Chiefs HC Andy Reid proud of strides made by DE George Karlaftis in 2022 season

#Chiefs HC Andy Reid was proud of the progress that rookie DE George Karlaftis has shown throughout the 2022 regular season.

Kansas City Chiefs rookie DE George Karlaftis has come on strong in the second half of the 2022 NFL regular season and it hasn’t been lost on his head coach.

Karlaftis notched another sack in Week 18 against the Las Vegas Raiders, marking his sixth sack in the last seven games. He finished the regular season with six total sacks, the fifth-most by a rookie in franchise history. Only Art Still (6.5), Tamba Hali (8), Jared Allen (9) and Derrick Thomas (10) have more sacks in a rookie season for the franchise.

Speaking to reporters following the Week 18 game, Chiefs HC Andy Reid expressed pride for Karlaftis and the progress he’s shown throughout the full 17-game season.

“I’m proud of that kid because it’s hard to make it through as a rookie, period, 17 games,” Reid said. “But getting better every week at that position is something that is as much mental as it is physical, and he is relentless. You see him at practice, he goes 100 miles an hour at practice. He transfers that into the games. My hat goes off to him.”

Reid has seen the results from practice and the meeting rooms translate into results on the field. Karlaftis finished the season No. 3 among rookie edge rushers in terms of sacks, behind only the Detroit Lions duo of Aidan Hutchinson (9.5) and James Houston (8). Only Hutchinson (53) recorded more pressures than Karlaftis (48) during the regular season according to PFF.

Availability has also been huge for Karlaftis. He started all 17 regular season games as a rookie for Kansas City, joining Trey Smith and Creed Humphrey (2021) as the only rookies in franchise history to hit that mark.

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NFL playoff winners: home vs. visitor from 2012 to 2021

For the last 10 years, there are patterns for whether a playoff game was won by the home (H) or the visiting (V) teams:

For the last 10 years, there are patterns for whether a playoff game was won by the home (H) or the visiting (V) teams:

Wildcard Rounds

The NFL is onto their third season with six Wild Card round games instead of the historical four. Typically this round is rich in visitors winning which is surprising given that all home teams are division winners. In 2020, there were only two home (division winners) teams that won and advanced to the Divisional Round. But last year was a shocker with only one visitor winning – the 49ers were the No. 6 seed and the Cowboys were the No. 3 seed.

In 2020, the only two home teams to win were the No. 2 seed teams from each conference. In the last ten years, the tally is Home – 22  Away 22. In the last five years, it was Home – 11 Away – 13. The No. 7 seed has never won in the Wild Card Round. But aside from that, it has all equaled out to half visitors and half home teams winning. But it was odd that every five years, there were a “correction” of home teams winning to make it 50/50. Visitors did very well from 2017-2020 with 12 wins versus 6 for home teams. In most years, there will be more visitors winning in recent years but it is guarantee.

  • 2012 Winners
    H – Indianapolis 9, Baltimore 24
    H – Cincinnati 13, Houston 19
    H – Minnesota 10, Green Bay 24
    V – Seattle 24, Washington 14
  • 2013 Winners
    H – Kansas City 44, Indianapolis 45
    V – San Francisco 23, Green Bay 20
    V – New Orleans 26, Philadelphia 24
    V – San Diego 27, Cincinnati 10
  • 2014 Winners
    H – Arizona 16, Panthers 27
    V – Baltimore 30, Steelers 17
    H – Bengals 10, Colts 26
    H – Lions 20, Cowboys 24
  • 2015 Winners
    V – Chiefs 30, Texans 0
    V – Steelers 18, Bengals 16
    V – Seahawks 10, Vikings 9
    V – Packers 35, Redskins 18
  • 2016 Winners
    H – Raiders 14, Texans 27
    H – Lions 6, Seahawks 26
    H – Dolphins 12, Steelers 30
    H – Giants 13, Packers 38
  • 2017 Winners
    V – Titans 22, Chiefs 21
    V – Falcons 26, Rams 13
    H – Bills 3, Jaguars 10
    H – Panthers 26, Saints 31
  • 2018 Winners
    V – Colts 21, Texans 7
    H – Seahawks 22, Cowboys 24
    V – Chargers 23, Ravens 17
    V – Eagles 16, Bears 15
  • 2019 Winners
    H – Bills 19, Texans 22 OT
    V – Titans 20, Patriots 13
    V – Vikings 26, Saints 20 OT
    V – Seahawks 17, Eagles 9
  • 2020 Winners
    H – Colts 24, Bills 27
    V – Rams 30, Seahawks 20
    V – Buccaneers 31, Washington Football Team 23
    V – Ravens 20, Titans 13
    H – Bears 9, Saints 21
    V – Browns 48, Steelers 37
  • 2021 Winners
    H – Raiders 19, Bengals 26
    H – Patriots 17, Bills 47
    H – Eagles 15, Buccaneers 31
    H – Steelers 21, Chiefs 42
    V – 49ers 23, Cowboys 17
    H – Cardinals 11, Rams 34
  • 2022 Winners
    H – Seahawks 23, 49ers 41
    H – Chargers 30, Jaguars 31
    H – Dolphins 31, Bills 34
    V – Giants 31, Vikings 24
    H – Ravens 17, Bengals 24
    V – Cowboys 31, Buccaneers 14

Divisional Rounds

The divisional round rarely contains more than one road winner.  Totaling up the wins from the ten years – Home 29 Away 11. In the last five, Home  14 Away 6 but again, last year was different with three of four games going to the visitor. But the three previous seasons only totaled two teams winning as visitors. Last season had those three visitors win, but each game was decided by three points, so they were all very close. Overall, this is usually the round with just one visitor winning and twice it had all home teams win.

  • 2012 Winners
    V – Baltimore 38, Denver 35
    H – Houston 28, New England 41
    H – Seattle 28, Atlanta 30
    H – Green Bay 31, San Francisco 45
  • 2013 Winners
    H – New Orleans 15, Seattle 23
    H – Indianapolis 22, New England 43
    V – San Francisco 23, Carolina 10
    H – San Diego 17, Denver 24
  • 2014 Winners
    H – Ravens 31, Patriots 35
    H – Panthers 17, Seahawks 31
    H – Cowboys 21, Packers 26
    V – Colts 24, Broncos 13
  • 2015 Winners
    H – Chiefs 20, Patriots 27
    H – Packers 20, Cardinals 26
    H – Seahawks 24, Panthers 31
    H – Steelers 16, Broncos 23
  • 2016 Winners
    H – Seahawks 20, Falcons 36
    H – Texans 16, Patriots 34
    V – Packers 34, Cowboys 31
    V – Steelers 18, Chiefs 16
  • 2017 Winners
    H – Falcons 10, Eagles 15
    H – Titans 14, Patriots 35
    H – Saints 24, Vikings 29
    V – Jaguars 45, Steelers 42
  • 2018 Winners
    H – Chargers 22, Patriots 41
    H – Colts 13, Chiefs 31
    H – Cowboys 22, Rams 30
    H – Eagles 14, Saints 20
  • 2019 Winners
    V – Titans 28, Ravens 12
    H – Vikings 10, 49ers 27
    H – Seahawks 23, Packers 28
    H – Texans 31, Chiefs 51
  • 2020 Winners
    H – Rams 18, Packers 32
    H – Ravens 3, Bills 17
    H – Browns 17, Chiefs 22
    V – Buccaneers 30, Saints 20
  • 2021 Winners
    V – Bengals 19, Titans 16
    V – 49ers 13, Packers 10
    V – Rams 30, Buccaneers 27
    H – Bills 36, Chiefs 42

Championship Rounds

For many years, both home teams usually won. It happened in six of the last ten seasons and yet, 2012 and 2018 saw both visitors win.  The most common outcome of the last five years has been one home and one visitor win. And again, last year both conferences were won by only three points. In 2018, not only did both visitors win, but they did so in overtime games.

  • 2012 Winners
    V – 49ers 28, Falcons 24
    V – Ravens 28, Patriots 13
  • 2013 Winners
    H – New England 16, Denver 26
    H – San Francisco 17, Seattle 23
  • 2014 Winners
    H – Packers 22, Seahawks 28
    H – Colts 7, Patriots 45
  • 2015 Winners
    H – Patriots 18, Broncos 20
    H – Cardinals 15, Panthers 49
  • 2016 Winners
    H – Packers 21, Falcons 44
    H – Steelers 17, Patriots 36
  • 2017 Winners
    H – Jaguars 20, Patriots 24
    H – Vikings 7, Eagles 38
  • 2018 Winners
    V – Rams 26, Saints 23 OT
    V – Patriots 37, Chiefs 31 OT
  • 2019 Winners
    H – Titans 24, Chiefs 35
    H – Packers 20, 49ers 37
  • 2020 Winners
    V – Buccaneers 31, Packers 26
    H – Bills 24, Chiefs 38
  • 2021 Winners
    V – Bengals 27, Chiefs 24
    H – 49ers 17, Rams 20

PHOTO GALLERY: Recapping Bryce Young’s 2022 season through images

Revisit Bryce Young’s 2022 season with the Crimson Tide through pictures!

Alabama football star quarterback Bryce Young is projected to be a top-three overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft, which means his time with the Crimson Tide will soon be a memory from the past.

The Heisman Trophy winner was the starting quarterback for two seasons but it wasn’t without a few speed bumps. Young had two talented wide receivers suffer torn ACLs in 2021 and then suffered his own injury in 2022 that sidelined him for some time.

Young still has a national championship ring from his freshman season but was unable to get it done as the starter, to no fault of his own.

Which PGA Tour Player Impact Program recipients were searched the most in 2022?

With the year coming to a close, which of the PIP recipients were searched the most in 2022?

The purse for the PGA Tour’s Player Impact Program continues to swell, but as with everything, the added cash has brought added strings.

For example, at the Tour Championship, commissioner Jay Monahan explained that players would be eligible for their share of the $100 million in bonus money only if they played in the 13 elevated events plus three more of their choosing during the upcoming 2023 season.

Of course, a key component of the Tour’s PIP is engagement, or using social media to keep one’s name relevant.

That got us thinking, with the year coming to a close, which of the PIP recipients were searched the most in 2022?

Overlooking the possibility of a late push (these numbers are from Jan. 1 to Dec. 17), here’s the list of PIP recipients who fans Googled over the past 12 months.

Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline receives an honor from On3

No surprise here #GoBucks

A few weeks ago there was chatter that Buckeye wide receiver coach Brian Hartline could be an option for multiple schools to fill their head coaching vacancies. In just four short years, the former [autotag]Ohio State[/autotag] star has elevated himself in the coaching ranks and is viewed as one of the best in the country.

Hartline has coached multiple first round picks ([autotag]Garrett Wilson[/autotag], [autotag]Chris Olave[/autotag] and one can argue [autotag]Jameson Williams[/autotag]) and has seen a total of seven of his former players get drafted. It’s not just production on the field, it’s off it as well as the receivers coach has gotten a reputation as being one of the best recruiters in the country.

Today, more recognition for Hartline, as [autotag]On3[/autotag] named him their national positional coach of the year.

This season just 26 players eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark and Hartline coached two of them, [autotag]Marvin Harrison Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Emeka Egbuka[/autotag]. The Buckeyes were one of two teams to have two players reach that mark but Harrison Jr. and Egbuka’s total were more than the Arizona’s pair. It’s another impressive feather in Hartline’s cap and the Ohio State administration should give him a well deserved raise to ensure he is kept around.

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Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today

2022-23 Transfer Portal Tracker: Quarterback

The names are flying into the portal — stay up to date with them ALL right here!

What can landing a quarterback get you? Look no further than USC, which landed former prized recruit [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag] shortly after Lincoln Riley’s arrival a year ago. All the sophomore has done is lead USC’s charge to a possible College Football Playoff appearance by having a Heisman Trophy-worthy season.

After sitting through nearly an entire season of [autotag]Drew Pyne[/autotag], a few things are clear: He plays his heart out each time he’s on the field. He clearly loves Notre Dame. His teammates love him. And his ceiling simply isn’t high enough to help the Irish win big. Combine that with inexperience and injury issues to Notre Dame’s other quarterbacks, and it’s easy to see why the Irish appear headed to the portal to bring in a quarterback for 2023.

Here is the updated list of quarterbacks who have entered the transfer portal since August. Some have chosen new programs; the vast majority have not.

Keep track of all the movement and names of potential quarterbacks for your favorite teams below.

Note: Players are sorted by the date they entered the portal

Nick Bolton is Chiefs’ nominee for 2022 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award

#Chiefs LB Nick Bolton has been chosen as the team’s nominee for the 2022 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.

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Kansas City Chiefs LB Nick Bolton has been selected to represent the franchise as their nominee for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award in 2022. This is the first time that Bolton has been nominated for the award, following three consecutive seasons where QB Patrick Mahomes was the team’s nominee.

The Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award was first conceived in 2014 to honor the late Pittsburgh Steelers founder and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Art Rooney Sr. This award is given annually to the NFL player who best exemplifies qualities of on-field sportsmanship, fair play, respect for the game and peers, and integrity in competition.

“These Rooney Sportsmanship Award nominees exemplify the fiercest competition combined with the excellence of sportsmanship,” said EVP of Football Operations of the NFL, Troy Vincent, via press release. “It reflects the very values of respect, resilience, and fairness that inspire both teammates and opponents to be the best in the world.”

The NFL announced the nominees for all 32 teams for the eighth annual award on Tuesday. You can view the full list of nominees below:

How is the winner of the 2022 award determined? Eight finalists, four from each conference, will be selected by a panel of former NFL players. The panel includes Warrick Dunn, Larry Fitzgerald, Leonard Wheeler and Curtis Martin. From those eight finalists, players from each NFL team will submit a consensus vote for a winner. Those teams are not allowed to vote for their own teammates, but only a player from another club. Whoever wins the award will also receive a donation of $25,000 from the NFL Foundation to the charity of their choice.

The winner will be announced during the NFL Honors ceremony ahead of Super Bowl LVII. The previous winners include: Patriots WR/STer Matthew Slater (2021), Panthers QB Teddy Bridgewater (2020) Washington RB Adrian Peterson (2019), Saints QB Drew Brees (2018), Panthers LB Luke Kuechly (2017), Colts RB Frank Gore (2016), Raiders CB Charles Woodson (2015) and Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald (2014).

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2023 CFB Recruiting: Notre Dame lands their quarterback!

How mad is Pat Narduzzi right now? You just hate to see it.

Where there is smoke there is fire and through the clouds of it that have been noticeable for weeks, the fire has finally been found in regards to Notre Dame finding a quarterback in their 2023 recruiting class.  Former Pitt commitment, four-star prospect [autotag]Kenny Minchey[/autotag], announced his commitment to Notre Dame on Tuesday.

Minchey announced he was dropping his commitment to Pitt last week and was on campus for Notre Dame’s drubbing of Boston College this past weekend.  This doesn’t come as a surprise based on recent events but should still be met with celebration.

Minchey is listed at 6-1, 207 pounds.  He just concluded his senior season at Pope John Paul II High School just outside Nashville, Tenn.  He chose Notre Dame after previously being committed to Pitt and holding offers from the likes of Michigan State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and others.

Minchey will be attending the All-American Bowl in January.  He becomes the 24th commitment to Notre Dame’s 2023 recruiting class as Marcus Freeman and company try to keep it all together ahead of the early signing period next month.

Meet all of Notre Dame’s 2023 recruiting class right here!

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Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster expresses desire to stay in Kansas City beyond 2022

#Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster is only signed through 2022, but he says if it were up to him he would stay in Kansas City long-term.

One of the biggest pieces of the Kansas City Chiefs’ new-look receiver group has expressed the desire to stay with the team beyond the length of his contract.

JuJu Smith-Schuster signed a one-year deal with the Chiefs for the 2022 NFL season worth up to $10.75 million back in March. The team already amended his contract to give him a raise on his per-game roster bonuses for the season. What they haven’t done yet is find a way to lock Smith-Schuster up as a part of the offense long-term.

Speaking to media members on Thursday, Smith-Schuster was asked about how open he is to stay in Kansas City beyond his one-year deal. His answer is exactly what you’d expect.

“I would love to stay here, to be honest,” Smith-Schuster told reporters. “This offense is unbelievable. This coaching staff is unbelievable. If it was up to me, of course, why not? I get to play with one of the best quarterbacks in the game. So, yeah.”

Through eight games this season, Smith-Schuster has recorded 44 receptions for 582 yards and two touchdowns. He pacing to have his best season since 2018, which was the best season of his NFL career and his lone selection to the Pro Bowl.

Smith-Schuster’s brief time in the K.C. offense has been everything that he expected it to be.

“I knew it was a high-powered offense just looking at numbers,” Smith-Schuster said. “Coming here, it just, you know. Last year we were kind of talking about the same thing, they were talking about it, ‘This is what the offense is supposed to do.’ And actually now being here and being in it, it’s (as advertised).”

It remains to be seen whether the Chiefs make an effort to retain Smith-Schuster beyond 2022. With the rising wide receiver market this past offseason, it’s hard to decipher what his value might look like come free agency this March. He has every reason to wait to sign a deal until after the season concludes. Now, we at least know where Smith-Schuster stands with nine weeks of the NFL’s regular season remaining.

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Auburn forward named to award watchlist

No SEC player has ever won the Karl Malone Trophy.

The Auburn basketball team is getting some looks before the start of the season this November.

In this case, Auburn power forward [autotag]Johni Broome[/autotag] has been named to the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Watchlist. Entirely true to its name, the award is given at year’s end to the best power forward in the nation in Division I basketball.

Broome, who transferred from Morehead State this offseason, would be looking at a first should he win the award — no SEC player has won it in its nine years of existence thus far. He’s one of three players that will try on the watchlist, as LSU’s K.J. Williams and South Carolina’s G.G. Jackson have also been named to the watchlist. Last year’s winner was Iowa’s Keegan Murray.

The award is partially based on fan vote, where the current 20 members of the watchlist will be narrowed down to 10 and then five, after which a committee will pick the winner. Last year, Auburn’s Walker Kessler was a finalist for the award but was beat out by Murray.

Broome will get his first chance to make a bid for the award on Nov. 7 when the team tips off against George Mason for its first regular-season game of the year.

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