Latest news with #WildCardRound
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Broncos Projected to Replace QB Bo Nix in Outlandish Prediction
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Denver Broncos were a major surprise during the 2024 NFL campaign, and while that was thanks much in part to a stingy defense, their success was also due to Bo Nix's magnificent rookie season. Nix threw for 3,775 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 66.3 percent of his passes while posting a 93.3 passer rating last year. Additionally, he rushed for 430 yards and four scores on 4.7 yards per carry. More news: Broncos Facing One Massive Issue That Could Derail Their Season The Broncos went 10-7 and made the playoffs with Nix leading the way, and even if they were blasted by the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round, their strong showing indicated that the future was bright in the Mile High City. However, ESPN's Seth Walder does not seem to be on the same wavelength, at least when it comes to Nix. During a recent piece in which ESPN writers ranked NFL teams based on their future outlooks, Walder offered an incredibly bold prediction on Nix, projecting that the former first-round pick will lose his job soon. DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 05: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos warms up before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field At Mile High on January 05, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.... DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 05: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos warms up before the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field At Mile High on January 05, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. More "Nix will lose his starting job during the 2027 season, which will be his last as a Bronco," Walder wrote. "There's optimism around him now, but there's reason to be skeptical in the long term. As a rookie, his rushing led him to be decent efficiency-wise. But he ranked 28th in completion percentage over expectation (minus-2.4%) and 22nd in yards per dropback (6.16) despite playing behind a top-tier offensive line. The roster around him is great now, but it won't always be." That is certainly a bucket of ice water for Broncos fans, who surely have visions of John Elway dancing in their heads following Nix's brilliant debut season. But evidently, Walder does not think it's going to be smooth sailing for the signal-caller. In Nix's defense, was his supporting cast really all that great? The Broncos had one of the worst backfields in football last season, and while Courtland Sutton was terrific, they didn't exactly have a deep receiving corps. More news: Saints Could Cut Ties With Former Chiefs Super Bowl Champion Sure, Marvin Mims is teeming with potential, and Troy Franklin looks like a fourth-round steal after an impressive rookie season. But Nix was not exactly loaded with weapons at his disposal in Year 1. Denver has certainly tried to help the Oregon product in that regard this offseason, signing tight end Noah Fant and running back J.K. Dobbins in free agency while also drafting pieces like halfback RJ Harvey and receiver Pat Bryant. But even still, the Broncos' playmakers are mostly unproven. Or, at the very least, questionable. We'll see what Nix has in store next season and if he can silence his critics. For more on the Broncos and NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Seahawks Already Expected to Dump Sam Darnold for Explosive Replacement
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Seattle Seahawks may have found their quarterback of the future this offseason, signing Sam Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract in free agency. The deal followed Darnold's breakout campaign with the Minnesota Vikings in which he threw for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 66.2 percent of his passes and registering a 102.5 passer rating. That was enough to get Darnold a Pro Bowl appearance. More news: Insider Reveals Bad News for 49ers' Critical Defender What a turnaround it was for the No. 3 overall pick, who wasted away on the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers for the first five seasons of his career and then served as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers for one year before joining the Vikings. That being said, Darnold still has his fair share of doubters, especially after a rather rough showing in Minnesota's Wild Card Round playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams. ESPN's Seth Walder clearly does not think all that highly of Darnold and is expecting the Seahawks to have a different player under center as soon as 2027. As a matter of fact, Walder is predicting Seattle to even make it all the way to the Super Bowl that season ... sans Darnold. Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts after the Vikings defeated the Tennessee Titans, 23-13, at Nissan Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts after the Vikings defeated the Tennessee Titans, 23-13, at Nissan Stadium on November 17, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by"Led by second-year star quarterback LaNorris Sellers, along with a top-five defense, the Seahawks will reach the Super Bowl ... but will lose," Walder wrote. "The days of [Geno] Smith and Darnold will be ancient history by 2027." Sellers is expected to be one of the top quarterbacks off the board in the 2026 NFL Draft. The University of South Carolina star threw for 2,534 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 65.6 percent of his passes in 2024. He also rushed for 674 yards and seven scores, so unlike the more traditional Darnold, Sellers is a serious dual threat. Many feel that Darnold was merely a product of Justin Jefferson in Minnesota, not to mention the fact that he had weapons like Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson and Aaron Jones at his disposal last season. More news: Saints Could Cut Ties With Former Chiefs Super Bowl Champion We're about to find out if Darnold is for real in a few weeks. That being said, the USC product does have some solid playmakers available to him in Seattle, most notably in the form of wide receivers Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp. Rookie receivers Tory Horton and Ricky White III could be sleepers, as well. But does Darnold have enough support around him to replicate his 2024 campaign? Or is he doomed to failure in the Pacific Northwest? If it's the latter, perhaps Sellers really will be on his way to the Seahawks sooner than we think. For more on the Seahawks and NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Saints Play of the Day: Lance Moore's 24-yard playoffs TD against the Eagles
There are 24 days to go until the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2025 regular season, and we're turning the clock back to January 2014 for today's highlight. Lance Moore's 24-yard touchdown catch against the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2013 Wild Card Round is the Saints Play of the Day. Moore helped knock out the Eagles and win the Saints' first road playoff game with this score, which you can watch here. This victory dispelled a couple of narratives that had dogged the Saints for years. They were characterized as a team that couldn't win away from the Superdome, or even outdoors, especially in poor weather. So imagine their doubters' surprise when the Saints took the field on a cold, windy night in Philadelphia and left with a win. Drew Brees rolled out and away from the Eagles pass rush to find Moore in the middle of the field, lobbing a quick pass to one of his favorite receivers. Moore cut upfield and fought his way through an Eagles defender to crash into the end zone, extending the Saints' lead to 13-7. They weren't out of the woods yet. The Eagles passing attack woke up when star cornerback Keenan Lewis was pulled from the game with an injury, and a late Zach Ertz touchdown pass from Nick Foles gave Philly a 24-23 lead in the final five minutes. But the Saints didn't let Foles touch the football again. Helped by a good return from Darren Sproles and a horse collar tackle against the Eagles, Brees set up shop near midfield at the opposing 48-yard line. Khiry Robinson helped move the ball further into Eagles territory and Brees converted a pair of first downs in short-yardage situations, forcing Philly to burn their last timeouts. Shayne Graham kicked a 32-yard field goal as time expired and the Saints advanced to the next round, having made a new chapter in team history.
USA Today
07-08-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Packers WR Romeo Doubs is in a great place entering Year 4
Made 55 yards in the air look easy@emplifybellin Another standout summer for Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs reached a new level this week with impressive practices on back-to-back days. On Tuesday, Doubs beat safeties Javon Bullard and Evans Williams for a long touchdown during 11-on-11. Doubs, whose longest career catch is 39 yards, showed off his speed to get behind the defense and make an impressive grab without breaking his stride. Since being drafted by Green Bay in 2022, Doubs has shown improvement each year, but Matt LaFleur said before Wednesday's practice that the area where Doubs has made his biggest strides has been in his route running. "I think patience as a route runner, he's doing a great job," LaFleur said. "He's always been able to get off the line, but just in terms of the patience of a route runner, and it was on display (Tuesday) when that ball's in the air. He's going to attack that football." After LaFleur's remarks, Doubs went out and had another productive practice on Wednesday, boosted by a touchdown against Carrington Valentine during a red zone period. Doubs has become known for his strong training camps and consistency during the regular season. However, last season took an unexpected turn when he was suspended one game for skipping multiple practices. Doubs was reportedly unhappy with his role on offense, but he would eventually return to the team and finish the year with career-high marks in yards per reception and yards per game. 2024 likely would have been a career year for Doubs if not for the suspension and injuries. He also missed Weeks 13 and 14 due to a concussion and the regular season finale against the Bears because of an illness. Doubs finished the year wearing a Guardian Cap only to suffer another concussion after slamming his head against the ground in the Wild Card Round loss to the Eagles. Perhaps due to previous discontent and the fact that he was entering the last year of his rookie deal, Doubs' name was mentioned as a potential trade candidate during the offseason, but nothing ever materialized. Perhaps no one is happier that Doubs is still around than Jordan Love. The two have made it a habit to work out together in California during the offseason, and that chemistry has once again carried over into camp, with Love gushing over Doubs' approach going into Year 4. "I just love where he's at mentally right now," said Love. "He's playing pretty lights out right now and making a lot of good plays when the ball's in the air, which is one of those things that's expected from Rome, and he's done that so many times. But the headspace he's at, attacking every day trying to find ways to get better, even when we're not on the same page sometimes, and a play might be incomplete, we're talking after and trying to figure out how we might do things differently, so I love where he's at right now." It would not be surprising to anyone in the building if Doubs takes another step in his development this season. He may have the strongest connection with Love among all of Green Bay's receivers and continues to improve in all facets of his game. "The way he's running routes and understanding what the coverage is and how he needs to beat it, and just do the little things with twitchiness of his body when he gets to the top of routes and just understanding how to run routes is what's really separating him," Love said. The Packers will be counting on Doubs this season. If the 25-year-old former fourth-round pick takes another step in his development this year, the team will have to decide whether to pay Doubs a sizable contract or risk losing one of their most trusted receivers.
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Broncos' Sean Payton makes ‘hurricanes' quip about Bo Nix's interceptions
The post Broncos' Sean Payton makes 'hurricanes' quip about Bo Nix's interceptions appeared first on ClutchPoints. All eyes will be on the Denver Broncos this season as they may have exceeded expectations from what they did last year. Bo Nix also surprised many people, and he was a big reason why the Broncos made the playoffs but, unfortunately, lost in the Wild Card Round. Nix is looking to continue his strong play, and it helps that he has to face one of the best defenses in the league in practice. In the Broncos' latest practice, it was evident that the defense was getting to Nix, and he threw several interceptions throughout the day. After practice, head coach Sean Payton was asked about the interceptions, and made a statement that may have gone over some people's heads. 'Yeah, we're charting picks here like hurricanes. So he's doing fine,' Payton said. Payton could have been taking a dig at the people who are writing down all the picks that Nix throws, or he could have been making a light joke about his quarterback. Either way, it doesn't seem like Payton is too worried about Nix, and he has time to get everything together. If anything, this is the best time for Nix to throw the interceptions, so he'll know what to do in a real game. Bo Nix ready for high expectations of Broncos Nix knows that there will be high expectations of the Broncos this season, but he's ready for whatever is thrown at them. 'The expectations are definitely higher, but we like that,' Nix said to NFL Network. 'That means you're a good football team. That means you have something to play for. We put together a really good football team, added some pieces on both sides of the ball. We really feel like, at all three phases of the game, we got better this offseason.' On offense, Nix will have the same players around him, and the hope is that they can continue to build their chemistry. What really set the Broncos apart from teams was their defense, which was one of the best in the league. They're only going to get better this season, and they will make it hard for opposing offenses. The Broncos are in a tough division as well, and one of their goals should be to either win it or be among the top two. They have a real chance of doing so, and hopefully, the pressure for them to replicate last season isn't enough. Related: Sean Payton believes Broncos are capable of winning Super Bowl 60 Related: Sean Payton can't hold back Bo Nix excitement in 4-word voicemail
