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Reunion with Eric Bieniemy for Chiefs’ playoff run unlikely | AtoZSports
Kansas City Chiefs fans hoping for a reunion with former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy for the team’s upcoming playoff run shouldn’t hold their breath.
Despite the Washington Commanders relieving HC Ron Rivera of his duties, Bieniemy remains as the team’s assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. He signed a two-year contract this past offseason, which means he’s still obligated to remain in Washington unless they were to dismiss him as well.
Here is what the Dolphins said about playing the Chiefs in Wild Card Round | Kansas City Star
“I‘m very confident that our players and coaches will turn their attention full bore to Kansas City because that’s all we can do,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said in a postgame news conference. “And this is a feeling that I can’t console or fix it with the team. It hurts. It should.” McDaniel also expects the rematch with the Chiefs to be different in some ways from the game in Germany. “The Kansas City Chiefs play their style of defense. I think there’ll be a fair amount (of similarities), but things change during the season,” McDaniel said. “Different players come in, there’s injuries. There’s evolution to what you’re doing. So it’s not like it’s ever the exact same thing when you play someone in the middle of the season and then play them in the postseason.
The 2023 season brought many struggles for the Chiefs, who captured their eighth straight AFC West title with an 11-6 record. However, Mahomes and his offense were a level below dominant Chiefs teams of the past, and he was unable to hide his frustration about it on several occasions.
His positive message in the locker room after Kansas City beat the Los Angeles Chargers looked different from the angry, finger-pointing quarterback that showed up in previous games this season, like against the Raiders, Bills and Eagles
Dolphins facing sub-zero showdown against the Chiefs in Kansas City | MARCA
While Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are no strangers to cold weather, having the advantage of playing in below-zero temperatures, the Dolphins face a challenging adjustment.Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, known for his aerial prowess, may find the cold weather an unfamiliar adversary.With a 0-4 record in games where the temperature at kickoff was 45 degrees or less, Tagovailoa faces a chilly challenge.
The Chiefs, having closed out the season with wins over the Bengals and Chargers, ride the wave of momentum into the playoffs.
“The Arrowhead Events team is excited to open up GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to host our friends from Sporting KC for their match against Inter Miami CF this spring,” Kansas City Chiefs and Arrowhead Events President Mark Donovan said. “The venue remains one of the top destinations and experiences for fans of all sports. The interest and demand for this match is extremely high, and we know that both clubs, their supporters, and viewers will enjoy experiencing this unique soccer match played at the home of the Chiefs.”
Around the NFL
Jaguars fire defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell, his staff after two seasons | NFL.com
Following a collapse from first place to an early offseason, the Jacksonville Jaguars have begun to make changes.
The Jags have fired defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and his staff, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.
FOX Sports’ Greg Auman first reported the news.
The Jaguars lost five of their last six, going from 8-3 to finishing their season at 9-8 a year after winning the AFC South title. Home for the winter, Caldwell and his counterparts’ dismissal comes after the defense allowed 28 or more points in four of those aforementioned five defeats, including Sunday’s season-ending 28-20 loss to the last-place Tennessee Titans.
“I feel like I went through the whole process last year,” Barkley said of meeting with general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll, per the New York Daily News. “We talked more than enough last year to be honest. Not just talking with Joe but the whole negotiation thing. I’m gonna let my agents handle that.”
As for the franchise tag, Barkley wants the Giants to use it soon if they’re going to or let him test free agency. The deadline for teams to apply the franchise tag is March 5.
Wink Martindale to resign as Giants defensive coordinator | ESPN
Martindale’s rocky relationship with coach Brian Daboll was at the heart of the divorce. It was reported during the season that the two were in a “bad place.” The relationship did not improve dramatically down the stretch, according to another source close to the situation.
The Giants also fired special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins and his brother Kevin Wilkins on Monday.
The Wilkins brothers were two of Martindale’s top assistants after coming with him from Baltimore. They were fired when it was clear Martindale would not return for a third season with the Giants.
In case you missed it on Arrowhead Pride
11 winners and 3 losers from the Chiefs’ regular-season finale
Winners
The other defensive linemen — Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Tershawn Wharton, Neil Farrell, B.J. Thompson and Malik Herring: Even without some of its starters, the Kansas City defense was — once again — mostly fantastic. Each of these players had a tackle-for-loss, a sack, a quarterback hit or a batted pass. They all took advantage of their chance to showcase their abilities — and the results were pretty promising.
Social media to make you think
“I’m glad the Chiefs are playing the Dolphins. I want only the toughest teams. I don’t want to play a rookie QB in C.J. Stroud, I want to play Tyreek Hill. With full attention, the Chiefs are as good as anybody in the league.”
— @getnickwright on KC’s first round opponent: pic.twitter.com/GiIwZbQrC1
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) January 9, 2024