By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Rob Gronkowski is an excellent football player, and he had another stellar outing on Sunday.

We can talk about his spectacular, one-handed catch over Micah Hyde for a touchdown. We can talk about the dynamic element he brings to New England’s offense. We can even talk about how opponents refuse to learn from past mistakes and continue to press him in single coverage inside the red zone.

But perhaps the most interesting point to come out of Sunday’s romp over the Buffalo Bills is that Gronkowski takes games against them personally. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Jason Garrett has served as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys for seven seasons. After his team was eliminated Sunday, he’s made the playoffs just twice in that span.

For a franchise accustomed to competing, that might not be enough. Owner Jerry Jones isn’t letting the moment of defeat cloud his judgment, though.

“Just so we’re clear about it, I do understand frustration right after you lose a game that has as much meaningfulness as this ballgame, but I get to look at a lot of different things and have been around a lot of head coaches and coordinators,” Jones said, via ESPN. “I feel good about our head coach.” Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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There have been plenty of memorable, on-the-ground catches in the NFL.

Antonio Freeman’s Monday Night Football catch against the Vikings that prompted Al Michaels to exclaim “he did what!?” comes to mind, as does Jermaine Kearse‘s leg bobble in Super Bowl XLIX. Even Gary Barnidge’s thigh catch in 2015 could qualify.

But there are also the lowlights of the game, such as Mark Sanchez‘s infamous butt fumble.

So what happens when you combine the two? You get…the butt interception. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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After a long wait, the Los Angeles Rams (11-4) are finally heading back to the playoffs. The Rams clinched the NFC West title Sunday with a 27-23 victory over the Tennessee Titans (8-7). Here’s what we learned:

1. The Rams‘ long playoff drought, which stretches back to St. Louis, Marc Bulger and Mike Martz, is finally over. Los Angeles clinched the NFC West in wunderkind coach Sean McVay’s first season with a win over Tennessee in a game that required all 60 minutes. A Titans team even more desperate for a win didn’t go down easy, scratching and clawing to multiple slim leads before a touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp gave the Rams a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. For the Rams, it’s a sweet T-shirt-and-hat week, Victory Monday on Christmas and the cap to an incredible one-year turnaround. For the Titans, it’s another frustrating loss in a season that’s suddenly slipping away. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The Minnesota Vikings (12-3) shut down the Green Bay Packers 16-0 in a one-sided rivalry meeting on Saturday at frigid Lambeau Field. Here’s what we learned:

1. If the Packers (7-8) had won last week and kept Aaron Rodgers active, perhaps this would have been exciting. Instead, Minnesota did what it does best: play lockdown defense, harass the passer and score enough to win. Case Keenum‘s best pass of the night came on one he threw while fading back and to his left under pressure to a crossing Stefon Diggs, who toe-tapped beautifully and ended up in the tunnel at Lambeau Field for six. That was the unifying moment of this night: While a tunnel jaunt brought joy to Green Bay in Week 14, it was the beginning of frustration for the same group in Week 16.

Offensively speaking, this wasn’t a thrilling night for either side. It was cold, passes were dropped, others were errant, and the field itself was rather slippery. Keenum wasn’t as sharp as usual, but it didn’t matter much, thanks to Minnesota’s dominance of Green Bay’s punchless offense. The lone lowlight for Minnesota tonight: Guard Nick Easton left with a fractured ankle that coach Mike Zimmer said will require surgery. Fortunately, these Vikings have shown they can weather injuries along the offensive line. They’ll have to do it again. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Fresh off an impressive Thursday night performance, Brock Osweiler is heading toward another chance to start under center.

The Broncos quarterback is expected to start against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Osweiler replaced the injured Trevor Siemian in Week 15 and accounted for three touchdowns in a 25-13 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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As the Steelers prepare for their Week 16 game against the Houston Texans, they received an inspirational boost from a familiar face.

Linebacker Ryan Shazier visited the team at the Steelers‘ facility on Saturday after their practice, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The defender underwent spinal stabilization surgery after suffering a spinal injury during Pittsburgh’s win over Cincinnati on Dec. 4. Flanked by his fiancee, Shazier arrived in a wheelchair and wheeled himself past the media workroom to the team offices, per the Post-Gazette. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The Baltimore Ravens (9-6) outlasted the feisty but overmatched Indianapolis Colts (3-12) in a 23-16 win on a rainy Saturday evening in Baltimore. Here’s what we learned:

1. The Ravens avoided disaster Saturday (a loss to this Colts team would have been embarrassing at this point in the season) and also came one step closer to completing their remarkable playoff push by winning in a tough environment. Sure, Baltimore was playing at home, but with light rain becoming steady and winds picking up in the second half, it wasn’t a walk in the park. In outlasting the Colts, the Ravens grabbed control of their destiny, needing only a win in Week 17 to clinch a postseason berth, no matter what happens elsewhere. They rode their defense for much of the season, and though the offense has picked it up recently and the defense has lost a bit with Jimmy Smith‘s injury, it was again that unit that stood firm in the final two minutes to secure the win.

“We’re rolling right now,” safety Eric Weddle told CBS’ Jamie Erdahl after the game. “It’s a great feeling to know we control our own destiny.” Continue reading →