It’s quite ironic that the Chicago Bears’ poor management at the end of their Thanksgiving Day game with Detroit led to the dismissal of coach Matt Eberflus. This incident highlights the various shortcomings that prevent teams like the Bears from overcoming their own obstacles.

In contrast, the Detroit Lions (11-1) have emphasized preparation for critical game situations, making them a prime example of effective coaching. As a result, Lions’ sharp coordinators, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, are viewed as leading contenders for head coach roles as teams look to make changes.

Every week, Lions coach Dan Campbell holds a “situational meeting” with his coordinators, Johnson on offense and Glenn on defense, along with other key staff members like special teams coordinator Dave Fipp and assistant head coach Scott Montgomery.

When asked why it is crucial to have both Johnson and Glenn present for these meetings, Campbell explained how they prepare for critical late-game situations. His insight reveals not just the team’s strategies but also the bright futures ahead for Johnson and Glenn as they aim for coaching positions elsewhere.

Campbell acknowledges the reality: Johnson and Glenn may be nearing the end of their time in Detroit.

And they are proactive about it.

“They’re both destined to be head coaches one day,” Campbell said. “It’s beneficial for them to experience this. They also gain insights from the defensive perspective on managing games. This experience will help them make informed decisions on their own teams in the future.

“They might take a more cautious or a more aggressive route, but what matters is having all the information to make the best choices. It’s been very effective for us.”

During Campbell’s time as an assistant under Sean Payton with the New Orleans Saints, he learned valuable lessons about preparing for key game scenarios. While most teams in the league focus on this to some degree, the level of attention varies, as anyone who has been coached by Bill Belichick or Bill Parcells can confirm. Campbell recalled how Payton involved the whole team in this preparation every Saturday morning.

The Bears truly could have benefitted from such preparation.

With Eberflus becoming the first head coach in the Bears’ long history to be fired mid-season, three teams have already started their coaching searches early. The Jets let go of Robert Saleh in October; the Saints parted ways with Dennis Allen in early November.

Eberflus (14-32 in nearly three seasons) has been succeeded by interim coach Thomas Brown, who was recently promoted from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator after the firing of Shane Waldron.

By mid-January, it’s predicted that at least seven head-coaching positions will be available. Johnson, who has been a sought-after candidate in the past two hiring cycles, along with Glenn, will be at the top of many lists—including that of the Bears, who are looking to build around quarterback Caleb Williams, the first pick in April’s draft.

Campbell stated, “All three of these guys are stars in the making. When the time comes, we’ll embrace it and maximize our opportunities.”

Meanwhile, the competition will continue to foster growth and development among the coaching staff.

Amari Cooper Enjoys New Opportunities with Bills

Amari Cooper seems to be in a great spot. The talented receiver was traded from a struggling Browns team to a competitive Bills organization (9-2), which has the chance to be the first in the NFL this season to secure a division title with a win against the 49ers on Sunday.

“As kids, we all dream about making it to the NFL, but we never imagine being part of a losing team,” Cooper shared with YSL News Sports. “We envision playing for winning teams, those that make the playoffs and go to the Super Bowl. I feel like I’m living that dream. I’m just taking it all in.”

At 30, Cooper is now on his fourth team in 11 NFL seasons. This isn’t his first experience moving from a last-place team to one with championship potential. In 2018, the Cowboys traded for Cooper from the Raiders, who finished 4-12, and went on to win the NFC East. Despite this, he has experienced only one playoff victory, a Wild Card round win for Dallas against Seattle in 2018.

This new chapter with the Bills may prove to be a different playoff experience for him. The Bills undoubtedly see him as a key player during the crucial end-of-season stretch, especially after revamping their wide receiver lineup, which previously included Pro Bowl star Stefon Diggs.

“It’s all about the numbers,” Cooper shared. “If you stick around in the league long enough, there’s a chance the luck will be in your favor, and you’ll end up on a strong team. That’s essentially what it boils down to. When the opportunity arises, you have to seize it.”

The Kirk Cousins Factor

There’s a lot of curiosity about which version of Kirk Cousins will take the field on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, as the Falcons (6-5) aim for a victory against the L.A. Chargers to end a two-game losing streak. They’re trying to maintain a once-comfortable lead in the NFC South.

In the six games that resulted in victories, Cousins boasts a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 14-2, along with a pass efficiency rating of 114.1.

Conversely, in the five losses, his ratio dips to 3-7, with a rating of 73.5.

The takeaway from these statistics is that the Falcons have struggled to secure wins when Cousins isn’t performing at his best. Nonetheless, they committed to him with a hefty free-agent contract (four years, $180 million, with $100 million guaranteed) with hopes he can help lead the team toward achieving their first division title and first playoff win since 2016.

Quick Updates

∎Terry McLaurin’s performance is usually either outstanding or disappointing. Across six games this season, including five with over 100 yards and one close at 98 yards, the Washington receiver has averaged 108.3 yards. However, in the other six games, he averaged just 28.8 yards, with four of those games yielding under 23 yards. This trend does not necessarily correlate with whether the Commanders (7-5) win or lose; they lost two games where McLaurin surpassed 100 yards, but won when he recorded just 19 and 22 yards against the Giants.

∎The Chiefs (11-1) have secured a playoff spot, becoming the first NFL team to do so this season after narrowly beating the Raiders on Friday. However, concerns grew as Patrick Mahomes was sacked five times for the second consecutive game. Left tackle Wanya Morris struggled significantly and was ultimately replaced. During Friday’s game, Joe Thuney was moved from left guard to take on the left tackle position, and Mike Caliendo stepped in for Thuney. The next challenge is the recently acquired veteran D.J. Humphries, who has been recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last season with the Cardinals, but has been participating in practice for about a week. Stay tuned for updates.