A New Newsletter Just Dropped 🔥🏈

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.

Since this is the first issue, here’s what you can expect on a regular basis:

• Quick hits (headlines from around the league)

• Who’s up? Who’s down? (after all, it’s a week-to-week league)

• Scoreboard (in-season)

• Numbers you should know (stats and info)

• Best look (that uniform drip tho 🔥)

• Meme(s) of the week (only the freshest)

Throughout the year we’ll mix in a deep dive on topics like the draft, free agency, or the ever-changing media rights landscape and streaming wars. In-season you can expect a pick or two (21+, gamble responsibly), and maybe some fantasy sit ‘em, start ‘ems. Occasionally we may also recommend other newsletters we love, or throw in a sponsored shout out.

What you won’t find in the Opening Drive is hot takes and clickbait. Now, let’s dive in.

QUICK HITS

• Patriots hire linebackers coach Jerod Mayo to replace Belichick.

• Leading MVP candidate Lamar Jackson among stars named to the 2023 NFL All-Pro roster.

• C.J. Stroud and the Texans dominate the Browns in blowout win as he becomes the youngest QB in NFL history (22 years, 102 days) to win a playoff game.

• Chiefs and Dolphins play fourth coldest game in NFL history at -4 degrees, so cold Andy Reid’s mustache froze and Patrick Mahomes cracked his helmet.

• Jerry Jones says playoff loss to Packers ‘beyond my comprehension’, ‘painful’

• Jared Goff leads the Lions to their first playoff victory in 32 years, the Dolphins (23 years) and Raiders (21 years) now hold the longest playoff win droughts.

• Josh Allen leads the Bills past the Steelers, sets up showdown with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the Divisional Round.

• Eagles implode, going 1-5 down the stretch, bounced by the Bucs in a Monday night beatdown.

• 23 million people streamed the Chiefs-Dolphins game on Saturday night, shattering the previous streaming record for an NFL game of 15 million.

• Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) sent a nasty-gram NFL commissioner Roger Goodell over the league’s use of Peacock to stream the Chiefs vs. Dolphins Wild Card game.

• A new docuseries featuring the New England Patriots is coming to Apple TV+ on Feb. 16. The trailer was released on Jan. 9.

• Can’t keep up with the NFL hiring cycle? This list at NFL.com has you covered. They’re keeping track of all the coaching and GM interviews and developments.

SCOREBOARD

Wild Card Weekend Scores

NFC
(7) Green Bay Packers 48 - (2) Dallas Cowboys 32
(6) Los Angeles Rams 23 - (3) Detroit Lions 24
(5) Philadelphia Eagles 9 - (4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 32

AFC
(5) Cleveland Browns 14 - (4) Houston Texans 45
(6) Miami Dolphins 7 - (3) Kansas City Chiefs 26
(7) Pittsburgh Steelers 17 - (2) Buffalo Bills 3

WHO’S UP? WHO’S DOWN?

Who’s up?
Mike Vrabel. Vrabel became the hottest head coach candidate that no one thought would be available this off-season. Many speculated he could land in New England where he played for eight seasons, winning three Super Bowls. With the announcement that Jerod Mayo will succeed Bill Belichick, it looks like Vrabel’s destination is still up in the air. One thing to keep an eye on is what Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid does after the playoffs (though Reid recently denied rumors of an impending retirement). Vrabel spent his last two seasons as a player in Kansas City… 👀 Others have pointed to Seattle as a potential landing spot. Regardless, he is certainly at the top of the list when it comes to available head coaches.

Who’s down?
Amy Adams Strunk. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Titan’s owner began to question Vrabel’s commitment to the team after comments he made during an October trip to New England when he was enshrined in the Patriots Hall of Fame. His comments during that trip did not sit well with Titan’s leadership and Vrabel failed to address the issue internally. That was apparently all Strunk needed to decide to move on. Vrabel led the Titans to two AFC South division titles and two playoff appearances in the 2020-2021 seasons and was coach of the year in 2021. He led them to the AFC Championship game in 2019, losing to the eventual Super Bowl LIV Champion Chiefs. He leaves behind a Titans franchise headed for significant rebuild as they will likely look to replace QB Ryan Tannehill and star RB Derrick Henry, in addition to their head coach.

HEAD COACH UPDATE

Seven of the eight teams (so far) searching for a new head coach are still looking. That may change quickly after Jan. 21 when coaches and coordinators of teams eliminated from the playoffs become available to interview. In October, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported that NFL owners unanimously approved a proposal to delay in-person head coaching interviews for candidates currently employed by NFL teams until after the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Teams are still permitted to conduct virtual interviews.

Atlanta Falcons ❌
Carolina Panthers ❌
Las Vegas Raiders ❌
Los Angeles Chargers ❌
New England Patriots ✅
Seattle Seahawks ❌
Tennessee Titans ❌
Washington Commanders ❌

NUMBERS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Bill Belichick is out as Patriots head coach after 24 seasons. Here’s why he’s the greatest to ever do it, even if he never coaches another game.

🏆 24 seasons
🏆 9 Super Bowl appearances
🏆 6 Super Bowl titles
🏆 17 AFC East titles
🏆 9 AFC championships
🏆 266-120 (.689 win pct.) regular season record
🏆 30-12 (.714 win pct.) postseason record

Did you know?

🏈 Since the Patriots hired Belichick in 2000, the other 31 NFL teams have had 162 head coaches for a combined 224 head coaching stints.
🏈 Belichick is 15 games shy of Don Shula’s all-time wins record for an NFL head coach.
🏈 Belichick had a .500 win pct. or better against every team in the NFL in 24 seasons in New England

OPENING DRIVE BEST BET 💸🎰🎲

49ers -9.5 (-118)

The 49ers opened as 9.5-point favorites at home against the visiting Packers. Kyle Shanahan’s squad is averages 28.9 PPG (3rd) and holds their opponents to 17.5 PPG (3rd) on average. The Packers are 5-5 ATS on the road, including Sunday’s wild card win, while the 49ers finished the season 3-5 ATS at home but were 4-2 ATS as double-digit favorites. Expect early money on the 49ers which could move the line higher as the game gets closer.

Odds via FanDuel. Please check your local state rules and regulations. 21+, gamble responsibly.

SPORTS MEDIA & STREAMING

The New York Post’s Andrew Marchand is reporting the NFL is in advanced talks to sell its media division, including NFL Network, to ESPN in exchange for an equity stake in the sports media giant. While this could signal a new era of collaboration between major sports leagues and media, it raises some concerns about ESPN's ability to impartially cover a business partner that would partially own the network. This is not the first time that ESPN has explored partnership with sports leagues. In June, CNBC reported that ESPN held talks with the NFL, NBA and MLB. It has previously been reported that ESPN could offer a stand-alone streaming service as early as 2025. The acquisition of NFL Media would give ESPN exclusive content and more favorable rights agreements in their new direct-to-consumer offering.

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BEST LOOK 🔥 

The Chiefs can do no wrong with their classic red jersey and white pants combo. They continue to have one of the best looks in the league even if they are number 16 on the @fashion_nfl uniform wardrobe power rankings.

MEME OF THE WEEK