Mon Jan 6 1:14am ET
Field Level Media
Jahmyr Gibbs had 170 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns and the host Detroit Lions pulled away for a 31-9 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night to secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
Jared Goff completed 27 of 33 passes for 231 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions for Detroit (15-2). Gibbs rushed for 139 yards and three touchdowns and caught five passes for 31 yards and one score.
Sam Darnold completed 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards for Minnesota (14-3), which was held without a touchdown. The Vikings' nine-game winning streak ended.
The Lions clinched the NFC North title for the second year in a row. They will have a bye next week and have secured home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
Broncos 38, Chiefs 0
The best day of Bo Nix's young career punched Denver's ticket to the playoffs, as the Broncos put together a rout of visiting Kansas City.
It marks the first time since their Super Bowl-winning 2015 season that the Broncos (10-7) have reached the postseason. Denver clinched the No. 7 seed in the AFC playoffs. Nix completed his first 18 throws and was 26-for-29 passing for the game, setting a career high with 321 yards, and he also had four touchdown passes. Marvin Mims Jr. had a pair of receiving TDs.
With the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs wrapped up, the Chiefs (15-2) rested several top players, such as Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Isiah Pacheco, Chris Jones, Jawaan Taylor and George Karlaftis. Quarterback Carson Wentz was 10-of-17 passing for 98 yards for Kansas City.
Panthers 44, Falcons 38 (OT)
Miles Sanders rushed for a game-winning 1-yard touchdown in overtime as Carolina eliminated host Atlanta from playoff contention.
Bryce Young completed 25 of 34 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, adding two more scores on the ground for the Panthers (5-12), who scored their most points in a game this season.
Michael Penix Jr. threw for 312 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for the Falcons (8-9), who needed a win paired with a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss to the New Orleans Saints in order to win the division. Bijan Robinson ran for 170 yards and two touchdowns, while Drake London caught 10 passes for 187 yards and two scores.
Commanders 23, Cowboys 19
Marcus Mariota's 5-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin with three seconds left lifted Washington over Dallas in Arlington, Texas.
Relieving Jayden Daniels in the second half, Mariota was 15-of-18 passing for 161 yards and two touchdowns. He kept the game-winning 11-play, 91-yard drive alive with a 33-yard carry on fourth-and-1. The Commanders (12-5) nailed down the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs and won 12 games in a single season for the first time since 1991.
Trey Lance, the third overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, made his first start since Sept. 18, 2022, and was 20-of-34 passing for 244 yards for the Cowboys (7-10).
Bears 24, Packers 22
Cairo Santos drilled a 51-yard field goal on the final play of Chicago's season finale as the Bears ended a 10-game losing streak by edging host Green Bay.
The win also snapped the longest active winning streak by a team against one opponent. Chicago had lost its previous 11 games against Green Bay. Caleb Williams moved the Bears (5-12) 47 yards to set up Santos' heroics after Brandon McManus' third field goal of the afternoon, a 55-yarder, had given Green Bay (11-6) a 22-21 lead with 54 seconds remaining.
Williams was 21-of-29 passing for 148 yards and a touchdown to DJ Moore, who caught nine passes for 86 yards. Packers quarterback Jordan Love hit on 7 of 12 passes for 69 yards but left the game during Green Bay's fifth series due to a right elbow injury and did not return.
Colts 26, Jaguars 23 (OT)
Matt Gay kicked four field goals, including a 38-yarder in overtime, to help Indianapolis defeat visiting Jacksonville.
Jonathan Taylor rushed for 177 yards and one touchdown on 34 carries for the Colts (8-9). Joe Flacco completed 23 of 40 throws for 264 yards and found Alec Pierce for his lone passing score. Indianapolis notched a fourth-down stop after Gay's go-ahead kick in the extra session.
Mac Jones was 20-of-32 passing for 225 yards, one touchdown and one interception for the Jaguars (4-13). Parker Washington had a touchdown catch, Tank Bigsby rushed for a score and Brian Thomas Jr. finished with seven receptions for 103 yards.
Patriots 23, Bills 16
Joe Milton III threw for one touchdown and rushed for another in his NFL debut to guide New England past Buffalo in Foxborough, Mass.
Milton rattled off 11 straight completions to begin his professional career and finished 22-of-29 passing for 241 yards. Kayshon Boutte was Milton's favorite target, hauling in seven receptions for a career-high 117 yards and a TD. The Patriots (4-13) would have secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft had they lost.
Mitchell Trubisky threw for 101 yards and a TD on 15-for-21 passing for the Bills (13-4), the No. 2 seed in the AFC during the upcoming playoffs. Ray Davis led Buffalo's rushing attack with 64 yards on 15 carries.
Eagles 20, Giants 13
Tanner McKee threw two touchdown passes in his first NFL start as Philadelphia beat visiting New York to match a single-season franchise record for wins.
The Eagles (14-3), who posted the same record two years ago, were already locked in as the No. 2 seed in the NFC and did not play most of their starters. They will host the Packers in a wild-card game next weekend. McKee threw for 269 yards on 27-of-41 passing.
Giants rookie Malik Nabers had 64 yards on five catches and set the franchise's single-season reception record with 109, breaking Steve Smith's 2009 mark of 107. New York (3-14) finished the campaign winless in the NFC East and ended its disastrous centennial season with a franchise record for losses.
Buccaneers 27, Saints 19
Baker Mayfield threw two touchdown passes and host Tampa Bay came from behind to defeat New Orleans and win its fourth consecutive NFC South title.
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans reached 1,000 yards receiving for the 11th consecutive season to tie Jerry Rice's NFL record for consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns. Mayfield passed for 221 yards and rushed for 68, but Tampa Bay (10-7) didn't lead until he threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan with 10:09 left in the game.
Blake Grupe kicked four field goals and rookie Spencer Rattler passed for a season-high 240 yards and a touchdown for the Saints (5-12), who lost their last four games.
Texans 23, Titans 14
C.J. Stroud threw a touchdown pass and Dameon Pierce rushed for 176 yards and another score as Houston tuned up for the playoffs by defeating Tennessee in Nashville.
Stroud hit all six of his passes for 50 yards on the game's first possession, finding Nico Collins for a 2-yard scoring strike. Houston coach DeMeco Ryans pulled Stroud at that point and used backup Davis Mills, who was 12-of-22 passing for 128 yards for the Texans (10-7).
With their loss and the Patriots' victory over the Bills, the Titans (3-14) received the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Will Levis hit on 9 of 17 passes for 175 yards, including a 49-yard TD pass to Tay Martin with 2:41 left in the game, while Mason Rudolph also played at quarterback and went 7-of-9 passing for 70 yards.
Cardinals 47, 49ers 24
Kyler Murray tied a career high with four touchdown passes and did not throw an interception to lead Arizona to a victory over San Francisco in Glendale, Ariz.
Murray was 25-of-35 passing for 242 yards for Arizona, which concluded its season 8-9. The Cardinals did not play leading rusher James Conner (knee injury).
San Francisco (6-11) played without starting quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) and receiver Deebo Samuel (ribs/wrist). Purdy's replacement, Joshua Dobbs, started eight games for the Cardinals last season while Murray nursed a knee injury. Dobbs completed 29 of 43 pass attempts on Sunday for 326 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Seahawks 30, Rams 25
Geno Smith threw four touchdown passes, including a 16-yarder to Noah Fant with 3:19 remaining, as Seattle edged Los Angeles in Inglewood, Calif.
Smith completed 20 of 27 passes for 223 yards. Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh combined for 108 rushing yards, with Fant and fellow tight end AJ Barner each finishing with five receptions and scoring once for the Seahawks (10-7).
The Rams (10-7), who had already clinched the NFC West, rested several starters, including quarterback Matthew Stafford. Jimmy Garoppolo was 27-of-41 passing for 334 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in his Los Angeles debut.
Chargers 34, Raiders 20
Quentin Johnston hauled in a career-high 13 receptions for 186 yards, leading Los Angeles over host Las Vegas to help the Chargers clinch the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs.
With the win, the Chargers (11-6) will head to Houston to face the Texans in the wild-card round. Justin Herbert threw for 346 yards and two touchdowns, completing 28 of 36 passes for Los Angeles. Ladd McConkey had 95 yards on five catches.
Aidan O'Connell threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns for the Raiders (4-13). Jakobi Meyers hauled in nine receptions for 123 yards to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season for the first time in his six-year career. Brock Bowers added four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown to finish his rookie campaign with 112 receptions. The Las Vegas tight end set the single-season reception record for a rookie at any position.
Jets 32, Dolphins 20
In what might have been the final game of his Hall of Fame career, Aaron Rodgers threw a season-high four touchdown passes and reached a career milestone while leading New York to a win over Miami in East Rutherford, N.J.
Rodgers' first touchdown pass on Sunday was the 500th of his career, joining Tom Brady (649), Drew Brees (571), Peyton Manning (539) and Brett Favre (508) as the only quarterbacks to reach the mark. Rodgers completed 23 of 36 passes for 274 yards and threw an interception as the Jets (5-12) played spoiler against their longtime AFC East rivals.
Even before time expired, Miami (8-9) was eliminated from playoff contention once the Broncos beat the Chiefs to clinch the AFC's final wild-card berth. The Dolphins missed the postseason after making it there in each of the past two seasons.
The Las Vegas Raiders fired head coach Antonio Pierce on Tuesday, according to a source. Jon Gruden resigned as the head coach in 2021 following controversial emails that came to light, followed by Josh McDaniels being fired in 2023, and now Pierce is out after just one full season as the Raiders' head coach. Pierce gave the Raiders a spark last year to win five of their final games as the interim head coach, but he led Vegas to a 4-13 season in 2024 as the full-time head coach. He was initially hired by the Raiders in 2022 as a linebackers coach. General manager Tom Telesco, who was hired by the Raiders last year, will likely lead the search for a new head coach in Sin City. Rookie tight end Brock Bowers was one of the few bright spots for a bad Raiders team this year. Figuring out the QB position will be of utmost importance to the next coaching staff that comes in.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (knee) is expected to play in the NFC Divisional Round, according to head coach Dan Campbell. The 27-year-old suffered an MCL injury in the Week 15 game against the Buffalo Bills and has missed each of the last three contests. Early reports suggested Montgomery would need surgery and would miss the remainder of the season, but that is not the case. While it's an exciting development for Detroit, Montgomery could be limited by his lower-body ailment upon his return to action. Luckily, the Lions have a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs, giving Montgomery extra time off to rehab and prepare.
From RotoBaller
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Dolphins have cleared the air with wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and the eight-time Pro Bowler did not formally request a trade. Following the Week 18 loss to the New York Jets, Hill said "I just gotta do what's best for me and my family. If that's here or wherever the case may be...I'm out. At the end of the day, I need to do what's best for my career." This certainly sounded like the 30-year-old was set to try to force his way out of Miami after he missed the playoffs for the first time in his career. Hill posted 81 receptions for 959 yards and six touchdowns this season while playing much of the year without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Surely, this story has more developments to unfold, so fantasy managers and NFL fans should stay tuned.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill (concussion/illness) returned to practice on Tuesday after missing last week's game against the Cleveland Browns with a concussion and illness. Hill suffered a concussion in the Week 16 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. While the 27-year-old has played second-fiddle to Derrick Henry this season, he has been important in the passing game with 42 receptions for 228 yards and a touchdown in 2024. With Zay Flowers (knee) banged up and at risk of missing the Wild Card matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Hill could be asked to do more as a pass-catcher on Saturday. The statuses of both players are worth monitoring.
From RotoBaller
The Baltimore Ravens are opening the practice window of wide receiver/return specialist Deonte Harty (knee), officially designating him to return from Injured Reserve. The Maryland native was placed on Injured Reserve in October due to a knee injury and has not played since Week 6 against the Washington Commanders. Harty did not catch a pass for Baltimore during the regular season, but he returned eight punts for 85 yards and four kickoffs for 98 yards. Harty was named first-team All-Pro in 2019 as a return specialist, and he could make an impact in that aspect of the game if he can return for postseason action. It remains to be seen if he will suit up against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Wild Card Round.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (knee) did not practice on Tuesday after suffering a knee injury in the Week 18 win over the Cleveland Browns. The second-year player appeared in all 17 games during the regular season, catching 74 passes for 1,059 yards and five touchdowns. He was named to his first career Pro Bowl last week. Needless to say, the timing of his injury is far from ideal, and his status should be monitored ahead of Saturday's Wild Card matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. If he cannot play, tight end Mark Andrews and wide receiver Rashod Bateman should see additional targets from Lamar Jackson. Flowers' injury status could loom large in whether Baltimore can get to the Super Bowl for the first time since Jackson took over at quarterback.
From RotoBaller
The Los Angeles Chargers released wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. from the practice squad on Tuesday to make room for the signing of veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott. Shenault was released by the Seattle Seahawks in the middle of the regular season and was picked up by Los Angeles. The 2020 second-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars appeared in just one game for the Chargers but did not log a touch. Shenault has totaled 163 receptions for 1,587 and six touchdowns to go along with 253 rushing yards and a score across 63 career games with four organizations. Needless to say, he's unlikely to be a key contributor anytime soon for any team.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (foot) is considered day-to-day with a foot contusion, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The rookie first-rounder out of Alabama was carted off the field during the Week 18 Sunday Night Football victory over the Minnesota Vikings, but with Detroit earning a first-round bye, he might not miss their first playoff game. Arnold has already said that he will play in the Divisional Round. The 21-year-old has totaled 60 tackles, one forced fumble, and 10 pass deflections in 16 games this season.
From RotoBaller
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich is interviewing for the New England Patriots' head-coaching position on Tuesday, according to sources. Leftwich helped the Buccaneers win Super Bowl LV, serving as the team's offensive coordinator under head coaches Bruce Arians and Todd Bowles from 2019-22. The Buccaneers ranked third twice and second in scoring from 2019-21. Tom Brady famously arrived in Tampa in 2020 to help take the Bucs' offense to another level while working with Leftwich. Leftwich was reportedly close to being name the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars before the 2022 season, with the job ultimately going to Doug Pederson. He hasn't coached the last two seasons but is looking to get back into coaching at the NFL level. Leftwich appeared in 60 games (50 starts) during his playing career with the Jaguars, Falcons, Steelers and Bucs.
From RotoBaller
The Jacksonville Jaguars requested an interview with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson for their head-coaching gig. Johnson is among a list of eight known candidates for Jacksonville as they look to replace Doug Pederson, who was fired on Monday. Johnson is the No. 1 head-coaching candidate across the NFL this cycle, so he'll essentially have his pick of all the head-coach openings across the league. However, the fact that the Jaguars are retaining general manager Trent Baalke is likely to mean that Johnson won't be interested in the team's head-coaching job. Johnson reportedly has no interest in taking the Jaguars job unless there is a new GM, so there's a good chance he won't even respond to Jacksonville's request to interview for the head-coaching position.
From RotoBaller
The Jacksonville Jaguars requested an interview with Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken for their head-coach opening. It's no surprise that Monken has been a popular head-coaching candidate this cycle after getting the most out of star quarterback Lamar Jackson the last two seasons he's been running the offense. Jacksonville is looking for a new head coach for the third time in the last five seasons after firing Doug Pederson on Monday. In addition to the Jaguars, the 58-year-old Monken is a candidate for the Chicago Bears' head-coach job. Under Monken in 2024, the Ravens offense finished first in total offense, first in rushing offense, seventh in passing offense and third in scoring offense. Their 7,224 yards of total offense was third-most in NFL history. In potentially hiring Monken, the Jaguars would be hoping he could turn quarterback Trevor Lawrence's career around.
From RotoBaller
The Jacksonville Jaguars requested an interview with Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady for their head-coach job. After firing Doug Pederson on Monday, the Jaguars are currently searching for their third head coach in the last five seasons. In addition to the Jaguars' head-coaching position, Brady has interviews set up for the same position with the New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears while also preparing to face the Denver Broncos in the wild-card playoff round this Sunday. After taking over as Buffalo's offensive coordinator midway through the 2023 season, Brady has helped Buffalo's offense become a powerhouse rushing team while elevating quarterback Josh Allen's play and putting him in the MVP conversation. Brady has also worked with notable QBs Joe Burrow and Drew Brees in the past, so Jacksonville is intrigued by the possibilities of him turning Trevor Lawrence's career around.
From RotoBaller
The Jacksonville Jaguars requested an interview with Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore for their head-coach job. Moore is one of eight known head-coaching candidates for the Jaguars as they look for a new leader for the third time in the last five seasons following their firing of Doug Pederson on Monday. In addition to the Jags' head-coaching job, Moore is also being considered for the same position with the New Orleans Saints. Because the Eagles are playing in the wild-card round of the playoffs this weekend against the Green Bay Packers, Moore can't be interviewed until next week. In his first year leading the Eagles offense in 2024, the 35-year-old helped the Eagles finish eighth in total yards, seventh in points scored and second in rushing yards. Moore has never been a head coach in the NFL.
From RotoBaller
The Jacksonville Jaguars requested an interview with Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen for their head-coaching position, according to a source. It's the first known request for Coen to lead a team for this cycle. Coen replaced Dave Canales, who took the head-coaching job in Carolina, as Tampa's offensive coordinator in 2024. With Coen running the offense, quarterback Baker Mayfield had another career year and the Bucs finished fourth in the NFL in points and third in total yards on their way to winning yet another NFC South title. The Jaguars are in search of a new head coach for the third time in five seasons after firing Doug Pederson on Monday. Coen might be a long shot for the job in Jacksonville, but his bright offensive mind would be intriguing if he's given a chance to try and help quarterback Trevor Lawrence bounce back in 2025.
From RotoBaller
The Jacksonville Jaguars requested an interview with former New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham for their head-coaching job. Jacksonville is looking for their third head coach in the last five years after firing Doug Pederson following an abysmal season in 2024 that ended with a 4-13 record. Graham was the defensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders this past season and is highly respected in NFL circles. Despite another disappointing season for the Raiders, Graham led an underrated Vegas defensive unit and is once again getting looks for a head-coaching gig this offseason. In addition to the Jag's head-coaching job, Graham is expected to interview for the defensive coordinator position with the Cincinnati Bengals after they fired Lou Anarumo. The Raiders D allowed the ninth-fewest points in the NFL in 2024 despite injuries to key players.
From RotoBaller
The Jacksonville Jaguars requested an interview with former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh for their head-coaching opening. In addition to Saleh, the Jaguars have requested interviews with Patrick Graham, Kellen Moore, Todd Monken, Joe Brady, Liam Coen, Ben Johnson, and Aaron Glenn. The Jets fired Saleh after just five games in 2024 in a season in which the team finished a disappointing 5-12. New York also fired previous general manager Joe Douglas. In his three-plus seasons as the head coach of Gang Green, Saleh went 20-36. Jacksonville fired head coach Doug Pederson after the team finished 4-13 in 2024, and they are now looking for their third head coach in the last five years. The root of the Jaguars' talent comes on the offensive side of the ball, but if hired, Saleh would be asked to clean up a Jacksonville defense that has some glaring issues.
From RotoBaller
The Chicago Bears will interview former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel for their head-coaching job on Wednesday, according to a source. Vrabel interviewed for the New York Jets' head-coaching position last week, and SI.com's Albert Breer also reports that the New Orleans Saints want to look at him for the same position. His history as a player with the New England Patriots also has Vrabel linked to their head-coaching job. After being fired as the head coach of the Titans early in 2024, Vrabel was an assistant coach for the Cleveland Browns in 2024. Given his success from 2018 to 2023 with the Titans, Vrabel is one of the most popular head-coaching candidates this cycle. However, he has more of a defensive background in the NFL, which means he'd need to choose his offensive staff wisely if he were hired in Chicago to help develop QB Caleb Williams, who struggled in his rookie season.
From RotoBaller
The Chicago Bears requested an interview with Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady for their open head-coaching position, according to a source. Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is probably the favorite to land the Bears' head-coaching job if he wants it, but Brady could be a dark horse to help develop young quarterback Caleb Williams in the Windy City. Under Brady in 2024, the Bills offense is second in points per game (30.9), 10th in yards per game (359.1), sixth in yards per play (6.0), ninth in passing yards per game (227.9) and ninth in rushing yards per game (131.2). Quarterback Josh Allen is in the conversation for the MVP award. In addition to Allen, Brady has elevated the QBs he's worked with throughout his career, including Joe Burrow and Drew Brees.
From RotoBaller
Despite firing general manager Ran Carthon on Tuesday, the Tennessee Titans have decided to keep head coach Brian Callahan for another season. Callahan's first season as a head coach in the NFL was a disastrous one, as the Titans finished 3-14 to secure the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, which they are expected to use to select Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. The 3-14 record for Tennessee was their worst mark since going 3-13 in 2015. Callahan was previously the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals, who he helped lead to Super Bowl LVI. The decision to fire Carthon signals the Titans moving in another direction after the team swung and miss on taking QB Will Levis in the second round in 2023. Callahan is expected to work more closely with the new GM in rebuilding Tennessee's roster, most likely to build a better offense around Sanders.
From RotoBaller
Dynasty | The Chargers have signed running back Ezekiel Elliott. Dynasty Analysis: It's a fun story to watch, but dynasty managers aren't exactly thinking they have the next LaDainian Tomlinson here, either. Elliott will join the practice squad and could be elevated should Gus Edwards be unable to play in the playoffs, but this could be a short tenure for Elliott in Los Angeles. He'll likely attempt to sign on with a team next season, but it's clear he's lost most of his burst at this point and isn't really effective in much other than short yardage situations. Elliott belongs on dynasty waiver wires at this point.