Super Wild Card weekend will kickoff the NFL playoffs as the race to New Orleans on February 9 reaches the win-or-go-home stage.
With the AFC and NFC seedings confirmed, and Wild Card weekend games in place, attention is also on those fighting for their future.
For teams whose season is over, head coaches and general managers are fighting for their futures, with Black Monday likely to have a number fired as half the league already look ahead to next season.
Doug Pederson, one of the coaches on the hot seat heading into Black Monday, has been fired by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter first reported the news.
A statement from Jags owner Shad Khan noted it was a difficult decision, and thanked Pederson for his three seasons with the franchise.
“I strongly believe it is possible next season to restore the winning environment we had hear not long ago,” Khan’s
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young saved his best performance for the last day of the regular season.
He threw three touchdown passes – and rushed into the end zone for two more scores – in a 44-38 road win against the Atlanta Falcons.
Young finished the day with 251 yards and a 123.5 passer rating – his career high.
Post-game, Panthers owner David Tepper was beaming.
“A real good win. I think we’ve got our QB here,” he said.
The order for the first 18 picks of the 2025 draft is officially set, with the Tennessee Titans at No.1.
The Cleveland Browns have the second pick, while the New York Giants take No.3 and the New England Patriots No.4.
This year, the draft will take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin, for the first time.
Check out the picks for 1-18 below, while the order for 19-32 will lock in over the course of the playoffs.
It has become an annual reset, where teams make big changes and look to reshape the outlook of the league.
And this year, the New England Patriots made sure they were ahead of the curve.
Owner Robert Kraft announced in a statement on Sunday that Jerod Mayo has been dismissed after leading the team to a 4-13 record.
The news came just hours after New England secured a shock 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills in the regular-season finale.
A number of other coaches are said to be on the hot seat, including the likes of Mike McCarthy and Doug Pederson.
