Today's age has affected one of the most basic transactions in sports — a depth chart change. SandoNFL asks various league execs to examine the fallout from the benchings of Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota — both for team and player.
emerging from Lambeau Field with a victory in Week 18, as both teams chase a playoff spot. But the Lions’ No. 1 ranking in special-teams EPA this season could come into play.
The Packers in their past two games have produced two of their top three special-teams EPA games under coach Matt LaFleur. They have now finished with at least plus-2.5 EPA on special teams in each of their past four games, the longest such streak for the Packers since at least 2000, according to TruMedia. That included 5.7 EPA from
’s 105-yard kickoff return against the Vikings, which helped offset a Packers punt that the Vikings blocked. Green Bay still ranks only 24th in special-teams EPA this season.last week, the Packers scored against the Vikings on kickoff and interception returns.
For only the third time since 2000, the Packers have won three consecutive games without exceeding 4.5 EPA on offense in any of them. The 2019 team won four in a row that way, while the 2006 team won three. This is not how Green Bay is accustomed to winning, in other words. …’s Pete Carroll is on the verge of pulling a Tomlin, as a victory in Week 18 would deliver a winning record in his team’s first season without its longtime franchise quarterback.
The next question surrounds what receipts Jets owner Woody Johnson might be saving. Did he think all along the Jets were a legitimate playoff team? Or did Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas set more realistic expectations behind the scenes?Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Try a week on us.joined The Athletic in 2019 as an NFL senior writer after 12 years with ESPN.