Tag: preview

History waiting to be written when Indiana, Miami collide in title game

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Top-seeded Indiana stands one victory away from becoming the biggest rags-to-riches story in college football history.

A program that went 9-27 over a three-year span earlier this decade and had the most losses in FBS history until earlier this season is on the verge of becoming national champions when it faces No. 10 Miami on Monday night in the College Football Playoff title game at Miami Gardens, Fla.

Indiana has never won a national championship, while the Hurricanes have won five, the most recent coming in the 2001 season.

Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and the Hoosiers (15-0) smashed No. 9 Alabama and No. 5 Oregon by a combined 94-25 in their first two playoff games. They now look to seal the deal behind second-year head coach Curt Cignetti, who is 26-2 since leaving James Madison to become the Indiana coach.

“If you look at the record since Indiana started playing football and relative to the success we’ve had the last two years, we’ve broken a lot of records here in terms of wins, championships, postseason games, top-10 wins on the road, et cetera,” Cignetti said.

“So it’s been kind of surreal, but you get it done with the right people, properly led. You’ve got to have a blueprint, plan and process. You’ve got to have the right people on your staff and the right people in the locker room.”

One of those right people turned out to be Mendoza, who was a competent quarterback with 30 touchdowns against 16 interceptions during two starting seasons at Cal.

But with the Hoosiers, the transformation was stunning. Mendoza leads the nation with 41 touchdowns passes and has completed 73% of his passes for 3,349 yards while being intercepted just six times.

Mendoza became the first Heisman winner in Indiana history and is the overwhelming favorite to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

But first, Cignetti had to sell Mendoza that Indiana was the right place for him.

“I still remember when I was in the transfer portal, Coach Cignetti said, ‘Hey, if you’re going to come here, you’re going to develop into a hell of a quarterback,’” Mendoza said. “It wasn’t about, at that point, ‘Hey, I’m going to promise you a national championship.’ It was, ‘You’re going to develop and have that belief.’”

The Hoosiers became a powerful force. The semifinal bludgeoning of Oregon marked the seventh time the team scored 50 or more points this season.

That kind of firepower overshadows that the defense has allowed 10 or fewer points nine times. Safety Louis Moore grabbed six interceptions and outside linebacker Rolijah Hardy amassed eight sacks.

Miami (13-2) gets to play in its home venue and has impressively recorded three straight playoff wins despite some observers feeling they shouldn’t have made the CFP field.

That’s no longer a topic after the stellar string of victories over No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 6 Ole Miss. The Hurricanes trailed the Rebels late in the semifinals before Carson Beck guided the decisive 15-play, 75-yard drive and scored on a 3-yard run with 18 seconds left.

Beck is in his sixth college season but first with Miami after spending five years at Georgia. He has thrown for 11,493 yards and 87 touchdowns against 31 interceptions in that time.

And now the possibility looms for a storybook career-ending victory.

“I don’t know if it’s hit me yet, to be honest,” Beck said. “I feel like during the game, or probably when the game starts, it will. It’ll be a thought that crosses my mind.

“Knowing that it is my last college football game ever and it being a national championship, what an opportunity. And regardless of what happens, what a season as well.”

The Hurricanes were 6-2 after losing twice in three weeks before turning it on for the rest of the regular season. But coach Mario Cristobal said no team his club has faced is on par with the Hoosiers.

“They’re the best overall team and best defense we have faced,” Cristobal said. “I know that their rankings and anything statistically important are between 1 and 5. It starts with this. They’re really fast, physical, explosive, talented and smart. They play with a lot of physicality, a lot of violence. They make it very challenging.”

Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. has been superb in the postseason with rushing outputs of 172, 90 and 133 yards. The defense is led by stellar defensive ends Akheem Mesidor (team-best 10.5 sacks) and Rueben Bain Jr. (8.5 sacks).

–Field Level Media

Rams layer up, pack their own LaFleur to visit Bears, ‘Iceman’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Any skeptics left doubting the merit of Caleb Williams’ nickname might look to the mercury for confirmation on Sunday night when the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams stage the finale of a four-game NFL Divisional Playoff weekend.

Williams’ late-game heroics and growing legend for cool under pressure hit a new level last week. He led Chicago back from a 21-3 deficit with a team-playoff record 361 passing yards to lift the Bears over the rival Green Bay Packers, the first postseason win for the franchise since 2011. It was the seventh game-winning fourth-quarter drive for Williams this season.

“I feel calm in those moments. I feel my conditioning is the best in those moments. I feel that I’m the best in those moments because of what I’ve prepared to be in those moments,” Williams said. “For myself, it’s just ‘next play, next play, next play,’ and then when you have to go make a play, it’s life or death in those moments.”

As the Rams roll into Chicago (12-6), the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs, the challenge is heating back up following a 34-31 win over the Panthers in the wild-card round last Saturday. Frigid temperatures are in the forecast for gametime — highs in the teens with snow flurries around kickoff time at 6:30 p.m. ET.

A little precipitation and chill might not hurt Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is 4-1 at Chicago in his career when the kickoff temperature is below 40 degrees. He’s not alone. L.A.’s lead running back, Kyren Williams, is from St. Louis and played at Notre Dame. Wide receiver Davante Adams, the NFL leader with 14 touchdown catches, spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Packers and knows his way around frosty Soldier Field, too.

Stafford said he’s not feeling any pain or lingering issues with his sprained right index finger. He was hurt at Carolina last week but didn’t miss a snap and led the Rams to a comeback win with 304 yards and three TDs.

Williams had 3,942 passing yards and 27 touchdowns in 2025. The Rams are quick and relentless along the defensive line and had 47 sacks in the regular season. Los Angeles (13-5) will test Williams’ eye discipline and gauge the readiness of left tackles Theo Benedet and Braxton Jones, activated from injured reserve this week. Both have started this season, but the Bears lost Ozzy Trapilo (knee) to a season-ending injury against the Packers.

“Obviously it’s a bit of a whirlwind,” Benedet said of coming off the bench last week for the game-winning drive and resuming his role as the starting left tackle.

It’s not unthinkable the game could be won by two dudes under stocking hats on the sideline.

Rams coach Sean McVay and Bears coach Ben Johnson are regarded as two of the game’s brightest offensive minds. McVay enters his 15th career playoff game against a 15th different team but is very familiar with Johnson, who shares common pupils with McVay in Stafford and Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Before McVay helped pry Stafford from Detroit in a trade, Johnson was on the coaching staff with the Lions for two seasons. Then the Rams sent Goff to the Lions in the QB swap.

“He does a great job. I’ve studied him really closely since he took over and started it doing it in Detroit,” McVay said. “I think what shows his flexibility is the ability to have one of the best offenses with a player like Jared, who’s really special, and then being able to have some similar foundational principles with Caleb but also accentuate the things that make him really unique with the athleticism, move the spot and take advantage of their skill around it.”

Bears fans will recognize the bloodlines of the Rams’ offensive coordinator — Mike LaFleur — and Packers coach Matt LaFleur and McVay are longtime friends and coaching allies from their days as assistants with the Washington Commanders organization.

Did McVay phone a friend for tips on taking down the Bears?

“What do you think? We watch the tape, we do our work, and Matt is a very close friend of mine,” he said.

Year 17 has been a brilliant season for Stafford. He led the NFL in passing yards (4,707) and touchdowns (46) in the regular season. Adams and Puka Nacua, the league leader with 129 receptions, loom as massive worries even for a defense that was first in the NFL in interceptions (23) and takeaways (33).

“I’ve got so much respect for that guy. You talk about the ultimate competitor,” Johnson said. “He’s one of the more talented throwers of the football I’ve ever been around. He’s outstanding. He’s a great teammate. … His toughness. Physical toughness.”

McVay said the Rams are spending extra time drilling all 11 defensive players on playing until they hear a whistle because of Williams’ flair for flourishing on unrehearsed extensions of busted plays.

“Some of those second reaction plays where he’s getting flushed to his right or getting flushed to his left and guys understand how to be able to work with him,” McVay said, “those are the ones that are really scary.”

When he lost No. 1 wide receiver Rome Odunze for five weeks due to a foot injury, Williams turned to rookie tight end Colston Loveland to fill that void. Loveland, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2025 draft, had eight receptions for 137 yards last week.

“I know Caleb has an immense amount of trust in him,” Johnson said. “He’s one of the first ones in the building every single day. He is always studying his playbook while he’s eating breakfast. He is always the last one off the practice field, doing the jugs machine. Model of consistency, which for a rookie speaks volumes.”

The winner of Sunday’s game plays in the NFC title game next week, meeting either the San Francisco 49ers (13-5) or Seattle Seahawks (14-3).

The Rams beat the 49ers in the 2021 NFC Championship, 20-17, and beat the Saints in the 2018 conference championship game.

Chicago last won the NFC Championship Game in 2006 and also won in 1985 prior to winning Super Bowl XX. The Bears lost the 2010 NFC Championship to the Packers.

Rams nose tackle Poona Ford (elbow) and offensive lineman Kevin Dotson (ankle) were limited on Wednesday but plan to play Sunday. Dotson has been out since he was hurt in Week 16 against the Seahawks.

Dotson is an essential cog in the running game.

“He’s a beast. When he was playing this year, I thought he was one of the best guards, if not the best guard in the league,” Stafford said. “So if we can get him back, obviously that would be a huge boost.”

Odunze and wide receiver D.J. Moore (knee) were limited to start the week but Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (concussion) was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.

–Field Level Media

Texans, Steelers prepare for ‘old-school’ brawl in AFC wild-card round

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t won a playoff game in nearly nine years.

Now the NFL’s best defense stands in the way and threatens to impose another unhappy ending.

Aaron Rodgers will be asked to solve the defensive unit of the Texans when Pittsburgh hosts Houston on Monday night during the AFC wild-card round.

“It’s win or go home at this point,” Steelers left tackle Dylan Cook said. “We obviously want to win, but we just got to go out and execute our job and take it one play at a time.”

The Texans, who went 12-5 in the regular season, are preparing for a brawl in the Steel City.

“It’s going to be old-school football and it’s going to be a physical game,” Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said. “If you like football, you should be excited about it, and I’m ready for it.”

The Steelers have dropped six consecutive playoff games since defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round on Jan. 15, 2017.

Pittsburgh lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game seven days later and since has followed up with five straight first-game setbacks.

Last season, the Steelers lost 28-14 to the Baltimore Ravens in the wild-card round. Coincidentally, Pittsburgh (10-7 in the regular season) beat Baltimore 26-24 last Sunday night to gain the AFC North title and earn the clash against Houston.

The Texans won their final nine regular-season games. While they have a standout quarterback in C.J. Stroud, it is the defense led by defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter that sets the tone.

Houston allowed a league-low 277.2 yards per game this season and ranked second in points allowed at 17.4 per game. The Texans also ranked second with a plus-17 takeaway margin.

Hunter finished third in the NFL with 15 sacks and Anderson tied for eighth with 12. Star Derek Stingley Jr., fellow cornerback Kamari Lassiter and safeties Jalen Pitre and Calen Bullock all had four interceptions.

“They’ve just got a kick-butt unit,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. “They do. They’ve got a top-flight edge tandem in Hunter and Anderson. They’ve got a top-flight corner tandem on the outside, and so they rush very well. They cover very well. They’re not trying to split the atom schematically. They don’t have to when you have corners and edge rushers like that.”

Stroud is playing in the playoffs for the third straight season and brings a 2-2 postseason mark into the contest.

During the regular season, the 24-year-old passed for 3,041 yards and 19 touchdowns against eight interceptions despite missing three games due to a concussion.

Meanwhile, Rodgers has played well for the Steelers and had 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 16 games. He hasn’t been picked off a single time during his last seven outings.

“I’m a big fan of Aaron, I love what he does,” Stroud said. “His mechanics are through the roof. … He’s a heck of a player and I respect him and he’s doing it at a high level in Year 21 (of his career).”

Rodgers has an 11-10 postseason record but his last victory came in the 2020 season’s playoffs for the Green Bay Packers.

The Steelers hope to get a boost from receiver DK Metcalf (team-best 850 receiving yards, six TDs), who is back after a two-game suspension due to an incident with a fan in Detroit.

“DK is the No. 1 receiver, so it’s great having DK back,” Rodgers said. “He’s real thankful to be back, I know. And we’re all thankful to have him back as well.”

Of course, Ryans wasn’t so thrilled about the timing.

“We have to step up to the challenge there,” Ryans said of defending Metcalf. “We have to play physical as well versus him. It’s going to be a tough challenge. He’s done a great job his entire career of making big plays down the field. I know they’re excited to get him back.”

Four Texans missed practice Thursday — Lassiter (ankle/knee), defensive end Denico Autry (knee), offensive lineman Tytus Howard (ankle) and running back Jawhar Jordan (ankle).

Running back Jaylen Warren (illness) was the only Pittsburgh player to sit out.

–Field Level Media

Underdog Panthers return to playoffs, host Rams in wild card

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Los Angeles Rams drew considerable attention during the season and could be in line for more accolades.

But the Carolina Panthers did enough to secure a home game in the NFL’s wild-card round. The Rams will visit for Saturday’s game in Charlotte.

The Rams were second in the NFC West, though they’ve been tagged by some observers as one of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl.

Part of that is due to quarterback Matthew Stafford, who threw for 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns with eight interceptions. That has put him in the running for the NFL’s Most Valuable Player.

“I just don’t take any of these opportunities for granted,” Stafford said. “It feels great to be at this point.”

The Panthers are back in the playoffs for the first time in eight years, and they haven’t won a playoff game since January 2016. Although they beat the Rams six weeks ago, they’re clearly in the underdog role after finishing 8-9 in the regular season but winning the NFC South.

“Just continuing to try to push the envelope, just try to push it a little bit farther every day,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said.

Yet Stafford had forgettable moments as Los Angeles lost 31-28 to the Panthers in Charlotte on Nov. 30. He was 18-for-28 with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

“I’d like to not throw it to their team,” Stafford said when recalling that outing. “That was the story of the game.”

Since that setback, the Rams went 3-2, with two of the victories against Arizona.

“I think we’ve learned through it all,” Stafford said. “I think we’ve learned through the really good times and some of the times that we came up short.”

Carolina didn’t cruise into the postseason, going 1-3 in four games since upsetting Los Angeles. The Panthers got into the playoffs by way of a three-way divisional tiebreaker.

The Panthers, who have lost two consecutive games, have only once reached the 20-point mark since their first meeting with the Rams.

But this is a huge step for Carolina quarterback Bryce Young, the 2023 No. 1 overall draft choice who’ll play in his first professional postseason game.

“These are the moments,” Canales said. “When we’ve put Bryce in these high-end situations, he has performed well. So I love this challenge, for our group, and especially for Bryce.”

This will be the Panthers’ first home playoff game since their run to the Super Bowl in the 2015 season.

“It’s so important that we don’t just block it all out,” Canales said. “That we take it all in, and use it. Use that energy. Playing at home it’s why it’s so important to win the division.”

The Rams should have receiver Davante Adams back after he missed three games with a hamstring injury. Fellow wideout Puka Nacua caught an NFL-best 129 passes this season, with six for 72 yards coming against Carolina.

“Just the consistency,” Los Angeles coach Sean McVay said. “He’s so physically and mentally tough.”

By comparison, Carolina’s leader in receptions is Tetairoa McMillan with 70.

The Rams activated safety Quentin Lake from injured reserve so he can play Saturday. Receiver Jordan Whittington (knee) might be questionable for the playoff game after not practicing Tuesday and Wednesday.

For the Panthers, it’s trending toward a return for receiver David Moore, who has been out since Week 4 with an elbow injury. Offensive lineman Robert Hunt might potentially come back as well.

The only time these franchises met in the postseason came in 2004, when the Rams were located in St. Louis.

–Field Level Media

Dramatic CFP run to end for Miami or Ole Miss at Fiesta Bowl

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Miami and Ole Miss have provided two of the most compelling storylines of this year’s College Football Playoff.

But only one will earn the chance to play for a national title after the teams square off on Thursday night in the Fiesta Bowl in a CFP semifinal in Glendale, Ariz.

After making the 12-team field as the final at-large selection, the 10th-seeded Hurricanes (12-2) have defied the odds twice with dominant defensive performances in wins against seventh-seeded Texas A&M 10-3 in the first round and a 24-14 Cotton Bowl triumph against No. 2 Ohio State on Dec. 31.

The No. 6 Rebels (13-1), who will play Miami for the first time since 1951, drubbed 11th-seeded Tulane 41-10 and put together a stunning 39-34 comeback win over No. 3 seed Georgia in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal last Thursday.

The winner of Thursday’s game will face the winner of the Peach Bowl semifinal matchup Friday between top-seeded Indiana and fifth-seeded Oregon for the national championship on Jan. 19 in Miami.

Ole Miss continues to persevere and extend its best season in program history despite having its coaching staff in flux since head coach Lane Kiffin departed in November to become LSU’s head coach.

With Pete Golding promoted to head coach and multiple assistant coaches such as offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. remaining with the Rebels until their season ends, they have continued to find ways to extend their season.

Ole Miss quarterbacks coach Joe Judge on Tuesday compared the situation to how they handled the uncertainty of coaches’ availability during the COVID pandemic in 2020.

“We always talk ahead basically after every game, me and Charlie (Weis Jr.) and Pete (Golding) have sat down and talked about the next week coming up and how we’re going to handle it,” Judge said. “And when he’s going to Baton Rouge, when he’s coming back, how we’re going to prep for the next week. Throughout the week, we’ve communicated in terms of all the what-ifs.”

Ole Miss is seeking its first national championship while Miami is one win away from playing for a potential sixth national title and its first since 2001.

Two of the biggest keys for the Rebels will be trying to slow down Miami’s rushing attack led by Mark Fletcher Jr. and keeping quarterback Trinidad Chambliss protected from the Hurricanes’ dominant pass rush led by defensive linemen Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor.

The Hurricanes have posted 12 sacks in two CFP games and lead the nation with 46 sacks overall over 14 games.

“We’re a D-line that puts a lot of pressure on the quarterback,” said Mesidor, who has 3 1/2 sacks in the playoffs. “Our DBs are big and fast and great players. I think we help each other out, 100%. We put pressure on the quarterback, have him make a mistake.”

Ole Miss is ranked No. 65 nationally in rushing defense (146.1 yards per game), and yielded 124 yards to Georgia last week. Fletcher ran for 172 of Miami’s 175 yards against Texas A&M and ran for 90 of the Hurricanes’ 153 yards on the ground against Ohio State last week.

“They have a lot of confidence in their run game,” Ole Miss linebacker TJ Dottery said Tuesday. “It’s very physical, and that’s somewhat of a model to dominate up front. And that’s our plan, to dominate their line of scrimmage and shut that down.”

Chambliss had one of the best games of his career against Georgia, completing 30 of 46 passes for 362 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Miami’s top defensive players are conscious of the challenge that awaits them with Chambliss’ playmaking ability.

“I definitely think it’s something everybody collectively as a defense has to focus on,” said Miami defensive back Keionte Scott, who had a key 72-yard interception return for a touchdown against Ohio State. “I don’t think you can put it on one or two position groups. When it gets to that point where it breaks down or it doesn’t break down, I think everybody doing their job (1 through 11) can erase a lot of those things.”

–Field Level Media

No. 1 Indiana’s Peach Bowl challenge: Beat No. 5 Oregon… again

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ATLANTA — No. 1 Indiana just won its biggest game in school history. In order to replace that victory with an even more important triumph, the Hoosiers will have to tackle a new challenge — beating a team twice.

Hoping to add on to the best season the program has seen, the Hoosiers will have to take down No. 5 Oregon in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Peach Bowl on Friday. Indiana beat Oregon in Eugene 30-20 on Oct. 11.

Head coach Curt Cignetti’s team is no longer just a good story. Indiana has entered the group of elites in college football.

After Indiana (14-0) steamrolled Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl, a rematch was set with Oregon (13-1) — which breezed past Texas Tech 23-0 in the Orange Bowl.

Cignetti hasn’t faced a team twice in the same season since his Elon Phoenix split a pair of games with Furman in 2017, losing the latter in an FCS playoff game. There’s no doubt Cignetti will have his team ready in the updated version of the biggest game in Indiana history.

“I think it’s more psychological,” Cignetti said of preparing to face Oregon again. “The one team that came up short has a little added edge, so to speak. But at the end of the day, it’s determined by what goes on between the white lines. It’ll be a tremendous challenge because Oregon is very well-coached and they’ve got good players. … You put the best plan together you can, but at the end of the day, it’s which team executes the best.”

In that first meeting, Oregon was held to a season-low 267 total yards, while quarterback Dante Moore threw two interceptions. As head coach Dan Lanning readies for the Ducks’ third all-time CFP semifinal appearance, he knows it’s a play-by-play type of game.

“When games don’t go your way, you’re always trying to look for answers and reasons why. It’s really simple,” Lanning said of avenging the October loss. “They blocked better, they tackled better, they moved the ball and controlled the clock. You try to find moments where it was the difference. It’s every play. Every play added up and mattered. When you’re playing a team with great technique that has great scheme like Indiana, that’s the edge.”

Moore has thrown for 3,280 yards and 28 touchdowns for the Ducks.

Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza leads the nation with 36 passing scores, paired with 3,172 passing yards and a 72.3% completion percentage. The Cal transfer and projected No. 1 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft has done his part to put Indiana football on the map, but understands the job is far from finished.

“Beating a good team twice, not a good team, a great team twice, is extremely difficult,” Mendoza said. “(Oregon) is star-studded on both offense and defense, draft picks all across the board. They’ve changed a little bit throughout the season, but having to play them twice is going to be tough. It’s going to be a great challenge for us.”

It hasn’t taken long for Indiana fans to come around on the Hoosiers transitioning from a basketball school to a football school.

Entering 2025, Indiana’s 715 all-time losses were the most in the FBS (Northwestern now holds the dubious mark). The fan base drowned out the mighty Crimson Tide contingent at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day — a trend Mendoza hopes follows the team to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Friday.

“I think having that home-field advantage in Atlanta, which you never know until you get there, but assuming that we’re not going to have to go to a silent count because of how far Eugene is from Atlanta, I think that would be huge for us,” Mendoza said. “It being a neutral-site game, usually it’s 50/50, but hopefully there’s more on our side.”

Indiana leading rusher Roman Hemby (1,007 yards) scored two touchdowns when he faced Oregon.

Oregon’s weapons include wide receiver Malik Benson and tight end Kenyon Sadiq, who have combined for 87 catches and 14 touchdowns. Benson caught a 44-yard touchdown against the Hoosiers in October.

–Jack Batten, Field Level Media

AFC North title on the line when Steelers host Ravens

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Sunday marks the fourth time in seven seasons that the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens close the regular season against one another.

The stakes haven’t been higher than they are for this Week 18 clash.

Pittsburgh (9-7) can clinch the AFC North title with a win or tie, while Baltimore (8-8) takes the division crown with a victory. There’s no wild-card consolation prize for the team that doesn’t take the division.

“We need to play smart but not play timid,” Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said.

Baltimore did just that in order to stay in the hunt for its third straight AFC North championship. The Ravens rebounded from a 1-5 start with a five-game winning streak after their bye.

While Baltimore is just 2-3 since Thanksgiving — including a home loss to Pittsburgh on Dec. 7 — the Steelers’ recent scuffles have created an opportunity.

A victory last week over a 3-12 Cleveland Browns squad would have clinched Pittsburgh’s first division title since 2020. But the Steelers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers struggled to find a rhythm offensively with top wide receiver DK Metcalf serving the first of a two-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the NFL.

Tight end Darnell Washington suffered a broken arm in the first half of the 13-6 defeat and has been placed on injured reserve. Wideout Calvin Austin III (hamstring) returned to practice Wednesday after missing the Browns game while linebacker T.J. Watt (lung) also was a limited participant.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (back contusion) practiced Wednesday after missing last week’s victory in Green Bay. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said he’s “very optimistic” Jackson will be ready to play.

He shares similar sentiment about the entire Ravens locker room.

“I think this team has a lot of character, a lot of grit, a lot of toughness,” Harbaugh said.

Steelers counterpart Mike Tomlin acknowledged the disappointment of missing the chance to earn a playoff berth last week, but said he has “learned to always move forward” and that “frustration doesn’t get the job done.”

Tomlin added: “It’s an honor to be in these games, to be in these hotly contested matchups. It seems like Baltimore is always a dance partner. I’m respectful and appreciative of that relationship and some of the historic things we’ve been able to do when these two teams have come together.

“It’s humbling and an honor to be a component of it. But to be a component of it is just that. Our job is to win.”

Doing so would ensure Rodgers at least one more game with Pittsburgh. The 42-year-old veteran, who joined the Steelers on a one-year deal, said he preferred not to discuss his looming decision whether to retire or continue playing.

“I’ve enjoyed this experience,” Rodgers said, “and everybody in Pittsburgh has been fantastic to me on and off the field. … What I was hoping for from this experience, it’s been even better.”

Visiting Pittsburgh edged Baltimore 27-22 in Week 14, prevailing despite a big afternoon from the Ravens’ ground game. Baltimore rushed for 217 yards (5.4 yards per carry) as Derrick Henry led the attack with 94 yards on 25 attempts.

Rodgers went 23-for-34 for 284 yards and a touchdown pass to Jaylen Warren that stretched the lead to 27-16 late in the third quarter. Metcalf contributed seven catches for 148 yards, both season highs in his first campaign with the Steelers.

–Field Level Media

Contending for the NFC’s No. 2 seed, Eagles seek familiar sweep of Commanders

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The NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles will attempt to sweep the visiting Washington Commanders for the sixth time in nine seasons on Sunday afternoon.

The Eagles (11-5) won both meetings with Washington (4-12) in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023 and registered a 29-18 victory two weeks ago in Landover, Md.

The rematch features a familiar Week 18 NFL storyline with both teams wrestling with whether to play their starters.

The Eagles still have a chance to secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC — if they beat the Commanders and Chicago loses to Detroit — but reportedly are planning to rest their regulars for the wild-card round. At worst, they will have the No. 3 seed.

The Commanders have lost 10 of their last 11 games and have little to play for — other than the proverbial pride and a few potential personal payouts — and may decide to give younger players a chance to audition for 2026.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported on Wednesday that the Eagles will sit quarterback Jalen Hurts and several starters. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters Wednesday he still needed to speak with the team.

“We have a team meeting coming up. I haven’t communicated that with our players, so I’ll always talk to our players before,” Sirianni said. “… (I’ll) discuss it with them before I discuss it (with you).”

Tanner McKee, the Eagles’ sixth-round pick in 2023, would be in line to make his second NFL start if Hurts rests. He also started in Week 18 last year, throwing for 269 yards and two TDs in a 20-13 win over the New York Giants. This season, McKee has completed 3 of 3 passes for 33 yards in three cameo appearances.

“He’s really good about knowing where to go with the football, seeing the defense and being able to deliver things accurately,” Sirianni said. “… He’s able to sit in that meeting room with Jalen for hours upon hours a day just learning from him, and that’s a big deal.”

With Marcus Mariota (quad) considered a “long shot,” in the words of head coach Dan Quinn, to return this week, Washington likely will give 39-year-old journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson his second straight start.

Johnson, who has only one win in 10 career starts since he was drafted in 2008, took over after Mariota sustained hand and quad injuries in the Week 16 loss to the Eagles. Johnson completed 15 of 23 passes for 198 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in a 30-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Christmas.

With Jayden Daniels shut down for the season, Washington’s other options under center are veteran Jeff Driskel, who hasn’t thrown a pass in two years, and untested Sam Hartman.

Even though the season has been a disappointment, Quinn said he loved seeing “the number of guys that are really hungry for this opportunity and chance to compete together” on Sunday.

“Obviously this game doesn’t have the magnitude we hoped it would have when the schedule came out, but at the same time, we also recognize it’s a really important opportunity for a lot on our roster, and so we don’t take that lightly,” Quinn said Wednesday.

At least a couple of veteran Commanders will be clamoring to play. Linebacker Von Miller needs one sack to trigger a $1 million bonus for reaching nine sacks. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel needs 93 receiving yards to claim a $450,000 bonus for 800 yards and two touchdowns to collect a $250,000 bonus for eight touchdowns.

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley needs 87 all-purpose yards to reach 1,500 and earn a $250,000 bonus.

Washington put center Tyler Biadasz (knee/ankle) on injured reserve Wednesday. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil (oblique) did not practice Wednesday and is doubtful to play Sunday. Also missing practice were running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (illness) and linebacker Bobby Wagner (knee/rest).

Philadelphia right tackle Lane Johnson (foot), linebackers Nakobe Dean (hamstring) and Jaelan Phillips (ankle) and tight end Dallas Goedert (knee) did not practice Wednesday. Goedert leads the team with 11 TD receptions.

–Field Level Media

Inconsistent Panthers aim to clinch NFC South in rematch with Bucs

Posted on | by Field Level Media

It’s not exactly a winner-takes-all situation when the NFC South rival Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers clash for the second time in three weeks on Saturday in Tampa.

However, the Panthers can dictate their fate when it comes to qualifying for the postseason.

“We’re aware of all those scenarios and it’s a pretty simple path — we’ve got to handle business and win the game,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “That has got to be our focus.”

The Panthers (8-8) would clinch the division with a win or a tie against the Buccaneers (7-9) or if the Atlanta Falcons defeat the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

It’s more complicated for Tampa Bay, which must beat Carolina and hope the Falcons (7-9) either lose or tie against the Saints (6-10). An Atlanta win would create a three-way tie, allowing the Panthers to advance. The Buccaneers hold the tiebreaker if they end up tied only with Carolina.

Carolina quarterback Bryce Young, whose team has alternated wins and losses over the past 10 games, isn’t consumed with all the possibilities.

“Focused on the Bucs,” he said.

The Panthers beat Tampa Bay 23-20 in Charlotte on Dec. 21, so every game for both teams has felt monumental in recent weeks.

“When you know it’s a division opponent as well as we know the Panthers and they know us, it’s truly about executing your job to the best of your ability each play,” Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield said. “Players have to deliver.”

The Buccaneers have lost four consecutive games — all by four or fewer points — and have dropped seven of their past eight outings. Tampa Bay is truly in a must-win situation.

“Out of bullets, out of lives,” Mayfield said.

Six of the Carolina’s victories have come by three-point margins.

It definitely feels different for the Panthers as the regular season comes to an end with an important game ahead. In recent years, they played just for pride to finish the schedule.

“It’s obviously more,” running back Chuba Hubbard said. “We’re trying to change this narrative in Carolina. We’ve been trying to do that for a long time, so the fact that we’re one game away, you feel the energy.”

Young threw for 54 yards last week in a 27-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, marking the lowest production of his career as a starter. He has reached the 200-yard mark only three times this season.

Carolina’s rushing attack has slowed down in recent weeks. Hubbard and Rico Dowdle, who is dealing with a toe injury though he returned to practice Wednesday, had formed a strong combination.

Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles questioned his own tactics after the first matchup with the Panthers, suggesting that the 2024 season’s strategy of relying heavily on rushing plays against Carolina may no longer be as effective.

Yet Mayfield has thrown at least one interception in four straight games, mostly in the second halves.

“We’ve just got to take care of the football better,” Bowles said. “That’s what has cost us.”

The teams have the top two rookie receivers in the NFL, Tampa Bay’s Emeka Egbuka (930 yards) and Carolina’s Tetairoa McMillan (929).

Tampa Bay’s defense could be in flux with cornerbacks Jamel Dean (shoulder) and Benjamin Morrison (hamstring) missing practice work this week.

For Carolina, tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders (fibula), cornerback Robert Rochell (concussion) and linebacker Claudin Cherelus (calf/ankle) sat out practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.

–Field Level Media

No. 1 Indiana going against No. 9 Alabama, history in Rose Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Blue blood meets new blood when Alabama and Indiana square off in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on Thursday in Pasadena, Calif.

Though the ninth-seeded Crimson Tide have a storied history, they are the underdogs coming in with something to prove.

The Hoosiers entered the season as the losingest program in college football history, but they assume the Goliath role as the No. 1 playoff seed and college football’s lone undefeated team, with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza in tow.

“I want to stop quarterbacks, whether they’ve won the Heisman Trophy or not,” Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said.

The Hoosiers-Crimson Tide winner will take on either No. 4 Texas Tech or No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9 in Atlanta.

The Hoosiers (13-0) are not only trying to continue to break long-term precedent in continuing their best season in school history — ahead of 2024’s 11-2 mark — but also break recent precedent set last season in the first edition of the 12-team playoff.

All four first-round winners beat the top four seeds last season.

“Would I prefer to play earlier? Yeah, I probably would, to be quite honest with you,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. “But that’s not the case. We’re excited about playing.”

Mendoza has thrown for 229.2 yards per game, with 33 total touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also has rushed for six touchdowns.

The Crimson Tide have had plenty of success slowing down quarterbacks this season, entering with the No. 10 passing defense in FBS at 168.4 yards allowed per game.

Alabama (11-3) is coming off a 34-24 road win over Oklahoma in the first round on Dec. 19.

Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson struggled late in the season but had a bounce-back game against the Sooners. He averages 250 passing yards per game and has tallied 28 touchdowns and five interceptions.

The biggest difference in the offenses comes in the ground game, where Indiana is in the top 10 nationally with 221.2 rushing yards per game, while Alabama has struggled with just 109.9 rushing yards per game (118th).

“I look at (the Hoosiers’) skill around the offensive line, they just all complement each other,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. “They go make plays. When the opportunities are there, they get it done.”

Indiana has been in the Rose Bowl just once before — losing to Southern California to end the 1967 season.

Alabama is in the game for the ninth time, going 5-2-1 with their most recent appearance coming in a 27-20 overtime loss to Michigan in the CFP semifinal two seasons ago. The Crimson Tide also won the 2009 national title with a win over Texas in the then-BCS Championship Game in the historic stadium.

Cignetti was Alabama’s wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator for that championship team.

While Cignetti has an appreciation for Alabama’s history, DeBoer also can recognize how far Indiana has come under Cignetti. DeBoer was the Hoosiers’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2019.

Mendoza figures to have one of his favorite targets back Thursday.

Hoosiers receiver Omar Cooper Jr., who suffered a right leg injury early in the Big Ten title game on Dec. 6, is cleared to play in the Rose Bowl. Cooper, a redshirt junior, leads Indiana with 58 catches for 804 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Alabama also figures to get a key piece back with the return of edge rusher LT Overton.

Overton, a senior, missed the Southeastern Conference championship game and the first-round win over Oklahoma due to an illness.

–Field Level Media