5 Buckeyes go in the first round – Even though Ohio State failed to go back-to-back you can’t ignore the sheer talent on that roster. The Buckeyes will once again be the talk of the draft with several high upside prospects going in the top ten. Caleb Downs is the best overall prospect in this draft in my opinion and the Browns will have a cornerstone on their defense for many years to come.

The Love sweepstakes – Star Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love was already getting plenty of buzz pre-combine and the hype reached another level post-combine. Love displayed the speed and quickness that has scouts drooling. How high will he go? I don’t think he will get past the Titans at 4. Is that too high to pick a running back? That’s debatable but Love is a special weapon that can carry an offense wherever he goes.

Commanders grab WR1 – I’ve been impressed thus far on how Washington is handling this free agency period. As many know, the Commanders had the oldest roster in the league last year and they set out to get younger across the board. They added Odafe Oweh who flashed with the Chargers last year finishing with 7.5 sacks. They also added several weapons for Jayden Daniels including TE Chig Okonkwo. The youth movement will continue as the select WR Carnell Tate with the 7th pick. Tate is the best overall receiver in this draft and could be the next Terry McLaurin.

The post 2026 NFL Mock Draft – Version 1 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

This is a very interesting matchup when we dive into the X’s and O’s. It’s very easy to say Seattle will run away with this one. They have a very good balanced offense with Kenneth Walker and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. They have two great blocking tight-ends who provide a huge impact in the running game. On defense they don’t blitz much, but they seem to get the quarterback with ease. On paper, their the better team. But wait a minute, does the better team always win? It’s about execution, it’s about timely plays at timely moments. It’s about field goals in pressure moments. All of these things play a factor in the outcome of the biggest game of the year. For the Patriots, they’ve been winning all year with smart QB play, a solid run game and tough hard nosed defense. There defense is a reflection of their tough hard nosed coach and Mike Vrabel. He has these guys believing, and why not the Patriots this year, why not?

What do the underdog (-4.5) Patriots have to do to win this game? I think first and foremost they must keep Seattle’s offense off the field. Seattle is way too dangerous, and they can score points very quickly. A couple mid-range passes to JSN and before you know it there on the 10 yard line. They should and will have a plan for JSN, because as he goes the rest of the team goes. He’s there #1 target and if they can shut him down They need to run the ball and control the clock as much as they can. They need to mix in some play action and throw short to intermediate throws. But most important be smart with the ball. Their margin for error in this game is very slim. They need to take advantage of certain opportunities and score touchdowns, not field goals when they have a chance. Also, they will need one if not two turnovers and create a short field for themselves. It’s important to remember, Sam Darnold has had his issues, and has made his mistakes in big games. I don’t think he just forgets about that, and maybe even thinks about it during this game. There is a lot of pressure in the biggest game of the season. But if he stays mistake free and lights it up, it could be a long game for the Patriots.

What do the favorites Seattle have to do? Well, that’s fairly simple. They need to play their game with a balanced offensive attack, play good defense and minimize turnovers. They cannot give the Patriots a short field. They need to “run up the score” and just keep the pedal on the gas. If they get up by 14 or 21 I think the game is over. They cannot let the Pats linger in this game and stay close. On the defensive side of the ball, they need to come after Maye early and often. He has been sacked 15 times in the 3 playoff games he’s played. If this continues, they will have no chance in this game. With all that said, my prediction is soley on the fact that whoever the critics thought would win and whatever they thought the score would be, either the opposite would happen or most of them were clearly wrong. Everybody is on that Seattle Train as they should be, there the better team, but slow your role!! I like the Patriots in a game where they frustrate Seattle with their potent D and create turnovers. In this game, Darnold may struggle, so how does he overcome that adversity. Everybody sit back on your couch and watch this, as it may be a different game then we all think it might be.

Patriots 21 Seattle 20

The post Super Bowl LX Prediction appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Fan Favorite

It didn’t take long for McLaurin to become a fan favorite in DC. In his debut against the Eagles he exploded for 125 yards and a 69 yard touchdown. He would finish his rookie campaign with 7 receiving touchdowns despite mediocre quarterback play. In fact, that was the theme for McLaurin’s career until last season. Overall, McLaurin has played with 13 different starting quarterbacks over his time in Washington.

Despite the revolving door at quarterback, a terrible owner and several losing seasons, McLaurin never complained but instead perfected his craft. He could’ve complained, asked for a trade or spoke out to the media but that’s not who he is. That’s why he is so beloved in Washington, he has been a true team player.

Contract Standoff

Fast forward to today and McLaurin is one of the few training camp holdouts. There is a clear disconnect in his value between the Commanders front office and Terry’s camp. Rumors suggest McLaurin is asking in the $33m per year range while the Commanders are offering significantly lower than that. Is he worth that asking price?

That’s where this situation becomes tricky. Is he a top 10 WR? Yes, I believe he is right around the 10 range when ranking receivers. If he were to get $33m per year it would put him only below Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb. While McLaurin is clearly a star, he is not an elite game-breaking receiver in my opinion.

Adam Peters and the Washington front office most likely think the same but there is the loyalty factor. For many years he was the only bright spot on this Washington team. He is also coming off a franchise record 13 receiving touchdowns but is about to turn 30 in September.

It’s not as easy as giving McLaurin what he wants but at the same time you have to consider what he means to this team and community. My gut is telling me this will get done for around the $30m per year range but this holdout could last all the way through the pre-season.

The post What to Make of the Terry McLaurin Contract Situation appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

5. Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders (Thurs. 12/25 1pm EST) – Netflix

Get ready for a Christmas NFC East showdown in DC. The up-and-coming Commanders, who have 8 standalone games in the upcoming season, will host their rivals in this intriguing matchup.

Whenever these two teams play it’s always must watch television. Now we get to settle in after unwrapping presents and enjoy Jayden Daniels vs. Dak Prescott. This game could very much have NFC East title implications being this late in the season.

Many including myself expect the Commanders to be in the NFC East title race but the Cowboys are the wild card. If Prescott can stay healthy and newly acquired George Pickens behaves, Dallas could be in the mix by the time they kickoff this one.

4. Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers (Fri. 9/5 8pm EST Brazil) – YouTube

YouTube will join the NFL party this upcoming season by streaming this AFC West battle opening week in Brazil. It’s a rare Friday night matchup but there is plenty of buzz for this one.

The Chiefs are coming of a 15-2 season where they were eventually blown out by the Eagles in the Super Bowl. They will look to start the season on a winning note versus their rival. Justin Herbert and the Chargers surprised many last season by finishing 11-6 and earning a Wild Card berth. It didn’t take long for Jim Harbaugh to make his mark in LA.

I expect the Chargers to take the next step this season and really challenge the Chiefs in this division. They added a much needed weapon in Omarion Hampton and Herbert should thrive in his second year in Harbaugh’s system. Look for this one to go down to the wire.

3. Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens (Mon. 9/25 8:15pm EST) – ABC/ESPN

This game may end up being the best Monday night matchup of the upcoming season. It is also a potential Super Bowl matchup. The Lions will look to bounce back from losing to the Commanders in the Divisional round while the Ravens will look to finally get over the hump.

Baltimore has been one of the best regular season teams the past couple of years but keep finding ways to lose in the playoffs. Case and point Mark Andrews costly fumble last year vs. the Bills. Lamar Jackson takes the majority of the blame for the playoff failures but the team as a whole seems to fade down the stretch.

Detroit was a heavy favorite last year to reach the Super Bowl but ran into a hot Commanders team. Expect them once again to compete for the NFC Title in 2025. The major question for the Lions is health. They were hammered with injuries last year, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

2. Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles (Thurs. 9/4 8:20pm EST) – NBC/Peacock

Is there any question about whether the NFC East is the best division in football? The NFL seems to agree with the Cowboys, Commanders and Eagles dominating the primetime schedule. We are also fortunate to kick of the season with a classic Eagles vs. Cowboys matchup.

As we stated before, the Cowboys are a fascinating team to watch this season. On the one hand they could compete for the NFC East title or they could finish 4-13. It all depends on the health of Dak Prescott and if new head coach Brian Schottenheimer can push the right buttons.

The Eagles on the other hand should once again compete for the NFC crown with most of their weapons back. They are the team to beat until proven otherwise.

1. Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills (Sun. 9/7 8:20pm EST) – NBC/Peacock

The Ravens have another big-time matchup against the Bills in our Sunday night opener. Baltimore will be out for revenge after their demoralizing defeat in Buffalo in last year’s playoffs.

Both of these AFC titans need to find a way to get past the Chiefs to reach their goal. Josh Allen and company came close last season but once again fell just short in KC. The Chiefs have had the Bills number for some time now. Can the Bills finally break through?

Meanwhile, the Ravens just need to play better in the playoffs. They have all the makings of a Super Bowl team but need to be more disciplined in crunch-time. This game, although in just week 1 could set the tone for the top of the AFC down the stretch.

The post Top 5 Games of the Upcoming 2025 Season appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

This is an intriguing matchup for several reasons. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will be returning from his season ending hamstring injury with a lot to prove. The Eagles on the other hand will try to avoid the Super Bowl hangover and start the season on a winning note. It will also mark the debut for new Cowboys receiver George Pickens who was recently acquired in a trade from the Steelers.

Then of course there is the rivalry aspect that always ramps up the intensity of this NFC East battle. Dallas was blown out in both matchups last year and they will want to return the favor. Prescott, when healthy has shown he has the Eagles number with a 9-4 record head-to-head. This will be an entertaining opener to say the least and we can’t wait to see it play out.

The post Eagles Set to Host Cowboys in 2025 Season Opener appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Cam Ward Goes #1

Tennessee is in desperate need of a franchise quarterback, can Ward be their savior? There is no question that Ward has the physical tools to be a plus starter. He has a huge arm, excellent mobility and good pocket presence. He however needs to work on some of his decision making as he tends to play hero ball much like previous #1 Caleb Williams.

Regardless of the weaknesses the upside is too great to pass on and the Titans will take that gamble. If he does go to Tennessee I wouldn’t mind if they sat him a year to get up to speed.

Sanders to the Big Apple

Shedeur Sanders is by far the most intriguing prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. He doesn’t quite have the mobility of Ward but has shown he can lead a pro-level offense at a high level.

New York just seems like the perfect fit for Sanders. The spotlight will be on him from day 1 but Sanders is used to that for obvious reasons. Like the Titans, the Giants need to find a franchise quarterback and can’t afford not to take Sanders. If this is indeed the pick it will make for an entertaining season in NY.

Ashton Jeanty to the Big Easy

Jeanty is coming off a monster year at Boise State where he carried the Broncos offense. There will be questions on his college workload but Jeanty is a beast and a prototypical NFL running back. He very rarely goes down at first contact and has a good breakaway speed.

The Saints jump on this opportunity to draft Jeanty as they need a compliment to the aging Alvin Kamara. With Jeanty in the mix Kamara can have a lighter load and get back to his explosive self.

The post 2025 NFL Mock Draft V1 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Let’s be real, this Eagles team from top to bottom is far superior to the Chiefs. There is no glaring weaknesses that I can see at every position. But all of that doesn’t matter when your down to one game, where you just have to play well for 60 minutes. Obviously the Eagles will try to run Barkley as much as they can, after all he’s the most dynamic player on the field. The key in this game will be if the Chiefs defense can somehow contain him.

Other teams have tried but it’s a very tall task. The Eagles aren’t a drop back and passing team which the Chiefs defense plays well against. The Eagles also don’t beat themselves as Jalen Hurts has thrown minimal interceptions this year. I don’t believe his knee is 100%, but that’s ok as he showed he’s still capable of winning. On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs may struggle against that aggressive Eagles defense.

The Mahomes magic may run out, unless they come up with creative ways to move the ball. If the Eagles are smart, they will come after Mahomes early and often, hoping they can get turnovers and make his life hectic. The Eagles defense needs to concentrate on a few things.

1. Keep Mahomes in the pocket and not let him scramble and 2. Harass Kelce however they can because he’s their #1 target. I have reason to believe Eagles will make a few mistakes this game in the “spotlight”. They will do things that haven’t normally done when there’s a little pressure. Can they Chiefs capitalize on those opportunities? Those are they keys for both teams on Sunday. With all that said, I’m going Chiefs 30-27 on a Harrison Butker field goal with .15 seconds left.

The post Super Bowl LIX Prediction appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Can the Chiefs Defense Slow Down Saquon Barkley?

Every week we say the same thing. If a team wants to stop the Eagles they need to slow down Saquon Barkley. Yet every week he goes off and looks unstoppable. Credit has to go to the Eagles offensive line which is the best in the league but Barkley is just playing at another level.

Barkley is avg. 147.3 rush yards per game in the playoffs so far with 5 touchdowns. He has been a home-run hitter as seen in the Eagles first play vs. the Commanders in the NFC Championship. So how do the Chiefs stop him from once again dominating?

The focus will be linebacker play and Kansas City’s Nick Bolton will be a key to stopping Barkley. There is also of course the great defensive mind of Steve Spagnuolo who is one of the league’s best. Spags has had 2 weeks to plan for the Eagles running game and I’m sure he has some tricks up his sleeves.

Can the Eagles Get Pressure on Mahomes?

Another big key to this game will be the Eagles ability to pressure Mahomes. Philly has some of the best defensive tackles in the NFL in Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. They need to be gamebreakers for the Eagles and make the Chiefs one-dimensional. If you’re looking for a weakness on this Chiefs offense it would be their running game.

It’s one thing to get pressure on Mahomes but he is a magician once he escapes the pocket. The Eagles secondary, which has been elite will need to be disciplined with staying with their man. Turnovers will be a key to this as with any big game. The Eagles thrive on taking the ball away and taking momentum. If they can get 3 turnovers, I like the Eagles chances.

How Will the Eagles Handle Travis Kelce?

Our third key to this game will be how the Eagles defend Travis Kelce. The star Chiefs tight end plays up to these big time moments. I believe the best way to slow him down is to play man and jam Kelce at the line. He is way to good against zone and just has a knack for finding open grass. If Kelce gets in a groove the Eagles defense will have a long night ahead of them.

The post 3 Things to Watch in Super Bowl LIX appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Commanders at Eagles: A true NFC East battle as the Commanders travel to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles. This game has so many storylines to include Will Jayden Daniels be the first rookie to make the Super Bowl? Let’s break down this matchup and what should happen for each of these teams to win. On paper, the Eagles are the more superior team but that doesn’t always mean much. The Commanders split the series with them and have the most recent victory about a month ago. I expect the Eagles defense to be a little tighter than last matchup.

In the last matchup, they were without Gardner-Johnson for much of the second half and this made a difference. I expect Jalen Carter to be a force to be reckoned with, especially with our starting guard out for the season. The Eagles should and probably will emulate what the Cowboys did and other teams to stop Jayden Daniels. If I were them, I would blitz and try to not let him escape the pocket. Easier said than done, but that should be their game plan. For the Commanders, stick to what has been working and that is giving the ball to Ertz, Ekeler, McClaurin and Brian Robinson. They must run the ball with both Brob and Jayden to control the time of possession, and keep the Eagles and Saquon off the field. The Commanders must eliminate and mistakes but minimizing turnovers and try to get one or two takeaways like they got against the Lions. If given a short field, they must convert those into touchdowns. Jalen Hurts‘ mobility will be limited so the Commanders need to concentrate on Barkley and getting pressure on Hurts. Look for the Eagles to do a lot of quick slants and quick passes. Their hope is for Barkley to rush for over 150 yards and hopefully break through with two long runs.

This game should be close, Jayden Daniels is too talented and smart to not keep up with the Eagles. His decision making is like a ten year veteran and not a rookie. Could this game come down to who has the ball last? If that’s the case, I love Daniels to finish that drive. Defenses should be flying around today, which is why it will be a relatively low scoring game. Commanders 27 Eagles 24.

Bills at Chiefs: Will the Chiefs continue there quest for a third straight championship? It will be tough as the Buffalo Bills come into town. I believe this will be the Chief’s toughest AFC Championship. Josh Allen has been playing an elite level, and they want to make the Super Bowl so bad like no other year. The Chiefs have been their nemesis and this year they play a team that is talented but not near as talented as other years.

The Chiefs seem to turn a switch on when the playoffs hurt and this year is no different. They need to rely on their defense like other years and slow down Josh Allen. This means blitzing at will and not letting Allen pass when the play breaks down. That is where he is the most dangerous. On the offensive side of the ball they need to run the ball, dump it to Kelce and just play smart. The Chiefs are elite at not making mistakes, playing good defense and forcing the other team to make mistakes because of the pressure. This game just like the NFC Championship will be close with Bills prevailing by a field goal. We will see a rematch of the Bills Washington Super bowl in 1992! Bills 30 Chiefs 27.

The post Conference Championship Picks appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Can the Commanders do the Unthinkable?

Before the season started the Washington Commanders were considered a longshot to win the Super Bowl. In fact, according to Vegas they were +15000 with only the Giants, Patriots and Panthers with worse odds then them. Yet here we are with the Commanders just one win away from competing for a championship.

How did they get here? Well credit the new ownership for clearing house and adding one of the best young GM’s in Adam Peters. It also doesn’t hurt to have the greatest rookie QB we have ever seen in Jayden Daniels. Sprinkle in a little bit of luck (Chicago Hail Mary) and you have a team of destiny.

Going into Philly and coming out with a win won’t be easy but after looking at what this team did in Detroit nothing is out of reach. Washington will need to stack the line and do whatever possible to stop Saquon Barkley. Easier said than done.

Can the Bills Finally Make it Back to the Super Bowl?

This year’s Bills team seems to have something special. As we’ve said before they are the most complete team in these playoffs and they showed that again with the win against the Ravens. Josh Allen and the Bills offense was not spectacular but they played turnover free football which is critical this time of year.

One of the things that has impressed me the most with Josh Allen this year is his ball protection. Allen had only 6 interceptions this season compared to 18 last year. This maturity from him has elevated an offense that many expected would take a step back after losing Stefon Diggs. The Bills will once again need to play mistake free football to win at Kansas City.

Can the Chiefs Offense Hang With the Bills?

There’s no question that the Chiefs success this year has been mostly because of how good their defense has been playing. Don’t get me wrong Patrick Mahomes has still been up to his old tricks but this offense is nothing like years past. If you ask Kansas City they could care less but with Buffalo coming to town they need to reach another gear.

Back in November, the Bills shutdown Mahomes and the Chiefs in route to a 30-21 victory. Mahomes struggled in that game with 2 interceptions and under 200 yards passing. Another performance like this and the Chiefs could be sent packing. Kansas City will need a balanced offensive gameplan and need to control the clock to keep the Bills offense off the field. This should be another classic in this heated series.

The post 3 Things to Watch in the Championship Round appeared first on Pro Football Mania.