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Ranking the College Football Playoff quarterfinal games by watchability

We all know there’s a national championship-caliber matchup out in Pasadena, but how do the other quarterfinal games stack up?

New York Giants vs Washington Commanders

Report: Jets to interview Rivera this week for head coaching vacancy

Mayo on NE’s front office: ‘Feel like we’re still on the same page’

Morris explains failure to use timeout late in regulation

Rex Ryan says he expects to speak with Jets after season

Lock: I get desire for top pick, but we’re gonna keep pushing

NFL: Atlanta Falcons at Washington Commanders

SNF: Daniels carries Commanders into postseason with 30-24 OT win

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2024 NASCAR season in review: Ryan Blaney

Ryan Blaney won three NASCAR Cup races for the third time in the last four seasons.

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Analyzing MVP race between Allen and Jackson

Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick handicap the NFL MVP race that features Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson as the favorites, making the case for both players.

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Aaron Rodgers

NYJ Quarterback #8

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Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich reiterated that Aaron Rodgers will start in Week 18 against the Dolphins.
Drake Maye

NE Quarterback #10

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said “everything is in consideration” when asked if the team would sit Drake Maye in Week 18 against the Bills.

Currently sitting on the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Patriots have everything to lose by pulling off a win in Week 18 against the Bills — who don’t have much to play for next week, with the Chiefs already sitting on the top seed in the AFC. In addition to losing the draft pick, the Patriots also do not need to risk the health of Maye, who has taken some brutal hits over the season and appeared at one time to be concussed in last week’s loss to the Chargers before being cleared to return by team doctors. It would not be at all surprising if the Patriots opted to sit a handful of key players in hopes of preserving their top pick and the health of their team heading into next season.
Ron Rivera

FA Head Coach

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports the Jets are scheduled to meet with Ron Rivera over their head coaching vacancy.

Rivera, 62, was let go by the Commanders after leading the team to a 4-13 win last season. Rivera’s downfall in Washington could be largely blamed on the team’s poor roster construction over the years, as the head coach/general manager spent four years piecing together a bottom-five roster that saw all of its first-round picks traded/released before the end of the 2024 season. During his nine seasons as head coach of the Panthers, Rivera led the team to three double-digit win seasons and an appearance in the Super Bowl during the 2015 season, but things didn’t go nearly as well in Washington. Rivera’s only playoff appearance with the Commanders came in 2020, when the Commanders went 7-9 and were the best team in a bad NFC East division. Rivera is unlikely to have full autonomy over any roster he takes over, but he could have one more coaching run in him if he can get the right quarterback in the building.
Rex Ryan

FA Center

Rex Ryan said he will speak with the Jets regarding their head coaching vacancy at the end of the season.

Ryan led the Jets to a 46-50 record during his six seasons as their head coach (2009-2014) and led them to the playoffs in each of his first two seasons. A strong start led to a tumultuous ending, as the Jets went just 12-20 in Ryan’s final two seasons, but his tenure with the team has been the best of any coach the Jets have hired since firing Ryan after the 2014 season. Ryan’s coaching style wore on people at times and likely played a role in the Bills dismissing him in 2016 after going, but his reputation as a player’s coach is also well-noted. Ryan’s presence would immediately improve whatever defense he takes over, but he would need to find an immediate answer to the team’s quarterback woes, something he could not do during his first stretch with the team.
Terry McLaurin

WAS Wide Receiver #17

Terry McLaurin caught 1-of-7 targets for five yards in the Commanders’ Week 17 win over the Falcons.

His Week 17 performance goes down as his second consecutive modest-output game after being confined to a 5-60-1 line against the Eagles a week ago, with both games paving the way for Olamide Zaccheaus to be featured through the air. We can’t fault McLaurin for either performance considering the matchups he had to overcome, this time in the face of one of the true lockdown corners remaining in the league. It is unclear how the Commanders will handle personnel decisions in what now amounts to a meaningless game against the Cowboys in Week 18.
Zach Ertz

WAS Tight End #86

Zach Ertz caught 6-of-7 targets for 72 yards and two touchdowns in the Commanders’ Week 17 win over the Falcons.

Ertz’s first score came in the third quarter to bring the team within three points while his second walked the game off in overtime to lock up the team’s first playoff berth since they made the postseason in 2020 with a losing record by winning the division. He also made a ridiculous catch in the fourth quarter to extend what would be a touchdown drive by pinning the ball between his legs. The veteran tight end is unlikely to see immense weekly volume but has enough of a connection with quarterback Jayden Daniels to see sporadic spike weeks such as this one. It is unclear whether Ertz will suit up in Week 18 against the Cowboys considering his veteran status and the fact the team locked up a playoff spot this week.
Olamide Zaccheaus

WAS Wide Receiver #14

Olamide Zaccheaus caught 8-of-9 targets for 85 yards and a touchdown in the Commanders’ Week 17 win over the Falcons.

Zaccheaus has become one of quarterback Jayden Daniels’ top targets in the previous two games without Noah Brown on the field, the latter of whom was sent to injured reserve during the team’s Week 14 bye. A week after scoring twice, Zaccheaus provided quite the encore while returning 22.5 PPR fantasy points against the Falcons. It’s enough of a wave to ride into Week 18, assuming he plays considering the Commanders locked up a playoff berth with the win. Should he suit up, it’ll come against the vulnerable Cowboys secondary on the road.
Brian Robinson Jr.

WAS Running Back #8

Brian Robinson rushed 13 times for 60 yards in the Commanders’ Week 17 win over the Falcons, adding nine yards on two receptions.

The meager fantasy production comes one week after the veteran back lost two fumbles for the Commanders in a game they would ultimately win over the Eagles. Many assumed the absence of Austin Ekeler would vault Robinson into a workhorse role for the Commanders, but the presence of Chris Rodriguez, who scored in this one, and Jeremy McNichols have proved those predictions false. After locking up a playoff berth and seemingly having nothing left to play for, there is the possibility the Commanders rest key starters in Week 18 against the Cowboys. That could provide more run for Rodriguez, who managed 16 yards on five carries and a score in Week 17.
Jayden Daniels

WAS Quarterback #5

Jayden Daniels completed 24-of-36 passes for 227 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in the Commanders’ 30-24, Week 17 overtime win over the Falcons, adding 127 yards on 16 carries.

That now marks four elite fantasy outings in a row for the electric dual threat quarterback, with this one clinching a playoff spot for the Commanders in the NFC. Down 17-7 at the half, Daniels emerged from the locker room on a clear mission to will his team to victory, eventually scoring 17 unanswered points to hold a 24-17 lead with under five minutes to play. The Falcons would drive the field while converting two fourth downs to know the game with just over a minute remaining before a missed field goal by the Falcons as time expired sent the game to overtime. The Commanders would win the toss and not allow the Falcons to see the ball again, with Daniels completing a walk-off touchdown pass to tight end Zach Ertz for the second time in the game to send the team to the postseason. Up next for the Commanders are the Cowboys in Week 18 with seemingly little left to play for.
Kyle Pitts

ATL Tight End #8

Kyle Pitts caught 4-of-5 targets for 44 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons’ Week 17 loss to the Commanders.

Pitts committed a drop late in the fourth quarter on the team’s penultimate drive of the game which forced the first fourth down of the drive for the Falcons. Quarterback Michael Penix would convert that fourth down to sustain the drive, one that ultimately concluded with a fourth down touchdown reception by Pitts to tie the game with just over a minute remaining to play. They would force a quick three-and-out and drove into field goal position via a defensive pass interference penalty, but the 57-yard field goal attempt ultimately fell just short to send the game into overtime. Jayden Daniels would ensure the Falcons would not see the ball again, sending the team to the No. 8 seed in the NFC. They now require a win over the Panthers and a Buccaneers loss to the Saints in Week 18 to make the postseason.

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Highlights: WAS clinches playoff berth with OT win

December 29, 2024 11:55 PM

The Commanders needed extra time, but made the most of overtime by not allowing the Falcons to possess the ball, earning a 30-24 victory and clinching a playoff berth for the first time since 2020.

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