Thanks to the nflFastR project, Pro Football Focus and NFL NextGen Stats for the timely sources of data. For those of you new to this, I will publish key QB stats each week judging how well the Colts’ QB performed. Yes, O-Line, receivers, and play-calling impact these numbers but they are primarily QB measures. I will probably modify the […] Thanks to the project, and for the timely sources of data. For those of you new to this, I will publish key QB stats each week judging how well the Colts’ QB performed. Yes, O-Line, receivers, and play-calling impact these numbers but they are primarily QB measures. I will probably modify the charts throughout the season. Commentary will be brief but feel free to let me know in the comments that stats aren’t everything. (click charts for larger view) On Monday Night Football, Philip Rivers gave us a look at a time when quarterbacks relied more on their brains than their arms or legs to move the ball down the field—a time when quarterbacks were better. Watching Rivers rush the offense to the line, then spend the next 20 seconds dissecting the defense and directing traffic before the snap, felt like watching Peyton Manning back in Colts’ blue. In a doomed effort, Rivers was surgically efficient, leading the team to more points than the Colts have seen in 5 weeks—a bitter reminder that he would have been a far superior choice in 2021 than a younger, stronger, more mobile Carson Wentz. HOW WELL? On a per-play basis, Rivers was effective, consistently executing high-value passes while limiting the impact of negative plays. However, the pick-six was a massive negative event that erased any realistic chance of a comeback, tanking his overall EPA efficeincy. So while EPA per play was low, he was effective in terms of yardage efficiency and consistently moving the chains. HOW FAR? Even with a clearly weakened arm, he pushed his attempts well beyond the checkdowns we saw last week, mixing in throws at all depths. His 9.7 average depth of target ranked 4th for the week, and he still completed 65% of those throws, allowing him to stack first downs and add a couple of touchdowns—not bad for an old man. Both attempt and completion depth spiked this week. TO WHO? Downs and Warren led the team in targets, but Pierce led the way in yardage, catching all four of his targets. Pierce has evolved into the #1 Receiver on the year yard-wise. Warren struggled to generate value on his targets, but across the rest of the offense there was strong EPA efficiency. Over the full season, the cumulative effect of the last five weeks has pulled target efficiency back to roughly league average. HOW ACCURATE? With the longer passes, the completion rate was depressed relative to the league. Surprisingly, CPOE was low as well. I didn’t get that impression while watching the game, but that’s why I measure these things—because feelings and the eye test aren’t very reliable. HOW FAST? Rivers got rid of the ball almost as quickly as he did last week, allowing him to avoid pressure. TO WHERE? Rivers largely avoided the left side of the field, which made sense given his struggles to generate value there. Is it a consolation to say that season passing numbers still look good? DASHBOARD mouseover definitions: arsr, edp, sg%, oz%, pr%, tip, ttt, adot, ay/c, yac, yacoe, yd/c, ac%, cpoe, aypa, drp, scr%, ta%, sck%, aa%, ny/d, ny/p, 1st%, td%, to%, qbsr epa/p, adj/p Here’s what happened in week 16: The Colts leaned heavily on the pass, with a supporting run game that was largely ineffective (2nd EDP, 16th ARSR). Rivers faced below-average pressure, driven primarily by his fast time to throw (20th PR%, 24th TTT). Given how quickly he was getting the ball out, I would have expected even less pressure, which suggests the offensive line struggled. Despite the quick throws, target and completion depth were long (4th ADOT, 11th AY/C). Given the depth of his throws, receiver YAC was solid, but in the 4th quarter his incompletions began to pile up, depressing his adjusted completion rate (27th AC%, 16th YAC). That combination ultimately led to a fairly average yards per attempt (17th AYPA). However, in typical Rivers fashion, he did not abandon plays, recording 0 scrambles, 0 throwaways, and 2 sacks (30th SCR%, 21st SCK%, 29th TA%). That low abandon rate boosted his relative dropback efficiency, resulting in a top-10 yards per dropback mark (10th NY/P). That yardage efficiency translated into a high number of first downs and a solid touchdown rate (10th 1st%, 13th TD%). All of that culminated in the 7th-best QB Success Rate, but the disastrous pick-six dragged his EPA efficiency down to 17th. While the season is not mathematically over, it realistically ended when Daniel Jones was injured. Rivers still gave the Colts a chance to win—and with it, a slim chance at the playoffs—something I doubt Riley Leonard or any other available quarterback could have done. But I wasn’t holding out for a miracle. I just wanted one last glimpse of what quarterbacks used to look like, and I got it. There’s a good chance I may never see it again. See More:
Colts’ Week 16 QB Analysis: One last glimpse of the footabll we’ve lost.
Ashton Jeanty’s stats provides optimism for Las Vegas Raiders in Week 17 NFL Power Rankings
The Las Vegas Raiders have been looking for silver linings over the past couple of months, and those have been hard to come by. However, Ashton Jeanty’s 188-yard and two-touchdown performance against the Houston Texans last Sunday provided the Raiders with what they’ve been looking for. So, while the team is still at the bottom […] The Las Vegas Raiders have been looking for silver linings over the past couple of months, and those have been hard to come by. However, Ashton Jeanty’s 188-yard and two-touchdown performance against the Houston Texans last Sunday provided the Raiders with what they’ve been looking for. So, while the team is still at the bottom of the league in the Week 17 NFL Power Rankings, there is a little more optimism in Las Vegas this time around. ESPN 32. Las Vegas Raiders Last week: 32 Jeanty, the No. 6 pick, hasn’t had the season he and many others expected. But his performance against the Texans (188 total yards and two touchdowns) was a reminder of why the Raiders drafted him so high. Despite the Raiders’ run-blocking struggles, Jeanty has still gained 828 yards and 10 total touchdowns. “I’m sure there’s people questioning and doubting [Jeanty],” coach Pete Carroll said Sunday. “It can mount on a young guy, can mount on anybody. For him to show like that, it’s a beautiful expression of who he is and what he’s all about.” — Ryan McFadden It’s kind of crazy that despite how frustrating this season has been for the Boise State product, he’s still only 172 rushing yards away from reaching 1,000 yards in year one. That’d be a significant accomplishment considering how bad the offensive line has been this year. It’s also attainable since the New York Giants allow the second-most rushing yards per game (150.9) this season, and the Kansas City Chiefs gave up 164 yards on the ground to the Tennessee Titans last week. NFL.com 32. Las Vegas Raiders Last week: 32 Pete Carroll might be embattled, and the Raiders might have lost their ninth straight game, but they came out and battled the Texans for four quarters in Houston, nearly pulling out what would have been a shocking win. The best aspect, regardless of what happens after the season, was seeing Ashton Jeanty break out for his best game of the year, with a 60-yard TD catch to give the Raiders a third-quarter lead and a 51-yard TD run that made it a two-point game with under six minutes remaining. The Raiders couldn’t pull it out, but seeing Jeanty thrive was one of the more welcome developments in a lost season. — Eric Edholm Even more encouraging, Jeanty broke 11 tackles last week, according to Pro Football Focus, which was three more than any other running back in the league. He also ranked second with 106 rushing yards after contact, three yards behind Saquon Barkley and 31 yards more than anyone else. Not a bad day for the rookie! Bleacher Report HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 21: Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty (2) stiff arms Houston Texans cornerback Myles Bryant (25) in the second quarter during the NFL game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans on December 21, 2025 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty Images 32. Las Vegas Raiders Last week: 32 The Las Vegas Raiders had their best showing in months, thanks to Ashton Jeanty’s breakout game, racking up 188 scrimmage yards and scoring two touchdowns against the Houston Texans’ No. 1 defense in points and total yards. Behind arguably the league’s worst offensive line, which includes a few backups, Jeanty flashed his star potential in a matchup with the league’s best defensive unit. Coming off a career day, the rookie first-rounder proved he can make the best of a bad situation with a subpar supporting cast. Still, the Raiders remain at the bottom of the power rankings, in need of a lot of help across their roster. — Moe Moton Adding to Moton’s point, 703 or nearly 85 percent of Jeanty’s rushing yards this season have come after first contact, per PFF. Give the man just an average offensive line this offseason and watch him thrive. The Athletic 32. Las Vegas Raiders Last week: 32 One concern: This Sunday’s game Maybe this is too simplistic, but the Raiders need to lose Sunday. The Giants have their quarterback. If New York lands the No. 1 pick, it can trade back and load up on picks. But Las Vegas needs the No. 1 pick to get a QB and begin a hard reset. — Chad Graff, Josh Kendall I completely agree with Graff and Kendall, but if Las Vegas plays the way it did last Sunday, the offense could easily put up 30 points against New York. Like the Texans, the Giants do have a good defensive line, but the backend of the defense is what separates those two, as the G-Men’s secondary has some major issues. Also, their d-line is built to get after the quarterback rather than stop the run, minus Dexter Lawrence. So, this game is very winnable for the Raiders, and the same goes for next week against the Patrick Mahomes-less Chiefs. Sports Illustrated 30. Las Vegas Raiders Last week: 32 Tough break for Chip Kelly, who was dismissed as the Raiders’ offensive coordinator and may have gotten edged out for the Tar Heels’ offensive coordinator job by Bobby Petrino. On second thought, leaving Las Vegas for Chapel Hill sounds like its own version of football hell. — Conor Orr Orr’s analysis doesn’t provide any insight into people who are still with the organization, but interestingly, he’s the only person to move the Silver and Black up in the rankings. For the record, the New York Jets (31) and “Topeka” Chiefs (32) are the two teams that dropped. Orr cites the Chiefs’ upcoming move as his rationale, and one has to
Phinsider Question/Discussion Of The Day: TB Buccaneers @ Miami Dolphins Game Day Predictions
Well, new starting quarterback Quinn Ewers, as the announcers harped on, did not, in fact, look out of place on the field. That being said, Ewers could not do enough to pull out a win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He, though, may be a good fit as a long-term backup QB, with a lot more […] Well, new starting quarterback Quinn Ewers, as the announcers harped on, did not, in fact, look out of place on the field. That being said, Ewers could not do enough to pull out a win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He, though, may be a good fit as a long-term backup QB, with a lot more offseason work, which in itself would be a win. At this point any win among the losses is welcome. Well, moving on to the next challenge, as the cross-state rival, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, are coming to town this coming weekend. The Bucs have struggled lately, losing three consecutive divisional matchups. So with that in mind, we have our usual game predictions post of the week: What are your predictions for the upcoming game between your Miami Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Final score? MVP of the game? Other bold predictions? Please share your thoughts and answers in the comments section below- See More: Miami Dolphins News
College Football Playoff Recap: Miami 10, Texas A&M 3
Malachi Toney redeemed an earlier fumble by catching an 11-yard touchdown with under two minutes left, lifting No. 10 Miami to a gritty 10-3 win over No. 7 Texas A&M in the College Football Playoff. A suffocating Hurricanes defense sacked Marcel Reed seven times and sealed the upset with a late end-zone interception, sending Miami to the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State.
Do Rams have a leadership problem?
The Los Angeles Rams have been in the media in a negative way more recently than fans have grown accustomed to in the Sean McVay era. Last week, wide receiver Puka Nacua got into trouble after appearing on a controversial podcast and attempting to bring the hosts into the facility on a short week. On […] The Los Angeles Rams have been in the media in a negative way more recently than fans have grown accustomed to in the Sean McVay era. Last week, wide receiver Puka Nacua got into trouble after appearing on a controversial podcast and attempting to bring the hosts into the facility on a short week. On that podcast, Nacua criticized NFL officiating while also making headlines in other ways. The Rams then proceeded to blow a 16-point fourth quarter lead to the Seattle Seahawks. It’s the second big lead the Rams have blown this season. Following the game, Nacua tweeted about the officiating and how his comments may have been right. That’s not necessarily to criticize Nacua as he is free to do what he wishes with his free time. While fans like to think that athletes are constantly studying film and the playbook, they do have lives off of the field. However, what Nacua opted to partake in certainly didn’t help on a short week and, at the very least, the optics weren’t great. These are the types of things that many would have expected on a Jeff Fisher-led Rams team. Whether it was Jared Cook getting into trouble and causing a scene on the sideline or Kenny Britt making headlines off the field, those Rams teams had those issues and they embraced it in a sense. McVay’s Rams have been the opposite and it’s been a reason for their sustained success. When McVay came in, he immediately changed the culture. The Rams brought in Andrew Whitworth as the ‘Papa Bear’ of the locker room. They also signed Robert Woods and drafted Cooper Kupp. These players were all eventually leaders of their specific position groups. This isn’t to say that the Rams don’t have leadership, but it is fair to wonder whether or not this team has leadership gaps where it’s needed. Rams general manager Les Snead tends to focus on players who can fill those roles and has talked about them in the past. Again, he’s mentioned having leadership roles such as the ‘Papa Bear’, ‘Warrior’, ‘Rule-Bender’, and ‘Strategist’. However, some of those roles currently feel empty. Rob Havenstein may not have been playing well, but it’s hard to argue his leadership value. That was the ‘Papa Bear’ of the offensive line. Nate Landman has been a great addition, but Quentin Lake is a leader on the defense that the Rams have missed. Moving on from Cooper Kupp was necessary, but Davante Adams hasn’t been the same type of leader at that position. When the Rams went to the Super Bowl in 2021, they had the steady, veteran presence on the offensive line in Whitworth. Who is that on the offense currently? Jalen Ramsey was the leader in the secondary. That’s something that the Rams currently lack. During the final drive of the Super Bowl, Aaron Donald paced the sideline telling the defense to ‘bow up’. Who is that guy on the defense right now telling guys to lock in? On Thursday night against the Seattle Seahawks, Ernest Jones said after the game that Rams players were laughing at them as they were leading 30-14. It was as if the Rams’ players thought it was over. A lack of leadership is the only way the Nacua situation happens. That likely doesn’t happen, especially on a short week, with Kupp in the room. The Rams may not have been old in 2021, but they had a handful of experienced, veteran leaders in that locker room. This Rams team has gained experience over the last two years. With that said, they are still very young. One of the most important players on defense is only in year two. As mentioned, this isn’t to say that the Rams don’t have leadership or even good leadership. It’s only to say that there could be some leadership gaps where there haven’t been in previous years. That lack of leadership in key spots may be a detriment at times. Over the past 11 days, the Rams have had time to stew on the loss to the Seahawks and do some self-reflecting. The coaching staff needed to, and did by firing Chase Blackburn. However, the players need to be able to do the same. If the Rams are going to win the Super Bowl and go on a run, it’s a necessary sacrifice. This is a very good Rams team, but if they are going to get where they want to go, the leadership throughout the roster needs to improve.
Nice Things Prohibited
The Minnesota Vikings won an ugly 16-13 affair in the swamps of Jersey against the New York Giants to improve to 7-8 on the season. Another injury to J.J. McCarthy overshadowed the victory, this time to his throwing hand. The good news appears to be that there are no broken bones, but his availability for […] The Minnesota Vikings won an ugly 16-13 affair in the swamps of Jersey against the New York Giants to improve to 7-8 on the season. Another injury to J.J. McCarthy overshadowed the victory, this time to his throwing hand. The good news appears to be that there are no broken bones, but his availability for the Christmas Day game on a quick turnaround looks unlikely. If he does indeed miss Thursday’s game, it will mark the seventh time this season he’ll be inactive. He has now missed 24 of 32 (75%) possible games since the start of the 2024 season. Not ideal. (NOTE: After Shawn completed his article, the Vikings did rule McCarthy out for Thursday’s game against Detroit) WE CAN’T EVEN HAVE THIS The Minnesota Vikings and nice things go together like ketchup and ice cream. The final five games of the season were all about McCarthy and his development. With the competitive portion of the season over, it was the only thing worth looking forward to. And for once, things looked to be going our way. As a Vikings fan, that’s always a surefire sign that disappointment is making its way to the on-deck circle. While not as crisp as the previous two outings, there were still plenty of positives to take away from McCarthy’s first-half performance. He made a beautiful play under duress for a possible touchdown pass that Jordan Addison holds onto nine times out of 10. His fourth rushing touchdown of the year was a doozy and flashed the dual-threat potential that made me think he could develop into a smaller Josh Allen. His yards per pass attempt (7.7) remained far above the four games before his concussion, when he failed to hit 6.0. Heck, even his chemistry with Justin Jefferson looked to be improving. Yeah, I know, the interception. C’mon now. Yes, the ball placement could have been better, but Nailor catches that, well, nine times out of 10. Ditto the 96-yard pick-six that was fortunately called back. When it rains, it pours for this freakin’ team. ONE THING IS CLEAR But, alas, we’re back in the holding pattern after Brian Burns came unblocked and sent McCarthy to the locker room for the rest of the game. And no, it was not Brian O’Neill’s fault. It was a well-schemed blitz, combined with McCarthy holding the ball too long on a tunnel screen. You try to look for positives in such things, so I guess it’s good the Vikings now know without a shadow of a doubt that they cannot go into 2026 without a top-flight (and costly) backup. I love McCarthy, but you’re only as good as your ability to stay on the field. And so far, he hasn’t been able to do that. This may ruffle some feathers, but the ideal scenario would be to get Kirk Cousins back here. He looked like a lock to be cut before Michael Penix, Jr. partially tore his ACL. Now the situation is a little murkier. The Falcons may still opt to eat the $35 million in dead money rather than absorb the $57 million cap hit (6th highest in the NFL) to keep him on the roster, not knowing how much he’d even see the field. He’s the only guy who, with 100% confidence, could step right in and execute KOC’s offense at an exceptionally high level. I don’t care if the ideal backup candidate would require some trade capital. The best schematic fit for KOC’s offense is the best schematic fit. If Cousins isn’t cut, go for the next best option. Either way, it must be prioritized come March. The Vikings absolutely can’t go through another season like this. The roster is too good, and the expectations are too high. Again, the best option for the Vikings is for McCarthy to hit the ground running in September, stay healthy, continue to improve, become elite, and win five Super Bowls over the next 10 years. But at this point, the only fact at hand is that he’s been incredibly injury-prone. You don’t let your wishes father your thoughts. You go with what is known. FLORES HAS TO BE BACK At this point, Brian Flores can name his price. Making him the NFL’s highest-paid coordinator is a no-brainer. I’ve long been on record saying Flores deserved a second shot at an NFL head-coaching job. It’s beyond overdue. If I had to put money on it, I’d say it’s finally going to happen in a matter of weeks. Selfishly, I hope for a repeat of the Ben Johnson situation in Detroit in 2024, when he opted to stay to wait for the best possible opportunity. I don’t care who you’re playing. When you hold an NFL offense to 13 (!) net passing yards and six points, you’re in some ridiculous zone of awesomeness. With two weeks to go, the Vikings’ defense is Top 10 in the following categories (among others): 3rd in passing yards allowed 3rd in EPA/Pass 4th in sack % 5th in yards per game 7th in total EPA 8th in EPA/Play 10th in sacks By my calculations, we’d also be fourth in points per game (19.4) if you remove all the offensive blunders that result in direct touchdowns, which, of course, Flores’s unit had nothing to do with. It’s also amazing that we rank so well in so many categories, given that our offense leads the NFL in overall offensive turnovers. Yes, the run defense took a step back this season, and yes, the lack of generated turnovers matters, but the bottom line is this team has absolutely no right to still have a chance to finish
Miami Dolphins’ Most Valuable Player | Week Sixteen | It’s almost over
Take a deep breath, Dolphins fans. While it’s been a horrendous 2025 season for Miami, there are only two more games to go until we mercifully get a break from getting our hopes dashed week in and week out by a club that is functioning like an airplane with one wing — spiraling to its […] Take a deep breath, Dolphins fans. While it’s been a horrendous 2025 season for Miami, there are only two more games to go until we mercifully get a break from getting our hopes dashed week in and week out by a club that is functioning like an airplane with one wing — spiraling to its inevitable end. In week sixteen, the Dolphins showed promise in the first half of play — trailing Joe Burrow, Chase Brown, Ja’Marr Chase and the Cincinnati Bengals by just three points despite starting rookie 7th round quarterback Quinn Ewers instead of longtime starter Tua Tagovailoa. The second half was a different story, however. Cincinnati scored 21 points in the third quarter, Miami scored none, and that was basically all she wrote for that one. Miami Dolphins Week Sixteen MVP – RB De’Von Achane Much like most of the 2025 season, De’Von Achane was one of the very few bright spots for the Dolphins against the Bengals. He carried the ball just 15 times, but totaled 81 yards rushing (5.4 yards per carry) and a 48 yard scoring scamper early in the contest. He tacked on three receptions for 9 yards. While some questioned if a player of his diminutive stature could cement himself as a true workhorse back in this league, Achane continues to prove doubters wrong by excelling in 2025. He is absolutely a player you build around and should continue to be the club’s focal point on offense moving forward. Extension talks should heat up with Achane’s representatives this upcoming offseason, and I, for one, hope a deal gets done quickly. MVP TRACKER Week One – RB De’Von Achane Week Two – WR/PR Malik Washington Week Three – RB Ollie Gordon II Week Four – TE Darren Waller Week Five – WR Jaylen Waddle Week Six – RB De’Von Achane Week Seven – RB De’Von Achane Week Eight – LB Jordyn Brooks Week Nine – OL Daniel Brunskill Week Ten – RB De’Von Achane Week Eleven – LB Jordyn Brooks Week Twelve – BYE Week Thirteen – SAF Minkah Fitzpatrick Week Fourteen – CB Rasul Douglas Week Fifteen – TE Darren Waller Week Sixteen – RB De’Von Achane
Lions, Vikings Week 17 injury news: Amon-Ra St. Brown returns, gets ‘positive news’ on injury
The Detroit Lions (8-7) and Minnesota Vikings (7-8) have released their latest injury reports as both teams prepare for a Christmas Day showdown. The Lions held another walkthrough on Tuesday, meaning each player’s practice participation level is estimated by the coaching staff, projecting each injured player’s involvement had there been a regular practice. Let’s take […] The Detroit Lions (8-7) and Minnesota Vikings (7-8) have released their latest injury reports as both teams prepare for a Christmas Day showdown. The Lions held another walkthrough on Tuesday, meaning each player’s practice participation level is estimated by the coaching staff, projecting each injured player’s involvement had there been a regular practice. Let’s take a look at the latest injury report and get you up to date with what we know. Note: Any changes from the last injury report will be bolded. No practice RB David Montgomery (illness) — added to the injury report on Tuesday DB Avonte Maddox (back/illness) Montgomery missed Tuesday’s practice due to illness, and while most times players return from illnesses in time for a game, kickoff is just 48 hours away, so he’ll need to get rested up quickly. Maddox played nearly the entire game last Sunday, and with him now in a starting safety role, it’s entirely possible that he may be getting the veteran treatment. However, back injuries can be tricky, so his status could be in flux heading into this game. Additionally, Maddox also had an “illness” added to his injury report, so like Montgomery, it’ll be another thing to keep an eye on. Limited practice WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee) — upgraded from no practice LT Taylor Decker (shoulder) — upgraded from no practice LG Christian Mahogany (fibula) OL Trystan Colon (wrist) OT Giovanni Manu (knee) — Days remaining in injury evaluation clock: 13 WR Tom Kennedy (abdomen) DT Alim McNeill (abdomen) EDGE Al-Quadin Muhammad (knee) EDGE Marcus Davenport (shoulder) CB Amik Robertson (hand) St. Brown’s injury evaluation on Monday revealed some positive results, but with the Lions playing on a short week, he’s not out of the woods just yet. “It’s positive news, but there’s a little irritation,” coach Dan Campbell said about St. Brown on Tuesday. “So, short week; we’ll see, but I would say it’s still positive news.” Decker has only practiced one time in the previous two weeks, yet he hasn’t missed a game snap. So his taking things slow on a short week isn’t surprising, and he’s still expected to start on Thursday. Mahogany was removed from injured reserve last week and played every snap in Week 16; however, he was walking with a noticeable limp in the locker room following the game, and could use some lighter work heading into this game. He’s still expected to start at left guard. Colon was able to practice last week but was held out of the game. If he’s ready to play this week, he could challenge Eguakun for reps if Glasgow is out again. Manu has been in the injury evaluation window for a week now, leaving him plenty of time to be evaluated over the next two weeks. With the Lions stocked up with 11 offensive linemen on the 53-man roster, there’s no rush to bring him back. Kennedy didn’t leave Week 16 with an injury, but wasn’t spotted in the locker room after the game, suggesting he was feeling it post-game. He could also be getting the veteran treatment, allowing him to rest up so that he’ll have a chance to play this Thursday. McNeill played 76% of defensive snaps on Sunday, was available in the locker room post-game, and didn’t appear to exit the game with any discomfort. He, like a lot of others in this report, could be getting some limited action in order to allow him to recover on a short week. Muhammad is dealing with a knee injury, which is mildly concerning, but he managed to play a typical number of snaps for his role. At this time, there doesn’t seem to be too much to be worried about, and ideally, they’ll be able to get him healthy enough to play on Thursday. Davenport did briefly exit the game on Sunday, so his injury could require a bit more attention than several other Week 16 injuries. However, he was able to return to the game, which is an encouraging sign. Robertson injured his hand in Week 15 and played with a club on his injury in Week 16. He’ll continue to get lighter practices and game responsibilities while he heals up, but should still be available against the Vikings. Full practice C Graham Glasgow (knee) — upgraded from limited practice Glasgow returned to a limited practice on Monday, then was upgraded to an estimated full practice on Tuesday, but with the Lions only holding walkthroughs this week, it’s going to be difficult to know if he’ll be ready for live action on a short week. If he’s unable to play, the Lions appear confident in Kingsley Eguakun’s ability to step in at center again this week. “Yeah, I was encouraged by Kingsley,” Campbell said. “I thought he did a good job. So, we’re kinda weighing (him starting) right now, too. And then Graham’s delt with this knee a little bit, so we’re thinking about it.” Vikings’ injury report Note: Starters are bolded. Did not practice QB J.J. McCarthy (right hand) — has been ruled OUT RB Jordan Mason (ankle) — considered a “longshot” to play TE T.J. Hockenson (shoulder) C Ryan Kelly (concussion) Limited practice RB Aaron Jones (ankle) RT Brian O’Neill (heel) — returned to practice NT Javon Hargrave (thigh) LB Eric Wilson (thumb) Full practice RB Ty Chandler (knee — still on IR) TE Gavin Bartholomew (back — still on IR) LB Austin Keys (ankle) See More:
Rams will aim to exploit Falcons rush defense
The Los Angeles Rams (11-4) have one more primetime game left, a date with the Atlanta Falcons (6-9) at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday Night Football. Los Angeles will be looking to come out swinging in response to their Thursday Night blown loss to the Seattle Seahawks. If there is any silver lining moving forward, […] The Los Angeles Rams had a six-game winning streak prior to their loss to the Seattle Seahawks last Thursday and they will need another six-game winning streak if they want to win the Super Bowl. That starts on Monday against the Atlanta Falcons and one area that L.A. will be looking to exploit is their advantage as a rushing offense against Raheem Morris’s run defense. The journey will start with an NFC matchup against the Falcons who have a desire to spoil the draft pick that they sent to the Rams in their 2025 NFL Draft day trade. As for LA, they may want to kick start their ground game against Raheem Morris’s defense that has struggled to stop the run all year. Here is my positional breakdown and who has the edge for Monday’s night matchup. QBs: Matt Stafford cemented the MVP with his 400+ yard and 3 TD performance against the Seahawks. At this point, the question remains how many total touchdowns he will end up with. If the Rams loses, its rarely because #9 failed to produce. As an NFL fan, I’m glad that Kirk Cousins is a starting quarterback. I think he will regret having moved from Minnesota to Atlanta for the extra money but I understand family decisions. The Rams will look to rattle Cousins from within the pocket as his achilles injury from a few years ago should have sapped some of his mobility. RBs: I was surprised that Kyren Williams got the majority of run calls since Blake Corum has been the better running back as of late. Look for the Rams to reestablish their run game against the Falcons after the Seahawks did not allow a carry over 9 yards. Bijan Robinson is a top 5 running back in the NFL. His shiftiness and power allows him to beat defenders in a number of ways. The Rams have slowed down Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Saquon Barkley but they will get a great test with Bijan on Monday Night. WRs: At this point, what else can you write about Puka Nacua? Davante Adams wasn’t even on the field Thursday to draw attention away from defenders. Yet, Puka still caught 12 passes for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns. It’s worth noting, Tutu Atwell may not be catching passes but he sure is creating a lot of space for Puka Nacua to work in the intermediate. Teams are having to respect Atwell’s top speed. We wall want Atwell to catch passes but does it really matter if he is creating space for Puka? I think Drake London has the potential to be a top 3 in the NFL. However, the revolving door at QB in Atlanta has hindered his development. Darnell Mooney as the team’s #2 is really not creating a whole lot for a WR making $13 million AAV. TEs: We are seeing Terrance Ferguson getting featured in the red zone more often. He’s had a lot of bad luck with penalties negating plays. Stafford and him are just 1-2 feet away from really clicking. After having a strong week against Detroit, Parkinson took a step back against Seattle. Kyle Pitts may not be living up to his draft pick selection but he is a very productive TE. I actually think the Rams should consider signing him this offseason. With Tyler Higbee likely to retire, the Rams could sign Pitts to work in their 13 personnel with Parkinson and Ferguson. Parkinson and Allen are free agents at the end of 2026 season. OL: The injury to Kevin Dotson is a significant loss to the Rams. They will be hoping he can return in time for the playoffs but he was seen in a walking boot and crutches after the game. Justin Dedich played fine in his absence but he would not be my choice for who they want to ride with going into the playoffs. The Falcons offensive line is actually impressive. Jake Matthews-Matthew Bergeron-Ryan Neuzil-Chris Lindstrom-Elijah Wilkinson are a top 5 offensive line in my opinion. They have only allowed 1.5 sacks per game (4th best) and the rushing attack averages 124.7 yards/game (9th best). Its surprising that the Falcons aren’t better (record-wise) with this type of elite play. DL: Braden Fiske continues to be hobbled by an ankle injury. He is another body that LA will want to get healthy for a playoff run. Kobie Turner has risen his PFF grade from the 60s at the beginning of this year to 78.7 (6th best). David Onyemata, Kentavius Street, and Ruke Orhorhoro will be ATL’s defensive linemen in base packages. Onyemeta has been the best of the three while Street and Orhorhoro should be exposed. EDGE: I’m less worried about Jared Verse and more worried about Byron Young beginning to disappear. Young started the year off really strong but has come back down to earth. It’s not just the lack of sacks in the 2nd half of the season. Byron Young only has 1 tackle for loss in his last 9 games. I for one would like to see Josiah Stewart and Desjuan Johnson get more reps in his spot if it means getting a fresher version of BY0. Atlanta traded their 2026 1st round pick to LAR for the opportunity to select James Pearce Jr. Pearce has 9 sacks but he has not been strong in run defense. LBs: Nate Landman and Omar Speights have had a rough month for Los Angeles. Teams have been starting to attack them at the second level and have found some success. Divine Deablo and Jalon Walker will handle the second level for Raheem Morris’s defense.
Ja’Marr Chase makes Pro Bowl; 3 other Bengals are alternates
The NFL has announced that Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been voted to the AFC team for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games. Chase was voted as a starter at wide receiver for the second consecutive season. Additionally, three Bengals have been voted as alternates for the AFC team. Wide receiver Tee Higgins is […] The NFL has announced that Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been voted to the AFC team for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games. Chase was voted as a starter at wide receiver for the second consecutive season. Additionally, three Bengals have been voted as alternates for the AFC team. Wide receiver Tee Higgins is a second alternate, cornerback DJ Turner II is a third alternate, and wide receiver Charlie Jones (kick return specialist) is a fifth alternate. Chase, who entered the NFL as a first-round draft pick of the Bengals in 2021, has been named a Pro Bowler in each of his first five seasons. He joins former wideout A.J. Green (2011-15) as the only players in Bengals history to be selected to the Pro Bowl in each of their first five years in the league. A fifth-year player out of LSU, Chase ranks second in the NFL this season in receptions (110) and fourth in receiving yards (1256), while also recording five receiving touchdowns. He has totaled 100 or more receiving yards in seven games, the most in a single season in Bengals history. He recently became the fifth player in NFL history to reach the 1000-yard receiving mark in each of his first five seasons. Chase is the sixth player in team history with at least five Pro Bowl selections in his Bengals career, joining offensive tackle Anthony Munoz (11 selections), defensive tackle Geno Atkins (eight), Green (seven), wide receiver Chad Johnson (six), and cornerback Lemar Parrish (six). As for the other Bengals, alternates are added to the event if voted players in their position group are unable to participate. Selections from the two teams reaching the Super Bowl will be among those unable to play, as will players who are not cleared due to injury. The 2026 Pro Bowl Games take place on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Calif., and will be televised live on ESPN. See More: Cincinnati Bengals News