Tag: Wild Card

6 players fined after Broncos-Bills playoff game, including Mack Hollins

Bills WR Mack Hollins was fined for taunting Broncos CB Pat Surtain on Sunday. Denver RB Javonte Williams also received a large fine.

The NFL handed down fines to six players following the playoff game between the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos last weekend.

Notably, Bills wide receiver Mack Hollins received a $11,255 fine for taunting. Hollins was penalized after he made a catch and pushed Pat Surtain’s head and then stepped over the cornerback:

Hollins received a second $6,736 fine (also for taunting), bringing his total to $17,991. Elsewhere for the Bills, Reid Ferguson ($11,255) was fined for taunting, Damar Hamlin ($6,083) was fined for unsportsmanlike conduct and Taron Johnson ($14,305) was fined for unnecessary roughness.

As for the Broncos, running back Javonte Williams ($45,020) received a big fine for unnecessary roughness (using his helmet) and linebacker Justin Strnad ($7,250) was also fined for unnecessary roughness.

Williams ($45,020) now finishes as the team’s most-fined player from the 2024 season, followed by safety P.J. Locke ($41,916), defensive lineman Malcolm 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), Strnad ($7,250), 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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ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky: James Cook’s vision sensational in Bills win vs. Broncos

ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky: James Cook’s vision sensational in win vs. Broncos

ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky is well-regarded for his knowledge of football’s intricacies. This week, he joined One Bills Live and praised the  Buffalo Bills’ running game against the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card round, particularly James Cook.

Cook carried 23 times for 120 yards and a score in the 31-7 win at Highmark Stadium.

“I thought James Cook’s vision was sensational,” Orlovsky said. “His ability to wait for the hole and then get through the hole… that vision and burst was one of the better performances I’ve seen all season. It was in many ways, I don’t want to say flawless, but a big performance by that whole group.”

For Cook, this just added to his list of standout games on the ground this year. He had four 100+yard games and eight games of 70+ in the regular season.

He had a spectacular 2024 regular season as he continued to improve as a runner. He tied O.J. Simpson for the most rushing touchdowns in a season in Bills history (16). He did this despite carrying the ball over 120 fewer times than Simpson in his record-breaking year (1975).

Cook, Josh Allen (46 yards rushing), and Ty Johnson (44 yards rushing) led the way for a ground game that totaled 210 yards in the Wild Card win.

Check out the full clip from One Bills Live:

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

Peyton and Eli wrap up the ‘ManningCast’ season tonight with the Rams-Vikings game in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs.

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 concludes tonight with a Wild Card playoff game wrapping up the Manning’s season.

Peyton and Eli will provide commentary for the Minnesota Vikings vs. Los Angeles Rams playoff game at 8:00 p.m. MT on ESPN2, which is available to stream on fuboTV.

Peyton and Eli 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 Vikings @ Rams 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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Russell Wilson efficient, but not enough in loss to Ravens

Russell Wilson efficient, but not enough in loss to Ravens

The Seattle Seahawks and their fans watched the first round of the NFL playoffs from home, but they did get to watch some familiar faces perform. On Sunday night, former Seahawks legend Bobby Wagner made the game-changing play for the Washington Commanders in their 23-20 win over the Buccaneers. However, Wagner was not the only former Seattle icon who took the field this weekend, as Russell Wilson led the Steelers on Saturday night.

Sadly for Wilson, his outing was much less notable than Wagner’s. Pittsburgh was dominated by the Baltimore Ravens in humiliating fashion in a 28-14 game that was nowhere near as bad as the final score might indicate. Wilson did not play badly, and ultimately ended with a typically efficient statline. The former Seahawks signal caller finished with 20-of-29 passes completed for 270 yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers. Unfortunately, Wilson took four sacks in the loss.

The true failure of Pittsburgh on Saturday night was not Wilson’s fault, but a Steelers defense incapable of slowing down the Ravens rushing attack. As a team, Baltimore accounted for 299 rushing yards and two scores. Derrick Henry led the way with 186 of them, and quarterback Lamar Jackson had 81 himself. Baltimore had built up a 21-0 lead before halftime and it was essentially over for them.

Wilson did attempt to get the Steelers back in the game, scoring his first touchdown of the evening to cut the lead to 21-7. But Henry stamped out any momentum Pittsburgh was attempting to build, as he rumbled his way to the end zone on a 44-yard touchdown run.

Now the future of Wilson’s career is once again in question. He was with the Steelers on a one year deal, and while he played fine, he did oversee a five-game losing streak to end the season. Plenty of questions overall surround Pittsburgh overall, and one of the top ones has to be what they do at quarterback. Wilson could very well be seeking a fourth NFL home this spring.

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Broncos PFF grades: Best, worst players from 31-7 loss to Bills

QB Bo Nix (85.2) did his part, but the Broncos need to add playmakers on offense. View more of the team’s PFF grades here.

Following the Denver Broncos‘ 31-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the NFL playoffs, Pro Football Focus has released grades for each player’s performance.

PFF grades players on a 0 (worst) to 100 (best) scale. Check out the best and worst from the Wild Card game below.

Best Offensive Players 

  • QB Bo Nix: 85.2
  • OT Garett Bolles: 79.6
  • WR Courtland Sutton: 77.1
  • P Riley Dixon: 73.1
  • C Luke Wattenberg: 69.3

Nix did his part, but it’s clear that Denver needs to add playmakers around him. Dixon’s fake punt landed him among the top offensive players. G Ben Powers (68.7) receiving the sixth-best grade on offense.

Best Defensive Players 

  • DL D.J. Jones: 79.4
  • DL Zach Allen: 77.2
  • OLB Nik Bonitto: 76.4
  • CB Ja’Quan McMillian: 67.0
  • DB Devon Key: 60.0

Jones is scheduled to become a free agent, so interior defensive line could quietly emerge as a key position of need for the Broncos in 2025.

Worst Offensive Players 

  • WR Devaughn Vele: 34.9
  • OT Mike McGlinchey: 47.8
  • WR Marvin Mims: 50.8
  • TE Lucas Krull: 51.6
  • WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey: 52.3

Denver’s front office needs to add a dynamic receiver and a pass-catching tight end this spring. Nix needs help.

Worst Defensive Players 

  • LB Drew Sanders: 27.1
  • LB Justin Strnad: 28.1
  • DB P.J. Locke: 28.4
  • DL John Franklin-Myers: 32.7
  • DL Malcolm Roach: 37.4

On defense, the Broncos will need at least one starting inside linebacker and a starting-caliber safety to push or replace Locke across from Brandon Jones.

Special Teams 

  • ST Adam Trautman: 74.4
  • LS Mitchell Fraboni: 63.6
  • R Marvin Mims: 59.5
  • K Wil Lutz: 48.9 (FG) 60.0 (KO)
  • P Riley Dixon: 64.5

You can view grades for every player on the paid version of PFF’s website.

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Ex-Saints CB Marshon Lattimore struggles in playoff rematch with archrival

His Washington Commanders got the last laugh, but ex-Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore struggled in a playoff rematch with his archrival Mike Evans:

The New Orleans Saints traded Marshon Lattimore to the Washington Commanders earlier this season and, as fate would have it, he met up with a bitter rival during Sunday night’s NFC Wild Card Round.

Lattimore went face-to-face with Mike Evans when the Commanders took on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The two stars have a long history of beef from when they would face off twice a year.

Their visual feuds have led to fights and drama for years. It is always a pleasure to watch them face off, as both parties have claimed plenty of wins in the past.

In Lattimore’s first time facing Evans outside of a Dennis Allen-built scheme, the wide receiver had the better performance. Evans had seven catches for 92 yards and a touchdown. In one memorable sequence he forced Lattimore to commit pass interference to prevent a touchdown, only to score on him on the ensuing down.

In the end, though, Washington got the last laugh with a 23-20 win. Lattimore and his new squad will take on the Detroit Lions in the Divisional Round next weekend. With the likes of Dan Campbell and Lattimore’s old position coach Aaron Glenn on the opposite sideline, there will be even more familiar faces.

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7 Broncos players did not play vs. Bills on Sunday

Seven Broncos players did not play against the Bills, including healthy scratch Audric Estime.

Seven members of the Denver Broncos‘ 53-man roster did not play in the team’s 31-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday.

Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson*, running back Audric Estime, running back Blake Watson, linebacker Levelle Bailey, offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo and and defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike were inactive.

*Wilson was inactive but still dressed as an emergency third quarterback. Jarrett Stidham, Denver’s primary backup quarterback, also did not get on the field as Bo Nix played the entire game. That gave the Broncos a total of eight players who did not play against the Bills.

Broncos who did not play vs. Bills

  1. QB Zach Wilson (*emergency third QB)
  2. RB Audric Estime 
  3. RB Blake Watson
  4. LB Levelle Bailey 
  5. OL Nick Gargiulo
  6. DL Eyioma Uwazurike
  7. QB Jarrett Stidham (active)

Denver now enters the NFL offeseason with 19 players scheduled to become free agents in March.

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WATCH: Broncos QB Bo Nix throws 43-TD pass to Troy Franklin

What a time for Bo Nix and Troy Franklin to finally connect on a deep pass!

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Troy Franklin against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

Here’s video of the play, courtesy of the team’s official Twitter/X page:

Following the score, Denver leads Buffalo 7-0 in the first quarter.

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Broncos inactives: RB Audric Estime won’t play vs. Bills today

Broncos inactives vs. Bills: QB Zach Wilson, RB Audric Estime, RB Blake Watson, LB Levelle Bailey, OL Nick Gargiulo and DL Eyioma Uwazurike.

The Denver Broncos have announced their list of six inactive players for Sunday’s Wild Card playoff game against the Buffalo Bills.

The Broncos’ inactive players today are quarterback Zach Wilson*, running back Audric Estime, running back Blake Watson, linebacker Levelle Bailey, offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo and and defensive end Eyioma Uwazurike.

With Estime a healthy scratch, Denver’s top running backs will be Jaleel McLaughlin, Javonte Williams and Tyler Badie, who was just activated from injured reserve on Saturday.

*Technically, Wilson is still available to play as the team’s emergency third-string quarterback behind starter Bo Nix and primary backup Jarrett Stidham, but he’s on the inactive list and does not count against the game-day roster. Wilson can play if both Nix and Stidham are injured.

With the exception of Wilson, these inactive players are members of the 53-man roster who are not eligible to play against the Bills. They will be reactivated on Monday.

Broncos inactives vs. Bills

  1. QB Zach Wilson (*emergency third QB)
  2. RB Audric Estime 
  3. RB Blake Watson
  4. LB Levelle Bailey 
  5. OL Nick Gargiulo
  6. DL Eyioma Uwazurike

Sunday’s game will be nationally televised on CBS. Playing on the road, Denver is considered a big underdog against the Bills.

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Broncos vs. Bills: Will the playoff game be on TV today?

The Broncos’ playoff game against the Bills will be nationally televised on CBS today.

The Denver Broncos (10-7) are set to go on the road to face the Buffalo Bills (13-4) in the first round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday, Jan. 12 at 11:00 a.m. MT (1:00 p.m. ET).

The AFC Wild Card matchup will be nationally televised on CBS and available to stream on FuboTV (try it free).

CBS is sending its No. 1 commentary crew of Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Tony Romo (analyst) and Tracy Wolfson (sideline reporter) to Buffalo to call the game at Highmark Stadium.

NFL Playoff picks: Unlock exclusive data-driven predictions 

On the radio, the game will be nationally broadcast on Westwood One and broadcast locally on KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM.

Fans in the orange areas on the map below will get the Broncos-Bills game on their local CBS channel:

Denver is considered an 8.5-point underdog going into the game in Buffalo. The Bills lead the all-time series against the Broncos 23-17-1, but Denver beat them in Buffalo last season. The Broncos are returning to the NFL playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 with Von Miller, who now plays for the Bills.

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