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Riggo’s Rag
Commanders and Deebo Samuel could go their separate ways this offseason
The former South Carolina standout is still fighting. Samuel is in a contract year, so anything less wouldn’t be smart. What the Commanders need to figure out is whether the All-Pro is worth
keeping around at the money he’ll likely demand.
Market projections for Samuel are in the $20 million-per-year range. Peters has a lot of money tied into Terry McLaurin, another receiver on the wrong side of 30. He could be reluctant to shell out another lucrative deal for an aging playmaker, especially considering how desperate Washington is to get younger across the board.
Much will depend on whether a compromise can be reached, but Samuel also knows that this is probably his final opportunity to get a big-money contract in his career. Given how Peters handled McLaurin’s standoff throughout the summer, he is not going to overpay and jeopardize his ability to strengthen other areas.
That’s what makes Samuel’s situation so unpredictable heading into the regular-season finale at Lincoln Financial Field. He’s taken a lot of punishment throughout his career, but joining Washington helped silence the growing number of doubters. Now, he’ll be looking to cash in accordingly, and if the Commanders don’t want to pay up, there should be suitable interest on the open market.
Most fans are hoping Samuel sticks around. At the same time, they also recognize the business side of things. Paying him comes with significant risk, and a dominant outing against the Eagles might not change all that much when push comes to shove.
It’s a precarious situation that could go either way. But don’t be surprised if this weekend is Samuel’s farewell to Washington.
CBS Sports
Big offseason ahead for the Commanders
The Commanders’ defense has been awful. The Commanders rank 31st in points per drive allowed, takeaways per drive and three-and-out rate forced.
Washington cannot defend the pass. The Commanders’ 8.0 net yards per pass attempt is tracking to be the worst by any team since 2020. Out of 1,669 individual seasons since the 1970 AFL-NFL meerger, Washington’s net yards per pass attempt allowed ranks 1,655th. Put another way, there are only 14 worse seasons over the last 56 years.
Washington needs upgrades everywhere, with pass rusher at the top of the list. But Washington could move on from 35-year-old linebacker Bobby Wagner as well. Wagner is a future Hall of Famer and still a tremendous tackler, but he has struggled in coverage. He also calls the plays defensively, so that is a crucial spot.
Promising rookie cornerback Trey Amos had his season cut short, but even with him and Mike Sainristil back, Washington must improve its cornerbacks and safeties. The Commanders will also be counting on significant internal improvement, too. There are some young pieces, many of whom had down seasons.
A better defense means less stress on Daniels to make so many plays. All of his injuries came in games the Commanders were chasing as the defense struggled.
The Commanders are projected to have [the] sixth-most [cap space] in the NFL, and their first draft pick — which will be in the top 10 — is of paramount importance. While they are without some later draft picks, they can focus on a significant free-agent haul, a group that can help now and in the future.
Think of the New England Patriots’ 2025 offseason. New England drafted Will Campbell fourth overall to solidify Drake Maye’s offensive line but also hit it big in free agency with Stefon Diggs, Milton Williams, Carlton Davis III, Robert Spillane, Harold Landry III, K’Lavon Chaisson, Khyiris Tonga and Mack Hollins, among others. Washington GM Adam Peters has a big offseason ahead, one full of both great power and great responsibility.
Heavy.com
Mike Sainristil : Tallies six stops Christmas Day
Sainristil posed six tackles (four solo) and one pass defense during the Commanders’ 30-23 loss to the Cowboys on Thursday. Sainristil played a career-high 90 defensive snaps during the Commanders’ Week 17 loss. The second-year corner is up to 79 tackles (48 solo), 11 pass defenses (four interceptions) and one forced fumble through 16 regular-season games. Sainristil and Washington will close out the 2025 regular season on the road against Philadelphia in Week 18.
Week 18 Schedule
Note: ALL DATES & TIMES ARE LOCAL BANGKOK TIME (GST +7)
NFC East links
Washington Post (paywall)
The Eagles’ defense is good enough to overcome their offense
In their last 15 quarters and an overtime period, the Eagles have yielded four touchdowns.
The Eagles gained 17 yards in the second half — 17! — but Philadelphia’s defense overcame its offense (barely). After shutting out the Bills for three quarters, the Eagles’ defense finally started wearing out in the fourth. The Bills scored twice in the final 5:15, including Allen’s tush push with five seconds left.
But the Bills needed a two-point conversion to take the lead because Jalen Carter, in a dominant return from injury, blocked an extra point after Buffalo’s first touchdown. Allen misfired to wide open Khalil Shakir in the back of the end zone, and the Eagles escaped.
Bleeding Green Nation
Should the Eagles rest starters in Week 18?
[T]he Bears’ loss leaves the door open to the Eagles moving up to the No. 2 seed if 1) Philly beats Washington AND 2) Chicago loses to the Detroit Lions in the final week of the regular season.
So, what should the Eagles do?
The No. 2 seed is guaranteed to host a second home playoff game if they can win their first home game in the Wild Card round. If the Eagles are able to move up to No. 2, they’d be guaranteed a home game against the Green Bay Packers … a team they previously beat at Lambeau Field earlier this season. And a team that is now without Micah Parsons and might enter the playoffs on a four-game losing streak if Green Bay can’t beat the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18.
If the Eagles can beat the Packers and then win in the Divisional Round, they’d be able to host the NFC Championship Game in Philly if the No. 1 seed loses their first playoff game. This obviously happened last year when the Detroit Lions lost to the Washington Commanders.
The Eagles might not need to play starters to beat the Commanders
The Commanders are pretty bad. They might be starting 39-year-old Josh Johnson at quarterback.
The Eagles’ backups won a Week 18 game over the New York Giants’ starters last year. That result doesn’t guarantee it’ll happen again in this spot. But there’s some reason to feel that Tanner McKee could play well enough to lead the Birds to a win.
Dan Quinn might be out to really spoil the Eagles’ No. 2 seed hopes
Seems like the Commanders could relish playing the Eagles tough. And maybe even playing dirty to try to sabotage their division rival.
If I rest the starters in a loss to Washington and the Bears happen to lose, it would be really hard to live with not having tried to get the No. 2 seed.
If I play the starters and someone gets hurt and the Eagles don’t get the No. 2 seed, well, that sucks. But at least I knew I tried to get the No. 2 seed. I can live with that.
Cowboys Wire
Sunday’s game results work vs Cowboys’ draft interests in worst way
Sunday’s Sad Results for Cowboys
Sunday, however, didn’t work out well for the Cowboys. Dallas’ 7-8-1 record is likely going to reach 8-8-1 after they play the New York Giants in Week 18. The Giants ha[d] lost nine in a row entering their Week 17 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders, with the two teams playing for the No. 1 overall selection.
By virtue of their tie, the Cowboys will draft after any team that has the same number as victories as they do, so they’d love for every team that could end up with 9 wins or more to do that.
Three teams were in play during Sunday’s early games with a legit path to nine wins, but all three teams lost.
One good thing did happen for the Cowboys in the early Sunday kickoffs. The Cleveland Browns upset the Pittsburgh Steelers, keeping Mike Tomlin’s club from clinching the AFC North. That sets them up to face the Ravens next week in a similar win-and-in, lose-and-go-home matchup like the Panthers and Bucs.
That gives the Ravens a shot at getting to nine wins. The Steelers already have nine wins, so if they missed the playoffs, they’d still pick after the Cowboys.
Also, there’s a consolation prize to the Bucs losing to the Dolphins. It brings Miami to seven wins on the year. If Dallas somehow finds a way to lose their final game, they could move in front of the Dolphins in draft order if Miami wins next week in New England. The Atlanta Falcons (6-9) could enter the chat as well if they upset the Rams on MNF.
Big Blue View
Giants-Raiders winners, losers: New York was both in NFL Week 17
Jaxson Dart — Yup, the rookie quarterback has regressed alright. One week after the worst game of his rookie season, a 7 of 13, 33-yard effort in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Dart played like the future star who had fans excited earlier in the season.
Dart completed 22 of 30 passes for 207 yards with no interceptions. He never put the ball in harm’s way. He ran for two scores and a couple of first downs on designed runs, and the only time he really sought contact was on his 12-yard scoring run. Dart finished with 48 rushing yards on nine carries.
This was the kind of game that, to me, makes the talk of trading him and drafting Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza silly.
By the way, am I the only one who thinks Dart plays with more freedom and confidence when using his legs is part of the game plan?
Abdul Carter — The No. 3 overall pick continued to respond to interim coach Mike Kafka benching him twice in three weeks. Against the Raiders, Carter had a half-sack, two tackles for loss, and four quarterback hits. In their early, unofficial stat count Pro Football Focus credited Carter with seven pressures. He has 3.5 sacks in his last four games, and now has 4.0 on the season.
NFL league links
Articles
Washington Post (paywall)
Browns stun the Steelers to save Week 18
A day after Huntley led the Ravens to a season-preserving victory in Green Bay, Sanders quarterbacked the Browns to a 13-6 shocker over the Steelers in Cleveland. On Christmas morning, it seemed likely Ravens-Steelers in Week 18 would be moot. Now it will decide the AFC North and determine whether Rodgers and Mike Tomlin or Jackson and John Harbaugh will salvage their uneven season.
Sanders led a field goal drive on Cleveland’s opening possession, and on their second he lofted a 28-yard touchdown pass to rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. Myles Garrett and coordinator Jim Schwartz’s ferocious defense handled the rest, holding the Steelers without a touchdown and limiting Rodgers to 168 yards on 21-for-39 passing.
Rodgers suffered without DK Metcalf, who served the first of a two-game suspension for his altercation with a fan in Detroit last week. He led the Steelers to the Cleveland 7-yard line on Pittsburgh’s final possession, but his final four passes — all to well-covered wideouts — fell harmlessly.
And so the Steelers-Ravens rivalry will receive an unlikely chapter next week in Pittsburgh. A Ravens victory next week would even their records at 9-8, each with a head-to-head victory, and Baltimore would hold the tiebreaker in division games 4-2 to 3-3. Metcalf will remain sidelined. Jackson’s health after he missed Saturday night with a bruised back is in question, as it has been for most of the season. T.J. Watt may be able to return from a lung injury he suffered receiving a dry-needling treatment.
Both quarterbacks have fared poorly in recent postseasons. Both coaches need victories to settle uneasy fan bases.
ESPN
Brock Purdy’s big night sets up 49ers-Seahawks showdown for NFC’s top seed
On a night when the San Francisco 49ers were without All-Pro tight end George Kittle and had All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams for one snap, the weight of their playoff positioning fell on quarterback Brock Purdy.
Purdy was up to the challenge. Behind his five total touchdowns (three passing, two rushing), the Niners outlasted the Chicago Bears 42-38 in a wild shootout on “Sunday Night Football.” It’s the first time San Francisco has scored 40-plus points in back-to-back games since November 1995.
The 49ers improved to 12-4 and will host the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night with the NFC West division title, the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs and home-field advantage throughout the postseason on the line. That could mean even more for the Niners with Super Bowl LX set to be played at Levi’s Stadium.
To achieve any of those goals, the Niners will look to Purdy to continue performing like one of the league’s best and most efficient quarterbacks.
Discussion topics
NFL.com
Myles Garrett: Steelers more worried about me breaking sack record than winning the game
Myles Garrett didn’t break the NFL single-season sack record in Sunday’s 13-6 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. After the contest, the Cleveland Browns star pass rusher said the Steelers were more focused on avoiding him setting the record than winning the contest.
“To an extent, I feel like they were more worried about keeping me away from Aaron (Rodgers) than, you know, getting the win, and I think that’s what came back to bite them,” Garrett said, via Ashly Holder of Cleveland 19 News. “They’ll have to fight it out with Baltimore next week, but I’m just proud of the guys for fighting and getting this win. That’s the main thing, and I’m always gonna keep it that.”
With DK Metcalf suspended and Calvin Austin III out due to injury, the Steelers lacked downfield threats to open the contest. Pittsburgh seemed intent on not allowing Garrett to beat them.
Pittsburgh chipped or doubled Garrett 16 times (41%), according to Next Gen Stats. On the 23 pass plays that he wasn’t chipped or doubled, the Steelers threw quick or rolled away from him 17 times. Rodgers averaged a time to throw of 2.39 seconds, the quickest by any qualified quarterback against the Browns this season, per NGS.
“They kind of fell under the same line of thinking that the Packers did,” said Garrett, who sits with 22 sacks. “We’ll just throw everything at him. … That’s their M.O. But, of course, they’re gonna throw even quicker when I’m lined up. On that side, they had a chipper there, sometimes two chippers.
“Getting it out quick, sometimes they were rolling away. They were doing a little bit of everything. I’ve come to expect that. I know they didn’t want me to be the one to break it against them.”
The Steelers’ loss sets up a winner-take-all AFC North battle with the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football in Week 18. Meanwhile, Garrett now heads into a season-finale bout against the Cincinnati Bengals with a chance to make history.
