Griddy Griddy Bang Bang

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.

Justin Jefferson joined some elite company, Christian McCaffrey is out for the year, Kirk Cousins threw four—yes, four—interceptions, Justin Tucker keeps missing kicks, Aaron Rodgers could be done in New York after this season, and the Commanders are considering bringing back the Redskins logo.

Let’s dive in.

QUICK HITS

• Bills crush 49ers in snowy slop-fest, clinch AFC East title (ESPN)

• 49ers lose Christian McCaffrey for the season with PCL injury (PFT)

• Eagles extend their winning streak to 8 with a big road win over the Ravens (PFT)

• Ravens kicker Justin Tucker's struggles continue with career-worst three missed kicks (USA Today)

• Wilson, Burrow combine for more than 700 yards; Steelers win 44-38 (Yahoo Sports)

• Vikings come back late, beat Cardinals 23-22 for 10th win (PFT)

• Jets squander early 14-point lead, fall to Seahaws (Athlon Sports)

• Colts win 25-24 on late Anthony Richardson TD pass, two-point conversion (PFT)

• Kirk Cousins throws 4 INTs as Falcons fall to Chargers (SI.com)

• Stroud's TD pass with 18 seconds left lifts Texans to 24-20 win over Jaguars (ESPN)

• Rams use second-half scoring surge to earn road win over Saints, 21-14 (LA Times)

• Panthers lose in wild overtime to Buccaneers, 26-23 (Yahoo Sports)

• Commanders bounce back, beat Titans 42-19 (SI.com)

• Vikings' Justin Jefferson Hits Historical Milestone vs Cardinals (SI.com)

• Trevor Lawrence suffers terrifying injury, forced to leave game after cheap shot hit by Texans defender (On3)

• Taysom Hill carted off in fourth quarter of Saints-Rams (PFT)

• Aidan O’Connell: Raiders’ fumbled snap is “completely my fault” (PFT)

• Rapoport: Aaron Rodgers 'considered a long shot' to return to Jets in 2025 (Yahoo Sports)

• Giants HC Brian Daboll not concerned with job status despite seventh consecutive loss (NFL.com)

• Bears fire Matt Eberflus following 4-8 start to season; Thomas Brown named interim head coach (NFL.com)

• Jets place LT Tyron Smith on injured reserve, likely ending year and maybe Jets career (ESPN)

• Lions LB Malcolm Rodriguez suffered a torn ACL in Thanksgiving Day win over Bears (ESPN)

• Former Colts star QB Andrew Luck is returning to Stanford University to become the football program’s general manager (SI.com)

• Amazon reportedly sold Black Friday game ads for $750K each (Sportico)

• Discussions and ‘good faith negotiations’ are ongoing between the NFL and Commanders to bring back the Redskins logo (SI.com)

WHO’S UP?

The Pittsburgh Steelers. In a thrilling divisional showdown, the Pittsburgh Steelers outgunned the Cincinnati Bengals 44-38, extending their record to 9-3 and solidifying their position atop the AFC North. The victory was a testament to the Steelers' resilience and the resurgence of quarterback Russell Wilson, who has found new life on Maple Street after a disappointing stint in Denver.

Wilson, once considered past his prime, silenced critics with a stellar performance, throwing for 414 yards and three touchdowns. This marked his highest regular-season passing total since 2017, demonstrating that the veteran quarterback still has plenty left in the tank.

The win also secured another milestone for head coach Mike Tomlin, who extended his remarkable streak of non-losing seasons to 18. This victory clinched the Steelers' 21st consecutive season at .500 or better, tying the Dallas Cowboys' record from 1965-1985.

While the Steelers' offense shone brightly, the Bengals' defensive woes continued. Cincinnati, now 4-8, has lost multiple high-scoring affairs this season, tying an NFL record for most losses while scoring 30 or more points in a single season.

As the regular season enters its final stretch, the Steelers find themselves in prime position for a playoff berth and potentially an AFC North title. Wilson's renaissance and Tomlin's consistent leadership have transformed the Steelers from a team struggling to maintain their non-losing streak to legitimate contenders in the AFC.

WHO’S DOWN?

Da Bears. The decision to fire head coach Matt Eberflus after a disastrous 4-8 start to the season marks a historic moment for the franchise, as it's the first time they've dismissed a coach mid-season. Eberflus' tenure, which ended with a 14-32 record, was marred by questionable decision-making and a loss of locker room support.

The final straw came during the Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions, where Eberflus' clock management in the closing seconds left players and fans bewildered. This incident was just the latest in a series of coaching missteps that had eroded player confidence.

Reports suggest Eberflus lost the defensive players' trust following a crushing loss to the Washington Commanders earlier in the season. His failure to take accountability for coaching errors and subsequent attempts to shoulder blame were viewed as insincere by the team.

The firing of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron after just nine games highlighted the dysfunction within the organization. Players had expressed frustrations with Waldron's system and coaching style since the summer.

This tumultuous situation raises concerns for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, the first overall pick. The Bears now face the challenge of finding stability and proper leadership to develop their young talent, a task that has proven difficult for the organization in recent years.

Interim head coach Thomas Brown now has five weeks to prove he can right the ship and potentially secure the permanent position. The Bears' front office will be closely monitoring his ability to galvanize the locker room and guide Williams' development.

BEST LOOK 🔥 

The best look of the week was the Bills-49ers

The Cardinals icy whites is a clean look (pant stripe is a must for white pants) ❄️ 

RB duo Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery wore custom ‘Sonic and Knuckles’ cleats on Thanksgiving Day 🔥🤌 

The Patriots’ classic uni is one of the best looks in the NFL. It’s the matching stripe on the helmet and pants that sets this look apart

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

STAT OF THE WEEK

On Sunday, Vikings WR Justin Jefferson became the 4th player in NFL history with at least 1,000 receiving yards in his first 5 seasons. Jefferson joins Mike Evans, A.J. Greene, and Randy Moss.

2020: 1,400
2021: 1,616
2022: 1,809
2023: 1,074
2024: 1,038 (and counting)

MEMES OF THE WEEK

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