The playoffs are out of reach for the Chicago Bears as they come out of their bye week, but a top-three draft pick is on the line every time they take the...
Jared Goff and Geno Smith Somehow Hold the NFL Offseason in Their Hands
Dec 16, 2022
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: Geno Smith #7 of the Seattle Seahawks prepares to take the field prior to a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on December 15, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Getty Images)
Just as we all expected at the start of the 2022 NFL season, the league's 2023 offseason could hinge significantly on the fates of Geno Smith and Jared Goff.
Yeah, the NFL never stops making us use the ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ emoji.
See, just a few months ago, preseasonmockdrafts almost always had the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions picking in the top 10, partly due to the fact that Smith and Goff were their respective quarterbacks. That was especially the case with the Seahawks, who appeared to be entering a post-Russell Wilson bridge year with Smith serving as a placeholder, but the Lions were also widely expected to struggle ahead of a year in which they can save more than $20 million by parting ways with Goff.
Unsurprisingly, a lot of those mock drafts also had at least one but often both of those teams selecting quarterbacks in the top portion of Round 1.
Well, never mind that. In the midst of the home stretch, Seattle and Detroit are both scrapping for playoff positions in the NFC. They entered Week 15 a combined 13-13 with positive scoring margins, in large part due to the fact that Smith and Goff both rank in the top 10 among qualified passers in terms of touchdown throws, yards per attempt, passer rating and QBR.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 11: Jared Goff #16 of the Detroit Lions celebrates after defeating the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on December 11, 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)
Smith has completely salvaged a once-nearly-forgotten career, while Goff is playing possibly the best football of his life for an inspiring Lions squad. Both are also certainly earning themselves a lot of money, because the former is scheduled to hit free agency this offseason while the latter is increasing the chances that the Lions hand him the $30.65 million he's owed for 2023 rather than cutting him loose for about a third of that rate.
But it gets even more bizarre than that, because the irony is the Seahawks are still on track to land the second overall pick and the Lions are still in line for the fourth overall selection. That's because Wilson and the Denver Broncos are having such a shockingly miserable year after that trade sent a first-rounder to Seattle, while Matthew Stafford's Los Angeles Rams have experienced a Murphy's Law-level Super Bowl hangover two years after shipping two first-rounders to the Motor City in the Goff-Stafford swap.
It'd be pretty odd if the season ended today, but if that were to happen, the Seahawks would possess the second and 17th overall picks, and the Lions would be on the clock at four and 15.
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - NOVEMBER 26: Bryce Young #9 of the Alabama Crimson Tide warms up prior to facing the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Now, both teams are left with intriguing decisions to make. If they wind up with premium top-10 picks, do they still take quarterbacks? It's entirely possible these are aberrational seasons for both Smith and Goff, who will both be quite expensive compared to rookies like Bryce Young. C.J. Stroud, Will Levis or Anthony Richardson in the next few years.
An early-offseason decision to go quarterback in the draft and cut bait from either vet could enable either team to spend much more in free agency, increasing their chances of taking a step forward (or at least maintaining status quo) with pro-ready rookies under center.
But on the other hand, a decision not to go signal-caller on April 27 would allow either already-seemingly-playoff-caliber squad to add two more pro-ready non-quarterback weapons each that evening (with the draft capital to move up for practically anybody they want).
Imagine this Seattle team in 2023, with Smith proving 2022 wasn't a fluke and, say, Will Anderson Jr. or Jalen Carter and Christian Gonzalez, Kelee Ringo or Joey Porter Jr. on defense?
STARKVILLE, MS - NOVEMBER 12: Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter (88) during the college football game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Mississippi State Bulldogs on November 12, 2022 at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, MS. (Photo by Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Imagine this Detroit team in 2023, with Goff continuing to finally live up to his potential and, say, Anderson or Carter and Gonzalez, Ringo or Porter on defense?
That'd terrify the rest of the conference.
Beyond that, the "quarterback or no quarterback" calls in Detroit and Seattle will have ripple effects throughout the league inside and outside of the draft. Teams that right now could be in the mix for guys like Young, Stroud, Levis or Richardson—the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers, in particular—could decide to instead pursue Goff or Smith if either were to become available in the spring.
In other words, until we have word on where Goff and Smith will reside next season, 2023 mock drafts might be more out to lunch than ever.
But that's what we love about this ¯\_(ツ)_/¯-inducing league, right?
Kyle Shanahan Says NFC West Crown Isn't 49ers' 'Final Goal' After Win vs. Seahawks
Dec 16, 2022
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 16: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers leaves the field following the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 16, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan isn't satisfied with just winning a division title.
Speaking to reporters after the Niners clinched the NFC West with a 21-13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, Shanahan said this "isn't our final goal by any means."
"I'm very proud of our team and what we accomplished throughout the year to get to this," he added. "Our goal is to get into the tournament, and we accomplished that today, but now it's all trying to set that up to be the best situation we can and hopefully get some of our guys back, too, in the process."
The 49ers were something of an unknown coming into this season, despite reaching the NFC Championship Game last year.
Trey Lance was set to take over as the starting quarterback, though they did have Jimmy Garoppolo as the No. 2 signal-caller on the roster. It was unclear what the offense would look like with Lance at the helm.
A fractured ankle ended Lance's season in Week 2. Garoppolo had some struggles initially as he was getting back up to speed against opposing defenses, but he was in the midst of arguably his best season with 2,437 passing yards and 16 touchdowns.
Garoppolo suffered a broken bone in his foot against the Miami Dolphins in Week 13. While it remains unclear if he will be able to return this season, Brock Purdy has kept the offense playing at a high level.
The final pick in the 2022 NFL draft, Purdy is completing 69.1 percent of his passes for 612 yards with six touchdowns and one interception in the past three games. Christian McCaffrey has been incredible with 880 yards from scrimmage and seven total touchdowns in eight games since being acquired from the Carolina Panthers.
San Francisco's defense, meanwhile, leads the NFL in points allowed (15.0 per game) and yards allowed (286.1 per game).
Shanahan's attempt to downplay winning the division title makes sense. This 49ers have had a Super Bowl-caliber roster for the past four seasons. They advanced to the Super Bowl in 2019 before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Injuries derailed San Francisco's 2020 season, but it rebounded with a run to the NFC title game last season.
Since a 3-4 start this season, the 49ers have rattled off seven consecutive wins to clinch their second division title in the past four years. They are certainly capable of being the NFC representative in Super Bowl 57 if Purdy and the defense keep playing at a high level going into the postseason.
Seahawks' Tyler Lockett Diagnosed with Broken Bone After Hand Injury vs. 49ers
Dec 16, 2022
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 11: Tyler Lockett #16 of the Seattle Seahawks looks on during the second quarter of the game against the Carolina Panthers at Lumen Field on December 11, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett suffered a broken bone in his hand during Thursday's 21-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Head coach Pete Carroll told reporters about Lockett's injury after the game.
"I can't fathom playing without Tyler," the Seattle coach said.
#Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett is expected to have surgery to repair and stabilize his fractured finger, source said. It's possible he only misses one game and is back for the final two. But a firm timetable will be available post-surgery.
Lockett finished the game with a team-high 68 yards on seven receptions against San Francisco. The 30-year-old has only missed two games in his NFL career. He suffered a fractured tibia and fibula in Week 15 of the 2016 season and missed Week 14 in 2021 due to Covid-19.
The 49ers' victory over their division rival clinched the NFC West title. The Seahawks have lost four of their past five games, but they remain alive in the wild-card race with a 7-7 record.
The Washington Commanders and New York Giants own the final two playoff spots in the NFC with identical 7-5-1 records. The Seahawks can make up ground on Sunday when the Commanders and Giants play head-to-head, unless they tie again.
If Lockett has to miss time, the Seahawks' final three games of the regular season are against the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets and Los Angeles Rams.
The Seahawks have D.K. Metcalf as their go-to receiver. Marquise Goodwin will likely be elevated to the starting lineup if Lockett is unable to play in Week 15.
Lockett leads the team in receiving yards (964) and touchdowns (eight). He ranks second in targets (108) and receptions (78). The Kansas State alum has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in each of the previous three seasons.
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Elite Defense and O-Line Can Lift 49ers Past NFC's Best in the Playoffs
Dec 16, 2022
49ers DE Nick Bosa
There's a perception in today's NFL that a team cannot make a legitimate Super Bowl run without an elite quarterback. Well, the San Francisco 49ers are poised to put that theory to the test.
San Francisco is now on its third starting quarterback of the season. Yet, as the 49ers showed once again on Thursday night, their defense and offensive line are strong enough to challenge the best the NFC has to offer.
Are the Seattle Seahawks among the conference's best? No, but the 7-7 Seahawks aren't pushovers either. Thursday's game was a tough, physical divisional battle that San Francisco faced in a hostile environment. While the 49ers didn't exactly make it look easy, they dominated in the trenches, forced mistakes on defense and delivered a decisive 21-13 victory.
The 49ers have now won seven in a row and are as hot as any team in the NFL. They continue rolling with that aforementioned third-string quarterback.
Let's talk about rookie quarterback Brock Purdy for a moment, because he is one of the top stories in San Francisco right now. Taken with the 262nd and final pick of 2022, Purdy was Mr. Irrelevant on draft weekend and largely unknown in Week 1.
Starter and 2021 third-overall pick Trey Lance suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2. Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a season-ending foot injury two weeks ago, which handed the keys to Purdy.
In his two-plus games since, Purdy has done nothing to disappoint. Against Seattle, he finished 17-of-26 for 217 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for a key first down on San Francisco's final drive. He did it all without one of the 49ers' best players in wideout Deebo Samuel.
More importantly, the rookie has shown poise, accuracy, a solid understanding of Kyle Shanahan's offense and an ability to push the ball down the field. Just check out this play from Thursday, during which Purdy surveys the field, works through his progressions and finds tight end George Kittle breaking loose in the secondary.
The bottom line is that anyone high on the 49ers a couple of weeks ago when Garoppolo was healthy should still be extremely high on them—even with Mr. Irrelevant running the offense.
And plenty of folks should be high on the 49ers because of their defense, their running game and their offensive line.
The line, headlined by All-Pro Trent Williams, can open holes for in-season trade acquisition Christian McCaffrey. The former Carolina Panthers star has become a force in San Francisco and came into Thursday's game with 426 rushing yards, 316 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Against Seattle, McCaffrey rumbled for 108 rushing yards, 30 receiving yards and a touchdown.
That line helped pave the way for a ground-oriented nine-play, 71-yard drive at the end of the game to chew up the final 3:35 and seal the win.
The line can also give Purdy time in the pocket to survey the field, which is critical in a passing attack predicated on spacing. Shanahan doesn't rely heavily on timing patterns but rather utilizes the threat of the run and route patterns to get receivers open.
Brock Purdy has thrown 62% of his passes to open receivers tonight. HC Kyle Shanahan has drawn up a great game plan to make it easy for his rookie QB and SF is in control
If Purdy has the time to see receivers breaking open, he's shown that he can be dangerous. The 49ers are loaded with offensive playmakers, and they're expected to have Samuel back at some point in the postseason.
The 49ers expect Samuel "to return at some point during the regular season," according to ESPN's Nick Wagoner.
Purdy has shown that he can get the ball to those playmakers.
Brock Purdy has found his TEs and RBs tonight with great success. He's 11/14 for 89 yards & 2 TDs. their EPA/TGT is 0.43, an extremely efficient number when measuring how successful these throws have been in helping SF score
Then, there's the defense, which has been dominant since giving up 44 points to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7. Since then, San Francisco has not surrendered more than 17 points in any game.
Coming into Thursday, the 49ers ranked first in rushing yards allowed, 12th in passing yards allowed, first in total yards allowed and first in points allowed for the season.
This elite defense—headlined by Nick Bosa, Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner—gives San Francisco a big margin for error, almost regardless of who is under center.
This margin, San Francisco's ability to protect the passer (24 sacks allowed on the season) and its ability to run the ball are exactly why the 49ers can get past teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs.
The Eagles, who own an NFL-best 12-1 record, have been spectacular. However, they've thrived on racking up points (first in scoring), getting sacks (49) and forcing turnovers on defense (23).
Philadelphia also ranks a modest 24th in yards per rush allowed (4.7).
Dallas is a similarly built team, ranking third in scoring, third in points allowed, logging 48 sacks and amassing 23 defensive turnovers—but also allowing 4.4 yards per play on the ground.
While Jalen Hurts and Dak Prescott may give the Eagles and Cowboys the edge at quarterback, respectively, San Francisco matches up extremely well with both the Eagles and the Cowboys. The Minnesota Vikings, who are 10-3 but are also a largely offensive squad, are an even better matchup for the 49ers.
Minnesota ranks 10th in scoring but dead-last in yards allowed and 24th in points allowed. That's not a formula that plays well against a 49ers defense that limits points, especially in the second half.
San Francisco did allow 10 second-half points to Seattle, but it's worth noting that starting cornerback Charvarius Ward exited with an injury before the Seahawks found their first touchdown.
According to the Amazon broadcast, Ward exited for a concussion evaluation and was cleared but did not return. Before that, he was spectacular against star Seahawks wideout DK Metcalf.
Charvarius Ward aligned across from DK Metcalf on 25 of 35 routes (71% shadow) in the first three quarters before leaving the game with an injury.
Seattle was still held to 277 total yards and 16 first downs while converting just four of 13 third-down tries. Rookie sensation Kenneth Walker III was held to just 3.9 yards per carry after averaging 4.7 coming in.
Geno Smith was sacked three times and faced constant pressure throughout the game.
Now, before we prematurely crown the 49ers as Super Bowl favorites, it's worth noting one big fact. We haven't seen how Purdy performs when facing a significant deficit. There's a difference between being a reliable game-manager and being a signal-caller who can spark a comeback.
Of course, with this defense and offensive line, the 49ers may not face a large deficit again before this year—at least until Super Bowl LVII, if they get that far.
The 49ers' formula of winning in the trenches, with defense and on the ground has taken them to two NFC title games in the past three years. There's every reason to believe it can take them to a third in the coming months.
Seahawks' 'Pathetic' Defense Ripped by Twitter; Geno Smith Struggles in Loss to 49ers
Dec 16, 2022
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, right, runs toward the end zone to score past Seattle Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs (6) and linebacker Cody Barton during the first half of an NFL football game in Seattle, Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
The Seattle Seahawks are far removed from the good ol' days of the Legion of Boom defense, but it's still somewhat surprising to see a Pete Carroll-coached team struggle so mightily to stop the ball.
Unfortunately, that trend continued as the Seahawks suffered a 21-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football in front of their home fans at Lumen Field.
Facing a rookie quarterback would usually be an advantage for the Seattle defense, but 49ers signal-caller Brock Purdy didn't seem phased. He engineered a nine-play, 86-yard touchdown drive on San Francisco's second possession, and he found George Kittle for a 54-yard touchdown pass on the second play of the third quarter.
When Seattle's defense managed to get stops, the team's offense failed to do its job. Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was under pressure throughout most of the game and couldn't develop a rhythm, finishing with 238 passing yards and a touchdown that didn't come until late in the fourth quarter.
NFL Twitter was not happy with the effort shown by the Seahawks on defense, but fans also didn't let the offense off the hook for failing to show up as well:
That was such a pathetic defensive effort by the #Seahawks
An awful play all around by the Seahawks' defense. A coverage bust leading to George Kittle getting wide open and then Quandre Diggs whiffing on the tackle, leading to a 54-yard TD. Getting ugly here at Lumen Field. 49ers lead 21-3.
The offensive situations we have been in tonight have been…not great. The best defense in the league exposing the offense. Defense wins championships. The LOB proved this when they dominated the best offense in the league in SB XLVIII. #Seahawks
Now that the 49ers will--finally--run repeatedly and seize control, should be noted: Seattle's defense has done the work it had to do to keep the Seahawks in this game.
The offense, the run game, the pass protection failed the entire operation.
The Seahawks entered Thursday ranked 28th in total defense, allowing 378.7 yards per game. It's a far cry from the team that terrorized opposing offenses in the early 2010s.
After falling to 7-7, Seattle remains on the outside looking in on the playoff picture. Things will not get easier next week when the Seahawks take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Eve, so the defense will have to take advantage of the extra days of preparation to avoid another subpar showing.
NFL Playoff Picture 2022-23 Week 15: Standings, Scenarios After 49ers vs. Seahawks
Dec 16, 2022
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 15: DK Metcalf #14 of the Seattle Seahawks carries the ball against Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers \d3q at Lumen Field on December 15, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Getty Images)
Week 15 of the 2022 NFL season is officially upon us, bringing new opportunities for teams looking to make a push for the playoffs.
The San Francisco 49ers kicked off this week's slate with a 21-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks to improve to 10-4 this year. With the win, the 49ers have clinched the NFC West.
Philadelphia Eagles: 12-1 (clinched playoff berth)
Minnesota Vikings: 10-3
San Francisco 49ers: 10-4 (clinched NFC West)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 6-7
Dallas Cowboys: 10-3
Washington Commanders: 7-5-1
New York Giants: 7-5-1
Seattle Seahawks: 7-7
Detroit Lions: 6-7
Green Bay Packers: 5-8
Carolina Panthers: 5-8
Atlanta Falcons: 5-8
Arizona Cardinals: 4-9
New Orleans Saints: 4-9
Los Angeles Rams: 4-9
Chicago Bears: 3-10 (eliminated)
Week 15 Clinching Scenarios
In the NFC, the Minnesota Vikings will be looking to join San Francisco in wrapping up a division title this week. The Vikings haven't won the NFC North since 2017, and they have a pretty simple route to get there.
Minnesota would clinch the division with a win over the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday. If the Vikings stumble against the 4-8-1 Colts, they can still win the division title with a loss by the Detroit Lions against the New York Jets. However, the Lions are surging and defeated the Vikings 34-23 on Sunday.
The only other NFC team with a chance to clinch a spot in the playoffs is the Dallas Cowboys, who will be facing the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. A win or tie gets Dallas its second straight trip to the postseason.
Over in the AFC, the first-place Buffalo Bills can punch their ticket to the playoffs with a win over the Miami Dolphins on Saturday night. Buffalo lost the first matchup 21-19 in Week 3 and will undoubtedly be looking for revenge.
The Kansas City Chiefs have the chance to clinch their seventh straight AFC West title with a win over the Houston Texans. A loss by the Los Angeles Chargers will also wrap up the division, but Kansas City will be playing the last-place team in the AFC and will surely want to secure the crown with a victory.
Former NFL CB Aqib Talib Sued in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Stemming from August Shooting
Dec 16, 2022
INGLEWOOD, CA - AUGUST 14: Former Rams player Aqib Talib during the Los Angeles Chargers versus the Los Angeles Rams preseason NFL game on August 14, 2021, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Former NFL cornerback Aqib Talib was named in a wrongful death lawsuit on Thursday stemming from a fatal shooting at a youth football game in North Texas over the summer.
Per Paul Livengood and Matt Howerton of WFAA in Dallas, Talib, his brother Yaqub Talib and the Big 12 Youth Sports League are all being sued by the family of Michael Hickmon, who was shot and killed during an altercation on Aug. 13. Yaqub Talib was indicted on a felony murder charge by a Dallas County grand jury on Sept. 8.
The Hickmon family is reportedly seeking $1 million in damages and is seeking a trial by jury.
The Talib brothers had been coaching the North Dallas United Bobcats youth football team against Hickmon's D.E.A. Dragons in a tense game that saw the players engage in a scuffle. According to the lawsuit, the Bobcats coaches "became physically and verbally abusive" after the Dragons scored a touchdown, resulting in the game coming to an end early.
The lawsuit said that when Hickmon walked onto the field from the visitor's sideline, he was confronted by Aqib Talib, who allegedly threw the first punch. Aqib Talib's involvement in starting the altercation was also confirmed to WFAA by eyewitnesses.
Hickmon "defensively backpedaled to extricate himself from the situation" before Yaqub Talib fired approximately five shots from a handgun that the lawsuit states he was not permitted to carry because he is a convicted felon.
"Despite these facts, the [Yaqub and Aqib Talib] were allowed and approved by [Big XII Youth Sports League and Family Services] to coach and otherwise participate in the running of teams in the Big XII League," the lawsuit said.
Following Hickmon's death, local leaders have implored the implementation of more safety measures at youth sporting events.
Aqib Talib stepped away from his position as an analyst for Thursday Night Football on Aug. 21. His lawyer told WFAA in August that he "is distraught over the shooting and sends condolences to the family."
