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Colts coach Shane Steichen feeling heat after playoff elimination

Sun Dec 29 8:49pm ET
Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen seemed to sense the question might arise after his club was eliminated from playoff consideration Sunday with a ghastly 45-33 loss to the host New York Giants in East Rutheford, N.J.

The Giants were 2-13 and had lost a franchise-record 10 straight games entering the contest and their season-high point total Sunday more than tripled their season average of 14.3 points per game.

It was the type of bad loss that leads to head coaches being asked about their job security.

"I control what I can control," Steichen said of the employment situation.

The Colts (7-9) were outplayed all contest by the team that entered the day with the worst record in the NFL -- and with their playoff hopes on the line.

Last season, Steichen's first as Indianapolis coach, the Colts also fell short, losing to the Houston Texans in the final week of the season to miss the playoffs.

"It was as disappointing as it gets," Steichen said of the setback against the Giants. "As the leader of a football team, shoot, I always say I've got to be better, we've all got to be better. That's a group effort, everyone's got to chip in and do their part, so stuff like that doesn't happen."

Giants quarterback Drew Lock passed for 309 yards and tied his career high of four touchdowns while also running for a score.

Meanwhile, the Colts also went with a reserve quarterback in veteran Joe Flacco and he turned the ball over three times on two interceptions and a fumble. He also passed for 330 yards.

Flacco started because rookie Anthony Richardson couldn't play due to back and foot injuries.

Indianapolis completes the season next weekend at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"I know it's a tough situation, obviously, when you're out of the playoff hunt, but again, I told (the team) we've got to be professional about it," Steichen said. "That's the biggest thing. We've got to show up and do our job still with one week left."

The Colts last made the playoffs in the 2020 season. Their last playoff win was two seasons earlier.

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Player Notes
Jalen Nailor Dec 29 10:20pm CT
Jalen Nailor

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor hauled in all five of his targets for 81 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-25 win against the Green Bay Packers. The 25-year-old hadn't sniffed this sort of volume since way back in Week 7, but he was effective -- putting together his best outing of the season. The TD was Nailor's sixth, his first since Week 12. More so, the yardage and reception total were both season highs. With the Vikings' ground attack proving ineffective (2.7 YPC), QB Sam Darnold attempted his most passes of the season (43) en route to a career-high in passing (377). While it isn't a prescriptive performance, it's a reminder that the Michigan State product can at least work as, at worst, a tertiary option in this offense. It's possible he'll be involved again next weekend when Minnesota hosts their division-rival Detroit Lions in what presents as an exciting end-of-season tilt.

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T.J. Hockenson Dec 29 10:00pm CT
T.J. Hockenson

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson corralled 5-of-6 targets for 68 yards in his team's 27-25 win against the Green Bay Packers. The Iowa product posted his highest yardage total since Week 12, bringing in five receptions for the second time in three outings. It was modest output for him on a day when quarterback Sam Darnold torched the Packers for a career-high 377 yards. Darnold spread the ball around effectively -- hitting five Minnesota pass-catchers for at least four completions. Hockenson hasn't been the impact player he was in the prior two seasons, but he hasn't been invaluable. As of his return in Week 9, the 27-year-old is the PPR TE9 -- registering four top-ten weekly finishes. He'll line up for a meeting with the Detroit Lions in Week 18 that presents massive playoff implications.

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Jordan Addison Dec 29 9:50pm CT
Jordan Addison

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison corralled 6-of-8 targets for 69 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-25 win over their division-rival Green Bay Packers. Addison has come on nicely and been superb over the last two months plus. Since Week 9, he's the PPR WR5 and notched at least eight targets in all but three appearances. The second-year wideout has matured while playing across from teammate Justin Jefferson, evolving the tandem into a formidable WR duo that's given defenses headaches. Addison could have had an even bigger game but let a perfectly thrown ball fall to the turf on what would have been a 39-yard TD. Expect the 22-year-old and the Vikings offense to be out in full force next weekend in a premier meeting with the Detroit Lions.

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Jakobi Meyers Dec 29 9:20pm CT
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Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers reeled in five of nine targets for 61 yards and a touchdown in his team's 25-10 win over the New Orleans Saints. The 28-year-old led all Raiders pass-catchers with his target total and was second to tight end Brock Bowers in catches and receiving yardage. It was the fifth time in his last six outings that Meyers registered at least five receptions, and he's been a solid WR2 for the majority of the season. With one game to go, the Georgia native has a shot at his first 1,000-yard season in the pros despite missing two games earlier in the year with an ankle injury. As it stands, he's already set a career-high with 904 yards and needs six receptions to surpass his career mark as well. Las Vegas will line up with the visiting Los Angeles Chargers for their final regular-season meeting of 2024 next weekend.

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Wan'Dale Robinson Dec 29 9:10pm CT
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New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson caught five of his six targets for 71 yards and a touchdown during Sunday's Week 17 win over the Indianapolis Colts. He established himself as Drew Lock's second-favorite target once again, finishing only behind Malik Nabers in the major receiving categories. Robinson has been the overall WR37 in fantasy football this season, making him a low-end FLEX option in 12-team leagues. He'll continue to have fantasy appeal as the Giants look to carry their momentum into next week's regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Tyler Huntley Dec 29 9:00pm CT
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The Cleveland Browns defense turned in a solid effort in a 20-3 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. The Browns notched four sacks while failing to force any turnovers against a Tyler Huntley-led Dolphins offense on a rainy, windy day in Cleveland. They were led by Myles Garrett, who notched two sacks, giving him his fourth consecutive 14-sack season. The Browns draw a difficult Week 18 matchup against an explosive Baltimore Ravens offense.

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Adam Thielen Dec 29 9:00pm CT
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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen caught five of his six targets for 110 yards and two touchdowns during Sunday's Week 17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His biggest play of the game was a 40-yard touchdown pass courtesy of gorgeous ball placement from quarterback Bryce Young. Even when the Panthers lose, Thielen seems to stay heavily involved, as evidenced by his stat line from Sunday's divisional battle. The veteran pass-catcher ranks as the overall WR10 in fantasy football since Week 13, putting him ahead of talented receivers like A.J. Brown, Ladd McConkey, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Thielen remains a high-end WR2 option heading into next week's season finale against the Atlanta Falcons.

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Brock Bowers Dec 29 9:00pm CT
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Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers caught all seven of his targets for 77 yards during Sunday's Week 17 win over the New Orleans Saints. Along the way, Bowers set the record for most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in NFL history. Although he did break the record by passing Mike Ditka, who accomplished the feat in just 14 games compared to Bowers' 16, it's still an impressive accomplishment for the first-rounder out of Georgia. He also set the record for most receptions by a rookie in NFL history. The 22-year-old remains the overall TE1 in fantasy football, and he'll be a premier option at the position once more when the Raiders close out their season against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18.

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Rico Dowdle Dec 29 8:50pm CT
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Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle was one of the lone bright spots in the Week 17 blowout loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. The fifth-year running back carried the ball 23 times for 104 yards while catching his lone target for four yards. Dowdle also lost a fumble, his second lost fumble of the year. The South Carolina product has come along nicely down the stretch for the Cowboys, rushing for over 100 yards in four of his last five outings. He will look to extend that streak in the season's finale against the Washington Commanders next week. The running back has earned himself a solid payday this upcoming offseason after a strong first year as a starter.

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Elijah Moore Dec 29 8:50pm CT
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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore caught one of his five targets for one yard in a 20-3 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. Moore tied for third on the Browns in targets in the low-scoring loss but he only managed one receiving yard as his late-season swoon continued. The veteran receiver has now only caught eight passes for 55 yards over his past four games. He will finish up his 2024 campaign with a matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18.

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Brandin Cooks Dec 29 8:50pm CT
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks led the team in all receiving metrics in the Week 17 blowout loss against Philadelphia. Cooks was targeted eight times, securing four catches for 52 yards. The veteran led the way with CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) on the shelf, and should remain the top receiving option for Dallas heading into Week 18 against Washington.

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Jordan Akins Dec 29 8:50pm CT
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Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Akins caught six of his eight targets for 49 yards in a 20-3 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. Akins took on a main role in the Cleveland offense with David Njoku (knee) inactive, finishing second on the team in catches, targets, and receiving yards in the loss. The veteran tight end will presumably fill a similar role in the season finale against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18 if Njoku's injury holds him out another week.

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Jalen Tolbert Dec 29 8:50pm CT
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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert scored the team's lone touchdown in Sunday's 41-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Tolbert saw four targets in the contest, catching three balls for 30 yards and the score. He operated as a starter with CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) on the shelf and should start again in Week 18 against the Washington Commanders.

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Dustin Hopkins Dec 29 8:50pm CT
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Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins made his lone field-goal attempt, a 25-yarder, in a 20-3 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. Hopkins was not given many chances to kick with the Browns offense struggling to move the ball against Miami as he only had the one field-goal opportunity in the second quarter. It has been a rough season for Hopkins as he has now made 17 of his 26 field goals on the year. He will take on the Baltimore Ravens in the season finale next week.

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Jake Ferguson Dec 29 8:50pm CT
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Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson was targeted five times in Sunday's 41-7 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles. Ferguson caught three balls for just 18 yards despite star receiver CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) missing the contest. It has been a disappointing season for Ferguson, who has not scored a touchdown in 2024 after leading the tight end position in red zone targets in 2023. He will look to bounce back in the season's finale next week against the Washington Commanders.

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Grant Calcaterra Dec 29 8:40pm CT
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Philadelphia Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra recorded one reception on two targets for 34 yards in the team's dominant 41-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Calcaterra flashed his ability with a big gain, but his opportunities remain limited in an offense heavily focused on wide receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown. With the receivers commanding the majority of targets, Calcaterra remains a lower option in the passing game and a tough sell as a consistent fantasy contributor. The Eagles wrap up their regular season in Week 18 against the New York Giants, and Calcaterra's role is unlikely to expand significantly.

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Jerome Ford Dec 29 8:40pm CT
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Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford carried the ball six times for 22 yards and was not targeted in the passing game in a 20-3 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. Ford injured his ankle during the second quarter of the contest but was cleared to return to action in the third quarter. That being said, he did not record a touch in the second half as the Browns stuck with D'Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong Jr. in their backfield. Ford's status for Week 18 against the Baltimore Ravens is in question and it will be worth monitoring his participation in practice throughout the upcoming week.

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D'Onta Foreman Dec 29 8:40pm CT
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Cleveland Browns running back D'Onta Foreman carried the ball 13 times for 49 yards but failed to corral either of his two targets in a 20-3 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. Foreman was pressed into service with Jerome Ford injuring his ankle during the second quarter. While Ford was ultimately cleared to return to the game after halftime, he did not record a touch as the Browns stuck with Foreman as their lead running back for the remainder of the contest. Foreman would theoretically be in line to lead the backfield in Week 18's season finale against the Baltimore Ravens if Ford's ankle keeps him out of action. Stay tuned.

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Jake Elliott Dec 29 8:40pm CT
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Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott capitalized on the team's offensive dominance in their 41-7 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, hitting both his field goal attempts and all five extra points. Elliott's consistency continues to pay off for fantasy managers, as he delivered his seventh double-digit performance of the season and his third in a row. Philadelphia's high-powered offense has consistently provided him with ample scoring opportunities, keeping him in the conversation as one of the most reliable kickers in fantasy football. Elliott will look to carry this momentum into the Eagles' Week 18 matchup against the New York Giants.

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Jerry Jeudy Dec 29 8:40pm CT
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Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy caught 12 of his 18 targets for 94 yards in a 20-3 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 17. Jeudy bounced back from a slow two-catch, 20-yard performance in Week 16 to lead the Browns in all receiving categories in the home loss to Miami, although it is worth mentioning that he did so with David Njoku (knee) inactive. Njoku has been Dorian Thompson-Robinson's favorite target in the games the two have played together. Jeudy has enjoyed a career year in his first season with the Browns, setting career bests in catches and receiving yards, and will look to put the finishing touches on it in Week 18's season finale against the Baltimore Ravens.

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