The rookie quarterback was thrust into the Atlanta Falcons’ starting role earlier this week as Kirk Cousins’ struggles became too much for the team to bear. Penix got his first start against the New York Giants and picked up a win even as he battled through some rookie troubles.
The Falcons got on the board with a field goal following an eight-play, 36-yard drive in the second quarter. Falcons safety Jessie Bates III returned a Drew Lock interception for a touchdown to take the lead. Atlanta didn’t look back from there.
Penix’s 19-yard pass to Darnell Mooney helped setup Bijan Robinson for the first of his two rushing touchdowns. The Falcons took a 17-7 lead into the locker room.
Robinson scored again in the third quarter. He finished with 94 rushing yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns. Mooney led the way with five catches for 82 yards.
It was the Falcons’ second straight win. They defeated the Las Vegas Raiders last week following a four-game losing streak. The Falcons are now 8-7 on the season.
For the Giants, the lowly season continued.
Lock was 22-of-39 with 210 passing yards, a touchdown pass and two interceptions. But the lethargic offense was only able to have one drive out of 11 turn into points.
The defense didn’t help matters either. The Falcons had nine drives and 22 first downs. New York only had 14 first downs on 11 drives.
It was a good win to get for the rookie quarterback who will need to establish confidence fast if the Falcons are to win the NFC South and make the playoffs this season.
Daniel Jones is no longer with the New York Giants, but that didn’t stop him from getting in the Christmas spirit with his former teammates.
Jones, currently a member of the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad, sent all the offensive lineman that were on the Giants with him a limited-edition bottle of Clase Azul tequila for Christmas, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
Jones, 27, was benched after the Giants' bye week and then asked for his release so he could sign with a contender for the rest of the season.
Jones was beloved by his Giants teammates in New York, many taking to social media to express their support for their former quarterback when he was released.
The Vikings signed Jones to their practice squad shortly after, giving Jones a chance to develop under head coach Kevin O’Connell.
It is commonplace for quarterbacks in the NFL to buy their offensive lineman gifts for Christmas as a thank-you for blocking for them.
However, it is not common for quarterbacks to buy gifts for their former teammates after joining a new team.
Since releasing Jones, the Giants have started Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock at quarterback.
The Giants are 2-12 and, with each loss, are getting closer to landing the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s NFL Draft, where they hope to select their next franchise quarterback.
Jones’ Vikings are in much better shape. The Detroit Lions and Vikings are both 12-2 with an eye on not only winning the NFC North but securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
The highest point spread of the NFL season came to fruition on Sunday as the Baltimore Ravens thrashed the New York Giants, 35-14, with Lamar Jackson throwing five touchdown passes to lead the way for the flock.
Baltimore, coming off its Week 14 bye, is now 9-5 on the season. Meanwhile, the Giants are eyeing the first overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft after falling to 2-12.
It was an inauspicious start for the Ravens after Justice Hill got them in terrific field position with a long kickoff return. However, on the first offensive snap, Jackson fumbled what would've been a first down run.
But the Ravens forced back-to-back punts from the Giants before finally getting their way into the colored paint.
It was Mark Andrews finding the end zone on a 13-yard strike by Jackson, and he set a Ravens record in the process with his 48th career score for the most in franchise history.
Andrews finished the game with two catches for 24 yards and the score.
Rashod Bateman, though, was the Ravens’ leading receiver in this game despite having just three catches. He scored twice for Jackson, including a beautiful pass on the run for a 49-yard score.
Bateman would score again on the very next drive, this time from 20 yards out in the back left of the end zone.
The game would see a 21-7 score at halftime, with the Giants able to get Devin Singletary into the end zone to at least get on the board.
But Baltimore set the tone in the second half with a 12-play drive that churned 6:38 of clock and made it 28-7 with Devontez Walker scoring his first career touchdown, a 21-yard catch-and-run.
Meanwhile, the Giants had Tim Boyle enter the game after Tommy DeVito suffered a head injury. He was able to find Malik Nabers, who had 10 catches for 82 yards, in the end zone.
But that came after Jackson had found Hill for another long touchdown, this time a 27-yard catch-and-run for his fifth and final touchdown on the day.
Jackson was uber efficient in this one, going 21-for-25 for 290 yards while also rushing for 65 yards on six carries.
It was a rather pedestrian day for Derrick Henry, who rushed 14 times for 67 yards.
Another plane flew over the stadium last week that implored Mara to "fire everyone." The message came before the Giants lost to the New Orleans Saints in the final moments. Sunday’s game didn’t get any better as the Ravens jumped out to a 14-0 lead.
It’s been a season of turmoil for the Giants. It started with the departure of Saquon Barkley to the Philadelphia Eagles and included the release of Daniel Jones.
The Giants appear to be in for a complete reset going into the 2025 season. The status of head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen is unclear, and it begs the question about other unknowns for the team going into the new year.
New York entered its Week 15 matchup against Baltimore 32nd in points scored, 26th in yards gained and 16th in points and yards allowed.
The Giants are a far cry from what fans thought they would be after Daboll’s first season as head coach in 2022. New York won a playoff game that season but only won six games in 2023 and are on track to have one of their worst seasons since 2017.
As one former New York quarterback thrives in Minnesota, another stands on the sidelines now in a position he never thought he would be in after being drafted sixth overall in 2019.
Daniel Jones' time with the New York Giants ended unceremoniously when he was released after a 2-8 start this season, leaving him to find a new home in the NFL for the first time in six years.
Weighing his options, Jones decided to take the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad quarterback role, calling it an "awesome opportunity" to work with head coach Kevin O'Connell and starter Sam Darnold, the ex-New York Jet whose career has been revitalized this season.
Could that be what Jones is looking for with the Vikings after watching Darnold regain his confidence and lead a team to an 11-2 record?
Vikings legend Kyle Rudolph, an ex-teammate of Jones' during their year together with the Giants, said that could be the plan after spending time with Jones two weekends ago before, during and after the team's win over the Arizona Cardinals.
"He’s excited to be in that environment in Minnesota," Rudolph told Fox News Digital while also touching on his surprise at two Minnesota military veterans after teaming up with Polaris and Call of Duty in Week 13. "To be around Kevin O’Connell, Josh McCown, the quarterbacks coach, to be able to kind of take a back seat and learn and really try to reestablish himself as a top-10 pick. A good quarterback in this league and a guy who, by the way, won a playoff game in that building and went to the divisional round."
Jones broke out in that 2022 season that Rudolph referenced, which included the Wild Card Round victory on the road at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Kirk Cousins-led Vikings. It ultimately led to a decision from the Giants to extend Jones long term, believing he had proved himself worthy of a new contract to remain the team's franchise quarterback.
That didn't work out, however, as the Giants released him this season before they had the opportunity to opt out of his deal. Meanwhile, Saquon Barkley, who was franchise-tagged after Jones got his big deal, is having an MVP season with the Philadelphia Eagles in his first year after walking in free agency.
But while the Giants stew over their next quarterback amid a terrible campaign, Jones perhaps has found new life in Minnesota.
"What’s to keep DJ from being next year’s Baker Mayfield [or] Sam Darnold?" Rudolph said.
"It’s a huge reason why he chose to go to Minnesota, knowing that there might be an opportunity for me in the future."
For Darnold, he signed a one-year, prove-it deal with the Vikings this past offseason, knowing it would be a quarterback competition with rookie J.J. McCarthy, the team's first-rounder out of Michigan. But when McCarthy went down with a knee injury, Darnold knew he needed to step up for the Vikings all season, not just Week 1 when he won the starting job out of training camp.
He's done just that with an 11-2 record through 13 games while putting up career numbers. Remember, this is a quarterback who flopped as the third overall pick with the New York Jets, couldn't stick with the Carolina Panthers and was in the same role Jones is now with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.
Meanwhile, Mayfield was also in Carolina with Darnold after his tenure as the first overall pick and hopeful savior of the Cleveland Browns flamed out. Mayfield bounced around the NFL until the Bucs gave him a similar deal in 2023 that Darnold has now. Mayfield not only proved he could win in Tampa Bay – he beat the Eagles in the Wild Card Round on his home turf, solidifying his role as the team's franchise quarterback – he got a three-year, $100 million extension to show for it.
Rudolph said Darnold has earned that big extension with more games still to play, and Jones could do the same with the Vikings, a team Rudolph doesn't think would want to spend big bucks on Darnold, knowing that McCarthy is waiting in the wings.
"In today’s world, these young quarterbacks don’t have to play in their first two years," Rudolph said. "J.J.’s going through what he’s going through with his knee injury, and ultimately, yes, they’ll compete if DJ decides to stay there next year. He has a great opportunity to go out, and it just takes one year."
For now, though, Rudolph knows Jones is itching to get back on the field, but he's playing his role well in his first few weeks with Minnesota.
"I think the biggest challenge for DJ is he’s always been the man. He was the sixth overall pick and quarterback for the New York Giants," Rudolph said. "This past Sunday, he watched the game from the sidelines as the practice squad quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. That’s not easy. As a competitor, I know talking to him, he was like, ‘Man, I just felt useless standing there basically watching a game.’ It’s part of the process."
GIVING BACK TO VETERANS
Rudolph got to watch Darnold & Co. collect their Week 13 win over the Arizona Cardinals in the Twin Cities, where he also surprised two Minnesota veterans with Polaris RZR Pro R vehicles during the Dec. 1 Salute to Service game.
Rudolph leveraged his fundraising platform, Alltroo, and teamed up with Polaris and Call of Duty for this special surprise.
"Two Minnesota native Marine Corps gentlemen, they almost felt like they were undeserving of such an incredible honor because they’re like, ‘There’s so many others who have done what I’ve done and deserve it more than I do.’ They couldn’t believe that they were the two who were chosen to receive these Polaris RZRs," Rudolph said.
The veterans also played the brand-new "Call of Duty Black Ops 6" video game with Vikings defenders Pat Jones II and Ivan Pace Jr.
And through March 1, 2025, Rudolph said football fans can enter at Alltroo for a chance to win a Polaris RZR Pro R through donations that benefit Call of Duty Endowment, a program that helps place veterans in high-quality careers and supports veteran well-being.
Eli Manning stunned Giants fans last week when he revealed he had only just now taken his first subway ride, despite spending his entire 16-year NFL career playing in New York.
On Monday night, the Giants great had a pretty good reason why he never opted for that form of transportation.
During Monday night’s broadcast of the "ManningCast," Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning began teasing his brother about the fact that he never braved the subways despite his tenure in New York.
"Eli, this was very shocking to me, I thought you were a man of the people," he quipped. "You’ve lived there since 2004. First time riding the Subway? Disappointed."
Eli first pointed out the obvious that, despite the name, the Giants play at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
"I am a man of the people. I live in New Jersey. I’m not in the city that often. I was in the city last week. I had to get from uptown to downtown – I hopped on the subway. I’m a man of the people."
He also pointed out that it was a business decision.
"It was in my contract when I was playing, I wasn’t allowed to ride the subway. I could get pushed in front of a train."
NFL contracts unsparingly bar players from participating in activities outside of football that could risk injury. According to an ESPN report from June, those activities range from high-risk, like rock climbing and skiing, to other sports, like playing basketball.
In 2023, former Buffalo Bills running back Nyheim Hines was injured during the offseason in a freak jet ski accident. He missed the entire season after he tore his left ACL and MCL, and the Bills were off the hook for his contract. According to EPN, they eventually reached an agreement, and he was released in March.
New Orleans Saints punter Matthew Hayball was on the receiving end of interim head coach Darren Rizzi’s wrath on Sunday during their matchup against the New York Giants.
Hayball punted a ball to returner Ihmir Smith-Marsette in the second quarter. Smith-Marsette made a move and took the punt all the way back for what the Giants thought was a touchdown, even nearly fumbling the ball on his way to the end zone.
As the Giants celebrated, players started to realize a flag had been thrown on the play. New York was called for holding, wiping Smith-Marsette’s punt-return touchdown off the board.
Rizzi was seen on the sideline tearing into Hayball. Saints running back Alvin Kamara had to get in between his coach and his teammate. It was a 43-yard punt, but it appeared Rizzi was upset with how it was kicked to Smith-Marsette.
The Saints’ special teams clearly holds a special place in Rizzi’s heart. He joined the Saints as their special teams coordinator in 2019 after serving in the same role with the Miami Dolphins. He was promoted to special teams coordinator and associate head coach in 2022.
Rizzi took over as the team’s interim head coach in the middle of this season after New Orleans fired Dennis Allen.
He’s 2-1 as Saints head coach, and the Saints were leading the Giants 7-3 at the time the incident with his punter occurred.
New York Giants team co-owner John Mara was the target of a banner message that was flown over MetLife Stadium on Sunday morning before the team faced off against the New Orleans Saints.
The Giants are in the midst of one of the worst seasons in franchise history at 2-10 through 13 weeks of the regular season. The team is 32nd in points scored and 26th in yards gained when it comes to offense and 18th in points allowed and 19th in yards allowed on defense.
An apparently frustrated Giants fan took the team’s struggles to heart.
"Mr. Mara enough – plz fix this dumpster fire," the banner read, according to SNY.
It’s been a season of turmoil for the Giants. It started with the departure of Saquon Barkley to the Philadelphia Eagles and included the release of Daniel Jones.
The Giants appear to be in for a complete reset going into the 2025 season. The status of head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen is unclear, and it begs the question about other unknowns for the team going into the new year.
Daboll was asked about his job security following the team’s Thanksgiving loss to the Dallas Cowboys and whether his focus was just on what he could control.
"I think you focus on your team," Daboll said. "You focus on our staff, our coaches, players, and going out there to get the kind of performance and result we all want.
"We have a lot of confidence in our people. Obviously not where we want to be by any stretch of the imagination. So, we just keep working hard to fix the things we need to fix."
If the Giants finish with two wins, it would be their worst season since 1974. The team won two games in 1973 and 1974.
Daniel Jones opened up this week about his decision to sign with the Minnesota Vikings as a backup quarterback after he was released by the New York Giants following his own request.
Speaking to reporters on Friday for the first time since giving a farewell speech to the media in New York, Jones sounded enthusiastic about joining a new team and working under head coach Kevin O’Connell.
"Excited to be here, excited to be a Minnesota Viking – awesome opportunity. Just looking to help out and be a part of this team. We’ve got some great momentum going and just want to help out in any way I can."
Jones signed with the Vikings as a backup behind Sam Darnold, another former New York quarterback who left the city on a sour note after his tenure with the Jets ended.
When asked why Minnesota was the right fit among other teams searching for help at the quarterback position, Jones pointed specifically to the success the offense has seen this season.
"I think you look at, offensively, what they’ve been able to do. I think the system, coach O’Connell, his staff – just a lot of good things happening across the board as a team, as an organization, but on offense especially. Just excited to join that and help out wherever I can."
In his sixth season with the Giants, Jones requested to be released after he was benched in favor of third-string quarterback and fan-favorite, Tommy DeVito, which followed their 20-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
The Giants are 0-2 since parting ways, but Jones seems to have put the past to rest.
"It’s been a crazy last couple of weeks, for sure. Certainly a lot going on. At the end of the day, I’m excited to be here. This is an awesome opportunity," he said on Friday. "I’m looking forward to learning the system and building relationships with these guys and helping the team."
The New York Giants became the first NFL team to be eliminated from playoff contention this season on Thanksgiving, and that had insult added to injury — or vice versa.
Star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence suffered a season-ending dislocated elbow in the team's 27-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday.
Lawrence was spotted wearing a sling after the game, and Giants head coach Brian Daboll told reporters on Friday that it was a "long-term" scenario. Big Blue has just five games left on the year.
Lawrence's season will end with a career-high nine sacks, which is currently sixth in the NFL.
Lawrence had looked to be another Dave Gettleman disaster in his first three seasons after being the 19th pick in 2019, but with Daboll, he found a new groove, and he's been named a second-team All-Pro in each of the last two seasons.
The Giants have been hit with the injury bug all season long, as defensive lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux, linebacker Azeez Ojulari and offensive tackle Andrew Thomas have all been dealt with injuries. Even quarterback Tommy DeVito, who started in his first game of the season last Sunday, injured his forearm, keeping him out of the Thanksgiving matinee.
The Giants fell to 2-10 on the season with the loss to the Cowboys, and currently own the No. 1 pick in next year's NFL Draft.
Lawrence's offseason will now start earlier than expected, as he turns the page to 2025 — and it's likely that the rest of the team is counting down the days until they can do that, as well.
Daniel Jones' tumultuous tenure with the New York Giants came to an end last week. After initially benching the 2019 first-round draft pick, the franchise granted the quarterback's request for his release.
The decision to part ways with Jones was described as a mutual agreement, with Giants President and co-owner John Mara saying moving on from Jones "would be best for him and for the team." Jones cleared waivers in short order and landed with the Minnesota Vikings. He is expected to serve as a backup to starter Sam Darnold.
Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl winner and lead analyst for "NFL on FOX," was on the call for the Dallas Cowboys' Thanksgiving Day game.
The Cowboys hosted the Giants, and, at one point during the broadcast, Brady shared his thoughts about Jones' unceremonious exit.
Brady suggested he would have handled the situation differently had he been in Jones' shoes.
"I don't know how that whole situation went down, but to think that you'd ask for a release from a team that committed a lot to you is maybe different than how I would've handled that," Brady said during Thursday's broadcast. "I always felt I wanted to get the trust and respect of my teammates regardless of the situation, knowing that I was trying to be the best I could for the team because that was the most important thing."
The former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback acknowledged the unique challenges football players can face at different points of their careers but noted that helping any team he was on was always his top priority.
"There's just some different things that happen in the NFL," Brady said. "Everyone makes individual choices. I think we all, at points in our career, face different challenges. I faced them in college, and some things didn't go the way I wanted, but the people that mattered the most to me were the guys in the locker room. I showed up every day. I didn't care if they asked me to be scout team safety, be scout team quarterback. I was gonna do whatever I could to help the team win."
Shortly after Jones was benched, reports surfaced that the quarterback lined up as a scout team safety for the Giants' defense at practice. He was also seen participating in passing drills alongside veteran quarterback Tim Boyle, who is listed as the third string signal-caller on the Giants' depth chart.
The Giants lost 30-7 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 12, which marked the team's first game without Jones this season. Thursday's loss to the NFC East rival Cowboys dropped New York's record to 2-10.
The New York Giants became the first team eliminated from playoff contention on Thanksgiving, and fans are calling for change — again.
Since Tom Coughlin coached Big Blue 11 seasons, the G-Men are in danger of having their fifth head coach in the last 10 seasons.
But head coach Brian Daboll, named the Coach of the Year after his first season in East Rutherford, isn't fretting.
When asked if he was worried about his job status after the game, his answer was blunt.
"No."
Owner John Mara said last month he did not anticipate making any changes this offseason, but the Giants are 2-10 and on a fast track to getting the No. 1 pick.
"No, I don't like the results. Nobody likes the results. But, again, I have confidence in the people. Just have to get better," Daboll added.
Daboll brought up his job status again Friday, saying there are other things to worry about.
"I think you focus on your team. You focus on our staff, our coaches, players and going out there to get the kind of performance and result we all want," Daboll said Friday. "We have a lot of confidence in our people. Obviously, not where we want to be by any stretch of the imagination. So, we just keep working hard to fix the things we need to fix."
The Giants lost to the NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys Thursday.
The Giants started their third different quarterback in as many games Thursday. For context, Eli Manning was the starting quarterback for every game for over 13 years, and he never missed a game due to injury.
No matter who starts at quarterback for the New York Giants, it isn't going to go well.
"Big Blue" fell to their NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, 27-20.
The Giants marched down the field on their first drive of the game, going 13 plays and 70 yards to go up 7-3 early. However, after allowing another field goal, Drew Lock threw a pick-six on the first play of his next drive.
The G-Men then punted on three of their next four drives as the Cowboys took a 13-10 lead into the locker room.
The Giants got the ball to begin the second half, but on just the third play, Lock lost a fumble, and Dallas took advantage. Six plays later, after narrowly escaping a turnover of their own, Cooper Rush found Brandin Cooks for a score. New York then went three-and-out, and it was a nine-play touchdown drive for the Cowboys with Rico Dowdle finding the end zone to go up 27-10 late in the third.
New York kicked a field goal early in the fourth, and after keeping Dallas off the scoreboard, Lock ran for a touchdown with a little more than two minutes to go. However, the Giants couldn't get the ball back, and the Cowboys kneed out the clock to win the game.
Lock got the start after Tommy DeVito, who started last week despite Lock originally being the season-long backup after Daniel Jones’ release, was ruled inactive due to a forearm injury. He was 21-for-32 for 178 yards with a pick and a fumble, but he was also the team's leading rusher with 57 yards.
Dallas’ victory came at a cost as CeeDee Lamb left the game with a shoulder injury. He had two catches for 39 yards.
Malik Nabers also made history. He now has the most catches (75) in a player’s first 10 games in the league ever, beating former Giant Odell Beckham Jr.'s record of 71. He finished with eight catches for 69 yards.
This marked the third time in as many games the Giants had a different starting quarterback, a far cry from Eli Manning starting every game for nearly 13 years.
Dallas has now won 20 of their last 24 games against the Giants and each of their last eight. (The Cowboys also beat the Giants on Thanksgiving two years ago.) Dowdle ran for 112 yards on his 22 carries, one of which was a score.
The Giants are now 2-10 as they continue to trend toward owning the first overall pick. The Cowboys, meanwhile, improved to 5-7 and have won two in a row.
New York hosts the Saints next Sunday, while the Cowboys stay home as the Cincinnati Bengals come to town.
Thanksgiving Day wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a full slate of NFL games.
The football tradition returns with the main course: the Detroit Lions, who host the Chicago Bears on Thursday afternoon. The Lions have played every year dating back to 1934 and hope to pick up their first Turkey Day win in nearly a decade.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys, who have been playing on Thanksgiving Day since 1966, return to take on their NFC East rival, the New York Giants. The Green Bay Packers close out the day against the Miami Dolphins, who put a stamp on the holiday last season when they defeated the New York Jets to win the league’s first-ever Black Friday game.
For an extra serving of football, the NFL has scheduled another Black Friday matchup, this time between the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium at 3 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
Read below for more on this year’s Thanksgiving schedule.
The Lions open Thursday’s slate with a game against the Bears at home in what will be the organization’s 85th game on Thanksgiving Day since 1934. The Lions are 0-3 against the Bears in their last three meet-ups on the big day, and they haven’t won a Thanksgiving Day game since 2016. But this year could be different.
Detroit is 10-1, having won every single game since their Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while the Bears are hoping to tap into their previous luck and end their five-game slide.
With injuries plaguing the Lions this week, the player to watch will be star running back David Montgomery as he faces his former team. The Bears, who have lost three of their last five games on the final play, won’t have room for error if they want to stop the Lions’ stellar run game.
The Cowboys host the struggling Giants at home on Thursday, but it’s not the home-field advantage fans are expecting to see.
Despite winning 14 of their last 15 matchups, the Cowboys are 0-5 this season at AT&T Stadium, and a win in what will be the organization’s 57th Thanksgiving Day game could be exactly what they need to keep building momentum after snapping a five-game losing streak with a win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
The Giants enter Thursday’s matchup with more questions surrounding the quarterback position even after releasing Daniel Jones last week. Fan-favorite Tommy DeVito walked away from his first start this season with a sore throwing arm. He is questionable for Thursday, while Drew Lock readies for what could be his first start this season.
When: Thanksgiving Day, 4:30 p.m. ET
Where: AT&T Stadium
Where to watch: FOX
The Packers headline Thursday’s slate with a prime-time match up against the Dolphins in what could be freezing temps. The weather forecast for Thanksgiving night at Lambeau Field is expected to be in the 30s with lows in the mid-20s, but the cold weather comes amid a hot streak for Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Big wins over the New England Patriots and the Las Vegas Raiders saw Tagovailoa throw seven touchdown passes without an interception, and now the team is in the hunt for its fourth straight win and a spot in the playoffs.
But the Packers have won their last three matchups against the Dolphins and are looking to make it four with their second consecutive Thanksgiving game. Green Bay is 4-0 against AFC teams this season.
While many enjoy Thanksgiving football, all NFL teams know that the holiday means "Black Monday" isn't too far away.
It’s still a few weeks away, but "Black Monday" refers to the day following the final Sunday of the regular season, which is when organizations determine coaching moves depending on how the season went.
Well, one NFL analyst believes this could be a very busy Monday after Week 18.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated’s "Monday Morning Quarterback" made an appearance on "The Dan Patrick Show," where he said there could be seven to 10 head coaches fired after what’s been a tumultuous season for a lot of franchise.
Breer pointed out that two head coaches, Dennis Allen with the New Orleans Saints and Robert Saleh with the New York Jets, who were already fired mid-season.
"We have two, we have the Saints and the Jets, I think we can agree the Jags are sort of fait accompli, so that’s three, Dallas looks like it’s going that way, that’s four. So now, you only need three more so, I think it’s somewhere between seven and 10," Breer said.
"I don’t think it’s going to be record-breaking or anything like that, but I think it’s somewhere between seven and 10."
Looking at the teams Breer mentioned, the Cowboys are expected to move on from head coach Mike McCarthy, whose contract is up after Week 18. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones didn’t shut the door on a potential extension, but if Dallas doesn’t finish strong, it’s hard to see McCarthy returning despite three straight 12-5 seasons in years before 2024.
Then, Duval County has Doug Pederson already out the door despite a similar situation as McCarthy with the franchise sticking with him through a 2-9 season thus far.
Other coaches that find themselves on the hot seat are Brian Daboll (New York Giants), Matt Eberflus (Chicago Bears), Antonio Pierce (Las Vegas Raiders), and Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals) among others.
As for Daboll, Giants owner John Mara did give him a vote of confidence, saying that he didn’t anticipate making any changes this offseason, which also includes GM Joe Schoen, despite the Giants heading into Thanksgiving to face the Cowboys with a 2-9 record.
NFL players, coaches and front offices all know that, despite playoffs not being in the picture, playing strong through the remainder of the year could be the difference between remaining in place or searching for the next opportunity.
Earlier this month, Eli Manning learned he was one of the semifinalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame modern era class. The two-time Super Bowl champion, who retired after the 2019 season, made the list in his first year of eligibility.
But this week, a Hall of Fame voter put a damper on the idea that Manning could receive enough votes to become an official member of the Class of 2025. "The general consensus seems to be Manning will eventually get into the Hall, even if it's not this year," the voter told ESPN.
Candidates must reach the selection committee's 80% threshold in order to get voted in. But, Manning's candidacy has become polarizing.
There are several arguments that could be made when making a case for or against the retired quarterback. He showed his ability to play at an elite level during the run to the aforementioned Super Bowl titles, throwing a combined 15 touchdowns against just one interception during those postseasons.
Arguments against Manning's candidacy include the fact that he was never named to an All-Pro team during his playing career. While Manning did compete in an era that also featured Tom Brady, his older brother Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, the absence of at least one All-Pro nod could weigh heavily in the minds of some voters.
Furthermore, Manning finished his career with a regular-season record of 117-117. Many star quarterbacks and Hall of Famers finished at least one season in the NFL's top spot in touchdowns or passing yards —Manning never accomplished either of those feats.
He did, however, throw the most interceptions in the league in three separate seasons. Manning retired from the NFL with 244 career interceptions.
But, there have only been a dozen quarterbacks who have won multiple Super Bowl titles, and Manning is among that exclusive group.
In all likelihood, Manning will ultimately become a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame — it just remains unclear how long he will have to wait to receive the coveted gold jacket.
The Hall of Fame selection committee will soon trim the semifinalist list down to 15 finalists. After another round of polling takes place, a list of 10 finalists will be revealed. Lastly, a group of seven finalists will be announced.
Every member of the committee will then be allowed to pick five of the seven names for the final vote.
New York Giants rookie Malik Nabers raised eyebrows over the weekend when he called his team "soft as f---" following a blowout loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Nabers was upset with the lack of targets he received in the first half of the 30-7 defeat. Nabers still led the team in receiving with six catches for 64 yards on nine targets, but all of it came in the second half of the game.
He said Tuesday he is standing by the remarks he made.
"Like I said, when I look at it, we tried to get me the ball a couple times in the first half — just had a lack of communication," he said, via SNY TV. "So, like I said, when I take a look back on the game and the plays that we called, there were opportunities for me to get targets, for me to get the ball. Like I said, we just lacked technique. We just out of sorts as an offense.
"So, we only had, what, I think 15 plays in the first half. They had 40-something. So, it’s not a lot of plays you can get when you can call 15 plays in the half.
"So, yeah, if I had an opportunity to go back and change the words I said, I would. But, I still stand on what I said. I said it. I don’t have no regrets with what I said. But like I said, as I look at it on the film, we just lacked technique."
Nabers’ next opportunity to get first-half targets will come Thursday.
With the team at a crossroads, New York will have to take on the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving. Nabers had 12 catches for 115 yards in a 20-15 loss to the Cowboys earlier this season.
Ryan Fitzpatrick suggests former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones "take the rest of the year off."
Jones' tumultuous tenure with the Giants ended after the team benched the 2019 first-round draft pick and granted Jones' request to be released.
The decision to part ways with Jones was described as a mutual agreement, and Giants President and co-owner John Mara said moving on from Jones "would be best for him and for the team." Now that Jones has cleared waivers, he can explore options in the free agent market.
Former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who played for nine teams during his career, offered the former Giants signal-caller some advice.
While Jones is expected to draw interest from multiple teams, Fitzpatrick suggested the 27-year-old sit out for the remainder of the 2024 season and focus on finding a new home for 2025.
"I'm really happy that New York released him because I think it puts him out of his misery a little bit. They didn’t have to do that," Fitzpatrick said. "And my advice to him — I wouldn’t sign anywhere. I would just take the rest of the year."
Fitzpatrick also questioned the value of Jones landing with a team in 2024 that is effectively out of playoff contention.
"I don't think there's a reason to sign as a backup somewhere," he continued. "I don't think there’s a reason to sign on a bad team and go play more games."
Fitzpatrick said Jones has an opportunity to rejuvenate his career. If Jones lands in a good situation, Fitzpatrick appears confident his future could resemble Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold's resurgence.
"This is one of those moments where he truly gets to hit reset in his career, relax a little bit, take the offseason, find a good landing spot," Fitzpatrick said. "And he’s the type of guy that can land on his feet. He could have that Sam Darnold-type resurgence with the right scheme, with the right place, with the right coaches, but he’s got to play a lot better than he has."
The Giants lost 30-7 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their first game without Jones this season.
When you hear a star player say the team played "soft as f---" after yet another blowout loss, the head coach is going to be questioned about whether he still has control of the locker room.
That's what happened to Brian Daboll on Monday morning following the New York Giants' loss at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 30-7.
Rookie receiver Malik Nabers, frustrated he didn't see a single target from new starting quarterback Tommy DeVito in the first half, was blunt with his team assessment after the game, which Daboll said led to some conversations.
"Leek and I talked last night. We talked this morning. He’s a very competitive individual," Daboll told members of the media. "Again, you want to get the ball in his hands, and I gotta do a better job getting the ball in his hands early. He’s a smart young guy who’s very competitive. When you lose like that, it’s a frustrating thing, but we’ve had good communication as we’ve always had."
Daboll added that he was going to keep what was said in-house, but Nabers wasn't the only one who felt the team lacked effort in the first game post-Daniel Jones' release.
Team captain Dexter Lawrence, who was vocal about the Jones situation, also said the team was playing "soft" on Sunday, while offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor said, "I personally don't think everybody is giving 100%."
With a 2-9 record now and the organization virtually punting on the season with the release of Jones, who many believed was their best quarterback on the roster despite his own struggles, it's hard to rally the troops to finish the year strong.
But Daboll continues to say he believes in the process and culture that he and the coaching staff have in the locker room.
"I believe in what we do. Obviously, the results have not shown themselves," Daboll said. "I believe in the people, and we’ll continue to work as hard as we can, but certainly you think about things you need to change, whether it’s plays – whatever it may be. You’re always thinking what can you do better, and obviously there’s things you can do better.
"I feel good about our communication with the players, with the coaches. Certainly not happy about the results, but I expect a lot from those guys, and they should expect a lot from me. Again, there’s good communication process, but when you lose like that, it’s a frustrating thing."
Daboll, of course, doesn't want his players to be speaking about their frustrations publicly, but like he said, he respects their opinions on the matter.
It is tough for the Giants, though, because there are still six games left on the schedule, including a quick turnaround against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving this week. Players are frustrated with the results, and losing six straight games is strenuous in a locker room no matter the sport.
But in the NFL, finishing strong is paramount for players looking to remain on a team, or get a new contract. For coaches, finishing strong can be the difference between another year leading the team, or having to look for a new job next season.
That's the unfortunate reality Daboll and some players in the locker room find themselves in with those remaining games on the schedule.
The New York Giants were embarrassed at home on Sunday in a 30-7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that saw Tommy DeVito get sacked four times and the offense only gained 17 first downs.
The lack of offensive production appeared to stick in the craw of rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, and he didn’t mince words when he spoke about the team after the game. He was targeted nine times and had six catches for 64 yards. All of his targets came in the second half.
He called the Giants "soft as f—" and complained about the play-calling.
"First, second quarter, I don’t get the ball," Nabers said, per the New York Post. "Start getting targets at the end. I mean, can’t do nothing. Start getting the ball when it’s 30-0. What do you want me to do?"
Nabers told reporters to talk to head coach Brian Daboll when asked why he wasn’t getting looked at early in the game.
"They come up to me and ask me what plays I want and that was that. I don’t know."
Even with the lack of targets in the first half, Nabers’ numbers were good enough to lead the team in receiving for the game.
Daboll did address Nabers’ lack of targets in his media availability after the game.
"We didn't have very many plays," he said. "Certainly, had some there dialed up, and they had, whether it's a coverage designed to, I'm not saying double him or anything like that, just a better coverage for the play in and of itself. But didn't have very many plays.
"We tried to mix in the run. Started off the game with a good run and not much after that. The game got away from us and turned into a pass-a-thon, which is not what we want to do."
DeVito was asked whether there was anything specific going on with Nabers.
"No, not necessarily. Kind of just going through my reads. Kind of just how it played out," he said.
