The NFL’s mandatory minicamps have wrapped up and we inch closer and closer to the 2025 preseason beginning. School is out for the summer for NFL franchises, which means all that’s left for us to do is ponder and speculate on which teams will surprise, which will falter, and who will win it all.

I’m intrigued by the possibilities of specific units in the NFL, whether it be sides of the ball that finished the season strong or units that have completely overhauled their staff and roster. So which ones have me the most intrigued going into 2025?

New York Jets’ offense

Starting off a list of unit I’m interested in with … the Jets’ offense? What a time to be alive!

I’m not sure if the Jets are going to be spectacular in Year 1 of the Aaron Glenn era, but through their free agency and draft moves, it looks like they know what their identity is on both sides of the ball. The biggest question I have is if offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand can build an offense around QB Justin Fields, and what does that look like? While Fields has many deficiencies as a passer, he’s one of the most dynamic run threats in the NFL. If their draft and free agency moves told us anything, it’s that they’re going to hammer the run game in 2025. They drafted Missouri RT Armand Membou in the first round, to solidify a young, but incredibly athletic offensive line group that can get out in space. Add in a tight end like LSU’s Mason Taylor, who is a smooth route runner and reliable in the short to intermediate areas, and what this tells me is that the outside zone and QB run game will take priority in MetLife Stadium. RBs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen are a nice pair, and adding Fields’ legs to that creates a dangerous rushing attack.

The Jets could lead the NFL in rushing attempts this season, and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit.

Arizona Cardinals’ defense

If you hang out in the hipster areas of football social media long enough, you’ll probably find me or someone else talking about the Arizona Cardinals’ defense. A petri dish of moving parts, shifting fronts and changing pictures, the Cardinals finished the back half of the season in the top ten of defensive EPA per play and sixth in Dropback Success Rate. With their three-high safety defense throwing pocket sand at people, it was hard to diagnose their pass defense. However, they would get run over last season to the tune of a 44.6% Rushing Success Rate because they lacked a lot of size up front.

Safe to say the Cardinals want to flip the script this season. Arizona paid big money to EDGE Josh Sweat, brought back DT Calais Campbell and drafted DT Walter Nolen to help rebuild their defensive line. Nolen might be the most boom or bust addition, with his speed and explosiveness making him a tantalizing prospect when he wants to be. In addition, they took a worthwhile swing on CB Will Johnson in the second round to bring in competition in the secondary. I’m a big fan of defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, and now the Cardinals have given him a worthwhile canvas to work with.

Miami Dolphins’ defense

Two spots above the Cardinals in EPA per play allowed over the back half of the season sit the Miami Dolphins, who are one of the most interesting teams in the league in total. However, we’re talking about sides of the ball here, and I’m a big fan of what that defense can become. Despite missing premier EDGEs Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips for most of the season, the Dolphins still finished fifth in Dropback EPA per play allowed and 17th in ESPNs Pass Rush Win Rate. EDGE Chop Robinson is a budding star, and adding him to a hopefully healthy duo of Chubb and Phillips makes this defense have a lot more bite. Outside of them, the roster has talent up front. DT Zach Sieler is one of the more underrated players in the league, as his LB Jordyn Brooks. Adding DTs Kenneth Grant and Jordan Phillips to the roster helps give the Dolphins more physicality against the run as well. I have questions about what they’re going to do in the secondary if CB Jalen Ramsey does get traded, but that’s what makes them interesting!

Jacksonville Jaguars’ offense

The Jaguars’ offense is going to be a unit that I tune in to watch every week on film. No, not just because I’m a Jaguars’ fan. With head coach Liam Coen pulling the strings, it’s easy to see how this offense could become one of the best in the NFL. Tampa Bay finished second in the NFL in explosive plays behind the Baltimore Ravens last season with Coen as the playcaller, and he’ll bring that to a team that has the skill position talent to make things happen. WR Brian Thomas Jr. is growing into a superstar, and adding top pick Travis Hunter to the group gives them more explosiveness in that offense. In addition, the Jaguars have four capable running backs who can fill out roles in the run game. The biggest point where I’m interested is with QB Trevor Lawrence. It’s been an up and down career for him so far, but he’s still immensely talented. Coen has did wonders with QB Baker Mayfield, masking his inefficiencies by maximizing his strengths, and it’s safe to say that he can do the same thing with Lawrence.

New York Giants’ defense

Two New York teams on here? For most interesting?

I can assure you that it’s not opposite week, because the Giants’ defense has the bones of what could be a very good unit. It all starts up front, where DT Dexter Lawrence leads a group that has the potential to get after the QB in many different ways. A trio of EDGEs in Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux could help the Giants play matchup ball with the offensive line, picking and choosing who gets the isolated matchup over the worst offensive linemen. Winning football games starts in the trenches and the Giants could be very good up front.

Where this really gets interesting is in the secondary, where New York poured a lot of resources in the offseason. Signing CB Paulson Adebo and S Jevon Holland give the group more veteran experience, on top of two rookies in S Tyler Nubin and CB Dru Phillips (who was VERY good in the slot last season) that make this secondary have a lot of promise. CB Deonte Banks has to figure it out, however. The former first round pick has struggled since being drafted, and having more experience around him could help him out.

New England Patriots’ offense

Look, I know Pats’ head coach Mike Vrabel doesn’t exactly come off as some offensive guru or even enthusiast, but I’m cautiously intrigued by what this offense could be in 2025. It starts with QB Drake Maye, who showed flashes of his potential last season for New England–when he was kept upright. The Patriots went into the offseason wanting to build around their young QB, so they drafted LT Will Campbell, RB Trey’Veon Henderson and WR Kyle Williams. They also added to the offense via free agency, with RT Morgan Moses making his way to New England along with WR Stefon Diggs (pink powder not included).

Why I’m intrigued by this unit stems from OC Josh McDaniels, though. As purely a coordinator and designer of offense, I like what he does and how he wants to win in 2025. Big personnel, physical ground game and some more mixed in QB runs for Maye (who is more than good enough as a runner). It didn’t look pretty the last time he was on the sideline, but maybe he’s more fit to be an offensive coordinator. With a young QB he can trust in Maye and some explosiveness now in the offense, I’m curious what this form of Patriots’ offense will look like.

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen is ready to burst on the scene in 2025.

Well, that’s what Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus argued in a recent column. He was tasked with putting together the “2025 NFL All-Breakout Team: Predicting football’s new top players at every position.”

He got to pick one or two players, depending on the position, who would break out this season. At running back, he only got one name to pick, and he chose Allen.

“Bucky Irving set the world ablaze in his rookie season, but Allen quietly put together a strong first campaign of his own. The former Wisconsin star generated an 82.0 PFF rushing grade and a 73.6 overall PFF grade in 2024,” Locker explained.

“Allen remains the backup to Breece Hall in New York, but Hall’s production declined in a big way last year, with only a 68.7 PFF rushing grade. If Allen can improve his pass-catching abilities (50.3 PFF receiving grade) and blocking prowess (52.7 PFF pass-blocking grade), he could emerge as more of an every-down back for the Jets,” Locker said. “After all, new OC Tanner Engstrand comes from a Detroit Lions team that gave Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery each over 190 carries in 2024.”

The Ex-Badgers Standout Has More to Him Than Meets the Eye

The former Wisconsin product appeared in all 17 games during his rookie season and made two starts.

He toted the rock 92 times for 334 rushing yards and scored two rushing touchdowns. Allen is listed at 6-foot-1 and tipped the scales at 235 pounds on the Jets’ official roster sheet. Coming out of college, he earned the brusier label for his physicality and was expected to be a short-yardage contributor.

Where he surprised the Jets was in the passing game. Coming out of college, Allen only had 49 career receptions at Wisconsin. However, he showed a hidden ability at the NFL level.

Allen finished his rookie campaign with 19 receptions for 148 receiving yards and a touchdown. He averaged 7.8 yards per reception. He had 49 catches across three collegiate seasons. In his first season in the NFL, he already achieved 39% of the production as a rotational player that he did full-time in college.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

That reveals some serious untapped potential beneath the surface. Allen, 21, has three years remaining on his $4.5 million rookie contract.

Allen Will Have Opportunities on the Jets in 2025

Throughout the offseason, head coach Aaron Glenn has said that he plans on using all three running backs on the roster. That list includes Allen, Isaiah Davis, and starter Breece Hall.

Hall is the man and has been the lead bellcow throughout his tenure with the Jets. However, he is entering a contract year in 2025 and is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in 2026.

PFF argued that Allen could steal away the job from Hall this season by taking another leap. The good news for the Jets is that Allen is not only talented, but he is still incredibly young.

“At only 20 years old, Fond du Lac’s latest hometown hero, Braelon Allen, made NFL history last night as the youngest player in the Super Bowl era (1966-67) to gain a yard,” Yahoo Sports revealed last season.

If he is this good already in limited action, just imagine what Allen could transform into with some good coaching and opportunity. The sky is the limit.

Jets Running Back Tipped For ‘Make-Or-Break’ Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

New York Jets running back Breece Hall is under no illusions as to what is on the line for him in 2025.

Entering a contract year with a new regime, Breece, who was once the bellcow for the offense, will be splitting carries with Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis.

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

That isn’t ideal.

But for Hall, he needs to separate himself from that duo and emerge as the star back we want him to be. He knows what is at stake, and now is the time for the running back to make good on his potential as a star of the league.

And for Pro Football Focus, Breece faces a make-or-break season.

“Hall has been the subject of criticism and trade rumors this offseason,” Pro Football Focus writes. “Head coach Aaron Glenn recently shot the latter down, but Hall still needs a bounce-back campaign to secure a long-term future in New York.

“There is a chance that he is a dynamic playmaker in a new offense, but there may be an equal chance that 2025 is his last season in New York.”

New York Jets running back Breece Hall (20) runs with the ball© Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Hall saw his name thrown up as a trade target this offseason, but he will be a Jet in 2025. Still, he has to show he can be “the” guy for Tanner Engstrand.

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

To do that, he must show in training camp that there is only one answer to the Jets’ run game question. He’s off to a solid start under Glenn, but the real proof will be when training camp rolls around.

Breece has all the potential in the world, but even he said during minicamp, the time has come for that potential to manifest itself into something tangible.

Because in a contract year, Hall needs to show out, otherwise his NFL career might continue in 2026 with another team.

Related: Glenn Clears Air on Breece Hall Trade Rumors

Related: Jets Sign UFL ‘Thiccer Kicker’ For Training Camp Competition

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.

Nate Tice’s other draft profiles: Cam Ward | Shedeur Sanders | Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough

Tight ends generally take time to develop. So how do NFL teams gauge when to spend a pick on a player who might have a timeline to productivity that looks more like an MLB draft pick?

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

It’s a steep learning curve to learn to be an NFL tight end, even for the most talented of players. This year’s draft class features a fun group of tight end prospects with different flavors and projected tier levels. Including two who seem to be considered in a tier of their own at the top.

With apologies to the other talented players at the position this year, Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland have emerged as the consensus top two players among tight end prospects. What do Warren and Loveland provide at such a demanding position? And are they worth taking on Day 1 despite the possibility of low early returns?

I dove deep on both players to determine who I would give the final nod to on the big board and what each player is bringing to the NFL.

What does Tyler Warren bring to the table?

The first thing that comes up when watching Warren is locating him on any given play. Warren lined up across the formation at Penn State; he had 281 snaps from the slot in 2024 and 30 snaps as a wildcat quarterback or on sneak plays (finishing with 189 rushing yards). Warren even had a touchdown after being aligned as the de facto center on a play where he made an incredible catch to haul the double-pass in for the score.

Warren is a good athlete and was a legitimate receiving threat when split out in college, but his athleticism doesn’t show up with pure speed or twitch. Balance and coordination are where Warren shines. As a receiver, he constantly shows the ability to adjust for passes all around his body and then easily transition into being a runner after hauling in the throw. As a runner it’s contact balance, he can run through an arm tackler and keep moving forward.

Even on what might seem like more basic plays, Warren displays his functional athleticism, which is especially highlighted on outbreaking routes and seam routes. Watch on the plays above how Warren is able to adjust for throws, keep his feet and get north in one fluid motion.

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Warren consistently picks up yards with the ball in his hands, too. Some of his best plays are on tight end screens designed for him. He has quick feet to put a move on the first defender and is a rugged runner who is willing to lower his shoulder. And while he’s not overly explosive, Warren has some burst to get to the edge against flat-footed defenders, with some vision to boot.

Warren was highly productive for Penn State this season and was the engine of its offense. His standard stats are great (104 receptions, 1,233 receiving yards, 12 total touchdowns), and his underlying metrics point to a standout season, with Warren ranking second among qualifying FBS tight ends in yards, explosive receptions, and first downs per route. He was reliable for Penn State and it often defaulted to getting the ball in his hands whenever the Nittany Lions hit a rut. That reliability as a receiver is going to be his calling card at the next level.

Questions and potential fits for Tyler Warren

Despite Warren aligning across the formation in college, there has been plenty of discussion and a projection of Warren being used more as a “traditional” tight end in the NFL. That is, a true “Y” tight end who can align next to a tackle and hold his own at the point of attack against edge defenders as a blocker on one play, and then stay on the field to run a full route tree on the next play. Tight ends are difficult to project and just as difficult to find. Finding a “Y” tight end who can also be a legitimate threat in a passing game is as hard to find as El Dorado.

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

After studying Warren, I came out with more questions about his blocking ability than answers. There is toughness and the athleticism to keep his feet and stay balanced on contact. But Warren’s length and lower body strength, or lack thereof (Warren’s arms measured below 32 inches at the scouting combine), also shows up. And that’s against college athletes and not the bigger, faster and longer defenders in the NFL.

Warren wasn’t asked to block defensive ends often in college. And when he was asked to block at the point of attack, it was on zone concepts where he received help from an offensive tackle. A lot of his blocking clips, even the ones from in-line alignments, are against defensive backs. This isn’t to say that Warren can’t do it at the next level, but Penn State’s offensive coaches seemed cognizant to make sure Warren was off the ball, on the move or used as an insert blocker on linebackers. Those are the plays where Warren shines as a blocker since he gets to work on the move against smaller defenders where his length can be mitigated.

The fact that Warren is more of a passable blocker than a clear winning player from in-line spots also changes the equation when discussing his value. Versatility, reliable hands and the ability to get some yards with the ball are definitely valuable. But not having the clear elite athletic traits or length to stand out as a true in-line player makes it hard to justify going earlier (to me) than in the back half of the first round of the draft. Receiving tight ends have value, and are being used more creatively (and hidden better as blockers) than ever before by modern offensive coordinators.

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Warren’s lack of elite traits can also show up against man coverage. Even on passes that he hauls in, Warren would have some issues in man coverage separating from more athletic defensive backs. This is another area that gets only harder in the NFL and could be a tougher ask for Warren as he jumps up a level and might limit his effectiveness to being a super zone beater. Picking nits here, but Warren is going to have to be aligned in certain ways to maximize his skills, as opposed to having a true, clear-cut, scheme-proof player profile. It becomes an assessment of if Warren can beat safeties in the NFL and a sliding scale of whether he brings more value than just putting a big slot receiver out there to accomplish the same thing (without as heavy of an investment).

A current player I would compare Warren to is Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride. McBride, a former second-round draft pick, was a highly productive player in college who was also the featured player in his college offense. Like Warren, McBride has just middling length (32 1/2-inch arms at the combine) which limits his ability to be a consistent in-line blocker that the Cardinals can use at the point of attack.

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

He is not a bad blocker, he just has to be used in certain roles and hidden from others. When the Cardinals are in two-or-three tight end looks, McBride is generally the “F” or “move” tight end in wing positions or split out. And his blocking assignments generally are as a part of a double-team, on the back side, or on a linebacker or a defensive back (as opposed to a true defensive lineman). McBride is a smooth athlete who wins with balance and hand-eye coordination (and will also sprinkle in a hurdle now and again). He has turned into a legitimate top-five tight end in the NFL — evident by Thursday’s reported heavy investment in him from the Cardinals — because of his reliable receiving ability and ability to eat up a steady diet of yards after the catch.

For a comparison to a player from the past, I think Warren has similarities to former Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark.

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Clark was drafted 24th overall in 2003 and was a productive secondary option for Peyton Manning. Clark was a key component for the Colts’ ability to stay in the same two-tight end personnel groupings, switching between in-line spots (often on the back side of run plays in the Colts’ zone-heavy run game) and as the Colts’ de facto slot receiver.

Warren is a bit taller than Clark was (6-foot-5 1/2 at the combine, compared to Clark’s 6-3 ½), but they weighed in similarly at their respective combines and with similar arm length; Clark weighed in at 257 pounds with 32-inch arm length compared to 256 and 31 3/4 for Warren.

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

How McBride is currently used and how Clark was used in the past is exactly how I envision Warren’s best role in the NFL: a receiving tight end who can split out for certain looks as a valid, but perhaps not explosive, pass catcher that can also scrap a bit in the run game. This isn’t a 1:1 player comparison, but Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson is another player with a similar type of role in an offense as a secondary pass catcher and having a blocking tight end on the roster to do more of the traditional tasks (Josh Oliver in this case).

Teams like the Colts, Seahawks and Chargers all make sense given their roster construction. All have other receiving options that don’t put the onus on Warren to be a high-volume player right away while also having tight ends (or a scheme, in the Colts’ case, with their use of RPOs) that can do the dirty work to free up Warren as a receiver.

Overall, I like Warren and think he can be a strong secondary pass catcher to pair with other options or a true ace receiver. And while he’s not an outright negative as a blocker in the run game, teams will have to be realistic in their asks in that area.

What does Colston Loveland bring to the table? And how does he compare to Warren?

What’s nice about the two tight ends I’m writing about is that they have tangible production to point at. Sometimes prospecting for the best tight end ends up being “pick the biggest and best athlete and hope they figure it out before their rookie contract wraps up.” Warren ranked near the top of the underlying statistics that I like to look at, but so did Loveland, both in his shortened 2024 season (in which Loveland played 10 games) and throughout his career at Michigan.

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Loveland ranked third in yards per route run and first downs per route run among qualifying FBS tight ends in 2024, and ranked seventh and sixth in the same categories for his career among the 204 qualifying FBS tight ends since 2020. (Warren ranked 15th and 13th for his career in the same respective categories.) Loveland also put up those numbers in 2024 with what I would consider quite horrific quarterback play in Ann Arbor.

Loveland is a dynamic receiver, a fluid athlete whose ability to sink and get in and out of his routes makes him appear smaller than he actually is, an injustice to his nearly 6-6 frame. He can not only stretch the field with his ability to get vertical in a hurry, but more advanced breaking routes are already part of his arsenal because of how fluid of an athlete he is.

Loveland can get defenders on their toes in a hurry with his speed, showing off potential as a space creator for an offense on routes like seams and digs. Loveland already displays some polish on his route tree as well, with little touches like leans on his routes to keep defenders off balance, all while not losing steam as he stampedes downfield. He seldom was clamped down in man coverage (Texas’ Jahdae Barron gave him a good battle, though) and he has the size and frame to be a good target against zone coverages.

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Loveland also has youth on his side — he turns 21 on April 9, almost two years younger than Warren, who turns 23 in May — while also measuring in slightly taller (6-5 3/4) and with longer arms (32 3/4). Those longer arms bring me to my next point.

Like other Michigan prospects, I was worried that Loveland’s film would taper off as Michigan’s season did the same. And going into this film study, I expected Loveland to have further to go as a blocker in comparison to Warren. But as the film of the 2024 season went along, Loveland really came into his own as a blocker. Not just out in space against smaller off-ball defenders, but from in-line spots blocking edge defenders as well.

I would even dare to say that there isn’t any projection needed of Loveland being a better blocker than Warren; I think he is already at that level and I would give him the overall edge. There are real flashes of length, athleticism, and strength (with room to add more) that show that he can hold up as he steps up to the NFL. Loveland shows he can sustain his blocks at a more consistent level than Warren, and on more difficult assignments, too. This isn’t to say that Warren is a slouch, but more that Loveland showed rapid improvement in the area and shows a lot of promise that there is even more to tap into as he develops.

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

It’s not all perfect with Loveland. There are times when he might get out of whack with his hand placement or have a misstep. But Michigan was comfortable running behind Loveland, sometimes right after he was the receiver of an explosive play (sometimes two).

As a receiver, Loveland (like Warren) shows off the ability to create with the ball in his hands and also the fluidity to contort his body for throws outside of his frame. Loveland can chew up yards once he’s able to get his legs going, but still agile enough to set up his blockers or make a defender miss right after the catch. Loveland is an athlete before and after the catch.

Is Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland TE1 this NFL Draft?

If you can’t tell by this point, I’m bullish on Loveland. He has been consistently in my top 25 throughout this process, even back to this summer. But sitting down and watching his season progress on film made me even more encouraged about what he can be at the next level.

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

While I thought Warren would be the better “Y” prospect when comparing these two talented players, I think Loveland has more potential to be that true “Y” tight end that every team covets so badly. He won’t be in-line bashing against the Myles Garretts and Montez Sweats of the world on every down. But the fact that it’s a real option for an offense to use has a lot of value, while also not being pure projection like some (most) tight end prospects are.

Warren may have played more roles in college, but it’s kind of funny that Loveland’s ability to play more traditionally may actually add to his versatility, and thus appeal and value at the NFL level. Loveland has the athleticism and frame that is preferred out of tight end prospects, with tangible production and some real polish to his game, too. He will still have to add strength and continue to refine his technique. But he is already at an adequate baseline as he enters the pro ranks. And while Michigan’s offense was an abomination in 2024, it translates nicely to what Loveland will be asked to do at the next level.

I thought of quite a few comparisons for Warren, but I struggle to really think of any for Loveland off the top of my head. There are some Owen Daniels vibes here, but Loveland is bigger and more explosive. Todd Heap was another name that came to mind, especially with Loveland’s frame and athleticism. Either way, those are good players to be compared to!

Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Warren and Loveland have paths to be strong contributors as receivers, but it’s Loveland’s potential as a true in-line blocker that gives him the edge for me, with the added variables of youth and other traits helping tip it over, too. There’s more to tap into with Loveland.

But it’s still two fun prospects in a class full of them at the position. Loveland’s potential to be a winning player at different spots also makes it easier to find a role on a team for him, and for him to have more potential landing spots in the draft. Even if teams in the top 10 like the Jets at No. 7 or the Bears at 10 took Loveland, I wouldn’t be fazed. It might seem rich, but Loveland’s stock is one worth buying.

4:25 p.m. ET | Fox | ESPN BET: GB -1 (48.5 O/U)

Packers storyline to watch: Quarterback Jordan Love struggled against the blitz in the first seven games of the season, which included the Packers’ Week 4 loss to the Vikings, posting the third-worst QBR when blitzed during that span. In the six games since, he has a QBR of 97 against the blitz, which leads the NFL in that category. The Vikings have the highest blitz rate in the NFL at 38%. — Rob Demovsky

Vikings storyline to watch: Sam Darnold is looking to become the first quarterback in NFL history to win 14 games in his first season with a new team. If that happens, and the Vikings sweep the Packers for only the fourth time in the past 25 seasons, they’ll keep themselves on track for a huge Week 18 game at Detroit that could determine the No. 1 seed in the NFC. After struggling through a spate of midseason turnovers, Darnold has thrown 15 touchdown passes with one interception over his past six games. — Kevin Seifert

Stat to know: The Packers are 1-3 in NFC North games this season. A loss would clinch their fourth season under .500 in divisional matchups since 2002 and their first since 2018. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Vikings edge Jonathan Greenard will record at least 1.5 sacks. Over the past three weeks, Greenard’s 29% pass rush win rate at edge leads the league. — Walder

What’s at stake: Both teams are in the playoffs, but the Vikings can improve their chances at the NFC North title Sunday. Their odds increase to 36% with a win and fall to 14% with a loss, per ESPN Analytics. Minnesota can win the North either by winning out or by the Lions losing out. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Packers | Vikings

Fantasy X factor: Vikings running back Aaron Jones. He has had a solid first season with Minnesota, averaging 18.3 touches and 14.5 fantasy points per game. Now, he has another chance against his former team at home after scoring 17.9 fantasy points at Green Bay in Week 4. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Packers have covered four straight games, while the Vikings have covered three straight. Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Packers 30, Vikings 27

Moody’s pick: Vikings 23, Packers 20

Walder’s pick: Packers 20, Vikings 17

FPI prediction: GB, 54.8% (by an average of 2.3 points)

8:20 p.m. ET | NBC/Peacock | ESPN BET: WSH -4.5 (48.5 O/U)

Falcons storyline to watch: Running back Bijan Robinson’s impressive season has gone somewhat under the radar, and Atlanta will need a big game from him against the Commanders. Robinson has the third-most yards in the league running outside the tackles (885 yards with nine touchdowns), while Washington has allowed the second-most yards per carry (5.7) on such runs. — Marc Raimondi

Commanders storyline to watch: If Washington wants to win and secure its spot in the playoffs, it will want to get its running backs going. The Commanders have averaged 2.64 yards per carry the past two weeks and will face an Atlanta defense that ranks ninth in yards per carry allowed (4.3). — John Keim

Stat to know: Michael Penix Jr. is seeking to become the first quarterback in Falcons history to win his first two career starts. He won against the Giants without a passing or rushing touchdown, and a quarterback hasn’t done that in his first two career starts since the Dolphins’ Damon Huard in 1999. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Falcons wide receiver Drake London will record his second game with 100-plus receiving yards of the season. London enters Week 17 with an 80 open score, which is tied for ninth among all eligible receivers. — Walder

What’s at stake: Both teams’ chances at the postseason could be affected by the Buccaneers this weekend. The Falcons can clinch the NFC South title and their first playoff berth since 2017 with a win and a Tampa Bay loss to Carolina. The Commanders can secure their first playoff appearance since 2020 with a win or a Bucs loss. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Falcons | Commanders

Fantasy X factor: Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin. The Falcons’ defense has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers, and it has really struggled against perimeter receivers. McLaurin has been on fire lately, scoring 17 or more fantasy points in four straight games. Given the matchup, he has a real shot at being the top fantasy receiver this week. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: Four straight Commanders home games have gone over the total. Six of the past seven Falcons games have gone under the total. Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Commanders 30, Falcons 28

Moody’s pick: Commanders 27, Falcons 23

Walder’s pick: Commanders 27, Falcons 23

FPI prediction: WSH, 60.5% (by an average of 3.9 points)

8:15 p.m. ET, Monday | ESPN/ABC/ESPN+ | ESPN BET: DET -3.5 (50.5 O/U)

Lions storyline to watch: In a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship Game, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is looking for revenge after Detroit blew a 17-point halftime lead and missed its first Super Bowl appearance. He described it as being “like a horror movie” and one of the worst losses of his entire life. “I feel like each player that was here last year knows the feeling that we had last year and we want to go in there and hopefully come out with a W,” St. Brown said. — Eric Woodyard

49ers storyline to watch: Much has changed for the 49ers since these teams last met. The Lions have continued to ascend, while the Niners have taken a significant step back. Since 2000, this will be the ninth time the teams that met in a conference championship game will play again the following season. The home team won seven of the eight previous times. But with Detroit still fighting for the top seed and carrying a perfect road record, the 49ers will need a big turnaround to pull this off. One place they could start? Generating turnovers. They have just one takeaway in their past five games (tied for second fewest in that span). — Nick Wagoner

Stat to know: The Lions are 7-0 on the road, which is their longest road win streak in franchise history. They’ve lost 14 consecutive road games to the 49ers, though, including the playoffs. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings will record at least six receptions. Thirty percent of Lions’ opponent dropbacks result in a target to a slot receiver, which is the second-highest rate in the league, per NFL Next Gen Stats. No one has played more snaps from the slot for San Francisco this season than Jennings. — Walder

What’s at stake: The Lions can clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage for the playoffs with a win and a Vikings loss to the Packers on Sunday. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Lions | 49ers

Fantasy X factor: 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. He bounced back in Week 16 with 21.1 fantasy points, which helped erase the sting of his rough 3.9-point outing against the Rams in Week 15. He’s in a great spot this week, facing a Lions defense that has given up the most fantasy points to quarterbacks over the past four weeks. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Lions are 9-2 outright and 8-3 ATS in prime-time games under coach Dan Campbell. Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Lions 40, 49ers 24

Moody’s pick: Lions 31, 49ers 24

Walder’s pick: Lions 31, 49ers 20

FPI prediction: DET, 61.8% (by an average of 4.5 points)

Saturday’s games

Saturday, 1 p.m. ET | NFL Network | ESPN BET: LAC -4.5 (42.5 O/U)

Note: L.A. won 40-7.

Chargers storyline to watch: The Patriots’ defense could make it difficult for the Chargers to punch their ticket to the playoffs. Quarterback Justin Herbert ranks 29th of 33 qualifying QBs in QBR (46.8) against man coverage this season. The Patriots’ defense uses man coverage at the seventh-highest rate in the NFL (51.8%). If Herbert does find success against New England and throws for 153 or more passing yards, he’ll pass Peyton Manning for the most passing yards in a quarterback’s first five seasons in NFL history (20,618). — Kris Rhim

Patriots storyline to watch: Coach Jerod Mayo says the Patriots have had conversations about the role of playoff spoiler against the Chargers. “It just goes back to whoever’s playing the best that day. What you did last week, or the week before, really doesn’t matter, and that’s the beauty about this game,” he said. One potential concern for New England is at center, where starter Ben Brown is in concussion protocol. That could open the door for Cole Strange to make his first start at the position after opening his career at left guard. — Mike Reiss

Stat to know: With a loss, the Patriots will clinch a sub-.300 win percentage in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. will record an interception. The three Patriots players with the highest target rates are slot receiver DeMario Douglas, tight end Hunter Henry and tight end Austin Hooper. Quarterback Drake Maye will need to send some balls in James’ direction. — Walder

What’s at stake: The Chargers can punch their ticket to the playoffs with a win over the Patriots. They can also make the postseason if the Colts and Dolphins both lose to the Giants and Browns, respectively. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Chargers | Patriots

Fantasy X factor: Henry. He has averaged 11.4 fantasy points per game since Drake Maye took over as the starting quarterback. In fact, Henry has seen at least eight targets in four of his past five games. Against his former team this week, expect him to be highly motivated and a key player in New England’s offense. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Patriots are 8-15 against the spread (ATS) after a loss since the start of last season. Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Chargers 30, Patriots 17

Moody’s pick: Chargers 21, Patriots 14

Walder’s pick: Chargers 27, Patriots 16

FPI prediction: LAC, 60.7% (by an average of 3.9 points)

Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET | NFL Network | ESPN BET: CIN -3.5 (49.5 O/U)

Note: Cincinnati won 30-24 in overtime.

Broncos storyline to watch: The Broncos certainly hope cornerback Riley Moss can be back in the lineup for this one — he was a full participant in practice this week. In the three games since Moss sprained an MCL on Nov. 24 against the Raiders, Denver surrendered 30 points or more in two games and gave up two of their three highest yardage totals of the season. Moss has been the best option for the Broncos in the high-traffic position that is opposite of Pat Surtain II. Against a Bengals team that has thrown the ball 226 more times than it has run it, the Broncos will need every option in pass defense to clinch a playoff spot. — Jeff Legwold

Bengals storyline to watch: Ja’Marr Chase versus Pat Surtain II. It doesn’t get better than this. Chase is vying to become the fifth player since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970 to win the receiving triple crown, when a player leads the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Surtain leads all cornerbacks in expected points added when targeted as the nearest defender (negative-25.8), per NFL Next Gen Stats. It will be a battle of the best against the best. — Ben Baby

Stat to know: The Bengals are 0-7 against teams with winning records this season, which is tied with the Jaguars and Patriots for the most losses without a win. Strangely, the Bengals have averaged 30.3 points per game in those losses. — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Surtain will allow fewer than 50 receiving yards to Chase. It takes a star to stop Chase, but that’s exactly what Surtain is. He has allowed 0.5 yards per coverage snap this season, which is the best among outside corners, per NFL Next Gen Stats. — Walder

What’s at stake: The Broncos can clinch a playoff spot with a win, which would be their first since the 2015 season, when they won Super Bowl 50. On the other end, the Bengals can keep their slim postseason hopes alive (7% chance, per ESPN Analytics) with a victory. Cincinnati would be eliminated with a loss. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Broncos | Bengals

Fantasy X factor: Broncos quarterback Bo Nix. He’s the QB10 in ESPN leagues and draws a favorable matchup against a Bengals defense allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. With his top target, Courtland Sutton, Nix is in a prime spot to deliver in one of the highest fantasy totals of the week. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Bengals have covered three straight games, while four straight Broncos games have gone over the total. Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Bengals 28, Broncos 26

Moody’s pick: Bengals 31, Broncos 23

Walder’s pick: Bengals 24, Broncos 20

FPI prediction: CIN, 57.2% (by an average of 2.8 points)

Saturday, 8 p.m. ET | NFL Network | ESPN BET: LAR -6.5 (47.5 O/U)

Note: L.A. won 13-9.

Cardinals storyline to watch: Even though the Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention Sunday, quarterback Kyler Murray still has something to prove. He has struggled since Arizona’s bye in Week 11 with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 4-to-6 in the past five games, in which the Cardinals have gone 1-4. Before the bye, however, Murray threw 12 touchdowns versus three interceptions. He still has two games left improve and, at the least, even out his ratio. — Josh Weinfuss

Rams storyline to watch: Quarterback Matthew Stafford did not have a passing touchdown in Week 2 against the Cardinals. That was one of five games this season in which he has not thrown a touchdown, the most in a single season in his career, according to ESPN Research. He has thrown just one touchdown pass in the past two weeks despite the Rams being on a four-game win streak. Since losing to Arizona, Los Angeles has not lost a divisional game. — Sarah Barshop

Stat to know: Tight end Trey McBride has 92 receptions and zero receiving touchdowns. If this continues, it will be the most receptions without a touchdown in a season (previous record was 86 by Diontae Johnson in 2022). — ESPN Research

Bold prediction: Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua will record at least 139 receiving yards to cross the 1,000-yard barrier. His efficiency numbers are outrageous. He has been targeted on 39% of his targets and is averaging 3.6 yards per route, both highest among wide receivers with at least 200 routes run. — Walder

What’s at stake: The Rams are looking to become the first team to make the playoffs in back-to-back seasons after finding themselves three games under .500. They need to win Saturday and clinch strength of victory over Seattle to secure a postseason berth. Read more. — ESPN Research

Injuries: Cardinals | Rams

Fantasy X factor: Rams running back Kyren Williams. Great things happen when the Rams give Williams the ball. He had 24 or more touches in three of his past four games and scored 18 or more fantasy points in each of those. Plus, the Cardinals’ defense gives up the seventh-most fantasy points per game to running backs. See Week 17 rankings. — Moody

Betting nugget: The Cardinals have covered four straight games as underdogs (6-2 ATS this season, 4-1 ATS as road underdogs). Read more. — ESPN Research

Kahler’s pick: Cardinals 27, Rams 25

Moody’s pick: Rams 27, Cardinals 16

Walder’s pick: Rams 34, Cardinals 21

FPI prediction: LAR, 55.2% (by an average of 2.0 points)