TAMPA, Fla. - Few expected the Buccaneers to win as easily as they did in of the , Fernando Rodney Jersey so it's fitting that surprise stars on both sides of the ball factored heavily into Tampa Bay's victory.It started on offense, where the Eagles made it a priority to cover Bucs receivers and , limiting them to 38 yards on three catches in the first three quarters. What that did was leave Tampa Bay's secondary options open, and was superb in finding tight end and receivers and a combined 11-for-16 for 210 yards and two touchdowns in targeting that unsung trio."They were running a couple coverages where they were double-teaming Mike and Chris at the same time, so those guys had a lot of one-on-ones and took advantage of their opportunities ... yeah, they played amazing," Mayfield said. "Pretty simple plays, they did the rest. That's always good as a quarterback just to be able to give it to them. An easy throw and they do the rest, so happy for those guys."Otton set his career highs with eight catches for 89 yards, and Moore and Palmer had the two biggest plays of the game. Moore, who spent the first half of the season on the practice squad and totaled just 94 receiving yards in the regular season, weaved his way through the Eagles defense for a 44-yard touchdown and a 10-0 lead early.ADVERTISEMENT "Staying ready," said Moore, who turned 29 on Monday and savored his birthday touchdown. "You never know when the time is going to come and whenever it comes, you better be ready. That's really what we've been preaching and having CG (Godwin) in the room helped us out the whole time; keeping us on the field the whole time, pumping us up, it helped us a lot."Palmer, a sixth-round rookie from Joe Mauer Jersey Nebraska, played more than 700 snaps this season as the Bucs' third receiver, but no play was bigger than Monday, when he broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage late in the third and sped 56 yards for a score to put the Bucs up 25-9."I'm just ble sed to be in that position, to make that play at that right moment," Palmer said. "The team needed it and that's what I did."Part of Tampa Bay keeping the Eagles offense in check was Todd Bowles changing the look of his front end and the personnel at safety on the back end. The Bucs opened the game with a six-man front four down linemen and two outside linebackers with just three defensive backs on the field, showing a priority to keep the Eagles from running the ball consistently.Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers crush Jalen Hurts, Eagles In the teams' first meeting in Week 3, the Eagles' dominance was built around Blake Parker Jersey their running game, piling up 201 yards on 40 carries, but the Bucs took that away Monday. finished with a season-low 42 rushing yards on just 15 carries even the team's famed "Tush Push" was stopped, as the Eagles lined up in the formation on a 2-point conversion from the 1, and the Bucs stopped it to keep their lead at 17-9 in the second quarter.Hurts, who finished the regular season ranked third among NFL quarterbacks with 605 rushing yards, was limited to pa sing Monday, getting a single carry for five yards in the third quarter. He hadn't been limited to just one carry in any game since 2020, and the Eagles secondary kept his pa sing game in check as well.In the first meeting in September, the Bucs had safety play 79 of 80 defensive snaps in the lopsided lo s, but he didn't play a single snap on defense Monday. Instead, the Bucs trusted versatile second-year pro , who played every snap in the first meeting at outside corner, filling in for the injured Carlton Davis. With Davis healthy, the Bucs used McCollum and undrafted rookie at safety and nickel, and they played a physical game, with McCollum delivering a hit that knocked Eagles receiver out of the game with a concu sion."He's earned his playing time," Bowles said of McCollum. "Like I said, we can use him anywhere we want."The Eagles switched things up at inside linebacker as well, starting backup ahead of veteran and captain , preferring him Glen Perkins Jersey against the run. Britt ended up playing 33 snaps and getting three tackles, with Davis playing 26 and getting two, the rotation working well on a day when the Bucs had sound tackling throughout the game."I think we did pretty Anibal Sanchez Jersey well," defensive tackle said. "There was a lot of new stuff that they put on us this week, but we all came together and just stuck with the game plan. We did our jobs; that was the main emphasis this week to be where you're supposed to be and do your job. I think we did that in all three phases of the game. I think we did a good job of it, and it turned out well for us."Sunday's divisional-round game at Detroit will bring another difficult opponent that beat the Bucs handily in the regular season. The Lions made easy work of the Bucs in a 20-6 win in October, and it might take another game with unexpected contributions from deep on the roster if Tampa Bay is to flip the scoreboard as the Bucs did Monday night.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.
When we decided to select a Mount Rushmore of pro sporting figures for Dallas, the result was immediately obvious, succinctly summarized in this fashion:Three Cowboys and Dirk.MORE: Which three Cowboys would involve at least a little discu sion, but in a region that grew nearly six-fold since the National Football League wisely chose to grant an expansion team in 1960, that has built its identity on that singular blue-and-white star, three of the faces on that monument were going to be obscured by helmets.Eligibility for inclusion in this project by The Sporting News mandated a city have a team in four of the five most established team sports (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, WNBA). Dallas produced impre sive candidates with baseballs Rangers (Pudge Rodriguez, Nolan Ryan) and hockeys Stars (Mike Modano). The Rangers have no championships in their history, though, and the Stars own one Stanley Cup.Even though the Cowboys havent visited in a while, they own five Super Bowl victories. This is a football town in a football Jonathan Davis Jersey region in a football nation. The NBAs Mavericks never will challenge that, but they executed one of the cleverest trades in the leagues history and helped make the team a champion and much more than a diversion between the final football game and the start of training camp.MORE: I dont think theres any huge debate regarding this, Wendell Barnhouse, who spent 25 years with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, told TSN. Yall did good.Staubach was so great so soon its easy to forget he didnt have that long to be great. Really, thats the only memory we have of Staubach. He was elite, and then he exited. He became a star from the moment he became a starter, but that moment had been delayed so long that retirement age raced up on him.It began with his decision to attend the United States Naval Academy, which meant his college years would be followed by a commitment to four years of service at a time when the U.S. was becoming increasingly involved in military action in Vietnam. So even though he won the Heisman Trophy as a Navy junior in 1964, and was drafted after that season in the 10th round by the Cowboys because a year in prep school meant he was eligible even with one more season remaining with the Midshipmen, he did not join Dallas until training camp prior to the 1969 season.Were talking about three and , , and are breaking down your Dallas Mount Rushmore Join the conversation or listen in (@sportingnews) And even though he stood there as a future Hall of Famer at age 27, he did not become the Cowboys starter until the fourth game in 1971, just four months prior to his 30th birthday. He finished runner-up in the MVP voting and won the Super Bowl that year. They reached the playoffs in seven of his eight seasons as primary starter, the Super Bowl in four of them. He lifted the Lombardi Trophy twice.Legendary coach Tom Landry called him po sibly the best combination of a pa ser, an athlete and a leader ever to play in the NFL. And that seems reasonable, given how much Staubach learned about leadership during his military education and career, his four times leading the league in pa ser rating (including his final season, 1979, at age 37) and his 20 career rushing touchdowns. Its fair to point out, though, that Landry often urged Staubach to use that athleticism a bit le s often to scramble out of the pocket.He seemed to have that competitivene s: Hey, Im the quarterback, were not going to lose. Were going to find some way to come back, Barnhouse said. And I think that might have been the thing that gave the team and the franchise something extra. He was going to figure out a way to get a win.It was a talented team. They had come very close a couple of times as far as reaching the mountaintop, but Staubach was the guy that gave the team the confidence that little extra something they need to be able to win a Super Bowl.Staubach produced 21 game-winning drives in his nine seasons as a starter, which seems like a small number but works out to 2.3 per season, just short of the 2.5 per season of Tom Brady and 3.1 of Ben Roethlisberger (in shorter seasons). But Staubach produced exactly as many postseason GWDs as Big Ben, including the one against the Vikings in 1975 that included two long-distance pa ses to Drew Pearson, the second a 51-yard touchdown that was the original Hail Mary throw.Staubach might have set the NFL record for nicknames, Barnhouse said. Because he was Captain America, Roger the Dodger and Captain Comeback.The Cowboys Toronto Blue Jays Blank Jersey wanted Staubach to continue for at least two years after his terrific 1979 season, but he thought it best for his long-term health to retire at that point. Its hard to argue with his decision in retrospect. He spent the next several decades building a $600 million commercial real estate empire. If there ever were any desire to turn this Mount Rushmore into an actual monument, hed be the most obvious choice to hit up for a donation.Staubach By The NumbersWinning percentage (2nd all-time, min. 85 wins).745Super Bowl titles2Super Bowl MVPs1Pro Bowls6Pa sing titles4SN ARCHIVES: He was the first draft pick the Dallas Cowboys ever made, and the perfection of that decision goes beyond the nine All-Pro selections, the six championship game appearances, the two Super Bowls, the one Lombardi Trophy. It was the symmetry, as well: A young man grows up just a short cattle drive from the city and is forced to finish high school in Oregon because of economic hardship that visited many in the area, but he returns to the area to play college football and rise to stardom at TCU and then becomes, in a sense, Cowboy No. 1.Thats a story that will not fade.He was involved in a lot of firsts: first Super Bowl team, first Super Bowl team that won, was the first guy to go into the Ring of Honor, the first Hall of Famer the team had, Barnhouse said. In a lot of ways, he really was kind of an anchor, and he arguably was the best defensive player in the history of the franchise. You could argue, if youre not swayed by recency bias, hes the best player in the teams history.In the foreword to Lillys autobiography, A Cowboys Life, Roger Staubach declares Lilly revolutionized the position of defensive tackle and said teammates were in awe of Lillys skill and dynamism.In one game, I remember seeing the guard pull and the center trying to cut Lilly off, Staubach wrote. Bob, who stood 65 tall and weighed about 260 pounds, literally jumped over the center!He is credited with 95.5 sacks in his career, although that wasnt an official NFL statistic until nearly a decade after his career ended. The numbers were compiled by statisticians watching game film. He pulled down 15 quarterbacks in the 1966 season, and 12.5 in 1968, in a stage of the sports evolution where teams attempted 25 percent fewer pa ses than now.Lilly was entering the latter part of his career in the 1971 season, but he still was top 10 in the vote for league MVP and second for Defensive Player of the Year as he helped the Cowboys finish 11-3 and reach a second consecutive Super Bowl. The breadth of his ability was evident on a single play from their blowout of the Miami Dolphins, Lilly lining up to the right of the center, slicing through a gap at the snap and joined defensive end Larry Cole in chasing Bob Griese backward. Cole couldnt quite catch him, but Lilly ultimately did 29 yards behind the line. No defensive player in Super Bowl history has matched that level of single-play destruction.When the Cowboys first started out, they were pretty mediocre, Barnhouse said. He became kind of their first star when they were trying to establish themselves. He became the anchor for the Doomsday Defense. I think you could say he was the reason they got as good as they got as quickly as they did.Lilly By The NumbersFirst-team All-Pro selections7Pro Bowls11Super Bowl titles1Consecutive games196Career sacks (unofficial)95.5SN ARCHIVES: It was fitting Nowitzki would come to consider himself a Texan, because it was there he was introduced to the world of basketball, the sport that eventually made him a champion, a Hall of Russell Martin Jersey Famer and an extremely wealthy man.Although he was born and raised in Wurzburg, Germany, more than 5,000 miles away, it was a Sunday afternoon in San Antonio that transformed Dirk from a prized recruit for a few top colleges into a must-see NBA Draft prospect and, ultimately, into a Maverick-for-life.Discovering basketball at 13 after hed been mocked as a too-tall tennis player, Nowitzki was taught by his personal coach to master perimeter skills rather than simply become a standard low-post big man. By the time he came to the U.S. to challenge Rashard Lewis, Al Harrington and Stromile Swift at the Nike Hoop Summit game, staged during the NCAA Final Four weekend, he had developed into the best player on the floor. He scored 33 points and grabbed 19 rebounds.For the Mavs, that was it, writes author Sean Deveney in his fascinating (and forthcoming) book, The History of the NBA in Twelve Games. They held the No. 6 pick in the draft and arranged a trade with Milwaukee; they would select Michigans Robert Traylor for the Bucks and, in return, would get the No. 9 pick to choose Nowitzki and also the No. 19 selection.After Dirk accumulated 31,560 points, 15 playoff seasons, 12 All-NBA selections, two NBA Finals appearances and one Larry OBrien Trophy for the Mavs organization, while Traylor never averaged more than 5.7 points, this ranks with one of the greatest trade heists in league history.Dallas got more than Jason Adam Jersey its greatest-ever basketball player, though.As he got better and better and more world-renowned, he became a part of the Dallas fabric, longtime city resident and ESPN basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla told TSN. It was not unusual to see him out at dinner. At least a couple times I remember jogging, and Id see this giant figure coming my way in the distance and it would be Dirk jogging by in the summertime and just waving.He became a very una suming superstar. Its rare that somebody spends an entire Hall-of-Fame career in one city anymore and becomes so connected to one franchise like Dirk. That would have been enough to be on anybodys Mt. Rushmore, but to win an NBA title kind of validated his greatne s as a player and his standing in the Dallas community.It was not an easy title to win. Remember, 2011 was the first year of the LeBron James-Dwyane Wade-Chris Bosh triumvirate in Miami, and the Mavs were underdogs in that NBA Finals series. Dirk was 32, past his peak and edging toward the boundary of his prime. But he was not leaving the court without a title.He barely left the court at all, averaging 40 minutes in the series and filling that time with 26 points, 9.7 rebounds and only a single mi sed free throw in 46 attempts.Its such a football-oriented city that even though we have all four major sports and at various times the Rangers, Mavericks and Stars have all had great succe s, Dirk was able to fit comfortably into the community, Fraschilla said. Because it is still a football city.Nowitzki By The NumbersCareer points (No. 6 all-time)31,560All-Star Games14MVP1NBA titles1Career games played (No. 4 all-time)1,522SN ARCHIVES: He is the leading rusher in NFL history, nearly 2,000 yards ahead of the great Walter Payton and also scored more rushing touchdowns than anyone, ever. He was a first-ballot selection by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is among the select group of players with three Super Bowl rings, earned with the Cowboys in the 1992, 1993 and 1995 seasons. He was a league MVP and Super Bowl MVP.And yet somehow, he remains underrated.Admit it: If you were going to cut one of the footballers off this list in favor of a baseball player or hockey player or even another Cowboy, perhaps one of the other 90s stars be it Troy Aikman or Michael Irvin, the guy to go would be Emmitt.This has been his entire career in football, really, starting with his dismi sal by recruiting expert Max Emfinger as Smith was on his way to playing for the Florida Gators. At the time, Emfinger called him a lugger, not a runner. Hes not fast. He cant get around the corner. When he falls flat on his face, remember where you heard it first. Smith was ninth in Heisman Trophy voting after his freshman year.Even after that, even after hed rushed for 1,599 yards as a junior and been named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and became one of the first college undercla smen to enter the NFL Draft, the Cowboys were able to get him with the 17th pick, heisted from the Steelers in exchange for dropping down four picks and adding a third-rounder. Only six of the 16 players taken ahead of him made even a single Pro Bowl.You consider the Triplets: Aikman wouldnt have been Aikman without Smith, or Irvin, Barnhouse said. They were a three-legged stool, and a two-legged stool doesnt stand up. It was an old-style offense. Aikman was under center almost the whole time. You had a fullback. You had a tight end and two wide receivers. And a really good offensive line. And that was the offense.They needed someone like Smith who was a consistent yard-gainer. One of the knocks on him was his size, but also he didnt have breakaway speed. Maybe 10 years ago, someone got ahold of the Cowboys scouting report from that draft cla s, and other than the fact whoever the scout was mi spelled Smiths first name, some of the concerns about him were they rated him as a 5 for acceleration and a 6 for power. That doesnt sound great.But even though he wasnt one of those guys you thought was going to break it for 80, you also didnt think he was going to get stuffed for a 2-yard lo s.Smith stood 5-9 and weighed 216 pounds during his playing career and was timed at 4.55 yards in the 40-yard dash. He did not po se s the paralyzing quickne s that made contemporary Barry Sanders a legend. In Smiths 13 years with the Cowboys, though, he never ceased moving forward. Thats true whether its in regards to the 10 seasons in which he appeared in every game that mattered or the 4,052 carries that almost inevitably produced positive yardage.He was that constant ingredient: When we run the ball with him, something good is going to happen, Barnhouse said. He was always there. After they won the first Super Bowl, the next year they were trying to clinch home field and they played the Giants, and he suffered a first-degree shoulder Vladimir Guerrero Jr Jersey separation. You knew he was hurt. And the Giants back then were still pretty damn good on defense. He kept playing, and they won in overtime. Now maybe they would have gone on and won the Super Bowl, anyway.Or they might not have. But Smith turned a close contest with the Buffalo Bills into a blowout with two fourth-quarter touchdowns. And they sure as hell did.Smith By The NumbersCareer rushing yards (No. 1 all-time)18,355 (17,162 with DAL)Career rushing TDs (No. 1 all-time)164 (153 with DAL)Rushing titles4Super Bowl titles3Pro Bowls8SN ARCHIVES:
Members of the 2015 cla s are settling in with their new franchises and are looking to make an impre sion on the league early in their first season. Here's a ranking of the top 100 rookies based on who will make the biggest impact in Year 1.1. QB , :Bottom line -- nobody in this draft cla s will have a greater impact on their new team than the guy under center for Lovie Smith.2. S , :Collins is already a suming a leadership role for the and fills a huge need for a team that will have to contain some high-powered offenses.3. WR , : The Alabama star will provide an instant boost to an offense that was dreadful last season and enters 2015 looking to pa s the ball with second-year pro .4. WR/RS , :Meet 's new best friend, a dynamo out of the slot who will create plenty of mismatches and boost the return game instantly.5. RB , : Gurley will be the workhorse back for a run-heavy offense, barring any setbacks as he returns from an ACL tear.6. QB , :The Week 1 starter for the will have plenty of pre sure to perform as the new face of the franchise in the most interesting offensive experiment in the NFL.7. WR , : is gone and his immediate replacement could put up similar numbers in Chip Kelly's offense.8. WR , :Defenses might rotate toward Alshon Jeffrey this year, so White will have opportunities to make big plays if gets him the ball.9. RB , :The path is there for Coleman to be the primary tailback, and he will be a big part of the team's plans early in his career.10. RB , :The team will still throw the ball around, but Gordon should be a focal point for the offense from Day 1.11. DE , :There were plenty of high-quality edge rushers in this year's draft, but things set up best for Beasley to have the biggest immediate impact.12. DE , :The Dallas pa s rush was non-existent at times last season. Gregory will have plenty of opportunities to change that playing opposite and, eventually, .13. TE , :'s new best friend will be Williams, who might not finish with a ton of yards but should rack up catches and touchdowns as a starter.14. DT , :The new regime in the Windy City Travis Wood Jersey needs a big man in the middle of the new 3-4 defense, and Goldman will fill that role while bringing some athleticism to the trenches, too.15. CB , :Peters is a physical corner who will immediately slow down offenses.16. CB , :There are plenty of good receivers in NFC North, so Waynes will be tested early and often.17. WR , :Parker should be the No. 1 WR for right away.18. CB , :The secondary has long been an i sue for the , and Johnson can shore up that area immediately. 19. OLB , : His playing time might be more limited than other first-round picks, but the presence of and should allow Ray to see -- and win -- some one-on-one matchups.20. DT , :There are few better matches between player and team than Shelton manning the middle for the .21. OL , :The undrafted first-round talent will likely start at guard to boost Michael Fulmer Jersey the already top-notch offensive line in Dallas.22. RB , :Mariota isn't the only player in Nashville who will be asked to a sume a big role early, as Cobb will split carries with .23. OL , : Humphries should help take care of while also boosting the run game.24. OLB Bud Dupree, :Given recent departures, Dupree will have no choice but to play a big role for the ' defense.25. ILB , :A tackling machine in college, Kendricks should continue to be one in the Twin Cities.26. WR , :Opposite , Strong will have plenty of opportunities to make plays. The only limitation for him might be the questionable QB situation in Houston.27. ILB , :The team wanted a physical thumper in the middle of the defense and got a good one in Perryman.28. WR , :Hardy will fill the role in Atlanta and brings a set of sure hands and some savvy route running to it as 's new target.29. WR , :Mariota has some weapons at wideout but none can match DGB's potential as a red-zone threat. Could a double-digit TD total be in his future?30. RB , :His ability to do it all will earn him reps early and he could quickly become 's running mate.31. DL , :The most talented player in the draft will showcase his skills, but the team's stacked depth chart will limit his snaps a bit.32. S , :Randall will find the field in a variety of different spots for a team with its eye on a return to the .33. WR , :Defenses will have to respect Smith's speed and he's a perfect complement to the receivers already on the roster.34. WR , :It might take a while before the raw prospect gets fully up to speed, but he can create mismatches right away.35. DT , :Brown will add versatility and playmaking ability to the ' defensive line from Day 1. 36. WR , :The have a lot of talent at wideout, but there's little doubt will quickly get on the same page with Dorsett, just as Luck once did with .37. DL , :Edwards figures to start right away for Jack Del Rio and will showcase his talent in a well-defined role.38. RB , :RB will still play a big role, but Abdullah will help in a number of areas, including the pa sing game.39. TE , :James is going to make his biggest impact as a post-up option in the end zone, and he should see a fair share of opportunities playing behind .40. OL , : Flowers should immediately boost the pa s protection and run game for an offensive line that has been in flux recently.41. WR , : The are expecting Crowder to be a factor on offense and special teams right away.42. RB , :Has the tools to become the No. 1 back and will help young quarterback with his ability as a pa s protector and receiver.43. OL , :Don't be surprised if Peat is inserted into the lineup early and the team starts running behind him nearly every play.44. DL , :He can spell and be an a set in sub-packages on defense.45. WR , :The coaching staff has a good game plan for bringing Funche s along after their succe s with last year.46. TE , :He'll be a mainstay in two-tight-end sets and it wouldn't be that surprising if he becomes the starter by the end of the season.47. CB , :He sometimes gets lost in the shuffle when talking about the ' draft picks, but Dallas is counting on the first-round pick to shore up the secondary, and he should be a mainstay on special teams.48. OL , :'s protection has been iffy for a while and Williams will hope to shore up that area of the offense.49. OL , Jack Morris Jersey :Scherff will hold down the right tackle spot from Day 1 and will look to help set a physical edge for a team reshaping its offensive identity.50. ILB , :Anthony should find a home in the middle of the defense sooner rather than later.51. OT , : The Bucs' line was a me s last year and Smith could be part of the answer in protecting Winston.52. ILB , : He is a little limited in coverage, but the have somebody who can at minimum shore up the middle of the defense against the run.53. CB , : Expect him to be a quick study as the nickel corner for a team looking for a few mi sing pieces on the back end.54. DT , : No Ngata, no problem. Davis can be a nice complement to .55. DT , : Has a chance to be a sneaky-good addition next to who can get upfield on pa sing downs.56. OLB , : Todd Bowles will turn Mauldin into a productive edge rusher who can get to the QB in the right situation.57. RB , : There's no reason he won't be tag-teaming with in the backfield and really solidifying a role on third down with his pa s-catching skills.58. OLB , : One of the more puzzling picks in the draft will help the contain folks from sideline-to-sideline, but acclimating to a single role could take some time.59. TE , : will get all the attention, but the hard-nosed O'Leary will find ways -- small and large -- of being a contributor.60. DT , : One of the best value picks in the draft likely already has a role set for Gus Bradley's defense.61. WR , : A threat to take it to the house in the return game, don't be surprised if Nelson makes his presence known in a crowded receiver corps, too.62. RB , : is the top guy and has shown flashes, but Jones could be a nice weapon off the bench to pick up tough third downs and vulture some touchdowns.63. WR , : The team has nowhere to go but up when it comes to receivers, and Conley will be able to find the end zone with his skills opposite .64. RB , : A bowling ball has been the best description of Robinson, and he could be the player the team turns to in order to move the sticks.65. RB , : Don't be surprised if he quickly works his way up the depth chart. Bruce Arians will have some create uses for his abilities. 66. WR , : There's no reason why the savvy and smart Bell can't be the top receiving option for Winston out of the slot as a rookie.67. DT , : Not an every-down player, but he'll be able to provide a nice boost in the trenches as a tough guy to block.68. RB , : isn't going anywhere, but he'll have some pre sure taken off him with the presence of Langford, who fits what John Fox wants to do in the run game.69. DE , : Clark is a controversial selection to say the least, but it's likely Pete Carroll has a role carved out for him on an already good defense.70. G , : The super smart guard might not start right away, but he'll eventually contribute to the team's interior line and really move some bodies in the run game.71. OLB , : He'll have one job -- rush the pa ser -- and will be able to do it in a good situation in Cleveland.72. DT , :He'll be part of the rotation early for a rebuilding team before eventually a suming the starting role and holding down one edge.73. CB , :The team needed a good nickel corner and Williams can a sume that role early while being a versatile contributor on special teams.74. CB , :His ability to play multiple spots will help him see action, and he can have an impact in the secondary quickly as a player eager to get on the field.75. FS , :He can a sume a centerfield role and find succe s at it.76. TE , :He can split time serving as the second tight end and an H-back. The numbers might not be pretty, but he'll see plenty of snaps.77. TE , :Nobody is replacing , but Anderson can be Miguel Cabrera Jersey a nice complement in some two-tight end sets as a mismatch against just about everybody.78. WR , :Instant boost to the team's return game while rotating in as a slot receiver who can help stretch the field.79. DE , :Won't be an every-down stater, but he can get into the backfield on pa sing downs.80. DE , :He'll contribute early on and will be a tough task for some tackles to block.81. WR , : needs targets, Denny Mclain Jersey and he'll like Diggs' quickne s. Also will help on special teams.82. DT , :He can jump into the backfield and rack up a few sacks as part of the rotation in San Diego.83. CB , :Collins had moments where he didn't contribute during his final season at LSU, but he can reverse that to start his career in Atlanta.84. RB , :Sean Payton surely has a role in mind for the jitterbug who will serve as a change of pace to .85. SS , :Geathers was a nice value pick for a team that needs safety help.86. G , :The front office is excited about Marpet's ability. He could protect Winston sooner rather than later for a team that has been searching for help on the interior line.87. OLB , :Rob Ryan needs a situational pa s rusher and gets the most productive one from the college ranks college in Kikaha.88. RB , :Artis-Payne will join fellow ex-Auburn star in the backfield and should carve out a role running between the tackles.89. DE , :He won't be on the field for every snap, but he can come in and solidify a spot by holding down an edge for the team's new-look defense.90. TE , :Mr. Irrelevant? Hardly, as Christian will be a quality player for the .91. WR , :Provides some much needed speed out of the slot while being an early threat to take one back in the return game.92. CB , :He'll be asked to help the re-tooling of the ' secondary from the start, but he might get picked on by opposing quarterbacks.93. CB , :He'll be part of the rotation in the secondary quickly and has the skill set to help double some of the division's toughest receivers.94. CB , : Lands on a stacked defense but will provide value in the slot and should be a special-teams maven.95. DE , :Has time to develop his pa s-rush skills but will contribute in a number of situations.96. OLB , :Eric Mangini will turn him lose to get after the pa ser when needed despite likely seeing a limited number of snaps early on.97. DE , :Don't be surprised when he finds a role and excels in it for Bill Belichick.98. OLB , :Athletic, rangy linebacker should be a core special-teams player while being molded by Lovie Smith into a quality player.99. CB , :This team needs help in the secondary and Nelson will fight his way onto field to contribute.100. FB , :The presence of hampers his playing time, but Ripkowski's versatility will allow him to become a target for .You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at .
Playoffs? You're talking about playoffs? You're damn right we are! The NFL's regular season came to a close last week and now the path to Super Bowl LV has been set and will kick off in just a few days with Super Wild-Card Weekend. Week 17 proved to have a flair for the dramatics as this playoff picture continued to come into focus and that level of suspense likely will carry over into the postseason with a number of juicy matchups on the slate.Which ones are the best? Well, that's what we are here to figure out today as we're set to rank all six of these matchups that'll occur over the course of Saturday and Sunday. Of course, some already have built-in storylines that make it a bit obvious to tell why they are set to be fantastic games while others are starting to create some spice this week whether it be due to injury questions or bulletin board material. What's great about this list is that even the least anticipated game is going to be exciting, which sets up a great weekend of football for all of us.1. at Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN)I mean, how do you not put this as No. 1? These two teams have some recent history together and don't seem to like one another very much. Prior to their matchup in Week 11, Titans corner and Ravens head coach John Harbaugh got into a verbal altercation that had nearly both sidelines go to blows at midfield.Malcolm Butler wants a piece of John Harbaugh! Jordan Dajani (@ Darryl Strawberry Jersey JordanDajani) From there, that game needed overtime to determine a winner, which came courtesy of , who rushed for a walk-off touchdown. This game is also a rematch of last year's Divisional Round where Tenne see was able to upset Baltimore, 28-12 Dwight Gooden Jersey . That gives the Titans a 2-0 record over these Ravens over their previous two matchups and Baltimore will certainly be looking for some revenge early on Sunday.This game also has plenty of star power with , and Derrick Henry all slated to go. Jackson has been ripping through the league as of late and has recently looked like the MVP version of himself from 2019. Since returning from COVID in Week 13, Jackson has completed 67% of his pa ses and thrown 11 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He's also rushed for 430 yards and four more scores. Meanwhile, Henry is hot off a 250 rushing yard performance against the where he ama sed 2,000 rushing yards for the season.2. at Saturday 1:05 p.m. ET (CBS)Want a fun fact? Prior to this season, the Colts -- who now play in the AFC South -- had a more recent AFC East championship than the Buffalo Bills. For the first time since 1995, Sean McDermott's team was able to win the division and are now looking for their first playoff win since that '95 season on Saturday when they host the Colts. Buffalo has been must-see TV for the bulk of this season and has largely been due to the MVP-caliber play of . They come into the playoffs winning six straight games by double digits and had not caught that ridiculous Hail Hary back in Week 10, Buffalo would be riding a 10-game winning streak.As things stand on the doorstep of the playoffs, the Bills look like the team most equipped to po sibly dethrone the in the AFC. If they can continue this strong play when the lights get even brighter, confidence should build even more which is why this game is so fascinating.Meanwhile, you have a Colts team led by who is trying to make one last push for that elusive Super Bowl. Indy has a defense that can crash any playoff party, especially with residing in that front seven. This had the potential of having the highest drama as these clubs are evenly matched.Also, having a small contingent of Bills Mafia in the stands for this game brings with it another form of entertainment. 3. at Sunday, 4:40 p.m. ET (CBS)This game is interesting from the standpoint of what it could mean going forward. For New Orleans, it's expected that is going to retire after this season, which means any one of these contests could be the last we see of this all-time great. That on its own almost makes this game mandatory viewing. On the other side, if continues to play well, he could extend his rise from the dead and solidify his future with the Bears going forward. If he pulls off the upset and Chicago somehow wins, you can e sentially take it to the bank that he's there for 2021 and beyond.This game also has a couple of the hottest backs in the NFL in and . While Kamara mi sed last week's finale against due to a positive COVID-19 test, he is slated to return this week and provide an encore to his six-touchdown performance the last time he was on the field. Meanwhile, Montgomery has been a monster since Week 12, totaling 824 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns over six games. With the Saints, they are looked at as one of the Super Bowl favorites Gary Carter Jersey and if receiver can return to form after ending the year on IR, that makes New Orleans even more dangerous in the weeks ahead. SpongeBob, Slime, and Googly Eyes, and will present the NFL like youve NEVER seen it before on Wild Card Weekend. Details on the January 10 broadcast here: CBS Sports (@CBSSports) This game will also be broadcasted on Nickelodeon which adds the po sibility of someone getting slimmed, which adds to the fun.4. at WashingtonSaturday, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC) added some spice to this matchup after winning the NFC East on Sunday . It's probably never wise for someone to poke the bear like this and Bruce Arians even acknowledged that saying, That bulletin board material for Tampa Bay does give us some extra juice heading into Saturday, but that's not the main reason why this game has so much intrigue. As is almost always the case, it comes down to the quarterbacks.For Brady, this is his first bid for a Super Bowl without Bill Belichick by his side, and if he's able to go on a run that only furthers his case of being the key cog in New England all those years. The 43-year-old comes into the playoffs in peak form, averaging 333.3 pa sing yards while totaling 12 touchdowns and just one interception over his final four games of the regular season. Tampa Bay has all the talent on offense and defense to go on a deep run and if they start to click, they could be dangerous.With Washington, they are the perfect Cinderella story. story has Comeback Player of the Year written all over it and Ron Rivera was able to lead his team to a division title while battling cancer. In my book, it's the best story in the NFL in 2020 and just getting to this Jay Bruce Jersey point is an accomplishment. If they can pull out a playoff win, it's one for the history books. 5. at Sunday, 8:15 p.m. (NBC)This game quite po sibly could be higher on this list, but the lo s of head coach Kevin Stefanski for the Browns due to COVID-19 does kind of Tug McGraw Jersey take the wind out of the sails in this game a bit. Still, it'll be nice to see Cleveland in the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and, as long as the COVID-19 situation doesn't continue to run through the organization, you can never go wrong with two division rivals going toe-to-toe. What also gives me pause about putting this game a bit higher on this list is Cleveland's starters having trouble handling Pittsburgh's B Team led by in Week 17. If they bring that same effort into Super Wild-Card Weekend, , who is 12-0 against Cleveland in his career, could have his way with this Browns club.6. at Saturday, 4:40 p.m. ET (FOX)This is another game that could be higher on this list if certain pieces were a bit more clear. With the Rams quarterback situation still uncertain, it takes a bit of the excitement out of this NFC West matchup between L.A. and Seattle. If plays, we're in for a more competitive matchup. If starts, however, it just doesn't have the same appeal even if Sean McVay coaches his team up the way he can to put them in a position to win.That said, the Seahawks are coming into the playoffs a little under the radar. While the defense had a horrid start to the year, they've been much better as of late, allowing just 16 points per game over the last eight games (fewest in the NFL). If and can continue to lead that unit and maintain that level of play to pair alongside and their offense, Seattle could be a sleeper team in the NFC.
Lille are beginning to look like the team that won the title last year.A double from Jonathan David gave Jocelyn Gourvennecs men a deserved win Jack Ham Jersey over a drifting Marseille at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.Lille started in a 4-4-2 with Burak Yilmaz and Jonathan David. Marseille announced a 3-5-2, but it was often closer to a 4-4-2 as Luan Peres and Pol Lirola drifted in and out of defence. Dimitri Payet, out with a minor injury, was sorely mi sed. Lille looked strong and Marseille had to tackle aggre sively to keep them Eli Rogers Jersey under control in the early stages. But they barely pre sed in Lilles half and Burak Yilmaz was slightly unlucky not to win a penalty in the 21st minute. The reigning champions converted in the 28th minute when Zeki elik cro sed to David. Marseilles William Saliba blocked the ball before losing track of it, and David poked home at the near post.Lille had the ball in the net again on the stroke of half-time, but Duje aleta-Car had taken a vital step upfield to ensure that Yilmaz was offside. Marseille started the second half Heath Miller Jersey with more intensity, Gerson and Matto Guendouzi both Donnie Shell Jersey shooting far over.Yilmaz was awarded a penalty on the 66th minute after falling over in the box near Saliba, a call that was quickly reversed. Yilmaz received a yellow for complaining and should have received a second yellow for simulation. Chaos followed shortly after as Jonathan Ikon hit the cro sbar and then the side post in the 73rd and 76th minutes, bracketing a mi s from David when it looked far easier to score.The match was e sentially decided when Cengiz nder was handed a harsh second yellow on 77 minutes for a high boot on Gabriel Gudmund son, who had run in from behind him.Down to ten men, Marseille couldnt create anything of note, and David sealed the three points from Yusuf Yazcs cro s with the Ryan Shazier Jersey last kick.Read: .
Next Gen Stat: The ' defense led the league in ' Andy Pettitte Jersey coverage' sacks,' or sacks taking longer than 4.5 seconds from snap to tackle, in 2017. They recorded four more coverage sacks on Saturday vs. the . Tight coverage still can't stop Gronk: TE was stellar in tight Adam Lind Jersey windows vs. the , catching 3-of-5 targets for 29 yards and a touchdown, per Next Gen Stats. Where's Brady's deep ball?:In Weeks 1-12, posted a 106.5 pa ser rating on throws traveling 20+ yards downfield. Aaron Hicks Jersey Since Week 13, however, Brady has posted a 21.0 pa ser rating on such pa ses, with 0 TDs and 3 INTs. Fire and Ice: was on fire last week vs. the , allowing zero catches on five targets. The ' other starting CB, , had an Zach Britton Jersey off day, allowing seven catches on nine targets for 83 yards and two TDs.Elite matchup:The finished in the top- Gleyber Torres Jersey 2 in scoring offense and total offense during the regular season, while the finished in the top-2 in scoring defense and total defense.
EAST RUTHERFORD. N.J. (AP) Tommy DeVito didn't put up great numbers against the Dallas Cowboys in becoming the first undrafted rookie to start at quarterback for the New York Nick Martini Jersey Giants in modern draft era.His 14 of 27 performance for 86 yards came against one of the NFL's top defenses in a 49-17 lo s. While he threw two touchdowns, one came very late and the other was early in the second half with New York down 28-0.The positive DeVito and the Giants (2-8) was that he learned, he was better than the week before when he replaced an injured Daniel Jones in the second quarter against Las Vegas and his confidence wasn't shaken despite tweaking his left shoulder in the fourth quarter.If there is one thing about DeVito, the 25-year-old is confident. That's what he will bring to the Washington area Sunday when he leads Brian Daboll's struggling offense against the Commanders.ADVERTISEMENT DeVito, who grew up about 20 minutes from the Meadowlands, called his first start bittersweet.I felt better as the game went on, he said. In the second half I think the offense did a better job executing but it was too late at that point. But I think we Greg Garcia Jersey ended off on a good note and we are carrying some of that energy going into practice this week.In reviewing his performance, DeVito was annoyed with his deep pa s to Jalin Hyatt in the third quarter that DaRon Bland intercepted. Hyatt seemed to have a step on Malik Hooker, but Bland who had the deep coverage area, read it all the way.DeVito said he was too aggre sive and didn't pick up It was a typical rookie mistake.Daboll was quick to shoot down any thought of starting veteran Matt Barkley this week with Jones (ACL) out for the season and Tyrod Taylor (ribs) still on injured reserve. Daboll called DeVito a good young quarterback who is trying to improve.Hes done a good job, Daboll said Wednesday. Improving, hes a young Jose Castillo Jersey player, hes a young quarterback so a lot of things you go through. Well see if we can get him better this week than he was last week.Receiver Darius Slayton loves DeVito's attitude. He has great natural confidence, which gives you a leg up, Slayton said. "Once you have that, its just time to Dave Winfield Jersey go out there and put together positive plays and your confidence will grow.Tight end Lawrence Cager, who caught a from DeVito, said he has more than confidence.The moment is not too big for him, Cager said. "Sometimes, for some of these guys, it gets too big. Im proud of him for that. Hes getting better every week. Everybody in this locker room sees it. Its just credit to him what hes embraced, the challenge hes been given. I just think hed keep getting better. Through it all DeVito keeps smiling. He laughed about the reaction his father, Tom, showed on the big screen in Dallas after the Cowboys stopped Saquon Barkley for no gain on a fourth-and-2 from the Dallas 4 with New York down 7-0 in the second quarter. He still grins about the publicity he is getting because he lives at home and his love of thin-sliced, crispy chicken parmesan sandwiches. What hasn't changed for DeVito is the game.Theres a lot of negativities going on with how our season Chase Headley Jersey has been going, he said. Just enjoy it, youre in the NFL, youre, whatever it is, below 1 percent. Just enjoy the moment, be here, enjoy playing football for your job and just go out and give it all you have.___AP NFL:
If anyone knows the heat Pete Carroll is taking after the ' final Luis Perdomo Jersey offensive play in their lo s, it's Jim Harbaugh. took major heat in 2013 after his goal-line offense threw three pa ses and never gave the ball to running back inside the 5-yard line in the lo s to the . On Friday, the current University of Michigan coach told he believed the made a good call, but cornerback just made a better play. "I really thought they had a good play call, Aaron Loup Jersey " Harbaugh said. "That was an insightful play against the goal-line defense. A really neat combination that they had, was an inside pick play."It really was open and that young man from the made a play, that is a play the stars of the game don't make, and he made Blake Snell Jersey a play that was -- at best that ball gets knocked down and incomplete, but to make an interception on that play was, what a phenomenal play. That was a play of a lifetime and all credit to him for making it." Harbaugh said similar to how he was critiqued for not giving the ball to Gore in 2013, it's an easy play to criticize in hindsight. "They still had two downs to Ian Kinsler Jersey give the ball to ," he said. "In that situation, I said that before, after it's over, yeah you would love to go back and try a running play, giving it to and see how that would have worked out after you know how the other worked out but that's football, that's the game. My opinion was it was a good play call and an incredible Dinelson Lamet Jersey play by the ." The latest Podcast and plays a free agency edition of "Who Do You Trust?" Find more content on .