Eagles-Raiders matchups to watch in Week 15

Eagles-Raiders matchups to watch in Week 15 originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Eagles (8-5) are back home to face the Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) on a short week as huge favorites.

Here are some key matchups to watch:

Vic Fangio vs. Kenny Pickett

It sounds like Raiders starting quarterback Geno Smith is going to miss this weekend’s game with a shoulder injury. That means former Eagles backup Kenny Pickett is in line to get the start for one of the NFL’s worst offenses. We won’t get that Chip Kelly Revenge Game because the former Eagles head coach was fired as the Raiders OC last month, but there’s at least the Pickett angle for this game.

Pickett, 27, spent one season with the Eagles in 2024 and finished off the Super Bowl LIX win in New Orleans with a big lead. Pickett started one game for the Eagles last season as the Eagles picked up a 41-7 win over the Cowboys. The Eagles traded him to the Browns in March and then the Browns traded him to the Raiders in August.

Pickett got into the game against the Broncos on Sunday and completed 8 of 11 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. The Raiders lost 24-17 but 10 of their points came with under 3 minutes remaining.

It’s not like the Raiders can really rely on their run game either. They have the No. 32-ranked rushing offense in the NFL.

Eagles LBs vs. Brock Bowers

The Raiders don’t have many blue chip players but Bowers is really good. The 2024 first-round pick is the Raiders’ leading receiver with 53 catches for 619 yards and 6 touchdowns in just 10 games. Bowers missed all of October with a knee injury but came back on Nov. 2 with one of the best games of his career (12/127/3) against the Jaguars. Since then, Bowers hasn’t had outstanding production but he has been steady.

The good news for the Eagles is that they have been fantastic against tight ends this season. They have given up the fewest receiving yards to opposing tight ends in the NFL this season. Opposing tight ends have had just 51 catches for 428 yards and 3 touchdowns against Vic Fangio’s defense.

Eagles DL vs. Shaky offensive line

The Eagles’ defensive line had a dominant performance against the Chargers with 7 sacks and 28 QB pressures. They had a bunch of different players with multiple pressures and they should have a chance to get to the quarterback in this game too.

The Raiders have allowed 50 sacks this season, which is the most in the NFL. They have given up a sack on 10.8% of their dropbacks and a pressure on 36.9% of his dropbacks. The Raiders’ two tackles have given up a lot of pressure this season:

LT Stone Forsythe: (10 games) — 10 sacks, 33 pressures

RT DJ Glaze: (13 games) — 7 sacks, 36 pressures

This is a chance for guys like Jalyx Hunt, Jaelan Phillips and Nolan Smith to come through again. As long as the Eagles stuff a bad rushing attack, they will earn the opportunities to get after Pickett.

Fred Johnson vs. Maxx Crosby

If Lane Johnson misses his fourth straight game with a Lisfranc sprain, Fred Johnson is in line to start again. And he’ll have to deal with one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. Maxx Crosby is the Raiders’ best player and the four-time Pro Bowler is playing at a really high level again in 2025. In 13 games, Crosby has 10 sacks, 18 QB hits, 25 tackles for loss, 63 tackles 6 batted passes, 2 forced fumbles and an interception.

He also rarely leaves the field. Crosby has played 93% of the Raiders’ defensive snaps and has been at 93% or higher in each of the last four seasons. Crosby lines up almost exclusively on the defensive left. According to ProFootballFocus, around 87% of his snaps have come against right tackles.

Saquon Barkley vs. Raiders run defense

It hasn’t been the greatest season for Saquon Barkley, but he had his second 100+ yard game against the Chargers on Monday night and the run game is starting to look a little better recently. 

The Raiders’ run defense is middle-of-the-pack. They rank 16th in the NFL in run defense, giving up 113.9 yards per game. They have given up 18 touchdowns on the ground. While the Raiders have an OK run defense on paper, they are allocating a lot of resources to it. According to NFL NextGen Stats, the Raiders are using a stacked box (8+ defenders) on 50.5% of their snaps. That is by far the highest percentage in the NFL and the next closest team is the Browns at 37.6%. The difference between 1 and 2 on the list the same as the difference between 2 and 14.

The Raiders’ starting linebackers are Elandon Roberts and former Eagle Devin White, who actually leads the team with 133 combined tackles.

Dallas Goedert vs. Raiders defense vs. tight ends

While the Eagles lost on Monday night, Dallas Goedert had a big game with 8 catches for 78 yards. In 12 games this season, Goedert had 48 catches for 481 yards and 7 touchdowns. With four games left to play, Goedert is on pace for a really nice season.

The Raiders have been very good against opposing tight ends. While the Eagles have given up the fewest receiving yards to opposing tight ends, the Raiders have given up the third-fewest. Opposing tight ends have 47 catches for 487 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Raiders this season.

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NFL Playoff Picture 2025: Updated AFC and NFC standings, bracket, tiebreakers for Week 15

The Carolina Panthers moved into first place in the NFC South when the Buccaneers lost on Thursday night, and Week 15 will see several more games that impact the playoff race. Here's how the NFL playoff picture looks after Thursday Night Football in Week 15:

AFC Playoff Picture

DIVISION LEADERS

1. Broncos (11-2) If they win out, they're the No. 1 seed in the AFC, as they own the tiebreaker over the Patriots.

2. Patriots (11-2) Their lead in the AFC East looks safe, but to earn the No. 1 seed they have to hope the Broncos lose a game.

3. Jaguars (9-4) After beating the Colts, they're the clear favorites in the AFC South.

4. Steelers (7-6) Got their biggest win of the season in Baltimore.

WILD CARDS

5. Chargers (9-4) First in the wild card race thanks to a better AFC record than the Bills.

6. Bills (9-4) Probably won't catch the Patriots in the AFC East even if they win on Sunday, but in great shape for a wild card.

7. Texans (8-5) Own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Colts.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

8. Colts (8-5) Getting to the playoffs may require a miraculous performance from Philip Rivers.

9. Ravens (6-7) Losing at home to the Steelers was costly.

10. Chiefs (6-7) Kansas City could be eliminated as soon as Sunday, and probably can't make the playoffs even if they run the table.

11. Dolphins (6-7) Best of the bad teams in the AFC.

12. Bengals (4-9) Clinched a losing record with their loss in Buffalo.

13. Jets (3-10) Mathematically eliminated.

14. Browns (3-10) Mathematically eliminated.

15. Raiders (2-11) Mathematically eliminated.

16. Titans (2-11) Mathematically eliminated.

NFC Playoff Picture

DIVISION LEADERS

1. Rams (10-3) Own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Seahawks in the NFC West.

2. Packers (9-3-1) Big win over the Bears.

3. Eagles (8-5) Defending champions are on a three-game losing streak but still have a 1.5-game lead over the Cowboys in the NFC East.

4. Panthers (7-6) Took the lead in the NFC South for the first time this season when the Buccaneers lost to the Falcons.

WILD CARDS

5. Seahawks (10-3) Need to win their rematch with the Rams on December 18.

6. 49ers (9-4) Despite a lot of injuries, they remain in playoff position.

7. Bears (9-4) If they run the table they win the NFC North.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

8. Lions (8-5) If they run the table they're guaranteed of at least a wild card berth.

9. Buccaneers (7-7) Two games remaining against the Panthers will determine who wins the NFC South.

10. Cowboys (6-6-1) They probably need to run the table, and even then they may not make the playoffs.

11. Vikings (5-8) Last place in the NFC North.

12. Falcons (4-9) Mathematically eliminated.

13. Cardinals (3-10) Mathematically eliminated.

14. Saints (3-10) Mathematically eliminated.

15. Commanders (3-10) Mathematically eliminated.

16. Giants (2-11) Mathematically eliminated.

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A Hollywood ending? Inside the final days of LeBron James in Los Angeles

LeBron James is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Photograph: Mark J Terrill/AP

In a book about LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, it’s only fitting that one memorable scene involves a Hollywood star: Will Smith.

Yaron Weitzman’s latest book is titled A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers. Suffice to say the plot thickens when Smith goes to the Lakers’ film room to speak to the team in 2022.

Six months had passed since Smith had slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars. Now Smith was participating in a series of celebrity talks to the Lakers, an innovation brought in by general manager Rob Pelinka. According to the book, James asked Smith question after question until a scheduled half-hour visit had ballooned to nearly twice that amount, with fellow Laker Russell Westbrook growing visibly frustrated, frowning in a team photo with Smith.

“You get to see the personal, intra-office dynamics that impact the game that you don’t always think about,” Weitzman says of the scene.

He notes that those who’ve read the excerpt “seem to be cheering on Westbrook” and “latching on to the idea that it was LeBron’s fault, LeBron was a phony.” He points out that Westbrook has played for multiple NBA teams, and in LA, he was “awful on the court, hardheaded, no willingness to adjust his game.”

As for James: “He is the defining, not just basketball player … but athlete of my generation,” says the 37-year-old Weitzman. And, the author adds, “It seemed like the ‘merger’ between LeBron and the Lakers was fertile ground for the sort of reporting and storytelling” that’s fueled by what Weitzman calls behind the scenes drama.

Weitzman is no stranger to dissecting NBA franchises. It’s what he did in his previous book, about the Philadelphia 76ers, Tanking to the Top. With the Lakers, though, the spotlight was more intense. There was the team’s location in America’s entertainment epicenter. There was a legacy of championships won by stars from Magic Johnson to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Kobe Bryant to Shaquille O’Neal, the last two coached by the legendary Phil Jackson. (Last season brought another addition to the pantheon – Luka Dončić – but we’ll get to him later.) There was the role of the Buss family, especially the late longtime team owner Jerry Buss and his daughter, Jeanie, who succeeded him in the executive office. Then there was what Weitzman called the “merger” between the Lakers and James, who brought a star power all his own – as well as the increasingly powerful agency that represented him: Klutch Sports Group, run by James’ friend Rich Paul.

Related: The Luka Era begins: inside the transformation powering the post-LeBron Lakers

How rare is James’s status in the NBA? The book notes his estimated billion-dollar-plus worth while still on an NBA roster, and his dream of someday owning a franchise. Weitzman tracks the impact of James’ comments to the media – including some much-scrutinized remarks at a press conference after the Lakers’ 2023 playoff exit: “I’ve got a lot to think about, to be honest. Just for me personally going forward with the game of basketball, I’ve got a lot to think about.”

Neither James nor team ownership would talk with Weitzman for the book. He filled in the gaps by reading the news coverage from as far back as 15 years ago, supplementing this by watching documentaries, listening to podcasts and speaking with whoever would talk to him, a list that grew to almost 300. Keep an eye out for the footnotes while reading the book. Weitzman describes them as “like someone winking at the reader.”

On page 54, you’ll find not one but two footnotes relating to Daenerys Targaryen. Why? Bryant is quoted urging Jeanie Buss to emulate the Game of Thrones character in early 2017. That’s when, according to the book, she won a George RR Martin-esque power struggle for control of the team. The next year, James came to LA for four years and $154m.

“The Lakers were in a dark period,” Weitzman says. “They certainly needed LeBron. LeBron saved Jeanie Buss’ legacy by coming there.” He adds that unlike past stars such as Magic, Kobe or Shaq, LeBron came to the Lakers as “a fully formed icon, which they had not had before.”

There were significant if not immediate benefits: A championship in James’ second season with the Lakers, 2019-20 – a season that ended amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests. It was also a season that saw the death of Bryant and his daughter Gianna in a helicopter crash. Coach Frank Vogel kept the team focused as it played before empty stands in the NBA bubble. It was title No 17 for the Lakers, tying them with the Boston Celtics for the all-time league mark.

Would there be an encore? Pelinka tried to add more talent around James, and in 2021 he brought in Westbrook. Yet the 2021-22 team couldn’t even qualify for the playoffs to defend its title, and Vogel lost his job.

Darvin Ham succeeded Vogel as coach. James continued to dazzle on the court, yet the team struggled around him. The book finds a perfect microcosm: On 7 February 2023, James broke the all-time NBA scoring record, surpassing Abdul-Jabbar, in a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. There were cheers for James after he set the mark late in the third quarter, and a salute from commissioner Adam Silver. However, as the book points out, it was the Thunder who won the game. The Lakers stood at 25-30, in danger of missing the playoffs once more.

Cue more plot twists. The Lakers traded away Westbrook, and saw their fortunes surge. They made the playoffs, going all the way to the West finals, which Denver swept. It was an encouraging first season for Ham, yet the following season the Nuggets ousted the Lakers again, this time in the first round of the playoffs. The hated Celtics won the title that season, moving them ahead of LA for that record 18th banner.

Parting ways with Ham, the Lakers flirted with UConn coach Dan Hurley before he ultimately turned LA down. The Lakers hired player-turned-podcaster JJ Redick and made a unique decision in the draft: They selected James’ son Bronny at No 54, setting up a rare father-son pairing in the lineup. Then, earlier this year, Pelinka made a league-shattering move, dealing Anthony Davis for Mavericks superstar Dončić, who is already one his way to replacing James as the face of the Lakers.

By that point, Weitzman thought he was finished with the manuscript, which initially ended with Bronny joining James on the Lakers. As they say in Hollywood, get me a rewrite.

“I live in New York. The Lakers were playing the Knicks that night at Madison Square Garden,” Weitzman recalls of the Dončić trade. “I was at the game, then I was driving my way home, saw the tweet – oh my God.”

The book wraps up in where-are-they-now style, giving readers updates on the cast. Among them: The Buss family has sold its majority stake to Mark Walter, the owner of the cross-town LA Dodgers, with Jeanie Buss remaining as governor and keeping 15% ownership.

“I’m curious to see where this goes,” Weitzman says. “Is she going to stay or go? I’m dubious whether she actually can stay … Usually, people who pay the money want to be in charge.”

As for James?

“Playing into his 40s, it’s something unparalleled,” Weitzman marvels. “In the major professional American sports, the four major sports, Tom Brady is the only comparison. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

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Eagles defense deserves better than they're getting this year

Eagles defense deserves better than they're getting this year originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Jalyx Hunt had one of the best games of his young career on Monday night. The second-year edge rusher had 2 1/2 sacks, 8 tackles, 3 QB hits, a forced fumble and 6 pressures.

And he couldn’t even celebrate.

“It might look good stats-wise but a loss is a loss,” Hunt said after the Eagles fell 22-19 to the Chargers in overtime. “I’m going to have to get on this plane with the dawgs and it’s going to hurt. It’s a long flight. 

“It’s cool, I guess. It’s cool for your mom to talk about, your dad to talk about. They be proud of you and whatnot. But, me personally, I don’t take any [consolations], nothing like that. It don’t feel good. It wasn’t enough, at the end of the day.”

Hunt is right: It wasn’t enough. But it should have been.

The Eagles’ defense on Monday night gave up a touchdown on the Chargers’ very first drive of the game but then tightened up. They allowed just five field goals on the Chargers’ final 12 possessions and gave up an average of just 16.25 yards per drive. They sacked Justin Herbert seven times and pressured him on 68.3% of his dropbacks, the highest single-game pressure rate of any team this season.

It was a great performance and it was wasted.

This Vic Fangio defense deserves better than this.

For what it’s worth — and it’s worth a lot — the players on defense have the right attitude about all this. There can sometimes be a fear, when one side of the ball is carrying the other, that it creates a divide in the locker room. Finger-pointing can happen. But it doesn’t seem like that’s happening here and when asked about that possibility earlier in the season, head coach Nick Sirianni praised the connection portion of his program.

“Just play our ball, stick to what we do and get better,” Zack Baun said on Wednesday. “We haven’t been playing our best either. We can only control what we can control and try our best to play complementary ball from doing what we gotta do.”

Even after a great individual performance, Hunt talked about looking in the mirror too.

“We made some mistakes on the defensive end that we need to clean up,” Hunt said. “We got to go in, [Brandon Graham] taught me how to attack the losses. We gotta get back in and make up for our mistakes. They scored, I don’t know, more than we scored. That hurts. The score hurts, all the field goals hurt. We gotta stop them a little bit more. We gotta go in and fix that.”

But you would think it would be human nature for some of the Eagles’ defensive players to look around and wonder: What the heck do we have to do?

“This is the ultimate team game,” Sirianni said on Wednesday, “and one phase has to pick up another and there could be games like that. There can be games the opposite way, but that’s the important part of always connecting with everybody in the building, controlling the things you can control, all those different things.”

The Eagles have the highest-paid offense in the NFL and through 14 weeks, they rank 19th in points and 24th in yards. And since the bye week, the Eagles have actually regressed.

In their five games since the Week 9 bye, the Eagles’ offense has scored just 8 total touchdowns. The only team in that span to score fewer touchdowns in five games is the Las Vegas Raiders, who fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly last month.

The Eagles have had 59 total possessions in the last five games and have scored just 8 touchdowns for a paltry percentage of 13.6%. Even if you take away some end-of-half and end-of-game situations, the Eagles’ offense is still woefully underperforming.

On the flip side, the Eagles defense has given up just 9 touchdowns since the bye. Just one team (the Vikings with 7) have given up fewer in five games.

None of this excuses the way the Eagles played on defense against the Bears, giving up 281 rushing yards on the ground. That was a historically bad performance against the run. But, for the most part, the Eagles’ defense has been excellent, giving up just 17.2 points per game since the bye week.

If the Eagles (8-5) are going to make a run this year, it seems like their best hope is that the defense can carry the team as the offense hopefully crawls its way toward league average.

“We got this long flight we gotta get on,” Hunt said. “That sucks after a loss like this. Gotta restart. We got the Raiders coming up this weekend. We gotta look at them on film and just keep building.”

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Bo Nix closing in on Russell Wilson's record for most wins in a QB's first two seasons

When the Broncos drafted Bo Nix last year, they wanted a quarterback who could help them move on from their disastrous two-year experiment with Russell Wilson. Nix has exceeded expectations.

And by the end of this season, Nix may exceed Wilson's record for the most wins any quarterback has had in his first two NFL seasons.

The Seahawks won 24 games that Wilson started in his first two seasons, 2012-2013. The Broncos have won 21 games that Nix has started in his first two seasons, and the Broncos have four games remaining this season. If Nix leads Denver to four more wins down the stretch, he'll top Wilson's mark.

If Nix and the Broncos beat the Packers on Sunday, he'll move into a tie for the second-most wins by a quarterback in his first two seasons. Andrew Luck, Dak Prescott and Ben Roethlisberger all had 22 wins in their first two seasons in the NFL.

With four more wins, the Broncos would also clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Not many people expected Denver to be there two years ago.

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In Roob's Eagles Stats: Lots of Nakobe and Saquon and, yeah, Jalen too (sorry)

In Roob's Eagles Stats: Lots of Nakobe and Saquon and, yeah, Jalen too (sorry) originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Had enough of the negative stats? Seen enough about mistakes and errors and turnovers and blown leads?

Too bad. You’re in the wrong place!

No, just kidding. Thanks to the defense, we were actually able to stay mostly positive in this week’s Roob’s Eagles Stats, despite the excruciating overtime loss to the Chargers at SoFi Stadium Monday night.

If you really want the Jalen Hurts interception stats – and there is a Bobby Hoying reference in there – you’ll have to go all the way to the end. But, honestly, it’s worth it.

1A. We’re going to start out with the Eagles’ defensive tackles because it’s not too often you have one interior lineman with more than one sack in a game, and on Monday night the Eagles had two. And that hadn’t happened in more than two decades. Jordan Davis and Byron Young each had 1 ½ sacks, and it was the first time since a game against the Packers at the Linc in 2004 that multiple Eagles interior linemen had more than one sack in a game. In that 47-17 win over the Packers, Corey Simon and Darwin Walker each had 2.0 sacks. The only other times it’s happened were a 1995 win over the Giants at the Meadowlands, when Andy Harmon and Kevin Johnson each had 2.0 sacks, and a 1991 24-0 win over the Cowboys at Texas Stadium, when Jerome Brown had 2 ½ sacks and Mike Golic had 2.0. The Eagles sacked Troy Aikman 11 times that afternoon. 

1B. Staying on the topic of sacks, Nakobe Dean recorded his fourth sack in his last five games, becoming the first Eagles linebacker with four sacks in five games since William Thomas had four in 1997 from Week 8 against the Cards through Week 12 vs. the Ravens. Despite missing the first six games of the season, Dean is the first Eagles linebacker with four sacks in an entire season since Mychal Kendricks had 4.0 in 2014. The last LB with more than 4.0 was Willie T. with 5.0 in that 1997 season. 

2. It was a mixed bag for A.J. Brown Monday night, but we’re just going to focus on his third straight 100-yard game. Brown now has 23 100-yard games since joining the Eagles, one more than DeSean Jackson and Mike Quick and just one behind Pete Retzlaff for most in Eagles history. Brown set a franchise record with six straight 100-yard games in 2023, and the only other Eagle with two separate streaks of three straight 100-yard games is Quick, who had four straight in 1983 and three straight in 1985. After averaging 39 yards per game through Week 5, Brown is averaging 86 yards per game since Week 6 and for the first time is now on pace for over 1,000 yards this year. In just 3 ½ seasons with the Eagles, Brown is now 11th in franchise history with 4,830 yards, 20 behind DeVonta Smith.

3. With his eight catches Monday, Dallas Goedert increased his career total to 449, and he now needs just five to pass Retzlaff to move into fourth place in franchise history and 11 to pass Brian Westbrook and move into third. That would leave him behind only Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael (618) and former teammate Zach Ertz (612). Goedert’s 449 receptions are 6th-most among active players who have never made a Pro Bowl. The only tight end who’s caught more passes than Goedert without making a Pro Bowl is Ben Watson, who caught 547 passes in 16 years with the Patriots, Browns, Saints and Ravens.

4. Saquon Barkley’s 52-yard touchdown run was the 15th of his career of 50 or more yards including postseason, which trails only Adrian Peterson’s 16 in NFL history. Barry Sanders also had 15. Nine of those 15 have come in 33 games with the Eagles. Bosh Pritchard has the 2nd-most in Eagles history with five from 1946 through 1949. Barkley and Pritchard are the only Eagles with two seasons with multiple TD runs of at least 50 yards. Barkley also had six 50-yard TDs with the Giants, including three against the Eagles. He now has the most 50-yard touchdown runs for the Eagles and against the Eagles. Including postseason, Barkley now has 16 100-yard games in less than two years with the Eagles. Only Wilbert Montgomery (26), LeSean McCoy (23), Brian Westbrook (20) and Steve Van Buren (16) have more in Eagles history.

5A. Over the last four weeks, the Eagles have held opposing quarterbacks to 48.9 percent completion percentage. That’s Jared Goff (37.8 percent), Dak Prescott (63.9 percent), Caleb Williams (47.2 percent) and Justin Herbert (46.2 percent). That’s the lowest completion percentage against the Eagles in a four-game span in 17 years, since Joe Flacco of the Ravens (46 percent), Kurt Warner of the Cards (54 percent), Eli Manning of the Giants (48 percent) and Ken Dorsey of the Browns (39 percent) combined to go 66-for-137 for 48.2 percent in 2008.

5B. The Eagles are allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete just 55.8 percent of their passes, lowest in the NFL. That would be their lowest over a full season since the 2008 team allowed 54.1 percent and the lowest by any NFL team in nine years, since the Broncos allowed 55.4 percent in 2016. 

6A. Britain Covey averaged 18.0 yards on three punt returns Monday night and 25.8 yards on five kick returns. He’s only the Eagles’ fourth returner ever to average at least 18 yards on at least three punt returns and 25 yards on at least three kick returns. Al Pollard did it against the Lions in 1951 (18.7 punts, 28.3 kicks), Wally Henry against the Cards in 1979 (20.0, 28.4) and most recently Brian Mitchell against the 49ers in 2002 (33.0, 35.7). 

6B. Covey increased his career punt return average from 11.3 to 11.6 and moved past Darren Sproles with the highest punt return average in Eagles history with a minimum of 75 returns. Sproles averaged 11.6 also, but Covey’s 11.6 is 11.587 and Sproles’ is 11.573. Covey now has the 9th-highest punt return average in NFL history (minimum 75 returns) and highest ever by an undrafted player, just ahead of Paul Johns, who played for the Seahawks from 1981 through 1984. Johns had an 11.551 average on 78 punt returns.

7. Here’s an interesting one on the Eagles’ offensive line: The Eagles have gone five straight games without allowing more than one sack for only the second time since sacks became an official stat in 1982. In 2014 they went six straight games. That matches the longest streak by any team since the Steelers went 10 straight games without allowing more than one sack in 2020.

8. The Eagles have allowed only 13 passing touchdowns so far this year, That’s the fewest they’ve allowed through 13 games in 24 years. Back in 2001, they only allowed 11 passing TDs the first 13 games of the season with future NFL head coaches Leslie Frazier, Steve Spagnuolo, Ron Rivera and Sean McDermott on Jim Johnson’s defensive staff. 

OK … you’ve made it this far … here’s the weekly negative section! We kept it short this week. 

9. The Lame Offense Stats Section: 

9A. The Eagles have scored just 81 points in their last five games, their fewest in a five-game span since 2012, when they had 79 in a five-game span from Week 3 in Arizona through Week 8 against the Falcons. 

9B. The Eagles have gone 12 straight games without converting at least 45 percent of their third downs, their 2nd-longest streak since the NFL began tracking 3rd-down stats in 1991 and longest since a 13-game streak in 2005. 

9C. The Eagles have gone five straight games without recording at least 20 first downs, their longest streak since a six-game streak at the end of the 2005 season. 

10. OK, we put this off long enough. Let’s get to the Jalen Hurts stats. This is going to be painful:

10A. Hurts on Monday became the first Eagles quarterback in 28 years to commit five turnovers in a game. In 1997, in a 31-21 loss to the Giants at the Vet, Bobby Hoying was intercepted three times and lost two fumbles. That was Hoying’s fourth career start and his first career loss. 

10B. Hurts became the first Eagles QB to throw four interceptions in a game since Michael Vick in the 2012 opener in Cleveland, a 17-16 win over the Browns in which Brandon Weeden also threw four interceptions. 

10C. Hurts is the first Eagles QB to throw four INTs without a touchdown pass since 1991, when undrafted rookie Brad Goebel did it in a 13-6 loss to the Saints at the Vet. That was his second career start.

10D. Hurts’ overtime interception was the Eagles’ first overtime turnover since Mike McMahon fumbled when he was sacked by Osi Umenyiora in the Giants’ 26-23 win over the Eagles at the Linc in 2005. It was the Eagles’ first overtime interception since Tony Parrish picked off Donovan McNabb in the 49ers’ 31-28 win at the Linc in 2003. And it was the Eagles’ first game-ending turnover in overtime since Michael Strahan’s 44-yard pick-6 off Doug Pederson at the Vet in 1999.

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San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers: How to watch the 2025 NBA Cup, where to stream and more

Steelers closing in on an NFL record 22nd consecutive season finishing .500 or better

The Steelers haven't finished with a losing record since 2003, and with four games to go this season, they're currently 7-6. With two more wins, they'll clinch a winning season, and set a new NFL record in the process.

Pittsburgh's current streak of 21 consecutive seasons finishing .500 or better is tied for the longest streak in NFL history. The Cowboys also had 21 straight seasons finishing .500 or better from 1965 to 1985.

If the Steelers finish this season at .500 or better, they'll make it 22 years in a row and have the record to themselves.

The Steelers' four remaining games are home against the Dolphins, at Detroit, at Cleveland and home against the Ravens. The betting odds favor the Steelers to win at least two of those games and finish with at least nine wins.

The Steelers haven't won a playoff game since 2017, and coach Mike Tomlin's seat has been getting warm as Pittsburgh fans have increasingly seen just finishing .500 or better as too low a bar. But it's a bar that the Steelers clear every year, for more than two decades.

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'He'll respond' - Smyth to make home NFL debut

Charlie Smyth is set to make his home debut for the New Orleans Saints against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday [Getty Images]

New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore says kicker Charlie Smith will make his home NFL debut against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday (21:25 GMT).

Former Gaelic footballer Smyth is set to start his third successive NFL game after featuring in the away loss to the Miami Dolphins and last weekend's over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After landing a 56-yard field goal and a rare onside kick on his debut, the 24-year-old had mixed fortunes in the surprise victory over the Buccaneers.

Smyth missed a 48-yard field-goal attempt in the driving rain, but his 30-yard effort tied the game in the closing stages of the third quarter.

He was perfect from his three extra point attempts, but failed to hit the landing zone late in the game from a kick-off but the Buccaneers could not capitalise on the error.

Moore said he would not "overreact" to the missed kicks, and Smyth has "done plenty of good".

"He can take a growth opportunity here, both at kick-off and in a field goal situation," Moore said.

"He'll respond really well."

• Smyth helps Saints stun Buccaneers in upset win
• How GAA helped Smyth make NFL kick with 7% success

NFL rules say a player can be elevated three times from the practice squad before they must be made a permanent fixture in a team's 53-man roster.

That means that if Smyth impresses against the Panthers, the Saints would need to sign him before selecting him for a fourth match.

Smyth earned his opportunity after regular kicker Blake Grupe was waived by the Saints, and he came through a competition against veteran Cade York to earn his shot at the NFL.

Moore said that both players will be "ready to go", but "we feel good about Charlie".

"This is a great opportunity for him. Resiliency? Facing adversity? Perfect," he said.

"He gets to have a game where he missed one and he will get to respond the way he needs to."

Former Down GAA goalkeeper Smyth had been a member of Saints' practice squad as part of the NFL's international player pathway programme after signing his first contract in March 2024.

He is only the third placekicker from the island of Ireland to feature in a regular NFL game, after Neil O'Donoghue between 1977 and 1985 and Jude McAtamney in each of the past two seasons.

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NFL Playoff Picture 2025: Updated AFC and NFC standings, bracket, tiebreakers for Week 14

The Chargers' win over the Eagles on Monday night kept both the AFC West and the NFC East races competitive for at least another week. We take a look at the playoff picture below, with standings updated through Monday Night Football in Week 14:

AFC Playoff Picture

DIVISION LEADERS

1. Broncos (11-2) If they win out, they're the No. 1 seed in the AFC, as they own the tiebreaker over the Patriots.

2. Patriots (11-2) Their lead in the AFC East looks safe, but to earn the No. 1 seed they have to hope the Broncos lose a game.

3. Jaguars (9-4) After beating the Colts, they're the clear favorites in the AFC South.

4. Steelers (7-6) Got their biggest win of the season in Baltimore.

WILD CARDS

5. Chargers (9-4) First in the wild card race thanks to a better AFC record than the Bills.

6. Bills (9-4) Probably won't catch the Patriots in the AFC East, but in great shape for a wild card.

7. Texans (8-5) Own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Colts.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

8. Colts (8-5) Losing Daniel Jones could be devastating to their playoff chances.

9. Ravens (6-7) Losing at home to the Steelers was costly.

10. Chiefs (6-7) Probably can't make the playoffs even if they run the table.

11. Dolphins (6-7) Best of the bad teams in the AFC.

12. Bengals (4-9) Clinched a losing record with their loss in Buffalo.

13. Jets (3-10) Mathematically eliminated.

14. Browns (3-10) Mathematically eliminated.

15. Raiders (2-11) Mathematically eliminated.

16. Titans (2-11) Mathematically eliminated.

NFC Playoff Picture

DIVISION LEADERS

1. Rams (10-3) Own the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Seahawks in the NFC West.

2. Packers (9-3-1) Big win over the Bears.

3. Eagles (8-5) Defending champions are on a three-game losing streak but still have a 1.5-game lead over the Cowboys in the NFC East.

4. Buccaneers (7-6) Still lead the NFC South thanks to the common games tiebreaker with the Panthers.

WILD CARDS

5. Seahawks (10-3) Need to win their rematch with the Rams on December 18.

6. 49ers (9-4) Despite a lot of injuries, they remain in playoff position.

7. Bears (9-4) Big loss to the Packers.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

8. Lions (8-5) Big win over the Cowboys

9. Panthers (7-6) Kept hope alive by beating the Rams.

10. Cowboys (6-6-1) They probably need to run the table, and even then they may not make the playoffs.

11. Vikings (5-8) Last place in the NFC North.

12. Falcons (4-9) Mathematically eliminated.

13. Cardinals (3-10) Mathematically eliminated.

14. Saints (3-10) Mathematically eliminated.

15. Commanders (3-10) Mathematically eliminated.

16. Giants (2-11) Mathematically eliminated.

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Miami Heat vs. Orlando Magic: How to watch the 2025 NBA Cup, where to stream and more

Jim Harbaugh: Justin Herbert is a superhero quarterback

Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh says Justin Herbert's performance in Monday night's win over the Eagles was one for the ages.

"Justin Herbert, he's a superhero," Harbaugh said. "He's a competitive maniac. He was even stiff-arming guys with a broken hand — he had surgery a week ago. It felt like we were in a movie where the quarterback's doing things and you get to the point where you go, 'OK, it's getting a little unrealistic.' That's what it felt like to me. He refuses to lose. He's tough as they get. He's a superhero quarterback."

Herbert's passing numbers weren't great -- he completed just 12 of 26 passes for 139 yards, with one touchdown and one interception -- but he also ran the ball 10 times for 66 yards while playing behind an injury-depleted offensive line. Harbaugh said the perseverance shown by his team in beating the defending Super Bowl champions 22-19 in overtime made it one of the best days of his life.

"It's certainly in the discussion, I'd put it in the discussion of the birth of my seven children, my marriage," Harbaugh said. "In the conversation. Just joyous. The Biblical definition of that is just overflowing with joy."

The Chargers are now 9-4, and Harbaugh says they're the kind of team that can win championships.

"What a team we have," Harbaugh said. "Just a wonderful feeling of victory. Great thrill of victory."

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Eagles notebook: Snaps on defense, making juice, a deserving honor

Eagles notebook: Snaps on defense, making juice, a deserving honor originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

This latest mini bye week seemed to come at a perfect time for the Eagles’ defense. Because those guys played a ton of snaps on Black Friday against the Bears.

“How many snaps did we play?” Cooper DeJean asked.

They played 87.

That’s the most snaps the Eagles have played this year and the most snaps they have played in their two seasons under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. The Eagles hadn’t played that many defensive snaps in a game since that overtime game against Buffalo in 2023. They played 95 in that one.

DeJean, Zack Baun, Reed Blankenship and Quinyon Mitchell were the four players on defense who didn’t leave the field.

“I don’t know if I really pay attention to it,” DeJean said. “I never really notice it during the game that we were out there for 87 snaps. I think my mindset is to go out there whenever I’m called upon to do my job. Never really thinking about how much we’re out there or how my body is feeling during the game. It’s all adrenaline. At the end of the day, just go out there and do our job.”

The Eagles’ offense has obviously been struggling with 3-and-outs this season, which can put their defense back on the field quickly. But the Eagles’ defense allowed the Bears to convert on 10 of 17 attempts on third down.

In 2024, the Eagles defense averaged 61.6 snaps per game. That is up to 67.6 this season. That might not sound like much but that is on pace to be an extra 102 snaps this season. And in the last two games, they have played 74 snaps against the Cowboys and 87 against the Bears.

“We have no control over how and when we get on the field,” Fangio said. “We can only control how we get off the field. We didn’t do a good enough job of that in this past game. We had been in the previous games, and we’ve got to get back to where we’re playing better defense.”

Worth the squeeze

The Eagles had a few extra days this weekend after playing on Black Friday and DeVonta Smith found an exciting way to pass the time.

“So you know what’s interesting? I bought me a juicer,” Smith said. “And I’ve been squeezing oranges, apples and pineapples for the past four days. And let me tell you something: It’s amazing. The best orange and apple juice I’ve ever had is when I squeeze my own. So that’s what I’ve been doing since the Black Friday game. Squeezing fruit.”

Smith said he bought the manual juicer after seeing a video about one on TikTok. Some of his teammates are interested in buying an automatic one but Smith likes the manual version.

“Somebody told me to get the automatic,” Smith said, “but I was like, doing it myself makes me feel like I’m actually doing something instead of doing just the automatic.”

What is Smith’s favorite?

“Apple juice, by far,” he said.

But he’s learning how much many apples it takes to collect enough juice.

“So, honestly, the orange I get a good little bit,” Smith said. “It’s the apples. You gotta buy like a hundred apples just to fill up the jar. But it’s worth it.”

The Positivity Bunny

There was a newcomer in the Eagles’ locker room on Saturday. Meet the Positivity Bunny.

The positivity bunny taking in a Saquon Barkley interview. pic.twitter.com/7PW05PQMhe

— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) December 6, 2025

The giant inflatable was brought in by veteran running back A.J. Dillon to keep things loose and fun. The Eagles have talked plenty in-house about the fact that the sky is not falling and they seemed to have good energy all week. The bunny was just a little added fun from one player.

“I’ve been told it’s a vibes bunny,” Saquon Barkley said. “And the vibes are high right now.”

Staying on the sideline

As embattled offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo continues to get criticized one suggestion has popped up from several places, including from former Eagles Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles. While Patullo has been calling plays from the field all season, some think it might benefit him from moving up to the coach’s booth for a bird’s-eye view.

Patullo was asked about this on Wednesday and he explained why he thinks it’s better for him to stay on the field.

“I think the communication with the players is important,” Patullo said. “I’ve been on, since I’ve been here in ’21, I’ve been on the field every time. I think there’s a lot of communication with players, coaches on the field, making sure adjustments are done correctly. I have conversations with Jalen (Hurts), with the O-line, with the receivers that are very important.

“I’ve been on the field for a long, long time. I don’t think I’ve been in the box since maybe 2011 as a coach. So, it’s been a while. I think just the relationship I have with the guys and the communication has been good, and we’ve just got to continue to improve in other areas and we’ll be alright.”

He’s not normal

DeVonta Smith leading up to the Bears game was dealing with a couple injuries and an illness so he hadn’t spoken to reporters in a while. So on Friday, he was asked about that spectacular catch he had against the Cowboys a couple weeks ago.

Remember this one?

Defying gravity pic.twitter.com/FOeZQqNAHF

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 23, 2025

Smith was asked where that catch ranks among his best ever and said, “I don’t know. I felt like that was just kind of a normal catch.”

That was a normal catch!?

“Yeah, kinda,” he said.

A deserving honor

The Eagles this week announced that left tackle Jordan Mailata is their nominee for the 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. And his teammates think he’s the perfect choice.

“I absolutely hate the guy,” Landon Dickerson said deadpan.

Dickerson and Mailata have a close relationship that has developed over the last several years playing next to each other on the offensive line. So Dickerson, jokes aside, knows why Mailata is the right choice for this award.

“I love Jordan. Couldn’t be happier for him,” Dickerson said. “The guy does so much stuff on and off the field, especially to help the community, really support everyone around him and really give back because he’s in such a blessed position. Super happy for him. I’m really glad he got nominated for it. I think we’ve known for a while now.”

Jalen Hurts has been teammates with Mailata since the 2020 season. That was Hurts’ rookie year and Mailata’s third NFL season. That was also the year where Mailata finally got a chance to play.

Mailata and Hurts have a good relationship too.

“I think that’s a heck of an honor to be able to represent your team, be able to represent the league and his family in something so prestigious,” Hurts said. “The things that he means to this team and what he means to the community, having a journey that is unique as his and coming and learning the game of football and being one of the best at it. I’m glad he gets to soak in that moment. I think for him, someone who is being so diligent about his game, diligent about himself and how he represents himself. Wanting to continue to grow as a person. Those are the things that I see from him. That’s a big congrats to him.”

When asked why Mailata is deserving of this honor, center Cam Jurgens said, “He cares for everybody.” Aside from bringing joy to the NovaCare Complex, Jurgens said that when they’re out to dinner together and fans approach, Mailata has time for everyone.

“He never turns anyone down,” Jurgens said. “He’s the ultimate person for that award.”

Happy for a buddy

Nick Sirianni is happy for his college teammate at Mount Union and buddy Matt Campbell, who was hired this week as the new head coach at Penn State.

“Yeah, I’m really excited for him and the opportunity he has. Well-deserved,” Sirianni said. “Phenomenal, phenomenal football coach. Phenomenal person, great family. I’ve been an Iowa State fan for the last 10 years.”

In addition to Campbell, another one of Sirianni’s former teammates at Mount Union, Jason Candle, was just hired at UConn after a successful run at Toledo. Sirianni is still close with both Campbell and Candle.

“I think the guy who probably doesn’t get enough credit, now he does from us, is we all went to school at Mount Union,” Sirianni said. “For the various degrees that we went for, we didn’t know we’d leave in a doctorate degree of football coaching. So [former Mount Union head coach] Larry Kehres deserves a lot of credit for all of us being in these positions right now.”

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Caleb Williams: I've got to throw a better ball at end of game

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams made a lot of plays in the second half of Sunday's game against the Packers, but he wound up falling short on the team's final offensive play.

Williams rolled left on a fourth-and-1 from the Packers' 14-yard line and tried to hit tight end Cole Kmet in the end zone, but he didn't get the ball over Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon. Nixon secured it for an interception that sealed the Packers' 28-21 win and knocked the Bears out of first place in the NFC North.

After the game, Williams said he had multiple receiving options on the play as well as the chance to run for the first down if it was there but identified Kmet as the best choice as things unfolded. He lamented not giving the tight end more of a chance to make a play on the ball.

“Rolled out and saw Cole, I tried to give him a big-boy ball, try and let him go up for it because I ended up seeing [Nixon] start to sprint," Williams said in his postgame press conference. "I tried to slow them up and kind of give him a chance. In those moments, it's a got-to-have-it moment. They had a guy trailing me, so I didn't feel like I could go get it myself. Just got to give Cole a better shot at it. I think next time, just extend him a little bit more and kind of lead him. But, in those moments, you want to put the ball in play and trust your guy or try to have your guy go make a play and just got to give him a better ball."

Williams threw two touchdown passes in the second half and came up with a pair of big completions on the final drive to get the Bears into scoring position. He was 6-of-14 for 32 yards in the first half, however, and said the team was "shooting ourselves in the foot" while falling behind by 11 points at halftime. Those early struggles helped put them in a do-or-die situation at the end of the game and the Bears can't afford to miss too many more opportunities if they're going to finish the season with a playoff berth.

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Patrick Mahomes knows "the chances are getting lower and lower" of Chiefs making playoffs

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has never missed the playoffs. He knows he's likely to miss the playoffs this year.

Mahomes said after Sunday night's loss to the Texans that he realizes the 6-7 Chiefs' playoff hopes are slipping away, but he said he and his teammates aren't done fighting.

"We know the chances are getting lower and lower, but I know the guys on this team are going to give everything they have, eery opportunity we get," Mahomes said.

The Chiefs face the Chargers, Titans, Broncos and Raiders over the final four games of the season, and Mahomes vows Kansas City will be a tough team to beat.

"We're not winning games, but that mindset the guys have in this locker room, in the games we're not winning, you can never question the fight of this team," Mahomes said. "Obviously, we're not executing at the right moments and we're not making those plays, but at the end of the day you can never question that, and I think you'll see that these last four weeks."

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Eagles at Chargers predictions for Week 14 of the NFL season

Eagles at Chargers predictions for Week 14 of the NFL season originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Eagles (8-4) are facing the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) on Monday Night Football.

Let’s get to the predictions:

Reuben Frank (8-4)

I believe the Eagles are the better team, but that’s not always enough. This Eagles team hasn’t lived up to expectations, and while a lot of teams would be thrilled to be sitting here at 8-4 going into Week 14 and a near-lock to win the division and reach the playoffs, the standards are different at the NovaCare Complex and since a 4-0 start this is a .500 team at 4-4, with all four losses coming in somewhat horrifying fashion. The Chargers aren’t an elite team by any means, but they’re solid on both sides of the ball, and I’ve just seen too many issues with the Eagles lately to feel confident in their ability to beat a good team on the road right now. They aren’t pressuring off the edge. They aren’t stopping the run. They aren’t getting enough takeaways. They can’t run the ball. They don’t throw it consistently. If they play up to their talent level, the Eagles beat the Chargers. But too often lately they haven’t done that. 

Chargers 23, Eagles 17

Dave Zangaro (7-5)

I’d be lying if I said I had a ton of confidence in the Eagles going into this game. We spent a lot of this week talking about the important matchups against the Chargers but this isn’t about the Chargers. This is about the Eagles and whether or not they can get out of their own way. We’re in Week 14 so it just doesn’t look like there’s some magic switch to flip on offense but I just have a hard time believing it’s going to look like this the rest of the year because there’s just too much talent. I think the Eagles need to get Jalen Hurts’ legs more involved in the game plan and in a huge situation to avoid a three-game losing streak, I think they do. Defensively, I don’t expect a repeat of last week where they couldn’t stop the run. I actually still have a ton of faith in the defense. If the Eagles win this game, it feels more likely to be a lower scoring game with neither team getting into the 30s.

Eagles 24, Chargers 20

Barrett Brooks (7-5)

The Eagles, in my book, are in must-win mode. I can’t believe the Birds have yet to find an identity. OK, let me say they have an identity — so I want them to change it. They are so undisciplined. There are too many times where drives are stalled because of penalties, especially pre-snap penalties. The Eagles’ offense is top five in 3-and-outs. The majority of the time, it’s jumping offsides and illegal formation penalties. The offensive line has been awful this year on the line of scrimmage. They have totally forgotten how to double team and secure the line of scrimmage first, then get to the linebackers at the second level.

Defensively, Vic Fangio has to get penetration up front on the line of scrimmage. Last week vs. the Bears, we were destroyed by their O-line. Their offensive line double teamed the Birds’ defensive line back into the linebackers’ laps! Both Nakobe Dean and Zack Baun had O-linemen in their face the entire game. OK, enough complaining: my Birds get back to business, dominating the run game and stopping the run! We dominate and run the table the rest of the season.

Eagles 24, Chargers 21

Mike Mulhern (8-4)

I almost would’ve preferred that the Cowboys won on Thursday to add a little extra pressure to the Eagles. Now it seems like they can coast to the division title and a home playoff game without making any material improvement. If they go 3-2 the rest of the way, they repeat as NFC East champs no matter what Dallas does. Jalen Carter can recover after a shoulder procedure. Maybe Lane Johnson sits out an extra game or two. You can gear everything towards January and hopefully flip a switch. I just don’t know if the Eagles have it in them this season.

You need to run the ball and stop the run to go deep in the postseason. The results of late indicate the Eagles can’t do either. They’ve been propped up by taking care of the ball and an unsustainable red zone success rate. Jalen Hurts’ tush push fumble was both of those stats coming back to earth a bit. No matter how hard you coach it, there’s some luck involved in turnovers. And if you aren’t regularly successful on offense, you probably aren’t going to dial up winners every time you get past the 20-yard line.

Monday night will be a true litmus test for where this team is at after yet another mini bye. Indications are that Justin Herbert will be starting. Jim Harbaugh wants his team to play physically. The Eagles got pushed around by the Bears. If that happens again, I think a complete collapse is in play, but I’ll give the “Positivity Bunny” one chance to change the vibes.

Eagles 23, Chargers 16 

Ashlyn Sullivan (7-5)

The Eagles get back on track this week against a Chargers team that has the same record… but is a product of an easy schedule. This game is a great measuring stick to see where this Eagles team actually is. the Chargers are middle of the pack in basically every statistical category. I think we all know at this point the Eagles offense isn’t all a sudden going to look miraculously explosive, we know they are going to have to win a lot of close games this season. What does need to improve: the Eagles’ defense getting absolutely gashed the past two weeks. The Eagles have allowed over 400 yards of offense in consecutive games for the first time under Vic Fangio. Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo will have to step up with the absence of Jalen Carter. If that happens and we don’t see a huge drop off, I think the Eagles’ defense wins another game for their team.

Eagles 34, Chargers 27

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Fantasy Basketball Week 8 Schedule Primer: On to the NBA Cup knockout rounds

After seven weeks in which there were light game nights in short supply, NBA teams should be able to get ample rest during Week 8. With the Emirates NBA Cup moving into the quarterfinal stage with games on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by the semifinals on Saturday and the championship game on Tuesday, December 16, the 22 teams that did not advance were assigned two games each to fill out their 82-game schedules. While some fantasy leagues have combined weeks 8 and 9 due to the light schedules, others have not. Let's look at the Week 8 schedule and some of its key storylines.

Week 8 Games Played

3 Games: IND, MIN, PHX, DAC, SAS

2 Games: ATL, BKN, CHA, CLE, GSW, LAL, MIA, MIL, NOR, NYK, OKC, ORL, PHI, POR, TOR, WAS

1 Game: BOS, CHI, DAL, DEN, DET, HOU, LAC, MEM, UTA

Week 8 Back-to-backs

Sunday (Week 7)-Monday: None

Monday-Tuesday: None

Tuesday-Wednesday: None

Wednesday-Thursday: None

Thursday-Friday: None

Friday-Saturday: None

Saturday-Sunday: None

Sunday-Monday (Week 9): None

NBA Minutes Report: How injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Steph Curry impact playing time

We dig into shifting rotations, uncovering which players deserve more attention or are falling out of favor.

• Eric Samulski,

Week 8 Storylines of Note

- Three of the six teams playing on Monday are guaranteed to have three games on their Week 8 schedules.

For those competing in leagues that separate Weeks 8 and 9, this is an important fact. The Pacers, Timberwolves and Kings are guaranteed to play three games during Week 8, which makes their less-heralded fantasy options a bit more valuable. While most of the Pacers have underwhelmed in fantasy basketball this season, does someone like Jay Huff (25 percent rostered, Yahoo!) or T.J. McConnell (15 percent) hold greater value since they'll play three games?

The same can be asked of Kings rookie Maxime Raynaud (14 percent), who made his first career start on Saturday and did nothing to suggest that he should not retain that role for the foreseeable future. As for the Timberwolves, Jaden McDaniels (46 percent) and Donte DiVincenzo (44 percent) are still available in more than 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues. Seeking out those players on league waiver wires before Monday's game would be a good idea.

- Phoenix and San Antonio could have three games during Week 8, but that's still to be determined.

Whether five teams are playing three games in Week 8 depends on the Suns and Spurs. Both will play NBA Cup quarterfinal games on Wednesday, with the former visiting the Thunder and the latter visiting the Lakers. If Phoenix and San Antonio lose, their next regular-season game could be scheduled for December 11, 12, 14 or 15. December 11 can probably be ruled out, as asking teams to play a back-to-back under those circumstances feels unlikely. If their second game falls on either the 12th or 14th, that would make for three games in Week 8 for both teams. The best way for this to become a non-issue would be for the Suns and Spurs to advance to the semifinals scheduled for Saturday, December 13.

- The four NBA Cup quarterfinal losers will play their second game on December 11, 12, 14 or 15.

While the West quarterfinals are scheduled for Wednesday, December 11, the East will play its quarterfinals the night prior. Orlando hosts Miami, followed by the Raptors hosting the Knicks. Regardless of what happens in those matchups, all four Eastern Conference teams will play two games in Week 8. That's good news for Orlando's Paolo Banchero and New York's OG Anunoby, as they returned from groin and hamstring injuries on Friday. Not having to deal with a jam-packed schedule immediately upon returning should benefit both fantasy managers and those players, and it should also mean fantasy managers can rely on those players to be active in each of their respective teams' Week 8 contests.

- Will Memphis get Ja Morant back during Week 8?

Morant, who has not appeared in a game since November 15, is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Trail Blazers. That status represents an upgrade for the point guard, so does it mean anything for Week 8? The Grizzlies only play once in Week 8, hosting the Jazz on Friday. One game of Morant is better than none, and this could be a good time for the Grizzlies to work him back into the lineup. His availability affects Vince Williams Jr. and Cam Spencer the most, with the former having filled the starting point guard role in Morant's absence. However, Spencer has provided superior fantasy value despite coming off the bench, due mainly to Williams' poor percentages and turnovers.

- Will the Warriors have Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III at all?

While the Warriors play twice during Week 8, their first game isn't until that Friday against the Timberwolves. Golden State plays its second game of the week two nights later in Portland. How does that schedule affect the availability of the team's two best offensive players? After suffering a quad contusion, Curry missed the Warriors' final home game before their three-game road trip and did not travel. Sunday's game against the Bulls will be the fifth that he's missed.

As for Butler, Saturday's win over the Cavaliers was the second he has missed due to a sore knee. Add in Draymond Green's midfoot sprain, and the Warriors have been without their three most important veterans. Could all three return to action during Week 8? If so, Curry and Butler would be especially impactful with the Warriors playing twice over the final three days.

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Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals: How to watch, start time and prediction

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford passes during a win over the Houston Texans at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 8. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Matthew Stafford is looking to bounce back on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.

After playing eight consecutive games without an interception, Stafford committed three turnovers in a 31-28 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

The Panthers intercepted two passes — returning one for a touchdown — and forced Stafford to fumble one play after the Rams were penalized for delay of game for not getting a snap off on time.

Stafford has passed for 32 touchdowns, with only four interceptions.

Stafford, who was named the NFC offensive player of the month for November, is not sweating last week’s performance.

“I move on pretty darn quickly,” he said.

How long did it take the 17th-year pro to perfect that skill?

“I’ve played in a lot of games now so it feels like it comes easy to me,” he said. “Unless it's the last game of the year, there's another one coming and you better be ready for it. I just try to do my best to do that.”

Last season at State Farm Stadium, the Cardinals dominated the Rams 41-10 in a Week 2 rout.

“We got our asses whooped,” edge rusher Jared Verse said.

But the Rams bounced back and eventually made a playoff run.

“We didn't have a good day, but we were able to figure things out as we moved along through the season last year and play some of our best ball late,” Stafford said. “We just attack each week as its own and try to put our best foot forward.”

Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who replaced the injured Kyler Murray, has passed for 13 touchdowns, with four interceptions.

Read more:Why aren't the Rams playing $10-million wide receiver Tutu Atwell?

Key injuries

Rams: WR Tutu Atwell (hamstring, questionable but not expected to be activated from injured reserve); CB Darious Williams (tibia, doubtful, not expected to play); DL Poona Ford (calf, questionable but expected to play).

Cardinals: OL Kelvin Beacham (groin, questionable); WR Xavier Weaver (hamstring, questionable); WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel, out); WR Greg Dortch (chest, out); RB Trey Benson (knee, out); OL Christian Jones (knee, out); RB Emari Demarcado (ankle, out); DL L.J. Collier (knee, out); S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ankle, out); DL Walter Nolen III (knee, out); CB Max Melton (heel, out).

How to watch and listen to Rams vs. Cardinals

The Rams (9-3) and the Arizona Cardinals (3-9) will play at 1:25 p.m. Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The game will be shown on Fox throughout Southern California and will be available nationally via a subscription to NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV. In Southern California, fans can listen to the game on 710 AM, 93.1 FM and 1330 AM (Español).

Betting lines and odds for Rams vs. Cardinals

Who will win Rams vs. Cardinals?

The Cardinals are not as bad as their record indicates. But they also do not have enough to hold off a Rams team that got reminded last week that no opponent can be overlooked or taken lightly.

Gary Klein's pick: Rams 30, Cardinals 17

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Fantasy Football Week 14 Toolkit: Rankings, sleepers, start/sit lineup advice and more

You'll need help every week to make those tough fantasy football lineup decisions, especially with the playoffs approaching. Luckily for you, the team at Yahoo has everything you need to prep for the week with updated rankings for Half-PPR and Full-PPR, as well as plenty of analysis via articles, video and audio. Below you'll find a complete set of links to help you with all your fantasy football needs for the week.

[Upgrade to Fantasy Plus and gain your edge in player projections and much more]

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📈 Week 14 Rankings

Rankings from each Yahoo Fantasy analyst

• Justin Boone

• Matt Harmon

• Scott Pianowski

• Joel Smyth

• The Hub: All of our rankings, all in one place

Consensus Half-PPR Rankings

• QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | FLEX | D/ST | Kickers

Consensus PPR Rankings

• RB | WR | TE | FLEX

Justin Boone's Rest-of-Season Rankings

• QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs

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🧐 Week 14 Strategy

• Start 'Em Sit 'Em: Week 14 lineup advice

• Roundtable: Week 14 bold predictions

• Players to watch from every game in Week 14

• Top storylines to define fantasy football in Week 14

• Week 14 Fades: Proceed with caution on these 6 players

• Tale of the Take: Why these predictions will come true

• Week 14 Traffic Cop: More start/sit advice

• Harmon: Why Odunze, Egbuka have struggled after hot starts

• Week 14 sleepers: Overlooked lineup options

• Panic Meter: Panthers' backfield may become an issue

• Harmon: Rest-of-season outlook for key players back from injury

• Snap Share Report: It's red-alert for Troy Franklin managers

• Stock Report: Risers, fallers going into Week 14

• 10 overlooked stats from Week 13 that could be useful

• Matchups to exploit: Players in great spots, plus deep sleepers

• Projection outliers: Who'll exceed or fall short of expectations?

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Week 14 Waiver Wire Targets 🎯

• Justin Boone's Top Pickups Column | Stashes

• Streamers: Defense | Kicker

• Players to consider dropping

📚 Resources

• Injury tracker: Monitoring status updates for Week 14

• Backup RB Index: Ranking top understudies for Week 14

• Target trends for RB, WR, TE from Week 13

• Fantasy Playoff Strength of Schedule: RBs | QBs/WRs/TEs

🎧 Listen

• Week 14 Preview: 5 players to stash for the postseason

• Fantasy Film Room: 4 offenses that will take off in the fantasy playoffs

• Data Dump: Can we trust these WRs/RBs in the fantasy postseason?

• Panic Meter: Last rendition of the season, can't hold anything back

Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Forecast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

▶️ Watch

• Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 14: Darren Waller could be top TE play

• How much does the Rams' RB split hurt Kyren Williams?

• Who will be this year's fantasy football league-winner?

• Omarion Hampton return: Can Chargers' rookie deliver right away?

• Will AJB cool off on MNF vs. Los Angeles?

• Can you trust Scary Terry down the stretch in the fantasy playoffs?

• Sneaky WRs to stash before the fantasy playoffs

• Will Nico Collins finish the season as a top-5 wide receiver?

• No Jayden, No Problem: Can Marcus Mariota keep WAS offense afloat?

• How Mike Evans' return from injury will impact Bucs offense

• Should you be concerned about Justin Herbert post-hand surgery?

• AD Breakout: How legit is Adonai Mitchell with the Jets?

• Playoff Letdown: Will RJ Harvey underperform in the fantasy postseason?

• Horses Out of the Stable: Can you still trust Indy's offense?

• All is Lost: Is there any hope left for Ricky Pearsall managers?

• Are better days ahead for rookie TE Tyler Warren?

• Can you continue to roll out Emeka Egbuka and Rome Odunze?

• No-Action Jackson: It's time to think about benching Lamar Jackson

• Is Bucky Irving back to RB1 status after strong performance in return?

• Can Eagles offense finish season strong, provide value in the playoffs?

• Joey Franchise: Can Joe Burrow rescue fantasy teams after return?

• Can Rico Dowdle-Chuba Hubbard co-exist in Panthers backfield?

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Granderson: At last, the players themselves are the voice of the NBA

Former NBA player Chandler Parsons is now co-host of the podcast "Run It Back." (David Calvert / Getty Images for American Century Investments)

Three words perfectly summed up what LeBron James has been trying to tell us most of his life.

His pass to Rui Hachimura in the closing seconds of Thursday’s game led to the game-winning basket. With that pass, James sacrificed a chance to score at least 10 points in an NBA-record 1,298 consecutive games. When the game is on the line, the sports industry wants stars like him to take the last shot because that’s how the industry traditionally defines greatness.

People say: “Jordan would’ve shot it. Kobe would’ve shot it.” And ever since Sports Illustrated put James on the cover in 2002 — next to the words “chosen one” — he has been trying to tell us he defines greatness differently.

He reiterated that after the game against Toronto, when asked what feelings he had toward his scoring streak ending.

“None. We won.”

The sports industry, the machine, will discuss whether to feel the same way.

But we can’t pretend he hasn’t been telling us the same thing for more than 20 years: All he cares about is making the right play for the team. He’s been saying that since the S.I. cover. And that has been particularly true since creating his own media company, Uninterrupted, back in 2014.

He and Yankees great Derek Jeter, who started the Players Tribune that same year, are pioneers when it comes to modern athletes telling their own stories. And in the decade since, it’s been captivating watching athletes move beyond the gatekeeping of traditional media and the limitations of social media to create podcasts and produce documentaries (or at least try) — all to tell their own stories.

That’s not to say every time a group of former or active players steps in front of a mic, brilliance is heard. In fact, a lot of what we hear is just retelling stories we’ve heard a thousand times, only with less structure. Oftentimes there are ego-driven attempts to rewrite history under the guise of “setting the record straight.” As if we don’t have Google and can’t see the record for ourselves. But it is in their own words, which adds something to the discussion. And because there’s more of it, I’m finding some of the best stuff out there isn’t from the gods of the game like James, but the near-mortals.

Take “Run It Back” on FanDuel TV. The sports media machine is driven by stars, but the league is mostly made of voices like the ones on that show. The players who didn’t lead teams to heights and whose faces never made it to the cover of a magazine. And until recently, most of the insight from most of the players was just lost because we didn’t hear their voices. But now — particularly this season, with networks investing heavily in athlete-driven NBA content — more sources are bringing more texture. People like “Run It Back” co-host Chandler Parsons.

“I like the inside info, and I like the takes from the other guys,” Parsons said about hearing from the non-superstars. “I like hearing from Draymond Green and hearing what he has to say through his eyes and not through a third party…. As an athlete who has been in my shoes and played the game at the highest level, I respect their takes and I respect their opinion.”

In the early days of Monday Night Football, Howard Cosell, the original sports media provocateur, often griped about former NFL players leaving the field and walking into the booth. He would say sports media was the only profession where someone with no experience could be handed a big check to do the job at the highest level. That was back in the 1970s, when TV networks were few and media-savvy athletes like the great Muhammad Ali were even fewer.

Parsons graduated from the University of Florida with a journalism degree, so perhaps he avoids the scorn of Cosell’s ghost. Still, without the explosion of streaming networks and podcasting, there’s a good chance we wouldn’t have heard much from him and others like him, just because they weren’t household names. It was his appearance on another athlete-driven podcast, “All the Smoke,” that elevated him as a viable NBA analyst.

“I had no idea I wanted to do this,” Parsons said.

Same for Matt Barnes, who along with Stephen Jackson, started their podcast “All the Smoke” after careers in the NBA and stints with traditional media. To understand how popular it is today: Since joining YouTube in 2019, the show has amassed more than half a billion views, has landed interviews with Vice President Kamala Harris, First Lady Michelle Obama and Gov. Gavin Newsom and has grown into a full-fledged production company.

Barnes, who is the CEO of All the Smoke Productions, told me that because of the increase in NBA content in the so-called manosphere, there can be pressure to give takes for clicks. (I told him that sounded familiar.)

“There are some athletes in this space who say some of the craziest s—,” Barnes said. “I feel like if I put the work in and have deep, meaningful conversations, I’ll go viral for something that’s an interesting story.”

Case in point: “Smoke” was among the first media outlets to have NBA legend Dwyane Wade on to talk about his transgender daughter. It was a powerful episode that a decade ago would never have been initiated by former athletes. That’s not just a reflection of the times changing. It embodies how players now see themselves, and speak for themselves, in these changing times.

Players and former players are the new voice of the NBA. They’ve always been there. They just needed to be heard.

YouTube: @LZGrandersonShow

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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