Winnipeg Jets defenseman Haydn Fleury was stretchered off the ice and taken to a hospital via ambulance following a scary crash into the boards during Tuesday night’s home game against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Fleury was injured in the latter half of the first period, when he fell awkwardly after he was shoved by Vegas’ Keegan Kolesar and slid hard into the boards, his back taking the brunt of the impact. He was seen on the broadcast moving on the ice while being attended to by a trainer, but he was removed from the playing surface on a backboard and stretcher.

Kolesar was not penalized for his check, but immediately fought Jets captain Adam Lowry when play resumed.

The Golden Knights eventually won the game in overtime, 4-3.

Haydn Fleury injury update

Jets coach Scott Arniel said after the game that Fleury was ‘at the hospital, (he’ll) be staying overnight.’

‘Obviously he’s got a lot of tests to go through,’ Arniel said. ‘(Fleury) does have a broken nose, so there’s a few different things that kind of happened off it. Little bit of everything. Obviously slammed his back, hit his neck, hit his head, and obviously his nose.’

Another Power Four program is losing its starting quarterback, and it’s reportedly pursuing legal avenues in the aftermath.

Demond Williams announced Jan. 6 he’s entering the transfer portal despite re-signing with the school on Jan. 2, according to ESPN. With numerous high-level quarterbacks already committed, the Huskies are likely to search for a replacement despite being late to the punch.

The first-year full-time starter was one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the Big Ten in 2025, passing for 3,065 yards with 25 touchdowns to eight interceptions while rushing for 611 yards and six scores. He’s entering the transfer portal with a do-not-contact tag, according to ESPN.

A do-not-contact tag means teams can’t reach out to Williams first and can only communicate if the player initiates the conversation.

Williams spent a week at Arizona in early 2024 before following Washington coach Jedd Fisch to Seattle as a transfer. Williams was also initially committed to now-LSU coach Lane Kiffin at Mississippi before flipping to Arizona. He was the No. 12-ranked quarterback out of high school and will be one of the best available quarterbacks in the transfer portal two seasons later.

Demond Williams contract

Williams agreed to a new deal with Washington on Jan. 2 to return to the school next season, according to ESPN. However, four days after the transfer portal opened, Williams announced his decision to enter the transfer portal.

Washington is reportedly pursuing legal avenues to enforce his signed contract, according to ESPN. It’s an interesting turn of events, and a likely disappointing one for Washington. In addition, the Big Ten is reportedly taking interest in Williams’ transfer, after a similar situation occurred last season between Wisconsin and Miami.

Demond Williams stats

2024 (Washington): 82-of-105 passing (78.1%) for 944 yards with eight touchdowns to an interception; 83 carries for 282 yards with two touchdowns
2025 (Washington): 246-of-354 passing (69.5%) for 3,065 yards with 25 touchdowns to eight interceptions; 143 carries for 611 yards with six touchdowns

The San Francisco 49ers look to add depth to their injury-riddled linebacker core ahead of their wild-card playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Jan. 11.

The 49ers have signed eight-year veteran linebacker Kyzir White for the NFL postseason, according to Yahoo Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

White, 29, played in one game during the 2025 NFL season, suiting up for the Tennessee Titans, for whom he recorded three tackles in a 41-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3.

For his career, White has tallied 618 tackles, 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and six interceptions. White was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers with 119th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

He played four seasons for the Chargers before signing a one-year deal with the Eagles in 2022. White was a part of the Philadelphia team that reached Super Bowl 57 but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs. He recorded four tackles in that game, a 38-35 Chiefs win.

White signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals in 2023. He led the Cardinals with 90 tackles that season and finished second in tackles in 2024 with 137.

White signed with the Titans’ practice squad in September 2025. He was later released in December.

White took to social media, posting on X, ‘let’s boogie’ in light of his recent signing with the 49ers.

Kyzir White highlights

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Aaron Boone believes his three-time American League MVP is perfectly suited for the World Baseball Classic.

‘The fact that Aaron Judge is captaining the U.S. team,’ the Yankees manager said of his prized right fielder, ‘I think it’s the right thing.’

In an appearance on the Yankees’ YES Network, Boone downplayed the possibility of injury for his superstar and captain of the Bronx Bombers, noting that Judge could benefit from the high level of competition the WBC provides at a time most players are simply getting reps in during spring training games.

Yet the small samples of WBC play tend to overblow both the injury risk and the potential impact for participants.

In 2023, Team USA advanced to the championship game, which concluded when Shohei Ohtani famously struck out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to secure the title for Japan. In the 11-day span of games, just one member of Team USA – Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts – took at least 30 at-bats.

Similarly, the starring roles often emerge from unlikely sources. Philadelphia shortstop Trea Turner made the most of his 23 at-bats in six games – clubbing six home runs, including a dramatic grand slam against Venezuela in the quarterfinals.

Indeed, sometimes it’s the less-vaunted sluggers who get the best pitches to hit. And Judge – who drew 124 walks to lead the AL last season – is certainly accustomed to waiting his turn. Not that he won’t have any help: Team USA has received commitments from Kyle Schwarber, Cal Raleigh and Bobby Witt Jr. – the latter two MVP runner-ups to Judge the past two seasons – with others sure to join.

Judge will get a taste of that rare environment – combining global superstar power with collegiality and camaraderie – and that alone could outweigh the perceived injury risk.

“Obviously, there’s certain times that come up,’ says Boone. ‘But you also realize the value that it can provide for these guys to go really compete at this level. I think in some cases, even some of our pitchers, it forces them into having a better offseason ramp-up to get ready for this.”

USA TODAY Sports has a storied tradition of groundbreaking Olympic coverage. That tradition will continue with a little extra ‘magic’ for the 2026 Winter Games in Milan Cortina, Italy.

Olympic gold medal champion figure skater Brian Boitano and veteran USA TODAY columnist Christine Brennan will host ‘Milan Magic,’ a video podcast (vodcast) featuring exclusive interviews with athletes, behind-the-scenes reporting, and even Boitano back out on the ice, among other surprises on tap.

The vodcast will anchor USA TODAY Sports’ Olympics coverage, which will include a team of 28 reporters and photographers on the ground with Boitano and Brennan covering all things related to the 2026 Games. The first episode, which drops Saturday, will include a sit-down with skating superstar Ilia Malinin.

Boitano and Brennan announced ‘Milan Magic’ Tuesday during a panel discussion at the annual Consumer Electronics Show, where they addressed the impact of technology in sports and the Olympics during Stagwell’s Sport Beach Tech Summit at the Encore Las Vegas.

‘The largest piece of tech we’re going to see in Milan is actually a human being, and his name is Ilia Malinin,’ Boitano said during the panel, ‘The long road to gold: How technology shapes Olympic performance, coverage & competition.’

‘He is the first person to do all the jumps in quadruple form. I don’t know if he uses any of the new technologies, but he’s just incredible. Everything that I did to win the Olympics as a triple, he does as a quadruple. So all the six different jumps, he has added a rotation on and he has set new standards for tech skating. It’s going to be amazing.’

A three-time U.S. Olympian, Boitano won gold in men’s singles figure skating at the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary, outdueling Canadian rival Brian Orser in a memorable competition, one in which he became the first person in Olympic history to land eight triple jumps.

Brennan joined USA TODAY as a national sports columnist in 1997 and has covered every Olympic Games − both summer and winter − since 1984. She has written eight books on sports, including the New York Times best-seller, ‘Inside Edge,’ about Olympic figure skating.

Brennan and Boitano were joined Tuesday by PepsiCo Chief Marketing Officer Mark Kirkham and Olympic gold medalist Masai Russell. Instrument CEO Laurel Burton moderated the panel. The group spoke about the changes they’ve seen over the years related to technology the athletes use ― body sensors, instant playback, apps to track velocity and sleep ― along with increasingly data-driven broadcasts and coverage of the Games.

They will continue to provide those insights on ‘Milan Magic’ each week leading up to and during the Olympics, while centering the human side of Olympic sports that technology just can’t replicate.

‘Our podcast, that’s technology, right?’ Brennan joked. ‘Brian and I, together, telling stories and interviewing everyone and sharing the insights that we’ll have for the next two months.’

You can listen to ‘Milan Magic’ on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch full episodes on YouTube or on USA TODAY.

USA TODAY Co. partners with Stagwell Global, a marketing services company, and is part of the company’s ‘Future of News’ initiative, which launched last year to educate advertisers about the enduring value of news and how to best maximize returns in the industry.

The Cornhuskers landed a commitment from former UNLV quarterback Anthony Colandrea on Jan. 6, a day after former Notre Dame quarterback Kenny Minchey flipped his pledge from Nebraska to Kentucky. Minchey committed to Nebraska on Jan. 4 before changing his mind Jan. 5.

Colandrea was the Mountain West Player of the Year in 2025 after passing for 3,459 yards with 23 touchdowns to nine interceptions, also rushing for 649 yards and 10 scores. He was a two-year starter at Virginia before transferring to UNLV, where he starred for first-year coach Dan Mullen.

The 6-foot signal caller is the No. 175-ranked player and No. 21 quarterback, according to 247Sports’ transfer portal ratings. He’s listed as a three-star recruit, per the recruiting service, and also took a visit to Florida State. Minchey was listed as a four-star recruit and No. 12 quarterback.

Colandrea is tasked with replacing two-year starter Dylan Raiola, who entered the transfer portal after suffering a season-ending injury. Raiola, a former five-star recruit, is still uncommitted.

Nebraska finished 7-6 in 2025 despite entering the season with lofty expectations. Raiola’s injury didn’t help, of course, leaving the program with true freshman TJ Lateef, who made four starts. The Cornhuskers went 1-4 in their last five games.

Colandrea is looking to bring some much-needed dual-threat ability to an offense that’s losing star running back Emmett Johnson to the NFL draft, along with veteran receiver Dane Key.

The Baltimore Ravens’ playoff hopes were dashed as rookie kicker Tyler Loop’s 44-yard field goal went wide right as time expired on the final game of the regular season. Baltimore fell to AFC North rival Pittsburgh 26-24 and will miss out on the postseason for just the second time in eight seasons.

That loss also marked the end of the John Harbaugh tenure in Baltimore.

Baltimore fired Harbaugh today, ending an 18-year partnership that included the franchise’s second Super Bowl title in 2012. He was the second-longest tenured coach in the NFL in 2025. Coincidentally, he was behind the coach on the other side of that nail-biter on Sunday, Pittsburgh’s Mike Tomlin.

The Ravens become the seventh NFL franchise looking for a new head coach for 2026. Baltimore joins Atlanta, Arizona, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Tennessee and the New York Giants in searching for a new coach this offseason.

Harbaugh now joins a pool of coaching candidates to fill those positions. He offers more head coaching experience than any other candidate in this hiring cycle.

Only 13 other coaches in NFL history have more wins than Harbaugh’s 180. That should make him an intriguing candidate for teams looking for experience at the position. Here’s where he could land in 2026:

John Harbaugh landing spots

New York Giants

New York has gone through four head coaches since parting ways with Tom Coughlin a decade ago. The Giants have one year with double-digit wins in that span (2016) and one playoff win in 2022. This is a franchise with a young quarterback and talent at other key positions (left tackle, edge rusher) looking for stability. He’d be a significant pivot from their prior head coaches in a good way as a proven winner.

Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta went with hot coordinator candidates for each of their last two hires and those choices produced five sub-0.500 seasons in a row. The defense improved in 2025 and there’s lots of talent on offense with the likes of Drake London and Bijan Robinson. This isn’t a franchise that needs a massive overhaul. That makes Atlanta a better fit for Harbaugh; he wouldn’t need to start from scratch and build things up quite as much as other openings.

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona has a big question mark at quarterback and will need some upgrades on both sides of the ball, but there’s enough talent to think the Cardinals aren’t too far away from contending. Trey McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson are a very good pass-catching trio and Paris Johnson is a solid starting left tackle. Harbaugh could help find the right fit by adding a veteran quarterback as a young talent works his way in, similar to what the Ravens did with Lamar Jackson and Joe Flacco. There are some intriguing pieces on defense as well.

We opted for those three over Cleveland, Las Vegas and Tennessee for different reasons. Cleveland and Las Vegas may both need a longer-scale rebuild than Harbaugh may be interested in. Tennessee has a solid young quarterback but not much around him at this point.

The first 24 hours after the completion of Week 18 brought about four firings in the head-coaching ranks, bringing the total number of vacancies to six. But further changes are still possible, particularly among assistant coaches and coordinators. Meanwhile, the organizations with openings could continue to set their interview slates in the coming days by making requests to speak with various candidates.

USA TODAY Sports will have live updates on all the latest news and rumors on coaching moves and searches, so check back often throughout the day:

Titans to interview Jason Garrett

Add an unusual name to the Tennessee Titans’ coaching search.

Former Dallas Cowboys head coach and current NBC analyst Jason Garrett is interviewing Friday for the Titans’ head job, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.

Garrett, 59, has not coached in the NFL since 2021, when he was fired as the New York Giants’ offensive coordinator during his second season with the team.

The others on the Titans’ list of scheduled and requested interviews, according to multiple reports: Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, former Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris, former Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski and Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

Ravens fire John Harbaugh

The seventh NFL coaching vacancy of this offseason is a doozy.

‘This was an incredibly difficult decision, given the tremendous 18 years we have spent together and the profound respect I have for John as a coach, and, most importantly, as a great man of integrity,’ Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti wrote in a statement.

‘Throughout what I firmly believe is a Hall of Fame coaching career, John has delivered a Super Bowl championship to Baltimore and served as a steadfast pillar of humility and leadership. He and his family have deeply embedded themselves in this community. For these profound contributions, on and off the field, we should all be forever grateful.’

Harbaugh, who had just three losing seasons in 18 years with the Ravens and ranks 14th all-time in regular-season wins, now is in line to become one of the most coveted coaching candidates on the open market. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported he is expected to emerge as a favorite for the Giants’ head-coaching vacancy.

A second chance for Robert Saleh?

In a candidate pool that appears to be heavy on defensive coordinators, Robert Saleh could be among those to get strong consideration for a top job.

Saleh, the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator and former New York Jets coach, has received an interview request from the Arizona Cardinals, according to SI’s Albert Breer.

Arizona has also requested to speak with Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and is scheduled to talk with Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

Browns add a notable name to interview list

The Cleveland Browns are getting their coaching search rolling by looking to a division rival.

The Browns have requested permission to interview Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, according to multiple reports.

Beyond his work with Baltimore, Monken is well acquainted with the Browns, having served in the same role for Cleveland in 2019 under Freddie Kitchens.

Giants add another name to coaching search

The New York Giants’ coaching search is starting to take shape.

The team is requesting to interview Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, according to reports.

Anarumo’s inclusion on the Giants’ list comes as no surprise, as he had been linked to the franchise since it dismissed Brian Daboll in November. The native of Staten Island, New York, spent 2018 as the Giants’ defensive backs coach. His son, Louis Anarumo, is a pro scout for the organization.

The Giants are also expected to interview Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and former Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. The latter is set to interview with the team on Wednesday.

Vance Joseph about to make the rounds in interview circuit

Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is about to capitalize on his team’s playoff bye.

Joseph is set to interview this week with the Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans, New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals for their coaching vacancies, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Joseph is allowed to interview with teams given that the Broncos are off before starting their playoff journey in the divisional round.

A former head coach, Joseph could be a highly in-demand candidate after leading a unit that paced the NFL in sacks while ranking second in yards allowed and third in scoring.

Kliff Kingsbury out as Commanders reset coaching staff under Dan Quinn

Kliff Kingsbury might end up getting head-coaching interviews this cycle, but he won’t have the option of returning to the Washington Commanders.

Kingsbury and the Commanders mutually agreed to part ways on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.

Kingsbury was expected to be one of the hottest names in this year’s coaching cycle entering the year. But the Commanders offense wilted with Jayden Daniels missing all but seven games due to multiple injuries.

The Commanders also fired defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., who had been stripped of defensive play-calling duties in November.

Titans setting schedule for head-coaching interviews

The Tennessee Titans are wasting no time in getting their head-coaching search underway.

The Titans will interview Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo on Wednesday, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy on Thursday and former Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski on Saturday.

None of the coaches on the Titans’ established interview list have to wait before speaking with the team, with Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph permitted to meet this week given that his team is on a bye. The Titans, however, still must satisfy the league’s Rooney Rule requirements before reaching a decision.

Matt Eberflus fired as Cowboys defensive coordinator

The Dallas Cowboys will have a fourth different defensive coordinator in four years.

The Cowboys on Tuesday fired Matt Eberflus, according to multiple reports, ending the tenure of a coach who oversaw a unit that surrendered a franchise-record 511 points.

Eberflus’ zone-heavy scheme drew significant scrutiny throughout the season, particularly as the offense led by Dak Prescott soared.

Which NFL head-coaching vacancy is best?

With Black Monday over, there are now six head-coaching vacancies throughout the NFL – though that number still could grow.

USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis took an in-depth look at each vacancy and ranked the opportunities from best to worst. With lackluster rosters and limited resources, the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals finished at the bottom.

But what about the No. 1 team? Check out the story for the full breakdown.

Which NFL coaches have been fired?

The Arizona Cardinals fired Jonathan Gannon on Monday after three seasons.
The Las Vegas Raiders fired Pete Carroll on Monday after one season.
The Cleveland Browns fired Kevin Stefanski on Monday after six seasons.
The Atlanta Falcons fired Raheem Morris on Sunday after two seasons.
The New York Giants fired Brian Daboll in November.
The Tennessee Titans fired Brian Callahan in October.

And then there were 14.

The NFL playoff field was finally set Sunday night, the Steelers winning the 272nd and final game of the 2025 regular season and claiming the last spot in the tournament that will feed into Super Bowl 60 on Feb. 8.

‘It just takes a little belief at this point in the season,’ said Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers following the victory, the four-time league MVP back in the postseason for the first time in four years and in pursuit of his first championship since he led the Packers to victory in Super Bowl 45.

‘It’s good to be part of the 14 after so many years. … (N)ice to be back in this position.’

Yet how good is the positioning of the Steelers and the 13 other playoff qualifiers in what’s seemingly shaping up as a wide-open road to the Lombardi Trophy? We’ve ranked all of them, from worst to best, in terms of their championship viability:

14. Carolina Panthers

Congratulations are certainly in order for a team that’s reached postseason for the first time in eight years by supplanting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers atop the NFC South. Now, let’s get real. The Panthers have won once since their Week 14 bye and lost to the Bucs on Saturday. Carolina was then literally backed into the field Sunday by the Atlanta Falcons, their four-game heater to end the season creating a three-way tie atop the division – a deadlock that conferred the decisive tiebreaker to the Panthers. Carolina (8-9) became just the fifth team in league history to win a division title despite a losing record; none of the previous ones got past the divisional round. And while QB Bryce Young will occasionally explode with an eye-popping performance, those are basically one-offs – the third-year passer throwing for as many as 200 yards just four times this season. Simply put, virtually impossible to envision a scenario where this club goes on a three- or four-game run against the league’s best competition.

13. Los Angeles Chargers

They’re physical. They play tough defense. They’ve statistically got the most accurate kicker – by far – in league history in Cameron Dicker. And they’re coached by Jim Harbaugh, who has championship experience – and piloted the 49ers to Super Bowl 47 in his second year in San Francisco. But the Bolts would have to win three times on the road in order to reach Super Bowl 60. QB Justin Herbert has endured two unsightly losses in his two previous playoff appearances and could be subject to another one playing behind an offensive line that’s been patchworked with bubble gum and baling wire for months. Even Dicker’s gone relatively cold, missing a field goal and extra point in the team’s four-point loss to Houston in Week 17, the one that relegated L.A. to its wild-card route. It also seems folly to trust a franchise – one that’s never won a Super Bowl – which lost by at least 14 points in four of its six defeats this season.

12. Green Bay Packers

Absent from the Super Sunday stage since Rodgers last took them, the Pack enter postseason as a No. 7 seed – meaning, like the Chargers, they’ll need to be road warriors tasked with facing the conference’s top seeds if they continue to advance – for the third straight year under current QB1 Jordan Love. And while he led Green Bay on a lovely run two years ago, falling just shy of the NFC championship game, this edition seems more akin to the battered crew that went one-and-done in the 2024 postseason. It’s hard to look much further than DE Micah Parsons, supposedly the missing piece who’d bring another title to Titletown – and he might yet. But, obviously, he won’t do it this season after tearing his ACL on Dec. 14. The Packers haven’t won since he went down, currently on a four-game skid that’s seen Love get concussed while the defense has effectively disintegrated. Better luck in 2026, fellas.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers

Maybe you’d heard they haven’t won a playoff game in nine years? Maybe you’d heard that they’ve fallen into (at least) a 21-point hole in each their six postseason losses over that duration? Maybe you’d heard Rodgers has lost four of his last six playoff starts. Would it be a shock if Pittsburgh, which will get WR DK Metcalf back from his suspension this week, beats the Texans by the confluence of the Three Rivers on Monday night? Not really. The Steelers are a team laden with accomplished veterans who showed again in Sunday night’s thrilling victory over the archrival Baltimore Ravens that they shouldn’t be taken lightly. But a lot of those vets are graybeards on the back ends of their careers, very few of them with actual Super Bowl experience – and none likely to get any now.

10. Buffalo Bills

Did you know they haven’t won a playoff game on the road … since the 1992 playoffs? That alone should stir skepticism of a team that’s reached the past seven postseasons. But more concerning than ancient history is recent history – namely the foot injury QB Josh Allen suffered in Week 16. He hasn’t looked the same since despite his claims to the contrary. Maybe effectively taking Week 18 off will be a major benefit, but no team is more reliant on one player than Buffalo is on Allen. The Bills already had ample issues – no alpha receiver, kicking game inconsistencies and an inability to stop the run. But if Allen isn’t close to 100%, everything else is moot.

9. San Francisco 49ers

Had they beaten Seattle on Saturday night, then the Niners wouldn’t have taken another road trip for the rest of this season – a California Gold Rush opportunity to get home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and potentially host Super Bowl 60 in their own building, Levi’s Stadium. Instead, a team that had averaged 35.7 points during its six-game win streak was nearly shut out by the victorious Seahawks. Worse, the 49ers, already decimated by injuries this season, were physically manhandled by Seattle and will be less than fresh physically as they embark on a cross-country trip to face the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles. RB Christian McCaffrey, in particular, seems to be wearing down after handling a league-high and career-high 413 touches – a huge burden but probably a necessary one to keep this team afloat. This is a battle-tested team, one that’s played in four conference championships and two Super Bowls under coach Kyle Shanahan. It’s also one that could be out of gas – problematic, given a short-handed defense, since the Niners would probably continue needing to win shootouts in order to stave off elimination.

8. New England Patriots

Admittedly, this seems low for a team seeded second in the AFC. What’s not to like, you ask, about a team that wouldn’t have to hit the road any earlier than the conference title round? After all, if second-year QB Drake Maye isn’t the league MVP, then he’ll almost certainly be the runner-up. Mike Vrabel, who won three Super Bowl rings with the Pats as an All-Pro linebacker and was a member of the club that went 16-0 in the 2007 regular season, not only knows what success looks like in January, he’s a brilliant tactician as a head coach – one generally beloved by his players. Yet it’s just hard to shake the notion that Maye doesn’t have a premier weapon; he’s not always adequately protected himself; and the defense doesn’t generate all that much pressure or explosive plays in general. And it must be reiterated that, while the Patriots won 14 games, only one was against an opponent that finished the season above .500. Equally worrisome – purely in a football context here – is the possibility that the legal issues which have caught up to WR Stefon Diggs and DT Christian Barmore will not only serve as continued distractions for the team at large, but could take one or both players off the field at some point in the coming weeks.

7. Chicago Bears

They’ve been fueled by a fiery, hotshot rookie head coach (Ben Johnson) and a quarterback drafted No. 1 overall (Caleb Williams) … if one who’d recently faced questions about unfulfilled (unreasonable?) expectations. They’re committed to the run but get plenty of big plays from their passing game and special teams. And how about that defense and all the turnovers it generates? Also doesn’t hurt to know you’re guaranteed at least two home playoff games as long as you’re alive. But the Bears have been something of a high-wire act all season and don’t exactly carry momentum into the playoffs – losing their past two games and last winning one in regulation on Dec. 14. Williams is a playmaker who tends to rise to the occasion – engineering a league-best six fourth-quarter comebacks this season. But not yet through his second NFL season, he still isn’t a volume passer or one who’s known for a high completion rate (58.1% in 2025). The Bears generally seem way ahead of schedule under Johnson … but it’s expecting a lot to hope a team so reliant on big plays and good fortune is the one that will win the organization’s first Super Bowl in 40 years.

6. Jacksonville Jaguars

They’ve been fueled by a fiery, hotshot rookie head coach (Liam Coen) and a quarterback drafted No. 1 overall (Trevor Lawrence) … if one who’d recently faced questions about unfulfilled (unreasonable?) expectations. They’re committed to the run but get plenty of big plays from their passing game and special teams. And how about that defense and all the turnovers it generates? Also doesn’t hurt to know you’re guaranteed at least one home playoff game as long as you’re alive. Winners of eight in a row, there’s every reason to believe the Jags will continue hanging around for a while. And if winning league MVP honors was predicated on post-Thanksgiving performance (by the way, it’s not), then Lawrence would be a shoo-in. His surge has coincided with WR Jakobi Meyers, a midseason acquisition, getting comfortable in the offense. And good luck to Bills RB James Cook, the newly crowned rushing champ about to face the league’s top-ranked run defense. The Jags generally seem way ahead of schedule under Coen … and the stars may just be aligning in a way that this team could be the one to win the organization’s first Super Bowl … ever.’

5. Denver Broncos

Are they the fifth-best team in the field? Maybe? Maybe not? I’d argue – am I actually arguing with myself here?!?! – that perhaps it’s a bit too lofty for the AFC West champions, who had one impressive win in the season’s second half. But this is a discussion about Lombardi viability – and what’s inarguable about the Broncos is that they have home-field advantage and need only win two more games to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in a decade. To be clear, no shade intended toward a team that just won 14 games and dislodged the Kansas City Chiefs from their long-held divisional throne. Yet the Broncos are still a young crew – one that was thoroughly outclassed during its playoff return at Buffalo a year ago. Denver can hang its hat on an intimidating defense, an outstanding offensive line and a championship-caliber coach in Sean Payton. Yet the offense consistently has to dig out of second-half holes – maybe because second-year QB Bo Nix seems to have plateaued after a strong rookie season, maybe because he just doesn’t have elite playmakers around him, maybe it’s a combination thereof. Given the kind of year it’s been league-wide, it certainly wouldn’t be a shock if the Broncos win it all. But it would be far less surprising if they’re one and done.

4. Houston Texans

Home or away, rain or shine, defense travels. And whether you’re looking at the tape, the stat sheet – the Texans rank No. 1 overall defensively and second in points allowed – or watching it get off the bus, this is as daunting a unit as there is in the league. At the vanguard, DEs Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter, the only duo in the league with at least a dozen sacks apiece in 2025. Did we mention no team is hotter, Houston carrying a nine-game winning streak into the postseason? Relatively speaking, on the other side of the ball, a middling offense hasn’t been nearly as good. Still, QB C.J. Stroud, the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, has generally rebounded from something of a sophomore slump in 2024. Nico Collins, who took Week 18 off, is one of the league’s standout wideouts. Also, middling is just fine on offense if the defense is in its typical form – the Texans needing 23 points or fewer in half of their 12 wins. Another franchise in pursuit of its first championship – and first appearance in the AFC championship game – this could certainly be the year the Texans break through. And lest you’ve forgotten, Houston isn’t some ramshackle, Johnny-come-lately outfit emerging from the (previously) lowly AFC South. This is a seasoned squad under coach DeMeco Ryans, one that’s reached the divisional round two years running and gave the dynastic Chiefs pretty much all they could handle at Arrowhead last January.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

Off the top, this team isn’t as good as the one that cruised past Kansas City in Super Bowl 59. Philly can’t even count on the ‘Tush Push’ anymore. So what. Despite the drama that’s followed the Eagles all season – doesn’t it always? – they’ve played much better over the past month and regained confidence. The run game has improved, QB Jalen Hurts is back to his winning less-is-more formula, DT Jalen Carter returned from shoulder surgery, and OL Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson likely will play Sunday against the 49ers. And criticize coach Nick Sirianni all you want, but resting his starters in Week 18 a year ago was a strategy that paid off. Special teams could be an Achilles. Otherwise, a team that’s played in two of the past three Super Bowls appears as well positioned as any to reach another.

2. Los Angeles Rams

Their 38-37 overtime loss to the Seahawks in Week 16 effectively cost them the No. 1 seed and took wind out of the collective sails late in the season, the Rams seemingly sleepwalking through a good chunk of their Week 17 loss at Atlanta, too. But coach Sean McVay got a much sharper performance from his troops Sunday against Arizona. More importantly, LT Alaric Jackson rejoined the lineup, and WR Davante Adams and DB Quentin Lake will follow suit for Saturday’s game in Charlotte – and so might RG Kevin Dotson. As the injuries resolve, so too should the performance of a team that’s routinely been overwhelming on both sides of the ball. And though it’s a small sample size, the troubled special teams have stabilized – and excelled in spots – since veteran assistant Ben Kotwica was promoted to coordinate them following the unit’s debacle in Seattle. L.A. lost to the Panthers in Week 13, the run defense too frequently gashed. But the Rams are the decidedly superior team – the only one that put a scare into an elite Eagles juggernaut in last season’s playoffs – and one very well equipped to go all the way this time around. Oh yeah, QB Matthew Stafford was the league’s premier player in 2025 … and WR Puka Nacua wasn’t far behind.

1. Seattle Seahawks

They roll into their well-deserved bye week after racking up victories in their past seven games, the lengthiest active winning streak in the NFC. Seattle is similar to Houston – physically and schematically dominant on defense and more than adequate on offense. But this may also be the time to give Seattle more credit on that side of the ball. It’s not always pretty, but QB Sam Darnold was deserving of his second Pro Bowl nod in as many years. Yep, he’s prone to making a costly turnover. But he’s also shown he’s not just along for the ride and is more than capable of winning big games with his arm. He’s certainly got the trust and respect of his teammates. He’s also got Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the NFL’s most productive receiver this season with 1,793 receiving yards. Newly extended LT Charles Cross will also be back for the divisional round after missing three games with a bum hamstring. But what might terrify Seattle’s opponents even more than boisterous Lumen Field, where the Seahawks have won 10 of their last 11 playoff games, is a surging rushing attack that’s exceeded 160 yards each of the past three weeks and has averaged better than 140 over the last nine games. Good luck finding a better group of special teamers – especially after the midseason addition of WR Rashid Shaheed, a dynamic returner. And oh that defense, the league’s stingiest in terms of points allowed and one that can relentlessly send waves of fresh pass rushers and defensive backs at opposing quarterbacks. A rubber match with the Rams in the NFC title game sure would be fun – and, similar to the Broncos but unlike the Rams, the Seahawks would only need one win to reach that stage.