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FRISCO, Texas (AP) The Kansas City Chiefs are considering the po sibility of safety Justin Reid handling some kickoffs.The Dallas Cowboys are hoping tiny return man KaVontae Turpin might finally break a big one two years after he basically made the team doing exactly that in the preseason.Mostly, coaches and players in the NFL are wondering what they're getting into with .It's no longer a , as league executive and former player Troy Vincent so flatly described it late last season, about three months before owners voted to change a rule that had been adopted in the name of safety, by reducing high-speed collisions. ADVERTISEMENT The NFL is bringing the kickoff back to life, starting with teams investing time in offseason workouts Daniel Murphy Jersey with plans for plenty more in training camps into something that had become a pointle s exercise.I havent (planned) training camp practices yet, but every day were going to be working either kickoff or kickoff return, Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub said. You still have to work punt, punt return and everything. I dont need more time. I just need to change the schedule a little bit. with changes that have their roots in the spring football leagues, with the NFL adding some of its own twists while wanting to ensure there wasn't an increase in injuries.Here's an easy place to start: Most players can't move while the kick is in the air.I think everyone that sees it for the first time, its really strange because you see the kickoff and Im standing right here and, its like youre in space. You never see that happen without everyone moving, San Francisco special teams coordinator Brian Schneider said. And so, its really like the music went off and everything, I was like in the Twilight Zone and then when it happens, its just, its really fast.The standard kickoff is from the 35-yard line with the 10 coverage players lined up at the opposing 40. The return team has at least nine blockers lined up in a set up zone between their 30 and 35.Two returners are inside the 20, and they're Daniel Hudson Jersey the only ones besides the kicker who can move until either they catch the ball or it hits the ground. That's when the coverage players and blockers converge.The rule tries to build incentive for teams not to blast the ball into or beyond the end zone by moving touchbacks to the 30 from the 25. The Chiefs would consider Reid for kickoffs on the theory that an extra tackler is needed, rather than a kicker with a usually slender build that would be considered a liability.While it's likely traditional kick return guys think diminutive, shifty and speedy would still have a role, there is a question of whether prototypical running backs could be useful.Theres a lot of people speculating its going to be more like an offensive or defensive outside zone running play, said Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fa sel, one of the strong advocates for change. I still feel like its a kickoff return play. Teams are adding players to their 90-man rosters for the offseason and training camp with the new kickoff rule in mind. And there have been some wild suggestions, such as Pittsburgh running back Jaylen Warren saying on a teammate Cam Heyward's podcast that the Steelers were considering using newly acquired quarterback Justin Fields as a return man.Fields pretty much shot down that idea, but the point is, a lot of personnel considerations will be in play.It's worth noting that kicking teams are likely to work on bouncing Shawn Kelley Jersey the ball to the returners because it could give their coverage players a little bit of a head start before the returner gains po se sion.Its all about the ball, Schneider said. "So, is it going to be like a shortstop? What type of fielding balls are you going to get? And then what type of runners are there? Is it going to be better to have a bigger back where you can break through the arm tackles? Is it going to be a quicker guy?With touchbacks placed at the 25, about 22% of kickoffs were returned last season, Fa sel said while adding the hope is to get that number above 50%. As for Fa sel's own guy, Turpin had just 10 kickoff returns in 2023, after 21 as a rookie. Turpin had the freedom to return any kick as Ryan Zimmerman Jersey long as it wasn't deeper than 6 yards into the end zone. It didn't help.Im very hopeful with this new rule just because now, its going to be harder to kick it away from me, said Turpin, who returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns in the same 2022 preseason game but doesn't have one in the regular season. Its a better opportunity.No matter what special teams coaches try in minicamps, training camps and preseason games, the effect of the new rule isn't like to take shape until the regular season. The rule is in place for this season and will be reviewed for 2025.Theres going to be a lot of chaos in the first four or five weeks of the season before everyone kind of gets a handle of what it is, New York Jets coach Robert Saleh said. I think youre adding a game-changing element back to the game. So, its exciting to have it back in football.Not all coaches would choose exciting. But special teams ace C.J. Goodwin of the Cowboys would.It adds that excitement back to my livelihood, Goodwin said. You cant just walk away and go to the conce sion stands at this time. Youve got to stay because anything can happen.At the very least, the new rule has teams thinking about kickoffs in practice again.___The story has been corrected to show a quote attributed to C.J. Goodwin, not Griffin.___ AP Pro Football Writers Josh Dubow, Tres Barrera Jersey Teresa M. Walker and Dennis Waszak, AP National Writer Will Graves and AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta contributed to this story.___AP NFL:

Our first look at in Denver's new-look offense was far from a picture of pristine on-field play.The veteran quarterback saw four drives Alex Claudio Jersey end in punts in Saturday's preseason win over the . Manning was 8-of-14 for 52 yards with a ghastly 3.7 yards per attempt. coach Gary Kubiak said of Manning's night, per the team's official website. "We didn't help him in a couple of situations. On third down, we had Eric Sogard Jersey a couple of big drops on the three or four series that he played. But I thought he was sharp in running the group and running the no huddle for the first time out."Even with defensive terror sitting out the night, Manning struggled to move the ball and looked uncomfortable at times running just 19 plays over four po se sions.The best throw of the night came on backup 's 57-yard touchdown strike to . Manning's arm, , appears adequate at best as he Boone Logan Jersey creeps toward his 40th birthday.It's just one meaningle s preseason tilt and Peyton has plenty of time to find his groove -- and he will - Keon Broxton Jersey - but Saturday night was far from the fireworks we've come to expect from one of the AFC's top attacks over the past three seasons."We're going to have some growing pains, but we just want to watch them continue to get better," Kubiak said. "I'll go take a look (at the tape), but I think we did some things better tonight and obviously probably got a lot of things we need to improve upon."The latest Podcast by talking undervalued and overvalued Eric Thames Jersey QBs and everyone's draft philosophies.

Croatia Turkey 1:3 (0:0)Stadium: Ernst Happel, ViennaReferee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)Goalscorers: Ivan Klasni (120); Semih entrk(122)Croatia: Pletikosa orluka, R. Kova, imuni, Pranji N. Jose Canseco Jersey Kova, Modri, Srna, Rakiti Kranjar (63 Petri) Oli (97 Klasni)Turkey: Rt Sabri, Aik, Gkhan Zan, Balta Topal (76 Semih entrk), Altintop, Arda, Tuncay Kazim Kazim (61 gur Boral), Nihat (117. Gkdeniz Karadeniz)3 Modri steals the ball on the center, his shot from the edge of the penalty area is blocked5 Altintop shots cannon ball from 25 meters, but wide6 Rakiti goes through on the left side, throws in on five metres but the ball doesnt come to Srna. The first corner kick for Croatia13 Foul on 18 meters in front of Pletikosa. Altintop shots hard, but Niko Kova blocks it19 The biggest chance for Croatia at Euro. After the great combination of midfielders Modri enters the penalty box, pa ses to Oli who hits the woodwork21 Croatia finally comes out from the starting Turkish pre sure and emphasized is combinatorics of Kranjar, Rakiti and Modri27 The first yellow card, for Walt Weiss Jersey Tuncay36 Turkey again takes control over the game although without danger for Croatian goal38 Mehmet Topal shots wide47 Weak shot of orluka from the right side48 The second yellow card for Turkey Arda Turan50 Oli steals the ball from goalkeeper Rst, but nobody follows him53 Corner kick for Croatia, but at the end the ball goes to goal-out57 Combination of Kranjar and Modri. Niko manages to shot, but its easy for goalkeeper to save it61 Kazim Kazim is subbed for gur Boral62 Modri pa ses to Oli but he is in offside64 Kranjar out, Petri in69 Pranji breaks on the left Santiago Casilla Jersey side, pa ses to Rakiti, who makes a double pa s with Oli, shots hard but not and precise72 - Rakiti throws in for Oli whose head shot goes over the goal74 Ivan Rakiti, one of the best individuals, earns a corner kick from the left side. Rickey Henderson Jersey Srna throws in, but Turkish defense clears it76 Mehmet Topal out, Semih entrk in83 - Petri carves out a free kick on 25 meters after a great solo drive. Srna shots great, but Rst saves it88 Yellow card for Ugur Biral after fouling Srna without ball90 Modri goes on the right side, pa ses to Oli, who shots straight to Turkish goalkeeper90 + 3 Oli mi ses the last chance in injury time95 Tuncay comes into penalty box and tries to cro s, but Pletikosa kicks it into corner97 Marathon runner Ivica Oli goes out, Klasni replaces him100 Semih entrk shots from the edge of the box, continues the pre sure of the Turks107 Another yellow card for Turks Emre Aik117 The last substitute in Turkish team. Captain Nihat leaves the field, Gkdeniz Karadeniz replaces him119 GOOOAL! Modri for Klasni who scores with head for 1:0122 - Semih entrk equalizes in non existing injury time after Bili wanted to make a substitution but the fourth referee affects deaf. Bili is protesting, but it wont help. Penalty shootout is nextModri mi s Arda 0:1Srna 1:1 Oakland Athletics Jersey Semih 1:2Rakiti mi s Altintop 1:3Petri Reber saves

Dallas' impre sive offensive line will be intact for the 2015 season. -- the only impending free agent on the unit -- has agreed to terms with the on a three-year, Anibal Sanchez Jersey $15 million contract, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Saturday, per a source involved with the deal. The contract includes $6 million in guarantees.The longtime starting right tackle -- at just 31 -- is the elder-statesman of one of the best position groups in the NFL.Along with and ers , and , Tony Oliva Jersey the line paved the way for 's league-leading 1,845 yards.Since the drafted Free in the fourth Jason Castro Jersey round of the 2007 draft, he's been the model of durability. He mi sed his sophomore season with a back injury, but then went on to play all 16 games for the 'Boys from 2009 through 2013. Free did, however, along with the playoffs after suffering an ankle injury (he recently underwent surgery to correct the problem). filled in admirably for Free, but he Willians Astudillo Jersey too is a free agent and likely will look for a starting job on the open market. Free checked in at No. 49 on 's list of the , and in a shallow market for starting-caliber tackles, teams in need can cro s another option off the list.The latest Podcast and Kyle Gibson Jersey plays another game of "Go Get My Lunch." Find more content on .

Friday night was never going to be Pete Alonso Jersey solely about football for the Bills.The night before, as the team was traveling to Charlotte for a preseason game against Panthers, the Los Angeles Times reported thattaking part in a gang rape of a 17-year-old woman last October while he was at San Diego State.Araiza, who was inactive for the game, i sued a statement Friday claiming his innocence.The facts of the incident are not what they are portrayed in the lawsuit or in the pre s," "I look forward to quickly setting the record straight.After the game, Bills coach Sean McDermott was careful to sound neutral in his pre s conference, but he was clearly emotional on the podium as he answered questions."It's not a situation we take lightly," McDermott said when he was asked what he would say to Bills fans. "I'm hurt. I understand women are hurt. And it's emotional. It's not easy to hear about some of the things I've heard about over the last several hours, and I haven't slept Yoenis Cespedes Jersey a lot, to be honest with you. Because this is a game. But there's other things that are more important than this."This is a game, but there are other things that are more important than this. Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) , McDermott said it was his decision to bench Araiza, whom McDermott named the Juan Lagares Jersey starting punter over incumbent Matt Haack days earlier. Third-string quarterback Matt Barkley punted Friday."It's clear we have work to do to continue to figure this thing out here," McDermott said,.According to , McDermott also said, "We want to find the truth and do this the right way. . . . We're working on finding that truth."The Bills have been criticized since the Times' story came out for their predraft vetting of Araiza. The team said in a statement Thursday that it conducted an investigation after learning that the woman was suing Araiza and two other San Diego State players."We were recently made aware of a civil complaint involving Matt from October 2021,". "Due to the serious nature of the complaint, we conducted a thorough examination of this matter. As this is an ongoing civil case, we will have New York Mets Jersey no other comment at this point."McDermott's comments Friday implied that some information is new to him. That makes the timeline of what the Bills did and didn't know confusing.According to The Athletic's Tim Graham, the Bills were made aware of the allegations last month, which would mean after they drafted Araiza in April but before they named him the starter.Source tells me the Bills were made aware of the accusations against Araiza last month. They did not know when they drafted him, but did know when they cut Matt Haack on Monday. Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) The next step for the Bills will be to New York Mets Custom Jersey determine if it's in their best interest to stay with Araiza.

at ... .The top-flight game on the Week 10 slate is certainly not the only tantalizing matchup, as many people have circled and, of course, Rex Ryan facing his former team Not to mention, has busine s to settle with both and the NFL history books. No question he's struggled, as have and the , who will try to snap a terrible losing skid. Someone else is apparently struggling ... to get anything done. Hey!, no pre sure, but it's Thursday, past 10am and the GamePicks are not out yet.. i might start working, please hurry. Don Pach (@Ppunto7) Hey Ricardo, don't succumb to , man. Stick a breakfast burrito in the cruddy office microwave and go bid on Strat-O-Matic Pro Football on eBay. Game picks should be up by then.In fact, you can find them all below. You might notice all the unbeatens have something in common -- but there's nothing common about your take, so send it along. is the place.Now, let's get to it!Elliot Harrison went 7-6 on , giving him a record of 80-52 so far this season. How will he fare in Week 10? His picks are below. Let's gift the an extra touchdown. You know the are steaming from two straight lo ses, as well as all the re-runs of between and . Detroit is in disarray. Most alarming is how poorly the defense has fared -- the are allowing 30.6 points per game, . If they're not careful, might eat them up ... extra yards, I mean. They're also . At least they make up for it by allowing opposing quarterbacks to . will only throw for 300 -- because he won't need to throw in the fourth quarter. **Relevant stat:** Running back -- who has on the depth chart -- leads the in rushing yards (334) and yards from scrimmage (501). </content:weekly-predictions> Dallas finally gets to add one to the "W" column this week. You sense getting more comfortable in the ' offense -- yes, he threw in , but the Cameron Maybin Jersey offense was able to move on the Philly defense. This game is the season for this organization; even in the cruddy NFC East, falling to 2-7 would be too tall a Stetson hat to climb. As for the Bucs, the pieces are there to be competitive in the NFC, but not if they keep making the kinds of stupid mistakes they made last Sunday -- Tampa Bay practically pulled a Plaxico Burre s. Still, had difficulty finding receivers all day. That's why Dallas back and the running Nick Wittgren Jersey game will be crucial to the outcome. **Relevant stat:** The have lost six in a row without -- who has never lost more than three consecutive starts in a season. </content:weekly-predictions> Is this it? Is this where 8-0 Carolina finally stumbles? I picked against the last week for only the second time since late last season, and fans got all over me for . (By the way, I wonder how confident they were when cornerback in the fourth quarter.) Love this team, which I predicted last spring would threepeat in the NFC South -- a prediction even after went down. But there is no question that Ron Rivera's group has been playing with fire of late. And quarterback should be moving around even better in his second week back after . **Relevant stat:** The ' won't get many MVP votes, but he does have the highest percentage of his team's targets (69, for 28.3 percent), receptions (37, for 28 percent) and receiving yards (584, for 32.1 percent) among NFL tight ends. #TGE ( Effect) </content:weekly-predictions> The will likely once again , which means this is 's baby for the second straight week. (142 yards from scrimmage) -- but that was against the . defenders and alone -- like, just the two guys by themselves -- are as good as the Bolts' entire line. But hey! St. Louis allowed a 100-yard rusher for the first time since Week 2 ! Of course, it was , one of the NFL's best running backs, and he needed 29 carries to do it. should find plenty of the holes in Chicago's back end, holes that could've exploited Monday night (if he'd been working with anyone besides Stevie Johnson who could get open). How do you pick a game like this? The looked as though they were rebounding, having won three straight -- before they to the 1-6 . Sean Payton is being forced to ride it out with a young defense that has trouble getting off the field and a veteran corner who is . Luckily for , he shouldn't have to interfere much with these receivers, who drop balls aplenty. , who mi sed six games after , caught all of three balls for 15 yards in his triumphant return. Get excited. Thus, we're going with the superior quarterback in one of Week 10's flip-a-coin games. **Fun fact:** Since Week 5, Ben Watson has more receiving yards (429) than any tight end in the league. Cool. </content:weekly-predictions> Sandy Alcantara Jersey It's difficult to pick Philadelphia these days, as you're never quite sure which version of the team is going to show up. That said, if the ' offense keeps up the momentum it showed late versus the , they should be fine against the . Philly running backs coach Duce Staley did a masterful job of rotating the backs (which is apparently ) on Sunday night. The ground game should present problems for a Miami defense that allowed not one but two running backs to rush for over 100 yards . **Not-so-fun fact:** Miami quarterback has been sacked 162 times since 2012, more than anyone else in the NFL over that span. Ugh. </content:weekly-predictions> !!! Two high-flying offenses take off next, on the NFL on CBS!!! Love our "Thursday Night Football" partners, but I have a feeling Jim Nantz and Phil Simms won't be on this game call. Pittsburgh prevails due to home-field advantage, as well as Jones' comfort in the offense. Give the kid credit. He's made throws -- , or -- late in games when the have needed him to, taking what the defense gives him. The must take away the short stuff, creep their safeties up and dare Jones to beat them over the top. Getting in gear -- any gear; he only had 38 rushing yards -- would be dandy. Was going to pick the to win close on the road -- something they've struggled to do this season -- until I remembered I'd promised myself to after being let down by that team several times this season. Like , this is another near-impo sible game to predict. The ' should be easy pickings for and the Jags' air attack, but John Harbaugh's club is coming off a bye. Expect a heavy dose of , who hasn't received a 20-carry workload . Jacksonville's defense, meanwhile, could afford le s work, given that it ranks 30th in both and takeaways -- some two-tone ugline s to go with those helmets. Picked against , but I'm not doing the same this week. Carr was solid for the , save for a key interception and, obviously, taking the lo s. Carr has outplayed many of the so-called elite pa sers in the league, posting a higher pa ser rating (104.3) than , , , , , , , and . Interestingly enough, Carr has also outperformed a guy who was drafted a round earlier than him in 2014: quarterback , who is after suffering a head injury . Minnesota's defense has been the backbone of that team. But it's not like the are trotting Alan Page, Matt Blair and John Randle out there. We'll be looking at the 5-4 Raaaaaaaiders You'll hear a lot of banter this week about how the have been the ' kryptonite over the years. OK, cool. New England wins. This Tom Coughlin team is nothing like those 2007 and 2011 clubs, each of which could pre sure the pa ser. was lights out in 2011, especially in , when . The i sue now is Manning's lack of big plays. Overall, he hasn't fared terribly by any means, but he's completed just 14 pa ses of 25 yards or more thus far, tied for 21st in the league, despite having played more games than almost every other QB. On the other side, will have all day to pat the ball 500 times before finding some ex-XFL running back -- or whoever -- in space for 36 yards. The have nine sacks in nine games. The ' has by himself. The ' mini-hot streak cools off in the Mile High air. Denver stays in the race for a postseason bye (which will, incredibly, require at least a 14-2 record) by shutting the door on . The i sue for the Kansas City quarterback will be not only pa s protection, but how much traction can find against the ' front. Denver's linebackers continue to play outstanding football, although coordinator Wade Phillips will be without the services of this weekend. Smith has been sacked this season, most in the AFC. That should be exciting for , who might display that awkward fist-pump shimmy he used to flash in Dallas when he got all excitable. #Wade J. T. Realmuto Jersey Oh man, what a contest Sunday night. Sure hope it beats between these two teams, when while pulled a Roger Staubach from his Navy days okie-doke on you'll ever see. If Seattle is to have hopes of winning a third straight NFC West crown, this one qualifies as a must-win, as a victory would put Arizona up three games with a head-to-head advantage and only seven games to play. Hashtag relevant. **Cool note of the week:** traveled 22.60 mph on a run versus the , tied with of the for the fastest in the NFL this season. So what? I did that on a mongoose once, yo. </content:weekly-predictions> I'm fully cognizant of the troubles that the -- and specifically -- have had with the in the past (thinking postseason, here). But this isn't the same Dalton. He's a bona fide ginger -- and he's a bona fide MVP candidate. Upon hearing that from me on the set of "NFL HQ", LaVar Arrington said, "Yeah, and these aren't the same ." No, they're not. Although, might be more game than you think ... he's come on strong in the second halves of games, to sing nine touchdowns against a mere single pick and posting a 114.1 pa ser rating following halftime this season. So that means Houston won't lose as badly. (By the way, to those of you who feel this could qualify as a "trap" game for Jeff Locke Jersey Cincinnati, most "trap" games come on the road, not at home.) #WhoDey #hatethatItypedthat ALREADY COMPLETED The return of ! Convenient that the most heavily anticipated contest of Week 10 is also the first contest of Week 10. The key to a glorious for Rex Ryan will be the play of , who will have to fit the ball into tighter windows against the . Taylor went 11 for 12 against Miami's back seven but New York is better defensively, even if the ' secondary . Yes, -- who has become the player opposing coaching staffs seek out to attack -- is doubtful, while is questionable and safeties and are out. But there's still to contend with. **Side note:** When I mentioned on the set of "NFL Gameday Blitz" that Waldo was the name of the kid in the I got blank stares from and Ike Taylor. I'm a suming that's because they're strictly Sammy Hagar guys, with blind spots for the David Lee Roth years. </content:weekly-predictions>Follow Elliot Harrison on Twitter .

You'll often see analysts refer to a player's contract year as a source of motivation to put in extra work and play at their best, but Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell is not Francisco Lindor Jersey a fan of that idea.Before practice on Thursday, Campbell was asked about the notion of a contract year providing extra motivation for Jose Bautista Jersey a player, and he gave a great answer.Campbell said that he doesn't buy it while also noting that"we probably have the wrong guy" if a player needs a contract year to motivate him, according to .Campbell shot down the notion of a contract year. Says "we probably have the wrong guy" if they Jay Bruce Jersey 're not motivated enough already Jeff Risdon (@JeffRisdon) While Campbell's comment about having "the wrong guy" is spot on, there is at least some credence to be given to the idea that guys step up at least a little bit more when they are set to hit the open market.After all Matt Harvey Jersey , how many times have we seen a profe sional athlete play at a higher level in a contract season, get paid the following year, and then not live up to the new contract?By the way, the Lions have a grand total of 42 players on their current offseason roster set to hit free agency in 2025, Blank Jersey according to .

The defense, pulling a bit of a Benjamin Button, is getting younger and younger as the season unfolds.Already getting impact plays from rookies and up front and at nickel, could have five rookies Bobby Miller Jersey or more pre sed into key roles on defense as the team travels to face the in a crucial game Sunday."We all go through the week always preparing as if we're going to be the next to go in," said safety , an undrafted rookie from who made his first NFL start Sunday and had four tackles in the lo s to . "Paying attention to detail, always being prepared and always knowing your number can be called at any point, we all do a good job and I think it showed on Sunday when we had to step in for such a big game."The Bucs have injury concerns with four of their top players on defense, mainstays from their Super Bowl season three years ago. Corners (hip) and (foot) left last week's game against the 49ers and didn't return, as did linebacker (hip). Davis might be OK to play against the Colts, but on Wednesday, Bucs coach Todd Bowles said if they had a game that day, Dean and David would not play, nor would linebacker , who has been slowed by a foot injury.ADVERTISEMENT When those stars were sidelined Sunday against the 49ers, rookies stepped in. Merriweather had started in place of an injured and played the first 34 defensive snaps of his career, linebacker got his first real playing time with two tackles filling in for David, and corner had three tackles in 15 snaps in Corey Seager Jersey his defensive debut."It wasn't too big for them," co-defensive coordinator Larry Foote said Wednesday. "I was impre sed with the way they played. They looked mature. It wasn't like a fish out of water, as a lot of rookies look. This time of year, injuries are going to be picking up throughout the league, and depth is going to have to get us Don Sutton Jersey where we need to be."Tampa Bay (4-6) is only one game out of first place in the NFC South, but the Bucs need to change the momentum of their season with five lo ses in six games since their Week 5 bye. The rest of their schedule features all winnable games, but doing so with a rookie-loaded defense could make it more of a challenge."I thought they handled it well," said safety , the lone healthy starter left in the secondary when Sunday's game ended. "That's part of the game injuries happen, people go down. It's next man up. They came in, they were excited to play and I thought they played well."The Bucs had 13 rookies on their initial 53-man roster, so they've had strong contributions from their youngest players all season, especially on defense. Kancey, the team's first-round pick out of , was limited early this year by a calf injury but has two sacks and six tackles for lo s in his seven games. Diaby, a third Matt Beaty Jersey -rounder from , has caught fire in recent weeks. He's tied for second among all NFL rookies with four sacks and seven tackles for lo s, both one off the league's rookie lead. Izien, an undrafted rookie from , has 34 tackles and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions.Diaby had two sacks in Sunday's lo s and is making a strong case to overtake 2021 first-rounder pick for the starting role opposite . Diaby is a muscular 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, and when asked if he could compare the rookie's body type to anyone, Bowles' answer was "Optimus Prime."Can a rookie-led defense transform the Bucs from an inconsistent unit to something that can help Tampa Bay chase a third straight division title? That group also includes Joc Pederson Jersey a third undrafted rookie in outside linebacker , who has barely played but had a quarterback hit to set up a Winfield interception in the team's win over the two weeks ago. Another part of that equation could be Dennis, a fourth-round pick from Pittsburgh who has leaned on advice he gets daily from David: Trust yourself."Once you get your feet wet, it's all downhill," Dennis said of his comfort level after playing on defense Sunday. "It's really fun just to play football."Greg Auman is FOX Sports' NFC South reporter, covering the Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers and Saints. He is in his 10th season covering the Bucs and the NFL full-time, having spent time at the Tampa Bay Times and The Athletic. You can follow him on Twitter at @gregauman.

The final week of the NFL season is almost always one of the wildest weeks of the year, and that usually happens for two reasons: For one, it's the only week of the Ben Gamel Jersey regular season where every team plays on the same day; and two, it's the week where the race for the final few playoff spots (and final seeding) will finally come to an end.To make things fair during the final week of the season, the NFL waits as long as po sible before announcing the kickoff times in Week 17. The league finally announced the start times for each game on Sunday night, and many teams that were previously scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. ET -- like the , and -- will now be kicking off at 4:25 p.m. ET.Based on the new kickoff times for Sunday, it's looking like we're going to get a wild finish to the NFL season.The 1 p.m. ET slot is being given to teams that have either clinched a spot in the playoffs or teams that have already been eliminated. For Matt Festa Jersey instance, the and are battling it out for the second seed in the AFC, which is important because it comes with a bye. To prevent one team from po sibly resting its starters, the teams will kick off at the same time on Sunday (1 p.m. ET).In Nelson Cruz Jersey past years, you could have had a scenario where the Chiefs kicked off at 1 p.m. ET and the Patriots kicked off at 4:25 p.m. ET. In that instance, if the Chiefs kicked off first and lost, the Patriots could simply rest their starters in the later game. The NFL wants to prevent situations like that, which is why the league waits so long to announce the kickoff times.After the early games, things should get kind of crazy in the 4:25 p.m. ET window and that's because there will be two playoff spots up for grabs. With five spots already clinched in the AFC, the Titans, Steelers and will be battling it out for the final spot, and they'll all be kicking Austin Nola Jersey off at 4:25 p.m. ET.Out of that group, the Titans have the easiest path to the playoffs -- all they have to do is win and they're in. For a look at all the playoff scenarios that will be on the table for Sunday,.In the NFC, the only playoff spot still up for grabs is the NFC East title. Due to that fact, the Cowboys and have both been flexed to 4:25 p.m. ET so that they're kicking off at the same time. If the Eagles beat the , they'll be headed to the playoffs, but Zac Grotz Jersey if they lose and the Cowboys win, then Dallas will be headed to the postseason.Here's a look at the entire kickoff schedule for Week 17. The NFL that the and would be closing out the season with the final Sunday night game of the year, and that game is also listed below.1 p.m. ET at Patriots (CBS) at Chiefs (CBS) at (CBS) at (Fox) at (Fox) at (Fox) at (Fox) at (Fox)4:25 p.m ETTitans at (CBS)Steelers at (CBS)Raiders at (CBS) at (CBS) at Cowboys (Fox)Eagles at Giants (Fox) at (Fox)8:20 p.m. ET49ers at Seahawks (NBC)

There figures to be at least seven starting quarterbacks who played for a Pac-12 school in the NFL this season, and that number could swell considerably based on this year's crop of quarterbacks out West who will be hearing their names called by NFL Commi sioner Roger Goodell before too long. While other Cornell Armstrong Men Jersey conferences proudly boast about their running backs, wide receivers or defensive linemen, in the Pac-12, the 2014 season begins and ends with a discu sion about the quarterbacks. A remarkable 10 teams return a starter at the position, with only Arizona and Washington having to figure things out with a fresh face. It's not just the fact that Pac-12 programs are bringing back players with experience, either -- these guys are good. Really, really good.The SEC can rightly pump its chest for producing four signal-callers who were drafted in May, but the Pac-12 has the potential to equal that number in 2015 ... in the first round. Oregon's Marcus Mariota rightfully enters the season as a Heisman Trophy favorite and is being touted by some as the No. 1 overall pick when his time in Eugene is up. UCLA's Brett Hundley has graced the cover of Sports Illustrated twice in three weeks and is one reason the Bruins are not only the favorite in the South Division but a potential College Football Playoff dark horse."Never seen anything like this where you have multiple guys in our conference that you could say could be the No. 1 pick overall in the draft," Stanford's David Shaw recently said. "You have multiple guys in the conference that could be All-Americans and could lead the nation in quarterback rating or lead the nation in yards and yards per attempt, in touchdown pa ses, and that could be any of five or six guys that could do that this year."Oregon State's Sean Mannion figures to set a number of the conference's pa sing records and could put them out of reach for some time if he continues on the pace he set last year. Taylor Kelly at Arizona State is often overlooked but directs the Sun Devils' offense as well as anybody operates an offense in the country. USC's Cody Ke sler started 2013 slow but was outdueling the nation's leading pa ser by the end of the season, and he'll matchup early with Stanford's big-play signal-caller Kevin Hogan. It says plenty about the depth the Pac-12 has when those names come up before the Air Raid savants (Washington State's Connor Halliday and Cal's Jared Goff) and the dual-threats from the mountains (Utah's Travis Wilson and Colorado's Sefo Liufau).If you're not familiar with the quarterbacks out West, we suggest you read up quickly. They are all quality starters, and they are here to lead the Pac-12 to a banner season on the gridiron.Predicted finishSouth Division1. UCLA: The defense has playmakers at every Emmanuel Sanders Youth Jersey level and a more consistent Hundley on offense make the Bruins hard to beat if they're on their game.2. USC: The Trojans still have the most talented starting 22 in the conference, but depth will once again be a key question. Steve Sarkisian's up-tempo offense could be right behind Oregon in most categories.3. Arizona State: The offense will be really good, and that's a good thing because the Sun Devils might have to win some shootouts with all the new faces on defense.4. Arizona: Rich Rodriguez is going to have another new quarterback, but whoever it is will be throwing to the best wide receiving corps in the league. Defensive depth continues to improve, but finding a new workhorse running back will be key in 2014.5. Utah: Can the Utes get back to a bowl game? Having Travis Wilson back under center is a step in the right direction. How quickly the defense gels will be key in determining if Kyle Whittingham is on the hot seat heading into next season.6. Colorado: Mike MacIntyre is building the Buffs up the right way -- and they'll be better this year -- but the team is still a few steps behind their Pac-12 brethren.National title contendersOregon, Stanford and UCLA: If anybody makes it out of the Pac-12 unscathed, they will certainly have earned a high seed in this year's College Football Playoff. The Ducks once again have a shot at the title and need to act while their window is open with Mariota running the show. Their defense is vastly underrated, but a healthy quarterback should be enough to get out of the conference championship game and make some noise against the powers to the east. The Cardinal's loaded schedule gives Stanford hope, even if the team loses one of its tough road contests. Stanford has the talent and scheme to beat anybody in the country. UCLA remains the biggest question mark among the contenders. The Bruins have quality coaching and plenty of talent, but also a history of falling short of expectations. If the Bruins are to truly become elite under Jim Mora, this is the season to do so. Offensive Player of the YearQB Marcus Mariota, Oregon: Mariota (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) seemed like he became an afterthought on the national landscape last season after suffering a knee injury and losing to Stanford, but that glo ses over how great his season was. His completion percentage slipped slightly from his first Daniel Jones Women Jersey year as a starter, but he threw for 3,665 yards and posted a whopping 31-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio that was one of the best in the country. All this while averaging nearly 10 yards a carry, late-season slide included. He needs to have some new weapons emerge at receiver, but nobody is primed to put up better numbers and challenge for the Heisman like Mariota in the Ducks' offense.Defensive Player of the YearDE Leonard Williams, USC: Williams (6-5, 310 pounds) was an All-American last season despite a bum shoulder, which means his 2014 ceiling is high. He had 74 tackles, 13.5 TFL and six sacks in 2013, and those numbers should go up despite opponents throwing at least a double-team his way. New coordinator Justin Wilcox turned Hau'oli Kikaha into a 13-sack player out of nowhere at Washington, so the sky is the limit for Williams this year -- even with more attention paid to the junior.Breakout playerQB Kevin Hogan, Stanford: It's hard to call a quarterback who has helped lead his team to back-to-back Rose Bowls a "breakout player," but Hogan has never been the brightest star on the Cardinal. He gets pa sed over for some of the other bigger names at the position in the conference, but he's entering his third season as a starter and his decision making should be key to the offense. Without a workhorse tailback to hand off to and a number of explosive playmakers at receiver, Hogan is in the running to earn All-Conference honors and keep Stanford among the nation's elite.Player on the spotQB Brett Hundley, UCLA: He's said this is his last season in Westwood, and UCLA is primed to capture the conference title for the first time in over a decade. That puts a lot of pre sure on the affable signal-caller for the Bruins, whose media game might be as good as his play on the field. He completed 67 percent of his pa ses in 2013 and posted 24 touchdowns, good numbers for sure, but they might have to be better if the team is to live up to expectations. If he can cut down on his turnovers and sacks -- two big i sues in the past -- then the sky is the limit. But make no mistake, the pre sure is on the one they call the "savior" around campus.Three best non-conference gamesMichigan State at Oregon, Sept. 6: This might be the best non-conference game of the season in college football. The Spartans have a blueprint to stop the Ducks from Rose Bowl opponent Stanford, and the big-play Ducks getting an early win could propel them to a national title.UCLA vs. Texas, Sept. 13: Texas is always a marquee opponent, and playing at AT&T Stadium should give UCLA an early look at what could await if it makes it to the national title game. This is a big stage for Hundley and Co. to announce they're for real Johnathan Abram Women Jersey in 2014.Notre Dame at USC, Nov. 29: Yes, the shine was taken off this one with some of the , but it remains one of the great non-conference rivalries in the sport and still has the potential to be a top-20 matchup. If Steve Sarkisian wants to keep his fan base happy, winning this is a must.Three biggest conference gamesOregon at UCLA, Oct. 11: This could be the first of two meetings and a po sible Pac-12 Championship Game preview.Stanford at Oregon, Nov. 1: This has been the Pac-12's version of LSU-Alabama the past few years, and that should continue in Eugene with the Ducks looking for revenge.USC at Stanford, Sept. 6: We'll find out early on if either team is for real in the conference Dorance Armstrong Jr. Men Jersey race with this Week 2 matchup. Preseason All-Conference TeamOffenseQB Marcus Mariota, Oregon (6-4, 219, junior) RB Byron Marshall, Oregon (5-10, 205, junior) RB D.J. Foster, Arizona State (5-11, 203, junior) WR Nelson Agholor, USC (6-1, 190, junior) WR Ty Montgomery, Stanford (6-2, 220, senior) TE Connor Hamlett, Oregon State (6-7, 266, senior) T Andrus Peat, Stanford (6-7, 316, junior) T Jake Fisher, Oregon (6-6, 300, senior) G Alex Redmond, UCLA (6-5, 300, sophomore) G Josh Garnett, Stanford (6-5, 325, junior) C Hroni s Grasu, Oregon (6-3, 297, senior)DefenseDE Leonard Williams, USC (6-5, 300, junior) DT Danny Shelton, Washington (6-2, 339, senior) DT Arik Armstead, Oregon (6-8, 290, junior) DE Henry Anderson, Stanford (6-6, 287, senior) LB Myles Jack, UCLA (6-1, 230, sophomore) LB Shaq Thompson, Washington (6-1, 228, junior) LB Hayes Pullard, USC (6-1, 235, senior) CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon (5-10, 195, senior) CB Marcus Peters, Washington (6-0, 190, junior) S Jordan Richards, Stanford (5-11, 210, senior) SS Su'a Cravens, USC (6-1, 225, sophomore)Special teamsK Andy Philips, Utah (5-10, 190, sophomore) P Tom Hackett, Utah (5-11, 187, junior) KR Ty Montgomery, Stanford (6-2, 220, senior) PR Nelson Agholor, USC (6-1, 190, junior)You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter .