Of the many things worth hating about college football, most of them are at least tacitly associated with the most hated people in sports: television executives.

They fix games that hurt your team. They don’t fix games that should be fixed to help your team. They find a way to keep those games at four hours. They won’t let their employees say “two-minute warning” even though we all know it’s A TWO-MINUTE WARNING. They’re giving us 18-team leagues with teams that are 18-hour drives apart, and so much stiff Nick Saban acting. They say “harumph” under their breath a lot, when they aren’t breathlessly debating the 36 teams that will make up NFL Campus North and NFL Campus South.

They are, per previous reporting from The Athletic’s Grant Brisbee, “chuzzlewits and pecksniffs.” And by the way, add that World Series Hater’s Guide to the list of targets of this Hater’s Guide, because that one was much funnier. This one, however, does have a curveball in its repertoire: some love for the TV execs. Before getting into the 12 teams of the College Football Playoff and why each is uniquely worthy of deep resentment and scorn, let’s celebrate the one that isn’t here.

Thank you, media rights overlords, for not forcing Alabama into our living rooms when the Crimson Tide didn’t deserve it, even though so many were sure you would. We all know you can buzz into the selection committee deliberation room with a direct order, and I imagine it’s delivered at booming levels by an enormous hologram that gives off a scary “Wizard of Oz” vibe except with the visage of Lou Holtz. You held off this time, and maybe it’s because oil people are scarier than TV people, but whatever. Thank you.

Moreover, thank you for existing and making the resulting SEC administrator/coach/public relations — er, media — weeping such a hoot. Oh, you’re going to stop scheduling competitive nonleague games? Going Mercer-McNeese State-Maine-Murray State and keeping it at eight SEC games if that’s how they’re going to treat you? Here, let us reintroduce you to the people who run the sport.

Greg Sankey may tweet about schedule strength and have a humorous-yet-somewhat-tender anecdote for every coach he introduces at SEC media days, but check out his necktie collection and understand he’ll always side with team “harumph.” So good luck with that.

And good luck, Alabama, in the Spoon Makes Annoying Clinking Sound Against My Cereal Bowl. On to the games that mean more.

Tennessee at Ohio State, winner gets Oregon: Ducks, Bucks and Pilot Flying J welcomes trucks

Apparently, because Ohio State fans are spoiled brats who would rather fire their 66-10 coach and imprison Connor Stalions than win a national championship, more Vols fans are going to gather Saturday at Ohio Stadium than did on Nov. 26, 2017, in Knoxville. That’s the day a bunch of them got together to falsely accuse Ohio State’s defensive coordinator of heinous crimes because they didn’t want him to be their football coach.

Schiano shaming joins mattress burning, butt chugging and mustard bottle chucking in a tapestry of Tennessee embarrassments over the past two decades, but things are much better now thanks to Josh Heupel and his football team. These people are thrilled to be in the Playoff — the Vols are usually fighting for something like the How Much More Would You Trust Raiders Owner Mark Davis If His Haircut Wasn’t A Bowl — and they’re acting like it.

In an elite “X” matchup of fans who post awful things that no one should ever say to other humans, Vols fans have apparently duped Buckeyes fans into selling them their tickets. I’d say I’m surprised, but Ohio State fans also seem to think Knoxville is a tropical paradise in the winter and that temps in the high 20s will make the Vols turtle the way the Buckeyes do every time they see winged helmets.

Just understand, Vols: In Ohio, they actually have elected officials who make up crimes, and felonies at that. If you win, walk quietly to the locker room with your eyes down. If you so much as touch a flag, the punishment will be harsher than the things that Buckeyes Boosters members will be screaming at Ryan Day when he leads his team onto the field Saturday.

Ohio lawmaker proposes bill to make flag planting a felony | Click on the image to read the full story https://t.co/7PJLYaf2Xu

— WJCL News (@WJCLNews) December 12, 2024

Team we’d most hate to reach semifinals: Ohio State. Oregon and its fans can’t really hang. Too many goofy uniform combinations? Too much caffeine in Dan Lanning’s bloodstream? Sure. Phil Knight and Nike’s sordid history? Yes, and Tennessee’s got “Big” Jim Haslam and Pilot Company. But did you see the signs and tailgate props of Browns fans, most of whom are Buckeyes fans, when Deshaun Watson — signed by Jimmy Haslam to the worst contract in sports history — started his tenure? Those people deserve another decade at least of sports misery.

Indiana at Notre Dame, winner gets Georgia: Jimmy Chitwood and Rudy in a slap fight

Has anyone ever worn a visor and not looked like a dolt? Let’s do an online poll, write-in candidates only because I can’t for the life of me come up with a name: The person in human history who has looked coolest wearing a visor is ______.

On an unrelated note, say two things for Georgia coach Kirby Smart: He wins a lot of football games and he convinces his players no one thinks they can win any football games.

His next challenge is to find a way to turn these Bulldogs into underdogs against the winner of the state football championship of a state known for its basketball.

What tradition though, right? Indiana men’s basketball, with all of one Final Four in the past 32 years, having last won it all in 1987, a few months after “Hoosiers” introduced Jimmy Chitwood to movie audiences.

Goodness, the last time IU hoops got as close to a natty as the final 12 teams was in 2002, when Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman was a 16-year-old star linebacker, getting recruited hard by Notre Dame and realizing he’d prefer a program that could sell recent championships (Ohio State) over 1920s newsreels.

But coaching Notre Dame football? It’s a sweet deal — witness Freeman’s contract extension for following up a loss to Northern Illinois with a bunch of wins over teams not quite that bad. He’ll be hailed far and wide if he can beat the Fighting Curt Cignettis. Notre Dame’s last natty was in 1988, a few years before “Rudy” hit theaters. It keeps coming back to the late 1980s, which is fitting because much of that state seems to wish we still lived in the late 1980s.

Team we’d most hate to reach semifinals: Georgia. Sorry, but Sankey sort of Darth Vaders up the whole enterprise. Notre Dame is right there, though. At least 99.99 percent of unaffiliated fans would pick Indiana, which is about as likely as an Indiana Jones sequel in which Indy searches for Knute Rockne’s 1924 practice whistle and trades in his leather fedora for a visor.

SMU at Penn State, winner gets Boise State: Blue field, gold Trans Am, white out

One of the big things they’re watching in this 12-team Playoff is the logistics involved in the four programs that are hosting games. Does everything go smoothly? How does the hotel situation work out? Who do the bowl reps have to pay off to make sure this doesn’t happen again?

It’s especially daunting at Penn State, and not just because the nearest hotel room with a color TV is in Altoona, 44 miles away. Penn State representatives are working hard to fool James Franklin and his team into thinking this is actually a pre-conference game against an FCS opponent. Right down to signs at the local bookstores that read, “Beat Southwest Montana University.”

This means an extensive labyrinth of heaters in the stands, so fans can take part in the traditional “White Out,” but in shorts and T-shirts. No expense is being spared, because we all know how James Franklin and his team react to the words “big game.” If you get into big games against Ryan Day and lose those games, you might have a problem in big games.

One Week#WeAre x #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/TX7bkCpoHC

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) December 14, 2024

Now, Penn State fans sometimes go overboard on the Franklin criticism. I saw one after the Ohio State loss who posted that Franklin is “literally taking a blowtorch to this program,” and I had so many questions. Literally? How big of a blowtorch? More of a flamethrower? To the exterior of the football building, the weight room, the footballs themselves? I need more information, including on how the media got away with the cover-up.

Then again, Franklin is incredibly elusive with media, pretending to put on a Harry Potter invisibility cloak and slipping out when he gets tough questions. Big games, schmig schmames. Put my money on Franklin when it’s a big presser and you need a coach who says absolutely nothing.

Team we’d most hate to reach the semifinals: Penn State. It’s almost not worth mentioning. I mean, sure, Boise State has a blue field, which is the sort of thing you’d expect from a team with a postseason ceiling of the Need A Sharper Knife To Scrape The Resin Out Of This Bowl. But it also has Ashton Jeanty. Some of the SMU people are terrifying, but let’s give them some grace — they were missing their football program for a few years.

Speaking of not being able to get out of the late 1980s, we need some new joke fodder for the Mustangs if they’re actually going to be good now — Eric Dickerson’s gold Trans Am and the death penalty have jumped the shark. Figuratively.

Clemson at Texas, winner gets Arizona State: Oh God, You Sun Devil

Did Clemson coach Dabo Swinney already give away the result of the College Football Playoff? Gamblers, pay attention. Here’s what he said to ABC’s Molly McGrath in the moments after his three-loss Tigers beat SMU to claim the ACC title and automatic bid: “We all thought the door was closed on us. But this was God’s plan for us. That’s all I can tell you. God just opened the door and they fought their butts off.”

You know, another person with the same beliefs in the same situation might have kept it to his or her own personal faith and how much strength it has provided, or even how important God has been to certain individuals on the team. A person in that situation might have considered that not all people who root for Clemson have the exact same religious beliefs and that the other team probably has a lot of folks who do, which would make it difficult for God to pick one side or the other in a football game. Some with deep religious beliefs might even have a problem with the idea that God would care about the result of a football game.

But not Dabo! No sirree! Apparently that Clemson fire zone blitz is so good it’s holy, especially when deployed against heathenly opponents. Perhaps then it is written, and not just on Clemson message boards, that Dabo, armed with favor from above, having forgiven the transfer portal, is due for a natty and the resulting bonuses to take that salary higher than $12 million.

Team we’d most hate to reach the semifinals: Clemson. You’ve made Texas a sentimental choice and unworthy of being insulted in this piece, Dabo. For shame. The winner plays Arizona State, a great story, but also a team that might be best off in the Underrated Date In Which You Don’t Have To Spend Or Talk Much Is To Go Bowl.

(Photo of Dabo Swinney: Bob Donnan / Imagn Images)

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

TUESDAY’S RESULTS

BOYS

Alhambra 52, Wilmington Banning 37
Anaheim Discovery Christian 51, Legacy College 39
Arleta 84, Bravo 42
Arroyo Valley 58, Cobalt Institute of Math & Science 53
Azusa 72, Southlands Christian 69
Banning 87, Entrepreneur 47
Bassett 87, Pomona 26
Big Bear 87, University Prep 43
Bishop Alemany 67, Eagle Rock 53
Canyon Springs 57, Ramona 50
Century 47, Santa Ana Valley 28
Chadwick 71, Rio Hondo Prep 48
Citrus Hill 71, West Valley 62
Coastal Academy 58, Samueli Academy 47
Coastal Christian 61, Cuyama Valley 18
Corona 80, Granite Hills 48
Desert Mirage 67, West Shores 10
Duarte 67, Webb 43
Garfield 48, LA Hamilton 47
Grace 60, Hueneme 52
Great Oak 70, Valley View 31
Harvard-Westlake 73, Windward 60
Hemet 78, Heritage 59
Hesperia Christian 54, AAE 48
Hillcrest 72, Norte Vista 69
Indian Springs 77, Miller 44
Jurupa Valley 52, Vista del Lago 48
Knight 60, Lancaster 35
Laguna Hills 65, Portola 55
Lakewood 73, Long Beach Cabrillo 56
LA Wilson 64, Triumph Charter 56
Liberty Christian 65, NOVA Academy 51
Lincoln 44, Locke 20
Millikan 69, Long Beach Jordan 61
Long Beach Wilson 89, Compton 21
Maricopa 60, Alpaugh 28
Moreno Valley 63, Paloma Valley 26
Murrieta Valley 82, Mayfair 73
North Hollywood 67, Math & Science College 58
Norwalk 55, Garden Grove 53
Oak Hills 68, Silverado 50
Palm Desert 66, Redlands 41
Perris 70, Tahquitz 53
Public Safety 61, River Springs 51
Quartz Hill 52, Eastside 40
Redlands East Valley 85, Apple Valley 57
Rise Kohyang 60, Esperanza College Prep 18
San Luis Obispo Classical 84, Coast Union 35
San Marcos 68, Oxnard 60
Santa Ana Foothill 62, Hesperia 54
Santa Barbara 91, Buena 50
Savanna 79, Paramount 50
Schurr 50, Mesrobian 35
Segerstrom 70, Loara 55
Silver Valley 79,. Riverside Prep 62
Sotomayor 64, Sierra Vista 56
South Hills 51, West Covina 46
Summit 63, Arrowhead Christian 52
Summit Leadership 69, Lucerne Valley 17
Thacher 63, Cate 49
Verdugo Hills 70, Gertz-Ressler 32
Village Christian 95, Taft 89
Vistamar 66, Animo Venice 62
Vista Murrieta 68, Linfield Christian 62
Workman 68, Edgewood 43

GIRLS

Alpaugh 47, Maricopa 20
Anza Hamilton 56, Borrego Springs 10
Arroyo Valley 33, Cobalt Institute of Math & Science 26
Beaumont 67, Corona 55
Bethel Christian 43, Norton Science & Language Academy 6
California School for the Deaf Riverside 60, California Military Institute 21
Canyon Springs 46, Linfield Christian 31
Coachella Valley 61, La Quinta 31
Coastal Academy 20, Capistrano Valley Christian 15
Corona Santiago 61, Vista Murrieta 29
Desert Christian 47, Palmdale Aerospace Academy 22
Edgewood 53, Workman 43
Elsinore 69, Liberty 28
Gahr 36, Katella 31
Godinez 47, Santa Ana 29
Harvard-Westlake 57, Windward 49
Hillcrest 55, Norte Vista 18
Irvine 50, Cajon 44
Jurupa Valley 36, Vista del Lago 13
La Canada 71, Bell Gardens 25
Laguna Beach 44, Tustin 41
Long Beach Wilson 67, Compton 22
Magnolia 52, Saddleback 30
Marlborough 69, Buena Park 61
Miller 46, Indian Springs 32
Orcutt Academy 68, Laguna Blanca 20
Pasadena 48, Village Christian 47
Pasadena Poly 67, Monrovia 28
Rancho Christian 94, San Jacinto 41
Rise Kohyang 45, Esperanza College Prep 6
Riverside King 56, Great Oak 47
Royal 37, Fillmore 36
San Fernando 42, Calabasas 33
Santa Ana Valley 42, Bolsa Grande 41
Santa Clarita Christian 52, St. Monica Academy 34
Savanna 60, Compton Centennial 34
Serrano 52, Granite Hills 30
Silver Valley 64, Riverside Prep 32
South Hills 43, Estancia 32
Southlands Christian 64, Vista Meridian 4
Temecula Valley 48, Desert Christian Academy 35
Temple City 55, San Gabriel 8
Torres 48, Academia Avance 14
Trinity Classical Academy 40, Agoura 31
University Prep 55, Big Bear 16
Upland 66, Patriot 45
Valley Christian Academy 70, Shannon 11
Webb 26, Azusa 22
Western Christian 36, Lucerne Valley 29
Yucaipa 52, Oak Hills 49

It looks like Josh Allen is going to run away with the NFL MVP award (which might be unfair to two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, who is playing so well that he also deserves consideration), but that doesn’t mean there aren’t more players who deserve a little attention as the season comes to a close.

The Week 16 NFL Power Rankings will give it to them by recognizing a team MVP for all 32 clubs. We tried not to make it just a bunch of quarterbacks, but we acknowledge there ended up being a lot of quarterbacks.

Last week: 2

Sunday: Beat Pittsburgh Steelers 27-13

MVP: Running back Saquon Barkley

While wide receiver A.J. Brown and quarterback Jalen Hurts squabble (seemingly squashed for now), Barkley just keeps carrying the Eagles. He was held to 65 yards by the Steelers on Sunday, but he still has a league-leading 1,688 this season. If he averages 140 yards in the final three games, he will break Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 set in 1984. Barkley’s offensive rushing expected points added per game (3.36) is the second best in the league since at least 2000, according to TruMedia.

Up next: at Washington Commanders, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Last week: 5

Sunday: Beat Detroit Lions 48-42

MVP: Quarterback Josh Allen

In the last two weeks, Allen has 704 passing yards and five passing touchdowns, plus 150 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. Buffalo has scored 90 points in those games. Allen’s 36 combined touchdowns are second in the league behind Lamar Jackson’s and Joe Burrow’s 37. Against the Rams in Week 14, he had more fantasy points than any player in NFL history (51.88). Every Buffalo opponent worries he will have that type of game against them, which is why he will also be the league MVP.

Up next: vs. New England Patriots, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

KEON IS SO BACK.

📺: @paramountplus & @NFLonCBS#ProBowlVote | @keoncoleman6 pic.twitter.com/0d8KkW84TS

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— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 15, 2024

3. Detroit Lions (12-2)

Last week: 1

Sunday: Lost to Buffalo Bills 48-42

MVP: Quarterback Jared Goff

It’s time to stop talking about Goff as an underdog story, or least exclusively an underdog story. This year, he’s one of the league’s best quarterbacks. Period. Goff is second in EPA per dropback at .26, which is easily the best mark of his career. Maybe more impressively, he’s second in completion percentage (71.4) and third in yards per attempt (8.5). Those numbers shouldn’t go together. He passed for 494 yards and five touchdowns Sunday.

Up next: at Chicago Bears, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

NFL Panic Meter: How worried should Lions, Chiefs and Steelers be? Sando’s Pick Six

Last week: 4

Sunday: Beat Seattle Seahawks 30-13

MVP: Running back Josh Jacobs

Quarterback Jordan Love is having a good year, but he’s also tied for sixth in the league with 11 interceptions. The Packers wide receivers share the wealth so well that none stand out. Meanwhile, Jacobs is third in the league in rushing (1,147 yards along with 12 touchdowns) and is the tone-setter for this team. On Sunday, Green Bay opened with a 10-play touchdown drive. Jacobs had seven carries and two catches on the drive.

Up next: vs. New Orleans Saints, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

Last week: 3

Monday: Beat Chicago Bears 30-12

MVP: Wide receiver Justin Jefferson

Sorry, Sam Darnold, we’re going with the more proven commodity here. Jefferson is second in the league in receiving with 1,243 yards. He has topped 1,000 yards every season of his career and has a good chance to get past 1,500 for the third time in five seasons. This is why the Vikings gave him $110 million in guaranteed money in a four-year extension this summer.

Up next: at Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

Last week: 6

Sunday: Beat Cleveland Browns 21-7

MVP: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes

From 2018 to 2022, Mahomes led the NFL in EPA per dropback (.25). This year, he’s 12th (.09) and his passer rating (91) is the lowest in his tenure as a starter. And, still, he’s dragging a team without many other high octane offensive weapons toward a Super Bowl three-peat. Mahomes left Sunday’s win with a mild high ankle sprain and did not return, but coach Andy Reid said afterward that Mahomes could have re-entered and should be considered “day to day.”

Up next: vs. Houston Texans, Saturday, 1 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

Will Patrick Mahomes miss time? That’s the big question after Chiefs improve to 13-1

7. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)

Last week: 7

Sunday: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles 27-13

MVP: Outside linebacker T.J. Watt

Watt left Sunday’s game after turning his ankle. Pittsburgh had better hope it’s not serious. The Steelers are 1-11 (including the playoffs) without him in the lineup since he was drafted in 2017. Watt had two sacks before leaving Sunday, and he’s now tied for third in the league with 11 1/2. In his time in the league, no one has had more than his 108 sacks.

Up next: at Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET

Lamar Jackson is not only the Ravens’ most valuable player, but also in the running for his third NFL MVP award. (Vincent Carchietta / Imagn Images)

8. Baltimore Ravens (9-5)

Last week: 8

Sunday: Beat New York Giants 35-14

MVP: Quarterback Lamar Jackson

The one-time 2024 MVP front-runner is playing as well as he did in 2019, his first MVP season, and better than he did last year, his second MVP season. Jackson leads the league in EPA per dropback (.33) and passer rating (120.7). On top of that, he’s averaging 53 rushing yards per game, the most among quarterbacks. On Sunday, he threw five touchdown passes, had a 154.6 passer rating and rushed for 65 yards.

Up next: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET

Last week: 10

Sunday: Beat Indianapolis Colts 31-13

MVP: Quarterback Bo Nix

Denver’s rookie quarterback threw three interceptions Sunday, but he also threw three touchdown passes, including two in the fourth quarter. Since Week 11, Nix is 11th in EPA per dropback (.13) and has thrown twice as many touchdown passes as interceptions (10-5). The Broncos have won four straight in that stretch and essentially clinched a playoff spot on Sunday.

Up next: at Los Angeles Chargers, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

Last week: 11

Sunday: Beat New Orleans Saints 20-19

MVP: Quarterback Jayden Daniels

Denver’s Nix is giving Daniels some late-season competition for offensive rookie of the year, but no rookie has been anywhere near as electric as Daniels. He’s fifth in EPA per dropback (.16), 10th in passer rating (101.2) and second among quarterbacks in rushing (656). On Sunday, he led the Commanders in passing (226 yards, 118.5 passer rating) and rushing (66 yards on 11 carries).

Up next: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

Commanders went from marching past Saints to creating questions in chaotic finish

Last week: 14

Sunday: Beat Los Angeles Chargers 40-17

MVP: Wide receiver Mike Evans

Sure, Baker Mayfield is third in passing touchdowns (32), but Evans’ value is illustrated by the fact that Tampa Bay was 0-3 when he wasn’t in the lineup in Weeks 8-11 with a hamstring injury. He was in the game Sunday, and he had nine catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns. He now has 749 yards for the season, and he’ll have to average 83.7 over the final three games to avoid the first sub-1,000-yard receiving season of his 11-year career.

Up next: at Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

BAKER MAYFIELD TO MIKE EVANS FOR THE 57-YARD TD 😤

(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/4tIxa21jji

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— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 15, 2024

12. Los Angeles Rams (8-6)

Last week: 15

Thursday: Beat San Francisco 49ers 12-6

MVP: Quarterback Matthew Stafford

The 36-year-old quarterback is 16th in the league in EPA per dropback (.08). He has 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions, which is fine but nothing special. Still, he’s the reason the Rams have won seven of nine and are in the playoff mix after a 1-4 start. Stafford is now 11-1 in December since moving to Los Angeles, and has thrown 24 touchdowns and six interceptions in those games. “This time of year, it doesn’t matter how you win them, you’ve got to win them,” he said on the Prime Video telecast Thursday night.

Up next: at New York Jets, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

13. Houston Texans (9-5)

Last week: 13

Sunday: Beat Miami Dolphins 20-12

MVP: Defensive end Danielle Hunter

Quarterback C.J. Stroud gets graded on a tougher curve this year because of how good he was last season. That’s what allows Hunter to earn this spot. The ninth-year defensive end had 1 1/2 sacks against Miami and is second in the league with 12 for the season. Since 2022, he’s second in the league with 39 sacks, and Houston probably is pretty happy with its decision to sign him to a two-year, $49 million free-agency deal this past offseason.

Up next: at Kansas City Chiefs, Saturday, 1 p.m. ET

14. Seattle Seahawks (8-6)

Last week: 9

Sunday: Lost to Green Bay Packers 30-13

MVP: Quarterback Geno Smith

Defensive lineman Leonard Williams is having a great year, but it’s Smith who makes this team go. Or not. Smith is ninth in the league in EPA per dropback (.28) with nine touchdowns and two interceptions when not under pressure, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s 25th with five touchdowns and 11 interceptions when under pressure. The Seahawks’ biggest problem is they have given up 223 pressures, which is more than all but two teams.

Up next: vs. Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

15. Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)

Last week: 12

Sunday: Lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers 40-17

MVP: Quarterback Justin Herbert

Herbert topped 20,000 career passing yards Sunday, becoming the third-youngest quarterback to reach that milestone. That may not make him feel much better after the game the Chargers had, though. Herbert finished the contest with an 87.3 passer rating, and his EPA per dropback (.01) is now 21st in the league and the worst of his five-year career. He’s still the Chargers’ MVP, but this year could be a lot better.

Up next: vs. Denver Broncos, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

Last week: 19

Sunday: Beat Tennessee Titans 37-27

MVP: Quarterback Joe Burrow

Burrow leads the NFL in passing yards (3,977) and passing touchdowns (36). On Sunday, he had his sixth straight game with at least 250 yards and three touchdowns. And, still, he was furious during a sideline conversation with head coach Zac Taylor late in the game. “I was frustrated in the day we had on offense,” Burrow said afterward. “It was just a frustrating day on offense.” Maybe setting a career-high in passing yards will help because he’s on pace to top the 4,611 he had in 2021.

Up next: vs. Cleveland Browns, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

How weird was Bengals’ win over Titans? Recounting so many wacky plays

Last week: 17

Sunday: Beat New England Patriots 30-17

MVP: Running back James Conner

Conner had 16 carries for 110 yards and two touchdowns Sunday and is ninth in the league in rushing (973 yards). He’s sixth among running backs in rushing success rate (43.8 percent). Conner had his career high in rushing last year in his seventh season in the league (1,040 yards), and he’s going to top it in his eighth year, barring disaster.

Up next: at Carolina Panthers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

James Conner ➕6️⃣

📺: #NEvsAZ on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/KVZ6gx0e5W

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024

Last week: 21

Monday: Beat Las Vegas Raiders 15-9

MVP: Running back Bijan Robinson

Falcons offensive coordinator Zac Robinson learned his running back “rotation” from his old boss, Rams head Sean McVay. Bijan Robinson already has surpassed last season’s totals in carries and rushing yards. He is fifth in the league with 1,102 rushing yards on 237 carries, and he’s been the most consistent part of an up-and-down Falcons offense.

Up next: vs. New York Giants, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

19. Dallas Cowboys (6-8)

Last week: 22

Sunday: Beat Carolina Panthers 30-14

MVP: Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb

Lamb is getting 27.3 percent of Dallas’ passing targets this season, which ranks sixth in the league. On Sunday, he had nine catches for 116 yards. It was just his second 100-yard game of the season, but defensive end Micah Parsons hasn’t had quite a good enough season to unseat Lamb even though Parsons is fourth in pressure percentage among players with more than 100 pass rush snaps, according to TruMedia.

Up next: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

20. Miami Dolphins (6-8)

Last week: 16

Sunday: Lost to Houston Texans 20-12

MVP: Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa

Granted, it didn’t particularly look like it on Sunday. Tagovailoa threw three interceptions and lost a fumble against the Texans, nearly doubling his interception total for the season to seven. Still, he’s top five in the league in EPA per dropback (.21), and none of his Miami teammates are giving him much competition for this recognition. Tyreek Hill is 24th in the league in receiving yards (805).

Up next: vs. San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

21. San Francisco 49ers (6-8)

Last week: 18

Thursday: Lost to Los Angeles Rams 12-6

MVP: Quarterback Brock Purdy

Purdy hasn’t played as well this season as he did last, but who in San Francisco has? The 24-year-old is seventh in EPA per dropback (.15) but has nine interceptions against 15 touchdowns one year after having 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. This will be an interesting offseason for Purdy, who has one more year on his rookie deal. He is set to make $1.1 million in 2025. Will a new deal get done this offseason?

Up next: at Miami Dolphins, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

22. Indianapolis Colts (6-8)

Last week: 20

Sunday: Lost to Denver Broncos 31-13

MVP: Running back Jonathan Taylor

Yes, Taylor gets it despite making Sunday’s worst play, dropping the ball short of the goal line to turn a touchdown into a turnover and give Denver all the momentum. On the positive side, he had 22 carries for 107 yards and now has 911 yards for the season. If the 25-year-old gets over 1,000, it will be the first time he has done that since 2021, when he had 1,811 yards and was second in offensive player of the year voting.

Up next: vs. Tennessee Titans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

GO DEEPER

Colts’ calamities pile up in collapse against Broncos that crushes playoff dreams

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23. New Orleans Saints (5-9)

Last week: 23

Sunday: Lost to Washington Commanders 20-19

MVP: Running back Alvin Kamara

Saquon Barkley and Kyren Williams are the only players with more offensive touches than Kamara, who has produced 1,493 scrimmage yards on 228 carries for 950 yards and 68 receptions for 543 yards. This is already a career high in touches (296) for the 29-year-old, and he’s on pace to top his best total yardage mark (1,688) from 2020.

Up next: at Green Bay Packers, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET

24. New York Jets (4-10)

Last week: 30

Sunday: Beat Jacksonville Jaguars 32-25

MVP: Edge Will McDonald IV

There aren’t many bright spots for the Jets this season. In fact, there may be only one — McDonald, who has blossomed in his second year in the league and is tied for seventh with 10 sacks. There was some concern after a three-sack rookie season that McDonald wasn’t going to fulfill his first-round pedigree, but he has this season.

Up next: vs. Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

25. Chicago Bears (4-10)

Last week: 24

Monday: Lost to Minnesota Vikings 30-12

MVP: Cornerback Jaylon Johnson

Former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus may regret whatever part he played in getting Johnson a four-year, $76 million contract this offseason because it was Johnson who led the locker room in a testy conversation with Eberflus on Thanksgiving, a day before his firing. That probably will turn out to be a good thing for the Bears, though. On top of that, Johnson is Chicago’s most talented player.

Up next: vs. Detroit Lions, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

26. Cleveland Browns (3-11)

Last week: 25

Sunday: Lost to Kansas City Chiefs 21-7

MVP: Defensive end Myles Garrett

Browns fans gasped when Garrett ripped his helmet off and laid on the turf Sunday after getting poked in the eye, but Cleveland’s best player appeared to be fine after the game and should be able to finish a season in which he has accumulated 11 sacks, which ranks fifth in the league. Garrett has 99 1/2 sacks since being drafted first in 2017, which ranks second behind only T.J. Watt in that span.

Up next: at Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

27. Carolina Panthers (3-11)

Last week: 26

Sunday: Lost to Dallas Cowboys 30-14

MVP: Running back Chuba Hubbard

Sunday was a rough day (10 carries, 32 yards), but Hubbard is sixth in rushing for the season. His 1,043 yards and eight rushing touchdowns are career highs. Among the workhorse backs (more than 200 carries), he is sixth in rushing success rate (42.2 percent), and he’s doing it without a passing game that’s taking any pressure off him.

Up next: vs. Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

28. New England Patriots (3-11)

Last week: 27

Sunday: Lost to Arizona Cardinals 30-17

MVP: Quarterback Drake Maye

There aren’t many options in New England, but Maye is a deserving recipient despite numbers that won’t turn any heads. The rookie is 18th in EPA per dropback (.03) and 22nd in yards per attempt (6.8). But he’s also fifth among quarterbacks in rushing yards per game (35.9) and making lots of plays in the passing game by escaping trouble with his legs.

Up next: at Buffalo Bills, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

Drake Maye makin’ plays for the @Patriots TD!

📺: #NEvsAZ on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/jVEltTKTo8

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)

Last week: 28

Sunday: Lost to New York Jets 32-25

MVP: Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr.

The rookie wide receiver had 10 catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns Sunday. He’s eighth in the league with 956 receiving yards. His eight receiving touchdowns are tied for fifth, and his 14.9 yards per catch are 15th. Not bad for the fourth wide receiver drafted in 2024.

Up next: at Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

30. Tennessee Titans (3-11)

Last week: 29

Sunday: Lost to Cincinnati Bengals 37-27

MVP: Running back Tony Pollard

The sixth-year pro didn’t have a great day Sunday, but his 45 yards got him to 982 for the season, which is only 25 yards short of his career high. When he hits that, it’ll be a rare offensive highlight for a team that hired Brian Callahan to fix the offense but is 28th in scoring (18.14). Quarterback Will Levis was benched Sunday and may not return to the starting job this season.

Up next: at Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

31. Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)

Last week: 31

Monday: Lost to Atlanta Falcons 15-9

MVP: Tight end Brock Bowers

The rookie is tied for fourth in the NFL in catches this season with 90. Not second among tight ends. Second among all players. He and rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers trail only Ja’Marr Chase, Amon-Ra St. Brown and CeeDee Lamb. Despite playing with three quarterbacks (Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder), Bowers has 968 yards. Mike Ditka (1,076 yards) and Kyle Pitts (1,026 yards) are the only rookie tight ends to surpass 1,000 receiving yards.

Up next: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

32. New York Giants (2-12)

Last week: 32

Sunday: Lost to Baltimore Ravens 35-14

MVP: Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence

Lawrence went on injured reserve two weeks ago because of an elbow injury, and he will miss the rest of the season. He’s still the Giants’ MVP because he’s still ninth in the NFL in sacks with nine. He got all of them in the first seven games of the season, and Giants fans haven’t had much to be happy about since then.

Up next: at Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

(Top photo of Saquon Barkley: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)