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By Marc Lawrence
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Thursday-Friday, Dec 25-26 |
John Harbaugh's future with the Baltimore Ravens is uncertain amid coaching rumors.
However, Harbaugh emphasizes focusing on the present: “The future is today. The future is the Green Bay Packers.”
If available, Harbaugh could become a top candidate for the New York Giants' head coach
Harbaugh, the longest-tenured coach in the NFL today, has been leading the Ravens since the 2008 season. Despite winning a Super Bowl in 2012 and owning a 179-112 overall record, it appears he’s on the hot seat this winter.
Sure, just like the Giants and Jets are a threat to meet in next year’s Super Bowl.
PLEASE NOTE: This a DOUBLE COFFEE CLUB Holiday edition. We’ return early Saturday morning with a look at this weekend’s sports card.
In the meantime, the entire staff at the PLAYBOOK wishes you and yours a very Merry Christmas and/or a Happy Hanukkah! |
ON TODAY'S SCORECARD
One Score Wonders
From this week’s PLAYBOOK MIDWEEK ALERT Football Newsletter: We’re back to check on how NFL teams are faring in one-score games (losing OR winning a game by 8 or fewer points) this season. Here’s the current SU tally...
| Team TOTAL Wins Losses |
| Arizona |
10 |
2 |
8 |
| Atlanta |
8 |
3 |
5 |
| Baltimore |
6 |
2 |
4 |
| Buffalo |
7 |
5 |
2 |
| Carolina |
9 |
7 |
2 |
| Chicago |
9 |
7 |
2 |
| Cincinnati |
7 |
4 |
4 |
| Cleveland |
7 |
1 |
6 |
| Dallas (1 tie) |
7 |
3 |
3 |
| Denver |
12 |
10 |
2 |
| Detroit |
7 |
2 |
5 |
| Green Bay (1 tie) |
10 |
4 |
5 |
| Houston |
10 |
5 |
5 |
| Indianapolis |
8 |
3 |
5 |
| Jacksonville |
8 |
5 |
3 |
| Kansas City |
8 |
1 |
7 |
| Las Vegas |
6 |
1 |
5 |
| LA Chargers |
7 |
6 |
1 |
| LA Rams |
8 |
4 |
4 |
| Miami |
6 |
3 |
3 |
| Minnesota |
9 |
5 |
4 |
| New England |
10 |
7 |
3 |
| New Orleans |
6 |
2 |
4 |
| NY Giants |
8 |
1 |
7 |
| NY Jets |
8 |
3 |
5 |
| Philadelphia |
10 |
7 |
3 |
| Pittsburgh |
8 |
6 |
2 |
| San Francisco |
5 |
4 |
1 |
| Seattle |
9 |
6 |
3 |
| Tampa Bay |
10 |
5 |
5 |
| Tennessee |
6 |
2 |
4 |
| Washington |
5 |
1 |
4 |
For what it’s worth, the Chiefs led the league in one-score games last season with 12. Amazingly, they won all 12 games. |
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GRINDING OUT THE PROFITS
Tractor Pull
From the 2025 PLAYBOOK COLLEGE BOWL GUIDE ISSUE #2
First Responder Bowl • Friday Dec 26
UTSA over FIU by 11
It’s a big achievement for the Golden Panthers to make a bowl game; the last one was in 2019 under Butch Davis, while UTSA is a postseason regular under Jeff Traylor, riding a six-game bowl streak. FIU is 4-0 ATS in this series and 3-1 SU/4-0 ATS coming off a win while scoring 40 or more points. The favorite has been chalky in this bowl with a surprising 14-0 SU/8-4-1 ATS all-time. Willie Simmons’ Panthers finished 4-0 SUATS over the final four games, but they fattened up on the weaker teams, going 4-0 ATS against losing teams but 2-5 SU/3-4 ATS against the winners. Texas-San Antonio has been a consistent winner under Traylor, who’s 36-21-1 ATS in games his Roadrunners win as the favorite and 39-3-1 ATS when favored by six or fewer. FIU tends to win when it runs the ball well; UTSA’s preferred method is the pass game. Get UTSA out of San Antonio, and they’re a different team, but it’s only 280 miles between the Alamodome and Gerald R. Ford Stadium in University Park, so we’ll jump on the Roadrunners bus as long as the Tractor is driving.
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TRENDING TODAY
Big Lump of Coal
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When the 2025 NFL schedule was announced back in the spring, the Christmas slate did sound intriguing. Five of the six teams playing on Christmas won at least 10 games and made the playoffs last season. It felt like a safe bet.
Instead, the three-game slate is looking like a big lump of coal in the stockings of every NFL fan.
Whether it was underperformance or the injury bug hitting each locker room, four of the six teams playing on Christmas Day are officially eliminated from postseason contention, and only one—the Broncos—have clinched a playoff spot.
To make matters worse, all three of the Christmas games will feature one starting quarterback who began the season as a third-stringer on the depth chart. Josh Johnson, Max Brosmer and Chris Oladokun will be starting under center as the Commanders, Vikings and Chiefs compete on Christmas Day.
Sheesh. Hurry, bring back the NBA on Christmas ... now. |
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SMART BOX
Knocking at the Door
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Seven wins. One loss. Zero playoff tickets.
In the entire Super Bowl era, only SIX NFL teams have ever sprinted out to a 7-1 start and still found a way to miss the postseason. That’s not a typo.
Historically, a 7-1 start delivers a playoff berth more than 97% of the time. Once a team hits that mark, December football usually becomes a tune-up, not a survival drill.
But these six franchises rewrote the script – and not in a good way.
THE INFAMOUS SIX:
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1978 Washington Redskins (8-8)
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1986 New York Jets (10-6)
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1993 Miami Dolphins (9-7)
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1996 San Diego Chargers (8-8)
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2001 San Diego Chargers (8-8)
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2009 Denver Broncos (8-8)
What went wrong? No mystery – every collapse followed a familiar Playbook horror script:
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QB chaos or season-altering injuries
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Turnover margins flipping violently
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Late-season gauntlets
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December free-falls (four lost 6+ games after starting 7-1)
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And in one brutal case… 10 wins still weren’t enough (looking at you, ’86 Jets)
Playbook perspective:
A 7-1 start isn’t just momentum – it’s historical insurance. These six teams didn’t just miss the playoffs… they earned a permanent spot in the NFL’s cautionary tale file.
Bottom line:
If a team starts 7-1, history says book the playoffs. Unless, of course, everything breaks – at once.
Such is the case for the Indianapolis Colts this season. The Grim Reaper is knocking at the door.
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STAT OF THE DAY
10-0 ATS |
The Detroit Lions record after
hosting an AFC opponent. |
QUOTE OF THE DAY |
"A banker is a fellow who lends you
his umbrella when the sun is shining,
but wants it back the minute
it begins to rain.”
- Mark Twain |
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