🐺 Wolf Sports Weekly

We’re through bye weeks for the NFL, the fantasy playoffs are here, and Bill Belichick could legitimately head to the college ranks.

🏈 NFL Week 14 recap

The Rams overcame a legendary performance from Bills QB Josh Allen, winning a 44-42 shootout in the highest-scoring game of the year. Allen became the first player in NFL history with three passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns in a game, with the Buffalo defense unable to stop a red-hot Rams offense. Many fans are upset with officiating seemingly in favor of Los Angeles, though—including a missed false start on an eventual touchdown drive putting the Rams up two scores and an odd picked-up pass interference with Bills WR Amari Cooper clearly held on a late deep ball. Allen’s 51.88 fantasy points were the most ever by a quarterback, and he continues to look poised to win his first MVP this year.

Nine straight AFC West titles: The Chiefs found another way to win a game, with K Matthew Wright’s field goal attempt as time expired hitting the upright but still going in to defeat the Chargers by two points. Paired with Buffalo’s loss, Kansas City is now up two games for the top seed in the AFC playoffs. Meanwhile, the Chargers are tied with the Ravens and Broncos (both on bye in Week 14) for the three AFC wild card slots with four weeks remaining.

Living dangerously: Facing fourth-and-inches in field goal range with 43 seconds remaining in a tied game, Lions HC Dan Campbell decided to go for it against the division rival Packers to leave no time on the clock—and the offensive line and RB David Montgomery came through. Campbell also went for it on fourth down in his own territory earlier in the game, and it didn’t work out. Detroit is as aggressive as you can be as a team, and they’ve won 11 consecutive games.

Other Week 14 results:

• Vikings 42, Falcons 21: 11-2 Minnesota went off offensively, with QB Sam Darnold throwing five touchdowns (three to Jordan Addison, two to Justin Jefferson) to help his team separate from their former signal-caller Kirk Cousins and the Falcons.

• Buccaneers 28, Raiders 13: Meanwhile, Tampa Bay stayed hot and is now atop the NFC South at 7-6 despite two losses to Atlanta this season.

• Eagles 22, Panthers 16: Panthers QB Bryce Young nearly led a 97-yard touchdown drive in Philly, but the Eagles held on after rookie WR Xavier Legette was unable to haul in a potential game-winning touchdown that went through his hands on a diving attempt at the goal line.

• Steelers 27, Browns 14: Even without WR George Pickens (hamstring), the Steelers got some redemption from a couple of weeks ago by handling the AFC North rival Browns behind a balanced offensive attack and a nice interception by DL Keeanu Benton.

• Dolphins 32, Jets 26 (OT): After no catches in regulation, Dolphins TE Jonnu Smith caught fire in overtime and secured the game-winning touchdown to help Miami stay squarely in the wild card picture.

• Saints 14, Giants 11: The Saints lost Derek Carr to a left hand injury late but held on for a road win. Pre-game, Giants fans flew a plane overhead telling team owner John Mara to fix the “dumpster fire,” and rookie WR Malik Nabers said he “ain’t pay for the plane” when asked about it.

• Jaguars 10, Titans 6: Jacksonville got its first victory since beating the Patriots in London on October 20, with QB Mac Jones saying it’s tough to win in the NFL and he’s happy the team got a gritty W.

• Seahawks 30, Cardinals 18: With Kenneth Walker III (calf/ankle) out, Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet exploded for 193 yards and two touchdowns to help Seattle sweep Arizona and get to 8-5 in the tight NFC West.

• 49ers 38, Bears 13: San Francisco bounced back very strong, looking much like the team we’ve seen in recent years with a dominant all-around effort ahead of a huge TNF matchup with the Rams.

• Bengals 27, Cowboys 20: Dallas blocked a punt with two minutes remaining but then touched the ball, giving Cincinnati new life for QB Joe Burrow to hit WR Ja’Marr Chase for the game-winning touchdown.

🔥 Top fantasy performers in Week 14

• Bills QB Josh Allen: 51.88 points

• Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase: 38.1 points

• Rams WR Puka Nacua: 35.8 points

• Vikings WR Jordan Addison: 35.3 points

• Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet: 34.8 points

(point totals are for half PPR scoring)

😯 Bill Belichick to college?

Bill Belichick has had discussions with North Carolina about their head coach position. Here’s what you currently need to know about the situation:

• Belichick himself talked to Pat McAfee yesterday, discussing how the pro game and the college game in terms of building a winning organization have become more similar over the past couple of years.

• The eight-time Super Bowl champion says that if he went to college, it would be a “professional program at the college level” (scheme, training, etc.) that prepares players for the next level.

• Belichick’s dad was an assistant coach at UNC in the 1950s, so there’s a connection there.

• According to one report, the negotiations include a succession plan that would have his son Stephen Belichick (currently the DC at Washington) eventually take over as North Carolina’s head coach.

Bottom line: Belichick almost certainly prefers to be in the NFL, but we anticipate North Carolina being a legitimate and likely landing spot next season if no pro team hires the legendary coach.

📝 Recent player news

Biggest injury news to track aside from Carr and Pickens mentioned above:

• Panthers RB Jonathon Brooks re-tore his ACL after suffering the injury last year at Texas.

• Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown is feared to have suffered a serious knee injury.

• Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence is undergoing left shoulder surgery and is out for the season.

• Longtime Cowboys G Zack Martin is out for the season due to ankle surgery.

• Buccaneers All-Pro S Antonie Winfield Jr. is out several weeks due to a knee sprain.

• Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III is getting more tests on his calf injury that forced him to miss Week 13.

• The Eagles placed TE Dallas Goedert (knee) on injured reserve, and he’s expected to return for the postseason.

• Bengals LB Logan Wilson had a cleanup knee procedure and is likely out for the season.

• Titans WR Treylon Burks, who had been out since the middle of October, underwent surgery on his partially torn ACL and is done for the year.

• Despite reports to the contrary, Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell (knee) is not out for the year and is pushing to play in Week 15.

Player suspensions: Ravens WR Diontae Johnson (one game conduct detrimental to the team; refused to go in the game in Week 13), Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair (three games for hit on Trevor Lawrence; says he will “be your villain” when he returns), Titans S Julius Wood (six games), Saints S Roderic Teamer (three games)

The Bills brought back veteran S Micah Hyde, who earned second team All-Pro honors with Buffalo in 2017 and 2021. Hyde will start on the practice squad and plans to retire after the season.

📰 More NFL news and notes

The 32 finalists for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award were revealed.

“They were friends but things have changed.” Eagles DE Brandon Graham bluntly discussed the relationship between QB Jalen Hurts and WR A.J. Brown after frustration over the offense’s performance in the Week 14 win over the Panthers.

49ers WR Deebo Samuel voiced frustration in a now-deleted X post over not getting the ball.

The NFL and NFLPA agreed to modifications on the league’s substances of abuse and performance-enhancing substances policy.

The Commanders hired Mark Clause as their new Team President amid rumors of another re-brand.

Hard Knocks: In Season began last Tuesday, headlined by Bengals QB Joe Burrow discussing the Batmobile from The Dark Knight trilogy that he purchased for $3 million (one of 10 sold).

The Netflix announcers for the NFL’s Christmas Day games have been revealed. And the trailer for Aaron Rodgers: Enigma was released last week.

Hall of Fame WR Randy Moss is stepping away from Sunday NFL Countdown to focus on a personal health challenge.

Other Sports Updates

🏆 The first 12-team College Football Playoff is set following Championship Week, which was headlined by Georgia topping Texas in the SEC:

💰 Record-breaker: The Mets are signing superstar slugger Juan Soto to a 15-year, $765 million contract—the largest contract in sports history.

👏 Heisman finalists: Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel, Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter, Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, Miami QB Cam Ward

🤣 Timothée Chalamet brought his A-game as the guest picker on College GameDay.

🏈 UCLA moved on from OC Eric Bieniemy, formerly the OC for the Chiefs and Commanders, after one season.

⚾️ Dick Allen and Dave Parker will be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025.

🤨 The MLB is reportedly considering a “Golden At-Bat” rule that would allow any player to hit even if it’s not their turn in the lineup.

⚽️ Lionel Messi was named 2024 MLS MVP.

🐺 Found on wolfsports.com

• Week 14 fantasy awards

• Fantasy ROS rankings (🔒)

• Week 15 waiver wire rankings (🔒)

• Full college football bowl schedule