7 takeaways from first half as Bills hold a 21-10 lead over Ravens in divisional round glenn erby The first half appeared to be a reverse of Week 4, and two Lamar Jackson turnovers played a pivotal part in Baltimore trailing 21-10 after 30 minutes of football in Buffalo. The Bills held the Ravens to 73 yards rushing in the first half and 28 offensive plays. According to Next Gen Stats, Jackson has been under pressure on over half of his dropbacks (54.5%) for the first time since Week 4, 2023. He’s been pressured 6 times and sacked once on 11 dropbacks (as of Damar Hamlin’s strip sack). With the second half underway, here are seven takeaways from the first 30 minutes. Lamar Jackson ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens fumbles the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the second quarter during the AFC Divisional Playoff at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Jackson was 6-10 passing for 123 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a 97.1 rating. Jackson also had five carries for 31 yards, but his two turnovers played big. Derrick Henry Jan 19, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) runs the ball during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills in a 2025 AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images The Ravens King, Henry, only had eight carries in the first half for 21 yards, far off his massive game in Week 4. Josh Allen Jan 19, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs the ball during the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens in a 2025 AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images The MVP favorite in some expert’s eyes, Allen was 5-7 passing for 69 yards in the first half. Allen had 15 yards rushing in the first half. Rashod Bateman Jan 19, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) makes a catch for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills in a 2025 AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images With Zay Flowers out, Bateman had two catches for 58 yards (29.0 avg) and one touchdown. Random notes Jan 19, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs the ball during the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens in a 2025 AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images Baltimore had 182 yards in the first half compared to Buffalo’s 156. The Ravens were 4-5 on third downs.
7 takeaways from first half as Bills hold a 21-10 lead over Ravens in divisional round
The Bengals’ tag options with Tee Higgins
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images A breakdown of how what the Bengals could keep Tee Higgins as NFL free agency nears. The Cincinnati Bengals want to keep wide receiver Tee Higgins in their building for a long time. That has been made clear by head coach Zac Taylor, franchise quarterback Joe Burrow, and star receiver Ja’Marr Chase. How they go about doing that, however, could be one of five options: A long-term extension, an exclusive franchise tag, a non-exclusive franchise tag, a transition tag, or a tag and trade. Let’s take a look at their options: Long-Term Contract Extension Simply put, this is the desired outcome for all parties involved. As soon as the Bengals’ season ended, Higgins’ 2024 franchise tag expired, and he became eligible to sign a new contract with the Bengals. The two sides could come to an agreement at any time. Exclusive Franchise Tag This is what the Bengals signed Higgins to last offseason. This means Higgins would not be able to negotiate with other teams on the open market. The salary on that tag is an average of the five highest salaries for a player at the position, or 120% of Higgins’ prior year’s salary, whichever is highest. Of course, if the Bengals choose to tag Higgins, they will have a window until July 15th, when they can still negotiate a long-term extension. After that deadline, Higgins would be subject to play on another one-year contract, which is projected to be worth $26,179,200. Non-Exclusive Franchise Tag This isn’t as often used, but one of the more recent non-exclusive tags we saw was the one the Baltimore Ravens placed on Lamar Jackson before signing him to an extension. Essentially, this means Higgins could negotiate with other teams like a free agent, but the Bengals would have five days to match any offers and retain Higgins’ services. If the Bengals chose not to match the offer, the team that signs Higgins would owe the Bengals two first-round picks. Transition Tag Even more rare, the transition tag is a salary that is the average of the top 10 players at the position, but the 120% provision applies like in the exclusive tag. This would give the Bengals the right of first refusal to match any offer sheets, but they wouldn’t get any draft compensation if they declined to match the offer. Tag and Trade The Bengals could franchise tag Higgins with the hope of trading him. If they were to place the tag on Higgins, they would be able to trade him to the highest bidder, provided that the team trading for Higgins’ services would sign him to a long-term extension. This could happen any time in the window between when Higgins is tagged and the deadline for a long-term deal closes. The Bengals would essentially name their price to any teams inquiring. The hope is that the Bengals can come to an agreement with Higgins while also extending Chase this offseason, but if that can’t happen, the Bengals should look at how to get as much return on Higgins as possible.
New Orleans Saints schedule second interview with Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports Anthony Weaver will interview for the Saints head coaching job on Wednesday. Coach Mike McDaniel and the Miami Dolphins are inching closer to a fourth consecutive offseason search for a defensive coordinator. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported early Monday morning that the New Orleans Saints will bring in Anthony Weaver for a second interview for their open head coaching job on Wednesday. The #Saints are bringing in #Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver for a second interview for their head coaching job on Wednesday, per sources. Weaver impressed in multiple interviews with Washington and Atlanta last year, and now is in the final round again. pic.twitter.com/IWho14Pyxg — Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 20, 2025 The Saints and Chicago Bears have shown interest in Weaver, who also interviewed for the Washington Commanders and Atlanta Falcons openings last offseason. Pelissero added that New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will also receive a second interview. Known for his ability to connect with players, Weaver played 103 games across seven seasons in the NFL before turning his attention to coaching. While the Dolphins failed to make the playoffs in 2024, his impact was noticeable as the defense ranked eighth in points per game (20.8) and sixth in opponent yards per game (314.4) — without premiere edge rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips available for the majority of the year. Weaver was defensive coordinator of the Houston Texans in 2020 before joining the Baltimore Ravens as defensive line coach, and being promoted to assistant head coach the next year. Miami’s defense wasn’t flashy and Weaver doesn’t come with the promise to develop a quarterback, but as a coach and a leader, it’s easy to see why he has caught the eye of multiple franchises around the league.
2025 NFL offseason calendar: Detroit Lions important dates, deadlines
Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images A look at the most important 2025 NFL offseason dates for the Detroit Lions. With the sudden loss to the Washington Commanders, the Detroit Lions offseason is sadly upon us. The team will look to build upon this year’s performance and hopefully make that Super Bowl push we were all hoping for this season. As always, the NFL offseason is filled from January to August with several significant events, deadlines, and dates to ensure that there never truly is a lull in football news and developments. Here are the most important offseason dates, and how they pertain to the Lions. January Jan. 20 — NFL Divisional Round losers can have their coaches interviewed/hired Had the Lions defeated the Commanders, the Lions coaches would not have been able to interview until they were eliminated—or in the week between the Conference Championship and Super Bowl. Unfortunately, now that the Divisional Round is over and the Lions are eliminated, all Lions coaches are now free to interview and sign with any team. Expect both offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to explore second, in-person interviews this week. Jan. 28-30 — Senior Bowl practices General manager Brad Holmes will only get a week to relax before jumping back into the scouting process with the annual Senior Bowl beginning next week. February Feb. 1 — Senior Bowl game The Senior Bowl game will be televised on NFL Network at 2:30 p.m. ET Jan. 30/Feb. 2 — 2025 Pro Bowl games The Lions had seven players named to the Pro Bowl and another 11 alternates who could end up going. The skills competition is on Thursday Jan. 30 (7-8:30 p.m. ET) and the game is on Saturday, Feb. 2 (3-6 p.m. ET). Both will air on ESPN. Feb. 6 — NFL Honors award show At 9 p.m. ET, the NFL will air their annual awards show. At this time, finalists haven’t been announced, but Lions coach Dan Campbell is expected to be a finalist for Coach of the Year. Feb. 18 — Franchise/transition tag window opens Teams can start designating their selections for the franchise or transition tag (difference explained here). The Lions haven’t used the franchise tag since 2018 (Ezekiel Ansah), and there are no real candidates to get it this year, with Carlton Davis (estimated franchise tag value $20.36M) being the closest. Feb. 24 – March 3 — NFL Combine While this event is about NFL Draft prospects, it’s also the time in which the media often meets with new Lions coaches. That could be a significant offseason moment considering the coaching changes expected. March 4 — Franchise/transition tag deadline If a team plans on using the franchise tag, this is the last day they can use that designation. March 10-12 — Free agency “legal tampering period” Starting March 10 at Noon ET, teams can start negotiating with agents of players who are set to become unrestricted free agents. Oftentimes players will “agree to terms” with their new teams. March 13 — New league year, start of free agency Free agents can officially sign with new teams starting at 4 p.m. ET. March 30-April 2 — NFL Annual League Meetings New NFL rules are discussed, while typically Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes, and Rod Wood are all made available to the local media. April April 16 — NFL Draft visit deadline Teams must complete their top-30 and local NFL Draft prospect visits (at their own facility) by this date. April 18 — RFA deadline If a player is given a restricted free agent offer sheet, this is the deadline for those players to sign it. April 21 — Offseason program begins The Lions, and any other team with a returning head coach, can begin their offseason program. April 24-26 — 2025 NFL Draft This year’s draft is in Green Bay. May May 1 — Fifth-year option deadline for 2022 first-round picks The Lions have two 2022 first-round picks. The first, Aidan Hutchinson, is likely to get an extension this year, but the Lions could exercise his fifth-year option (estimated $22.6M for 2026) to buy some time. The more interesting decision is with Jameson Williams. His 2026 option would cost about $15.1 million, all fully guaranteed. May 2-5 or May 9-12 — Rookie minicamp Team may hold a three-day rookie minicamp for their draft picks and UDFA class in either of the two windows. Mid-May — NFL schedule release There is no official date set for the NFL 2025 schedule release, but it was announced on May 15 in 2024 and May 12 the previous year. May 20-21 — NFL Spring League Meetings More conversations are had about rule changes. There is typically limited/no availability with Lions coaches/owners here. Late May/Early June — OTAs + mandatory minicamp For the first time, the Lions’ entire 2025 roster can get together and participate in 10 voluntary, unpadded practices—plus three mandatory minicamp practices. Typically, the Lions dismiss veterans for the final week of OTAs, choosing to spend that time on the young players in attendance. (Last year’s OTA dates: May 21-23, 29-31, June 10-12 — Rookie minicamp: June 4-6) July July 15 — Franchise tag signing deadline If a player is designated with the franchise tag, this is the date they must sign that tag by. Teams and players often use this date as a deadline for agreeing to a long-term contract to avoid playing on the one-year franchise tag deal. Mid/late July — Training camp Last year, Lions rookes reported on July 20 and veterans on July 23. The first practice was on July 24.
Detroit Lions linemen won’t let coach Hank Fraley go
Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images If it’s up to them, Detroit Lions offensive linemen won’t let Hank Fraley leave for other opportunities. Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley is one of the most beloved position coaches on the team, and it’s no surprise he’s starting to gain interest from other teams. He already interviewed for the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive coordinator position. It’s also possible Fraley leaves with one of Detroit’s coordinators, should Ben Johnson or Aaron Glenn get a head coaching job. But if it’s up to the Lions players, they aren’t going to let Fraley leave the building. During locker room cleanout day on Sunday following the team’s Divisional Round loss, both center Frank Ragnow and right tackle Penei Sewell said—seemingly only half-jokingly—that they were going to do everything in their power to get him to stay. “You refuse to let Hank leave,” Ragnow said. “I haven’t played in this league without Hank and I don’t plan on doing it. I’ll sabotage him, I’ll leak stories, whatever it takes.” “Yeah, it’s the same as me,” Sewell said minutes later. “He’s not going nowhere at the end of the day. He’s not going nowhere.” Both Sewell and Ragnow have deep connections to Fraley that go beyond the typical coach/player relationship. For Sewell, their history dates well before draft day in 2021. “He’s just been one of those pillars for me in this organization,” Sewell said. “When I first came in I fell in love with him, and we’ve got a history, too. He was recruiting me in high school when he was at UCLA. So, lotta history between us and our relationship has grown. He’s like coach (Dan) Campbell in terms of a figure in my eyes. So, he’s not going nowhere.” For Ragnow, it’s Fraley’s experience as an NFL center himself that makes their relationship so special. “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. “Again, I’ve said it before, but him being a former center in this league has been invaluable to me. Talking about how we see things, and not only him giving me advice, but me telling him how I see it and him being willing to listen. I think that’s so rare, and I’m just so grateful for him.” Ragnow and Sewell have already grown into All-Pro talents thanks, in part, to Fraley, but for 2024 fourth-round pick Giovanni Manu, he’s just starting to feel the impact of Fraley’s coaching. The developmental rookie told Fraley directly that he doesn’t want him to get the Seahawks job, as he’s been instrumental to his behind-the-scenes growth. “I’ve gotten to a point where I feel like I’ve created a good relationship with him,” Manu said. “Not just him, but (assistant offensive line coach) Steve Oliver to a point where I don’t think any other o-line coach understands me more than he does. That’s the only reason why I’d love to have him here for my whole tenure, if I could.” One possibility for Fraley’s future could be to get promoted internally to Lions offensive coordinator. If Johnson gets a head coaching job elsewhere, Fraley is likely to be one of a few internal candidates to take over, along with assistant head coach/running backs coach Scottie Montgomery and passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand. If it’s Fraley, he’s got Ragnow’s endorsement. “I truly think he would be great,” Ragnow said. “He’s bright, man. He’s bright. He’s so creative in what he does with this offense. I know Ben gets a lot of the credit or whatever, but Hank, that whole staff, they’re very innovative and creative and they do a really good job.” With Lions coaches now free to do in-person interviews with any team, we could see movement quickly.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25838345/Screenshot_2025_01_19_at_3.19.17_PM.png?w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1 "All things being equal, draft an experienced quarterback")
All things being equal, draft an experienced quarterback
As the New York Giants and their fans burn for (seeming) eternity in quarterback hell, watching Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels carve up the Detroit Lions defense to reach the NFC Championship Game, “How can we get one of those?” is the question of the day. It’s been the question for a better part of a decade now. The team definitely needs a bridge quarterback for the 2025 season, but the bigger question is where to find someone younger and with more potential for the long term in the 2025 NFL Draft. Maybe there are none worth drafting, or at least none that will still be on the board when the Giants pick at No. 3. Or maybe there will be several, but the trick is deciding which one is worth the investment, if not at No. 3, then in Round 2. I don’t have the expertise to answer that question; I’ll leave it to Chris Pflum to tell us whether any of the prospects out there this year have the potential to make it as an elite starting NFL quarterback. Mostly that evaluation is about physical and mental traits that the best quarterbacks have: arm talent, accuracy, pocket presence, anticipation, ability to go through read progressions, etc. You’d have to think that all general managers know this, yet they often get it wrong, as evidenced by the number of failed quarterbacks on NFL rosters. One thing I don’t hear discussed much – and when I do, it’s backwards – is the role that age and experience play in QB success. More often than I would have imagined, you hear people downgrade an older college prospect for one of two reasons: You’ll only have them for 10 years or so before they begin to decline (as if none of us would sign on for a decade of elite play), and if they’re good enough to succeed in the NFL, why did they have to stay in college so long? Let’s look at every quarterback drafted in the NFL since 2016 in the first or second round and see whether age and experience at the college level play any role in their NFL success. There are 39 such QBs. We’ll use four different measures: Calendar age at the start of the year they were drafted, college games played, pass attempts, and pass attempts per game. None of these by itself is definitive, e.g., some QBs get into blowout games early in their career and just hand the ball off, some play for coaches who are more or less pass-oriented, etc. Collectively, though, hopefully they show us some trends. Age Here are the six oldest and six youngest Round 1-2 quarterback draftees since 2016: Data from Sports Reference Age and experience aren’t everything – some quarterbacks are just not good enough to succeed at the NFL level. Kenny Pickett at least started for a while, while it looks like Will Levis’ starting days are over given that Tennessee has the No. 1 pick. The other four oldest rookies are an interesting group, though. Bo Nix was the least heralded of the six top QB prospects in the 2024 draft – terrible at Auburn, better at Oregon only because he played in their RPO system, so it was said. But Nix got a ton of experience. After a rough opening month of his NFL career, he clicked in Sean Payton’s offense and led Denver to the playoffs. Michael Penix Jr. only started the last three games of the season, but he looked good in two of them. including a final game with seven (yes, seven) big-time throws and no turnover-worthy plays according to Pro Football Focus. Then we have Daniels, who spent three years at Arizona State, then transferred to LSU for two years and hit his stride. Five years in college seem to have served him well. Finally, Joe Burrow followed a similar path – two years at Ohio State and two more at LSU, and like Daniels, he hit the ground running when he reached the NFL, coming within a play of a Super Bowl ring in his second year. The six youngest quarterbacks tell a different story. Lamar Jackson is unique among them. He, like Burrow, is one of the top five QBs in the NFL today. But he mostly sat through the first half of his rookie year, and when he did become a starter, he was mostly a runner rather than a passer (56.5 PFF passing grade). By year 2, though, he had become the unstoppable force he is today. For Christian Hackenberg, Josh Rosen, and DeShone Kizer, though, that moment never came. Sam Darnold didn’t seem to put it together until this, his seventh, season, although his final two games put even that into question. Finally, we have Anthony Richardson: Jaw-dropping traits, but so little experience – only 393 passes in college, vs. 1936 for Nix and 1438 for Daniels. He was arguably the worst starting QB in the NFL this year despite being the No. 4 pick in 2023. He should have stayed in school another year. Games and Pass Attempts Below we sort the QBs by least (30 or less) and most (40 or more) college games played: Data from Sports Reference The list of quarterbacks with the fewest college games played includes some of the most spectacular failures in recent NFL draft history: Trey Lance (No. 3 after the 49ers traded up), Dwayne Haskins (too small an NFL sample to judge, but unsuccessful until his tragic accident), Richardson (who may yet succeed but clearly wasn’t ready yet), Deshone Kizer (a starter for one year, out of the NFL after two), Kyle Trask (11 NFL pass attempts in three seasons), Zach Wilson (did not throw a pass in 2024 after three years as sometimes-Jets-starter), and Rosen (out of the league after three seasons). It also includes Josh Allen, a bad QB as a rookie but better in year 2 and spectacular since; Kyler Murray,
Fantasy Football Rankings 2025: Quarterback tiers
Nathan Jahnke reveals his fantasy football quarterback tiers for 2025. Fantasy Football Rankings 2025: Quarterback tiers 2YYR3DH Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) celebrates after the game winning touchdown during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Landover, MD. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit) By Nathan Jahnke Posted Jan 20, 2025 5:00 am EST • Jayden Daniels could join the elite tier: Daniels exceeded expectations as a rookie and the Washington Commanders could greatly improve the wide receiver room this offseason. • Don’t count out Brock Purdy: The San Francisco 49ers quarterback is one of four quarterbacks to rank in the top-10 in fantasy points per game for a quarterback each of the last two seasons. • 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: 8 minutes With the conclusion of the 2024 NFL season, these way-too-early 2025 fantasy football rankings are an initial look at how players could be ranked this summer. Player movement in free agency will have a big factor on the rankings, particularly at running back. For now, players expected to be unrestricted free agents are marked as free agents in the team column. These rankings are for redraft PPR leagues. Most of the logic is for single-quarterback leagues, but the general order of the quarterbacks remains true for superflex leagues. Last Updated: 7:00 a.m Monday, January 20 Tier 1: The 24 points-per-game players Rank Name Team Allen and Jackson have been in a league of their own regarding quality and consistency. In the last five seasons, Allen has finished among the top three quarterbacks in fantasy points per game. His worst season over the five-season stretch is better than anyone else’s average season. Allen also had the best PFF offensive grade among quarterbacks at that time. His only problem this season was a lack of consistency early in the year and a few games where the Bills dominated with their run game and didn’t need Allen to accumulate many stats for a decisive victory. A young core of receivers, including Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid, should help keep Allen near the top of the position. Jackson was the best fantasy quarterback last season. He finished among the top 12 fantasy quarterbacks in all but one game and ranked in the top six in 65% of his matchups. While Jackson was the better of the two quarterbacks this year, there is concern the offense won’t be as dominant next year. Derrick Henry and Mark Andrews are past the age players at those positions usually peak. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley will be 31 years old and a free agent. Jackson is also well past the age quarterbacks usually excel as a runner. There has never been another quarterback like Jackson, so it’s hard to know when his rushing will regress, but he averaged one fewer carry per game this season than any other season of his career. Allen and Jackson had two of the highest ADPs among quarterbacks last season, and they were the two most likely to lead their teams to the fantasy playoffs and two of the top four the year before. Their consistent success should make them third-round picks in most leagues, and it’s possible their price could get driven to the second round. Tier 2: The other quarterbacks to prioritize Rank Name Team 3 Jayden Daniels Commanders 4 Jalen Hurts Eagles 5 Joe Burrow Bengals These three quarterbacks averaged at least 21 fantasy points per game last season. The main way a quarterback has consistently hit 21 points per game over multiple seasons is by rushing. Hurts joins Allen and Jackson as the only quarterbacks with at least 21 points in the last two seasons. All three quarterbacks have accomplished this in at least four of the last five seasons. They have rushed for at least 550 rushing yards 13 times over the last five seasons, whereas all other quarterbacks combined have seven. While Hurts has a lot of value from one-yard touchdowns, he would have still ranked among the top-12 fantasy quarterbacks in points per game without them. Daniels is a riskier option, but his upside is enough to rank third. He averaged 21.5 fantasy points per game despite a bumpy middle part of the season. He finished second in rushing attempts and rushing yards. The Commanders have the third-most cap space heading into the offseason, according to OverTheCap, and most of their wide receivers outside of Terry McLaurin are hitting free agency. If the Commanders can bring in more firepower on offense, that could be enough to move Daniels into the top tier. Burrow is the first quarterback on the list who isn’t a runner. We haven’t seen a pocket passer have back-to-back excellent seasons in recent years, but Burrow should be the exception. He’s averaged over 21.5 fantasy points per game in two of the last three seasons, with injuries taking their toll on his 2023 season. Burrow’s 92.9 PFF passing grade over the last three seasons is the clear best among quarterbacks. The Bengals’ offense and his receivers help increase the gap between Burrow and the rest of the passers. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins‘ contract situation could take a turn for the worse, which could bring Mahomes down a tier. Tier 3: Most likely to take a leap Rank Name Team 7 Brock Purdy 49ers There is a large gap between gaps two and three, as the top five are pretty safe bets to reach 21 fantasy points per game or better, and arguments could be made for most of the other starting quarterbacks in the NFL to round out the top 10. These three have the highest odds of finishing in the top five or, at the very least, top 12. Mahomes used to average at least 22 fantasy points per game every season, but then he lost Tyreek
Instant analysis of Ravens heartbreaking 27-25 loss to Bills in AFC divisional round
Instant analysis of Ravens heartbreaking 27-25 loss to Bills in AFC divisional round glenn erby Lamar Jackson will have another off-season of questions after the Ravens suffered a heartbreaking 27-25 loss to the Bills in Buffalo after Mark Andrews dropped a two-point conversion that would have tied the game up with less than 2:00 remaining in the fourth quarter. Baltimore finished with 416 yards of offense and outgained Buffalo by over 143 yards, but three costly turnovers doomed a Ravens offense that didn’t make enough winning plays when it mattered most. With the offseason now official, here’s an instant analysis of the crushing loss at Highmark Stadium. Turnovers ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens throws a pass against the Buffalo Bills in the first quarter during the AFC Divisional Playoff at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) Baltimore entered Sunday having turned the ball over three times over the past seven games. In Sunday’s matchup with Buffalo, the Ravens had three turnovers in 3.5 quarters, and they were all crucial with ramifications. Mark Andrews ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: Mark Andrews #89 of the Baltimore Ravens runs after a catch against the Buffalo Bills in the third quarter during the AFC Divisional Playoff at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Andrews will undoubtedly end up in the Ravens Hall of Fame, and he has Pro Football Hall of Fame numbers, but he’ll remember his costly fumble and dropped two-point conversion. Overall, Andrews had five catches for 61 yards. Andrews hadn’t had a dropped pass since Week 6. He had two in the divisional round loss, including the costly one on the 2-point conversion. Derrick Henry ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens runs the ball against Greg Rousseau #50 of the Buffalo Bills in the third quarter during the AFC Divisional Playoff at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) Henry was signed for these moments and did enough, logging 18 carries for 84 yards (5.3 avg) and one touchdown. Lamar Jackson Jan 19, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs the ball against Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) during the second quarter in a 2025 AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images The two-time MVP will always take the brunt of any loss, but Jackson did enough to win, going 18-25 passing for 254 yards (10.2 avg), two touchdowns, and one interception with a 114.4 rating. Ravens pass catchers ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 19: Rashod Bateman #7 of the Baltimore Ravens catches a pass for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in the first quarter during the AFC Divisional Playoff at Highmark Stadium on January 19, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Isaiah Likely had four catches for 73 yards and one touchdown, while Rashod Bateman had four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Bengals News (1/20): Al Golden Watch
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images We could be watching the Bengals’ next defensive coordinator coach for a national championship tonight. Bengals: Joe Burrow’s MVP case gets a surprise supporter“Every time he steps on the field, and he’s playing well, he’s definitely considered the best,” O’Neal told RG’s Crissy Froyd. “If he’s in the conversation, he has a chance to win.” ‘All Signs Point’ to Al Golden Becoming Next Cincinnati Bengals Defensive Coordinator“This is not the time or place. This is about the kids … The biggest thing for us right now is understanding the enormity of this game,” Golden said on Saturday. “That’s our focus. All of that other stuff, we’ll deal with in the future.” Patrick Mahomes’ sideline antics have Bengals fans talking againAt this point, that’s probably putting it nicely, too, considering the game’s broadcast called him out for it and the NFL had to come out and defend the flags the next day. J.J. Watt fuels unretirement to join Bengals rumorsThe Bengals adding Watt to pair with Trey Hendrickson would be wild and go a long way toward fixing one of the defense’s biggest problems. Reality check time, though — Trafford will have to keep up his end of the bargain through the end of his season on May 3. Bengals: Ranking 2025 free agents by re-sign priorityThe Cincinnati Bengals figure to be a team with some notable roster turnover after the failure to reach the playoffs, which includes letting a number of the team’s own free agents walk on the open market. The Athletic Gives Bengals Best Chance to Make 2026 NFL Playoffs Among Eliminated Tea“A five-game season-ending win streak put the Bengals on the precipice of the postseason following a slow start to 2024,” Jones wrote. “But the Broncos won their final regular-season game to clinch the AFC No. 7 seed, and that left the Bengals on the outside looking in. 2025 NFL offseason: Free agents, draft notes, predictionsOur NFL Nation reporters picked an offseason priority for the team they cover, then identified an under-the-radar issue that should be considered this spring. Al Golden Right Fit for Bengals? | Notre Dame Defensive Coordinator Could Be NFL BoundThe Cincinnati Bengals could hire Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden to replace Lou Anarumo. Can the Bengals keep Higgins and Chase?“These are high-rent problems to have so many good players that you that you need to pay. It means you have a lot of talent on your roster,” said Kurt Badenhausen, a sports journalist who follows NFL contracts for Sportico. “You can do the salary-cap gymnastics to make it work, but you’re going to have to take from other parts of the team.” Bengals draft prediction adds massive and versatile 6’6, 4.5-sack defenderMore specifically, the Bengals need some help upfront, both on the edge and the interior. Trey Hendrickson is entering the final year of his deal, Sam Hubbard is a candidate to be cut and Joseph Ossai is a pending free agent. ‘What-If?’ – Bengals Passed on Veteran O-Lineman That is Thriving on ContenderBecton left Cincinnati without a deal and the Bengals. Apparently he didn’t have the best visit, but clearly he can play at a high level. He posted a 75.2 overall grade according to Pro Football Focus this season. Former NFL Executive Praises Texans for Joe Mixon Trade With Cincinnati BengalsBy trading Mixon, they cleared the way for Chase Brown to have a breakout second season. Brown had 990 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. He also had 54 catches for 360 yards and four touchdowns.
AFC Championship Game first look: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs odds and lines
The Buffalo Bills (15-4) will attempt to dethrone the 2-time defending-champion Kansas City Chiefs (16-2) Sunday in the AFC Championship Game. Kickoff from GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. (CBS) Below, we look at Bills vs. Chiefs odds from BetMGM Sportsbook’s NFL odds before making our expert NFL picks and predictions later in the week. The Bills survived a snowy, tightly contested game 27-25 Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens. QB Josh Allen didn’t have gaudy numbers, but he took care of the football and got it done. He was 16-for-22 for 127 yards, 0 TDs and 0 INTs. He ran 10 times for 20 yards and 2 TDs. The Bills defense turned the Ravens over 3 times. The Chiefs took an intentional safety to run time off the clock near the end of the game, which cost them an ATS win as 9.5-point favorites, in a 23-14 win against the Houston Texans Saturday. QB Patrick Mahomes was 16-for-25 for 177 yards, 1 TD and 0 INTs. TE Travis Kelce had game highs with 7 grabs for 117 yards and 1 TD. Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now! Bills at Chiefs odds Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 12:05 a.m. ET. Moneyline (ML): Bills +105 (bet $100 to win $1005) | Chiefs -125 (bet $125 to win $100) Against the spread (ATS): Bills +1.5 (-110) | Chiefs -1.5 (-110) Over/Under (O/U): 48 (O: -110 | U: -110) Season betting stats ML: Bills 15-4 | Chiefs 16-2 ATS: Bills 12-7 | Chiefs 8-10 O/U: Bills 12-6-1 | Chiefs 7-11 Bills vs. Chiefs head-to-head The Bills lead the all-time series 30-25-1. This will be their third meeting in the playoffs in the last 4 years. K.C. won 42-36 in the AFC Championship in 2022. The Chiefs also won 27-24 in the Divisional Round in 2024. The Bills handed the Chiefs their first loss of the season 30-21 on Nov. 17 in Buffalo. For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Follow Ryan Dodson on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook. Gambling involves risk. Please only gamble with funds that you can comfortably afford to lose. While we do our utmost to offer good advice and information we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling. We do our best to make sure all the information that we provide on this site is correct. However, from time to time mistakes will be made and we will not be held liable. Please check any stats or information if you are unsure how accurate they are. No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain. All forms of betting carry financial risk and it is up to the individual to make bets with or without the assistance of information provided on this site and we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of following the betting tips provided on this site. Past performances do not guarantee success in the future and betting odds fluctuate from one minute to the next. The material contained on this site is intended to inform, entertain and educate the reader and in no way represents an inducement to gamble legally or illegally or any sort of professional advice. 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. It is your sole responsibility to act in accordance with your local laws.
