By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Listeners of the Around The NFL Podcast will almost instinctively recite the one truth they know about Kai Forbath: “Kai’s Kai.”

But Vikings fans can’t be as certain about the kicker as their team returns to the playoffs this weekend for the first time since another boot’s blunder sent them home shocked.

It’s been not one, but two kickers who have taken promising seasons and jettisoned them into oblivion with wide-left kicks in the final moments of Vikings playoff games. The first — Gary Anderson’s only miss after a perfect regular season — gave Atlanta new life and eventually robbed Minnesota of what seemed to be a surefire Super Bowl berth. The second — Blair Walsh‘s hook shot in the final 30 seconds of a 10-9 wild-card loss in a frigid outdoor game in Minneapolis — sunk the Vikings in what was headed toward becoming a memorable postseason win. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Marcell Dareus‘ revenge tale became complete with last weekend’s victory over his former team.

But for the defensive tackle, it’s just the beginning of what he views as the brightest portion of his professional career — and he couldn’t be more grateful.

“This organization has changed my life,” Dareus said of the Jacksonville Jaguars, via the Florida Times-Union. “They’ve done such great things so far, I just don’t want mess anything up. I’m just overjoyed for the opportunity to play.” Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Ah, Wild Card Weekend, home of wild things, but not Where the Wild Things Are. No, instead of giant-faced fantastical animals, we have big-game action from big-time players.

Pitted against history and raucous crowds, road teams defied expectations to snag two of the weekend’s four possible wins, including a Saturday sweep. We’re here to bring you the best from those winners, who have earned themselves another week of football.

These are your greatest on the road from Wild Card Weekend presented by Courtyard by Marriott. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The Eagles are the NFC’s top seed and were the darlings of the league until Carson Wentz was lost to injury.

Now that they’re riding with backup quarterback Nick Foles, the prevailing thought ahead of Saturday’s Divisional Round meeting with the Atlanta Falcons is Philadelphia doesn’t have the best chance of victory.

No skin off Fletcher Cox‘s back. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Tyrod Taylor left Buffalo’s 10-3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars after he suffered a concussion late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s wild-card game.

Bills coach Sean McDermott confirmed Taylor’s concussion and said he was placed in the protocol after the game.

Nathan Peterman replaced Taylor with less than two minutes left to play in the game. Peterman briefly gave the Bills life by converting a fourth-and-3 on a scramble, but he was intercepted by Jalen Ramsey a few plays later to seal the win for Jacksonville. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The Steelers are getting their most important weapon back in time for their first playoff game.

Wide receiver Antonio Brown (calf) will be at full strength for Pittsburgh’s divisional contest next week, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Had Pittsburgh played in the wild card round, Brown would have been ready to go, Rapoport added.

Brown has not played since suffering a calf injury in Pittsburgh’s 27-24 loss to New England in Week 15. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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The what-if game is a dangerous (and unnecessary) one, but in the aftermath of a close playoff finish, it’s often inevitable.

Kansas City fans were left with only that to play for the next six months after Saturday’s loss to the Tennessee Titans. Theirs will surely revolve around two plays that, had they gone the other way, might have significantly altered the outcome of the game.

The first was a sack of Marcus Mariota on a play in which Derrick Johnson blitzed and crushed the quarterback. During the hit, which lifted Mariota off the ground, it appeared upon review that the quarterback fumbled before hitting the ground. Mariota was ruled down by forward progress, which had been stopped (though he wasn’t moving forward prior to the contact), on a quick whistle. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Alex Smith has battled the stigma earned by his early career struggles for much of the last decade and throughout his tenure with the Chiefs. Saturday night’s result won’t quiet the uninformed doubters.

Individually, the quarterback had yet another solid performance, completing 24 of 33 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns in the 22-21 loss to the Tennessee Titans. But while Smith did his job, Kansas City crumbled in the second half, surrendering an 18-point lead to a hungry Titans team led by Marcus Mariota and Derrick Henry. As the Titans stunned fans at Arrowhead Stadium and viewers around the globe, Smith’s Chiefs couldn’t respond, with the result sending Kansas City home earlier than expected yet again. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Jon Gruden’s contract — a mammoth one — is still being worked out, but with a number like $100 million and multiple reports packing his backs for the Bay Area, ESPN decided to acknowledge the news.

ESPN broadcaster Sean McDonough opened Saturday’s broadcast of Chiefs-Titans by addressing the elephant in the room. Continue reading →

By Nick Shook
NFL.com
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Kareem Hunt‘s rookie season included a hot start, and the regular season portion of it came to a close with a strong finish and a rushing title.

Turns out, the former Toledo Rocket wanted that last part badly enough to make a hard sell on his coach. Continue reading →