Tag: Week 17

All 32 NFL teams (including the Broncos) ranked by FPI ratings

The Broncos finished the 2024 (regular) season with a 0.2 Football Power Index (FPI) rating from ESPN, which ranked 17th in the NFL. 

Following the conclusion of the 2024 NFL regular season, the Denver Broncos (10-7) have a 0.2 Football Power Index (FPI) rating from ESPN, which ranks 17th in the NFL.

The Buffalo Bills (13-4), who will host the Broncos in the first round of the NFL playoffs, are ranked fourth with a 5.9 FPI rating.

FPI is “a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season,” according to ESPN.com. “FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Projected results are based on 10,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule.”

So with that background in mind, here’s a look at how the league’s 32 teams stack up based on FPI following the 2024 NFL season.

  1. Detroit Lions (15-2): 8.7
  2. Baltimore Ravens (12-5): 7.9
  3. Green Bay Packers (11-6): 6.6
  4. Buffalo Bills (13-4): 5.9
  5. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3): 5.3
  6. Kansas City Chiefs (15-2): 3.4
  7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7): 3.0
  8. Minnesota Vikings (14-3): 2.8
  9. San Francisco 49ers (6-11): 2.1
  10. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6): 1.7
  11. Washington Commanders (12-5): 1.2
  12. Cincinnati Bengals (9-8): 0.8
  13. Los Angeles Rams (10-7): 0.6
  14. Miami Dolphins (8-9): 0.4
  15. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7): 0.3
  16. Arizona Cardinals (8-9): 0.3
  17. Denver Broncos (10-7): 0.2
  18. Houston Texans (10-7): -0.0
  19. Seattle Seahawks (10-7): -0.6
  20. Atlanta Falcons (8-9): -1.0
  21. New York Jets (5-12): -1.0
  22. Las Vegas Raiders (4-13): -2.1
  23. Chicago Bears (5-12): -2.1
  24. Cleveland Browns (3-14): -2.5
  25. Tennessee Titans (3-14): -2.7
  26. Indianapolis Colts (8-9): -3.3
  27. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13): -5.3
  28. New England Patriots (4-13): -5.5
  29. Dallas Cowboys (7-10): -5.8
  30. New Orleans Saints (5-12): -7.5
  31. New York Giants (3-14): -8.4
  32. Carolina Panthers (5-12): -9.0

Denver moved up two spots from No. 19 last week to finish the 2024 (regular) season ranked 17th in the NFL.

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Broncos safety P.J. Locke fined $13,972 for unnecessary roughness vs. Bengals

Broncos safety P.J. Locke was fined $13,972 for unnecessary roughness against the Bengals in Week 17.

Denver Broncos safety P.J. Locke was fined $13,972 for unnecessary roughness in the team’s 30-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17, according to multiple reports.

Locke used his helmet when tackling Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki in the third quarter. The infraction was not penalized during the game, but the NFL handed down a fine after reviewing the film.

Elsewhere on the fine front, defensive lineman Malcolm Roach lost his appeal to have his fine for a “violent gesture” reduced. Roach says he was gesturing to show a seatbelt against the New Orleans Saints in Week 7. The NFL interpreted it as showing a gun, and the league upheld his $14,069 fine.

Locke ($41,916) has been the team’s most-fined player this season, followed by Roach ($36,579), safety Brandon Jones ($28,138), pass rusher Nik Bonitto ($17,582), Cooper ($12,668), cornerback Pat Surtain ($11,255), fullback Mike Burton ($7,653), center Luke Wattenberg ($5,872), tight end Lucas Krull ($5,083), running back Blake Watson ($4,463) and safety Devon Key ($4,417).

The money the league receives from fines is “donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation to support Legends in need and the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety and wellness of athletes across all levels,” per the NFL.

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George Pickens refused to play reporter’s game regarding Week 17 INT

George Pickens showed maturity by avoiding controversy when questioned about the Week 17 interception.

George Pickens continues to have issues during the Steelers’ dedicated time for media availability, but fans may argue that the wide receiver showcased some maturity this time around.

Reporters have been digging for information regarding the Steelers’ costly Week 17 interception against the Kansas City Chiefs. Although QB Russell Wilson had shed light on what took place—confirming Pickens was to blame—reporters went straight to the horse’s mouth.

On Thursday, despite their previous struggles getting information out of the Steelers wide receiver, reporters asked Pickens to explain the miscommunication on the interception. Pickens, however, didn’t bite on the opportunity to throw his QB under the bus.

After being asked about Wilson’s comments on the mistake, Pickens attempted to shift the question back to the reporters:

“That’s what he said? Or is that what you said?”

He continued to play coy, choosing instead to decline further engagement with the question.

While he could be protecting his own self-interests, his ability to pull himself away from a situation that could only be described as a rock and a hard place proves his growth and maturity heading into Week 18 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

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Will Patrick Mahomes play this week? Injury updates for Chiefs QB

#Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is dealing with an ankle injury. Here are the latest updates. 

The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to rest their starters when they face the Denver Broncos in Week 18, but the status of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is something for fans to keep their eyes on heading into the playoffs.

Is Mahomes likely to play in the Chiefs’ regular season finale against the Broncos on January 5?

Patrick Mahomes injury update

Mahomes was a limited participant in Kansas City’s Wednesday and Thursday practice sessions due to a lingering ankle injury.

Earlier this week, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid announced that veteran backup Carson Wentz will be under center for Kansas City in Week 18, though the extent to which Mahomes’ injury played a factor in his decision to start the former North Dakota State Bison remains unclear.

How long will Patrick Mahomes be out?

The Chiefs are set to give their starters an extended rest period between Week 18 and Kansas City’s eventual Divisional Round matchup in the playoffs.

Mahomes isn’t expected to miss time beyond Week 18.

Chiefs QB depth chart

Veteran signal-caller Carson Wentz will start for the Chiefs in Week 18 and is likely to be backed up by Chris Oladokun, who is currently on Kansas City’s practice squad.

All 32 NFL teams (including the Broncos) ranked by FPI ratings

Going into Week 18, the Broncos have a -1.1 Football Power Index (FPI) rating from ESPN, which ranks 19th in the NFL. 

Seventeen weeks into the season, the Denver Broncos (9-7) have a -1.1 Football Power Index (FPI) rating from ESPN, which ranks 19th in the NFL.

The Kansas City Chiefs (15-1), who will face the Broncos in Week 18, are ranked 21st with a -1.2 FPI rating.

FPI is “a measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of a team’s performance going forward for the rest of the season,” according to ESPN.com. “FPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. Projected results are based on 10,000 simulations of the rest of the season using FPI, results to date, and the remaining schedule.”

So with that background in mind, here’s a look at how the league’s 32 teams stack up based on FPI going into Week 18 of the 2024 NFL season.

  1. Detroit Lions (14-2): 8.4
  2. Baltimore Ravens (11-5): 8.0
  3. Green Bay Packers (11-5): 6.9
  4. Buffalo Bills (13-3): 6.7
  5. Philadelphia Eagles (13-3): 5.4
  6. Minnesota Vikings (14-2): 3.5
  7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7): 3.3
  8. San Francisco 49ers (6-10): 2.7
  9. Washington Commanders (11-5): 1.3
  10. Los Angeles Chargers (10-6): 1.1
  11. Los Angeles Rams (10-6): 0.8
  12. Miami Dolphins (8-8): 0.8
  13. Cincinnati Bengals (8-8): 0.6
  14. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6): 0.6
  15. Arizona Cardinals (7-9): -0.0
  16. Houston Texans (9-7): -0.1
  17. Seattle Seahawks (9-7): -0.9
  18. New York Jets (4-12): -1.1
  19. Denver Broncos (9-7): -1.1
  20. Atlanta Falcons (8-8): -1.1
  21. Kansas City Chiefs (15-1): -1.2
  22. Las Vegas Raiders (4-12): -1.5
  23. Chicago Bears (4-12): -2.3
  24. Tennessee Titans (3-13): -2.7
  25. Indianapolis Colts (7-9): -3.4
  26. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12): -5.5
  27. New England Patriots (3-13): -5.5
  28. Dallas Cowboys (7-9): -5.7
  29. New Orleans Saints (5-11): -7.7
  30. New York Giants (3-13): -7.7
  31. Cleveland Browns (3-13): -9.6
  32. Carolina Panthers (4-12): -9.8

The Broncos will aim to improve their rating when they host the Chiefs on Sunday. Denver’s current ranking is one up spot since last week.

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What we learned from the Bills’ Week 17 win vs. Jets

What we learned from the Bills’ Week 17 win vs. Jets

The Buffalo Bills ar rounding out their 2024 schedule, most recently with a Week 17 win over the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium, 40-14.

The Bills (13-3) and Jets (4-12) have trended in opposite directions for much of this season, the former being dubbed as overachievers and the latter underachievers. Buffalo took care of business at home against a struggling New York squad and have now positioned themselves firmly as the second seed in the AFC playoffs with a week to spare in the regular season.

Next, the Bills will take on the New England Patriots (3-13) on the road at Gillette Stadium without anything to play for in Week 18.

Here are five things we learned from Week 17’s win vs. the Jets:

Defense ramping up for playoffs

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The Bills defense looked playoff-ready.

Granted, it was over the four-win Jets, but they bucked some trends that could be telling for what’s to come in the postseason.

Buffalo had a quarterback pressure rate of 43.2%, which ranked fifth out of every team in Week 17. For the season, they rank middle-of-the-pack in the NFL with a pressure rate of 34.7%. And, they only blitzed 13% of the time on Sunday. This is a sign that the defensive line is stepping up down the stretch.

The Bills also held Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers without a third-down conversion (0-for-5). Going into the game, Buffalo’s defense ranked among the worst in the NFL on third downs. They ranked 32nd in the NFL against the pass on third down and 31st against the run (EPA/play).

These are good signs from the defense for what’s to come. The two-seed is wrapped up and the defense can continue to get healthy for the final run.

Cooper and Coleman provide a huge boost for the offense

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Wide receivers Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman haven’t been on the field consistently for the Bills, and when they have been on the field they haven’t gotten consistent targets. But one thing is clear: they can make plays when given the opportunity.

Cooper has played only eight games for Buffalo this year and has seen three or fewer targets in six of them. Coleman has played in 12 games and has seen two or fewer targets in five.

The Bills haven’t needed to break glass in case of emergency much at all this season. So, two of their better playmakers have had limited touches. But, as you saw in Week 17, they are more than capable of coming down with difficult catches when relied upon.

Both found the endzone against the Jets on highlight-reel plays. In the postseason, the Bills may lean on them a bit more, especially Cooper who has been around the block in the NFL without getting many chances in the postseason.

Cole Bishop flashing potential at safety

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Second-round rookie Cole Bishop has three starts under his belt, the latest being Week 17 as he filled in for Damar Hamlin.

Bishop has made his share of rookie mistakes, but he has shown flashes of what he can become and why he was picked early in April’s NFL Draft. Head coach Sean McDermott has been impressed with him.

Ahead of the Week 17 game, McDermott said, “I’m impressed with his improvement, and it’s good to see. His first game [Week 5 at HOU] was a bit rocky as it is for most rookies… it’s been fun to watch Cole develop so we’re looking for more as the season moves forward here.”

Bishop, even as a rookie, seems to give the run defense a boost at the very least with his downhill style of play. He’ll be one to watch in the final week of the season. He could be a starter come Week 1 of 2025 and may be needed before that.

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Broncos could get reinforcement from injured reserve this week

Broncos RB Tyler Badie (back) has until Jan. 14 to return from injured reserve.

Denver Broncos running back Tyler Badie (back) returned to practice last week, starting his 21-day window to return from injured reserve.

Badie now has until Jan. 14 to be activated to the 53-man roster. If the running back is not activated by that deadline, he will remain on IR for the rest of Denver’s season.

The Broncos previously brought back six other players from injury lists this fall. Since-traded pass rusher Baron Browning, offensive tackle, Mike McGlinchey, cornerback Damarri Mathis, running back Audric Estime and center Luke Wattenberg returned from IR earlier this season. Denver also activated linebacker Drew Sanders from the physically unable to perform list.

The Broncos opted to cut wide receiver Josh Reynolds when his IR window was closing, and the team chose to keep safety Delarrin Turner-Yell on the PUP list for the rest of the season.

Broncos eligible to return from IR

  1. RB Tyler Badie: Deadline to return: Jan. 14

The Broncos also have two players — linebacker Alex Singleton (ACL) and offensive lineman Quinn Bailey (ankle) — who are on season-ending IR.

Broncos on season-ending injured reserve

  1. LB Alex Singleton: Out for season
  2. OL Quinn Bailey: Out for season

NFL teams can have eight players return from IR during a season, and teams who make the playoffs are granted two extra potential returns.

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WATCH: Vikings give priceless reaction to Sam Darnold after Packers win

Sam Darnold was welcomed with a spectacular celebration in the Vikings locker room after beating the Packers.

Sam Darnold got quite the reception in the locker room following the Minnesota Vikings’ 27-25 win over the Green Bay Packers.

He was welcomed into the locker room by a shower of water bottles. Teammates then hoisted him on their shoulders and began singing.

Darnold admitted that he didn’t quite know what to do after getting picked up, leading to a funny dance while on his teammates’ shoulders.

“I didn’t know what to do with my hands in that situation,” Darnold said, via The Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling, “Ricky Bobby-style.”

It was an image of how close this locker room has been during the 2024 season. Players and coaches have repeatedly discussed how “special” this team is. On top of the skill sets across the team, the comradery has the team one win away from holding home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Darnold has put together the best season of his seven-year NFL career. If he can keep playing like he has the past two months, this team could make a deep playoff run.

 

Sam Darnold makes NFL history after win over the Packers

Sam Darnold built on his career year by making NFL history with his win over the Packers on Sunday.

Sam Darnold had another great game in Sunday’s 27-25 win over the Green Bay Packers. He threw for a career-high 377 yards and had his sixth game with at least six touchdown passes this year. However, the win cemented an accomplishment no other quarterback in league history has done.

Darnold became the first quarterback in NFL history to record 14 wins in his first season with a team. It’s a feat that Brett Favre couldn’t accomplish in 2009 with the Vikings. Or Peyton Manning in 2012 with the Broncos. Or even Tom Brady in 2020 with the Buccaneers.

Unlike those quarterbacks, Darnold doesn’t have a Hall of Fame pedigree. He also didn’t join a team the public viewed as ready to “win now.” Signed on a one-year deal, the expectation was that Darnold would hold the starting quarterback spot down until J.J. McCarthy was ready.

Now, the Vikings are on the doorstep of holding home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

Monday Night Football schedule: Is there a ‘ManningCast’ tonight?

There’s no ‘ManningCast’ for the Lions-49ers game tonight, but Peyton and Eli will return for a playoff game in January.

Peyton and Eli Manning have returned for a fourth season of the ManningCast with the two former quarterbacks set to provide commentary for 11 weeks of Monday Night Football games this fall.

The brothers released a funny 10-minute musical to promote the upcoming ManningCast season in September. The 2024 slate is now on a break as the regular season schedule has wrapped up for the ManningCast.

The program will return in the first round of the playoffs for a Wild Card game that will be televised on ESPN2, which is available to stream on fuboTV.

Peyton and Eli will welcome new guests on the program each week there is a ManningCast, and Bill Belichick will be featured on every episode this fall.

Check out the full schedule below.

ManningCast 2024 Schedule

NFL Week Date Game TV
1 Sept. 9 Jets @ 49ers ESPN2, ESPN+
2 Sept. 16 Falcons @ Eagles ESPN2
5 Oct. 7 Saints @ Chiefs ESPN2
6 Oct. 14 Bills @ Jets ESPN2
7 Oct. 21 Ravens @ Bucs ESPN2, ESPN+
8 Oct. 28 Giants @ Steelers ESPN2, ESPN+
9 Nov. 4 Bucs @ Chiefs ESPN2
11 Nov. 18 Texans @ Cowboys ESPN2
12 Nov. 25 Ravens @ Chargers ESPN2
14 Dec. 9 Bengals @ Cowboys ESPN2, ESPN+
Wild Card Jan. 13 TBD ESPN2, ESPN+

The ManningCast is televised on ESPN2. The primary MNF broadcast will continue to feature Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Lisa Salters on ESPN.

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