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
Nice Things Prohibited
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
Clinging to slim playoff hopes, Colts will continue to start Philip Rivers against Jaguars
According to head coach Shane Steichen, the Indianapolis Colts (8-7) will continue to start 44-year-old starting quarterback Philip Rivers against the Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) at home this week—even after dropping two in a row, and their playoff hopes currently on life support (per The Athletic’s James Boyd). While the Colts remain winless with Rivers through […] According to head coach Shane Steichen, the Indianapolis Colts (8-7) will continue to start 44-year-old starting quarterback Philip Rivers against the Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4) at home this week—even after dropping two in a row, and their playoff hopes currently on life support (per The Athletic’s James Boyd). While the Colts remain winless with Rivers through two starts, it’s through no fault of the surprisingly unretired longtime veteran starting quarterback’s play—particularly this past Monday Night. On primetime, Rivers was arguably one of the Colts best players, completing 23 of 35 pass attempts for 277 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, and an interception (*which the turnover wasn’t actually his fault). Despite diminished throwing arm strength, Rivers has been surprisingly efficient and accurate, showcasing his still elite mental side of the game, featuring top-notch pre-snap recognition and the ability to rapidly process and progress through his receiving reads. The Colts will need Rivers to find his former Pro Bowl form again, as Indianapolis has to win out, and the Houston Texans have to lose their next two games (with Indy playing in Houston for the regular season finale), and have strength of schedule help, to sneak into the AFC playoffs—currently on the outside, looking in. That’ll be easier said than done, as both the Jaguars and Texans are some of the hottest teams in football—having won 6 and 7 straight games respectively. The Colts’ once league-leading offense is a far cry what it once was too. What Rivers starting also means is that the Colts won’t be turning to rookie quarterback Riley Leonard yet, or quarterback Anthony Richardson (fractured orbital) who’s yet to be activated off injured reserve but began practicing last week—yet still has some limited vision. Whether that holds true again for Indianapolis if the team gets eliminated from playoff contention after next week and ahead of the regular season finale in Week 18 on the road in Houston, remains to be seen. See More: Indianapolis Colts News
Ashton Jeanty shows who he can be in Week 16
Here is a look at how the Las Vegas Raiders’ rookie class fared in a 23-21 loss at the Houston Texans on Sunday and ahead to Week 17’s home game against the New York Giants. Ashton Jeanty: The No. 6 overall draft pick played 92 percent of the snaps and 21 percent increase from the […] Here is a look at how the Las Vegas Raiders’ rookie class fared ina 23-21 loss at the Houston Texans on Sunday and ahead to Week 17’s home game against the New York Giants. Ashton Jeanty: The No. 6 overall draft pick played 92 percent of the snaps and 21 percent increase from the week before and he made the most of it. Jeanty broke a streak of averaging 34.5 yards a game for the past eight games with likely his best overall game. He had 128 rushing yards on 24 carries and scored on a catch of 60 yards and a rush of 51 yards. The Raiders need to continue to feed him this week. Jack Bech: The second-round pick played 72 percent of the snaps and had two catches for 43 yards on three targets, including a big 37-yard play. He needs get more targets in he final two games. Darien Porter: The third-round pick played 96 percent of the snaps. He had his moments, but was also called for a critical pass-interference penalty in the fourth quarter. The game broadcasters supported the call, but Raiders’ coach Pete Carroll called it a “lousy” call. Carroll has been complimentary of Porter’s play. Caleb Rogers: The third-round pick played the entire game continued to start. He suffered a quad injury late. It is unknown if it will affect his availability against the Giants. Charles Grant: The offensive lineman, taken in the third round, has been active for ni10 games because Kolton Miller is out for with a high-ankle sprain. He played five snaps in Week 15 after playing just one snap earlier in the season. Before the Houston game, Carroll said he wanted to get Grant some more playing time, yet he played just two offensive snaps against the Texans. Join the conversation! Sign up for a user account and get: Fewer ads Create community posts Comment on articles, community posts Rec comments, community posts New, improved notifications system! Dont’e Thornton: The wide receiver, taken in the fourth round, he played just four offensive snaps after playing just eight snaps at the Eagles. he was not targeted. He started the season as a big part of the offense, but the team has gone away from him. Tonka Hemingway: The fourth-round pick played for the seventh time this season and played 33 percent of the snaps. he had a tackle for loss and two tackles. JJ Pegues: The defensive tackle, taken in the sixth round, played for the seventh time, playing playing 11 snaps before suffering a hand injury. He didn’t have any tackles. It is unknown if the injury will affect him this week. Cody Lindenberg: The seventh-round pick played 90 percent of the special-teams snaps, which is his normal range. Carter Runyan: The undrafted free agent tight end played four snaps on offense and 22 snaps on special teams. Greedy Vance: The undrafted free agent played 10 snaps on defense after being a healthy scratch at the Eagles. See More:
J.J. McCarthy Out Against Lions, Max Brosmer to Start
Right around 48 hours out from their Christmas Day game against the Detroit Lions, we have the answer to who will be starting at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17. . .and it will not be J.J. McCarthy. Head coach Kevin O’Connell announced just moments ago that McCarthy has a hairline fracture in […] Right around 48 hours out from their Christmas Day game against the Detroit Lions, we have the answer to who will be starting at quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17. . .and it will not be J.J. McCarthy. Head coach Kevin O’Connell announced just moments ago that McCarthy has a hairline fracture in his throwing hand and is out for Thursday afternoon’s game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Max Brosmer will get the start at quarterback for the Vikings. McCarthy injured his hand late in the second quarter of the Vikings’ 16-13 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday afternoon and sat out the second half as Brosmer took over. It’s the third injury this season that will cause him to miss games. He missed several games with a high ankle sprain he suffered in Week 2 and also missed a game due to a concussion. O’Connell said that McCarthy will not be placed on injured reserve and that the team will determine whether or not he will be able to play in the team’s regular season finale against Green Bay in Week 18. Brosmer, who started the game that McCarthy missed with that concussion against the Seattle Seahawks, will get his second career NFL start. Vikings fans will be hoping that it goes significantly better than his first start did because. . .well, to be honest, it would be hard for it to go much worse. Brosmer threw four interceptions in that game in Seattle, and the Vikings put up what was, at least by one measure, their worst offensive performance of the last 50 years in a 26-0 loss. John Wolford will serve as Brosmer’s backup for Thursday’s game. The Vikings already had a bit of an uphill battle ahead of them on Christmas Day, and now they’re going into battle led by their backup quarterback. Max Brosmer will get the start in front of the hometown fans for “Winter Whiteout” day at U.S. Bank Stadium, as J.J. McCarthy will miss the game with a hairline fracture in his throwing hand. See More:
NFL Week 17 power rankings: Detroit Lions on the outside looking in
The Detroit Lions (8-7) fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-24 in Week 16, a game that delivered a massive blow to the Lions’ chances of making the postseason. Despite being touchdown favorites, the Lions were never able to gain control of the game and once again failed to live up to their potential. Let’s take […] The Detroit Lions (8-7) fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-24 in Week 16, a game that delivered a massive blow to the Lions’ chances of making the postseason. Despite being touchdown favorites, the Lions were never able to gain control of the game and once again failed to live up to their potential. Let’s take a look at how things shook out in this week’s power rankings. Sports Illustrated: 12 (Previous rank: 13) From Conor Orr: Forget about the ridiculous nine-minute long, strangely narrativized explanation for the offensive pass interference at the end of this game. This was the call that officials should be hiding from on Monday morning. The one that actually cost the Lions a postseason berth. The Ringer: 14 (Previous rank: 7) From Diante Lee: The good news is Detroit should be fine in 2026 and beyond. Detroit’s playoff chances were effectively washed away in Sunday’s wild loss to Pittsburgh. The Lions haven’t had a bad season, but the team regressed just enough on offense to reveal what should be the priorities for that unit: finding a new play caller and a little more talent on the offensive line. The good thing for the Lions is that the team as a whole is still in a healthy enough place to make those tweaks. The upcoming draft should be deep with guards, and coaching movement elsewhere in the league might free up an opportunity to upgrade its offensive coordinator. With a strong offseason, we’ll look back at 2025 as just a blip in the Dan Campbell era. ESPN: 14 (Previous rank: 12) From ESPN Staff, excerpt from Eric Woodyard: Rookie of the year: Wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa Although TeSlaa has received limited action, the rookie receiver has been a star in his role. Five of his 12 receptions have gone for touchdowns. He has also produced several jaw-dropping plays, including a ridiculous one-handed grab for his first career touchdown in Week 1 against the Packers. TeSlaa is the fourth rookie wide receiver in franchise history to log at least five touchdown receptions, joining Amon-Ra St. Brown (2021), Titus Young (2011) and Roy Williams (2004). USA Today: 14 (Previous rank: 13) Their first losing streak since 2022 could also lead to their first playoff absence since 2022. Sporting News: 14 (Previous rank: 13) The Lions have been struggling to run the ball at will like they did last season and taking that element away, as the Steelers did. That and an injury-depleted defense have been the downfall for Detroit as a playoff contender. The Athletic: 15 (Previous rank: 13) One concern: How do they fix the defense? For all the concern about how Detroit would fare after losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, it has been the defense that has fallen apart this season. The offense remains one of the game’s best, but the defense ranks 26th in EPA per play since Week 8. Yahoo Sports: 15 (Previous rank: 13) There has been angst about the officiating, but what were the Lions doing making it that close against the Steelers at home? And, to go a step further, how did the Lions get themselves in a position to need to beat Pittsburgh to realistically stay alive for the playoffs? This season has been an utter disappointment. They’re 4-6 since Week 5. And with many massive contracts on the books with more big extensions to come, it’s possible we’ve already seen the peak for this Lions core. NFL.com: 15 (Previous rank: 14) From Eric Edholm: The Lions’ season, for all intents and purposes, might have come to an end on a failed fourth-and-goal play — one of the wilder ones you’ll see — and it was somewhat fitting for a frustrating season in Detroit. Their playoff chances aren’t completely gone, but it’s going to take something miraculous to get them in now. Two more road games remain, and the Lions need to win one just to avoid finishing below .500. They just never caught fire after the bye, and on Sunday, they lost back-to-back games for the first time in more than three years. Detroit’s run game has stalled, and a beat-up offensive line had something to do with that. The Steelers also had their way with the Lions defense, which has been competitive but unable to stop the bleeding. It’s a tough finish for a team that had taken the league by storm the past two seasons. It doesn’t appear to be in the cards this time around. CBS Sports: 17 (Previous rank: 18) From Pete Prisco: They face long odds to make the playoffs now, which has to be a major disappointment for a team with high expectations coming into this year. The defense is bad. See More: Detroit Lions Analysis
The 2025 Eagles have 5 Pro Bowlers
The NFL officially announced the 2026 Pro Bowl Games rosters on Tuesday morning. As it turns out, the Philadelphia Eagles have five players who made the NFC team. The list: The NFL also announced five Eagles alternates: Some notes and thoughts: The NFL officially announced the 2026 Pro Bowl Games rosters on Tuesday morning. As it turns out, the Philadelphia Eagles have five players who made the NFC team. The list: DT Jalen Carter — 2nd Pro Bowl (2024, 2025) LB Zack Baun — 2nd Pro Bowl (2024, 2025) C Cam Jurgens — 2nd Pro Bowl (2024, 2025) CB Quinyon Mitchell — 1st Pro Bowl (2025) CB Cooper DeJean — 1st Pro Bowl (2025) The NFL also announced five Eagles alternates: EDGE Jaelan Phillips (2nd alternate) RB Saquon Barkley (3rd alternate) TE Dallas Goedert (3rd alternate) ST Kelee Ringo (4th alternate) QB Jalen Hurts (5th alternate) Some notes and thoughts: Carter is the Eagles’ sole Pro Bowl “starter.” Carter is undoubtedly a special player at his best but he hasn’t really had a great season, in no small part due to the massive workload he played in 2024. Carter has been plagued by injury issues this season and he’s only just set to return from a “procedure” on both of his shoulders. Jordan Davis, who somehow isn’t even an alternate, has a stronger case to be a Pro Bowler than Carter this season. Speaking of undeserved Pro Bowl honors, it’s bizarre to see that Jurgens made the cut. He has not passed the eye test this year as the Eagles’ running game has struggled. He ranks 21st out of 41 centers graded by Pro Football Focus. And it’s not like he made the Pro Bowl based on a strong track record of production in previous years. In this specific respect, it would’ve made more sense if Landon Dickerson made the Pro Bowl this season. Strange. Baun is definitely deserving. He’s allowed an even lower passer rating this year (66.9) than he did last year (80.5) as he’s already doubled his 2024 interception total with two games still yet to play. Cool to see Mitchell and DeJean properly recognized for being two of the very best cornerbacks in the NFL. They’ve followed up awesome rookie seasons with strong sophomore showings. DeJean is allowing a 72.6 passer rating when targeted. Mitchell is allowing just a 61.7 passer rating when targeted. Dumb to see that Lane Johnson isn’t a Pro Bowler. He continues to be disrespected. Repeating what I said last year: DeVonta Smith has yet to make a Pro Bowl. Which feels so weird because he’s so obviously that kind of caliber player. The Eagles’ offensive ineptitude this season obviously hasn’t done him any favors. Former Eagles players who made the Pro Bowl include: K Cameron Dicker and S Kevin Byard. See More: Philadelphia Eagles News