NFL News

With less than a week until the Super Bowl, all eyes are on the big game. Will Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs be able to win back-to-back championships? Or will Tom Brady secure his eighth Super Bowl ring?
While most of the focus is on the game, there has still been plenty of news circulating around the league. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories.
Lions Trade Star Quarterback Matthew Stafford To Rams
On Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions agreed to a blockbuster trade. For the Rams, they will receive quarterback Matthew Stafford while the Lions receive quarterback Jared Goff, two first-round picks (for 2022 and 2023), and a third-round pick for this year’s draft.
In Stafford, who will turn 33 the day of the Super Bowl, the Rams are receiving a veteran quarterback that has not had the opportunity to shine due to a lackluster cast around him. Having played for the Lions since he broke into the league in 2009, Stafford is a combined 74-90-1.
Again, the Lions have struggled to consistently give Stafford the tools to succeed. Despite that, he has still played well. This season, Stafford threw for 4,084 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
The Rams are hoping that Stafford can be a step up from the departing Goff and can put a team that seems close to contending for a Super Bowl over the top.
In Goff, the Lions are getting a player that went 9-6 this season while throwing for 3,952 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. In 2018, Goff threw for 4,688 yards, 32 touchdowns, and just 12 interceptions and seemed on the cusp of stardom. Unfortunately, the 26-year-old Goff has struggled with consistency since then.
For the Lions, they are hoping to tap into the potential upside of Goff while also cashing in on three high picks over the next few seasons.
COVID Scare For Super Bowl
While the NFL has been able to walk the tightrope this season in terms of COVID-19 outbreaks, the biggest concerns have been trying to get through the playoffs without any major setbacks.
Earlier this week, the Super Bowl had its first hiccup. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Kansas City Chiefs have placed center Daniel Kilgore and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson on the COVID-19 list.
Luckily, these placements are not due to a positive test. Rather, the two are believed to have been in close contact, meaning as long as they test negative throughout the week, they will be good to go for the big game.
While Kilgore has not been a starter for the Chiefs, Demarcus Robinson has been a little more instrumental in the offense. While not a primary weapon like Tyreek Hill or Travis Kelce, Robinson did have 45 catches for 466 yards and 3 touchdowns during the regular season.
Obviously, with the Super Bowl just days away, the NFL is hoping to avoid any other setbacks so that both teams can be at full strength Sunday night.
Falcons Not Interested In Trading Ryan Or Jones
After watching the Stafford deal unfold, there was some belief that the Atlanta Falcons could try to dangle veteran quarterback Matt Ryan, along with superstar wide receiver Julio Jones, in potential trade talks.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, though, it appears that the Falcons have had no such discussions. While things can change quickly in the offseason, the expectation is that both of these players will return to Atlanta next season.
For Ryan, the 35-year-old threw for 4,581 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions this season. Unfortunately, despite the strong numbers, it was still only good enough for a team record of 4-12.
For Jones, he struggled with injuries this season, only playing in nine games. In that span, he had 771 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns. Despite the injury-riddled season, the 31-year-old would still be highly sought after if he were made available.