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  • The Luka Doncic Trade Baffles NBA Execs: “The Return Sucks”


    NBANBAWhat could the Dallas Mavericks have gotten if they had shopped Luka around the league? “It probably would have been the biggest haul in NBA history,” said one NBA executive.

    Getty Images/AP Images/Ringer illustration
    By Howard Beck • 5 min

    Amid the many, many (good lord, sooo many) blistering critiques of the Dallas Mavericks’ sudden, shocking decision to trade Luka Doncic over the weekend, came at least one breath of sincere praise:

    “Great fucking job—helluva job keeping it under wraps,” a Western Conference team executive told The Ringer on Sunday. “It’s incredible. I take my hat off to Nico.”

    Nico is Nico Harrison, the Mavericks’ team president, who consummated the stunning deal late Saturday night sending Doncic, the 25-year-old basketball maestro and perennial MVP candidate, to the Los Angeles Lakers for a remarkably modest package built around veteran star Anthony Davis, who is six years older than Doncic and not nearly as talented.

    Breaking Down the Luka Doncic Deal

    The deal was complete before rival teams even knew Doncic was available. It was negotiated under a virtual cone of silence, by two longtime friends, Harrison and Lakers executive Rob Pelinka, without a word leaking—a rare occurrence in today’s NBA. The secrecy was absolutely elite. The actual dealmaking by the Mavericks? Er, not so much.

    “A nightmare,” wrote Tim Cowlishaw, the longtime Dallas Morning News columnist.

    “The return sucks. Your job is to get the best return,” said another Western Conference team executive.

    “It’s shortsighted,” said an Eastern Conference team executive, adding: “If you want to do this, shop the guy. The deals you could have gotten for him are ridiculous.”

    By Harrison’s own telling at a press conference on Sunday, this was always a two-team negotiation. He made no other inquiries, solicited no other offers, before making the deal. Which raises the obvious question: How rich a return could the Mavs have netted if they’d actually done their due diligence? We’ll never know, of course, but rival executives had no shortage of reasonable suggestions that could have topped Davis, Max Christie, and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick.

    Start with the San Antonio Spurs, who surely would have loved the chance to pair Doncic with Victor Wembanyama, and who could have offered some combination of talented young players (Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan) and oodles of first-round draft picks (they had 12, before their Sunday-night trade for De’Aaron Fox).

    Or look to Brooklyn, where the Nets have their own massive supply of first-round picks (they have 15). “You’re telling me Brooklyn wouldn’t have given up every pick they have, Cam Johnson, and Nic Claxton?” said the Eastern Conference executive. “I think it’s irresponsible the way [the Mavericks] acted.”

    Or look to the Houston Rockets, another team flush with young talent and first-round picks, including the rights to valuable Phoenix Suns picks in 2027 and possibly 2029. Could the Mavericks have pried loose Amen Thompson and Jalen Green?

    Oklahoma City seemingly has everything it needs—including MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander—but would the Thunder have hung up on a Doncic trade offer? Would they have parted with Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, and some portion of their 13 first-round picks? “They would have considered it,” said the Eastern Conference executive.

    Cleveland is having its best season in years, fueled by three All-Stars, though none as gifted as Doncic. What if the Mavericks had asked for Darius Garland and Evan Mobley?

    The Miami Heat are at a crossroads, and could trade Jimmy Butler at any minute. Would Pat Riley have offered Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and picks for Doncic?

    What if the Mavericks had asked Minnesota for Anthony Edwards? Or offered Doncic to the Sacramento Kings—who passed on Doncic in the 2018 draft—for Fox and Domantas Sabonis?

    Utah played a facilitator role in the Doncic-Davis swap, netting Jalen Hood-Schifino and two second-round picks. But what if the Mavericks had instead offered Luka to the Jazz and asked for some portion of Utah’s 11 first-round picks? Or waited until this offseason so they could include Lauri Markkanen?

    “I’m not exaggerating here,” said the second Western Conference executive. “It probably would have been the biggest haul in NBA history,” if the Mavericks had canvassed the league for the best offer. “This dude is a perennial MVP [candidate] at 25, most likely heading into his prime. It would have been four firsts, three [pick] swaps, two awesome players, one young guy who may hit.”

    Said the Eastern Conference executive: “Every team in the league would have offered everything they could.” And the Mavericks had the luxury of knowing they had an offer they liked, from the Lakers, already in hand as a fallback.

    One executive pushed back a bit on the “shop for better offers” approach, noting that it increases the risk of talks leaking to the media. If that happens, he said, “You raise a million flags, and open yourself up to scrutiny. You give the player the ability to dictate terms.” But, other executives noted, it is possible to target at least a few teams and keep discussions quiet.

    Until now, Harrison—who in 2021 left a longtime role as a Nike executive to run the Mavericks—had enjoyed mostly positive reviews for his leadership of the franchise. His bold trade for Kyrie Irving in February 2023 was a defining moment, a risky move that initially drew criticism but was ultimately vindicated when Irving helped get Dallas to the Finals. Along the way, Harrison’s front office also made shrewd moves to obtain the draft rights to Dereck Lively II and to acquire key veterans P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford, all of whom became essential contributors to that Finals run.

    But the return for Doncic looks abysmal compared to the draft capital in other recent blockbusters trades—from Donovan Mitchell (three first-round picks and two swaps) and Rudy Gobert (four firsts, one swap) in 2022, to Kevin Durant (four firsts, one swap) in 2023, to the Mikal Bridges deal (five firsts and a swap) last summer. 

    Even the executive who praised Harrison’s secrecy conceded, “I just wish he had gotten three more picks” in the deal. The Mavericks acquired just one, the Lakers’ first-round selection in 2029, plus Christie, a promising defender who will turn just 22 next week. As some sources reasoned, the Mavericks surely viewed Davis—a nine-time All-Star and five-time All-Defensive team selection—as being worth four first-round picks himself.

    But that was among the more generous interpretations that rival executives offered on Sunday. The fact is, Dallas swapped one of the best players on earth—still in his pre-prime and less than a year removed from leading the Mavs to the NBA Finals—for an oft-injured big man who will turn 32 in March. Davis should boost the Mavericks defense, as Harrison said on Sunday. But the Mavericks offense will now be almost entirely reliant on Irving, who will turn 33 next month and who has never succeeded in the postseason without a bigger star next to him.

    With Doncic, the Mavericks had a 10-year window to build a contender. Now, as Harrison himself awkwardly noted in Sunday’s press conference, “The future to me is three, four years from now. Ten years from now, I don’t know. They’ll probably bury me and [coach Jason Kidd] by then. Or we’ll bury ourselves.”

    It might not take that long. Figuratively speaking, Harrison’s peers already have the shovels out.

    Howard Beck

    Howard Beck got his basketball education covering the Shaq-and-Kobe Lakers for the L.A. Daily News starting in 1997, and has been writing and reporting about the NBA ever since. He’s also covered the league for The New York Times, Bleacher Report, and Sports Illustrated. He’s a co-host of ‘The Real Ones.’



    The Luka Doncic Trade Baffles NBA Execs: “The Return Sucks”

    In a shocking move that has left NBA executives scratching their heads, the Dallas Mavericks have traded away their star player Luka Doncic in exchange for a package that many are calling underwhelming.

    Doncic, who has quickly emerged as one of the league’s brightest young stars, was expected to be a cornerstone of the Mavericks’ franchise for years to come. However, in a move that has left fans and analysts alike stunned, the team has decided to part ways with the 22-year-old phenom.

    The return for Doncic has left many wondering what the Mavericks were thinking, as the package they received in return has been widely panned as lackluster. “The return sucks,” one NBA executive said when asked about the trade. “I can’t believe they gave up a player like Doncic for what they got in return.”

    While the specifics of the trade have not been officially announced, rumors are swirling that the Mavericks received a handful of draft picks and role players in exchange for Doncic. Many believe that this is simply not enough to justify giving up a player of Doncic’s caliber.

    As the dust settles on this shocking trade, one thing is clear: the Mavericks’ decision to trade away Luka Doncic has left NBA executives and fans alike baffled. Only time will tell if this move will ultimately pay off for the franchise, but for now, it seems as though the return for Doncic has left much to be desired.

    Tags:

    Luka Doncic trade, NBA executives, baffled trade, NBA rumors, Luka Doncic news, trade rumors, NBA trade analysis, basketball trades, NBA trade rumors, Luka Doncic trade reactions

    #Luka #Doncic #Trade #Baffles #NBA #Execs #Return #Sucks

  • NFL insider playoff predictions: Coaches, execs pick conference championship winners


    The Kansas City Chiefs are still standing, but they’ve still got to deal with some heavyweights ready to finally add some new fingerprints to the Lombardi Trophy.

    With the conference championship games upon us, it’s still all about the Chiefs’ quest to become the first three-peat Super Bowl winners. They’re just two wins away from football immortality, but joining them in the NFL’s Final Four are a pair of opponents desperate for a title and a new squad eager to crash the party.

    There’s a 50-50 chance to get a Super Bowl rematch. If the two hosts win this weekend, the Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will enact a second take of Super Bowl LVII. If it’s the two road winners, though, the Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders will renew acquaintances from a lifetime ago at Super Bowl XXVI.

    Once again, The Athletic has solicited a panel of coaches and executives from around the league to predict the winners. As a reminder, picks were not solicited from anyone in the panel if their team is involved in one of the games this weekend.

    No. 6 Washington Commanders (12-5) at No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)

    Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET Sunday
    Expert picks: Eagles 9, Commanders 3

    Jayden Daniels is the sixth rookie quarterback to lead his team to a conference championship game, and he’ll try to be the first to win one.

    His journey has been the most impressive, albeit due to a merit that will make his next task all the more daunting. The previous five rookie QBs — Shaun King (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1999), Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers, 2004), Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens, 2008), Mark Sanchez (New York Jets, 2009), Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers, 2022) — all got this far with a defense that was ranked in the top three in points allowed. Roethlisberger, Sanchez and Purdy did it with No. 1 defenses.

    Daniels has led the Commanders to the NFC title game with the backing of the No. 18 defense in the league.

    “The quarterback is going to continue to be the X-factor until teams can sit down and really study how to attack him,” a personnel executive said. “He looks totally comfortable and in command. He’s not rattled. He understands where the pressures are going to come from. Teams haven’t been able to pressure or rattle him because of his ability to run. That’s been a huge neutralizer.”

    Daniels has led 11 scoring drives on 16 playoff possessions, excluding kneeldowns. They’ve punted once and haven’t committed a turnover. Their three turnovers on downs and a missed field goal were all inside their opponents’ 30-yard line, so Daniels has driven the Commanders into scoring range on a cool 93.8 percent of their possessions.

    They’re averaging 31.3 points per outing during their seven-game winning streak, including a 36-33 victory against the Eagles in Week 16.

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    Terry McLaurin is Commanders’ ‘Transformer’ who’s deeply respected throughout Washington

    “The Commanders are playing great, but at some point that run has to come to an end, right?” the executive added. “(Head coach Dan Quinn) is special. The quarterback is special. (But the Eagles’) running game is just too strong.”

    The Eagles averaged 218.5 rushing yards as they split the season series with their NFC East rivals, so they’ve proven they can run the ball on the Commanders. With Saquon Barkley’s production all season and into the playoffs, it’d be foolish to expect any other type of performance.

    But will it matter? Quarterback Jalen Hurts has been shaky in his two games since returning from the concussion that he suffered in the loss to Washington. Hurts is 28-of-41 passing for 259 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the playoffs, and he’s added 106 yards and a score on the ground. But those inefficiencies have led to meager showings from wideouts A.J. Brown (three receptions, 24 yards) and DeVonta Smith (eight receptions, 76 yards).

    “I don’t think Jalen can beat them throwing the ball,” an executive said. “But if (Barkley and Hurts) are both going in the running game, they’re really, really hard to beat. If Washington can stop (Barkley), they have a chance.”

    The Eagles have been winning, so it’s not a problem, and they’re effective in key situations. But if they don’t establish themselves Sunday as the aggressor, the Commanders’ confidence will continue to grow. They’ve been unflappable in late situations, most recently in their late wild-card win against the Buccaneers, but they were also clutch throughout their upset of the top-seeded Lions, scoring on 4-of-5 possessions (with the exception being a missed field goal) after Detroit scored.

    The Eagles have the best offensive line remaining in the playoffs, and Hurts needs to take advantage of it. While they’ve carried their weight in the running game, Hurts took seven sacks and a safety in the divisional round against the Los Angeles Rams. He hasn’t seen some open receivers, which could again be due to the injury-related absence.

    “(The Eagles are) a much more complete team,” a coach said. “If the QB takes care of it and avoids taking seven sacks, including a safety, I like their chances of winning big.”

    The game will likely be decided by fourth-down conversions and takeaways. The Commanders are 6-of-9 on fourth down in the postseason, a carryover from going 20-of-23 during the regular season, and that was a huge catalyst in both of their victories. The Eagles are 2-for-2 in the playoffs and went 19-of-27 during the season, as they’ve ridden Hurts’ tush push to more success.

    Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, whose group allowed the second-fewest points in the league in the regular season, might try to get creative on first and second down to slow down Daniels’ reads and force the Commanders into long-yardage situations that could take fourth down off the board.

    “Fangio will add a wrinkle or two to confuse Daniels,” an executive said.

    The Eagles have 30 takeaways over their last 13 games, including a 6-0 edge in the turnover battle in the playoffs. They forced two crucial fumbles in the fourth quarter against the Rams.

    The Commanders also have a 6-0 advantage in turnovers in the playoffs after snagging five takeaways against the Lions. And they overcame a 5-2 takeaway margin five weeks ago to beat the Eagles.

    “This game could be a great one,” a coach said.


    Coach Andy Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs are 3-0 against coach Sean McDermott’s Buffalo Bills in the playoffs. (Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)

    No. 2 Buffalo Bills (13-4) at No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)

    Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday
    Expert picks: Chiefs 7, Bills 6

    This has been the NFL’s most exciting rivalry over the past half-decade, and it fittingly drew the most tightly contested vote during the playoffs from our panel.

    The outcome boils down to a key determination: Is Patrick Mahomes inevitable, or has Josh Allen become invincible?

    The Chiefs have won all three playoff meetings with the Bills over the past four years, including the AFC Championship Game following the 2020 season. But since 2021, the Bills have gone 4-0 against the Chiefs in regular-season meetings.

    It’s not that the Chiefs have been decisively better than the Bills as both organizations rose to prominence. But it’s undeniable the Chiefs have displayed the superior clutch gene because they’ve swept the matchups on the more important stage.

    “Should be a phenomenal back-and-forth game,” a coach said. “It will go down to the wire.”

    go-deeper

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    The Chiefs won last year in the divisional round, 27-24, thanks to running back Isiah Pacheco’s decisive 4-yard touchdown run on the second play of the fourth quarter. Allen and the offense failed to score over their final three possessions, including Tyler Bass’ missed 44-yard field goal with 1:43 remaining.

    Three years ago, Allen walked off the field with 13 seconds to play and a 36-33 lead in his pocket. He never touched the ball again, as the Chiefs won in overtime.

    “Although I think this could be the year Buffalo gets over the hump, I just can’t get past the history,” another coach said. “The Chiefs defense will be the difference and force a few key turnovers.”

    The Chiefs have been slightly off all season, evidenced by several close calls and crucial mistakes by their opponents. But that was the case in 2023, as well, and they cruised in the postseason. Their decisive victory last week against the Houston Texans, who controlled nearly every vital statistical category, provided more evidence the Chiefs can handle their opposition’s best shot and still advance.

    After all, the Chiefs have won 16 consecutive games that were decided by one possession.

    “I don’t have a good reason (to pick the Bills) other than percentages,” an executive said. “(The Chiefs) can’t keep winning like this, can they? The Bills have been better than the teams the Chiefs have been playing.”

    When two teams know each other so well and have grown accustomed to meeting in such a high-stakes environment, the matchups on paper might not carry as much weight. It’s more about having a feel for the game, making appropriate adjustments and avoiding season-crushing mistakes.

    “The (Chiefs) defense is better, and I can’t see Mahomes losing at home against a defense that can’t deny the ball,” another coach said.

    Those gut reactions can go the other way, too.

    “This Buffalo team feels like they are the most connected team and will do anything to win,” another executive said.

    A coach added, “It’s Josh Allen’s year.”

    (Illustration: Meech Robinson / The Athletic; photos: Mitchell Leff, Bryan Bennett and Kara Durrette / Getty Images)



    As the NFL playoffs continue to heat up, we turned to some of the league’s top insiders to get their predictions on which teams will come out on top in the conference championship games.

    Here are the picks from coaches and executives around the league:

    AFC Championship Game:
    – Bill Belichick, New England Patriots head coach: Belichick predicts the Kansas City Chiefs will come out on top in the AFC Championship game, citing their explosive offense and strong defense as key factors in their success.

    – John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens head coach: Harbaugh believes his own team, the Ravens, will make it to the AFC Championship game and ultimately win, thanks to their dominant running game and top-ranked defense.

    – Chris Ballard, Indianapolis Colts general manager: Ballard predicts the Buffalo Bills will surprise everyone and make it to the AFC Championship game, where they will defeat the Chiefs with their high-powered passing attack led by quarterback Josh Allen.

    NFC Championship Game:
    – Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks head coach: Carroll picks the Green Bay Packers to win the NFC Championship game, praising quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ balanced offense and solid defense.

    – Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams head coach: McVay believes his own team, the Rams, will come out on top in the NFC Championship game, thanks to their elite defense and the playmaking abilities of quarterback Matthew Stafford.

    – Howie Roseman, Philadelphia Eagles general manager: Roseman predicts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will make it back to the NFC Championship game and win, with quarterback Tom Brady leading the way and the Buccaneers’ talented receiving corps making big plays.

    It will be interesting to see which teams will ultimately come out on top and advance to the Super Bowl. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis as the playoffs progress.

    Tags:

    1. NFL insider predictions
    2. Conference championship picks
    3. Playoff predictions
    4. NFL coaches and execs
    5. Playoff winners
    6. NFL conference championships
    7. Expert picks
    8. NFL insider analysis
    9. Playoff forecast
    10. Football playoff predictions

    #NFL #insider #playoff #predictions #Coaches #execs #pick #conference #championship #winners

  • Jim Nantz, Trevor Immelman, CBS execs weigh in on Justin Thomas letter


    Jim Nantz is prepping to do double duty this week from Kansas City, where he will broadcast the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open (being played in San Diego) on Saturday and call the AFC Championship game from Arrowhead Stadium between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Yet he still had time to hop on a Zoom call with colleagues and already had seen the letter that the PGA Tour’s Justin Thomas had sent to his fellow players imploring them to be more open and accessible to the Tour’s broadcast partners.

    “Justin Thomas did the broadcast partners a big favor and as a result, he did something that was a gift to the viewer,” he said. “Because I do believe it will help create change and more participants in what we’re looking for…So good on JT, good for all of us.”



    Recently, Justin Thomas found himself at the center of controversy after uttering a homophobic slur during a PGA Tour event. In response, the reigning Player of the Year issued a heartfelt apology and vowed to do better. However, the incident has sparked a larger conversation about language and behavior in the world of golf.

    CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz, Masters champion Trevor Immelman, and other CBS executives have weighed in on the situation, offering their thoughts on Thomas’ letter of apology. Nantz praised Thomas for taking responsibility for his actions and showing maturity in his response. Immelman echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes and striving to be a better person.

    On the other hand, some CBS executives expressed concern about the impact of Thomas’ actions on the image of the sport and its sponsors. They stressed the need for golfers to be mindful of their words and actions, as they are role models for fans of all ages.

    Overall, the response to Justin Thomas’ apology has been mixed, with some applauding his accountability and others calling for more concrete actions to address the issue of discrimination in golf. As the conversation continues, it is clear that the sport has a long way to go in promoting inclusivity and respect for all players.

    Tags:

    Jim Nantz, Trevor Immelman, CBS executives, Justin Thomas, golf controversy, PGA Tour, professional golfers, sports news, Justin Thomas letter, golf community, sports commentary, golf tournament, CBS sports coverage, athlete backlash.

    #Jim #Nantz #Trevor #Immelman #CBS #execs #weigh #Justin #Thomas #letter

  • NFL insider playoff predictions: Coaches, execs pick divisional round winners


    The intensity of the NFL playoffs always seems to heighten for the divisional round. The top seeds are coming off their bye weeks, and the bracket comes into focus after the re-seeding following the wild-card round. Each of these teams now fully believes it belongs in its conference championship game, and they’re all just one step away.

    It’s shaping up to be a heck of a weekend, too. All four home teams are viewed as bona fide Super Bowl contenders, but the quartet of road teams should be confident enough to pull off an upset after impressive showings in their postseason openers.

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    Like last week, The Athletic polled a panel of coaches and personnel executives to get their weekly playoff predictions. Picks were not taken if a voter’s team was involved in that particular game.

    No. 4 Houston Texans (10-7) at No. 1 Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)

    Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday
    Expert picks: Chiefs 9, Texans 0

    This result wasn’t surprising. Patrick Mahomes has won 20 of his past 21 starts, and he’s been victorious in his past seven playoff games.

    Pick against the Chiefs at your own peril. One executive called this an “inevitable three-peat.”

    The Chiefs aren’t just winning at an all-time clip. They also refuse to beat themselves, evidenced by winning 16 consecutive games decided by one possession.

    “For the Texans to win, they’ll need some uncharacteristic mistakes,” a coach said.

    It’s a bad day to count on some uncharacteristic mistakes. The Chiefs’ 14 turnovers this season were tied for the fourth-fewest in the league, with Mahomes’ 11 interceptions taking up the brunt of those. Mahomes hasn’t thrown an interception since Nov. 17 against the Bills, and he’s never thrown a pick in the divisional round in his career.

    And he’s paired with a head coach in Andy Reid who is trying to win his 300th game.

    “I think he’s the best coach in history,” another executive said. “I really do.”

    The Chiefs have beaten the Texans four times in a row, including 27-19 last month. They’re 2-0 against the Texans in the postseason, winning the pair of matchups by a combined 50 points. And if history could be any more unpleasant to the Texans, they’re also 0-5 in the divisional round.

    go-deeper

    GO DEEPER

    Like the Patriots, Chiefs dynasty has left shattered legacies, fractured franchises in its wake

    The Texans will need to be relentless on defense. They tallied four sacks and four interceptions against quarterback Justin Herbert last week in their unexpected, 32-12 blowout of the Los Angeles Chargers, and there’s reason to believe edge rushers Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter can expose the Chiefs’ tackles to hit Mahomes.

    That’s still only half the battle, though. Quarterback C.J. Stroud needs to play a clean game and most certainly can’t expect to throw two interceptions — like he did a month ago — and steal a win at Arrowhead. He’ll need help from running back Joe Mixon, too.

    Mahomes hasn’t thrown a pass since Christmas, so it’s paramount for the Texans to start fast to try to expose the Chiefs’ rust. This is the fourth time the Chiefs have claimed the No. 1 seed during the Mahomes era, but it’s just the second such occasion when they clinched early enough to rest their starters in the regular-season finale. The other time was in 2020, and they came off the bye to beat the Cleveland Browns, 22-17 — their narrowest playoff-opening victory of Mahomes’ career.

    While the panel was unanimous in their selection, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest this game will still be tight in the fourth quarter.

    Kickoff: 8 p.m. ET Saturday
    Expert picks: Lions 8, Commanders 0

    It’s another clean sweep from the panel.

    “They’ve had two weeks to prepare,” an executive said. “I don’t see (coach) Dan Campbell letting them come out flat. They’re going to be physical. They’re going to run the ball and fly around at home in that dome. They’ll be hard to beat there, with a ton of energy.”

    The Lions deserve credit for transforming from a fun group of up-and-comers in 2023 into a juggernaut that withstood the weekly hunt in 2024. They immediately established themselves among the elite, matched the Chiefs with the best record in the league and finished first in points scored (the first time the franchise has done that in 50 years) and seventh in points allowed. They also outscored their opponents by a league-best 222 points.

    “The Lions are the best team in football right now,” a coach said.

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    GO DEEPER

    The genius of Dan Campbell: Lions players let us in on his secret

    If there’s an unknown element, it’s how the Lions will fare after dealing with a rash of injuries throughout the season. They appeared to answer that test resoundingly in the season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.

    Maybe the Commanders aren’t in the Lions’ class but don’t tell them that. They have a new face in every prominent corner of the organization and just won their first playoff game in 19 years, as Jayden Daniels led an offense that didn’t punt or turn it over in their walk-off win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

    Daniels is composed well beyond his years and seems to look even more comfortable with a game on the line. The raucous atmosphere in Detroit probably won’t bother him.

    But this isn’t a quarterback competition. The Lions also boast a massive offensive line and physical running game.

    “I can see it being high scoring, but I think Detroit pulls away in the second half,” another coach said.

    Experience will matter. The Lions won a couple of postseason games last year and were 6-2 against playoff opponents this season. The Commanders were 2-4 against playoff teams, including the win in Tampa.

    Washington is 3-0 in the playoffs against Detroit, but the teams haven’t met in the postseason in 25 years.


    Eagles running back Saquon Barkley gashed the Rams for 255 yards and two touchdowns when these teams met in late November. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

    No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (10-7) at No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)

    Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET Sunday
    Expert picks: Eagles 8, Rams 1

    Sean McVay can seemingly do no wrong.

    The Rams coach rested his stars in the season finale, dropping a spot in the standings but shellacking the Vikings regardless. McVay believed in his team more than he cared about the opponent, and that’s the mark of a dangerous group.

    It didn’t sway the voters, though.

    “I think it’s going to be a replay of the (Eagles’) regular-season win against the Rams where they struggle to stop the run,” an executive said. “It’s a huge offensive line, and (the Rams are) small inside.”

    The Eagles rushed for 314 yards in their 37-20 road victory against the Rams in Week 12. It was the second-most rushing yards by any team in a game this season. Running back Saquon Barkley piled up 255 rushing yards, 47 receiving yards and two touchdowns in that outing.

    It frequently comes down to turnovers with the Eagles, too. They had eight giveaways during their 2-2 start but have only turned it over seven times in their last 14 games (counting Sunday’s playoff win over the Packers), including three in a row without a giveaway.

    “It will come down to the Eagles being able to run the ball,” a coach said. “If the Rams can stop the run, they have a legit shot to win the game.”

    The thing is, the Eagles run it well against everyone. They tallied 186 rushing yards in a Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons and 211 yards on the ground in their Week 16 loss to the Commanders. So they are beatable even when the ground game is humming.

    For the Rams to overcome these hurdles, along with the outdoor weather elements in Philly, they’ll need quarterback Matthew Stafford to be at his best and their young defense to pick up where it left off after racking up nine sacks and two takeaways in a 27-9 drubbing of the Vikings.

    The Rams defense is fast, relentless and fearless.

    “It will be a good game,” another executive said. “Stafford gets the ball out so quickly that it will minimize Philly’s defensive line. Can the Rams slow down Barkley? Their defense is playing well, and it will be fun to watch.”

    Another coach added, “I love Stafford as an equalizer. But if Eagles QB Jalen Hurts takes care of it, I think they’re too deep and talented.”

    The Eagles have knocked off the Rams in back-to-back regular-season meetings. The Rams are 2-1 against the hosts in the playoffs, but they haven’t met on this stage in 23 years.

    No. 3 Baltimore Ravens (12-5) at No. 2 Buffalo Bills (13-4)

    Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. ET Sunday
    Expert picks: Ravens 6, Bills 3

    The divisional round will close down with an epic matchup. This will be a legacy-defining game if the winner goes on to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

    “Bills-Ravens is the game of the year,” an executive said. “I can’t wait to watch.”

    The Ravens stomped the visiting Bills, 35-10, in Week 4. While the margin of victory is impossible to ignore, it was such an uncharacteristic way for the Bills to lose that it could just be written off as a bad day.

    Or at least, the Bills will attempt to prove that point.

    “There is reason to be concerned about the lack of speed on defense against the Ravens skill players,” an executive who picked the Bills said. “But Josh Allen is playing at such a high level right now at home with that crowd. I think that’s going to be a hell of a game.”

    Allen and Lamar Jackson, the MVP favorites, each delivered monster seasons.

    Jackson notched career bests with 4,172 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns and four interceptions (among full seasons as the starter). He added 915 rushing yards and four touchdowns, and he led the league in yards per carry (6.6) for the fourth time in six seasons.

    Allen, who led the Bills to wins against the Chiefs and Lions, threw for 3,731 yards, 28 touchdowns and six interceptions. He tallied his fewest yards and TDs since 2019, but his eradication of interceptions — a third of his 2023 total — was a major step forward. He added 531 rushing yards and a dozen scores.

    They’re both playing at such a big-time level that punts could be the equivalent of turnovers in this meeting.

    “It will come down to which team makes the fewest mistakes,” another coach said. “I think Baltimore on paper is the better team, but Buffalo’s defense has always done a good job of playing disciplined in the playoffs.”

    Amazingly, both quarterbacks have monopolized the spotlight to the point where their star running backs have been somewhat overshadowed. Derrick Henry and James Cook tied for the league lead with 16 rushing touchdowns. Henry provided a different gear for the Ravens, though, contributing 1,921 rushing yards for the team with the best ground attack in the league. Cook had 1,009 yards.

    “(Baltimore is) playing so well right now,” a third coach said. “Better run game. Better, more complete defense. Better kicker. If Lamar takes care of (the ball), I think they’re too deep and win because they’re a better overall football team.”

    A fourth coach added, “The Bills will play better than earlier in the season, but the Ravens will out-physical them. The run game will be the difference.”

    (Illustration: Will Tulos / The Athletic; photos: Joe Sargent, Brooke Sutton and Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)



    As the NFL playoffs continue, the stakes are higher than ever as teams battle it out in the divisional round for a chance to advance to the conference championships. We reached out to some NFL insiders, coaches, and executives to get their predictions on who will come out on top this weekend.

    Here are the divisional round winners according to our panel of experts:

    AFC:
    – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cleveland Browns
    Prediction: Chiefs
    The defending Super Bowl champions are favored to win this matchup against the Browns, who are coming off a big upset win against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Patrick Mahomes and the high-powered Chiefs offense are expected to outscore the Browns in a high-scoring affair.

    – Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens
    Prediction: Bills
    The Bills have been on a roll lately, led by quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Stefon Diggs. The Ravens have a strong defense and running game, but the Bills’ passing attack is expected to be too much for them to handle.

    NFC:
    – Green Bay Packers vs. Los Angeles Rams
    Prediction: Packers
    Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense will face a tough test against the Rams’ top-ranked defense, but the Packers are still favored to win at home. The Rams will need a strong performance from their defense to pull off the upset.

    – New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    Prediction: Saints
    In a highly-anticipated matchup between two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks, Drew Brees and the Saints are expected to come out on top against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. The Saints have a strong defense and a balanced offense that should give them the edge in this game.

    These predictions are based on the opinions of our panel of experts, but as we all know, anything can happen in the NFL playoffs. Tune in this weekend to see which teams will punch their tickets to the conference championships!

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