Scoop City: Inside The NFL

The NFL is down to Championship Sunday — four teams, two conference titles, and one final step before the Super Bowl. Can the Broncos survive the moment with Jarrett Stidham stepping in under the brightest lights? Are the Patriots ready for the pressure that comes with being the team everyone expects to win? Can the Seahawks protect Sam Darnold (and his oblique) long enough to let their offense play free? And will the Rams keep finding ways to win even when they’re not playing perfect football?

Scoop City kicks off the Thursday Road Trip: Championship Edition starting in the AFC with Broncos writer Nick Kosmider, diving into why Denver believes Stidham can keep the offense steady — and why this week might actually bring out the best in Sean Payton. From the details behind Stidham’s preparation to the confidence coming from inside the locker room, the Broncos aren’t shrinking from the moment… they’re leaning into it.

On the other side of the AFC, Patriots writer Chad Graff, who explains what the week has felt like in Foxborough as the Patriots suddenly carry a different kind of burden: the pressure to win against a backup. Chad breaks down why Drake Maye’s postseason efficiency has dipped from his regular season level, what Denver’s defense can exploit, and how New England can avoid letting the moment — or the matchup — speed them up.

Then it’s over to the NFC and the Seahawks with Michael-Shawn Dugar. The spotlight lands on Sam Darnold’s oblique injury, how it changes the game plan, and why the biggest priority is limiting pressure — especially with so many of his turnovers coming when defenders get home. If Seattle keeps Darnold clean and composed, the Super Bowl path is real.

Finally, we close the team previews with a Rams report from Nate Atkins, focusing on how Los Angeles keeps stacking wins even when the performance isn’t flawless. With Matthew Stafford as the longest-tenured veteran QB still standing — and already a Super Bowl champion — plus Sean McVay’s experience, creativity, and the ability to win ugly when it matters most.

James Palmer wraps the show with his end-of-season awards picks after today’s finalists were released — including MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Offensive Rookie of the Year, Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Coach of the Year.

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Championship Sunday is almost here — but can the Broncos really survive a playoff run with a backup quarterback? What does Jarrett Stidham change (or limit) in Sean Payton’s offense? Plus, what’s the key matchup in Drake Maye vs. Denver’s pressure looks, and can Matthew Stafford keep playing mistake-free football against a Seahawks defense built to hunt turnovers and win the margins? Meanwhile, why did the Bills move on from Sean McDermott after another postseason heartbreak, and what does that mean for Josh Allen and Buffalo’s future?

James Palmer welcomes former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel and The Athletic’s senior NFL insider Dianna Russini as Buffalo’s coaching reset becomes the league’s biggest talking point. The conversation starts with the Bills’ fallout — including the tone of Terry Pegula’s press conference, what it signaled about where the organization believes it fell short, and how messy (or necessary) this change could be as the coaching carousel continues to spin.

Then it’s time for a film session. Daniel breaks down what Denver’s offense can look like with Jarrett Stidham stepping in, why timing and cadence matter more than ever in a playoff environment, and how Sean Payton’s trust in Stidham goes back to his first days in Denver. Chase turns on the tape of Drake Maye against one of the NFL’s most aggressive pressure teams — and the big chess match of whether Denver sticks with its identity or adjusts for this moment.

On the NFC side, we dive into the Rams-Seahawks matchup through Matthew Stafford’s film: Why he’s been so efficient against Seattle, what protection and pocket comfort mean for this offense, and what the Seahawks must do to speed him up.

Before we wrap, Chase puts on his evaluator hat for a college-to-pros conversation on Fernando Mendoza — why scouts obsess over “eyes,” processing, and pocket feel, and how the Heisman winner fits into what Tom Brady and the Raiders might be looking for at the top of the draft.

Stay with Scoop City for the latest NFL coaching news, playoff breakdowns, and quarterback film rooms all postseason. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop your take in the comments.

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The Divisional Round delivered chaos, statement wins and a final four nobody is taking lightly. But the biggest shock came after the games — why did the Bills fire Sean McDermott, and what does it mean for Buffalo’s future? Plus, did the Seahawks just prove they’re the NFC’s true heavyweight, are the Rams built to survive a division-rival showdown for a trip to the Super Bowl, are the Patriots officially one win away from something special under new head coach Mike Vrabel, and can the Broncos keep their run alive after losing Bo Nix for the remainder of the playoffs?

Buffalo stunned the league by moving on from head coach Sean McDermott, and now the pressure shifts directly to Josh Allen and a franchise that’s tired of falling short. The Athletic’s senior NFL insider Dianna Russini breaks down how it unfolded after the Bills’ loss, when McDermott’s job security started to come into question, and what the decision means for the rest of the NFL coaching carousel.

The conversation doesn’t stop there. The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia joins the show to outline what’s next for the Bills, what Buffalo should prioritize in its head coach search, how quickly the organization can rebuild trust inside the building, and how much influence Josh Allen could have in shaping the next era of Bills football.

In the AFC, the Broncos knock off the Bills and keep their postseason run alive, but the next challenge is massive as they host the Patriots without their starting quarterback. Enter Jarrett Stidham — with ties not only to New England, but also to Broncos offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels — as Denver tries to survive and advance with a backup under center. Even without QB1, are the Broncos still good enough to push through to the Super Bowl?

Stay with Scoop City for the latest NFL news, playoff coverage and coaching carousel updates from around the league. Don’t forget to like, subscribe and drop a comment below.

Where does the Bills head coaching job rank among the current openings?
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The Divisional Round is here — and Scoop City is taking you around the league with the biggest questions heading into the weekend. The coaching carousel also had the first domino to fall. How does John Harbaugh landing with the New York Giants reshape the rest of the coaching landscape. Plus, can the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks hold onto home-field advantage, and which young QBs are ready for a defining moment?

We open with the biggest news of the day: John Harbaugh is set to become the next head coach of the New York Giants. Dianna Russini breaks down how the deal came together so quickly, what it signals about where the Giants are headed, and how this move impacts the rest of the NFL’s coaching carousel.

The first stop on the Divisional Round Road Trip is Denver, where Nick Kosmider goes inside the facility with the AFC’s top-seeded Broncos. Can Sean Payton’s vision push this team one step closer to a Super Bowl, and is Denver’s pass rush dominant enough to disrupt even the league’s most dangerous quarterback? The Broncos have been rolling for months — but can Bo Nix keep pace if this turns into a shootout?

Then we head to Buffalo with Joe Buscaglia to preview the Bills’ biggest test yet in the altitude at Mile High. What is the “special trait” that makes this group feel ready for anything, and how does Josh Allen respond when the Broncos’ front starts hunting? Buffalo’s been here before — but this time the path runs straight through the AFC’s best defense.

In the NFC, Michael-Shawn Dugar breaks down the Seahawks returning to the playoffs as the #1 seed — and finally hosting a true home game in front of their fans again. Seattle’s defense has been elite across the board, but can they turn dominance into a deep postseason run? And after years of waiting for another signature January win, is this the moment the Seahawks finally break through?

On the other side of that matchup, Vic Tafur previews the 49ers’ path forward after surviving the Eagles — and dealing with yet another brutal injury. Can San Francisco overcome the losses and steal a divisional rematch in Seattle, especially after falling short in Week 18? Plus, could the team get Fred Warner back for the final weeks of the season? How the linebacker has looked at practice this week. The Niners have lived on the edge all year… and they’re still standing.

In Chicago, Kevin Fishbain joins to preview the Bears hosting the Rams with Caleb Williams trending upward at the perfect time. Can the Bears avoid another slow start and keep Williams playing fearless football in the biggest moments? And with Chicago pulling off comebacks nobody else in the league can match, is this becoming their postseason identity?

We wrap with Chad Graff on the Patriots hosting the Texans — and the key to Drake Maye surviving another week of playoff punishment. Can New England protect the football, handle Houston’s pressure, and force C.J. Stroud into mistakes the way they did against Justin Herbert? Plus: the latest on Christian Gonzalez and how disruptive this Patriots defense can be when it’s rolling.

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Who’s getting upset this weekend — and who’s making the Super Bowl?

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Making sense of the wildest coaching carousel in years — what does Mike Tomlin stepping down actually mean for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and which franchise is next to feel the ripple effects? Plus, are we watching a true “team of destiny” run from the San Francisco 49ers, and how much heat is rising in Philadelphia with the Eagles after another frustrating finish?

James Palmer is joined by The Athletic’s senior NFL writer Michael Silver to break down the atmosphere surrounding Tomlin’s final game and what the Steelers’ future looks like without one of the league’s defining head coaches. Then the conversation turns to another potential “last game” storyline — Aaron Rodgers — and whether the Packers could be staring at the next domino with Matt LaFleur.

The 49ers eliminate the Eagles and keep finding a way to survive, pushing their run forward with more magic (and meaning) attached to this postseason. Meanwhile, Philly heads into another offseason full of big decisions — including what’s next for the roster and the long-term outlook around Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown.

Meanwhile the Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock — both with their draft position and their head coaching search — with Tom Brady’s influence as a minority owner looming large. James and Michael discuss the pressure of getting both positions right for Las Vegas after a tumultuous season.

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Is this the craziest coaching cycle you can remember in one offseason?
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