We’re all the time tossing round dream Tremendous Bowl matchups through the common season, however this recreation would possibly really be the actual deal. This previous week, I spent a couple of days on the league conferences in Irving, Texas, the place Roger Goodell, staff house owners and executives gathered to debate league enterprise. Whereas a historic resolution to permit NFL groups to promote minority stakes to personal fairness corporations headlined the gathering, there was loads of chatter concerning the Buffalo Payments’ go to to Detroit on Sunday. When the “large bosses” of the NFL are buzzing a few matchup, you recognize that is gigantic. It may very well be the primary time since 2011 — when the New England Patriots and New York Giants confronted off within the common season after which met once more within the Tremendous Bowl — that we see one thing like this.
We’ll get to Payments-Lions. First, the opposite matters I’m listening to about across the league:
• You’ll by no means imagine who Invoice Belichick’s camp talked to
• What does a misplaced season imply for the long run in San Francisco?
• Newest on Jerod Mayo’s, Kevin Stefanski’s and Mike McCarthy’s fortunes
• How the Panthers — favorites for the primary time in 2024! — turned it round
• Josh Allen and every thing else that can decide Lions-Payments
• A lesson to be discovered about staying the course
The most important Belichick twist
In our final column, we informed you Invoice Belichick’s curiosity within the UNC head teaching job was actual. On the time it sounded wild — to many, unbelievable — however on Wednesday, when UNC formally introduced that they had employed Belichick, it despatched shockwaves by means of the NFL world.
Homeowners and NFL executives attending the league conferences huddled within the Ritz-Carlton foyer on Wednesday, asking one another (and even reporters): “Is that this actually taking place?” Sure, it’s actually taking place. Belichick is heading to the ACC to recruit and coach gamers, many nonetheless of their teenagers, regardless of being 14 victories away from tying Don Shula atop the NFL’s all-time teaching wins checklist.
However if you happen to thought that was shocking, wait — there’s extra.
About two weeks in the past, the New York Jets have been knowledgeable (and have been surprised to study) that there was curiosity of their group coming from none apart from … Invoice Belichick. The identical Invoice Belichick who, famously (or infamously, from the group’s perspective), was the Jets’ head coach for lower than a day 24 years in the past, earlier than scribbling on a chunk of paper, “I resign as HC of the NYJ.” Belichick took nice pleasure in torturing the Jets over his years as Patriots coach — and much more so previously 12 months as a TV analyst.
For months, Belichick’s internal circle quietly performed casual conversations with a couple of groups, testing the waters. A really small circle of individuals within the Jets constructing have been made conscious of his curiosity, although I used to be informed no assembly or formal dialog ever occurred as a result of the UNC alternative popped up. So, in the long run, not one of the talks — with the Jets or every other NFL staff — become something critical, and now North Carolina is Chapel Invoice.
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Invoice Belichick agrees to deal to turn into UNC soccer head coach
The season is misplaced, however the 49ers are nonetheless constructing round coach and QB
The darkish cloud hanging over the San Francisco 49ers simply gained’t appear to elevate. It’s been a tough season, one which’s felt “off” because the summer season, however the staff is sticking to its plan. They’re firmly dedicated to Brock Purdy as their long-term quarterback. I’ve been informed the 49ers are nonetheless planning to barter a multi-year contract extension with Purdy this offseason, backing up the message they’ve persistently despatched: “Purdy is our quarterback.”
Now, the massive query is: How a lot will they pay him? Extending Purdy is unquestionably doable, however it’s going to require some savvy wage cap strikes and perhaps a couple of roster changes in 2025.
The 49ers are transferring ahead with coach and quarterback, even after a disappointing 2024 season. (Ezra Shaw / Getty Photographs)
And what about Kyle Shanahan? Regardless of this being the Niners’ worst season since 2020, Shanahan, in his eighth season with San Francisco, isn’t going anyplace. The mutual dedication between coach and franchise stays. Ignore all of the rumors. The group totally believes in his capability to guide the staff ahead, even after a tough 12 months.
Name it a “Tremendous Bowl runner-up hangover,” or only a down season, however the 49ers are sticking to their plan, betting on Purdy and Shanahan and hoping the skies clear quickly.
GO DEEPER
Silver: This 49ers season is successfully over — and Kyle Shanahan bears loads of duty
The teaching cycle will get able to spin
The most recent on three groups which have choices to make after disappointing 2024 seasons…
Maye and Mayo will stick collectively: Whereas there hasn’t been a public vote of confidence for the top coach from the Kraft household, Patriots management is standing by Mayo. Simply as discussions concerning the subsequent NFL hiring cycles warmth up, staff proprietor Robert Kraft has privately assured these near him that he’s dedicated to giving his first-year head coach the time and assets he must develop into the position.
The group understood from the beginning that this wouldn’t be seamless. Transitioning right into a high-pressure position like this, particularly following the legendary Belichick, comes with a steep studying curve, and errors have been anticipated. The Krafts need to enable Mayo the chance to seek out his voice, set up his footing, and grow to be the chief they imagine he might be. The franchise is aware of they’ve their quarterback in Drake Maye, and his coach will likely be given a runway.
Browns need stability: Stefanski and normal supervisor Andrew Berry aren’t going anyplace. After Browns proprietor Jimmy Haslam publicly expressed his assist for each the top coach and GM in a dialog with ESPN, it’s clear the group is standing by their management regardless of a disappointing 3-10 report this season. In accordance with sources in Cleveland, the Browns imagine Stefanski and Berry stay the suitable duo to information the staff ahead. Management throughout the group is targeted on sustaining stability and giving them the chance to deal with the staff’s challenges and enhance. Barring any wild circumstances over the following few weeks, it’s a vote of confidence of their long-term imaginative and prescient, even within the face of a troublesome season. (The subsequent large resolution? What to do at QB1.)
Coach Mike McCarthy has obtained public assist from some star gamers in Dallas. (Sam Hodde / Getty Photographs)
McCarthy wants an enormous end: Outdoors the Ritz-Carlton in Irving, Texas, Cowboys Govt Vice President and COO Stephen Jones wasn’t prepared to offer a public vote of confidence for McCarthy’s return in 2025 — or the opportunity of a contract extension. Once I requested, Jones mentioned: “We have now not made any choices. We have now 4 video games left to play, and we have to have a look at the complete physique of labor after the season.”
Across the league, hypothesis is swirling about McCarthy’s future, together with from these searching for an opportunity to be the top coach of the Cowboys. Many imagine the staff’s efficiency in these closing video games will likely be essential, with some executives believing Dallas would possibly stick to their “lame duck” coach in the event that they see sufficient progress and the locker room assist the coach has obtained continues.
Some key Cowboys gamers, together with linebacker Micah Parsons and quarterback Dak Prescott, have been vocal of their backing of McCarthy. Each have emphasised the significance of stability and expressed their perception that he’s the suitable individual for the job. It’s paying homage to final 12 months’s Las Vegas Raiders, the place gamers rallied round interim head coach Antonio Pierce, making the case for him to remain.
One NFL govt (not with the Cowboys) believes: “Will probably be essential for McCarthy to complete robust, for Jones to face pat.”
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A distinct type of Panthers
Carolina Panthers house owners David and Nicole Tepper strongly imagine they’ve the suitable leaders in place. The house owners are sticking with their imaginative and prescient for the long run, exhibiting confidence typically supervisor Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales. Each will likely be again subsequent season, and it’s simple to see why — possession is thrilled by the regular development of second-year quarterback Bryce Younger, who’s beginning to showcase his particular qualities. Tepper has a excessive commonplace, and dropping shut video games to good opponents nonetheless isn’t adequate, however this staff is trending in a unique route than it was simply two months in the past. Simply have a look at this Sunday: For the primary time in 33 video games, the Panthers are strolling right into a matchup (towards Dallas) as betting favorites. That alone is an enormous signal of progress. However what’s driving the optimism? Since Week 8, the Panthers are 2-3, and whereas that may not sound wonderful, these three losses got here by a mixed 12 factors.
The Panthers are actually plus-1 in turnover margin on the season and are lastly enjoying complementary soccer — they’re now not beating themselves with pricey errors, and that’s making a distinction. However the actual spark? Younger. After dropping his beginning job to Andy Dalton earlier this season, Younger has come again stronger and smarter. Over the previous 5 video games, he’s thrown 5 touchdowns to only two interceptions, exhibiting he’s discovered to make higher choices and handle the sport extra effectively.
Maybe much more spectacular is how he’s dealing with the pocket. In these 5 video games, Younger has tried 166 passes and has solely been sacked six instances. That’s an indication of improved confidence, sooner reads and higher pocket consciousness. He’s eliminating the ball when he must and scrambling when the state of affairs requires it. The time he spent watching from the sidelines clearly wasn’t wasted. It gave him an opportunity to reset and are available again able to take the following step.
Now comes a brand new problem: Can the Panthers deal with being the favorites? It’s a unique type of stress, but when Younger and this staff preserve constructing on their current progress, they could simply be able to embrace it. The highway forward appears vivid in Carolina, and the Teppers have this staff heading in the right direction. As one govt shared: “The Teppers are letting the soccer folks do the soccer issues.”
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What Bryce Younger has improved to look extra just like the QB the Panthers anticipated
Payments. Lions. The Recreation.
The Payments, led by celebrity QB Josh Allen, are in all probability the one staff that may go toe-to-toe with the Lions in a shootout. We all know Buffalo has struggled on the highway this 12 months, however even in final week’s loss to the Rams, Allen practically pulled off a win all by himself, accounting for all six of the Payments’ touchdowns.
The Lions are the league’s No. 1 scoring machine, with the Payments proper behind them. One NFL staff govt mentioned he has eyes on the coaches on this matchup: “I’m simply watching to see: Will it’s a gutsy Dan Campbell fourth-down cube roll that makes the distinction, or a Sean McDermott clock-management resolution that determines the end result?”
The fireworks (or, perhaps, heartbreak) will come all the way down to the purple zone, and each groups realize it. The Payments are also most definitely going to need to go on the highway within the playoffs, so it’s not a foul time for his or her greatest highway problem of the season.
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Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs can’t preserve getting away with this. Or can they?
Generally it’s the transfer that isn’t made
Lastly, I used to be speaking to an NFL proprietor lately about how unpredictable this league might be, and he introduced up an important level concerning the worth of getting leaders who keep calm and composed, it doesn’t matter what, and regardless of how tough it may be for everybody concerned. He used an ideal instance: Bear in mind when the Dolphins completely destroyed the Broncos 70-20 in 2023? On the time, it felt like a season-defining recreation — Miami appeared unstoppable and Denver appeared embarrassing — one that might form the narrative for each groups.
However within the year-plus since, issues haven’t precisely performed out as you may need anticipated. Since that recreation, the Dolphins are .500 at 14-14 (together with a playoff loss), battling consistency. However, the Broncos have bounced again with a vengeance, going 16-11 since. As an alternative of panicking, or making drastic teaching or roster strikes after that blowout loss, the Broncos stayed the course, discovered their rhythm and turned issues round.
It’s a traditional NFL lesson. Heck, it’s a life lesson: The highs aren’t all the time as excessive as they appear, and the lows aren’t the tip of the world. The bottom line is discovering leaders who can climate all of it with out dropping their cool. That very precept will likely be put to the take a look at within the coming weeks, as many house owners face the robust choices about whether or not to stay with their present coaches and normal managers or make a change.
(Prime photograph of Invoice Belichick: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Photographs)
