The #5 seed Los Angeles Rams (13-5) will travel to Soldier Field to face the #2 seed Chicago Bears (12-6) this upcoming Sunday for the opportunity to play in the NFC Championship Game. The Rams are currently road favorites (-3.5) but are 0-2 at Chicago during the Sean McVay era. LA will be getting some […] The #5 seed Los Angeles Rams (13-5) will travel to Soldier Field to face the #2 seed Chicago Bears (12-6) this upcoming Sunday for the opportunity to play in the NFC Championship Game. The Rams are currently road favorites (-3.5) but are 0-2 at Chicago during the Sean McVay era. LA will be getting some reinforcements back for this matchup, as Kevin Dotson (ankle) is expected to return to the right guard spot. Will the return of their top guard give them an advantage in the trenches? Here is my analysis of the Rams-Bears matchup and who has the advantage at each position. QBs: Matthew Stafford and Caleb Williams both engineered 4th quarter comebacks and game winning drives to advance to the divisional round. Both quarterbacks have been clutch in the 4th quarter and have the ability to manufacture when it matters most. Stafford put together an impressive regular season (1st team All Pro) but Caleb Williams was also impressive in his second year (27 TDs : 7 INT). The knock on Caleb is the poor completion percentage (58.1%) and the head scratching plays that lead to turnovers. At this point, the quarterback with the ball in his hands at the end of the game is likely to win. Advantage: Rams (moderate) RBs: Both teams operate with a tandem in the backfield. Kyren Williams and Blake Corum rushed 24 times for 102 yards in the wild card round. Their longest run of the afternoon was only 8 yards. DeAndre Swift and Kyle Monangai rushed 21 times for 81 yards against Green Bay. I give Chicago a slight edge here with Swift’s shiftiness, especially as a pass catcher in Johnson’s offense. He could be a mismatch for Nate Landman and Omar Speights. Maybe a better way to say this is that the Bears ceiling is higher with their running backs but they also have a lower floor. Advantage: Bears (slight) WRs: If he hadn’t already, Puka Nacua eclipses Cooper Kupp in the Rams all time WRs rankings. He’s been more consistent and make plays time and time again that leaves you speechless. And I love Cooper Kupp. But Puka’s first three years have been pretty special. The only concerns I have right now with the Rams wide receivers is 1) Davante Adams has been underwhelming between the 30s and oftentimes letting the ball get too deep to his body, and 2) this offense needs to capitalize on Tutu Atwell’s speed if even as a decoy! Think back to Weeks 4 and 5 where the Colts and 49ers defenses had to respect his ability to take the top off. That allowed for Stafford to pick apart those teams’ secondaries. The Bears wide receivers could be a similar challenge as Carolina’s. Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and DJ Moore are all 6’0” or taller and all way 200+ lbs. None of them are the featured target, making the Rams secondary have to factor all three guys and the tight ends. Advantage: Rams (slight) TEs: The Rams should have all four tight ends healthy for the first time since… I don’t know even know. With the lack of connectivity with Adams and a WR3, the Rams need their tight ends to help move the chains. Colston Loveland is the focal point of the Bears offense. Loveland led the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Since the second half of the season, he has become Caleb Williams preferred target. In the last 3 games he has played, he has seen 38 targets. Advantage: Bears (moderate) OL: The early indication is that Kevin Dotson will be able to return for Sunday’s game after missing a month due to an ankle sprain in Week 16. This should be a huge upgrade for Los Angeles as their run game has fallen off in recent weeks. Dotson’s size is also a significant upgrade over Justin Dedich. On the other side of the ball is Gervon Dexter who is 6’6” and 330 lbs. The Bears have a strong offensive line that features Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, Jonah Jackson, and Darnell Wright. All four linemen are 70.0+ on PFF. UPDATED: The Bears will be without Ozzy Trapilo who ruptured his patellar tendon. Theo Benedet will be the starting left tackle on Sunday. Advantage: Rams (slight) DL: The Rams defensive front has been key in their wins as they have been able to stop the run and earn the right to rush the passer. Poona Ford (88.7) continues to be the free agent signing of the year for the organization. Kobie Turner’s (82.6) third year play should earn himself a contract extension. The Bears defensive front is the weak link for their defense. Gervon Dexter Sr. and Grady Jarrett are both graded under 60.0. Their depth is not extensive so the Rams should exploit that unit. Advantage: Rams (significant) EDGE: If Jared Verse wanted to make his mark on the playoffs, this is the game to do so. He will be facing the Bears backup left tackle after Trapilo’s injury. Setting an edge against the run and keeping Caleb Williams contained to the pocket are essential to the Rams advancing. Byron Young and Josiah Stewart will have a tall order going up against Darnell Wright. Austin Booker and Montez Sweat are Chicago’s edge rushers. Neutralizing Sweat will be Warren McClendon’s responsibility. The Bears have only amassed 2.0 sacks/game (26th best in the NFL). Advantage: Rams (moderate) ILBs: Tremaine Edmunds, D’Marco Jackson, and Amen Ogbongbemiga are Bears trio at the second level. TJ Edwards suffered a broken fibula against the Packers and will be out for the rest of the playoffs. Nate Landman and Omar Speights have
Who’s got the advantage? Rams-Bears at each position
2026 NFL Draft Top 100 Prospect Rankings
The Cincinnati Bengals will officially be selecting 10th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Let’s take a look at my current top 100 prospects for the draft this year. 1. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana Mendoza led Indiana to the National Championship this year. The California transfer won the Heisman Trophy for his play during the […] The Cincinnati Bengals will officially be selecting 10th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Let’s take a look at my current top 100 prospects for the draft this year. 1. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana Mendoza led Indiana to the National Championship this year. The California transfer won the Heisman Trophy for his play during the regular season. Some of his best attributes include his accuracy, underrated mobility, and ball placement. Mendoza has a ridiculous 41 touchdowns to just 6 interception ratio on the season. 2. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State Downs was an All-American at safety for the Buckeyes. He is considered a coach on the field. He is a tape grinder, which allows him to always be in the right spot, at the right time. He is a reliable tackler on the back end of a defense. He can line up in the box, in single high, or in the slot. He isn’t going to be an elite tester, but the tape speaks for itself. Safeties are not typically selected in the top ten due to perceived positional value; Downs should be an exception this year. 3. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame Love put up over 1100 yards rushing and over 200 yards receiving during the 2024 season. He surpassed those numbers in 2025. He rushed for over 1,300 yards with 18 rushing touchdowns. He added another 280 receiving yards with 3 touchdowns on the season. He is elusive with the ball in his hands, rarely fumbles, and is a legit weapon in the receiving game. His burst through the line and top-end speed allow him to be a threat to take it to the house on any given play. 4. Rueben Bain Jr., DE, Miami Bain has been putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks at a high rate all season long. He had a 30.4% win-rate on true pass sets in 2025. He is a sawed-off powerhouse at 6’3”, 275 pounds. He possesses knock-back power in his hands, is stout against the run, and had over 80 pressures during the 2025 season. 5. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah Fano played left tackle at Utah as a true freshman. The past two seasons, he has kicked over and played at a high level on the right side. This guy moves like a tight end. He was arguably the best run blocker in all of college football. He has a finishing mindset and plays through the whistle. He needs to be more consistent in pass protection, but he has the athleticism to continue improving in that area. 6. Peter Woods, DT, Clemson The sack numbers are not overly impressive, with only two this season. The advanced numbers tell a better story of the type of talent he is. He has a 16% win-rate on true pass sets. Combine that with a stop rate over 10% as a run defender. Those numbers have directly correlated with guys that end up being the best defensive tackles in football over the years. Woods is far and away the best defensive tackle in this class. 7. David Bailey, DE, Texas Tech Bailey transferred to Texas Tech from Stanford ahead of the 2025 season. He was one of the premier pass rushers in all of college football. He had 81 pressures and 14.5 sacks on the season. He has shown some improvement as a run defender, but that will never be his biggest strength. His explosiveness, flexibility, and bend getting after the quarterback are his calling card. That ability to be a havoc creator off the edge is what should make him a top 10 draft pick in April. 8. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State Tate runs sharp routes, has an elite contested catch rate, and averaged a fantastic 3.03 yards per route ran on the season. Even after missing a couple of games, Tate had 875 receiving yards with 9 touchdown receptions on the season. Ohio State continues producing first round wide receivers; Tate is the next in line. 9. Arvell Reese, DE/LB, Ohio State Reese can play off-ball linebacker or up on the line of scrimmage. He amassed 6.5 sacks on the season for the Buckeyes. Reese is heavy-handed, physical, and an athletic marvel. Regardless of where teams view him playing at the next level, he played his way into top-five consideration this year. 10. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State Tyson is a player I have zero questions about for his on-field ability. He is a dominant receiver when healthy. The problem has been staying healthy. He has an extensive injury history that includes a torn ACL in 2022, a broken collarbone in 2024, and hamstring issues this year. When healthy, he is a dominant weapon, making plays for his quarterback. He can line up in the slot or on the outside, makes contested catches at a high rate, possesses high-level ball tracking ability down the field, and has excellent body control. His medicals will be key to how high he is ultimately drafted this year. 11. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State Styles is a converted safety from the Buckeyes. Still just 21 years old, Styles has already played over 2,100 career snaps for Ohio State. He has looked comfortable in coverage, had just a 2.2% missed tackle rate, and has elite athleticism for the position. While Arvell Reese has burst on the scene, people should not forget just how talented Styles is. 12. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami The former five-star recruit played his third year with Miami. He was the starting right tackle for all three of those seasons. He has allowed just 14 pressures through his first 15 games in 2025. He blocks well on the
Colts 2025 Rookie Report: Tyler Warren
Indianapolis, IN — The Indianapolis Colts are fresh off another disappointing season, but of course, it wasn’t all bad. There were some individual breakout performances from established players, headlined by wide receiver Alec Pierce, while the Colts’ 2025 draft class provided both production for the season and promise for the future. This article kicks off […] Indianapolis, IN — The Indianapolis Colts are fresh off another disappointing season, but of course, it wasn’t all bad. There were some individual breakout performances from established players, headlined by wide receiver Alec Pierce, while the Colts’ 2025 draft class provided both production for the season and promise for the future. This article kicks off a short but sweet series that will recap each of the Colts’ eight 2025 draftees, beginning with their first draft selection, tight end Tyler Warren. We will go through the list in its original order with three phases in mind: post-draft expectations, rookie season results, and then capping it off with future outlooks. Expectations — Tyler Warren had the biggest post-draft expectations among the Colts’ draft class, though that is almost a given as he was the team’s first-round pick (14th overall). Despite the draft class boasting one of the best tight end groups in recent memory, he stood out alongside Chicago’s Colston Loveland as one of the most talented and surefire selections at the position. Warren was not only an easy evaluation by the draftnik community, but was regarded as the most pro-ready prospect amongst all tight ends coming out. Given that Indianapolis was most desperate for tight end production, particularly as a passcatcher, and also deemed their roster as being a few pieces away from competing, this addition felt inevitable. As fate would have it, Tyler Warren became a Colt. Rookie Season — As alluded to, Warren was essentially expected to set the league on fire as early as his rookie season, and he did just that. Add in his versatility as an offensive weapon and how head coach Shane Steichen utilized him, and you see not only how seamless the pairing was, but why Warren to Indianapolis felt more inevitable than any first overall pick of recent memory. Tyler Warren was everything the Colts needed offensively, while also proving to have more blocking chops as a year-one player than most had anticipated. He was second on the team in receiving with 76 receptions for 817 yards and 4 touchdowns, and even ran one in for the score. Additionally, Warren’s overall impact when lined up at fullback suggested that he be considered for an All-Pro bid at the position, though he unfortunately was not. Accolades-wise, Warren is no stranger. He became the franchise’s leader in receiving yards by a rookie tight end, surpassing Hall-of-Fame tight end John Mackey’s 726 yards from the 1936 season. He also led his aforementioned wildly talented tight end draftees in receptions (76) and receiving yards (817), a group that featured six tight ends who amassed 350+ yards, four of whom totaled 650+ yards. Future Outlook — Tyler Warren has translated to the next level almost exactly as expected. His unanticipated progression as a blocker only adds optimism for what’s to come. He’s set to be the Colts’ starting tight end for the remainder of his rookie contract, fifth-year option included. Without getting too ahead of ourselves, there’s even a likely scenario that Warren remains a Colt for life, so long as health and success remain the constant heartbeat that they’ve been for him over the past two seasons. Warren has been consistent in his media availability throughout his rookie season, citing ‘winning’ as his ultimate goal at any given moment. He takes pride in his willingness to do the dirty work, while his top-tier passcatching prowess raises the bar entirely. Whether or not he ends up the ‘best’ tight end from this loaded draft class, it’s shaping up to be a safe bet that he is, at least, the Colts’ newest installment of franchise tight ends. See More: Indianapolis Colts Analysis
Reviewing 2025 1st-year coaches
There were seven new head coaches in the NFL in 2025. Some are still enjoying big success, while others fell hard. Let’s review, presented in alphabetical order of the franchises: Chicago Bears: Ben Johnson was considered the top prize in this class and he has shown why. The Bears went from worst to win as […] There were seven new head coaches in the NFL in 2025. Some are still enjoying big success, while others fell hard. Let’s review, presented in alphabetical order of the franchises: Chicago Bears: Ben Johnson was considered the top prize in this class and he has shown why. The Bears went from worst to win as they won the NFC North with a 11-6 record, coming back from a 5-12 record in 2024. The Bears have grown quite a personality under the brazen Johnson. They’ve had seven improbable fourth-quarter wins and and had a huge win in the wild-card round over division rival Green Bay. Now, the Bears are two wins from the Super Bowl and they will host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. It’s been a stellar turnaround. 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! Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys went 7-9-1., so it wasn’t been great. But Brian Schottenheimer, an unpopular hire, did well with the offense (he was the team’s offensive coordinator the past two years). It didn’t seem like the job was too big for Schottenheimer. Let’s face it; Jerry Jones is a much bigger problem for the Cowboys than their head coach is Jacksonville Jaguars: Liam Coen was considered a hot name and he showed why. A year after the Jaguars finished 4-13, Coen, 40, flipped that record to 13-4 and a division championship The Jaguars lost to the Buffalo Bills at home in the Wild Card round in the final minute. But everything is pointing up. Coen has this franchise pointed in the right direction. Nov 2, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; The Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen and the Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll meet after the win against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesKirby Lee-Imagn Images Las Vegas Raiders: The Raiders didn’t have a lot of competition for Pete Carroll (he was one of many to interview with the Bears) and the Super Bowl-winning coach struggled after taking a year off after leaving the Seattle Seahawks. The Raiders went 3-14 and were an absolute mess under Carroll, who was the only coach in this group to be fired after one season. He will be remembered as the coach of one of the worst teams in franchise history. New England Patriots: Vrabel was highly-sought after and he delivered right away for the team he was a standout linebacker for. The Patriots were a surprise 14-3 and Vrabel is a top NFL Coach of the Year candidate. They were the N0. 2 overall seed in the playoffs and will host another playoff game Sunday. This dude may need up in the Super Bowl. Johnson and Vrabel are crown jewels of this class. New Orleans Saints: The Saints finished 6-11, which isn’t great. But there is excitement about Kellen Moore’s team heading 2025. The tema got hot late and look pretty good. Moore did a nice job with rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. So, there is some good, important momentum in New Orleans this offseason. New York Jets: Aaron Glenn was lucky Carroll was part of this class. He did a horrible job as the Jets started 0-7 and finished 3-14. Glenn was a strong defensive coordinator in Detroit and he was considered a good hire. But his first season in New York was a mess. His leash likely won’t be long in 2026. 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! See More: Las Vegas Raiders Game Information
Harbaugh targeting Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator for Giants
On Thursday morning, it was revealed that former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and the New York Giants were in agreement to bring the 63-year-old coach on board as the new head coach of the franchise. As a result, the Miami Dolphins found out that they would not get a chance to interview Harbaugh […] On Thursday morning, it was revealed that former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and the New York Giants were in agreement to bring the 63-year-old coach on board as the new head coach of the franchise. As a result, the Miami Dolphins found out that they would not get a chance to interview Harbaugh for their own head coaching vacancy. On Thursday evening, it was revealed by Connor Hughes — a reporter for SNY in New York — that Harbaugh might not be done hurting the Dolphins. On a post made to social media, Hughes reported that current Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is among the candidates who Harbaugh is interested in hiring for the same position with the Giants. Weaver is the only candidate Hughes mentioned by name. While technically still under contract in Miami, whoever the Dolphins hire as their new head coach will have the option to hire his own staff — including new offensive and defensive coordinators. If Weaver were to express his desire to join Harbaugh in New York, the Dolphins would likely let him leave, even though they would have the ability to block a lateral move. If Weaver does leave for the Giants defensive coordinator job, Miami would no longer be eligible to receive two third-round compensatory selections in the event that a team hired Weaver as a head coach in the future. We will continue to keep you updated with all of the news surrounding the Miami Dolphins as the offseason unfolds. See More: Miami Dolphins Rumors
Eagles allow Buccaneers to interview their special teams coordinator
We know the Philadelphia Eagles will have a new offensive coordinator in 2026. Will they have a new special teams coordinator, too? The Birds have granted permission to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to interview Michael Clay for the same role that he already has in Philly, according to a report from NFL insider Mike Garafolo. […] We know the Philadelphia Eagles will have a new offensive coordinator in 2026. Will they have a new special teams coordinator, too? The Birds have granted permission to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to interview Michael Clay for the same role that he already has in Philly, according to a report from NFL insider Mike Garafolo. It’s an interesting and unexpected development. If the Bucs decide to hire Clay, he’ll seemingly be gone. But what happens if the Bucs don’t hire him? Are the Eagles just going to keep him or will they look to move on? We’ll see. The Eagles originally hired Clay in 2021. At the time, he was the youngest coordinator in the NFL at just 29 years old. There have been mixed results during Clay’s tenure. The Eagles had some serious special teams struggles in 2022, for example, but then things got better in 2023. The last two years have been up and down but clearly not so bad to prohibit a Super Bowl victory in 2024. Some might point to Jake Elliott’s struggles over the past two seasons but I’m not really sure Clay has a ton to do with his kicker’s volatility. Anyway, this is a situation to keep an eye on. See More: Philadelphia Eagles News
Howie Roseman was asked if the Eagles have interest in trading A.J. Brown
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman spoke to reporters on Thursday, alongside head coach Nick Sirianni, for their end-of-season press conference and was asked if A.J. Brown is someone they would consider trading this offseason. Roseman echoed comments he made back in November, ahead of the trade deadline, but still didn’t give a direct answer. “It’s […] Eagles general manager Howie Roseman spoke to reporters on Thursday, alongside head coach Nick Sirianni, for their end-of-season press conference and was asked if A.J. Brown is someone they would consider trading this offseason. Roseman echoed comments he made back in November, ahead of the trade deadline, but still didn’t give a direct answer. “It’s hard to find great players in the NFL and A.J.’s a great player. That’s what we’re going out and looking for, when we go out in free agency and the Draft, is trying to find great players who love football and he’s that guy. So that would be my answer.“ Roseman historically keeps things vague, mostly because he doesn’t tend to close the book on any opportunity to make the team better. Brown has caused waves in recent years with his comments and displeasure with certain situations, but never seemed to lose the support of the organization through any of the drama. The WR is still coming off his fourth-consecutive 1,000-yard season, and continues to set franchise records. Toward the end of the tumultuously 2025 season, Brown and Jalen Hurts seemed closer than they’d been in quite some time, with both publicly supporting each other. During locker room clean-out day, Hurts was asked if he wanted Brown back in 2026, and the QB said that he and Brown are in a great place, but any question about the WR’s future was one for the receiver. Ultimately, Roseman’s answer indicates that they probably aren’t seriously entertaining offers for A.J. Brown, but if a team throws together a completely over-the-top pitch that doesn’t result in a talent drop-off for the Eagles, they might at least consider it. See More:
Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor: The duo standing between Indiana and a national title
The Hurricanes’ best chance at staging a major upset in the national championship is through their unstoppable edge defender duo. Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor: The duo standing between Indiana and a national title Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor have wrecked the College Football Playoff: The two have combined for 40 pressures in Miami’s postseason run and offer a rare edge over a loaded Indiana squad. A potential weakness at right tackle for Indiana: Right tackle Khalil Benson has a 49.2 PFF pass blocking grade against Power Four defenses — the lowest of any Hoosier. 2026 NFL Draft season is here: Try the best-in-class PFF Mock Draft Simulator and learn about 2026’s top prospects while trading and drafting for your favorite NFL team. Estimated Reading Time: 11 minutes The Indiana Hoosiers have cruised to the College Football National Championship Game, with neither Oregon nor Alabama coming within 30 points of Curt Cignetti’s squad on neutral sites. Their offense, led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, has only gotten better since the potential first overall draft pick received college football’s most prestigious individual award a month ago. While critics are keen to point out the age profile of Indiana’s roster, leaning heavily on players in their fourth, fifth and even sixth seasons of college football, the Hoosiers are a beacon of consistency. That level of discipline and relentlessness is something that coaches across the nation will try to replicate for years to come. With a roster devoid of any five-star high school recruits and composed of many players whose collegiate careers did not begin in a Power Four conference, Indiana’s rapid rise has naturally become one of the great stories in modern college football. It just feels like destiny for this team to reach the mountaintop on Monday night, with Cignetti’s legacy cemented among the greatest coaches in recent history. However, as always, there’s another team playing, too. If you told the Miami Hurricanes before the season they’d be playing on their home turf in the National Championship Game, they couldn’t have imagined taking a backseat to their opponents in the media buildup. In any given title matchup with a true blue blood like Alabama, Georgia or Ohio State, the Hurricanes would be the team everybody is talking about as a fresh face on the scene. Instead, Miami will play second fiddle to the travelling Hoosiers both in the media and (rather significantly) in the betting markets. As 8.5-point underdogs, the Hurricanes will need a lot to go their way to overcome what Indiana brings to the table. While Carson Beck and the Miami offense have plenty on its plate from Indiana’s steadfast defense, I want to focus on the other side of the ball, where Miami unquestionably has one key advantage in this game. Miami’s undeniable trump card is its edge rushing duo of Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. 🏈 Draft Season 2026 Prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft with PFF+ Your complete draft preparation toolkit Subscribe Bain forecasts as a slam dunk top-10 selection in the 2026 NFL draft, with PFF’s Max Chadwick projecting Bain as high as fourth overall in his latest mock draft. Mesidor has also received some first-round traction thanks to his recent play, and the vast majority of mock drafts see Mesidor coming off the board inside the top 50. Bain and Mesidor’s overall PFF grades of 93.1 and 92.1 rank second and sixth, respectively, among edge defenders at the collegiate level. Bain has been particularly electric throughout this playoff run, with 21 pressures across his last three games. Bain may not have the ideal length of a can’t-miss NFL draft prospect, but his twitchy get-off and bend around the edge more than makes up for his lack of size. On a handful of plays each game, it feels like Bain just glitches into the backfield — and when he doesn’t, his non-stop motor ensures every play is a ticking clock for opposing quarterbacks. Let’s not forget about Mesidor either. Just when you think you have Bain contained, here comes Mesidor from the other side. He may not entice NFL evaluators with the same raw upside as Bain, but Mesidor actually has two more sacks this season than his teammate. He has also forced four fumbles on the year. Unlike Bain, Mesidor also provides coverage versatility — dropping back to defend the pass 64 times this season, including a career-high 12 times last week in the team’s Fiesta Bowl victory over Ole Miss. As an experienced super senior, Mesidor has seen just about everything college offenses have to offer across his 2,500-plus career snaps. This pair is no stranger to a heavy workload. Bain has played the most snaps of any player on the Hurricanes’ defense, while Mesidor is in third place. No defensive lineman has experienced more snaps of FBS football this year than Bain, who has accumulated over 200 extra reps than Indiana’s most-featured pass-rusher, Mikail Kamara. Miami aligns its edge rushers according to which hash the ball is on (i.e., field side and boundary side). As a result, opposing offensive linemen must prepare for the differing skill sets of both players. Whenever these players move into NFL schemes, where edge rushers often line up near-exclusively on one side, Bain could really showcase his dominance against right tackles. His 18.8% pressure rate when aligned over the right side of the line is the highest of any player involved in the College Football Playoff. Up against an Indiana squad that doesn’t have many weaknesses whatsoever, one such area the Hurricanes could exploit is right tackle Khalil Benson. Benson has a 49.2 PFF pass blocking grade against Power Four defenses — the lowest of any Hoosier. In these games, Benson has allowed more than twice as many pressures as any other player on Indiana’s offense. Of the four pressures surrendered by Indiana’s offensive line against Oregon last week, Benson was responsible for all four. Bear in mind this was only Benson’s fifth-lowest-graded game of the season in pass
Was DJ Turner snubbed by All-Pro voters?
At one point, the 2025-26 Cincinnati Bengals were on pace to be the worst defense ever. After the bye, things improved enough for them to finish being just bad, not historically bad. So the panel that votes for the All Pro teams probably didn’t consider any individual players from the Bengals’ defense too seriously. But […] At one point, the 2025-26 Cincinnati Bengals were on pace to be the worst defense ever. After the bye, things improved enough for them to finish being just bad, not historically bad. So the panel that votes for the All Pro teams probably didn’t consider any individual players from the Bengals’ defense too seriously. But if you look at DJ Turner’s performance in a vacuum, you can make a strong argument that he was one of the top corners in the league. As you can see in the graphic below, Turner was the primary defender for the majority of snaps of a lot of WR1s and kept them to modest games. In addition to his air-tight coverage, Turner finished with 18 passes defended, the second highest total in the entire NFL. Further, the poor play around him should actually support his case, as it’s difficult to keep receivers from making plays with no real pass rush threat. Myles Murphy led the team in sacks with 5.5, but even he didn’t really emerge until later in the season. All of this should just be motivation for Turner to play with even more fire next year. Hopefully this time, his defensive teammates will step up with him so he can get the recognition he deserves. See More: Cincinnati Bengals discussion
Minnesota Vikings News and Links: Giddy-up!
Well, boys and girls. Looks like we will continue to beat that horse! The offseason fun/drama is in full effect now. The press conferences from KAM and KOC were interesting. There are a lot of interpretations out there about what their plans are for the QB room. The consensus appears to be that they are […] Well, boys and girls. Looks like we will continue to beat that horse! The offseason fun/drama is in full effect now. The press conferences from KAM and KOC were interesting. There are a lot of interpretations out there about what their plans are for the QB room. The consensus appears to be that they are aware of the fact that they need to upgrade that room. It does not mean that JJ is going to be gone or is not the starter. I am guessing there will be a competition. JJ has shown some really good flashes. I would not call it All Pro level yet but he is still young. The issue is that KAM and KOC are probably aware that they cannot miss the playoffs again next year no matter what happens at QB. That is good a thing. Never forget that in the end … Minnesota Vikings News and Links Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters Tuesday that Flores sits atop their list of priorities as they enter the 2026 offseason and feels the urgency to keep the coordinator, whom O’Connell said the Vikings have “been really aggressive” in pursuing. “I think he’s more than deserving, everything he’s brought to our organization over these last three years,” O’Connell said, via the Minnesota Star Tribune. “Not surprised people are wanting to talk to him about that role. Excited for him to do so, all while knowing our No. 1 priority — really before the season even ended — our No. 1 priority has been to get that thing done with him.” … O’Connell stated he has “a lot of confidence” the Vikings will come to an agreement to keep Flores. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, meanwhile, took a different approach to the matter, attempting to quell worries about a defensive decline if Flores were to leave. “He is unique, and he does have a unique play style, but if you really look down deep, what does Flo value?” Adofo-Mensah said. “Versatility, physicality, the things that matter in good defensive football … that everybody values. Flo kind of takes those pieces and puts it together in an artwork that’s different than most, but the core colors that are a part of that painting, a lot of people share those same things.” “In the quarterback room, it’s about having the deepest talented room you possibly can, each and every year,” O’Connell said. “What that looks like at a pretty impactful position on your salary cap, when you’re able to possibly plan for your depth chart looking in a way where you can be competitive no matter what.” “I think there has to be (competition),” O’Connell said. “I think that’s what’s going to make everybody better in that room. I definitely want a competitive situation in that room.” Asked directly if he wants McCarthy to be the starter in 2026, Adofo-Mensah gave a non-committal answer, not wanting to put himself or the team in any sort of bind. O’Connell wasn’t asked that question directly, but he also straddled the line between expressing support for McCarthy and making it clear that competition is needed to elevate the room as a whole. “Obviously J.J.‘s gonna be a major, major emphasis for our staff and our team and me personally,” O’Connell said. “We’ll figure out what that looks like as we navigate the early part of this offseason, when it comes to managing the roster. I think ultimately, we’ve gotta decide how to not only continue J.J.‘s progression, allow him to continue to ascend as a young player, but at the same time, I think the competition in that room will only enhance our entire team.” … At this juncture, McCarthy appears to be too talented and inexperienced to give up on, but also too flawed and injury-prone to fully commit to. That’s why bringing in a veteran and letting a true competition play out feels like a logical answer. “I was really encouraged by the type of football he started to play toward the second half of the season, finishing the way he did,” O’Connell said. “But we’re still looking at a quarterback who’s started ten games. Ten out of a possible 34 in two years. Not the ideal path for a young quarterback to develop on the field, but I thought he did.” This is a critical offseason for McCarthy. He’s got a lot of work to do to put himself in position to win an offseason competition and hold onto the starting job in Minnesota. It starts with developing consistent, repeatable mechanics that can allow him to be more accurate and stack completions together within the Vikings’ offense. The one thing that neither O’Connell nor Adofo-Mensah have any doubt about it how hard McCarthy will work to get to where they need him to be. “He wants it more than anybody I’ve ever been around, and he’s got an offseason where he’s going to have time to not rehab an injury,” Adofo-Mensah said. “And we’re excited to see what development he takes and the steps he takes towards being available for us.” “J.J. McCarthy is a guy that wants to be great,” O’Connell said. “I know he’s going to work tirelessly to do that. I know his teammates have a lot of confidence in what he’s gonna go to work to improve on this offseason and come back, have a great offseason, and be ready to hit the ground running in 2026. I think a deep and talented quarterback room will only enhance his ability to do that, and (I) look forward to being a part of that process.” In an eye-opening press conference on