Washington

The New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Football Team and Los Angeles Chargers were among those not to take to the field.

It comes amid widespread protests in the Unites States following the shooting of Blake, who was repeatedly shot in the back by police on Sunday.

His father said he has been left paralysed from the waist down.

Washington were the first to cancel practice, their decision coming shortly after the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted Game 5 of their first-round NBA Eastern Conference series against the Orlando Magic.

All of Wednesday and Thursday's NBA playoff games were postponed.

The Cardinals were among those to cancel their practice entirely, with head coach Kliff Kingsbury later addressing the media to explain the decision.

"What happened to Jacob Blake was horrendous and it has to stop," he said.

"I know it sounds hollow at times because you hear the same things over and over, but we wanted to make sure our players know that we support them and we're here for them.

"There's time where football takes a backburner and we felt like this was one of those moments as an organisation. 

"We wanted our players to know that we support them and want them to have a day to be with their families, be able to reflect on things, be around friends, be around each other and then use the day to help make that change the way to see.

"Whether it's on social media, using that platform that they have, or if it's going to register to vote or trying to get other people set up to register to vote, we just wanted them to know this is their day and I felt like it was important to our organisation."

Cardinals running back Kenyan Drake wrote on Twitter: "We have the day off today to educate and reflect on who we are as individuals and here we need to progress as people. 

"I'm honoured to be in an organisation of men and women who lead the charge for change in this country."

Jets running back Le'Veon Bell appeared to send a message to the NFL when he wrote: "We've been protecting the shield. It's time for the shield to protect us."

New Orleans Saints players did take to the field, with each player wearing a helmet with Blake's name written on it.

The Pittsburgh Steelers also practiced, and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger told reporters: "Everyone has the choice to choose to what level and what degree they want to use their platform.

"I think the biggest thing right now is to listen to my African-American team-mates and friends that aren't even in football just to get a better understanding to educate myself."

With the coronavirus pandemic decimating offseason practice schedules and preventing any preseason games from taking place, 2020's crop of first-year players will start their pro careers having had very little time to adapt.

Yet, even in exceptional circumstances, there are still plenty of players from a talented rookie class with the chance to excel in their maiden season.

Here we look at 10 rookies to watch in the 2020 campaign.

Joe Burrow - QB, Cincinnati Bengals

The first overall pick in the 2020 draft will look to carry arguably the greatest season by a quarterback in the history of college football into his rookie year into the pros. Should he succeed, it will likely result in a quick turnaround for a moribund Bengals franchise. The reports from training camp suggest he is a position to do just that.

KEY STAT: Burrow's 60 passing touchdowns for National Champions LSU were the most in a single season by a college football quarterback.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire - RB, Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs used the final pick of the first round to select Burrow's former LSU team-mate. With Super Bowl hero Damien Williams opting out of the season, Edwards-Helaire has been a consensus first-round pick in fantasy drafts and - entering the league's most explosive offense - this do-it-all running back is in a situation to enjoy a monster rookie season.

KEY STAT: Of running backs selected in the 2020 draft, only Raymond Calais (7.5) - a seventh-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers - had a higher yards per touch average than Edwards-Helaire (6.9) in 2019.

Chase Young - DE, Washington Football Team

Young was an easy pick for Washington with the second overall selection. Some believe his upside is greater than last season's Defensive Rookie of the Year Nick Bosa, who was taken in the same spot by the 49ers in 2019. Playing on a defensive line stacked with first-round talent, Young has the ability to replicate the impact his former Ohio State team-mate had for San Francisco with a Washington team that has few bright spots.

KEY STAT: Despite serving a two-game suspension Young's 16.5 sacks were the most in the NCAA last season.

Tua Tagovailoa - QB, Miami Dolphins

Tagovailoa will have to wait for his NFL debut after veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick was named the 2020 starter. That is not much of a surprise given Tagovailoa has not played a game since dislocating his hip for Alabama in November. However, given the frenetic nature of Fitzpatrick's play, the fifth overall pick should eventually get a chance to prove he, and not Burrow, was the best quarterback in the class.

KEY STAT: Tagovailoa led the NCAA in touchdown percentage in 2019, with 33 (13.1 per cent) of his 252 pass attempts resulting in scores.

Brandon Aiyuk - WR, San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers traded up from 31 to 25 to select wide receiver Aiyuk with their second pick of the first round. When a play-caller of Kyle Shanahan's talents makes such a move, the rest of the league needs to take notice. Aiyuk has reportedly started to vindicate that decision with impressive performances in training camp and has the skillset to make one of the league's premier offenses even more devastating in 2020.

KEY STAT: Aiyuk averaged 18.2 yards per touch in 2019 for Arizona State. Of wide receivers selected only CeeDee Lamb (19) - the first-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys - averaged more.

Isaiah Simmons - LB, Arizona Cardinals

Aiming to help the Cardinals slow down the 49ers offense will be Cardinals first-round pick Simmons, who can operate as a linebacker, safety and even occasionally as a cornerback. His remarkable blend of size and athleticism gives Simmons the potential to be a true position-less player on defense and the key to him thriving as a rookie will be defensive coordinator Vance Joseph making the most of his physical attributes.

KEY STAT: Simmons showed his versatility in his final season at Clemson, recording eight sacks, three interceptions and eight pass breakups.

Antoine Winfield Jr. - S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

While there has been so much focus on the Buccaneers' offense following the arrival of Tom Brady, the defense also looks championship-ready and Winfield can be a crucial contributor in his first year. The second-round pick is the son of former Pro Bowl defensive back Antoine Winfield Sr. and the same playmaking ability his father had has been apparent in Tampa Bay's preparations for a season where expectations will be extremely high.

KEY STAT: Winfield's seven interceptions for Minnesota in 2019 were the fourth-most in college football.

Jalen Hurts - QB, Philadelphia Eagles

Hurts' selection in the second round by the Eagles caused a stir, but Hurts will not be displacing Carson Wentz as starter, at least not yet anyway. It is likely, though, that the Eagles use Hurts as runner in the red zone, the former Alabama and Oklahoma quarterback having the dual-threat ability to add another dimension to the Philadelphia offense.

KEY STAT: The 3,274 rushing yards Hurts gained from 2016 to the end of the 2019 season were the third-most by a quarterback in that span.

Cam Akers - RB, Los Angeles Rams

With Todd Gurley now a member of the Atlanta Falcons, second-round pick Akers will carry much of the burden of reviving the Rams' running game in 2020. Having excelled in college despite playing behind a poor offensive line at Florida State, Akers should be confident of making a successful transition to the pros for a Rams team that also had a fair share of struggles in the trenches last season.

KEY STAT: Akers averaged 93.3 scrimmage yards per game in three seasons at Florida State, with that number the third-highest among running backs in the Atlantic Coast Conference between 2017 and 2019.

Jonathan Taylor - RB, Indianapolis Colts

Second-round pick Taylor is set to step into a heavy-duty role in the Colts backfield as a rookie. He should get a larger share of the carries than team-mate Marlon Mack, who is a free agent at the end of the season, and will be the favoured back in the red zone. If he performs as he did during a stellar collegiate career at Wisconsin, Taylor will be in the Offensive Rookie of the Year conversation.

KEY STAT: Taylor averaged 150 rushing yards per game during in his career at Wisconsin (2017-19), the highest average of any running back in college football in that timeframe.

However, some franchises would be wise to treat the Lombardi Trophy and Super Bowl confetti like lava and stay as far away as possible from Tampa Bay on February 7.

That is because the 'consolation prize' for the worst team this year will likely be Clemson's Trevor Lawrence, perhaps the most complete quarterback prospect to enter the draft since Andrew Luck nearly a decade ago.

So, while 'tanking' isn't considered the done thing in the NFL, a season of struggle might be a shrewd price to pay for years of prosperity with Lawrence.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, who reached the 2017 season's AFC Championship game, seemingly already have a head start in the 'race' to land Lawrence having torn down their roster, but who else should consider joining them in 'Tanking for Trevor'?

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM

If any team could do with a reason to be optimistic about the future, it's the Washington Football Team.

Washington, who went 3-13 last year, ditched their controversial 'Redskins' moniker this offseason but the regime remains under the spotlight – and an NFL investigation – following allegations of sexual harassment from former team officials.

They drafted Dwayne Haskins in the first round of last year's draft and in his nine games, he completed only 58.6 per cent of his 203 pass attempts – the 33rd and worst percentage in the NFL for quarterbacks with at least 200 attempts – and, among QBs with at least 200 dropbacks, he had the highest sack percentage (12.5 per cent).

New head coach Ron Rivera has no ties to Haskins and Lawrence would fit the bill in the nation's capital for a team that will be starting afresh with a likely new nickname in 2021.

CHICAGO BEARS

The sight of Patrick Mahomes lifting the Lombardi Trophy in Chiefs red in February was particularly sore for Bears fans given Chicago traded up and drafted Mitch Trubisky instead three years ago.

Had Mahomes wound up in the Windy City – where his former Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is the head coach – they would probably be set for the next decade plus.

Instead, they are rolling the dice on Trubisky again – even though he ranked last among qualifying QBs in yards per attempt last season – for a 2020 campaign that will likely end with general manager Ryan Pace being ousted if his chosen QB toils once more.

Trubisky isn't under contract for 2021 and free agent pickup Nick Foles is no long-term answer, so the Bears will almost certainly be in the market for another QB in the offseason. After whiffing on Trubisky, why not aim for the 'can't-miss' prospect in Lawrence?

CAROLINA PANTHERS

The Cam Newton era is over in Carolina, and former Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will get another starting shot after going 5-0 last year when Drew Brees went down.

Bridgewater has made 34 careers starts and thrown for over 300 yards on just six occasions – and half of those came in his rookie year, before his serious knee injury – and only 11 of his 196 pass attempts in 2019 were of 21 or more air yards, which was fewer than the likes of Josh Rosen, David Blough and Eli Manning.

Safe and steady is fine when you're with an uber-talented team like the Saints, but the Panthers are set to have the youngest starting defense in 10 years this season so Carolina, whose new head coach Matt Rhule has a seven-year contract, need a quarterback who can throw caution to the wind.

NEW YORK JETS

The Jets, like the Bears, have spent decades seeking a franchise passer – ever since Joe Namath departed in the 1970s having 'guaranteed', and delivered, what remains Gang Green's only Super Bowl.

They may still have one on their roster. Former first-rounder Sam Darnold, just 23, has shown flashes of brilliance in his first two years but he also had a 2.9 per cent interception rate in 2019 – worse than all but five qualifying quarterbacks – and is entering a critical juncture of his career.

With the Jets talented-starved at receiver and facing a tricky schedule, Darnold could feasibly endure another season of inconsistency. Then the Jets will have a 'Trubisky conundrum' – do they persist with a guy who has shown he can't quite be 'the guy'? 

General manager Joe Douglas did not draft Darnold – or appoint head coach Adam Gase – and may want his success to be determined by men he has selected in the key roles.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

A wildcard, perhaps, but does Derek Carr really scream 'face of the franchise' for a Jon Gruden team now based in Sin City?

Carr supporters will note he had the second best completion percentage (70.4) in the NFL last year and was the best third-down passer in the league (127.4 quarterback rating, 14 touchdowns and one interception), yet the Raiders have still gone 39-55 in Carr's starts across his six years in the league.

Neither Gruden nor general Mike Mayock were around when Carr was drafted and his contract means a parting of the ways in 2021 would be easy to facilitate.

The Raiders have the misfortune of being in a division with Mahomes so they need offensive firepower. Lawrence would certainly provide that.

From a fantasy perspective, there is plenty of evidence to guide managers regarding what players and teams they can rely on in their quest for glory.

By the same token, it should now be obvious which defenses have significant weaknesses and can be exploited by astute fantasy managers who pay attention to matchups.

Here we pick four players and a defense who have favourable matchups in the upcoming round of games and merit starter consideration for Week 7.

QB: Joe Burrow – Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals are not an easy team to watch nor do they have the players to put Burrow, the first overall pick in the draft, in a position to succeed.

However, regardless of the on-field results, Burrow and the Bengals have typically been good for passing yardage. Burrow already has four 300-yard games to his name as a pro and his best performance of his young career came in Week 2 against this week's opponents, the Cleveland Browns.

Burrow threw for 316 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions in that meeting and, with last week's loss to the Indianapolis Colts providing signs of a burgeoning rapport with A.J. Green, there is reason to be encouraged that he could replicate that display against a Browns team coming off a bruising blowout loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

RB: Ronald Jones – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jones has emerged as a pivotal player for the Tampa Bay offense, helping take the pressure off Tom Brady with three successive 100-yard efforts, including a two-touchdown display in last Sunday's blowout of the Green Bay Packers.

The Las Vegas Raiders' run defense has stiffened in recent weeks but, given they began the season by giving up at least 100 yards on the ground in their first three games, fantasy players with Jones on their roster should approach this week with plenty of confidence he can have another productive outing.

WR: Christian Kirk – Arizona Cardinals

The offseason acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins bumped speedster Kirk down the wide receiver pecking order but, despite averaging only four targets a game, he has taken significant advantage of his opportunities in recent weeks.

He has 183 receiving yards and three touchdowns over the course of the last three games and showed off his abilities as a deep threat on his 80-yard score against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday.

Given Russell Wilson's devastating form throwing the ball, there is a strong chance the Cardinals may have to go downfield often to keep up with the unbeaten Seattle Seahawks in their NFC West clash. That would spell excellent news for Kirk, who can do significant damage against a Seahawks defense surrendering 370.4 passing yards a game – the worst in the NFL.

TE: Hunter Henry – Los Angeles Chargers

The days of the Jacksonville Jaguars as a competitive concern in the 2020 NFL season appear to have long since ended. Theirs is a defense that has given up over 400 yards four times this season, making them an ideal opponent for Chargers rookie quarterback Justin Herbert as he looks to get his first win.

Henry will likely be a frequent recipient of passes from Herbert, as the tight end has been targeted at least seven times in all but one game this season. His level of opportunity and the expected lack of resistance from the fast-fading Jaguars is a recipe for an impressive statistical performance.

D/ST: Washington Football Team

While the early-season shine is very much off Washington following their loss to the New York Giants in Week 6, their defense gets the benefit of going up against an offense in shambles in Week 7.

The Cowboys committed four turnovers in Monday's 38-10 loss to the Cardinals and have given away 15 so far this season. With backup quarterback Andy Dalton playing behind a decimated offensive line, the likelihood is Dallas will continue to surrender possession. Having forced eight turnovers this season, Washington and their fearsome defensive front should make it another long game for Dalton and the Cowboys.

Most fantasy leagues start their postseasons in Week 14, meaning teams on the outside looking in at this stage have little time to turn it around.

It is, therefore, imperative to make the right line-up decisions in Week 11, but which players deserve starter consideration?

Here we look at four players and a defensive unit who figure to be strong fantasy selections for this week's games.

QB: Justin Herbert - Los Angeles Chargers

If in doubt at the quarterback position, the wise play is to bet against the awful defense of the New York Jets and slide Herbert into your starting line-up.

Herbert has scored at least 20 fantasy points in all but one of his eight games this season.

The winless Jets are giving up the fourth-most passing yards per game in the NFL and present Herbert with the opportunity to earn his long-awaited second win as a starter while continuing his success as a productive fantasy quarterback.

Herbert set social media alight as he showed off his new haircut at Wednesday's media conference, and expect the freshly trimmed Offensive Rookie of the Year favourite to torch the Jets come Sunday.

RB: Antonio Gibson - Washington Football Team

Gibson is one of the few trustworthy offensive players on the Washington roster from a fantasy perspective.

He found the endzone twice last week as Washington's comeback against the Detroit Lions came up short.

That double made it four touchdowns in three games for the undoubted focal point of the Washington running game and Gibson should have plenty of confidence of adding to his tally against a Cincinnati Bengals run defense surrendering 133.1 yards per game, the sixth-most in the NFL. 

WR: Jakobi Meyers - New England Patriots

The Patriots offense has improved over the course of their back-to-back wins over the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens, with Meyers becoming a favourite target of Cam Newton.

Meyers, who threw a touchdown pass on a trick play against the Ravens, has been targeted 37 times over the past four games and has caught 27 of those passes.

That kind of target share gives him a high floor in points per reception leagues and, facing a Houston Texans defense allowing the second-most adjusted yards per pass attempt (8.7), the smart money is on Meyers delivering another strong outing for Bill Belichick's resurgent team.

TE: Hayden Hurst - Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons face a New Orleans Saints defense that has become increasingly stingy in recent weeks, but they have been quite generous when it comes to tight ends.

Indeed, the Saints are allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.

That makes Hurst, who has been targeted at least seven times in each of his past three games and is coming off a seven-catch 62-yard performance in Week 9, a potential high-upside starter in Week 11.

D/ST: Cleveland Browns

The Browns have not pressured the quarterback to the extent they would have hoped in recent times, putting together just one game in the past five with more than two sacks.

However, Week 11 sees them face a Philadelphia Eagles offensive line that has allowed Carson Wentz to be sacked the most times of any quarterback in the NFL.

Wentz has suffered 35 sacks and the pressure he has faced has naturally led to a high number of turnovers.

The Eagles have turned the ball over 17 times this season and, though they did not do so in a Week 10 loss to the New York Giants, a Browns defense that held the Houston Texans to 153 passing yards and seven points last time out should take advantage of Philadelphia's vulnerabilities and reward fantasy managers willing to bet on them in a significant way.

Though the starters picked in the early rounds of the draft often lay the foundations for a championship-winning season, the players selected to fill the void when they are not available can be the difference between claiming and missing out on the title.

With that in mind, this week's edition of fantasy picks features three players who can fill the void for fantasy managers with holes in their line-up.

A second-year wide receiver primed to play an even bigger part in an underperforming offense also features in Stats Perform's look at four players and a defense worthy of fantasy selection this week. 

Quarterback: Taylor Heinicke, Washington Football Team vs. Kansas City Chiefs

If you have a quarterback on a bye, or you are unfortunate to be in a position where the injured Russell Wilson is your starter, then you may be in scramble mode at quarterback.

Heinicke presents a solution to fantasy owners in such a bind. Yes, Washington will be underdogs against Kansas City, but Heinicke has thrown for multiple passing touchdowns in three of his last four games and should have little difficulty moving the ball against a defense allowing 7.08 yards per play, the most in the NFL.

With a high-scoring affair likely on the horizon, Heinicke is a leading option for fantasy owners in need of a quarterback fill-in.

Running Back: Myles Gaskin, Miami Dolphins @ Jacksonville Jaguars

There isn't much reason to get excited about the Dolphins but fantasy owners of Gaskin should be extremely intrigued by this matchup in the second and final London game of the year.

Gaskin had only five carries for 25 yards last week in the Dolphins' 45-17 loss to the Buccaneers but found the endzone twice as a receiver as he hauled all 10 of his targets for 74 yards.

Against a Jacksonville defense that has been stout against the run but is allowing a league-worst 8.79 yards per pass play, there is scope for another big day for Gaskin as the Dolphins seek their second win of an underwhelming campaign.

Wide Receiver: Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Seattle Seahawks

Claypool has 296 receiving yards and a touchdown over his last three games playing for a Steelers offense that had struggled mightily prior to their Week 5 win over the Denver Broncos.

With Juju Smith-Schuster out for the season, Claypool should claim even more of a featured role in the offense and in Week 6 has the inviting prospect of a matchup with a Seahawks defense ranked 28th in the NFL in opposing pass yards per play (7.49). Claypool is well worthy of being in your starting lineup come Sunday.

Tight End: Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans

Alie-Cox was not able to find the endzone in Week 5 after catching two touchdown passes a week earlier, however, he is averaging 13.8 yards per reception, illustrating his big-play threat.

Facing a Texans defense allowing the most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends, Alie-Cox should have an opportunity to make a significant impact in Week 6. Alie-Cox could prove an astute pickup for fantasy owners struggling for options at tight end.

Defense: Dallas Cowboys @ New England Patriots

The Cowboys' defense was not expected to be one of the top fantasy units in the league going into the season, however, through five games they have forced 12 takeaways, the second-most in the NFL.

Facing a quarterback in Mac Jones who has thrown a pickable pass on 4.89 per cent of his attempts, well above the average of 3.16, a meeting with the Patriots presents the Cowboys with the chance to add to that total and rack up fantasy points.

Head coach Jon Gruden, whose coaching tree includes innovators such as Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay, widely regarded as the two best play-callers in the NFL, is overseeing one of the most efficient offenses in the league in the 2020 season.

The Raiders, therefore, are worthy of fantasy consideration every week and managers with Las Vegas players on their roster should have no hesitation starting them in Week 12, when they face the lowly Atlanta Falcons.

NFC East teams have been far less trustworthy this year, but three of the four teams in the division feature in this week's edition of fantasy picks.

QB: Derek Carr - Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders' success this season has not resulted in fantasy consistency for Derek Carr despite his clear improvement as a quarterback in 2020.

But he is coming off a three-touchdown game against the Chiefs and this week takes on the most generous fantasy defense to opposing quarterbacks in the Atlanta Falcons.

If you have Carr, make sure he is in your starting line-up.

RB: Miles Sanders - Philadelphia Eagles

The primary source of competence on the Philadelphia offense, last Sunday's loss to the Cleveland Browns was just the second time this season that Sanders failed to put up double-digit fantasy points.

Do not expect him to record a third such game against the Seattle Seahawks, who are allowing 19 points per game to opposing running backs. Sanders also has successive games with five targets in the passing game, meaning he has some points per reception upside against the worst pass defense in the NFL.

WR: Terry McLaurin - Washington Football Team

In what is somehow an important game in the NFC East between two three-win teams, McLaurin is almost certain to play a pivotal role against a Dallas Cowboys defense giving up the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers.

He has at least seven targets in every game this season and caught seven of his 11 targets for 90 yards and a touchdown in the reverse fixture in Week 7. McLaurin is a safe bet to replicate and perhaps outperform that production in this Thanksgiving clash.

TE: Darren Waller - Las Vegas Raiders

Believe it or not, that Falcons defense that struggles against opposing quarterbacks also has difficulties defending tight ends.

Atlanta allow the most fantasy points in the NFL to tight ends, meaning it should be another productive day for Darren Waller.

After some quiet weeks by his standards, Waller caught all seven of his targets for 88 yards against the Chiefs and should keep the momentum going in the city where he played his college ball.

D/ST: New York Giants

The Giants, like every other team in the league's worst division, are firmly in the mix in the NFC East.

New York's 15 turnovers are tied for the fifth-most in the NFL and they should have a chance to add to that tally against a Cincinnati Bengals team starting backup quarterback Ryan Finley following the season-ending injury to Joe Burrow.

Given the Bengals' struggles in protecting the quarterback, Sunday could be a hugely profitable day for fantasy managers willing to back the Giants defense to take advantage of a favourable matchup.

Following Thursday's announcement of the punishment, which does not strip the team of any draft picks, owner Dan Snyder decided to hand over his day-to-day responsibilities to his wife Tanya, who was named co-CEO on Tuesday.

The investigation, which began last year and consisted of independent counsel Beth Wilkinson interviewing more than 150 people, found that for years women within the organisation were bullied and several females experienced sexual harassment and experienced "a general lack of respect in the workplace".

"Ownership and senior management paid little or no attention to these issues," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "In some instances, senior executives engaged in inappropriate conduct themselves, including use of demeaning language and public embarrassment. This set the tone for the organisation and led to key executives believing that disrespectful behaviour and more serious misconduct was acceptable in the workplace."

Snyder blamed himself for the workplace environment and apologised to those affected.

"I have learned a lot in the past few months about how my club operated, and the kind of workplace that we had," Snyder said in a statement. "It is now clear that the culture was not what it should be, but I did not realise the extent of the problems, or my role in allowing that culture to develop and continue. I know that as the owner, I am ultimately responsible for the workplace."

He went on to say that, for the next several months, "Tanya will assume the responsibilities of CEO and will oversee all day-to-day team operations and represent the club on all league activities".

As part of the report, Wilkinson made 10 recommendations on improving workplace culture, including developing formal protocols for reporting harassment, developing a formal disciplinary action plan and providing training to all employees on bullying, harassment and inclusion.

The Snyders agreed to implement all 10 of the recommendations.

"I agree with the Commissioner's decisions in this matter," Snyder said, "and am committed to implementing his investigation's important recommendations.

"Going forward, my focus will be on making the Washington Football Team a source of pride to all of its employees, fans and partners, including my partners in the NFL."

The 43-year-old showed his class at FedExField and clinched his 31st post-season victory, his first for the fifth-seed Bucs, while throwing for 381 yards and recording his 75th career post-season touchdown with scoring passes to Antonio Brown and Chris Godwin.

Led by rookie revelation Chase Young, Washington’s defense kept the NFC East champions in contention and stand-in quarterback Taylor Heinicke led an impressive comeback attempt but was unable to force Ron Rivera’s side back into the Wild Card contest.

Brady, 43, became the oldest player to throw a pass in an NFL playoff game as he led the Bucs on a 55-yard opening drive for a field goal before Heinicke, replacing starter Alex Smith who was sidelined with a calf injury, raced into Tampa Bay territory but his tipped pass ended up in the hands of Sean Murphy-Bunting for an interception.

Ex-Patriots signal caller, Brady, took advantage of the strong field position to find wide receiver Brown with a 36-yard play-action pass to extend the lead to nine, as kicker Ryan Succop’s extra point was blocked.

Washington's playoff run was the one nobody expected. A division winner at 7-9, Washington turned things around after going 2-7 through the first nine games.

It is the kind of postseason push that, in 2020, could only have happened in the dismal NFC East.

And it may have ended in disappointment had Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson not controversially benched Jalen Hurts for Nate Sudfeld during the Week 17 finale.

Despite being blessed with a young and fearsome defense, Washington's fairytale run is expected to come to an end at the hands of Tom Brady and the surging Buccaneers, who finished the season 11-5 following a four-game winning streak.

But what is the avenue to Washington subverting those expectations and condemning Brady to a second successive Wild Card round exit?

Here we examine the matchup and the numbers to assess how Washington can pull off a huge upset.

Get Gibson going, or get the ball out quick

Washington have relied predominantly on the pass in 2020 but arguably their most dynamic player on offense has been rookie running back Antonio Gibson.

Gibson's 11 rushing touchdowns in the regular season are the second-most by a rookie in franchise history.

Only two rookies, Jonathan Taylor and James Robinson, had a larger number of rushes of 10 yards or more than the 21 Gibson racked up during the regular season.

Quarterback Alex Smith, improbably in the mix to contest a playoff game just over two years on from a life-threatening leg injury, was pressured on 30.3 per cent of his dropbacks during eight regular-season games, the second-highest rate in the NFL.

With the Bucs pressuring quarterbacks at the second-highest rate in the NFL (27%), the wise play might be for Washington to lean on Gibson and the run game.

Yet the Bucs' defense is, by yards per game, the best in the league at defending the run having given up an average of 80.6 rushing yards this campaign.

If Washington cannot get things going with Gibson, the onus will be on Smith or his potential replacement Taylor Heinicke to get the ball out quickly to negate the pass rush.

Smith, whose team-high six passing touchdowns are the lowest tally for the leader of a playoff team since Jim McMahon in 1986, ranked 13th in the league in time to throw, which measures the average duration between the snap of the ball and a pass attempt, according to the NFL's NextGen Stats.

Either Smith or Heinicke may have to expedite that to prosper against the Tampa Bay defense, though they will need to do so while averaging a significantly higher number of completed air yards per pass attempt than the former's 2.5, which puts him second last in the league, ahead of only recently released team-mate Dwayne Haskins (2.4).

Setting things in motion

Finding a way to prevent the Buccaneers' defense from attacking downhill and wrecking Washington's gameplan is imperative for their potential success.

One way in which they may look to do that is through the use of backfield motion before the snap to get the defense flowing horizontally.

Just four teams employed motion on more plays during the regular season than Washington, who utilised it on 505 offensive snaps.

Washington's success on those plays was limited as they averaged just 4.69 yards on plays featuring motion. The Pittsburgh Steelers (4.15) and Philadelphia Eagles (4.27) were the two teams to perform worse in that regard.

Yet there is hope they could have success with motion against the Buccaneers, who ranked 18th in NFL in defending plays using motion, against which they gave up 5.51 yards per play.

If Washington's inefficient offense cannot find a way to move the ball on Tampa Bay, they will have to what they have done all season: lean on the defense, which will look to ruin Brady's day and carry them to victory.

Will Young meet old?

Should 43-year-old Brady meet 36-year-old Smith, they will have the oldest combined age of two starting quarterbacks in a playoff game in NFL history (80 years and 41 days).

Many believed Brady to be nearing the end of his legendary career after his time with the New England Patriots ended with a Wild Card loss to the Tennessee Titans.

However, he threw for 40 touchdowns in the regular season, becoming the first quarterback to reach that tally in his first season with a new team.

He has benefited, though, from excellent protection, having been pressured on just 17.2 per cent of his dropbacks.

If Washington can pressure Brady, they can turn him into a vastly different quarterback.

When pressured, Brady has completed just 52.3 per cent of his passes for 1,095 yards for five touchdowns, six interceptions and a passer rating of 66.8.

Those numbers should greatly excite a Washington pass rush led by Chase Young, who in 2020 became the first rookie to have at least 7.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and three opponent fumble recoveries in a season since Terrell Suggs in 2003. 

Washington's pressure rate of 25.4 per cent is the seven-highest in the league and consistently helped them stymie opposing offenses, who have scored on 31.4 per cent of drives against them, the fourth-lowest rate in the league.

The path for Washington surrounds consistently getting the Tampa Bay defense working sideline to sideline while their own wreaks havoc against Brady. The problem is that their performance this season suggests one of those tasks will be significantly harder than the other.

To snap a three-game losing streak, the Niners (2-3) must get the better of an Indianapolis Colts side who, much like San Francisco themselves, have made an inconsistent start to the season.

By contrast, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are riding a three-game run of wins and have started 5-1 for just the fifth time in the history of the franchise, heading into a tussle with the Chicago Bears (3-3). Tom Brady has been a driving force so far as the Super Bowl winners carry on where they left off last season.

Patrick Mahomes has been hit and miss for the slow-starting Kansas City Chiefs, who will hope the NFL's highest-paid player can cut out throwing interceptions as they face the Tennessee Titans.

Indianapolis Colts @ San Francisco 49ers

If coach Shanahan's 49ers are to turn around their season, then facing a Colts side who have begun 2-4 seems like a pretty good place to start. Yet the Colts have dominated this series of late, winning on their last four meetings, albeit most recently in 2017 when they snatched a 26-23 overtime success. It would not be stepping out of line to predict this could be tight, given the 49ers have played nine consecutive games that have been decided by eight or fewer points, going back to last season.

That is the longest active streak of such close games in the NFL and the longest streak in team history, and the Niners do not have the best recent return when games go close, posting a 3-6 record in this sequence.

San Francisco fell 17-10 to the Cardinals in their most recent game, two weeks ago, while the Colts hot-footed their way to a 31-3 trouncing of Houston last Sunday. That came despite Indianapolis earning just 15 first downs for the entire game. It was the first time the Colts had won by 28 or more points while only having 15 or fewer first downs since 1972 against New England.

In his 21st career game, Colts running back Jonathan Taylor rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns, meaning he surpassed 1,500 rushing yards, 500 receiving yards and chalked up his 15th rushing touchdown in the NFL. Only four running backs in NFL history have hit all three of those milestones in fewer games than Taylor, with two of those doing so with the Colts – Edgerrin James and Marshall Faulk.

San Francisco will hope to be recharged after a bye week. Deebo Samuel scored the fourth rushing touchdown of his career against the Cardinals, with Jerry Rice (10) the only wide receiver with more rushing touchdowns in 49ers history.

Chicago Bears @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After a dispiriting loss to the Green Bay Packers last time out, the Chicago Bears encounter a Tampa Bay team in sparkling recent form. Tampa Bay have started the season 5-1, doing so for the fifth time in franchise history, and on each of the previous occasions (2005, 2002, 1997 and 1979) they backed it up by reaching the playoffs. History could be made on Sunday, given the Buccaneers have never started a season with six wins through their first seven games.

Yet this is a game in which the Bears have traditionally, and recently, had the upper hand. Chicago have stacked up 40 wins in 60 all-time meetings against Tampa Bay, which is the most wins by any team against the Bucs. The Bears have also won the last two in the series, scoring victories in 2018 and 2020.

Tampa Bay can seemingly do no wrong when Brady is pulling the strings so masterfully. Brady leads the NFL with 2,064 passing yards, the second-highest total he has ever had through six games of a season – beaten only by his 2,163 passing yards at this stage in 2011. Prior to this year, no Tampa Bay quarterback had ever thrown for more than 1,800 yards through six games.

What have the Bears got to offer? Chicago are averaging 246.2 net yards per game, which is more than 20 yards per game less than any other team. The 1,477 yards is the fewest Chicago has had through six games since the 1993 season. Rookie quarterback Justin Fields needs to make something happen, but others must step up too. In his first career start, Khalil Herbert ran for 97 yards and a touchdown against Green Bay last time out.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Tennessee Titans

"He's trying to make things happen," said Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, explaining away the two interceptions thrown by Patrick Mahomes in Week 6 against Washington. For Mahomes, that was a second straight game with at least two interceptions. He is tied with Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence in second position on the list of the most interceptions thrown this season, with his tally of eight so far only topped by Zach Wilson of the Jets.

This is only the second run that Mahomes has endured of throwing two or more interceptions in consecutive games, the previous dating back to Week 5 and 6 of the 2018 season, and Reid will hope his radar is better set for the clash with the Titans. Mahomes is still doing an awful lot right in 2021, but the fact remains he threw just six interceptions last season.

The Chiefs' unsteady 3-3 opening is their worst of the Mahomes era, and it was 2015 when they got off to a slower start. On that occasion they followed a 1-5 opening with 10 consecutive wins, a single-season record for Kansas City that was matched last season.

Tennessee's bright start has featured some notable performances. The Titans ran for 146 yards and scored four rushing touchdowns in the 34-31 win over Buffalo on Monday night, taking them to 985 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns for the season. It is the first time in franchise history that the Bills have 10 or more rushing touchdowns and at least 975 rushing yards through six games.

Running back Derrick Henry has 10 rushing touchdowns so far, beating his career best of seven through six weeks in 2020. It puts him tied for the fourth most rushing touchdowns of all time through six weeks (Jim Brown 14, Shaun Alexander 12, Emmitt Smith 11).

Elsewhere...

The Detroit Lions face a tall order on the road against the Los Angeles Rams (5-1). Detroit are 0-6 for the first time since their 0-16 season in 2008 and have not scored more than 17 points in any of their last five games. Former Rams quarterback Jared Goff, now with Detroit, has thrown zero touchdown passes and an interception in each of his last two games.

The 5-1 Baltimore Ravens have recent history on their side ahead of a clash with the Cincinnati Bengals, having won five successive games in their head-to-head series, including the last three by a brutal average of 31.7 points.

Heading into a home game against the Houston Texans (1-5), the Arizona Cardinals are on a 6-0 roll. This has only happened twice before in franchise history, but never before in Arizona. The St Louis Cardinals in 1974 and Chicago Cardinals in 1922 are the teams who both started their seasons 6-0 as well.

Philadelphia QB Jalen Hurts could match an NFL record as the Eagles (2-4) tackle the Las Vegas Raiders. Hurts has rushed for two touchdowns in each of his last two games. Billy Kilmer, for San Francisco in 1961, is the only quarterback to achieve the feat in three straight games.

The Green Bay Packers last lost at home to Washington in 1988, winning five in a row since with home-field advantage, and they put a 5-1 season record to the test when the teams meet again. Washington (2-4) are yielding an NFL-worst 31.0 points per game in 2021, matching the team's worst mark through six games of a season in the Super Bowl era (1998).

Rookie quarterback Joe Burrow claimed his first win as the Cincinnati Bengals overcame the Jacksonville Jaguars 33-25, while the Carolina Panthers caused an upset, beating the Arizona Cardinals 31-21. 

Both the New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens rebounded from Week 3 reverses, but Los Angeles Chargers passer Justin Herbert came up short as he became the latest rookie QB to lose to a team led by Tom Brady. 

Elsewhere, in a battle between two previously winless teams, it was the Minnesota Vikings who triumphed, dropping the Houston Texans to 0-4.

BECKHAM OUTSHINES DAK WITH BIG DAY

Dallas knew all about Beckham's brilliance - it was against the Cowboys when he performed his astonishing one-handed touchdown grab as a rookie with the New York Giants - yet they failed to stop Cleveland's receiver grabbing two first-half touchdowns - one thrown by fellow wideout Jarvis Landry. 

The Browns were 41-14 up by the end of the third quarter but the Cowboys, who rallied from 29-10 down to beat the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2, came roaring back thanks to Dak Prescott, who had 502 passing yards and four touchdown throws. 

However, Beckham scored on a 50-yard end-around run to seal Cleveland's 49-38 win, with Dallas' nemesis going off for 154 yards from scrimmage and three scores.

SEAHAWKS SURVIVE MIAMI TEST

Seven teams began Week 4 with a perfect 3-0 record and Seattle became the first to go 4-0, securing a 31-23 win over the Miami Dolphins. 

Russell Wilson threw for 360 yards and two touchdowns - giving him 16 already for the season - while running back Chris Carson also found the end zone twice and the Seahawks defense picked off a couple of Ryan Fitzpatrick passes. 

Fellow preseason Super Bowl favourites New Orleans and Baltimore got back on track, the Saints triumphing 35-29 over the Lions while the Ravens defeated the Washington Football Team 31-17, during which Lamar Jackson becoming the quickest in NFL history to reach 5,000 career passing yards and 2,000 yards rushing.

BURROW GETS FIRST W, HERBERT COMES CLOSE TO UPSTAGING BRADY

First overall pick Burrow led the Bengals to their first victory of the 2020 campaign, though it was Joe Mixon's 181 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns that really made the difference against the Jaguars. 

Herbert, another opening-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, looked on course for his maiden NFL win too, the Chargers racing into a 24-7 lead thanks in part to a Brady pick-six. 

However, Brady, whose teams had won their previous 10 straight games against rookie QBs, would end the high-scoring contest with five touchdown passes, Tampa Bay triumphing 38-31. 

Week 4 scores:

Seattle Seahawks 31-23 Miami Dolphins
Cincinnati Bengals 33-25 Jacksonville Jaguars
Minnesota Vikings 31-23 Houston Texans
Cleveland Browns 49-38 Dallas Cowboys
Baltimore Ravens 31-17 Washington Football Team
New Orleans Saints 35-29 Detroit Lions
Carolina Panthers 31-21 Arizona Cardinals
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 38-31 Los Angeles Chargers

A defeat to the Los Angeles Rams in the Patriots' previous outing had ended their streak of 17 straight seasons with 10 or more wins and 11 successive division titles, both of which were the longest such runs in NFL history, and Bill Belichick's team will now not be involved in the postseason for the first time since 2008.

Meanwhile, former Patriots star Tom Brady combined with another ex-New England player as Antonio Brown scored his first touchdown for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a comeback win over the Atlanta Falcons.

There was also a big win for the Seattle Seahawks, who clinched a playoff berth for the ninth time in 11 seasons thanks to a 20-15 win over the Washington Football Team.
 

PATRIOTS' POSTSEASON STREAK COMES TO AN END

For the first time in 12 years, there will be no New England in the postseason. They are now 6-8 in third place in the AFC East and officially eliminated from playoff contention.

Though the Patriots led at halftime, Cam Newton could not pick the Dolphins lock and help find a way to the end zone, with New England failing to score a touchdown.

Newton finished with 209 passing yards, while Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa produced a decisive performance, with two rushing scores to go along with 20-of-26 passing for 145 yards as the hosts tallied 22 points in the second half.

While the Patriots will be observers this postseason, Miami (9-5) have their playoff fate in their own hands, needing only to win their final two games.

BRADY BREAKS ATLANTA AGAIN AS BROWN GETS OFF THE MARK

While Newton may not be the man to take the Patriots forward, New England's former stalwart and legendary QB Brady inspired Tampa to a tight 31-27 win over the Falcons.

In the 2017 Super Bowl, Brady led the greatest comeback in championship game history as he inspired New England from 28-3 down in the third quarter to a 34-28 overtime success against Atlanta.

The prize on offer was considerably less substantial this time around, but Brady broke Falcons hearts again as he turned around two 17-point deficits.

Atlanta raced into a 17-0 lead by halftime and then restored that cushion after Tampa got their first touchdown early in the second half.

Yet it was to be Brady's day, with the 43-year-old finishing  completing 31 of 45 throws for 390 yards and two touchdowns.

He rounded it off in style, picking out Brown – a midseason signing for the Bucs – with a 46-yard touchdown pass as the seven-time Pro Bowler got off the mark for his new team. 

The Bucs are now 9-5 for 2020, ensuring just their third winning season since 2007, when Tampa last made the playoffs. Victory over Detroit Lions next time out will be enough to secure postseason football.

SEAHAWKS PLAYOFF-BOUND, BEARS AND COWBOYS IN THE MIX

The Chicago Bears remain firmly in the hunt for an NFC wildcard spot after they overcame the Minnesota Vikings 33-27.

Chicago, who started the campaign 5-1 before a six-game losing streak saw them drop off the pace, put in a poor offensive showing in a 19-13 defeat to the Vikings in Week 10 but showed no such inefficiency this time in their NFC North divisional contest.

The Dallas Cowboys are also still in the mix despite missing running back Ezekiel Elliott for their clash with the San Francisco 49ers.

Elliott sat out a game due to injury for the first time in his career, having suffered a calf bruise in the loss to the Baltimore Ravens on December 8, but the Cowboys managed without him.

Even with a 5-9 record, the Cowboys – who beat the Niners 41-33 – can still qualify for the postseason, with Washington's defeat to the Seahawks having helped their cause. 

That win in Washington booked a playoff spot for Seattle, who improved to 10-4 for the season.

Seattle made life tough for themselves in the fourth quarter, having led 20-3 in the third, but got consecutive sacks before an unsuccessful Hail Mary attempt ended Washington's comeback hopes.

QB Russell Wilson, Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde all topped 50 yards rushing for the Seahawks, with the latter scoring a touchdown on a 50-yard run.

Week 15 scores

Green Bay Packers 24-16 Carolina Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-27 Atlanta Falcons
Baltimore Ravens 40-14 Jacksonville Jaguars
Dallas Cowboys 41-33 San Francisco 49ers
Indianapolis Colts 27-20 Houston Texans
Miami Dolphins 22-12 New England Patriots
Chicago Bears 33-27 Minnesota Vikings
Tennessee Titans 46-25 Detroit Lions
Seattle Seahawks 20-15 Washington Football Team

Prescott starred by completing 28 of 39 attempted passes for 330 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions as Dallas registered 50 points for the first time since Super Bowl XXVII in the 1992 season.

The Dallas QB recorded his fourth career game with 300 yards, four passing touchdowns and no interceptions, which is the most by any player in franchise history, going past Tony Romo (three). 

Dallas' 56-point haul was the third most in a game by franchise records and the most in a regular-season fixture since 1980 as Mike McCarthy's side scored more than 40 points for the fourth time this season.

The Las Vegas Raiders' victory over the Denver Broncos had already secured Prescott's third divisional title in six seasons as the Cowboys' starting quarterback, but the 28-year-old claimed he was unaware of the triumph before the game.

"I don't know if many people knew that we clinched before the game," Prescott said. "I didn't. That's kind of what my message was talking to the guys in the circle up right there [before the game], going out winning this division. 

"I don't know if we're in the world or business of trying to send messages more than we're just trying to get better, day in and day out, game after game and make sure that we're playing our best ball and peaking at the right time heading into this tournament."

Asked whether Dallas had arrested a slump after concerns over their offensive abilities on Prescott's return from a calf strain, he responded: "You tell me. I never said we were in a slump. Those were your words. 

"So I think it would be hard for you to say that now, but, yeah, tonight was a great performance."

Dallas scored on offense, defense and special teams for the first time since 2012 as they became the first NFL outfit to do so this season, much to the delight of defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence who hailed an almost perfect showing.

"I feel like we showed ourselves that we can play a complete game but we still have a lot that we can build on," Lawrence said.

"Being able to go out there and dominate on all three phases of the game, shoot, we just got to keep building on that and get better from it."

The Cowboys extended to a four-game winning streak, though McCarthy's team need to win their final two games and require the Green Bay Packers to lose at least once to confirm home advantage for the playoffs.

The NFC East champions next face the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday before closing the regular season at the Philadelphia Eagles on January 9.

Prescott completed 28 of 39 passes for 330 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions, as the Cowboys reached 50 points for the first time since Super Bowl XXVII in 1993.

The Dallas QB recorded his fourth career game with 300 yards, four passing touchdowns and no interceptions, which is the most by any player in franchise history, going past Tony Romo (three). Prescott remarkably passed for 320 yards by half-time.

The Cowboys also became the first team this season to score in all three facets of the game as they dismantled Washington.

Ezekiel Elliott scored two touchdowns in the first half as the Cowboys opened up a 42-7 half-time lead. Elliott had nine carries for 37 yards and one rushing TD, along with one receiving touchdown.

Dallas had good contributions from receivers Amari Cooper (seven receptions for 85 yards and one TD), Dalton Schultz (eight receptions for 82 yards and one TD) and Malik Turner (three receptions for 82 yards and one TD).

Demarcus Lawrence also scored a TD after intercepting Washington QB's Taylor Heinicke's first-quarter pass with Chauncey Golston cleaning up in the end zone for a touchdown after Corey Clement blocked a punt.

The Cowboys, who have clinched the NFC East division earlier in the day after the Las Vegas Raiders beat the Denver Broncos 17-13, improve to 11-4 while Washington are 6-9.

Burrow blows against Lamar-less Ravens

Joe Burrow was in record-breaking form with the fourth most passing yards in a game in NFL history to lead the Cincinnati Bengals won 41-21 over the Baltimore Ravens, who were without Lamar Jackson.

Burrow completed 37 of 46 passes for 525 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions, which was a new franchise record for passing yards as the Bengals claimed a major AFC North win to improve to 9-6 ahead of the 8-7 Ravens on a four-game skid.

The Bengals quarterback also becomes the fourth player in NFL history to have 500 pass yards, four pass touchdowns and zero interceptions in a game, joining Derek Carr, Ben Roethlisberger and Y.A. Tittle.

Wide receivers Tee Higgins (12 receptions for 194 yards and two touchdowns) and Ja'Marr Chase (seven receptions for 125 yards) were excellent against the Ravens whose stand-in QB Josh Johnson had two TD passes.

Chiefs clinch AFC West yet again

The Kansas City Chiefs became the first team to ever clinch the AFC West title for six straight seasons after a 36-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw 23 of 30 passes for 258 yards with three TD passes, while Steelers veteran QB Ben Roethlisberger struggled with 23 of 35 passes for 159 yards with one TD and one interception.

Wide receiver Byron Pringle had six receptions for 75 yards with two touchdowns as the Chiefs improved to an unassailable 11-4 record in the AFC West, ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers (8-4) who lost 41-29 to the Houston Texans earlier on Sunday.

The 27-year-old has penned an extension worth a reported $8.75 million, marking a remarkable turnaround for a man whose NFL career looked to be heading for an early finish.

Heinicke stepped in after Alex Smith, who steered Washington to the divisional title in Week 17, failed to overcome a calf injury in time to start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He threw for 306 yards and a touchdown, as well as rushing for 46 yards and a further score, in a 31-23 playoff defeat for the NFC East champions to the Bucs.

Having been set for restricted free agency, Heinicke was delighted to be given a new lease of life.

"It's a good feeling," Heinicke, who is studying for an engineering degree, told Washington's website.

"Everyone knows I was at home taking math classes...so for this contact to come, it's a big sigh of relief.

"I'm really excited. This is the place I wanted to be, so everything came together pretty smoothly, and I'm really excited to be back."

Jackson's meeting with fellow quarterback Justin Herbert was pegged as a battle between MVP candidates as the Ravens hosted the Los Angeles Chargers, and it is the Ravens star who has the stronger case after their dominant 34-6 win in a clash of 4-1 teams.

Brandon Staley was appointed as Chargers head coach on the back of his excellent performance in his one year as defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams.

His Rams defense allowed the fewest yards per play in the NFL last season, however, the Chargers have struggled mightily against the run in 2021, making them an enticing matchup for the league's premier dual-threat quarterback in Jackson.

As it happened Jackson was able to lighten the burden on his shoulders in terms of running the ball, Latavius Murray and Le'Veon Bell each going in for rushing scores to put the Ravens 14-0 to the good in the second quarter.

Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Justin Herbert responded late in the half with a one-yard touchdown throw to Jared Cook after a Jackson interception, though the Chargers still trailed 17-6 at the half.

But a 12-play, 52-yard drive ended with Jackson hitting Mark Andrews for a nine-yard touchdown in the third quarter, and there was never a hint of a Chargers comeback thereafter.

Jackson's stat line, 19 of 27 passing for 167 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions with 51 yards on eight rushes, was pedestrian by his standards, but it was enough to give the Ravens the best record in the AFC as he claimed his 35th win, breaking Dan Marino's record for the most by a quarterback before his 25th birthday.

Chiefs remain unconvincing

Plenty wondered whether it was time to panic for the Kansas City Chiefs following their Week 5 loss to the Buffalo Bills in primetime last Sunday, which dropped them to 2-3.

Concerns about the two-time defending AFC champions were furthered after a first-half performance against the Washington Football Team that saw them trail 13-10 at the half.

Patrick Mahomes threw two interceptions, one off the hands of Tyreek Hill and another with an inexplicable decision to toss the ball up for grabs after fumbling the snap.

However, a touchdown pass to Hill and Darrel Williams' second rushing score of the game put Kansas City in command before Mahomes found Demarcus Robinson in the endzone to secure a 31-13 win that moves them within striking distance of the Chargers in the AFC West.

Five in a row for Packers

The Packers are far from the finished product at this stage of the season, but it is now five wins in a row for Green Bay after their 24-14 victory over NFC North rivals the Chicago Bears.

Aaron Rodgers averaged 8.5 yards per pass play and threw for two touchdowns, with the Packers quarterback reminding the Bears' fans at Soldier Field of his hold over the division after running for a score that effectively put the game to bed.

The Los Angeles Rams are also 5-1 after Matthew Stafford threw four touchdown passes in a 38-11 rout of the New York Giants.

Originally scheduled for last Thursday as part of the Thanksgiving schedule, the Week 12 game was delayed until Sunday amid a coronavirus outbreak in the Ravens camp.

It was then pushed back to Tuesday, and on Monday it was postponed by another 24 hours.

The depleted Ravens (6-4) placed three more starters on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday as they prepared to face AFC North rivals the Steelers (10-0).

The NFL confirmed the Week 12 clash had officially been moved to Wednesday, while two other games were also impacted.

The Steelers' home game against the Washington Football Team was moved from December 6 to December 7.

The Ravens' hosting of the Dallas Cowboys, meanwhile, was pushed back from December 3 to December 8.

"These decisions were made out of an abundance of caution to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and game day personnel and in consultation with medical experts," the NFL said.

Haskins – a first-round draft pick in 2019 – seemed set to serve as Washington's first-choice quarterback in 2020 after an indifferent rookie season.

The 23-year-old shared quarterback duties last year, but Case Keenum has since moved on to the Cleveland Browns.

However, Rivera has suggested it will not be straightforward for Haskins, with veteran Alex Smith making progress towards a return to the field few thought possible when he suffered a compound fracture of his tibia and fibula in 2018.

The devastating injury saw Smith miss the entire 2019 season, with the former first overall pick then developing life-threatening sepsis and requiring 17 surgeries to prevent his leg from being amputated.

Smith was cleared to resume football activities in July but remains on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

"The biggest thing we've got to do is not make sure we're divvying up the reps as evenly as possible, but we divvy up who they work against," Rivera told a news conference.

"This could be a very interesting challenge for us because of Alex Smith. If Alex is healthy and continues to get healthy and we do activate him, he's going to be in the throes of this competition.

"It's going to unfold very nicely as a football team for us because competition is only going to make you better. It's going to push the young guys as well.

"I just feel really good about what we're going to be doing as we start going forward. It'll be a very challenging situation to make sure everybody's reps are equitable, and their competition is the same."

While Rivera seems set on giving Smith a chance, he also backed Haskins to become a leader for the team this season.

"I think the one thing I did say to Dwayne in one of the opportunities he came to first see me was being the leader is not just what you do on the football field, but what you do off of the football field as well," Rivera said.

"He's taken that to heart and has done a great job. He's competing, he's doing the things we need him to do, he's being very professional about the way he's handling himself and he's really been very thoughtful in terms of his actions.

"So that's one thing that's been a big plus. It really has. I've been really pleased with what we've got from him."

Friday's announcement came as no surprise, considering there had been widespread reports of Smith's impending release at the start of the week.

The 36-year-old was pivotal in helping Washington rally from a 2-7 record to win the NFC East and qualify for the playoffs, throwing for 1,582 yards, six touchdowns and eight interceptions after stepping in to take over as starter from Kyle Allen.

However, the former number one overall pick was sidelined by a calf issue for the Wild Card loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Taylor Heinicke started instead and, having done well in his limited opportunities at the back end of the season, was handed a new two-year contract in February. 

Smith was voted as the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year by the Associated Press having recovered from a career-threatening leg injury to resume his career, though he is now looking for a new home after Washington agreed to cut him.

"I had a chance to meet with Alex Smith this week and we had a very honest and real discussion," Rivera said in a statement released by Washington. "We had the chance to reflect on the 2020 season and talk about moving forward into the next year. 

"After the conclusion of that meeting, we decided that it would be best for both parties to move on, and we will be granting Alex his request to be released. 

"I want to thank Alex for his contributions this past year. He made such an impact on our young roster and his leadership was one of the key factors in our late-season success, and in making the playoffs for the first time since 2015. 

"Everyone here in Washington wishes Alex and his family the best going forward and appreciates all that he gave to our organisation."

Smith, who previously played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, made clear in an interview with GQ last month that he intends to carry on playing in 2021, insisting he had "got more left" following his long road to recovery.

He underwent 17 operations and overcame sepsis after suffering a compound fracture injury to his right leg in a game against the Houston Texans in November 2018.