-
2 months ago | 
theguardian.com | Oliver Connolly |Bryan Armen Graham |Melissa Jacobs |Andrew Lawrence |Graham Searles
What the Kansas City Chiefs need to do to winWin the first downs. The Chiefs need to find a way to turn the Eagles into a dropback passing offense. Philly’s passing game can be boom-or-bust, relying on low-percentage shot plays to AJ Brown to keep the chains moving. If Steve Spagnuolo can scheme up something to win the initial down, his front can take over on second and third downs. Oliver ConnollyKeep Mahomes clean.
-
Jan 17, 2025 | 
theguardian.com | Graham Searles
Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs (Saturday 4.30pm EST/9.30pm GMT)What the Texans need to do to win: CJ Stroud needs to continue his upward trajectory. After turning what would have been an ugly fumble deep in his own half into the beginning of a run of 23 unanswered points against the Los Angeles Chargers last week, Houston’s quarterback seemed to shake off his winter blues at the very moment he found Xavier Hutchinson wide open downfield.
-
Jan 10, 2025 | 
theguardian.com | Graham Searles
Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Texans (Saturday 4.30pm EST/9.30pm GMT)What the Chargers need to do to win: The league’s stingiest defense cannot afford the complacency that allowed Tampa Bay to rain 40 points down on them in December. The Chargers’ stats look good – they gave up the fewest touchdowns (31) in the regular season, including 18 on 39 red-zone drives, a league-leading efficiency mark of 46% – but would be even better without a few aberrations.
-
Jan 3, 2025 | 
theguardian.com | Graham Searles
Game of the weekMinnesota Vikings (14-2) v Detroit Lions (14-2)The final game of the regular season and it all comes down to this. Two titans battle for the NFC North crown, home-field advantage until the Super Bowl and the ivory tower of a first-round bye. The loser takes the fifth seed and a stomach-churning road game in the wild-card round. Detroit’s injury-hit roster needs the winner’s rest week more but will this be one title fight too many for Dan Campbell’s team?
-
Dec 27, 2024 | 
theguardian.com | Graham Searles
Game of the weekGreen Bay Packers (11-4) v Minnesota Vikings (13-2)The scheduling gods have flexed their muscles and pushed another potential warm-up for the postseason into the choice late-afternoon slot. We have a late festive feast in Green Bay heading to Minnesota, in favor of a damp squib between Philadelphia and Dallas, for what could turn out to be the NFC Championship Game.
-
Dec 20, 2024 | 
theguardian.com | Graham Searles
Game of the weekPittsburgh Steelers (10-4) v Baltimore Ravens (9-5)The battle for the AFC North nears its climax with two bitter rivals gutting it out for hallowed home-field advantage in the playoffs. If the Pittsburgh Steelers continue their hot streak and earn a fifth successive win in Baltimore then the division is theirs while the Ravens can clinch a playoff spot with victory and see a path to the top of the class if Mike Tomlin’s team fall to the Chiefs or Bengals to close out the season.
-
Dec 17, 2024 | 
theguardian.com | Graham Searles
Earlier this month, Mike Tomlin was asked what he had learned about his receivers in the absence of the group’s star, George Pickens, through injury. It was not the first time Tomlin’s team had been questioned this season, and it will probably not be the last. As ever though, the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach expressed his faith in his players. “We believe in our group. I have said that repeatedly and maybe you will start believing me,” he replied.
-
Dec 14, 2024 | 
theguardian.com | Graham Searles
Game of the weekBuffalo Bills (10-3) v Detroit Lions (12-1)The contenders for the No 1 seed in each conference collide in Detroit. The bulldozing Lions want to keep their foot on the accelerator to fend off the Eagles at the top of the NFC while the Bills chase a two-game deficit to the Chiefs in the AFC. Sheer offensive might from the NFL’s two top scoring sides that average a tick over 30 points per game each will be the order of the day in the democracy v the dictatorship.
-
Nov 6, 2024 | 
theguardian.com | Graham Searles
Marshon Lattimore from New Orleans Saints to Washington CommandersThe deal: Washington Commanders get Lattimore and fifth round pick in 2025; Saints get third-, fourth- and sixth-round pick in 2025Grades: Commanders A-; Saints BThe Saints did well to accumulate hefty draft capital while Washington needed someone who can make plays in the backfield. The Commanders got the cornerback at a discounted rate: he was a perennial Pro Bowler until 2021, when his play began to fall off.
-
Oct 30, 2024 | 
theguardian.com | Graham Searles
UpsDetroit’s offense (defense TBD)“The major question mark hangs over the Detroit Lions and whether their middling defense can handle losing its capstone, Aidan Hutchinson,” I said back in the dogeared annals of two weeks ago. As the hobbled defense makes the best of what it has, the offense has shown it matters little on the Lions’ inexorable march to the postseason. At 6-1 the Lions should be aiming for the NFC’s No 1 seed.
