Behind them, it’s becoming a wide-open race for best of the rest of the NFC, while the AFC might have a new favorite emerging. Here’s how the supremacy structure looks in our latest NFL power rankings. MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture NFL power rankings New Orleans Saints 12-2 (last week: 1) The Saints exited Monday night with total control of the top seed and home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs....
Can the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson repeat their regular season dominance and translate it into success in the playoffs? Will Ben Roethlisberger’s return from injury turn the Pittsburgh Steelers into a playoff contender again and will Kevin Stefanski finally unlock the Cleveland Browns’ offensive potential in his first season in Ohio? Last, but by no means least, can first overall draft pick Joe Burrow hit the ground running in Cincinnati?...
Despit the Buccaneers’ championship run, the Chiefs are again the early favorites to win it all with Patrick Mahomes like they were after earning their rings a year ago. A lot of the teams that just fell short in the AFC and NFC playoffs also figure to remain contending heavyweights. Knowing that league fortunes can see dramatic change from one season to the next, here’s a longview look ahead with Sporting News’ first power rankings of the year:...
If you’re wondering whether your NFL team is playing Thursday night, the answer is yes. With kickoff times ranging from 7-10 p.m. ET, there are 16 games scheduled for Thursday. At the end of the night, all 32 NFL coaches hope to have the information they need to proceed with roster cuts and, eventually, construction of their practice squads. MORE: Watch select NFL preseason games with fuboTV (7-day free trial)...
The five first-round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft quarterback class had a rough go of it in 2021, with different degrees of bad-ness. There’s little debate that Mac Jones was the league’s best rookie passer, but who followed him might surprise you. But before we get into the nitty-gritty of QB grades though, a few things on rookie quarterbacks: The NFL is hard, man. Playing quarterback is hard. The Joe Burrows and Justin Herberts of the league are few and far between, and it’s important to remember that progress isn’t linear....
Instead, NFL senior vice president of officiating Al Riveron said, entertainment value is what led the league to tweak its catch rule. Riveron, speaking with media Friday ahead of the weekend’s NFL officiating clinic in Dallas, explained the reasoning behind the simplified standards. “I think we got to a point where fans, the office, coaches, players wanted to see more exciting plays,” Riveron said. “How do we make this particular play a catch?...
Both teams are ideally located in cities with great weather, both are in rather easy divisions with one stalwart at the top, and both need a quarterback who can take them to the next level. Brady has spent the last 20 seasons in New England, where he won six Super Bowl titles and took his team there three other times. Brady is currently a prohibitive favorite to sign with the Buccaneers, who have a supporting cast similar to the Patriots, but a better overall receiving corps....
For many, that includes laying down some initial bets on season win total over/unders. For some teams, getting in early means getting the best possible value; for others, you might know you’ve lost before the season even begins if there’s a training camp injury or surprise trade. Either way, it’s fun to look at the expected win totals and try to find some worthwhile plays. Keep in mind, there are 17 games this year, so if a total looks particularly high, that could be why....
Week 15 features two games crucial to the AFC playoff picture. The AFC South has been a tight division all year, and Week 15 is the beginning of an exciting finish. The Texans and Titans, currently tied for the lead with a 8-5 record, play each other twice in the final three weeks. Between those games, Tennessee plays New Orleans and Houston plays Tampa Bay, so the pressure is on the Titans....
No matter, as the NFL seems to find a way to win every battle it fights. The Bills face the Broncos in the first game Saturday with the nightcap featuring the Packers and the Panthers. Both games will feature likely playoff teams against opponents angling for draft positioning, so it’s not the most intriguing of doubleheaders, but at least Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers are in action. MORE: Watch NFL games live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)...
The first game will be played in Week 4 on Sept. 28, with the Oakland Raiders facing the Miami Dolphins. A month later, in Week 8, the Atlanta Falcons will play the Detroit Lions on Oct. 26. All the games will be played at Wembley Stadium. The teams and matchups had been previously announced. The Raiders, Falcons and Jaguars are the designated home teams. The NFL has been playing regular-season games at Wembley since 2007....
Rarely does the Supplemental Draft create much in the way of headlines or intrigue, with only nine players selected in the last 12 years and none since 2015, but this year is different. Five players have declared for this year’s draft, and there is a decent chance multiple members of the class will see their dreams realised. But what exactly is the Supplemental Draft? Here we explain how it works and take a look at the prospects hoping it will prove their route into the pros....
Before the start of the weekend, six teams had already reached double-digit win totals. Three more had ensured they would at least finish the season with winning records. Still, with several games left, the list of teams that have clinched a playoff spot is low. There are certainly a few teams that haven’t officially punched their ticket, but that feel inevitable to officially reach the postseason before long, and, in fact, there are several who can clinch a spot in Week 15....
Despite the fact the Falcons are 2-5 and playoff hopes are fading for the reigning NFC South champions because of injuries, the organization, led by coach Mike Smith and general manger Thomas Dimitroff, has made it clear they don't want to deal Gonzalez. Gonzalez, in what is set to be his final NFL season, also isn't about to lobby to be moved to a team that still has a shot at winning the Super Bowl....
Three of the four conference championship teams returned at least four starting offensive linemen last year — “returning starters” defined by those who took at least 50 percent of their current team’s offensive snaps or started Week 1 the previous season. Only 14 of 32 teams hit this mark in 2016, and continuity does often portend well for an NFL offense, particularly on the ground. Pittsburgh ran back all five, and Green Bay made a couple interior switches, the latter now becoming a familiar theme....
For the 13th successive season, fans across the pond will get a chance to sample a regular-season game in the English capital. The Bears and Raiders will meet for the first time since October 2015, when Chicago won 22-20. While Chicago and Oakland don’t face off often in the United States, this game in London will be a tiebreaker, since their all-time series is split at 7-7. With help from our friends at Opta, we break down what to expect when the Raiders and Bears visit London, from the teams’ biggest stars to the interesting and random facts that make football fun....
Sporting News has learned that the league may return next season by expanding its inventory of international games. MORE: Trump can’t hurt NFL’s relationship with Mexico The NFL is still in the process of evaluating the situation, a source said. Last month, the league returned to Mexico City for the first time since 2005, when Oakland played Houston. The game was seen as a success both logistically and financially by the NFL with an easy sellout of 75,000-seat Azteca Stadium....
More than half of the league already will be thinking about how to improve for next season, from free agency in March through what they do selecting players from April 28 through April 30. Some of those best draft prospects also will be on display during Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship between SEC powers Alabama and Georgia. Here’s Sporting News’ latest projections for the first round from No....
