NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Latest odds to win Super Bowl:

Patriots 11/5
Steelers 7/2
Eagles 4/1
Saints 10/1
Vikings 10/1

 

Pats and Steelers jumped the Eagles because of the road to the Super Bowl.

 

Or because of history.

 

It's the road. Eagles were ahead last week or the week before. The odds went (relatively) way up for the Patriots and Steelers when KC lost.

 

Nice call.

@AdamSchefter 43m43 minutes ago

The Detroit Lions claimed Dwight Freeney on waivers, per source.

 

Derrell Revis signs with the Chiefs on a team friendly deal. Chiefs wanted him all season but they wouldn't give in to demands for more money or guarantees. Now Revis is desperate to play this season instead of fade away so he has signed a 2-yr deal. Minimum this year and no guarantee next year.

 

We looked at the NFC... Here’s how the AFC playoff picture looks, with each team now having played 10 games:

LEADERS
1. Steelers (8-2): Pittsburgh has the tiebreaker over New England based on a better conference record.

2. Patriots (8-2): New England’s December 17 game at Pittsburgh is shaping up to be the game of the year.

3. Jaguars (7-3): Is America ready for the Jaguars in the playoffs? Because they’re a near-lock to make it.

4. Chiefs (6-4): Kansas City has stumbled mightily after a hot start, but the Chiefs are still the overwhelming favorites in the AFC West.

5. Titans (6-4): The Week 17 date with the Jaguars could decide the AFC South. Could a Jaguars-Titans game really get flexed into prime time?

6. Ravens (5-5): Joe Flacco isn’t playing well, but Baltimore’s defense is, and that may be enough.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
7. Bills (5-5): Sean McDermott made a huge mistake by benching Tyrod Taylor but the Bills aren’t out of it just yet.

8. Dolphins (4-6): It’s hard to believe an offense this bad is only a game out of the wild card, but here we are.

9. Jets (4-6): It’s hard to believe a team everyone accused of tanking is only a game out of the wild card, but here we are.

10. Bengals (4-6): Cincinnati’s offense is starting to pick up.

11. Texans (4-6): The Deshaun Watson injury probably cost the Texans a playoff spot.

12. Chargers (4-6): Los Angeles is coming on strong, but making up a two-game deficit in the division will be tough.

13. Raiders (4-6): Oakland a major disappointment.

14. Colts (3-7): If only Andrew Luck had been healthy.

15. Broncos (3-7): Denver may be the biggest disappointment in the league.

16. Browns (0-10): They actually haven’t been mathematically eliminated yet, but it’s probably safe to say the Browns won’t be in the playoffs this year.

(PFT)

 

Ravens, then Chargers are the contenders for the #6 seed. I'd follow that up by the Bengals and Bills, but the Bills only because of their record. Their odds will likely be jumped by another team soon.

 

I'm surprised the Titans are where they are. KC has sure been terrible... 1-4 after starting, 5-0.

I think Flaco plays just well enough to keep the Ravens at 6, but I agree the Chargers are a team to consider also.

Raiders can make a move also...

 

Revis signed by the Chiefs ???

 

Why? You wanted him on the Browns?

 

How in the hell did you connect those two dots?

 

Very carefully

 

Apparently they’re giving the Raiders and Chargers a chance to catch up...Revis won’t be a positive impact. If Berry was still playing, I think it’d be better because he would be able to mask the deficiencies...

 

AFC playoff picture: Chargers moving up

Here’s how the AFC playoff race looks, through Thanksgiving:

LEADERS
1. Steelers (8-2): Pittsburgh has the tiebreaker over New England based on a better conference record.

2. Patriots (8-2): New England’s December 17 game at Pittsburgh is shaping up to be the game of the year.

3. Jaguars (7-3): Is America ready for the Jaguars in the playoffs? Because they’re a near-lock to make it.

4. Chiefs (6-4): Kansas City has stumbled mightily after a hot start, but the Chiefs are still the overwhelming favorites in the AFC West.

5. Titans (6-4): The Week 17 date with the Jaguars could decide the AFC South. Could a Jaguars-Titans game really get flexed into prime time?

6. Ravens (5-5): Joe Flacco isn’t playing well, but Baltimore’s defense is, and that may be enough.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
7. Bills (5-5): Sean McDermott made a huge mistake by benching Tyrod Taylor but the Bills aren’t out of it just yet.

8. Chargers (5-6): Los Angeles only has one game remaining against a team with a winning record.

9. Dolphins (4-6): It’s hard to believe an offense this bad is only a game out of the wild card, but here we are.

10. Jets (4-6): It’s hard to believe a team everyone accused of tanking is only a game out of the wild card, but here we are.

11. Bengals (4-6): Cincinnati’s offense is starting to pick up.

12. Texans (4-6): The Deshaun Watson injury probably cost the Texans a playoff spot.

13. Raiders (4-6): Oakland is a major disappointment.

14. Colts (3-7): If only Andrew Luck had been healthy.

15. Broncos (3-7): Denver may be the biggest disappointment in the league.

16. Browns (0-10): They actually haven’t been mathematically eliminated yet, but it’s probably safe to say the Browns won’t be in the playoffs this year.

 

NFC playoff picture: Vikings have all but wrapped up the NFC North

Washington’s win and Dallas’s loss also had an impact on the playoff race. Here’s how it all looks after Thanksgiving:

LEADERS
1. Eagles (9-1): The class of the conference.

2. Vikings (9-2): Minnesota has a shot at home-field advantage in the playoffs, in a year when the Super Bowl will be played on their home field.

3. Saints (8-2): Surging ahead in the NFC South with an eight-game winning streak.

4. Rams (7-3): The loss to the Vikings may end up costing the Rams a bye week.

5. Panthers (7-3): The Panthers have a game lead over the rest of the wild card field.

6. Falcons (6-4): Atlanta owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over both the other 6-4 teams, the Lions and Seahawks.

OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
7. Seahawks (6-4): Injuries are taking a toll on Seattle’s playoff hopes.

8. Lions (6-5): Hard to see Detroit making it now.

9. Packers (5-5): Without Aaron Rodgers it’s hard to imagine they make a playoff run.

10. Cowboys (5-6): Three straight losses without Ezekiel Elliott.

11. Washington (5-6): Still behind Dallas based on the Cowboys’ head-to-head win.

12. Cardinals (4-6): Just playing out the string, with Blaine Gabbert under center.

13. Buccaneers (4-6): Maybe the NFC’s most disappointing team.

14. Bears (3-7): Chicago has no hope.

15. Giants (2-9): The Giants are going nowhere.

16. 49ers (1-9): Still have a chance of passing the Browns for the first pick in the draft.

 

I can't help but think that the Chargers are a team very capable of making the playoffs. Either stealing the west from the Chiefs or snagging a wild card.

 

Panthers activating Greg Olsen for Sunday’s game...

Hearing reports D. Freeman out again for Falcons.

 

Ryan Mallett fined $12,154 for verbal abuse of officials

Ravens backup quarterback Ryan Mallett didn’t play Sunday, but he still managed to get his pay docked this week. The NFL fined him $12,154 for repeated verbal abuse of officials, via Tom Pelissero of NFL Media.

Officials penalized Mallett for unsportsmanlike conduct after he yelled from the sideline. Referee Jeff Triplette didn’t announce who specifically the penalty was on, but coach John Harbaugh later told reporters it was Mallett.

The 15-yard penalty upset Harbaugh, who did not hear Mallett’s altercation with officials.

“If he said what the officials said he said, sure [he deserved it],” Harbaugh said earlier this week, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN. “He will be disciplined here in house, I promise you. As much as I love Ryan Mallett, I’m not cool with that.”

Mallett’s penalty came a couple of plays after officials picked up a flag for a low hit on quarterback Joe Flacco.

 

Larry Fitzgerald fined $24,309 for illegal block

Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald recently signed a new deal that will keep him under contract through the 2018 season.

There’s been no word on the financial terms of the deal, but it will presumably give Fitzgerald ample money to afford the fine he received from the league this week.


PFT has confirmed with the league that Fitzgerald has been fined $24,309 for an illegal crackback block during a fruitless run by Adrian Peterson in the first quarter of last Sunday’s loss to the Texans.

Fitzgerald had nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown in the game and moved past Tony Gonzalez into fifth place on the league’s list of career receiving yards. Another year would bump him even higher up the list, but Fitzgerald didn’t delve into his plans for 2018 when asked about the extension after the game.