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The Indianapolis Colts may target Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh to be their next head coach.

Zak Keefer of The Athletic reported multiple league sources are "convinced" Colts owner Jim Irsay has Harbaugh at the top of his wishlist. It looks likely that Jeff Saturday, Irsay's unconventional midseason hire, will not get the job on a full-time basis after the Colts blew a 33-point lead to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15.

Harbaugh interviewed for the Vikings' head-coaching position last offseason before recommitting to Michigan. It was the closest he has gotten to leaving his alma mater since taking the job before the 2015 season.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported in February that Harbaugh informed the university that NFL flirtations would not be a yearly issue. Michigan signed Harbaugh to a new five-year contract two weeks after his Vikings interview.

"I called Warde [Manuel, the Michigan athletic director] and I asked him if he wanted me to be the head coach. And he said, 'Yes, 100 percent.' And I said, OK then. That's what I want to do.' And I told him, 'Warde, this will not be a reoccurring theme every year. This was a one-time thing," Harbaugh told Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press.

Harbaugh has led Michigan to the College Football Playoff in the last two seasons. The Wolverines' 13-0 mark in 2022 is their first undefeated regular season since 1997, and their 13 wins are the most in a season in program history.

While it would be a surprise to see Harbaugh do an about-face less than a year after he recommitted to Michigan, he has significant ties to the Colts organization. He played for the team from 1994 to 1997, winning Comeback Player of the Year and making the Pro Bowl in 1995.

The Colts inducted Harbaugh into their Ring of Honor in 2005.

The battle for NFL MVP is increasingly a two-player race.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts remains the odds-on favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook, coming in at -150 ($150 bet wins $100). Patrick Mahomes is in second place at +165, and no other player sits better than +1000.

NFL MVP Odds

1. Jalen Hurts (-150)
2. Patrick Mahomes (+165)
3. Josh Allen (+1000)
4. Joe Burrow (+1000)

The quarterbacks are the only players with odds lower than 100-1, so we can be reasonably certain one of these four stars will walk away with the trophy.

Hurts, Allen and Burrow would all be first-time MVP winners. Hurts has the Eagles at 13-1 as he's emerged as one of the most dynamic dual threats in football. He's thrown for 3,472 yards and 22 touchdowns against five interceptions while adding 747 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground.

While Sunday's 25-20 win over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field was by far not his best performance of the season, he came through with three rushing scores to keep Philly undefeated on the road.

Mahomes leads the NFL in passing yards (4,496), touchdowns (35) and QBR (79.8) to spearhead the Kansas City Chiefs' 11-3 record. He threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 30-24 overtime win over the Houston Texans in a near-flawless effort to clinch the AFC West for Kansas City.

Peter King of NBC Sports still gave Hurts the nod on his ballot but noted he would also be fine with Mahomes or Allen winning the award. Allen threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns while adding 77 yards on the ground to earn a 32-29 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Saturday in a Game of the Year candidate.

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As Jakobi Meyers wound up to whip a 10-yard backward pass to Mac Jones, he was hoping to make New England Patriots history.

He did just that—but not in the way he was hoping.

The all-time gaffe wound up in the hands of Las Vegas Raiders defensive end (and former Patriots defensive end) Chandler Jones, who threw a vicious stiff-arm to the face of Mac Jones and scampered all the way to the end zone for one of the most improbable walk-off wins in NFL history.

RAIDERS WIN ON UNREAL WALK OFF TD 🤯

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/HPknVy1fcB

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 19, 2022

Speaking to Peter King of NBC Sports, Chandler Jones described what was going through his mind as the play unfolded:

"It was a desperado situation, and that was a team that would try to do anything to advance the ball for a touchdown. They'll throw the ball, pitch it, lateral it. I knew that was a possibility to happen. I thought they would do a hook-and-lateral, or something like that. They had a random run.

"I actually missed a tackle on [Rhamondre Stevenson]. I went to go punch the ball out on that play and I missed. The guy kept running. By the time I stood up, I realized that the ball was being pitched around.

"They were playing hot potato now. Instead of pursuing the ball, I just started playing back into saying, 'All right, who's the next passer? Who could they possibly throw it to next that's behind the line of scrimmage?' Because they're playing this whole hot potato game. Sure enough, I saw Jakobi Meyers kinda look back at Mac Jones, the quarterback. He was standing in the middle of the field. I literally just jumped up when I saw the ball coming, intended for Mac. Mac was kind of standing there, looking at me with big eyes.

"I literally just jumped up and intercepted it. I just gave Mac a nice stiff-arm with my right hand. The rest was history."

At least Mac tried 😅🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/acOqMhaBLE

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 19, 2022

"I don't think I've thrown a stiff-arm in practice," Jones told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. "When I caught the ball, he was there, I was thinking, You know what, I could try to put a juke move on. I could try to outrun him. I don't know, maybe I could outrun Mac Jones. But whenever defensive players are running for touchdowns, they always get made fun of for getting caught by the quarterback. So I thought, I'm not gonna try to outrun him. I'm just trying to run over him. If I fall and trip, I'll pitch it. Because there were guys behind me."

There was no logical excuse for what transpired. The game was tied 24-24 and seemingly headed for overtime.

The odds of Meyers completing a 10-yard lateral were already low in any situation. Throwing the pass to Mac Jones, who is certainly not the fleetest of foot, lowered the odds of success by an exponential degree. There was no world in which Jones was going to scamper 50 yards for a touchdown, so the options were going to be limited even if Meyers did complete the attempt at a miracle.

Instead, the result was perhaps Chandler Jones' greatest individual play of his career and arguably the most embarrassing moment of Bill Belichick's coaching career.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is reportedly "highly unlikely" to play again this season after suffering a high ankle sprain in Saturday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported no formal determination has been made, but "all eyes are expected to be on a healthy 2023."

Taylor missed time earlier this season in Weeks 5 and 6 with an ankle injury. He returned for Weeks 7 and 8 but then missed Week 9 after reaggravating the injury in an Oct. 30 loss to the Washington Commanders.

In a Week 15 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Taylor suffered another ankle injury and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest.

Losing the 23-year-old for any period of time certainly isn't ideal for the Colts. He has rushed for 861 yards and four scores in 11 games this season.

However, Indy's offense hasn't played well even with Taylor in the lineup. Quarterback Matt Ryan has been at the root of the team's problems, though the offensive line hasn't been any better.

When Taylor misses time, the Colts turn to Deon Jackson and Zack Moss at running back. Jackson has rushed for 191 yards and one score in 13 games, while Moss, who was acquired from the Buffalo Bills at the trade deadline, has rushed for 112 yards in five games with the Colts.

Indianapolis is third in the AFC South with a 4-9-1 record.

The Washington Commanders had the chance to complete an improbable comeback against the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football, but they were doomed by some questionable officiating.

Trailing by eight with under two minutes left in the game, Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke drove the team down to the Giants goal line. When it looked like rookie running back Brian Robinson punched in a touchdown, the referees threw a flag for illegal formation because star receiver Terry McLaurin was deemed to be not lined up properly.

While that call felt egregious since McLaurin told reporters after the game that he had confirmed the legality of his pre-snap alignment with the referee, fans at FedEx Field were even more incensed after Heinicke's fourth-down throw to the end zone.

The ball bounced off the hand of receiver Curtis Samuel, but a closer look showed a clear and obvious pass interference by Giants cornerback Darnay Holmes. Only this time, the referees swallowed their whistle, sealing a 20-12 loss for Washington in front of its home crowd.

The inconsistent officiating in the crucial moments of Sunday night's game drew the ire of NFL Twitter, as many unloaded on the referees after the game:

So NFL officials simply are too afraid to call pass interference in the final seconds of games anymore? It’s rather gutless, isn’t it ?

— Michael Wilbon (@RealMikeWilbon) December 19, 2022

These refs should never work another game again. Samuel was literally mugged on that play.

— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) December 19, 2022

Pass interference was NOT called on this play 🤔 pic.twitter.com/MdiZnxTYAW

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 19, 2022

Pass interference

— Joe Theismann (@Theismann7) December 19, 2022

My guy MUGGED Samuel and refs said nope, not today.

— Zach Dean (@TeamZachDean) December 19, 2022

That’s now two NFL games that have ended like a Wrestlemania Main Event today.

Poked in eye. Refs looked away.

— Jimmy Spencer (@JimmySpencer) December 19, 2022

Terrible missed pass interference call

— Shawne Merriman (@shawnemerriman) December 19, 2022

That’s not pass interference eh? Interesting interpretation

— Todd Fuhrman (@ToddFuhrman) December 19, 2022

Insane pass interference but whatever we’ll take it!

— Nick Kostos (@TheKostos) December 19, 2022

how is that NOT !!! PASS INTERFERENCE!!!!

— Ebron85 (@Ebron85) December 19, 2022

The penalty on Terry McLaurin (on a play where the Commanders scored a one-yard TD) looked iffy. He pointed at the ref to say he was on the line. Need more info on that.

The PBU on the Heinicke 4th down pass to Samuel looked like pretty obvious pass interference.

— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) December 19, 2022

It took a no call of pass interference to stop the Heinicke Magic.

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) December 19, 2022

Can’t get over that no-call. Clear flag. He was all over him.

— Greg Rosenstein (@grosenstein) December 19, 2022

How is the NFL a multi multi billion dollar business but they won’t hire full-time referees and they won’t use technology to its full extent. This non call on Samuel, the fact they called the Raiders TD good… games are being decided by dead wrong calls.

— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) December 19, 2022

A game doesn’t come down to one play but damn that was text book pass interference. The referring in the NFL is at an all-time low. Too many new rules every year when the previous rules weren’t mastered in the first place. League needs to get back to the basics of officiating.

— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewisJr) December 19, 2022

NOT pass interference, for those scoring at home.

your boys in stripes had a really awful day @NFLOfficiating — get your crap together before the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/fk4qmN4sVb

— Chris Brockman🎙️ (@chrisbrockman) December 19, 2022

"Don't ask me about the refereeing."

Ron Rivera frustrated when asked about the official's calls made in the final minutes of the Commanders-Giants game. pic.twitter.com/huK6BqH7ev

— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) December 19, 2022

Officiating in the NFL has been the subject of controversy throughout the 2022 season. Along with roughing the passer calls, pass interference penalties have fallen under a microscope because of the inconsistencies in how the rules are being enforced.

Washington had overcome an 11-point halftime deficit to make it a one-score game. Heinicke has proven to be able to come up clutch when needed, but he wasn't given a chance this time because the referees took over the spotlight.

The Commanders (7-6-1) are still hoping to make a push for the playoffs, so they will have to regroup quickly and turn the page to next week's game against the San Francisco 49ers (10-4) on Christmas Eve.

The New York Giants have the inside track on a playoff spot thanks in large part to their rookie defensive end.

Despite an inconsistent offensive performance, the New York Giants escaped Sunday's NFC East showdown with a 20-12 victory over the Washington Commanders at FedEx Field. The teams tied two weeks ago and had identical 7-5-1 records entering the game, but the Giants moved ahead with a critical head-to-head win.

While Saquon Barkley is often the headliner for New York and scored a touchdown, it was defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux who stole the show. He finished with 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and, most importantly, a defensive touchdown.

The Oregon product received plenty of love on social media:

KAYVON THIBODEAUX RECOVERS HIS OWN STRIP SACK FOR GIANTS TD 🤯

(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/BReTvVUDAS

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 19, 2022

2022 5th-overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux is the first @Giants rookie with a fumble recovery TD & 1+ sack in a game since sacks became an official stat in 1982.

The last rookie to do so was Washington’s Chase Young in Week 14 of his 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year season.

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) December 19, 2022

Kayvon Thibodeaux strip sacked Taylor Heinicke within 2.50 seconds after the snap and then recovered the fumble to score a TD.

The Giants win probability rose from 32.0% to 48.8% as a result of the play.#NYGvsWAS | Powered by @awscloud pic.twitter.com/UphYtmjM19

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) December 19, 2022

Man @kayvont is bringing an A++ contest-wrecking game tonight.

— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) December 19, 2022

Kayvon is on FIRE

— Nora Princiotti (@NoraPrinciotti) December 19, 2022

Giants fans watching Kayvon Thibodeaux like… pic.twitter.com/OI7uEdFXCz

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) December 19, 2022

I was told Kayvon Thibodeaux didn't have enough competitive fire.

— Marcas Grant (@MarcasG) December 19, 2022

Kayvon is a beast tonight.

— Judy Battista (@judybattista) December 19, 2022

Kayvon Thibodeaux has been nothing short of great in this game.

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) December 19, 2022

No. 5 pick Kayvon Thibodeaux is having an UNREAL first half 💪

7 Tackles (6 solo)
3 TFL
1 Sack
1 Fumble Recovery
1 TD pic.twitter.com/Dn2y0zODmU

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 19, 2022

Kayvon Thibodeaux is the only rookie since at least 2000 with 10 tackles, a sack and a defensive TD in a game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/jVWfmyTuub

— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) December 19, 2022

Remember Kayvon Thibodeaux when there's silly draft discourse this year

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) December 19, 2022

New York seized control and built a 14-3 lead in a first half that included an 18-play, 97-yard drive that took more than eight minutes off the clock and featured a 4th-and-9 conversion and a direct snap to Barkley for a touchdown run.

Yet it was still Thibodeaux who made the big play with a strip-sack before he recovered the fumble he forced and returned it for a touchdown. He was in takeover mode even beyond the highlight play, creating constant pressure and standing out against the running game.

All the pressure was on the Giants defense when their offense went stagnant in the second half with just two field goals, but the unit answered the call. Thibodeaux didn't replicate his statistical dominance of the first half, but he still drew double teams, opened up blitzing lanes for his teammates and sped up Taylor Heinicke's internal clock.

Naturally, he was the one making the tackle at the 1-yard line on Washington's final drive that stalled in a goal-to-go situation in the final minute.

Now Thibodeaux and the rest of the Giants will turn their attention to a Christmas Eve matchup and potential playoff preview against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Dallas Cowboys are headed to the playoffs for the second year in a row.

Dallas lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday but still clinched its spot in the postseason thanks to the Washington Commanders' loss to the New York Giants on Sunday Night Football.

While the Cowboys are an iconic franchise and widely known as America's Team, this is the first time they've been to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons since the 2006 and 2007 campaigns. But anything short of another postseason berth, given the amount of talent on the roster this year, would have been a massive disappointment.

Few teams can match the star power and name recognition of a roster that includes Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, CeeDee Lamb and Tony Pollard, among others.

Dallas even added another notable name during the season when it signed T.Y. Hilton after it was connected to Odell Beckham Jr. for so long.

Yet the season appeared to be in jeopardy early on, even with all that talent, when Prescott suffered a thumb injury during a Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Considering he suffered a severe ankle injury in 2020 and saw the team go 4-7 without him, there was genuine reason for concern.

However, Cooper Rush did more than just keep the team afloat and went 4-1 as a starter in the two-time Pro Bowler's absence.

That cleared the way for Prescott to come back for a Week 7 game against the Detroit Lions, and the Cowboys are 6-2 ever since.

Now that Dallas has clinched its spot and looks like one of the top challengers in an NFC field that also features the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers, it will look for its first deep postseason run in more than two decades.

The last time the Cowboys made it past the second round was during the 1995 campaign when they won the Super Bowl with Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith and Deion Sanders leading the way.

If Prescott, Elliott, Pollard, Lamb and others are going to be remembered alongside some of the great Cowboys in franchise history, they will need to establish some playoff success after losing in the wild-card round last season.

They will have a chance to do just that after clinching a postseason spot.