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.

The Dallas Cowboys are America’s team, expectations are going to be high every year because of who they are. And with all things being considered they’ve lived up to them having multiple 12 win seasons. The problem is the postseason.

Mostly the defense has been phenomenal, it’s been the offense who falls off. Quarterback Dak Prescott has taken a lot of the heat for most of the failures. Despite a young offensive line Prescott has a multitude of weapons at his disposal and had minimal excuses. Playoff losses include a 48-32 loss to the Packers, 19-12 loss from the 49ers and another 23-17 loss from the 49ers. 

In terms of success, the Cowboys have done a pretty good job. But the expectations are always Super Bowl or bust for such a talented roster. If things don’t pan out this year, we could see major changes in the city named Dallas.

The post Which NFL Team has the Most to Prove? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Winner – Chicago Bears

Well, this an obvious team to choose for the best draft. Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze headlined this incredible draft that could be remembered in Chicago for years.

A franchise QB and maybe a franchise WR in Rome Odunze, Chicago probably has the best reciever core in the league with DJ Moore Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze. Tory Taylor is also just a special punter and will be a dominant one for years to come.

Loser – Atlanta Falcons

The falcons had a great opportunity this year to majorly upgrade their pass rush by getting the likes of Dallas Turner or Laitu Latu. Instead, they draft their successor of Kirk Cousins in Micheal Penix Jr.

Penix is a great quarterback, but the value was too high and the situation truly doesn’t add up. Cousins is on a 4-year deal that pays him a lot of money. Penix has a chance to be great but everything needs to fall in place. Moving onto the later rounds, Ruke Orhorhoro with the 35th pick was a bit of a reach but, mainly fine. 

Winner – New Orleans Saints

The Saints crushed this draft. Tailese Fuaga with the 14th pick was perfect value and a great fit. The main steal of the draft were two picks, Kool-Aid Mckinstry with the 41st pick and Spencer Rattler with the 150th pick.

These two guys have huge upside and can be not only productive starters, STARS. In terms of Rattler, his upside is through the roof, he throws a better ball than a lot of guys in the league currently. 

Loser – Las Vegas Raiders

Las Vegas didn’t get a quarterback, it’s that simple. I love the Brock Bowers pick, but in a league as competitive as the NFL, you need to at least have a guy that’s a lottery ticket. When I say lottery ticket I mean a 4th rounder or 5th rounder that could boom and become a franchise guy, take Spencer Rattler for example or for someone actually in the league Dak Prescott. 

The post Who Were the Winners and Losers of the 2024 NFL Draft? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Every few years, there is a draft that produces stars in nearly every pick of the first round, for example 2017’s draft produced Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, Browns DE Myles Garrett, 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey, and Saints CB Marshon Lattimore. With all head coaching vacancies being filled and staffs rounding out it is officially mock draft season, so let’s take a look at 5 teams who could make some waves in the upcoming draft. 

1. Chicago Bears

When you look at the NFL draft, the Chicago Bears should be one of your first if not the first teams you think of. One of the more unique situations in NFL history with a team already having a potential franchise Quarterback in Justin Fields or a generational prospect in Caleb Williams.

Caleb would likely have all the help he would need with the bears potentially having two other first round picks to pick a receiver to lineup opposite of DJ Moore. The market for Justin Fields would likely be a first round pick at best and a second round pick if worst comes to worst. Caleb’s market should be a hefty price as in a few firsts, few seconds and a blue chip guy was the price for the 1st overall pick last year. Teams may be hesitant after seeing Young struggle in year 1, but the haul for Caleb should be elite. 

2. Arizona Cardinals

The cardinals while having a franchise guy in Kyler Murray could be involved in some very interesting trades at the top. A lot of speculation has gone around about the Cardinals having doubt about Kyler Murray, but I don’t buy it. The cardinals’ 4th overall pick is a popular trade piece because they are in a prime position to move down and get more capital or move up and secure their chance to get blue-chip prospect Marvin Harrison Jr.

The more likely is Kyler stays and the cardinals hope MHJ falls in their lap to pair with Micheal Wilson and Trey Mcbride. Thinking about trading Kyler is unrealistic but very fun. Do the cardinals really trade a guy who has shown he can play at a high level in this league when they can easily just give him all the help he needs? Probably not.

3. Las Vegas Raiders

As mentioned above, the Las Vegas Raiders should be a super interesting team to watch in the draft. Antonio Pierce is now head of the helm and with his aggressive nature, I do not expect him to sit back and watch 12 picks go by. You might ask; what will the raiders trade up for?

Maybe a quarterback, maybe a star edge to pair with Crosby in Dallas Turner. The possibilities are limitless with a struggling franchise in the Raiders. One positive thing about the raiders is they do have what seems to be the right guy leading this team. Antonio Pierce is a legit HC in this league which gives them all the room to make a blockbuster this spring. 

4. Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are the kings of under performing in the playoffs. Jerry Jones is unhappy with the performance, questions about Dak Prescott, talks of trades, the usual Dallas cycle. The cowboys do not have a high pick in the draft but what they do have is an aggressive owner.

The 24th overall is more than enough for Jerry Jones to strike a deal with someone, and I believe they need to. It is evident the offense was rolling for much of the year with Dak and star wideout Ceedee Lamb being largely responsible for that. Then it seems like Dallas reached a point in the year they weren’t connecting as often and everything went stale. Trade the 24th overall and some future picks to get in the high teens and grab a guy like Rome Odunze out of Washington and see if that changes anything. The cowboys already filled a defensive hole in the roster with Mazi Smith last year, so if there is any year to get aggressive and grab a potential star, it is this one.

5. Houston Texans

What a turnaround last season was for this franchise. 10-7 and an AFC South Championship for the first time since 2019 when they had QB Deshaun Watson. With that being said, this franchise is gunning for it this year and could go all out to fill some needs they have. Right now corner is the biggest concern which there are some guys there at 23 (CLE Pick) but the one I’m targeting is Kool-Aid Mc Kinstry (Alabama) this would be a huge get for the texans and very possible even at 23.

One team they most likely will have to jump is the Eagles who also have a hole at corner. Speculation has arisen about maybe trading 23 straight up to get an established star like Lattimore or a big name WR. The Texans front office has a serious chance to be a contender every year if they play this draft right, the question is: will they?

The post 5 Teams to Watch in the Upcoming NFL Draft appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Not the Same Old Cowboys

This year feels different in Dallas as they have found a winning formula on both sides of the ball. On defense, they are tied for second in takeaways with 21 on the year. Led by rising star DaRon Bland who leads the league with 8 interceptions and a league-high 5 pick sixes, the Cowboys defense is allowing just 17.9 points per game.

On offense it’s all about Dak Prescott and he is thriving with head coach Mike McCarthy now calling the plays. Many including myself questioned why the Cowboys would let Kellen Moore walk this past offseason. It’s safe to say that gamble paid off as Prescott looks much more comfortable this year.

Last season Prescott led the league in interceptions with 15 in just 12 games. This year he only has 6 in 13 games and more importantly, he’s cut down on the number of bad throws. In 2022 his percentage of poor throws was 17.3% and this year it’s down to just 11%. McCarthy has emphasized to not force the deep shots if they’re not there and instead check down to the higher percentage throw.

The Road Ahead

The next two weeks will go a long way in not only deciding the MVP race but also the top seed in the NFC. Dallas has back-to-back road games at @Buffalo and @Miami on deck. If they want to show the world they are for real they will need to win at least one of these games and look competitive in both. The biggest knock on the previous Cowboys teams was their inability to win road playoff games. Now is their chance to show they are a legit contender as the next 2 games will have playoff-like atmospheres.

NFL MVP Odds

As you can see above, Prescott currently leads the odds for NFL MVP with Brock Purdy not far behind. It certainly seems like a two-man race but don’t discount Tua Tagovailoa yet. If Tua and the Dolphins can continue their winning ways and take down the Cowboys in Miami things could get really interesting.

The post Is Dak Prescott the Frontrunner for MVP? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Rookie Sensation

One of the biggest surprises from Sunday was the Houston Texans upset of the Cincinnati Bengals. Rookie C.J. Stroud once again led a game-winning drive to seal the 30-27 win for Houston. At this point in the season, it’s safe to say Stroud is the real deal and even deserves to be in the conversation for MVP.

The biggest takeaway from Stroud’s game is the lack of mistakes. Stroud has only 2 interceptions on the season which is remarkable for a rookie. He is second to only Sam Howell (more on him later) in passing yards with 2,626. It’s safe to say the Texans have their QB of the future.

Ravens with a Rare Collapse

Another surprising result from week 10 was the Baltimore Ravens blowing a 14-point lead at home to the Browns. The Ravens were cruising up 31-17 in the 4th quarter before the Browns came storming back. It was a shocking result for Baltimore who have been dominant at home thus far. Lamar Jackson had a rare off day with 2 interceptions including a crucial Greg Newsome interception that was returned for a touchdown. It’s not time to panic in Baltimore but let’s see how they bounce back from this.

NFC Contenders Taking Shape

The San Francisco 49ers got back their winning ways with an impressive 34-3 blowout of the Jaguars. San Francisco broke their 3-game losing streak with dominant defense and stellar play from Brock Purdy who had 3 passing touchdowns. Newly acquired DE Chase Young took no time to make his impact with several key pressures and half a sack.

Elsewhere the Dallas Cowboys once again dismantled the lowly New York Giants 49-17. We knew the Giants would struggle on offense but there is no excuse for their defense to give up that many points. Dak Prescott was impressive with 5 total touchdowns before getting pulled in the 4th quarter.

The game of the week was in Los Angeles where the Lions beat the Chargers 41-38. This game was an offensive masterpiece and Detroit showed they will be a problem come playoff time. The Lions are well on their way to their first-ever NFC North title while the Chargers dropped a critical game and have questions to answer on defense.

Sam Howell is the Real Deal

Washington may have finally found its franchise quarterback. We knew Sam Howell had potential but no one expected him to be this good. Howell now leads the NFL in passing yards and the former 5th round pick continues to come up big for the Commanders.

Howell once again led Washington down the field for a game-tying touchdown in Seattle. If it wasn’t for another late defensive collapse the game would’ve gone to Overtime. It hasn’t been perfect by any means for Howell who has now been sacked 47 times but you can’t ignore the poise he displays. Washington will likely clean house this offseason and will be a very attractive opening for a GM to take over. They have lots of draft capital, cap space and a potential star quarterback.

The post Biggest Takeaways from Week 10 in the NFL appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Stock Up

Baltimore Ravens: For all the Lamar Jackson doubters he has shown he is a pocket passer after Game 2. Now it is only one game and defenses will try to defend him better but the Ravens appear to be on the up and up. If Gus Edwards can run like he did in Game 2 they will be hard to beat.

San Francisco 49ers: Brock Purdy didn’t have his best game, but the 49ers still won with a stiff D and and another strong game from Christian McCaffrey. Also, Deebo Samuel came alive, who they will need as they compete with the good teams in the NFC.

Dallas Cowboys: Two words, Micah Parsons! He is a difference maker on defense and a big reason Dallas will be hard to beat this year. There D is extremely fast and talented. Even if Dak Prescott doesn’t play his best, Dallas should be in every game.

Stock Down

Houston Texans: We all didn’t expect Houston to be a Super Bowl favorite but they haven’t looked that good. This is a rebuilding year with their first year QB.

Denver Broncos: Denver had a 21-3 lead against the Commanders and somehow found a way to lose at home. Russell Wilson had flashes of good plays and then plays that left me scratching my head. He has to learn to be smart with the ball and not be so tentative in the pocket.

Cincinnati Bengals: Cincinnati should be OK in the long run, but right now they don’t look good. The offensive line is struggling to protect Joe Burrow, which is effecting the solid WR corps of the Bengals. I feel like they have to utilize Joe Mixon better to relieve some pressure off Burrow.

The post NFL Stock Up/ Stock Down Week 2 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Good

Coming out of Penn State we knew Micah Parsons had all the tools to be successful. What we didn’t know was how good he would be this early on. Parsons has 26.5 sacks in the first two years of his NFL career and is currently the 2023 favorite for Defensive Player of the Year. Parsons has the rare ability to line up all over the defensive backfield causing matchup nightmares for opposing offenses.

Dallas has also solidified the cornerback position by bringing in Stephon Gilmore this offseason. Pairing him with the recently extended Trevon Diggs will give Dallas two lock-down corners going forward. If they can stay healthy the Cowboys should have a top 5 defense next year.

The Bad

The Cowboys had one of the best offensive units under former OC Kellan Moore. That’s why it was a bit perplexing that Dallas decided to let him walk this offseason. Play calling wasn’t the issue for the Cowboys offense, it was more of a combination of shrinking in big games and turnovers. Speaking of turnovers, Dak Prescott had a career-high 15 interceptions in 2022. It’s a cause for concern, so much so that head coach Mike McCarthy vows to run the ball more in 2023. McCarthy will take over the play-calling duties for Dallas and with that comes added pressure. If McCarthy doesn’t make the playoffs he could be out of a job.

The Prediction

When you break down all the factors going into next season it’s hard to see the Dallas Cowboys making a run. The offense will take a step back this year and if Tony Pollard goes down they are in trouble at the running back position. This may end up being McCarthy’s last year in Dallas.

2023 Record: 9-8 (3rd in the Division)

The post Dallas Cowboys Record Prediction for 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Jones’ Case for a Big Payday

Daniel Jones has had his ups and downs during his time with the Giants, but he has also shown flashes of potential that have caught the attention of fans and analysts alike. In his rookie year, he threw for 3,027 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also showed impressive mobility, rushing for 279 yards and two touchdowns. Jones’ second year was marred by injuries, but he still managed to throw for 2,943 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in just 14 games. He also improved his completion percentage and passer rating, both of which are key metrics for evaluating quarterbacks.

Furthermore, Jones has been dealing with a less than ideal supporting cast. The Giants offensive line has been one of the worst in the league until recently, and the team has struggled to find consistent weapons for Jones to throw to. Despite these challenges, Jones has managed to put up respectable numbers and has shown the potential to be a franchise quarterback. Jones took great strides forward this past season under the tutelage of Brian Daboll as he led the Giants to a playoff upset over the Vikings. His poise and mobility were on full display during the game and it’s something that cannot be ignored.

Another argument for paying Jones a big contract is the current state of the quarterback market. In recent years, quarterbacks have been signing massive deals, with players like Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, and Deshaun Watson all signing contracts worth over $40 million per year. The salary cap is also expected to increase in the coming years, which means that quarterback salaries will likely continue to rise. With that in mind it may not be that far fetched to pay Jones in the 40 million range.

Against Paying Jones $45 Million Per Year

While Jones has shown potential, there are also several reasons why he may not be worth $45 million per year. For one, he has struggled with consistency, both in terms of his performance from game to game, and his ability to stay healthy. Jones missed significant time due to injuries in his first three seasons, and his turnover-prone play has also been a cause for concern. In fact, Jones has thrown many untimely interceptions and has had fumbling issues.

Another argument against paying Jones $45 million per year is the opportunity cost. The Giants have several other areas of need, including the offensive line, wide receiver, and of course free agent to be Saquon Barkley. If the team were to invest so much money in Jones, they may not be able to address these other needs, which could hurt the team in the long run.

At the end of the day it’s hard to justify paying Daniel Jones that much money if you’re the Giants. Ownership may well view Jones as the next Eli Manning and there are some similarities there but the price tag is just too high. If I am the Giants I am paying Barkley what he’s worth and letting Jones test the free agent market.

The post Is Daniel Jones Worth 45 Million Per Year? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.