NFL Week 18 Takeaways for Every Team Heading into 2023 Playoffs, 2024 Offseason

We've reached the finish line for the 2023 NFL regular season. On Sunday, four teams clinched division titles to set the stage for the Wild Card Round.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took care of business in the early slate of games, claiming the No. 4 seed in the NFC.

Because the Jacksonville Jaguars lost to the Tennessee Titans, the Houston Texans, which beat the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, claimed the AFC South title along with the No. 4 seed in the conference.

With seven games in the second window of action and the Buffalo Bills battling the Miami Dolphins for the top spot in the AFC East in the Sunday Night Football matchup, we had an action-packed schedule for Week 18.

Bleacher Report analysts Brent Sobleski and Moe Moton will sort through the final playoff bracket and also take an early glimpse into the offseason for teams that missed the postseason.

Division Leaders

1. Baltimore Ravens 13-4*

2. Buffalo Bills 11-6*

3. Kansas City Chiefs 11-6*

4. Houston Texans 10-7*

Wild Card

5. Cleveland Browns 11-6*

6. Miami Dolphins 11-6*

7. Pittsburgh Steelers 10-7*

Eliminated: Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts

* = clinched playoff berth

Division Leaders

1. San Francisco 49ers 12-5*

2. Dallas Cowboys 12-5*

3. Detroit Lions 12-5*

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-8*

Wild Card

5. Philadelphia Eagles 11-6*

6. Los Angeles Rams 10-7*

7. Green Bay Packers 9-8*

Eliminated: Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks

* = clinched playoff berth

Is RB Derrick Henry Finished with the Tennessee Titans?

Vintage Derrick Henry showed up Sunday during the Tennessee Titans' upset victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. During the 28-20 contest, Henry rumbled for 153 yards and a score. In doing so, the Titans played spoiler and prevented their rival from clinching a division title and playoff berth.

Afterward, the future Hall of Fame inductee seemingly said goodbye to his team and its fanbase.

"I just wanted to say thank you for the greatest eight years of my life," Henry said through stadium audio. "... Hopefully, I was an inspiration to all the young kids and everybody in the community."

The 30-year-old ball-carrier is a free agent. He should chase an opportunity to play for a championship while the Titans continue in their current rebuild.

With Sunday's effort, Henry surpassed the great Earl Campbell for the most 100-yard rushing games in franchise history. It's a fitting way to finish Henry's time with the franchise, if this really is the end of their time together. His legacy has been cemented.

Trevor Lawrence Fails to Elevate Jacksonville Jaguars' Status

Right now, the Jaguars aren't a serious franchise. Trevor Lawrence and Co. failed to establishes themselves as legitimate contenders. Ultimately, Jacksonville lost five of its last six games following an 8-3 start to the season.

That collapse allowed the Houston Texans to claim the division title and its accompanying playoff berth. Scrutiny will now intensify, particularly on Lawrence.

Expectations placed Lawrence among the league's elite quarterbacks going into this season. After all, he was in his second full year under Doug Pederson and the same scheme. The young quarterback finished strong last season. Lawrence has all the natural tools to be counted among the league's best, hence why the Jaguars chose the quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

With the season on the line, Lawrence failed to score from a yard out on a quarterback sneak and outright missed throws during the following drive. As Underdog Fantasy Football's Hayden Winks noted, the 24-year-old signal-caller failed to break the top 10 since the start of the 2022 season in EPA per play, success rate and completion percentage over expected.

The Jaguars will never be serious contenders until Lawrence plays to the level he's capable of achieving.

Detroit Lions TE Sam LaPorta Sets Record, Suffers Critical Injury

The highs and lows that Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta experienced during Sunday's 30-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings couldn't have been more extreme.

The contest started wonderfully for this year's 34th overall draft pick. During the Lions' second offensive drive, quarterback Jared Goff connected with LaPorta for a two-yard touchdown. With the reception, the Iowa product set the NFL rookie tight end record with 82 receptions.

LaPorta caught four more passes during the contest to reset the number at 86.

Unfortunately, LaPorta sustained a knee injury in the second quarter and needed to be carted off the field. His potential loss for the postseason could be devastating.

To be clear, an official diagnosis of the injury has yet to be revealed. But the Lions must prepare for the possibility of missing their starting tight end.

Considering the previous note about his record-setting season, LaPorta will leave a major void. Beyond Amon-Ra St. Brown, the tight end was clearly the offense's No. 2 target. In fact, those two both eclipsed 100 total targets this season. Goff targeted backup tight end Brock Wright only 14 times.

James Mitchell should expect a bigger role.

The Lions can also rely less on the tight end position as a whole, with an emphasis on spreading the offense. Wide receivers Jameson Williams, Josh Reynolds, Donovan Peoples-Jones and Kalif Raymond will be forced to become bigger contributors.

Changes Are Necessary to Minnesota Vikings Defense

Brian Flores joined the Vikings as defensive coordinator before the 2023 season. Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell should be forced to make a change for the second successive offseason after how the Vikings defense finished down the stretch.

Minnesota owned 7-6 record with realistic playoff aspirations before losing four straight to close out the campaign. During that stretch, the Vikings defense allowed 404.5 yards per contest.

Obviously, the Vikings have a much bigger decision to make at quarterback this offseason, with Kirk Cousins set to enter free agency and a replacement not currently found on the roster. But quality quarterback play will only partially helps matters.

In a division that features the Lions and an ascending Jordan Love, the Vikings must be able to slow these offenses to have a chance. They weren't able to do that over the final month of this season, and they collapsed as a result.

Saints in Danger of 2024 Regression in Another Offseason of Cap-Space Gymnastics

The New Orleans Saints crushed the Atlanta Falcons 48-17 to keep their playoff hopes alive early Sunday, but they could be headed toward a turbulent offseason.

In recent years, the Saints have manipulated their cap space to get under the threshold, but they may face a tougher challenge in the offseason with an older roster that includes quarterback Derek Carr and his $35.7 million cap hit, per Over the Cap.

For Saints fans who would simply prefer to move on from Carr, who didn't quite play up to expectations in his first year with the team (Sunday's performance aside), remember that he has a no-trade clause. Also, the Saints would hold $52.8 million in dead cap if they cut him in the offseason. New Orleans is already $72.3 million over the cap.

In all likelihood, New Orleans will look to cut or reduce the salaries of older veterans such as wideout Michael Thomas, cornerback Marshon Lattimore, linebacker Demario Davis, versatile playmaker Taysom Hill and safeties Tyrann Mathieu and Marcus Maye. They all have cap hits of $9.9 million or more next season.

The Saints' commitment to Carr makes it difficult for them to do anything other than go with younger, less experienced players in starting roles next year.

The Saints only have two 2024 draft picks before the fifth round. If those picks don't contribute right away and the young players on the roster struggle to make notable progress, they could take a step back next season.

Falcons Should Pursue QB Justin Fields in the Offseason

The Falcons' quarterback situation became their Achilles heel this season. They gave Desmond Ridder a shot to show he's a starter and allowed Taylor Heinicke a chance to provide stability with his veteran presence. Both signal-callers turned the ball over in crucial moments that hurt the team down the stretch.

Following a loss to New Orleans, Atlanta will have a top-10 draft pick, and the team could use it on a quarterback.

However, before the draft, the Falcons should push for quarterback Justin Fields, who racked up 313 total yards (passing and rushing) with two touchdowns against them last week.

On the collegiate level, Fields spent one year at Georgia before he broke out at Ohio State. As someone who grew up in Georgia, Fields would have a comfort zone on a new team in Atlanta.

Whoever replaces head coach Arthur Smith should take an aggressive approach to revamping the quarterback room, starting an inquiry for Fields in case the team doesn't love its early-round quarterback options in the draft or finds it difficult to trade up for its signal-caller of choice.

Jets Will Take Flight on Aaron Rodgers' Offseason Plan

Joe Douglas is the general manager of the New York Jets, but Aaron Rodgers has and will have major pull within the organization. Remember, Gang Green signed Rodgers' former teammates, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb this past offseason. They recorded 28 catches for 350 yards and two touchdowns combined.

This past offseason, the Jets acquired Rodgers from the Green Packers, and he restructured his deal to a two-year, $75 million pact.

Expected to save the franchise from mediocrity and futility, Rodgers will co-captain Gang Green's offseason with his recruiting efforts.

Per ESPN's Rich Cimini, Rodgers will recruit former teammates like wideout Davante Adams, who's with the Las Vegas Raiders, and running back Aaron Jones, whom the Packers may cut for more cap space.

The Jets and Rodgers have made a commitment to at least another two seasons. Gang Green should do everything it can to help the 40-year-old signal-caller play at a high level in a potential bounce-back 2024 term, which will likely include listening to his roster personnel suggestions, especially if he's able to lure All-Pro and Pro Bowl players to New York.

Patriots and Bill Belichick Need to Start New Respective Chapters

Since the 2021 campaign, the New England Patriots have trended in the wrong direction, and so has their offense, falling from sixth in scoring to last before the final week of this season.

Head coach Bill Belichick has a coaching background rooted mostly in defense, and the Patriots have fielded several stingy units on that side of the ball during his tenure.

Going into the 2024 offseason, New England may draft a quarterback with a top-three pick. Following former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' departure, Belichick hasn't shown the ability to develop a young quarterback or find a coordinator to help him do it.

Mac Jones went on a sharp decline from a 2021 Pro Bowl player to a backup after McDaniels accepted an offer to become the Las Vegas Raiders' head coach in 2022.

In recent years, the Patriots have struggled to develop and utilize offensive skill players, which is partially why the team fell to the bottom of key offensive stat categories in 2023. They should go all-in on an offensive-minded head coach with a new general manager.

After 23 seasons in New England, Belichick may benefit from a fresh start with a team like that Los Angeles Chargers, who have their quarterback (Justin Herbert) in place and need a stronger defense.

On Sunday, the Jets snapped a 15-game losing streak to the Patriots in a 17-3 victory, which should indicate the need for change in New England.

Buccaneers' Playoff Berth Should Secure Baker Mayfield's Short-Term Future in Tampa Bay

With a win over the Carolina Panthers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers claimed another NFC South crown, their third in a row.

After two NFC South titles with Tom Brady under center, Tampa Bay won it with quarterback Baker Mayfield, who helped lead the team to one more win than it had last season.

This season, Mayfield threw for career highs in passing yards (4,044) and touchdowns (28) and completed a personal-best 64.3 percent of his passes.

Regardless of what happens in the playoffs, Tampa Bay will likely try to work out a new deal with Mayfield, who's still in the prime of his career at 28 years old.

Two weeks ago, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the Buccaneers and Mayfield have a mutual interest in a contract extension.

If Tampa Bay wins a playoff game, Mayfield can up the ante on his asking price at the negotiating table, though he's playing through rib and ankle injuries that could impact his performance in the postseason.

Panthers Need a New Regime That Can Clean Up Their Image

The Carolina Panthers finished the 2023 season with the worst record (2-15), and owner David Tepper hasn't set a good example from the top of the organization. Carolina must bring in a general manager and head coach who will do some public damage control as well as steer the organization in the right direction.

Early this week, the league fined Tepper $300,000 for throwing a drink on a Jacksonville Jaguars fan. For a team owner, that's inexcusable behavior, something that may scare away potential general managers and head-coaching candidates.

The Panthers already have an opening at the head coach position. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, many people around the league expect the club to relieve general manager Scot Fitterer of his duties as well.

The Panthers should certainly call Bill Belichick (if the New England Patriots part ways with him) to clean up this mess, but he has a shaky draft record with wide receivers, and Carolina needs upgrades at the position to aid rookie quarterback Bryce Young's development.

If the Tennessee Titans move on from Mike Vrabel, he could bring a no-nonsense attitude to Carolina. Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn also makes sense because of his head-coaching experience.

Cincinnati Bengals Offseason Decisions Start At Wide Receiver

The Cincinnati Bengals passing attack is highly unlikely to look the same next season, even with a healthy Joe Burrow returning to the lineup. Both Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd are scheduled to enter free agency. Meanwhile, Ja'Marr Chase enters the initial window in his rookie contract to negotiate a long-term extension.

Chase is the long-term priority, and he's looking to sign a megadeal this offseason.

"Lord knows I want to do that," the 23-year-old told reporters last week. "I mean, but we'll see what happens."

What's the holdup? The Minnesota Vikings' Justin Jefferson is also in line for a new record-setting deal. Chase wants his collegiate teammate to reset the market before getting his deal done. The Bengals may have to wait to see where they stand.

In the meantime, Higgins and Boyd could look for new situations where they're featured more. This leaves the Bengals in skill-position limbo to a certain degree.

However, Sunday's 31-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns provided a small glimpse of what the wide receiver corps could eventually look like.

Sixth-round rookie Andrei Iosivas led the team during the season finale with five catches and two touchdowns receptions. Fellow first-year receiver Charlie Jones posted a team-leading 49 receiving yards.

It's quite possible that Iosivas and Jones are the Bengals' WR2 and WR3 next season.

Potential Coach of the Year Battle Brewing in First Round of AFC Playoffs

With the Jacksonville Jaguars falling flat in Week 18, the Houston Texans won their way into a playoff berth and AFC South crown. In doing so, the Texans will host the Browns in the Wild Card Round.

Cleveland sat the majority of its primary contributors for Sunday's contest, hence the lopsided result against its in-state rival. But the loss doesn't take away from an 11-6 season, where the Browns continually overcame adversity.

Even with everyone returning to the lineup next week, Cleveland won't be at full strength. The team will still be led by their fourth starting quarterback in Joe Flacco. Running back Nick Chubb won't be returning. The offense will still rely on third-string offensive tackles.

The performance despite these obstacles is exactly why Kevin Stefanski is considered one of the front-runners for NFL Coach of the Year. He has legitimate competition from the Texans' DeMeco Ryans, though.

While the head-to-head meeting won't determine voting, it's a testament to both coaches and what they've achieved this season. For the Browns and their top-ranked defense, their goal will be simple: Don't allow rookie standout C.J. Stroud beat them. It's easier said than done—just ask the Indianapolis Colts.

Green Bay Packers Did It Again at QB, Enjoy Posteason As Result

The Green Bay Packers organization finds itself in an unprecedented situation where it appears to have a third straight franchise quarterback in place for an unmatched stretch of high-level play from the game's most important position.

In a must-win situation, Jordan Love threw for 316 yards and a pair of touchdowns during a playoff-clinching 17-9 victory over the Chicago Bears. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, the 25-year-old signal-caller completed a career-high plus-13.2 percent of his passes over expected.

Over the course of the season, Love threw for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns. More importantly, the Packers earned a postseason berth in his first season as a starter. Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers can't claim the same.

Granted, Green Bay squeaked into the seventh and final playoff spot. Still, the Packers are better off today than the New York Jets are with Rodgers on their roster. Plus, Green Bay has an extra second-round pick thanks to the deal. The young squad will also gain invaluable experience by playing in the postseason. The Packers should continue to grow in the coming years with Love behind center and a young cast of talented targets in Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft.

A trip to Dallas to face the Cowboys could put things in perspective quickly. Even in a loss, Green Bay knows it got it right once again.

Justin Fields' Time as Chicago Bears QB1 Should Come to a Close

The Packers' continued success at quarterback with Jordan Love provided the perfect juxtaposition to the Bears' consternation over the quarterback position.

Simply put, Justin Fields isn't the right guy for Chicago. He could be elsewhere. But it's clear his development and usage haven't been the No. 1 priority for the Bears.

As a result, Fields threw the ball a measly 16 times and Chicago managed only nine points, when the Bears could have played spoiler and knocked their archrival out of the postseason.

Fortunately for the Bears, the organization owns this year's No. 1 overall draft pick thanks to last year's trade with the Carolina Panthers. It'll have its choice between North Carolina's Drake Maye, USC's Caleb Williams or LSU's Jayden Daniels.

The move will allow the team to reset the clock at quarterback without having to pick up a fifth-year rookie option and possibly pay a massive contract extension sooner rather than later. Plus, Fields will be in demand on the trade market for other organizations who will get a chance to maximize his potential.

The relationship hasn't worked. It's best for parties to go their separate ways.

Dallas Cowboys' Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb Are NFL's Most Dangerous Duo Entering Postseason

Ho hum, CeeDee Lamb posted a 13-catch, 98-yard and two-touchdown performance during Sunday's 38-10 victory over the Washington Commanders.

Lamb has been on an absolute tear since the Cowboys' 42-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in October. From that point forward, the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver posted six games with 11 or more catches and seven outings with 116 or more receiving yards.

Basically, Lamb has been unstoppable during the stretch, with quarterback Dak Prescott targeting the Cowboys' WR1 an average of 12.2 times per contest.

"Remarkable," Prescott said of Lamb, per ESPN's Todd Archer. "That's who CeeDee Lamb is. ... He can do it all and he's continuing to get better. Wants to get better. Hungry to get better. Hungry for the ball. Has one of the most hungriest mindsets that I've been around in this game of football, and it's fun.

"Obviously, we have a similar mindset. We want the ball in our hands. I can definitely understand and relate. Makes it easy. Makes my job easy, and he's special. He's really just getting going."

The Cowboys' playoff opener comes against the Green Bay Packers, who sport one of the league's worst run defenses. Dallas can let its offensive line go to work, which will create opportunities for Lamb as Green Bay is forced to put more bodies in the box to slow Tony Pollard and/or Rico Dowdle.

Washington Commanders Can Finally Move Forward in All Phases

With Daniel Snyder finally selling the Washington Commander last year, the entire organization can finally take a breath and move on from the years of dysfunction it previously experienced. As part of the transition, massive changes are forthcoming.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported that the Commanders were expected to move on from head coach Ron Rivera even before Sunday's contest. General manager Martin Mayhew may not be far behind.

Whoever leads the franchise going into the 2024 campaign will have a major decision to make at quarterback.

Fortunately, the Commanders didn't find a way to upset the Cowboys and work their way out of position to select one of the incoming draft class' top quarterback prospects. Washington now claims this year's second overall draft pick.

The Chicago Bears will decide whether to keep Justin Fields at quarterback or trade out of the No. 1 selection. The Commanders can stand pat and simply take North Carolina's Drake Maye or USC's Caleb Williams, whichever is still available, once they're on the clock.

A new general manager, new head coach and franchise quarterback have a nice ring to them after eight straight seasons without a winning record.

Raiders Should Aggressively Pursue Jim Harbaugh to Fill Head-Coaching Vacancy

With all due respect to Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce, who turned around a 3-5 club that had lost its vitality, owner Mark Davis should aim higher in his search for a new lead skipper.

Regardless of who the Raiders hire to fill their open general manager position, Harbaugh should be the No. 1 option on their list of head-coaching candidates.

With a 70-plus percent winning percentage on the pro and collegiate levels, Harbaugh has transformed an NFL franchise and multiple collegiate teams into winning programs.

Since 2002, the Raiders have had two winning seasons that led to playoff appearances. Davis can pull this franchise out of the mud with a home-run hire.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, Harbaugh has been linked to the Los Angeles Chargers and Raiders. So, if Davis can lure him to Las Vegas, he could also prevent a division rival from elevating its franchise.

Remember, Harbaugh has Raider roots, serving as a quarterbacks coach between 2002 and 2003 during the team's Al Davis era.

Sean Payton Will Have Unfamiliar Task of Developing a Young Starting Quarterback

Following a loss to the Raiders, the Denver Broncos moved up to 12th in the NFL draft order, which gives them a better shot at a top quarterback prospect whether they stand pat or trade up.

According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, Russell Wilson expects Denver to release him in the offseason, which would pave the way for a new Week 1 starting quarterback in 2024.

Currently, the Broncos are $18 million over the cap, and the club would be stuck with a hefty cost in dead money if it cuts Wilson.

Unless head coach Sean Payton strongly considers a short-term future with Jarrett Stidham under center, expect the Broncos to transition from Wilson to a rookie quarterback.

If that's the case, after working with veterans Drew Brees and Wilson in New Orleans and Denver, respectively, Payton would be tasked with developing the first early round rookie quarterback in his head-coaching career.

New York Giants' Future Isn't As Bleak as Initially Believed

The New York Giants throttled the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, and the performance creates some hope for the future.

The 27-10 outcome wasn't a result of a playoff team not playing anyone and a bunch of backups being beaten up. The Eagles had a division title on the line and fell flat on their proverbial faces.

Conversely, the Giants will go into the offseason on a high from the dominant victory. More importantly, signs appeared that this team wasn't quite as bad as its 6-11 record indicates.

Will certain areas of the roster need to be addressed this offseason? Absolutely. At the same time, this squad falls somewhere between last year's unit that made the playoffs and this year's version that started the campaign with a 2-8 record.

Wide receiver Darius Slayton serves as an excellent example. The thought of adding more weapons will pervade the offseason discourse. Yet Slayton played extremely well in recent weeks, with a touchdown grab in three straight contests and setting a career high in receiving yardage.

Veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor showed at times this season how the offense can operate efficiently. Daniel Jones needs to take note.

New York's offensive line play must improve. The defense requires some reinforcements. But the Giants looked like an absolute disaster to start the 2023 season, and they ended it by playing their best game.

Significant Injury Concerns Blur Philadelphia Eagles' Postseason Picture

For a large portion of the season, many considered the Eagles the NFC's best team. That designation quickly faded with five losses in Philadelphia's last six games. But Sunday's outcome proved far more brutal than enduring another loss.

Both quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver A.J. Brown left the contest because of injuries and didn't return.

Brown suffered a knee injury while being tackled in the first quarter. Without Brown in the lineup—or in it at less than 100 percent—the Eagles present a completely different offense, because no other wide receiver on the roster can replicate his presence or ability to create after the catch.

Hurts, meanwhile, smashed the middle finger on his throwing hand into a Giants defender. The quarterback tried to play through the injury at first but ultimately left the game. Marcus Mariota entered the lineup and proceeded to throw an interception and lose a fumble.

Any injury to a quarterback's throwing hand is a major concern, particularly when his squad is about to enter the postseason. Considering how poorly the Eagles have played down the stretch, the general disarray of their defense and key injuries to a pair of franchise stars, any hope of another run to the Super Bowl seems far-fetched.

Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Isn't Going Anywhere

Pete Carroll plans to be back as the Seattle Seahawks' head coach next season. The 72-year-old football lifer wants to coach the team again.

"I do," Carroll said succinctly when asked about running it back in 2024.

The bigger question is whether the Seahawks should continue with Carroll leading the way. Carroll has been the franchise's head coach since 2010. During that span, Seattle posted 11 winning seasons, with 10 playoff appearances.

While the Seahawks came up short this season despite Sunday's 21-20 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, they were in the hunt all the way until the end. Granted, the 2024 campaign will be the fourth since Seattle won 10 or more contests. The team remains competitive and in the mix, though it veers awfully close to mediocre.

Two consecutive strong draft classes with another possibly on the way will determine the franchise's long-term future.

The Seahawks should remain Carroll's team. A year from now, the discussion could be quite different.

Arizona Cardinals To Be Built Around RB James Conner

Typically, a running back nearing the age of 30 isn't a priority for any team. James Conner is different.

At 28 years old, Conner established a new career-high with 1,040 rushing yards.

"I will be the guy to delay (the inevitable decline when nearing 30)," Conner told reporters. "I understand what it takes during a 17-game season. My preparation, I dedicate everything to it. ... It's all about the recovery and nutrition. I have a whole team of people."

From a macro point of view, the veteran ball-carrier provided the Cardinals with an identity. Since the calendar turned to December, Conner ran for 514 yards, including 150 Sunday against the Seahawks.

As general manager Monti Ossenfort continues to build around quarterback Kyler Murray—which remains the organization's No. 1 priority—Conner and the run game can serve as the focal point.

Clearly, Arizona's offensive line is better when run-blocking. Furthermore, Arizona should be expected to draft a wide receiver or two, and they will need time to develop. Pressure can be taken off Murray and the Cardinals can asset their will by letting Conner and the run game build off the success they experienced toward the end of the 2023 campaign.

Los Angeles Rams Rookie WR Puca Nakua Can't and Won't Be Stopped in Playoffs

Puke Nacua pieced together the greatest rookie season ever for a wide receiver. Don't expect that production to end anytime soon.

This year's 177th overall pick set new records with 105 receptions and 1,486 receiving yards. Nacua accomplished these feats in a 17-game season, but the expanded regular season doesn't take away from how special he's been since stepping onto an NFL field.

"If we were to say that we knew he would be this good, then we would not have waited as long as we did," Rams head coach Sean McVay joked with ESPN's Sarah Barshop.

It's always easy to go back and see which players should have been drafted higher. In reality, it's important where they fall and the situation they find themselves.

Nacua is an ideal fit for the McVay's offense. He does everything that the coach expects from the position. He's reliable and tenacious. Those traits, coupled with playing alongside a rejuvenated Matthew Stafford, created the perfect storm to set records.

The Detroit Lions are next on the docket. Los Angeles' first-round opponent happens to feature the league's sixth-worst pass defense. Win or lose, expect Nacua to put up big numbers in the first round, because no one is stopping him.

Rookie Kicker Should Scare San Francisco 49ers With Playoffs Looming

The 49ers didn't have much to play for during Sunday's 21-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. But a potential concern area arose during the contest.

San Francisco already clinched the NFC's No. 1 seed in Week 17. The Niners will host playoff games for as long as they remain in the hunt. However, Sunday's outcome came with an asterisk.

Rookie kicker Jake Moody missed an extra point and field goal.

"It's never good when you miss them, especially having two like that," head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters after the game. "… He's had a helluva year and done a helluva job up until this point. He just had a rough day today."

To Shanahan's point, the third-round rookie hadn't missed a field goal inside of 40 yards or an extra point until Week 18. The question is whether those missed kicks will now get into Moody's head, particularly since they came at Levi's Stadium.

The last thing San Francisco wants is a kicker getting the yips during the most important time of the season.

Chiefs Will Trust Youth in Super Bowl Title Defense

Though four-time All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce has had a Hall of Fame-level run as a key cog in the Kansas City Chiefs' aerial attack, his production notably dipped in a year that the team struggled offensively for extended stretches.

The Chiefs chose to rest Kelce for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers, and he failed to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards in a season for the first since the 2015 campaign.

Kelce hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 11, and he's only topped 91 receiving yards in a game twice this season. Kansas City will probably rely more on young playmakers in its upcoming postseason run than in years past.

Running back Isiah Pacheco helped lead the Chiefs to a Super Bowl title last year, and he could be the focal point of the offense in another deep playoff run. Kansas City's wide receiver corps leads the NFL in drops, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes has thrown for four touchdowns and three interceptions in his past three outings.

When Mahomes attempts to move the ball through the air, he should continue to target rookie wideout Rashee Rice, who racked up a career-high 127 receiving yards against the Cincinnati Bengals last week and leads the team with seven touchdown receptions.

Chargers Have the Most Appealing Head-Coaching Vacancy

Unless the Dallas Cowboys fire head coach Mike McCarthy, which is a possibility according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Los Angeles Chargers will have the most appealing head-coaching vacancy in the offseason.

Why? His name is Justin Herbert.

Herbert won 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year and threw for 5,000-plus yards and 38 touchdowns in his 2021 Pro Bowl campaign. He's a big draw for a head-coaching candidate who doesn't want to go through the process of finding a franchise quarterback.

Thus far, the Chargers have been linked to Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh (h/t NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero), who would be a slam-dunk pickup for the organization. Harbaugh has the experience and winning track record that lead you to believe he could turn the Chargers into perennial playoff contenders.

While skeptics have concerns about the Chargers' aging roster and limited cap flexibility for 2024, a high-end quarterback can help mask short-term roster deficiencies as a team works through salary restrictions.

The Chargers would have one of the league's most promising coach-quarterback duos with a Harbaugh-Herbert combo.

Bills Cannot Continue to Flirt with Disaster in the Playoffs

When a quarterback turns the ball over three times in a game, we can dismiss it as a poor performance. If it happens in consecutive contests, though, a team should be concerned with the signal-caller's ball security and decision-making in the pocket.

Over the past two weeks, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has thrown three interceptions and fumbled three times (losing possession once).

The Bills have won their past two games despite Allen's turnover outbreak, but they cannot continue to play with fire in the postseason.

Next week, Buffalo will host the Pittsburgh Steelers, who currently rank third in takeaways (27). The Steelers won't have edge-rusher T.J. Watt, who tore his MCL, but Alex Highsmith, Marcus Golden and rookie Nick Herbig could make Allen uncomfortable in the pocket to force errant throws downfield.

The Bills have won five consecutive games, but Allen must limit crucial mistakes. Interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady should lean into the ground attack to complement his turnover-prone quarterback.

Dolphins' Injuries May Dictate Extent of Their Playoff Run

Over the past month, the Dolphins have lost their starting edge-rushers, Jaelan Phillips (torn Achilles) and Bradley Chubb (torn ACL) for the season. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle) and running back Raheem Mostert (knee and ankle) have missed the past two games. Cornerback Xavien Howard missed Sunday's game because of a foot injury, and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel exited that contest with a foot injury.

Aside from Phillips and Chubb, the Dolphins may get some of their starters back for the Wild Card Round, but those players may have snap-count limitations.

Since Waddle and Mostert suffered injuries in Week 16, the Dolphins have seen a drop-off in scoring, finishing each of their previous three games with 22 or fewer points.

Miami has scored eight fewer points on the road than at home, so its loss to Buffalo doesn't bode well for a team headed to Kansas City to play a top-three scoring defense.

If Waddle and Mostert can handle a full workload, the Dolphins should be able to compete with the Chiefs, who have experienced their fair share of offensive issues, specifically with drops.

Nonetheless, in order for the Dolphins to avenge a Week 9 loss to the Chiefs, they'll need their key offensive playmakers back on the field. Miami's injury-riddled defense could struggle against the reigning Super Bowl champions.