After a disappointing season following Ben Johnson’s departure, Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions are bringing in experienced offensive coordinator Drew Petzing from the Arizona Cardinals.

Petzing has had stints with the Minnesota Vikings (2014-2019) and the Cleveland Browns (2020-2022), where he served as a tight ends and quarterbacks coach under Kevin Stefanski. Petzing then became the offensive coordinator for the Cardinals under Jonathan Gannon, who has now been fired by the organization.

Petzing and the Cardinals’ offense struggled this past season, as they had quarterback Kyler Murray for only five games, relying on backup Jacoby Brissett. The Cardinals did have multiple players put up career years, including wide receiver Michael Wilson and tight end Trey McBride.

Petzing joins a star-studded offense including Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam Laporta, David Montgomery and Jared Goff. The Lions do need to revamp their offensive line, which, aside from All-Pro tackle Penei Sewell, struggled with inconsistencies and failed to protect Goff.

The Lions’ offense struggled to find consistency throughout the year, switching playcallers in the middle of the season from John Morton to Campbell.

The Lions offense went from 0.15 epa/play in 2024 to just 0.7 epa/play in 2025. A significant drop-off for an offense that has a wealth of talent. Petzing will look to get the offense back to the levels it was at with former offensive coordinator Johnson.

Just a week ago, the Detroit Lions announced that they signed edge rusher Aiden Hutchinson to a four-year, $180 million contract extension.

The deal included a $141 million guaranteed, the largest guarantee ever awarded to a non-quarterback in NFL history. Hutchinson’s average annual salary of $45 million ranks second only to Micah Parsons among non-quarterbacks.

At 25 years old, Hutchinson has already established himself as a cornerstone of Detroit’s defense. As a former No. 2 overall draft pick in 2022, he overcame a fractured tibia and fibula in Week 6 of 2024 to return to high-level play this season. Through seven games in 2025, he has registered six sacks and four fumbles, while ranking among the league in quarterback pressures.

Coach Dan Campbell praised Hutchinson’s all-around impact, noting his ability to set the edge in the run game, disrupt the quarterback, and even drop into coverage when asked. “Complete! Fired up to have him long term!” Campbell wrote in a text shared by the media.

The contract extension aligns with Detroit’s broader strategy to draft and retain home-grown talent under general manager Brad Holmes. In recent seasons, players such as quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and offensive tackle Penei Sewell also secured long-term deals.

In Week 9, Hutchinson was flagged for unnecessary roughness for a “leg whip” in an attempt to bring down the Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy, which usually carries a $17,000 fine. After reviewing the incident, the league decided not to fine Hutchinson.

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff couldn’t believe the Chicago Bears let running back David Montgomery join the team back in 2023, he recalled earlier this week.

Since signing a three-year, $18 million contract with Detroit in early 2023 as an unrestricted free agent from the Bears, the running back has tallied 2,023 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns across three seasons. Last Sunday, Montgomery ran for 151 yards and scored two touchdowns in the team’s 38-30 road victory against the Baltimore Ravens.

But after signing with the team, Goff was left shocked to see that the Bears had allowed the former Iowa State running back to join a division rival.

“I saw D-Mo from across the field for years in Chicago, and I was shocked when they let him walk,” he said on Wednesday. “When we landed him, I was like, ‘Holy smokes, we just got one of the best backs in the league.”

The Lions added to their depth in the running back position shortly afterwards, after signing Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. Since then, the 23-year-old has rushed 2,537 yards and scored 29 rushing touchdowns, helping the Lions win back-to-back NFC North division titles and one NFC Championship appearance.

“You draft Gibbs, and it’s like, ‘Wow, we have two of the best backs in the league,'” Goff said. “They feed off each other; they’re both incredibly hard-working and good players. The energy they feed off each other, one of them runs well, and the other one wants to run well too. They’re as good as it gets.”

After a setback in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers, the Lions bounced back by putting up 90 points across two wins against the Bears and Ravens. Dan Campbell‘s side looks to make it three straight wins as the Cleveland Browns visit Ford Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Detroit Lions were one of the most dominant teams, if not the most dominant team, in the 2024 season, averaging 33.2 points a game, which led the NFL. The Lions would go 15-2 and earn the one seed in the NFC before being upset by the Commanders in the divisional round, losing 45-31. The Lions still had a fantastic season, winning the most games in a season in franchise history with 15. Quarterback Jared Goff also finished in the top five for MVP voting, and head coach Dan Campbell would finish in the top three in coach of the year voting.

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The offseason would start rough for the Lions, losing both of their coordinators, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, who both accepted head coaching jobs. The team also lost several players to free agency, like cornerback Carlton Davis, guard Kevin Zeitler and defensive end Za’Darius Smith. The most significant loss, however, was center Frank Ragnow, who retired after seven seasons with the Lions. Ragnow was one of the best centers in the league and was a key part of the dominant offensive line play from 2024.

Despite all the losses, the Lions made sure to reload this offseason. They signed players like cornerback D.J. Reed from the Jets, linebacker Derrick Barnes, defensive end Marcus Davenport and cornerbacks Avonte Maddox and Rock Ya-Sin. The Lions also promoted John Morton to their offensive coordinator and Kelvin Sheppard to their defensive coordinator.

Heading into the draft, the Lions held the 28th overall pick, which they selected defensive tackle Tyleik Williams out of Ohio State. They also upgraded their offensive line, which lost several starters this last season, drafting guard Tate Ratledge out of Georgia in the second round. They also selected wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa out of Arkansas, guard Miles Frazier out of LSU and Ahmed Hassanein out of Boise State.

The Lions will face numerous obstacles in their quest to return to the one seed in the NFC, given their third-hardest schedule in the NFL, according to Fox Sports. Detroit opens its season vs its division rival, the Green Bay Packers, in Green Bay, and in week two, it plays the Chicago Bears, another division rival. The Lions have to play several playoff teams from last season, including the Packers, Ravens, Chiefs, Vikings, Commanders, Buccaneers, Eagles, Rams and Steelers. Detroit will have to quickly establish a new identity if it wants to replicate last season’s success.

DETROIT LIONS SCHEDULE & TICKET DEALS

• Week 1: Sept. 7 at Green Bay Packers
• Week 2: Sept. 14 vs. Chicago Bears
• Week 3: Sept. 22 at Baltimore Ravens (Monday Night Football on ESPN/ABC)
• Week 4: Sept. 28 vs. Cleveland Browns
• Week 5: Oct. 5 at Cincinnati Bengals
• Week 6: Oct. 12 at Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday Night Football on NBC)
• Week 7: Oct. 20 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Monday Night Football on ESPN/ABC)
• Week 8: Bye Week
• Week 9: Nov. 2 vs. Minnesota Vikings
• Week 10: Nov. 9 at Washington Commanders
• Week 11: Nov. 16 at Philadelphia Eagles (ET, Sunday Night Football on NBC)
• Week 12: Nov. 23 vs. New York Giants
• Week 13: Nov. 27 vs. Green Bay Packers (Thanksgiving – 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX)
• Week 14: Dec. 4 vs. Dallas Cowboys (Thursday Night Football on Prime Video)
• Week 15: Dec. 14 at Los Angeles Rams
• Week 16: Dec. 21 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
• Week 17: Dec. 25 at Minnesota Vikings (Christmas Day on Netflix)
• Week 18: vs. Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions Season/Game Odds

Despite a bumpy offseason, the Lions still have +1100 odds of winning the Super Bowl and +500 odds of winning the NFC Championship for the first time in franchise history. The Lions, however, will open week one as +1.5 underdogs on the road vs the Packers, but are favored in 12 of their 17 games next season.

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Lineback standout Micah Parsons delivered a game-changing debut with the Green Bay Packers in Sunday night’s opening game against the Detroit Lions with disruptive plays on limited snaps.

Despite the late August acquisition from the Dallas Cowboys, Parson has made an immediate mark on the Packers with relentless pressure. He got his first sack and was second on the team with three pressures in the 27-13 win at Lambeau Field.

His presence helped end a three-game losing streak with the Lions. He did it all in 29 of the 65 defensive snaps despite recovering from a back injury and minimal practice time.

The Packers introduced Parsons last during pregame announcements, with the home crowd erupting with cheers. Wearing No. 1 on his jersey, he delivered an energy that head coach Matt Lafleur did not anticipate.

Parson’s impact stretched beyond his own highlights in the game. With Detroit focusing heavily on Parson, the Packers’ defense was able to pressure quarterback Jared Goff constantly.

Later in the fourth quarter, Parsons reached his fastest record speed as a pro of 18.47 mph as he chased down Goff for the fourth-quarter sack. Parsons’ arrival sparks a change in the Packers’ dynamics.

Following the groundbreaking game, Parsons didn’t hold back. He described his offseason with the Cowboys as “toxic” in a mix of stalled contracts and expressed relief to be on the Packers now.

“I’m telling you, these last six months were super draining, super toxic for everyone,” Parson said to reporters. “I think the fact that I was traded a week before the season was really outrageous and rough. It’s something where I could have been with these guys, getting better and better, and we could’ve had an even more dominant start.”

Green Bay now features a centerpiece in its defensive line who commands attention just from entering the game.

The Green Bay Packers will face the Washington Commanders next Thursday night, with Parson expected to lead the defense, continuing to be confident and aggressive.

Veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater visited Tampa on Tuesday and signed with the Buccaneers.

The 32-year-old quarterback last suited up for the Detroit Lions in December 2024, coming out of retirement to serve as Jared Goff’s backup. Bridgewater did not appear in a regular-season game. In the playoffs, he completed his only pass attempt for 3 yards in a 45-31 loss against the Washington Commanders in the divisional round.

For the Buccaneers, Bridgewater would help shore up the quarterback room, with Michael Pratt dealing with a back injury. Starting quarterback Baker Mayfield also just returned to practice Tuesday after missing multiple days last week with a contusion in his right throwing hand, leaving the Buccaneers with just two quarterbacks at that time.

Bridgewater played for six NFL teams from 2014 to 2024, compiling a 33-32 record with 15,120 passing yards and 75 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl after an 11-5 season with the Minnesota Vikings. He retired after a decade in the league and went on to coach his high school alma mater, Miami Northwestern, to the Class 3A Florida High School Athletic Association state title in 2024.

Bridgewater has multiple connections to the Buccaneers. He was the starting quarterback for new Buccaneers defensive line coach Charlie Strong when Strong was the head coach at Louisville. He was also with new Buccaneers offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard when they were with the Dolphins in 2022, when Grizzard served as the offensive quality control coach. He was also teammates with longtime Buccaneers team captain Lavonte David at Miami Northwestern.

Last month, Bridgewater was suspended from his position as the high school’s coach for allegedly providing impermissible benefits to his players. He said in a social media post that he self-reported paying for Uber rides, meals and recovery services for his players last season.

“Oh man, it’s just crazy, man,” David said of Bridgewater’s suspension last month. “Just knowing the type of person Teddy is, man. If you know Teddy and you meet him – that’s just who he is. He’s just doing it straight out of love. But that’s because he is. Even when he was in the league, he was still giving back to the team. He just continued it. It just so happened that he be the head coach. He gives a lot back to youth football and football in the Miami area. It’s unfortunate that he’s going through it, but I think he’ll be fine, man.”

Miami Northwestern High School football coach Teddy Bridgewater has been suspended for providing players with impermissible benefits, he revealed in a social media post. Bridgewater, who officially retired from the NFL in February 2024, coached Miami Northwestern to a state championship in his first season last year.

“Damn people done caused all this confusion. Got a phone call tonight and it’s no real investigation going on,” Bridgewater wrote on Facebook. “I told you I have to be an employee to be investigated. Now the paperwork thing still stands but there was no investigation… We SELF REPORTED.”

Bridgewater led Miami Northwestern to a Class 3A championship in his first season as the coach in 2024.

The suspension appears to be linked to a July 7 social post in which Bridgewater acknowledged covering transportation, meals and recovery-related costs for his players during the 2024 season. In that same message, he encouraged supporters to contribute financially this year so those expenses wouldn’t fall solely on him.

The Florida High School Athletic Association confirmed to Rivals on Monday that it is gathering more information.

Bridgewater rose from a local standout in Miami to a first-round NFL Draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings after a stellar college career at Louisville. His professional journey took a turn after a major knee injury in 2016, but he battled back to start for the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos. He later had stints with the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions.

After serving as a backup in Detroit in 2023, the 32-year-old stepped away from playing to begin his coaching career. He briefly unretired and re-signed with the Lions in December 2024.

Bridgewater compiled a 33-32 record with 15,120 passing yards and 75 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl after an 11-5 season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2015.

Last season, Cincinnati Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow played at an MVP level last year, but the Bengals missed the playoffs due to a lackluster defense. Many sports media pundits either thought he was the best quarterback in the league due to him leading the league in completions, yards and touchdowns, or they put the blame for the Bengals’ problems on his shoulders.

Burrow himself offered his own take on the Bengals’ situation months after the Bengals were officially eliminated from the playoff picture.

“If I had played even better, we wouldn’t have been in that spot that we were in,” Burrow said, via Bengals.com. “I just focus on getting better myself, and I feel like everyone in the locker room feels the same way. If I go out there and play better than I did last year, then it doesn’t matter what goes on anywhere else.”

It is hard to argue with Burrows’ point because every player in history could say the same thing and have a ring. Most quarterbacks in the NFL put the pressure of the team on their shoulders, so they get the credit when the team is doing well, but on the flip side, they get the blame when the team does not meet expectations.

In 2024, Burrow had 4,918 passing yards, 43 touchdown passes and a 70.6% completion percentage while only throwing nine interceptions. Burrow had almost 300 more passing yards than the quarterback who was second in yards, which was Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, and two more passing touchdowns than Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Burrow will be looking to lead the Bengals to their first Super Bowl victory in franchise history this year as they will face the Cleveland Browns in week one of the NFL regular season.

Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Jared Goff and Saquon Barkley have been named as finalists for the NFL MVP Award. As high-performing quarterbacks on top AFC teams this season, Jackson and Allen will likely vie for the top spot, but Barkley’s 2,000-yard rushing season has put him squarely in the conversation.

Burrow and Goff deserve consideration as finalists, but there are serious obstacles barring them from winning the award. Burrow arguably had the best season of his career, carrying a mediocre Bengals team, but only two players in NFL history have won MVP while missing the playoffs. Goff, on the other hand, successfully led an exciting Lions offense from the pocket, but the team benefitted from a run-heavy scheme.

There was a period in 2024 when it seemed inevitable that Allen would win the award. In Weeks 14 and 15 against the Rams and Lions, the Bills quarterback had two monster games in a row, scoring five times through the air and five times on the ground. Buffalo scored 90 combined points in that span.

Carrying his team through the air and on the ground, many were ready to coronate Allen on the spot. But this moment of clarity dissipated nearly as soon as it arrived, as Jackson began a torrid stretch of his own to end the season. The Ravens quarterback and reigning MVP scored 13 combined touchdowns in the final four games, finishing the regular season with 41 passing scores and just four interceptions, along with 915 rushing yards and another four rushing touchdowns. 

While these two passers dueled in the AFC, culminating in a 27-25 Bills victory in the AFC Divisional Round, Barkley was making his own MVP case as a running back in the NFC. In his first season with the Eagles, he helped bring the team back into Super Bowl contention, rushing for 2,005 yards. Becoming the ninth rusher in NFL history to join the 2,000-yard club earned him a spot as an MVP finalist.

The playoffs don’t have any bearing on the MVP race, but all three players were integral in their teams’ success in the regular season. The Bills and Eagles are in their respective conference championship games this weekend, while the Ravens were eliminated by Buffalo in the most competitive game of the divisional round. 

From a statistical standpoint, all three were overwhelmingly valuable to their teams. Despite already winning two MVPs, Jackson had the best season of his career. Allen’s year, in comparison to previous performances, is more arguable, but it is one of his best in terms of both passing and rushing production. Meanwhile, Barkley took full advantage of a new situation in Philadelphia, proving the value of an entire position at a time when running backs are being undervalued. All three are deserving of the award in one of the most competitive races in recent memory.

The first-seed Detroit Lions’ season ended on Saturday with a 31-45 loss to the heavy underdog Washington Commanders. Quarterback Jared Goff threw for 313 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions, including a pick-six.

That loss, though, has freed up the Lions’ coaching staff to look for other jobs. And there’s been no hesitation in that category, as offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has agreed to a head coaching job with the Chicago Bears, following a virtual interview during Detroit’s first-round bye.

Johnson also interviewed with the New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars, although he reportedly wasn’t interested in the Jaguars due to “the setup,” likely concerning ownership and the retaining of general manager Trent Baalke.

Instead, he opted for Chicago, who offered him around $13 million per year – a staggering figure for a man with a grand total of zero years of head coaching experience. That figure would spot him as the seventh highest-paid coach this season, ahead of coaches like the Ravens’ John Harbaugh. If that price indicates anything about the trend, other coachless teams should be expecting to shell out this offseason.

Johnson, of course, was highly sought-after for a reason. The Lions finished the regular season first in offensive points per game, yards per game, touchdowns per drive (an astonishing 33%) and red zone touchdown percentage. The Lions averaged at least 26 points per game in the first three years of Johnson’s tenure, while Chicago has had four seasons meeting that criterion in the Super Bowl era.

His innovative offensive structure will now be tasked with elevating quarterback Caleb Williams, heading into his sophomore year, as well as promising pieces such as D’Andre Swift (who had a good season last year with the Eagles), DJ Moore and Rome Odunze.

The team also has a top-ten draft pick and a top-five amount of cap space, with which the Bears can hopefully improve an offensive line that saw Williams get sacked a league-leading 68 times.

Johnson’s connections may also prove key, as he’s reportedly already assembling his coaching staff. According to Adam Schefter, former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen is the “leading candidate to become his defensive coordinator.”

Williams praised Johnson’s offense earlier in the month.

“During our game, I would sit back and watch and try and learn something while I watch,” Williams said. “It was fascinating to watch because he always had wrinkles for counters and things like that throughout the game. I think he’s obviously done really well, so it’d be cool to see how that all goes down.”

Chicago interviewed 17 candidates, seeking to fill the position vacated by Matt Eberflus following an unceremonious firing in November following a six-game losing streak. They went 1-4 after the firing, ending the season scraping the bottom of the division at 5-12.

For the first time in his NFL career, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been crowded out of the elite tier. The three-time Super Bowl Champion was not named to the initial 2024 Pro Bowl roster, an honor he has received every year since becoming Kansas City’s starter in 2018.

For all of Mahomes’ accolades and accomplishments, as well as the Chiefs’ current status as Super Bowl favorites, there are few arguments to justify a spot for him in the Pro Bowl. If he competed in the NFC, there would be a remote chance of him pulling rank on the likes of Jared Goff or Jayden Daniels. In the AFC, however, there is no debate. Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow are dominating the race for MVP and all three have made an unimpeachable Pro Bowl case. Mahomes has not.

Over the course of the season, Jackson and Allen have delivered virtuoso performances through spectacularly dynamic play. Jackson has thrown for 3,955 yards and 39 touchdowns while only throwing four interceptions; Allen has thrown for 3,731 yards and 28 touchdowns. Jackson has been a consistent menace in the rushing game while Allen has also proven more than capable of running when needed, particularly in several high-scoring games in the past month.

While these two have effortlessly blazed their teams’ trails to playoff berths, Burrow has been on his own mission, singlehandedly carrying an otherwise unremarkable Bengals team back into contention. Seemingly always in close games despite sustained explosive production, he has thrown for 4,641 yards and 42 touchdowns. He’s a staggering one-man show dragging Cincinnati, kicking and screaming, within one game of the postseason heading into Week 18.

On paper, Mahomes’ 2024 statistics aren’t necessarily foreign to this conversation. Closely mirroring Allen in passing, he has thrown for 3,928 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. But Allen has been a threat on the ground as well and had a number of heroic performances in important games. Mahomes has been more conservative, reflecting the Chiefs’ deliberate, grinding approach as a unit this season.

It has happened in the past that great players have sacrificed individual honors for the greater cause. Tom Brady had several seasons that were less productive on paper in the prime of his career, as the Patriots enjoyed elite defensive play that allowed the team to slow down opponents. Brady’s achievements in those seasons were as a general, not a playmaker. 

To say that Mahomes has completely adopted this piloting role would also be misguided. He remains a dynamic talent and the Chiefs are not afraid of creative play calls. His statistics are perfectly reasonable for an elite quarterback. His failure to receive a Pro Bowl invitation is more a result of timing. 

As Mahomes takes a step back in the interest of his team’s thorough and fundamentally sound play, it just so happens that three extremely talented quarterbacks in his conference have all had to step up. The AFC’s top trio of MVP candidates are perpetually on the front line, integral performers each and every week. It’s the role that Mahomes has assumed for the majority of his career. It’s the one he assumed when his entire team infamously failed him in his only Super Bowl defeat in 2021.

When doling out individual honors, the NFL looks for players who have made a singularly valuable contribution to their team, primarily in the form of statistics and victories. In the playoffs, however, the teams that most often succeed are the ones with multiple ways to win. It seems like an increasingly distinct possibility that Mahomes and Kansas City gets the last laugh.

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is reportedly planning to come out of retirement and will sign with the Detroit Lions. Bridgewater retired from the NFL in 2023 and most recently led Miami Northwestern High School, his alma mater, to a state championship as head coach.

The motivation behind Bridgewater’s desire to return to the NFL is still unclear, but joining the Lions places him in a potentially important position for a Super Bowl contender. Bridgewater would likely serve as one of two backup quarterbacks for Jared Goff on the team’s playoff roster, joining second-year passer Hendon Hooker.

Bridgewater reportedly has a good relationship with Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who worked as an assistant coach for the New Orleans Saints from 2016 to 2020. The journeyman passer played there in 2018 and 2019. Bridgewater’s last stint before retiring was with Campbell and the Lions in 2023.

Based on his reputation, Bridgewater figures as a shrewd addition for the Lions. The veteran passer is known as an excellent locker room presence and teammate, especially for his fellow quarterbacks. As of 2022, he also proved capable of starting and holding his own at the professional level. In five appearances and two starts for the Miami Dolphins that year, he threw for 683 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions, earning an 85.6 quarterback rating. His last extended stint as a starter came in 2021, when he threw for 3,000 yards as a member of the Denver Broncos.

Based on Campbell’s eagerness to work with Bridgewater at the tail end of his career, it doesn’t feel preposterous to suspect that the quarterback could soon land a coaching role for the Lions after his second retirement. Bridgewater’s interest in coaching at a local level, combined with his locker room behavior and the Lions’ persistent interest, could make him a viable candidate in some capacity in the near future.

In the meantime, Bridgewater must do what he can to assist a white-hot Lions offense looking to overcome a slew of injuries on defense. The team’s prospects as a Super Bowl favorite have dwindled somewhat in recent weeks, but with Goff piloting an explosive passing game and rushing attack, the team still has a strong puncher’s chance. If Goff goes down, however, it may come down to Bridgewater or Hooker to pick up the pieces and keep the team’s championship hopes alive. It would be a big step up from high school ball.  

After a slow and uncertain start to the NFL season, an MVP frontrunner has finally emerged. With his historic six-touchdown performance against the Rams on Sunday, Bills quarterback Josh Allen is firmly leading the pack. 

Though Buffalo’s defense no-showed in the 44-42 defeat to Los Angeles, Allen almost singlehandedly carried the AFC East leaders to another win anyway. In addition to 342 passing yards and three touchdowns, he also ran for 82 yards and scored another three on the ground. In a year of relatively unproductive offensive play, it was a statement performance that will certainly earn end-of-year consideration.

Allen may have momentum on his side, but the season is far from over. The Bills quarterback is not dominating the league in any particular category but has successfully piloted Buffalo to a 10-3 season and a presumptive playoff berth. His profile is solid, but it still needs work in the final weeks of the season. 

Meanwhile, there are plenty of MVP candidates still in the running, some relying on statistical edges and others banking on building momentum like Allen has. He’s not the only one to pilot a winning team to this point. Lamar Jackson, Jared Goff and Sam Darnold all have claims as well in this area. 

Jackson, the reigning MVP, has nearly improved on his 2023 season as the undisputed leader of a historically productive Ravens offense. Goff loses some points for benefitting from a run-heavy Lions scheme, but Detroit’s success is due in large part to his efficiency. 

Darnold is the dark horse of the group, a pleasant surprise on a resurgent Vikings team that is now 11-2 and well on its way to the postseason. Before Allen’s jaw-dropping performance against the Rams late last weekend, Darnold threw for 347 yards and five touchdowns in a commanding win over the Falcons. Similar performances in the final weeks of the season could help him build a real case.

The MVP award has historically been dominated by quarterbacks, but fans have clamored for several running backs to win the award in recent years. Many have concluded that Derrick Henry was on pace to win the award in 2021 before suffering a season-ending injury. Last year, many people called for Christian McCaffrey to beat out Jackson. This year, Saquon Barkley is the backfield darling for many fans. 

In his first season with the Philadelphia Eagles, Barkley has redefined himself as an elite rusher in the NFL, amassing 1,623 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns. He is on pace to shatter his previous career-best performances in nearly every category and lead the Eagles back to Super Bowl contention. The odds are against him in the MVP race, but he remains the strongest non-quarterback contender by a wide margin.

Last season was an eventful one for Los Angeles as the Rams battled a rocky first half to salvage a 10-7 record and a postseason berth. At the beginning of 2023, injuries loomed over the Rams, causing them to stumble to a 3-6 record heading into week ten’s bye. Los Angeles prevailed in seven of the last eight games to secure a trip to Detroit for the wild card, a homecoming for Matthew Stafford. Jared Goff and the Lions took care of business, taking down Stafford’s Rams 24-23. Receiver Puka Nacua set an NFL record for receiving yards as a rookie with 1,486 yards and caught 105 passes, also an NFL record.

Defensive lineman Aaron Donald announced his retirement in March, ending a ten-year stint with the Rams. Donald amassed 111 sacks while getting 543 combined tackles in his career. Bills star corner Tre’Davious White joined the squad along with Darious Williams and Kamren Curl to revamp their secondary. To keep Stafford protected, the Rams signed Jonah Jackson to provide security while resigning Kevin Dotson.

The Rams kept up with filling holes on defense as Jared Verse was picked 19th overall. Verse was the third best edge in 2024’s draft, as he possesses excellent closing speed to chase down the quarterback – Verse will also complement 2023’s third-round pick, Byron Young. Another Florida State defenseman was selected by the Rams, they took Braden Fiske early in round two to complement Kobie Turner. Michigan’s Blake Corum provides a solid backup to Kyren Williams while Kamren Kitchens is a probable starter.

Los Angeles comes into 2024 with the NFL’s 12th most demanding schedule. In week one, the Rams will travel to Ford Field to square off with the Lions, whom they lost to in last season’s playoffs. The slate will also feature the 49ers, Packers, Vikings, Dolphins, Bills, Eagles and Jets.

With a plethora of young talent combined with veteran expertise, Los Angeles will seek to be a playoff hopeful come 2024.

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The Detroit Lions continue their busy off-season.

On Monday, general manager Brad Holmes signed offensive tackle Taylor Decker to a three-year extension worth up to $60 million. Roughly half of the contract, $31.83 million, is guaranteed. The Lions selected him with the 16th pick in the 2016 draft out of Ohio State. He has spent his entire career in the Motor City and is the longest-tenured player on the team.

The 30-year-old Decker verbalized what the extension meant in a press conference after practice.

“I’m very fortunate, and I’ve gotten to have some good luck along the way, but there was also a lot that went into it,” he said. “Sacrifices from myself and from those around me, so it feels good. It just feels special to be able to stay here and be with my friends and get to work with people that I care about and that I love.”

After Detroit reached the NFC championship game last year, Holmes made it his mission to lock down the core that got the team there. Quarterback Jared Goff signed a four-year, $212 million extension in early May, and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown received a four-year, $120 million deal two weeks before. Decker’s fellow tackle, Penei Sewell, also earned $112 million in April, and the two will be bookends on the offensive line for years to come.

Decker has been a part of countless losses during his 112 starts, but the Lions are on the upswing. After reaching their first NFC title game since 1992, Hard Rock Bet gives Detroit the second-best odds to win the conference at +550, trailing only the 49ers. Holmes added to his roster in free agency and the draft, selecting two corners from the SEC with their first two picks and signing defensive tackle DJ Reader to a two-year $27.5 million deal. The new pieces should sure up a defense that allowed 19th in total defense.

There is never a dull moment in the NFL off-season.

Even when the kickoff of the season’s first game does not happen for over 100 days, the politicking and grandstanding never switch off, and Matthew Stafford heated up the rumor mill this week.

The Rams quarterback made it clear to Les Snead and the front office that he wants more guaranteed money for the final two years of his deal. While the Super Bowl champion signed a four-year $160 million deal a couple of years ago, the language in the contract makes it easy for Los Angeles to move off him without creating much dead cap space. The former Georgia quarterback turned 36 years old in February and has dealt with injuries, making it even more critical for him to restructure his contract.

Although he feels concerned about his professional life off the field, he did not let it interfere with the Rams’ title hopes on it. Unlike most players with contract disputes, Stafford chose to attend the start of the voluntary OTAs in May. Los Angeles fell to Detroit in the Wild Card last season and is playing its first year without future Hall-of-Famer Aaron Donald to anchor its defense.

The signal-callers sentiment could have also begun after seeing new deals for quarterbacks across the league. The Lions just gave Jared Goff a four-year, $212 million, a quarterback that the Rams traded away to get Stafford on their team. Kirk Cousins also received four years and $180 million with $100 million guaranteed from the Atlanta Falcons when he hit the market during free agency last March. Cousins is only a year younger than Stafford but without much postseason success, so his deal could be looked at as one of two sides base their negotiations on.

Head coach Sean McVay spoke to reporters yesterday and will keep all contract conversations “private” and “in-house.”

Detroit Lions’ head coach Dan Campbell stood by his multiple fourth down calls despite the team’s loss to the San Fransisco 49ers in the NFC Championship. Campbell and the Lions failed to convert various fourth-down attempts during the game, ultimately leading to their collapse after leading 24-7 at halftime.

“It’s hard because we didn’t come through, and it wasn’t able to work out, but I don’t,” Campbell said postgame. “And I understand the scrutiny I’ll get – that’s part of the gig – but it just didn’t work out.”

Detroit had two attempts in particular that left fans asking questions. One was a fourth and two in the third quarter from the 49ers 28-yard line, which resulted in an incomplete pass from quarterback Jared Goff to receiver Josh Reynolds. The other was a similar play from the 49er’s 30-yard line in the fourth quarter but ended in another incomplete pass from Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown. Both drives resulted in turnovers, which could have been short-field goal attempts if the Lions didn’t choose to go for it.

Detroit was outscored 17-7 in the second half, and if they scored a field goal on either of the two fourth downs, the game would have been tied and perhaps gone to overtime. Goff was 25/41 on passes on Sunday night but just couldn’t seem to find any of his receivers down the stretch. The Lions ended the game with more total yards, first downs and total plays, but weren’t able to score late in the game, which became their downfall against the very talented 49ers team.

“A few third downs we wish that we could have converted,” St. Brown said. “We went for it on fourth down a few times; I wish we would have had those. They played well on defense that second half.”

It was the first NFC Championship game for the Detroit Lions since 1991, and the team was closer than ever before to making the all-illusive Super Bowl. They had multiple chances late in the game but the team’s aggressive fourth-down strategy seemed to be the deciding factor and the reason they came up just short.

Despite their shortcomings, the Lions’ game plan in the NFC Championship game wasn’t different from how they were playing all season. Campbell and the Lions went for fourth downs on a league-high 34% of the time but were just unlucky in their late-game attempts against San Fransisco.

“You want to make the most of every opportunity, and we had an opportunity – and we just couldn’t close it out, and it stings,” Campbell said.

Rams head coach Sean McVay said Wednesday that he regrets the way that his team treated quarterback Jared Goff before trading him to the Detroit Lions. Goff will play the Rams in the first round of the NFL Playoffs this weekend.

“I’ll never run away from that. But the further you get away from it, the more that you try to grow as a man, as a person, as the leader that you want to become — he deserved better than the way that it all went down. I’ll acknowledge that,” McVay told reporters. “And I think he knows that, too. And you know, and I’m not afraid to admit those things. But, I think we’re all better, being able to look back on those things. And I do have more appreciation for him as time goes on.”

In their first playoff game in nearly a decade, it is poetic that Goff and the Lions are facing the McVay and the Rams in the first round. A trade between the two teams three years ago defined their franchises to this day, sending two quarterbacks on vastly different trajectories that will briefly converge again this weekend.

Despite leading Los Angeles to four straight winning seasons between 2017 and 2020, including a trip to the Super Bowl in 2018, Goff was traded away to the Detroit Lions before the 2021 season. At the time, McVay and others in the Rams organization simply did not believe in his ability to lead the team going forward. Goff’s replacement, longtime Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford, led the Rams to a Super Bowl victory the following year.

While McVay and Stafford caught fire immediately and won a championship, Goff struggled during a tumultuous rebuild in Detroit. In his first season with the Lions, they went 3-13-1. Over time, however, Goff and Lions head coach Dan Campbell have worked together to cultivate one of the most exciting teams in the NFL.

“Until you’re around [Goff], like I’ve been around him, I don’t want to say it surprised me, but yet, you really get to understand just how resilient he is and how his ability to bounce back – he can look at a situation and take it for what it is,” Campbell said of his quarterback at the end of the 2023 regular season.

In 2023, Goff led an offense featuring star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookie tight end Sam LaPorta. Running backs David Montgomery and rookie Jahmyr Gibbs both thrived in the backfield as well. Goff threw a career-high 407 completions for 4,575 yards and 30 touchdowns, leading Detroit to a 12-5 record and its first division title since 1993.

As the third seed in the NFL Playoffs, the Lions will host their first playoff game against McVay and the sixth-seeded Rams. It will be Stafford’s first game at Ford Field since his 2021 departure.

“The opportunity happens to be in Detroit, which is fun for me on a personal level,” Stafford said Wednesday. “It is going to be rocking there. They haven’t had a playoff game there in about 30 years or whatever it is. So it will be a great atmosphere.”

As for Goff, the once-disrespected quarterback leading another team to the playoffs, he told ESPN that he will never forget the trade that sent him to Detroit. But more than anything, he went on to say that he is playing this weekend to win a playoff game for a franchise long overdue for one.

“I so badly want to win a playoff game for this city that hasn’t had one in so long,” Goff said. “We’ve got a home playoff game for the first time in so long and that’s so much more important than anything personally for me. I want to be a part of this win and do my job the best of my ability.”

The Detroit Lions have elevated quarterback Hendon Hooker to the main roster, making him the team’s new third-string passer behind Jared Goff and Teddy Bridgewater. The rookie out of the University of Tennessee was selected by Detroit in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Though the Lions have no intention of using Hooker for any meaningful snaps this season, the team is elevating him in order to work with him on the main roster. In order to make the space for him, the team cut kicker Riley Patterson, who has struggled all season on both field goals and extra point attempts.

Michael Badgley will now make kicks for the team.

Hooker’s NFL career has begun slowly due to an ACL injury he suffered while at Tennessee in 2022. The setback hurt his draft stock and has delayed his NFL debut. After overseeing his progress all summer and most of the regular season, Detroit opened a three-week reactivation window for Hooker in late November and finally added him to the roster Wednesday.

When Hooker first returned to practice several weeks ago, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that he had been looking forward to working with the young quarterback.

“By rule, we can’t coach him (without activating him),” Campbell said at the time. “So, that’s why. I mean we can have him in meetings, but he can’t be out there and going through any fundamental work. You’ve just got to kind of stand there. So, that’s where it helps, to be able to actually do individual work with him, have him take a snap. That’s why it’s big.”

Some have speculated that Hooker could challenge Goff for the starting job as soon as 2024, depending on Goff’s performance this year. The current starter, who enters free agency in 2025, has led the team to a 10-4 record this year, but he has also been inconsistent at times, particularly on the road. Still, with a playoff run likely, Hooker will have to thoroughly impress coaches to take the starting job away from Goff in the near future.