Pressure’s On

By Mike Rifkin

The NFL Postseason is here, and that has fans excited. Players and coaches can create or add to their existing legacies. If Patrick Mahomes loses in this playoff, it does nothing to what he has already accomplished. But what about the other Quarterbacks in the playoffs? This article will number the quarterbacks in each conference with the most pressure and why. 

NFC :

  1.  Dak Prescott – One of the most challenging jobs in football is to be the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys. Dak will receive MVP votes and lead his team to the NFC East title, but he has to get to the NFC Championship Game for me to be assured he’s the Cowboys quarterback in the long term.

2) Jalen Hurts – The Eagles have spiraled out, losing five of six games, which is something you don’t want before the playoffs. Are all of the problems his fault? No, but we judge based on Quarterbacks today, and last I checked, Philly was in the Super Bowl last year and was the prohibited favorite this year; if Jalen Hurts can’t turn this around, it’ll be quite the offseason in the city of brotherly shove.

3) Brock Purdy – Mr. Irrelevant- is relevant and, like Prescott, will get some love in the MVP race. Last year in the NFC Championship game, Purdy got hurt, and it was downhill for the Niners from there. They’re the favorites this year; if they fail, people will look at Purdy; this could be a national statement that looks good for Purdy. 

4) Matthew Stafford: To be fair, I’m only putting Stafford here because who knows how much longer he can play at this high level. He did win a Super Bowl a few seasons ago, but if he does it again, he will be a surefire Hall Of Famer (I already think he is). 

5) Jared Goff – I don’t think there’s much pressure on Goff, but based on the two other QBs, I have to put him here. He has to lead a team that has never been in this spot before; let’s see how they respond. 

6) Jordan Love – What do you do in your first year replacing Aaron Rodgers? You lead your team to the playoffs. It hasn’t always been pretty for Love this year, but a nice playoff run could make people outside of Green Bay believe he’s the guy. 

7) Baker Mayfield – The former number one overall pick has found his new home in Tampa. Baker rejuvenated his career in Tampa, leading them to the NFC South title. Baker can play loose, but the Bucs are a dangerous team this playoff.

AFC : 

  1. Lamar Jackson  – The MVP frontrunner has the most pressure in the AFC. Lamar has checked many boxes this season. His playoff numbers could be better. He needs a good playoff to get those critics off his back. 

2) Josh Allen – Outside of Baltimore, the Bills are the hottest team in football at the moment. In the playoffs the past few years, Mahomes and Joe Burrow outdueled Allen; now, Mahomes’ team isn’t what it usually is, and Burrow isn’t in the way, so Josh Allen needs a good playoff run to solidify himself. 

3) Tua Tagovailoa – I’m not sure who is criticized more between Tua and Dak Prescott. But if Tua and the Dolphins go on a nice playoff run, that’d be a way to silence some critics and earn Tua a very nice payday. 

4) Joe Flacco – Yes, it sounds weird that there’s pressure on Joe Flacco when he has saved the Cleveland Browns’ season. But a terrific playoff run could get Joe Flacco an opportunity to start somewhere next season. 

5) Patrick Mahomes – Mahomes has already won two Super Bowls, but I’ll put him here because as long as he’s around, you expect him to figure something out as Tom Brady would. But he might have to play on the road in the playoffs for the first time.

6) CJ Stroud – He’s going to win Rookie Of The Year, but the standard in Houston has been set. Stroud and company are playing with zero pressure and can relax and play loose because no matter who they play, the pressure’s on the other team. The future is bright in Houston.

7) Mason Rudolph – Whoever the Steelers decide to play for the playoffs has no pressure on them because nobody thinks the Steelers can make a run. They could showcase themselves for other teams, but the most minor pressure is in Pittsburgh for this exercise. 

Renew or Reboot- Pro Wrestling Contracts

We are already at the beginning of 2024 and many contracts in WWE, AEW, the newly TNA, NJPW, and other wrestling promotions are expiring soon or have already expired. This year, there are many famous pro wrestlers whose contracts are up. Some will resign and others will “reboot” themselves in another promotion. Here is the list of pro wrestlers whose contracts are up in 2024 and my predictions on if they resign or reboot with the help of Fightful.com

WWE: Alexa Bliss: 2023-2024: Leaving WWE to focus on her music career
Drew McIntyre: Early 2024 (Fightful Report)- Leaving WWE and signing to NJPW
Becky Lynch: June 2024 (Fightful Report)-Resigning with WWE
Seth Rollins: June 2024 (Fightful Report)-Resigning with WWE
Ricochet: Summer 2024- Unsure about him. I think he should leave WWE and return to NJPW
Jinder Mahal: Summer 2024- Leaving WWE and signing with TNA
Kofi Kingston: December 2024-Resigning with WWE leading into a backstage role
Big E: December 2024- Retiring but Resigning with WWE as a backstage role
Xavier Woods: December 2024-Resigning with WWE leading into a backstage role
Randy Orton: Signed multi-year extension through at least 2024 (Could have injury time added)- Resigning with WWE
Kevin Owens: 2024 (Fightful Report)-Resigning with WWE

  • AEW:QT Marshall: Through 2023, QT resigned from AEW & will be a free agent on 1/1/24 (Fightful Report)- Staying in AAA
    MJF: January 1st, 2024 (as claimed by him)– Renewing his contract
    Tony Schiavone: April 2024-Renewing his contract
    Andrade: Summer 2024-Going back to WWE
    Bryan Danielson: September 2024-Resigning but more of a backstage role with AEW and ROH
    Dustin Rhodes: September 2024 (Fightful Report)-Retirement
  • NJPW:Kazuchika Okada: End of January 2024– Renewing his contract and signing with AEW simultaneously
    Clark Connors: April 2024 (Fightful Report)-Sign with another company. Not sure which one yet. I’m thinking TNA or WWE.
  • Impact/TNA:Dirty Dango: Through 2023-Resigning with TNA
    Deonna Purrazzo: Through 2023 (Fightful Select reports that Deonna will be a free agent on January 1st, 2024-Officially in AEW as of January 3rd, 2024
    Rich Swann: Sometime in 2024-Resigning with TNA
    PCO: Through 2024-Staying and resigning with TNA
    Brian Myers    : Through 2024-Resigning with TNA
  • MLW: Alex Hammerstone: In a Social Media post on 12/8/23, Hammerstone stated he will be a free agent on 1/1/24.-I can see him either renewing his MLW contract or going to TNA.
  • NWA:Kamille: Kamille’s contract reportedly ends at the end of 2023.- Has signed with NXT on WWE.

 It All Comes Down To This

By Mike Rifkin

The last game of the 2023 NFL Regular Season will have a significant impact. The Bills and Dolphins will face off on Sunday Night; the winner wins the AFC East and will be the second seed in the AFC. While the Dolphins have already clinched a playoff berth, the same cannot be said for the Bills, so if they lose, they could be watching the playoffs from home. 

Last week, the Dolphins ran into the buzzsaw that is the Baltimore Ravens. Lamar Jackson was phenomenal, with 321 passing yards and five touchdowns. The Ravens’ defense forced three turnovers and sacked Tua three times. A positive came away from this game: the play of De’von Achane, who had 107 yards rushing and a receiving touchdown, taking over for Mostert.

The Dolphin’s injury woes continued; Jaylen Waddle and Raheem Mostert were out due to injuries before the game. During the game, the Dolphins lost Xavien Howard and Bradley Chubb. Chubb tore his ACL late in a game that was already over, and now his season is over so that Miami will move on without their top two sack guys in Chubb and Jaelan Phillips. Waddle and Mostert will be game-time decisions for Sunday night’s showdown, as will linebacker Jerome Baker, who got activated off IR earlier this week. The offensive line will get a boost with Robert Hunt’s return after missing the last four with a hamstring injury. 

Josh Allen has owned the Dolphins with 31 touchdowns and five interceptions in his career. In Week four, Allen threw for 320 yards and four touchdowns, three of which went to Stefon Diggs. Diggs has topped 70 yards once in the Bills’ last five games, but the Bills have rode James Cook, who has been great over the last few weeks. The same could be said for the Bills defense that forced four turnovers last week against the Patriots. 

Keys to the game

  1. Christian Wilkins and Zac Sieler – The interior of the Dolphins’ defensive line has to be great with all of the injuries. Containing Allen and Cook in the run game will be huge. 
  2. Achane – Whether Mostert plays or not remains to be seen. But the Dolphin’s identity is to run the football; Mike McDaniel will have to use Achane a lot on Sunday night. 
  3. To blitz or to not blitz – Josh Allen is great against the blitz, and Vic Fangio only sometimes loves to blitz. Do all of these injuries force him to change his game plan? The other thing on defense is, will he let Jalen Ramsey travel with Stefon Diggs? 

Will the Bills win their fourth consecutive division title, or will the Dolphins win their first division title since 2008? It all comes down to Sunday night. Will the playoffs go through Buffalo or South Beach?

YOU HAVE ONE JOB

BY MARK HALPERN

    If you had asked me three weeks ago, could Dallas win the NFC East? I answered, “Unless the Eagles falter, they will go in as the fifth seed.” Sometimes, things go your way, and Cowboy fans might get an extra present for the new year, which is a chance to win the Division and have a home playoff game.

   A lot of pieces had to fall into place for this to happen, and because the Philadelphia Eagles have collapsed over the second half of the season to make this possible. 

   Dallas will be facing a Commander team that has nothing to lose by going all out against one of their biggest rivals of all time. The Commanders could damper the Cowboys’ ambitions of winning the Division. In this game, we will see no players resting on either side. Dak will be under the microscope of every analyst in the sport. Can he take this team back to stardom and to the Super Bowl? Prescott has played at the same level since his first snap in week 1. The Cowboys must play at the top of their game to be taken seriously in the playoffs. The offense needs to play their game and not play safe as, yet again, that term “Trap Game” comes into play, but I think the boys are ready. The Cowboys need to see Pollard have a solid game running the ball, and I would like to see Gallup featured a little to get him in playoff mode, as he has had a rough season. The biggest concern on the offense side is the injuries to the offensive line. Tyron Smith, Zach Martin, and Tyler Smith have been nursing injuries shown over the last three games. Tyler Smith has torn the Plantier Facia in his foot but has been able to practice on a limited basis. The Cowboys got some insurance with the resignation of La’el Collins, who was added to the practice squad and, pending physical, could be ready for this game and the Playoffs.

   The Defense has a game here to round into form, as they need to prepare for whoever will be in the first round. The Defense needs to ensure stopping the run, as they have been very vulnerable over the past few weeks. The Secondary is one of the best in football, and with the Commanders needing a reliable name behind center right now, turnovers could be plenty this Sunday.

   Win, and the Cowboys win the NFC East, finish at the #2 seed, and will host the Wild Card round; lose, and they could fall to 5th and would face the winner of the NFC South at their home stadium. With Jimmy’s induction into the Ring of Honor, this Cowboys team has a new fire lit under them, and it’s time for America’s TEAM to return to form.

LION TAMERS

BY MARK HALPERN

During the Dallas game this past Saturday, the Cowboys looked locked in as the fifth seed heading into the playoffs. However, a win last week and the Eagles losing to the Cardinals has given the Cowboys a chance to win the NFC East. 

      There is no question in my mind that this Lions offense is one of the fastest offensive teams in football. They are a young group (except for Goff), and they will get better. The Dallas defense was all over Goff, whether he was being sacked, hurried, or even having to throw the ball away, is what kept Dallas in this game. Goff didn’t have his best day, throwing for 271 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in the game. The Lion’s running game did well, and can anyone stop the speed of Williams and St. Brown? I don’t think so, and when you throw LaPorta in the mix, this offense is potent.

    The Cowboys played a great game on both sides of the ball. Dak Prescott will get some MVP votes this year because of his play. Dak threw for 345 yards, two TDs, and one interception. Dak told everyone that Cee Dee Lamb is as dangerous as any receiver as Lamb had 13 rec for 221 yards and a TD. If the offense had any fault, it was the running game, as it only produced 60 yards on the ground. The Cowboys have changed their identity, and I love it.

    The defense still needs the pressure they were at the beginning of the season and has less than two sacks a game over the last five weeks. The Cowboys have relied on the secondary to keep them in it, as they are the NO-FLY ZONE. The Dallas Offensive line did a great job in giving Dak the time. The team wasted no time and brought back a Dallas favorite La,’ el Collins, and he needs to pass a physical and can get back to business with a very familiar group. 

However, the Cowboys won this game because of the simplest of mistakes by the Lions. The Lions had scored with under a minute to go and decided to go for the 2-point conversion. Two of the three players checked in with the referee, but #70 did not, and because of this, the go-ahead two-point penalty was considered a five-yard penalty. The Lions tried again to get the two points but were now six yards instead of one yard out, and Dallas stopped the next attempt and ran out the clock. I have seen many penalties before, but this was a new one. 

The Cowboys have a chance to do something that, five weeks ago, no one thought would be possible. Dallas faces the Commanders next weekend, and when Dallas wins, they will win the NFC EAST and could have at least two home playoff games. 

Not Trading This Card

By Mike Rifkin

Despite their 4-12 record entering week 18, the Arizona Cardinals have been a pesky football team. The Cardinals are coming off a 35-31 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and have now beaten the top two teams in the NFC East; they also have a win over playoff-hopeful Atlanta Falcons. But there was a massive question coming into this season for the Cardinals: What was going to happen with Kyler Murray, who tore his ACL late last season after signing a five-year 230.5 million dollar contract, but with a new GM and Coach, both of whom weren’t a part of drafting Murray nobody knew what was going to happen.

Head Coach Jonathan Gannon said on a podcast that Kyler is their “franchise quarterback.” Gannon said, “You know I’m a Kyler guy now.” In seven games since his return to the lineup, the Cardinals have gone 3-4. Kyler’s numbers include a 64.7 completion percentage, 1,537 yards (219 per game), nine touchdowns, five interceptions, 211 yards rushing, and three touchdowns. 

Some teams would love trading for Murray (Atlanta Falcons), and with the Cardinals right now with a top-three selection in the draft, could Gannon and company trade Murray? Well, they answered that question with that they are not. If you look around the NFC, it is not as deep as a conference as the AFC. If the Cardinals tell the truth about Murray, believing he is their franchise guy, they must build this team around him. For now, it looks like the Cards aren’t trading Murray, but who knows if they have a different card up their sleeve. 

Getting What They Wanted

By Mike Rifkin

When the College Football Playoff Semi-Finals were announced, some people were disappointed in the NCAA not putting undefeated ACC Champions Florida State in as one of the four best teams in the country. This is the final season with a four-team playoff; next season, the playoff will expand to 12 teams. 

Monday, both games (Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl) came down to the wire, including an overtime thriller. Meanwhile, Florida State got walloped by Georgia, so people will say the committee was proper in leaving Florida State out of the playoff. But Florida State was playing a third-string quarterback, and many starters, including receivers Keon Coleman, Johnny Wilson, and Defensive End Jared Verse, all opted out of the Orange Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft. Here’s my question for the committee and people who said they got the four teams right after what transpired: If Jordan Travis had stayed healthy and FSU was still undefeated and won the ACC, would they have been in, and at whose expense? 

Look, this is not meant to bash College Football after what was a banner day for them, but I’m being honest and curious about what would happen if Travis stayed healthy. We got two great Playoff games, with the National Championship game still to come. But while we can enjoy these games, let’s not forget that Florida State had a tremendous season, and despite what happened during the Orange Bowl, that was a different team, and the committee can breathe a sigh of relief. 

Who Is The Best

By Mike Rifkin

The game of the week on Sunday is at M&T Bank Stadium as the Miami Dolphins will visit the Baltimore Ravens. This game could determine home-field advantage throughout the AFC Playoffs. If Baltimore wins, they’ll have home-field, but if the Dolphins win this week and next, they’ll be the number one seed. 

The Dolphins are coming off their best win of the season, a 22-20 win over the Cowboys, being able to erase the narrative that they can’t beat good teams. Tua Tagovailoa was 24-37 for 293 yards and a touchdown. Raheem Mostert had 46 yards rushing and a receiving touchdown. Tyreek Hill had a bad ankle, and all had nine catches for 99 yards. The one area the offense needs to figure out is the red zone, where the Dolphins were so good early, but it has been a struggle recently. The Dolphins defense had another solid game. Andrew Van Ginkel and Bradley Chubb both had a sack and a half. The defense held the Cowboys, who average 115 rushing yards per game, to 97. The defense has been sensational outside of five minutes against the Titans since week eight when Jalen Ramsey returned. Jason Sanders was 5-5 on field goals, including the game-winning 29-yard field goal. 

While the Dolphins had an excellent Christmas, the Ravens had a Christmas to remember. The Ravens beat the 49ers 33-19, a massive statement from Baltimore. Lamar Jackson was 23-35 for 252 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson also had seven rushes for 45 yards. Rookie Zay Flowers had nine catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. The Ravens’ defense had four sacks and five interceptions, giving the 49ers a beating nobody saw coming. 

Last season (week 2), these two teams played in a thriller that saw the Dolphins rally from a 21-point deficit to beat the Ravens 42-38. Tua was 36-50 for 469 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions, but the most significant number from that game was one, the amount of sacks he took. Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined for 22 catches for 361 yards and two touchdowns. Lamar Jackson did his thing with 437 total yards (318 passes, 119 rush) and four touchdowns (3 passes, 1 rush). Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman combined for 13 catches for 212 yards and two touchdowns. These offenses will look slightly different as Jaylen Waddle and Mark Andrews will miss the game with injuries.

Keys to the game

  1. Pressure – These are the top two teams in sacks. Miami’s defense has been great at getting to the quarterback, but Mike Macdonald has Baltimore doing much of the same; whoever gets more pressure could generate a significant turnover.
  2. Durham Smythe and Cedric Wilson – With Waddle out, someone not named Tyreek Hill will make some explosive plays. Smythe and Wilson combined for eight catches for 98 yards last week against the Cowboys.
  3. David Long – Lamar Jackson is the best dual-threat quarterback in football. Long might have to be the spy against Jackson, who is deadly on the run.
  4. Health – This is obvious, but the Dolphins’ injury report is not good. Waddle is already out, and ¾ the secondary are questionable, including Jalen Ramsey. If Miami’s defense is that banged up, Lamar Jackson could have a field day. 

A battle is to determine the number one seed in the AFC. This game will send 2023 out in style. 

Big Game Situation

By Mark Halpern

Not that any team ever wants to lose a game, but there are ways to lose and win simultaneously. This is a question that the Dallas Cowboys will be facing this weekend. If Dallas loses this game, they will be set at the number five position and face the NFC South winner at their home stadium. Currently, it is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but we will visit the wild card round soon enough. 

    The Dallas Cowboys last week were playing to keep pace with the Eagles for the winner of the NFC East division title. With last week’s loss to the Dolphins and the Eagles (barely) defeating the Giants, the Eagles now control the NFC East, and if they win, they’ll get a home game in the first round of the playoffs. 

    The Cowboys Take on the Lions this weekend at AT&T Stadium for a prime-time game. Here is the problem that is facing both teams and it is a problem that doesn’t hurt either team in any way in the standings—the Cowboys (yes, they would like a wild card home game). The only way for the Cowboys to get a home playoff game is if they win the NFC East. But If the Eagles win and the Cowboys lose, the Eagles win the division. If that happens, the Cowboys could rest players next week against the Commanders. But if the Cowboys beat the Lions, what do they do? Do they rest Dak, Brandin Cooks, CeeDee Lamb, Tyron Smith, etc… I’m not sure if anyone will be able to stop Micah from playing. As for the Detroit Lions, they have clinched their first North Division ever. They have secured a home game and might also choose to rest some players who have been banged up. Running back David Montgomery has been banged up over the last few weeks, and Josh Reynolds has been dealing with a leg injury. Still, he has played through it, and a few players on defense who are nursing injuries, Hutchinson and Kirby Joseph, might need the rest. Unlike the Cowboys, Detroit has a home game and does not need to take the chances of injury with two weeks until the playoffs.

    This is a big weekend in football, not only for teams fighting for a home game but a ton of teams in both conferences, all fighting for the last three remaining spots. 

The Cowboys Are IN Good Shape

By Mark Halpern

     The Christmas Eve primetime game between the Cowboys and the Dolphins might not have had the conclusion the Cowboys fans wanted, but, in hindsight, they are in good shape with the last two games coming up against the Lions and the Commanders.

    The Cowboys came into this game after a terrible loss to the Bills and had their sights on a rebound game, but it would have been against another of the best teams in the AFC, the Miami Dolphins. Like the Cowboys, the Dolphins are trying to win their division, and with the win, they didn’t accomplish that but are now a playoff team. As I said in our live show on Sunday morning, Hill would have a big day. It was not as big of a day as I had said, but it was like trying to cover a cheetah but with only two legs. Even with a problematic ankle, Hill had nine receptions for 99 yards. Hill’s is just one of the cogs in this wheel, but the Dolphins lost Jaylen Waddle early in this game, and to be honest, this kept the Cowboys in it. The Cowboy’s defense shut down the running game, but controlling all this speed is tricky. Tua was on top of his game, throwing for 293 yards and a touchdown. Stopping this offense was tough, but the defense kept them in it.

   The offense was good but again reached the red zone and was even down to the one and failed to score any points, and there was the loss right there. The Cowboys’ offense has been electric over the last six games in the passing aspect of it. The running game has stalled badly. Pollard is a shell of what he was last year. Dowdle is learning and getting better, but there is no clear number-one running back, and that’s why I would have kept Zeke Elliot. The running game should average 130-150 yards a game, and they are barely breaking 100. Part of the reason is this offensive line is banged up, and from here on out, there are no breaks until the Super Bowl, so they will have to tough it out. 

    Mike Rifkin and I agreed to disagree on the penalties in the game, and Mike made the point that Chubb was being held all over, and he wasn’t wrong, but the same thing happened to Micah Parsons, and we can cross those out. This Dolphins team is excellent and very fast, and if they have any weaknesses, you can say injuries across the team.

   The Cowboys must decide whether to play for the second or third position. They could make that move over a win to the Lions this week, but the Cowboys are a lock in the playoffs, and the Rams, Lions, Eagles, and 49ers are as well, with SF being the top team right now and will secure a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Cowboys would be wise to rest members of the offensive line, linebackers, and even a few in the secondary this week. 

 If the playoffs ended today, the Cowboys will be facing the Buccaneers in Tampa in the wildcard round, and Baker has them cooking, but can he beat the Cowboys in the playoffs will be the question?