Tag: 2022

Here are Chiefs’ possible opponents for divisional round

Here are the three possible opponents for the #Chiefs in the divisional round with Sunday’s wild-card games ahead:

After the Jacksonville Jaguars’ improbable comeback win against the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday night, three possible opponents remain for the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round. The results of the Buffalo Bills-Miami Dolphins game and the Cincinnati Bengals-Baltimore Ravens game will determine which team is coming to Arrowhead Stadium for the divisional round. They’ll face the lowest remaining seed after the dust has settled from Sunday’s slate of games.

Here’s a quick reminder of what has to occur for the Chiefs to face each of the three possible opponents:

Packers kickoff returner Keisean Nixon named first-team All-Pro in 2022

Green Bay Packers kickoff returner Keisean Nixon was named a first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press for the 2022 NFL season. 

Green Bay Packers kickoff returner Keisean Nixon was named a first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press for the 2022 NFL season.

Nixon received 44 of the 50 first-place votes.

Nixon, who was signed by the Packers in March, led the NFL in kickoff returns, kickoff return yards and kickoff returns of at least 50 yards. He had two returns over 90 yards, including a 105-yard touchdown, the longest return in the NFL this season.

Nixon didn’t become the full-time kickoff returner until late October, but he still returned 35 kickoffs for 1,009 yards. He was the only NFL player with over 1,000 kickoff return yards this season.

Nixon’s kickoff return average of 28.8 yards ranked second in the NFL. He was one of only five players to return a kickoff for a touchdown.

Over the final eight games of 2022, Nixon produced 100 or more kickoff return yards eight times, including four straight games between Weeks 10-13.

Nixon created 11 kickoff returns of 30 or more yards.

His returns of 50 or more yards:

– 105-yard touchdown vs. Vikings, Week 17
– 93-yard return vs. Dolphins, Week 16
– 53-yard return vs. Eagles, Week 12
– 52-yard return vs. Eagles, Week 12
– 52-yard return vs. Rams, Week 15

Nixon was the team’s only first-team All-Pro in 2022. Cornerback Jaire Alexander was named a second-team All-Pro.

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16 Packers players who regressed most in 2022

The sheer number of players who regressed for the Packers during the 2022 season provided a big reason for the team’s slide to 8-9. Here’s the list.

Earlier this week, we highlighted the 15 most improved players for the Green Bay Packers during the 2022 season. Now, it’s time for the other side of the equation: players who regressed.

It’s a long, disappointing list.

In fact, there’s arguably no better synopsis of the Packers’ season than this list. Almost every important veteran player regressed in some meaningful way during the 2022 season, and the lack of development and/or regression stands as one of the biggest reasons why Matt LaFleur’s team went from 13-4 in 2021 to 8-9 in 2022.

So buckle up. Here are the Packers players who regressed the most from 2021 to 2022:

A quick look at the rookie season of each Packers 2022 draft pick

The Packers got a lot of help from the 2022 draft class. Let’s take a look at each rookie.

The Green Bay Packers’ 2022 season has come to an end, and so has the rookie year for their most recent draft class.

The Packers selected 11 players in last year’s draft: six offensive players and five defensive players. Some went on to play meaningful snaps, while others struggled to get on the field.

Obviously, it is hard to draw any major conclusions from a player’s first season. At some point, we will take a more in-depth look at each individual player, but for now, let’s look back with an overview of each draft pick.

Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for December/January

#Chiefs RB Jerick McKinnon earned his first career AFC Offensive Player of the Month honors in December.

Its back-to-back months with AFC Offensive Player of the Month wins for the Kansas City Chiefs. In November, Patrick Mahomes earned his fifth career honor. This time around, it’s RB Jerick McKinnon taking home the award for December/January, marking his first monthly award in his NFL career.

McKinnon led the entire NFL in the final six weeks of the regular season with nine total touchdowns, including eight receiving and one rushing touchdown. The 30-year-old running back also had over 400 total yards during that span. He recorded a receiving touchdown in each of those last six games, which made him the first running back since 1970 with a touchdown reception in at least five consecutive games.

The nine touchdown receptions by McKinnon in 2022 are tied with Rams RB Marshall Faulk (2001), Vikings RB Chuck Foreman (1975) and Leroy Hoard (1991) for the most by a running back in a single season in the Super Bowl era.

McKinnon is now the sixth Chiefs running back to earn NFL monthly honors during their career, joining Priest Holmes (two-time winner), Kareem Hunt (September 2017), Larry Johnson (two-time winner), Christian Okoye (October 1991) and Barry Word (December 1991). He’s also the first player from his alma mater, Georgia Southern, to ever win an Offensive Player of the Month award, AFC or NFC.

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15 most improved Packers players from 2022 season

Who improved most for the Packers during the 2022 season? It’s a disappointing list. Here are the top 15.

A lack of meaningful development and improvement from the roster provided at least part of the reason why the Green Bay Packers slogged through a disappointing 2022 season.

The offense didn’t get significant improvement from anyone of significance, while the defense had a few surprises but mostly veteran regression. Some of the biggest improvements came from individual performances on special teams.

Here’s a closer look at the Packers’ most improved players from the 2022 season, using overall grades from Pro Football Focus as our guide:

Colts’ MVP for the 2022 season: LB Zaire Franklin

It was a stellar season for Colts LB Zaire Franklin.

After a lot of hype surrounding this team during training camp, the Indianapolis Colts finished the 2022 season with a 4-12-1 record and third in the AFC South.

Math Ryan’s arrival had many analysts and fans predicting Indianapolis would put themselves in a position to contend, but this team came nowhere near those expectations.

One player who had a record-setting year and will be a key piece for the Colts to build off of was linebacker Zaire Franklin.

He finished the season with 164 tackles, a franchise record. He broke Shaquille Leonard’s previous mark of 163 that he set in his rookie year back in 2018. Franklin also contributed two sacks, five quarterback hits, two forced fumbles, and six pass breakups. It was an impressive year for the heart and soul of this Colts defense.

Franklin was mostly used on special teams during the first few years of his career, but under Gus Bradley, he flourished into a 17-game starter that was vital to this team. He also managed to have 10 games with at least 10 tackles, another franchise record.

How this team will look next season is a mystery. Plenty of changes are ahead through free agency and the draft, and some familiar faces may be wearing other colors come September.

One thing is certain, Zaire Franklin is one player that is going to be a crucial part of rebuilding this team and contending for a title once again.

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Chiefs LB Nick Bolton named finalist for 2022 Professional Dick Butkus Award

#Chiefs LB Nick Bolton is among the six finalists for the 2022 Professional Dick Butkus Award, recognizing the top linebacker at the NFL level.

Kansas City Chiefs LB Nick Bolton is a finalist for an award recognizing the best linebacker in the NFL.

The Dick Butkus Award is mostly known at the collegiate level, but they have high school and professional awards handed out annually too. On Wednesday, Bolton was named one of six finalists for the 2022 Professional Dick Butkus Award. The five other finalists include Eagles LB T.J. Edwards, Rams LB Bobby Wagner, 49ers LB Fred Warner, and both Jets LB C.J. Mosley and Ravens LB Roquan Smith, who were collegiate recipients of the Butkus Award.

Bolton’s nomination comes following his record-setting 2022 regular-season campaign in Kansas City, where he surpassed Derrick Johnson’s franchise record for tackles in a single season. That record stood for 11 years after Johnson set it with 179 total tackles back in 2011. Bolton started all 17 games this season, recording 180 total tackles, two interceptions and two sacks — all career-high marks.

He may have been passed over for the Pro Bowl this season, but Bolton is having a year to remember. To be recognized as a finalist for this prestigious award is just another reminder of how great he’s been during his second season with the team. Past winners of the award include Cowboys LB Micah Parsons (2021), Steelers LB T.J. Watt (2020), Cardinals LB Chandler Jones (2019), Bears LB Khalil Mack (2018) and Panthers LB Luke Kuechly (2017).

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The good and bad of Quay Walker’s rookie season with Packers

Quay Walker’s rookie season with the Packers was a terrific combination of good and bad. Let’s dig in. 

Green Bay Packers rookie linebacker Quay Walker played in all 17 games and was on the field for 816 total defensive snaps during his rookie season.

At times, Walker looked like a game-changing force with future Pro Bowl potential as the ideal NFL three-down linebacker. During others, the rookie looked very much like a young, inconsistent and immature player with combustible traits.

Walker’s rookie season was a terrific combination of good and bad. Let’s dig in.

Chiefs had eight games among top 50 most-watched U.S. TV broadcasts of 2022

The #Chiefs proved to be must-watch television in 2022, with eight of the top 50 most-watched U.S. TV broadcasts, including two games in the top 4.

The NFL remains king in the United States television broadcasting world and the Kansas City Chiefs remain one of the most-watched teams.

With 2022 coming to an end, broadcast networks and Nielsen have released their year-end data. According to Sportico’s Anthony Crupi, 82 of the 100 most-watched programs on TV in 2022 were NFL games, including 19 of the top 20. The Chiefs ranked eight games in the top 50 most-watched TV broadcasts of 2022. Only the Dallas Cowboys (10) and Los Angeles Rams (9) had more games that ranked in the top 50.

Here’s the full list of Chiefs games in the top 50 and where they rank:

  • 3. Chiefs vs. Bengals – AFC Championship Game
  • 4. Chiefs vs. Bills – Divisional round
  • 14. Chiefs vs. Steelers – AFC wild-card round
  • 23. Chiefs vs. Bills – Week 6, 2022 regular season
  • 30. Chiefs vs. Bengals – Week 13, 2022 regular season
  • 32. Chiefs vs. Rams – Week 12, 2022 regular season
  • 39. Chiefs vs. 49ers – Week 7, 2022 regular season
  • 43. Chiefs vs. Bucs – Week 4, Sunday Night Football

It’s pretty remarkable that the NFL has such a stranglehold over TV broadcasts in the United States, but it’s even more impressive that the Chiefs and star QB Patrick Mahomes continue to capture the attention of the football-watching world. Rest assured that their upcoming playoff matchup in the divisional round (and any ensuing playoff game) will rank highly among TV broadcasts as 2023 gets underway.

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