Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images Los Angeles Rams News and Links for 1/21/25 When the Los Angeles Rams lost to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday I tried to tell myself over and over again they had a good season. They did, but that truth didn’t exactly take the sting out of the loss. After thinking about the game for the better part of a day, I have come to the conclusion that this loss was heartbreaking. There’s no way around it. I suppose either a team wins the Super Bowl, or their season ends and it hurts. In this case, I just thought the Rams were so close and despite the errors they had, when Matthew Stafford was driving L.A. down the field in the final moments of the fourth quarter, I started to think they were going to pull this out. They didn’t, and it was just a depressing end to such an exciting and uplifting season. Maybe you already shared your feelings in yesterday’s Random Ramsdom, but feel free to let us know what you think about the season, how you may be coping with the loss and if the loss hurt you as much as I think it hurt me. Thanks so much for checking out Turf Show Times! I know it was an awesome season. I just wanted it go on a bit longer. Comment on whatever you’d like and have a great day! Cooper Kupp plans to play next season, unsure of Rams future (espn) “I feel like I’ve got a lot of good football left in me,” Kupp said in the Rams’ final open locker room session of the season. “I’ll be playing football next year. That much I know.” Kupp acknowledged the rumors that circulated at the trade deadline, which he also addressed during the season. “Who knows what’s going to happen,” Kupp said. “That’s out of my control. And we will see what it’s going to be. … I don’t have any clarity on what that’s going to look like or anything like that. So yeah, obviously would love to be in L.A., but I don’t know what that’s going to look like.” Helluva group. pic.twitter.com/xpWvGyIkQj — Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 21, 2025 Rams’ Drake Stoops: Staying in LA (cbssports) “Stoops signed with the Rams in early May as an undrafted free agent. The Oklahoma product spent the entire 2024 regular season on the Rams’ practice squad after failing to make the 53-man roster at the end of training camp, but he wasn’t elevated for a single contest. By signing a futures contract, Stoops will be on the Rams’ 90-man roster when the new league year begins March 12, and he’ll work with coaches during OTAs, minicamp and training camp in the hopes of earning a roster spot for the 2025 campaign.” We’ve signed 13 players to Reserve/Future contracts. ⤵️ — Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 20, 2025 What does Matthew Stafford’s contract mean for his future with the Rams? (ramswire) “For the second straight season and the third time in four years, Matthew Stafford led the Los Angeles Rams to the playoffs. Already a Super Bowl champion, Stafford nearly took the Rams to the NFC title game with another terrific performance in the divisional round on Sunday – a game the Rams lost, 28-22. As good as Stafford has been in Los Angeles for the last four seasons, there are questions about his future with the Rams. Not only will he turn 37 on Feb. 7, but his contract was restructured in the offseason in a way that allows the two sides to either go their separate ways, or come back to the negotiating table to discuss a new deal.” Talked the talk, walked the walk. pic.twitter.com/Rx1cp0zuGK — Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 20, 2025
Random Ramsdom: It’s been over 24 hours, how are we feeling about the loss?
Tuesday Trenches: 2024 Report Card
Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Report cards…ugh. Mom and Dad won’t be happy about this one. This coming weekend of NFL football has always been my favorite of the season. I love watching the AFC and NFC championship games. Often, one of those two games becomes the best of the season. It brings back fond memories of watch parties with friends when I was younger, and there’s just something special about the game before the big game. When players are that close to reaching the Super Bowl, it seems to bring out the best in them. It’s hard to watch the playoffs without the Cincinnati Bengals, but that’s life. They didn’t earn or deserve a spot. They shot themselves in the foot too many times. I truly believe a game between the Chiefs and the Bengals is better than one between the Chiefs and Texans, but that might just be jealousy talking. Let’s get to it. Report Card Quarterback: A Joe Burrow finished the season with 4,918 passing yards, 43 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He added two rushing touchdowns. Had the Bengals finished the season with a better record or sneaked into the playoffs, he very likely could have been voted the NFL’s MVP. Throughout the season, he put the team on his back but was let down repeatedly by an inept defense and offensive line. If he has a similar season in 2025, and the Bengals fix their defense and offensive line, they will be the team to beat. Running Back: B- The Bengals don’t use the running game to set up the pass. The offense flows through Burrow, and the running backs are often afterthoughts or used in pass protection to keep defenses honest. However, Chase Brown had a breakout season, finishing with 990 rushing yards, seven touchdowns, and an average of 4.3 yards per carry. He wasn’t RB1 to start the season, but he ended it that way. Zack Moss and Khalil Herbert were limited contributors. Expect the Bengals to feature Brown as RB1 in 2025 and pair him with new free agents or a draft pick. Wide Receiver: A- Ja’Marr Chase won the Triple Crown, finishing the season with 127 receptions, 1,708 yards, and 17 touchdown receptions, smashing franchise records. Tee Higgins added 73 receptions for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. These two stars carried the grade. Andrei Iosivas, the WR3 for much of the season, only tallied 479 receiving yards. Tight end Mike Gesicki was their best weapon after Chase and Higgins. If the Bengals don’t keep Higgins beyond 2025, his replacement is not currently on the team. Tight End: C+ Gesicki and Burrow developed solid chemistry throughout the season, though Gesicki is more of a slot receiver than a traditional tight end. He struggles in pass protection. Drew Sample carved out a niche as a tight end/offensive tackle/fullback hybrid, while Erick All impressed as a blocker and receiver before his knee injury. Tanner Hudson contributed occasionally but fumbled a touchdown in Week 1 that could have clinched a playoff berth. Offensive Line: D The starting line—Orlando Brown Jr., Cordell Volson, Ted Karras, Alex Cappa and Trent Brown—faced challenges. Rookie Amarius Mims stepped up after T. Brown’s season-ending injury, and O. Brown played well before injuries hampered him. Cody Ford was versatile but inconsistent. However, both Volson and Cappa struggled mightily, allowing a combined 14 sacks per PFF. Upgrading the guard positions will be critical in 2025. Defensive Line: C- Trey Hendrickson led the league with 17.5 sacks, but injuries to Sam Hubbard and poor play from Sheldon Rankins (before he was sick for two months), who was a key free agent signed in the offseason, limited the unit’s overall impact. Rookies Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson showed promise late in the season, as did Joseph Ossai, who recorded sacks in six of his last seven games. Linebacker: C- The defense struggled all season, particularly in tackling. PFF credited Logan Wilson with six missed tackles and Germaine Pratt with 20, the seventh most among linebackers who played at least 50% of defensive snaps. Pratt did manage two interceptions, but both he and Wilson graded poorly in coverage. They did, however, rank near the top of the team, according to PFF, with their run-defense score. Secondary: F The secondary was the defense’s weakest link. Injuries to Dax Hill and DJ Turner hurt, but Cam Taylor-Britt’s regression and inconsistent play from safeties Geno Stone and Vonn Bell were costly. Jordan Battle stepped in and improved the unit late in the season, but it wasn’t enough to salvage the group or save defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s job. Special Teams: C The Bengals’ coverage and return teams earned an A, ranking among the best in the league. However, the specialists were inconsistent. Evan McPherson struggled with accuracy on long field goals, and Ryan Rehkow’s botched hold against the Ravens was critical. Together, the unit earns a C. — Go Buffalo and Washington. That would be a fun Super Bowl. I don’t want to see a Chiefs-Eagles game again. I guess I wouldn’t mind a Bills-Eagles game. Basically, I just want the Chiefs to lose the AFC Championship game. Relevant song lyrics: Against the windI’m still runnin’ against the windI’m older now but still runnin’Against the wind.
PFF lists Tyler Nubin as Giants’ breakout candidate for 2025
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images After a solid rookie season, can Nubin take a step forward? Despite a disappointing 3-14 finish in 2024, the New York Giants found a bright spot in rookie safety Tyler Nubin. Pro Football Focus recently named the 2024 second-round pick as a breakout candidate for 2025, and it’s easy to see why. PFF’s Bradley Locker wrote: As part of a loaded 2024 draft class, Nubin shined by himself with a 76.0 PFF run-defense grade and a 79.4 PFF tackling grade. Ironically, his issues arose in coverage, where he was unbelievable in 2023 at Minnesota, with a 90.1 PFF coverage grade. Anticipate Nubin playing a more complete game in his second season, particularly if New York can upgrade its cornerback room. Playing 754 out of 756 defensive snaps before his season ending injury, Nubin quickly became one of the team’s most consistent defenders. His 93 combined tackles was second on the team and ranked among the best for safeties across the league, and his ability to finish tackles (with just five missed) stood out in a season full of defensive lapses. Though known for his ball skills in college, Nubin didn’t record an interception in his rookie year. His solid coverage and tackling ability though have made him a key part of the Giants’ defense.. As the Giants focus on rebuilding in 2025, Nubin is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise depleted roster. With a year of experience under his belt, expect him to take another step forward as a leader in the secondary.
Report: Lions OL coach Hank Fraley has second interview with Seahawks
Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images Detroit Lions OL coach Hank Fraley has scored a second, in-person interview with the Seattle Seahawks. The hits could keep coming to the Detroit Lions coaching staff. With offensive coordinator Ben Johnson gone to the Chicago Bears and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn almost certainly out the door soon, Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley could be the next to leave. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, Fraley has a second interview for the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator position on Tuesday, this one in person. Other interviewed candidates for the Seahawks job include Saints OC Klint Kubiak, Bears interim coach Thomas Brown, Vikings assistant OC Grand Udinski, and former Buccaneers OC Byron Leftwich. Both Kubiak and Udinski have already completed two interviews for the job. Fraley has been the Lions’ offensive line coach for the past five years, helping develop his position group to one of the best in football. Under Fraley, Frank Ragnow became one of the best centers in football, Penei Sewell quickly grew into a top-tier tackle, and Detroit rebuilt a highly-successful running game. This week, both Ragnow and Sewell said they wouldn’t leave Fraley leave Detroit, half-jokingly. “I haven’t played in this league without Hank and I don’t plan on doing it,” Ragnow said. “I’ll sabotage him, I’ll leak stories, whatever it takes.” “Yeah, it’s the same as me,” Sewell said. “He’s not going nowhere at the end of the day. He’s not going nowhere.” Ragnow explained what makes Fraley such a special coach. “I don’t think I could play in this league without the guy. He’s everything to me. He’s been there since Day 1,” Ragnow said. “In this league, there are a lot of coaches, but there’s not many coaches like him that empower his players and really it is an open dialogue. He really does everything he can to put us in the best positions to be confident and go out there and play well.” Fraley could also be a potential offensive coordinator candidate for the Lions themselves now that Johnson is headed to Chicago. However, the Lions have not announced any candidates for that vacancy yet.
Commanders vs. Lions stock report: 4 risers, 5 fallers from Divisional Round loss
Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images Check out this week’s movers in your Detroit Lions stock report. Before we dive into this week’s movers, I just want to thank you all for another wonderful season. I know we don’t always agree on who’s trending up or down, but I love the discourse and being able to hear what you think in the comments. Here’s to next year. But for now, it’s the offseason. But before we start talking mock drafts and needs (which you can infer from some of the names on the lists below), let’s talk about what just happened. Here are your Detroit Lions movers for the week: Stock up: Christian Mahogany, G Christian Mahogany has emerged from the woodworks (pun intended) to have a compelling rookie season. He filled in for an injured Graham Glasgow late in the season and played some of the best left guard we’ve seen all year. Then, he stepped in late in Week 18 when Kevin Zeitler got hurt and took over in the Divisional Round. He finished the playoff game as Detroit’s highest-graded player on either side of the ball, per PFF. Mahogany has shown a lot of promise and done so on short notice and in big games. He’s firmly on a path to a starting job in 2025. Stock up: David Montgomery, RB Stats: 7 rushes, 28 yards Montgomery saw very limited action, playing just a quarter of the team’s offensive snaps and touching the ball seven times on the day. Nonetheless, it was almost miraculous that he was even playing. The Lions thought they lost Montgomery for the season when he tore his MCL, but after seeking out several opinions, he was able to rehabilitate it in time to return for the playoffs. When he did touch the ball, he was more effective than his stats would indicate. His longest run on the day of 11 yards was one where he broke a tackle in the backfield and had more yards after contact than the 11 yards he netted on the run. It wasn’t a signature game from Montgomery, but the fact that he was even active says a lot, and he always provides a valuable change of pace to supplement Jahmyr Gibbs. Stock up: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB Stats: 14 carries, 105 yards, 2 TD; 6 rec, 70 yards Speaking of Gibbs, what a day from him. He finished the day averaging 7.5 yards per carry, which is nothing new at this point. What really impressed me was his patience. On several of his highlight runs, Gibbs had Commanders defenders in his face behind the line of scrimmage. He was able to recognize it, pivot, and get back to his intended rushing lane, like he did on his longest rush of the day: Jahmyr Gibbs is dangerous. : #WASvsDET on FOX : Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/k0FxKtY9MH — NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2025 Stock down: Jared Goff, QB Stats: 23/40, 313 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT, 1 fumble; 1 carry, 7 yards It was a rough night for Goff, both physically and statistically. He finished the night with four turnovers. That’s not a winning recipe for any game, but especially not a playoff game. Goff did have some very sharp throws, like his pass down the right sideline right into Amon-Ra’s breadbasket. However, Goff’s interceptions were head-scratching. He overshot Tim Patrick for a pick-six, got thumped on the return, and looked off the rest of the night, despite clearing concussion protocol. Goff’s second interception, a deep end zone shot to Jameson Williams, was inexcusable. There’s no safety ahead of Jamo, and as such there’s no shortage of real estate for Goff to lead him across the field on the throw. To try and lead Jamo upfield was a strange decision, and one that allowed Mike Sainristil to undercut the pass for a pick in the end zone. Stock up: Sam LaPorta, TE Stats: 6 catches, 51 yards Sam LaPorta has quietly re-emerged as Jared Goff’s favorite safety net down the home stretch of the season. He finished the night with six receptions, including a stellar one-handed (and left-handed, for that matter) diving touchdown catch. LaPorta finishes the season with just five games of six or more receptions, but with four of those games coming since mid-December. Stock down: Trevor Nowaske, EDGE Stats: 1 tackle The Commanders had their way on the ground against the Lions, despite the Lions defense doing a decent job plugging the interior. The gaps were on the edges, and the Lions struggled to contain Jayden Daniels and Brian Robinson Jr. all day. Heck, we even saw Austin Ekeler get to the edge. That starts with Nowaske, who had done such a good job setting the edge all season. He was nowhere to be found in the Divisional Round game, and on the rare occasion he was near the ball carrier, he struggled to finish his tackles. Quick hits Stock neutral Jameson Williams, WR: Jamo obviously had a phenomenal rushing touchdown. However, his decision to throw the trick play pass into tight coverage resulted in an interception. Also, I would’ve liked to see him come back to the ball more on Goff’s second interception. All things considered, he stays neutral on the day. Stock down Graham Glasgow, G: It was another rough outing for Glasgow to cap off a bumpy year. Between his struggles and the emergence of Christian Mahogany, this may be the last we see of Glasgow as a starter in Detroit. Ifeatu Melifonwu, S: Iffy struggled while he was on the field, and to make matters worse, couldn’t stay on the field due to a hamstring injury. He caps off an injury-riddled season trying to tough it out from the sidelines and finishing the day as the Lions’ lowest-graded defender, per PFF. Za’Darius Smith, EDGE: Similar to Nowaske, Smith struggled to set an edge in run defense. Sure he’s a pass rusher first, but the Lions simply needed more out of him in
12 offensive coordinator candidates for Lions to replace Ben Johnson
With the news that Ben Johnson is leaving his offensive coordinator position with the Detroit Lions for a head coaching role with the Chicago Bears, the Lions find themselves needing to execute a coordinator search for the first time since 2022—when they promoted Johnson to the role. Lions coach Dan Campbell spoke with the media prior to the announcement of Johnson’s departure and explained what his approach for a new coordinator would look like. “That’s my job, is to replenish and find the next man up and the guy who’s going to give us the best chance to have success on both sides of the ball,” Campbell said of the team’s future without Ben Johnson and possibly Aaron Glenn. “So, we’re not going to allow that to happen—I’m not. […] it’s a loss, but yet, man, we move forward, this train rolls on and I’ll find the next best guys for us.” Campbell would go on to explain that he planned on being extremely involved in any new coaching/coordinator searches, and identified a few key points that he prioritized: “We don’t (want to) lose what we’re about (or) our identity” “I want to make sure that Goff is comfortable because he’s playing at a high level” “I want to keep our terminology in place” “ I think we’ve got guys on staff that I think are more than qualified and would be outstanding in those (coordinator) roles…” “…but that does not mean that I’m not looking outside either” “I’m not going to be in a hurry, I’m not in a mad dash. No matter what happens I want to do what’s right by our team” While Campbell specifically points out that he is opening up his search parameters, most of that checklist could be achieved by hiring internally, so that’s where we’ll start with our list of candidates. 5 Internal candidates Scottie Montgomery Lions assistant head coach/running backs coach In 2022, when the Lions promoted Johnson to offensive coordinator, Montgomery (who was with the Colts at the time) was a finalist for the job. When the opportunity came up for the Lions to hire him in 2023, Campbell jumped at it, bringing him on as the running backs coach and assistant head coach. In Montgomery’s current role, he is involved in developing weekly game plans, working with all players on the roster, as well as a holding a weekly press conference with the media. He knows this roster and their identity as well as any coach on staff, and two years after being considered for the role, he should be heavily prepared to step in and keep things rolling. “There’s a ton of things I’ve done with him behind the scenes, but also in front of the team,” Campbell said of Montgomery’s development as a coach. “There’s a number of things that he’ll install for us, not only offensively, but there will be some things that he does in front of the team. And so, wherever I can take that a little bit, I will. He’s very comfortable with those guys, the team’s comfortable with him. He does a good job of presenting things and he’s smart, he’s driven, he’s outstanding.” Tanner Engstrand Lions passing game coordinator The Lions’ internal man of mystery. Engstrand is one of the most popular names brought up when discussing options for Johnson’s replacement, but the majority of fans couldn’t pick him out of a lineup. That being said, there’s an aura surrounding Engstrand, as the Lions appear to have been grooming him for a larger role since he joined the team in 2020. Engstrand’s first coaching position was as a graduate assistant under Jim Harbaugh at the University of San Diego back in 2005. After a dozen years at USD, he rejoined Harbaugh at the University of Michigan, spent a season with the DC Defenders, and then was hired by Matt Patricia in his final season in Detroit. Campbell kept him on staff when he took over and Engstrand played an important role in aiding Campbell in calling plays after Anthony Lynn was fired. Engstrand took over as the tight end position coach (Johnson’s previous role) and passing game coordinator in 2022, then saw his role shift to passing game coordinator only in 2023 and 2024, as the Lions wanted him focused more on the big picture offensive planning rather than on a specific position. “Yeah, Tanner’s been awesome, man,” Goff said of Engstrand in 2023. “He’s passing coordinator, PGC is what we call him and he’s been great and brings different ideas to Ben—brings different thoughts. I’m able to ask him questions that he can answer instead of hogging Ben down with more. I can kind of go to Tanner with some of that stuff and he’s been extremely helpful for me. I had him in the quarterback room my first year and he’s bounced around this building a couple times, but he’s doing a hell of a job.” Hank Fraley Lions offensive line coach One of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL, Fraley has been with the Lions for seven seasons and was promoted to his current role with the Lions in 2020. When Campbell was hired in 2021, Taylor Decker made a plea to retain him, and it ended up being one of the smartest moves this regime has made. The Lions have built their foundation on their ability to win in the trenches and Fraley has molded an offensive line that is considered one of if not the best in the NFL. While he doesn’t officially have “run game coordinator” attached to his title, he is a weekly staple in developing the Lions’ rushing game plan. “I’ve been blessed to have Hank my entire career,” Lions All-Pro center Frank Ragnow said in training camp. “I’ve said it multiple times, but (it’s) just the biggest blessing ever. He’s a heck of a coach, and the fact that he played center in this league for such a long time
Second-half risers: 5 most improved players at every position over the second half of the 2024 season
Thomas Valentine details the five most improved players at each position from the 2024 season. Second-half risers: 5 most improved players at every position over the second half of the 2024 season 2YYN4PJ Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young runs for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman) By Thomas Valentine Posted Jan 21, 2025 5:30 am EST • Edgerrin Cooper shines in his rookie season: The Green Bay Packers’ second-round pick made a name for himself over the second half of the campaign. • Bryce Young shines in Year 2: The Carolina Panthers may have found their guy in Bryce Young after all, as the former first-overall pick enjoyed a strong end to the year. • 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: A few games is all it can take to kickstart a player’s season. Sometimes, it can even just be a couple of plays. Over the course of the 2024 season, plenty of players started the year slow, only to find their feet later on in the season. Here are the top five most improved players by grade at every position in the NFL, from the first half of the season to the second half. Starting with quarterbacks. QUARTERBACK Snaps from Week 1-9: 228 | Grade from Week 1-9: 51.5 Snaps from Week 10-18: 500 | Grade from Week 10-18: 86.4 Young’s second-half resurgence was a shock to many. The former No. 1 overall pick looked dead and buried after being benched by the Panthers in the first two weeks of the season, but Young stepped back into the lineup following an injury to Andy Dalton and never looked back. Young had 22 big-time throws in the second half of the season, the second-most in the NFL, and he finished with the seventh-most in 2024 (27). Snaps from Week 1-9: 295 | Grade from Week 1-9: 49.3 Snaps from Week 10-18: 325 | Grade from Week 10-18: 74.7 Richardson is still a work in progress for the Colts at quarterback, but the raw physical attributes are plain to see. He’s an athlete freak with a rocket arm, but he needs to fine-tune the other parts of his game. Richardson showed more poise upon his return to the lineup in the second half of the season, and his 8.3% pressure-to-sack rate was third-lowest in the NFL from Week 10 onwards. Snaps from Week 1-9: 530 | Grade from Week 1-9: 62.2 Snaps from Week 10-18: 493 | Grade from Week 10-18: 83.8 The Rams won nine of their last 12 games to finish with a 10-7 record and win the NFC West, and Matthew Stafford was at the center of their success at quarterback. Stafford’s 62.2 grade through the first nine weeks of the season was below his usual standard, but the veteran quarterback went on a tear down the stretch. He threw just two interceptions in the final eight games of the season, and his 2.6% turnover-worthy play rate ranked 23rd among quarterbacks. Snaps from Week 1-9: 116 | Grade from Week 1-9: 47.7 Snaps from Week 10-18: 311 | Grade from Week 10-18: 68.2 O’Connell might not be the Raiders’ long-term solution, but he showed some improvement in the second half of the season and could be useful as the team’s backup quarterback. He threw six touchdowns and just two interceptions in the five games he played in the second half of the season, and O’Connell had a 6.4% big-time throw rate, the sixth-highest in the NFL. Snaps from Week 1-9: 253 | Grade from Week 1-9: 44.9 Snaps from Week 10-18: 369 | Grade from Week 10-18: 64.5 Levis was the Titans’ on-again-off-again starter throughout the 2024 season and started 12 games in total, sharing the duties with Mason Rudolph. The former second-round pick improved in the second half of the season, completing 60.8% of his passes for 1,392 yards and eight touchdowns in seven games. Levis earned a 6.9% big-time throw rate in the second half of the season, the fifth-highest in the NFL. RUNNING BACK Snaps from Week 1-9: 163 | Grade from Week 1-9: 52.9 Snaps from Week 10-18: 285 | Grade from Week 10-18: 69.9 Jaylen Warren had a breakout year in 2023 but saw his production dip due to injuries at the start of the 2024 season. The former undrafted free agent had just 151 yards and averaged 3.7 yards per attempt in the first half of the season. However, it was business as usual from Week 10 onwards, as Warren rushed for 360 yards and forced 24 missed tackles, the 14th-most among running backs. Breece Hall, New York Jets Snaps from Week 1-9: 431 | Grade from Week 1-9: 56.7 Snaps from Week 10-18: 290 | Grade from Week 10-18: 69.4 Breece Hall struggled in the first half of the season with the Jets, earning a 56.7 and averaging just 4.0 yards per carry out of the backfield. The big concern was with fumbles, Hall had four fumbles in the first nine games of the season but bounced back in the second half. In seven games, Hall averaged 4.5 yards per attempt and 11 rushes of over 10 yards, which was more akin to what we saw from him in 2023. Snaps from Week 1-9: 128 | Grade from Week 1-9: 49.3 Snaps from Week 10-18: 172 | Grade from Week 10-18: 61.2 Gainwell’s role with the Eagles decreased in 2024, thanks in part to Saquon Barkley‘s arrival. He carried the ball just 31 times in the first half of the season, forcing just two missed tackles. Gainwell was better down the stretch, carrying the ball 44 times for 166 yards and forcing nine missed tackles while having six rushes of over 10 yards. Snaps from Week 1-9: 303 | Grade from Week
Al Golden Day (?) open thread and Bengals news
Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/Getty Images Is today the day Al Golden becomes the Bengals defensive coordinator? Today could be a big day for the Cincinnati Bengals, who appear close to hiring Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden to the same position. Following the Fighting Irish’s national championship loss to Ohio State, Golden is now free to leave for the Bengals if that’s what he ultimately chooses to do. It’s unclear how fast this process could move and if Golden will be brought in for a formal interview before a possible hiring is made, or if Zac Taylor has already seen enough to make the move official if Golden is ready. Come chat about it in today’s open thread, and check out the morning news below! Bengals News Former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo finds a new home before Cincinnati officially hires his replacementAnarumo lands not too far away from Cincinnati. Bengals Hire Scott Peters as Offensive Line CoachWith an eye to division play, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has tapped offensive line guru Bill Callahan disciple Scott Peters to coach his line. Bengals’ new offensive line coach comes with a background Cincinnati knows well, but there’s a big question hanging over himCincinnati hires a former assistant from the AFC North. Bengals impending free agent makes a decision that clearly foreshadows his plans for free agencyHe’s looking to cash in while he can. Cincinnati Bengals praised for OL coach pick ahead of key offseasonSome major reactions to the big Bengals coaching news. New Bengals Assistant Coach Scott Peters Mixes Martial Arts With Art Of BlockingJim McNally, the Bengals’ Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive line coach and among the first to reach guru status, has to hand it to Scott Peters. Bengals need to take key lesson from Chiefs to get back to contendingThe truth hurts…but the Bengals need to get this right. NFL News NFL community honors legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on MLK DayThe NFL community took to social media on Monday to honor the life and legacy of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on MLK Day. NFL won’t instruct officials to throw flags for pulling runnersOn Sunday, officials in the Ravens-Bills game didn’t throw a flag on Buffalo guard O’Cyrus Torrence for pulling running back James Cook into the end zone. Most concerning flaw for each Divisional Round winner; top offseason need for each eliminated teamIn this edition of The First Read, Jeffri Chadiha reveals the biggest flaw for each of the NFL teams that advanced to Championship Sunday and the most pressing offseason need for each of the squads that lost during the Divisional Round. Lamar Jackson, Ravens bemoan missed opportunities in loss to Bills, defend Mark AndrewsThe Baltimore Ravens once again came up short in the playoffs, suffering a brutal loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in which they committed multiple turnovers. Lamar Jackson and others bemoned the missed opportunites, while defending veteran Mark Andrew Lions’ Ben Johnson as coach agrees to become Bears’ coachLions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has agreed to a deal to become the Bears’ next head coach. Cooper Kupp plans to play next season, unsure of Rams futureCooper Kupp said Monday there is “no doubt” in his mind that he wants to play football next season but acknowledged that might not be in Los Angeles.
Chiefs vs. Bills Tickets: Championship Game , Sunday, January 26
The Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) play at home in a playoff matchup against the Buffalo Bills (13-4) at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in the AFC Championship game on Sunday, January 26, 2025. The Chiefs last hit the field against the Houston Texans, and they prevailed 23-14. In their most recent outing, the Bills took on the Ravens and won by a final score of 27-25. In that last outing for the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes completed 16 of 25 passing attempts (64.0%) and totaled 177 yards through the air, completing one touchdown pass. Kareem Hunt had eight rushing attempts and finished with 44 yards and one touchdown. Travis Kelce found paydirt once, and ended the contest with seven catches for 117 yards. For the Bills in their last game, Josh Allen finished with 16 completions on 22 attempts (72.7%) for 127 yards and two rushing touchdowns. James Cook carried the ball 17 times for 67 yards. Khalil Shakir caught six passes for 67 yards. Buy tickets for this game on StubHub! Chiefs vs. Bills tickets for sale Chiefs vs. Bills game info Game Date: Sunday, January 26, 2025 Time: 6:30 p.m. ET Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium Location: Kansas City, Missouri TV: CBS Livestream: Paramount+ Chiefs leaders Mahomes has passed for 3,928 yards (seventh in the NFL), 26 touchdowns (ninth in the NFL) and 11 interceptions this year. He is averaging 245.5 yards per game and 6.8 per attempt, while completing 67.5% of his attempts. He has also rushed for 307 yards (third on the Chiefs) and added two touchdowns on the ground, while averaging 19.2 rushing yards per game. Hunt’s rushing output this season includes 728 yards and seven TDs. He’s averaging 56 yards per game and 3.6 per attempt (43rd in the NFL). Hunt’s 32 targets as part of the passing attack have turned into 23 catches (1.8 per game) for 176 yards (13.5 per game) and zero touchdowns. Xavier Worthy has six touchdown catches this season, and has 59 receptions for 638 yards on 98 targets, while averaging 3.7 catches and 39.9 yards per game. Chiefs schedule Chiefs vs. Steelers Date: 12/25/2024 Score: W 29-10 Home/Away: Away Tickets: Buy tickets for this game on StubHub! Chiefs vs. Broncos Date: 1/5/2025 Score: L 38-0 Home/Away: Away Tickets: Buy tickets for this game on StubHub! Chiefs vs. Texans Date: 1/18/2025 Score: W 23-14 Home/Away: Home Tickets: Buy tickets for this game on StubHub! Next game: Chiefs vs. Bills Date: 1/26/2025 Score: – Home/Away: Home Spread: -1.5 Tickets: Buy tickets for this game on StubHub! Buy Chiefs tickets on StubHub Bills leaders Allen is averaging 7.7 passing yards per attempt (eighth in the NFL) and 233.2 yards per game this year, completing 63.6% of his passes on the way to 3,731 total yards, 28 touchdowns (seventh in the NFL) and six interceptions through 16 games. Allen has also rushed for 12 touchdowns and 531 yards (second on the Bills). Cook has 1,009 rushing yards (leading the Bills) and 16 rushing touchdowns, while averaging 63.1 yards per game and 4.9 per carry (eighth in the NFL). Cook also has 32 catches for 258 yards (eighth on the Bills), with two receiving touchdowns. He has been targeted 38 times and averages 16.1 yards per game. Shakir has put up 821 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 76 receptions, while being targeted 100 times this season. Bills schedule Bills vs. Patriots Date: 1/5/2025 Score: L 23-16 Home/Away: Away Tickets: Buy tickets for this game on StubHub! Bills vs. Broncos Date: 1/12/2025 Score: W 31-7 Home/Away: Home Tickets: Buy tickets for this game on StubHub! Bills vs. Ravens Date: 1/19/2025 Score: W 27-25 Home/Away: Home Tickets: Buy tickets for this game on StubHub! Next game: Bills vs. Chiefs Date: 1/26/2025 Score: – Home/Away: Away Spread: -1.5 Tickets: Buy tickets for this game on StubHub! Buy Bills tickets on StubHub Watch the NFL on Fubo! Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. Bills Wire operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Giants news, 1/21: Kafka second interview with Saints, Tyler Nubin, Graham Gano, more headlines
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images New York Giants news for Tuesday Good morning New York Giants fans! From Big Blue View All things being equal, draft an experienced quarterback New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka gets second head-coaching interview with New Orleans Saints 2025 NFL Draft prospect profile – Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State New York Giants free agency: Stay or go? CB Adoree’ Jackson New York Giants 2025 coaching tracker Other Giant observations B&G: What are Giants selling if it’s not Ward or Sanders? | WFAN.com “What if they draft Quinn Ewers or Jaxson Dart? They could turn out to be great and really good pros, but if it’s one of those guys that they draft, are you or any Giant fans running to go re up your season tickets?” Boomer asked. “Fans are clamoring for something, and there’s a pretty good nucleus for the Giants too if they all stay healthy, but where’s the electrifying, galvanizing player like the Washington Commanders?” The Tyler Nubin review Tyler Nubin was a physical presence pic.twitter.com/cmnN7DPlsw — GiantsTV (@GiantsTV) January 18, 2025 Malik Nabers credits Darius Slayton for role in historic rookie season | USAToday.com Nabers credited veteran teammate Darius Slayton with helping him prepare for both the season and individual games and matchups. “He had individual people he would go at. With me, he would go, ‘They’re already scared with your speed and quickness. Make sure you use that as your advantage.’ Once they know that I feel that is what you mainly attack. Use that first and then change it up a little bit. He’d be watching me and I’d try to mix it up too much and he’d be like, ‘Don’t mix it up too much, stay with the first mindset.’” Giants legend Victor Cruz calls Malik Nabers “superstar,” urges team to build winner | FanSided.com “I love the way he catches the football, I love his explosiveness. I think he’s an absolute superstar at the position, and we need to make sure that we cultivate that,” Cruz said. “I think he understands where he’s been drafted, and what comes with, and he understands that there’s a lot on his shoulders. And I think he’s handled that tremendously this year, not only on the field but off it as well. So I just love his game.” Who’s on Mike Vrabel’s radar for Patriots coordinators? | ESPN.com Former Titans coaches Tim Kelly (New York Giants TEs coach) is among others who have ties to Vrabel and could be on his radar in some form (Kelly was Titans OC in Vrabel’s final season). Sources around the NFL expect Vrabel to bring Frank Piraino, his former strength coach in Tennessee, to New England to achieve that goal. Piraino, who knows the area well from his time at Boston College, spent last season with the Giants. Every Team’s Most Likely Cap Casualties Ahead of 2025 NFL Offseason | Bleacher Report Graham Gano was the highest-paid kicker in the league in 2024, and he’s set to be the fifth-highest-paid in 2025. That seems like a bit much for a team that has much bigger needs across the roster. Gano is now 38 years old and has dealt with injuries over the last two seasons. Given his age and the fact that the Giants can clear $3.2 million of his cap hit by releasing him before June 1, he could be a cap casualty. Commanders-Eagles NFC Championship Game is Giants’ Joe Schoen’s worst nightmare | NJ.com NFC East teams hadn’t met in the conference championship game since the 1986 season. Until now. Around the league Can the Eagles and Jalen Hurts keep winning without a passing game? (Yeah, probably!) | Bleeding Green Nation A.J. Brown blames weather for Eagles’ lack of aerial attack: ‘The conditions were crazy’ | NFL.com Commanders G Sam Cosmi suffers torn ACL | NFL.com The Jayden Daniels VR training story | Hogs Haven Dallas Cowboys head coach betting favorite listed as Brian Schottenheimer | Blogging The Boys Saints, Aaron Glenn set to meet in person on Wednesday | Pro Football Talk Lions’ Dan Campbell expects to lose both Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn to head-coaching jobs | The Athletic Saints GM Loomis says team must reflect after 2024 season | ESPN.com Lamar Jackson: I’m tired of being right there, we need to punch in that ticket | Pro Football Talk Chiefs haven’t decided if they’ll activate Mecole Hardman off of IR | Pro Football Talk BBV mailbag Have a Giants-related question? E-mail it to [email protected] and it might be featured in our weekly mailbag. BBV YouTube You can find and subscribe to Big Blue View YouTube from the show’s home page BBV on X: Follow @BigBlueView | Ed Valentine: X @Valentine_Ed | Threads: @ed.valentine | Bluesky: @edvalentine BBV on Facebook: Click here to like the Big Blue View Facebook page BBV on YouTube: Subscribe to the Big Blue View YouTube channel BBV on Instagram: Click here to follow our Instagram page
