Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah have guided the Vikings to a 34-17 regular season record over three years, with two playoff appearances. Discussions are ongoing for their contract extensions as tensions and speculation about their futures rise within the organization. | Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images Two Old Bloggers analyze Vikings’ crucial 2025 decisions, including O’Connell and Adofo-Mensah’s contract extensions, coaching staff changes, Harrison Smith’s potential retirement, and offensive line concerns—key insights on the team’s future direction. Welcome back to another exciting episode of Two Old Bloggers on the Vikings 1st & SKOL production in partnership with the Fans First Sports Network! Today, we dive deep into the Minnesota Vikings’ 2024 season performance, future plans for 2025, and the potential changes within the team. If you’re a die-hard Vikings fan, you won’t want to miss this! Key Topics: Minnesota Vikings’ 2024 season, 2025 plans, player reviews, future outlooks. In this episode of Two Old Bloggers, Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano bring their extensive experience and passion to discuss the latest happenings with the Minnesota Vikings. Here’s what was covered in the show: Review of the Vikings’ 2024 season: Darren and Dave reflect on the highs and lows, including the disastrous end of the season. 2025 Planning: The duo dives into the plans for the upcoming season, focusing on possible coaches’ extensions, key player decisions, and the overarching vision to make the Vikings Super Bowl contenders. Player Reviews: Discussion on key player, coach, and general manager performances, including Kevin O’Connell, Kweisi Adolfo-Mensa, and Harrison Smith’s possible retirement. Offseason Strategy: Insight into potential changes in coaching, player acquisitions through free agency, and the draft. Personal Opinions: Darren and Dave share their thoughts on the Vikings’ offensive line struggles, defensive improvements, and the effect of potential coaching changes. Listener Interaction: Engaging the audience by responding to questions and comments about the Vikings’ future. So if you’re ready to get the inside scoop on all things Vikings, grab a seat, and let’s dive in! Whether you’re a long-time follower or new to the Vikings community, this episode of Two Old Bloggers has something for everyone. From in-depth analysis to engaging discussions, Darren and Dave are here to provide you with all the insights and opinions you need. And as always, let’s SKOL Vikings! Check out the full episode now to stay ahead of all the Vikings’ offseason moves and strategies. Listen: Watch: Fan With Us! We have your Minnesota Vikings talk amongst the Two Old Bloggers, Darren @KickassblogVike, and Dave @Luft_Krigare. Join the conversation! Fan with us at Vikings 1st & SKOL @Vikings1stSKOL and with our podcast partner Fans First Sports Network @FansFirstSN and Fans First Sports Network’s NFL feed @FFSN_NFL where you get sports takes for the fan, from the fan!
What’s Next for the 2025 Vikings?
What They’re Saying About The Eagles: Inner Excellence Edition
What They’re Saying About The Eagles: Inner Excellence Edition Highlights from the Eagles’ latest win. By Jan 19, 2025, 10:46am EST Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images WHAT’S GOING ON BLEEDING GREEN NATION?!?! Ugly wins are still wins and the Eagles have moved on to the Divisional Round. I really don’t even know what to write about the game. It was an injury filled event, full of poor play calling, QB play, and plenty of turnovers. It just didn’t feel good or fun to watch. We won though, and that is the important part. There are no asterisks in the win column. Today we are taking on the Rams in our second home game against them this season. Okay, technically the first home game but let’s just be real here. We are already in their players heads, with them complaining about how mean we are. The Birds have already played and beat the Rams earlier in the season. There should be no apprehension going into today’s game at all. That being said, I’m nervous as hell. I’m sure some of you are too. So to help pass the time until the 3pm kick off, let’s revisit the end of the Packers season and see What They’re Saying About The Eagles: Do It For Dean Edition Yeaaah about that request…. FFFFUUUUMMMBBBBLLLLLEEEEEEEEE WE GOT DOTSON HERE!!! (7-0)
Eagles vs. Rams Divisional Round playoff game preview and predictions
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images How are you feeling about this matchup? Vibe check: it’s hard not to feel really good about the Philadelphia Eagles right now. With the Washington Commanders beating the Detroit Lions on Saturday night, the Birds are just one win away from hosting the NFC Championship Game. The Eagles simply cannot blow this opportunity. They must beat the Los Angeles Rams. We know they’re capable of doing it. They beat the Rams decisively back in Week 12. Saquon Barkley might not go for 302 yards from scrimmage again but he’s still going to be pretty difficult to stop. Combine his efforts with Jalen Hurts taking care of the ball and the defense playing lights out like they usually do … and the Eagles should win this game. There’s a reason they’re 6.5-point home favorites. Of course, the Lions entered Saturday night as 9.5-point home favorites before losing to Washington. What should happen doesn’t always happen. I can’t imagine the Eagles will take the Rams lightly, though. They know Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford have previously won a Super Bowl. They just saw how LA’s pass rush is capable of causing problems. It would be pretty surprising if the ride ends here. It just doesn’t feel like that’s what’s going to happen. I expect the Eagles to come out on top. For more, check out BGN’s weekly NFL game predictions and NFL picks against the spread. Suggested format: Score prediction: Bold prediction: My predictions: Score prediction: 28 to 19, Eagles win Bold prediction: Cooper DeJean gets his first career interception. Your predictions: Scroll down and leave your own score predictions in the comments!
New York Giants free agency: Stay or go? Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Ihmir Smith-Marsette | Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images Return man was a dynamic player for the Giants in 2024 When the New York Giants lost return man/backup wide receiver Gunner Olszewski to a groin injury while warming up for the season-opening game against the Minnesota Vikings, they needed to find a new returner. They were fortunate Ihmir Smith-Marsette was available. Smith-Marsette had a good season, averaging 34.6 yards on 11 kickoff returns, including a 100-yard touchdown, and 7.9 yards on 29 punt returns. Smith-Marsette, who will be 26 next season, can be an unrestricted free agent. Should the Giants try to bring him back? Reasons to keep Smith-Marsette Well, let’s start with this. Smith-Marsette is good at what he does, and the last two years should have taught GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll not to take the position for granted. The Giants were fortunate to find Gunner Olszewski in 2023 when their punt return game was a mess, and they were again fortunate to find Smith-Marsette in 2024 when Olszewski was injured. Smith-Marsette is a playmaker on a team that needs them. Don’t forget his 56-yard punt return touchdown against the New Orleans Saints that was nullified by a holding penalty that occurred on the opposite side of the field. Smith-Marsette is an energy player who emerged as a leader on the special teams units. Again, that leadership is something Schoen and Daboll should have learned to value. As a return man with limited value as a receiver thus far in his career, signing Smith-Marsette will not be costly. Reasons to let him go Honestly, the only one I can think of would be the Giants preferring Olszewski, who is also a free agent. I can’t imagine that being the case because Olszewski is three years older than Smith-Marsette, and Smith-Marsette appears to have more versatility to handle both punt and kickoff returns. The verdict The Giants should bring Smith-Marsette back. It is a simple case of why create a hole on the roster when you don’t have to. The Giants are home for the Newark, N.J. native and I know from having talked to him that he would love the chance to stay in one place for a while after being on four teams in four years.
2025 NFL Playoffs: Eagles vs. Rams NFC Divisional Round game information
Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images Here’s everything you need to know about the Eagles’ divisional round matchup against the Rams. The Philadelphia Eagles will host the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round of the 2025 NFL playoffs on Sunday afternoon, in what might end up being a snow game. The weather could be a big factor in this matchup, with the heaviest snowfall — which could accumulate several inches — expected during the game. Eagles’ running back Saquon Barkley told reporters earlier in the week that he would definitely be calling LeSean McCoy to talk about playing and dominating in the snow. There’s been a lot of chatter this week about how the Los Angeles team will fair in freezing, snowy conditions, but Matthew Stafford was a QB in the NFC North for 12 seasons, so it’s not something that’s completely unfamiliar for him. But, the advantage is certainly with the home team who has been preparing in this weather for weeks — Eagles players even joked around in the snow a bit ahead of the Packers game. The Eagles offense was able to make it out of their Wild Card game fairly unscathed, but the defense did suffer a big blow with the loss of linebacker Nakobe Dean. There’s plenty of other Dawgs who can step up with Dean sidelined, but his teammates have been clear that his absence will be felt. Zack Baun will wear the green dot helmet on Sunday in his place, just as he did in the second half against Green Bay, and the All-Pro is ready for the challenge. To get a second playoff game at home in Philly is huge for the Eagles. There are few other environments like Lincoln Financial Field, and then you add playoff vibes, in the snow, and that place will definitely give Jalen Hurts and Co. a true home field advantage. If Eagles fans annoyed Rams rookie Jared Verse earlier in the season in L.A., he’ll be in for the most annoying afternoon of his life in this Divisional Round game. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the game. TV Schedule Date: Sunday, January 19, 2025 Time: 3:00 PM ET Channel: NBC Location: Lincoln Financial Field | Philadelphia, PA Announcers: Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark Referee: Shawn Smith (Eagles are 5-4 in 9 games as umpire or referee, and he most-recently led the officiating crew in Philly’s loss against the Commanders in Week 16.) SiriusXM: 226 (LAR) | 225 (PHI) Online Streaming Peacock | NFL+ (phone and tablet only) Odds via FanDuel Los Angeles Rams: +6.5 (+240) Philadelphia Eagles: -6.5 (-295) Over/under: 42.5 History Lesson The Eagles lead the all-time regular season series between these teams, 23-18-1, and have won eight of their nine most-recent meetings. Philly beat the Rams earlier this season, with a west coach Week 12 win, 37-20. The Rams, however, lead the postseason series, 2-1, last beating the Eagles in St. Louis back in the 2002 NFC Championship game. Social Media Information BGN Facebook Page: Click here to like our page BGN Twitter: Follow @BleedingGreen BGN Manager: Brandon Lee Gowton: Follow @BrandonGowton Eagles 2024 Regular Season Schedule Week 1 – vs. Green Bay Packers IN BRAZIL (Sept. 6, 8:15 PM ET, Peacock) Week 2 – vs Atlanta Falcons (Sept. 16, 8:15 PM ET, ESPN) Monday Night Football* *Nick Foles Retirement Celebration Week 3 – at New Orleans Saints (Sept. 22, 1:00 PM ET, FOX) Week 4 – at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sept. 29, 1:00 PM ET, FOX) Week 5 – BYE WEEK Week 6 – vs. Cleveland Browns (Oct. 13, 1:00 PM ET, FOX) Week 7 – at New York Giants (Oct. 20, 1:00 PM ET, FOX) Week 8 – at Cincinnati Bengals (Oct. 27, 1:00 PM* ET, CBS) *Game was flexed to an earlier kickoff; previously set for 4:25 PM ET Week 9 – vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Nov. 3, 4:05 PM* ET, NBC) *Game was flexed to an earlier kickoff, previously set for Sunday Night Football Week 10 – at Dallas Cowboys (Nov. 10, 4:25 PM ET, CBS) Week 11 – vs. Washington Commanders (Nov. 14, 8:15 PM ET, Amazon Prime) Thursday Night Football Week 12 – at Los Angeles Rams (Nov. 24, 8:20 PM ET, NBC) Sunday Night Football Week 13 – at Baltimore Ravens (Dec. 1, 4:25 PM ET, CBS) Week 14 – vs. Carolina Panthers (Dec. 8, 1:00 PM ET, FOX) Week 15 – vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Dec. 15, 4:25 PM ET, FOX) Week 16 – at Washington Commanders (Dec. 22, 1:00 PM ET, FOX) Week 17 – vs. Dallas Cowboys (Dec. 29, 4:25 PM ET, FOX) Week 18 – vs. New York Giants (Jan. 5, 1:00 PM ET, CBS)
Rams get another round of praise for Stafford trade
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images Jared Goff’s division loss brings back memories of why he he was traded The chances of a rematch between the Rams and Lions was thwarted on Saturday when Detroit lost to the Commanders. The game was highlighted by the complete opposite nights of the two quarterbacks, Jared Goff and Jayden Daniels. With the Lions now losing their last two playoff games and Goff being a central reason to their disappointing finish by throwing three interceptions, the Rams and Matthew Stafford are receiving praise for the trade like it’s two years ago all over again. Stafford will hope to improve his playoff record to 6-1 with the Rams if L.A. beats the Eagles on Sunday, while Goff is now 2-2. It’s less about Goff and more about praising the Rams for being able to win a Super Bowl and still have success in year three because of the boldness to trade Goff and two first round picks for Stafford. The Rams-Lions trade is not a win-win. The Rams clearly won the trade Rams got:– Matthew Stafford– 4 playoff wins– Super Bowl Lions got:– 2 playoff wins– Blown 17 point lead in the NFC Championship– Choked in the Divisional Round pic.twitter.com/ewh0PbAuhJ — Joel Moran (@joelvmoran) January 19, 2025 I don’t ever want to hear people ask me who won the trade? Jared Goff’s season is over before Matthew Stafford for the 2nd time since the trade. Matthew Stafford’s playoff record in LA: 5-1 (.833) Jared Goff’s playoff record in Detroit: 2-2 (.500) Also you can’t forget SBs. pic.twitter.com/3Z5vhhGNvE — OptimisticRamsfan/SatisfiedDodgersFan (@LARams_Fanatic9) January 19, 2025 Sean McVay traded for Stafford because he had failed to win a Super Bowl in his first four seasons; like any great head coach he needs to be bailed out by great players when something goes wrong. That was apparent during Stafford’s first playoff run with the Rams when L.A. had to: Win the game in the fourth quarter against the Bucs Win the game in the fourth quarter against the 49ers Come from behind in the fourth quarter against the Bengals Statistically, Goff has a consistently solid, but unspectacular playoff resume. Coaches often say that they would happily take any quarterback who protects the football and Goff came into Saturday with only two interceptions in nine previous postseason starts. But just by watching Goff, there are limitation that becomes apparent when his teams are losing and need the quarterback to make 99th percentile throws. When Goff had to push the ball downfield or complete a clutch pass, he was either intercepted or well off. On one such play, Goff had Jameson Williams wide open for what should have been a 50-yard touchdown, but the ball was “six inches too far” according to Tom Brady. I don’t recall seeing Stafford miss that pass very often, which is why some teams advance in the playoffs and others don’t. Which is different than saying Stafford is perfect. He had an 0-3 playoff record in his first 12 seasons. But like any quarterback or head coach, he wants to be surrounded by great talent when he makes a mistake or is a hair off the mark. THIS is why the Rams trade for Matthew Stafford. Down by 10 in the fourth quarter in the playoffs. Who do you trust to throw the ball? Matthew Stafford or Jared Goff? Ben Johnson chose Jameson Williams. — Blaine Grisak (@bgrisakTST) January 19, 2025 The difference shows up when two teams show up like this in the playoffs: We’re great and we have a great quarterback We’re great and we have a good quarterback Teams that deep in the playoffs are usually very good. So where will the difference often show up? In the quarterback. If all you’re asking Stafford to do is “protect the ball and make a couple of big plays”, that’s two more big plays than most quarterbacks. And that’s why this trade is bring brought up again — not because of what the Lions didn’t do, but because of what the Rams appropriately continue to get credit for three years later.
Josh Allen will want to avoid Ravens LB Kyle Van Noy in AFC Divisional
Josh Allen will want to avoid Ravens LB Kyle Van Noy in AFC Divisional Larry Brown Jr. Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy led the team in total sacks with 12.5 in 2024. Soft-spoken, Van Noy has thrived as a game-wrecking force for defensive coordinator Zach Orr, who will be looking to contain Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen this Sunday. With teammate Nnamdi Madubuike on the inside and Odafe Oweh on the opposite, Orr uses a swarm attack to contain opposing quarterbacks and keep them inside the numbers. The Bills’ O-line protected Josh Allen exceptionally in the AFC wildcard game, but he still was sacked twice—a key point to remember versus the novice Broncos opponent. Linebacker Roquan Smith mentioned in an interview on NFL Network earlier this week that the Ravens wanted to make a goal of stopping the run and forcing the Bills to be one-dimensional on offense. Expect Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady to use quick pass plays, screens, and misdirection to nullify the defensive line’s intensity. If not, Van Noy and company may weary the Bills offensive line as the game progresses.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73856013/1848770102.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "Fifth-year options and the myth of first-round draft success")
Fifth-year options and the myth of first-round draft success
Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images With the NFL regular season now ended and Pro Bowl selections made, it is possible to anticipate an important decision almost every general manager has to make: Whether to exercise the fifth-year option on your first round draft pick(s). The Pro Bowl has never had the “juice” of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which at one time was a truly competitive game played for pride between the two leagues which otherwise never met except in the World Series. Now, there isn’t even an actual Pro Bowl game anymore, making it completely meaningless, with one important exception: Fan voting accounts for one-third of the final tally that determines who gets selected. You can know nothing and still vote. You can stuff the ballot box for your brother if he’s an NFL player even if he’s back of the roster and help get him in. It’s the one way in which NFL fans are truly empowered. Never mind flying banners over MetLife Stadium. What’s amazing about this is that the fans can wind up indirectly affecting NFL player contracts. Before a first-round draftee’s fourth NFL year, his GM has to decide whether to pick up his fifth-year option. A set formula determines the salary of a player whose option is picked up. It depends in part on playing time, which introduces its own perverse bias: An OK player on a bad team who starts because his team has no one better gets more if his option is picked up than a better player on a good team who sees the field less because the roster is stacked at his position. The big thing, though, is that your option is higher if you’ve made a Pro Bowl, and even more so if you’ve made multiple Pro Bowls. So we, the fans, cost our team future cap space if we help get our favorite player voted in. (Note for future reference: It only counts if you make the Pro Bowl on the original selection, so Malik Nabers getting in as an alternate will not count toward his fifth-year option in a couple of years.) The people at Over The Cap do a great job tracking these things. Here are their fifth-year option projections for the 2022 draft class: Courtesy of Over The Cap This chart is fascinating because it provides fairly direct evidence that a belief of many fans is nothing more than a myth: “A GM has to hit on his first-round picks.” Giants fans in particular raise this issue about Joe Schoen, who has drafted Kayvon Thibodeaux, Evan Neal, Deonte Banks, and Malik Nabers in the first round since becoming Giants GM. Fans rarely define what a “hit” is; usually it’s a matter of “you know it when you see it.” So based on one season’s work, I think it’s fair to say that Nabers is a “hit,” even if you thought Schoen should have taken J.J. McCarthy. Deonte Banks looked like he was going to be a “hit” for about half his rookie year, and then the bottom fell out. Those option decisions are in the future, though. This year, Thibodeaux and Neal are the focus. Neal did not reach any of the incentives for an escalated fifth-year option, not even the playtime incentive, mostly because of his injuries. Even so, picking up his option would cost $17.4M in 2026 (based on the average of the third to 25th-highest salaries at his position over the past five years). That’s a high number given his performance, so it seems certain that Schoen will decline the option on Neal. Still, if you look at his numbers, there is at least something to think about: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus Under Carmen Bricillo, Neal improved dramatically as a run blocker in 2024. It never made sense that he was so bad at that, because that was his calling card at Alabama. Neal’s 80.8 PFF run block grade was ninth in the NFL last season. In zone blocking, his 90.9 grade was 4th best, while in gap/man blocking he graded an adequate 66.4. In pass blocking, though, he graded only 49.6, and his sacks/hits/hurries were only marginally better than in his first two seasons, scaling for number of snaps played. In the NFL, if you can’t pass block, you can’t start. Picking up Neal’s option would put him 11th among NFL right tackles at 2024 rates. Jermaine Eluemunor, a better player and an emerging team leader, is making $7M. The Giants would be best served extending him instead and parting ways with Neal unless his pass blocking improves in 2025. Thibodeaux is the much more interesting case. Thibodeaux did reach the playtime incentive level for the fifth-year option, which is $16.1M for edge defenders, but he did not make any Pro Bowls. In some but not all respects his 2024 season was a step back from his first two years: Courtesy of Pro Football Focus Scaling for the time lost to injury, he put more pressure on the quarterback in 2024 per pass snap played than in his first two years, and his pass rush grade was his highest by a bit, but the sacks were way down from 2023 and his tackling was horrendous. $16.1M seems like a lot to pay for that level of production, and most Giants fans tend to feel that Schoen wasted the No. 5 pick in 2022 by selecting Thibodeaux. Take a closer look, though. That amount would place Thibodeaux 19th among 2024 edge defender salaries. That’s just ahead of Uchenna Nwosu, a player who has had basically one really good season and has only played two full seasons out of seven because of recurring injuries. The thing is, edge defender is a key position in today’s NFL and is not getting any cheaper. Five players already make at least $25M, and that’s 2024; by 2026, $16.1M may look like a bargain for a player who, although not having lived up to
Detroit Lions coaching news: Cowboys ‘intrigued’ by DC Aaron Glenn
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images Aaron Glenn has interviewed for five head coaching job. It’s possible now he interviews for a sixth. Now that the Detroit Lions’ season is over, focus quickly turns to the team’s coaching staff and who will remain for the 2025 season. Despite Saturday night’s meltdown, both offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn remain top-tier options, and some are predicting both to be hired away this offseason. Glenn, in particular, is one of the most sought-after candidates after navigating for most of the season despite mounting injuries on his side of the ball. He’s already interviewed for five different head coaching job, and some NFL insiders believe it’s only a matter of time before he interviews with the sixth and final opening: the Dallas Cowboys. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Cowboys have interest in Glenn. “I was also told that they’re intrigued by Aaron Glenn,” Fowler said this weekend, adding that “they would like to speak with him.” NFL insider Jordan Schultz echoed that report, saying that “Glenn is a name to watch closely as the Cowboys continue their search for a new head coach into next week.” Glenn has some close ties to the Cowboys organization. He played for two seasons with the Cowboys from 2005-06, and has been extremely close to former Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells his entire career. Of course, the Cowboys aren’t the only team with close ties to Glenn who are also considering him as head coach. The New York Jets and New Orleans Saints are both considered strong competitors for Glenn’s services—both franchises that Glenn has spent plenty of time working with. With the Lions eliminated from the playoffs, both Glenn and Johnson will be free to do in-person or virtual interviews. Those interviews can begin as soon as the Divisional Round of the playoffs are over (Monday). For all of the latest Detroit Lions coaching news and rumors, check out our 2025 coaching carousel tracker here.
Detroit Lions report card, grades: Goff, coaching disappoint vs. Commanders
Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images The Detroit Lions coaching staff and Jared Goff were big letdowns in the Lions’ playoff loss to the Commanders. Handing out grades for them and the rest of the team. After avoiding them all season, the Detroit Lions had their biggest let-down game at the worst possible time. Let’s dive into their season-ending, 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders with our final report card of the season. Quarterback: D Jared Goff’s recklessness with the football is a huge reason they lost the game. Whether it was his carelessness on the early third-and-1 fumble that prevented Detroit from building a two score lead or the couple of tight-window throws he forced that were picked off, Goff’s four turnovers were death blows to the Lions’ season. What’s most frustrating about his performance, is that he was perfectly fine—if not great—outside of those turnover plays. Detroit moved the ball with relative ease all evening, but Goff’s mistakes erased several opportunities for Detroit to either extend their lead or draw closer. Running backs: A+ What a phenomenal end to the season for Jahmyr Gibbs. It’s fair to wonder if he’s established himself as a top three back in the league after this final stretch. Against the Commanders, Gibbs produced 175 scrimmage yards on just 20 touches. Combine this game with the last three of the regular season, and Gibbs produced 662 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns. He’s one reason to be very excited for the future. David Montgomery wasn’t quite as electric in his return, but even he seemed to pick up some steam as the game went on. Tight ends: A- Sam LaPorta’s one-handed touchdown catch may have been the biggest jaw-dropping moment in a night filled with them. He finished the day with six catches for 51 yards. He finished the season with 50 yards in five of his last six games after doing so just three times the rest of the season. Like Gibbs, he was another guy who was trending in the right direction at the right time. Wide receivers: B Jameson Williams has to get dinged in this section for his ill-advised pass when he should have just tucked it and ran. The play wasn’t there, and it was first-and-10—you have to live to see another down. It doesn’t matter how infrequently you get opportunities like that. You have to be smart there. That said, Williams did provide an electric 61-yard rushing touchdown, Amon-Ra St. Brown was his typical reliable self, hauling in eight catches for 137 yards, and Kalif Raymond even had a couple of big plays. Offensive line: A- The Commanders were credited with seven quarterback hits, which is a bit higher than it felt—but one of their two sacks resulted in a turnover, after Graham Glasgow blew his block. Still, it felt like Goff mostly had ample time all game, and the rushing lanes were there for most of the game. The Lions finished with 201 rushing yards and 8.7 yards per carry—both season highs for Detroit. Another positive development moving forward: the Lions may have a young starter in Christian Mahogany. Defensive line: F Detroit logged just two quarterback hits all game, and the defensive line was responsible for just a single tackle for loss via Al-Quadin Muhammad. I’m trying to rack my brain of any impact play a defensive lineman made, and the only thing I can think of was a pass batted down by Za’Darius Smith. The Lions defensive front not only struggled to generate pressure, but the Commanders were able to establish a successful running game right up the gut. Take Jayden Daniels’ rushing attempts out of the box score, and Washington still had 131 rushing yards on 26 carries—or a 5.04 YPC average. Linebackers: C Alex Anzalone and Jack Campbell combined for 27 tackles and two tackles for loss. They tried valiantly to keep Daniels in check on the ground, and for the most part, they succeeded. Daniels averaged just 3.2 YPC on 16 carries (51 yards total)—well under his typical efficiency marks. But when it came to coverage, Daniels had pretty much anything he wanted. Washington’s misdirection had Detroit’s second level of their defense’s head spinning. Secondary: D Detroit got a nice pass breakup from Kindle Vildor, and Brian Branch had a pair of tackles for loss and a forced fumble. But the rest of the crew couldn’t make the plays they needed. Losing Amik Robertson on the second defensive snap didn’t help, and things really went off the rails when Branch and Ifeatu Melifonwu left late in the game—forcing Morice Norris and Stantley Thomas-Oliver in the game for some critical moments. Special teams: D The Commanders challenged Detroit’s kick return game, and Craig Reynolds/Kalif Raymond did not raise their efforts. Of Detroit’s five kick returns, four were stopped short of the 30, with the Lions averaging just 22.8 yards per return. Jack Fox’s one punt of the game wasn’t great—a 43-yarder that failed to pin the Commanders inside their 20. But hey, at least Jake Bates made all of his kick while Zane Gonzalez missed one. Coaching: D- I imagine coaching is going to be a big topic this week, and rightfully so. There were a couple of critical mistakes the immediately snowballed into huge errors. It started on third-and-1 with the Lions up 7-3. The Lions are in the red zone with an opportunity to score, and they opt to go empty backfield, telegraphing a pass play. Goff is sacked, he fumbles, and what should’ve been an easy first-and-10 situation from inside the Commanders turned into zero points—and eventually a Commanders touchdown. Then there’s the Jameson Williams trick play. It’s easy to criticize a trick play when it doesn’t work, but the timing of that just felt odd. Detroit wasn’t having trouble moving the ball, it was first-and-10, and the Lions were by no means desperate—down 10 with 12 minutes left at midfield. Obviously, Williams needs to be smarter, but why put your