NFL Contributing $5 Million Towards LA Fire Relief
As we get ready for a weekend of Wild Card football, two playoff teams – the Los Angeles Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams – are dealing with a frightening reality at home, as Los Angeles has been devastated by fires that have left thousands and thousands of people without homes and claimed lives, while communities have been decimated. The Vikings-Rams Monday night Wild Card game was moved to Arizona as a result.
The NFL announced on Friday that $5 million would be donated to support communities affected by the fires. The donations will come from the Rams, the Chargers, the teams they’re playing (the Vikings and Texans, respectively) and the NFL Foundation.
The Rams are supporting the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and the American Red Cross, while the Kroenke Family Foundation is donating $1 million to benefit the LAFD Foundation. The Chargers are focusing their efforts on the American Red Cross, the LAFD Foundation, Team Rubicon and several pet rescue organizations in the area.
Coaches, players and staff from the Rams and Chargers will wear team-specific LAFD hats and t-shirts Saturday and Monday night.
NFL Wild Card Weekend Schedule
Saturday
Chargers at Texans – 4:30 pm ET/1:30 pm PT on CBS/Paramount+
Steelers at Ravens – 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on Prime Video
Sunday
Broncos at Bills – 1 pm ET/10 am PT on CBS/Paramount+
Packers at Eagles – 4:30 pm ET/1:30 pm PT on FOX
Commanders at Bucs – 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on NBC/Peacock
Monday
Vikings at Rams (moved to Glendale, AZ) – 8 pm ET/5 pm PT on ESPN/ABC/ESPN+
Jalen Hurts
The Philadelphia Eagles, and the entire city of Philly, are breathing a huge sigh of relief, as QB Jalen Hurts has cleared concussion protocol and will play against the Packers in Sunday’s Wild Card game.
Hurts suffered a concussion in the Eagles’ Week 16 game against the Commanders and missed the final two games of the regular season. He was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice and was back to full on Thursday. Let the playoffs begin.
NFL AP All-Pro Team
The Associated Press announced its 2024 NFL All-Pro Team on Friday. The First-Team selections are below.
Offense
Quarterback – Lamar Jackson; Running Back – Saquon Barkley; Fullback – Patrick Ricard; Tight End – Brock Bowers; Wide Receivers – Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown; Left Tackle – Tristan Wirfs; Left Guard – Joe Thuney; Center – Creed Humphrey, Kansas City; Right Guard – Quinn Meinerz; Right Tackle – Penei Sewell
Defense
Edge Rushers – Myles Garrett and Trey Hendrickson; Interior Linemen – Cameron Heyward and Chris Jones; Linebackers – Zack Baun, Fred Warner and Roquan Smith; Cornerbacks – Patrick Surtain II and Derek Stingley Jr.; Slot cornerback – Marlon Humphrey; Safeties – Kerby Joseph and Xavier McKinney
Special Teams
Placekicker – Chris Boswell; Punter – Jack Fox; Kick Returner – KaVontae Turpin; Punt Returner – Marvin Mims Jr., Denver; Special Teamer – Brenden Schooler, New England; Long Snapper – Andrew DePaola, Minnesota
College Football Semifinals
One down. One to go.
On Thursday, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish beat the Penn State Nittany Lions, 27-24, to advance to the CFP National Championship. Who will they play?
The Ohio State Buckeyes (gross 😉) take on the Texas Longhorns Friday at 7:30 pm ET/4:30 pm PT on from AT&T Stadium. The game will be on ESPN. You may remember that Ohio State lost to Michigan for the fourth-straight year earlier this season, so no matter how their season ends, that will have happened. Am I petty? Yes. Am I proud of that. Absolutely.
The Natty will take place on Monday, January 20 from Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.