Rams go far in CBS Sports' 'Madden' simulation for 2025 NFL season
CBS Sports' Tyler Sullivan simulated the 2025 NFL season with the latest version of the game, and it predicted that the Los Angeles Rams will go very far. Not only did it have the Rams making the playoffs, but L.A. went all the way to the NFC Championship game and faced off against the Green Bay Packers.
The Rams earned the No. 2 seed and took down the New York Giants in the Wild Card — the shocking No. 7 seed of this scenario — in a 34-17 blowout. L.A. then went on to beat the Washington Commanders in a 27-24 nailbiter.
L.A.'s season ended in the conference title game, though. The Rams fell to the Packers, 41-27, in a game where Packers quarterback Jordan Love eviscerated the Rams' defense for 267 yards and four touchdowns. So, the secondary ended up being the team's biggest issue after all.
Could this happen? Sure! Anything is possible at this point in the NFL calendar. And Rams fans would have to be a little excited to see their team make it a round further than it did a year ago. Not winning the Lombardi Trophy is a shame but, again, this is only a simulation.
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New York Times
a few seconds ago
- New York Times
Giants stock report: Jaxson Dart hype builds, grading Evan Neal's performance
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Is the door to a Giants QB competition cracked open? Well, coach Brian Daboll's reps' decision in the team's 31-12 victory over the New York Jets certainly briefly started the discussion when Daboll not only threw in rookie QB Jaxson Dart for one play with the starters but gave him a first-team series as well. Advertisement But not so fast. Daboll shut down any discussion postgame by re-affirming that Russell Wilson is indeed the Giants starter as they 'keep developing' Dart. The one-off snap and subsequent series were just part of the development plan the Giants have for their rookie QB. Once more, all four QBs saw the field Saturday night but Wilson and Dart played the majority of the first three quarters. The Dart hype train took off after the rookie QB's stellar performance in his opening preseason game. It's not going back to the station after Dart's equally impressive second week. Dart completed 14-of-16 passes for 137 yards and one touchdown. He also added five rushing yards on two attempts with a TD Dart's day had an interesting flow. In the middle of the second quarter, Dart came in for one rep with the starters after Wilson took the first snap of the series. On the rep, Dart hit TE Theo Johnson for a short pass, which he turned into a 30-yard gain. After the one play, Dart headed back to the sidelines as Wilson finished the series. 'You don't know what's going to happen,' Daboll said. 'Just be ready to go when your number's called.' But on the Giants' next offensive series, Dart was back in with the ones. He went three-and-out here, taking a big hit on second down because of an offensive line mistake. On third down, Dart took off scrambling after Tyler Baron got around right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor. While Dart nearly got away and sprung free for what could have been a long run, he was tripped up by Kingsley Jonathan. Dart returned for two more series with the second-team offense in the second quarter, looking increasingly comfortable with each snap. He led an up-tempo, no-huddle offense and looked in command doing it. Both of those drives ended in touchdowns, including a beautiful 20-yard pass to TE Greg Dulcich. On the play, Dart faked a pitch to RB Dante Miller and then hit Dulcich running down the middle. Dart ➡️ Dulcich for six! 📺: NBC4 — New York Giants (@Giants) August 17, 2025 With Chris Manhertz and Daniel Bellinger both out, that opened the door for the next tight ends up to shine. Both Johnson and Dulcich started the game. Johnson has increasingly become a focal point of the offense and has had a strong camp after his rookie season ended prematurely due to injury. He was targeted just once Saturday but made the most of the opportunity — a 30-yard gain. Advertisement 'He kind of came in the huddle and nobody kind of batted an eye,' Johnson said. 'It was like, 'All right, let's roll.' Like, no clue, no context or anything. Just the perfect setup for the play. Great arm angle, throw, just exactly kind of the look we're looking for that play.' In the second half, Dart hit Dulcich for his one reception — the 20-yard touchdown. 'He just gave me a great ball,' Dulcich said. 'Great play calling set it up. The whole whole offense just did their job. That entire drive is a great drive and a great way to finish it off.' What gets interesting here is how the 53-man shakes out and if Dulcich has done enough to earn a roster spot with Johnson, Manhertz, Bellinger and rookie Thomas Fidone figuring to take four spots. While Wilson might be 36, a highlight part of his game is still producing highlight reels — his moon ball. Wilson threw two notable deep balls Saturday to the same receiver with different results. The starting offense got more reps together in Saturday's win than they did in the first preseason game, with Wilson in at QB for four series. The veteran completed 4-of-7 passes for 108 yards. In Wilson's first series, he launched the ball to undrafted rookie Beaux Collins, who caught the pass for an 80-yard gain. Wilson threw the ball before Collins was even open and the receiver nearly made it into the end zone. Two plays later, RB Devin Singletary scored on a 1-yard run. RUSSELLLLLL WILSONNNNNN 🚀 📺: NBC4 — New York Giants (@Giants) August 16, 2025 'He hit the one,' Daboll said. 'Hit the post. What a great ball by Russ, right? Eighty-yard bomb, dropped it in the bucket. Great protection by the offensive line off an action pass. Really just great vision by Russ to lay it up there.' In the second quarter, on the series that Dart came in for one snap, Wilson again targeted Collins deep but it was intercepted. Advertisement 'Just a little miscommunication,' Wilson said. 'I'll be better there for him and just we were on two different pages, I guess, but it was really more so just me really trusting him early. I kind of put the ball up right before he moved and, it's football.' The CB2 competition appears alive and well despite injuries sidelining both top candidates over the last week. Flott returned to practice after dealing with an injury and with Deonte Banks sidelined, Flott got the CB2 reps. Flott played just two series, while some starters got more reps after. Daboll said that came down to the number of reps that they had in mind for each player. 'Flott had a couple more than we were going to give him,' Daboll said. 'I think he had 18, we were shooting for roughly 10-12 but they got into a little bit of a series.' But Flott looked good and had an impressive PBU when he knocked the ball from Garrett Wilson's hands on third-and-2 in the red zone. That forced the Jets to settle for a field goal. Yes, I'm slightly cheating here with stock neutral this week but hey, I'm the one writing this. Offensive line play can be tough to evaluate fully in the flow of a game but you know when it's really bad — we saw one instance of this from Neal on Saturday. But he also had good moments, like a pull block, which allowed Dart to scramble four yards. And when talking about Neal, the important thing to contextualize is that this was his first game action at guard since college as he transitions from tackle. Neal came in at right guard for Greg Van Roten after two offensive series. He finished with three series with the ones and then got two series with the second-teamers, looking better with each one and he didn't seem to cause any notable negative noise. The one obviously bad snap he played occurred in Dart's series with the starters, in which the offense went three-and-out. On second down, DT Phidarian Mathis blew past Neal, forcing Dart to throw an incompletion and take a hard hit. Advertisement 'I played it like it was a run action pass, but the quarterback was dropping back,' Neal said. 'He read it. I went too far inside. He capitalized by going outside. So I really put that on me, just making a mistake.' There's still plenty to see from Neal when it comes to his move inside after he missed the first preseason game with an injury. The big caveat is that these guys are rookies. They're playing their first game snaps and have shown positives. But they're bound to have their welcome-to-the-NFL moment and we witnessed two of those Saturday. As much as Abdul Carter has appeared to seamlessly transition to the NFL from college, he did have a moment when he looked like a rookie. In the second quarter, Carter got chipped by Jets TE Stone Smartt, sending him to the ground. While Carter quickly got up to continue the play, he ended back on the ground after the tackle shoved him down. '(Stuff) just happens on the football field, but we got the win, so we're good,' Carter said. Collins, meanwhile, had that beautiful touchdown pass, only to have an interception on the similar play later in the game. Again, it's these guys' first (Collins) or second (Carter) game. Take a deep breath and remember that. The rush defense was a sore point last season, allowing the sixth-most rushing yards in the NFL. And the Jets seemed to try to capitalize on that Saturday night. Yes, the other NY team has a good run game but the Giants allowed 141 yards on the ground on 33 carries. This was most evident in the Jets' second offensive series as they rushed down the field in a 12-play, 52-yard drive. The Jets ran it 11 times. What was interesting here is that with all the ground success the Jets were having on the drive, Justin Fields threw to Wilson here on third-and-2 — which was broken up by Flott. For as good as the pass rush is shaping up to be, this is going to be an area to watch. (Photo of Dart: Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Forbes
30 minutes ago
- Forbes
Why You Should Coach Your Financial Advisor Like An NFL Roster
In the NFL, even the best players have to earn their spot every season — and the people managing your money should be held to the same standard. Sheldon Day's NFL story began with a narrative that is similar to many, but he's insistent that it does not end the way that many do, with 78% of professional athletes experiencing financial distress post-sport. He grew up in a relatively poor community on the east side of Indianapolis and did all the work to become an All-American and two-time captain at a little-known football school called Notre Dame. He experienced that moment of euphoria when he was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars, and figured all of his financial worries were over when he got a six-figure signing bonus. Only, he got his first financial shock when he learned that six figures quickly becomes five after taxes. It was the first of many signs he received that the financial landscape is much more complex than it often appears—and that you can't trust all the guidance that is thrust upon a young athlete when you don't even know what questions to ask. So, in a stint with the San Francisco 49ers, he and teammates Richard Sherman and Tom Zheng banded together to form The Players Company, an organization designed to help 'athletes and investors achieve their full financial potential,' through education, tools, and resources designed to help them 'grow, manage, and sustain generational wealth.' I asked Day in a recent podcast interview why this was so important. Because sadly, too many pro athletes have learned that they can't fully trust the people who have historically given them guidance. Yes, there are plenty of great agents and financial advisors out there, but the above referenced statistic—and too many stories of self-interested representatives—suggest that the old adage, 'Trust, but verify,' may need to be reversed. And while the stakes may be higher for pro athletes making millions, the following guidance is applicable to you, too, and anyone looking to fill out the ranks of their personal advisory council: Role Reversal—You're The Coach Now Sheldon Day and every other NFL player have been evaluated by coaches and owners their entire lives, but when building out his team of representatives, he's assuming the coaching role. And you are similarly empowered to do the same. I get it; the financial, estate, and tax worlds are horribly complex and rife with jargon, precedent, and tax code that feels like it requires you, as client, to assume a submissive posture. But the truth is that you are the CEO of this enterprise. The CEO likely isn't, and doesn't have to be, as knowledgeable about finances as the CFO, nor as conversant in legal matters as Chief Counsel. But everyone needs to know the chain of command. Practically speaking, this certainly means that your trusted advisors should act accordingly, but it also means that you need to have the courage to say, 'Give it to me in plain English,' when someone talks over your head, instead of nodding through and hoping for the best. You Define The (High) Standards 'In sports, if you have a bad practice, you get cut,' Day told me. He applies the same principle to his financial life—the people in your inner circle should be consistently operating at their highest level. But how are those standards set? In professional sports, the metrics are clear, but in your personal finances, you create them. Your advisors should absolutely have best practices and standard operating procedures, but you define what good looks like. And just like a good coach, you should set those expectations accordingly. Many great advisors will ask these questions up front: You may have your own list of questions: If an advisor doesn't appear to have their own standards and operating procedures that meet your expectations, and especially if they are skittish about responding to your genuine curiosity, that's a bad sign. Be Ready To Make A Change Sheldon told me that 'Just because they're trustworthy for a year doesn't mean they're going to be trustworthy for 20. If they're not performing at the level you need them to, then it's time to replace them.' Personally, I believe that the best advisory relationships are long-term, because so much of the good chemistry in this arena is built over time, and the benefits of continuity often compound. However, professional athletes are evaluated perpetually—and especially on an annual basis—and professional advisors should be no different. I know a handful of advisors are likely squirming when they read this, but the best advisors expect to be held to high standards and are anxious to deliver on them. There's no reason you shouldn't be working with them. Conclusion Most of us will never take a snap in the NFL, but you're already the de facto head coach of a team of your own—the people entrusted with helping to grow and protect your wealth so that you can live with intention and give your best to those you love. Sheldon Day's reminder is as simple as it is unflinching: 'Your circle of trust has to be at its best at all times.' And yes, that means keeping score, calling out missed assignments, and when necessary, making a roster change.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Steelers' Chris Boswell Ends Hold-In, Plays vs. Bucs
PITTSBURGH — Following a first-team Associated Press All-Pro season, Chris Boswell has been waiting for a pay raise. He's minimally participated since the beginning of the Pittsburgh Steelers' training camp. However, the fourth-most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history suited up and played in the team's preseason game on Saturday night. Boswell booted both of the Steelers' first two kickoffs against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, one to open the game and another after Brandon Johnson's 2-yard touchdown reception. Last season, Boswell led the league with 41 made field goals, missing only three throughout the season. He was 13 for 15 from 50 yards or further. It marked the seventh time Boswell split the uprights on 90% or better on field goal tries. Over 88% of Boswell's career field goal tries have been true. Only Justin Tucker (89.1%), Harrison Butker (88.6%) and Eddy Piñeiro (88.095%) have been more reliable. With such reliable production, Boswell is seeking a financial boost. He signed a four-year, $20 million contract in 2022, a deal that put him on par with now-former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker. Including this one, Boswell has two seasons remaining on that deal. The Steelers also currently roster former Pitt kicker Ben Sauls, who nailed his only field goal attempt last week at Jacksonville from 36 yards out. He also went 4 for 4 on extra points. Sauls made six 50-yard field goals last season for the Panthers, including two from 57 and another from 58, that one tying a program record. He was selected to the Pro Football Focus All-American squad for his efforts. This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers' Chris Boswell Ends Hold-In, Plays vs. Bucs Related Headlines Steelers Rookie Kaleb Johnson Wants More Touches: 'I'm a Very High-Volume Carry Runner' Steelers Rookie Derrick Harmon Makes His Mark vs. Buccaneers: 'Just Got to Put Them Paws on People' Steelers Now Postgame: Buccaneers 17, Steelers 14 'Extremely Hungry' Steelers WR Roman Wilson Must Keep Foot on Gas
