Tag: baltimore-ravens

NFL Week 17 Winners and Losers

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Christmas weekend was an exciting time for NFL action. More teams clinched postseason berths and more teams were eliminated from playoff contention. Some teams also secured their divisions and still have chances at the number one playoff seeds. The last week of the regular season sets up more anticipation for the postseason. It’s time to see who or what else stood out in the last Winners and Losers of both 2025 and the regular season.

Winners: Derrick Henry and the Baltimore Ravens

There wasn’t a bigger winner this Christmas weekend than the Baltimore Ravens and their star runningback Derrick Henry. Baltimore had to win in Green Bay and get help to stay alive in the AFC North race. They got everything they desired in two days.

The Ravens dominated the Packers almost the entire game. Henry led the way with 36 carries for 216 yards and four touchdowns. Derrick Henry’s phenomenal game finally put him into the top ten of the NFL’s all-time rushing list, surpassing Tony Dorsett by over 100 yards. Henry also rose to fourth in all-time rushing touchdowns. He’s one behind tying Marcus Allen for third and could finish at second before retiring years from now.

Every time Green Bay tried to lead a comeback and put together scoring drives, Baltimore found ways to pull ahead. Whether Henry had a large run or quarterback Tyler Huntley got a first down, the Ravens didn’t let their guard down. Then Baltimore got their best gift of the Christmas weekend: Cleveland beat Pittsburgh in an ugly, low scoring game. A Steelers loss means the Ravens have a chance to win the AFC North in Pittsburgh next Sunday night. After week 16 ended with Baltimore all but eliminated, week 17 showed the Ravens could finish as the best team in their division.

Quinn Ewers

It looked all but certain that Miami’s new starting quarterback Quinn Ewers would flame out of the NFL and be another forgotten name after a bad loss to Cincinnati last week. After all, Ewers couldn’t consistently beat the dreadful Bengals defense. Surprisingly, Ewers redeemed himself and Miami in a shocking Sunday win.

Tampa Bay didn’t have to beat Miami before their NFC South winner-take-all game Saturday against Carolina, but they needed a win after three straight losses. The Buccaneers have turned into one of the worst NFL teams over the past two months despite All-Pro talent on every side of the ball. Quinn Ewers completed 14 of 22 passes for 172 yards, two touchdowns and a 118 quarterback rating. His first scoring pass to Theo Wease Jr. tied the game early and deflated Tampa Bay’s hopes for an easy win. Ewers’ second scoring pass to Greg Dulcich sealed the early victory.

Quinn Ewers may not be the Dolphins franchise starting quarterback after this season, but he gets his first pro-career touchdown passes and a win against a team fighting for a playoff spot. That’s a nice memory to tell people about decades from now.

Brock Purdy’s touchdown pass to Kyle Juszczyk

San Francisco starting quarterback Brock Purdy had a fantastic performance against Chicago. His five touchdown performance is one of week 17’s best. No play showed how Purdy dominated than his touchdown pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Brock Purdy’s scrambling and having five defenders focus on where the ball would go instead of making a play on the ball will go on his regular season highlight reel.

Losers: Jonathan Gannon

It’s been one painful horror after another for Arizona. The Cardinals have won one game since they started the season 2-0. While franchise quarterback Kyler Murray hasn’t played this season, one would think the performances of his replacement Jacoby Brissett would be enough to get some wins. It has been the opposite.

Arizona was shelled again by Cincinnati 37-14. They trailed 23-7 at half-time and looked done in the first quarter. This was the most important season for head coach Jonathan Gannon. The Cardinals were supposed to show how close they were to being a playoff team. Not only did every other team in the NFC West make the playoffs and record eleven or more wins, but Arizona is easily the worst. The Cardinals were the first team to lock up their division placement before Thanksgiving. That is hard to do unless the team is one of the NFL’s worst.

Jonathan Gannon has no chance of being Arizona’s head coach next season. Not all of what has plagued the Cardinals is his fault, but Gannon’s clearly shown he is not the answer and cannot lead this 53 man roster to the playoffs.

The Philip Rivers comeback story

Long-time starting quarterback Philip Rivers has always been an NFL anomaly. From his unique throwing motion to never playing in a Super Bowl, Rivers was always in the shadow of true greatness no matter when and where he played. Sunday was another reminder of that.

Indianapolis was eliminated from playoff contention before their home game versus Jacksonville. Yet the competitive Colts played the Jaguars hard. Indianapolis led most of the game and red-hot Jacksonville struggled until midway through the third quarter. Once the Jaguars pulled ahead, the Colts had no answers on offense.

Although Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence didn’t fully out-duel Rivers, the sign the comeback was over (even when the game was out of reach) was when head coach Shane Steichen wanted backup Riley Leonard to throw a Hail Mary pass at the end of the game. Rivers’ age and lack of arm strength meant he couldn’t attempt that throw even if he wanted to. The backup quarterback would have one play and maybe-just maybe it would result in a game-winning score. No.

Either way, Philip Rivers wouldn’t be on the field no matter what happened. It’s a touching reminder of how Rivers put so much into the game and was hardly rewarded the way many other passers have been over the decades.

Michael Badgley

Anyone who saw kicker Michael Badgley miss the extra point after quarterback Josh Allen’s first rushing touchdown instantly knew it would affect the outcome in Buffalo Sunday afternoon. Not only was Badgley’s miss the biggest play of the game, it affected the AFC East playoff standings.

After Allen whiffed on a two point conversation pass, the loss bumped Buffalo to the seventh and last seed in the AFC. It also meant New England won the east and no longer has to worry about many tiebreakers for the first or second seed on January fourth.

Kickers are always controversial because of how little they have to do while they also affect a lot of games, no matter the situations. Badgley has rarely been a top kicker in the NFL. The Bills may suffer the most this postseason because of his late miss.

Notes: This is the last Winners and Losers for the NFL season. Wild-card weekend playoff picks will be up before January tenth.

Happy Holidays to you all. Many thanks to those who have read, liked, commented on and shared jdsportscorner.com articles this year. There will be more exciting and detailed sports posts in 2026. May you all enjoy the rest of 2025.

NFL Week 14 Winners and Losers

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The fourteenth week of the regular season eliminated more teams from playoff contention and solidified division leaders. The postseason is a month away and most franchises are getting ready for a higher playoff seed or the offseason. Time to break down this weekends’ winners and losers.

Winners: Tony Pollard

A lot of analysts will correctly discuss and break down how Cleveland rookie quarterback Shadeur Sanders is the real deal and leads, adapts and makes the Browns offense better even in a loss. Most of those analysts won’t talk about how runningback Tony Pollard almost single-handedly got Tennessee their second win of the season.

Tony Pollard is one of the few NFL offensive players who has shredded the vaunted Cleveland defense this season. Instead of a sack-fest on number one overall pick quarterback Cam Ward, Pollard led the offense and ran 25 times for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Every time the Browns defense seemed to stifle the Titans passing game, Tony Pollard broke out for a long run and put Cleveland back on their heels.

Yes it has been a season to forget for Tennessee’s offense, but most of the defenses that have played the Titans struggled to contain Tony Pollard and have had to account for his added strength and agility compared to previous years. If Tennessee adds more talent to the offense this offseason, Pollard could become a more dangerous player next year.

Miami Dolphins running game

Miami’s mid-season resurgence has been led by their running game. Many viewers know De’Von Achane is one of the NFL’s most underrated runningbacks, so it wasn’t surprising he had a good game. However, Achane had company that helped seal an early win.

The Dolphins’ leading rusher in New York was Jaylen Wright. Wright had 24 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown. When Wright wasn’t cutting through the Jets, Achane took over for one of his seven carries. De’Von Achane finished with 105 all-purpose yards and a rushing touchdown.

New York had nothing on offense and that gave Miami more chances to put scoring drives together. Even with the lopsided advantage, the Dolphins have put together a more sensible game-plan where the running game takes over and puts the passing game in easier situations. Head coach Mike McDaniel may have saved his job with this change.

Blake Corum

Los Angeles needed to regroup after a shocking road loss in Charlotte last Sunday. A great way to do that was to lean on the running game. With the now official, last place Cardinals on the schedule, the Rams constantly ran the ball and crushed their division rival.

Blake Corum was the best player in a dominant 45-17 win. Corum ran 12 times for 128 yards and two touchdowns. His first touchdown gave Los Angeles their first lead of the game and his last score sealed the easiest win of the late afternoon matchups.

The running game will be key for how far the Rams go in the postseason. Backs like Blake Corum and Kyren Williams are dangerous players for any top tier defense. The more Los Angeles relies on a runningback duo, the closer they will come to making the Super Bowl.

Losers: Baltimore Ravens defense

Serious NFL analysts struggle to cover a lot of objective game content without fixating on a losing team’s offense. Baltimore’s offense wasn’t good in a divisional home loss to Pittsburgh (the winner would lead the AFC North), but it was understandable that there were several issues ranging from injuries to terrible officiating calls.

The Ravens defense had no excuses. There are at least four former Pro Bowlers back healthy, yet an injured, mostly one handed Aaron Rodgers threw for almost 300 yards against them. The Steelers led almost the entire game. Whenever Baltimore’s offense tried to get back in the game or cut the deficit, Pittsburgh shredded the Ravens secondary and got their extended leads back. Receiver DK Metcalf had seven catches for 148 yards after three straight weeks of averaging 50 yards per game. Again, there is no excuse for former Pro Bowlers to play helpless against younger, more inexperienced division rival receivers.

Sunday’s home loss shows Baltimore shouldn’t make the playoffs. Whoever wins the fifth seed would want the Ravens to win the AFC North so they can have an easy wild-card weekend win. Nobody respects Baltimore’s defense, and they won’t be stopping any of the four remaining offenses on their regular season schedule.

Dan Quinn

Everything about Washington’s shutout road loss was awful. Jayden Daniels re-injured his left elbow, tight-end Zach Ertz may have suffered multiple career ending injuries in his right leg, and a Bobby Wagner led defense was obliterated by the NFL’s worst quarterback. When a team is shut out, that falls on the head coach.

Dan Quinn is revered by many and has earned a lot of respect. However, his game-plan for Minnesota was putrid. There were people publicly asking if the Commanders bothered to practice or plan against the Vikings. Washington has veteran, All-Pro leaders on every side of the ball, and most of them played lost on Sunday. That is not a common sight among Quinn’s players. It’s as if the coaching staff didn’t take that game seriously.

With Sunday’s humiliating loss, the Commanders are officially eliminated from playoff contention. It stuns that one of the most hyped teams before the regular season went from playoff favorite filled with older, All-Pro veterans on every side of the ball, to a flaming, crash-out mess in salary cap and free agent nightmare once the off-season begins. Dan Quinn has to better prepare for next year and make sure no one takes any “easy” games off.

4th quarter Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati had not lost a game with Joe Burrow as their starting quarterback since mid-December 2024. Burrow makes the team better and the Bengals were in command of a pivotal road game in Buffalo…until the fourth quarter.

Everything fell apart after tight-end Mike Gesicki scored Cincinnati’s fourth touchdown to take a 28-18 lead. The Bengals defense is now a top contender for worst defense of all-time and showed why on a Josh Allen 40 yard rushing touchdown the following possession. That meant Cincinnati’s offense had to seal the win and score again. And score they did…

…by giving up an interception return touchdown to the Bills two minutes later.

Buffalo didn’t end there. The Bills got their final score of the game after a second straight interception from Burrow five plays later. The Bengals’ playoff hopes were on the line against an opponent also fighting for a playoff spot, and squandered it in the worst way possible during the most important quarter of their season. What a devastating way to be eliminated from postseason contention!

NFL Week Eight Winners and Losers

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Week eight was a fun and wild end to October. There are some surprising teams in first place while some playoff-seasoned teams continue to fade. The first two months of this season were anything but dull. It’s time to break down the week eight winners and losers before Halloween.

Winners: Mike McDaniel

Miami head coach Mike McDaniel has received a lot of deserved criticism almost all of 2025. The Dolphins have been more sloppy, soft and terrible at every end of the field. So when Miami dominated in Atlanta Sunday, it was a reminder the head coach isn’t finished yet.

The Dolphins offense was close to perfect. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa played his best game of the season. He completed 20 of 26 passes for 205 yards, four touchdowns and a 138.6 passer rating. The best part for Tagovailoa was his focus and determination. He didn’t turn the ball over and he completed a pass to nine different receivers. An active running game helped. Three runningbacks, led by Devon Achane, ran for 131 total yards.

The defense also had their best game of the season. Although the Dolphins sacked quarterback Kirk Cousins once, they snuffed out the Falcons’ running game. Miami has been last in stopping the run all season. They gave up less than 50 rushing yards and forced Atlanta to beat them throwing the ball downfield. The Falcons couldn’t do much but score a garbage time touchdown at the end and punt the ball away almost every possession.

Sunday’s win gives Mike McDaniel some time and helps him retain control of the locker room. A head coaching change at the end of October would show the Dolphins giving up on the regular season. A dominant road win the last Sunday of October changes that view and gives Miami some hope for November.

New England Patriots defense

Many raved about Cleveland’s Myles Garrett having a five sack day, but New England had the better all-around performance Sunday afternoon. The Patriot defense is quietly one of the NFL’s best.

Although New England played a middling Browns offense, they didn’t play down to competition and dominated most of the game. The Patriots forced a safety, intercepted quarterback Dillon Gabriel twice, and sacked Gabriel once. New England gave up less than 70 yards rushing, forcing Cleveland’s offense to throw most of the second half.

Head coach Mike Vrabel was hired to make sure the Patriot defense kept playing at a high level while getting better offensive production. That defense is a big reason New England ends October at first place in the AFC East.

Tucker Kraft

Week eight is usually seen as National Tight-End Week. No tight-end had a better Sunday than Green Bay’s Tucker Kraft.

The Packers double digit win in Pittsburgh wouldn’t have been possible without Kraft. He had seven catches on nine targets for 143 yards, five first downs and two touchdowns. Both of Kraft’s scores gave Green Bay leads, and the second was the final lead change of the game.

Tucker Kraft’s physical play specifically stood out in the second half. The Packers scored on all but one possession and every time quarterback Jordan Love needed to complete a critical pass, Kraft delivered. There are a good number of offensive pieces Green Bay can rely on, but Tucker Kraft is the easy go-to option for both Love and and the passing game.

Losers: San Francisco 49ers defense

Despite injuries to captains and star players, San Francisco’s defense played well the last few weeks. Viewers knew at some point the injuries and lack of pass rush would catch up to the 49ers. It finally and spectacularly happened Sunday.

Houston’s offense was embarrassed last Monday night in Seattle. With receiver Nico Collins out, quarterback C.J. Stroud IV had to complete passes to different receivers trying to win their coverage matchups. Stroud shredded San Francisco’s secondary for 318 yards, two touchdowns and a 106.6 passer rating. The 49ers pass rush couldn’t sack Stroud and were dominated in first half time of possession. At one point in the second quarter, NFL Redzone reported that of the 23 minutes played, San Francisco was on offense for five and a half minutes.

The 49ers offense scored a few times to narrow Houston’s lead, but the damage was done. The Texans’ offense found a way to get their double digit lead back every time San Francisco came close. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has done a great job and should be a head coaching candidate for next season, but this is something even he cannot fix.

All the late afternoon games

There were six teams on a bye this weekend. That meant fewer games, and it also meant a lot more objective fanbases could check in on a lot more conference matchups. Anyone who chose the opposite and skipped the late afternoon trio of games won the weekend.

The early 3:05 p.m. central time game between Tampa Bay v. New Orleans was painful to watch. The Buccaneers defense led a one-sided win and the Saints were unwatchable on offense. Dallas v. Denver was a one-sided, high-scoring game. The Cowboys had not beaten the Broncos in 30 years. That record was unbroken with a 20 point loss keeping the streak going. Tennessee v. Indianapolis ended how everyone thought it would: a double digit Colt win.

This is also the time of year many complain that the NFL has to start flexing games. After watching a few clips of yesterday’s late afternoon games, one cannot argue that commissioner Roger Goodell again lacked foresight in flexing a few matchups.

Terry Bradshaw

When will the NFL on FOX decide to move on and force former Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw to retire? There is no way a decent sports commentator has either a mental lapse or breakdown while talking about a sports matchup or head coach without getting some form of public blowback. The fact that both former Hall of Fame commentators Howie Long and Michael Strahan were also stunned by Bradshaw’s incoherent sentences shows how awkward and out-of-touch pre-game commentary has gotten on FOX. The network should be glad no one filed a lawsuit.

NFL Week Six Winners and Losers

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Week six was full of eye-opening play and revealed who is closer to the playoffs. Conversely, some teams are close to preparing for the offseason. It’s time to break down the weekend’s winners and losers.

Winners: Bryce Young

Another slow regular season start for former number one overall pick Bryce Young had a lot of people wondering if head coach Dave Canales would bench him at some point. Those questions are shelved for the rest of October.

The third year quarterback had a rare, shootout win against the favored Cowboys. Every time Dallas’ offense scored, Bryce Young answered back with a scoring drive. Young completed 17 of 25 passes for three touchdowns and a 114.8 quarterback rating. His most impressive drive was the game’s last possession as he led Carolina’s offense down the field the remaining six minutes and seven seconds for kicker Ryan Fitzgerald to attempt a game winning field goal. Bryce Young completed three passes for 25 yards and used his intangibles and game intelligence to both position the spot for Fitzgerald’s game winning field goal and take maximum time off the clock each play.

This game is big for Young’s confidence as the first half of the season is nearly over. The Panthers are at .500 and are in position to be a dark-horse wild card team. More NFC teams are faltering and losing quality players to season ending injuries. As Bryce Young showed us last season, the more he plays, the better he gets. Carolina’s offense could be hard to stop by Thanksgiving.

The number one seeded Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If someone said Tampa Bay would be the NFC’s best team at the end of week six a week ago, many would have called it crazy. The Buccaneers sit atop their division and conference as the only team with one loss after six weeks.

Tampa played their most complete game Sunday in a dominant home win against another team with only one loss, San Francisco. After quarterback Mac Jones threw an interception to cornerback Kindle Vildor on the 49ers first possession of the game, the Buccaneers scored a touchdown on two plays. After San Francisco got their first lead in the second quarter, Tampa’s offense scored two straight touchdowns and went into half-time up four.

Head coach Todd Bowles called a great game for the defense. Besides the Vildor interception that helped the offense get in position for an easier opening game score, the defense inflicted nightmares on the 49ers offense. The Buccaneers sacked Jones five times and intercepted him once more. The blitzes Bowles threw at Jones and San Francisco’s offensive line showed audiences who controlled the game start to finish. Head coach Kyle Shanahan had no answers and at one point, offensive captain and tackle Trent Williams was so frustrated he picked a fight with Tampa Bay safety Tykee Smith and drew a personal foul.

The Buccaneers didn’t need a fourth quarter rally after quarterback Baker Mayfield found rookie Tez Johnson for a 45 yard touchdown to close out the third. Both the fans and analysts believe Mayfield is an MVP candidate given how poised, tough and bold Tampa Bay plays every game. As David Carr said on NFL Network’s Game Day Final, “There isn’t a team in the NFC that Tampa Bay thinks they can’t beat.”

Patrick Mahomes II

Baker Mayfield isn’t the only MVP favorite after Sunday night. Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes II had a good game against Detroit. The aggressive Lions defense played like rookies against the NFL’s most dangerous quarterback.

Mahomes completed 22 of 30 passes for 257 yards, three touchdowns and a 132.2 passer rating. He also ran ten times for 32 yards and another score. Patrick Mahomes found a way to complete at least one pass to eight different receivers, even when the Lions applied more pressure. The Chiefs last two offensive drives were the most important. Both went over 4:40 and ended any chance of a Detroit comeback. Mahomes found Hollywood Brown for the final touchdown of the game and made sure Harrison Butker was in position to make a 33 yard field goal before the two minute warning.

Viewers love the big plays Mahomes makes, but former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck’s segment on ESPN’s Sportscenter with Scott Van Pelt shows why he’s the NFL’s best passer, especially against the league’s best teams. Kansas City had no penalties on offense or turnovers. Hasselbeck broke down Mahomes’ wits, throwing speed, reading the field and redzone decision making late Sunday night (for those who want to watch the analysis and fast forward past the game recap, start around the 1:30 mark). This offense will also get better each week.

Losers: Cam Little

Anyone who reads Winners and Losers knows at some point a kicker will be featured for the wrong reasons during the year (minus last week because of the odd injuries so close together). This year’s annual first kicker in the losers column award goes to Cam Little.

Little cost Jacksonville a home win Sunday against Seattle. He missed an extra point after the Jaguars scored the game’s first touchdown. The Seahawks scored 10 straight points and took the lead, but Jacksonville had a chance to close the deficit to one with a 50 yard field goal and one minute left before halftime. Since Cam Little’s in the losers section, you know how this went. Seattle then went down the field in 51 seconds and kicker Jason Myers made his field goal attempt.

Four points may not be a lot for new viewers, but when a team trails 20-6 to start the fourth quarter, it’s a problem. The Jaguars scored on a Trevor Lawrence 26 yard pass to Tim Patrick, but because Little missed important kicks earlier, Jacksonville went for two…and failed.

The difference between 20-12 and 20-17 came down to critical errors. Instead of a 52 yard field goal with under six minutes left in the game, the Jaguars punted. That was their best scoring chance before Seattle closed out the game a few possessions later. Even if Cam Little made one of his attempts, having an additional point or three would’ve helped Jacksonville’s patience and not play scattered near the end.

Baltimore’s last possession of the first half against Los Angeles

Baltimore suffered an awful home loss against the Rams Sunday. The turnovers, sloppy play and quarterback change showed how bad the Ravens are this season. However, one drive crystalized how bad it’s been not even two months into the season.

Baltimore’s offense was gifted a starting drive deep in Los Angeles territory late in the second quarter. The Ravens offense had to go 32 yards and score a touchdown for their first lead of the game. Baltimore got a first and goal at the Rams four yard line. The first and goal play wasn’t bad. Derrick Henry ran for three yards. One would think the next play or two would give the Ravens the touchdown.

But no. Instead, Baltimore decided to do two tush-push plays (when the ball is snapped to the primary ball carrier at a very close distance and an offensive player or two push the carrier forward through both offensive and defensive lines) with tight-end Mark Andrews. On paper, this should work. This season though, Baltimore hasn’t been good so of course, neither attempts worked.

That meant head coach John Harbaugh had to rely on his strengths as a former special teams coach and go for a…who am I kidding, he went for it on fourth down. This time the offense decided to hand the ball to their best player and runner Derrick Henry for the score. Henry was pancaked for a two yard loss by Los Angeles’ defense. The Ravens did not score the rest of the game.

Marvin Harrison Jr.

It has been a cruel start for wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.’s Arizona Cardinals career. He wasn’t utilized well his rookie year in head coach Jonathan Gannon’s offense. His struggles continue this season.

Harrison Jr. left in the second quarter of Sunday’s game in Indianapolis due to a concussion. Backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett had a hard time finding open receivers and Indianapolis took advantage of the mistakes until Marvin Harrison Jr. got dinged up. After Harrison Jr. left the game, the Cardinals offense broke out. Arizona’s offense scored 17 of their 27 points in the second half.

Maybe Brissett and the offense found out what to fix at half-time. There was a late, controversial no-call on the Colts for defensive pass interference that led to a turnover on downs and sealed an Indianapolis win. One has to wonder if Harrison Jr. had been in for the play and final drive if it would have led to an easier decision and scoring play for the Cardinals offense. No matter what viewers think, almost everyone can agree Marvin Harrison Jr. has had one of the unluckiest timelines since Arizona drafted him.

NFL Week Five Winners and Losers

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Week five in the NFL had a lot of thrills, jaw-dropping surprises and hair-pulling moments. Some of the best games of 2025 were played yesterday. Audiences found out which teams may be legitimate contenders and which ones could be one and done if they reach the playoffs. Here are this weeks’ winners and losers.

Winners: C.J. Stroud IV

Houston’s offense was unwatchable most of September. The Texans lone win entering Sunday was a shutout against what many considered the worst team in Tennessee. If Houston wanted to turn the tide on their season, they needed a win and for the offense to play well. Both happened Sunday.

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud IV had a great game against one of the league’s worst defenses. Stroud completed 23 of 27 passes for 244 yards, four touchdowns and a 143.9 passer rating. His third touchdown pass gave Houston a 21 point lead and put the game out of reach late in the second quarter.

There were growing worries about C.J. Stroud’s regression. The last two weeks showed that if Houston’s offensive line can beat opposing defensive fronts, Stroud is still one of the league’s best quarterbacks. It’s not surprising that the Texans’ two wins are when C.J. Stroud IV plays like the franchise quarterback many saw when he won Rookie of the Year.

Denver Broncos

While last week’s Winners and Losers admitted the AFC west as an overhyped division, many believed Denver was still a quality wildcard choice. After a stunning road win in Philadelphia, more people believe the Broncos are a serious division title and playoff contender.

Denver’s 18 point fourth quarter is a top performance for any team this season. The reigning champion Eagles dominated the first three quarters and there was no chance they would ease up entering the final 15 minutes. Not only did the Broncos turn the game around, they dominated Philadelphia on every side of the ball. Denver sacked quarterback Jalen Hurts six times throughout the game and forced four punts on six second half possessions.

The Broncos offense had three fourth quarter possessions that went over 3:30. Two had ten or more plays for at least 3:50. Head coach Sean Payton knew what quarterback Bo Nix and runningback J.K. Dobbins had to do and made sure the right plays were called each set of downs.

Not many teams can or have the talent to beat the Eagles in a 60 minute game. Fewer can do it in Philadelphia. Both of Denver’s losses now look like bad luck considering how well they have played the last two games.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt

Any attention analysts gave Washington in their matchup against Los Angeles either went to the return of sophomore quarterback Jayden Daniels or how head coach Dan Quinn needed to make some tweaks to the defense. Nobody considered how the running game could help the Commanders get a pivotal win.

Seventh round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt almost single handedly won Washington a pivotal game against the Chargers. He ran 14 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Croskey-Merritt’s first score cut Los Angeles’ lead to three, and his second gave the Commanders their first lead of the day. He was such an issue that the Chargers defense started blitzing the run and eventually caused a fumble, (though Los Angeles didn’t get any points off the turnover).

Washington could have another offensive playmaker the rest of 2025. With Austin Ekeler on injured reserve and Chris Rodriguez Jr. a non-factor in almost every game since, the starting running back position is Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s to lose the rest of this season. He’ll be an interesting player to watch in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s system.

The insane touchdown fumble recovery made by Tyler Lockett

In now what is the leading candidate for play of the year and most insane American football play you’ll see for 2025, veteran receiver Tyler Lockett scored his first touchdown as a Titan in what may be the most memorable of his career. There aren’t enough words to type what happened. Just watch it for yourself here.

Many viewers, including the CBS broadcasting crew, couldn’t believe what happened. Sports pundits throughout the country had a variety of reactions after the play, and many believe the series of errors was a big reason Arizona lost. It will be hard to find a stranger play this regular season.

Losers: AJ Cole and Spencer Shrader

Indianapolis dominated Las Vegas almost the entire game early afternoon Sunday, but there was a scare for both the Raiders punter and the Colts kicker when they both got whacked and had to leave the game.

Las Vegas punter AJ Cole faced a defensive onslaught after he punted at the end of a drive midway through the second quarter. Ian Thomas recovered the fumble, but Indianapolis got possession of the ball in the Raiders redzone. Cole wound up getting injured on the block and that was his only punt of the game.

After the Colts scored on an easy three yard touchdown from Jonathan Taylor, kicker Spencer Shrader made the extra point. A Vegas defender ran into Shrader’s kicking leg long after the extra point was in the air. While the Raiders took a penalty, that was the end of the game for Spencer Shrader. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported early Monday afternoon that Shrader suffered a season-ending knee injury on the play.

Both teams had kicking issues the rest of the afternoon. Las Vegas’ were worse since they had to try and convert a lot of two point conversions and fourth downs. Thankfully it didn’t seriously impact the game since Indianapolis won by double digits.

Brian Daboll

The Giants and their fans entered week five on a wave of optimism many hadn’t felt since last decade. Many believe rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart will be the franchise quarterback for a long time. Viewers should have been more objective about Dart and the team given how there are a lot of positions lacking talent and proper coaching. Reality hit hard in a brutal loss Sunday.

New York started well and even led by double digits at one point in the first half. While New Orleans climbed back and took a two point lead at halftime, the Giants still looked the better team. Head coach Brian Daboll should have emphasized certain changes and how drives cannot end because of turnovers. Neither happened in the second half.

The Saints defense forced a turnover on every New York second half possession. The first two Giants possessions ended in fumbles recovered by New Orleans. One was returned by defensive back Jordan Howden for an 86 yard touchdown. Jaxson Dart threw two interceptions the next two possessions and threw a catchable ball through receiver Wan’Dale Robinson’s hands for a turnover on downs to end the game.

New York’s offense should get better the next few months but that was an ugly game offensive minded head coach Brian Daboll will want back if that winds up costing the Giants a playoff spot.

Seattle Seahawks defense

Sunday’s best game could have been the one that featured twin teams celebrating their 50th anniversary of playing in the league while wearing throwback uniforms. On one hand, the offensive shootout was entertaining, exhilarating and must-watch T.V. On the other, whichever team lost would have to take a serious look at the defensive lapses.

Seattle’s defense has been lauded by many analysts to be one of the league’s best this season. Despite how well the front four defensive linemen have played, more viewers are aware the Seahawks secondary is one of the league’s deepest. Although linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence and cornerback Devon Weatherspoon did not play Sunday, there was a lot of optimism the defense could make a lot of stops given how battered Tampa Bay’s offense was. That didn’t happen.

Seattle’s secondary allowed 29 of 33 completions and was shredded by rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka and veteran tight-end Cade Otton for a combined 244 yards. The front seven didn’t fare better. Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield was sacked once and although the runningbacks mustered 70 yards, the Seahawks defense gave up their first two rushing touchdowns of the season.

Cornerback Tariq Woolen was also concussed after he played well most of the first half. It didn’t help Seattle’s secondary had to be on the field more after the offense committed a few turnovers and gave Tampa’s offense favorable field position. Almost every elite defense has bad games, but this was a performance analysts could be talking about near the end of the season if the Seahawks playoff position and division-winning chances falters.

Buffalo Bills

Many believed Sunday night’s divisional matchup against Buffalo and New England would be great. While most believed the Patriots would make the game difficult for the Bills, almost no one thought the road team would win.

Buffalo was out-played almost the whole game. Outside of a Curtis Samuel touchdown where the Bills led by four, New England bullied Buffalo on every side of the ball. Head coach Mike Vrabel emulated his predecessor Bill Belichick and quarterback Drake Maye mirrored the play of franchise legend Tom Brady. The defense clouded quarterback Josh Allen’s downfield reads and didn’t give him any big plays. The Patriots’ game winning field goal and clock management caught Bills head coach Sean McDermott off-guard.

It’s not a terrible loss given how many viewers believe New England is a playoff candidate, but the standings are not in Buffalo’s favor. Indianapolis now has control of the AFC’s one seed and probably won’t lose another game for at least a month. Pittsburgh is a game behind but benefitted off a bye week and should look better the next few weeks. The Bills have to win almost every game in order to get the one seed and home field advantage. With Kansas City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New England (at Foxborough) and Tampa Bay on the schedule, that might not happen after a surprising Sunday night loss.

NFL Week One Winners and Losers

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Except for the inevitable injury or two, the first week of the NFL regular season is usually mild. It was anything but mild on Sunday. Week one is seen by some as a fluke week, while others see it as a prelude of what will come once teams settle in. Here are my winners and losers from Sunday’s games.

Winners: Aaron Rodgers

The 21 year veteran quarterback had an abysmal two years in New York. In what many consider his last gasp at both a championship run and starting job at quarterback, Aaron Rodgers signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the offseason. Week one was a revenge game against his previous team–the New York Jets, and Rodgers gave his viewers a vintage performance.

Aaron Rodgers completed 22 of 30 passes for 244 yards, four touchdowns and a 136.7 passer rating. Two of Rodgers’ scores were lead changes, and two came a minute apart to start the fourth quarter. His control of the two minute offense gave the Steelers an extra 39 yards before Chris Boswell kicked the game winning 60 yard field goal.

Many analysts still believe Pittsburgh will have a hard time scoring more than 24 points a game given the lack of offensive talent around Aaron Rodgers, but a 34 point performance against what is considered one of the league’s better defenses in New York should make some question the Steelers ceiling.

The Pete Carroll and Geno Smith-led Las Vegas Raiders

The reunion for head coach Pete Carroll and quarterback Geno Smith was big news in the offseason. Las Vegas’ first game to start the 2025 season was on the road against a re-booted New England. Many viewers believed the game would be close, but the Raiders would find a way to pull out the win. Those were correct predictions.

Geno Smith found Tre Tucker for the first touchdown of the game. Smith finished 24 of 34 for 362 yards and a 102.8 passer rating. The new Raiders quarterback posted a franchise debut record in yards and passer rating. Smith also led a balanced attack and Las Vegas won the time of possession battle.

Defense is Carroll’s specialty. Vegas held the Patriot running backs to under three yards a carry and New England’s passing game to under 300 yards. Sophomore quarterback Drake Maye threw one interception and was sacked four times. The Patriots offense was suffocated after the first quarter.

Pete Carroll became the oldest head coach in league history to coach a game (73 years and 357 days) and the first head coach in NFL history to win all four of his team debuts (via Sportscenter with Scott Van Pelt). Carroll’s defense is predicted to continue improvement. If the offense stays as balanced and the defense continues to fluster opposing offenses, this could be the start of something special in Sin City.

Daniel Jones

Analysts will and have judged Indianapolis’ win against Miami as an all-around disaster for the Dolphins. That take ignores how historical the Colts offense was in a dominant performance. Led by new starting quarterback Daniel Jones, Indianapolis became the first team to score on every offensive possession since 1978.

Jones completed 22 of 29 passes for 272 yards, a touchdown and a 115.9 passer rating. He also ran seven times for 26 yards and two scores. Jones’ two consecutive touchdowns in the second quarter sealed an easy win.

NFL Network panelists discussed how Daniel Jones’ time in Minnesota wound up helping and re-programming some of the stability and basics under center. The newfound confidence seems to have paid off.

Los Angeles Rams defense

If one were told Los Angeles’ offense would score just 14 points against Houston, the assumption would be the Rams lost. Not only would that be wrong, but the result wound up a resounding Los Angeles win.

The Rams’ defense feasted on Houston’s offense. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud IV completed 19 passes for 188 yards and an interception. Los Angeles’ front seven sacked Stroud three times while the secondary confused him and messed up reads to his receivers. Outside of three field goals in the first half, the Texans couldn’t do anything right.

While Houston’s defense mostly stifled the Rams’ offense, it was the Los Angeles defense that won the game. The Rams’ offense could be slow to start a lot of games this year, but now they know the defense will show up and play hard.

Losers: Tennessee Titans second half offense

For some reason, Tennessee kept offensive coordinator Nick Holz after last season’s failures. Someone should have informed the Titans front office that a team usually relieves coordinators after they end up with the number one pick. Otherwise, there are results like Sunday’s in Denver.

Tennessee’s rookie quarterback and first overall pick Cam Ward was ok in his regular season debut. He didn’t make many mistakes but he definitely didn’t do anything special. Ward’s conservative play did give the Titans a lead most of the game, but Holz didn’t put him in better positions or utilize offensive strengths when the Broncos faltered.

After Denver took a 13-12 lead, Tennessee had two good chances to get a scoring drive before the Broncos could extend their lead. On the first, two penalties forced a punt. The second resulted in Denver fumbling a punt return and the Titans were gifted with an extended possession at the Bronco 24 yard line. A two yard run by Tony Pollard would be the only play with positive yardage. Ward was sacked twice for 27 yard losses after Pollard’s two yard run. Tennessee punted, and Denver went on to score the last touchdown of the game.

The Titans will have a rough season and few weeks when they’ll be favored to win any games. Sunday was one of the best opportunities to leave with a victory. It could have been done if there was a better run offense.

Cleveland Browns

For anyone who has read Winners and Losers before, or are familiar with the NFL for any reasonable length of time, it’s well known that with rare exceptions, the Cleveland Browns are losers. They lose in ways that defy belief and expectations. While the in-state loss to division rival Cincinnati felt familiar, it doesn’t excuse how sloppy, unprepared and deflating it was for Cleveland.

The Bengals did everything possible to lose the game. The only reason Cincinnati didn’t lose, was because the Browns made worse mistakes. Undrafted kicker Andre Szmyt missed an extra point and a potential game winning field goal. Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco had an interception after a pass intended for Jerry Jeudy bounced off another receiver’s hands deep in Cleveland territory. Flacco’s second interception doomed any chance for the Browns to get the last score of the game.

Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski’s issues this year range from who will be quarterback every week to if the kicker can make an extra point. It could be a long, rough year for Browns fans…again.

John Morton

Anyone who has watched the NFL the last few years knew the hottest offensive coordinator and assistant coach was Detroit’s Ben Johnson. When the Chicago Bears hired Johnson to be their next head coach this offseason, many expected the Lions offense would have some drop-off, especially to begin the regular season. Few expected a week one crater.

Detroit was overwhelmed almost the whole game in Green Bay. While new defensive addition Micah Parsons played less than half of the defense’s snaps, the Packers bullied the Lions in every way possible. Goff was sacked four times, intercepted once, and constantly hit until near the end. Detroit’s lone touchdown came in garbage time when Green Bay led by 21 points.

The most concerning part might be the Lions offensive line. They missed Frank Ragnow and Kevin Zeitler. The Packers took advantage of those losses and applied constant pressure. There was a point at which the NFL Network and beat reporters said Green Bay’s defensive front didn’t look like four men…it looked like seven.

There is no need yet to panic over Detroit. This is the Lions first road loss since the 2024 NFC championship game. Many knew the Packers would improve this season, and this was before getting Micah Parsons from Dallas. Offensive coordinator John Morton has a lot of work to do, but the Lions schedule is brutal. It may take a longer time for the offense to look anywhere near elite this season.

John Harbaugh

Spring has Groundhog Day, October third has Mean Girls, and these articles bring in the new NFL year with John Harbaugh in the Losers section. It’s a tradition unlike any other.

U.S. audiences were treated to Baltimore demolishing Buffalo Sunday night–they thought. After Ravens running back Derrick Henry ran for a 46 yard touchdown, Baltimore’s 15 point lead with 11:50 remaining all but assured a decisive week one win. While Bills receiver Keon Coleman scored a touchdown the following possession, the Ravens had an eight point lead with four minutes remaining. Enter coach Harbaugh.

One might think in a close scoring game where the result would matter further into the season, Harbaugh would have a better game plan than running the football the remaining four minutes. Quarterback Lamar Jackson ran for a first down the first play after Coleman’s touchdown. Buffalo expected another run the following possession. Henry also needed some rest and should’ve sat out a few more possessions. Harbaugh decided Henry should carry the ball next. That led to a nine yard loss and a fumble recovered by Bills defensive lineman Ed Oliver.

After Buffalo scored a touchdown (and missed the two point conversion), all Baltimore had to do was run down the remaining 1:51 in the game. But no. The Ravens ran two run plays and a pass for seven yards that took 25 seconds off the clock. The Bills got the ball back and won with a last second field goal.

Harbaugh’s continuous blunders, time mismanagement and inability to make the hard decisions somehow remain accepted and overlooked. The second most tenured coach in the league with one team somehow defies expectations by blowing double digit leads and leaving with losses. Given how Harbaugh has yet to learn from his mistakes, expect Baltimore to make the same errors with little to no accountability. Another head coach could never get away with this if they tried.

2025 NFC Conference Championship Playoff Pick

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Three games remain. Four teams with two in each conference. The remaining two in the NFC are the east wildcard Washington Commanders and their division winning rival Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams have potent offenses, solid quarterbacks, hard-hitting defenses, and intelligent coaches. Time to determine who will advance to the Super Bowl.

#6 Washington Commanders v. #3 Philadelphia Eagles

In a thrilling divisional conference finals matchup, the winner could be determined by which starting quarterback has the better game.

Conference championship games featuring division rivalries are some of the best and most memorable playoff games in NFL history. Casual viewers can remember which year a team won a Super Bowl because of a rare, divisional matchup in this round. It’s also more fun if the teams split their regular season series.

Washington has nothing to lose since no one expected they’d reach the conference finals with first year head coach Dan Quinn re-vamping the roster. Philadelphia has to protect starting quarterback Jalen Hurts as much as possible after he suffered a knee injury last weekend. That means the winner of this game will be determined by two factors: the better receiving core and which offensive and defensive lines plays best.

Both teams have great receiving cores and tight-end depth. The Commanders great play-calling and complimentary slot receivers will be a reason the game stays close. However, the Eagles have better receiver depth with Jahan Dotson and Parris Campbell. Philadelphia’s receiving core should have another big game against a mediocre secondary.

Philadelphia’s receiving core features one of the league’s best wideouts in A.J. Brown (11). Brown was great against Washington’s secondary in both regular season games.

There’s no offensive and defensive line comparisons. The Eagles dominate both sides of the line of scrimmage and overwhelmed the Commanders with their pass rush and running game in both matchups. The offensive line cleared paths for starting runningback Saquon Barkley in both high scoring divisional games. Washington doesn’t have the same number of highly skilled players on both sides of the ball the Eagles do. That will show in the second half.

Finally, all five previous rookie quarterbacks who went to a conference championship game lost. Second overall pick Jayden Daniels might not play like a rookie, but his team’s not where they want to be yet. Philadelphia has more roster depth at their disposal to tire out the Commanders.

Prediction: Eagles win the NFC championship 34-28 and advance to Super Bowl LIX

NFC divisional round playoff picks record: 1-1

2025 NFC playoff picks record: 3-2

2025 AFC Conference Championship Playoff Pick

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Three games remain. Four teams with two in each conference. The remaining two in the AFC are the east winning Buffalo Bills and the west division winning and conference leading Kansas City Chiefs. Both teams have fast offenses, star quarterbacks, elite defenses, and bright-minded veteran head coaches. Time to determine who will advance to the Super Bowl.

#2 Buffalo Bills v. #1 Kansas City Chiefs

Despite Patrick Mahomes’ success in the postseason, Bills quarterback Josh Allen will be the most important player.

Seen as the more exciting of the two Sunday games, the Bills were the only team to beat Kansas City in the regular season playing all their starters. Buffalo’s lopsided home win boosted confidence for a future re-match. However the Chiefs have home-field advantage and will give Buffalo’s offense plenty of communication problems.

While many see this as another round of the elite quarterback rivalry between Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes II, the more important factors will be time of possession and which team runs the ball better. Kansas City has the offensive and defensive line advantages, a better running game, and a better playoff savvy receiver core. These factors should give the Chiefs the time of possession advantage. Kansas City remembers the mid-November beatdown in Highmark Stadium and wouldn’t mind giving the Bills their fourth straight head-to-head playoff loss in the last five years. It wouldn’t be a first for Buffalo.

Prediction: Chiefs win the AFC championship 31-21 and advance to Super Bowl LIX

AFC divisional round playoff picks record: 1-1

2025 AFC playoff picks record: 3-2

2025 NFC Divisional Round Playoff Picks

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The NFC wildcard weekend had everything audiences wanted. History was made with Washington’s first playoff win since 2005. Los Angeles won an emotional neutral location game last Monday night. The remaining four (the Detroit Lions had a week off) teams have a great shot at getting to both the conference championship and the Super Bowl. Even with an inexperienced Commanders team remaining, no team is an easy out. It’s time to analyze which two teams have the best chance at making the next round.

#6 Washington Commanders v. #1 Detroit Lions

The red-hot tight-end Sam LaPorta (89) and Detroit Lions offense returns to action after a week off.

The last time Washington won a playoff game, they played another road game in a loud, hostile atmosphere against the NFL’s best scoring offense led by a runningback with at least 20 touchdowns. Two decades and one more postseason win against the Buccaneers later, the Commanders get to play…another road game in a loud, hostile atmosphere against the NFL’s best scoring offense led by a runningback with at least 20 touchdowns. While it’s been a memorable year for Washington, they don’t have enough to stop a healthier and more determined Lions.

Prediction: Lions win 28-14

#4 Los Angeles Rams v. #2 Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia’s passing attack needs to improve against a rising Rams secondary. Wide receiver A.J. Brown should have a big game Sunday.

Another divisional round matchup that was featured on Sunday night football during the regular season, this re-match will be in Philadelphia instead of Los Angeles. Head coach Sean McVay has the Rams playing their best football since December while the Eagles passing game struggles.

Ironically, Philadelphia’s passing struggles shouldn’t be a problem in this matchup. They have the better offensive and defensive lines. The talent and depth showed when the Eagles throttled Los Angeles 37-20 in their regular season meeting. Quarterback Jalen Hurts should make more plays this weekend, but Philadelphia doesn’t need him to play his best yet.

Prediction: Eagles win 40-24

NFC wildcard weekend predictions record: 2-1

2025 AFC Divisional Round Playoff Picks

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Wildcard weekend wasn’t competitive in the AFC. Baltimore, Houston and Buffalo dominated their games and won with few scares. Just like last year’s divisional round, the remaining four (the Kansas City Chiefs had a week off) teams have a great shot at getting to both the conference championship and the Super Bowl. Even with an inexperienced Texans team remaining, no team is an easy out. It’s time to pick which two teams have the best chance of making the next round.

#4 Houston Texans v. #1 Kansas City Chiefs

Houston’s defense has to play their best game of the season and limit quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ mobility.

The easiest matchup in either conference. Kansas City won the regular season meeting on the winter solstice. While most of the Chiefs starters on offense and defense will play their first game in three weeks, they should pick up where they left off after week 17. Kansas City’s offense played better until they clinched the one seed, and head coach Andy Reid is phenomenal after a bye week. Houston needs a strong start to keep pace, but will struggle with wide receiver Tank Dell out the rest of the year.

Prediction: Chiefs win 34-21

#3 Baltimore Ravens v. #2 Buffalo Bills

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson could shred Buffalo’s defense again Sunday afternoon.

This matchup could determine who wins league MVP. This time Buffalo plays at home and the defense is fully healthy. Both starting quarterback Lamar Jackson and runningback Derrick Henry must play their best game of the season in 23 degree weather.

Although Baltimore and Buffalo played each other Sunday night in week four, the result could be the same. Wide receiver Zay Flowers may not play due to a knee injury, but he had one catch for ten yards in the Ravens September rout. Jackson threw three touchdowns and Derrick Henry had over 200 all-purpose yards. The Bills defense may have stars like defensive end Greg Rousseau and middle linebacker Matt Milano, but tackling the heavy and quick Henry in freezing temperatures is a tall task. Buffalo’s offense will also have a lot of pressure to score every possession against an improved Baltimore defense. The Ravens could put this game away early in the second half.

Prediction: 42-24

AFC wildcard weekend picks record: 2-1