The Heisman Trophy race is likely down to four entering the final week of the regular season.

The winner will be announced and awarded the trophy during a ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 14 in New York. Voting opens Dec. 2 and ends on Dec. 9.

With quarterbacks leading throughout the early weeks, there’s been a shift recently with Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Colorado’s two-way standout Travis Hunter leading the way.

The other contenders include Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel and Miami quarterback Cam Ward.

Here’s a look at the top four players in the Heisman odds and how things look for each of them in Week 14 of the season:

Odds via BetMGM as of Friday, Nov. 29:

1. WR/DB Travis Hunter, Colorado (-1000)

Hunter’s season ended after Colorado beat Oklahoma State, 52-0, on Friday.

Hunter was voted as a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award for his performance as a receiver for Colorado in 2024. He finished the regular season with 82 receptions for 1,036 yards and 11 touchdowns. 

He scored a rushing touchdown on one of his only two carries out of the backfield. As a defensive back, he recorded 30 tackles, nine pass deflections, a forced fumble and three interceptions.

2. RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State (+750)

Jeanty also finished his regular season with Boise State’s victory 34-18 victory on Friday.

He had 275 carries for 2,062 yards and 27 touchdowns in 12 games played. He also recorded a receiving touchdown earlier this season and fumbled the ball just twice all season. He is a finalist for three other awards including the Doak Walker award (best running back).

When it comes to the Heisman, Jeanty was not initially listed when the opening odds were released.

3. QB Cam Ward, Miami (+1200)

Ward has remained third among the odds leaders since last week. Ward will have one regular season audition on Saturday morning when Miami travels to play the Syracuse Orange. 

Ward completed 268 of his 399 pass attempts through his first 11 games for 3,774 yards, 34 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

4. QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (+6600)

Gabriel leads the No. 1 team in the country into its final game of the regular season at home against rival Washington.

Despite what happens Saturday, Oregon has already clinched an opportunity to play for the Big Ten championship. Unless the game is close, there might be a chance for Gabriel to have a short night, denying him an opportunity to chase the individual award with a strong showing.

Gabriel completed 259 of his 351 passes for 3,066 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions in 11 games played this season. He also rushed for six touchdowns.

Infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman, who earned National League Championship Series MVP honors for the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, agreed to a five-year, $74 million extension on Saturday with a club option for a sixth season.

Edman, 29, will be under contract with Los Angeles through at least the 2029 season after coming over from the St. Louis Cardinals on July 29 in a three-team trade.

In this year’s NCLS, he hit .407 with 11 RBIs and drilled the series-clinching home run in Game 6 against the New York Mets. In the 2024 playoffs, Edman hit .328 with two homers and 13 RBIs after batting .237 with six homers and 20 RBIs in 37 regular-season games for the Dodgers.

A six-year veteran who has played six positions in the majors, Edman has batted .263 with 59 homers, 112 stolen bases and 242 RBIs for the Cardinals (2019-23) and Dodgers.

He won his lone Gold Glove in 2021, when played second base (130 games), right field (41) and shortstop (4) for St. Louis, which drafted him in the sixth round in 2016.

All things Dodgers: Latest Los Angeles Dodgers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter made his closing pitch to Heisman Trophy voters Friday in Boulder – 10 catches for 116 yards, three touchdowns, an interception and more than 110 plays on the field in a 52-0 win for the Buffaloes against Oklahoma State.

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders also had a monster day for Colorado (9-3). He completed 34 of 41 passes for 438 yards and five touchdowns in front of 51,030 at Folsom Field in Boulder.

But now they wait.

The win on Friday wasn’t enough to get them into the Big 12 Conference championship game Dec. 7, not after losing last week against Kansas.

That’s because they started the day in a four-way tie for first place with BYU, Iowa State and Arizona State, each with a 6-2 record in league play heading into their final regular-season games this weekend.

To get into the Big 12 title game now, coach Deion Sanders and the Buffs need two of those other first-place teams to lose Saturday: BYU at home against Houston, Iowa State at home against Kansas State and Arizona State at Arizona.
Or if BYU loses and Texas Tech beats West Virginia, the Buffs also would get into the league title game even if they are in a three-way tie for first place with Iowa State and Arizona State. In that case, Colorado wins the tiebreaker by virtue of the fact that Texas Tech will be a second-place team that was beaten this season by Colorado but not by Arizona State or Iowa State.
Getting to the Big 12 title game and winning it also would give the Buffs a chance at a College Football Playoff berth.

If they don’t make it to the Big 12 title game, the Buffaloes likely will play in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28 or the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27.

Either way, the Buffs have come a long way since 2022, when they finished 1-11 before they hired Deion Sanders as head coach. Last year, they finished 4-8 in his first season before flipping the roster for the second year in a row to revamp their offensive line, defensive line and add some juice to their receiving corps, including receiver LaJohntay Wester from Florida Atlantic.

Wester caught 11 passes Friday for 175 yards and two touchdowns. The Buffs controlled throughout after scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions as Oklahoma State finished its season with a 3-9 record.

Hunter entered the game as the favorite to win the Heisman on Dec. 14, according to BetMGM. Ballots are scheduled to be distributed to Heiman voters on Monday. They are due to be returned by Dec. 9. With no guaranteed game before then, this was his last guaranteed chance to convince those voters that he is the best player in college football. 

Here are highlights from Colorado’s win.

Shedeur Sanders comes out after monster day

With 10 minutes left in this game, Colorado has put in its backup players to replace quarterback Shedeur Sanders and possibly Travis Hunter, too.

Backup quarterback Ryan Staub takes over with the Buffaloes leading 52-0. Shedeur Sanders had a monster day − 34-of-41 passing for 438 yards and five touchdowns. Hunter has 10 catches for 116 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. 

Travis Hunter gets third TD catch

Travis Hunter is putting on a show. Another freakish catch. Another touchdown. Colorado is now leading 52-0 after a 23-yard touchdown catch from him as he fell backward into the end zone while battling an Oklahoma State defender.

He has 10 catches for 116 yards and three touchdowns. Is he just padding his statistics at this point, though? This game is essentially over.

ABC reported he has played 114 plays so far in this game.

Colorado’s DJ McKinney scores, gets a penalty for celebration

The “other” cornerback for Colorado now has an interception and a touchdown to help the Buffaloes extend their lead to 45-0 early in the fourth quarter. DJ McKinney, a transfer from Oklahoma State, intercepted a pass from his former team and returned it 13 yards for a touchdown before getting into some trouble in the end zone.

After scoring, he celebrated by getting on his knees and lifting one, as if to portray dog urination. He was flagged for a 15-yard penalty as a result on the ensuing kickoff.

End of third quarter: Colorado 38, Oklahoma State 0

Colorado looks like it has secured a first-place finish in the Big 12 Conference even though the Buffaloes will need at least two other Big 12 teams to lose games Saturday in order to play for the Big 12 championship next week in Arlington, Texas.

Receiver LaJohntay Wester, a transfer from Florida Atlantic, has 10 catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns.

Oklahoma State has punted eight times and has committed three turnovers.

Colorado extends its lead to 38-0 in third quarter

Colorado now has scored on all three of its second-half possessions and leads 38-0 after a 33-yard field goal from kicker Alejandro Mata with 4:31 left in the third quarter.

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders drove the Buffaloes to the Oklahoma State 7-yard line but was sacked on third down, forcing them to settle for the field goal.

Sanders has been sacked six times so far.

Travis Hunter scores again

The Buffaloes are now up 35-0 after recovering a fumble at the Oklahoma State 25-yard line and then getting an 8-yard touchdown catch from Travis Hunter with 10:50 left in the third quarter.

Hunter now has six catches for 39 yards and two touchdowns on offense, along with an interception to open the game on defense.

Shedeur Sanders is 21-of-26 passing for 257 yards and four touchdowns. The Buffs have scored on both of their possessions in the second half after a disastrous second quarter. 

Third quarter: Colorado 28, Oklahoma State 0

Colorado snapped out of its offensive funk by scoring on the first possession of the second half, extending its lead to 28-0 with 14:03 left in the third quarter.

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw a third down pass to receiver LaJohntay Wester, who raced down the right sideline for a 69-yard touchdown catch. It is Wester’s second touchdown catch of the day. He has eight catches overall for 115 yards.

Halftime score: Colorado 21, Oklahoma State 0

The Buffaloes took over the game with three touchdowns on their first three possession, but then they sort of just fell part on offense. They ended the first half with a terrible second quarter − four punts and a failure to convert on fourth down and goal from the Oklahoma State 34-yard line.

They even surrendered three quarterback sacks in a row after bringing the ball to the Oklahoma State 10-yard line in the second quarter.

‘Horrible,’ coach Deion Sanders told ABC at halftime. ‘I’m not happy whatsoever. I mean, I don’t care what the score is. We’ve got to execute. Offensively, I don’t know who put a stop sign out there on the field that we can’t go. But we gonna get this right at halftime. I promise you that.’

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders completed his first 12 passes and is now 18-of-22 passing for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Two-way star Travis Hunter has four catches for 22 yards and a touchdown, along with an interception on defense.

Colorado will get the ball to open the second half in Boulder. 

Colorado offense stalls in second quarter

Colorado is still up 21-0 but has broken down on offense in the second quarter. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders was sacked on three straight plays after bringing the Buffaloes to the Oklahoma State 10-yard line with a 39-yard pass to Isaiah Hardge. Then when the Buffaloes went for it on fourth and goal from the 34-yard line, Sanders’ pass to the end zone for Travis Hunter fell incomplete.

There have been six punts in the second quarter: three for Colorado and three for Oklahoma State. 

Another hot start for Shedeur Sanders

Colorado has punted twice in the second quarter after scoring touchdowns on each of its first three possessions. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders is 12-of-13 passing for 84 yards and two touchdowns with the Buffs still leading 21-0 early in the second quarter.

Before the game, Sanders was named the winner of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given to the nation’s top quarterback who “best exemplifies character, scholastic and athletic achievement.”

End of first quarter: Colorado 21, Oklahoma State 0

Travis Hunter has an interception and an 11-yard touchdown catch. Colorado has scored every time it’s had the ball (three for three) and will have the ball at its own 32-yard line to start the second quarter.

Oklahoma State has turned the ball over twice and punted twice. Cowboys linebacker Justin Wright also has been flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct because of late hits out of bounds against the Buffaloes. 

‘We’re not playing smart right now,’ Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy told ABC.

Travis Hunter helps stretch Colorado’s lead to 21-0

Travis Hunter is just starting to rev up. This time he helped stretch Colorado’s lead to 21-0 with an 11-yard touchdown catch with 2:09 left in the first quarter. He ran a short slant pattern on the play and now has a touchdown catch and interception in the first quarter alone.

Colorado has scored touchdowns on each of its first three possessions and this time benefited from a questionable call that turned the ball over to Colorado. Oklahoma State receiver Brennan Presley was ruled to have fumbled a catch, though replays showed he might not have had possession of it. Colorado safety Shilo Sanders recovered it to give the Buffs the ball at the Oklahoma State 28-yard line before Hunter scored.

Colorado leads 14-0 after Shedeur Sanders’ TD pass

Colorado has scored on both of its first two possessions and now leads 14-0 after getting a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Shedeur Sanders to receiver LaJohntay Wester.

Sanders found Wester in the back left corner of the end zone, capping a 65-yard drive that was aided by an unnecessary roughness penalty against Oklahoma State. The latter happened when OSU linebacker Justin Wright pulled Sanders and threw him into the bench on the sideline. The penalty moved the Buffaloes from the OSU 28-yard line to the OSU 14-yard line before they scored. 

Colorado takes early 7-0 lead

Travis Hunter has snatched an interception already less than two minutes after kickoff. It came on Oklahoma State’s opening possession, when he returned it seven yards to the OSU 24-yard line to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by freshman running back Micah Welch three plays later.

Colorado leads 7-0 with 12:03 left in the first quarter.

It was Hunter’s fourth interception of the season.

Deion Sanders coaches his two sons in final home game

Colorado coach Deion Sanders said he ‘can’t even explain the emotions’ involved as he coaches his two sons in their final home game in Boulder. Sanders told that to ABC after walking onto the field during a Senior Day ceremony with his quarterback son Shedeur and safety son Shilo. Both are playing their final year of college eligibility.

When is the Oklahoma State-Colorado game?

Kickoff is at noon ET Friday from Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.

How to watch the Oklahoma State-Colorado game

The game will be broadcast on ABC. Mark Jones, Roddy Jones and Quint Kessinich will call the game.

How to stream the Oklahoma State-Colorado game

Can Colorado still win the Big 12 Conference? 

Yes, but the Buffs need to beat Oklahoma State today and then need help from at least two other Big 12 teams on Saturday. After suffering a damaging loss against Kansas last week, they are in a four-way tie for first place with BYU, Iowa State and Arizona State, each with a 6-2 record in league play with one regular-season game remaining. 

The Buffs would get into the Big 12 championship game Dec. 7 if they beat Oklahoma State and at least two of those other first-place teams lose Saturday: BYU at home against Houston, Iowa State at home against Kansas State and Arizona State at Arizona. 

Or if BYU loses and Texas Tech beats West Virginia, the Buffs also would get into the league title game even if they are in a three-way tie for first place with Iowa State and Arizona State.  In that scenario, Colorado wins the tiebreaker by virtue of the fact that Texas Tech will be a second-place team that was beaten this season by Colorado but not by Arizona State or Iowa State. But if Tech loses in this case, the Buffs would not make it.  

Can Colorado still make the College Football Playoff?

Yes, but it’s a longshot. The Buffs ranked 25th in the latest playoff rankings. The five highest-ranked conference champions get automatic playoff berths, along with seven at-large teams. 

To get into the playoff, the Buffs would need to get into the Big 12 championship game (see above) and win that game Dec. 7. But winning the Big 12 still might not be enough for Colorado to move high enough in the rankings to get an at-large berth. It also might not be enough to outrank any of the other five league champions to get an automatic berth. 

Teams from five other leagues currently outrank Colorado, though No. 17 Tulane of the American Athletic Conference suffered a loss Thursday to Memphis that will drop Tulane in the rankings.

Final playoff pairings will be announced Dec. 8. 

Oklahoma State vs. Colorado odds, line

The Colorado Buffaloes are favorites to defeat the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Friday’s college football matchup, according to the BetMGM college football odds. Looking to wager? Check out the top college football betting apps in 2024 offering the top NCAA football betting promos and bonuses in 2024.  

Spread: Colorado (-16.5) 
Moneyline: Colorado (-750); Oklahoma State (+525) 
Over/under: 66.5  

What bowl game will Colorado go to? 

If they fail to make the Big 12 championship game, the Buffaloes will fall to a non-playoff bowl game, likely the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio Dec. 28 or the Holiday Bowl in San Diego Dec. 27. 

This story spells out why the Alamo Bowl might take the Buffs. 

When is the voting for the Heisman Trophy?

Ballots are distributed to electors on Monday. The deadline for Heisman ballots to be submitted is Dec. 9. Travis Hunter also will find out if he is one of four Heisman finalists Dec. 9. The Heisman winner is announced Dec. 14.  

After delivering coal to the Chiefs in their Christmas trip to Arrowhead last year, the Raiders decided to gift Kansas City a win to kick off this year’s holiday season.

The Raiders managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, turning the ball over with just 11 seconds remaining. After marching into field goal range, the second-half comeback officially fell short, as Kansas City hung on for a 19-17 win on Black Friday.

The game might’ve involved Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, but Amazon was probably checking the NFL’s return policy for most of the first half after being dealt a second Black Friday dud in as many years. Kansas City held a 10-3 lead following a sleepy opening 30 minutes, as both teams played like they had too much turkey on Thanksgiving.

Aidan O’Connell woke Las Vegas up in the second half, giving his team the lead with a pair of touchdowns to Brock Bowers and Tre Tucker. That gave the Chiefs a good scare, who required four field goals from Matthew Wright to win on Friday.

Inefficiencies in the red zone and an overall disjointed offense continue to plague Andy Reid’s team. Mahomes was visibly frustrated for most of the afternoon, especially as the protection in front of him broke down. The quarterback was continuously under pressure, making for some uncomfortable pockets in the second half.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Despite that, Mahomes broke the franchise record for passing touchdowns with a second-quarter pass to Justin Watson, giving him 238 for his career, one more than Len Dawson. Kansas City became the first team in 2024 to clinch a playoff spot but has plenty of work to do if they want to represent the AFC again at the Super Bowl in February.

Here’s a look at how the action unfolded on Friday.

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates, highlights and more from the Black Friday matchup between the Chiefs and Raiders below. All times are Eastern.

Chiefs-Raiders final score: Chiefs escape after Raiders botch final seconds

The Raiders appeared to be setting themselves up for a game-winning field goal try but failed in the final seconds. Instead, the Chiefs escaped with a 19-17 victory thanks to the Raiders confusion along the offensive line.

Chiefs 19, Raiders 17

Raiders lose a fumble, Chiefs take over

Well, you are what your record says you are. The record says the Raiders are a bad football team, and the final sequence solidified it. After driving into field goal range, Las Vegas had to avoid disaster for one play and couldn’t do it. Jackson Powers-Johnson snapped the ball on third down before O’Connell was ready, and the Chiefs recovered. Mahomes takes a knee and that’ll do it from Kansas City.

Chiefs opt to punt on fourth-and-2 with 2:03 remaining

The Raiders’ defense does its job and forces a Chiefs’ punt. It’s slightly surprising that the Chiefs didn’t opt to go for it and put the game away since a field goal wins the game for Las Vegas. The Chiefs will rely on their defense, perhaps an indictment of their disjointed offense today. Aidan O’Connell and the Raiders take over at their own eight-yard line and will have 1:56 and no timeouts to work with.

Daniel Carlson misses 58-yard FG attempt

Watching Carlson miss from 55 and 56 yards wasn’t enough for Antonio Pierce, who then sent his kicker out for a 58-yard try for the lead. Predictably, that kick was no good, as Carlson came up short, and now the Raiders will have to burn some timeouts and get a stop if they want the ball back.

Chiefs-Raiders score: Matthew Wright puts Kansas City back in front

Stop us if you’ve heard this before: Matthew Wright has made a field goal. Again. It’s his fourth make of the game, this time from 32 yards. The Chiefs will walk away disappointed with the outcome as Patrick Mahomes was sacked for a fifth time, this time by K’Lavon Chaisson, who is up to 2.5 sacks on the afternoon. With 9:53 to go, Las Vegas can retake the lead with just a field goal.

Chiefs 19, Raiders 17

Chiefs-Raiders score: O’Connell connects with Tre Tucker to give Raiders the lead

Just like that, Las Vegas has the lead. O’Connell hits the speedy Tre Tucker down the sideline for a 58-yard touchdown, giving the Raiders a one-point lead after Carlson adds the extra point. The Raiders must have a favorite barbecue spot in Kansas City, considering their recent run of success at Arrowhead.

Raiders 17, Chiefs 16

End of third quarter: Raiders driving

The game changed at the end of the third quarter as the Raiders finally broke through with a touchdown and got another stop on defense. Now the Chiefs have some soul-searching to do, as the Raiders can take the lead with a touchdown. They have it on their own 42-yard line to open the fourth quarter.

Chiefs-Raiders score: Brock Bowers hauls in 33-yard TD

Kansas City failed to put Vegas away and now this game has flipped with 1:30 to go in the third. The Raiders take advantage of the great kickoff return, and O’Connell finds Bowers for the 33-yard score.

Chiefs 16, Raiders 10

Ameer Abdullah 69-yard kickoff return sets Raiders up in Chiefs territory

On the ensuing kickoff, Abdullah gets in on the action by taking the kick 69 yards to the Chiefs’ 23-yard line. Vegas will look to capitalize on this return with a touchdown to get back in the game.

Chiefs-Raiders score: Matthew Wright tacks on three more

Something is off with these Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes missed Travis Kelce in the end zone, and Wright trotted on for another field goal try. He puts it through from 35 yards out, stretching the lead to 13. Perhaps they’ll flip the switch in the playoffs, but the Week 13 returns are not great yet.

Chiefs 16, Raiders 3

Daniel Carlson misses a 55-yard FG try

The one-handed catch from Bowers goes to waste as Aidan O’Connell takes a sack, making Carlson’s field goal attempt more difficult. The kicker hooks it left from 55 yards away, keeping this a 10-point game.

Chiefs 13, Raiders 3

DJ Turner injury update: Raiders WR exits with leg injury

Turner exited with an ugly-looking leg injury on a kickoff return in the third quarter. He was down on the ground for a bit and eventually helped off the field by the training staff. The Raiders have deemed him questionable to return.

Must-see play: Brock Bowers makes one-handed snag

The Raiders don’t have much to be excited about this season, but they do have tight end Brock Bowers. Think of it as ruining the turkey but nailing your favorite side dish on Thanksgiving. It won’t save the meal, but it’s much better than going hungry on the holiday. Here’s a look at the one-handed catch he hauled in for 29 yards.

Chiefs-Raiders score: Matthew Wright gives Kansas City a 10-point lead

The Chiefs take advantage of the Raiders turnover on downs and turn that into a 42-yard field goal from Matthew Wright. Offense remains difficult for both sides, but K.C. has taken a two-score lead. There might be 8:40 to go in the third, but Vegas will need to get going quickly if they want to have a chance today.

Chiefs 13, Raiders 3

What is the NFL’s ‘My cause, My cleats’ initiative?

The NFL forgoes the uniform policy regarding players’ cleats in Weeks 13 and 14, allowing players to wear customized cleats to support charitable causes. Players can pick whatever cause is important to them and honor the cause without fear of NFL fines for these two weeks. Here’s a look at what some of the players are rocking with for today’s game.

Raiders stuffed on fourth down on opening drive of second half

Las Vegas came out of halftime with a little more jump, moving the ball easily. They go 44 yards in eight plays, taking 3:15 off the clock, but come up short on a fourth-and-one at the K.C. 31-yard line to hand the ball back to the Chiefs without doing any damage on the scoreboard.

Chiefs franchise record for passing TDs: Patrick Mahomes passes Len Dawson with first half touchdown

When Mahomes tossed a touchdown to Justin Watson, he gave the Chiefs a 10-3 lead and also set the Chiefs’ franchise record for most passing touchdowns with 238. He passed Len Dawson, who had 237.

Chiefs lead the Raiders by seven at halftime

The first half of this game can be best summarized by Kansas City having Matthew Wright attempt a 59-yard field goal before heading to the locker rooms. As expected, the kick fell short, but fans were robbed of a hilarious Auburn-style return as the Chiefs prevented any damage with a tackle from punter Matt Araiza, the holder on the field goal attempt. Despite their record, the Raiders are hanging around at Arrowhead once again.

Chiefs 10, Raiders 3

Chiefs-Raiders score: Patrick Mahomes finds Justin Watson for the game’s first TD

With 2:14 in the first half, Mahomes and the Chiefs finally break through. Justin Watson hauls in the six-yard touchdown pass to give Kansas City a 10-3 lead. Chiefs 10, Raiders 3

Must-see play: Travis Kelce laterals to Samaje Perine for the first down

Kansas City is trying to add flair to this first-half snooze fest as Travis Kelce comes through with some razzle dazzle on a third-and-10. Patrick Mahomes tosses one to Kelce, who pitches it to Perine for the first down. Take a look.

Daniel Carlson misses FG from 56 yards

After forcing another stop on defense, the Raiders get the ball back and drive into Kansas City territory. On fourth-and-four, they settle for a 56-yard field goal, but Carlson’s try comes up short and the Chiefs take over around midfield with 5:55 to go in the first half. The Raiders have managed 131 total yards to the Chiefs’ 100.

Chiefs-Raiders score: Las Vegas ties it up with Daniel Carlson FG

The Jakobi Meyer’s drive ends the moment the Raiders go away from him. The wide receiver is already up to five catches and 86 yards, but the Raiders have to settle for three when the drive stalls inside the K.C. 10-yard line. Daniel Carlson knocks through a 27-yard field goal, getting us right back to where we started. It’s a new game with 11:03 to go in the first half.

End of first quarter: Chiefs lead by three

Unlike your Amazon shopping cart today, very little happened in the first quarter. Kansas City is moving the ball but can’t get more than a field goal. Referee Clay Martin’s crew looks like they’re paying tribute to the United Nations, with flags flying like crazy in the first 15 minutes.

Raiders pick up a first down, forced to punt after penalty

Vegas’ first drive ends without incident as the Raiders muster up just one first down. Aidan O’Connell is back under center, but Antonio Pierce’s team just isn’t equipped to overcome holding penalties that put them behind the sticks. AJ Cole does his job though, or so we thought. He dropped a 58-yard punt at the one-yard line. The referee, Clay Martin, initially indicated the holding penalty was against K.C., but it was actually against Las Vegas.

Coming out of the commercial break, it was revealed that the Raiders re-kicked, and the Chiefs will start at the 23-yard line. Prime Video’s broadcast revealed that the mishap was simply an administrative error on the referee’s part.

Who is the Chiefs kicker? Matthew Wright takes over for injured Spencer Shrader, Harrison Butker

The Chiefs signed Matthew Wright as the team’s kicker for their matchup with the Raiders, thanks to injuries that are mounting for K.C.’s kickers in 2024. After Butker was forced onto IR with a knee injury, Kansas City signed Shrader off the Jets’ practice squad. He stepped in and made all three field goal attempts and three extra points but suffered a hamstring injury in the process. After missing practice all week, the Chiefs turned to Wright, who kicked for them when Butker was injured in 2022.

Chiefs-Raiders score: Kansas City settles for FG after long drive stalls

Matthew Wright knocks through the 25-yard attempt to give the Chiefs the early lead. K.C. takes 13 plays to travel 66 yards and eats 4:54 off the clock. Travis Kelce was involved early and often, collecting two catches on three targets for 20 yards. Chiefs 3, Raiders 0

Isiah Pacheco return: Chiefs’ RB back in the lineup

Pacheco, the angry runner out of Rutgers, is back in the lineup for the first time since Week 2. After missing nine games, his aggression is already being celebrated by Chiefs kingdom. He picks up four yards on his first carry as the crowd gives him a nice ovation.

Chiefs vs. Raiders start time

Start time: 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT)
Date: Friday, Nov. 29

The Chiefs and Raiders are set to kick off at 3 p.m. ET on Black Friday. Las Vegas will head to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Chiefs.

Chiefs vs. Raiders TV channel

Live stream: Amazon Prime Video 
Local TV: KSHB-TV 41 (Kansas City market) | KTNV 13 (Las Vegas market)

The NFL Black Friday game will exclusively stream on Amazon Prime Video for national viewers. For those in the Chiefs TV market, KSHB-TV 41 will air the game. In Las Vegas, viewers can tune to ABC.

Chiefs vs. Raiders picks, predictions

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Chiefs vs. Raiders matchup will play out on Black Friday:

Lorenzo Reyes: Chiefs 26, Raiders 19
Tyler Dragon: Chiefs 27, Raiders 17
Richard Morin: Chiefs 25, Raiders 21
Jordan Mendoza: Chiefs 30, Raiders 10

Chiefs vs. Raiders odds, moneyline, over/under 

The Chiefs are favorites to defeat the Raiders, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week. 

Spread: Chiefs (-13) 
Moneyline: Chiefs (-750); Raiders (+525) 
Over/under: 42.5 

Chiefs vs. Raiders live stream 

Live stream: Amazon Prime Video 

The Chiefs-Raiders Black Friday matchup will be available exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.  

Stream the Black Friday game on Amazon Prime Video

4th & Monday: Our NFL newsletter always brings the blitz   

Do you like football? Then you’ll enjoy getting our NFL newsletter delivered to your inbox.   

Get the latest news, expert analysis, game insights and the must-see moments from the NFL conveniently delivered to your email inbox. Sign up now!  

Who is the highest-paid NFL player?  

The NFL’s top 18 players in average annual salary are all quarterbacks, according to OverTheCap.com. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott became the league’s highest-paid player before the 2024 season, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million deal. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the first non-quarterback on the highest-paid list after striking a four-year, $140 million contract extension this offseason.  

Chiefs Inactives vs. Raiders

Raiders Inactives vs. Chiefs

Who are the highest paid NFL players at each position? 

We have a complete list at every position:  

Quarterbacks 
Running backs 
Wide receivers 
Tight ends 
Offensive tackles 
Offensive guards 
Centers 
Edge rushers 
Interior defensive linemen 
Linebackers 
Cornerbacks 
Safeties 
Kickers 
Punters 

Oldest players in NFL in 2024 

Just four players in 2024 NFL player pool surpass 40 years old: Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Bears tight end Marcedes Lewis, Rams kicker Matt Prater and Titans kicker Nick Folk. 

Only Rodgers will turn 41 during the season, with a birthday coming the first week in December. 

Here’s the full list of the top 11 oldest players in football: 

QB Aaron Rodgers, Jets: 40 years old (Dec. 2, 1983) 
TE Marcedes Lewis, Bears: 40 years old (May 19, 1984) 
K Matt Prater, Rams: 40 years old (Aug. 10, 1984) 
K Nick Folk, Titans: 40 years old (Nov. 5, 1984) 
QB Joe Flacco, Colts: 39 years old (Jan. 16, 1985) 
C/LS J.J. Jansen, Panthers: 38 years old (Jan. 20, 1986) 
C/LS Jon Weeks, Texans: 38 years old (Feb. 17, 1986) 
P Thomas Morstead, Jets: 38 years old (March 8, 1986) 
C/LS Morgan Cox, Titans: 38 years old (April 26, 1986) 
QB Josh Johnson, Ravens: 38 years old (May 15, 1986) 
DL Calais Campbell, Dolphin: 38 years old (September 1, 1986) 

Which NFL team has the most Super Bowl wins? 

The Steelers are tied with the New England Patriots for the most Super Bowl wins with six. 

Pittsburgh and Dallas have the unique distinction of playing each other more than any other team combination in Super Bowl history with three matchups. 

NFL draft 2025 order entering Chiefs vs. Raiders

Here’s how the first round of the 2025 NFL draft will stack up entering the Black Friday game: 

New York Giants: 2-10; .522 strength of schedule
Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-9 record; .478 SOS
Las Vegas Raiders: 2-9; .536 SOS
New England Patriots: 3-9; .482 SOS
Carolina Panthers: 3-8; .456 SOS
Cleveland Browns: 3-8; .464 SOS
New York Jets: 3-8; .516 SOS
Tennessee Titans: 3-8; .563 SOS
Chicago Bears: 4-8; .507 SOS
Cincinnati Bengals: 4-7; .492 SOS
New Orleans Saints: 4-7; .520 SOS
Miami Dolphins: 5-7; .456 SOS
Dallas Cowboys: 5-7; .522 SOS
Indianapolis Colts: 5-7; .558 SOS
San Francisco 49ers: 5-6; .540 SOS
Los Angeles Rams: 5-6; .548 SOS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-6; .595 SOS
Seattle Seahawks: 6-5; .508 SOS
Atlanta Falcons: 6-5; .537 SOS
Arizona Cardinals: 6-5; .563 SOS
Washington Commanders: 7-5; .431 SOS
Denver Broncos: 7-5; .481 SOS
Houston Texans: 7-5; .489 SOS
Los Angeles Chargers: 7-4; .472 SOS
Baltimore Ravens: 8-4; .526 SOS
Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-3; .433 SOS
Green Bay Packers: 9-3; .518 SOS
Philadelphia Eagles: 9-2; .416 SOS
Minnesota Vikings: 9-2; .441 SOS
Buffalo Bills: 9-2; .476 SOS
Kansas City Chiefs: 10-1; .488 SOS
Detroit Lions: 11-1; .482 SOS

AFC West standings 

The Chiefs sit comfortably at the top of the AFC West entering Week 13. Here’s how the division stacks up: 

Chiefs (10-1) 
Chargers (7-4) 
Broncos (7-5) 
Raiders (2-9) 

Isiah Pacheco injury update 

The Chiefs running back is off the injury report and is set to play on Friday vs. the Raiders. Pacheco suffered a leg injury in Week 2 and has been on the shelf since then. He’s expected to be a ‘full-go.’

Is Taylor Swift at the Chiefs game?

The pop superstar will be in attendance to cheer on her boyfriend, Travis Kelce. She arrived alongside Donna Kelce an hour and a half before kick-off.

Where is Chiefs vs. Raiders? 

The Raiders travel to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to take on the Chiefs. 

Chiefs vs. Raiders weather updates 

Full list of highest-paid NFL players 

Across all metrics, the top-10 highest-paid players in the NFL are all quarterbacks. Here’s how the breakdown looks by AAV, guarantees, and total contract value this season. 

AAV 

Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $60 million 
Joe Burrow, Bengals: $55 million 
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $55 million 
Jordan Love, Packers: $55 million 
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins: $53.1 million 
Jared Goff, Lions: $53 million 
Justin Herbert, Chargers: $52.5 million 
Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $52 million 
Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $51 million 
Kyler Murray, Cardinals: $46.1 million 

Guaranteed money 

Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $231 million 
Deshaun Watson, Browns: $230 million 
Joe Burrow, Bengals: $219.01 million 
Justin Herbert, Chargers: $218.74 million 
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $200 million 
Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $185 million 
Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $179.4 million 
Jared Goff: $170.61 million 
Tua Tagovailoa: $167.17 million 
Jordan Love: $160.3 million 

Total contract value 

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs: $450 million 
Joe Burrow, Bengals: $275 million 
Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $275 million 
Justin Herbert, Chargers: $262.5 million 
Lamar Jackson, Ravens: $260 million 
Josh Allen, Bills: $258.04 million 
Jalen Hurts, Eagles: $255 million 
Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $240 million 
Kyler Murray, Cardinals: $230.5 million 
Deshaun Watson, Browns: $230 million 

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the highest-paid non-quarterback by AAV at $35 million per year and San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is the highest-paid non-quarterback by total value at $170 million.

AFC playoff picture

Here’s how the AFC playoff picture stacks up entering Week 13. 

In the playoffs: 

Kansas City Chiefs (10-1) 
Buffalo Bills (9-2) 
Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) 
Houston Texans (7-5) 
Baltimore Ravens (8-4) 
Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) 
Denver Broncos (7-5) 

In the hunt: 

Indianapolis Colts (5-7) 
Miami Dolphins (5-7) 
Cincinnati Bengals (4-7) 
Cleveland Browns (3-8) 
New York Jets (3-8) 
Tennessee Titans (3-8) 
New England Patriots (3-9) 
Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9) 
Las Vegas Raiders (2-9)

Eliminated: 

No AFC teams have been eliminated yet. 

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage. 

The Chicago Bears’ highly underwhelming season took such a disastrous turn on Thanksgiving, a franchise that’s been in existence as long as the NFL (105 seasons) made an unprecedented decision on Black Friday – and will now be shopping for a new leader.

The team fired Matt Eberflus, the first time in club history that it’s made a midseason change at head coach. Thomas Brown, who was recently appointed offensive coordinator after Eberflus dismissed Shane Waldron earlier this month, now takes over the top job as well.

‘This morning, after meeting with (chairman) George (H. McCaskey) and (president and CEO) Kevin (Warren), we informed Matt of our decision to move in a different direction with the leadership of our football team and the head-coaching position,’ general manager Ryan Poles said in a statement.

‘I thank Matt for his hard work, professionalism and dedication to our organization. We extend our gratitude for his commitment to the Chicago Bears and wish him and his family the best moving forward.’

The decision follows – arguably – the worst defeat in Chicago’s current six-game losing streak, a 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions on Thursday afternoon. After trailing the NFC leaders 23-7 in the fourth quarter, the Bears fought to cut the gap to 23-20 and were driving for what could have been a game-tying field goal in the final minute.

All things Bears: Latest Chicago Bears news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

But rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked with 33 seconds to go at the Lions’ 41-yard line (just outside the range of kicker Cairo Santos), meaning the clock continued to run – but Eberflus chose not to take a timeout in a rather obvious situation to preserve time. Williams lofted one final pass toward Rome Odunze that fell incomplete as time expired.

“Well I’m the head football coach so I’m taking the blame, of course,’ Eberflus said following the debacle. ‘That’s what you do. So, we didn’t get it done, it starts at the top and it starts right here. So, accountability is right here with me and again, we just have to do it better and I have to do it better, and I was proud of the guys with the way they fought, and they did a good job putting themselves in position.

‘We’re there in the moment, we just have to handle it better. We have to handle it better and we’re right there. Again, there was some penalties there at the end. We were in position to score, we had a hands to the face, I think that was a pretty costly one. Then we just have to do a better job of not taking negative plays. I think it starts right here, it starts with me.”

Eberflus met with reporters Friday morning and thought his job was safe.

‘I’m confident that I’ll be working on the San Francisco and getting ready for that game,’ he said.

Instead, it was curtains for a man who finishes with a 14-32 record in two-plus seasons and never reached the playoffs. Eberflus joins the New York Jets’ Robert Saleh and New Orleans Saints’ Dennis Allen as the third head man fired during the course of the 2024 season.

Despite a season that’s fallen well short of expectations – the Bears, now 4-8, are the only team below .500 in an otherwise hypercompetitive NFC North – their vacant HC job should be a coveted one this offseason. Though Williams, the No. 1 pick of this year’s draft, has had a decent season overall, he hasn’t been consistent – or nearly as impactful as fellow rookie quarterbacks like Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders or Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos. And while Poles put plenty of capable players around Williams – adding wideout Keenan Allen and running D’Andre Swift in free agency and wideout Rome Odunze in Round 1 of the draft (eight picks after Williams – plus a solid defense, their coaching staff clearly wasn’t up to the task of shepherding a first-year signal-caller. The decision not to carry a veteran backup was also a dubious one.

Chicago got off to a solid 4-2 start, Williams seeming to progress past early rookie growing pains. But a loss to the Commanders on Oct. 27, when Daniels connected on a game-ending Hail Mary from 52 yards – while Chicago cornerback Tyrique Stevenson could be seen engaging with Washington fans rather than paying attention to what was happening on the field – led to a tailspin that proved unrecoverable for Eberflus.

Though his elevation has yet to lead to wins, Brown could get a serious look as Eberflus’ permanent replacement. The offense has performed noticeably better since Waldron’s departure, averaging 22 points and 363.3 yards over its past three games.

‘I support Ryan and the decision that was made this morning. We understand how imperative the head-coaching role is for building and maintaining a championship-caliber team, leading our players and our organization,’ said Warren.

‘Our fans have stood by us and persevered through every challenge, and they deserve better results. Our organizational and operational structure is strong, focused, aligned and energized for the future.’

***

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on X, formerly Twitter, @ByNateDavis.

Matt Eberflus is gone with the wind in Chicago.

The Bears opted to cut ties with their head coach on Black Friday following an embarrassing 23-20 loss to the Lions on Thanksgiving. Chicago will now be on the hunt for a new leader, one they hope can bring success back to the Windy City.

At 4-8, the Bears are again in a position to secure a draft pick in the top half of the first-round order. However, it’s a roster on the rise, one that should be considered among the top openings of this hiring cycle. With only the Jets and Saints having openings at this point in the season, the Bears probably find themselves as No. 1 on that list.

Eberflus’ firing marks the first time the Bears have made a coaching change during the season, but cutting their losses now allows them to get a head start on the upcoming hiring cycle. Here’s more on why the Bears decided to move on.

Why did the Bears fire Matt Eberflus?

Eberflus’ shortcomings have been abundantly clear in his three seasons as the Bears’ head coach. However, they can be best summed up in just one 30-second sequence at the end of a brutal Thanksgiving Day loss to the Lions.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Armed with one timeout, Eberflus stood and watched his rookie quarterback, Caleb Williams, have difficulties navigating the final seconds that could’ve resulted in the game-tying field goal attempt. Instead, the quarterback heaved up a prayer for Rome Odunze that fell short as time expired.

Players expressed plenty of frustration after the game, suggesting that this situation was nearing its bitter end.

‘I feel like we did enough as players to win the game,’ Keenan Allen said.

In many ways, that perfectly encapsulates the Eberflus era. Close, but no cigar.

He’s struggled in one-score games, owning a 5-19 record in those situations. He is just 14-32 overall and 3-19 on the road.

No matter how you slice it, Eberflus hasn’t delivered success in the Windy City. He was brought in from the Colts to help stabilize the franchise following the firings of head coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace. The goal was to put then-second-year signal caller Justin Fields in a position to become the franchise quarterback.

Instead, Chicago continued their march to the bottom, eventually earning the right to select Williams with the No. 1 overall pick, courtesy of a trade with Carolina. Eberflus’ firing somewhat completes a changing of the guard as the Bears try to avoid previous mistakes.

A defensive-minded coach, the now-former Bears coach treated his challenge flag like a lottery ticket. He was 0-for-5 on challenges this season, most of which came on plays with no chance of being overturned on review. Eberflus explained that they opted to challenge a 69-yard catch in Week 12 because it was explosive, suggesting it was worth it even if they didn’t have the best look.

On Thanksgiving, he wanted the officials to take another look at a play involving Jameson Williams, hoping it would be ruled a fumble when it was clearly incomplete.

Combine all of that with whiffing on his offensive coordinator hire, Shane Waldron, firing him after just nine games and you have a recipe for disaster. The Bears appear to finally have a quarterback in place who could catapult them into contention. However, Chicago is doomed to suffer a familiar fate without the right hire.

Matt Eberflus coaching record

Wins have been hard to come by with Eberflus running the show, with wins in only 14-of-46 games. Here’s a look at the year-by-year breakdown:

2022: 3-14
2023: 7-10
2024: 4-8 (fired after Week 13)

Tom Brady has made a few headlines during his first season as the lead analyst for the NFL on Fox.

Whatever the expectations are for the seven-time Super Bowl winner, Brady’s every move and word on a broadcast will be scrutinized. Thursday’s Thanksgiving day game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants was no exception.

The topic of conversation came to former Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, who was benched and then subsequently released by the team, saving them more than $20 million in guarantees.

The former first-round pick reportedly requested his release from the team. Jones cleared waivers and was signed by the Minnesota Vikings.

‘I don’t know how that whole situation went down but to think that you’d ask for a release from a team that committed a lot to you is maybe different from how I would’ve handled that,’ Brady said on the telecast. ‘I always felt I wanted to get the trust and respect of my teammates regardless of the situation, knowing that I was trying to do the best I could for the team because that was the most important thing.’

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Brady then went into how he would have handled the situation.

‘Everyone makes individual choices. I think we’re all, at points in our career, faced with different challenges. I faced them in college – some things didn’t go the way I wanted, but the people that mattered the most to me were the guys in the locker room,’ he said.

‘I showed up every day – I didn’t care if they asked me to be the scout team safety, scout team quarterback, I was gonna do whatever I could to help the team win.’

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

The NFL’s Thanksgiving table has been cleared, but the rest of the Week 13 schedule can hardly be described as leftovers.

The three games on Thursday didn’t produce much memorable football, but the weekend slate looks more appetizing. A showdown pitting the league’s top offense in the Baltimore Ravens against the top defense in the Philadelphia Eagles – which also features a meeting of the league’s leading running backs in Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry – is the main draw. But with the playoff picture still taking shape, there are plenty of other matchups on the slate that should satiate viewers’ appetites.

Here are the Week 13 bold predictions from USA TODAY Sports’ NFL writers and editors:

What’s next? Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill will combine for 300 yards against Rams

After getting shredded by Saquon Barkley for 255 rushing yards (and 302 yards from scrimmage), the Rams’ run defense ranking plummeted 10 spots – to 28th in the NFL. That’s what a bad night can do to a defense. And now comes a trip to the Superdome where a 1-2 punch awaits in the form of Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill. If Barkley can go for 300-plus, imagine what the well-rested Saints stars can do while coming off a bye week. I’m guessing the over/under for yards from scrimmage is 300. New Orleans is seeking a third consecutive victory under interim coach Darren Rizzo (who replaced Dennis Allen), knowing the options are aplenty in deploying Kamara and Hill. During the Week 11 romp of the Browns, Hill, the jack-of-all-trades phenom officially listed as a tight end, rushed for a career-high 138 yards (on just seven carries), with 3 TDs. He throws, catches passes and is on the short list (with Lamar, Hurts, CMC) of the NFL’s best short-yardage/goal line weapons. Kamara is versatile in his own right coming out of the backfield. He’s averaged 111.3 yards from scrimmage per game this season and might be due to strike pay dirt as he has gone five consecutive games without a touchdown. No, it won’t be easy for a Chris Shula-coordinated unit that had the worst game of any team in the league this season.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

— Jarrett Bell

Neither Saquon Barkley nor Derrick Henry eclipses 100 yards

Within the matchup of Week 13 – the Baltimore Ravens hosting the Philadelphia Eagles – is the face-off between the team’s star running backs. Saquon Barkley currently leads the league in rushing (1,392 yards), with Derrick Henry (1,325) second. Both are coming off big games on the West Coast with shorter weeks of rest than normal (the Eagles played Sunday night, the Ravens on Monday).

For all of the hype about the two of them being on the same field Sunday, however, both will finish the game with less than 100 yards. Henry has been over the marker in six of 12 games, while Barkley has done it in all but three games and only failed to do so once since Week 6.

For both to come under the century mark would be surprising, but also proof that both defenses will be keyed to stopping the run even with Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts as the two quarterbacks. 

— Chris Bumbaca

Steelers will give up 30 points, lose second straight game

Sunday is a must-win game for the Bengals with their playoff hopes hanging on by a thread. Despite Cincinnati’s 4-7 record, they have the top passing offense in the NFL, Joe Burrow ranks third in passing yards and Ja’Marr Chase tops the league in receiving yards and touchdown catches.

The Bengals’ aerial attack will be too much for the Steelers to handle as Cincy gets a desperately needed victory. I predict Chase and Tee Higgins will have over 225 combined receiving yards and two touchdowns. The Steelers defense will allow 30 points for the first time all season and drop their second-straight game to an AFC North opponent.

— Tyler Dragon

Falcons end funk, jolt Chargers for 30 points in win

Even after letting up 30 points on Monday to the Baltimore Ravens, the Los Angeles Chargers still own the NFL’s stingiest defense when it comes to scoring (15.9 points allowed per game). But it sure looks like favorable early-season matchups inflated the unit’s bottom line a little bit, as the most recent outing revealed the group doesn’t seem ready to hang with the league’s best. Now the Chargers have to head east for an early kickoff on a short week. The Falcons, meanwhile, are coming off a bye as they try to end a two-game skid. Atlanta has had its share of troubles and was last seen being shut down by another AFC West powerhouse defense in the Denver Broncos. But there’s a ripe opportunity for Bijan Robinson to leave his mark against a team that just allowed 212 yards on the ground and could be without linebacker Denzel Perryman, who is dealing with a groin injury.

— Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz

The Jacksonville Jaguars are playing for pride at this point in the season, having lost four games in a row and sitting with a 2-9 record.

The team, though, has received some good news as quarterback Trevor Lawrence is expected to play on Sunday afternoon against the AFC South-leading Houston Texans.

The last time the Jaguars took the field, they were embarrassed 52-6 by the Detroit Lions, giving up 645 total yards and 38 first downs.

Backup Mac Jones started that game and went 17-for-29 for 138 yards and an interception, as the offense had the ball for only 20:54.

Here’s what to know about Trevor Lawrence’s status:

All things Jaguars: Latest Jacksonville Jaguars news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Will Trevor Lawrence play this week?

After missing the past two games with a left shoulder injury, Lawrence took part in practice this week and is expected to be the starter on Sunday against Houston.

Head coach Doug Pederson said Lawrence had a good week and is dealing with an AC sprain in his injured shoulder, but that shouldn’t affect his status.

‘I think (the sprained AC joint) has been a pretty difficult thing to gauge, honestly, of what’s the best path forward,’ Lawrence said Wednesday. ‘(Surgery is) definitely something that I’m considering and not off the table at all. It’s something that we’re going to have to just (approach) truly day-by-day, week-by-week.

Lawrence was injured during a 28-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

He is 2-7 this season with 168-for-274 passing, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions.

How to watch Texans vs. Jaguars

Date: Sunday, Dec. 1
Network: Fox
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Stream:  Fox Sports App
Location:  EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Jordyn Brooks doesn’t have a podcast, like former Miami Dolphins safety DeShon Elliott, and Brooks doesn’t usually say much at all.

But what Brooks said after Thursday’s 30-17 loss at Green Bay was, simply, the truth.

‘I felt like we let the elements control the way that we played as a group,’ Brooks said, before making his way out of Miami’s locker room. ‘I thought we were soft. Simple as that. I thought we were soft today.’

It was one thing when Elliott said on a recent podcast that last year’s Dolphins were soft.

It’s another thing when Brooks, a very physical player, calls out this year’s defense as soft.

All things Dolphins: Latest Miami Dolphins news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

And for this game in particular, Brooks was absolutely right.

According to TruMedia, the Dolphins missed a staggering 20 tackles on Thursday.

Twenty! Nothing at all to be thankful for.

Dolphins don’t score on 3 tries from Packers 1-yard line

It was 27 degrees at kickoff, with flurries, and the Dolphins appeared to freeze up, particularly in the first half, as they fell behind 24-3.

‘I don’t know if the guys were too cold,’ Brooks said. ‘I don’t know what it was, but I felt like the elements played a part in how we played as a group.’

It was on both sides of the ball.

Defensively, the Dolphins allowed the Packers to rush for 114 yards, on 4.6 yards per carry.

‘We’ve definitely got to clean up tackling,’ Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler said.

Offensively, the Dolphins could rush for only 39 yards, on 2.8 yards per carry.

Most painful was a situation in the fourth quarter when Miami trailed 27-11.

The Dolphins had a 2nd-and-goal at Green Bay’s 1-yard line, but failed to score.

It was a De’Von Achane rush for no gain, followed by Tua Tagovailoa’s incompletion for Jonnu Smith and a sack that prevented a pass attempt on fourth down.

But why not run it in? Or at least try?

Dolphins were less physical team in loss to Green Bay

McDaniel said he saw some technique issues on the first two downs that led him toward the pass plays.

‘Whatever they call, you’ve just got to get it in the box,’ Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert said.

NBC broadcaster Jason Garrett said several times on Thursday that he’s concerned the Dolphins are not a physical team. Garrett is worried about the team’s ability to win on the road, against good teams, particularly in the cold.

‘The narrative is going to be what it’s going to be,’ Dolphins offensive tackle Terron Armstead said. ‘We thrive ourselves on being physical up front for sure. I’ve been a physical player for 12 years in this league. So that narrative’s going to be what it’s going to be. And we fell short today. So it’s going to continue, for sure.’

The Dolphins didn’t lose this game purely because it was cold.

A muffed punt by rookie Malik Washington after Miami stopped Green Bay on its first possession was critical.

Ten penalties and a general lack of execution of offense were major factors.

But it is also a fact that Miami has historically struggled in these colder conditions.

And it is a fact that the Dolphins have a 0-7 record in games started by Tagovailoa when the temperature at kickoff is 46 degrees or colder.

Garrett contends that roster construction — focus on fast over physical — and style of play could be a detriment to Miami’s long-term chances.

It is also true that Miami likely would have lost that game to Green Bay on Mars.

Green Bay is a better team. That Miami came back to make it somewhat interesting is encouraging.

Dolphins could, we suppose, still make playoffs

It is entirely possible that the 5-7 Dolphins win four or five of the final five games this season.

A 10-7 or 9-8 finish would be admirable after a 2-6 start.

But looking at this from a wider lens, that Miami has been unable to slay the much-discussed narrative dragons are so, so problematic.

They lose to really good teams. They lose to teams in the cold. They lose on prime-time television.

And now, there is another narrative they’ll need to somehow, some way, overcome.

After this loss, one of their own players said they were soft.

Joe Schad covers the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe.