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Denver Broncos edge-rusher Randy Gregory and Los Angeles Rams guard Oday Aboushi have been suspended one game by the NFL for a post-game fight following Sunday's 51-14 win for the Rams, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.

The two exchanged punches as Broncos and Rams players were milling about after the game, with Gregory throwing the first blow.

Here's a look at what happened after the game with #Broncos Randy Gregory and #Rams guard Oday Aboushi. #BroncosCountry @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/fNY7Q7Lhhd

— Michael Spencer (@MichaelCBS4) December 26, 2022

YIKES: The postgame interview between @bakermayfield & @tracywolfson gets interrupted by some on-field BEEF 👀😅 pic.twitter.com/tHi0l33B63

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 26, 2022

"Y'all want to know if I hit him in the mouth, I did," Gregory told reporters after the game.

"As you were walking toward a group of teammates, coaches, and media, you both stopped and swung at each other's head and/or neck," NFL VP of football operations Jon Runyan wrote in a letter to the suspended pair, per NFL.com. "Your aggressive conduct could have caused serious injury and clearly does not reflect the high standards of sportsmanship expected of a professional."

Gregory apologized for his actions on Monday:

Randy Gregory apologizes. #9sports pic.twitter.com/Pm1cqb8CgQ

— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) December 27, 2022

It was one of many troubling incidents for the Broncos on Sunday, as they fell to 4-11 on the season and fired first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett in the aftermath on Monday.

We have parted ways with Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett.

A statement from Broncos Owner & CEO Greg Penner: pic.twitter.com/1tWMjHv6em

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 26, 2022

It appeared that the Broncos had become a discontented bunch under Hackett, with the effects of a losing season finally playing out publicly.

During the 10 year span of Russell being with Seattle, I NEVER SAW THIS. Your QB is on the ground, and this how y’all react? The Denver Broncos are broken and the only way to fix this is to turn off some keycards on Monday. pic.twitter.com/W1XQrm6vyy

— Gee Scott Sr. 🎙️ (@GeeScottSr) December 26, 2022

Video: During the #Broncos 51-14 loss to the #Rams, Denver players Dalton Risner and QB Brett Rypien got into it on the sidelines (@reiter_mitchell)

"Do something Brett!, do something!"

Risner is Denver's Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.pic.twitter.com/Hxpw1GRdxi

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 26, 2022

#Broncos backup Brett Rypien exchanged some words with the starting offensive line, defending Russell Wilson after he took another sack, per @tracywolfson. Dalton Risner pushed Rypien out of the way.

Here's the video, via CBS:pic.twitter.com/MR7TTCfEzK

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 25, 2022

All season it felt like Nathaniel Hackett held together a sinking ship. The locker room hadn't fallen apart.

That changed yesterday. Obviously, everyone could see it on TV. But you could really feel it in that locker room yesterday. He had lost control. #Broncos

— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) December 26, 2022

"I think they're upset for all the losing, we all are," Hackett told reporters regarding Sunday's performance following the game. "Every one of us, that's unacceptable, that's not what we're about, that's not what we want to do. We went in with a mindset we were going to win this game, but in the end we weren't ready. ... It wasn't good, it's all of us."

"It always starts with me, without a doubt, that's embarrassing, I'm embarrassed," he added. "That's not what we're about, that's not what we've done all year."

Gregory, in particular, was removed from the game on two separate occasions, each time after having penalties called against him. The first came after Gregory threw his helmet following a Rams' touchdown, while the second was for a late hit on quarterback Baker Mayfield.

"After that second one, we took him out—that's unacceptable," Hackett said of Gregory.

But the frustrations spilled out into the post-game handshakes and greetings between the teams.

The Denver Broncos fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett on Monday amid a disastrous first season with the team.

We have parted ways with Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett.

A statement from Broncos Owner & CEO Greg Penner: pic.twitter.com/1tWMjHv6em

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 26, 2022

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, senior assistant coach Jerry Rosburg, who was hired to help with clock-management strategy, has been named interim coach. Troy Renck of Denver 7 reported defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero declined the interim job, opting to remain in his current role instead.

Denver fell to 4-11 on the season following Sunday's calamitous 51-14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

From NFL Now: #Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett was fired before his first season ended for a lot of reasons. Losing control of the team on Sunday was a major one. pic.twitter.com/JtXLjCcMOr

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 26, 2022

A league source said last night that the #Broncos were looking to "blow it up."

Now that starts with the team firing Nathaniel Hackett, per source.

First reported by @TomPelissero

— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) December 26, 2022

The team also let special teams coordinator Dwayne Stukes and offensive line coach Butch Barry go:

The Broncos have relieved Special Teams Coordinator Dwayne Stukes and Offensive Line Coach Butch Barry of their duties.

Mike Mallory will coach special teams and Ben Steele will coach the offensive line. pic.twitter.com/rLIRj3EwiF

— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) December 27, 2022

Hackett joined the Broncos after spending the past three seasons as offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers. There were high expectations for the organization after the team acquired nine-time Pro Bowler Russell Wilson in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks.

Even with the upgrade at quarterback, the offense has been a disaster this season while ranking dead last in the NFL with 15.5 points scored per game.

The defense has done its job, holding opponents to fewer than 20 points 10 times this season. However, the offensive limitations have kept the team mired in mediocrity.

Beyond the overall struggles, Hackett has been heavily criticized for his decision-making and game management, forcing the head coach to hire a senior assistant to help with game management earlier in the year.

Hackett notably called for a 64-yard field goal attempt instead of going for it on fourth down during a Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The mistakes became more apparent as the Broncos lost three games in overtime.

General manager George Paton offered Hackett support after the team fell to 2-5 in Week 7.

"The scrutiny he's faced is unprecedented," Paton said. "We've had four primetime games so he's had to learn in front of the entire world."

The failure to turn things around led to the end of his tenure in Denver, forcing the organization to make a quick change at head coach.

The Broncos will now look for their fifth coach in nine seasons, trying to find someone who can get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

An elite defense plus young offensive skill players could make this an enticing location for available coaches, although potential uncertainty at quarterback could create major question marks.

Wilson signed a five-year, $243 million extension last offseason that should keep him under team control for at least the next few seasons. However, despite throwing for over 3,000 yards, Wilson has posted just 12 touchdown passes (tied for 25th in the NFL) to nine interceptions and his passer rating of 82.6 is the worst of his career and ranks 29th in the league.

Needing to win their final two games to have a chance at making the playoffs, the New York Jets will get Mike White back in Week 17.

Per Brian Costello of the New York Post, White was cleared by doctors Monday and will start Sunday's matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

Head coach Robert Saleh confirmed the news to reporters, adding Joe Flacco will serve as the backup and Zach Wilson will be inactive.

White has missed the past two games after suffering three fractured ribs in a Dec. 11 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He told reporters five days later that he spoke to almost 10 doctors in an attempt to find one who would clear him to play, but none of them would do it.

The loss of White forced the Jets to turn back to Wilson as their starting quarterback. He didn't play as badly as he did in a Week 11 loss to the New England Patriots that resulted in his benching, but it wasn't much better.

Wilson threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns with one interception against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 18, but he completed only 18 of 35 attempts. His interception on the first drive of the third quarter resulted in a Lions field goal, and Detroit won 20-17.

Taking on the Jacksonville Jaguars four days later, Wilson was benched late in the third quarter after going 9-of-18 for 92 yards with one interception. Chris Streveler had some success, completing 10 of 15 attempts for 90 yards.

The Jets failed to find the end zone in a 19-3 defeat. It was their fourth consecutive loss after they reached 7-4 with a 31-10 victory over the Chicago Bears.

Despite having fallen under .500, the Jets still can reach the playoffs. Their easiest path would be to win the next two games against the Seahawks and Miami Dolphins and have the Patriots lose once in the next two weeks.

New England, which has lost four of its last five, closes the season at home against Miami on Sunday before traveling to Buffalo in Week 18.

The Jets can also qualify by winning out and having the Los Angeles Chargers lose their final three games.

The Chargers close the season against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday night, Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 1 and Denver Broncos on Jan. 8. Those three teams are a combined 13-30-1.

White was 1-2 in three starts after taking over for Wilson, but his losses were against two 12-3 teams in the Bills and Minnesota Vikings. The Jets were competitive, losing by a combined 13 points.

The fifth-year quarterback has completed 62 percent of his passes for 952 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions in three games.

Though fans might worry about Victor Wembanyama's injury risk because of his slender 7'2" frame, NBA scouts aren't concerned about the clear top prospect in the 2023 NBA draft.

"Some people compared his physique with Chet Holmgren, but Victor's shoulders and frame are better," a scout told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. "You don't pass on him [at] No. 1 because you're worried about an injury at his size."

Wembanyama has caught the attention of nearly everyone in NBA circles, with even current stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo praising the top prospect. The versatile player has an impressive handle for his size and can score in different ways while remaining an elite shot-blocker.

The upside is enough to overlook nearly any risk, making him a near-lock to go No. 1 overall in the June draft.

At just 229 pounds, durability could still be an issue in his career. Chet Holmgren (7'0", 195 lbs) will miss the entire 2022-23 season because of a foot injury after being taken No. 2 overall in the last draft. Kristaps Porziņģis (7'3", 240 lbs) has also been limited by injuries throughout his career, playing fewer than 60 games in six straight years.

Wembanyama will hope for better injury luck once he reaches the NBA.

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones reportedly will be fined $11,139 for his low hit on Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple on Saturday, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network had previously reported Jones would not be suspended.

Jones appeared to go out of his way to take out Apple's legs after a Cincinnati fumble recovery. He was chasing linebacker Germaine Pratt, who had scooped up the ball, and then appeared to target Apple behind the play.

Apple accused Jones of being a dirty player after the game.

"Of course I did [notice it]. He tripped me," he told NESN's Sean T. McGuire. "I thought it was a dirty play. He's done that before; I've seen it."

NFL Twitter sided with Apple:

So Mac Jones laid down instead of tackling Chandler Jones and then does this? pic.twitter.com/QYH1Ns7Lua

— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) December 25, 2022

Mac Jones has earned his reputation as one of the dirtiest players in the league. https://t.co/gFHLZ9cslb

— Charean Williams (@NFLCharean) December 25, 2022

Mac Jones is a dirty player - Compilation video from 4 different incidents from his two-year career. pic.twitter.com/LFDUugodvA

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 25, 2022

Jones provided his take on the play during an appearance on WEEI, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.

"I went down in front of him to kind of get in the way to stop him from slowing down Tyquan, who obviously could make the tackle there. So just kind of went down in front of him, trying to stop a fast guy from getting to another fast guy.

"It's a split-second decision and there's a lot that goes into it. You're out there trying to compete, it's a physical game. So just trying to help the team win.

"I have all the respect for Eli and the Bengals. They played a great game. So, there's no hard feelings and definitely no intention to hurt anybody on that play. Nor do I believe that when I'm playing quarterback, that's what [the defense is intending to do]; I get hit a lot, too. We're all out there playing hard. It's just part of the game."

It isn't the first time Jones has been accused of dirty play by an opponent. In 2021, Carolina Panthers edge-rusher Brian Burns called him out for grabbing at his leg after a strip-sack:

"Watching the replay and watching all the angles and everything, I think it's some bull. I think it's some bull for him to take his legs—because my main thing is he took his legs and he swept the one leg I had up, you know what I mean? I think it's some bull. And his explanation for it—because he thought I had the ball—I don't think you could think a person has the ball. Soon as I sacked you, you grabbed my arm. And then everybody ran past us.

"Even if you thought I had the ball, it's not legal to trip somebody or leg sweep somebody, let alone twist [an] ankle; it's not legal to do that. Everybody else ran past us. If I had the ball, don't you think I'd be getting tackled? Or your teammate would help? So, I don't think it's cool, but it's whatever."

It isn't a reputation Jones will want to foster around the league.

In the short term, however, the bigger concern is that the Patriots have lost four of their past five games and are a game back of the Miami Dolphins for the final playoff spot in the AFC.

The mediocre play of Jones (2,550 passing yards, nine touchdowns, eight interceptions, 65.6 completion percentage, 30 sacks taken) during his sophomore campaign has played a huge part in New England's struggles.

Huge AFC East showdowns with the Dolphins and Buffalo Bills loom. It's a tough way to finish the season for a team—and quarterback—looking to salvage postseason aspirations.

As the 2022 NFL season winds down, many teams are still focused on fighting for a spot in the playoffs, but some teams have already turned their attention to securing their position in the 2023 draft.

Week 16 saw a bit of shuffling after Saturday's full slate of games, and Sunday's rundown also provided some movement.

Here's a look at the updated 2023 NFL draft order following Sunday's results:

---

1. Houston Texans

2. Chicago Bears

3. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos)

4. Arizona Cardinals

5. Indianapolis Colts

6. Atlanta Falcons

7. Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams)

8. Carolina Panthers

9. Las Vegas Raiders

10. Philadelphia Eagles (via New Orleans Saints)

11. Houston Texans (via Cleveland Browns)

12. Seattle Seahawks

13. Tennessee Titans

14. New England Patriots

15. New York Jets

16. Pittsburgh Steelers

17. Green Bay Packers

18. Detroit Lions

19. Jacksonville Jaguars

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

21. Washington Commanders

22. Miami Dolphins (forfeited)

23. New York Giants

24. Los Angeles Chargers

25. Baltimore Ravens

26. Denver Broncos (via San Francisco 49ers)

27. Dallas Cowboys

28. Cincinnati Bengals

29. Kansas City Chiefs

30. Minnesota Vikings

31. Buffalo Bills

32. Philadelphia Eagles

---

The Green Bay Packers opened Christmas Day by extending their win streak to three games with a 26-20 road victory over the Miami Dolphins.

While the win slightly improved the Packers' chances of making it to the postseason, it also knocked them down the draft board. Green Bay was slotted in the No. 12 spot entering Sunday, but fell to No. 17 after the victory.

However, draft position is the last thing on the mind of Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The back-to-back reigning NFL MVP is more concerned about making a push for the playoffs this season, despite how slim Green Bay's hopes may be at this point in the year.

Aaron Rodgers on being 7-8 and with playoff chances looking up: "Consiedering where we were two weeks ago, a lot has happened in our favor.

"We played meaningful games in December and we won all three of those. Now we're playing meaningful games in January and got to win those."

— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) December 25, 2022

After Week 12, the Packers had a 3% chance to make the playoffs, per ESPN’s playoff predictor. They entered Sunday with a 17% chance but, after their third straight win, the Packers have a 37% chance. Their simplest path is to win out and have Washington lose one of its last two.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 25, 2022

The loss didn't mean much for Miami in terms of draft position, as the Dolphins forfeited their 2023 first-round pick after an investigation revealed that the team violated league policies related to the integrity of the game.

The Dolphins fell to the seventh spot in the AFC after the defeat, putting their playoff hopes in jeopardy. Miami will close the 2022 season with back-to-back division games against the New England Patriots and New York Jets, respectively, who are the two teams right on their heels in the postseason race.

The matinee matchup saw the Los Angeles Rams blow out the Denver Broncos with a 51-14 victory. The most interesting thing about this game was that it featured a pair of disappointing teams who don't own their respective first-round picks in next year's draft.

Thanks to the loss by Denver, the Seattle Seahawks maintain their position in the No. 3 spot. The Seahawks likely expected their own pick to land in the top three when they traded star quarterback Russell Wilson to the Broncos, but the misfortune of Denver wound up benefitting Seattle in the long run.

The win by Los Angeles moves the Detroit Lions down to the No. 7 spot, for now. There's still a likelihood that the defending champs' pick lands in the top five, as the Rams close the season with unfavorable matchups against the Los Angeles Chargers and the Seahawks, respectively.

Lastly, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers moved down one spot to No. 20 after their overtime win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday Night Football.