Leave the Gun, Take the W: Bills Mafia Triumphs 🔫🏆

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.

It’s ‘Tommy Cutlets’ time in NY, the Bills win in an instant classic over the Chiefs, the Lions continue to roll, Geno says ‘goodnight’, the Steelers kicked six field goals (and won), Jared Goff makes his case for MVP, Belichick reportedly wants to return to coaching in 2025, Netflix gears up for Christmas games, and Doug Pederson may be open to work soon.

Let’s dive in.

QUICK HITS

• Daniel Jones benched with Giants career likely over (NY Post)

• Josh Allen's late TD run lifts Bills over Chiefs for Kansas City's first loss of the season (Yahoo Sports)

• Chargers beat Bengals 34-27 in a SNF thriller with late TD from Dobbins (ESPN)

• Lions' huge win over Jaguars ends with final score that's never been seen before in NFL history (CBS Sports)

• Sam Darnold leads Vikings to 3rd straight win, beating Titans 23-13 (ESPN)

• Geno Smith's late TD run leads the Seahawks past the 49ers 20-17 (ESPN)

• Packers block Bears’ game-winning field goal attempt, ruin Caleb Williams’ comeback attempt (SI.com)

• Boswell kicks 6 field goals and the Steelers bottle up Lamar Jackson in 18-16 win over the Ravens (ESPN)

• Bo Nix makes NFL history as Broncos cruise past Falcons in 38-6 win (Broncos Wire)

• Matthew Stafford throws four touchdowns, Rams beat Patriots 28-22 (PFT)

• Dolphins grind Raiders to dust in 34-19 win (Dolphins Wire)

• Saints' Taysom Hill makes NFL history with 200 total yards, 3 TDs in big win vs. Browns (CBS Sports)

• Anthony Richardson dazzles as Colts storm back, Jets fall to abysmal 3-8 (PFT)

• Raiders' Brock Bowers sets NFL rookie tight end record with 13 catches versus Dolphins (Yahoo Sports)

• Lions' trio of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery make NFL history (CBS Sports)

• Titans QB Will Levis throws longest touchdown pass of NFL season with 98-yarder to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (Yahoo Sports)

• Dawand Jones out for season with fractured ankle (PFT)

• Lions LB Alex Anzalone to miss 6-8 weeks with fractured forearm (Sporting News)

• Seahawks center Connor Williams unexpectedly deciding to retire at 27 years old, walking away from the team with eight games left this season (ESPN)

• Report: Jets GM Joe Douglas to Return to Ravens After Season (Jet Nation)

• Bill Belichick reportedly wants to return to coaching in 2025 after season as NFL analyst (Yahoo Sports)

• Netflix says its commercials for Christmas NFL games are sold out (PFT)

• Beyoncé to perform live on Netflix at halftime during Christmas Day matchup between Texans and Ravens (Netflix)

• Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce had their homes burglarized one day apart last month and now the FBI is investigating (NBC)

• NFL Scouting Combine to remain in Indianapolis in 2026 (NFL.com)

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WHO’S UP? WHO’S DOWN?

Who’s up?
Jared Goff. Just one week after throwing five interceptions against the Texans, albeit in a win, Jared Goff led the Detroit Lions to a resounding 52-6 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Etching his name in the NFL record books in the process. Goff orchestrated a flawless offensive showcase, completing 24 of 29 passes for a staggering 412 yards and four touchdowns.

The Lions' offensive juggernaut was unstoppable, scoring touchdowns on their first seven possessions – a feat not seen in the regular season since the 2007 New England Patriots. Goff's precision passing resulted in a perfect 158.3 passer rating, marking only the second such occurrence in Lions' franchise history.

Wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams both eclipsed the 100-yard mark, with St. Brown extending his franchise record to eight consecutive games with a touchdown. The ground game was equally potent, with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combining for three rushing touchdowns.

This victory extends Detroit's winning streak to eight games, their longest since 1934, and solidifies their position atop the NFC. Goff's performance not only silenced critics but also placed him in elite company, becoming the only quarterback in NFL history with multiple games of 400+ passing yards and a perfect passer rating.

As the Lions continue their march towards the playoffs, Goff's record-setting day serves as a testament to the team's offensive firepower and their potential to make a deep postseason run.

Who’s down?
Doug Pederson. The Jacksonville Jaguars find themselves in a precarious position as they head into their bye week with a dismal 2-9 record. Head coach Doug Pederson, once hailed as the savior of the franchise, now faces intense scrutiny from ownership following a humiliating blowout loss to the Detroit Lions.

The Jaguars' performance on Sunday was nothing short of abysmal, with the Lions scoring four touchdowns on their first four possessions. The Jacksonville defense, despite being at full strength, appeared utterly helpless against Detroit's onslaught.

This latest defeat has put Pederson's job in serious jeopardy, with sources indicating that owner Shad Khan's faith in the coach has all but evaporated. A thorough evaluation of Pederson's position is expected during the bye week, and there is a real possibility that he may not survive to coach the team's next game against the Houston Texans on December 1.

The fall from grace has been swift for Pederson, who led the team to the playoffs in 2022. However, a late-season collapse in 2023 and a winless September this year have erased any goodwill he may have earned. The absence of starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence due to injury has only compounded the team's struggles.

As the Jaguars contemplate a potential regime change, the organization finds itself at a crossroads. With high expectations unfulfilled and a talented roster underperforming, the pressure is mounting for decisive action. The coming days could prove pivotal for the future of the franchise and its leadership.

BEST LOOK 🔥 

The Steelers’ classic look never goes out of style. ⚫️⚫️🟡 

We had an elite uni matchup on Sunday Night Football.

STATS OF THE WEEK

Vikings WR Jordan Addison reached a top speed of 21.09 mph on his 47-yard TD, his 2nd-fastest speed as a ball carrier this season (Addison hit 21.80 mph in Week 7 vs DET).

• Yards After Catch: 25

• Expected YAC (YACOE): 17 (+9)

• TD Probability: 16.1%

MEMES OF THE WEEK

Dan Orlovsky catching strays.

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