After a big 38-37 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16, they boast a 12-3 record and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. They have a dynamic offense and a solid defense that make fans dream about a potential Super Bowl run. Darnold has found the perfect partner in third-year wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

“JSN” has elevated his game this season, recording 104 receptions for 1,637 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is one of the best wide receivers in the league, and his performances put him in a solid position to compete for major NFL awards.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba gets MVP buzz

Sports Illustrated has Smith-Njiba among its MVP candidates. It has Rams’ Matthew Stafford, Patriots’ Drake Maye, Bills’ Josh Allen, and Chargers’ Justin Herbert. He is the only wide receiver on the list, which sums up how impactful he has been this campaign.

“Smith-Njigba has been dominant all season and has played a pivotal role in the Seahawks being the No. 1 seed in the NFC with two regular-season games left,” SI writes. “He won’t win MVP, but he deserves consideration from voters for his impressive body of work. He has a league-high 1,637 receiving yards, along with 10 touchdowns and 104 catches, averaging 15.7 yards per reception.”

The Seahawks have a strong case to win the Super Bowl this season. They are en route to secure the No. 1 seed in the conference, which would bolster Smith-Njigba’s case to win the coveted award.

“I say the Panthers,” Johnson told The U.S. Sun. “I’m only high on the Panthers because what they’re doing is special.”

He mentioned quarterback Bryce Young as one of the reasons, noting that the former No. 1 overall pick was benched and came back stronger in 2024.

“Bryce Young got benched,” Johnson said. “He got benched, but he came back. I don’t know what he ate, I don’t know what prayer he said. But he came back out this world… phenomenal.”

Sixteen weeks into the 2025 season, the Panthers have real chances to win the NFC South and dethrone the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They sit at 8-7 with two games left, and Johnson remains high on the team.

Chad Johnson notes why the Panthers are building something special

During Monday’s edition of his joint “Nightcap” show with Shannon Sharpe, Johnson lauded the Panthers for pulling off wins while dealing with injuries and using an offense that could produce much more.

“Offensively, goddamn; Bryce Young, they’re not even in their bag yet,” Johnson said. “They’re not even using everybody at their disposal like they should. And they’re still pulling off these wins, upsetting these teams that, most of the time, if you were a betting man, you’d bet the other team was going to beat them!”

The Panthers will take on the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17, hoping to get a new win that would put them closer to the division title.

Amid a seven-game losing streak, the Cardinals compete for a top draft pick instead of a playoff berth. They have found a new spark with Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback, but their defense hasn’t been the strongest unit.

Edge rusher Josh Sweat is one of the few bright spots the Cardinals have to show this season. However, he is the only player with double-digit sacks (11) out of the 2025 Pro Bowl Games.

Josh Sweat makes strong admission about Pro Bowl snub

Speaking on his absence in the upcoming Pro Bowl Games, Sweat said he was upset, noting that it wasn’t the first time they took it away from him.

“I’m upset because there’s only two individual things that you can get, and it’s Pro Bowl and All-Pro,” Sweat said Wednesday, via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. “And I got one taken away from me. I’m just flat out saying it was taken away from me — and it ain’t the first time.

“It’s like I don’t know what else I could have done at that point,” Sweat said. “I don’t know what else I could have done. Now previous years, maybe you could have said he didn’t have the popularity, maybe he didn’t get the fan vote. This year, I was second in fan voting [at outside linebacker] for [the] NFC. It’s like, what else did they want me to do? The popularity was there. You could say losing team. It didn’t matter; I had the popularity.”

Sweat is playing his first season with the Cardinals in 2025. He has tallied 27 tackles, 11 sacks, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery for two yards, and one interception for 42 yards.

Rivers has yet to win his first game in his return, but he has shown that he still has it. The Colts (8-7) are in danger of missing the playoffs after losing five consecutive games, and the veteran wants to see something different from his teammates.

The Colts will take on the Jaguars again this weekend, hoping to stay alive in the AFC South race and put pressure on this week’s opponents and the Houston Texans. However, they have work to do to achieve their goal.

Philip Rivers sends clear message to Colts teammates

Philip Rivers exhorted his team’s defense to play better on Tuesday. He notes that the offense knows how to do its job, but they need more from the defense.

“We gotta hold them. Defensively, we should speak up,” Rivers said. “We’ve gotta hold them to one less than our offense can score, and offensively, we need to say that we have to score one point more than the defense gives up. And it’s not this whole ‘who should’ve done what’—I don’t sense that from the guys at all. It just hurts. Shoot, I’ve been here for 13 days and it hurts because I care about these guys in this team, coach, organization—everything these guys have been through since May, June. The time put in… it makes you feel it hurts.”

Rivers has gone 41 of 62 for 397 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions in two games. The Colts will close out the season against the Houston Texans next week.

The Titans come off a dominating 26-9 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16, with Ward going 21 of 28 for 228 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with Ayomanor (58 yards on three receptions), Okonkwo (44 yards and one touchdown on six receptions) and Chimere Dike (40 yards and one touchdown on three receptions).

After firing Brian Callahan earlier this season, they will search for a new head coach in the offseason. Additionally, they would try to bring a new WR1 to replace Ridley.

George Pickens could end up with Cam Ward, Titans

Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton detailed the multiple paths Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens could have in the 2025 offseason. The Titans would be among the options for the former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout.

“Despite an underwhelming pass-catching group, rookie quarterback Cam Ward has shown promise in recent weeks, throwing for six touchdowns and just one interception in his last three outings. Pickens may not have Tennessee circled as a primary destination among his desired landing spots, but he may consider it given Ward’s progress and the potential target volume atop the Titans’ depth chart,” he wrote.

George Pickens is having the best season of his four-year NFL career. He has caught 88 passes for 1,342 yards and nine touchdowns in Dallas.

The veteran came back strong against the New York Jets in Week 16, showing that he can still get the job done. However, the question about his future remains in the air. Hill has been with the franchise since 2017, playing 111 games, going 195 of 308 for 2,426 yards and 12 touchdowns with nine interceptions.

On the ground, he has carried the ball 486 times for 2,551 yards and 34 touchdowns. Additionally, Hill has caught 107 passes for 1,002 yards and 11 touchdowns. His versatility has proven crucial for the Saints in recent years, and he isn’t seemingly planning to stop anytime soon.

Taysom Hill makes clear statement about future with Saints

After the 29-6 win over the Jets on Sunday, where Hill went 1 of 1 for 38 yards and one touchdown, to go along with 12 carries for 42 yards, the veteran made it clear he isn’t planning to play for a different NFL team.

“I have so much love for the city of New Orleans and this fan base and the way that they’ve embraced me and my family. It’s been really special,” Hill said, via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. “So I wouldn’t want to play somewhere else, but there’s a lot of circumstances that are out of your control too, right? And I understand the nature of this business and I’m not thinking that way right now, but we’ll tackle that when we get there.”

The Saints (5-10) have two games left. They will clash against the Tennessee Titans (3-12) in Week 17, before closing out the season against the Atlanta Falcons (6-9).

New England showed a lot of character against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. The Patriots had to fight hard to beat the Baltimore Ravens in Week 16, but they did it in great fashion behind remarkable performances from second-year quarterback Drake Maye (31 of 33 for 380 yards and two touchdowns), running back Rhamondre Stevenson (eight carries for 51 yards and one touchdown) and wide receiver Stefon Diggs (nine receptions for 138 yards).

The Patriots bounced back after losing 35-31 to the Buffalo Bills in Week 15, and their performance turned a lot of heads.

Cam Newton reveals he’s a believer in the Patriots

During Monday’s edition of ESPN’s “First Take,” Newton said he is starting to believe in the Patriots, who hold a 12-3 record and sit atop the AFC East standings.

“I’m more higher on the New England Patriots,” Newton said. “I can hear the comments now. ‘Well, keep that same energy about the fool’s gold. Wow, this about Drake Maye.’ Well, we needed to see.”

“They’re taking turns better than any teams making plays in football,” Newton declared. “Yes, Drake Maye is the orchestrator. But when you give guys opportunities … these things are something that starts to give even me, a known hater to some people’s thought process. Like, yo, I’m believing in the New England Patriots.”

Newton added that the Patriots are working better as a collective, and they are playing flawless football. They can win the division and clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC in the coming weeks. They will close out the season with duels against the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, respectively.

He was considered an MVP candidate heading into the second half of the season, but a couple of losses paired with a season-ending Achilles injury ruined his case. Jones went down in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, which seemingly sealed his team’s fate.

While Philip Rivers returned to the field to replace Jones, the team is 0-2 with the eight-time Pro Bowler under center. Indianapolis has a big question to answer in the offseason and a former general manager thinks they have one path to follow.

Former Raiders GM urges Colts to make Daniel Jones move

Former Las Vegas Raiders general manager Tom Telesco shared his two cents on the Daniel Jones situation. The former executive believes the Colts’ in-season moves suggest they are all-in on Jones. During an appearance on the “Up & Adams show,” he said:

“Well, it’s tough because they almost have to at this point. I mean, they’ve kind of leveraged it by trading their two number one draft picks for Sauce Gardner, thinking, ‘Hey, Daniel Jones is going to be our future quarterback.’ So I think that’s the boat that they’re in. Now, the good thing is, I think the relationship between Shane Steichen and Daniel Jones is outstanding. I think they both see the game very similarly. They both have the same passion for the X’s and O’s. So I think they feel like he’s their guy.”

The Colts (8-7) are on the verge of elimination. Having Daniel Jones back next season should elevate the expectations, but it remains to be seen if they can be as strong as they were this year.

Even before that, the Colts were on a two-game losing skid that worsened with the 36-19 loss to the Jaguars. Jones won’t be back until next season, and 44-year-old Philip Rivers is filling in for the remainder of the season.

Rivers has yet to win his first game with the Colts despite playing at a decent level, and the team went from 8-2 to 8-7 in five weeks. While they are on the verge of being eliminated from playoff contention, the team’s owner is under scrutiny over her actions during the season.

Analyst says Carlie Irsay-Gordon micromanaged Shane Steichen

After his father, Jim Irsay, passed away ahead of the 2025 season, Carlie Irsay-Gordon became the team’s CEO. She received praise for being involved with the team, even making appearances on the sidelines with a headset and a clipboard. NFL analyst Tyrone Johnson took issue with Irsay-Gordon’s antics, accusing her of micromanaging head coach Shane Steichen.

“Micromanaging is the reason why now they are 8-7 I noticed that all those pieces have suddenly disappeared. … Now that they’re losing, Can we agree that that was always stupid. It was stupid when they were winning, and it’s stupid now, and the owner should stay the hell away from it,” he said.

“Yes, she can know what’s going on, of course, she can have a headset up in the box, but to stand on the sideline micromanaging your coach was wrong when they were winning, and it’s just as wrong.”

The Colts’ chances to make it to the playoffs are hanging by a thread. The Jaguars (11-4) and the Houston Texans (10-5) are battling it out for the division title, while the Colts might be out of the race.

They came out victorious in the Week 16 duel against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, taking the lead of the division with two games left. Carolina will host the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17 before visiting the Buccaneers in the season finale.

Young’s team has secured big wins over the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams, showing that they can beat anybody on a good day, but have also lost twice to the New Orleans Saints, the worst team in the division. The quarterback continues to make strides and recent numbers should make Panthers fans dream.

Bryce Young is heating up at the right time

After resurging following his benching in 2024, Bryce Young is doing the same this season. He has dealt with injuries this time, but his late-season performances show that he is evolving. Panthers analyst Edgar Salmingo Jr. shared on Tuesday that Young was one from Weeks 1-10, ranking low in most QB stats, including turnovers and total touchdowns.

From Week 11 until this point, he ranks first in fumbles (last fumbled in Week 11), fifth in interceptions and fourth in total touchdowns.

It’s been argued that the Panthers must move on from Young at the end of the season, but he is on the verge of taking his team to the postseason. The Seahawks (12-3) aren’t an easy opponent by any means, but the Panthers have shown they aren’t an easy win for anybody.

Despite trailing the Rams 30-14 early in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks forced overtime with a 16-point final period. They won 38-37 after a 2-point conversion to improve to 12-3 and become the sole leaders of the division ahead of the final two games of the season.

Sam Darnold proved that he can rise to the occasion and lead his team to the promised land, going 22 of 34 for 270 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions. Despite Matthew Stafford (29 of 49 for 457 yards and three touchdowns) and Puka Nacua’s (12 receptions for 225 yards and two touchdowns) big nights, the Seahawks made a statement in Lumen Field.

Ernest Jones IV calls out Rams players after TNF win

Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV sent a strong message to the Rams players after the game. The Seahawks’ captain went in on his former team for laughing at Seattle before the duel was over.

“They went to laughing in our face, and they thought this s— was over with,” Jones explained. “…They thought it was over with. But around here we play until the last snap, last whistle.”

Jones doubled down during his press availability, telling reporters that the defense felt disrespected by the Rams’ antics.

“It’s disrespectful as a defense,” Jones added. “Disrespectful to the game. There’s too much time left on the clock for you to be thinking it’s over. I won’t put any names on it, but they know, and we won.”

The Seahawks are in full control of their destiny, but their next two games will be challenging (at Panthers in Week 17 and at 49ers in Week 19), too.

Brian Callahan was fired seven games into the season, confirming that the Titans are years away from putting together a competitive team. That could change this offseason if they make the right moves. They need to find the right person to lead the project, develop Ward, and assemble a solid team around him.

Ward has shown his maturity this year, and he isn’t done taking on more responsibilities ahead of his second season in the league.

Cam Ward wants to meet every Titans HC candidate

As part of his continued evolution, Ward revealed he wants to be involved in the coach-hiring process. The 2025 No. 1 pick said on Wednesday that he hopes to meet whoever the team brings into the building as a head coach prospect.

“I want to meet all of them,” Ward said of the next candidates, via ESPN. “Every coach who gets the opportunity to come here, I want to have conversations throughout the process with them. I’m going to be here for that whole time.”

The Titans have won only two games this season, while dealing with multiple serious injuries on both ends of the ball. They showed glimpses of competitiveness, but it’s clear they will need more than that to challenge in the tough AFC.

Despite losing 35-31 to the Buffalo Bills in Week 15, the Patriots remain a strong candidate in the AFC. They will take on a new challenge Sunday night, when they clash against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. After that, they will play two weaker opponents, the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, respectively, which should give them the edge to win the division.

The Patriots are on a roll this season, which includes a 10-game winning streak. After parting ways with Jerod Mayo and signing Mike Vrabel, they turned their situation around and are in the race for the No. 1 seed in the conference.

Patriots have several candidates to win major awards this season

Sunday Night Football on NBC’s X account highlighted how impressive the 2025 season has been for the six-time Super Bowl champions on Thursday.

Second-year quarterback Drake Maye is the second-favorite (+425) to win the MVP award this season, while TreVeyon Henderson (+185) is the favorite to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Vrabel, who spent one year as a consultant with the Cleveland Browns, is the favorite (+120) to win the Coach of the Year award.

These odds sum up how well the Patriots have fared this season. It’s hard to imagine these three not winning these awards if the team ends up winning the AFC East and getting the No. 1 seed.

Sunday’s duel could be the turning point in this race, as the Panthers’ chances to advance to the playoffs would drop to 5% with a loss, while the Buccaneers’ chances would go up to 95% with a win. Carolina has shown a better face in 2025, with Bryce Young showing glimpses of brilliance.

However, the third-year quarterback has lacked consistency, struggling to rise up in the big moments and letting his team down more than once. They will face Baker Mayfield, who spent the first part of the 2022 season.

Panthers OT sends clear message to Baker Mayfield

The former No. 1 pick still keeps good relationships from his time with Carolina, but some aren’t too happy to see him shine with the Buccaneers. Offensive tackle Taylor Moton said positive things about Mayfield ahead of Sunday’s game, but clarified that watching him on the Buccaneers doesn’t sit too well with him.

“He’s a great dude,” Moton said, via Joe Person of The Athletic. “Obviously, this is a different kind of week for me with him. It’s bittersweet because I love him and I’m so happy to see he’s having success. I just hate it’s for a divisional rival.”

Mayfield played seven games in Carolina, going 119 of 206 for 1,313 yards and six touchdowns. He’s elevated his level since that season, becoming one of the most entertaining quarterbacks in the NFL.

They lost to the Saints 21-17 on Sunday, falling to 7-7 and failing to drift away from another inconsistent team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7). These two squads will clash on Sunday for the first time this season.

With three games remaining, the Week 16 duel will be extremely important for these teams, but the Panthers face a terrible destiny if they don’t beat Baker Mayfield and Co.

Panthers will be nearly out of the NFL playoff with a Week 16 loss

Pro Football Focus (PFF) shared on Friday that the Panthers will have 50% playoff probabilities with a win against the Buccaneers.

While that number isn’t that high, the situation will drastically change if they lose. Carolina would have 5% chances of advancing to the postseason with a loss.

The Buccaneers face a more positive scenario. If they win, their chances go up to 95%. If they lose, they will have the same chances as the Panthers (50%). Carolina will face a tough opponent in Week 17, the Seattle Seahawks (12-3), before closing out the season with the second matchup against the Buccaneers.

That doesn’t seem to be the case with Kyler Murray, though. The former No. 1 pick was benched because of an alleged injury, and their decision to shut him down for the season raised questions about his future with the team.

With that in mind, ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler reported that he and Mac Jones could be the next ‘reclamation projects’ for quarterback-needy teams in the upcoming season.

Kyler Murray can be a ‘reclamation project’

“The quarterback trade market is worth watching, particularly with supply failing to meet the demand once again. (Mac) Jones might be the next reclamation project QB to take off in a second act,” Fowler wrote.

“This leads to a conversation on Kyler Murray, whom the Cardinals are subtly — or quite obviously — trying to stash to preserve his health for a potential trade this offseason. His nearly $37 million in guarantees on the 2026 books complicates the market for his services, but Murray is 28 and isn’t far removed from fringe top-10-QB status,“ he added.

Of course, whether any team will be willing to meet his steep salary demands and also give up what the Cardinals may want to get for him remains to be seen, but we’ve seen crazier things happen.

The former New York Jets draft pick has a long history of underperforming when it matters the most, which is why some people still have legitimate doubts about him this season.

However, even though the Rams seem to have his number, he still believes he’s going to be much better on Thursday night when they meet for the second time this season.

Sam Darnold shut down concerns about the Rams

“It’s just another opponent,” Darnold said, via the team’s website. “Obviously, it’s a divisional game and I would just leave it at that.”

The Seahawks‘ offense couldn’t get much going in the win over the Indianapolis Colts. They had to turn to kicker Jason Myers more often than not, and they almost lost in Philip Rivers’ heroic return from retirement.

The Rams are a legitimate Super Bowl contender and will be an even tougher opponent. Unless Darnold can shake his woes, this could get pretty ugly for Mike Macdonald’s team.

Of course, it has been a team effort. Mike Macdonald’s team is well-rounded and boasts a balanced offense, a hard-hitting defense, and a special teams unit most teams would kill for.

That’s why it’s not much of a surprise to hear that placekicker Jason Myers got a major award. Per Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk, he was just named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Jason Myers gets NFC award

“The Seahawks’ kicker has been named NFC special teams player of the week after sending all six of his field goal attempts through the uprights, including a game-winning 56-yarder with under a minute left in the contest,” Simmons wrote. “Myers’ other five field goals were from 47, 52, 46, 32, and 30 yards.”

Notably, this is the third time that Myers has earned these honors, and the second time he’s done it with the Seahawks. He won it in 2018 with the New York Jets, in 2023 in Seattle, and now again.

The Seahawks are still marching strong in the race to win the division, and if Sam Darnold continues to regress and struggle like he’s done lately, Myers will be crucial to their aspirations.

Head coach Raheem Morris might be coaching for his job in the final stretch of the season. That’s why he’d certainly love to have as many healthy players as possible.

With that in mind, he should be thrilled after submitting the Falcons’ latest injury report. For the first time in weeks, star WR Drake London is expected to take the field.

Drake London will return to practice

“WR Drake London (knee) is expected to practice on Wednesday, per head coach Raheem Morris. London has not played since Week 11. DL Zach Harrison will miss the rest of the season, per Morris. LB Troy Andersen will miss the rest of the season, per Morris. LB Bralen Trice will miss the rest of the season, per Morris,” read the report.

Of course, one might argue that it doesn’t make much sense to put their best pass catcher in harm’s way. They won’t make the playoffs, so they might as well shut him down for the year.

Even so, players have incentives to play for, and while the Falcons don’t have anything else to play for this season, the game is always better when the best players are on the field.

That has forced them to turn back to Kirk Cousins, whom they refused to trade in the offseason. The results have been a mixed bag, but the veteran can still sling the pigskin.

With that in mind, head coach Raheem Morris isn’t going to make any rash decisions about cutting ties with him. If anything, he might welcome him back with open arms.

Kirk Cousins might return next season

“Everything is on the table,” Morris said, per Josh Kendall of The Athletic. “We will all sit down at the end of the season and have those discussions and talk about those things. That will certainly be a part of it. We planned on the amount of years we put in his contract and hopefully potentially more. We will see where that goes but that is definitely up for discussion.”

Of course, that might also potentially depend on whether Michael Penix Jr. is back to full strength, and maybe even if Raheem Morris and his coaching staff are still there.

Whatever the case, Cousins has made it loud and clear that he’s not done playing, and if Philip Rivers can play at 44, he should certainly still have a little more left in the tank.

However, the head coach doesn’t want to hear anything about his hot seat rumors. He knows he hasn’t done a good job, yet he continues to shut down those questions.

That was the case again after his team’s latest debacle against the Houston Texans. When asked about that, he opened up about how much he believes in himself and his team.

Jonathan Gannon shuts down job security questions

“There’s no pitch. I’m concentrating on Atlanta,” Gannon said, per Donnie Druin of Arizona Cardinals On SI. “Your pitch is I believe in myself and I believe in our team. We are at a dip right now, and we’re going through some adversity, but I do believe in us, and we’ll get out of the dip.”

The Cardinals have only struggled since Gannon took the reins of the team three years ago, and now that they can’t blame Kyler Murray, there’s simply no way to justify keeping this regime in place.

This team doesn’t seem to have a clear direction. The Cardinals may not even have a quarterback next season, and it’s hard to feel encouraged about what the future holds.

Nevertheless, this season hasn’t been a complete waste in the Big Easy. If anything, Kellen Moore has gotten a chance to evaluate his rookie quarterback: Tyler Shough.

The rookie out of Louisville has been better than one might assume because of the team’s record. Moreover, he even broke one of Drew Brees‘ marks in the win over Carolina.

Tyler Shough sets Saints rookie record

“With 110 passing yards today through three quarters, Tyler Shough now has 1,322 passing yards in 2025, setting a new Saints single-season passing record by a rookie QB,” the Saints announced.

Shough has been far from perfect, but he’s been better than the average rookie. Unfortunately for him, the market and his team’s record don’t do much to help his case.

Even so, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to think that he should be the leading candidate to run away with Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, and the Saints may have found their guy.

The New Orleans Saints got the best of the Panthers with a game-winning field goal. They were in control of their own destiny after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ collapse.

That’s why ESPN insider David Newton had some big words to say about Bryce Young. Essentially, he blamed the former No. 1 pick for the team’s shortcomings on Sunday.

ESPN insider says Bryce Young didn’t do enough

“Bryce Young needed to step up in his biggest December game in the NFL, and he didn’t do quite enough.” Newton wrote. “In the end, the quarterback, who went 15-for-24 for 163 yards and 1 touchdown, didn’t do enough.”

Granted, on the surface, Young’s numbers are far from impressive, and this was a game the Panthers just couldn’t afford to lose. Nevertheless, this was a subpar team effort overall.

Also, the Saints have been much better than their record shows, at least offensively, since Tyler Shough took the reins of the offense, and that’s just how divisional games usually go.

Then, Josh Allen put on the Superman cape to take care of business on his own hands. He had one of the best games of his career, rallying from behind to secure an epic comeback win.

Nevertheless, it seems like he may have had some help from the officials. At least, that’s how Patriots coach Mike Vrabel seemed to hint in an appearance on The Greg Hill Show.

Mike Vrabel calls out the referees

“It is a difficult job, they do have a difficult job,” Vrabel said. “The consistency… Sometimes I struggle with it. I’ll say this: the Bills lead the NFL in offensive holds, and I’ll leave it at that. And that would be hard for me to understand how the team that is coming into the game leading, and that’s how they play, didn’t have one yesterday. That’s hard for me to understand.”

That makes sense to a degree. Even if the Bills got away with a couple of holds, the Patriots should’ve never put themselves in a position to be affected by the officials.

They were in control of the game and should’ve won without many issues, all things considered. Now, they’re still at the top, but they have yet to punch their ticket to the postseason.

It was an epic collapse by Mike Vrabel’s team, and one that raised questions about their status as a contender once again. That’s why they need to respond in the best way.

With that in mind, Ethan Hurwitz of Patriots on SI revealed the Patriots’ path to the playoffs. It won’t be easy, though, as they have to meet with the Baltimore Ravens.

Even with a loss, the Patriots can still make the playoffs

“The most straightforward result on this list. Should the Patriots head down to Baltimore and beat the Ravens — who are coming off of a 24-0 win over the Cincinnati Bengals — they’ll officially be in the postseason for the first time since 2021,” Hurwitz wrote.

“The 2-12 Raiders have had an awful season, but should they knock off the Houston Texans, the Patriots will be officially in the postseason,” he added. “Just like the Texans, another AFC South team is gunning for a spot in the playoffs. It’s looking like the Jaguars are going to win the division, so it comes down to potentially either Houston or Indianapolis for the final spot. Regardless of who loses, New England will be in the postseason.”

At the end of the day, Mike Vrabel will focus on doing his job, and it’ll be up to the Patriots to ensure they get in, rather than relying on someone else to give them a hand.

Fast forward to today, and they’re having their best season in quite a while. And while there have been some ups and downs, their quarterback has looked solid lately, especially in clutch situations.

The eye test may not be that impressive, and he clearly still has some work to do. Nevertheless, the numbers show that he’s actually been getting better and better with more reps.

Bryce Young is trending in the right direction

“Quarterback Bryce Young (64.7 grade; 30th) has been playing excellent football over the last month: His 74.1 overall PFF grade since Week 10 is 10th among quarterbacks, and his 5.2% big-time throw rate is ninth,” PFF’s Thomas Valentine wrote. “If Young can keep playing stellar ball, the Panthers might sneak into the playoffs as division winners — something they haven’t done since 2015.”

Of course, that’s a big if, and the Panthers don’t control their own destiny in the division right now. But given how the Buccaneers have struggled, it’s definitely not out of the question.

His game might not be as flashy, and he doesn’t do a lot of talking. Then again, Bryce Young has taken some big leaps since his terrible rookie season, and he might turn out to be just fine.

They continue to lose despite sending Kyler Murray home. And now that the former No. 1 pick is most likely going to play somewhere else next season, they’ll have to find someone else to blame.

A report by ESPN insider Josh Weinfuss shed light on the inner dynamics of the organization, and while they often singled out Murray, it turns out that he actually wanted to be more involved in the roster-building process.

Kyler Murray wanted to have a say in roster building

“Murray wanted his voice heard in personnel decisions and draft choices, according to a source familiar with the situation. For the most part, the Cardinals dismissed his requests to add certain players until trading for Marquise Brown in a draft-day move in 2022, giving Murray one of his best friends and a former college teammate,” Weinfuss wrote.

At the end of the day, the Cardinals didn’t seem to be too sold on their franchise quarterback. Otherwise, they would’ve at least handled this situation differently, as this isn’t an unusual stance from a signal caller.

That’s not to say that he should’ve had the final word. But after years of criticizing him for his leadership — or lack thereof — this seemed to be a step in the right direction from Murray.

Mike Macdonald‘s team boasts one of the best defenses in the game, and while the Seahawks don’t run the ball efficiently, they’re still fully committed to living and dying by the run.

That should be by design. As Seahawks beat writer Brady Henderson explained, Darnold’s tendency to turn the ball over is the team’s Achilles heel, and it may come back to haunt them when it matters the most.

Sam Darnold’s turnovers could kill the Seahawks’ hopes

“The Seahawks turned the ball over 24 times last season,” wrote Henderson, “but that made sense with a pass-heavy offense that wasn’t all that prolific. This season, they rank sixth in scoring (26.5 points per game) despite 23 turnovers. Two of them actually came on defense via fumbles on interception returns, but it has been a problem for an otherwise strong offense.”

“While quarterback Sam Darnold has been an upgrade over Geno Smith in virtually every way,” added Henderson, “Darnold leads the NFL with 16 turnovers despite operating the NFL’s most run-heavy offense.”

Darnold passes the eye test and clearly has all the talent in the world. That being said, history isn’t on his side, and it will take a lot to change the narrative around him.

The Hall of Fame semifinalist can potentially take the field against the Seattle Seahawks’ bruising defense. And even though the Colts have a solid offensive line, they could still put him on his back.

Nevertheless, Rivers is never the one to shy away from a challenge. That’s why he’s preparing as if he were going to get the nod and start right away for Shane Steichen’s team.

Philip Rivers is preparing like a starter

“I’m preparing like that. And if that’s what they feel, we collectively feel, is the best decision, then we’ll go,” Rivers said, per James Boyd. “Me at 30, me at 44 — going to Seattle and winning in 2025 in Week (15) is gonna be tough.”

Rivers himself admitted that he’s gained a lot of weight since he last played in the league. However, he also said that he’s never been an elusive or mobile quarterback.

The touch has to be there. He’s one of the best gunslingers of his generation. However, it might take a while before he finds his timing again, and things could get pretty ugly for him before that happens.

Fair enough, but they’ve also beaten some very good teams along the way. Notably, that includes the Buffalo Bills, a team most people would agree is a contender.

The Patriots now have a chance to take down the Bills again and secure the AFC East title after their bye week. When asked about that, Drake Maye admitted it wouldn’t be as easy as it sounds.

Drake Maye knows the Bills are tough

“They’ve won the division for 5 years. We have something that we need to go take, and know it’s going to be hard to do,” Maye said, per Mike Reiss.

The Patriots used to dominate the division during the Tom Brady era. They haven’t been much of a contender since the legendary quarterback left the premises.

Of course, that’s not to say that they’re back to their contending ways, and they still need to prove themselves against the best. However, they’re clearly trending in the right direction.

A lot has been said of their offense, and righftully so. And while their defense has held its own more often than not, there’s only so much one unit can do to keep the others afloat.

Their special teams unit has left plenty to be desired this season, and they rank dead last in kickoff coverage. However, despite that being a recurring issue for most of the campaign, head coach Raheem Morris refuses to make adjustments.

Raheem Morris shuts down concerns about special teams

“Staff changes right now is irrelevant,” Morris told the media, per Falcons insider Scott Kennedy. “You always want to go across and you’re always going to have to evaluate everything at the end of the season. You know, we’ve got to go out there and cover kicks. We’ve got to go out there and block and protect. We’ve got to go out there and do all the things that we’re capable of doing. We’ve got people that know how to do it. We’ve got people that know what to do, and we’ve got to execute. That is the part that’s driving me nuts, the execution part.

“The hard part for us is we dedicate so much time and people into special teams, right?” Morris continued. “We have people on our roster that are strictly dedicated to it. We went out and got these people. We sought them out. We found them. We put them on our grass. We put them on our football team, and they’re out there to make those plays, and we’ve got to make them.”

The devil is in the details, and you have to dominate all three phases of the game to succeed in this league. With that approach, Morris might not survive another season in Atlanta.

This has been the case for years now, and Raheem Morris hasn’t done much to right the ship. The fans have lost their patience, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him lose his job at the end of the season.

Nevertheless, he doesn’t seem to be too worried about that right now. If anything, he recently claimed that he’s been in constant communication with team owner Arthur Blank, and he’s been fully supportive.

Raheem Morris isn’t worried about his job

“He is 100% in support of me,” Morris said of Blank, per Arkesh Ray of Falcons ON SI. “Support ain’t an issue. He is absolutely outstanding.”

The Falcons are 4-9. They have one of the most stacked offenses in the game, and they finally revamped their ever-struggling pass-rushing unit. There’s simply no way to justify these numbers.

This isn’t Morris’s first time in charge of a team, and the same issues of old are plaguing the Falcons. Unless something changes, they might just waste Bijan Robinson’s and Drake London’s prime.

The rookie out of Miami has made the rounds for his statements more often than for his play. His brutally honest nature has rubbed some people the wrong way, even when he’s been right.

That may have been the case again after beating the Cleveland Browns. Ward’s post-game statements made it loud and clear that he’s not happy with his situation. And, according to Titans sideline reporter Will Boling, some of his teammates have had enough.

Cam Ward might be ruffling some feathers in Tennessee

“On the play ride home,” Boling said on 104.5 The Zone. “Arden Key gets on the intercom and says ‘You all enjoy this! Don’t listen to what Cam (Ward) said! You all enjoy this! It’s hard to win in this league, enjoy it!”

Granted, some leaders will ruffle feathers, and players need to set high standards for themselves and their teammates to achieve excellence in this league. There’s nothing wrong with that; if anything, the Titans should encourage that type of leadership.

That being said, as leaders, players also need to read the room, understand the context, and throw their teammates a bone every now and then. He’s young, he’ll learn about that.

Belichick, arguably the greatest head coach of all time, has seen his reputation take a massive hit lately. That hasn’t changed anything from his winning days with the New England Patriots.

That’s why, now that he and his former boss — and foe — Robert Kraft are about to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Parcells wanted to share his two cents on these figures.

Bill Parcells supports Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft’s Hall of Fame bid

“Most of these voting things have wound up political, but you can’t dispute what they’ve accomplished,” Parcells told MassLive. “When you’ve accomplished more than anybody else, it would be pretty ludicrous if it didn’t result in them getting in there.”

Things didn’t end well between the two, but that only speaks volumes about their competitive nature and standards. It’s never been okay to just be okay with these two; they want more.

And regardless of how anybody may feel about both of them, there’s simply no way to deny what they have accomplished and what they’ve given to the game of football.

Drake Maye and the Patriots have also won some tough games this season. It hasn’t always been perfect, but the tape and the underlying metrics show this team is for real.

With that in mind, Ethan Hurwitz of Patriots On SI identified the two clearest paths for the Patriots to punch their postseason ticket on Sunday. Even with a tie or a loss, they could still get in.

Even with a loss, the Patriots can clinch a playoff berth on Sunday

“This one is the most straightforward outcome of the bunch. For the Patriots to recapture the division crown they once owned for so long, all it takes is a single victory over the Bills in Week 15. The win (paired with the Bills losing) would give New England the tie-breaker on the year,” Hurwitz wrote.

“The Patriots would need any of the following teams to have a specific result. The Patriots would earn a playoff berth if they tied, and either the Jacksonville Jaguars or Los Angeles Chargers lost, or the Indianapolis Colts or Houston Texans either lost or tied. In a crazier outcome, if New England were to lose to the Bills, if the Colts and Texans both lost, they would clinch their first berth into the tournament since 2021,” Hurwitz explained.

Of course, Coach Vrabel won’t be satisfied with just making the playoffs, even if the Patriots win. There’s plenty of football to be played, and they can’t afford to get complacent now.

Losing Daniel Jones for the season has led to desperation. It’s reached a point where the Colts even reached out to a 44-year-old alternative in Rivers, who hasn’t played since January 2021. Five years after his retirement, he has an unexpected chance to make a comeback.

That speaks volumes about the caliber of options in free agency right now. More than that, Rivers has a major reason not to come back right now, according to NFL insider Ari Meirov.

Philip Rivers’ Hall of Fame eligibility is a problem for the Colts

“Philip Rivers was recently named a Hall of Fame semifinalist for the Class of 2026,” Meirov wrote. “If he returns and signs with a team, his Hall of Fame clock would reset — meaning he’d have to wait another five years before becoming eligible again.”

Of course, that’s not to say that this would affect his Hall of Fame case in any way. If anything, it would be a nice story that could actually help Rivers‘ controversial legacy.

But after being away from the game for that long, it’s hard to believe his body will be ready to take that kind of beating. The Colts have a great offensive line, but if it didn’t work out the first time, it might not work this time later.

The Red Sox didn’t have the best season, and they will reportedly be very aggressive in free agency to straighten the course of the ship. They will need as much help as they can get to do so.

With that in mind, Patriots star quarterback Drake Maye made sure to do his part to help the team. In his latest radio appearance, he made a strong pitch to lure stars to Boston.

Drake Maye is recruiting MLB stars to Boston

“The way this city and the New England area embraces sports, and professional sports players, is one of the cool things I’ve been a part of,” Maye said on WEEI Afternoons. “Watching them embrace me and embrace my teammates and some of the other athletes, and how beloved some of the famous guys – Big Papi and some of the greats. Tatum right now, Pasta with the Bruins. It’s been really cool for me. I think it’s the greatest sports city in the country.

“It’s 24/7 caring about their teams and us, the Bruins, the Celtics, and the Red Sox. They care a great deal about us. I think it’s the city of champions. That’s what they say. We try to prove it and the fans take it well,” he added.

Playing in Boston isn’t for everybody, but with the way they take care of their own and the Red Sox‘s rich history, some are more than willing to embrace that tough challenge.

The team has dealt with his injury in a suspicious manner. From stating that he was close to returning to ruling him out for the remainder of the season, there might be more to this story.

And with Murray potentially being one of the prime trade candidates in the offseason, other teams will want guarantees about his health. Perhaps that’s why head coach Jonathan Gannon had to share some more details.

Cardinals are still tight-lipped about Kyler Murray

The Cardinals haven’t disclosed many details about Murray’s foot injury. Nevertheless, it seems like he won’t have to go under the knife, according to a reporter who asked the head coach:

“Not to my knowledge right now,” Gannon responded, per Donnie Druin of On SI.

Murray’s performances have taken a major dive since he signed that massive contract extension, and there are doubts about his durability. That being said, he’d still be an upgrade for several teams.

That’s why not many people gave that much thought to the comparisons between him and Drake Maye, as it’s not the first time scouts have said something similar.

Fast forward to today, and they may have actually nailed it with this take. That’s why New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel wanted to share his two cents on these comparisons.

Mike Vrabel calls Maye, Allen ‘great competitors’

“Josh probably got a couple [more] LBs on ’em, and he kinda throws his shoulder in there probably a little bit more than I would want Drake to. But I think they’re both great competitors,” Vrabel said, per Tom Carroll.

At the end of the day, they’re both outstanding players, and there’s no need to compare them. Maye’s journey is just getting started, and he can be legendary in his own way.

The AFC East division will see some epic battles for years to come. And while the Patriots are back on top right now, Josh Allen is still the best quarterback in the division until further notice.

The former No. 1 pick has been inconsistent, but as low as the lows have been, the highs have been pretty high as well. Moreover, he’s proven to have that clutch gene.

Also, with the NFC South being one of the worst divisions in football and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers struggling, the divisional pennant is up for the taking right now. And the Panthers can clinch a playoff spot as soon as Sunday.

The Panthers’ path to the playoffs is clear

With that in mind, Panthers analyst Edgar Salmingo Jr. took to social media to show the team’s potential path to the postseason this weekend. Surprisingly, it’s actually quite feasible:

“The Panthers can clinch a postseason spot next Sunday if the following happens, according to the ESPN NFL Playoff Machine: ATL beats TB, CAR beats NO, CAR beats TB. Even if TB wins their last 2 games and CAR loses their last 2, they’re both 9-8 and Carolina owns the tiebreaker,” Salmingo wrote.

Of course, at the end of the day, it will all depend on whether the Panthers can get the job done as well. And while they haven’t been in this position in quite a while, it looks like they will be just fine.

That’s why Mike Vrabel’s men shouldn’t have any more pressure at this point. They’ve already exceeded expectations, and they can play like a team that doesn’t have anything to lose.

At least, that’s how Alec Shane of Pats Pulpit feels. In his latest column, he explained why this team’s strong start to the season has all but guaranteed this campaign to be a success.

The Patriots are playing with ‘house money,’ says analyst

“I’ll say it again: this entire season, no matter what happens from here on out, is a massive win,” Shane wrote. “Even if they lose the next four games and go one-and-done in the playoffs, or even somehow miss the playoffs entirely at 11-6, I’m still standing by that statement. This team has already exceeded expectations, and all that a complete implosion and doomsday scenario would hammer home is how it took some kind of unprecedented and inexplicable collapse for the Patriots to fall down to what most people had pegged as the highest possible ceiling for the team this year.”

Of course, that’s not to say that the Patriots don’t have to keep their foot on the gas for the remainder of the season. However, this situation should take plenty of pressure off their shoulders.

No matter what, they’ve already shown that they’re far ahead of schedule in terms of their rebuilding project, and this team looks ready to compete at a high level for years to come.

They were finally getting that with Daniel Jones. The former New York Giants draft bust was finding his footing with his new team, but a fractured fibula and now a torn Achilles have ended his season.

Even so, there’s no time to cry over the spilled milk. This team still has a chance to make the playoffs, which is why head coach Shane Steichen wants everybody to stay focused.

Shane Steichen says Colts won’t give up

“We’ve got everything we want still in front of us. We’ve got to go. So, we’ve got to get this thing cleaned up and get ready for Seattle. We’ve got a big one on the road. That’s the message today,” Steichen said, per ESPN.

Despite the serious injury, Jones returned to the sidelines and was even spotted trying to coach up backup QB Riley Leonard. He seems to be as invested in the team as the Colts are in him.

However, even though he will be ready for the start of the upcoming season, the Colts might take a more cautious approach to potentially signing him to a long-term, big-money deal.

The former New York Giants draft pick, who was playing through a fractured fibula, also sustained an Achilles injury, and he’s now looking at nine months on the shelf.

The Colts turned to rookie backup Riley Leonard to replace him. He completed 18 of 29 passes for 145 yards in the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. And when asked about his veteran teammate, he had nothing but the utmost respect.

Riley Leonard reacts to Daniel Jones’ season-ending injury

“Daniel’s the toughest guy that I’ve ever been around, by far, in my life,” Leonard said after the game, per ESPN.

“He’s the most competitive person that I’ve ever met,” Leonard added. “So, it’s no surprise that he came back out there. He was the first one to put the rain gear on me, the first one to ask me what I saw on that play and help me out. It’s just exactly who he is, whether he’s playing or not.”

The Colts are now in legitimate danger of missing the postseason. Moreover, they gave up two first-round picks in the Sauce Gardner trade, so this season may turn out to be a disaster.

As for Jones, he should be fully healthy for the start of the upcoming season. But given the delicate nature of the injury, he’s not going to make as much money as he could’ve.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon chose Jacoby Brissett over the former No. 1 pick. And while he set a new record for the most completions in a game and whatnot, the team hasn’t been any better with him.

As a matter of fact, numbers show that giving Brissett the nod has done little to help the Cardinals’ case. If anything, it may have actually hurt their chances of competing at the highest level, as shown by team insider Kyle Odegard.

Cardinals insider reveals the harsh truth of team with Jacoby Brissett

“Cardinals are now 0-5 with a -75 point differential since naming Jacoby Brissett their starting quarterback,” Odegard wrote on X.

Of course, it’s not all on the quarterback. This is a team effort, and Brissett’s underlying metrics aren’t that bad. Even so, it’s clear that Kyler Murray may not have been the one to blame.

Most reports agree that Coach Gannon is going to return for a third year in charge of the team. But with Murray most likely gone, he may have to find a new scapegoat.

Mike Macdonald has turned the franchise around and is leading the Seahawks back to the top of the defensive leaderboards for the first time since the ‘Legion of Boom’ era. And while they may not be as flashy, they’re definitely as good.

At least, that has been the case in the past couple of weeks. As pointed out by NFL insider Dianna Russini, the Seahawks’ defense has been lights out in the past couple of gams.

Seattle’s defensive dominance shouldn’t go unnoticed

“Seahawks defense the last two games: 9 total points allowed, 8 turnovers,” Russini wrote on X.

If that wasn’t impressive enough, Coach Macdonald has now become the first Seahawks coach to win at least ten games in his first two seasons in charge of the team.

He’s done that with two different quarterbacks, and while it hasn’t been perfect, this team should be considered one of the biggest dark horses to come out of the NFC.

He took it and joined the University of Incarnate Word (UIW). Ward joined an FCS school and tried to build from that. The playmaker was welcomed with open arms by the school, and his former coach, Eric Morris, knew he had something special in the future Miami Hurricane.

In two seasons with UIW, Ward went 567 of 893 for 6,908 yards and 71 touchdowns with 14 interceptions. After two seasons in Texas, he transferred to the Washington State Cougars, where he played two more campaigns before joining the Hurricanes.

Cam Ward’s former coach compared him to Patrick Mahomes

Ward’s former coach, Eric Morris, revealed he knew the quarterback was meant to do big things. He recalled seeing Ward look like another talented quarterback he had seen: three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes.

“I walked down and Cam’s taking a little three step drop as he warms up and the ball is just spinning out there like none other,” Morris said. “The pop that he had, the rotation that he had it was something, when you see a talent like that, and I had been around Patrick Mahomes for the previous three or four years, so it’s not like I didn’t know it when I saw it.”

“Right off the bat it jumps out and I’m following him around the rest of practice… I’ll never forget the coaches looking at each other as Cam knocks out these three throws. Like, ‘who the heck is this kid, why is he here and why did we not know about him?’ The talent was there,” he added.

Ward isn’t having the best rookie season with the Tennessee Titans. They have won only one game, with the quarterback going 246 of 412 for 2,351 yards and seven touchdowns with six interceptions.

The Titans have posted a league-worst 1-11 record. It looks like they will have the No. 1 overall pick again in 2026. Despite struggling mightily, the AFC South team remains confident that Ward can lead them for many years.

They will clash against the Shedeur Sanders-led Cleveland Browns on Sunday, hoping to secure their second win of the season. Ahead of this rookie duel, Ward sent a message to his doubters.

Cam Ward remains confident in his talents

Despite being the worst team in the league this season, the Titans are optimistic about the future. They should be after Ward made a strong statement about his desire to turn things around.

“I never forget where I came from,” Ward said. “I know how hard it took for me to put myself in a position of being a first round pick. I just think that’s why it’s going to end up with me being one of the best players to play because not only am I willing to do it, but I’m willing to live by it every day.”

“I don’t listen to other people’s expectations. They don’t play the quarterback position. I know what I’m capable of doing… I know what I can do on Sunday’s and that’s where I think I’ll be able to solidify myself as hopefully one of the top five quarterbacks to ever play the game,” he added.

Tennessee has shown a better face on offense in recent games, but it needs to go that extra mile to collect more wins before the season is over.

Drake Maye elevated his game this season, going 276 of 386 for 3,412 yards and 23 touchdowns with six interceptions. The second-year quarterback has gained MVP buzz due to his performances, although others have questioned how good the Patriots actually are due to the strength of their schedule.

Maye and Co. will return to action in Week 15 against the Buffalo Bills. They could secure the AFC East with a win against Josh Allen and Co. Meanwhile, some started to predict how the 2026 campaign might look for the Pats.

Patriots predicted to land Georgia product to protect Drake Maye

The NFL Draft is still months away, but with the college football regular season done, many have predicted which player will go where next year. Dane Brugler of The Athletic suggests that the Patriots might land Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling with the No. 32 overall pick.

“The Patriots’ new team motto: Protect Drake Maye at all costs,” Brugler wrote. “Morgan Moses has played well at right tackle this season, but he turns 35 in March. Freeling would be a great understudy who could provide short-term depth and a long-term answer on the outside.”

Freeling has started in 16 college games (12 this season), meaning he might have to sit and learn behind Moses before he takes over at right tackle. He helped the Georgia Bulldogs to an 11-1 record while being named to the All-SEC third team.

The Saints are 2-10 after 13 weeks, and nothing suggests they will play better down the stretch. Just like other struggling teams such as the Tennessee Titans (1-11), New York Giants (2-10) and New York Jets (3-9), the Saints are planning for the 2026 campaign.

It seems like Shough has done enough to convince the front office to run it back next year, but they will still make additions to bolster their ranks.

Cam Jordan’s replacement could come in 2026 NFL draft

Eddie Brown of The San Diego Union-Tribune put together a mock draft that predicts the Saints would focus on the defense instead of adding another quarterback. Per Brown, the NFC South team would select Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk.

“There’s a chance Saints GM Mickey Loomis is fine with Tyler Shough being the starter next year after drafting him with the 40th overall pick in April’s draft,” Brown wrote. “Faulk is a 6-foot-6, 285-pound edge who was the No. 9 player on Bruce Feldman’s 2025 ‘Freaks List’, reportedly squatting 700 pounds and benching 415. He’s a versatile chess piece on the D-line in odd or even fronts, and has even shown the ability to standup and play outside linebacker. Faulk doesn’t turn 21 until next September.”

Cam Jordan has spent 15 seasons with the Saints, becoming the heart and soul of the defense. The defensive end has played 238 games, recording 745 tackles, 128 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, 12 fumble recoveries for 11 yards, three interceptions for six yards, one touchdown, and 66 passes defended.

Atlanta came off beating their archrivals, the New Orleans Saints, in Week 12, but they couldn’t build on that win. Kirk Cousins went 21 of 33 for 234 yards and one touchdown, while Bijan Robinson recorded 193 total yards and one touchdown on 28 touches.

The Falcons outgained the Jets in first downs (25 to 16), total yards (389 to 269), and yards per play (6.3 to 4.5), but none of that mattered when the game ended. Atlanta’s special teams unit made costly mistakes during the game, including on kickoff and punt coverage. Additionally, they missed a field goal.

Falcons coach shares frustrations about special teams’ shortcomings

Special teams coordinator Marquice Williams discussed the unit’s poor play, saying it was frustrating that everything they prepare during the week doesn’t work during games.

“It is frustrating because my job as a coach is to always try and help our team in the best way to win games,” he said. “It’s frustrating because you look at those two plays, we don’t get a second chance on those plays. There is no second down, and those are critical errors.”

“Biggest thing on special teams is doing your job,” linebacker and special teams contributor JD Bertrand said Monday. “You’re one of 11, and if one person’s outside of their gap, it can create a hole. So that’s the biggest thing, and that’s emphasis on making sure guys do their job.”

The Falcons will take on a big challenge in Week 14: the Indianapolis Colts. They can make a statement against Daniel Jones and Co. and demonstrate that their flaws are fixed.