Keith Jenkins

Defense still wins championships. The higher-ranked defense has now won 40 of the 59 Super Bowls. The Eagles were No. 1 in total defense during the regular season, holding opposing offenses to 278.4 yards per game. The Chiefs had just 275 total yards in Super Bowl LIX.

Something to watch: Brent Celek is helping the Eagles safeties prepare for Travis Kelce. Not only did the former TE help the Eagles win the Super Bowl during the 2017 season, but he was also the blueprint for Kelce as he transitioned from QB to TE at the University of Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Bearcats unite! ESPN asked me to cook up a promo for Jason Kelce's new late-night show. Of course I had to take care of my Bearcat brother. https://t.co/nf9X95vufL

There isn't a QB in the NFL with better tape this season than Joe Burrow. This throw to Tee Higgins is ridiculous. Under pressure, eyes up, tight window, dime. Mahomes is No. 1. Lamar Jackson (or Josh Allen) should win MVP. But a healthy Burrow might be better than all of them. https://t.co/dsBmWu9CNB

The Broncos did everything they could to take Ja'Marr Chase out of the game (Patrick Surtain is a phenomenal corner). That opened up things for Tee Higgins. 11 catches, 131 yards and a career-high 3 TDs. That's why the Bengals need to do whatever possible to keep Higgins.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you all. The NFL deeboed the NBA and took over Christmas Day. I'm not mad at that. But I wrote this for everyone who grew up spending Christmas huddled around the TV, watching NBA games all day long. The nostalgia: https://t.co/qdwHeaQsO0

Only five players in NFL history have had 100 Rec, 1,500 Rec yds and 15 Rec TDs in a season: • Ja'Marr Chase (2024) • Cooper Kupp (2021) • Randy Moss (2003) • Marvin Harrison (2001) • Jerry Rice (1995) Chase is the first Bengals player with 1,500 Rec yds in a season.

Joe Burrow, who entered the day with an NFL-leading 3,977 passing yards, has officially notched his third career 4,000-yard passing season, the most in Bengals history. All other Bengals QBs have four 4,000-yard seasons combined (two by Andy Dalton and two by Carson Palmer).

Triple crown update: Ja’Marr Chase leads the NFL in receptions (93), receiving yards (1,319) and receiving TDs (15). Chase also leads the league in yards after catch with 626. The next closest is De’Von Achane with 546.

The *committee* picking SMU over Alabama was the right decision. If the Tide took care of business in Norman and not got embarrassed by a bad team, they would be playing for a national championship. Don't leave it up to the committee. Handle your business on the field.

Arizona State is the biggest story in college football. The Sun Devils, picked to finish last in the Big 12, won 11 games for the first time since 1996, captured the Big 12 title in their first year and now get a 1st-round bye in the CFP. That once sleeping giant is wide awake.

This is a wild take. It depends on which Alabama team shows up. Are you talking about the team that got ran out of Norman, Oklahoma? Or the team with another loss to a 6-6 team on its resume? I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

Tyler Dragon @TheTylerDragon

Alabama should get in over SMU. Alabama is the better team. Alabama would beat SMU if they played head-to-head. It’s not a difficult decision for the committee.

James Franklin falls to 1-17 in his head coaching career against AP Top-5 teams, including 1-14 at Penn State. The lone win came in 2016 against Ohio State on a blocked FG return.

I'm from Cincinnati. I'm a Bengals fan. I don't hide that. I also don't particularly care for that team in Pittsburgh. But I can't front on Mike Tomlin. He's done a masterful job with the Steelers. It's time to give him his flowers. My latest for @ESPN: https://t.co/VaPs8wMxGW

Cincinnati's defense is so bad, Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense need to play an absolutely perfect game in order to have any shot at winning. This is what happens when you miss on defensive draft picks/don't develop them well. Wholesale changes need to happen this offseason.

The Steelers have scored 20 or fewer points in six games this season. They scored 20 points in the second quarter alone today against the Bengals. That Cincinnati defense is awful.

Cincinnati (5-7, 3-6 Big 12) ends the season on a five-game losing streak (outscored 160-92) and fails to become bowl eligible. It's the Bearcats' longest season-ending losing streak since dropping five straight at the end of 2016 (Tommy Tuberville's last season as head coach).