Earlier this season, if you doubted the Rangers and thought they were headed for a rough year with no chance of turning things around, it wouldn’t have been hard to agree. There were many moments that made it seem like things were slipping away.
However, now it looks like the Rangers are back in form, and they may even be stronger than before. While we won’t know for sure until the NHL playoffs, Thursday night at Madison Square Garden provided plenty of proof. They dominated the Flyers 6-1, extending their points streak to 10 games (7-0-3). This is the 14th time in franchise history they’ve managed such a streak.
Offensive Surge
Since January 2, the Rangers have scored 43 goals, the most in the NHL. They’ve also gained 19 points during this stretch, which is the highest in the league.
Filip Chytil, who scored his 11th goal of the season to give the Rangers a 4-1 lead, praised the team’s mental resilience, saying, “Even in the tough moments which we had, I think we didn’t lose our heads, because we know what team we have, and we just didn’t forget to play hockey in a couple of months.”
He added, “Sometimes you have stretches like this in a season, and it’s just about the team, how you respond. And I think, for the last month, we’ve responded in a good way, and that’s why we’re winning these hard games. We have to keep going like this.”
Team Effort and Shesterkin’s Solid Play
The Rangers’ success isn’t just about one or two players; it’s a full-team effort. Igor Shesterkin, despite allowing a goal early in the game, showed his usual brilliance by stopping 35 shots, including a difficult second period where the Flyers fired 17 shots. He was key to the win, and his performance has been stellar recently, with a 6-0-1 record in his last seven games and allowing only one goal in his last three.
Rangers coach Peter Laviolette praised Shesterkin’s performance, saying, “He was fantastic. He’s been playing like that. He’s been right on point with his game.”
Igor Shesterkin makes a save in the 1st period
Chytil shared his confidence in Shesterkin, saying, “I don’t have to talk about him at all, because he’s just speaking with his performance on the ice. He’s unbelievable and we know he’s great, but also we’ve gotta help him, because he can’t just stand on his head and make all the saves.”
Strong Offensive Contributions Across the Team
The Rangers’ offense has been diverse, with goals coming from unexpected places. They fired shots into traffic, creating opportunities from deflections, with Chytil and Adam Edstrom both scoring. Three Rangers defensemen found the back of the net—Braden Schneider, K’Andre Miller, and Adam Fox. It was the first time since 2019 that all six defensemen had at least one point in a game.
Reilly Smith added a late goal, and it was a crucial win for the Rangers, who are currently fighting for a spot in the Wild Card race along with the Flyers. The victory should give Rangers fans confidence, especially after the team’s struggles earlier in the season. The players believe in their potential, and it seems the fans should too.
Defenseman K’Andre Miller expressed the team’s confidence, saying, “I think everybody in this room knew how good of a team we are, honestly. I think the last couple of games have shown a lot of good things. And how good we can be.”
Game 272 of the regular season was a historic one for the Detroit Lions.
In a thrilling match between two 14-2 teams to finish the regular season, the Lions dominated in all areas, securing a 31-9 victory. With this win, Detroit became the NFC North champions for the second year in a row.
This win not only gave the Lions the division title, but also earned them the first-ever No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. This means they will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
“What a win,” said Lions head coach Dan Campbell after the game. “I can’t say enough about our defense. Let me start there. AG (defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn) and the defense really controlled that game for us, particularly in the first half.”
“It was a total team effort starting with our defense. It took the whole unit, but what a great job. Back-to-back division winners in the NFC North and got the No. 1 seed, 15 wins, I just couldn’t be more proud of those guys.”
Detroit’s defense was outstanding all game, stopping the Vikings from scoring a touchdown and making two crucial fourth-down stops inside their own 5-yard line to help secure the win.
Minnesota struggled with just 3 successful third downs out of 13 tries, failed on all three fourth downs, and didn’t score at all in the red zone (0-for-4).
After a slow start, Detroit’s offense picked up in the second half, with Jahmyr Gibbs scoring three touchdowns. Gibbs finished the game with four touchdowns, setting a new franchise record with 20 touchdowns in a season, breaking the previous record of 17 held by Barry Sanders and Jamaal Williams.
Detroit Lions players in the 2nd half
He rushed for 139 yards, caught five passes for 31 yards, and has now surpassed 100 scrimmage yards and scored a touchdown in four consecutive games, tying a franchise record for most such games in a single season.
“It’s a huge accomplishment, but like I said, and we said it (in the locker room), it’s step one,” said quarterback Jared Goff. “We’re proud to be 15-2 and NFC North champs back-to-back, the No. 1 seed, bye week, all of that stuff we’re proud of it, this is just tick No. 1. Check. Tick No. 2 is next.”
The Lions now have a much-needed bye week and will automatically advance to the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
After both teams punted on their opening drives, Detroit was the first to score, with a 25-yard touchdown run by Gibbs. This came just one play after head coach Dan Campbell decided to go for it on 4th & 5 at the Minnesota 39-yard line, successfully converting on a 14-yard pass from Jared Goff to Jameson Williams.
Minnesota’s first points came from a 25-yard field goal by Will Reichard, which followed an interception by Goff at the Lions’ 7-yard line on a tipped pass. This occurred after Detroit had stopped Minnesota on a 4th & goal play from the 3-yard line on their previous drive.
A 31-yard field goal by Will Reichard with 20 seconds left in the first half made the score 7-6 in favor of Detroit. However, the Lions got a chance to score again before the half ended when Reichard kicked the following kickoff out of bounds.
Detroit Lions players celebrate after a touchdown in the 2nd half
Detroit started with the ball at the 40-yard line. Two passes from Jared Goff to Amon-Ra St. Brown moved the ball to the Minnesota 30-yard line with just a couple of seconds remaining. Jake Bates then kicked a 48-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Lions a 10-6 lead at halftime.
Detroit’s defense forced their second turnover on downs inside their own 5-yard line on Minnesota’s first possession of the second half.
After a 51-yard field goal by Reichard made it 10-9, Goff and the Lions’ offense responded with a 13-play, 70-yard drive. The drive ended with a 9-yard touchdown catch by Jahmyr Gibbs on a 4th & 2 play, increasing Detroit’s lead to 17-9.
The Lions extended their lead to 24-9 early in the fourth quarter with a 13-yard touchdown run by Gibbs. They pushed the lead even further to 31-9 when Gibbs scored his fourth touchdown of the game, a 4-yard run, with just over five minutes left in the game.
“Our guys didn’t bat an eye,” head coach Dan Campbell said. “They line up, they compete, they play to win, and we knew what was at stake. But our guys just came out and played. Our players will show up and make plays because the core of this group has been doing it for four years… and our guys did it again.”
The Cincinnati Bengals did their part to stay in the playoff race with a 19-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in a crucial game on a cold Saturday night.
Though the Bengals controlled most of the game, missed opportunities made them work to hold onto a narrow lead in the fourth quarter. Despite this, Cincinnati secured its fifth straight win to end the regular season.
If the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins lose on Sunday, Cincinnati (9-8) will take the seventh and final playoff spot in the AFC.
The Steelers (10-7) are already in the playoffs but head into the postseason with concerns. They ended the regular season with four straight losses and will be the fifth or sixth seed in the AFC, depending on the outcome of the Los Angeles Chargers game on Sunday.
The Bengals now have to wait anxiously for the results of other games on Sunday, while reflecting on missed chances earlier in the season. However, five weeks ago, making the playoffs didn’t seem likely.
Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) What we learned about the quarterback: With the season at stake, Joe Burrow made sure to stay on the field when his team needed him most. After taking a tough sack in the third quarter, Burrow was briefly checked in the medical tent. After the check-up, he came out, put a black glove on his throwing hand, and grabbed a tablet.
On the next drive, he made key throws to receiver Ja’Marr Chase and tight end Tanner Hudson, helping increase Cincinnati’s lead to 19-7 with 11:02 left.
Biggest hole in the game plan: The Bengals had a chance to finish off the Steelers early but didn’t take advantage of their opportunities. Cincinnati managed to score on only one of their first three trips into the red zone.
On two other drives that reached the Steelers’ 10-yard line, they ended with field goals instead of touchdowns. This allowed Pittsburgh to stay in the game despite struggling offensively.
Joe Burrow Leads Bengals’ Late Playoff Push Amid Challenging Season and Slim Postseason Odds
Most surprising performance: In their last meeting with the Steelers, Cincinnati’s defense had a tough time. But things changed in the five weeks since. After giving up 520 yards in the first matchup, the Bengals’ defense improved dramatically, allowing only 193 total yards.
Through the first three quarters, they gave up just 91 yards, with only 33 of those passing. This showed how much the Bengals’ defense had turned around, helping them stay in playoff contention.
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
With two minutes left in the game, the Steelers were down by two points, and more than 65,000 fans in black and gold at Acrisure Stadium passionately sang “Don’t Stop Believin” in a hopeful stadium-wide chant.
After three and a half lackluster quarters, the Steelers showed some life against the Bengals, who were fighting to stay alive in the playoff race. But the Steelers’ last push wasn’t enough, and they lost their regular-season finale. Russell Wilson’s pass on a crucial fourth down slipped off tight end Pat Freiermuth’s fingertips.
The loss made the Steelers the third team in NFL history to make the playoffs after losing four games in a row. The last team to do so was the 1999 Detroit Lions.
Despite struggling on offense, the Steelers scored a quick touchdown late to close the gap to five points. A solid defensive play, along with a muffed punt recovery by defensive tackle Connor Heyward, gave Pittsburgh a chance to take the lead.
But the offense couldn’t build on that momentum, gaining just two yards in six plays before settling for a long field goal by Chris Boswell.
Now, the Steelers must wait for the results of Sunday’s games to know their playoff position.
Two words: Junior varsity.
Coach Mike Tomlin often refers to poor performances as “junior varsity,” and Saturday night’s loss showed exactly why. While the defense held the Bengals to one touchdown on four red zone chances, the Steelers struggled to get off the field.
The Bengals almost doubled the Steelers’ time of possession (37:49 to 22:00). When the Steelers did get the ball, they struggled to sustain a drive for the fourth week in a row until the final moments.
Cincinnati Bengals players in the 1st half
Pivotal play:
The Steelers, who pride themselves on being a tough, physical team, couldn’t gain a yard on two crucial plays near the end of the first half.
First, Wilson failed to convert a third-and-1 sneak, and then running back Jaylen Warren couldn’t get the first down on fourth down. This turnover gave the Bengals the ball on a short field, and they took advantage by kicking a field goal for a 13-7 lead at halftime.
Biggest hole in the game plan:
Despite extra defensive work during the week to fix past coverage issues, the Steelers still had trouble covering the Bengals’ tight ends. They combined for 102 of quarterback Joe Burrow’s 277 passing yards. Burrow connected on 8 of 10 passes to Mike Gesicki for 68 yards, 4 passes to Drew Sample for 14 yards, and one each to Tanner Hudson and Cam Grandy.
Silver lining:
At 35 years old and recovering from a groin injury that hurt his 2023 season, Heyward had a strong performance in his 14th NFL season. He tipped three passes, a season-high, bringing his total to 11 passes defended this year, which is the most among defensive tackles. He also recorded eight sacks this season.
Two weeks ago, the Indianapolis Colts played a must-win game against the worst team in the NFL to keep their playoff hopes alive. But instead of handling the situation, the Colts continued to show why they have been one of the most criticized teams in the NFL for the last decade.
The New York Giants dominated the Colts, winning 45-33 and eliminating Indianapolis from playoff contention. The 45 points scored by the Giants were the most they had all season. When it mattered most, the Colts folded and delivered their worst game of the season again.
“It’s hard to explain,” Shane Steichen said after the game. “Obviously, we’ve got to play a complete game. We haven’t done it all year. We’ve all got to be on the same page. Weekly, everything we do has got to be raised because to go out there like that is not good enough.”
“It’s embarrassing. It’s disappointing,” Zaire Franklin admitted. “We got just flat out beat. Performance we put out defensively (was) just beyond unacceptable and you can’t play like that when you (are) planning on being a playoff team. So, we ain’t a playoff team.”
This type of performance has become the norm for the Colts over the years. They are known for playing down to their competition, and when they need to win, they usually end up losing with an unexplainable performance.
Indianapolis Colts players celebrate in the 2nd half
This has been going on for too long for this team. As more reports come out about preparation and attention to detail not being up to standard, players being late to or missing treatment, and players being late to meetings, it raises questions about everything happening inside W 56th Street.
Simply put, the current culture of the Colts is not a winning one. Accountability is not being maintained at the level of a successful franchise. Front office members, coaches, and players are not meeting expectations regularly.
After a 26-23 overtime win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in a meaningless Week 18 matchup, the Colts ended the season with a disappointing 8-9 record and will be watching the postseason from home. If the Colts want to become a successful and winning team again, major changes are needed this offseason.
“When you have a season and it doesn’t turn out how you want it, there could be more changes than usual,” Jonathan Taylor stated. “That’s unfortunately the reality of this business.”
“Changes are going to need to be made,” DeForest Buckner remarked. “I understand that and we all understand that in the building. … Sometimes those changes are going to be uncomfortable for people. There’s going to be uncomfortable conversations and we’re going to have to make those changes for the better.”
These changes must be made inside the Colts to turn the team around.
Chris Ballard’s Philosophy
Chris Ballard has been the general manager of the Colts for eight years now. During his time, the team has a record of 62-69-1, with no division titles, two playoff appearances, and only one playoff win.
2024 will mark the fourth straight year the Colts have missed the playoffs, which is their longest streak since 1988-94. Every team in the AFC South has won the division at least twice during Ballard’s eight years as general manager, except for the Colts.
Ballard has had enough time to make the Colts a competitive team. The excuse of Andrew Luck’s retirement has not been valid for several years now. Every player on the team, except for Ryan Kelly, has been selected by Ballard, and the team has often fallen short.
Ballard has faced a lot of criticism for how he handles free agency, failing to bring in the best players to fill the team’s needs. While building a team through free agency doesn’t always work, not using it as a tool puts the team at a big disadvantage.
Ballard’s refusal to change his approach to free agency, along with Jim Irsay’s inability to match the high guarantees needed to bring in top talent, has cost the Colts a lot.
Ballard has also been too confident in the players the Colts already have. The Colts have often taken risks on players with potential rather than proven performers, and this has led to weaknesses in the roster. Choosing “good enough” instead of aiming for “great” is why the Colts are stuck in the same place every season.
But the biggest problem is the culture that Ballard has allowed to grow. Ballard has always said that having a good culture and locker room is key to success.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson speaks after an NFL football game
However, we’ve seen his culture fall apart, with accountability often being questioned, while established players are rarely challenged and instead rewarded for average performances. This is why collapses, like the one against the Giants, have happened more than once during Ballard’s time as general manager.
Before Sunday night, this section was titled “Fire Chris Ballard.” However, after the win against the Jaguars, Irsay decided not to make that change and sent out a letter to Colts fans saying that both Ballard and Steichen would be staying for the 2025 season.
“I’ve been evaluating our entire operation, and I believe in Chris Ballard and Shane Steichen and our collective ability to make the improvements needed to take us to the next level in 2025,” Irsay said.
With Ballard still in charge, it will be very hard for the Colts to turn things around unless he makes big changes to how he runs the team. The Colts need a general manager who is focused on building a team for 2025, not one that looks back to 2005. Ballard needs to start using all the tools available for building the team, including being more active and aggressive in free agency, and being honest about the talent on the current roster.
Ballard also needs to fix the cultural problems within the organization. A culture of accountability and constant competition must be created, where everyone is working to be their best, and settling for “good enough” is not allowed. The goal should be to compete for Super Bowls, not just aim for a .500 record.
The Colts have often chosen to “run it back” with many of the same players Ballard has put together each year. If they do that again, it is hard to see Ballard staying as the Colts’ general manager after 2025.
Indianapolis Colts coach Gus Bradley during the game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Indianapolis Colts coach Gus Bradley during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. / Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Do Not Bring Back Gus Bradley
Gus Bradley was hired by the Colts before the 2022 season and was part of the Frank Reich staff. Even though Steichen has a long history with Bradley and has always defended him, the defensive coordinator has had a terrible time in Indianapolis.
Bradley’s defenses have either been ranked in the bottom third or have gotten worse in multiple areas each year he has been with the Colts. The table below shows where the Colts have ranked in several key defensive categories during Bradley’s time as defensive coordinator.
The only defensive area where the Colts have shown significant improvement is their ranking in turnovers forced. However, the chart shows that the Colts haven’t forced many more turnovers than in previous years; rather, other teams have been forcing fewer turnovers than they did before.
Bradley’s defenses have consistently struggled with execution since he came to Indianapolis. Missed tackles have been a constant problem and have not gotten better over time.
Shane Steichen and Gus Bradley in the joint NFL practice
The Colts also seem to have at least one miscommunication in the secondary every game, allowing a receiver to be wide open for an easy gain or touchdown. These issues have been present since Bradley was hired and have not been fixed.
The Colts also tend to play down to their competition under Bradley. This year, for example, they allowed 45 points to the Giants (who were averaging 14.3 points per game before the game), 37 points to the Jaguars (averaging 15.0 points per game before), and 30 points to the Tennessee Titans (averaging 18.1 points per game before).
These are teams the Colts should be able to handle defensively, but instead, they allowed players from these teams to have career days.
Indianapolis has also struggled to get off the field on third down under Bradley. The Colts often rank near the bottom of the NFL in third-down stop percentage, no matter the distance. It has become a joke among fans that when the opposing team faces a third-and-long situation, they can expect to convert it against Bradley’s defense.
Bradley has shown that he is unwilling to change his defensive scheme and approach to challenge offenses in today’s game. The defense has been the same for three years now, and things are not getting better; they are getting worse, and players are not reaching their full potential.
With Bradley’s contract ending after the 2024 season, the Colts need a new defensive coordinator and staff to set a new course and start building a stronger defense.
An Influx of Talent
Simply hoping that Ballard can change and fix the culture while getting rid of Bradley and the defensive staff will not be enough to fix all of the Colts’ problems. 16 of the 22 starters from the 2022 team, which only won four games, are still on the roster. The Colts need more talent in many areas if they want to be a team that makes the playoffs every year.
The Colts’ offense is not lacking in talent. Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr. (when healthy), and Josh Downs are all real playmakers. Alec Pierce has shown a lot of improvement in his third year and is one of the more dangerous deep threats in the league.
But the Colts need to strengthen the depth behind these players, especially at running back, to continue improving the skill positions.
The tight end position has been a big disappointment. There is not a single standout player in the group, and the production from this position has been one of the worst in the NFL. The Colts need a true threat at tight end (Tyler Warren, anyone?) this offseason.
The offensive line has looked great at times but also not so great at other times. Bernhard Raimann and Quenton Nelson are set on the left side, but it might be time to move on from Ryan Kelly and Braden Smith (depending on his personal situation) and give rookies Tanor Bortolini and Matt Goncalves, who have looked good when filling in, a chance.
Will Fries should return if his medicals check out after his serious leg injury. The team will also need more depth on the offensive line.
Anthony Richardson throws in the 2nd half
The defense is where the Colts need the most changes. The defensive line has gotten worse, with a lack of depth being a major problem this season. The defensive tackle position behind Buckner and Grover Stewart needs a major upgrade.
The linebacker position has struggled. There have been too many missed tackles, and the coverage from this group has been mostly poor. It is time to move on from E.J. Speed and bring in some serious competition for Franklin and Jaylon Carlies.
While the secondary has been better than expected, there is still a clear lack of talent and playmakers. The Colts still do not have a true top cornerback, and Kenny Moore II will be 30 next year. The safety position could also use an upgrade over Julian Blackmon and some real competition for Nick Cross.
When looking at the roster as a whole, improvements could be made at backup running back, tight end, offensive line depth, defensive line depth, linebacker, cornerback, and safety. We haven’t even talked about quarterback yet – more on that later. It is unrealistic to think all these areas can be fixed in one offseason, but several of them can be improved this spring.
The lack of competition on the Colts’ roster has been a problem for a few years now. When there is not strong competition and players are rewarded for average play, complacency naturally sets in. The Colts can no longer settle for just good enough and must aim for greatness at every position.
What Happens with Steichen and Richardson?
The final big question this offseason will be what happens with the head coach and quarterback.
Steichen impressed during his first year as head coach, handling the challenges thrown at his team, like losing Anthony Richardson five games into the season while still staying close to the playoffs.
But in Year 2, Steichen’s performance dropped with some questionable play calls, handling situations poorly in the media, and the team being unprepared at times.
Richardson’s first two seasons in the NFL have shown flashes of his great talent, but there has still been a lot of inconsistency. He’s had a season-ending injury, ongoing injury concerns, a benching, questions about his preparation, and impressive fourth-quarter comebacks.
But without a major improvement in Year 2, there are still questions about whether he can be the Colts’ franchise quarterback.
Steichen and Richardson have not made enough progress this year to convince the public or the team that they are the right answers for the two most important roles. However, it was understood that their success would take time. The best choice for the Colts would be to give them one more year together to try to figure it out.
The Colts have already decided to go this route, as shown by Irsay’s statement last night. Steichen will stay as head coach for 2025, and the team plans to start next season with Richardson as the quarterback.
But both must go back to the drawing board. Steichen needs to review everything from this season, be honest about where he didn’t do well, figure out why it happened, and have a plan to improve for next season. Since this is only his second year as a head coach, the hope is that he can learn and grow a lot this offseason.
Richardson also has a lot to improve on if he wants to be the future of the franchise. His focus should be on making his mechanics more consistent, which will improve his accuracy in games.
He also needs to reevaluate his preparation and attention to detail, as many people have questioned his commitment to doing what it takes to be a top quarterback.
Shane Steichen watches from the sidelines in the 1st half
Becoming a better quarterback means improving in these areas and understanding better what opposing defenses are trying to do. Richardson needs to make sure there are no doubts about whether he’s doing everything he can to be his best. If those doubts remain in 2025, he may not stay the starter.
The Colts should also bring in competition for Richardson at quarterback. While Richardson is expected to start next season, having another quarterback in the room to challenge him, help him, and support his growth will be crucial.
2025 must be the year Steichen and Richardson show significant progress. If they succeed, the Colts will have their head coach and quarterback for the future. If they don’t, the new general manager should clean the slate and make his own choices for the two most important spots on the team.
Bottom Line: Change Is Needed
Irsay is the biggest Colts fan and it really hurts him to see his team not make the playoffs and compete for Super Bowls. This is why the Colts cannot keep doing the same things they’ve been doing for years, which have kept the franchise stuck in mediocrity.
The general manager needs to change his approach if he wants to keep his job after this season. The defensive staff needs to be completely overhauled. Evaluating the roster’s talent should be a top priority this offseason. And the head coach and quarterback must do more if they want to stay in their positions.
Change is necessary for the Indianapolis Colts. Tough decisions and conversations need to take place for the Colts to get back on track and become a winning team again. Only one person can make those changes happen.
The season is over and Black Monday is coming soon. Will the Colts make the necessary changes to escape mediocrity? Or will we be talking about the same issues a year from now?
The future of the franchise depends on Irsay, Ballard, Steichen, and Richardson.
The Portland Trail Blazers have not had a strong season so far, sitting 13th in the Western Conference standings. They are 4.5 games behind the 10th spot, which is the final play-in position.
It looks like the Blazers are likely to be sellers at the trade deadline next month. Teams are already interested in trading for Jerami Grant to see what the cost would be. Anfernee Simons could also be traded if the price is right. Honestly, not many players are considered untouchable on the team.
Still, players and coaches are holding on to hope that they can make a playoff run. However, this goal seems quite ambitious since they have just started a five-game road trip and lost the first game to the Lakers. The remaining games are against the Bucks, Pistons, Pelicans, and Mavs.
Despite the tough situation, players are staying positive. Toumani Camara still believes they can make a playoff push.
“I can see after this practice that everybody still has a good head on their shoulders,” Camara said. “I mean, we still have a lot of basketball to play. So, we’re trying to stay motivated. Stay positive. I think everybody’s in a good place right now.”
Portland Trail Blazers and Minnesota Timberwolves
These players are professionals, so it makes sense they are still focused on winning games. However, it’s not realistic to expect them to perform well enough in the next few months to truly contend for a playoff spot.
It would not only be unrealistic to expect this, but it would also be unwise for the franchise to want that. It would be better for them to continue losing games to improve their lottery chances. Landing a player like Cooper Flagg would be the best way to turn the team’s future around.
If the road trip continues to go badly, Portland could decide to make major moves, which could lead to a trade of valuable players like Jerami Grant. This would mark the end of their season and signal a shift toward rebuilding.
In the last seven weeks of the 2024-25 NBA season, the Phoenix Suns have been one of the worst teams in the league.
Since November 13, the Suns have won only 6 out of 21 games, giving them a .286 win percentage, which ranks 25th. During this time, the Suns have been 12th in offense and 26th in defense, according to Cleaning the Glass, which tracks stats that remove garbage time.
Their early 9-2 start, where they had decent offense and average defense but excelled in close games, has now balanced out to their true level.
On the season, the Suns are ranked 9th in offense and 24th in defense. Cleaning the Glass’ win projections, which consider a team’s efficiency and typical win-loss record, have the Suns on pace for 36.4 wins, putting them 12th in the Western Conference.
For those still hopeful this season, Phoenix has dealt with numerous injuries. They are 13-4 when both Devin Booker and Kevin Durant play and are just 3.5 games behind the sixth seed, which guarantees a playoff spot.
However, the team’s recent stretch of games, which has had relatively weak competition and some luck with opponent injuries, shows no sign that they can come together in time to be a serious contender. After all, this is a team that is supposed to have a chance at winning a championship.
The Suns are 3-9 in their last 12 games, starting with a loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, who have only won two of their last 28 games after beginning the season 3-3.
There is still time to improve. The final 12 games of this stretch include three games against teams with winning records and five against teams that haven’t won 10 games yet.
But it’s tough to stay positive when you see how Phoenix is losing.
Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers
What’s gone wrong with the Phoenix Suns’ defense lately?
The Golden State Warriors, who are 24th in rim attacks, were able to score easily on Phoenix with basic shots. You wouldn’t think it based on how the game looked, but the Suns actually defended well that night. The problem was that the Warriors’ great ball movement kept creating easy scoring chances.
There were so many easy shots that I had to break the clips into three different parts.
In the same game, the Suns only attempted 11 shots at the rim. They are taking just 23.4% of their shots at the rim, which is the lowest in the NBA and nearly five percent lower than the previous year’s worst team (which was last year’s Warriors!). This rate is on track to be the lowest in Cleaning the Glass’ history, since the 2007-08 Portland Trail Blazers.
How can the Suns improve?
“I think the randomness, getting different combinations in the pick-and-roll, I think maybe some more cutting and slashing away from the ball, taking advantage of I think two to the ball and then a hard guy rotating if and when we get it to the guy in the pocket,” said Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer after practice on Thursday.
To support Budenholzer’s point, you can watch some of the Warriors’ baskets again after reading his quote, or also look at similar plays the Memphis Grizzlies made inside.
Clearly, if this season keeps going the way it has been, even if it gets slightly better, we owe Frank Vogel a big apology. A “I forgot our anniversary” type of apology.
Looking past the issues with how the team is playing, organizing, and how the general atmosphere has seemed to be his responsibility, the only thing that has improved is the team’s mood (though that could still turn negative). What he was able to do defensively last year with a much worse team should be appreciated now.
It’s not like firing him was a mistake. It had to happen. But on nights when he’s feeling a little petty, instead of upset about his former players going through another rough patch, he’s probably getting a laugh out of this.
The drop in defense is naturally making things harder for the offense. Facing solid defenses more often will always cause problems.
With recent injuries to important reserves who help with floor spacing and the Suns’ need for more defensive energy and better players, the team has been using more of Ryan Dunn and Josh Okogie. This has to happen and is the right decision. However, it does have a negative effect on the offense.
The Suns’ spacing has gotten much worse, and with less movement from the team, it has looked messy at times. Turnovers are starting to pile up.
These examples are not meant to excuse Durant’s mistakes but to show how his turnover issues can get worse because of this situation.
Look at how the Warriors’ defense helps on these plays. You can easily tell by how many feet are in the key. Long-time readers will remember that from 2021 to 2023, Suns’ opponents would have struggled if they even had one foot in the paint because of how well the Suns used spacing.
Kevin Durant tries to defend the ball
In these two games without Jusuf Nurkic (due to suspension), Phoenix is playing with two centers, him and Mason Plumlee, who both struggle to finish at the rim. This has always been a problem for Nurkic, but Plumlee used to be one of the most agile and athletic big men in the NBA until age caught up with him.
Plumlee is actually shooting a good 75% near the basket, which is much higher than Nurkic’s 65%, according to Cleaning the Glass. However, this good percentage comes after he’s passed up many chances to take shots.
Dunn, who was a good short roll player at Virginia, should be used more in that role by the Suns. He made a great pass here, but Plumlee should have finished it by dunking in the spot near the basket.
Here’s another example, where Tyus Jones ends up with a turnover because of Plumlee’s miss.
Watching other average or below-average centers play against Phoenix shows how much better it would be for the Suns if they had a player of that skill level. It also highlights how big a weakness this has become for the Suns.
Golden State’s Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 16 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out two assists, made a steal, and blocked four shots in just 23 minutes, dominating the paint despite being only 6-foot-9.
Memphis’ Jay Huff gives the Grizzlies a stretch 5 option and was in the right spots defensively, working hard with his teammates.
All of this is putting a lot of pressure on the offense because the usual frustrating turnovers are still happening in the new season.
These are just some of the problems the Suns are facing as a team that struggles with injuries and other issues. The next 12 games in January will show if there’s any progress, and whether a deep playoff run is still possible, or if things keep getting worse and it might be time for a change in the Suns’ approach.
Coincidentally, this stretch of games ends 12 days before the trade deadline.
Seattle Seahawks players celebrate after a touchdown
For only the second time in franchise history, the Seattle Seahawks will miss the playoffs despite winning at least 10 games in a season. They secured a 30-25 victory over the Los Angeles Rams to close the season.
The Seahawks were eliminated from playoff contention the previous weekend when they lost out on a tiebreaker following the results of Week 17. With their playoff hopes gone, they played for pride and to give head coach Mike Macdonald his 10th win in his first season as coach.
“I thought our guys did a tremendous job of staying focused on what our new goal was, finishing the year the right way, and it was a great team win,” Macdonald said.
Geno Smith threw a career-high four touchdown passes and led his 12th game-winning drive in three seasons with the Seahawks. He also set new career-highs and franchise records for attempts (578), completions (407), yards (4,320), and completion percentage (70.42).
This is the first time since 1986 that the Seahawks have missed the playoffs with 10 wins. Fifteen teams in the NFL have won 10 games this season, and the Seahawks are the only team not in the postseason due to losing a strength-of-victory tiebreaker to the Rams.
“I’m telling you, man, this team is heading in the right direction. This team is on its way and that’s with or without me. These guys in this locker room, these coaches, this organization, outstanding organization, and I believe in it,” Smith said.
Whether the season is seen as a success or disappointment depends on your expectations for the team. A rookie head coach with a mostly new coaching staff winning 10 games in their first season together can be seen as a success. But with the team’s strong performance, it’s understandable to feel that more could have been done.
If the offensive line had been stronger, if free-agent signings had been more effective, and if Smith had thrown fewer interceptions, the Seahawks might have had a chance for a deep playoff run. A single bad loss to the New York Giants was the reason the Seahawks didn’t have a chance to win the NFC West this weekend.
Geno Smith reacts in the 1st half
Here are the key points from the end of the Seahawks’ regular season:
– Geno Smith sets career highs, and earns $6 million in incentives.
Smith wrapped up a solid season as the Seahawks’ quarterback by setting multiple career-highs, earning an additional $6 million in contract incentives.
He completed 20 of 27 passes for 223 yards and four touchdowns in the win over the Rams. He led an eight-play, 70-yard game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. Smith threw the winning touchdown to Noah Fant while playing through a hip injury on the final drive.
“Talk about one of the guys that fought all the way to the very end for us,” Macdonald said. “Putting a drive…par for the course for Geno coming after another fourth-quarter comeback.”
Smith needed 185 passing yards, a 10th win, and a completion percentage over 69.755 to earn three separate incentives worth $2 million each.
Smith said his only motivation was to win, not the extra money.
“Winning games, that’s the most important thing,” he said. “We got 10 wins this season. Should have been more. I believe we’ve got the right guys in this locker room. Personal stats aren’t a big deal for me. I’m not out here chasing accolades.
I want to win, and I want to win for the guys in that locker room. I want to win for our coaching staff. I want win for our front office and all the people that work, our kitchen staff, our strength staff, all the people that work so hard, man. They deserve to have the best of the best. For me personally, I expect to do well, but again, it’s a team game and I just want to be there for my teammates.”
Smith ended the season with 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, the most in his three years as a starter for the Seahawks, and third-most in the NFL this season.
However, the Seahawks’ struggles with their offensive line and the lack of a steady running game forced Smith to carry too much of the offense on his own. He was sacked 50 times this season, the third-most in the league, behind Chicago’s Caleb Williams (68) and Houston’s C.J. Stroud (52). The Seahawks also finished 28th in rushing, averaging only 95.7 yards per game.
Smith has one year left on his contract, which could lead to extension talks this offseason. Although he wouldn’t comment on his interest in a new contract, Smith is confident the Seahawks are moving forward.
“I’m telling you man, this team is heading in the right direction. This team is on its way. That’s with or without me,” Smith said. “These guys in this locker room, these coaches, this organization, outstanding organization, and I believe in it. I believe the best of the best is going to happen for this team. I just want to continue to fight with these guys.”
Tyler Lockett reacts after a reception in the 1st half
– Tyler Lockett hints at goodbye to Seahawks.
Tyler Lockett has been with the Seattle Seahawks for 10 seasons and is the second-most productive receiver in the team’s history. He knows that this could have been his final game with the Seahawks.
At the start of his post-game press conference, Lockett took time to thank the equipment and training staff of the team, speaking as if it could be his last time with Seattle.
“It just speaks volumes the people that we have in this building and been blessed to be able to know them, some of them for 10 years, some of them for six some of them for one. But definitely got to get them a shout-out.”
Lockett has a cap hit of almost $31 million for next season. The Seahawks could save $17 million against the cap by releasing or trading Lockett this offseason. His production dropped this season, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba emerging as a key player. Smith-Njigba even matched Lockett’s single-season reception record on Sunday, which may make Lockett’s contract hard for the team to keep.
“Obviously, you never know when it’s going to be the end,” Lockett said. “Because I kind of plan on playing again. I know it’s not the very, very end. It would be different if I was retiring, but yeah, I mean, I think it’s always going to be somewhat sensitive, just because that could have been the last time you put on a jersey, so I’m glad I ended with a catch, you know, just in case. Glad we ended up with a win.”
Smith-Njigba reached 100 catches this season with his four receptions against the Rams on Sunday, tying Lockett’s 100-catch season from 2020, although Lockett did it in one fewer game.
“I mean, shout out to Jax for wanting me to still be right there beside him. … But I mean, I think that’s dope, man. Like, at least I’m able to share it with somebody,” Lockett said.
Lockett also shared that he felt his biggest contribution this year was sacrificing his own role to allow others to shine. He did it willingly to help the team, but his own numbers were affected. After 10 years with the Seahawks, their relationship may be coming to an end.
“I think the city is amazing. I always view Seattle as a college town. And yeah, maybe this isn’t the end. Maybe it is the end, but you know, I always will be a Seahawk through and through,” Lockett said.
Leonard Williams celebrates in the game
– Leonard Williams completes a standout season for Seahawks.
It’s a mistake that Leonard Williams isn’t a Pro Bowler this season.
Williams added two more sacks to his total on Sunday, reaching 11 sacks for the season. This is the second-most sacks in his career and just the fourth time in Seahawks history that an interior defensive lineman has reached double-digit sacks. He joins Cortez Kennedy (14.0 sacks, 1992), John Randle (11.0 sacks, 2001), and Jarran Reed (10.5 sacks, 2018).
“He didn’t need a punctuation (or) exclamation point, but he sure added one today with all the work that he’s done,” said Macdonald.
Williams also didn’t make the Pro Bowl in 2020, even though he had a career-high 11.5 sacks with the New York Giants that season. He also had a memorable 92-yard interception return for a touchdown against the New York Jets, which helped the team win a comeback victory.
Williams’ presence has also helped other players on the defensive line improve. Reed has been strong again for Seattle, and Derick Hall and Boye Mafe have shown more consistency as edge rushers this season alongside Williams.
“I think our front, in order for ‘Leo’ to come alive, you have to rush as one,” Macdonald said. “We’ve talked about this the whole season, but he’s doing it within the lens of playing with each other, playing off one another.
The defensive front has just done a great job of playing together, playing off one another, growing together. That’s the type of football team we want to create, guys that are a connected group that play for one another.”
The additions of Ernest Jones IV and Roy Robertson-Harris midseason were also important, but Williams set the tone for Macdonald’s defense on the front line.
Williams will likely make the Pro Bowl as an alternate in the coming weeks, but he should have been named a starter from the beginning.
Green Bay Packers players celebrates after an interception
The Green Bay Packers won’t know who their first playoff opponent is until after Sunday’s games, but there are only three possibilities, with one opponent being the most likely.
At 11-5, Green Bay enters the final week of the season as the No. 7 seed in the NFC. However, they could move up to the No. 6 seed with the right outcomes.
Here’s an update on the Packers’ playoff scenarios, possible opponents, NFC North standings, and what’s next:
Most likely opponent: Philadelphia Eagles (61%) According to PlayoffStatus.com, the Philadelphia Eagles have a 61% chance of being Green Bay’s first-round opponent.
Green Bay put itself in a tough spot after losing to Minnesota, combined with an overtime win for the Washington Commanders, making both teams 11-5. Washington has the tiebreaker, meaning the Packers, as the seventh seed, may face Philadelphia (13-3) in the first round and possibly Minnesota (14-2) or Detroit (14-2) in the following round, both teams being strong contenders.
The Eagles are locked in as the No. 2 seed as NFC East champions, unable to surpass the NFC North winner for the top spot.
To avoid the Eagles and play an easier first-round matchup against the NFC South or NFC West winner, the Packers need to beat the Chicago Bears on Sunday and hope the Commanders lose to the Dallas Cowboys.
A likely opponent: Los Angeles Rams (28%) The Los Angeles Rams (10-6) have a 28% chance of being Green Bay’s first-round opponent. The Rams have already won the NFC West and are in the No. 3 seed, holding a one-game lead over the NFC South leaders, Tampa Bay.
Green Bay beat the Rams 24-19 in October before the Rams had their key receivers, Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, fully healthy. However, Green Bay’s previous win gives them some comfort.
Los Angeles Rams players celebrate in the 2nd half
For the Packers to face the Rams, they need to beat the Bears, the Cowboys must beat the Commanders, and either:
The Rams (10-6) beat the Seattle Seahawks (9-7), or
The New Orleans Saints (5-11) beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7).
Longshot: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (11%) The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7) might still lose their playoff spot if Atlanta (8-8) wins the NFC South, but that would require the Bucs to lose to the 5-11 Saints, while Atlanta beats the 4-12 Carolina Panthers.
Green Bay cannot face Atlanta, but they might meet Tampa Bay in Florida, though this would require several games to fall in the right direction for both teams.
To face the Buccaneers, the Packers must beat the Bears, the Cowboys must beat the Commanders, and:
The Seahawks (9-7) must beat the Rams (10-6), and
The Buccaneers (9-7) must beat the Saints (5-11).
Commanders-Packers tiebreaker With both teams having an 11-5 record, Washington holds the tiebreaker over Green Bay based on a better win percentage in conference games. Therefore, if they finish tied, Washington will be the No. 6 seed. The two teams didn’t play each other this season, so there’s no head-to-head tiebreaker.
The Packers will try to bounce back from their loss on Sunday when they play the Bears in their last regular-season game at home. The game will start at noon on Sunday.
The Packers have a good chance since they haven’t lost to the Bears in 11 games, with their last loss to Chicago dating back to the 2019 season. In fact, Matt LaFleur has never lost to the Bears as head coach of the Packers.
The Bears have lost their last 10 games. One of those losses was to the Packers, who won 20-19 after blocking a field goal on the final play of the game.
The College Football Playoff bracket is out. The official 12-team College Football Playoff field and final top 25 rankings were revealed on Dec. 8. The quarterfinals will start on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.
Oregon is the No. 1 seed, with Georgia, Boise State, and Arizona State also receiving byes. Below is the bracket, final seedings, and full playoff schedule.
2024-25 College Football Playoff bracket
This bracket is based on the committee’s final top 25 rankings from Sunday, Dec. 8. It’s important to remember that the top 25 ranking doesn’t always align with the playoff seedings.
The four highest-ranked conference champions receive the top four seeds and byes, no matter where those teams rank in the top 25. The fifth-highest-ranked conference champion also automatically qualifies, but this team will not receive a bye.
College Football Playoff schedule, scores
All times Eastern
Semifinals
Thursday, Jan. 9
No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 7 Notre Dame (Orange Bowl) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
Friday, Jan. 10
No. 5 Texas vs. No. 8 Ohio State (Cotton Bowl) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
National Championship
Monday, Jan. 20
TBD vs. TBD (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
College Football Playoff rankings, seeds
You can see how these numbers — the seed and the CFP ranking — differ below. The four teams with byes are in bold.
Here are the final CFP top 25 rankings, with teams in the CFP also getting their seeds included at the end.
Oregon — highest-ranked conference champion (Big Ten) and seeded No. 1
Georgia — second-highest-ranked conference champion (SEC) and seeded No. 2
Texas — at-large pick (second team from the SEC), seeded No. 5
Penn State — at-large pick (second team in the Big Ten), seeded No. 6
Notre Dame — at-large pick (independent), seeded No. 7
Ohio State — at-large pick (third team from the Big Ten), seeded No. 8
Tennessee — at-large pick (third team from the SEC), seeded No. 9
Indiana — at-large pick (fourth team from the Big Ten), seeded No. 10
Boise State — third-highest-ranked conference champion (Mountain West) and seeded No. 3
SMU — at-large pick (from the ACC), seeded No. 11
Alabama — first team out of the CFP
Arizona State — fourth-highest-ranked conference champion (Big 12) and seeded No. 4
Miami (Fla.) — second team out of the CFP
Ole Miss — third team out of the CFP
South Carolina — fourth team out of the CFP
Clemson — fifth-highest-ranked conference champion (ACC) and seeded No. 12
BYU — fifth team out of the CFP
Iowa State — sixth team out of the CFP
Missouri — seventh team out of the CFP
Illinois — eighth team out of the CFP
Syracuse — ninth team out of the CFP
Army — 10th team out of the CFP
Colorado — 11th team out of the CFP
UNLV — 12th team out of the CFP
Memphis — 13th team out of the CFP
Boise State QB Maddux Madsen’s Baseball-Inspired Legacy Fuels His Rise in College Football
Boise State, which won the Mountain West Conference championship and has lost to only top-ranked Oregon, is the third-highest-ranked conference champion and thus received a bye into the quarterfinals despite ranking No. 9.
Though Arizona State is ranked only No. 12, the Sun Devils are the fourth-highest-ranked conference champion — over ACC champ Clemson (No. 16) — and earned the No. 4 seed and the final first-round bye.
There is no re-seeding once the official bracket is revealed on Sunday, Dec. 8.
The four quarterfinal games are not played at the campus sites. Instead, these four games — scheduled on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 — will be played at the Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl, Peach Bowl, and Sugar Bowl. The four highest-ranked conference champions will be assigned one of these bowls in consideration of historic bowl relationships as well as seeding.
The four quarterfinal winners will then meet in the semifinals at either the Orange Bowl or the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 9 and Jan. 10. If the seeds hold, that means (1) would meet (4) and (2) would play (3). The two semifinal winners will then play on Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the national championship.
