March 2023 - Football Wiretap

Ravens Rout Dolphins To Lock Up AFC's Top Seed

Dec 31, 2023 6:18 PM

In a game and performance reminiscent of 2019, Lamar Jackson looked like the unquestioned NFL MVP as the Ravens clinched the AFC North title and the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

With Jackson recording a perfect passer rating (158.3) and throwing five touchdown passes, the Ravens routed the Miami Dolphins 56-19 on Sunday to secure a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs.

ESPN.com

Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Game Recap, Team Achievement

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49ers Beat Commanders, Get Help To Clinch NFC's No. 1 Seed

Dec 31, 2023 6:11 PM

As the 49ers filed into their locker room following Sunday's win over the Commanders, they were greeted by team CEO Jed York with a handshake and a score update.

The Cardinals had just taken the lead against the Eagles with 32 seconds remaining, leaving the Niners a few plays away from wrapping up the NFC's No. 1 seed, along with the first-round bye and home-field advantage.

Niners players and coaches rushed to a tiny corner and huddled around a small television showing the final seconds. When Jalen Hurts' last-gasp throw was intercepted, the room burst into loud cheers and a wild celebration.

With the Niners' 27-10 win, the Cardinals' victory against Philadelphia and the Dallas Cowboys' controversial win against the Detroit Lions on Saturday night, the NFC's road to the Super Bowl runs through Levi's Stadium.

ESPN.com

Tags: San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Football Team, Arizona Cardinals, Game Recap, Team Achievement

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Russell Wilson Decision Looms In Broncos' Offseason

Dec 31, 2023 2:55 AM

The Denver Broncos have benched Russell Wilson for now, but they eventually will have to figure out the most effective way of breaking up with the nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback.

That will not be simple.

The Broncos face four potential options as a means of moving on from Wilson this offseason.

ESPN.com

Tags: Denver Broncos, Misc Rumor

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Breece Hall: Jets Will Turn Things Around In 'Near Future'

Dec 29, 2023 9:40 AM

The New York Jets dropped to 6-10 with Thursday night's loss to the Cleveland Browns, but Breece Hall believes better days are ahead.

The Jets had high hopes before Aaron Rodgers suffered an Achilles injury on the fourth play of the season.

"I'll just tell everybody to get their laughs out now because it's not going to be like that in the near future," Hall said of the Jets' fortunes. "We're going to be a lot better. I'm excited to see what we do."

Kevin Patra/NFL

Tags: New York Jets, Misc Rumor

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Tyreek Hill On Verge Of Historic Receiving Mark

Dec 29, 2023 9:35 AM

Tyreek Hill is on the verge of hitting a historical receiving mark.

If Hill finishes with at least 59 receiving yards on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, the Miami Dolphins star will surpass 1,700 yards for the season.

Doing so would make Hill the first player in NFL history to hit that number twice in his career. Only 11 players have ever finished a season with at least 1,700 receiving yards.

Hill's original goal for the season was to post 2,000 yards, something that became less likely when he missed a game earlier this month.

John Breech/CBS Sports

Tags: Miami Dolphins, Misc Rumor, Stats

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Ja'Marr Chase Adds 'Fire To The Fuel' With Shots At Chiefs

Dec 29, 2023 9:30 AM

Ja'Marr Chase has plenty to say ahead of this weekend's showdown between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs.

Chase started out saying nothing stood out about the Chiefs' secondary. Then he said Kansas City didn't have a lockdown cornerback like Jalen Ramsey.

The wide receiver added that safety Bryan Cook, who is on injured reserve, is not comparable to the Atlanta Falcons' Jessie Bates III, who spent the first five years of his career with the Bengals.

When it was expressed that the comments could be perceived as shots at the Chiefs, Chase seemed to embrace it.

"I'm just adding fire to the fuel," Chase said. "They're going to take this, run with it. Hope they put it in their locker."

In January 2022, the Bengals defeated the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game to advance to the team's first Super Bowl in more than three decades. One year later, Kansas City won the rematch on a field goal as time expired.

Ben Baby/ESPN

Tags: Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, Misc Rumor

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Browns Clinch Playoff Berth

Dec 29, 2023 9:27 AM

The Cleveland Browns defeated the New York Jets on Thursday night to clinch a playoff berth.

Cleveland's 37-20 victory earned them their first postseason appearance since 2020 and only their third since returning to the NFL in 1999.

"Pretty special night for this organization," Kevin Stefanski said. "Pretty special night for the fans out there."

Jake Trotter/ESPN

Tags: Cleveland Browns, Misc Rumor, Team Achievement

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Justin Jefferson Stumps For Kirk Cousins' Return To Vikings

Dec 28, 2023 9:54 AM

Justin Jefferson wants to see Kirk Cousins return as the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024.

Since Cousins went down with a torn Achilles in Week 8, the Vikings have cycled through rookie Jaren Hall, Josh Dobbs and Nick Mullins.

"It's definitely tough without him being there," Jefferson said of Cousins. "His leadership. His knowledge of the game. His awareness. There's definitely something missing not having that main piece out there on the table."

With two weeks to go, the Vikings still have a chance to sneak into the playoffs.

Cousins will be a free agent this offseason.

Kevin Patra/NFL

Tags: Minnesota Vikings, Free Agent Rumor, Misc Rumor

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Report: Broncos Previously Threatened To Bench Russell Wilson

Dec 28, 2023 9:51 AM

The Denver Broncos previously threatened to bench Russell Wilson for the rest of the season if he did not agree to rework his contract to address the injury guarantee, according to a report.

The report states that one such threat was made after the Broncos upset the Kansas City Chiefs on October 29.

The Broncos made the move to bench Wilson after the team's Christmas Eve loss to the New England Patriots.

The NFL and the NFL Players Association “became involved,” per the report.

Mark Maske/Washington Post

Tags: Denver Broncos, Misc Rumor

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Antonio Gates Among Finalists For Pro Football HOF

Dec 28, 2023 9:47 AM

First-time candidates Antonio Gates and Julius Peppers joined nine returning finalists who advanced to the final stage of voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2024.

Gates and Peppers will be joined on the 15-player ballot by five-time finalist wide receivers Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne.

Seven other players returned as finalists -- Patrick Willis, Andre Johnson, Dwight Freeney, Jared Allen, Willie Anderson, Darren Woodson and Devin Hester.

Defensive backs Eric Allen and Rodney Harrison, running back Fred Taylor and offensive lineman Jahri Evans made it to this stage for the first time after previously being semifinalists.

The 15 finalists will be trimmed to 10 then to five during the selection meeting early next year. The final five candidates will need to receive 80% of the votes from the panel to get into the Hall.

Associated Press

Tags: San Diego Chargers, Carolina Panthers, Misc Rumor, Personal Award

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Packers Suspend Jaire Alexander After Coin-Toss Confusion

Rob Demovsky/ESPN

Broncos Bench Russell Wilson For Week 17, Will Start Jarrett Stidham

Jeff Legwold/ESPN

Report: Bill Belichick Has Expressed Doubt About His Future To Staff

Boston Sports Journal

Texans Claim Twice-Suspended Kareem Jackson Off Waivers

D.J. Bien-Aime/ESPN

Joe Flacco Happy With Browns, No Ill Will Toward Jets

Jake Trotter/ESPN

49ers, Sebastian Joseph-Day Agree To One-Year Deal

ESPN.com

Trevor Lawrence Could Miss Week 17 With Sprained AC Joint

Michael DiRocco/ESPN

Aaron Rodgers: Not My Idea To Be Activated From IR

Rich Cimini/ESPN

T.J. Hockenson Out For Season With Torn ACL, MCL

Kevin Seifert/ESPN

Patrick Mahomes: I Still Believe We Can Go Do What We Want To Do

Adam Teicher/ESPN

John Harbaugh: Lamar Jackson Had MVP Performance

Jamison Hensley/ESPN

Robert Saleh: Jets Could've Done Better After Losing Aaron Rodgers

espn.com

Lions Win First Division Championship Since 1993

espn.com

Amari Cooper Sets Browns' Receiving Record

espn.com

Jets Planning To Retain GM Joe Douglas, Coach Robert Saleh

espn.com

Chiefs Rule Out Kadarius Toney, Jerick McKinnon Due To Injuries

espn.com

Trevor Lawrence Clears Protocol, Will Start Vs. Buccaneers

espn.com

Geno Smith To Start At QB For Seahawks On Sunday

espn.com

Bears Sign PK Cairo Santos To Four-Year, $16M Deal

espn.com

CJ Stroud Ruled Out For Sunday's Game Against Browns

RealGM Staff Report