BY JEFF YODER

FEB. 13, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

Sunday's Super Bowl 58 was the most-watched game in NFL history, up 7% from last year’s game. An average viewership of 123 million was no surprise given the location, celebrities and team markets. It’s the aftermath edition (Super Bowl Hangover) as NFL personnel begin their slow disappearance into the offseason. Not the Chiefs (at least not yet).

Patrick Mahomes made it to Disneyland early yesterday, and the Kelce brothers are probably still tearing up a dance floor in Las Vegas. Let's prep for the offseason and wrap up the NFL season with a GOAT debate (bottom of today's edition).

Letter Rip!

NFL

The Super Bowl Hangover

Photo: MediaNewsGroup / Orange County Register / Getty Images

NFL Offseason Look-Ahead: What To Watch for in NFL's Spring 2024

The NFL offseason is here. It was a groggy, Super Bowl hangover day for sportswriters and athletes alike yesterday in Las Vegas. Usher’s halftime performance is still roller-skating through my brain, and the scriptwriters are already scheming up next year’s big show.

The day after Super Bowl is always a lazy day in sports news, but it’s a good opportunity for us to look ahead at the offseason schedule. The Chiefs will throw their third parade in five years tomorrow in Kansas City, but we’ve seen a lot of those lately. Expect some Travis Kelce mic’d up moments and a party that won’t end. And while the Chiefs are still in celebration mode this week, 31 other teams (and their fans) are moving on.

We’re full-speed ahead toward the key dates of the NFL’s spring slate. That includes the scouting combine in Indianapolis to wrap up February before free-agent moves, trades and contracts throughout the month of March. The NFL Draft is April’s big prize, and it’ll provide plenty of NFL fodder for us sportswriters in the near future. Here’s a look at the offseason dates to watch, along with top free agents and the early favorites to win Super Bowl 59.

NFL Offseason Schedule

NFL Scouting Combine (Feb. 26 — Mar. 4)

Negotiation Window (Opens: Mar. 11)

NFL Draft (Apr. 25 — Apr. 27)

Super Bowl 59 Favorites

San Francisco 49ers (+600)

Kansas City Chiefs (+850)

Baltimore Ravens (+1000)

Buffalo Bills (+1200)

Cincinnati Bengals (+1500)

Detroit Lions (+1700)

Miami Dolphins (+2000)

Dallas Cowboys (+2000)

Philadelphia Eagles (+2200)

Green Bay Packers (+2500)

Houston Texans (+2500)

New York Jets (+3000)

Notable NFL Free Agents to Watch

DT Chris Jones (Chiefs)

QB Kirk Cousins (Vikings)

WR Tee Higgins (Bengals)

WR Mike Evans (Buccaneers)

EDGE Josh Allen (Jaguars)

DT Justin Madubuike (Ravens)

WR Michael Pittman Jr. (Colts)

CB L’Jarius Sneed (Chiefs)

CB Jaylon Johnson (Bears)

CB Kendal Fuller (Commanders)

EDGE Chase Young (49ers)

EDGE Brian Burns (Panthers)

This year’s deep list of free agents is a bit overwhelming. It also includes names like QB Baker Mayfield (Bucs) and a long list of veteran running backs like Saquon Barkley (Giants) and Derrick Henry (Titans). Expect Mayfield to stay with the Bucs, but the rumor mill will start swirling here soon.

The offseason is here. Only 206 days until the 2024 NFL season opener. Hang in there, football fans.

The Athletic: How the 1st 3 Rounds of NFL Draft Look After Super Bowl

B/R: 2024 NFL Mock Draft, B/R’s Scouting Dept’s Post-Super Bowl Picks

NCAA

Bracket Watch: 3 Weeks to March

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

The NCAA Tournament Outlook & AP Polls With 1 Month to Selection Sunday

🚨 Alert: #6 Kansas Shocked by Unranked Texas Tech (79-50)

The latest NCAA polls were released on Monday with the same — we’ll call it top-3 — teams headlining the rankings. No. 1 UConn and No. 2 Purdue continue to roll towards March while the rest of the men’s top-10 keeps getting tossed around. Most recently, No. 6 Kansas lost by 29 to unranked Texas Tech. And if you were following our coverage of upsets last week, that’s the 41st win by an unranked team against a top-10 team this season. Losses happen, but 29? Wow, Jayhawks. Houston (No. 3) and South Carolina (No. 11) are the only other 20-win power-conference teams. Saint Mary’s (#18) and Indiana State (#23) are also over the 20-win mark, and the Sycamores are ranked for the first time since Larry Bird was in college.

At the moment, UConn, Purdue and Houston are on the 1-line, but that final 1-seed spot is anyone’s to take.

Men’s AP Top-10

1. UConn (22-2) | —

2. Purdue (22-2) | —

3. Houston (21-3) | ↑2

4. Marquette (18-5) | ↑3

5. Arizona (19-5) | ↑3

6. Kansas (19-5) | ↓2

7. North Carolina (19-5) | ↓4

8. Tennessee (17-6) | ↓2

9. Duke (18-5) | —

10. Iowa State (18-5) | ↑4

Full Men’s AP Top-25

In women’s hoops, who else? South Carolina passed another test over the weekend with a double-digit win against #11 UConn. The Gamecocks are still undefeated and show no signs of a let-up down the stretch. Meanwhile, there’s a shakeup in the Big Ten. Iowa’s upset loss to Nebraska paved the way for Ohio State to supplant the Hawkeyes at No. 2 and the top of the Big Ten. But even with more top-heavy parity in women’s basketball, it’s still South Carolina against the field.

Women’s AP Top-10

1. South Carolina (23-0) | —

2. Ohio State (21-3) | ↑3

3. Stanford (22-3) | ↑3

4. Iowa (22-3 | ↓2

5. Texas (22-3) | ↑2

6. NC State (21-3) | ↓3

7. Kansas State (21-3) | ↑1

8. Colorado (20-4) | ↓4

9. UCLA (19-4) | —

10. USC (17-4) | —

Full Women’s AP Top-25

NCAAW: #10 USC Downs Arizona (81-64) Behind 32 Points from Juju Watkins

Read More

ESPN: Bracketology: The Men’s 2024 NCAA Tournament Preview (Joe Lunardi)

CBS Sports: Indiana State Enters Top-25 for 1st Time Since Larry Bird Era

FOX Sports: NCAA Tournament Bubble Watch: 10 Teams That Need a Strong Finish

Yahoo! Sports: Iowa Not Alone in Suffering Surprise Upset Over Wild Weekend in Women’s Basketball

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HIGHLIGHTS 🎥

🏀 NBA

Bucks def. Nuggets (112-95)

*Giannis (36-18) Outduels Jokic (29-12-8) in Milwaukee

Rockets def. Knicks (105-103)

*Rockets Win It With FTs After Late Foul

76ers def. Cavaliers (123-121)

*Philly Ends Cavs’ 9-Game Win Streak

Timberwolves def. Clippers (121-100)

*Minnesota Retakes Top Spot in Western Conference

Spurs def. Raptors (122-99)

*Victor Wembanyama (27-14-10) Has Triple-Double With 10 Blocks

🏒 NHL

Rangers def. Flames (2-0)

*Shesterkin (30 Saves) Helps NYR Win 5th Straight

Flyers def. Coyotes (5-3)

*Philly Wins 3rd Straight to Keep Pace in Metro

Devils def. Kraken (3-1)

*Jack Hughes (1G, 1A) Fuels Jersey

Wild def. Golden Knights (5-3)

*Matt Boldy (1G, 2A) Keeps MIN Above .500

STORYLINES

Super Bowl 58 Aftermath

🏈 49ers Admit to OT Rules Blunder

While several Chiefs players and coaches said they had a prepared strategy in the event that the Super Bowl went to overtime, multiple 49ers players admitted they were not even aware of the new playoff rules. The 49ers’ decision to receive the OT kickoff will be talked about for years. (ESPN)

🎙️ Tony Romo Ruined the Moment

If there’s anything that announcers in sports have learned over the years, it’s this: When there’s a huge moment, sometimes it’s best to sit back and let it breathe. Tony Romo’s unending chatter seemingly ruined the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl 58, and fans weren’t happy with his need to steal the show. (FTW)

📸 The Best Super Bowl Memes

Super Bowl 58 may have been the most talked-about contest in NFL history thanks to a number of contributing factors — Vegas, the Chiefs, Taylor Swift and Usher. So the flashbulbs were out in full force for Sunday's clash. That set the stage for a very memorable — and memeable — night in the Nevada desert. (Sporting News)

NEWS 📰

UCLA Names DeShaun Foster Head Football Coach (SI)
Jen Pawol Expected to Become MLB’s First Female Umpire (CBS Sports)
JJ Redick Will Reportedly Replace Doc Rivers on NBA Finals Broadcast Team (Yahoo! Sports)
Virginia Senator Says Bill for New Wizards & Capitals Arena is Dead (ESPN)
Hornets President Mitch Kupchak Resigns (B/R)
Tiger Woods Launches New Partnership With TaylorMade Golf (USA Today)
Super Bowl 58 Was Most-Watch Game in NFL History at 123.4 Million Average Viewers (Sporting News)

SCHEDULE 🗓️

Today's Must-Watch List

🏀 NBA

Thunder at Magic (7:30 pm ET, TNT)

Heat at Bucks (8:00 pm ET, NBALP)

Kings at Suns (10:00 pm ET, TNT)

🏒 NHL
Lightning at Bruins (7:00 pm ET, ESPN+)

Hurricanes at Stars (8:00 pm ET, ESPN+)
Red Wings at Oilers (9:00 pm ET, ESPN+)

⚽️ Champions League (Round of 16, Leg 1)

FC Copenhagen vs. Man. City (3:00 pm ET, CBS)
RB Leipzig vs. Real Madrid (3:00 pm ET, CBS)

🏀 NCAA Basketball

M: #7 North Carolina at Syracuse (7:00 pm ET, ESPN)

M: Ole Miss at #22 Kentucky (9:00 pm ET, ESPN)

READER POLL 📊

The GOAT Debate

Photo: Boston Globe / Getty Images

Will Patrick Mahomes End Up As 'The Greatest of All-Time'?

It’s the question we’re asking in today’s reader poll: Is Mahomes the GOAT? The debate gets a whole new set of determining values after this recent Super Bowl win. But let’s not be a prisoner of the moment just yet. He has a case for, and against, at the current moment, but we’ll let you decide if he’s going to end up with GOAT status.

The Case For: Mahomes’ three Super Bowls and three Super Bowl MVPs puts him in elite company. Only Tom Brady and Joe Montana have done that. And this year’s victory was made even more significant considering the Chiefs didn’t have a 1,000-yard rusher or receiver. They also led the NFL in dropped passes this year. And the end result was a Super Bowl win. Mahomes is only 28 and could, theoretically, play for a dozen more years.

The Case Against: Despite Mahomes’ magical run these past five seasons, he still only has three rings while Tom Brady has seven. If you’re a “ring-focused” GOAT-maker, Mahomes is far from that stratosphere. Brady also holds the only head-to-head Super Bowl victory. If Mahomes plays into his 40s and captures four more rings, then the debate becomes legitimate. Until then, one might say it's just too early.

What do you think? Is Patrick Mahomes (Age 28) going to end up as ‘The Greatest of All-Time’?

Yes — Patrick Mahomes Will Be ‘The GOAT’

No — Tom Brady Will Always Be ‘The GOAT’

THE TEAM

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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