The Rams were close to acquiring A.J. Brown from the Eagles earlier this offseason, and a blockbuster trade could still happen after June 1st. Eagles' cap constraints before June 1st prevented the deal, but waiting allows them to spread the $43 million cap hit over two years. The Rams, looking to maximize Matthew Stafford's remaining years and address receiver depth issues behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, remain interested in Brown
The New York Giants' 2026 schedule has been released, featuring a balanced slate with average strength of schedule and moderate travel. Key matchups include the season opener against the Cowboys, a home game against the Titans with reunion storylines, a crucial divisional game against the Eagles, and a statement opportunity against the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks
Going into the 2025 season the Los Angeles Rams were worried about Matthew Stafford and his back, but no one exactly knew how worried. Now, it’s being shared by Sean McVay that the team was apparently very worried as Stafford and those around him truly wondered if he could suit up. Of course, Stafford did suit up, and he went on to win the NFL MVP Award. It’s remarkable. From not knowing if he could play, to having the personal best season of his career. It’s scary to know how close last year was to be potentially being a disaster (we’ll never really know), but do not worry, Stafford’s back is fine now, so expect another great year in 2026. That’s math and science. A big thank you to everyone for checking out Turf Show Times. Please comment on whatever you want and happy Wednesday! ““Those guys are like, ‘Man, that’s pretty cool of Sean to let you have off of camp and use a back injury to kind of do that,’” McVay said, recalling Stafford’s words. “He’s like, “The f*** are you talking about, man? That the back injury was real as s***. We were nervous as hell, man.’ It was a week before we’re playing Houston , the old Ammortal [Chamber] saved him. But that was real.“ “During an appearance on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast, McVay admitted that he came close to ending his coaching career during the Rams’ 5-12 campaign in 2022. “I almost quit coaching,” McVay said (h/t Mike Kadlick of Sports Illustrated ). “And you can use the narrative that I was gonna go to media or whatever. But the truth would have been, I was quitting. I couldn’t handle the losing. It was almost like a scarlet letter. I mean, there was moments … I was like counting down the days for that season to be over. Like, what a fraud.” “The Los Angeles Rams were closer to acquiring Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown on the trade market compared to the New England Patriots earlier in the offseason, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo . “That was really close,” Garafolo reported during a Tuesday appearance on the Rich Eisen Show (4:50 mark). “It was closer than it got with the Patriots. That was really close. There was one point where overnight it sort of died. It was like, ‘Late one night, this could be going down by the next morning. You know what, there’s too many moving parts here.'” “When Warner started collecting injuries Martz gave up on him. Warner was taking some punishment in the offense and never had the chance when Martz went with Bulger as the QB. Yet after a time in NY Warner found his way to Arizona and another Super Bowl. The whole Brenda Warner questioning the Rams and coaches was a doom for Warner in StLouis. Wasn’t a big fan of Martz after all the drama.” -ricker
No more pencils, no more books. Summer is here in the NFL , and we're officially pivoting from a primary focus on roster construction to smashing those new pieces in with the returning ones. From here on out, it's about the on-field action as all of these franchises begin organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp. When we look at the rosters now, what we see is largely what we'll get by Week 1 of the regular season. Of course, there could be some deals between now and then, but with free agency and the NFL Draft behind him, we have a good enough grasp to take out the red pen and begin grading what we've seen transpire over the last few months. In this space, we'll comb through the AFC, highlighting the notable moves each club has made this offseason, and then give our grade. Let's roll. The Bills have a new coach in Joe Brady after firing Sean McDermott, and the former offensive coordinator has a new weapon at his disposal. Buffalo made a slash this offseason by pulling off a blockbuster trade for former Bears wideout D.J. Moore. The offense had been sorely lacking a player of Moore's caliber, so his arrival is a welcome sight for Josh Allen . While that addresses the biggest need on offense, there were far more holes to fill on defense. They gave themselves a veteran pass rusher in Bradley Chubb, coupled with second-round edge rusher T.J. Parker out of Clemson. They also added some help in the secondary with Gardner-Johnson and Alford. It's not the most robust offseason, but Buffalo made calculated additions that should address the most dire needs on its roster in 2025. Paired with a new voice in Brady, that's a solid offseason in Orchard Park. Knock this down to a B/B+ if A.J. Brown somehow doesn't find himself a member of the Patriots by the end of the summer. We're going to grade this with Brown in mind, because it feels like the worst-kept secret in the NFL and a virtual lock to happen after June 1. Brown gives New England a much-needed No. 1 wideout for Drake Maye , and slots fellow pass catcher Romeo Doubs -- who signed a four-year, $68 million deal in free agency -- in a more realistic WR2 spot. While receiver garnered most of the on-field headlines for the Patriots, they also provided Maye with more protection by trading up in the first round to select tackle Caleb Lomu and also signing veteran guard Alijah Vera-Tucker in free agency. Dre'Mont Jones and Kevin Byard are two strong veterans being brought into the fold defensively, while second-rounder Gabe Jacas has plenty of upside off the edge. This roster is better than the one we just saw in Super Bowl LX. The Dolphins stripped it down to the studs and hit the reset button. Miami fired coach Mike McDaniel, cut the likes of Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb, and traded Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos . With those pieces out the door, they brought in GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley, who have begun rebuilding the roster. Namely, Malik Willis has been slotted in as QB1, and used its two first-round picks on Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor and San Diego State corner Chris Johnson, along with a second rounder on Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez . They'll need to catch lightning in a bottle with this draft class after making 13 selections. That said, this is the first step on a long road forward towards contention for the Dolphins, but a necessary one after falling flat under the previous regime. While locking up De'Vone Achane will continue to give the offense some juice, the unit still has loads of questions at wide receiver. The next couple of seasons could be lean in South Beach. The Jets still need a quarterback, but they are building well around the position as they keep their eyes open for a signal-caller of the future. After making some jaw-dropping moves at the trade deadline last season and moving on from Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams , New York continued to shed some of the old guard, shipping away edge rusher J
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The New York Giants ’ offseason is fully underway, and the roster is beginning to take shape under the leadership of John Harbaugh. While the ultimate goal is to bring another Super Bowl title to a once renowned New York Giants franchise, the journey back to contention is built on achieving the smaller milestones that have long eluded the franchise on a consistent basis. Winning in the division is one of those milestones that the Giants have struggled to achieve. The Brian Daboll era was marred by divisional losses, and New York will look to switch those fortunes; it all starts with the Philadelphia Eagles . The New York Giants did defeat the Eagles, 34-17, on Thursday Night Football in 2025 – a game where Cam Skattebo scored three touchdowns. Still, the Eagles have won 13 straight home games against the Giants; the last time New York won at Lincoln Financial Field was in 2013 – a game where Matt Barkley started for the Eagles. Philadelphia has won two Super Bowls since the last time the Giants defeated them on their home turf. Howie Roseman continues to show the NFL how to manage a roster, but Philadelphia has hit a few snafus along the way. Their offensive line is ageing, preeminent offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland is no longer with the franchise, questions surround both the head coach and quarterback, and there is some turmoil in the locker room. Nevertheless, Roseman and the Eagles have seemingly found a way to assuage the AJ Brown situation, albeit the nothing becomes ‘official’ till after June 1. Brown is rumored to be heading to New England in a trade at that time, which is logical when analyzing the trade up for USC wide receiver Makai Lemon and the selection of Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers . As it pertains to the Giants, New York must find a way to consistently threaten the Philadelphia Eagles. They haven’t been a contender for quite sometime, and challenging Philadelphia – and the Dallas Cowboys – will be the first major steps to become the New York Giants of old. Let’s take a look, though, at how Philadelphia’s off-season went early in 2026. Key additions: WR Marquise Brown , QB Andy Dalton , edge Jonathan Greenard , WR Dontayvion Wicks , CB Riq Woolen , TE Johnny Mundt , RB Dameon Pierce , Joe Tryon-Shoyinka , edge Arnold Ebitketie, CB Jonathan Jones , WR Elijah Moore Key subtractions: S Reed Blankenship , LB Nakobe Dean, WR Jahan Dotson , edge Brandon Graham , CB Adoree’ Jackson, edge Jaelan Phillips Round 1, Pick 20: Makai Lemon (WR, USC) ( Trade two fourth rounders ) Round 2, Pick 54: Eli Stowers (TE, Vanderbilt) Round 3, Pick 68: Markel Bell (OT, Miami ) Round 5, Pick 178: Cole Payton (QB, NDSU) Round 6, Pick 207: Micah Morris (G, Georgia) Round 7 Picks: Cole Wisniewski (S), Uar Bernard (DT), and Keyshawn James-Newby (EDGE) With Brown likely on his way out, the additions of Lemon and Stowers give the Eagles two young, quality weapons who aren’t limited to working the middle of the field, though that may be where they’re best utilized. That creates an intriguing dynamic for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ passing attack moving forward. Elijah Moore will compete for a roster spot as well, and is best suited as a middle of the field operative. Hurts has historically struggled targeting over the middle of the field. He’s now on his seventh offensive coordinator since entering the league in 2020, and Shawn Mannion will be tasked to try and design an offense that can allow Hurts to comfortably see and target the middle of the field – this is Hurts fifth consecutive season with a different OC. Roseman did add other offensive weapons that will allow the Eagles’ offense to stay vertical. Marquise Brown and Dontavyion Wicks both join DeVonta Smith in the wide receiver room, giving Mannion an effective and explosive 11 personnel package that is diverse. However, the addition of Stowers gave the Eagles a dynamic mismatch 12 personnel package that will dictate to the defense. Stowers isn’t a blocker, per
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Patriots Mailbag: A.J. Brown's price tag, Kayshon Boutte's future and more originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston We’re in the calm before the mini-storm in New England . The Patriots’ 2026 schedule release is in the rearview mirror. They don’t start organized team activities until May 27. And a trade for Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown can’t happen until June 1. So, before the action heats up later this month, we put out a call for your pressing offseason questions — and got a full Mailbag’s worth of topics to discuss. Let’s dive right in. Editor’s Note: Questions have been lightly edited for clarity. Do we need A.J. Brown at the high cost that’s been mentioned? — @Paul_NEfan Hey, Paul. The good news for everyone is that we’re now just a couple of weeks away from the Eagles finally being willing to trade A.J. Brown. That thing has run its course in Philly. He’s going to be on the move . It seems as though it’s just a matter of time before he makes his way to New England. The price it will cost to get him up here, though, remains to be seen. I simply can’t see it being a straight swap for a first-round pick. Even if it’s a 2028 first-rounder. Those picks have to be the lifeblood of your organization. And if you’re willing to part with one for a player whose health is in question — and who is entering his age-29 season — I think it’s fair to question the methods that allowed you to arrive at that opinion. Something less than a first has always made sense to me. Brown’s apparent unwillingness to return to Philly and a lackluster market for Brown’s services — two potential landing spots dried up when the Bills dealt for DJ Moore and the Rams got out of the running after reportedly getting spooked by Brown’s health — appear to have limited Philadelphia’s leverage here. Let’s see what that ultimately means for a trade between the Eagles and Patriots . Is it a conditional first-rounder that becomes a second-rounder if Brown doesn’t hit certain statistical thresholds? Is it a first-rounder with a pick coming back from Philly alongside Brown in order to mitigate the cost for New England? As much as Brown will help the Patriots in the here and now, sending away a first-rounder — especially since we don’t know where in the first round that pick will reside — feels like too much risk to incur for a team that has to stockpile premium draft picks as it looks toward handing out some massive contracts to its young core. Are A.J. Brown and his $25 million-per-year salary really worth more than keeping a first-rounder and just bringing back Stefon Diggs for another year? Its a steep price for a guy with a degenerative knee condition who is already in decline. — @dimesntreys First, $25 million for a high-end receiver isn’t all that expensive in 2026. There are currently 15 wideouts in the NFL on contracts that pay them $25 million or more. And that doesn’t include Brown himself. That said, though, a straight swap of a first-rounder for Brown would be significant, so I understand the question. I just don’t see Stefon Diggs making his way back. Diggs was described to me by one GM earlier this offseason as a “one-year guy” at this stage of his career, meaning he’s a short-term solution more than he is a foundational piece you would build around for an extended period of time. He was tremendous for the Patriots last season, but they now have a younger (and one could argue more versatile) option to lean on in Doubs, with an upgrade in Brown likely on his way. As long as the cost isn’t astronomical for Brown, it’s worth seeing if the combination of Brown and Doubs can get more out of Maye than Diggs and Doubs would. Why do people assume that a 2028 first-round pick is better/cheaper than a 2027 first-rounder? — @TheMaD79 That’s just how the league values future picks because there’s some uncertainty involved in where the future pick will end up and what will be available to teams via the draft. Therefore, future picks typically [... truncated ...]
Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links … 2026 NFL offseason: Best NFL team fits for 14 free agents – ESPN Mekhi Becton, G. Best team fit: Philadelphia Eagles. Becton produced subpar tape last season in L.A. However, a return to Philly, where Becton allowed four sacks and had a 71.2% run block win rate in 2024, makes sense as a depth/competition move. At his best, Becton has the size (6-foot-7, 364 pounds) and physical tools to overwhelm defenders. Eagles Film Review: Jonathan Greenard is a very good and diverse pass rusher – BGN I’ll get into why below, but I think Greenard is an obvious tier below the elite freakish talents. Elite pass rushers are often superhuman athletes. Greenard is not one of them. He is not Micah Parsons . He is not Maxx Crosby . But he is an excellent pass rusher who wins without help, creates problems for quarterbacks every game, and does it on all three downs. If he can rediscover the finishing ability that produced 12.0 sacks in 2024, he pushes back into the conversation as one of the better edge rushers in the league outside that elite handful. And even if the finishing never fully returns, what he provides in pure pressure generation is already worth a lot. Patriots mailbag: Is a first-round pick too much for A.J. Brown? – Boston Herald @MasHamburguesa: Why are the Patriots giving up a future 1st round pick for AJ Brown (29, premium position, fringe top 10 at his position, unhappy) when Jon Greenard (28, premium position, fringe top 10 at his position, unhappy) went to the Eagles for two thirds? That’s a good question. I think the most important thing to clarify, though, is that Jonathan Greenard was traded before the 2026 NFL season for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick. The most widespread speculation is that Brown will be traded before the 2026 season for a 2028 first-round pick. The draft capital in the proposed trade for Brown is still more valuable, but maybe not by as much as you think. The picks traded by the Eagles are worth roughly 54 points on the Rich Hill trade value chart. It’s hard to gauge how much a 2028 first-round pick is worth. Typically, a pick one year into the future is worth roughly half of what a present-day pick is worth. So, a 2027 first-round pick is worth around 82 points. A 2028 first-round pick is valued even less. If it’s valued at 40%, then that would be 76 points. If it’s valued at 1/3, then that would be 63 points. There are other factors in play, though. Greenard wanted a new contract and had a down season in 2025. He missed time with a shoulder injury and produced just three sacks. Brown, meanwhile, generated his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season. Edge defenders are generally valued more heavily than wide receivers, but it’s difficult to find elite players at both positions. Brown, based on his contract ($32M/year) is more highly valued than Greenard ($30M/year), though it is close. Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts Didn’t Attend AJ Brown’s Wedding – TMZ Sports Philadelphia Eagles star quarterback Jalen Hurts was NOT at the wedding of his longtime friend and current NFL teammate A.J. Brown, TMZ has learned. Sources close to the situation tell TMZ that despite knowing each other for years and playing on the same team … we’re told Jalen didn’t make the lavish beachside ceremony. However, it’s unclear if he was invited. Jalen’s absence is interesting on a number of levels. He’s known A.J. since high school and is the godfather to A.J.’s daughter, Jersee. Jalen tried to recruit A.J. to Alabama to play together in college, and pushed hard for the Eagles to acquire him a trade. But after 4 years together in Philly, there are rumors of a rift. What’s Next: Eagles, Chargers Face Rest Deficiencies, But NFL Disputes Disadvantage – FOX Sports Two analysts for the NFL, Mike Lopez and Tom Bliss, wrote a paper in 2024 titled “Bye-bye, bye advantage: estimating the competitive impact of rest differential in the National Football League,”
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This group of articles will take a look at the newly released Panthers schedule, review the opponents, and take our best guess at predicting the outcomes of each game. Here, we’re starting with the second “quarter” of the schedule, the second four games just after the Week 5 bye. The Eagles are a tough team to figure out this year. They drafted Makai Lemon in the first round and added a couple other wide receivers, and rumors are swirling about AJ Brown ’s impending trade. They also added to an already elite front four by trading for former Vikings pass rusher Jonathan Greenard and retaining Nolan Smith. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are young superstars, and the team added Riq Woolen in free agency to bolster that group even more. While Nakobe Dean walked in free agency, the team drafted Jihaad Campbell last year to help fill that void. Eli Stowers was drafted as well, combining with Dallas Goedert to make a quality tight end group. The Eagles are always talented, but oftentimes they are a bit Jekyll and Hyde. This might continue this year as Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni are still in town. Their defense is still elite, especially along the line and in the secondary. Saquon Barkley is not exactly in his prime, but Tank Bigsby was added as depth. DeVonta Smith combines with the other pass catchers to make a deep and versatile group. Any time a player of AJ Brown’s caliber leaves your team, however, there is bound to be some growing pains. Final: Eagles 24 – Panthers 13 A couple notorious Panthers killers are no longer in Tampa Bay as Lavonte David retired and Mike Evans and Rachaad White left in free agency. They did add quite a bit to their defense, though, signing veterans Alex Anzalone and A’Shawn Robinson. They also drafted Rueben Bain and Josiah Trotter. Baker Mayfield and the coaching staff is mostly intact from last year, though they do have yet another new offensive coordinator. Todd Bowles is undoubtedly on the hot seat, however. The Bucs do still have some talent, including Vita Vea plugging up the middle with Calijah Kancey . Ted Hurst was drafted in the third round to help replace the loss of Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin should be back healthy this season after missing a good chunk of last year. Final: Panthers 28 – Buccaneers 20 The Panthers second prime time game of the year is a Thursday night game at Lambeau. Luckily it’s early enough in the season that the weather should not be too bad. The Packers lost a couple wide receivers in Romeo Doubbs and Dontayvion Wicks . Rashan Gary was traded this offseason, largely because the team hopes Micah Parsons will be back and fully healthy at some point this season. Jordan Love is still the man under center, but they also added Tyrod Taylor as a fully capable backup. The team largely revolves around Love and that dynamic offense. Christian Watson is joined by second year receiver Matthew Golden , free agent Skyy Moore in the receiver room. A relatively weak secondary was addressed in the draft by taking Brandon Cisse and in free agency by signing Benjamin St-Juste . The depth at edge is also a bit of a weakness, especially with Parsons coming back from a torn ACL. The Packers are also going through some transitions on the offensive line, which could cause some issues. Starting left tackle Rasheed Walker left for the Panthers and Elgton Jenkins left in free agency as well. Final: Packers 27 – Panthers 23 The Denver Broncos surprised a lot of people last year, ripping off a 14-3 record largely led by their elite defense. To help on offense, the team added Jaylen Waddle and JK Dobbins. Bo Nix is still under center, and old nemesis Sean Payton and his permanent duck face is still the head coach. The team also still has a very good offensive line together, which will be important with Nix coming off a major ankle injury. The Broncos did not have a pick this year until the third round, so an influx of big name young players did not happen. The Broncos still have
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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown married Kelsey Riley on May 16th. While the wedding was a personal milestone, Brown's professional life has seen some strain, including a public criticism of the Eagles' offense and a reported drop in target share. The Eagles are reportedly shopping Brown, with the Rams and Patriots showing interest
With voluntary offseason workouts in full swing, one key member of the Patriots’ offense hasn’t been volunteering to show up. As noted by Mike Reiss of ESPN, Boutte has been working out on his own . Yes, it’s not mandatory (except for the annual mandatory minicamp). But it makes sense to be there; if a player suffers a serious injury while working out on his own, the team has the prerogative to deem it a non-football injury and not pay him. It’s unclear why Boutte isn’t there. The sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft is currently eligible for a new contract, and he’s entering the final year of his rookie deal at a base salary of $3.674 million. He’s possibly withholding services while he angles for a financial reward. Boutte has had his moments, even if he’s never had more than 589 receiving yards in any of his three NFL seasons. He had three catches for 75 yards and a touchdown during the divisional-round win over the Texans in January. The arrival of Romeo Doubs via free agency will complicate Boutte’s attempt to have the kind of fourth season that will set him up for a solid free-agency deal. The expected trade for A.J. Brown will only make things more difficult for Boutte. Whatever the reason(s), Boutte isn’t there for voluntary workouts. Whether he’ll be there beyond the 2026 season remains to be seen; it’s entirely possible that, once Brown arrives (if a trade with the Eagles happens after June 1), the Patriots will make Boutte available to any other interested team
We’re getting closer to our first look at the 2026 Chicago Bears , and there’s one thing in particular ESPN’s Ben Solak wants to know about this squad: what are sophomore stars Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III about to do now that their roles are set to expand this season? As Bears fans know, general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson moved veteran receiver DJ Moore this past offseason to make room for the glut of young talent in the pass-catching corps, which also includes 2024 No. 9 overall pick Rome Odunze . Assuming Odunze is healthy, he’s likely to see substantial targets and hopefully return to the level of production he enjoyed before leg injuries derailed his own sophomore campaign. But after what Loveland, the No. 10 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Burden, the 39th pick in the same class, did down the stretch of their respective rookie seasons, there’s no way they’re not going to be major parts of the offense. Burden’s case is especially intriguing because he figures to slot alongside Odunze as a starter in Moore’s place—a scenario one could envision after he started to break out late in his rookie campaign. “Burden averaged 2.92 yards per route run during the regular season. That’s tied with A.J. Brown for the best mark for a rookie receiver (minimum 50 targets) in the past 15 years. Just below Burden and Brown are Justin Jefferson, Odell Beckham Jr. , Puka Nacua and Ja’Marr Chase. Those players did it on remarkably higher volume than Burden, but even the low-usage rookies who spiked in yards per route run ( Tank Dell , Christian Watson , Tyreek Hill , Doug Baldwin ) indicate a promising future for Burden,” Solak wrote. After a slow start that likely had to do with a combination of inexperience and too many bodies ahead of him, Burden started getting more opportunities after Odunze went down and Olamide Zaccheaus ’ hands turned into a liability. His explosive run-after-catch ability and improving route-running continued to earn him more snaps until he posted a three-game stretch of 67, 84, and 138 receiving yards in three of his final four regular-season games. Johnson sounds extremely committed to giving him more opportunities in 2026. Assuming Burden makes the strides with the playbook that we’d expect, we should expect him to take advantage. That said, we all know who the real top dog in this pass-catching pecking order is now. Loveland’s insane finish to last season placed him almost immediately into top-five tight end conversations, punctuated by his monstrous eight-catch, 137-yard performance in the Wild Card Round against the Green Bay Packers . Calling him “unguardable” in that game didn’t do it justice. And there’s more where that came from, suggests Solak. “Loveland is an impossible cover. Long and rangy, Loveland eats up ground similar to a receiver in his route stem. Loveland is snappy enough to separate from linebackers, but the real issue is how his size and toughness make him nearly impossible to play through. Safeties keep trying to light him up at the catch point with big hits. They look like they’re hit-sticking a telephone pole. “The real needle-mover for Loveland is his blocking ability. He can dig out defensive ends and hold his water one-on-one in the running game. This makes him doubly dangerous in the play-action pass game, as his pre-snap alignment doesn’t tip Johnson’s hand to the opposing defensive coordinator. Safeties and linebackers have to meet him aggressively when he’s blocking downhill. But if they guess wrong and he’s climbing vertically for a route, their goose is cooked,” he wrote of the rising second-year tight end. Loveland’s massive surge, plus some injuries to the receiving corps, pushed him into the team lead for catches and receptions by year’s end. While the likes of Odunze will undoubtedly get a high share of targets in 2026 now that he’s back, Loveland is the real problem in that offense right now. The scary part: he doesn’t have Mo
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The Chicago Bears will be featured on plenty of national NFL broadcasts in 2026. The NFL believes in Ben Johnson, and they believe in Caleb Williams. We’ve always said how much the NFL loves the Chicago Bears and loves it when they are good. Unfortunately, it’s not something they’ve ever had the privilege of having consistently in the modern media landscape, at least not with a marketable quarterback. That’s changed, and the Bears have seven standalone games in primetime and on alternate days. Let’s take a look at those games and rank them worst to best. All these games are very good, as the NFL isn’t going to put the Bears against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday Night Football, but of all the games, this is the least compelling. The Bucs fell apart at the end of last season, and Todd Bowles looks like he might be on his last legs as the team’s head coach. The Bucs strike me as a middle-of-the-road team this season, and this one isn’t going to get the hype machine from the NFL media. I think the top 5 get tricky to rank, but I am pretty confident that these two are the bottom of the seven. The Eagles will most likely be good, but they are another team that seems past their peak and will most likely trade AJ Brown , and if Jalen Hurts has another up-and-down season, the Eagles might be a team that only wins 8 or 9 games this season. The Bears, of course, were the team that derailed their season last year and exposed them for who they were. You might all think I’m crazy for putting the defending Super Bowl champions this low in the rankings, but I’m a big fan of QB matchups, and Sam Darnold is a good QB, but he’s just not compelling to me. I love the idea of Ben Johnson’s offense against Mike Macdonald’s defense, and it’s a Coby Bryant revenge game if that gets you excited, but I think these other four games are just more interesting. If this were last season, with Ben Johnson’s return to Detroit, it would be higher on the list, but we’ve done that one already. The Bears didn’t have a lot of success against the Lions last year, so this will be Ben Johnson’s opportunity to get his first win against his old club. This will be a great game to kick off a loaded holiday slate, but it falls just short of the top three. I considered long and hard to put this one at number two, but in the end, this one settles at number three for me. Josh Allen against Caleb Williams is awesome. With the game being in Buffalo in December in their new stadium, with a chance of snow, it could be cinematic on television. This is one everyone should circle because, by December, this could feature a battle of two top 5 quarterbacks in the league. Plus, it’s the DJ Moore revenge game. I think most fans would have this lower in the rankings, but this is a matchup I love, and no, it has nothing to do with Mike Vrabel’s current situation. One, the Bears will always be cosmically tied to the Patriots thanks to 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. But beyond that, to me, this is a battle of the first and second pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. I know they are in opposite conferences, so they won’t meet often, but I think the NFL would love the idea of Drake Maye and Caleb Williams both becoming top-five QBs coming out of the same draft, and being the big dogs of the league over the next decade. The first Maye vs Williams was a debacle; this one should be far more compelling. How can it not be? The NFL’s oldest (and best) rivalry kicks off the NFL’s trio of games on Christmas Day, and it will be the Bears’ first appearance on Netflix. I think some fans are going to be annoyed that the NFL is going to hijack some families’ Christmases, but Soldier Field will be littered with Santa suits and posters of the Packers getting coal, and it should be absolutely fantastic theater. The Bears are back. The rivalry is back, and the NFL is putting it out there for the world to watch
SeatGeek is the official NFL Ticketing Partner of the New York Post. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. Now comes the Sisyphean task of rolling the boulder up the hill again for the New England Patriots . After a shockingly successful 2025 campaign — a 14-3 record, an AFC Championship and a tough loss in the Super Bowl — Drake Maye and Co. will run it back in 2026 and attempt to reach the high highs they achieved last year. In order to get there, they’ll have to get through a number of formidable opponents, considering they have the sixth-hardest strength of schedule of all 32 NFL teams, according to Yahoo! Sports . If you’d like to be in the stands to help root on Mike Vrabel’s mighty squad, tickets are available for all eight home games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Notable showdowns set to take place on the Pats’ turf include battles with T.J. Watt ’s Pittsburgh Steelers (Sept. 20), Jordan Love ’s Green Bay Packers (Nov. 8), Josh Allen ’s Buffalo Bills (Dec. 6), Kyler Murray ’s Minnesota Vikings (Dec. 10) and Bo Nix ’s Denver Broncos (Jan. 3). To prepare for these high-stakes contests, General Manager Eliot Wolf has been putting in work this offseason. Over the past few months, the former director of scouting has inked deals with standout guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, high-energy edge linebacker Dre’Mont Jones , potential backup tight end Julian Hill and, most excitingly, splashy wide receiver Romeo Doubs . “Doubs gives the Patriots a strong receiver who can replace Stefon Diggs and run all kinds of routes: intermediate, over the middle, outs and even the occasional deep pattern,” ESPN’s Aaron Schatz said. “He might end up as the Patriots’ top option if they can’t work out an A.J. Brown trade, so don’t be surprised if he tops 1,000 yards for the first time.” Want to see how they mesh with the squad? We recommend grabbing your tickets for all eight home games at Gillette Stadium on SeatGeek as soon as today. SeatGeek is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event. For those who prefer to pick and choose which home games make the most sense for you to attend, we’re here for you too. Below, you’ll find a list of all upcoming New England Patriots home games at Gillette Stadium including dates, start times, opponents and links to buy tickets. New England Patriots home game dates Steelers vs. Patriots Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. Raiders vs. Patriots Sunday, Oct. 11 at 1 p.m. Jets vs. Patriots Sunday, Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. Packers vs. Patriots Sunday. Nov. 8 at 4:25 p.m. Bills vs. Patriots Sunday. Dec. 6 at 4:25 p.m. Vikings vs. Patriots Thursday, Dec. 10 at 8:15 p.m. Broncos vs. Patriots Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027 at TBD Dolphins vs. Patriots Jan. 9 or 10 at TBD If you think you might find yourself traveling with the Patriots this year, here’s where you can find them on the road once the 2026 season begins. New England Patriots away game dates Patriots vs. Seahawks Wednesday, Sept. 9 at Lumen Field in Seattle , WA Patriots vs. Jaguars Sunday, Sept. 27 at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, FL Patriots vs. Bills Sunday, Oct. 4 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, NY Patriots vs. Bears Thursday Oct.22 at Soldier Field in Chicago , IL Patriots vs. Dolphins Sunday. Nov. 1 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, FL Patriots vs. Lions Sunday, Nov. 15 at Allianz Arena in Munich, DE Patriots vs. Chargers Sunday, Nov. 29 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA Patriots vs. Chiefs Monday, Dec. 21 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO Patriots vs. Jets Sunday, Dec. 27 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ There is no shortage of ways to watch Patriots games live from the comfort of your own home this se
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The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2026 schedule is here, and it’s time for another yearly tradition: going game by game and picking every contest on the Steelers’ slate. Yes, this is not anything close to a scientific exercise, especially with so many changes bound to happen between now and September (I am predicting these games with the assumption Aaron Rodgers signs). But it’s fun to do, and it sets a baseline of sorts for future predictions. Our friends at FanDuel have the Steelers over/under set at 7.5 wins. Will they top that in 2026? Let’s dive in: The Steelers have won the last five meetings against Atlanta — and the Falcons have never won in Pittsburgh. Historical trends aside, the Falcons are still in quarterback purgatory, and the Steelers should be fired up with a rare home opener and new head coach. Last year, the Steelers needed a whopping five defensive turnovers to defeat New England by one touchdown. And the Patriots only improved throughout 2025 en route to a Super Bowl appearance — and at this point in 2026, they might’ve added AJ Brown . This early in the season, the usually injury-bitten Bengals should still be a threat, especially with the addition of elite nose tackle Dexter Lawrence . Still, that defense has a lot of holes, and the Steelers are at home. Times might change under Mike McCarthy, but this is a loss many are penciling in already. The Steelers have struggled to win in Cleveland lately, and the Thursday Night Football setting should only up the slop factor. I’m not bullish on the Colts, even with a healthy Daniel Jones , to repeat their unexpected success from the first half of 2025. Michael Pittman Jr. gets a petty game ball — are we still doing those? — against his former team. The Buccaneers are still a dangerous team, but the wheels fell off in 2025, headlined by a disappointing season from quarterback Baker Mayfield . I don’t have a ton of faith in Todd Bowles to right the pirate ship this year. It’s an international game, so expect TNF levels of wackiness, and maybe the Saints get a force multiplier playing the land of the fleur-de-lis. Still, while I’m cautiously optimistic in the offense New Orleans has put together, this seems like a winnable game for Pittsburgh. Playing in a divisional game the week after a trip to Europe isn’t ideal, but the good news is that the Browns haven’t won a regular season game in Pittsburgh since 2003. I doubt Yinzer Mike McCarthy wants that streak to break in the first year under his watch. Tough to lose this one. This marks the start of a stretch of non-1 p.m. kickoffs for Pittsburgh. I also think it’ll be a win. The Steelers are able to sweep the Bengals, this time thanks to an extra week of rest. Here’s another historical stat: The Steelers haven’t won in Philadelphia since 1965. I don’t think anything changes here, as the Steelers run into what should still be a tough team in the trenches with plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. After a somewhat easy start to the schedule, the Steelers encounter their first losing streak of the year against the Broncos after Thanksgiving. Denver has an efficient offense and a fierce defense that should challenge Pittsburgh’s young offensive line and aging quarterback. Copy and paste what I said about the Broncos defense, but to an even greater degree when it comes to the Texans. Case in point: This group ate Aaron Rodgers and co. alive in the NFL Playoffs in January. Houston’s offense is a potential weak point, but the addition of David Montgomery and another offensive line revamp might result in some improvements. Does the Steelers’ historical Monday Night Football success continue with a new Mike? For now, I think it will. The Jaguars are a better team than many give them credit for, but I also think this Steelers team has improved more than some in the national media would believe. Pittsburgh breaks a three-game skid with a much-needed win. The Steelers come back down to earth with a loss to the Rave
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The Steelers’ 2026 schedule was announced Thursday night. And in true NFL fashion, the whole thing was leaked well before the league made it official. But now, it’s time for another yearly tradition: With the schedule out, let’s go game by game, predicting the wins and losses. Yes, this is not anything close to a scientific exercise, especially with so many changes bound to happen between now and September (I am predicting these games with the assumption Aaron Rodgers signs). But it’s fun to do, and it sets a baseline of sorts for future predictions. Let’s dive in: The Steelers have won the last five meetings against Atlanta — and the Falcons have never won in Pittsburgh. Historical trends aside, the Falcons are still in quarterback purgatory, and the Steelers should be fired up with a rare home opener and new head coach. Last year, the Steelers needed a whopping five defensive turnovers to defeat New England by one touchdown. And the Patriots only improved throughout 2025 en route to a Super Bowl appearance — and at this point in 2026, they might’ve added AJ Brown . This early in the season, the usually injury-bitten Bengals should still be a threat, especially with the addition of elite nose tackle Dexter Lawrence . Still, that defense has a lot of holes, and the Steelers are at home. Times might change under Mike McCarthy, but this is a loss many are penciling in already. The Steelers have struggled to win in Cleveland lately, and the Thursday Night Football setting should only up the slop factor. I’m not bullish on the Colts, even with a healthy Daniel Jones , to repeat their unexpected success from the first half of 2025. Michael Pittman Jr. gets a petty game ball — are we still doing those? — against his former team. The Buccaneers are still a dangerous team, but the wheels fell off in 2025, headlined by a disappointing season from quarterback Baker Mayfield . I don’t have a ton of faith in Todd Bowles to right the pirate ship this year. It’s an international game, so expect TNF levels of wackiness, and maybe the Saints get a force multiplier playing the land of the fleur-de-lis. Still, while I’m cautiously optimistic in the offense New Orleans has put together, this seems like a winnable game for Pittsburgh. Playing in a divisional game the week after a trip to Europe isn’t ideal, but the good news is that the Browns haven’t won a regular season game in Pittsburgh since 2003. I doubt Yinzer Mike McCarthy wants that streak to break in the first year under his watch. Tough to lose this one. This marks the start of a stretch of non-1 p.m. kickoffs for Pittsburgh. I also think it’ll be a win. The Steelers are able to sweep the Bengals, this time thanks to an extra week of rest. Here’s another historical stat: The Steelers haven’t won in Philadelphia since 1965. I don’t think anything changes here, as the Steelers run into what should still be a tough team in the trenches with plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. After a somewhat easy start to the schedule, the Steelers encounter their first losing streak of the year against the Broncos after Thanksgiving. Denver has an efficient offense and a fierce defense that should challenge Pittsburgh’s young offensive line and aging quarterback. Copy and paste what I said about the Broncos defense, but to an even greater degree when it comes to the Texans. Case in point: This group ate Aaron Rodgers and co. alive in the NFL Playoffs in January. Houston’s offense is a potential weak point, but the addition of David Montgomery and another offensive line revamp might result in some improvements. Does the Steelers’ historical Monday Night Football success continue with a new Mike? For now, I think it will. The Jaguars are a better team than many give them credit for, but I also think this Steelers team has improved more than some in the national media would believe. Pittsburgh breaks a three-game skid with a much-needed win. The Steelers come back down to earth wi
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Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links … Winners and losers from 2026 NFL schedule release – NFL.com WINNERS — 4) Philadelphia Eagles: Last season, the Eagles became the first team to repeat as NFC East champs in more than 20 years. And they appear to be in a strong enough position to make it three straight division titles now that we’ve seen what looks like a very favorable schedule. Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts might be facing some pressure, and A.J. Brown might soon be gone, but this is a slate the Eagles can take advantage of, even with five prime-time games and an overseas trip on tap. After opening with the Commanders and Titans, things get thicker, especially with the Bears-Rams-Jaguars cluster (Weeks 3-5), but there’s nothing treacherous thereafter. Yes, the Eagles have three different pairs of back-to-back road games; they also have a three-game homestead over the holidays in December, which is nice timing. And they come against three quality teams, too: the Colts (Week 14), Seahawks (Week 15) and Texans (Week 16). Even with two roadies to close out the season, including Week 17 at San Fran, the Eagles’ schedule lays out pretty nicely, featuring a well-placed bye in Week 10. Eagles schedule 2026: Instant predictions for all 17 games – BGN All told, the feeling here is that the offense could have some ups and downs while the defense more often than not this team’s rock. There is potential for things to spin off the rails; sometimes disaster is much closer than it appears (I don’t recall people expecting the 2020 Eagles to look as bad as they did ahead of what became a franchise-altering season). But given the franchise’s penchant for high-level success in recent years, one must believe they could win big once again. Every NFL Week 1 game on 2026 schedule, ranked from worst to best – SB Nation Commanders at Eagles. Honestly, the reason this game is so high is this: Sonny Styles . The dynamic linebacker making his debut against Jalen Hurts and this offense? That is going to be a blast to watch. Add in the return of Jayden Daniels , and the fact that this game is in the late afternoon Sunday slate (against games such as Cardinals at Chargers and Dolphins at Raiders ) and you have a game you’ll want to be watching. Game-by-game Eagles 2026 win-loss predictions – PhillyVoice Divisional round: Eagles (3 seed) at Lions (2 seed): The Eagles get a nice lead in the first half, and then go into ultra conservative mode in the second half. The Lions take advantage and come back to win. In the aftermath, Nick Sirianni is fired, and Sean Mannion is promoted to head coach. Loss, 12-7. Let Him Go – Iggles Blitz I’m talking about AJ today because a few of you brought him up in response to my piece on the Eagles WR corps. With all due respect and friendship, it is time to move on. You have to let him go. AJ Brown is a few weeks away from officially being an ex-Eagle. I hate it, but this isn’t my choice. This isn’t Howie Roseman or Nick Sirianni’s choice. This is what AJ wants. Some of you will come at me disputing that. I’m tired of those arguments. Save them for someone else, please. Jimmy Bama seems like an engaging fellow, try him. The Eagles only trade two types of guys, players that are disposable and those who want out (Wentz, Reddick, Huff, etc.) Which category do you think AJ fits into? Hint…he’s sure as heck not disposable. Philadelphia Eagles schedule 2026: Takeaways, predictions – ESPN Bold prediction. The regular-season finale versus the Giants will seal at least one team’s playoff fate. The Giants have been largely irrelevant in the NFC East race in recent years, but the coach/quarterback combo of John Harbaugh and Jaxson Dart appears formidable and could lead to a football renaissance in New York. Perhaps the division title will be on the line when these teams tangle Week 18. Eagles full schedule release: Predicting how Jalen Hurts and Co. will navigate a loaded October slate and high-stakes holidays – [... truncated ...]
The NFL schedule has officially been released, but the focus for New England Patriots has remained centered on the offseason program as OTAs are less than two weeks away. So, let’s get into this week’s #PostPulpit Mailbag. What is the game youre most looking forward to on the Patriots schedule? – Mike W. It’s tough to top the Super Bowl rematch right out of the gate, especially in the Seattle environment. While it will be a challenging one for the Patriots, they should fare much better than they did three months ago with the upgrades the’ve made this offseason. Other playoff rematches against the Broncos, who made a big swing this offseason by acquiring Jaylen Waddle , and the Chargers, who should be healthier and now have Mike McDaniel coordinating the offense, should make for great primetime matchups. And any Drake Maye vs. Caleb Williams game (along with Mike Vrabel vs. Ben Johnson) should be a fun watch, although hopefully it’s not hurt by being on Thursday Night Football. Are there any anticipated schematic shifts given the additions/losses personnel wise for the Patriots ie; loss of Tonga, addition of Byard, loss of Diggs, addition of AVT (plus the likely addition of AJ Brown)? – LandenPatz1 The biggest change appears to be on offense. Dating back to last season, New England has remodeled its offensive line with a focus on adding athleticism (Campbell, Wilson, AVT, Lomu). With Drake Maye at quarterback, the goal is to prioritize pass protection while also becoming more athletic up front to move the pocket, operate bootlegs, etc. That shift could also lead to an increased emphasis on a zone run game, which in turn opens up play-action and those bootleg concepts. Additions such as Reggie Gilliam and Julian Hill — both strong blockers on the move and at the second level — would further support that transition. It looks to me we want to run much more often based on free agency signed players and even draft picks. It should open the passing game if it is efficient. WYT ? – 7i165 Running the football more consistently is a clear point of emphasis this season. Speaking at the NFL League Meetings this offseason, Mike Vrabel noted the team’s ability to generate explosive runs but also its struggles with efficiency on the ground. Eliot Wolf also said several offseason additions were made intentionally to improve the rushing attack. Staying ahead of the chains and improving their short-yardage efficiency should make life easier for Drake Maye and the offense, while also enhancing their play-action pass game. I can’t help but wonder whether Henderson will make a major jump this year. It seems to me the shift to a more mobile OL is all about getting him space. What do you think his season will look like? – ed.liebfried Last season, Henderson seemed to be the definition of home-run or bust in the running game. The offseason additions should benefit him, along with the potential shift toward more zone concepts. After struggling down the stretch last season, hopefully things slow down mentally for the speedster to find more consistency moving forward — additionally in terms of a pass blocker in order to get on the field in passing situations. Has the pass rush been upgraded? – wrw921 The team believes Dre’Mont Jones is an upgrade over K’Lavon Chaisson . Add in second-round rookie Gabe Jacas , who projects to make an immediate impact, and that should lead to an improved unit. Time will also tell how Harold Landry recovers from a knee injury that derailed a strong start to last season. Game of upgrade, downgrade, or potential to be an upgrade – sjamesbossports Most of the rookies will probably fall in the “potential” category, but here we go: Alijah Vera-Tucker over Garrett Bradb ury: Upgrade A.J. Brown over Stefon Diggs : Upgrade Romeo Doubs over DeMario Douglas : Upgrade Eli Raridon over AustinHooper: Potential to be an upgrade Caleb Lomu over Thayer Munford Jr: Upgrade Reggie Gilliam over Jack Westover : Upgrade [... truncated ...]
Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links … NFL execs predict 2027 offseason: QB carousel coming? – ESPN Eagles will face a decision about Jalen Hurts’ future. This is a crucial year for the Eagles’ offense under Hurts, after their passing attack ranked in the bottom third of the league in back-to-back seasons. The offense will feature more play-action and under-center work, which Hurts has hesitated to embrace at times in the past but has appeared very open to this offseason, according to sources. “As open as he’s ever been,” a source said. Hurts has been throwing off site with multiple Eagles receivers, including his new No. 1, Devonta Smith — assuming A.J. Brown is traded as expected — and veteran Elijah Moore . Some NFL personnel evaluators still consider him a top-12 quarterback in the league. All of that won’t dim the spotlight placed on him this season — and the spotlight on the team’s next move if he struggles again. “Hurts I could see,” said an AFC exec when asked whether Philly could look to move him this offseason if the offense struggles. “Polarizing player, and as his running ability starts to decline, his value will decline, too. And [Eagles general manager Howie Roseman] will always be proactive with finding solutions.” Hurts has $22 million in 2027 guarantees. The team would take a $2.9 million cap hit if he’s traded before June 1 but would save $21.4 million on that year’s cap if he’s dealt after June 1. “The guarantees make it like a Kyler Murray situation where Philly would have to pay to facilitate a trade,” another AFC executive said. The flip side: Hurts can force Philly’s hand on a new contract if he thrives. His current deal runs through the 2028 season. “I think he’s going to play well,” an NFC personnel evaluator said. “He’s had so many different coordinators over the years that he’ll be able to adapt to the changes, and if the running game returns to form, [Hurts] throws it well over the top.” Eagles depth chart following the 2026 NFL Draft: Defense edition – BGN The Eagles need 2024 Jalen Carter back for 2026. The hope is that he’ll be much healthier than he was in 2025. Davis got paid and it’ll be interesting to see how he follows up his breakout season. It’s a contract season for Ojomo and it wouldn’t surprising to see him replicate Milton Williams ’ success that led to a big pay day. The coaching staff not trusting Robinson to play much as a 24-year-old rookie is a bit of a red flag but we’ll see if he can earn a rotational role in Year 2. Vic Fangio seems to like Young more than most. Hall is competing for a depth job once again. Graham has some NFL experience and could push to be as high as DT4, though DT5 is more likely his ceiling. The Eagles designated Bernard as their international exemption but they’ll need to keep him on the 53-man roster (or use one of their two injured reserve/designated for return spots they have prior to roster cuts) to prevent him from hitting waivers. Given the Eagles’ willingness to spend a draft pick on a multi-year project, guessing they’re not going to risk losing Bernard. Preseason All-NFC East team: Defense edition – PhillyVoice Edge defenders: Brian Burns , Giants; Jonathan Greenard , Eagles. Burns finished second in the NFL with 16.5 sacks in 2025. He headlines the division’s edge defenders. And then it gets interesting. Greenard had a down year in 2025, but he had 24.5 combined sacks in 2023 and 2024. I expect Abdul Carter to make a bit of a leap in Year 2 after finishing strongly in 2025. Jalyx Hunt had 38 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 19 QB hits, 3 INTs (including a pick-six), a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and 3 pass breakups in the Eagles’ final 11 games last season. He gets in on the second team over guys like Odafe Oweh , Kayvon Thibodeaux and Rashan Gary . This group is a little depleted after the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons . Second team: Abdul Carter, Giants; Jalyx Hunt, Eagles. The Spread Offense – Iggles Blitz Hurts will finally have a [... truncated ...]
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