The Philadelphia Eagles are closing in on a win over the Green Bay Packers in the wild card round of the NFL playoffs. Philadelphia’s leading 19-10 late in the fourth quarter with a trip to the divisional round on the line.

There’s still some time for Green Bay to come back but Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown seems content.

The Eagles wideout was comfortable enough to start reading a book on the sidelines after a field goal by Jake Elliott.

‘I haven’t seen too many people read books but I have seen a quarterback eat a hot dog,’ color commentator Tom Brady said, referencing former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez.

What book was A.J. Brown reading?

The book that Brown was reading is ‘Inner Excellence’ by Jim Murphy.

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According to the cover, it is supposed to, ‘train your mind for extraordinary performance and fullness of life.’

He was later shown on the broadcast without the book and talking with his teammates. At time of publishing, Brown has just one catch for 10 yards on three targets in the Eagles’ game against Green Bay.

A.J. Brown postgame comments

After the Eagles’ win over the Packers, Brown was asked in the locker room about why he was reading on the sideline.

‘Y’all just caught me at that time,’ Brown explained. ‘I’m doing it every drive regardless of, if I score a touchdown or drop a pass, that’s how I refocus.’

Brown said he usually returns to the beginning of the book to read certain passages that help him clear his mind. When asked if he was frustrated about his involvement in the offense, Brown laughed.

‘I was not frustrated at all,’ Brown said. ‘I figured that’s what [you all] probably thought. I wasn’t frustrated… I like to read.’

The New England Patriots fired head coach Jerod Mayo just hours after their Week 18 win over the Buffalo Bills. One week later, they have brought in his replacement.

The Patriots announced Sunday they had hired former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel to be their 16th head coach.

Vrabel spent the 2024 NFL season serving as a consultant with the Cleveland Browns but was one of the hottest coaching candidates on the market because of his success in Tennessee. He led the Titans to three consecutive playoff appearances and led them to the AFC championship game during the 2020 NFL playoffs (played after the 2019 season).

Now, Vrabel will look to do the same with the Patriots, a team with which he played eight seasons and won three Super Bowls. Here are the winners and losers of New England hiring the 49-year-old as their next head coach.

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Winners

New England Patriots

Let’s start with the easy one. The Patriots are big winners here, as they landed one of the most coveted coaching candidates on the market this offseason.

Vrabel brings with him plenty of coaching experience to New England after going 54-45 during his six seasons with the Titans. He built a reputation as a quality leader who instilled a hard-nosed mentality with his defenses that allowed him to get the most out of middling rosters. The best example of this came when Tennessee earned the AFC’s No. 1 seed in 2021 with Ryan Tannehill at quarterback. They did so thanks to a strong, connected defense that punched above its weight class.

In many ways, Vrabel represents everything the Patriots hoped they were getting in Mayo. He’s a strong, defensive-minded coach with long-time ties to New England who could give the team the identity it lacked under Mayo as the team further transitions into the post-Bill Belichick era.

Mike Vrabel

The NFL looks set to have six head coaching openings during the 2025 offseason, barring a surprise from one of the league’s 14 playoff teams. Vrabel might have landed the best job of the bunch.

The reasons are simple. The Patriots already have an established quarterback in Drake Maye. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft performed very well as a rookie despite having poor blocking and minimal receiving weapons around him. He should only grow as he develops and New England’s roster improves, so Vrabel won’t have to worry about hunting for an effective starting quarterback.

Beyond that, the Patriots have a lot of resources with which to improve the roster. They have the No. 4 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, which they can target for use on a two-way player like Travis Hunter or a pass rushing star like Abdul Carter. New England also has a whopping $120 million in projected cap space, per OverTheCap.com, so the team is positioned to overhaul what presently looks like a weak roster.

It’s hard to imagine any other job allowing Vrabel this sort of fast track to potential success. Add in his familiarity with the organization and this seems like the clear-cut best landing spot for him.

Robert Kraft

Kraft called firing Mayo ‘one of the hardest decisions I have ever made.’ He has to be feeling better about it after landing Vrabel, who will bring some much-needed experience to the fold as the team looks to transition away from Belichick.

The Patriots landed Vrabel thanks, in part, to Kraft’s fast action after the team’s Week 18 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He fired Mayo just hours after the game instead of waiting for the NFL’s proverbial ‘Black Monday.’ That helped the Patriots get into the coaching search fray quicker than most expected, which may have proved critical given the interest surrounding Vrabel league-wide.

Losers

New York Jets, other teams interested in Mike Vrabel

The Patriots weren’t the only team interested in adding Vrabel to the fold. The Jets, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders were also tied to the ex-Titans coach by various rumors and interview requests. He would have been a stabilizing force and coaching upgrade for all four squads, but now, they will have to move onto their next candidates.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans fired Vrabel after the 2023 NFL season. A year later, that move is not looking like a very good one,.

Vrabel’s replacement, Brian Callahan, guided the Titans to a 3-14 record in his first season. They finished tied for the worst record in the NFL with the Browns and New York Giants, landing the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft as result. The team’s inability to perform at a high level led them to fire general manager Ran Carthon, who they signed to an extension during the 2024 NFL offseason, after just two years – and after an impressive spending spree in 2024.

With Vrabel, the Titans were always a tough team that could be an AFC South and wild card competitor regardless of the state of the roster. Now, they are looking like one of the NFL’s worst teams, despite sporting a better roster on paper than what Vrabel had.

If Amy Adams Strunk and Co. could have a mulligan, they might decide keeping Vrabel around was better for the team. Perhaps things will move in a better direction if Callahan can get a higher-quality quarterback, but with the 2025 NFL draft being weak at the position, things aren’t looking too rosy in Tennessee.

Jerod Mayo

There’s no doubt that Mayo was put into an unforgiving situation in New England. The team’s roster was decimated by Belichick’s mismanagement of resources later in his time with the team, and the Patriots were particularly thin on offensive talent as a result.

Still, Mayo has lost some of his luster as a high-end coaching candidate as a result of his year-long stint with the Patriots. The issue wasn’t necessarily that the team finished the season with a 4-13 record. That was to be expected with the roster he was given. It was more about the Patriots’ lack of identity and direction as the season wore on; that was what led to his dismissal and what might discourage teams when evaluating him for a top job in the coming years.

In truth, Mayo may have been thrust into the head coaching job too early. The 38-year-old, who has been coaching since 2019, needed more seasoning before taking on the role. As such, his failure isn’t entirely on him; but nonetheless, it dumped some cold water on his future prospects of becoming an NFL head coach.

Robert Kraft

Yes, Kraft can be both a winner and loser in this situation. Why? He was the one who approved a succession clause as part of Mayo’s contract with the Patriots.

‘I feared I would lose him and committed to making him our next head coach,’ Kraft said in the statement announcing Mayo’s firing.

That contract clause may have been good in theory. In practice, it pushed Mayo into the Patriots’ head coaching job before he was ready with the team moving on from Belichick earlier than expected. It also prevented them from evaluating other coaching candidates on the market, like Vrabel, during the 2024 NFL offseason.

So, while the Patriots ultimately ended up with arguably the best possible candidate for their coaching job, it took an extra year for them to get there. They also may have burned a bridge with Mayo – who is a promising, young defensive mind – so Kraft deserves plenty of criticism for his failings in this area.

(This story has been updated with a new video.)

Marshon Lattimore sounded like Ivan Drago while describing a potential flare-up in his feud with Mike Evans during Sunday’s wild-card game between the Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

 “If it comes,” Lattimore, the Commanders cornerback told reporters Friday, “it comes.”

The last time Lattimore and Evans squared off was Week 6, the former still with the New Orleans Saints, who moved the cornerback to the Commanders at the NFL trade deadline. The matchup will definitely receive some attention during the broadcast.

“There’s definitely matchups all over the field that make a difference in winning and losing, and these are two elite competitors, and it’s honestly what makes coaching so much fun,” Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday. “Those aren’t the only two that are going to be absolutely battling for it. It may be the only ones that the networks may show, but let me tell you, there’ll be a lot of guys that are really going to go for it. And it does make that part fun.”

Washington traded three draft picks to acquire Lattimore in hopes he’d defend an opposing team’s best receiver come playoff time. They also planned on him having more games under his belt with the team; Lattimore didn’t suit up his first four games with the Commanders while nursing a hamstring injury and debuted against the Saints on Dec. 15. The next week, against the Philadelphia Eagles, he re-aggravated the injury and sat out the rest of the regular season. 

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He returned to practice this week as a full participant and rested Friday.

“It’s just another game, just to go out there and help my team,” Lattimore told reporters Friday. “Really, I’m just trying to lock him down. All the other stuff, it is what it is.”

Evans, who eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the 11th straight season (tying Jerry Rice for longest streak all time) and Lattimore met 12 times during the regular season while Lattimore was playing for the Saints. The five-time Pro Bowl selection had 16 catches for 309 yards and three touchdowns in those games. In 13 games head-to-head opposite Lattimore, Evans averaged 2.6 catches for 43.6 yards.

“I just gotta be at my best. Because he’s a really good player,” Evans told reporters this week. “Obviously, we’ve had a lot of matchups. We know each other really well. If he’s playing, I look forward to the matchup.” 

Lattimore wants to guard the opposing team’s best player, he said, “the best versus the best.”

In Week 9 of 2017, former Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston instigated Lattimore by poking the back of his helmet as Lattimore lingered near the Bucs sideline. Lattimore shoved Winston, and Evans decked the cornerback. The wideout wasn’t ejected but served a one-game suspension the next week.

The season-opener of the 2020 campaign featured the two of them staying engaged physically after a run play and Lattimore shoving Evans from behind after the latter turned away. Evans responded with a shove powerful enough that it knocked off Lattimore’s helmet. Lattimore was assessed a 15-yard penalty. 

‘They’re both great players and they both like to compete,’ Bucs coach Todd Bowles said Monday of the rivalry. ‘Mike is a pro and he understands what’s at stake. He understands the game. Nothing really needs to be said about that.’

The two incited a bench-clearing incident in Week 3 of the 2022 season by getting into it first with Tom Brady and Leonard Fournette, and Evans once again took the opportunity to send Lattimore flying. Both were ejected and Evans, who threw punches during the ensuing melee, was again hit with a one-game ejection. 

“Long as, you know, it’s within the play,” Evans said of his battles with Lattimore, according to the Tampa Bay Times, in October. “I’ve done a bad job in the past of making it go over the play when I shouldn’t have. But I’m more mature now and our team is focused on playing winning ball, and you can’t play winning ball when you get kicked out and things like that. But I definitely want to have that fire and be physical and a little chirping never hurts. But you definitely have got to be smart. You can’t play winning ball when you get kicked out and things like that.”

Those are just three incidents that have gone to the next level, outside of the typical jawing a receiver and defensive back may do throughout a game.

“I want to be physical just off the simple fact of what happened, of course, but I want to be physical with anybody,” Lattimore said. “Just the extra level of it because of the past and all that, it’s just really being out there, it ain’t really about the mental game. You’re gonna know I’m here, you know what I’m saying?” 

The Philadelphia Eagles ensured the Green Bay Packers wouldn’t get a playoff upset with a 22-10 win in the opening game of the NFC wild-card playoffs.

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley had 123 yards from scrimmage to lead the offense as the Philadelphia defense stepped up to force four turnovers.

Philadelphia jumped out to a lead early after forcing a fumble on the opening kickoff. Quarterback Jalen Hurts found Jahan Dotson for an 11-yard touchdown pass to put the Eagles up 7-0 after less than two minutes of game time.

Green Bay’s offense struggled in the first half, sputtering to just 16 yards on its first three drives.

Jordan Love threw two interceptions in the second quarter, one on a deep shot to Dontayvion Wicks and another on an underthrow to Malik Heath. However, the Packers defense stood firm and kept the Eagles from scoring off either turnover. The Eagles led 10-0 at halftime.

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The Packers defense stepped up again to open the second half and force a quick three-and-out. Green Bay got on the board with a field goal on their next drive but Philadelphia responded immediately. Hurts found tight end Dallas Goedert on short throw but Goedert rumbled to the end zone to give the Eagles a 16-3 advantage.

Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs took over on the next drive. He accounted for 40 yards on four carries and scored the team’s only touchdown on a 1-yard run to cut it to 16-10.

A pair of Jake Elliott field goals on Philadelphia’s next two drives made it 22-10 and Love’s third interception late in the fourth quarter sealed the win for Philadelphia.

Love finished the game 20 of 33 passing for 212 yards and three interceptions. He was also sacked twice in a tough game for the Packers’ offensive line.

Injuries piled up throughout the game for Green Bay. Starters Josh Myers (center), Elgton Jenkins (left guard), Jayden Reed (wide receiver), Romeo Doubs (wide receiver) and Quay Walker (linebacker) all were helped off the field. Jacobs was seen on the sideline late as well and missed time.

Hurts finished the game 13 of 21 passing for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

The Eagles will play at home next week in the divisional round. Their opponent is yet to be determined; Philadelphia will play the second-lowest remaining seed from the NFC. That could be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams or Minnesota Vikings, pending further wild-card results.

USA TODAY Sports provided live updates, highlights and more from the wild-card matchup between the Eagles and the Packers on Sunday below. All times are Eastern.

Eagles-Packers final score

Eagles 22, Packers 10

Jordan Love throws third interception, Eagles takeover

On 1st-and-10 from the Philadelphia 40-yard line, Love threw it deep for wide receiver Bo Melton in double coverage. Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell intercepted the pass to get the ball back with a chance to run out the rest of the game.

Packers C Josh Myers down with an injury

Green Bay’s injury woes continue on their latest drive as center Josh Myers went down with a leg injury and is carted off the field. He’s the second starting offensive lineman to suffer an injury, the first being left guard Elgton Jenkins.

Jenkins, Myers, linebacker Quay Walker, and wide receivers Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs have all left the game with injury.

Eagles-Packers score: Jake Elliott makes 37-yard field goal to extend lead to 12

Philadelphia capitalized on the turnover on downs with a five-play, 27-yard drive that took nearly two minutes off the clock. Jake Elliott made his second field goal of the game from 37 yards out to extend the lead.

Saquon Barkley had 12 yards rushing on the drive. The remaining yardage came on an unnecessary roughness penalty against the Packers’ T.J. Slaton.

Eagles 22, Packers 10

Packers turnover on downs with just under five minutes remaining

The Packers managed to pick up one first down but the Eagles defense quickly stifled the unit leading to a 4th-and-3 on their own 41-yard line. Jordan Love hit Malik Heath along the sideline but the receiver failed to keep both feet in bounds when he came down with the pass.

The Eagles takeover with 4:58 left in the game at the Packers 41-yard line.

Eagles-Packers score: Jake Elliott makes 30-yard field goal to extend lead

Philadelphia took more than seven minutes off the clock with a 13-play drive culminating in a 30-yard field goal by Jake Elliott.

Holding penalties on right tackle Lane Johnson and wide receiver DeVonta Smith in a three-play span slowed the offense down after reaching the red zone. Philadelphia couldn’t get inside the 10-yard line after churning out yards and making key conversions, including a 4th-and-1 at their own 49-yard line.

Green Bay will take over on offense with 7:33 to go in the game.

Eagles 19, Packers 10

Eagles-Packers score: Jacobs scores on second effort

One play after bringing the Green Bay offense to the Eagles’ 1-yard line, Josh Jacobs pushed through on a second effort to cross the plane and score the Packers’ first touchdown of the game. Brandon McManus’ extra point is good and the lead is cut to six with 14:56 to go in the game.

Jacobs had four carries for 40 yards and a touchdown on the drive to power the offense.

Eagles 16, Packers 10

End of third quarter: Packers to open fourth quarter first-and-goal

Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs took a carry on 2nd-and-10 and broke multiple tackles before stumbling down to the Philadelphia goal line for a 31-yard gain on the final play of the third quarter. The Packers will open the final quarter facing a 16-3 deficit but with 1st-and-goal from the Eagles’ 1-yard line.

Packers’ WR Jayden Reed exits with injury

Green Bay will be down another wide receiver after Jayden Reed was hit hard on a 13-yard catch-and-run. Reed took a hit from Eagles safety Reed Blankenship and was helped off the field.

Eagles-Packers score: Dallas Goedert muscles past Packers defense for TD

The Eagles’ responded quickly to the Packers’ first score of the game with a five-play drive culminating in a catch-and-run touchdown for tight end Dallas Goedert. Jalen Hurts threw it to him just past the line of scrimmage and Goedert broke multiple tackles and kept running to the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown.

Jake Elliott missed the extra point but the Eagles take a two-score lead with 3:20 to go in the third quarter.

Eagles 16, Packers 3

Eagles-Packers score: Green Bay finally on the board with field goal

A 12-play drive spanning nearly six minutes finally got the Packers some points in their playoff opener. A 26-yard field goal by Brandon McManus got them on the board to make it a one-score game.

Green Bay had multiple key conversions on third down, including a 29-yard completion to Dontayvion Wicks on 3rd-and-4. They later got a big break on a 3rd-and-13 penalty against Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. Love threw a pass intended for Wicks and Mitchell was flagged for pass interference, bringing the Packers to the Eagles’ 9-yard line.

The Eagles will get the ball back with 5:46 to go in the third quarter.

Eagles 10, Packers 3

Packers WR Romeo Doubs injured on pass to end zone

The Packers offense is driving down the field and nearing the red zone following a 29-yard pass from Jordan Love to Dontayvion Wicks. Two plays later, Love threw it deep to Romeo Doubs in double coverage in the end zone.

Doubs couldn’t make the play and was very slow to get up. The Packers wide receiver hit the ground hard after attempting the catch. He missed two games in the regular season with a concussion.

Packers defense sacks Jalen Hurts forces Eagles punt on opening drive of second half

Green Bay defensive lineman Rashan Gary sacked Jalen Hurts on 2nd-and-12 for a seven-yard loss and put an end to the Eagles’ opening drive of the half. Philadelphia punted and after a short return by Jayden Reed, the Packers’ offense will take over at their own 16-yard line.

Eagles lead Packers by 10 at halftime

The first half ended with the Eagles leading 10-0. Philadelphia trailed Green Bay in time of possession (13:40 to 16:20) in the first half, but the Packers made more costly mistakes. Green Bay turned the ball over three times, most notably a fumble on the opening kickoff that led to the lone touchdown of the game so far.

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley’s been the most consistent offensive player in the game with nine carries for 58 yards. Quarterback Jalen Hurts completed his first six passes but then threw seven consecutive incompletions to close the half. He’s 6 for 13 passing for 39 yards and a touchdown.

Packers quarterback Jordan Love has completed 9 of 15 passes for 70 yards and two interceptions. Neither of those interceptions led to Eagles scores, though, as the Packers defense forced punts after both of them.

Philadelphia will receive the second-half kickoff.

Eagles 10, Packers 0

Must-see play: Jordan Love throws second interception

Green Bay’s offense was building a drive in the closing minutes of the second quarter, but things ended when Jordan Love threw between two receivers and right to Eagles’ linebacker Zach Baun. He returned it to the Packers’ 45-yard line and the Eagles have another chance to score ahead of halftime.

Packers defense gets another stop, force Eagles punt

Green Bay linebacker Isaiah McDuffie got the Packers’ first sack of the game on 1st-and-10 and Philadelphia couldn’t recover from that setback. Jalen Hurts’ scramble on 3rd-and-13 only gained eight yards and the Eagles settled for their second consecutive punt.

The Packers’ offense gets the ball back at their own 20-yard line with 3:25 to go in the second quarter.

Brandon McManus misses 38-yard field goal try

Green Bay’s offense took more than seven minutes off the clock over 12 plays in their best drive of the game so far. The Packers got two key conversions on the drive with direct snaps to tight end Tucker Kraft first on a 3rd-and-1 from the Eagles’ 36 and later a 4th-and-1 from the Eagles’ 19.

Jordan Love couldn’t find Emanuel Wilson on 3rd-and-13 from the Eagles’ 20-yard line and Green Bay settled for a field goal. However, kicker Brandon McManus missed just his second field goal of the season from 38 yards out and the Packers remain scoreless with 5:05 to go in the first half.

Eagles CB Darius Slay, LB Nakobe Dean out of the lineup

Philadelphia’s outside cornerback had the first interception of the game but was seen heading to the locker room ahead of halftime with what appeared to be an arm injury. Isaiah Rodgers is now in the lineup in his place.

Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean was also injured late in the second quarter following a second-down stop against Packers tight end Tucker Kraft.

Eagles can’t capitalize on INT, settle for punt

An illegal motion penalty on DeVonta Smith nullified a 10-yard run by Jalen Hurts and the Eagles offense couldn’t recover. An incomplete pass to Dallas Goedert and an eight-yard run by Saquon Barkley was all the offense could do. A five-yard penalty backed the Eagles up again on fourth down before a punt gave the Packers the ball back at their own 46-yard line.

Must-see play: Jordan Love throws INT to Darius Slay Jr.

Love dropped back and threw it deep down the right side to wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks but Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. overtook Wicks and corralled it for the interception. Philadelphia’s offense takes over at its own 22-yard line.

Eagles-Packers score: Jake Elliott hits 31-yard FG

Philadelphia went 57 yards in just seven plays to reach the red zone for the second time in the game. Quarterback Jalen Hurts found wide receiver DeVonta Smith for a 10-yard gain to get to the Green Bay 13-yard line. From there, the Packers defense held firm to force three straight incompletions.

Philadelphia settled for a field goal and Jake Elliott made it from 31 yards out to give the Eagles a two-score lead with 19 seconds to go in the first quarter.

Eagles 10, Packers 0

Eagles’ Nolan Smith Jr. sacks Jordan Love to force punt

Philadelphia’s edge rusher beat Green Bay right tackle Zach Tom almost immediately, forcing Jordan Love to scramble to his right to extend the play. Smith Jr. made it to him before he could fire off a pass and earned a sack on 3rd-and-3.

Green Bay punted on the next play and the Eagles will take over at their own 30-yard line following a short return by Cooper DeJean.

Packers guard Elgton Jenkins heads to the sideline

Green Bay’s left guard Elgton Jenkins appeared to suffer an arm injury on a 1st-and-10 run. Eagles linebacker Nolan Smith Jr. appeared to hit Jenkins’ arm with his helmet. Jenkins headed to the sideline with rookie sixth-round pick Travis Glover now in the lineup for him.

Packers’ defense makes key stop to force Eagles punt

Philadelphia got close to midfield after a 10-yard completion from Jalen Hurts to A.J. Brown but the Eagles managed just five yards over the next three plays. On 3rd-and-5, Packers’ rookie cornerback Javon Bullard made a stop on a screen pass to Saquon Barkley and force Philadelphia to punt.

Green Bay’s offense takes over again at their own 20-yard line with 9:13 to go in the first quarter.

Packers forced to punt on opening drive

Green Bay was backed up to their own 13-yard line following a penalty on the Eagles’ kickoff. The Packers managed just two yards on a Josh Jacobs run on 2nd-and-10 as two incomplete passes by Jordan Love forced a quick three-and-out.

After a punt, Philadelphia will take over at their own 35-yard line with 12:09 to go in the first quarter.

Eagles-Packers score: Jalen Hurts finds Jahan Dotson for first TD

It took a matter of three plays for Philadelphia to capitalize on the kickoff fumble. A Saquon Barkley run for 16 yards on the opening play of the drive brought the Eagles into the red zone. Two plays later, quarterback Jalen Hurts hit Jahan Dotson in the back of the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown.

Eagles 7, Packers 0

Packers fumble away opening kickoff

Green Bay received the opening kickoff and Keisean Nixon made it past the 25 before the ball was jarred loose by the Eagles’ Oren Burks. A scrum for the ball occurred after and the officials initially ruled Philadelphia ball. After review, that call was upheld and the Eagles take over at the Green Bay 28-yard line.

Eagles vs. Packers start time

Start time: 4:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. CT)

The Packers vs. Eagles wild card game is scheduled to kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET. The Packers travel to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia for the tilt.

Packers inactives vs. Eagles

The Packers will be without wide receiver Christian Watson, who suffered an ACL injury in Week 18. That will keep him out of the rest of the season and potentially some of the 2025 season.

6 QB Sean Clifford (emergency third QB)
9 WR Christian Watson
39 S Zayne Anderson
73 T Andre Dillard
89 TE Ben Sims

Eagles inactives vs. Packers

No real surprises on the Eagles’ inactives list today: The Eagles opt for Parris Campbell over Ainias Smith to fill out their wide receiver room. Jalen Hurts returns from a concussion.

Eagles vs. Packers best bets

Looking to make the Eagles-Packers wild-card matchup a bit more interesting? Here are some of the best bets for the game:

Jayden Reed OVER 1.5 rushing yards (-110)
Dallas Goedert OVER 36.5 receiving yards (-110)
Jayden Reed anytime TD (+250)

Is Jalen Hurts playing vs. Packers?

Yes, Hurts is expected to start vs. the Packers. The Eagles quarterback cleared concussion protocol earlier in the week, meaning he’s all-systems-go for the NFC wild card matchup.

Eagles vs. Packers live stream

Live stream: Fubo

For cord cutters looking for a live stream for the matchup, you can turn to Fubo. Fubo carries Fox, as well as CBS, NBC, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action through the remainder of the season.

Eagles vs. Packers TV channel

TV channel: Fox

Fox will be the broadcast home of the Eagles-Packers matchup. Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady will be on the call, with Tom Rinaldi and Erin Andrews on sideline duties.

Eagles vs. Packers predictions, picks

Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the Eagles-Packers matchup will go:

Lorenzo Reyes: Eagles 29, Packers 21
Tyler Dragon: Eagles 31, Packers 24
Jordan Mendoza: Eagles 27, Packers 23

Eagles vs. Packers odds, moneyline, over/under

The Eagles are favorites to defeat the Packers, 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: Eagles (-4.5)
Moneyline: Eagles (-250); Packers (+195)
Over/under: 45.5

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NFL playoff bracket

AFC playoff bracket

Below is a look at the divisional round of the AFC playoffs with all wild card games now complete

1. Kansas City Chiefs vs. 4. Houston Texans
2. Buffalo Bills vs. 3. Baltimore Ravens

NFC playoff bracket

All three AFC playoff matchups were played before the NFC contests on wild-card weekend, so the divisional round bracket remains unsettled.

1. Detroit Lions (15-2) BYE
2. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) vs. 7. Green Bay Packers (11-6)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) vs. 6. Washington Commanders (12-5)
4. Los Angeles Rams (10-7) vs. 5. Minnesota Vikings (14-3)

The Eagles vs. Packers game will be the first of the bunch to be played. The conference’s playoff scenarios will become clear after that contest.

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When it rains, it pours. The Green Bay Packers have found that to be true in the worst way with yet another injury to an offensive player.

Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed needed medical attention and some help walking off of the field after taking a hit to his upper arm. It was just the latest injury to a Packers offensive contributor.

Fellow receiver Christian Watson tore his ACL in Week 18, left guard Elgton Jenkins suffered a shoulder injury earlier in the game and receiver Romeo Doubs also needed a concussion evaluation just one drive prior to Reed’s injury.

Reed sustained his injury when Philadelphia Eagles safety Reed Blankenship tackled him late in the third quarter of the wild card matchup. The receiver immediately grabbed at his arm and stayed on the ground after the play.

The Packers quickly ruled Reed questionable to return with a shoulder injury.

All things Packers: Latest Green Bay Packers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

What happened to Jayden Reed?

Reed took a hit to his shoulder/upper arm from Blankenship, an Eagles safety, late in the third quarter of the the NFC’s first wild card matchup.

He remained on the ground, grabbing his arm, after the play was over. The Packers’ training staff came out to evaluate Reed and helped support his arm as he walked off of the field moments later.

Jayden Reed injury updates

Green Bay has declared Reed questionable to return with a shoulder injury.

Reed was just the latest Packers offensive player to suffer an injury in the wild card game. Jenkins, their left guard, was ruled out with a shoulder injury he sustained earlier in the game, and fellow receiver Doubs suffered a possible concussion on the offensive possession before Reed’s injury.

Green Bay is also without Watson, the receiver who tore his ACL in the team’s regular season finale against the Chicago Bears.

This story will be updated with more information.

The injury bug has taken a big bite out of the Green Bay Packers in recent weeks.

It’s claimed Christian Watson and Jordan Love, though the latter was still able to suit up on Sunday in the wild card game against the Eagles. It then came for guard Elgton Jenkins and now receiver Romeo Doubs.

The receiver has dealt with concussion concerns this season and took a big hit that left him on the ground in the end zone.

Here’s the latest on Doubs.

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Romeo Doubs injury update

Doubs is being evaluated for a concussion. He was helped off the field in the third quarter after his head hit the turf in the end zone.

Doubs missed Weeks 13 and 14 with a concussion, returning in Week 15 with a new look: He started donning the guardian cap as added protection following the head injury.

What is the NFL’s concussion protocol?

The NFL’s concussion protocol is a five-step process that each player diagnosed with a concussion must clear before he can return to gameday action.

Here are the five steps, per the NFL:

Symptom limited activity
Aerobic exercise
Football specific exercise
Club-based non-contact training drills
Full football activity/clearance

Packers WR depth chart

Here’s a look at the remaining receivers available for Green Bay without Doubs:

Jayden Reed
Dontayvion Wicks
Bo Melton
Malik Heath

Romeo Doubs stats

Doubs totaled 13 yards, hauling in both targets before being forced out of action on Sunday. The receiver was considered someone that would step up in the absence of Watson, but struggled like most of the Packers’ pass-catchers.

He only appeared in 13 games during the regular season, posting 46 catches, 601 yards and four touchdowns. Doubs is set to enter the final year of his four-year rookie contract next season.

This story has been updated with new information.

The Philadelphia Eagles are looking to knock of the Green Bay Packers in the wild card round of the 2025 NFL playoffs, but they may have to do it without one of their top defensive players.

Linebacker Nakobe Dean suffered a knee injury in the second quarter of the Eagles vs. Packers game. It occurred after he tackled tight end Tucker Kraft for a three-yard loss on a screen pass.

Dean remained down after the play and was tended to by Philadelphia’s medical staff. He required assistance getting off the field. He wasn’t able to put much weight on his injured knee while gingerly limping off.

Eventually, the Fox broadcast showed Dean being loaded onto a cart. He was then taken to the locker room for more tests on his injury.

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The Eagles later announced that Dean had been ruled out for the game because of the injury.

Dean led the Eagles with six tackles before leaving the game with the injury. He was replaced by Oren Burks, who forced Keisean Nixon to fumble on the opening kickoff of the game, setting the Eagles up for their game-opening touchdown.

Dean racked up 128 tackles, three sacks and an interception for the Eagles during the regular season. He and Zach Baun formed one of the NFL’s best linebacker tandems, so Philadelphia may miss Dean if his injury is of the long-term variety.

Once perceived as a journeyman quarterback, Sam Darnold has found a home in Minnesota.

Or has he? Darnold’s future as a quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings could hinge on his performance in the playoffs.

The Vikings are on the road Monday night against the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams (10-7) to wrap up wild card weekend. Due to the wildfires in the Los Angeles area, the game was relocated to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Monday night’s NFC wild-card battle is set to be Darnold’s first career playoff start. He understands the impact playoff performances can have on careers and legacies.

‘I think, obviously this is the time when people that – whether guys are in the league for a long time, whether they’ve been with the same team for a long time, whether they’re bouncing around the league, it’s kind of where legacies I guess are made in the playoffs, not just winning games, but winning those later games like AFC, NFC championships, winning Super Bowls, that’s how you’re going to be remembered at the end of the day,’ Darnold said to reporters this week. ‘Looking 50 years down the line, that’s what people are gonna remember.’

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He played two underwhelming years with the Carolina Panthers, posting an 8-9 record as a starter. He was the San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback last season before signing a one-year deal with the Vikings in March 2024.

The Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy the very next month. However, the rookie suffered a season-ending knee injury in August, which paved the way for Darnold to occupy the starting job.

Darnold has revitalized his career in Minnesota this season. He’s posted career-highs in nearly every major quarterback statistical category, including completions (361), passing yards (4,319), touchdowns (35) and passer rating (102.5) while leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record.

‘Sam Darnold is a huge reason why we won 14 games. And his teammates know that, we know it,’ Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said this week.

However, Darnold and the Vikings were denied a 15th win when the Detroit Lions ran away with the NFC North title in a 31-9 rout in Week 18. Darnold regressed to some of his old habits in the loss. It was his worst game as the Vikings starting QB. He was inaccurate on throws and missed reads as the Vikings were kept out of the end zone. They finished with a season-low in points scored. Darnold completed just 18 of 41 passes for 166 yards. It was his lowest completion percentage and fewest passing yards in a game all season.

‘It’s just a matter of me being able to trust the throws, trust my feet, trust my eyes, and just letting it rip,’ Darnold said to reporters this week after analyzing his performance for the Week 18 loss. ‘I think that’s the biggest thing is just when I see the throw there, just being able to let it rip and don’t think twice about it.’

Darnold’s ability to bounce back in his first-ever playoff start could determine his fate in Minnesota. He is on an expiring contract and the Vikings have McCarthy waiting in the wings.

The best way for Darnold to obtain stability and build a legacy in Minnesota immediately is to have playoff success. If Darnold has an uneven playoff performance and it coincides with a Vikings early exit, it’s fair to presume he’ll venture on a new journey this offseason.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Washington Commanders in a playoff wild-card playoff contest between two of the NFC’s highest-scoring teams.

Washington (12-5) is having their best season in years. Rookie sensation Jayden Daniels and a new head coach in Dan Quinn have both helped spark a campaign that is (by record at least) the team’s best since a 1991-92 season that ended with a Super Bowl win. The Commanders are on a roll heading into this one, recovering from a midseason dip to close the regular season on a five-game winning streak.

Tampa Bay (10-7) is on a similar run, going 6-1 following their Week 11 bye. Granted, that stretch included just one team that finished the season above .500, but the Buccaneers still got the job done with little margin for error. Tampa Bay has shown what it’s capable of by beating the NFC’s top two seeds (the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles), and had little trouble with Washington in a 37-20 win all the way back in Week 1.

What time is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Commanders wild-card game?

Start time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)

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The Washington Commanders take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFC wild-card playoff game from Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium. It kicks off at 8 p.m. ET.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Washington Commanders TV channel

TV channel: NBC

NBC will broadcast the NFL wild-card game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Commanders with Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst) and Melissa Stark (sideline reporter) calling the action.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Washington Commanders live stream

Live stream: Peacock or Fubo

The NFL wild-card playoff game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Commanders can be streamed on Peacock or you can turn to Fubo, which offers a free trial subscription. Fubo carries NBC, as well as CBS, FOX, ABC, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action through much of the playoffs.

Watch Buccaneers vs. Commanders on Fubo

Buccaneers vs. Commanders predictions, picks

USA Today: Experts split on winner

Jarrett Bell: Buccaneers
Chris Bumbaca: Commanders
Nate Davis: Buccaneers
Tyler Dragon: Commanders
Mike Middlehurst-Schwartz: Buccaneers
Lorenzo Reyes: Commanders

The Arizona Republic: Commanders 27, Buccaneers 24

Jeremy Cluff writes, ‘The Buccaneers beat the Commanders in Week 1 of the season in Tampa Bay, 37-20. A lot has happened since. Washington is on a 5-game win streak, going 12-5 this season and 5-3 on the road. Tampa Bay has won two in a row, but it was 10-7 on the year and only went 5-4 at home. Jayden Daniels will lead the Commanders to a playoff upset.’

CBS Sports: Buccaneers 35, Commanders 30

Pete Prisco writes: ‘This is the first playoff game for Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has been special this season. Tampa Bay’s defense is banged up, so I look for Daniels to have success throwing it. But the Bucs can score. They will also get some big plays from Baker Mayfield and then have Bucky Irving close it out with some tough running late.’

Buccaneers vs. Commanders: Wild-card playoff odds

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are favorites to defeat the Washington Commanders, according to BetMGM.

Odds as of afternoon of Sunday, Jan. 12

Spread: Buccaneers (-3)
Moneyline: Buccaneers (-160); Commanders (+135)
Over/under: 51.5

Commanders inactives

WR K.J. Osborn
QB Jeff Driskel (emergency third QB)
S Darrick Forrest
CB Michael Davis
RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.
LB Dominique Hampton
G Chris Paul

Buccaneers inactives

DL C.J. Brewer
TE Devin Culp
WR Tanner Knue
S Ryan Neal
G Royce Newman
LB Jose Ramirez

Where is the Buccaneers vs. Commanders wild-card game?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Washington Commanders in an NFC wild-card playoff game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The venue has a capacity of 75,000 seats.

Raymond James Stadium has hosted three Super Bowls: SB35 (won by the Baltimore Ravens), SB43 (won by the Pittsburgh Steelers) and SB55 (won by the Buccaneers).

Buccaneers vs. Commanders weather updates

The National Weather Service is calling for mostly cloudy skies with a light wind Sunday night in Tampa, Florida. The temperature is expected to be around 55 degrees at kickoff, dropping to the low 50s by the fourth quarter.

Which NFL team has the most Super Bowl wins?

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

Washington has made five Super Bowl appearances, winning three, most recently in Super Bowl 26 during the 1991 season. Washington also owns two NFL titles from the pre-Super Bowl era (1937, 1942).

The Buccaneers have won in both of their Super Bowl appearances, Super Bowl 37 during the 2002 season and Super Bowl 55 during the 2020 season.

NFL franchises with most Super Bowl wins:

New England Patriots — 6
Pittsburgh Steelers — 6
Dallas Cowboys — 5
San Francisco 49ers — 5
Green Bay Packers — 4
Kansas City Chiefs — 4
New York Giants — 4

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