The Ravens will interview Broncos special teams coach Darren Rizzi for their head coaching vacancy, Mike Klis of 9News reports.
Rizzi previously had an interview with the Giants before they hired John Harbaugh.
The Ravens are seeking to replace Harbaugh, a former special teams coach who spent 18 seasons as Baltimore’s head coach.
Rizzi is in his first season on Denver’s staff, but he worked with Sean Payton in New Orleans. Rizzi remained on the Saints’ coaching staff when Dennis Allen replaced Payton as their head coach.
He became the interim head coach when Allen was fired during the 2024 season, going 3-5 in that role.
Rizzi coached for the Dolphins from 2009-18, including nine seasons as the special teams coordinator.
Sunday’s appearance by NFL officiating spokesman Walt Anderson on the NFL Network pregame show was must-see TV.
And it raised more than a few must-answer questions.
Beyond the obvious (who specifically decided that the controversial interception from Saturday’s Bills-Broncos game didn’t require a full-blown replay review?) another comment from the league’s exclusive rules-explainer caught the attention of the league’s teams.
“They have an officiating staff of instant-replay officials,” Anderson said in explaining the behind-the-scenes process that resulted in a confirmation of the ruling on the field. “They have multiple people at the same time reviewing, really, every play.”
Said a high-level executive from one of the NFL’s teams to PFT: “Explain this to me. Entire staff of replay officials? Who are these people? Why is the first time we are hearing about this entire staff of replay officials?”
As explained on Sunday, the replay process was centralized more than a decade ago to create consistency. It was designed for former NFL senior V.P. of officiating Dean Blandino. And then Blandino left for Fox.
The job initially went to Al Riveron. After Riveron left (voluntarily or otherwise), it became much murkier. No one knows who’s making the decision, when a formal review occurs. And no one knows who’s making the decision when an expedited review occurs that a full-blown review isn’t needed.
Now, teams are learning there’s a full staff of unknown individuals who are making these critical decisions.
By not having one person and only one person making these decisions (especially in high-profile, standalone games), no one is ever truly accountable for the result. It is, as Kyle Brandt said during the NFL Network pregame show, “Orwellian.”
Big Shield (Brother) probably didn’t appreciate the choice of words. That doesn’t make it any less accurate.
At a time when the tinfoil-hat crowd has turned into a full-blown, gambling-fueled Reynolds Wrap Army, the current system cries out for an overhaul. The fact that the wagon-circling from Walt Anderson has caused teams to say, basically, “What the hell is going on?” only highlights that point.
The league would prefer that we focus on the next bright, shiny object. Those who truly care about the integrity of the game of professional football would prefer that the league office get its act together regarding a procedure that has massive consequences for teams, players, fans, and — as Sean McDermott found out on Monday — coaches.
Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins’ season might not be over after all.
Dobbins, who was expected to miss the rest of the season when he suffered a foot injury in Week 10, is having his practice window opened, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
That means Dobbins will be able to practice with the team, and the Broncos could activate him to play either in the AFC Championship Game or in Super Bowl LX.
Despite missing the final seven games of the season, Dobbins was the Broncos’ leading rusher, finishing with 153 carries for 772 yards. He has been replaced by RJ Harvey, with Jaleel McLaughlin backing Harvey up. Neither Harvey nor McLaughlin did much running the ball on Saturday against the Bills, and if the Broncos could get Dobbins back, it would boost their offense and take some heat off quarterback Jarrett Stidham.
There’s a chance the Patriots could get a boost offensively for Sunday’s upcoming AFC Championship Game.
Receiver Mack Hollins is eligible to come off injured reserve this week after being placed on the list with an abdominal issue in late December.
But at this point, the Patriots have not determined whether or not he’ll practice this week.
“I can’t be certain right now,” head coach Mike Vrabel said of Hollins in his Monday press conference, via Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. “Still working through everything with some of those guys that could be back.”
Hollins was a key offensive factor for New England in 2025, catching 46 passes for 550 yards with two touchdowns in 15 games. He was third on the team in receptions behind Stefon Diggs and Hunter Henry and fourth in receiving yards behind Diggs, Henry, and Kayshon Boutte.
Vrabel also noted the team hasn’t determined whether or not defensive tackle Joshua Farmer (hamstring) will begin practicing this week.
New England’s first injury report of the week will be released on Wednesday.
The Patriots have an MVP candidate in quarterback Drake Maye and his rise in his second NFL season has been a dominant storyline of the team’s run to the AFC title game.
Sunday’s win over the Texans offered a reminder that Maye has had plenty of company in getting the team to this point. The Patriots defense forced five turnovers while sacking C.J. Stroud three times and holding Houston to 48 rushing yards in a 28-16 win that featured three Maye turnovers.
After the game, defensive tackle Milton Williams said he feels that people have not paid enough attention to the team’s defensive performance.
“It definitely fueled the whole defense. Nobody has been talking about our defense all year. We’ll see what they say today,” Williams said, via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. “Every week, we’re trying to come out and dominate, knowing that they do have a great defense, but in our minds, it was our defense versus their defense. See who could make more plays, create more turnovers, stop the run and get the ball back to our offense.”
With Jarrett Stidham set to start at quarterback for the Broncos in the AFC title game, there will be plenty of focus on the Patriots defense’s opportunity to propel the team into the Super Bowl by stifling Denver’s offensive hopes on January 25.
