NFL gameday guide: Taylor Swift’s rival, Aaron Rodgers’ despair, Kyle Shanahan pressure and Detroit Lions dominance

Mob movies, Motown magic, more Aaron Rodgers-centred drama, the ‘Harbowl’ and rushing fireworks between Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur. We look ahead to NFL Sunday…

Fractured and fugazi-enriched New York football continues to govern NFL headlines, the Giants and Jets once more shaking hands on another week of drama as two win-shy franchises for whom glowing endorsements have become an anomaly.

Thought the television cameras panned to Taylor Swift a lot? Think again. The Sean Stellato show is back on Broadway as the viral agent returns to stage in unison with newly-promoted Giants starting quarterback Tommy DeVito, who leapfrogs a perplexed Drew Lock to take the reins from the benched Daniel Jones.

From the Sinatra-esque fedora to the Italian pinched-fingers gesture, Stellato became one of the fun but short-lived stories of the 2023 season as his extravagant suits and stereotype-driving Italian American-isms warranted comparisons to Johnny Fontane in “The Godfather” from the likes of Peyton Manning.

The tale of DeVito still living with his parents and his ‘Tommy Cutlets’ nickname meanwhile fuelled fascination surrounding the New York tandem, his late-season production ironically knocking the Giants out of position to target the likes of Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye in the NFL Draft.

Depth chart logistics would point to back-up Lock as the natural replacement as the Giants begin the process of cutting ties with Jones. But in turning to DeVito, Giants ownership have turned to the story, the character and the theatre in a bid to lift fans’ spirits over the second half of another torrid losing season.

DeVito isn’t the answer but he is a temporary, flash-in-the-pan remedy to downbeat Giants supporters, who have another marginally-exciting storyline on which to cling for a few weeks.

DeVito insisted this week he was keen to avoid the “fun and games” of last year. I’m afraid that’s exactly what the Giants want. And best believe Stellato is pitching up in the funkiest tux ever to grace the NFL, armed with his cell phone in hand as if straight from a mob film.

The Jets incited more scrutiny of their own this week by firing general manager Joe Douglas to continue their capitulation and gradual admission of failure over the Aaron Rodgers experiment. They fired head coach Robert Saleh, demoted offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, made a mess of Haason Reddick’s contract situation, traded for Rodgers’ best friend Davante Adams and now find themselves hurtling towards a ninth straight losing season. Four-time MVP Rodgers was supposed to transform the narrative and spearhead a new era of contention; instead, the Jets are facing their worst nightmare.

What’s more, it emerged that Jets owner Woody Johnson had suggested benching Rodgers for Tyrod Taylor four weeks into the season, having seen the veteran quarterback miss his entire first year with the team through injury. The messy Jets are still the messy Jets.

Lessons in how to build a winning franchise can be found in Detroit, where Penei Sewell is mauling grown men as the lynchpin to not only the Lions’ rampant rushing attack but also the drastic transformation in discourse for the franchise. For all that can be said of Jared Goff’s resurgence, Ben Johnson’s wizardry, a two-headed Amon-Ra St Brown and Jameson Williams monster and the Sonic and Knuckles duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, everything began to change upon Sewell’s arrival as the seventh overall pick in 2021. He is the nastiest lane-ploughing, pass-blocking offensive tackle in the league, who revels in devastation as a beacon of the Dan Campbell era in Motown and a driving force behind the team’s 9-1 record as Super Bowl contenders – maybe even favourites.

Elsewhere on the West Coast, certain factions of San Francisco 49ers fans appear to be forgetting the mess from which Kyle Shanahan hauled their team as they question his future as head coach. The Niners have lacked the offensive juice of previous years under their brainiac leader, sitting 5-5 in a wide-open NFC West having been marred by injuries and a lingering Super Bowl hangover.

But the NFL season is long, winding and never really quite underway until after Thanksgiving, with Christian McCaffrey still working to get back to full speed as the heartbeat of the team following his return from injury. Things change quickly at this time of year and the 49ers have too much talent not to anticipate a turnaround.

And on Monday the ‘Harbowl’ is back as brothers Jim and John Harbaugh meet once again in the NFL: Jim, currently orchestrating a Los Angeles Chargers and Justin Herbert revival after rejoining the league from Michigan; John, seeking to maximise a Super Bowl window with his Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry-charged Baltimore Ravens.

The two last coached against one another when the 49ers met the Ravens at Super Bowl XLVII, with John’s Baltimore running out 34-31 winners.

What to watch in Week 12

Sunday, 6pm – Detroit Lions (9-1) @ Indianapolis Colts (5-6): The Lions offense has history on their minds as Ben Johnson’s unit looks to cement itself as one of the most potent the NFL has ever witnessed. Detroit are currently averaging 32.2 points per game through 11 weeks, ranking fifth in the past 25 seasons, per ESPN Stats, behind the 2013 Denver Broncos, 2007 New England Patriots, 2018 Kansas City Chiefs and 2011 New Orleans Saints.

Jahmyr Gibbs is ranked sixth in scrimmage yards with 1,052, followed by David Montgomery with a 22nd-most 800, while Amon-Ra St Brown has 685 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in eight straight games as part of a Lions attack ranked third in success rate and third in total yards.

With that, Jared Goff is the first player in history to post a completion percentage of at least 80 in five games during a season, having just posted a perfect passer rating of 158.3 while throwing for 412 yards and four touchdowns against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Right now, they look like the best in the NFL.

The story in Indianapolis remains Anthony Richardson’s development as he looks to build on Sunday’s impressive performance after returning from the bench to reclaim his starting role. The former first-round pick finished 20 of 30 for 272 yards and a touchdown while twice dropping the shoulder for two bruising rushing scores in a statement to any teammates that might still have doubt over his commitment following the recent decision to withdraw himself from a play due to being ‘tired’.

His deep ball is mesmeric at times and the outer-pocket athleticism as explosive as any quarterback in the NFL; the Colts’ priority over the second half of the season is not so much about making the playoffs but teeing up their quarterback for long-term success in a system tailored to his talents.

On the other side of the ball, Laiatu Latu continues to impress as one of the NFL’s most gifted young playmakers off the edge and a contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Sunday, 9.25pm – San Francisco 49ers (5-5) @ Green Bay Packers (7-3): It is Christian McCaffrey watch in the Bay Area as the 49ers await the best of their star player following his return from an injury that kept him sidelined for the first half of the season. McCaffrey led the NFL in scrimmage yards as Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, and has managed 213 scrimmage yards from 42 touches across two games since his return to action. He looks far from the McCaffrey of last year, but as much is to be expected.

McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk (out for the season) and Jauan Jennings have all missed time this season, burdening Shanahan’s bid to rediscover some continuity to an offense that has lit up the NFL in recent years.

San Francisco are still ranked second in total yards on offense this season, but sit ninth in scoring and should have beaten the Geno Smith-rescued Seattle Seahawks at the weekend.

It beckons as a clash of ground-game fireworks on Sunday when Shanahan reunites with Matt LaFleur and his Green Bay Packers offense, which ranks fourth in rushing this season behind Josh Jacobs and his third-most 838 yards, 466 yards of which have come after contact. LaFleur and Jordan Love are piloting one of the NFL’s most sophisticated rushing systems, baiting and displacing defenses with eye-candy motion, multiple personnel groupings and the accompanying zone disguise.

Sunday Night Football, 1.20am – Philadelphia Eagles (8-2) @ Los Angeles Rams (5-5): Among the pressing questions for the Eagles heading into the season were how they could adjust to life without Hall of Fame-bound center Jason Kelce. Any lingering fears appear to have been answered by the dominance of Cam Jurgens, who is crushing defenders as a focal point to Philly’s rushing success this season, behind whom Saquon Barkley has posted a league-leading 1,347 scrimmage yards alongside 10 total touchdowns in competition with Derrick Henry for Offensive Player of the Year.

While the Eagles offense continues to surge, concerns at cornerback have been relaxed by the immediate impact of first-round rookie Quinyon Mitchell, who has allowed just 87 yards, zero touchdowns and a passer rating of 61.9 from 20 targets since Week Six. Quarterbacks are beginning to avoid him, which is the greatest compliment you can pay a defensive back.

It will be the trio of Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua that plays a defining role in whether the Los Angeles Rams can fend off a tight-knit NFC West to reach the playoffs, but not enough can be said for the job Les Snead and Sean McVay have done of rebuilding their defensive front in life without Aaron Donald. Braden Fiske has joined teammate Jared Verse in the running for Defensive Rookie of the Year, leading all first-year defenders with five sacks so far this season after arriving as a second-round pick out of Florida State. According to NextGen Stats, his second-quarter strip-sack against the New England Patriots in Week 11 was the fastest sack of the season by a defensive lineman.

Monday Night Football, 1.15am – Baltimore Ravens (7-4) @ Los Angeles Chargers (7-3): Jim Harbaugh is in the midst of transforming the Chargers’ identity, establishing a hard-nosed attitude in the trenches and clearing the stage for Justin Herbert by way of an efficient, occasionally-smashmouth run game behind J.K. Dobbins, Greg Roman and their Ravens roots.

Chargers rookie right tackle Joe Alt has been central to the team’s control at the line of scrimmage and was PFF’s highest-graded offensive tackle in Week 11 as he continues his ascent as a prospective cornerstone over the next decade-and-beyond.

Meanwhile, the Chargers offense is thriving with a youthful room of unproven pass-catching options, rookie Ladd McConkey leading the team with 43 catches for 615 yards alongside 1,071 combined yards from Joshua Palmer, Quentin Johnston and Will Dissly.

It is from one stubborn defense to another for the Ravens, who just endured their most frustrating offensive performance of the season in the face of a Pittsburgh Steelers front oozing with disruptors. Baltimore had entered the week averaging 31.8 points per game before being restricted to 16 against Mike Tomlin’s playoff-bound side, and now come up against a Chargers defense ranked first in scoring.

Lamar Jackson completed just 16 of 33 passes for 207 yards, a touchdown and an interception, falling victim to unrelenting pressure, elite gap discipline and the small matter of Pittsburgh’s abundance of playmakers.

It was the latest flicker of concern for Baltimore ahead of the playoffs in January, but ousting Harbaugh’s offense with conviction would erase that immediately.

Around the league

• The Giants benched quarterback Daniel Jones and will start Tommy DeVito, not Drew Lock, in this week’s clash with the Bucs.
• The Jets fired general manager Joe Douglas after more than five seasons with the organisation, having fired head coach Robert Saleh earlier this year.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans returned to practice this week after missing the last three weeks with a hamstring injury.
• 49ers tight end George Kittle plans to return against the Packers after missing Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks with a hamstring injury.
• Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco was limited in practice as he looks to make his return from an ankle injury.
• Kevin Stefanski is expected to remain Cleveland Browns head coach in 2025, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported.
• Colorado’s two-way superstar Travis Hunter says he “definitely” plans to enter the 2025 NFL Draft.
• Eli Manning and Luke Kuechly were named among the first-year semi-finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Who said what?

Giants QB Tommy DeVito: “Last year was a good story and all, how it happened. All the fun and games outside, it was fun. That was last year. I’m sticking to football now. Not that I wasn’t before. The external stuff will be on pause. I already had talks with everybody around me, my inner circle. Want it to stay very tight and make sure that everything is about production on Sunday.”

Giants QB Drew Lock on being overlooked for DeVito: “There’s a ton of emotions involved in all of it. I would say that this is still a business. I want more jobs after this year. So, if I come in and be ugly and nasty, it leaves a bad taste in these guys’ mouths, and who knows how fast that spreads? I’m going to come in and be great. Not to mention, I’ve become really close with Tommy. It’s more than just a business thing. I appreciate him. He’s a great friend, and I want him to go out there and do well.”

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes on the potential return of running back Isiah Pacheco: “I think it’s going to be us trying to hold him back, because he’s a guy that wants to be out there as much as possible and he wants to play, but at the same time he wants to win. He knows the long-term goal that we have. Our goal is to get him back as quickly as possible, but at the best time for him and his body, so that we can have him for the long haul. Whenever that is, I know he’ll be ready and he’ll be that Energizer Bunny that everybody loves to see.”

Lions QB Jared Goff: “We know what our potential can be. So it becomes a waste if you’re not trying to reach for perfection, strive for that. It’s really never attainable what you are going for, but we got a group of guys that are so dang talented and are such hard workers, and want that greatness.”

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh on Justin Herbert: “Enjoy it. He’s not only one of the best in the game currently, he’s one of the best of all time. I do not feel at all like I’m going out on a limb in saying that.”

Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons on his criticism of head coach Mike McCarthy: “Obviously no disrespect to [McCarthy’s] career and what he’s made for himself as one of the most winningest coaches. I could have done better. I was angry and I just didn’t finish, and I wasn’t as thoughtful as I usually am. I didn’t think people would take that context the way it was. That’s on me. I lost [the game]. I didn’t want to finish and I wanted to hurry up out of the locker room. Next time, I will be very careful about what I say. So that’s my apologies.”

The stats

• Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown needs a touchdown reception on Sunday to become just the fifth player with a touchdown catch in nine straight games in a single season.
• Justin Herbert needs 329 more passing yards to surpass Jameis Winston for the second-most by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history, behind only Peyton Manning.
• Houston Texans edge rusher Danielle Hunter leads the NFL with 72 quarterback pressures through 11 weeks.
• Ravens running back Derrick Henry can become the fourth player in the Super Bowl era to score a touchdown in each of his first 12 games in a season, behind O.J. Simpson, Jerry Rice and John Riggins.
• Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’Marr Chase leads all players in the NFL with 1,056 receiving yards, 481 of which have come after the catch.
• KaVontae Turpin recorded the fastest speed by a ball carrier so far this season at 22.36mph with his 64-yard touchdown for the Cowboys against the Texans.
• Lamar Jackson currently leads the league with an average time to throw of 3.13 seconds.

Essential Reading

645 yards of destruction – are the Lions Super Bowl-bound?

The MVP moment that stopped Mahomes’ Chiefs

Voodoo, clogged toilets and the NFL’s Rizz God

Ndamukong Suh Q&A: ‘Aaron Rodgers probably doesn’t like me!’

Watch the Detroit Lions face the Indianapolis Colts from 6pm Sunday, live on Sky Sports NFL, followed by the San Francisco 49ers against the Green Bay Packers on the road to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. Stream with NOW.