Author: DaynaOG

Is adding extra games to the season a good idea? Players say no.

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
NFC West/AFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

The NFL and NFLPA are headed to the table to work on the next collective bargaining agreement as the current one ends after the 2020 season. Both sides have already started talking, but negotiations will ramp up over the next few months and into the next season.

One of the big items on the table is adding one to two extra games. I took a few minutes after the end of Saturday’s Pro Bowl practice to talk to a few players about how they felt about adding more playing time to their season.

There are a lot of things on the table when it comes to this next CBA. Guaranteed salaries, increasing minimums for veterans and rookies, drug policies, revenue sharing, lifetime health insurance… it’s a long list. One of the biggest changes the owners would like is to add at least one game to the season. And it’s not something the players are necessarily happy about, but may not have a choice in.

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For the players, the 2020 Pro Bowl is about more than a game

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
NFC West/AFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

It was the second day of practice for both the AFC and NFC Pro Bowl teams at the 2020 Pro Bowl. It was a typical Pro Bowl practice, lots of dancing, goofing off, and defensive players playing offensive positions. It’s a time for players to relax, enjoy time with fellow NFL players, spend some quality time with their families, and interact with fans.

But if you ever are able to come to the Pro Bowl and watch these practices, what you notice most is the fun the players are having on the field. It looks like one giant backyard game, where rules are loosely applied and roles are interchangeable.

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AFC Championship Preview: Titans vs Chiefs

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
NFC West/AFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

On Sunday, the 6th seed Tennessee Titans will head to Kansas City to take on the 2nd seed Chiefs for the AFC Championship Game, with a trip to the Super Bowl at stake.

During the season, there were many who imagined the high powered Chiefs making it to this stage, but I don’t remember anyone mentioning the Titans taking a trip to Miami in February.

I’m going to be honest. I think most people outside of the two teams’ fandoms will be thrilled to see either team win. Not just because it will be two young, fun teams playing, but also because it is the first time in a LONG time that the words New England Patriots haven’t been mentioned in an AFC Championship preview.

Oh, wait… I just mentioned them. Sorry.

Continue reading “AFC Championship Preview: Titans vs Chiefs” →

The Chiefs steamroll the Texans, go on to AFC Championship

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
NFC West/AFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

It was a rocky first quarter for the Kansas City Chiefs. Down 21-0, it looked like the underdog Houston Texans were going to destroy the home team. That wasn’t to be the case as the Chiefs took the game over, beating the Texans 51-31. This loss brings up a lot of questions for the Texans coaching staff’s future.

Not many people gave the Texans a chance to win in Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs and their superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes were slated to march right through anything the Texans defense could give them. But in that first quarter, the Chiefs looked lost, confused, and like they had completely underestimated their opponents. Kansas City receivers couldn’t hold on to the ball. Their special teams were a disaster, giving up 2 touchdowns. It was ugly.

Continue reading “The Chiefs steamroll the Texans, go on to AFC Championship” →

Houston at Kansas City: Divisional Round Preview

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
NFC West/AFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman //@DaynaOG

The Houston Texans will travel to Kansas City to face the Chiefs in what could be a fantastic divisional round match up. Or it could be a total blow out…by either team. What we learned from the Wild Card round is to never be comfortable, as something completely unexpected will happen.

I still can’t get over last weekend. Underdog road teams winning over teams that were almost shoe-ins for the AFC and NFC Championships. It taught us all that, at least in football, to always expect the unexpected. This weekend could easily follow suit.

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Crazy, fun, exhausting. NFL Wildcard Weekend: Bills vs Texans

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter

By Dayna O’Gorman //@DaynaOG

Before Saturday, this was the game most people had a hard time picking a winner for. The Houston Texans and the Buffalo Bills are similar, well-matched teams. In what turned out to be another heart breaker for the Bills fans, the Texans held on to win 22-19, advancing to the divisional round of the playoffs.

This game wasn’t close, to begin with. The Bills had a 16 point lead in the middle of the 3rd quarter. But then Houston flipped the switch and turned this game on its head. In what felt to be frantic fashion, Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson showed everyone why Texans fans love him so, tying the game up and taking it to overtime, and winning the game.

But that simple recap doesn’t begin to tell the story of this wild Wildcard game. This game was crazy, in the most fun way possible.

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Coaching Carousel 2020

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
NFC West / AFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman //@DaynaOG

As we head into January 2020, teams that didn’t make the playoffs need to look inward to see what went wrong. Every season there are changes that have to be made, changes that probably should be made then aren’t, and changes that feel like they change a franchise. Often those changes start with the head coaches.

Being a head coach in the NFL is a very hard job. Something only a large handful has been able to execute well. Teams are constantly on the lookout for “the guy”. The one that will be there for years, bringing success to the franchise. This year, we have 4 teams, possibly 5, that are once again on the hunt for a new head coach. Let’s take a look at who they may hiring.

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Is it time for Tyrod Taylor to take the helm in Los Angeles?

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
NFC West / AFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

The Los Angeles Chargers have had the same leader for 16 years. No, I’m not talking about the head coach, because we all know that there have been many changes in that area. I’m talking about quarterback Philip Rivers. With Rivers, 38, having an inconsistent and rough season, and the Chargers starting a new era in a new stadium in 2020, is it time for the team to see what they have in back up QB Tyrod Taylor?

There have been a bunch of articles this week regarding Rivers. Is week 17 his last game in a Chargers uniform? Will he continue to play? Rivers is a probable future Hall of Fame QB, and while no one should downplay that, we are coming up on a changing of the guard in the NFL. The star QBs of old, Rivers, Brees, Brady, Roethlisberger, etc, are aging, and with that, we are seeing a surge of new, young QBs taking their place.

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Beastmode returns…to Seattle.

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
NFC West / AFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

Marshawn Lynch has returned to Seattle. I’m not going to pretend that I can be an unbiased journalist right now.  When you burst into tears when reading the announcement…yeah, that’s not unbiased.

This isn’t about what he can bring to the offense, although I’m sure there is still something left in the tank. This isn’t about another Beastquake or touchdowns, although there is a good chance those will both happen.

This is about bringing Marshawn home.

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Los Angeles Rams vs San Francisco 49ers: Week 16 preview

Dayna O’Gorman
Senior NFL Reporter
NFC West / AFC West

By Dayna O’Gorman // @DaynaOG

I know there has been a lot of talk about a certain NFC West divisional matchup in week 17, but this week’s game between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers has high stakes too.

The Rams are not just fighting for the (very slim) chance of making the playoffs, but also to gain back some respect after their ugly loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

The 49ers are looking to rebound from last week’s loss against the Atlanta Falcons and looking to not give up ground to the Seattle Seahawks in the fight for the NFC West.

With both teams needing this win badly, this divisional battle could turn into one of the best games of the week. Or it could be a blowout. To be honest, it’s hard to predict.

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