Black Monday

Good morning. This is the Opening Drive, the weekly newsletter that brings you the best of the NFL so you’re always the smartest one at the water cooler.

The Patriots fired Jerod Mayo before players were even out of the showers after the game, Mike Evans became just the second player ever to notch 1,000 yards receiving in 11 consecutive seasons, Mike Vrabel Rickrolled the Jets, the Titans clinched the number one overall pick (will probably screw it up).

It’s ‘Black Monday’ in the NFL today. The first day after the regular season finale, when many coaches and GMs will learn their fates. May the odds ever be in their favor.

Let’s dive in.

QUICK HITS

• Lions clinch NFC's No. 1 seed, first-round bye with win over Vikings on Sunday night (NFL.com)

• Broncos return to playoffs for first time since winning Super Bowl 50 with win over Chiefs 38-0 (NFL.com)

• Ravens wrap up the AFC North with a 35-10 rout of Cleveland (ESPN)

• Quentin Johnston’s career day helps Chargers secure fifth seed with 34-20 win over Raiders (PFT)

• Packers lose Jordan Love, Christian Watson to injury, fall to Bears on walk-off FG and lock into NFC's No. 7 seed (Yahoo Sports)

• Playoff-bound Texans cruise to 23-14 win over the Titans (ESPN)

• Baker Mayfield leads Bucs to 4th quarter comeback win over Saints (SI.com)

• Bengals edge Steelers 19-17 (ESPN)

• Rams start Jimmy Garoppolo in game that matters, fall to NFC No. 4 seed (Yahoo Sports)

• Commanders secure No. 6 seed in NFC with last-second TD to beat Cowboys (Yahoo Sports)

• Falcons waste 6-3 start, miss playoffs for seventh consecutive season (Axios)

• Jonathan Taylor and Joe Flacco lead Colts to 26-23 overtime win over Jaguars (ESPN)

• Kyler Murray throws 4 TD passes and the Cardinals beat the 49ers 47-24 in finale (ESPN)

• QB Joe Milton dazzles; Pats lose No. 1 pick in costly win (NBC Sports Boston)

• Eagles finish 14-3, primed for playoff run after 20-13 win over Giants (SI.com)

• Rodgers throws a season-high 4 touchdown passes in possible final game as Jets top Dolphins 32-20 (ESPN)

• Tyreek Hill wastes no time, says he wants out of Miami in locker room tirade (B/R)

• Ravens’ Zay Flowers could miss Wild Card round with knee injury (B/R)

• Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase wins receiving triple crown (NFL.com)

• Aaron Rodgers becomes 5th NFL QB to post 500 career TD passes in possible last game with Jets (Yahoo Sports)

• Giants WR Malik Nabers breaks Steve Smith's franchise record for most catches in a single season (Giants.com)

• Bryce Young scores five TDs as Panthers end season with 44-38 OT win over Falcons (PFT)

• Lamar Jackson becomes first QB with 4,000 yards passing and 800 or more rushing yards in a single season (CBS Sports)

• Patriots fire head coach Jerod Mayo, as the handpicked successor to Bill Belichick goes one-and-done (PFT)

• Browns fire offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, plan to keep head coach Kevin Stefanski (NFL.com)

• The Saints are reportedly eyeing Matt Nagy for their vacant head coaching position (SI.com)

• Mike Vrabel reportedly interviewed with division rival Jets to put pressure on Patriots to make a move with Jerod Mayo (Larry Brown Sports)

• Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy's contract expires on Jan. 14 (NFL.com)

• Titans clinch number one pick in the 2025 NFL Draft (Yahoo Sports)

• Buccaneers WR Mike Evans hauls in 11th straight 1,000-yard receiving season, ties Jerry Rice for most consecutively (NFL.com)

• 2025 NFL Pro Bowl rosters announced (ESPN)

• Now that the playoffs are set, check out the bracket, schedule Super Bowl odds, stats and more here

WHO’S UP?

Chicago Bears. The Chicago Bears ended their 2024 season on a high note, snapping an 11-game losing streak against their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, with a thrilling 24-22 victory at Lambeau Field. The win also halted the Bears' 10-game skid dating back to Week 8.

The game started with fireworks as Josh Blackwell returned a punt 94 yards for a touchdown, giving Chicago their first lead since Week 12. However, it was a nail-biter until the end, with the lead changing hands in the final minute.

Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams led a crucial six-play, 47-yard drive in the closing seconds, setting up Cairo Santos for the game-winning 51-yard field goal. Williams finished 21-of-29 for 148 yards and a touchdown, showing poise in the clutch despite an otherwise modest statistical outing.

The loss had significant implications for Green Bay, locking them into the NFC's No. 7 playoff seed. They'll now face the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round, a rematch of their Week 1 encounter in Brazil.

For the Bears, attention now turns to their coaching search. General Manager Ryan Poles will lead the effort, with Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and former Titans coach Mike Vrabel among the top candidates.

The victory provides a positive note for Chicago to build on as they enter a crucial offseason, aiming to construct an offense that can maximize Williams' potential and return the Bears to contention in the NFC North.

WHO’S DOWN?

New England Patriots. The Patriots' 2024 season was a disaster, culminating in the shocking dismissal of head coach Jerod Mayo just minutes after their final game on Sunday. The Patriots finished 4-13, their worst record since 1992, and missed the playoffs for the third straight year.

Mayo, a former Patriots linebacker, was handpicked by owner Robert Kraft to succeed Bill Belichick. However, his tenure lasted just one season, matching Rod Rust's 1990 campaign as the shortest in franchise history.

The season started promisingly with a road win over Cincinnati, but quickly unraveled as the Patriots lost six straight games. A brief mid-season resurgence proved fleeting, and the team limped to the finish line with six more losses in their final seven games.

Mayo's inexperience showed throughout the year. He made several public gaffes, including calling the team "soft" and walking back comments about free agency spending. The defense, Mayo's area of expertise, regressed significantly, ranking last in quarterback pressures and generating few turnovers.

In a statement, Kraft called the decision "one of the hardest" he's ever made, citing his long relationship with Mayo. However, he acknowledged that the team's performance did not meet expectations and that a change was necessary to expedite a return to contention.

The Patriots now enter a crucial offseason with the fourth overall draft pick and ample cap space. Finding the right head coach to lead this rebuild will be paramount as New England looks to recapture its former glory in the post-Belichick era.

BEST LOOK 🔥 

The Bolts unis never disappoint ⚡️ 

The Titans wearing the Oilers throwbacks against the Texas is peak trolling.

The Bucs have an ELITE pant stripe

Dear Broncos, please make this the primary uni in 2025

STAT OF THE WEEK

Mike Evans reached 1,000 yards receiving for the 11th straight season on Sunday, tying legendary Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice. Congrats Mike Evans.

🏈 Games played: 167
🏈 Receptions: 827
🏈 Targets: 1,420
🏈 Yards: 12,595
🏈 Avg. yds. per rec.: 15.2
🏈 Touchdowns: 105
🏈 Longest reception: 75 yards
🏈 Receiving first downs: 635

MEMES OF THE WEEK

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