The Sports Insanity Network

BENCHED

BY MIKE RIFKIN

The Miami Dolphins have announced that they are benching Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and will start rookie seventh round pick Quinn Ewers Sunday against the Bengals. In his press conference on Tuesday head coach Mike McDaniel said “everything was on the table” when talking about this subject.

It’s been a tough year in Miami for Tagovailoa. The former fifth overall pick leads the NFL with 15 interceptions. In Monday’s loss against the Steelers Tagovailoa was 22-28 for 253 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Don’t be fooled by the statline though most of those numbers came with the game out of reach. Even during Miami’s recent four game winning streak, they weren’t winning because of quarterback play.

What really makes this decision interesting is the money aspect. Now the job belongs to Ewers. Tagovailoa is guaranteed 54 million dollars in 2026. If the Dolphins cut Tagovailoa it will be costly, they’ll have to post it after June first cut and the dead cap will be a record of 99.2 million dollars. The Dolphins could spread that out as 67.4 million in 2026 and 31.8 million in 2027, it’s similar to what the Broncos did with Russell Wilson. Now if they trade Tagovailoa before June first it’d be 45.2 million in dead cap. They could also pay down the contract in order to make a trade.

The Dolphins are already in the market for a new GM after firing Chris Grier and now with Tua being benched, we’ll have to see what the future holds for Mike McDaniel. Now is actually the perfect time for this if you’re the Dolphins, because of the state of the AFC East. The Bills are still the standard bearer and the Patriots retooled quicker than anyone thought. The Jets are still in rebuild mode, but have a lot of draft capital, so for the Dolphins we’ll have to see what’s next? But Quinn Ewers will get starts against the Bengals, Bucs, and Patriots to prove himself.

DEVASTATING

BY MIKE RIFKIN

The Kansas City Chiefs must have made Santa’s naughty list, because Sunday was an awful day for the franchise. First, the team lost to the Chargers by a score of 16-13 and with that and other results not going their way the Chiefs have been eliminated from playoff contention, the first time they have missed the playoffs in a decade. The Chiefs have represented the AFC in five of the last six Super Bowls. But to make matters worse late in the game, Patrick Mahomes got tackled and immediately grabbed his knee and had to be helped off the field. Sunday night it was confirmed that Mahomes tore his ACL and is done for the season, and we’ll have to see what happens as to what comes next season for the Chiefs?

2024 the Chiefs won every close game imaginable, they didn’t have that same luck this season. And now with Mahomes out and the Chiefs season being over, can we just take a minute to appreciate the special run this team went on. 10 consecutive trips to the Playoffs, five Super Bowl appearances, and three Super Bowl wins. This run has solidified the resumes of Andy Reid, Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones, and Steve Spagnuolo as Hall Of Famers.

So, now that the Chiefs are eliminated what will come next? Let’s be honest they really can’t run it back again, this team had a lot of flaws and Mahomes’ magic was able to disguise a lot of it. But first thing they have to do is they cannot rush Mahomes back. Allow him to take his time in recovery and make sure he is 100% when ready to return. Next would be what happens with Travis Kelce? Is he retiring or coming back? Kelce has not had the best season of his Hall Of Fame career, Kelce will be 37 during next season, would he want to go through another season?

One thing GM Brett Veach will have to do is create cap space, as the Chiefs right now are in the negative. Sunday was a devastating day for the Chiefs franchise, but Mahomes will be back and when he returns the Chiefs will be a team in the conversation again. But this offseason might be a wakeup call and time for some things to change.

WEEK 15

BY SIN BLITZERS

Ravens @ Bengals By Bill Murphy

Last week , the Bengals lost to the Buffalo Bills, by a score of 39-34. Joe Burrow went 25/36 for 284 yards and four touchdowns. Chase Brown had for 12 carries 23 yards and a touchdown. Tee Higgins had six receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns, Mike Gesicki had six receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown. The Bengals , now face off against the Baltimore Ravens in a week 13 rematch in which the Bengals won 32-14. The Ravens are coming off of a 27-22 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers . Lamar Jackson went 19-35 for 219 yards and a touchdown. Lamar added 43 yards on seven carries and a touchdown. Isiah Likely went for 25 yards and one touchdown (although he should’ve had two)

Keys to the game

Ravens

Offense

Lamar Jackson

La’marr Jackson has a perfect 4-0 record against the Bengals. Jackson has five consecutive games where he has two touchdowns . The Bengals offense has scored over 24 points in four straight games . Jackson can take advantage of this awful Bengals defense that surrenders a lot of points.

Defense

Kyle Hamilton

Kyle Hamilton this year has 79 total tackles 43 solo, 36 asst , one sack and two forced fumbles. Hamilton can slow down both Burrow and Chase , he can be a big help to this teams defense

Bengals

Offense

Joe Burrow

Since Burrow has recovered from his injury , he has thrown for a combined 545 yards and six touchdowns. Burrow needs to hit Ja’marr Chase, because Tee Higgins will be out. The Raven defense has struggled in the secondary all season.

Defense

Pass defense

Yes , the pass defense has been terrible for the Bengals , but two weeks ago against this ravens Team , they held them to only 14 points and three turnovers from Lamar Jackson . It was five turnovers in total . If the Bengals can do it again, they might put a dagger in the Ravens playoff hopes.

Prediction

Ravens 27 Bengals 24

BUF AT NE : The Bills and Patriots will meet for the second time this season. The Pats will look for a season sweep and an AFC East title in Mike Vrabel’s first season. In the first meeting the Patriots held James Cook to 49 yards rushing, if they can do that again they will win the division. For the Bills it’s all about someone on the outside stepping up, in the first meeting against New England it was Dalton Kincaid, who went for over 100 yards, Kincaid returned from injury last week and found the Endzone, He could be a big piece for Josh Allen.

IND AT SEA : Nobody in football is in a worse spot than the Colts, they’ve lost three in a row and four out of five, and now they either have to start Riley Leonard or Philip Rivers, who they signed this week after Daniel Jones tore his Achilles. Not only that but they have to go to Seattle, where the Seahawks defense has been dominant. Indy needs to win the line of scrimmage to win or the free fall will continue.

GB AT DEN : Game of the week that features two similar teams. Both possess great defenses and quarterbacks with something to prove. Jordan Love has been awesome the past few weeks, but can he do it against the best defense in the league. Can Bo Nix avoid a big Micah Parsons’ game? Whichever QB makes more plays with their legs should win the game.

MIA AT PIT : Massive Monday night game as both teams are playing for their playoff lives. The Dolphins are rolling, having won four straight games. They’ve leaned on the run game and tremendous defense. They’ll play a Steeler team that could make a big play in the AFC North. The Steelers will be without TJ Watt, who suffered a collapsed lung and had successful surgery. Who can keep their playoff hopes alive on Monday?

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

BY MIKE RIFKIN

Saturday Night will a special night for wrestling fans everywhere. John Cena will wrestle his final match on Saturday Night’s Main Event against Gunther. When people debate who is the greatest of all time, Cena’s name will always come up and he made a massive impact on the wrestling world. And while Saturday night will be special in so many ways, while it’ll be the end of something very special, it’ll also be the beginning and dawning of a new era.

While Gunther is an established star as a former World Champion, he can get to a higher level with a win, but he’s not the star I am talking about. The star I am talking about Oba Femi, the current NXT Champion will take on current WWE Champion Cody Rhodes on the show. If that match is booked properly with Femi going over, kind of think of Kevin Owens vs John Cena then boom another star could be born.

So, yes Saturday Night will be special and there will be a ton of emotions this will be a changing of the guard. Yes, Cena will have the spotlight shined on him and rightfully so. But with guys like Gunther, Femi and the vision causing chaos on Raw the WWE will be in good hands. But nobody will ever have the legacy of John Cena.

ABSOLUTELY BRUTAL (No Trumpets)

BY MARK HALPERN

This off-season the Mets have a number of needs including the outfield and pitching (both starters and bullpen). Edwin Diaz, opted out of his contract to test the market. Diaz, is arguably one of the top 3 closers in Baseball and had become a fan favorite after a rocky first season. The Mets had made him an off season priority but, Diaz chose the Los Angeles Dodgers for the tune of three years $69 million dollars, whereas the Mets offer was the same three years for $66million “But there was room for more” and ultimately, he chose the Dodgers.

Two days earlier the Mets made an interesting move in signing New York Yankees closer Devin Williams to a 3 three year 51-million-dollar contract. This move made Mets fans scratch their heads but it was understood he would be the gateway to Diaz but that is no longer the situation.

One theory that I have has nothing to do with the financial terms of the contract. I personally think this came down to the decision of chasing a World Series ring before his time is up. I think Diaz believed in going to the Dodgers and playing for a team that has won 2 straight World Series championships and riding the wave with this monster of a team and getting himself a ring. Baseball isn’t the loyalty sport it once was anymore, meaning players go where the money is. Mind you three million dollars isn’t a ton of money (especially to Steve Cohen) but, the Mets have a ton of needs (none more important than signing Pete Alonso) and even though the $$$ isn’t the question it’s about the business of it more today than in the days of yore. Loyalty has gone out the window over the years having fans and some team owners trying to make a salary cap but that will never happen in Baseball.

Diaz will be missed and not hearing that Trumpet call before he comes out to close a game out will be one of the major things I will miss.

THE POLAR BEAR HAS GONE EXTINCT IN NY

BY MARK HALPERN

Over my time as a New York Mets fan, I have come to love a lot of players. Some of them leave via free agency or trade, and it hurts. The Mets are coming off an awful second half of baseball, which ultimately cost them the playoffs. The Bats stopped producing and the pitching was so unreliable that it affected the team morale.

A few of the constants over the last few seasons have been Brandon Nimmo, Edwin Diaz and Pete Alonso. Now all three will not be a part of the 2026 Mets. How do you let Alonso walk? Especially after moving on from Nimmo and Diaz? According to Stearns the Mets didn’t even get to place a bid because they were reluctant to go more than 3 years. Pete had been saying he wanted a deal between 5-7 years and you couldn’t push it to 4 years with a team option? Pete was the fire that was in this team’s belly and now one of the best Mets position players in team history (who ranked first in so many categories) will be playing in Baltimore. I’m not only devastated but also totally disgusted with the Mets front office for not doing everything it could to keep Pete. I can get behind the Nimmo deal, I might not understand the Diaz deal but I am crushed to say none the least.

When David Stearns was brought in to be the General Manager of this Dante’s Inferno I was really excited with a few others including people in this Network but, now feel only the burining in my stomach. Right now, the Mets have a ton of holes all over the diamond. The Mets are in a worse position than when they entered this offseason. The Direction of this team has gone lower than the seventh layer of hell. One thing we do know that was reported today is that the Mets have interest in Trevor Megill (another Brewer I’m shocked). Right now as a Met fan it’s sad, and unless Cohen and Stearns have something nobody sees coming, the fans are going to revolt

THE UN-LUCK OF THE IRISH

BY MIKE RIFKIN

On Sunday, the NCAA announced the 12 teams that will compete in the College Football Playoff. One team that didn’t hear their name called was the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Irish have made the CFP three times and as recently as 2024. Notre Dame finished the season 10-2, losing their first two games of the season. Ironically enough the two teams that defeated them Miami and Texas A&M will play each other in the first round of the playoff. Also, let’s not make it out that the Irish were blown out in either game, they lost the two games by a combined four points. The Irish do have some solid victories over USC and Pittsburgh, whom both were in the top 25 at the time of the game.

James Madison and Tulane are the schools the “experts” will say don’t deserve to be there, but they both won their respective conferences. Tulane even has a win over ACC champion Duke. But the team that shouldn’t be in the playoff is Alabama. Alabama has three losses on the season, which is what Madison and Tulane have combined. Alabama’s three losses were to Florida St (5-7), Oklahoma (10-2), and Georgia (12-1). Now the Georgia loss occurred in the SEC Championship game, Alabama did beat Georgia in the regular season. But the SEC title game was as non competitive as it gets, so my question would be are they counting the conference title games or does it not matter and what Alabama did during the season was enough?

Now, I am not one who wants the CFP to keep expanding, I don’t think it’s necessary. But are the Irish being penalized because they’re not in a conference, because that’s what it feels like. Where I disagree with Notre Dame is that they should want to play in a bowl game, for those seniors it’s a last chance to wear the jersey to the school they committed to, and for others it could be something to carry over into next season. Two wrongs don’t make a right, but Notre Dame has a right to be upset, and Alabama doesn’t deserve to be there. That’s not what you’ll hear, but it is true.

WHAT A SHAME!

BY MARK HALPERN

When Daniel Jones signed with the Colts everyone laughed including yours truly. Well, Daniel Jones made a fool of everyone including myself. Jones and the Colts were one of the toasts of the season at 8-4. Today the unfortunate happened to Jones, while throwing for a completion down the field you see Jones go down but it was Non-contact and immediately grab his lower calf/heel area. According to reports it is a torn Achilles for Jones and he will miss the rest of this season and possibly the beginning of next year. Achilles injuries have had major impacts on the quarterback position. Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins among others have suffered the devastating injury.

Daniel Jones after being dismissed by the New York Giants had to find a new gig. Jones was offered the backup job to Anthony Richardson and jumped at the opportunity to have a fresh start. Jones beat Richardson to be the Colts starting QB. A lot of people didn’t believe this would be what it would become. Well to shut us all up before the injury Jones has passed for 3,041 yards with a 67.5% completion percentage to go along with 19 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. By far Jones’s most productive season. Jones will sorely be missed on and off the field as he is a leader in the locker room as well. After the injury Jones returned to the sideline in a walking boot and street clothes to be there for his team. Riley Leonard took over at Quarterback and the Colts ended up losing sending them to 8-5 on the year and much uncertainty for the rest of the season.

The Colts don’t have many options right now however, Anthony Richardson could be able to return by week 16, otherwise it will be Riley Leonard at the helm and the Colts Defense is going to have to step up and keep games close. The Colts schedule is going to be difficult with division games remaining with the Texans and Jags, along with games against the Seahawks and 49ers.

WEEK 14

BY SIN BLITZERS

MIA AT NYJ : The Dolphins enter this divisional game being winners of three straight games and have a slim opportunity to make the playoffs. The Dolphins defeated the Jets in week four 27-21. Tua Tagovailoa was 17-25 for 177 yards and two touchdowns (both to Darren Waller) The Jets were able to run the ball in the first meeting, they ran for almost 200 yards and averaged seven yards per carry. The Jets are coming off a win over the Falcons and would love nothing more than to halt their division rival’s playoff hopes.

PIT AT BAL : The best rivalry in the NFL makes it’s 2025 debut with major stakes as the winner will be in first place of the AFC North. Both teams sit at 6-6 and are coming off of awful home losses. The Ravens lost on Thanksgiving night to the Bengals. The offense had five turnovers in the loss, while the Steelers lost to the Bills. Things were so ugly that Steeler fans chanted “fire Tomlin” during the game. The Ravens defeated the Steelers in the Wild Card Round in the playoffs.

CIN AT BUF : The Bengals got Joe Burrow back and he was back in form against the Ravens. The Bengals are still in the thick of the AFC North. The Bengals also got good news on the injury front this week, Tee Higgins cleared concussion protocol and will play Sunday. Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins have been on the field together for 54 snaps on the season or just 7% of their snaps. For the Bills, they’re coming off a win over the Steelers. It wasn’t pretty but they got the job done. But the Bills’ defense will be tested on Sunday, but two elite Quarterbacks will take the field.

IND AT JAC : First place in the AFC South is on the line with these two division rivals meeting for the first time. The Colts have dropped three of their last four games. In the three losses Jonathan Taylor has been held under 100 yards and out of the endzone, although the one win he went for over 200 yards and three touchdowns. The Jags are giving up just over 82 yards per game rushing.

CHI AT GB : The oldest rivalry in football also makes it’s debut on Sunday when the Bears travel to the frozen tundra (Shoutout Chris Berman) to play the Packers. First place in the NFC North is on the line in this game. The key to this game is going to be the quarterbacks. Caleb Williams has played very well during this stretch for the Bears, while Jordan Love has had his ups and downs throughout the season. This might be a defensive battle in Lambeau.

HOU AT KC : Huge playoff implications are on the line here. The Texans have been on a roll recently winners of their last four and they got CJ Stroud back last week. They’re going up against a Chiefs team with their backs against the wall. The chess match between Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid against Demeco Ryans and Matt Burke will be worth monitoring. How will the Texans deploy Derek Stingley, and could Patrick Mahomes’ legs be the difference.

BIG GAME FEEL

BY MARK HALPERN

This Thursday the Dallas Cowboys will face the Detroit Lions, their third consecutive game against a team that made the playoffs last season. The Cowboys are getting done on all fronts as they have won back-to-back games against the Eagles and Chiefs on Thanksgiving. The Lions bring the BEST running back duo into this game and will be using it plenty. The Lions lost WR Amon-ra St. Brown on Thanksgiving due to a high ankle sprain and is considered week to week. As of Tuesday, St. Brown has not practiced but could be available according to Dan Campbell. The Cowboys could get Trevon Diggs back and couldn’t happen at a better time especially with the Defense is playing better. Expect this game to be a back and forth and most likely will be decided by three points or less. For the Cowboys it’s establishing the run game early and then getting into the hands of Lamb, Pickens and Williams on offense and for the Lions it’s Gibbs, J. Williams, and if St. Brown is out someone is going to have to step up. (this could be the deciding factor) My X factor for this game is going to be the Dallas D-Line stopping Gibbs as they have stopped Barkley and Pacheco/Hunt in consecutive weeks.