Dolphins make decision on their new head coach
The Miami Dolphins have reportedly zeroed in on the team’s next head coach.
Several reporters confirmed on Monday that the Dolphins are hiring Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to succeed Mike McDaniel as the head coach in Miami. The Dolphins officially announced the news shortly after.
We have agreed to terms with Jeff Hafley to become our head coach. pic.twitter.com/boqhQH9jxK
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) January 20, 2026
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, it’s a “done deal” that the Dolphins are signing Hafley to a five-year contract.
Rapoport added that Hafley “blew everyone away” during his first interview with the Dolphins. There were reportedly “several” teams hoping to bring Hafley in for a second interview, which pushed Miami to get a deal done right away. Hafley was immediately considered the frontrunner for the position after his first interview with the Dolphins.
Hafley was named the Packers’ defensive coordinator in January 2024 after five seasons as the head coach at Boston College. His impact was immediately felt upon arrival.
Under Hafley, the Packers were top 10 in total defense (5th, 314.5 ypg), run defense (7th, 99.4 ypg), scoring defense (6th, 19.9 ppg), yards allowed per play (5th, 5.16), takeaways (4th, 31), and sacks (T-8th, 45).
After being under an offense-focused mind in McDaniel for four seasons, the Dolphins may be looking to build a defensive identity with Hafley at the helm.
Eric Bieniemy lands a new offensive coordinator job
Eric Bieniemy is coming back to his most high-profile role.
Bieniemy is joining the Kansas City Chiefs as their new offensive coordinator, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. He previously served as Kansas City’s offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2022.
The Chiefs are expected to hire Bears running backs coach Eric Bieniemy to be their next offensive coordinator, per source.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 19, 2026
Bieniemy would return to the post he previously occupied from 2018-2022 in Kansas City. https://t.co/Xs9arknt4N
Bieniemy will replace Matt Nagy, whose contract expired. Nagy is widely expected to land a head coaching job, so the Chiefs did not expect to have him back.
Since Bieniemy last left the Chiefs, his career has taken several turns. He had unsuccessful spells with the Washington Commanders and UCLA before spending this past season as the Chicago Bears’ running backs coach. During his heyday with Kansas City, he was frequently named as a head coach candidate, but never landed one of those jobs, much to the confusion of his players.
Bieniemy’s stock has certainly fallen over the past few years as he has been unable to replicate his success with Kansas City elsewhere. However, the Chiefs’ players should be comfortable with him, and he certainly would seem to be a safe pair of hands for the organization as it tries to recover from a down season.
Candidate emerges as ‘name to watch’ in Bills’ head coach search
The Buffalo Bills suddenly have a coveted head coaching position, and one name has quickly been mentioned as being one to watch in association with it.
In an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show” Monday, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said there has been very little coming out of Buffalo about who they might target to replace Sean McDermott. He said that the expectation is that the Bills might target an offensive-minded coach, and named Denver Broncos assistant Davis Webb as a name worth watching.
“I would watch Davis Webb as a potential candidate for that position. A backup quarterback for several seasons in Buffalo who is really close with Josh Allen,” Pelissero noted.
💻 @TomPelissero
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) January 19, 2026
Who's on #BillsMafia head coach radar after they fired Sean McDermott after nine seasons?#NFL #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/L35OS15kts
Pelissero added that Webb is in high demand. The Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach is likely to get multiple second interviews once he can speak to teams again in a week, and he has also been linked to a different job recently.
Webb spent three years with the Bills, largely as a member of the practice squad. He clearly got to know Allen well during that time, and if the Bills are prioritizing their quarterback’s opinions on the hire, Webb might have a real chance. On the other hand, Webb is only 30, and has never even been a coordinator before.
The Bills should have their choice of options given how attractive that job is. The role will also come with high expectations, as Sean McDermott was fired despite making the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons.
Lions decide on their new offensive coordinator
The Detroit Lions have made their pick to fill their highly-coveted offensive coordinator position.
The Lions are hiring former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator, according to multiple reports. Petzing is expected to handle playcalling duties.
While former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel interviewed for the position, ESPN’s Jeff Darlington reported that Dan Campbell did not view McDaniel as the right fit, and the Detroit job was the one he was least likely to land.
Of coordinator jobs that Mike McDaniel has interviewed for, the Lions gig was the least likely to materialize. Campbell liked McDaniel a lot, but Lions didn’t view it as quite the right fit for them.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 19, 2026
As for other OC vacancies? Mike is very much in play. Ball is in his court. https://t.co/urG1cDmg4T
Petzing, 38, served as the Cardinals’ offensive coordinator from 2023 to 2025. He has also been an assistant with the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings. While the Cardinals did not necessarily excel under Petzing, he got high-level performances out of the likes of tight end Trey McBride, and quarterback Jacoby Brissett just had the best season of his career under Petzing.
Petzing will replace John Morton, who was fired after one season. The Lions are essentially still trying to find a suitable replacement for Ben Johnson a year after he left to coach the Chicago Bears, but Petzing fits the mold better than Morton seemed to.
Dan Orlovsky made the most ridiculous excuse for Josh Allen
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky alienated some people with what they saw as excessive excuse-making for Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
Orlovsky seemingly refused to blame Allen for the Bills’ 33-30 loss to the Denver Broncos during Saturday’s AFC Divisonal game. In one clip, Orlovsky is analyzing Allen’s costly fumble just before halftime, and seemingly put as much blame on the offensive linemen for failing to recover the fumble as he did on Allen for losing the ball in the first place.
“Buffalo’s there to recover the fumble and they don’t. Their big guy doesn’t get on the ball and they don’t,” Orlovsky argued.
Dan Orlovsky is paid by the Bills organization to be part of Josh Allen’s PR team and you can’t convince me otherwise pic.twitter.com/uRtx4z53Wr
— JacksonMuse (@Jackson_muse) January 19, 2026
Most would pin this on Allen for fumbling in the first place. The play happened right before halftime and the Bills had little to gain by trying to be aggressive, but they did it anyway and cost themselves three crucial points. Most would not try to pin this one on the offensive linemen for not falling on the loose ball.
Allen was, in many ways, the one who kept Buffalo in the game. He also missed a few throws and was part of a Bills offense that turned the ball over five times. Both of those things can be true, and Orlovsky just sounds like he is making excuses for the quarterback when he says things like this.
LeBron James’ incredible All-Star streak is officially over
For the first time in over two decades, LeBron James will not be starting the NBA All-Star Game.
The league announced the starters for the Eastern and Western Conference on Monday, and James was not included among them. That marks the first time in 21 years that James was not voted as an All-Star starter by the fans.
For the first time in 21 years, LeBron was not voted an All-Star starter 😳 pic.twitter.com/MYMy1Xenk3
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 19, 2026
Steph Curry, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and Victor Wembanyama received the five nods instead of James.
James has only played in 24 games this season and did not make his debut until Nov. 18. That undoubtedly played a role in him falling behind, as did the emergence of young stars like Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama.
The last time James was not selected as an All-Star starter was his rookie year of 2003-04. That was also the only time in his career he did not make the team at all. Coaches could still select him for this year’s game as a reserve.
James’ numbers are still fine, as he is averaging 22.6 points and 6.9 assists per game for the Lakers this season. That may be enough to get him on the team anyway. However, for someone who has consistently ranked as one of the most popular players in the NBA, it will be a bit jarring to see him not featured among the starters.
Brock Purdy had 6-word message for Sam Darnold
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy had a great message for Sam Darnold after the Seattle Seahawks’ blowout win in the NFC Divisional round on Saturday.
The NFL released audio of Purdy meeting up with Darnold on the field after the same, and Purdy had an encouraging six-word message for his Seahawks counterpart.
“You’re gonna go win it all,” Purdy told Darnold.
.@brockpurdy13 to Sam Darnold…
— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2026
"You're gonna go win it all." ❤️@insidetheNFL NFL Playoffs Mic'd Up on X pic.twitter.com/whgw6m6854
There is certainly an argument to be made that the Seahawks are the favorites to do just that. Their 41-6 win was by far the most impressive of any team’s in the Divisional round, and they appear to be humming on all cylinders. They will also have home field advantage next week when they take on the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship.
A Super Bowl win would be quite a turnaround for Darnold, who was written off as a draft bust not long ago. Even this season, he has had plenty of doubters who question whether he can get it done in the biggest of games. Admittedly, the Seahawks did not need to lean on him too much during Saturday’s blowout, but he certainly does not appear to be holding them back.
Darnold threw for 4,048 yards with 25 touchdowns this season. He is 28-6 as a starter over the last two seasons dating back to his time with the Minnesota Vikings.
Bills player sounds off on ‘stupid’ Sean McDermott firing
The Buffalo Bills seemingly did not take player opinion into account too much when deciding to fire head coach Sean McDermott.
The Bills fired McDermott on Monday, two days after the team lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional round. The decision came as a shock to many, as McDermott had been consistently successful in his nine seasons with the organization.
Among those shocked was defensive tackle Jordan Phillips. He reposted a graphic about McDermott’s firing on Instagram and bashed the team for what he saw as a short-sighted decision.
“This s–t here is so stupid honestly sickening,” Phillips wrote. “The best coach I’ve ever been around.”
If Phillips’ opinion is shared by others in the locker room, the Bills may have made a significant mistake here. There was no evidence that McDermott had lost the locker room, and his dismissal appears to have been motivated by the team’s inability to get over the hump in the playoffs.
It is not yet clear who the Bills might target to replace McDermott. The most accomplished candidates on the market already went elsewhere, which takes several options off the board. This is a quality job that many candidates would want a look at, but the Bills are joining the process well after most other teams have done the majroity of the legwork in finding a new coach.
McDermott went 98-50 in his nine seasons as Buffalo’s head coach. He went just 8-8 in the playoffs, however, and never got past the AFC Championship game. That does not matter to some Buffalo players, who clearly liked their coach and might not be very happy with the franchise’s decision to let him go.
Everyone had the same question after the Bills fired Sean McDermott
The Buffalo Bills shocked the NFL on Monday by firing head coach Sean McDermott two days after the team’s AFC Divisional loss. That decision prompted many people to raise a big question about the timing of the decision.
The Bills’ late firing of McDermott left them in a position where the best available coach on the market is the one they just let go. Subsequently, many wondered if perhaps John Harbaugh or Kevin Stefanski might have waited to take a new job if they had known the Buffalo one would be opening up.
I'm guessing that plenty are curious if John Harbaugh or Kevin Stefanski would have preferred the Bills job the most if they knew that it would open up before committing to their new teams.
— Nick Korte (@nickkorte) January 19, 2026
Harbaugh & Stefanski getting this notification https://t.co/WCG6upy5d9 pic.twitter.com/mwXEsi0JaO
— Dave Helman (@davehelman_) January 19, 2026
Harbaugh and Stefanski were viewed as the two best candidates on the market before McDermott became available. Either one of them might have been targeted by Buffalo had the chance arisen. Instead, Harbaugh landed with the New York Giants, while Stefanski took the Atlanta Falcons job. Both did so before there was even the slightest indication that McDermott could be out in Buffalo.
It is unclear where the Bills will go from here. However, it is a virtual certainty that their next head coach will be much less accomplished than McDermott was. It is entirely possible that the Bills felt obligated to bring in a new voice after nine seasons, but that does not make this any less of a risk.
McDermott went 98-50 in his nine seasons as Buffalo’s head coach. He went just 8-8 in the playoffs, however, and never got past the AFC Championship game.
Former Bears WR blasted by fans after his reaction to Chicago’s loss
Former Chicago Bears wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. had a case of the schadenfreude on Sunday.
Jones, who now plays for the Seattle Seahawks, posted a laughing emoji on X following the Bears’ heartbreaking 20-17 overtime loss in an NFC Divisional Round game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill., against Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams.
Although Jones didn’t say exactly what he was laughing about, fans immediately recognized it as a shot at the Bears, who selected the former Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
It did not take long before fans started exposing Jones’ forgettable stint with Chicago. If he was really mocking the Bears for their loss to Los Angeles, Jones did not consider what Chicago fans have on him — or he probably just did not care at all about the backlash.
Many brought up Jones’ “fumbilitis” during his time in the Windy City, while others tried to denigrate him and his career.
Try to be fumble-I mean humble.
— OBVIOUS SHIRTS® (@obvious_shirts) January 19, 2026
Fumble is your middle name bro
— Caleb Williams Fan Club (@CalebFC18) January 19, 2026
Lmao how is being unemployed treating you
— This Day in Chicago Sports (@ChiSportsDay) January 19, 2026
You couldn't even stay on the team with Eberflus running the show. You had no shot with Ben Johnson. You just exposed yourself as a classless hater.
— EasyE1111.eth (@RealEasyE1111) January 19, 2026
And you are a Walmart greeter
— Michael Bolling (@mikealexbolling) January 19, 2026
— Captain Caleb (@captaincaleb18) January 19, 2026
Jones played parts of three seasons with the Bears, and during that time, he had more fumbles (4) than rushing and receiving touchdowns combined (2).
Fans can say all they want about Jones, but at least his team is still in the running to win the Super Bowl after the Seahawks defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round, 41-6.
Mina Kimes responds to Cardi B’s clapback
CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans have reached the end of the road of their journey in the NFL playoffs. They also made a bunch of sports personalities look bad, especially those who picked Houston to defeat Drake Maye and the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round.
As it turned out, the Texans were no match for New England, which thumped Houston for a 28-16 victory on Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Following the game, Cardi B, the girlfriend of New England star wide receiver Stefon Diggs, took her sweet time calling out Mina Kimes and the other ESPN’s NFL Live crew for picking Houston to thwart the Patriots.
Admitting that she’s lost the battle, Kimes simply acknowledged Cardi B’s clapback.
Getting dunked on by Cardi B….an honor and a privilege tbh https://t.co/yR7h8GGMzD
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) January 18, 2026
Cardi B must have already felt a win was coming for the Patriots before the first half even concluded, as Stroud struggled mightily in the pocket early on.
Stroud threw four interceptions in the first half, while the Patriots built an 11-point lead, thanks in part to Diggs’ touchdown catch with under three minutes left in the second quarter. The veteran wideout finished the contest with 40 receiving yards on 4 catches and 6 targets.
The Patriots will play for a ticket to the Super Bowl next Sunday, when New England faces off against the Bo Nix-less Denver Broncos in the AFC title game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo.
You already know where Cardi B will be putting her “bands in the coupe” for that matchup.
Will Anderson Jr. reveals his message for CJ Stroud after their loss to the Patriots
The Houston Texans can only wish to have a redo of Sunday night’s AFC Divisional Round showdown against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
With quarterback CJ Stroud misfiring on his passes, the Texans dug themselves a hole that they ultimately couldn’t climb back out of, as they suffered a 28-16 loss to Drake Maye and company.
Stroud was an absolute wreck in the pocket against the Patriots, who intercepted him four times in the first half. He was also sacked three times for a loss of 19 yards, while compiling 212 passing yards and a touchdown on a highly inefficient 20-of-47 pass completions.
Despite Stroud’s brutal playoff outing, he drew the full support of defensive end Will Anderson Jr. following the contest.
“I told him, ‘I still think you’re the best quarterback in the league,’” Anderson told reporters, via DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.
“‘Hands down, there’s nobody better than you.’ We’re behind him, we’re rallying behind him. Obviously, we didn’t have the outcome that we wanted, but that’s what we have the offseason for, to get better and to grow.”
Stroud can appreciate such words from one of the Texans’ most important players, but there is no denying that his disasterclass under center held Houston back from advancing to the next round of the playoffs.
With Stroud, the Texans have been to the postseason three years in a row, but have yet to survive past the divisional round.
Blues player gets cut by a skate after collision with Connor McDavid
The St. Louis Blues were crushed by the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, on Sunday night, but their 5-0 loss to the reigning Western Conference champions was much less concerning than the scary injury suffered by veteran center Oskar Sundqvist.
Sundqvist was forced to exit the ice in the third quarter after getting cut by a skate during a collision with Oilers star forward Connor McDavid. The 31-year-old Swedish was in such pain that he had to be helped off the ice by forward Nathan Walker and defenseman Colton Parayko.
Here’s the play where Sundqvist suffered the injury:
Oskar Sundqvist leaves the game with an apparent cut after colliding with Connor McDavid. pic.twitter.com/T4wHdJDHYa
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 19, 2026
It could have been worse for Sundqvist, however. He can still consider himself lucky, as he reportedly did not suffer something much more serious.
“Luckily it did not touch his Achilles,” Blues head coach Jim Montgomery told reporters following his team’s 5-0 loss to Edmonton, via St. Louis’ official website.
“So it’s just going to be now, how long he’s out, it’s day-to-day… We know the cut was deep, I don’t know how long that takes until he’s back and has the flexibility in his ankle without hurting the cut.”
The Blues have yet to provide a certain timeline on when Sundqvist can be expected to return, but given the nature of his injury, he is very unlikely to play against the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Tuesday.
So far in the 2025-26 NHL regular season, Sundqvist has 3 goals and 10 assists for 13 points through 39 games.
Lakers slapped with a rule violation after Luka Doncic’s shenanigans on Austin Reaves
Luka Doncic’s bromance with Austin Reaves had a hilarious highlight (or lowlight) on Sunday.
Although Reaves has yet to see action on the court since the calendar flipped to 2026, he made a bit of an impact late in the contest against the visiting Toronto Raptors at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Calif.
After Doncic committed a personal foul with 3:34 remaining in the fourth quarter, the ball was seen bouncing toward the Lakers’ bench. Reaves, who was not in uniform due to an injury, stood up to retrieve the ball. However, Doncic appeared to block Reaves’ path, leading to a delay of the game violation for the Lakers.
You can watch the clip of what happened here:
Luka was messing with Reaves and got a delay of game 😭 pic.twitter.com/0OJMCCQzex
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) January 19, 2026
Fortunately, it was just a minor violation that did not cost the Lakers the game. Los Angeles had the victory virtually in the bag at the time of the delay of the game call, as Doncic and company had a 16-point lead with just under four minutes left in regulation.
Returning from a one-game absence because of a groin issue, the Slovenian Doncic racked up 25 points on 8-for-23 shooting with 7 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block in 34 minutes of action in the Lakers’ 110-93 win over the Raptors.
Fans crucify Jordan Poole for boneheaded move with his team down 12
New Orleans Pelicans fans want an apology from Jordan Poole for the tomfoolery he pulled in the final minutes of their game Sunday against the Houston Rockets.
The Pelicans trailed the Rockets 112-100 with just over four minutes left inside Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The Pels caught a break when Amen Thompson gave up a live-ball turnover, which led to Zion Williamson finding Poole on an outlet pass.
Poole had an uncontested layup if he wanted it, but instead opted to lob an alley-oop off the backboard. The ball ricocheted off the glass, and into the hands of Rockets center Aleperen Sengun.
Jordan Poole tries to throw lob off glass instead finishing the easy layup, while down 12 late in the 4th quarter.
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) January 19, 2026
THIS GUY IS NOT SERIOUS LMAO pic.twitter.com/k9vEDVuVkZ
Fans were baffled by Poole’s decision, with several of them voicing their concerns on social media.
I would bench Jordan Poole for the rest of the season. Down 12 in the last minutes of a 4th quarter and he turns down an open layup for an off the glass lob that obviously doesn’t work.
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) January 19, 2026
You can't do this down 12 in the 4th. If Zion cared about winning as much as Draymond, he'd mark out Jordan Poole just like Draymond did. https://t.co/ebHI7RvfJO
— Matt (@KingsofCardio) January 19, 2026
Jordan Poole 11 points in the 4th. And somehow it’s still overshadowed by him throwing it off the glass for a dunk down a dozen. Like what’s the thought process?
— YFxTwoFive (@nola_yf) January 19, 2026
Jordan Poole just attempted an off the backboard alley oop pass with an open layup down 12 in the fourth quarter when Pelicans were on a run…
— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) January 19, 2026
Not needed at all.
The Pelicans were on a 10-3 run at that point and had momentum shifting their way before Poole’s ill-timed play. Poole may have been feeling extra confident after scoring New Orleans’ last six points. But the basketball gods struck him down for his show of hubris as his team still trailed by a dozen.
Poole scored 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter. But his efforts weren’t enough as the Rockets held on for a 119-110 win over his Pelicans.
The game may have been different had Poole just made the simple play in transition.
Ben Johnson had great quote about Caleb Williams after Bears’ season came to an end
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson had the highest praise for Caleb Williams after their fairytale season came to an end Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Bears quarterback came up clutch once again with the team’s season on the line in the closing seconds at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. Williams had 4th-and-4 at the Rams’ 14 with his team trailing 17-10.
Williams got flushed out of the pocket and backed up nearly 30 yards behind the line of scrimmage before uncorking a high-arcing pass to tight end Cole Kmet in the end zone, sending the game to overtime.
Even Johnson couldn’t believe what Williams had done. He called the play “ridiculous” during his postgame press conference and spoke candidly about what he saw from Williams in their first year together.
“There are some things that you just can’t coach. He’s got that about him. He’s got a knack. He’s clutch. He does so many good things. He’s an eraser. I have plenty of bad calls each and every week, and he helps make it right for me.
“I know he’s feeling it because we didn’t win, and had some turnovers. He’s feeling it. But … we’ll remember this feeling, and he’s going to be stronger for it.”
Williams’ pass ended up just extending the Bears’ season for just a few in-game minutes. The Bears QB threw an interception in the overtime period that allowed the Rams to kick a game-winning field goal.
Williams went 21/35 in the contest for 210 yards and a touchdown. He also led the team with 58 rushing yards on 6 carries, spreading out some perfectly timed scrambles that kept the Bears’ offense chugging along.
The Bears may not have gotten to the final four, but Williams has made a believer out of Johnson and the City of Chicago as a whole.
Matthew Stafford had classy interview after beating Bears
The Los Angeles Rams barely escaped with a win in their NFC Divisional Round playoff game with the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill., on Sunday night, and Matthew Stafford had a classy interview after the game.
The Rams beat the Bears 20-17 in overtime on a 42-yard field goal by Harrison Mevis. Stafford went 20/42 for 258 yards playing through tough conditions. After the game, he was interviewed by the NFC “Sunday Night Football” crew and gave credit to everyone else, including
“We didn’t play our best on offense. Our defense dominated the game — it was unbelievable to watch. Hell of a play on fourth down by Caleb (Williams) to get his team to overtime. Just glad we got the ball back. Our defense got us back again — great pick,” Stafford said, before passing the attention to kicker Mevis.
Before heading to Seattle, @melissastark and @KayleeHartung speak with the stand out Rams. 🎤 pic.twitter.com/YuE7NdCMMJ
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 19, 2026
Stafford is a veteran and knows how to pass out the credit. He attributed the win to the Rams’ defense, made sure that Mevis got the recognition he deserved, and he even credited his counterpart, Caleb Williams. That was a classy response.
The Rams were able to win without Stafford at his best in Chicago. They’ll need him playing much better in the NFC Championship to beat the Seahawks in Seattle.
Troy Aikman has harsh words for CJ Stroud
Troy Aikman called CJ Stroud out on Sunday for letting his past dictate his present.
The Houston Texans quarterback dragged his team down in their divisional round matchup against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Stroud went 20/47 and gave up four interceptions in the 28-16 loss that ended the Texans’ season.
Aikman did not hold back in his criticism of Stroud while in the booth for Sunday’s ESPN broadcast of the Texans-Patriots clash. The Dallas Cowboys legend claimed Stroud has been trying and failing to chase the immense success he enjoyed in his rookie season.
“C.J. Stroud has been chasing his rookie success for the last two years,” Aikman said. “He’s not been the same player. We’ve not seen the development from him. There’s a reason for that, and it has to be addressed.”
Troy Aikman: "C.J. Stroud has been chasing his rookie success for the last two years. He's not been the same player. We've not seen the development from him. There's a reason for that, and it has to be addressed." 🏈🎙️ #NFL #NFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/nmAgXfxItQ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 18, 2026
Aikman also noted that the departure of former Texans coach Bobby Slowik, who served as the team’s offensive coordinator for Stroud’s first season, may have factored into his decline.
Stroud burst onto the NFL scene as a rookie. He threw for 4,108 yards with 23 touchdowns and 5 interceptions across 15 games, earning him the Offensive Rookie of the Year trophy and even some MVP votes.
Stroud’s numbers have dropped across the board since then. He threw for 3,041 yards with 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in 14 regular-season games in 2025. The Texans still finished with a 12-5 record and won their Wild Card game over the Pittsburgh Steelers this season. But Houston’s league-best defense deserves most of the credit for the team’s success this season.
After Sunday’s game, several fans revived the moment Stroud gave Caleb Williams some unsolicited advice during the latter’s rookie season. Perhaps Stroud needs to ask Williams for some tips, given how their respective 2025 seasons went in different directions.
Caleb Williams makes the most unbelievable TD throw on 4th down to force OT
Caleb Williams added to his growing legend Sunday with a ridiculous throw in the closing seconds of the Chicago Bears’ divisional round matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Bears, trailing 17-10 with under 30 seconds left, had 4th-and-4 at the Rams’ 14-yard line. Williams faced heavy pressure just moments after receiving the snap, leading to a frantic do-or-die moment inside Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill.
Williams had to drop back all the way to the 40-yard line as several pass rushers surrounded him. The Bears QB threw what appeared to be a desperation heave to the end zone before defenders could close in. What seemed like a Hail Mary turned out to be a pinpoint pass to tight end Cole Kmet for a touchdown.
NO WAY. CALEB WILLIAMS HEAVES IT ON 4TH DOWN.
— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2026
LARvsCHI on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/JJymsDhen2
Here are a few more angles of Williams’ season-extending play.
YOU CAN'T KILL THESE CHICAGO BEARS.
— NFL (@NFL) January 19, 2026
LARvsCHI on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/4lxGJ6iP3m
The Bears’ 2025 season has been littered with the most magical comebacks to help Chicago get to this point. Williams has been the head magician, making winning plays out of nothing. He pulled another rabbit out of his hat in the dying seconds of regulation time.
Unfortunately for Bears fans, that was the last of Williams’ pixie dust this season. Williams gave up an interception in overtime, allowing the Rams to win on a 42-yard field goal.
Nick Foles throws perfect shade at Patriots after Bo Nix suffers season-ending injury
Nick Foles had the perfect message for Denver Broncos fans still reeling from the Bo Nix injury news.
The Broncos quarterback fractured his ankle in the closing moments of his team’s divisional round win over the Buffalo Bills. Broncos head coach Sean Payton noted that Nix will have surgery to repair the broken ankle on Tuesday, ending his season two wins shy of a Super Bowl victory.
With the Broncos needing to rely on Jarrett Stidham in the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots, Denver’s fan base got some encouraging words from the greatest backup QB in history.
“Note for the Broncos and their fans: I know it has been an emotional 24 hours. I feel for Bo and the team, and I’m sending prayers for a strong recovery,” Foles wrote in a social media post.
“A positive note going into the game versus the Patriots is that they struggle against backup QBs in championship-type games.”
Foles famously stepped in for an injured Carson Wentz during the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2017 run to the Super Bowl. Wentz had been having an MVP-caliber season before suffering a torn ACL in a Week 14 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
Foles took Wentz’s place and steered the ship all the way to a Super Bowl victory over the Patriots, the same team the Broncos are set to face with a Super Bowl berth on the line.
Many joked that 48-year-old Tom Brady could step in to replace Nix on short notice. Foles may be the better bet, given the circumstances.
