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One New Year's resolution for every NFC team
Every team must set goals, some loftier than others. So, in the spirit of the season, Yardbarker NFL writers offer a New Year's resolution for every NFC team.
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS (7-9) | Less chatter from the top | Owner Jerry Jones, 82, will never embrace the “less is more” concept, but his omnipresence with the Cowboys and the NFL overall often does more harm than good. Last offseason, he burdened the team by promising Dallas would be “all-in” for 2024 only to sign seven low-cost free agents, including five of the team's own.
NEW YORK GIANTS (3-13) | Find a QB | The Giants have no QBs signed beyond this season, and after the team’s 45-33 win over the Colts on Sunday, they have only a 5% chance of landing the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, per ESPN's Football Power Index. If New York can’t land Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders or Miami QB Cam Ward in the draft, it should explore a trade for Minnesota QB J.J. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick in last year’s draft, if Minnesota re-signs NFL fourth-leading passer Sam Darnold.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (13-3) | Run it back on defense | Zack Baun is a revelation at middle linebacker, leading the Eagles with 151 tackles (fourth most in the NFL), while edge-rusher Josh Sweat leads the team with eight sacks. Both pending free agents are having career years under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and must be re-signed.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (11-5) | Keep the OC in D.C. | Kliff Kingsbury disappointed with a 28-37-1 record as head coach of the Cardinals from 2019-22, but the Bears and Jets could give Washington’s offensive coordinator another shot after the job he’s done with rookie QB Jayden Daniels. It’s hard to say what it would take to keep Kingsbury, who still earns millions from the five-year contract extension Arizona gave him in 2022, but the Commanders should keep him around. — Bruce Ewing
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS (7-9) | Develop the connection between Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. | It is not that Harrison Jr. has had a bad rookie season (57 catches, 822 yards, seven touchdowns). It’s just that Murray and his new prime target did not make the immediate impact that was expected. The 48.2% completion percentage on passes to Harrison Jr. ranked only fifth of seven Cardinals pass-catchers with at least 20 targets.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (10-6) | Get off to a better start | For the third year in a row, the Rams stumbled out of the gate (1-4 this season). In each of the past two seasons, they bounced back and made the playoffs, but they can make it a lot easier on themselves in the second half of the season with a better start.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (6-10) | Eliminate contract drama | The early part of the season was dominated by contract headaches involving WR Brandon Aiyuk and OT Trent Williams. The 49ers have another big contract issue to deal with this offseason with QB Brock Purdy. It would wise for team and player to make this a smooth negotiation.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-7) | Find a franchise QB | Nothing against Geno Smith (17 TDs, 15 picks), who has done a tremendous job turning his career around in Seattle, but he is not the guy to get the Seahawks to the Super Bowl. Seattle has one more year of him on a manageable contract, so it has time to develop somebody. The Seahawks must find a difference-maker at the position. — Adam Gretz
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS (4-12) | Get a new gym membership | The Bears have struggled in the trenches on both sides of the ball this season, allowing 67 sacks — the fourth most to a single QB in a season in NFL history — and giving up the sixth-most rushing yards per game (133.4). Perhaps more time in the weight room could help Chicago resolve its issues on both sides of the line.
DETROIT LIONS (14-2) | Start a new diet | The Lions have fallen victim to one of the worst “injury bug” cases in recent memory with 18 players — including 13 defenders — on injured reserve. Injuries are unpredictable and mostly unavoidable, but maybe a new diet could help ensure their players are 100 percent healthy before the 2025 season kicks off.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-5) | Great QB karma | With Hall of Famer Brett Favre and future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers at QB from 1992-2022, the Packers made three Super Bowl appearances. QB Jordan Love played well in the playoffs last season, but he'll need to be stellar for the Packers to return to The Big Game.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (14-2) | Vow to be smart with their cash | The Vikings have crucial decisions to make this offseason with 24 players set to enter free agency — including QB Sam Darnold, who could justifiably demand a hefty payday. Minnesota currently has the sixth-most available cap space in 2025 ($78 million), per Spotrac, and it will probably need every penny. — Josh Eaton
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS (8-8) | Move on from QB Kirk Cousins | The Cousins signing was a flop, as Atlanta benched the former Vikings QB after only 14 starts for rookie Michael Penix Jr. The next step for Atlanta is to jettison Cousins and give Penix an entire offseason as the team’s No. 1 QB.
CAROLINA PANTHERS (4-12) | Improve rush defense | Even with its offense struggling, Carolina’s biggest issue is its horrid defense, particularly the league’s worst rushing defense. Entering Week 18, the defense is last in rush attempts (554), rushing yards (2,830) and yards per carry (5.1), making improving in that area key to the franchise turning things around.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5-11) | Make front-office changes | This is a pipedream for the Saints, whose GM, Mickey Loomis, has served in the post since 2002. After four consecutive non-playoff appearances and posting the franchise’s worst record since being displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, New Orleans shouldn’t only be in the market for a new head coach.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-7) | Get the No. 3 seed | Despite being a win away from its fourth consecutive division crown, the Bucs could be one-and-done in the playoffs if they’re stuck with the NFC’s No. 4 seed. Based on the current standings, Tampa will play the loser of Week 18’s finale between the Vikings (14-2) and Lions (14-2), but they’ll have a more favorable matchup against the Commanders (11-5) or Packers (11-5) if they surpass the Rams for the NFC’s No. 3 seed. — Eric Smithling
More must-reads:
- Celebrating the NFL's 2,000-yard club with a look at each member
- 2025 NFL Draft watch: Patriots move into top spot; Raiders keep sliding
- The 'Most passing yards in an NFL season' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Steelers work out two QBs amid Aaron Rodgers injury
With Aaron Rodgers dealing with a left wrist injury, the Pittsburgh Steelers worked out veteran quarterbacks Jason Bean and Tanner Mordecai on Tuesday, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. The Steelers currently have three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster and zero on their practice squad. Backup Mason Rudolph, and third-stringer Will Howard will both move up a spot on the depth chart for at least a week, leaving the Steelers without a third option should either of them get injured. Bean, 26, signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Kansas in 2024. He did not make the 53-man roster, but stuck around on the practice squad for the entire season. He was waived during final roster cuts this year and did not draw practice squad interest from the Colts or any other team. Mordecai is also a 26-year-old who entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2024. Mordecai finished his college career at Wisconsin and signed with the 49ers last spring. He spent the season on San Francisco’s practice squad and was repeatedly cut and re-signed during training camp as the team balanced their other roster needs. He was waived due to injury a final time during roster cuts. The Steelers did not sign Bean or Mordecai, though that could be coming in the next few days as they continue to assess Rodgers’ wrist. They could also work out other available quarterbacks later this week.
Scotland media react to Scott McTominay display vs Denmark
Scott McTominay’s reinvention since leaving Manchester United has been one of the major stories of the last 18 months in European football. The midfielder has managed, in a single season, to transform himself into the driving force of the Napoli side that went on to win Serie A and restore their status among Italy’s elite. Having swapped Old Trafford for the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in 2024, he quickly became a focal point in Antonio Conte’s system and finished his debut campaign as the league’s Most Valuable Player after steering Napoli to the title. McTominay made 36 appearances for Napoli in 2024/25, scoring 13 goals and registering four assists, comfortably the best return of his senior career, sealing a Ballon d’Or nomination. However, this season has been more challenging for the Scotland international. Opposition sides have clearly adjusted to his late runs and aerial presence, while Napoli themselves have not found the same rhythm. McTominay has still chipped in with goals, but with only a handful of strikes so far and more time spent shuttling between roles than dominating games. Unfortunately it seems the form that lit up Italy has been harder to rediscover, a trend that had also been visible with Scotland after Euro 2024. That backdrop is what made Tuesday night at Hampden so significant. With Scotland needing to beat Denmark to leapfrog them and reach the 2026 World Cup, Steve Clarke’s side arrived into a tense, almost wary atmosphere. However, Scott McTominay took matters into his own hands, opening the scoring inside three minutes. Attacking a cross from Ben Gannon-Doak, the former United midfielder adjusted his body and sent an acrobatic overhead effort skidding into the bottom corner. The finish instantly shifted the mood inside Hampden and reminded everyone why Napoli built their title-winning midfield around him. He raced towards the main stand, arms outstretched, as team-mates piled in behind him and the stadium erupted. The Herald’s reaction to the goal described it as a goal: “which will live long in the memory of everyone who was fortunate enough to witness it”. However, from there, Scotland were forced to suffer. A lengthy VAR check eventually handed Denmark a penalty, converted by Rasmus Hojlund, before the visitors went down to ten men and the game descended into chaos. Lawrence Shankland, Patrick Dorgu, Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean traded goals in a breathless finale that finally ended 4-2 to Clarke’s side. For Scotland, the result ends 28 years of waiting and confirms their place at a World Cup finals for the first time since 1998, with Clarke writing himself into national folklore. For Scott McTominay, it is another landmark in a career that, unfortunately for Manchester United fans, has accelerated since leaving Old Trafford.
Quinnen Williams calls out teammates after Cowboys debut
The Dallas Cowboys just got a glimpse of life with their new star. DT Quinnen Williams had a debut for the ages, and while the Las Vegas Raiders don't have the best offensive line by any means, it was still an encouraging sign. Per PFF, the former New York Jet finished the game with seven pressures, 1.5 sacks and a 21.4 percent pass rush win rate. However, as good as he was, he knew it was going to take much more than just him to turn the Cowboys' season around. Quinnen Williams wants everybody to do their jobs Following the win, Williams put his teammates on notice by stating that it would take a collective effort to take care of business. "I don't think one guy could change anything," Williams said, per the Cowboys' website. "I think the team itself, the guys around you, all eleven on the field, the coaching staff, in general, makes the difference. One man don't [change] nothing. This is not golf. It's not tennis. Everybody on his team has to do the job. Everybody in this organization has to do a job to the best of their ability to win games." The Cowboys added Williams to the mix to fix their perennial woes against the run. They held the Raiders to just 27 rushing yards, and while that might not be sustainable, it was certainly an encouraging sign. Brian Schottenheimer's team is now 4-5-1 for the season and can still make a late-season push for the playoffs, so long as everybody else also steps up like their new star.
Senators are the clear winner in trade with Flyers
Good news for Ottawa Senators fans, as the franchise accelerated its timeline to be competitive in the 2025-26 season following the official announcement of a trade on Monday. Ottawa and Philadelphia have swapped two defensemen. The Senators acquire Dennis Gilbert, while the Flyers receive Maxence Guenette. "We’ve acquired defenseman Maxence Guenette from Ottawa in exchange for defenseman Dennis Gilbert. We have also agreed to terms with Guenette on a one-year, two-way contract," the Flyers announced. Why Dennis Gilbert is a perfect fit for the Senators' blue line The Senators didn't just make a trade; they plugged a hole on their blue line. Gilbert, 29, can enter the lineup immediately or be the first call-up to cover injuries, back-to-backs, and PK, without a steep learning curve. The defenseman has NHL experience with 111 games in six seasons, so he's a safer bet to integrate into the lineup than a prospect who hasn't yet proven himself at the highest level. Gilbert fits seamlessly under the salary cap and allows them to move pieces on the blue line without sacrificing picks or cap space. He signed for one year with the Senators with a cap hit of $875,000. Furthermore, he will improve the baseline play of the third pair and reliably handle five-on-five and PK minutes in emergency scenarios. Ottawa traded an RFA for a player who can contribute from day one. Gilbert's physical but disciplined game fits coach Travis Green's needs. So, the Senators turned a future lottery ticket into a known commodity. Guenette, 24, needed minutes in the NHL and a clear pathway. The Senators could not offer him that and opted for more roster certainty.
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