49ers, Clinch, Rudolph, Browns, Young, Head Coach

Week 15 Playoff Clinching Scenarios + a QB change in Pittsburgh?  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ December 16, 2022 [Sign up]( [Legit Football]( Together With: Stathead [Stathead](  49ers [Brock Purdy] 49ers beat Seahawks 21-13, clinch NFC West Division Champs: San Francisco has won the NFC West and will host at least one playoff game at Levi Stadium. Solid: Purdy put together a fine performance, completing 17-of-26 passes for 217 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. - Though he was fortunate to have a would-be interception [dropped]( by Quandre Diggs. Stars: The 49ers got excellent performances out of Christian McCaffrey (138 scrimmage yards and 1 touchdown on 32 touches) and George Kittle (4 catches for 93 yards and 2 touchdowns). - Nick Bosa boosted his DPOY odds with another disruptive game. - Bosa was also the victim of a [comically bad]( roughing the passer call. Dire: The Seahawks have now lost four of five and seem unlikely to make the postseason. Franchise QB? Geno Smith underwhelmed and will need to turn things around over the next few weeks to secure a multi-year deal in the offseason. Next Up: The 49ers (10-4) host the Commanders (7-5-1). The Seahawks (7-7) visit the Chiefs (10-3). Image: Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire Clinch [Josh Allen] The Bills, Chiefs, Cowboys, and Vikings can clinch playoff berths this week Bills: The Bills (10-3) can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Dolphins on Saturday night (8:15 pm ET). Buffalo is a 7.5-point favorite. The game will be played in the snow. Chiefs: The Chiefs (10-3) can clinch the AFC West with a win over the Texans. Kansas City is a 14-point favorite. Cowboys: The Cowboys (10-3) can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Jaguars. Dallas is a 4-point favorite. - The Cowboys can lose to Jacksonville and still clinch if… the Lions lose to the Jets or the Commanders lose to the Giants. Vikings: The Vikings (10-3) can clinch the NFC North with a win over the Colts on Saturday (1:00 pm ET). Minnesota is a 4-point favorite. - The Vikings can lose to Indianapolis and still win the division if… the Lions lose to the Jets. Already Clinched: Two NFC teams — the Eagles (12-1) and 49ers (10-4) — have already secured spots. Image: Fred Kfoury III/Icon Rudolph [Mason Rudolph] Steelers WR Diontae Johnson wants Mason Rudolph to start at QB Details: Johnson told reporters that he’d like to see Rudolph “[get a shot](” at quarterback this week. - Rudolph has been a gameday inactive ever since Kenny Pickett became the starter in Week 4. - Pickett was concussed last week and his status for Sunday’s game against the Panthers is in doubt. Splitting Snaps: Rudolph has been splitting snaps with Mitch Trubisky in practice this week. Mike Tomlin has yet to name a starter. Bad: Trubisky struggled in relief of Pickett last week, tossing three costly interceptions. Rudolph in 2021: In his only start last season, Rudolph completed 30-of-50 passes for 242 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception in a tie game against the Lions. - He targeted Diontae Johnson 13 times. Odds: The Panthers (5-8) are a 3-point favorite over the Steelers (5-8). Image: Shelley Lipton/Icon Sportswire Browns [Watson] Browns offense to feature more downfield passing Background: Since returning two weeks ago, Deshaun Watson has only attempted +20 yard throws on 8% of his pass attempts (5/64). - Downfield throwing is arguably Watson’s greatest strength — he was PFF’s [highest-graded]( QB on +20-yard throws in 2020. Van Pelt: Browns OC Alex Van Pelt acknowledged the issue and told reporters that Watson will be attempting [more]( deep passes moving forward. Opportunity: Watson and the Browns take on a Baltimore secondary that is allowing the seventh-most passing yards this season. Odds: Cleveland (5-8) is a rather surprising 3-point favorite. The game will be played at 4:30 pm ET on Saturday. - Tyler Huntley is starting for an injured Lamar Jackson. Image: Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire Young [Chase Young] Chase Young tracking for season debut on Sunday Details: Ron Rivera [told]( reporters that Young is “trending in the right direction” for Sunday’s crucial matchup against the Giants. - The 23-year-old has not played a snap since tearing up his knee over 13 months ago. Impact: Young will strengthen a Commanders’ defense that is already one of the better units in the league. - Washington is allowing the fourth-fewest yards (310.5 per game) and tenth-fewest points (19.7 per game). Elite? Young took home Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020, after totaling 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 12 QB hits across 15 games. But took a step back in 2021, totaling just 1.5 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, and 4 QB hits across 9 games. High Stakes: According to FiveThirtyEight, the Commanders' (7-5-1) playoff chances [jump]( to 91% with a win over the Giants and drop to 34% with a loss. Odds: Washington is a 4.5-point favorite. Image: Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire Head Coach [Jim Harbaugh] Head Coach Buzz: Colts linked to Jim Harbaugh, Panthers want a young offensive mind Irsay: Colts owner Jim Irsay said on Thursday that the Colts will [explore]( hiring a head coach from the college football ranks. Harbaugh: The most notable college-based candidate is Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who played quarterback for the Colts from 1994-1997. - Long-time Colts reporter Bob Kravitz (The Athletic) recently [wrote]( a piece titled, “The Colts need a savior, and it ain’t Jeff Saturday. The Colts need Jim Harbaugh.” - Albert Breer and Joel A. Erickson (Indy Star) have also mentioned Harbaugh as a potential [target]( for the Colts. No Interest? For what it's worth, Harbaugh has said that he intends to [stay]( at Michigan. Panthers: Breer has “consistently heard” that the Panthers are “leaning toward hiring a young, offensive assistant” for their next head coach. - He specifically mentions Lions OC Ben Johnson, Eagles OC Shane Steichen, and Bills OC Ken Dorsey as candidates. Image: Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire More News - [Seahawks]( WR Tyler Lockett broke his right index finger and is doubtful for the remainder of the season - [Patriots]( RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle), WR DeVante Parker (concussion), and WR Jakobi Meyers (concussion) did not practice - [Broncos]( WR Courtland Sutton (hamstring) did not practice - [Bengals]( WRs Tyler Boyd (finger) and Tee Higgins (hamstring) limited in practice; status for Week 15 unclear - [Dolphins]( RB Jeff Wilson (hip) questionable for Week 15 - [Bears]( WR Chase Claypool (knee) has not practiced this week - [Steelers]( TE Pat Freiermuth (foot) did not practice Together with Stathead Question of the Day Who scored the most fantasy points in last night's game? - Geno Smith - George Kittle - Christian McCaffrey - Brock Purdy Sign up for a monthly subscription and get your first month free, or use “[LEGIT20](” to save $20 off one year of Stathead Football. [See Answer]( Was this email forwarded to you? 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