The first game on Sunday in the Divisional Round of the 2026 NFL playoffs will feature an AFC matchup between the No. 5 Houston Texans and the No. 2 New England Patriots. The Patriots lead the all-time regular season series between these teams, 9-4, but the Texans have won three of their four most-recent meetings. […] The first game on Sunday in the Divisional Round of the 2026 NFL playoffs will feature an AFC matchup between the No. 5 Houston Texans and the No. 2 New England Patriots. The Patriots lead the all-time regular season series between these teams, 9-4, but the Texans have won three of their four most-recent meetings. They last faced off back in 2024, when the Texans won in New England, 41-21. The winner of this game will face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game — the Broncos will be without Bo Nix who fractured his ankle on the second-to-last play in overtime against the Bills. Here’s everything you need to know about the game: Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots Game time: 3:00 PM ESTChannel: ESPN | ABCOnline Streaming: FuboTV | ESPNLocation: Gillette Stadium | Foxborough, MAAnnouncers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters / Laura Rutledge (field reporter) Houston Texans: +3.5 (+142) New England Patriots: -3.5 (-168) Over/under: 40.5 points SB Nation Blogs Texans: www.BattleRedBlog.com Patriots: www.PatsPulpit.com Open thread: Discuss Sunday’s game in the comments below. See More: Philadelphia Eagles discussion
NFL Divisional Round: Texans vs. Patriots
NFL Divisional Round Recap: Seattle Seahawks 41, San Francisco 49ers 6
Rashid Shaheed’s opening kickoff return for a touchdown set the tone as Kenneth Walker III rushed for three scores and the Seattle Seahawks overwhelmed the San Francisco 49ers 41-6 to reach the NFC Championship Game.
NFL Sunday Divisional Playoffs Discussion
Today, the National Football League will set the other half of both Conference Championship Games, as the two remaining Divisional Round games are set to kick off with another doubleheader. Like yesterday, the early game will give us an AFC matchup, this one between the Houston Texans and the New England Patriots. The Patriots won […] Today, the National Football League will set the other half of both Conference Championship Games, as the two remaining Divisional Round games are set to kick off with another doubleheader. Like yesterday, the early game will give us an AFC matchup, this one between the Houston Texans and the New England Patriots. The Patriots won a defensive struggle last weekend over the Los Angeles Chargers, while the Texans demolished the Pittsburgh Steelers and, with any luck, ended the career of Aaron Rodgers so we don’t have to hear any “Rodgers to the Vikings” speculation this offseason. This one is set to kick off at 2:00 PM Central time and will be aired on ABC and ESPN. The winner will get a trip to Denver next Sunday to face off with the Broncos, who are now suddenly without starting quarterback Bo Nix, who broke his ankle in their win over Buffalo yesterday and will miss the remainder of Denver’s playoff run. The nightcap will take us to Soldier Field for a matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the Chicago Bears. Both of these teams had come-from-behind victories in their first playoff matchups, as the Rams managed to take down a feistier-than-expected Carolina Panthers team, while the Bears came back from being down multiple scores at halftime to defeat the Green Bay Packers. NBC and Peacock will be your network for this one, with kickoff currently slated for 5:30 PM Central time. The winner of this one will head out to Seattle next weekend to take on the Seahawks, who blew the 49ers out of the playoffs last night. If you’re going to be watching the games today, feel free to hang out here and talk about them with your fellow Minnesota Vikings fans. Enjoy the action, everyone! See More:
Best quotes from Jon-Eric Sullivan’s first interview as Dolphins GM
The Miami Dolphins have a new general manager—Jon-Eric Sullivan. Sullivan spent the last 21 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, working his way up from football operations assistant, to vice president of player personnel. As he takes control of the Dolphins, his work is definitely cut out for him. The Dolphins are in a tricky […] The Miami Dolphins have a new general manager—Jon-Eric Sullivan. Sullivan spent the last 21 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, working his way up from football operations assistant, to vice president of player personnel. As he takes control of the Dolphins, his work is definitely cut out for him. The Dolphins are in a tricky spot, with limited draft capital, and most of their money sewn up in contracts of players that likely won’t be here for the long haul. On Sunday, Sullivan sat down with Travis Wingfield for his very first interview as general manager, to discuss the challenges that lay ahead, as well as his vision for the team. When asked about his football philosophy, Sullivan said “We’re going to draft and develop, and retain our own. It’s important to us that we raise our own, because that’s culture.” Actions speak louder than words, but this is certainly a different mindset to previous general manager Chris Grier, who often elected to let players walk in free agency, and took big swings with trading draft capital. Sullivan also spoke about the kind of team he wants to build, saying “It starts with the QB, and then we’ll build this team from the inside out. We got to be dominant on the OL, dominant on the DL.” Sullivan also spoke about the fact that the Dolphins technically play in a cold-weather division, and the necessity to build a team to win in those environments. In terms of the players already on the active roster, Sullivan highlighted a few names that he sees as building blocks for the team. Namely, running back De’Von Achane, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, linebacker Jordyn Brooks, center Aaron Brewer, and tackle Patrick Paul. Finally, when asked about his draft strategy, Sullivan spoke about his idea of a “best player available” approach, commonly know as “BPA”. “You really have no idea what your needs are going to be. As we build a board, subconsciously, with a team-value approach, you’ll stack it for need, if that makes sense. In free agency, we’ll be much more intentional about where we need to fill gaps.” The full interview is linked below, and can also be found on the official Miami Dolphins YouTube channel. What did you think of Sullivan’s first interview? Did he impress you? Let us know down below! See More:
Miami Dolphins head coach tracker: Joe Brady set for interview, Falcons hire Stefanski
The Miami Dolphins continue their search for a new head coach on Sunday with a scheduled virtual interview with Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady. The interview comes a day after Buffalo was eliminated from the playoffs with a loss to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round. It also comes just a day before […] The Miami Dolphins continue their search for a new head coach on Sunday with a scheduled virtual interview with Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady. The interview comes a day after Buffalo was eliminated from the playoffs with a loss to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round. It also comes just a day before NFL rules allow in-person interviews to start for coaches under contract with other teams. On Saturday, rumors started to swirl that the Dolphins have Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator as the frontrunner for their vacancy. The former Boston College head coach is said to have “blown everyone away” with his virtual interview, and he already has a relationship with new Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, who was hired from the Packers this offseason. Hafley is expected to be a finalist for most of the vacancies around the league, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Saturday also featured the second head coaching hire of the offseason, with the Atlanta Falcons and former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski agreeing to a deal. Stefanski was among the first interviews Miami held this year and a second interview was being scheduled prior to his meeting with the Falcons. As we have since Mike McDaniel – who is continuing to receive interviews for head coaching and offensive coordinator positions – was fired on January 8, we track all of the rumors and reports surrounding the Dolphins’ head coach search here. Here are the rumored or reported coaches linked to Miami this offseason: Joe Brady – Virtual Interview scheduled (1/18) According to an NFL Network report, the Bills’ offensive coordinator will take part in a virtual interview on Sunday, January 18, after the Bills’ Divisional Round playoff game against the Denver Broncos on Saturday. The Dolphins added Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady to their interview request list on January 14. Brady has also worked as an offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers (2020-2021). A South Florida native, Brady has also had a request from the Baltimore Ravens. Anthony Campanile – Virtual Interview (1/16) The Dolphins announced the completion of a virtual interview with Campanile on January 16. On January 14, Campanile, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ defensive coordinator, was added to the list of Dolphins interview requests. Campanile was the Dolphins’ linebackers coach from 2020 through 2023. Patrick Graham – In-Person interview scheduled (1/19) Graham will interview with the Dolphins on Monday, once NFL rules permit coaches to meet with another team. The Dolphins requested an interview with Graham on January 13, adding him to the growing list of possible hires. He has been the Las Vegas Raiders’ defensive coordinator for four years, staying on despite the team’s head coaching changes. He has also served as the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator (2019), as well as holding the position for the New York Giants. He has also had stints with the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots. John Harbaugh – Interest – Hired by Giants Harbaugh and the Giants agreed to a deal on January 15. The Dolphins have contacted Harbaugh about interest in scheduling an interview, but it does not seem to be the priority for the former Baltimore Ravens head coach. He has interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons already and is expected to interview with the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants. Jeff Hafley – Virtual Interview (1/14); In-person interview scheduled (1/19) – “Frontrunner” for position. Hafley is set for an interview on Monday, January 19, when allowed under NFL rules. According to NFL Network, Hafley is the early frontrunner to land the Dolphins’ job as the team begins their second round of interviews. Hafley “blew everyone away” in his virtual interview, according to Tom Pelissero. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Hafley is among the coaches expected to be scheduled for an in-person interview shortly after the NFL allows. The Dolphins completed an interview with Hafley on January 14. Hafley is one of the hot names on the coaching carousel this offseason as he looks to land his first NFL head coaching position. The former Boston College head coach has spent the last two years with the Packers as their defensive coordinator. He is on the interview request lists for the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, and Tennessee Titans. It would not be a surprise if the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are just starting their head coach search after Mike Tomlin stepped down on Tuesday, added Hafley as a candidate as well. Klint Kubiak – Virtual Interview (1/10) Under NFL rules, a coach from a team on a bye during Wild Card weekend can be interviewed virtually, then will be allowed to hold a second, in-person interview during the bye week before the Super Bowl if the team makes it that far. The Seattle Seahawks’ offensive coordinator conducted a virtual interview with the Dolphins on January 10, meeting the NFL’s rule. Kubiak has also drawn interest from the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, and New York Giants. Jesse Minter – Virtual Interview (1/15) The Dolphins announced the completion of an interview with Minter on Jan. 15. Looking for his first head coaching position, Minter is currently the Los Angeles Chargers’ defensive coordinator. He has worked at multiple teams at both the college and NFL levels during his career, including a four-year stint of various positions with the Baltimore Ravens. Besides the Dolphins, he has had interview requests from the Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, and Tennessee Titans. The Pittsburgh Steelers could look toward Minter as well. Robert Saleh – Virtual Interview (1/15) The former New York Jets head coach and
Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard to interview for Dolphins head coach job
Last week, reports emerged that the Miami Dolphins requested to interview Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard for their vacant head coaching job. Now that interview has been scheduled. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Sheppard will interview in-person for the Dolphins head coaching gig on Monday. First off, it’s important to not read […] Last week, reports emerged that the Miami Dolphins requested to interview Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard for their vacant head coaching job. Now that interview has been scheduled. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Sheppard will interview in-person for the Dolphins head coaching gig on Monday. First off, it’s important to not read too much into the fact that it’s an in-person interview. While in some cases that may indicate an increased level of interest, it’s worth noting that Sheppard has family in southern Florida and regularly spends his offseasons there. He also played for the Dolphins from 2014-15 in the prime of his career. That said, this is obviously a significant opportunity for Sheppard, who only began his coaching career in 2020 as a director of player development for LSU. Since then, he’s been with the Lions organization, starting as outside linebackers coach (2021), then was promoted to linebackers coach (2022-24) before taking over for Aaron Glenn as the defensive coordinator last season. While the defense did take a step back this year under Sheppard, he has been largely praised by his players for his leadership and communication qualities, and Dan Campbell has complimented his ability to adjust and learn on the fly. “I think with any first-time coordinator, first-time coach, you go through a lot,” Campbell said in December. “You learn along the way. You make adjustments. You find things that you believe in. You throw other things to the side that don’t fit you. You find ways to adjust, and it’s just part of the process. I think Shep’s done a damn good job. There’s always going to be things that you learn from this job, but I like Shep.” Sheppard has a lot of competition for the Dolphins job, including—but not limited to—Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley (who is considered the favorite), 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, and Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Check out our 2026 Detroit Lions coaches tracker for all the latest news and rumors on the team’s coaching staff. See More:
Eagles, Brian Daboll will reportedly meet for offensive coordinator interview
The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to interview former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll for their vacant offensive coordinator position, according to a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter. It was previously reported that Daboll and Mike McDaniel are the two names “at the top of [the Eagles’ offensive coordinator candidate] list.” Daboll, 50, […] The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to interview former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll for their vacant offensive coordinator position, according to a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter. It was previously reported that Daboll and Mike McDaniel are the two names “at the top of [the Eagles’ offensive coordinator candidate] list.” Daboll, 50, shares connections to both Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts after overlapping with them at different stages of his career. At his best, Daboll was the play-caller for these Buffalo Bills offenses: 2018 — 30th in yards, 30th in points 2019 — 24th in yards, 23rd in points 2020 — 2nd in yards, 2nd in points 2021 — 5th in yards, 3rd in points Of course, one can wonder how much Josh Allen had to do with the Bills’ success. Buffalo has not exactly struggled since Daboll left! 2022 — 2nd in yards, 2nd in points, 2023 — 4th in yards, 6th in points 2024 — 2nd in yards, 10th in yards 2025 — 4th in yards, 4th in points Daboll was on and off as a play-caller with the Giants, who’ve clearly lacked talent for a long time now. But here are those numbers from his tenure with New York: 2022 — 18th in yards, 15th in points 2023 — 29th in yards, 30th in points 2024 — 30th in yards, 31st in points 2025 — 13th in yards, 17th in points (fired after 10 games) Something else to wonder about is how Daboll’s fiery personality will fit on the Eagles. We already know Sirianni can get pretty animated. Seems like there could be some explosive potential on the sidelines. The Eagles could do worse than Daboll. They could also probably do better. See More: Philadelphia Eagles News
Ex-NY Giants coach Brian Daboll interviewing for Eagles’ coordinator job
Former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll will interview for the Philadelphia Eagles’ vacant offensive coordinator job, per ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter. Daboll ending up with the Eagles and facing the team that fired him twice a year as mastermind of the Philadelphia offense would be an ironic twist to come out of this NFL hiring cycle. Daboll, 20-40-1 (.336 winning percentage) as Giants’ head coach, recently interviewed for the head-coaching vacancy with the Tennessee Titans. It is believed that Daboll could be sought after by a number of teams as an offensive coordinator before the hiring cycle concludes. Before becoming Giants’ head coach in 2022, Daboll had been offensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, and Buffalo Bills. Mike Kafka, the Giants’ offensive coordinator who went 2-5 as interim head coach after Daboll’s firing, has also interviewed for the Philadelphia job. Philadelphia fired offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo after a Wild-Card playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers. See More: New York Giants News
Eagles News: Philadelphia has 2 of the top 31 ranked free agents
Eagles Question of the Day: Of the rumored offensive coordinator candidates, who do you want the Eagles to definitely NOT hire? Head over to The Feed and weigh in with your answer and explanation! Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links … Ranking the Top 40 NFL Free Agents of 2026 – The […] Eagles Question of the Day: Of the rumored offensive coordinator candidates, who do you want the Eagles to definitely NOT hire? Head over to The Feed and weigh in with your answer and explanation! Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links … Ranking the Top 40 NFL Free Agents of 2026 – The Ringer3) Jaelan Phillips. The Eagles got away with highway robbery by acquiring Phillips from the Dolphins for a third-round pick at the trade deadline in November. His first two games in Philly came against two of the league’s better offensive tackles, the Packers’ Zach Tom and the Lions’ Penei Sewell, and Phillips still made his presence felt right away, with 12 pressures and a sack in his first two games. He has an ideal frame, great strength, and terrifying explosiveness, making him a dream fit as a stand-up rusher who can line up anywhere in Vic Fangio’s defense. Phillips can blow through and by tackles, and he often manhandles tight ends into the backfield when given the opportunity. He’s tied for fourth in total pressures (41) since joining the Eagles in Week 10. […] 31) Nakobe Dean. Injuries have hindered Dean’s development since before he was drafted. He fell to the third round because of a pectoral strain. He only played 47 snaps as a rookie, and then missed a lot of the 2023 season with a Lisfranc injury. He finally started 15 games for Philadelphia in 2024, but he didn’t play beyond the wild-card round in the playoffs because of a torn patellar tendon that caused him to begin the 2025 season on the sidelines. He eventually returned to the starting lineup over the second half of this season, but he missed the Eagles’ Week 17 matchup against the Bills with a hamstring injury. Health is the biggest, and perhaps only, question with Dean as he heads to free agency. He’s a tenacious run defender with great explosiveness and sideline-to-sideline range. He’s a difference-maker on three downs with his ability to play the run and rush the passer. He leads all linebackers with at least 30 pass-rush snaps in PFF’s pass-rush win rate (28.6 percent). Dean isn’t a complete liability in coverage, either, which is more than you can say about most starting linebackers in the NFL right now. It’s hard to project what Dean will command on the open market given just how much of his career has been impacted by injuries. When healthy, he’s as valuable as players like Jamien Sherwood and Nick Bolton—both of whom signed three-year, $45 million deals last offseason. But will Dean have to sign for less purely because of the injury concerns? Probably. An initial look at the Eagles’ 2026 free agents – PhillyVoice EDGE Jaelan Phillips: The acquisition of Phillips was the Eagles’ big trade deadline move this season, and for a change it worked out, as Phillips played well, as a pass rusher and against the run. Phillips seemed to be Vic Fangio’s top edge defender, as he consistently out-snapped Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt. That could be an indication that the Eagles make re-signing Phillips a priority. Eagles, Brian Daboll will reportedly meet for offensive coordinator interview – BGN The Philadelphia Eagles are expected to interview former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll for their vacant offensive coordinator position, according to a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter. It was previously reported that Daboll and Mike McDaniel are the two names “at the top of [the Eagles’ offensive coordinator candidate] list.” Daboll, 50, shares connections to both Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts after overlapping with them at different stages of his career. Eagles reportedly request to interview Colts OC Jim Bob Cooter for same coaching role – Stampede Blue While at face, this is a lateral move, and it will be interesting to see if Indianapolis grants permission. It could at least be somewhat of a promotion, as Steichen consistently handles the offensive play-calling for the Colts. If that job would go to Cooter in Philadelphia, then it theoretically would be an elevation in offensive coaching duties. With Cooter’s coaching assistance last season, the Colts ranked 8th in most points per game (27.4 avg. ppg), and that was despite losing starting quarterback (and Pro Bowl alternate) Daniel Jones for the last four starts of the regular season due to a season-ending torn Achilles injury. Until Jones’s fractured fibula and then torn Achilles after midseason, the Colts were a historically elite NFL offense. Even with the unit’s diminished production down the final stretch, star workhorse Jonathan Taylor still rushed for 1,585 total rushing yards and 18 total rushing touchdowns (*leading the league) on 323 total carries. Roob’s Observations: Has an Eagle ever had a worse playoff game than A.J. Brown? – NBCSP I keep hearing people say Tyler Steen wasn’t any good this year and bring back Mekhi Becton if the Chargers release him, blah, blah, blah. Where is this coming from? Guess what. Steen was fine this year and I don’t know why people are so down on him. He had a better year than Becton, and he was certainly better than Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens. Out of 66 guards who played at least 500 snaps, Steen’s Pro Football Focus grade of 73.4 ranked 14th, which isn’t bad at all. He was the Eagles’ 2nd-most consistent offensive line starter, behind Jordan Mailata. Maybe the Eagles can do better and I don’t think anybody would be surprised if they drafted a guard-tackle pretty early in April to begin preparing for life after Lane. But you could do a lot worse than Steen did this year. Eagles
PFF Grades and Data: Key insights for Texans-Patriots, Rams-Bears
PFF’s media research team has been hard at work this week, preparing for kickoff by pulling data-driven insights and talking points for our broadcast partners around the league. Now, we’re sharing those same nuggets with you. So, whether you’re looking to hit on your bets or just get smarter about the game, these are the key storylines to know for every divisional round contest. PFF Grades and Data: Key insights for Texans-Patriots, Rams-Bears The NFL postseason is here, and with it comes a fresh wave of advanced data and analysis. PFF’s media research team has been hard at work this week, preparing for kickoff by pulling data-driven insights and talking points for our broadcast partners around the league. Now, we’re sharing those same nuggets with you. So, whether you’re looking to hit on your bets or just get smarter about the game, these are the key storylines to know for every divisional round contest. Want the same insights trusted by all 32 NFL teams and our broadcast partners? Subscribe to PFF+ and get everything you need to win your fantasy season and gain an edge at the sportsbook. Houston Texans @ New England Patriots The Texans offense will need a clear plan to handle New England’s interior pass rush. This season, the Patriots rank first in the NFL in both pass-rush win rate (21.1%) and pressure rate (15.7%) from players lined up between the tackles. Interior defender Cory Durden has been the catalyst, posting an 18.2% pass-rush win rate inside, the second-highest mark among all interior defenders. Interior pass protection was a major weakness for Houston a season ago, but that unit has taken a significant step forward in 2025. After allowing a 17.2% pressure rate from the interior offensive line last season (29th in the NFL), the Texans have cut that figure down to 12.3% this year, ranking 10th league-wide. On the other side of the matchup, the left side of New England’s offensive line is anchored by rookies Will Campbell and Jared Wilson, both of whom struggled in last week’s wild-card win over the Chargers. Campbell surrendered a season-high five pressures, including a sack, while Wilson tied his season highs with six pressures allowed and two sacks conceded. That duo now faces one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive lines, led by edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter. The Texans’ star pairing combined for 176 total pressures this season — the most by any pass-rushing duo in the league. Los Angeles Rams @ Chicago Bears One of the best schematic matchups of the weekend features the Rams’ man/duo run game against the Bears defense. Sean McVay and company lean on this concept at the highest rate in the league, calling man/duo on 41% of their designed rushing attempts. That commitment has produced strong results: the Rams are averaging 4.5 yards per carry and 2.0 yards before contact per attempt, the latter ranking third among all offenses. Chicago, however, has been one of the league’s toughest units to run against when facing man/duo. The Bears allow just 3.1 yards per carry on the concept, the second-lowest average in the NFL, and they rarely give up explosive gains. Their 4.9% explosive run rate allowed against man/duo ranked seventh-best during the regular season. Beyond the run game, this matchup also sets up a potential downfield passing battle. Matthew Stafford leads all quarterbacks this season, including the playoffs, in pass attempts traveling 20 or more yards downfield, with 91. Caleb Williams is close behind with 84 such attempts, ranking second overall. The production has followed the volume. Williams’ 12 deep touchdown passes lead all quarterbacks, while Stafford’s 11 are tied for the second-most. Which defense can better withstand these vertical attacks may ultimately swing the matchup. Chicago has been vulnerable at times, allowing 12 touchdowns on passes of 20 or more yards downfield — the second-most in the regular season — compared to nine allowed by the Rams. However, the Bears’ secondary has also been opportunistic, leading the league with 10 interceptions on deep attempts and picking off a staggering 15% of deep passes faced, the second-best rate among all teams. Los Angeles has quietly defended the deep ball well, surrendering an 80.8 passer rating on throws of 20-plus yards, the 11th-lowest mark in the league. With two aggressive quarterbacks and defenses capable of producing splash plays, the battle downfield could be decisive.