run. He will have his little nuances in the system. He obviously had that Notre Dame defense cooking.” That will be music to Bengals fans’ ears. With such a potent offense this season, it was the defense that continued to trend downwards ultimately throughout the season. Now, with the majority of key players back on offense and plenty of key players back on defense, Zac Taylor is hoping to look like a genius with this move. If Wilson’s comments indicate anything, it seems like the system should be a good fit.
Logan Wilson is happy to work with Al Golden again
Dolphins land scouting opportunity of offensive line talent at 2025 Senior Bowl
Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images Dolphins’ coach Lemuel Jeanpierre will coach the National Team O-line at the Senior Bowl. The Miami Dolphins are expected to invest in the offensive line this offseason, and the coaching staff will get an early look at 12 draft-eligible linemen at the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl. It was announced Friday that Lemuel Jeanpierre, an assistant offensive line coach, will join Tennessee Titans coach Scott Fuchs as the National Team’s offensive line coaches. 2025 Senior Bowl Roster National Team Offensive Line coached by @MiamiDolphins Lemuel Jeanpierre and @Titans Scott Fuchs.@PackFootball @BeltonAnthony @oregonfootball @joshuaconerlyjr @oregonfootball @AJCornelius65 @GopherFootball @Aireontae_69 @BoilerFootball… pic.twitter.com/a7PTydJ6oN — Reese’s Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) January 24, 2025 General manager Chris Grier said Miami will “have to invest in the offensive line now,” and Jeanpierre’s time with the seniors should only benefit the search for reinforcements. Entering the offseason with the fourth-lowest salary cap space, the Dolphins need to get creative to address the offensive line. Participating draft-eligible linemen include Anthony Belton (NC State), Josh Conerly Jr. (Oregon), Ajani Cornelious (Oregon), Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota), Marcus Mbow (Purdue), Wyatt Milum (Purdue), Jonah Monheim (USC), Jalen Rivers (Miami), Caleb Rogers (Texas Tech), Ozzy Trapilo (Boston College), Jalen Travis (Iowa State), and Grey Zabel (North Dakota State). The Senior Bowl is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 1, in Mobile, Alabama. Full list of participants: Senior Bowl Accepted Invites.
2025 Detroit Lions Mock Draft Roundup 1.0: Back too soon
Filed under: 2025 Detroit Lions Mock Draft Roundup 1.0: Back too soon Taking a closer look at the prospects from the 2025 NFL Draft that have been projected to the Detroit Lions over the past week. By Jan 25, 2025, 9:00am EST If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.
Detroit Lions 2025 fifth-year options: Who’s eligible, what it costs
Kimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images What you need to know about the Lions ability to exercise fifth-year options in 2025. With the Detroit Lions 2024-25 season coming to a close, their roster begins its transition to the offseason. While most of the attention is paid to the Lions’ pending free agents, the players from Detroit’s 2022 draft class enter a unique phase of their rookie contracts. Eligibility for fifth-year options This offseason, the members of the Lions 2022 draft class who remain on Detroit’s roster will be entering the final year of their rookie contract and therefore become eligible for contract extensions. Additionally, players who were drafted in the first round are also eligible for a team-held fifth-year option. That means, Aidan Hutchinson and Jameson Williams are eligible for an extension and a fifth-year option, while Josh Paschal, Kerby Joseph, and Malcolm Rodriguez are only eligible for extensions. The remaining players from that draft class—James Mitchell, James Houston, and Chase Lucas—are no longer under contract with the Lions. How the fifth-year option works For Hutchinson and Williams, they enter the fourth year of their rookie contracts, which are set to expire after the 2025 season. However, if the team elects to apply their fifth-year option, it would extend the length of the contract through 2026 by adding a fully guaranteed fifth year. The NFL pre-determines the value of a player’s fifth-year option by applying three factors: 1) draft slot, 2) playing time, and 3) Pro Bowl selections. The popular salary cap website OverTheCap.com, does a good job of breaking down what those fifth-year options costs would look like for each player eligible, based on the incentives triggered. Hutchinson’s fifth-year option projection For Hutchinson, he was drafted No. 2 overall, met the playing time incentives, and was selected to ONE Pro Bowl in 2023-24, meaning his contract moves up to the third tier. OTC is projecting a fifth-year option of $22,612,000 (fully guaranteed) for the 2026 season. Williams’ fifth-year option projection For Williams, he was drafted with the No. 12 overall pick, but failed to meet the playtime incentives and was not selected to a Pro Bowl, therefore he remains at the lowest tier available for his draft position. OTC is projecting a fifth-year option of $15,161,000 (fully guaranteed) for the 2026 season. Deadline to apply fifth-year option The NFL wants to give teams a reasonable amount of time to make a determination on a player’s fifth-year option and therefore allows each organization to wait until the conclusion of free agency and the NFL draft before assigning a deadline. Each year, the NFL sets the deadline for fifth-year options to be exactly one week after the first day of the NFL Draft. In 2025, the deadline to apply a fifth-year option to an eligible player is May 1. Can a team give a fifth-year option player a contract extension? Yes. Because a player eligible for a fifth-year option is also eligible for a contract extension, the team could opt to bypass the extension altogether or they can include it in the extension—as the Lions did with Penei Sewell during the 2024 offseason. With Sewell, the Lions kept the final year of his rookie contract in place, applied the fifth-year option, and then added another four-year contract extension on top of that. In the end, the Lions managed to create a contract that extended Sewell through the 2029 season. When can the Lions assign fifth-year options/sign contract extensions? Immediately. While coach Dan Campbell working on rebuilding his coaching staff, general manager Brad Holmes and his staff can begin negotiations with players and their agents. “Yeah, we’re working through all of that,” Brad Holmes said during his end-of-year presser. “Again, it’s not always in our control, we might have our plans and processes, but it takes two people to get something done. That’s not a negative comment, it’s just that you just don’t know what that player and their camp and all that kind of stuff are thinking. So, we haven’t gotten to those intense dialogues yet, so that’s going to be the only thing, but we have our philosophy, we have our process, but we’ll just see how it goes.” What is a reasonable timeline for the option to be applied? Because Sewell was this regime’s first drafted player, we only have his contract as a point of reference for a potential timeline of events. His contract was finalized on April 24, 2024, which was the first day of the NFL Draft, exactly one week before the fifth-year option deadline. So while picking up a player’s option may seem like an easy decision on the surface, things could take time behind the scenes.
2025 NFL coaching carousel: Tracking Detroit Lions staff changes
Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images With Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson gone, we’re tracking all of the shifting parts of the Detroit Lions’ 2025 coaching staff. We’re adjusting our 2025 NFL coaching tracker now that some of the dust has settled. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is now the head coach of the Chicago Bears. Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is off to be the New York Jets’ next head coach. As the two continue to build their staff—and other teams seek out some Lions coaches—the Lions will have to adjust and find new faces for their organization. So instead of tracking the fate of the other NFL head coaching jobs, this post will now focus on the Lions’ staff: who’s in, who’s out, and who has interviewed for their coaching vacancies. We’ll keep some of the head coach information for historical tracking purposes, but we’ve pushed most of that news to the bottom of the page. The Lions-related matters are at the top of the page for your convenience. Latest news: 1/23: Lions assistant QB coach J.T. Barrett hired as Bears QB coach 1/23: Lions WR coach Antwaan Randle El hired as Bears WR/AHC 1/23: Lions OL coach Hank Fraley to return! 1/22: Lions interviewing Bucs LB coach Larry Foote for DC job 1/22: Lions hiring Bucs DL coach Kacy Rodgers as new DL coach 1/22: Aaron Glenn hired as Jets head coach 1/22: Lions DL coach Terrell Williams hired as Patriots DC 1/21: Hank Fraley to have second interview with Seahawks 1/21: Jets hoping to hire Aaron Glenn on Tuesday 1/20: Ben Johnson hired as Bears head coach Lions coaching losses Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (Bears HC) Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn (Jets HC) Assistant QB coach J.T. Barrett (Bears QB coach) WR coach Antwaan Randle El (Bears WR coach/assistant HC) DL coach Terrell Williams (Patriots DC) Lions coaching adds: DL coach Kacy Rodgers (former Bucs DL coach) Lions coaching promotions OL coach Hank Fraley now OL coach/run game coordinator Lions coaching vacancies Offensive coordinator: No candidates yet Defensive coordinator: Candidates: Bucs ILB coach/pass game coordinator Larry Foote (interview scheduled) WR coach No candidates yet Assistant QB coach No candidates yet Lions coaches who are candidates elsewhere Deshea Townsend (DB coach) Teams interested: San Francisco 49ers — completed interview for DC position (1/9) 49ers hired Robert Saleh Jett Modkins (Assistant Special Teams coach) Teams interested: San Francisco 49ers — completed interview for special teams coordinator position (1/12) Chris Spielman Teams interested: New York Jets — Interviewed (1/11) for GM job Head coach openings: New Orleans Saints Aaron Glenn: Interviewed (1/10) — In-person interview (1/22) Ben Johnson: Nothing yet Interviewed candidates: Giants OC Mike Kafka — second interview Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver — second interview Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi Bills OC Joe Brady Eagles OC Kellen Moore Other candidates: Former Stanford HC David Shaw (request) Las Vegas Raiders — Hired Pete Carroll Aaron Glenn: Interviewed (1/10) Ben Johnson: Interviewed (1/10) — looking to schedule an in-person interview Interviewed candidates: Former Commanders’ HC Ron Rivera Former Jets’ HC Robert Saleh Candidates: Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo (request), Ravens OC Todd Monken (request), former Seahawks HC Pete Carroll (request) Jacksonville Jaguars — Hired Liam Coen Aaron Glenn: Interviewed (1/11) Ben Johnson: Interviewed (1/11) Interviewed candidates: Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo Raiders DC Patrick Graham Former Jets HC Robert Saleh Bucs OC Liam Coen Ravens OC Todd Monken Vikings DC Brian Flores Eagles OC Kellen Moore Bills OC Joe Brady Dallas Cowboys — Brian Schottenheimer Aaron Glenn: Interested, “Intrigued” Ben Johnson: Interested Interviewed candidates: Eagles OC Kellen Moore Former Jets’ HC Robert Saleh Candidates: Rumored to be interested in Colorado HC Deion Sanders New York Jets — Hired Aaron Glenn Aaron Glenn: Interviewed (1/9) — In-person interview (1/21) Ben Johnson: Not interested Interviewed candidates: Former Commandes HC Ron Rivera Former Titans HC Mike Vrabel — Hired by Patriots Former Jets HC Rex Ryan Chiefs OC Matt Nagy Maryland HC Mike Locksley Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo Saints interim HC Darren Rizzi Interim HC Jeff Ulbrich Steelers OC Arthur Smith Broncos DC Vance Joseph Texans OC Bobby Slowik Vikings DC Brian Flores Packers DC Jeff Hafley Vikings QB coach Josh McCown Commanders’ DC Joe Whitt Jr. Other candidates: Bills OC Joe Brady (request), 49ers QB coach Brian Griese (request) Chicago Bears — Hired Ben Johnson Aaron Glenn: Interviewed (1/11) Ben Johnson: Interviewed (1/11) Interviewed candidates: Former Titans HC Mike Vrabel — Hired by Patriots Cardinals OC Drew Petzing Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver Former Seahawks HC Pete Carroll Giants OC Mike Kafka Bears interim HC/OC Thomas Brown Former Commandes HC Ron Rivera Former Stanford HC David Shaw Steelers OC Arthur Smith Former Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy Ravens OC Todd Monken Bills OC Joe Brady Vikings DC Brian Flores Packers OC Adam Stenavick Tennessee State HC Eddie George New England Patriots — Hired Mike Vrabel Aaron Glenn: Request to interview DENIED Ben Johnson: Interviewed (1/10) Interviewed candidates: Former Titans HC Mike Vrabel Former Bucs OC Byron Leftwich Former Texans OC Pep Hamilton Old news 1/20: Dan Campbell anticipates losing both coordinators 1/20: Glenn scheduled in-person interviews with Jets and Saints 1/19: Cowboys “intrigued” by and are expected to interview Aaron Glenn 1/12: 49ers interviewed Lions’ Special Teams assistant coach Jett Modkins 1/11: Raiders are “enamored” by Ben Johnson 1/9: Aaron Glenn turns down Patriots interview 1/9: Raiders schedule interview with Aaron Glenn 1/9: 49ers interviewed Lions DB coach Deshea Townsend 1/9: Seahawks to interview Lions OL coach Hank Fraley for OC position 1/8: Patriots request to interview Aaron Glenn 1/8: Chris Spielman to interview for Jets GM job 1/8: Ben Johnson has 4 interviews scheduled (Raiders, Patriots, Bears, Jaguars) 1/8: Raiders request to interview Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn 1/8: Aaron Glenn’s has four interviews scheduled 1/7: Jaguars request to interview Ben Johnson 1/7: Saints to interview Aaron Glenn Friday, Jan. 10 1/7: Jaguars will interview Aaron Glenn 1/6: Saints officially put in a request to interview Aaron Glenn 1/6: Jets request to interview Aaron Glenn 1/6: Patriots
Big Blue View mailbag: Saquon Barkley, tanking, Shane Bowen, more
Joshua Berman asks: When we bench Jones because it might have implications for next year’s cap and thereby sabotage the product on the field and morale in the locker room, we call that prudent. But were we to bench starters to improve our draft position and thereby sabotage the product on the field and the morale in the locker room, we would call that unsportsmanlike and unconscionable. What’s the difference between the two? The claim that tanking is playing in order to lose while benching Jones is not, is disingenuous when you know for certain that you are putting an inferior product on the field. Ed says: Joshua, the Giants were 2-8 when they decided to bench Daniel Jones. I hardly think benching the starting quarterback when a team is 2-8, has lost seven straight games, and has no chance of going to the playoffs is sabotaging the product on the field. The product on the field already stunk. We knew from Day 1 of the 2024 season that the Giants would face that choice and would eventually have to make that move for the long-term good of the franchise if things went south in 2024. They had to do that to protect their financial ability to improve the product for next season. The Giants were putting an inferior product on the field — with and without Jones. The results told everybody that. Aside from Malik Nabers and Tyrone Tracy, I’m not sure what other starters you would have had the Giants bench over the final couple of weeks. Look at the box score from the season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles. Include the fact that Jermaine Eluemunor and Greg Van Roten were not playing their primary positions, and the Giants started seven (7) backups on offense and five (5) on defense in Week 18. They were playing a lot of backups. Christopher Trappe asks: As a long-time fan of the New York Giants, I recognize that I have the option to do more productive things on Sunday afternoons throughout the fall and, now, owing to an interminable NFL schedule, most of the winter. However, that’s clearly not the case for you. So I’m wondering- after a decade-plus of mostly unwatchable football, how do you keep yourself motivated to do your job and do it at a high level? Ed says: Christopher, thank you for your belief that I do the job “at a high level.” That is all I have ever really tried to do. As for your question, let me start by saying that I grew up as a Giants fan. I can remember a lot of Sunday’s in the late 1960s and 1970s when I would watch games with my father, and he would grow so frustrated by what he saw that he would be in the garage puttering around before the game was over. That said, to do this job the way I have always felt it needed to be done — the way my journalism training and decades of work in the business prepared me — I had to willingly and unequivocally put the fan card away. I have always tried to do that. I have written multiple stories a day about the Giants almost every day for 18 years. To do that well, it can’t be done emotionally. I am not emotionally invested in whether the Giants win or lose. I am emotionally invested in running the best web site I can possibly run. If the Giants win, it is easier. Everybody — players, coaches, fans — are happier. If they lose, fans are miserable, commenters are mean-spirited, players and coaches are harder to talk to. Win or lose, though, my job is to figure out what needs to be written about, what needs to be done to make this a place people want to come to talk and learn about the Giants. I try to be analytical. I try to tell you what I see and hear, what I know, what I’ve learned over the years. I don’t write with my heart on my sleeve. I criticized Jerry Reese for years, but have no hatred for or dislike of Reese. I was never emotionally invested in Daniel Jones — whoever the quarterback is doesn’t change the job I have to do. I’m not emotionally invested in Joe Schoen or Brian Daboll. If they’re out, somebody else will be in and I will have a job to do writing about and figuring them out. In the end, I am invested in the work. I will be 65 this summer and I’m still motivated to do the work to the best of my ability. When I’m not, I will stop doing it. Henry Mildener asks: I cannot understand why a DC tries to fit a square peg in a round hole. If a DC is married to his scheme he may not be making the best use of his personnel. If you are a true DC you should be able to adapt your scheme to fit your personnel. Do you agree? I hate the read and react defense. You want the defensive players to play to their strengths. I was disappointed that Bowen was retained. Ed says: Henry, no two coaches are ever going to be the same. They may run similar schemes, but everybody sees things somewhat differently. It is a vastly different level, but I’ve coached CYO basketball for more than 20 years now. I coach what I know, the way I learned the game. I can’t coach what I don’t know. You are right that a coach’s job is to make the best use of his personnel. Shane Bowen, within the parameters of how he learned defense, is trying to do that. Does what he wants to do match the skill sets of guys like Bobby Okereke, Jason Pinnock and Deonte Banks perfectly? No, it clearly does not. This happens on every team when you change defensive coordinators. The Giants blitzed
Buying, selling narratives for NFL conference championship games
With narratives hanging above each squad, the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders have their sights set on a Super Bowl berth. Buying, selling narratives for NFL conference championship games 2S8TJKG Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts plays during an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles, Rams Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) By Dalton Wasserman Posted Jan 24, 2025 9:40 am EST Do the Eagles need Jalen Hurts to take over as a passer? Philadelphia has proven talented enough to overcome modest passing production this season, and that may need to be the case again against the Commanders. Josh Allen’s legacy won’t take a hit if the Bills fall short: Although Allen has been unable to overcome the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs, another negative result is more likely to fall on the defense than him. 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: 9 minutes Opinions will fly about the four teams playing in the NFL’s conference championship games before they even start — and, of course, after they are over. As such, narratives hang over each team. Some are statistically supported, while others can be proven false. Here, we’ll buy or sell one narrative for each of the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders with supporting data to bolster the argument. Kansas City Chiefs Narrative: This year’s Chiefs are more vulnerable than the past two seasons’ editions. Buy or Sell: Sell Most of the thought process behind calling the Chiefs more “vulnerable” than in the past couple of years is centered on their offense not being as explosive as it used to be, particularly when the team still had wide receiver Tyreek Hill. While Kansas City does sit as a bottom-seven team in explosive run and pass rates, that doesn’t mean the offense is devoid of production. The Chiefs rank 14th in team PFF offensive grade, but if we exclude their Week 18 game when they sat their starters, they rank 10th. They ran the ball more explosively last season, but they were still a middling team when it came to creating big plays. As such, Patrick Mahomes has adjusted to a conservative style of play to produce the third-lowest average depth of target in the NFL in 2023 and 2024. It may sound simple, but the Chiefs have one goal on offense: get first downs by any means necessary. They run the ninth-most offensive plays per game while converting at the 10th-highest rate and scoring at the ninth-highest rate. They may not boast the elite production of a Detroit or a Buffalo, but they are still roughly the 10th-best offense in the NFL with a quarterback who has mastered the art of situational football. Patrick Mahomes’ Career PFF Grades Subscribe to PFF+ to unlock the world’s most advanced football database! What gives the team balance is a defense that ranks second, behind Philadelphia, in PFF overall grade and doesn’t have a fatal flaw that opponents can repeatedly attack. The Chiefs and the Eagles are the only two teams in the top 10 in PFF run-defense grade, PFF pass-rush grade and PFF coverage grade. Again, if we exclude Week 18 against the Broncos, Kansas City allows fewer than 18 points per game. Of course, the only team that found a way to score at least 30 points against their starters was Buffalo in Week 11. They’ll confront the task of stopping Josh Allen again in the AFC Championship game, but if anyone is up to it, it’s defensive mastermind Steve Spagnuolo and his talented unit. The Chiefs may not be as flashy offensively as they used to be, but they still find ways to win. Buffalo Bills Narrative: This AFC Championship game will define Josh Allen’s legacy. Buy or Sell: Sell This game is understandably being billed as the biggest game of Josh Allen’s career. After an MVP-caliber regular-season campaign, he has led the Bills back to the AFC Championship game for the first time since 2020. He is undoubtedly one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, in the midst of a fifth consecutive season with a 90.0-plus PFF overall grade — never before done by a signal-caller in the PFF era (since 2006). There are three ways this game can go. Buffalo could win and earn its first Super Bowl berth in more than 30 years; they could lose despite a good effort from Allen, which has happened in the postseason before; or they could lose because of a poor outing from Allen. At this point, the third option seems highly unlikely. Allen’s 92.4 PFF overall grade this season is the highest of his career. He also owns a 2.3% turnover-worthy play rate, easily the best clip of his career, and has committed just three turnover-worthy plays since Week 9. It would be shocking to see him fold after playing with such command of the offense. So, what happened in Allen’s previous postseason losses, particularly the three at the hands of Kansas City? In the 2020 AFC Championship game, the Bills jumped out to a 9-0 lead before the Chiefs scored on their next six drives and won 38-24. Allen and the Bills simply weren’t ready in their first appearance. He finished that game with a 56.5 PFF overall grade. In the 2021 divisional round, Allen and Patrick Mahomes engaged in a classic shootout, in which Allen gave the Bills a lead with 13 seconds left in regulation. Mahomes somehow found a way to tie that game and eventually helped the Chiefs win in overtime. Allen finished with a 92.2 PFF overall grade. In last year’s divisional round, Allen produced a modest passing stat line but still earned a solid 79.6 PFF overall grade while accounting for three touchdowns. With Buffalo down by 3 points, he drove the offense
Buying, selling narratives for NFL conference championship games
With narratives hanging above each squad, the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders have their sights set on a Super Bowl berth. Buying, selling narratives for NFL conference championship games 2S8TJKG Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts plays during an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles, Rams Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) By Dalton Wasserman Posted Jan 24, 2025 9:40 am EST Do the Eagles need Jalen Hurts to take over as a passer? Philadelphia has proven talented enough to overcome modest passing production this season, and that may need to be the case again against the Commanders. Josh Allen’s legacy won’t take a hit if the Bills fall short: Although Allen has been unable to overcome the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs, another negative result is more likely to fall on the defense than him. 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: 9 minutes Opinions will fly about the four teams playing in the NFL’s conference championship games before they even start — and, of course, after they are over. As such, narratives hang over each team. Some are statistically supported, while others can be proven false. Here, we’ll buy or sell one narrative for each of the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders with supporting data to bolster the argument. Kansas City Chiefs Narrative: This year’s Chiefs are more vulnerable than the past two seasons’ editions. Buy or Sell: Sell Most of the thought process behind calling the Chiefs more “vulnerable” than in the past couple of years is centered on their offense not being as explosive as it used to be, particularly when the team still had wide receiver Tyreek Hill. While Kansas City does sit as a bottom-seven team in explosive run and pass rates, that doesn’t mean the offense is devoid of production. The Chiefs rank 14th in team PFF offensive grade, but if we exclude their Week 18 game when they sat their starters, they rank 10th. They ran the ball more explosively last season, but they were still a middling team when it came to creating big plays. As such, Patrick Mahomes has adjusted to a conservative style of play to produce the third-lowest average depth of target in the NFL in 2023 and 2024. It may sound simple, but the Chiefs have one goal on offense: get first downs by any means necessary. They run the ninth-most offensive plays per game while converting at the 10th-highest rate and scoring at the ninth-highest rate. They may not boast the elite production of a Detroit or a Buffalo, but they are still roughly the 10th-best offense in the NFL with a quarterback who has mastered the art of situational football. Patrick Mahomes’ Career PFF Grades Subscribe to PFF+ to unlock the world’s most advanced football database! What gives the team balance is a defense that ranks second, behind Philadelphia, in PFF overall grade and doesn’t have a fatal flaw that opponents can repeatedly attack. The Chiefs and the Eagles are the only two teams in the top 10 in PFF run-defense grade, PFF pass-rush grade and PFF coverage grade. Again, if we exclude Week 18 against the Broncos, Kansas City allows fewer than 18 points per game. Of course, the only team that found a way to score at least 30 points against their starters was Buffalo in Week 11. They’ll confront the task of stopping Josh Allen again in the AFC Championship game, but if anyone is up to it, it’s defensive mastermind Steve Spagnuolo and his talented unit. The Chiefs may not be as flashy offensively as they used to be, but they still find ways to win. Buffalo Bills Narrative: This AFC Championship game will define Josh Allen’s legacy. Buy or Sell: Sell This game is understandably being billed as the biggest game of Josh Allen’s career. After an MVP-caliber regular-season campaign, he has led the Bills back to the AFC Championship game for the first time since 2020. He is undoubtedly one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks, in the midst of a fifth consecutive season with a 90.0-plus PFF overall grade — never before done by a signal-caller in the PFF era (since 2006). There are three ways this game can go. Buffalo could win and earn its first Super Bowl berth in more than 30 years; they could lose despite a good effort from Allen, which has happened in the postseason before; or they could lose because of a poor outing from Allen. At this point, the third option seems highly unlikely. Allen’s 92.4 PFF overall grade this season is the highest of his career. He also owns a 2.3% turnover-worthy play rate, easily the best clip of his career, and has committed just three turnover-worthy plays since Week 9. It would be shocking to see him fold after playing with such command of the offense. So, what happened in Allen’s previous postseason losses, particularly the three at the hands of Kansas City? In the 2020 AFC Championship game, the Bills jumped out to a 9-0 lead before the Chiefs scored on their next six drives and won 38-24. Allen and the Bills simply weren’t ready in their first appearance. He finished that game with a 56.5 PFF overall grade. In the 2021 divisional round, Allen and Patrick Mahomes engaged in a classic shootout, in which Allen gave the Bills a lead with 13 seconds left in regulation. Mahomes somehow found a way to tie that game and eventually helped the Chiefs win in overtime. Allen finished with a 92.2 PFF overall grade. In last year’s divisional round, Allen produced a modest passing stat line but still earned a solid 79.6 PFF overall grade while accounting for three touchdowns. With Buffalo down by 3 points, he drove the offense
Grade the Hire: Bengals hire Notre Dame’s Al Golden as new defensive coordinator
Matt Cashore-Imagn Images What do you think, Bengals fans? Sound off! The Cincinnati Bengals have hired their next defensive coordinator and it will be Notre Dame’s Al Golden. Golden, on the heels of helping guide the Fighting Irish to the National Championship Game, is leaving South Bend behind and heading back to Cincinnati. Golden is an experienced coach and was Lou Anarumo’s linebackers coach from 2019 through the 2021 Super Bowl run, helping develop Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt into one of the best linebacker duos in the league. Before his first stay in Cincinnati, he was a defensive coordinator for the Virginia Cavaliers, Temple’s head coach, Miami (Fl)’s head coach, a tight ends coach for the Detroit Lions, and was named as the Lions’ linebackers coach a year before he jumped ship to Cincy. After he helped “The Mad Scientist” get the Bengals to the Super Bowl, he went back to college football, being named Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator. Now that the Bengals have moved on from Anarumo in the wake of a 9-8 season despite a top-tier offense, it will be Golden’s job to rebuild the defense and get the franchise back in the postseason. What are your thoughts on the Bengals’ new defensive coordinator? Vote below and comment!
Grade the Hire: Bengals hire Notre Dame’s Al Golden as new defensive coordinator
Matt Cashore-Imagn Images What do you think, Bengals fans? Sound off! The Cincinnati Bengals have hired their next defensive coordinator and it will be Notre Dame’s Al Golden. Golden, on the heels of helping guide the Fighting Irish to the National Championship Game, is leaving South Bend behind and heading back to Cincinnati. Golden is an experienced coach and was Lou Anarumo’s linebackers coach from 2019 through the 2021 Super Bowl run, helping develop Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt into one of the best linebacker duos in the league. Before his first stay in Cincinnati, he was a defensive coordinator for the Virginia Cavaliers, Temple’s head coach, Miami (Fl)’s head coach, a tight ends coach for the Detroit Lions, and was named as the Lions’ linebackers coach a year before he jumped ship to Cincy. After he helped “The Mad Scientist” get the Bengals to the Super Bowl, he went back to college football, being named Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator. Now that the Bengals have moved on from Anarumo in the wake of a 9-8 season despite a top-tier offense, it will be Golden’s job to rebuild the defense and get the franchise back in the postseason. What are your thoughts on the Bengals’ new defensive coordinator? Vote below and comment!
