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USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Seahawks all-time record vs AFC South: updated for 2025
Seahawks all-time record vs AFC South: updated for 2025 For the past two years, we at Seahawks Wire have been tracking the Seattle Seahawks' all-time records against every team in the NFL. It is important, we feel, to keep an updated log of Seattle's history and how they stack up with other squads in the league. We are resuming this ongoing series with updated records headed into the 2025 season. So far in this series, we have covered the NFC West and NFC South. In 2025, Seattle is also paired with teams from the AFC South. Interestingly enough, the NFC South and AFC South were the two divisions the Seahawks had to play during their legendary 2013 Super Bowl XLVIII championship season. Without further ado, here is how Seattle stacks up all-time in their rare meetings with these cross-conference foes. All-time record: Seattle leads the series 4-1 Regular season : Seattle leads the series 4-1 : Seattle leads the series 4-1 Postseason: N/A Longest win streak: the Seahawks are currently on a three-game winning streak over Houston, dating back to September 2013. Most recent outcome: December 12th, 2021 - the Seahawks obliterate the Texans 33-13 in their own building. The 2021 campaign was a lost one for Seattle, but the Seahawks finished strong. Running back Rashaad Penny bulldozed his way to 137 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the rout. All-time record: Baltimore/Indianapolis leads the series 7-6 Regular season : Baltimore/Indianapolis leads the series 7-6 : Baltimore/Indianapolis leads the series 7-6 Postseason: N/A Longest win streak: both teams' longest streak over the other is only two games in a row. The Colts have done this three times, both in Baltimore and Indianapolis. The Seahawks have won the last two meetings, dating back to October 2017... should they win in 2025, it will be the longest win streak by either team in the series. Most recent outcome: September 12th, 2021 - the Seahawks opened the eventually-doomed 2021 season with a solid 28-16 win over the Colts in Indianapolis. Carlos Dunlap tackling Carson Wentz in the header photo is a good reminder of how quickly life changes in the NFL. Jacksonville Jaguars All-time record: Seattle leads the series 6-3 Regular season : Seattle leads the series 6-3 : Seattle leads the series 6-3 Postseason: N/A Longest win streak: Seattle, two games twice... once from November 2000 to October 2001 and October 2009 to September 2013. Most recent outcome: October 31st, 2021 - the Seahawks claim their first home victory of the season on Halloween, scaring rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence with a 31-7 win over the listless Urban Meyer-led Jaguars. All-time record: Seattle leads the series 11-8 Regular season : Seattle leads the series 11-7 : Seattle leads the series 11-7 Postseason: the only time these two teams met in the playoffs was when the Titans were the Houston Oilers, but the win is still credited to Tennessee so they are 1-0 over the Seahawks Longest win streak: Seattle, five games, from December 1994 until December 2005. Most recent outcome: December 24th, 2023 - Seahawks keep their playoff hopes alive with a heroic comeback drive orchestrated by Geno Smith to escape Music City with a 20-17 win.
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
With Aaron Rodgers off the free-agent board at last, the other top stories from the NFL's OTAs
⋅ Several star players are still grumpy about their contracts and have skipped the voluntary OTAs, among them Trey Hendrickson , Jalen Ramsey , Terry McLaurin , T.J. Watt , Micah Parsons , and Jonnu Smith . If they skip minicamp, they face cumulative fines up to $104,768. Of course, that money could be more than offset by a new contract, but it's still something to consider. (Parsons has said on social media Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up I will be there! I haven't missed a mini camp in 4 years! Even though the contract is not done, I have teammates and a playbook ! I'm preparing as if I will be on the field the first week of camp! But it's in the owner's hands. I'm ready to win a Super Bowl ! — Micah Parsons (@MicahhParsons11) Advertisement Of that group, McLaurin and Smith are the likeliest to get new contracts from their teams in the near future. The Cowboys will eventually pay Parsons the $40 million-plus he seeks, but Jerry Jones sure seems to like dragging these negotiations out for maximum drama. Hendrickson remains at an impasse with the Bengals, and minicamp will be a good test of how much he is willing to push it. ⋅ The AFC South has two quarterbacks sitting due to injury. The Texans are holding C.J. Stroud out of practices as he deals with shoulder soreness but don't appear concerned. 'When the moment is for him to be ready to go, he'll be ready to go,' coach DeMeco Ryans said. Advertisement The Colts' situation bears watching, though. Former No. 4 pick Anthony Richardson , entering his all-important third season, will miss the final week of offseason practices after aggravating the AC joint in his throwing shoulder. While not a big injury in a vacuum, it's a bad omen for Richardson, who is fighting to save his job this year. He has missed 19 of 34 games in two seasons, and he has real competition for the starting job in Daniel Jones , who is making far more guaranteed money in 2025 — $13.1 million to $3.8 million. I found it interesting last week when a league source said he believes Jones will be the league's most impactful free agent this fall — and that was before news of Richardson's shoulder injury emerged. ⋅ Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has every right to skip voluntary OTAs, as he did last year, but it is a strange look for a starter not to be working with the guys, even if the practices and workouts are more ceremonial. Jackson is also foregoing a $750,000 workout bonus that would be earned by attending 27 of 32 workouts. 'I'm not taking any position on it, judging it,' said coach John Harbaugh , probably doing a good job of masking his true feelings. ⋅ Jackson isn't the only player turning down a big bonus. Cowboys cornerback Tre von Diggs is passing on a $500,000 workout bonus to instead train in Miami alongside his brother, Advertisement If the Patriots were serious about wanting Diggs to be in Foxborough this spring, they would have offered him more than $200,000. That's a lot of money for you and me, but not enough to get someone who has made $137 million in career earnings and is becoming a mega-star through his relationship with Cardi B to change his offseason routine. Diggs was in attendance at ⋅ David Andrews wasn't Frank Ragnow , who walked away after seven seasons due to a litany of injuries that included a fractured throat and ' The Lions have had major turnover on the coaching staff this year, losing both coordinators and several assistants. They also will have big changes on the offensive line after losing Ragnow, plus left guard Kevin Zeitler to the Titans. 'He will be sorely missed, but man, this train rolls on,' Lions coach Dan Campbell said. ⋅ About half of the 32 teams will suffer a significant season-ending injury before Week 1, and it unfortunately started last week when Steelers tight end Donald Parham , formerly of the Chargers, tore his Achilles' in practice. Parham, who stands 6-foot-8, caught 11 touchdowns in four seasons and could have been a nice red zone target for Rodgers. ⋅ Several other top players won't be participating in minicamp this week as they return from injury, among them wide receivers Tyreek Hill (Dolphins, wrist), Rashee Rice (Chiefs, LCL), and Malik Nabers (Giants, toe); and defensive ends Aidan Hutchinson (Lions, leg), and Joey Bosa (Bills, calf). With Hill, the health of his wrist might be related to the status of his contract or his ability to get traded. Advertisement ⋅ Fighting is common in training camp when pads are on — temperatures are high, and everyone is battling for a job — but the Giants didn't wait. Defenders Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux threw helmets, punches, and haymakers with offensive linemen James Hudson and Jermaine Eluemunor as teammates poured in from the sidelines. Coach Brian Daboll immediately called off the rest of practice. 'The only thing I'm mad about is that we had to go ahead and call it,' Burns said. 'We got most of our work done today, but I just want to stay away from that.' Stefon Diggs was in attendance at last Monday's voluntary practice and should be present at minicamp, but he spent time this offseason training with his brother in Miami. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff STEEL UNCERTAIN Rodgers another patch on long-standing issue The Steelers finally agreed to a one-year deal with Aaron Rodgers last week, a move they had to make. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields weren't the answer. Sam Darnold at $35 million per year wasn't, either, and Rodgers is probably better than every draft prospect that was available with the 21st pick. He still represents a major organizational failure. This is what happens when a team does the bare minimum at quarterback. The Steelers' troubles go back to 2019, when Ben Roethlisberger hurt his elbow and Advertisement There has been no foresight from the front office to find the next QB. No boldness to move up in the draft, or to find anyone who is more than a Band-Aid or a lottery ticket. Drafting Kenny Pickett when he falls to you with the 20th pick isn't a bold move. Nor is signing Mitchell Trubisky , Wilson, and Fields off the scrap heap and hoping they out-perform their contracts. Now, it's Rodgers, who looked gun-shy and immobile last year with the Jets. The Steelers haven't swung for any fences, content instead to go 9-8 every year and lose in the playoffs. (They've gone seven straight seasons without winning a postseason game.) Yes, it's hard finding a franchise QB, and the Steelers should be commended for always being competitive enough to never pick in the top 10. That doesn't excuse their inability to find a follow-up to Roethlisberger. The Patriots drafted Instead, the Steelers have sat back and let the universe plop a quarterback in their lap for five years. They'll have to do it again next offseason, unless they finally get bold and make a big move. Aaron Rodgers is another patch on a long-term issue for the Steelers. Seth Wenig/Associated Press BASE CAMP Denver drawing plenty with Foxborough ties ⋅ Sean Payton and the Broncos have become a haven for former Patriots. Camren Williams , the college scouting director who had been with the organization since 2016, left last month to become a co-pro personnel director in Denver. Evan Rothstein , who did everything from analytics to coaching offensive line and quarterbacks since coming to New England in 2021 with Matt Patricia , joined the Broncos in March as an offensive line assistant and director of game management. Advertisement The Patriots reportedly filled Williams' role internally with national scout Tony Kinkela . They are replacing Rothstein with John Streicher , Mike Vrabel's right-hand man from Tennessee, and Ekene Olekanma , formerly the coordinator of football R&D for the 49ers who will be the Patriots' director of coaching analytics. ⋅ With the Steelers coming to Foxborough on Sept. 21, it will likely mark the second year in a row that the Patriots face Aaron Rodgers in Week 3. It should be three years, but Rodgers missed the ⋅ Left tackle Done deal — New England Patriots (@Patriots) ⋅ Bad news for out-of-town fans. NFL Network is carrying 21 preseason games live this year, but none involving the Patriots. The games against the Commanders and Vikings will be on WBZ and the Patriots Preseason TV Network, while the finale against the Giants will be on Prime Video (plus a local channel in Boston and Providence). Under pressure Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald is correct that it's 'crazy' to think Sam Darnold could lose the starting job before Week 1. Injuries are one thing, but the Seahawks signed Darnold to a three-year contract worth a maximum of $115.5 million for a reason. It's hard seeing any scenario in which backups Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe beat Darnold out in training camp. 'I respect that you've got to ask it, but it's just a crazy question,' Macdonald said on 710-AM after Darnold threw a couple of picks in OTAs. 'Sam's our starting quarterback. We love him. He's doing a tremendous job.' That doesn't mean Darnold is guaranteed to finish the season. His contract is really just one year guaranteed for $37.5 million. His 2026 season, worth $27.5 million, is guaranteed for injury only and doesn't become fully guaranteed until the fifth day of the league year next March. His 2027 season ($35.5 million) has no guarantees. Realistically, Darnold has through November to prove that he's worth the investment for 2026. If he doesn't, the Seahawks easily could bench him down the stretch and release him next March without owing him another dime. A lot will likely depend on the progress of Milroe, a third-round pick who has tremendous physical tools but is raw as a passer. Not playing for money Derek Carr made almost $200 million in on-field earnings over his 11-year NFL career, so he's not exactly hurting for money. He Still, few people would have made the decision Carr did, which was to forgo the $30 million in salary this year he was contractually entitled to. Carr officially hit the retired list last week as he deals with a shoulder injury. 'I didn't want to have surgery and just sit there and — it sounds crazy but — just take the Saints money,' Carr is only 34 and should have several years of football left if he gets his shoulder fixed, but told his agent recently that he's done. 'I sent him a picture of me on the beach with my two kids playing. And I said, 'This beats an OTA any day,' ' he said. That's fair, but few players ever say they miss June practices. Let's see how Carr feels come September, when Extra points Yes, spring OTAs are voluntary. Players aren't wearing pads, and the practices are meant more for teaching than pure competition. That doesn't mean the coaches like seeing interceptions and other mistakes. 'Well, I care,' Mike Vrabel said when asked about Drake Maye's four-interception practice. 'I care about every player's performance and that we continue to improve. There has been great improvement. Everybody's going to have a bad day. There's a lot of reasons that go into it.' … The Chargers ripped the heart out of San Diegans in 2017 when they abandoned their home of 55 years and Dean Spanos may want to stay out of the spotlight on those days … Former BC receiver Zay Flowers , who has 1,917 regular-season yards and nine touchdowns in two seasons for the Ravens, recently switched agents. He still has two years left on his rookie deal but will be eligible for a new contract next offseason … This fall, Clemson plays at North Carolina and Boston College in consecutive weeks. 'I feel like we're playing the whole Patriots organization in a two-week span,' coach Dabo Swinney quipped, referring to head coaches Bill Belichick and Bill O'Brien … Patriots receiver Mack Hollins will be participating in Justin Herbert , Justin Reid , Harrison Phillips , Richard Sherman , and A.J. Dillon … Few people would have noticed the Falcons' social media post last week of cornerback Mike Ford and safety Jessie Bates had the team left it alone, but the Falcons deleted the post because Ben Volin can be reached at
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Trevor Lawrence Showing 'Dramatic Progress' in Red Zone, Exciting Coen
Trevor Lawrence Showing 'Dramatic Progress' in Red Zone, Exciting Coen originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Early OTA whispers of Trevor Lawrence being a tad off-target can officially be put to bed. After some initial fine-tuning while recovering from shoulder surgery and ingraining new footwork, the Jacksonville Jaguars' franchise quarterback is reportedly looking "much better," particularly in a critical area: the red zone. This development is music to the ears of new offensive coordinator Liam Coen. Advertisement The initial scrutiny wasn't unexpected. Any franchise QB, especially one dubbed a "generational talent" and working his way back from an injury, will have every throw dissected during Organized Team Activities. A few wayward passes? National news. But Coen, tasked with elevating this Jaguars offense, isn't sounding any alarms. In fact, he's pointing to significant strides. Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (16) prepares for a snap during an NFL Nelles / USA TODAY Network "Yeah, I think he's actually done a really nice job in the red zone," Coen told reporters, addressing Lawrence's performance inside the 20. "Really, looking back to the first time that we did it, last Friday... I think he made some quick decisions. You know, everything is sped up in the red area. The timing, the rhythm, the space, it's all tighter, it's all sped up. I thought he's done a nice job with his footwork in the red zone, understanding that concept." Coen acknowledged the limitations of non-padded practices, noting, "Ultimately, like good teams are able to run the football into the end zone. And it's hard to do that in this setting. So a lot of it is kind of geared towards practicing the pass game, the timing, the rhythm, the protections, understanding when zero blitz is coming versus drop eight. So those are the things we're getting work at, and I think he's done a nice job of executing in that area so far." Advertisement This upward trajectory is crucial. Lawrence is not only rehabbing his shoulder but also actively working with Coen to refine his mechanics. This dual focus likely contributed to any early OTA inconsistencies, but the recent reports suggest the arrow is firmly pointing up. Make no mistake, 2025 is a massive year for Trevor Lawrence. After a rollercoaster few seasons marked by flashes of brilliance, frustrating inconsistency, and untimely injuries, the pressure is on to deliver sustained, high-level play. The good news? The Jaguars' front office has seemingly pushed all the right buttons this offseason. The offensive line has been significantly "beefed up," and Lawrence has an upgraded arsenal of weapons at his disposal. Add to that Coen's offensive philosophy, which is expected to feature a "renewed emphasis on running the football" – a strategy designed to take some of the load off Lawrence's shoulders. The pieces appear to be in place. Back in 2022, with a solid supporting cast, Lawrence led the Jaguars to an AFC South title and a playoff victory. The argument can be made that his current supporting cast is even better. Advertisement While the Houston Texans are the presumptive favorites in the AFC South, the progress being seen at Jaguars OTAs, particularly from their star quarterback, suggests Jacksonville could be a serious challenger. If Lawrence's red-zone sharpness translates to regular-season efficiency, the Jaguars might just exceed a lot of expectations come fall. The signs, at least in early June, are undeniably positive. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Sports Illustrated ranks Texans QB Davis Mills bottom three among backups in 2025
Sports Illustrated ranks Texans QB Davis Mills bottom three among backups in 2025 C.J. Stroud is out for OTAs, meaning the Houston Texans are turning the offense over to Davis Mills in drills. The hope is Mills won't have to start or see action unless it's mop-up duty or in a blowout loss, but as a former starter, he's ready to go if head coach DeMeco Ryans calls upon him. But where does Mills rank among backups going into the 2025 season? How would the Texans fare if Mills were to start multiple games for the back-to-back AFC South champions this fall? Sports Illustrated recently ranked all 32 backups entering the 2025 season. Mills, who posted a 5-19-1 during his time leading the offense in 2021 and 2022, ranked near the bottom at No. 30 overall, largely due to the success of C.J. Stroud. "Mills has had zero starts since the organization drafted C.J. Stroud in 2023. But the '21 third-round pick has impressed Houston as a QB2, evident by the one-year, $5 million extension he received last year," SI's Gilberto Manzano wrote. "Mills has plenty of experience, starting 26 games in his first two NFL seasons." While this might feel low, the list is filled with former first-round picks and high-priced options. No. 1 is Atlanta Falcons passer Kirk Cousins, who was expected to be the next franchise option after inking a four-year deal in 2024. He's now potentially on the market for any team that could use a starting quarterback this offseason, especially the Pittsburgh Steelers. Daniel Jones and Jimmy Garoppolo, who are former high-paid options, rounded out the top three and very well could start for at least two NFL teams this season. Several quarterbacks could be midseason replacements on bad teams like New York Giants rookie Jaxson Dart (No. 5) also rounded out the top five. If anything Mills' ranking likely has more to do with the praise of Stroud than his on-field play. Even if it feels low, that likely means the Texans know he's meant to be nothing more than a quality No. 2 option.
USA Today
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
NFL division power rankings ahead of 2025 season
NFL division power rankings ahead of 2025 season Teams have taken shape for the 2025 NFL season. Free agency moves have been made, draft picks have been chosen and some trades have occurred. The time is ripe to look at the eight divisions and see how they stack up. Only the strong survive in the National Football League. Don't expect some of the lesser lights to menace when it comes to regular-season play and the Super Bowl. 8. AFC South The AFC South may have the first overall pick in the Tennessee Titans' Cam Ward but that's about all it has to offer when it comes to intriguing new players. The Houston Texans were 10-7 last year and failed to improve upon their previous season's surprising win total. The Jaguars have a new front office -- again -- and the Colts are still waiting for Anthony Richardson to prove he is a franchise QB. 7. NFC South Will the South rise again in the NFL? It doesn't look like it will happen in 2025 as the AFC is the cellar dweller and the NFC isn't far behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the most ordinary division dynasty in league history. The Saints can't get anything right. They signed Derek Carr and he delivered nothing before retiring. The Falcons have redefined mediocrity and the Panthers fell so far that it is hard to recognize how much progress they are making, which they are. 6. AFC East This is no knock on the Buffalo Bills. They are the dominant team in the division and a threat every year to make a deep playoff run. The other three teams are not exciting. The Patriots will rebuild under Mike Vrabrel. The Jets are continuing to spin and hope Aaron Glenn is the answer with Justin Fields at QB. The charm has worn off Mike McDaniel and the Dolphins, who win games against lesser teams and lose to better ones. 5. NFC West The division offers thrilling finishes and a run for the playoff spot. However, none of the teams come in threatening to win a bunch of games and run away with the division. Expect the San Francisco 49ers to be much better since they can't have more injuries than last season. The Cardinals should take another step, moving them over .500. Will Sam Darnold make the Seahawks better than Geno Smith? Uncertain. And the Rams defend their title by adding Davante Adams, which should make Matthew Stafford a happy quarterback. 4. AFC North The Ravens are the class of the division and should remain that barring injuries and an unexpected collapse. Look for the Bengals to improve in 2025 if they can figure out how to stay at .500 or above through the first four games. Don't be fooled by the fact that Aaron Rodgers would make the Steelers better. Ben Roethlisberger probably has more to offer, and the Cleveland Browns are, well, the Cleveland Browns. 3. NFC East This division is split between teams that are threats to make playoff runs and those likely to be wondering about where there draft pick will land come November. Philadelphia will have a bunch of new players, especially on defense, as it looks to defend its Super Bowl title. Remember, NFC East teams tend not to repeat as division champions. The Washington Commanders are the "it" team in the league after Jayden Daniels' arrival in 2024. The Cowboys somehow have Brian Schottenheimer as coach. The Giants have a gaggle of quarterbacks and none of them are going to make defensive coordinators lose sleep. 2. AFC West Four coaches with Super Bowl experience in one division is quite the resume. Pete Carroll has his work cut out trying to turn the Raiders into a decent football team, let alone a playoff threat. The other three teams each have to be considered possibilities to make the postseason. When will Andy Reid and the Chiefs take a step back and not win the AFC West? Is Jim Harbaugh going to have the Chargers ready to try and capture the division? And no one should be surprised if Sean Payton has the Broncos ready to rock a bid for the AFC West crown. 1. NFC North The NFC North had three teams win 40 games last season. That equaled the most won by four teams in any other division. And that's with the Chicago Bears going 4-13. This division may not see the three teams reach those heights again but it is definitely tops.
