🏈 Big NFL News, NFL Playoff Rankings, + More!

Good Morning Blitzers,

Did you know the Saxons called January 'Wolf Month' because hungry wolves would come into their towns looking for food? It makes sense why my dog has been roaming around the house looking for food more than usual. Yeah, he may be a 9-pound Chiweenie, but he’s been wolf-like this month… Let’s get into it!

WTF Stat:

🏈 The Jaguars have fired head coach Doug Pederson following a disappointing 4-13 season, marking their 10th season of double-digit losses in the 13 years under owner Shad Khan. Despite this, Khan chose to retain general manager Trent Baalke, emphasizing the improvements made in various organizational areas such as player health, scouting, and contract administration. Khan believes the team needs improvements in creativity and unpredictability on both offense and defense, which he feels a coaching change can address.

🏈 The Chicago Bears have requested permission to interview Mike McCarthy, the head coach of the Cowboys, for their head coaching vacancy. The Cowboys have yet to respond to this request. McCarthy’s contract expires today, but the Cowboys have exclusive negotiating rights until January 14th.

🏈 North Dakota State (NDSU) secured its 10th FCS title in 14 seasons, defeating top-seeded Montana State 35-32 in the championship game. QB Cam Miller, who made his 54th consecutive start, was pivotal, running for two touchdowns and throwing for two more. He completed 19/22 passes for 199 yards and rushed 18 times for 121 yards.

Tuesday’s NFL Playoff & End of Season

Playoff Team Ranking

1. Detroit Lions (15-2) - They’ve averaged 36.2 points in the last five games. The only thing that could stop them is distractions (coordinators interviewing for jobs) or the time-off. They’re so hot right now I don’t think I’d even want a bye.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2) - I’m already resigned to the fact that they’ll be in the Super Bowl again, going for their third consecutive championship. As long as QB Patrick Mahomes is under center, they’ll be favorites in the AFC.

3. Buffalo Bills (13-4) - Tough matchup against a hot Broncos team, but they’re at home against a rookie QB, and QB Josh Allen is on a mission this season.

4. Baltimore Ravens (12-5) - QB Lamar Jackson and the Ravens always seem to come up short in the playoffs, but they get a relatively easy first game (at home against the struggling Steelers), and they head into the playoffs this year with the NFLs best rushing attack.

5. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) -  Biggest question mark for the Eagles is QB Jalen Hurts’ health, who remains in the concussion protocol. They have a tough first game against the Packers, but their defense (best YPG in the NFL) and rush attack make them a big time threat.

6. Minnesota Vikings (14-3) - Tough loss to end the season, and they’ll have to do things the hard way, but this is a 14-win team for a reason.

7. Green Bay Packers (11-6) - The Packers vs Eagles matchup is the best game of the Wild Card weekend, outside of the Lions, I think they have the best chance of upsetting the Eagles.

8. Washington Commanders (12-5) - A nice matchup in round one against the Bucs. Regardless of what happens in the playoffs, this year has already been a huge success. They’re playing with house money.

9. Denver Broncos (10-7) - One of the hottest teams headed into the playoffs, I’ve doubted QB Bo Nix for too long, if he goes into Buffalo and wins, he is officially the chosen one.

10. Los Angeles Rams (10-7) - Lot of talent and experience still left on this Rams squad. They get a tough home game against the Vikings, but this is a team that could turn it on in the playoffs.

11. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) - The Chargers were built for the playoffs. Solid defense, good rushing attack, 4th best turnover differential. The only problem is outside of the Broncos, they really haven’t beat anyone of significance.

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) - Bucs are the #3 seed but they’ve been far too streaky this season. After their showing against an abysmal Saints in their last game, I’m not feeling overly confident about their chances in the playoffs.

13. Houston Texans (10-7) - Speaking of streaky, the Texans were 5-6 their last 11 games and that 31-2 loss against Baltimore in week 17 makes it harder to put them higher than this.

14. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) - The Steelers lost their last four games. They are going to need big plays from their defense and special teams to win. Their offense needs to revert back to what it looked like before December.

Best Non-Playoff Teams For Next Season

1. Cincinnati Bengals - They have one of the best QBs in the NFL and probably the best WR in the NFL. If they can manage to keep WR Tee Higgins and make some improvements to their defense they should easily be a double-digit win team next season.

2. San Francisco 49ers - Lot of injuries, and bad luck this past season. I think they are too talented and Kyle Shanahan is too good of a coach for them to have another down year.

3. Atlanta Falcons - Call me the conductor, because I’m all the way on the Michael Penix Jr. train. Now Penix gets a a full offseason taking first team reps. I’m expecting big things!

4. Dallas Cowboys - The Cowboys had some ugly losses this season, but they also had a bunch of close losses to good teams. I think people are forgetting that QB Dak Prescot put up 36 TDs, 9 INT and 4,516 yards passing a season ago. They should bounce back next season.

5. Arizona Cardinals - $83 million in cap space (4th best), they need help on the D-line and O-line and have a lot of options available to them.

Best Teams With Head Coach Openings

Helping Ben Johnson, Mike Vrabel, Brian Flores and other top candidates determine which job to take:

1. Chicago Bears - #1 Overall Pick QB Caleb Williams showed flashes, they just need to protect him better. They have talent up-and-down the roster, plus they have $81 million in cap space to spend (5th best).

2. New England Patriots - NFL best $131 million in cap space, 4th pick in the draft, and a franchise QB in Drake Maye. They need a lot of help on the offensive line and a couple playmakers on offense. But the defense is still young and talented and a coach/GM has a ton of wiggle room.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars - On paper the Jags have a great team. They have the #5 pick in the draft, they have one of the best young WRs in then NFL in Brian Thomas Jr. and a number of good young players on defense. I feel like they just need some stability to get things on the right path.

4. New Orleans Saints - They may need to hire an accountant as head coach because they’re in salary cap hell. $78 million over the cap. Plus, they have a lot of aging stars, this team needs a full-reboot.

5. New York Jets - The Saints should probably be 5th, but I’m going with the Jets, mainly because they’re cursed. They do have a lot of young talent on this team, but I wouldn’t want to deal with the personalities of QB Aaron Rodgers, CB Sauce Gardner, and Fireman Ed so they’re gonna be last for me.

Top NBA Games

Suns 109, 76ers 99: Bradley Beal came off the bench for the first time in nine years and scored 25 points to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 109-99 win, snapping a four-game losing streak. Beal was instrumental in the second half, scoring 20 points as the Suns overcame an early 12-point deficit.

Grizzlies 119, Mavericks 104: Jaren Jackson Jr. went off scoring 35 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists to lead the Grizzlies to a win. Scotty Pippen Jr. contributed 18 points, while Jaylen Wells added 17 points and 11 rebounds, helping Memphis secure their 10th win in the last 11 home games.

Timberwolves 108, Clippers 106: Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves, scoring 28 of his 37 points in the second half. Edwards also contributed eight assists, finishing 14 of 29 from the field, including two critical 3-pointers in the final minute. This marked his eighth game of the season with 30 or more points.

See full NBA scoreboard here, and standings here.

Top NHL Games

Canadiens 5, Canucks 4: Nick Suzuki scored a power-play goal 48 seconds into overtime, leading the Canadiens to a 5-4 victory. Suzuki also had two assists in the game, helping Montreal extend its strong run, having won five of its last six games and eight of its last 10.

Avalanche 3, Panthers 1: Devon Toews scored twice, as Colorado rallied to defeat Florida 3-1. Mikko Rantanen added an empty-net goal, extending his points streak to 14 games. Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood had 26 saves, improving his record to 7-1-1 since joining Colorado.

Devils 3, Kraken 2: Ondrej Palat scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period as the New Jersey Devils defeated the Seattle Kraken 3-2 on Monday to snap a four-game losing streak. Dawson Mercer had a goal and an assist, and Paul Cotter also scored, helping the Devils avoid their first five-game losing streak since February 2022.

See full NHL scoreboard here, and standings here.

On this day in 1961, the first NFL Playoff Bowl (or Runner-Up Bowl) was played. The game to determine 3rd place would be played between 1961-1969.

When the merger was completed for the 1970 season, there was discussion about continuing the Playoff Bowl, with the losers of the AFC and NFC Championship Games playing each other during the idle week before the Super Bowl. A "losers' game" was not necessarily attractive for the league, and the Playoff Bowl came to an end.

Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi detested the Playoff Bowl, coaching in the games following the 1963 and 1964 seasons. To his players, he called it "the 'Shit Bowl', ...a losers' bowl for losers."

Yesterday’s Trivia Time Answer

Former #1 overall pick, QB Baker Mayfield just finished the season with 4,500 yards passing. Which QB has the most passing yards in a season for his former team, the Cleveland Browns?

A) Brian Sipe - Sipe passed for 4,132 yards in the 1980 season, a number that has not be surpassed since that time. Mayfield has passed for 4,000+ yards the past two seasons with the Buccaneers.

Check back tomorrow for the answer to today's trivia question and more info!