From the sound of things, a lot of Denver Broncos veterans are going to miss coach Gary Kubiak, who is expected to announce his retirement on Monday. Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib went so far as to say Kubiaks approach lengthened his career.
According to Broncos insider Andrew Mason, Talib was one of several players who commented on Kubiaks coaching methods. In particular, it was the way he kept vets fresh that stood out, as the four-time Pro Bowlselectionmade the claim his approach to the health and well being of the older guys in the locker room added two years to his career.
Nick Jhabvala for The Denver Post had a similar report from Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. (Kubiak) took care of you, Thomas said. Thats the biggest thing.
Its no surprise that players would speak highly of Kubiak. After all, the Broncos just won the Super Bowl last year, so while the team may have missed out on the playoffs this season, theres still plenty of respect and admiration there.
Veterans seem to be especially appreciative though, and while winning never hurts, its not everything. Clearly, Kubiak was a players coach, too, andits unfortunate and a little ironic to see him forced away from the game due to declining health when apparently he did so much to save his players in that regard.
Aqib Talib Rips Michael Crabtree"s Chain Off - Broncos Vs. Raiders
The Broncos locker-room squabble that followed their loss to the Patriots last Sunday was overblown, said Aqib Talib, the Broncos Pro Bowl cornerback who was at the heart of the dispute with tackle Russell Okung.
Okung wanted to address the team following the defeat, but Talib objected and a shouting match ensued.
The incident, first reported by NFL.coms Mike Silver, quickly became the biggest storyline out of Denver bigger than the loss itself and bigger than the defenses performance against Tom Brady, who was held to 188 passing yards.
Wednesday, Talib spoke about the incident for the first time and echoed earlier comments by teammates and coach Gary Kubiak.
It wasnt too big of a deal, man, he said. I argue with my mother and she still makes me breakfast. Its part of football. It wasnt even like an argument, though. I dont know who did it, Mike Silver I dont know who did it, but I think they made too much of it.
Talib said he and Okung quickly made amends and even attended an event for Chris Harris foundation the following night.
Its football, man.Yall were just doing your job. I respect it, Talib said about media. Yall needed a story. Yall didnt want to talk about Tom (Brady) and his 180 yards and no touchdowns, so yall figured yall would talk about that.
talib said locker-room debates happened a lot last year and are frequent in the secondarys weekly meetings.
Me and T.J. (Ward) argue every Wednesday and Thursday to get our game plan right, he said. Its just part of what me and T.J. do. Its been working for us. Theyre not arguments. Lets change what I said. Theyre debates. Theyre like debates. You just have to go back and forth until you get your point across and then come to a conclusion that youre going to play the coverage this way. So 50-50.
Talib is a player known to play on the edge and let his emotions carry over to the sidelines and the locker room after a game. The fire has helped him to four Pro Bowls, and has provided the backbone of the Broncos No Fly Zone secondary. But it can, and has, come at a cost.
Last year there was the infamous eye-poke of Dwayne Allen late in the Broncos loss at Indianapolis that landed Talib a hefty fine and one-game suspension. Earlier this year, in an overtime loss against Kansas City, Talib shoved Broncos receiver Jordan Norwood after Norwoods second muffed punt. Earlier this month, after Harry Douglas cheap shot on Harris in the Broncos loss at Tennessee, Talib rushed to his teammatesdefense and started a brawl.
Butany suggestion of taming that fire is a non-starter.
Is that what you think? Talib said. My check dont say that.
Falcons vs. Panthers | NFL Week 16 Game Highlights
Atlanta Falcons playoff scenarios now come down to Week 17 of the NFL season. The Falcons could still clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC and with it a first-round bye in the playoffs. That would be huge for the team, giving them a week off to rest during the postseason. The Week 17 NFL schedule holds many important games, with the NFC taking center stage with most of the late games.
The Falcons play the New Orleans Saints at 4:25 p.m. ET on January 1. If the Falcons can win this game, the team will clinch the NFC No. 2 seed. That victory would then give the Falcons a week off before hosting a playoff game in Atlanta the following the weekend. The playoff brackets would have Atlanta playing the best team left standing from Wild Card Weekend.
When it comes to the Atlanta Falcons playoff scenarios, it gets no easier than simply closing out the regular season with a victory. The Falcons control their own destiny, which is a position that every NFL franchise would enjoy having in Week 17. It basically means that as long as the Falcons win their game, nothing else on the NFL schedule affects their seeding. A loss to the Saints would create a different situation.
[Image by Grant Halverson/Getty Images]
As the updated NFL standings show, the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions could still catch up in the playoff standings. This could create a situation where the falcons would drop to either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed by losing to the Saints on Sunday. There are different scenarios for how each matchup could play out.
At the same time that the Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints game is being played, the Detroit Lions host the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks are on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. The winner of the Lions vs. Packers game will clinch the NFC North, while the Seahawks have already clinched the NFC West. Everything else comes down to seeding in the final weekend.
If the Falcons lose, the Packers win and the Seahawks win, then the seeding would shift a bit. That scenario would have Seattle at No. 2, Atlanta at No. 3, and Green Bay at No. 4. It would appear a bit different if the Falcons lose, the Lions win, and the Seahawks also win. In that situation, Seattle would be No. 2, Detroit would be No. 3, and Atlanta would fall all the way to the No. 4 seed.
There are a few other Atlanta Falcons playoff scenarios that could also take place. If the Falcons lose, but so do the Seahawks and Lions, then the Falcons would retain that No. 2 seed. This is all due to the tiebreakers between the four teams battling for those three spots, creating a tough maze of possible outcomes for fans to dig through.
[Image by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images]
At the end of the day, the simplest route for the Falcons is to just beat the New Orleans Saints and secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC. Then it will be easier to watch the other games to see who the potential second-round matchup might be for the Falcons. By clinching the top seed, the Dallas Cowboys would get to play the worst team advancing from Wild Card Weekend, with the Falcons hosting the best team that advances.
Game time for the Falcons vs. Saints matchup is 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday (Jan. 1). The game will be on FOX, with fans knowing just how important a victory is for the team. The first matchup between the two teams took place in Week 3, with the Falcons emerging as 45-32 winners on Monday night football. Now quarterback Matt Ryan has a chance to present fans with a win as the Atlanta Falcons playoff scenarios heavily favor the team nabbing that No. 2 seed.
#85: Kirk Cousins (QB, Redskins) | Top 100 NFL Players of 2016
Subscribe to The MMQB: 10 Things Podcast and it will be waiting in your feed first thing Monday morning. (For non-subscribers, there is sometimes a lag.) The Week 17 show...
As always, Andy and I are very available through social media channels. We moved the mailbag portion of the podcast to the Thursday show, when well answer as many questions as humanly possible (playoffs, offseason, coaching carousel, draft, anything is fair game):
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Thanks for listening, you are the best, andpleaseleave a review on iTunesif you like the show!
This week"s show:
1. Washingtons collapse, whats next for Kirk Cousins? 1:19
2. Aaron Rodgers remains unstoppable as Packers win NFC North 7:36
3. Falcons rise up to become NFC favorites 12:40
4. A job Opening in Denver, and more QB questions in Oakland 17:08
5. Chiefs win the West while Chargers (unwisely) fire Mike McCoy 24:11
6. Patriots clinch top seed behind Brady, Edelman and a new face at receiver 32:39
7. Seahawks win ugly again, 49ers become first team with back-to-back one-and-done coaches 37:29
8. Tom Savage hurt for Houston, opening up QB conundrum again 43:40
9. The Lightning-ish Round: Steve Smith Sr.s finale (and home arcade), Cam Newtons nightmare continues, Colts spot Jags 17 then Luck takes over, Bears D disappoints again, Romo shines in cameo at Philly (Mark Sanchez does not), Browns nearly make it a winning streak, Cards finish strong and Fitz is a league leader, Bills start GMs QB and go nowhere 49:33
Kaitlin Olson and Rob McElhenney ready for new season of It"s Always Sunny In Philiadelphia 2. INGREDIENTS
Servings: 6
1 cup water1 cup granulated sugar3 oranges3 lemons6 limes1 cup tequila1 bottle (750 milliliters) white wine (we used sauvignon blanc)1 liter club soda
3. PREPARATION
1. Combine sugar and water in a saucepan, bring mixture to a boil, then remove from heat and let cool.2. Squeeze fresh juice from 2 oranges, 2 lemons, and 4 limes into the cooled simple syrup.3. Using a mesh sieve, strain the citrus simple syrup into a large pitcher.4. Slice 1 orange, 1 lemon, 2 limes, and add the slices into the pitcher. Pour in tequila, wine, club soda, and give it all a good stir.5. Serve with ice and garnish with a slice of fruit.
Aqib Talib On why he Snatched Michael Crabtree"s Chain off his neck
The Broncos locker-room squabble that followed their loss to the Patriots last Sunday was overblown, said Aqib Talib, the Broncos Pro Bowl cornerback who was at the heart of the dispute with tackle Russell Okung.
Okung wanted to address the team following the defeat, but Talib objected and a shouting match ensued.
The incident, first reported by NFL.coms Mike Silver, quickly became the biggest storyline out of Denver bigger than the loss itself and bigger than the defenses performance against Tom Brady, who was held to 188 passing yards.
Wednesday, Talib spoke about the incident for the first time and echoed earlier comments by teammates and coach Gary Kubiak.
It wasnt too big of a deal, man, he said. I argue with my mother and she still makes me breakfast. Its part of football. It wasnt even like an argument, though. I dont know who did it, Mike Silver I dont know who did it, but I think they made too much of it.
Talib said he and Okung quickly made amends and even attended an event for Chris Harris foundation the following night.
Its football, man.Yall were just doing your job. I respect it, Talib said about media. Yall needed a story. Yall didnt want to talk about Tom (Brady) and his 180 yards and no touchdowns, so yall figured yall would talk about that.
Talib said locker-room debates happened a lot last year and are frequent in the secondarys weekly meetings.
Me and T.J. (Ward) argue every Wednesday and Thursday to get our game plan right, he said. Its just part of what me and T.J. do. Its been working for us. Theyre not arguments. Lets change what I said. Theyre debates. Theyre like debates. You just have to go back and forth until you get your point across and then come to a conclusion that youre going to play the coverage this way. so 50-50.
talib is a player known to play on the edge and let his emotions carry over to the sidelines and the locker room after a game. The fire has helped him to four Pro Bowls, and has provided the backbone of the Broncos No Fly Zone secondary. But it can, and has, come at a cost.
Last year there was the infamous eye-poke of Dwayne Allen late in the Broncos loss at Indianapolis that landed Talib a hefty fine and one-game suspension. Earlier this year, in an overtime loss against Kansas City, Talib shoved Broncos receiver Jordan Norwood after Norwoods second muffed punt. Earlier this month, after Harry Douglas cheap shot on Harris in the Broncos loss at Tennessee, Talib rushed to his teammatesdefense and started a brawl.
Butany suggestion of taming that fire is a non-starter.
Is that what you think? Talib said. My check dont say that.
The Packers opened as3.5-point favorites over theGiants in next Sunday"s Wild Card round matchup (4:40 p.m., FOX). The line is warranted because the Packers are home, have won six straight games,beat the Giants earlier this season and are led by brilliant quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
But the Giants were bigger underdogs in both the 2007 and 2011 playoffs when they went into Lambeau Field and upset the Packers en route to Super Bowl titles. If you"re looking for a reason why the Giants will pull off the playoff hat trick at Lambeau, start in their defensive backfield.
Rodgers" mobility makes it difficult to disrupt the Packers" passing attack with pressure. If anything, Rodgers is more dangerous when he extends plays and gets outside the pocket.
Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo exercised caution when attacking Rodgers in the Packers" 23-16 win when the teams met at Lambeau Field in Week 5. The Giants only blitzed the Packers on nine of their 50 passing plays (18 percent), according to Pro Football Focus. The NFL average to blitz is around 30 percent.
Packers scouting report
The key against Green Bay is coverage. The Packers have an arsenal of receiving weapons, led by big-play threat Jordy Nelson, who had 97 catches for 1,257 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. Nelson is complemented by Davante Adams (75 catches for 997 yards and 12 touchdowns) and Randall Cobb, who missed the final two games of the regular season with an ankle injury.
Matching up with Green Bay"s talented receivers is a challenge that the Giants are better equipped to handle than most teams. The Giants have three cornerbacks playing at a high level, led by Pro Bowler Janoris Jenkins, who was slowed by a bruised back late in the regular season. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie led the team with six interceptions, including four in the final three games of the regular season. Rookie Eli Apple has been solid despite the occasional growing pains.
Rodgers-Cromartie"s role as the nickel corner is particularly important against a Green Bay offense that moves Nelson into the slot in an attempt to exploit mismatches. The Giants held Nelson to four catches for 38 yards and one touchdown in the meeting earlier this season.
Cobb was the bigger problem in that matchup with nine catches for 108 yards, while Adams added five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. It was still a solid showing by the Giants" defense, as they held Rodgers to 23-of-45 passing for 259 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions (both by Jenkins).
The Giants" secondary is better now than it was in the first meeting whenApple was limited to seven snaps by a groin injury and Rodgers-Cromartie essentially played on one leg as he battled through a groin injury.
Leon Hall, who has since moved to free safety, struggled to cover Cobb in the slot, while rookie Michael Hunter, who is now on the practice squad, was beat for a touchdown by Adams. The Giants have since added Coty Sensabaugh to join Trevin Wade as additional options at slot corner in sub packages.
Stopping Rodgers is a nearly impossible task, but the Giants have the pieces to contain the MVP candidate. If the defensive backs are up to the task, the Giants will leave Lambeau with another happy memory.
Dan Duggan may be reached at dduggan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DDuggan21. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.
