National Football League

National Football League

Hurts and the Eagles piled on the misery during another defeat for Washington at Northwest Stadium in Week 16. Yet in the process, they also inadvertently did the Commanders a favor, offering a brutal reminder of the significant problem Peters has struggled to fix. It's summed up by this from Next Gen Stats: "Jalen Hurts was pressured on just 4 of 37 dropbacks against Washington, his lowest pressure rate in a game in his career (10.8%)."

Bowers was named to his second straight Pro Bowl on Tuesday despite battling a knee injury for six weeks. He played three games through a posterior cruciate ligament injury and a bone bruise in his left knee that he suffered in the Raiders' season-opening win over the New England Patriots, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. He was then sidelined for three games to allow for recovery.

Things are getting real in the 2025 NFL season. Playoff races are heating up with two weeks left, teams are starting to think about the future, and fantasy league championships are upon us. So with all that in mind, insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have been calling sources around the NFL for the latest news and buzz on key situations heading into Week 17.

It was second-and-goal from the 9-yard line Monday night and quarterback Brock Purdy rolled to his right and attempted to squeeze in a pass to tight end Jake Tonges, who had a sliver of space before he went out of bounds in the end zone. Tonges caught the ball but it was ruled incomplete. Upon closer inspection, it appeared Tonges actually caught the ball and managed to drag both toes just before going out of bounds.

Week 17 of the NFL season gets underway with a Christmas Day tripleheader of division rivalry games. A pair of NFC East foes kicks off the action when the Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1) visit the Washington Commanders (4-11). Next up is an NFC North tilt, with the Detroit Lions (8-7) trying to keep their playoff hopes alive on the road against the Minnesota Vikings (7-8). The Kansas City Chiefs (6-9) host the Denver Broncos (12-3) in an AFC West clash to wrap up the day.

Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups and makes his predictions for Week 17 of the NFL season. All lines and over/under numbers are according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Last week, Farmer posted a 9-7 (.563) record. Through the first 16 weeks of the season, he is 154-86 (.642). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, his record against the spread in Week 16 would have been 8-8 (.500).

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice's 2025 season began with a suspension and now will end on injured reserve. Rice, who has a concussion, was placed on injured reserve along with wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (concussion) and cornerbacks Trent McDuffie (knee) and Jaylen Watson (groin) on Wednesday. Rice, who missed Kansas City's loss to the Tennessee Titans last week due to his concussion, finishes his third NFL season with 53 receptions for 571 yards and five touchdowns in eight games.

To me, that's "go" time.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos has dropped his appeal for another year of college eligibility and declared for the NFL draft. Castellanos thanked family, friends, coaches and teammates and "everyone who has supported me along this journey" in a statement posted on social media. Just Win Management Group, which represented Castellanos during his legal fight, said it supported his decision. "While the unique facts and circumstances surrounding the petition for an additional year of eligibility did create a path of viability, after careful review and consideration, we full support Mr. Castellanos' decision to forego that continued pursuit and focus his attention on preparing for the 2026 NFL draft," the agency said in a statement.

Wagner remains highly productive in between the tackles. He's already beaten his tackle mark from last season with 142, and he also has four sacks. However, the cracks have begun to show when he is isolated and tasked with coverage responsibilities. Perhaps more concerningly, opposing offenses are actively trying to exploit him as a weak link. The former Utah State standout was brilliant against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16.

Jacksonville State star running back Cam Cook plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, he announced Wednesday. Cook, the current FBS rushing leader with 1,659 yards, earned Conference USA MVP and All-America honors in his lone season with the Gamecocks after transferring from TCU. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound junior is expected to be one of the top running backs available when the portal officially opens on Jan. 2 and has one more year of eligibility.

The 44-year-old grandfather looked like he was throwing the football without a thumb. He had been retired for five years, presumably spending his Sundays arguing with a lawnmower or organizing a crowded minivan, before unretiring last week. And yet, there he was, carving up the San Francisco 49ers' defense on national television like a Whoville roast beast. It was some truly woeful stuff for a Niners squad that was in the driver's seat for the NFC's No. 1 seed.

Bowl season is like betting a game of musical chairs where the music stops at kickoff. Lines are flying, rosters are leaking, coaches are packing boxes and seven-point swings show up before you've finished your coffee. Chasing steam is how a good process turns into bad bets. If you don't get the best of the number, let it go. There are more bowls, a playoff, the NFL and entire new seasons waiting. Discipline beats FOMO every time.

If the Patriots' Week 16 game had gone far differently than what it inevitably became, which was a win, the conversation on Monday would be all about a head-scratching decision that immediately doomed their chances of leaving Baltimore the victors. Fortunately, that didn't come back to haunt them, and a fourth-quarter comeback led by Drake Maye allowed them to tie the Broncos for the best record in the league and maintain their one-game edge over the Bills for the AFC East.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Six San Francisco 49ers players were selected for the Pro Bowl Games. The same number of players were selected from the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, and Seattle Seahawks. MORE: Brock Purdy has 5 touchdowns passes as 49ers improve to 11-4 Six 49ers Selected San Francisco's Kyle Juszczyk is heading to his 10th Pro Bowl, the most ever by a fullback. Niners left tackle Trent Williams is the fourth offensive lineman selected to 12 Pro Bowls since 1970, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Bruce Matthews (14), Randall McDaniel (12) and Will Shields (12).

The decision means that Watson, who tore his right Achilles tendon in October 2024 and then underwent a second surgery in January after retearing it, will not play in the 2025 season. The deadline to activate Watson from PUP was Tuesday, when the practice window closed. During the last three weeks, Watson has conducted individual drills and run the scout team offense. He spent the first three months of the season on the PUP list, and the Browns opened his practice window on Dec. 3.

Nico Iamaleava will remain with UCLA in 2026, he announced Monday, with the school also announcing that the quarterback is "forgoing the 2026 NFL draft." The redshirt sophomore transferred to UCLA from Tennessee prior to the 2025 season, in which the Bruins finished just 3-9 and coach DeShaun Foster was fired after an 0-3 start. UCLA has since hired James Madison coach Bob Chesney, who guided the Dukes to the College Football Playoff, losing 51-34 at Oregon on Saturday.

Nico Iamaleava has agreed to return to UCLA for next season, giving the Bruins a top-level quarterback as part of their new coach's bid for a quick turnaround from a 3-9 season under his predecessor and an interim coach. Iamaleava announced his intentions on Instagram, posting a highlight video alongside a caption reading, "NO PLACE LIKE HOME. Back with my brothers. Same vision. Same goals. Same grind. Locked in. Time to work!"