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The NFL playoffs begin this weekend with six wild-card games. Fourteen teams made the postseason, and while some are more likely to hoist the Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara on Feb. 8, there’s a case to be made for all of them to do it. Or is there? Let’s find out.

Defense and supporting cast lead the way

The Broncos hold the No. 1 seed in a fresh-faced AFC playoff race and their path through the playoffs will rest on the shoulders of their defense, which was again one of the top units in the league. The Broncos haven’t been quite as dominant as they were during the regular season last season, but they’re still a top-10 unit and boast one of the best run defenses in the league. Vance Joseph’s Broncos are tough to throw against and should fare better than they did against Buffalo in the wild-card round last year when they were run off the field.

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If there is an area of this defense to be concerned about, it’s the non-Patrick Surtain cornerbacks. Sometimes the volume of targets getting forced the other way can be a problem, but they have the third-highest pressure rate (43.3%) on defense and can really get after the quarterback. They should be in a better position to actually live up to their regular-season rankings this year.

They’ll need to because Bo Nix will be making just his second start in the playoffs. The NFL’s passing attempt leader had a mixed bag sophomore season, but his physical traits still allow him to be a playmaker and give his offense a good chance at extended plays. He needs to clean up some of his in-pocket process to maximize Denver’s chances of making it to the Super Bowl and winning it. The Broncos ranked eighth in expected points added per dropback this season, but 21st in dropback success rate to further show the split between the peaks and inconsistencies.

They have the talent to be here, but the defense and supporting cast around Nix will really need to fare well to get through the AFC this season.

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Drake Maye carries Patriots to a Super Bowl

New England, who is still rebuilding from a talent perspective, has one ticket to the Super Bowl: Drake Maye continuing his total assault on NFL secondaries.

Maye has been the reason the Patriots have made it this far and had a chance to be the No. 1 seed in the waning weeks of the season. He has brought a lot of respect to what was once deemed a terrible wide receiver room — and those guys have improved in their own right. But Maye is the maximizer here.

This will be a fascinating test for Maye because the Patriots are not quite as talented as a typical No. 2 seed team from top to bottom, but their quarterback is so damn good that it might not matter. Maye has been arguably the best quarterback in the league this season with an incredibly rare ability to throw downfield and place the ball wherever he wants. He’s the engine and he’s going to be asked to carry the whole load if New England has a shot to win it all.

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Jakobi Meyers keeps balling and defense continues its recent dominance

Jacksonville just needs to keep riding the post-Jakobi Meyers wave.

Meyers’ presence has been a godsend for Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars, finally giving them the steady, veteran wide receiver Lawrence hasn’t quite had throughout his career. The timing and precision of the Jaguars’ passing game has really improved and the offense is probably stable enough to stack multiple games together in the postseason.

However, the Jaguars’ defense will be the key for them in the postseason. They’ve put together an incredible back half of the season,  ranking third in expected points allowed per play, but they’ve also mostly faced backup quarterbacks and some low-value rookie quarterbacks. Jacksonville gave Denver some fits on the road a few weeks ago, which should inspire hope that the Jaguars can sustain the defensive success through the postseason. The defense needs to show that the standard they’ve set is the standard to expect against all teams, and not just a devourer of bad and young quarterbacks.

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Josh Allen is a good first test!

DK Metcalf catches everything

The Steelers don’t have a chance to win the Super Bowl unless DK Metcalf catches every target thrown his way in every game. They don’t have enough offensive firepower.

Defense proves it’s the best in the NFL

Houston’s path to the Lombardi is as clear as any team in the league this year: do what you do. The Texans finished the season 12-5 after an 0-3 start on the back of an incredibly formidable defense and an improving offense. If Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Derek Stingley Jr. and all their blue-chip talents on defense stay on the field, they might have the defense best-suited to win in the postseason because the Texans have multiple players at every level who can win one-one matchups.

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As long as the bottom doesn’t fall out of the offense, Houston’s Super Bowl chances are as real as anyone’s here. The defense is too talented and DeMeco Ryans is proven as a defensive play-caller in this league.

Josh Allen wakes up

Buffalo has a chance if Josh Allen can snap out of a late-season funk. He was still productive and also battling a foot injury, but he was making some frantic decisions that were extreme even for him. He didn’t seem to trust what was going on downfield — or really anything his supporting cast was doing. Allen is as good as almost any quarterback who has played this game, hence the mounting pressure to punch through the playoffs and finally make it to the Super Bowl.

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That will be tough considering the Bills will likely be on the road the entire playoffs. Tough will become impossible if Allen doesn’t play cleaner football.

Justin Herbert carries the world

The Chargers are about in the same bucket as the Steelers, but they have a better chance than them. Justin Herbert has played incredibly well in tough circumstances again, but the offensive line is too hurt and relying on too many backups to take the Chargers where they need to go.

The defense has been good, but the Chargers have major issues in offensive personnel and scheme to the point Herbert will have to carry the world again. We saw just how hard that was last year in the wild-card round when they were immediately sent packing by the Texans.

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Defense bludgeons everybody with just enough help from Sam Darnold and the offense

The Seahawks just need their defense to keep eating the faces of every opponent. The combination of talent and scheme allows the Seahawks to have some truly dominating games, as the 49ers saw to close out the regular season. This defense is good enough to carry a shaky offense all the way through the postseason without much help. It need just a small enough cushion from Sam Darnold and the Seahawks’ offense to close these games out.

Darnold will need to do something that escapes him from time to time: play mistake-free football. The Seahawks rank 31st in turnover rate on offense this season, which makes it all the more impressive they held onto the top seed in the playoffs. Things will get tighter in the postseason, but the No. 1 seed for this team was bludgeoned into existence — maybe it can do the same when it counts the most.

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Run the ball well enough to mitigate shaky defense

There probably aren’t many teams that feel better about their immediate future than the Chicago Bears, but right now it looks like their defense might be too weak to make a run in Ben Johnson’s first year as head coach. However, Chicago has one of the best run games in the league, giving the Bears a trump card when it comes to consistently moving the ball without putting it in harm’s way. That, paired with the explosive ability of second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, has given the Bears a top-10 offense that found its groove as the season went on.

Chicago ranked third in rushing success rate and fifth in expected points added per rush this season. Johnson’s ability to dial up a running game immediately translated and now D’Andre Swift and rookie running back Kyle Monangai have become unlikely heroes of the 2025 season. It’ll take a lot for the Bears to overcome some of the holes that their defense has, but being able to run the ball has never gone out of style and the Bears do it at an elite level.

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Jalen Carter and the defense erase offense’s inexplicable struggles

There’s no reason the Eagles’ offense should have been as bad as it was this regular season. But there’s no guarantee they’ll figure it out in the playoffs, so they’ll need their defense to erase all the stretches of ineffectiveness the offense has.

Jalen Carter and the Eagles’ front seven is as good as any in the NFL at its best, and they get a good matchup to start the playoffs against a banged-up 49ers o-line. And if the Eagles get a win under their belt, maybe they can recapture the formula that won them the Super Bowl just 11 months ago.

The Carolina Panthers can’t win the Super Bowl. Let’s not waste time here.

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Don’t turn the ball over

The Los Angeles Rams can win the Super Bowl if they don’t turn the ball over. That’s about it for them. Even in the first Panthers game they lost, they had a 70% rushing success rate and Matthew Stafford converted a 41% of his dropbacks into a first down — a mark that is 8% higher than the league-leading figure of 33% this season, which is also owned by the Rams. They’re a juggernaut that can beat defenses in so many ways, but they can’t get caught up and beat themselves.

Offense plays close to perfect

The 49ers face an uphill climb considering the state of their defense, which has been arguably the worst unit in the league this season. They have been demolished by injuries and it’s shown in an egregious way. The offense has been great over the back half of the season, but San Francisco’s last game against Seattle showed it probably doesn’t have the firepower or talent along the offensive line to sustain its performance now that its playing the NFC’s best teams.

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If the 49ers are going to get hot and go on a run, their offense is going to need to be perfect. Minimize the negative plays that plague this offense from time to time and then play with a ruthless level of efficiency and precision on top of it. It’s a tough way to play in the postseason, but they have no threatening bodies on defense since the front seven is so weak. Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey are going to have to take turns carrying the world on their shoulders as the injuries continue to pile up.

Jordan Love goes full inferno mode

With the defense just being completely ransacked by injuries, the Packers are going to need Jordan Love to go full inferno mode to win these games.

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The Packers’ pass rush and run defense have turned into major problems through a litany of defensive line injuries, making a shootout likely in the playoffs. It’s never a good sign when your team is signing players the Cowboys cut in Week 17 to hopefully contribute.

When Love was on the field, he was one of the most ridiculously efficient passers in the league. Among all quarterbacks with at least 100 dropbacks, only Patriots star Drake Maye generated more expected points per dropback. Love had an explosive pass rate of 17.6% as well, good for second in the league. They’ll need him to be at full capacity to go on an improbable, all-road game run through the playoffs as the NFC’s 7-seed.

The NFC North champion Chicago Bears will host the Green Bay Packers in Saturday night’s NFL wild-card game, the third time these division rivals will square off this season.

The teams split the regular-season series, with each one winning at home — and now will face each other for the third time since Week 14. The Packers enter the postseason on a four-game losing streak, while the Bears have dropped two straight.

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Ben Fawkes gathers quotes from oddsmakers for all the games and our team of NFL handicappers provides their favorite wagers on the game.

Other playoff games

Rams-Panthers | Bills-Jags | 49ers-Eagles | Chargers-Patriots | Texans-Steelers

Odds courtesy of BetMGM.

What oddsmakers are saying

“We opened Bears 1-point home favorites, moved to pick-em. We’re still at pick, I think BetMGM nationally and some other places are Packers -1. Obviously, with a game lying around pick-em or 1, it’s going to be pretty balanced action and that’s the case here. Total has dropped 46.5 to 45.5. Most popular Saturday teaser is teasing the Rams down to -4.5, paired with the Bears to +6.” — Thomas Gable, sportsbook director at The Borgata

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“We opened Bears -1.5 at even money, now sitting at Packers -1.5 at even money. Slight move towards the Packers. Green Bay hasn’t looked the same since losing Micah Parsons. The Bears are starting to garner a little bit of action, but jury is still out on if Caleb Williams can be efficient. Total a little bit of the move towards the under, 46.5 to 45.5. Pretty good two-way action on the side, a little bit more Bears money but I anticipate come Saturday we’re going to need the Bears.” — Joey Feazel, head of NFL trading at Caesars Sportsbook

Best bets

Matt Russell: Remember that fateful day in August when the Packers traded for Micah Parsons, and they became the favorite to win the NFC North, and shot up the oddsboard in the Super Bowl futures market?

If the betting market needed any more reason to get excited about Green Bay, the Packers beat the Lions in the opener, and handled the Commanders with ease four days later. That set up a market rating for the Packers that they have almost never lived up to the rest of the way, going 4-10-1 against the spread, and have nothing to show for the Parsons trade for the rest of the season.

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The Packers, +1.5 in this Week 16 matchup, coughed up a 10-point lead late in Soldier Field, then were dominated on the metaphorical frozen tundra of Lambeau Field by the Ravens, before opting-out of Week 18, and yet, they’re now better than 50/50 to win this game?

Matt Lafleur is still dining out on three playoff wins — two as a home favorite with Aaron Rodgers and a road blowout of the Cowboys — but, in a pick’em game that likely comes down to one crucial offensive play, I’ll take my chances with Ben Johnson, handing Lafleur his sixth — and maybe final — playoff loss as Green Bay’s head coach.

Bet: Bears +1

Matt Jacob: Caleb Williams was a model of consistency down the stretch of the regular season — at least in the touchdown throwing department.

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The Bears’ second-year quarterback had exactly two scoring tosses in each of his last five games. The opponent in two of those contests? The Packers.

Williams also had a trio of TD passes against both the Steelers (Week 12) and Bengals (Week 9), giving the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner multiple touchdowns in seven of Chicago’s last 10 games (including each of his last four at Soldier Field).

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Even though this is Williams’ first playoff game, I fully expect Bears coach Ben Johnson to continue to trust his young (and rapidly improving) quarterback. And why not, considering the Packers’ defense yielded 24 passing touchdowns in the regular season.

Of those 24 scores, 11 came in a five-game stretch from Weeks 13-17 — and, again, Williams threw four of them.

Bet: Caleb Williams over 1.5 passing TDs (+100)

ST. LOUIS, Mo.  — It’s a perfectly routine photo, really, two proud parents holding the hands of their 2-year-old son, all of them on a skating rink in Connecticut. All of them are smiling, the little boy on white skates the widest of them all.

More than 20 years after that photo was taken, the boy — now grown and still skating, though on much more stylish blades — sat alone in St. Louis this week, staring silently at the photo. And then Maxim Naumov went out and skated one of the finest routines of his life, mouthing “thank you” to the heavens as he left the rink.

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One year ago, an American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, to Washington, D.C., collided with an Army helicopter over the Potomac River, sending both aircraft plunging into the freezing water and killing all 67 people aboard both. The American Airlines flight carried dozens of members of the skating community returning from a developmental camp, including young skaters, coaches and parents. Among the lost: both of Maxim’s parents, Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova — the other two smiling in that long-ago photo.

Now 24, Maxim suddenly faced life without his most cherished allies. Together, Vadim and Evgenia won the 1994 world championships, and emigrated to Connecticut soon afterward. They began teaching skating at the International Skating Center of Connecticut, they welcomed Maxim in August 2001, and a few years later, they all posed for that photo at the center together.

“They were beautiful people. They were so incredibly kind,” Maxim told Today last March. “I don’t have the strength or the passion or the drive, or the dedication of one person anymore. It’s three people.”

The crash of American Airlines 5342 devastated the entire skating community, and the scars have barely healed. The tragedy happened just days after last year’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita, adding extra resonance to this year’s competition. Throughout this week at the championships in St. Louis, the skating world has remembered those lost through moments of silence, tributes, even a table where fans can fold origami hearts in honor of the departed.

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Sadness and resolution culminated on Thursday night when Maxim took the ice for his short program, the first of two he’ll perform this weekend. The skating world is a small one, and virtually everyone in the audience at St. Louis’s Enterprise Center knew what he’d endured, knew how he’d struggled through long months of sadness and desolation, knew how he’d willed himself to return to ice, to return to greatness. To return to what he was meant to do.

He skated out to center ice and paused, his left hand lifted toward the sky. “Let’s go, Max!” a voice echoed, and then, for a brief moment, silence. The first notes of Chopin’s Nocturne No. 20 sounded, and Maxim began his routine. As the mournful, hopeful notes of Chopin’s classic resounded, Maxim executed with brilliance, the sound of his scraping skates punctuating every graceful move. He finished with a magnificent spin and ended up on his knees, earning an instant, resounding standing ovation. And as he skated off the rink, weaving among the waves of plushies thrown his way, he waved to the crowd and placed a hand on his heart.

“Even at a time like this, having the opportunity to be here,” he later said, “just another example of how capable I am in really difficult times. It’s just more and more comforting to be here. I’m really proud of myself.”

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On the kiss and cry couch, waiting for his scores, Maxim held up and kissed that long-ago photo, and the audience resounded with sympathetic cheer. And when his score came up — 85.72, good enough to top the leaderboard after 11 skaters — the ovation only grew.

“I’m just thinking about them,” Maxim said afterwards, describing his thoughts in that moment. “Their smile, their laugh, what they say to me, their words. It all replays in my head, especially at times like this, and I love them.”

After Thursday’s short program, Maxim stood in fourth place — the pewter medal position, same as he’s won the last three years — behind Ilia Malinin, Tomoki Hiwatashi and Jason Brown. He’ll need to work hard to improve on last year’s position, and potentially even to make the Olympic team.

“It’s just really meaningful that he’s able to come out here … and do exactly what he wanted to do,” Malinin said Thursday night. “All of us support him. We’re here for his health, or support, anything that he needs.”

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Saturday night, Maxim will skate his long program to “In This Shirt” by The Irrepressibles, an ethereal, sorrowful song whose lyrics — “I’ve bled every day now, for a year, for a year” — mirror Maxim’s own pain.

“I find that in times of really difficult emotional stress, if you can just push yourself a little bit more and almost think, What if I can do it? What if, despite everything that happened to me, I can still go out there and do it?” he said. “That’s where you find strength, and that’s where you grow as a person. And that’s exactly what’s been getting me through every day.”

Only Malinin is guaranteed one of the United States’ three spots on the Olympic team. The other two are still very much up for grabs, with a variety of criteria factoring into the decision. A strong performance at the championships would go a long way toward making the Olympics, and Maxim knows it.

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“It’s the ultimate goal. It’s what my parents and I …  one of our last conversations was exactly about that,” Maxim said Thursday night, still holding the family photo. “And it would mean the absolute world to me to do so.”

The College Football Playoff is underway, and has already seen some surprising results. No. 10 Miami (FL) upset No. 2 Ohio State 24-14 as a 7.5-point underdog on New Year’s Eve, followed by No. 6 Ole Miss defeating No. 3 Georgia 39-34 on New Year’s Day as a 6-point ‘dog.

Teams that had a bye are now 1-7 in the CFP quarterfinal round over the past two seasons.

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Here are the odds for the semifinal matchups (courtesy of BetMGM) and the full College Football Playoff rankings:

College Football Playoff semifinal games

• No. 1 Indiana (-4, 47.5) vs. No. 5 Oregon

No. 6 Ole Miss vs No. 10 Miami (FL) (-3, 52.5)

ATS winner: Miami (FL) -3

Over/under: Over 52.5

College Football Playoff quarterfinal games

No. 10 Miami (FL) vs. No. 2 Ohio State (-7.5, 39.5)

ATS winner: Miami (FL) +7.5

Over/under: Under 39.5

No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 4 Texas Tech (-1.5, 50.5)

ATS winner: Oregon +1.5

Over/under: Under 50.5

No. 9 Alabama vs. No. 1 Indiana (-7.5, 46.5)

ATS winner: Indiana -7.5

Over/under: Under 46.5

No. 6 Ole Miss vs. No. 3 Georgia (-6, 53)

ATS winner: Ole Miss +6

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Over/under: Over 53

College Football Playoff first-round games

No. 9 Alabama (-2.5, 42.5) at No. 8 Oklahoma

ATS winner: Alabama +2.5

Over/under: Over 42.5

No. 10 Miami (FL) at No. 7 Texas A&M (-3, 48.5)

ATS winner: Miami (FL) +3

Over/under: Under 48.5

No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss (-16.5, 57.5)

ATS winner: Ole Miss -16.5

Over/under: Under 57.5

No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon (-20.5, 47.5)

ATS winner: James Madison +20.5

Over/under: Over 47.5

First-round byes

1. Indiana (13-0)

2. Ohio State (12-1)

3. Georgia (12-1)

4. Texas Tech (12-1)

5. Oregon (11-1)

6. Ole Miss (11-1)

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7. Texas A&M (11-1)

8. Oklahoma (10-2)

9. Alabama (10-3)

10. Miami (10-2)

11. Notre Dame (10-2)

12. BYU (11-2)

13. Texas (9-3)

14. Vanderbilt (10-2)

15. Utah (10-2)

16. USC (9-3)

17. Arizona (9-3)

18. Michigan (9-3)

19. Virginia (10-3)

20. Tulane (11-2)

21. Houston (9-3)

22. Georgia Tech (9-3)

23. Iowa (8-4)

24. James Madison (12-1)

25. North Texas (11-2)

Justice Haynes has announced he is planning to enter the transfer portal, the Michigan running back announced on Friday.

“I’ve grown as an athlete and as a person, learned from incredible coaches, and built relationships that I’ll carry with me for life,” Haynes wrote in a post on Instagram. “Representing Michigan and embracing what it means to be a Michigan Man is something I’ll always be proud of.”

The 21-year-old Haynes has spent only one season in Ann Arbor after transferring to Michigan last year following two years with Alabama. The junior rushed for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns this season and averaged 7.1 yards per carry as the Wolverines finished 9-4 and lost in the Citrus Bowl to Texas.

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Haynes was limited to only seven games in 2025 after suffering a season-ending foot injury against Michigan State in October.

As Haynes departs, Oklahoma back Taylor Tatum will enter the running back room in Ann Arbor for new Wolverines coach Kyle Whittingham.

Waiting to draft a quarterback in fantasy football isn’t a new strategy. It’s something managers have been practicing for years. But after this season, we may see a shift in the norm. Fantasy football analysts Matt Harmon and Justin Boone went over some impressive performances from sleeper QBs this season on a recent episode of the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast.

The two start off by talking about Patriots QB Drake Maye, who they were touting before the season as a potential sleeper late in drafts. Harmon was high on Maye but didn’t see this type of season coming from the second-year signal caller.

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Maye, who is among the favorites to win NFL MVP, finished the regular season as the QB2 overall in fantasy. He threw for 4,394 yards with 31 touchdowns to just eight interceptions. Maye also provided value with his legs, rushing for 450 yards and four scores. He led the NFL in a slew of passing metrics, including completion percentage (72%), QBR (77.2) and passer rating (113.5). Maye was selected at pick 105.8 on average in Yahoo drafts going into this season.

Boone points out that Maye really didn’t have any bad weeks for you. From Weeks 1-17, Maye only had three games below 17 fantasy points.

As for Lawrence, the Jaguars QB ended up thriving not for reasons Harmon pointed out prior to the season. Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter and Dyami Brown were all tracked by Harmon back in August but none of them ended up being big difference-makers this season for Jacksonville in the first year under HC Liam Coen.

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Lawrence got off to a slow start but as he got more comfortable in Coen’s offense, we saw it all come together. Lawrence would finish as the QB4 overall in fantasy scoring, thanks widely to career highs in rushing yards (359) and rushing TDs (9). Lawrence also threw for just over 4,000 yards with 29 TDs. He peaked late in the season when managers needed him most in the playoffs, averaging just over 33 fantasy points per game in Weeks 15-17.

If Lawrence and Coen can keep this going, Boone believes that the Jags QB can be a perennial QB1 in fantasy moving forward.

Since the midway point of the season, many NFL observers said the Houston Texans were the team no one wanted to face in the playoffs because of their formidable defense. Here we are, with the Pittsburgh Steelers being the first team to challenge that assertion.

Houston makes its third consecutive trip to the postseason and is pursuing its third straight win in the wild-card round. Pittsburgh will try to avoid losing a wild-card playoff game for the third year in a row, looking to Aaron Rodgers to lift the Steelers to the divisional round for the first time since the 2017 season. Rodgers last played in the postseason in 2022, finishing his second-to-last season with the Green Bay Packers.

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Previous meeting this season

These two teams did not face each other during the regular season. The last time Houston played Pittsburgh was during the 2023 season (unless you count the 2024 preseason), DeMeco Ryans’ first as the Texans’ head coach. Kenny Pickett was the Steelers’ quarterback and Najee Harris started at running back then.

C.J. Stroud threw for 308 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Nico Collins tallied 7 receptions for 168 yards and two scores in Houston’s 30-6 rout at home.

Health update

The Steelers have had a clean injury report throughout the week, with only Jaylen Warren missing practice time due to illness. However, Pittsburgh apparently believes the team’s leading rusher will recover in time for Monday night’s kickoff.

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The Texans had two starters miss practice this week, cornerback Kamari Lassiter and left guard Tytus Howard. Lassiter tied for the team lead with four interceptions and was third with 91 tackles, while Howard started 16 games this season.

The head coaches

Strangely, Ryans might be the more secure coach in this matchup. The Texans are ascendant in his third season as he’s built the best defense in the NFL. Losing in the wild-card round might take some shine off that status, but Houston is clearly building a contender. Pittsburgh seemingly avoided a difficult decision by winning its regular-season finale to clinch the AFC North and a playoff berth. Yet if the Steelers lose badly to Houston, Tomlin and the team may mutually decide that it’s time for a change.

Key player for the Steelers

Pittsburgh needed a reliable starting quarterback, which is what led the team to sign Rodgers. But making it to the playoffs hasn’t been the issue. The Steelers qualified for the postseason in five of the past six seasons. With Rodgers, the hope was that he had one more vintage season left to advance further in the playoffs. But he threw for five total touchdowns while averaging 247 passing yards in the Steelers’ final five games. Is he capable of more against a defense that allowed 277 yards per game and has been unbeatable in its past nine games?

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Key player for the Texans

Befitting their status as the NFL’s top defense, the Texans have standouts among their front seven and secondary. As mentioned above, four players had four interceptions. Defensive end Danielle Hunter led the team with 15 sacks. Yet the most disruptive player is on the opposite end of the line from Hunter, edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. The third-year pro has provided the stellar production Houston anticipated after making him the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Steelers are surely aware that Anderson has 20 tackles for loss and 23 quarterback hits this season. Rodgers could see a lot of him on Monday night.

Prediction

Pittsburgh’s reward for winning the AFC North and making the playoffs is meeting the team nobody supposedly wanted to play. (Whether the Texans have the NFL’s most ferocious defense is a discussion that should include the Denver Broncos.) Additionally, the Steelers backed into the postseason, advancing thanks to Ravens kicker Tyler Loop shanking a 44-yard field-goal attempt wide right as time expired.

Houston’s defense may also be acclaimed because it compensates for a subpar offense. The Texans ranked No. 18 in total offense and averaged 24 points per game. Quarterback C.J. Stroud threw for 200 yards or fewer in three of his past five games. That might give the Steelers a chance. But Houston’s strength is too much to overcome.

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Texans 20, Steelers 13

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As the baseball world prepares for Spring Training being a month away, some of the biggest free agents in the sport remain on the open market. Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger and Bo Bichette are the three names that continue to circulate among the big spenders, but the question remains: where are they going to land come Opening Day?

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On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jordan Shusterman is joined by guest host Jack Harris from the California Post as they discuss the free-agent game of musical chairs, as well as take a look at whether the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers could make a play for any of them if the deal is right. They also talk about why the Dodgers’ finances might be a reason for their quiet offseason, despite signing All-Star closer Edwin Díaz early on.

Later, Jordan is joined by Lance Brozdowski from Marquee Sports Network to break down the Chicago Cubs trading for Edward Cabrera from the Miami Marlins and why they were able to get him for a smaller-than-anticipated package. After that, Jordan and Jack examine Scott Boras trying to make history with Tarik Skubals’ arbitration case before making their picks for The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.

3:34 – The Opener: Big free agents still out there

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13:02 – What are the Dodgers’ next move?

30:43 – Breaking down the Cubs–Cabrera trade

56:21 – A new Rockies pitching theory?

1:00:10 – Scott Boras Scoreboard: Skubal update

1:08:06 – The Good, The Bad & The Uggla

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

The Memphis Grizzlies have seemingly become inspired by the Atlanta Hawks trading their long-term point guard, as the organization reportedly is now open to trade calls on Ja Morant.

It’s not a surprising development as Morant, the league’s No. 1 problem child, comes with an avalanche of attached concerns.

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We all know about the gun incidents and the suspensions, which is already bad enough. The off-court drama alone would be justifiable cause for any team to not be interested, but unfortunately the problems go deeper.

Morant has shown a tendency of mentally checking out on his team, even during games, and bailing on your teammates in the NBA is considered flat-out unacceptable. Just as the off-court issues would be enough of a reason for teams to not have interest in him, so would this.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t end there.

In terms of his playing style, Morant isn’t easy to implement, as he’s not a good long-range shooter by any stretch of the imagination, nor does he offer high-caliber defense or elite playmaking.

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What Morant does provide is truly elite athleticism, to the point where he can score a significant portion of points every night by simply running faster and jumping higher than his opponents.

This isn’t without value, especially as he’s also a good rebounder who does an absolutely wonderful job of taking the ball off the rim and pushing it in transition while defenses are still adjusting.

In totality, what Morant offers is indeed a very particular set of skills, which any organization would have to build around or at the very least adjust.

That’s a big ask, especially when Morant hasn’t proven to be that effective. The 26-year-old has taken over 17 shots per game for his career, but his true-shooting percentage of 55.6 is pedestrian.

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In this day and age, it’s practically impossible to build a high-level offense around a player with middling efficiency who can’t space the floor and has too many turnovers compared to assists. It’s also worth noting Morant has never played 70 games in a season and is often hampered by injuries because of his high-flying game.

As such, we need to identify teams that could use Morant, but in the capacity of a second or third star. Because as the leading man, he makes no sense.

Utah Jazz

The Jazz would be interesting, especially if they can somehow get him without relinquishing Lauri Markkanen or Keyonte George, who in this case could get shifted to off-guard.

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(Given the return Atlanta got for Trae Young, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if the Grizzlies have to settle for something similar, especially given that Young is better.)

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks need firepower alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, and while Morant doesn’t solve their spacing issues, perhaps his up-tempo style could fit with Antetokounmpo, but it’d probably take a fresher mind than Doc Rivers to make it work.

Do note that Morant’s price tag of $39.4 million does not always make a trade easy, especially for expensive teams.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves are in stark need of a point guard, but they need a playmaker who can help space the floor more for Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle, which isn’t exactly a strength of Morant’s.

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Houston Rockets

There’s a case to be made that the Rockets could be a solid destination for him, especially given the presence of Kevin Durant and their need for a point guard. But in this case, head coach Ime Udoka would have to heavily stagger Morant with Amen Thompson because of the shooting issues, again underlining how difficult Morant is to have on the roster. And besides, Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko reports the Rockets are not interested in the two-time All-Star.

These teams aren’t clear fits, but they present some of the best out there. That’s due to the complexity of Morant’s game, which doesn’t lend itself particularly well to team-oriented basketball.

Feb. 5 is the NBA’s trade deadline, so it’ll be interesting to see which team, if any, jumps out of left field and makes its presence known in the Ja market.

The Memphis Grizzlies are reportedly open to trade offers for Ja Morant, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Multiple teams are interested, per Charania, and the Grizzlies are reportedly seeking draft picks and young players in return.

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor highlighted Miami, Minnesota and Sacramento as potential trade fits. Despite being open to moving Morant, the team is also willing to keep the 26-year-old point guard.

The willingness to move Morant, who was once viewed as a franchise player, comes on the heels of the Atlanta Hawks trading Trae Young to the Wizards in recent days and the Dallas Mavericks moving Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis last season.

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Morant is under contract with the Grizzlies through the 2027–28 season. He is eligible to sign a three-year, $178 million extension this summer.

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In recent seasons, Morant’s biggest issue has been staying on the court. This season, he has played in just 19 games and has missed the last three with a right calf contusion. Morant has already been ruled out for Friday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Morant also missed time earlier this season with calf and ankle injuries and served a one-game suspension. In his sixth season, he has not played more than 65 games in a season since his rookie year.

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During the 2023–24 season, Morant appeared in only nine games after serving a 25-game suspension to start the year and later suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. When he does play, Morant remains productive, averaging 19 points, 7.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game.

The 16-21 Grizzlies are considering multiple approaches to building their roster. One option is building around 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr., who is averaging 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game this season.

The team also plans to build around its young players, who have stepped up in Morant’s absence. 2025 first-round pick Cedric Coward is averaging 13.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists this season.

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Second-year players Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer are also each averaging over 12 points per game. Edey last played on Dec. 7 after suffering an ankle injury.

This Grizzlies team has been open to making changes over the last year. Last season, the Grizzlies fired head coach Taylor Jenkins and promoted assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo just nine games before the playoffs. Jenkins spent six seasons with the franchise before the two sides parted ways.

In the offseason, the team traded Desmond Bane to the Magic in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks and a future pick swap after Bane signed a max rookie extension with the team in 2023. Bane had spent his first five seasons with the Grizzlies.

This breaking news story will be updated.