Tag: Sunday Night Football

Cris Collinsworth hilariously explained why backup QBs in the NFL gain weight so easily

Cris Collinsworth just made a whole lot of backup quarterbacks upset

If there’s one thing we know about Cris Collinsworth, it’s that he doesn’t hold anything back when it comes to color commentary. He’ll say whatever he wants. And, seriously, I mean whatever.

Remember that time he went at his haters after people complained he had nothing to say about non-Patrick Mahomes players? Or how about his unrelenting praise of — wait for it — Tyson Bagent. Yeah, that was a weird one, wasn’t it?

The point is the man will say whatever is on his mind and won’t hold back on anything. That includes the weight of backup quarterbacks, too.

Collinsworth and Mike Tirico were talking about Chargers’ backup Easton Stick (yes, that’s a real name) during the Chargers-Bills showdown on Peacock. The two discussed how Stick hadn’t run plays all season long up until now and how backup quarterbacks don’t usually have much to do when a starter is in place.

RELATED: Every NFL team’s current backup quarterback

That’s when Collinsworth let one of his most fun facts fly out.

“When you’re the backup quarterback you can go months without even taking a single play in practice. The starting quarterback — in this case would be Justin Herbert — would get all the snaps. So give him a little time. Give him a little practice. Let’s see what happens now.

… 

That’s the reason a lot of backup quarterbacks are fat. They don’t do anything.” 

COLLINSOWRTH. MY GUY. WHAT? That took quite a turn.

Mike Tirico jokingly made sure to let people know that that was Collinsworth who said that. Good on him because those two definitely won’t hear the end of this one.

You’re wild for this, Collinsworth.

Patriots Wire staff picks and scores for Patriots-Broncos game

The Patriots Wire staff make their picks for Sunday’s Patriots-Broncos game.

After losing to the Kansas City Chiefs at home last week, the New England Patriots go on the road for a Christmas Eve clash with another AFC West opponent in the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

The Broncos will finally be returning home for this matchup after a three-game road trip. They are 1-2 over that stretch, including last week’s blowout loss to the Detroit Lions.

Their playoff hopes haven’t been completely snuffed out just yet. So there’s still something to fight for in this game. Meanwhile, the Patriots are coming into this game with a 3-11 record, a banged-up roster and no hope of a postseason future.

However, that doesn’t mean they’re waving the white flag and calling it quits. They put up a better fight than anticipated against the Chiefs after upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. If they can run the ball effectively against Denver’s league-worst run defense, things could get interesting at Mile High.

Here’s the full round-up of Patriots Wire staff picks for the Week 16 matchup:

Jordy McElroy (6-8) – Patriots 17, Broncos 20

Danny Jaillet (12-2) – Patriots 17, Broncos 24

Cam Garrity (7-7) – Patriots 7, Broncos 13

Michael Braithwaite (7-7) – Patriots 13, Broncos 25

The Patriots have already ruled out wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and safety Jabrill Peppers for this game. They’ll also be missing tight end Hunter Henry, running back Rhamondre Stevenson and offensive tackle Conor McDermott.

It’s a significantly banged-up roster facing a desperate opponent on the road. What could possibly go wrong?

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Minnesota keeps primetime matchup vs. Packers

The Vikings and Packers will stay in primetime next week

The NFL has announced that they’re keeping the Week 17 Minnesota Vikings game against the Green Bay Packers in primetime, opting not to flex the game out for a more enticing option. This should come as no surprise, as the Vikings are still in the thick of both the NFC playoff picture, and the hunt for the NFC North title.

The Packers could play a spoiler role in the Vikings’ quest for the NFC North crown, which makes this game an intriguing matchup that should draw well for the NFL in that slot.

The NFL started flex scheduling for Sunday Night Football games back in 2006 and expanded their flex scheduling efforts this season to include both Thursday Night and Monday Night Football games to try and have the most intriguing — and ratings-worthy — games in their featured primetime slots.

Flex scheduling for Sunday Night Football starts in Week 5, with a total of two games allowed to be flexed between weeks 5 and 10. Starting Week 11, the league has full discretion to flex any matchup any number of weeks.

Keeping the Vikings in primetime makes sense, as the Vikings control their own destiny in the NFC North, but will need to win out in order to take the division title. Minnesota is currently two games back of the Detroit Lions, with two games against them in the final three. The Packers will have a chance to play the spoiler in those efforts, and could see themselves in the NFC playoff picture as well with a win.

As it stands today, the Packers are currently sitting in the 11th spot in the NFC, but are only a game behind the Vikings in the NFC North standings. With a loss already on their record against Minnesota and a season split of the series against Detroit, they would need some help.

That intrigue, along with the Vikings/Packers rivalry being one of the biggest in the sport should be more than enough to be a ratings draw for the league.

[lawrence-related id=88136,88134,87188,70276,88094,88129]

Prime-time failures don’t bode well for the Jaguars’ immediate future

The Jaguars can’t afford to become a team that shrinks under the bright lights.

The Jacksonville Jaguars won their first three games in the national (and international) spotlight this season. But two prime-time losses in the last three weeks have cast doubt on their ability to perform when the lights are shining brightest.

At the beginning of the season, the Jaguars capitalized on big stages to get back on the right track.

Jacksonville played the Atlanta Falcons in London after dropping games to the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans that put them at 1-2 through the first three weeks. They beat the Falcons 23-7 to reach .500 and start their climb back to the top of the AFC.

Then the Jaguars beat the Buffalo Bills in London to reach 3-2, as they returned to Duval. While Jacksonville hadn’t played in an 8 p.m. slot, they got early-season experience being the featured game.

“It was just so much louder here — just for it to be a regular season game, just for it to be Week 5,” Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. said after the win over Buffalo. “I feel like the intensity, the crowd, everyone was just going crazy.”

Not only did the Jaguars win those games, but they used them to ignite a win streak. Jacksonville won its next game against the Indianapolis Colts before playing the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football in Week 7.

Another prime-time game, and another win. Jacksonville won a close, 31-24 game to achieve a 5-2 record. The Jaguars then won three of their next four and sat at 8-3 ahead of their next featured game — a Monday Night Football matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals without Joe Burrow.

Ahead of their first Monday night game since 2011, the Jaguars knew how significant the spotlight was.

“It’s really just approaching it the same, learning to control your emotions,” Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence said Nov. 27 — a week before the game. “I want the guys to feel relaxed, but at the same time, continue to have that edge that we’ve had the last couple of weeks. … Monday night is a special night. You’re the only game on, everybody is watching you and you want to put your best foot forward.”

Despite Burrow’s absence, Jacksonville lost in front of its home crowd to Jake Browning and the Bengals. While the loss to a backup quarterback looked bad at the moment, Browning’s ascension in the two games has made the result more understandable.

Jacksonville got another shot to earn a prime-time win for the home crowd last week against the Baltimore Ravens.

“It’s exciting for us, but it really honestly doesn’t change much,” Lawrence said a few days before the game. “We still have a job to do, and I look back at the Monday night game. We ended up losing the game and not much to show for playing on a prime-time game and you lose. That’s something where we’ve just got to focus on our job and taking care of business, no matter what time or what day the game is on.”

The Jaguars lost again. They fell to the Ravens in a disappointing 23-7 result. A team that initially thrived under the spotlight has since turned into a team that has come up short on the big stages.

Jacksonville isn’t slated to play any more prime-time games in the regular season, but they’re in the driver’s seat of a close race for a playoff spot.

If the Jaguars advance to the playoffs, their shortcomings in regular season prime-time games will need to be solved, or their postseason run will be a brief one.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

NFL power rankings: Cowboys make a statement on ‘Sunday Night Football’

Following their big win over the Eagles on ‘Sunday Night Football,’ the Cowboys are ranked No. 2 in NFL power rankings this week.

The Dallas Cowboys (10-3) made a statement with their 33-13 win over the Philadelphia Eagles (10-3) on Sunday Night Football in Week 14.

That victory gave the Cowboys a boost in our NFL power rankings this week, but the San Francisco 49ers (10-3) remain ranked No. 1 for at least one more week.

Elsewhere in the NFC, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7), Atlanta Falcons (6-7) and New Orleans Saints (6-7) are in a tight race in the NFC South. The Bucs hold the tiebreaker at the moment.

Over in the AFC, the Denver Broncos (7-6) are now just one game behind the Kansas City Chiefs (8-5) in the AFC West, and the Houston Texans (7-6) and Indianapolis Colts (7-6) are keeping things close with the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5) in the AFC South.

Note that these rankings are being published before the Monday Night Football games featuring the Miami Dolphins (9-3) vs. Tennessee Titans (4-8) and Green Bay Packers (6-6) vs. New York Giants (4-8) in Week 14. The Dolphins and Packers would both make significant drops in the rankings if they are upset on Monday.

So, with two games left to play, here are our NFL power rankings after (most of) Week 14 has wrapped up.

‘Swifties’ react to Taylor Swift, Chiefs’ Week 13 loss vs. Packers on ‘Sunday Night Football’

“Swifties” reacted to Taylor Swift’s appearance at the #Chiefs’ Week 13 loss to the #Packers on “Sunday Night Football” at Lambeau Field

Taylor Swift made the trip to Lambeau Field to watch the Kansas City Chiefs lay an egg against the Green Bay Packers, and while her attendance wasn’t referenced much on the Sunday Night Football broadcast, her devoted fans, the “Swifties” were soaking up as much as they could on social media channels.

The primetime matchup marked the first time that Kansas City has lost a game with the 12-time Grammy winner in the audience, and while many Chiefs fans hoped that her presence would bring their team good luck, it seems that nothing would help Andy Reid’s offense overcome itself.

“Swifties” took to Twitter to document their experience watching Kansas City’s brutal loss in Week 13, and reacted to the defeat with the same fervor that informs their rabid obsession with Swift and her music.

Check out some of their top Tweets about the game below to get a sense of their perspective:

Chiefs Check-in: K.C. loses heartbreaker to Packers

Check out all the top #Chiefs stories and more on today’s edition of Chiefs check-in:

Chiefs Check-in is our online newsletter at Chiefs Wire, running Monday-Friday mornings. Subscribe to get more Chiefs news delivered to your inbox every day.

The Kansas City Chiefs had an ugly night in Green Bay, resulting in a 27-19 loss to the Packers. Multiple starters for the Chiefs went down with injuries, the same old issues persisted on offense and the defense played its worst game of the season.

K.C. has fallen a full game behind the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins in the AFC standings and could fall behind Jacksonville if the Jaguars win Monday night. Thankfully for the Chiefs, three of their four losses have been to NFC teams, and they still hold tiebreakers over the previously mentioned teams.

Here are the top stories on this edition of Chiefs Check-in for the morning of Monday, December 4:

Twitter reacts to Chiefs’ loss vs. Packers on ‘Sunday Night Football’

Check out some of Twitter’s top reactions to the #Chiefs’ Week 13 loss to the #Packers on “Sunday Night Football”

The Kansas City Chiefs were unable to earn their ninth win of the 2023 season against the Green Bay Packers in Week 13. The Sunday Night Football matchup was a frustrating affair for Chiefs fans who had to watch some of their favorite players leave the game with injuries that could have huge implications for their future in the AFC playoff standings.

Drue Tranquill, Donovan Smith, and Bryan Cook all left the game and may miss time in the weeks to come due to the injuries they sustained at Lambeau Field.

Penalties late in the matchup were a source of great controversy and were also part of the angst for fans of both teams on Kansas City’s final offensive drive.

The Chiefs’ propensity for playing in odd games is unmatched, and this tilt was one in a series of contests that Kansas City has lost in unbelievable fashion.

Check out Twitter’s top reactions to the Chiefs’ loss below:

WATCH: Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling makes sliding catch vs. Packers

#Chiefs WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling made an incredible sliding catch against the #Packers in Week 13.

The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t waste any time getting in rhythm against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football in Week 13, and wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling was a big part of the team’s first drive on offense.

The receiver, who has had a tough time finding his footing in 2023, made an incredible sliding catch to move the chains against his former employer.

While the Chiefs were unable to find the end zone on this drive, they were able to score three points when Harrison Butker nailed his first field goal attempt of the game.

Valdes-Scantling’s catch was the first highlight play from Kansas City’s offense, which is endeavoring to get the Chiefs their ninth win of the season in primetime. Expect Patrick Mahomes to continue looking to the former Packer in the passing game, especially when he needs to pick up big chunks of yards downfield against Green Bay’s secondary.

Cris Collinsworth told his Twitter haters he’s capable of talking about non-Patrick Mahomes players

Cris Collinsworth knows his love for Patrick Mahomes can be grating.

Patrick Mahomes is the NFL’s best player. Heck, when all is said and done, he might be known as the best player in NFL history. Naturally, when he plays in a night game, announcers like Cris Collinsworth are going to focus on his wizardry. However, for some, there’s a reasonable limit on gushing about Mahomes compared to other players involved in the game.

Even Collinsworth himself seems to understand this.

Before the Kansas City Chiefs squared off against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, Mike Tirico asked Collinsworth to talk about Kansas City’s budding elite defense. Collinsworth hilariously offered up a disclaimer that he can, in fact, talk about non-Mahomes players and that he’s seen the tweets criticizing him for this.

The self-awareness levels are off the charts:

Kudos to Collinsworth for the great sense of humor. I can’t imagine he’ll keep his focus off him for long, given how good Mahomes is.