The Dolphins have added another name to their list of General Manager candidates.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that they have requested an interview with Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander.
Alexander joined the Chargers after they hired head coach John Harbaugh and General Manager Joe Hortiz ahead of the 2024 season. He was previously the Jets’ director of player personnel and spent his first two decades in the NFL in the Ravens’ organization.
The Dolphins have also requested interviews with 49ers vice president of player personnel Tariq Ahmad, Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby, Rams assistant GM John McKay, Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan, 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams, and 49ers assistant GM RJ Gillen this week. Interim GM Champ Kelly is also expected to interview for the position.
Home-field advantage might not mean much in the first round of the NFL playoffs.
Of the six games in the wild card round, the road teams are favored in four.
The biggest favorites are the Rams, who are 9.5-point favorites to beat the Panthers in Carolina. But that might be just fine with the Panthers: The Rams were previously 10-point favorites at Carolina in the regular season, but the Panthers won 31-28.
The Packers are 1.5-point favorites on the road in Chicago. It will be the third meeting of the two teams in the last six weeks after they played twice in December. The Bears beat the Packers 22-16 in overtime in Chicago in the regular season, while the Packers beat the Bears 28-21 in Green Bay.
The Bills are 1.5-point favorites against the Jaguars at Jacksonville. The Jaguars lost twice at home in the regular season.
The Eagles are 3.5-point favorites at home against the 49ers. The Eagles lost twice at home in the regular season.
The Patriots are 3.5-point favorites at home against the Chargers. The Patriots went 14-3 this season, but all three losses were at home.
The Texans are 3-point favorites on the road against the Steelers. The Steelers lost at home three times in the regular season.
If the betting lines are to be believed, only two division winners, the No. 2 seed Eagles and Patriots, will advance to the divisional round.
The NFL has announced the wild-card weekend schedule for Jan. 10-12:
Saturday, Jan. 10
4:30 p.m. 5 Los Angeles Rams at 4 Carolina Panthers (FOX, FOX Deportes)
8 p.m. 7 Green Bay Packers at 2 Chicago Bears (Prime Video)
Sunday, Jan. 11
1 p.m. 6 Buffalo Bills at 3 Jacksonville Jaguars (CBS, Paramount+)
4:30 p.m. 6 San Francisco 49ers at 3 Philadelphia Eagles (FOX, FOX Deportes)
8 p.m. 7 Los Angeles Chargers at 2 New England Patriots (NBC, Peacock, Universo)
Monday, Jan. 12
8 p.m. 5 Houston Texans at 4 Baltimore/Pittsburgh (ESPN/ABC/ESPN+/ ESPN Deportes; ManningCast-ESPN2/ESPN+)
The AFC will officially run through Denver.
The Broncos clinched the No. 1 seed, the conference’s only bye, and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs with a 19-3 victory over the Chargers on Sunday.
With the loss, Los Angeles will be the AFC’s No. 7 seed and head to New England for a wild card matchup with the Patriots.
Though the Chargers rested several starters — including quarterback Justin Herbert and safety Derwin James — the Broncos did not score an offensive touchdown. Kicker Wil Lutz hit field goals of 24,26, 41, and 23 yards. Ja’Quan McMillian also had a 45-yard pick-six in the first quarter.
Quarterback Bo Nix finished the contest 14-of-23 for 141 yards. He was also the team’s rushing leader with 49 yards on eight carries. R.J. Harvey rushed for just 28 yards on 15 attempts.
On the other side, the Chargers threatened a couple of times with backup quarterback Trey Lance behind center. But the club could not get in the end zone, with Cameron Dicker’s 30-yard field goal toward the end of the second quarter the club’s only points.
Lance finished 20-of-44 for 136 yards with a touchdown. He also had 69 yards on nine carries.
Denver did have an injury come up with left tackle Garett Bolles, who exited with an ankle injury in the first half.
Los Angeles cornerback Donte Jackson (ankle), edge rusher Bud Dupree (hamstring) and receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) also suffered injuries during the contest.
The Broncos will now get a week to rest, recover, and plan for a matchup with the AFC’s lowest-remaining seed in the divisional round. The club finishes the season at 14-3 — the most victories in a season since 1998, when Denver won the second of back-to-back Super Bowls.
The Chargers end the season at 11-6 for the second consecutive year under Jim Harbaugh.
The Broncos need a victory to capture the AFC’s No. 1 seed that comes with the conference’s only bye.
The Chargers aren’t playing several starters, which gives the Broncos an inherent advantage. But Denver’s halftime lead is just 10-3, and the club may have a significant injury concern at a key position.
Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles went down midway through the second quarter on run play with an ankle injury and is questionable to return. Bolles was able to walk off the field under his own power. Frank Crum entered the game at left tackle for Denver.
The Broncos took a 10-0 lead with Wil Lutz hitting a 24-yard field goal followed by a pick-six by Ja’Quan McMillian.
Los Angeles’ three points came late in the half, as Cameron Dicker connected on a 30-yard field goal with three seconds left in the second quarter.
Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was 6-of-10 for just 38 yards in the first half. He also is Denver’s leading rusher with 43 yards on six attempts.
Starting in place of a resting Justin Herbert, Trey Lance is 11-of-20 for 80 yards with an interception.
The Broncos will receive the second-half kickoff.
