Douglas Fritz Articles - Page 7

Remember back in the glory days, when unbudging NFL head coaches stoically made their decisions? They referred to them as gut feelings. But now the NFL’s analytics obsession is breaking football, and the Denver Broncos know about it, along with their head coach. These days it’s all about percentages and likelihoods. But there is a […]

The Tennessee Titans believe they have the right guy in Robert Saleh. And some players are excited, too. Furthermore, the Titans have a real chance to succeed quickly under head coach Robert Saleh in 2026. And the main reason is defense. When teams get good on the defensive side of the ball, they give themselves […]

The Denver Broncos are still dealing with the aftermath of a difficult loss, and there was plenty of blame to go around. But they can look toward 2026 now, and here are their top three free agent targets after the crushing AFC Championship Game loss. On a snowy Sunday in Denver, the Broncos came up […]

The New England Patriots didn’t have a challenging road to the Super Bowl. And they weren’t expected to be here. But Drake Maye and the Patriots can make history by beating the Seahawks in Super Bowl 60. And it comes in the form of pushing aside good defenses, according to ESPN. “The Patriots will make […]

It depends on who you listen to when wondering if Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce will retire. Some think a recent hire will lure him back for another year. And the Chiefs’ owner had a “no doubt” mic drop on Kelce as he mulls retirement, according to a post on X by Ian […]

The Washington Commanders swung and missed on a big name for their new defensive coordinator. That comes on the heels of an unproven OC hire. And head coach Dan Quinn’s coaching hires will do one of two things: put his team in the playoffs, or send him back to a defensive coordinator role with another […]

While the Philadelphia Eagles get their offensive staff in order, they lost a defensive coach. However, standout defensive back Cooper DeJean endorsed the new defensive pass game coordinator, according to his post on X. DeJean put a smiling emoji above Dianna Russini’s post on X that said, “The Philadelphia Eagles are promoting safeties coach Joe […]

The Denver Broncos had several things go wrong in the loss to the Patriots. And head coach Sean Payton made a questionable decision, even though he had seen the Bears hurt themselves in a similar fashion. But Payton went with the analytics, and Mark Schlereth said he hates nerds after the decision not to kick […]

To be certain, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay has enjoyed unprecedented success in the NFL at his age (40). But there were definitely chinks in the armor this year. Is this a sign that the luster is wearing off the boy wonder? McVay took over as the Rams’ head coach at the age […]

The questions about whether Jacksonville Jaguars standout Travis Hunter will play both ways have been many. His knee injury fueled the speculation. And now rumors are floating that he will play more at cornerback than receiver in 2026. General manager James Gladstone said the contract situation with the team may necessitate Hunter playing more on […]

Not everybody is sour on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ hiring of Mike McCarthy. But the boos and hisses are certainly noisy. Count ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith in that latter mix as he said he was “not moved” by the McCarthy hire, according to First Take. “I’m not moved at all,” Smith said. “I’m not going to […]

First, the New England Patriots got to the Super Bowl despite their own offensive futility. But they opened the eyes of head coach Mike Vrabel. Still, to be blunt, the Patriots’ Super Bowl resume lacks playoff punch. New England won three playoff games without the opponent offering playoff-level offensive resistance. And now they will face […]

The Seattle Seahawks turned plenty of heads by reaching the Super Bowl. And Sam Darnold showed NFL observers one thing they missed about him. Also, Darnold’s career turnaround in passer rating hadn’t been seen in NFL history, according to a post on X by OptaSTATS. “Sam Darnold had a 78.3 passer rating over his first […]

Who could have imagined that Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Darnold would beat Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson to the Super Bowl? But his playoff gem Sunday should have silenced all doubters. However, there is one thing NFL folks got wrong about Darnold. Darnold passed for 346 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in a […]

Injuries have moved to the forefront for the New England Patriots. And while there has been good news, there’s also bad. Linebacker Harold Landry has been ruled out of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Broncos. Landry, who led the Patritos in sacks this season with 8.5, won’t be able to play because of a […]

It’s not that the Washington Commanders haven’t tried to get a premier defensive coordinator. They have interviewed top-level guys. However, the empty defensive coordinator job spells more trouble for the 2026 season. is another bad sign for the 2026 season. Understandably, prime defensive coordinators who are hopeful of a head coaching gig are waiting for […]

There is a lot of talk about John Harbaugh changing the New York Giants. And Harbaugh is certainly fired up. But Giants fans’ Super Bowl dreams will be crushed by John Harbaugh. Here’s the thing about coaching hires. No franchise brings in a new guy hoping to be competitive. They want a perennial playoff contender. […]

The Baltimore Ravens handed the team over to Jesse Minter, and hopes are sky high for the young head coach. However, the offensive coordinator choice is important, and here are the top candidates. It’s a wide-open field, according to ESPN. “The Ravens interviewed 16 candidates for the head coaching search, which could provide some clues […]

The Los Angeles Rams will have their hands full with the Seahawks, and they will need their stars to shine. But they could get a boost from a 148-game starter, who could return from a long absence for the showdown in the NFC Championship Game. The Rams opened the 21-day practice window for right tackle […]

Some things made Alec Pierce happy with the Indianapolis Colts last season, and perhaps his big payday will come if he remains with them. However, Pierce is a game-changing piece in the 2026 NFL free-agent market. First, there is a caveat to Pierce standing out. And that is what happens with Cowboys wide receiver George […]

In the Divisional Round, Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams proved he didn’t have to be a hero. Meanwhile, Drake Maye faces another huge defensive challenge in the AFC Championship game. As for their counterparts, Sam Darnold and Jarrett Stidham, there are many question marks. So, will the quarterback matchup force a Rams vs. […]

The Los Angeles Dodgers keep spending like crazy, including their recent move to get Kyle Tucker. However, manager Dave Roberts took a moment to look back and revealed what led to his 2025 World Series saving decision. Roberts sent pinch-hitter Miguel Rojas to the plate in the top of the ninth with the Dodgers trailing […]

If the Los Angeles Rams want to get Davante Adams over the hump and into the Super Bowl, they must get a premier performance from Matthew Stafford in the NFC Championship game against the Seahawks. And here is the stat line prediction for Stafford against the elite Seahawks defense. The Rams travel to play the […]

The Seattle Seahawks have weapons as they prepare to face the Los Angeles Rams in the 2026 NFC Championship game. However, they have a fatal flaw that the Rams can expose. These teams meet Sunday at 6:30 p.m. (ET) in Seattle with a Super Bowl berth on the line. They’ve met twice this season, with […]

The Kansas City Chiefs are filling out their coaching staff, and all signs point to Eric Bieniemy returning as the offensive coordinator. And here is what Albert Breer is hearing about Andy Reid’s plan for the return of Bieniemy, according to Sports Illustrated. “Eric Bieniemy’s potential return to Kansas City is interesting,” Breer wrote. “As […]

In the first-ever playoff win, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold didn’t need to do much. Maybe all he needed to do was avoid turnovers. However, Darnold can’t ride in the back seat to the Super Bowl. In the blowout victory over the 49ers, Darnold faced almost no game pressure. He threw only 17 passes, completing […]

The Tennessee Titans gave their coaching reins to Robert Saleh, and they’re hoping he can fix Cam Ward. It’s possible he could get help as Brian Daboll has been linked to a possible reunion with Saleh, according to a post on X by Jonathan Jones. “One name that has come up in Tennessee as Robert […]

There’s no doubt it was a special season for Fernando Mendoza and the Indiana Hoosiers. And his late-game courage was off the charts. However, the NFL is a different animal, and Mendoza’s NFL buzz may be a bit too loud. First, the good stuff. Mendoza led Indiana to a 16-0 record, passing for 41 touchdowns […]

The Minnesota Vikings have a tough question at quarterback for the 2026 season. Do they need someone to push JJ McCarthy? A Steelers insider fueled the Aaron Rodgers to the Vikings buzz with a prediction. Rodgers is as close to moving on to the Vikings as he is to retirement, according to Mike DeFabo of  […]

Many Buffalo Bills players don’t seem to like the firing of Sean McDermott. But some believe it’s time had come. However, the Bills are headed for the NFL cliff by handing more power to Brandon Beane. The Bills kept Beane in his general manager role but also promoted him to the president of football operations. […]

After a tough injury, San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle struggled with emotions. But got plenty of support from his teammates. And he also said the Achilles tear was the best-case scenario, according to a post on X by Matt Barrows. “George Kittle said his Achilles tear was a best-case scenario: up high toward […]

It didn’t take long for the howling to start against Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore. And Terrell Owens felt the need to weigh in on the situation. Moore’s heroic season ended with a bizzare lazy mistake, so should the Bears trade him? Moore seemed to run aimlessly away from a third-down toss by Caleb […]

Yes, the Denver Broncos had a major downer during their game against the Bills. But Wil Lutz still delivered in crunch time. And Talanoa Hufanga had an immediate reaction to Lutz’s game-winning kick against the Bills in the Divisional Round. Lutz’s overtime boot of 23 yards gave the Broncos a hard-earned 33-30 win over the […]

While the Baltimore Ravens scheduled a second interview with Anthony Weaver, the Titans are kicking the tires of a pair of coordinators. But according to NFL rumors, former Bills coach Sean McDermott is seen as a candidate for the Ravens and the Titans. It makes a sensible fit, according to a post on X, formerly […]

It was a tough finish for Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud. And now the team must begin roster building for 2026. Part of that process will be the NFL Draft, and here are the Texans’ top three targets after the playoff defeat to the Patriots. A miserable turnover-fest sent the Texans packing in a 28-16 […]

The Houston Texans will look forward after a playoff loss, including a lot of study for the upcoming NFL Draft. However, running back Joe Mixon’s future got an uncertain response from DeMeco Ryans, according to a post on X by Jonathan M. Alexander. “DeMeco Ryans on whether he expects a future with Joe Mixon: “As […]

Despite the Chicago Bears making too many mistakes in a tough Divisional Round loss, the team has a bright future. A key step is the 2026 NFL draft, and here are the Bears’ top three targets after losing to the Rams. Chicago turned the ball over in overtime and wound up on the short end […]

The Buffalo Bills announced the firing of head coach Sean McDermott, which drew a heartbroken reaction from Damar Hamlin. Also, Hamlin expressed his thanks to McDermott on social media, according to his post on X. “A True Leader Of Men. Thank You For Everything! On & Beyond The Field. We Love You, Coach. 🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾” McDermott […]

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ intentions seem clear as they seek a defensive-minded person to replace Mike Tomlin after he stepped down. That side of the ball is likely the key, and the Steelers are interviewing the Packers’ DC for their head coaching vacancy, according to a post on X by Tom Pelissero. “The Steelers will interview […]