It’s going to take a lot more than a hectic offseason that changed the landscape of the NFL to throw teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens of course.All three will still be in action come playoff time, and there’s a good chance that at least one will make it to February for the Super Bowl.But other teams that were serious contenders not long ago already find themselves in a precarious position, with the regular season set to kick off in less than four weeks.Here are three teams that could miss out on the postseason in 2024:Cincinnati BengalsAfter losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl to cap the 2021 campaign and falling to Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game a year later, Cincinnati went 9-8 and missed out on the playoffs last season.And things are only about to get worse for the Bengals.Sure, you could blame quarterback Joe Burrow’s wrist injury as the root cause of Cincinnati’s struggles in 2023, and it likely was, but the Bengals allowed the 12th-most points per game in the league (22.6) and were in a stacked division that featured three playoff teams.Both the Ravens and Cleveland Browns still pose a threat in the AFC North, and Cincinnati is now without running back Joe Mixon and hasn’t been willing to get a new deal done with star wideout Ja’Marr Chase.Chase hasn’t been practicing because of the contract situation. So yes, Burrow might be back, but he’s going to have trouble leading an offense that could end up heavily relying on running back Zack Moss and receiver Andrei Iosivas.Green Bay Packers The Packers have once again found themselves a long-term QB to build around. source: Getty Images Jordan Love may have already made Green Bay fans forget Aaron Rodgers’ name.Alright, that’s probably not the case. However, Love helped the Packers shatter expectations in 2023 in his first season as a full-time starter, with Green Bay landing a wild-card spot.Love’s breakout season (4,159 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, 11 interceptions) earned him a four-year, $220 million extension this offseason, leading many to believe that the Packers are going to start dominating the NFC North once again.Not so fast.There’s a very realistic possibility that Green Bay has to settle for third place in the division. The Detroit Lions are currently the favorites to come out on top, and should No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams solve the Chicago Bears’ issues under center, they could be great, too.Have no fear, Packers fans. Green Bay isn’t going to stay down for long. The future is still bright. However, this is the most competitive the NFC North has been in years.New York Jets Aaron Rodgers is hopeful to start the entire season for the New York Jets. source: Getty Images Something about a 40-year-old Rodgers coming off a season-ending Achilles injury just doesn’t move us.When the season is all said and done, we think it could even be running back Breece Hall, whom people credit with headlining the New York offense. Crazy, right? But Hall came just 6 rushing yards short of 1,000 a season ago, and he’s only expected to get better.Don’t be surprised if the Jets have to lean on their defense to win a handful of games this season. Rodgers isn’t superhuman. And we understand that that can be a tough pull to swallow. Truth is, he’s going to slow down at some point, and we believe that time has finally come.
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Simone Inzaghi is aware of the importance of Inter s upcoming trip to Viktoria Plzen as he targets 10 points to stand a chance of progressing from a difficult Champions League group.
Having been drawn alongside two European heavyweights in Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Inter know taking maximum points against the Czech champions will be key to their hopes.
Inter suffered a chastening 2-0 defeat to Bayern on matchday one, but they have only lost their opening two games in one previous Champions League campaign, doing so in 2006-07 under Roberto Mancini.
Inzaghi emphasised the significance of bouncing back from that disappointment on Tuesday as he labelled Group C the toughest in the competition.
Undoubtedly, it is an important match; we know we ha…
Ivan Gazidis will step down as CEO of Milan when his contract expires next month, the reigning Serie A champions have announced.
The 58-year-old had held the position at San Siro since December 2018 following a decade as part of Arsenal s boardroom.
During Gazidis four years at Milan, the club ended an 11-season wait for the Scudetto, returned to the Champions League and improved their financial figures.
Amid recent speculation regarding his future beyond this year, the Rossoneri confirmed on their official website on Wednesday that Gazidis will depart on December 5.
Commenting on the announcement, Milan chairman Paolo Scaroni said: On behalf of everyone associated with AC Milan, I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Ivan for his passion and dedica…
Liverpool defender and Women s Super League (WSL) record appearance maker Gilly Flaherty has announced her retirement from playing at the age of 31 for family reasons.
Flaherty made 177 WSL appearances with Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham and Liverpool, whom she joined last July.
She brings down the curtain on a career that saw her win four WSL titles, seven Women s FA Cups and the Women s Champions League in 2007.
London-born Flaherty, who also won nine caps for England, took the decision to hang up her boots following the recent death of her father.
A record breaker and history maker
We wish you all the best in retirement, Gilly Flaherty!
— Barclays Women s Super League (@BarclaysWSL)
It isn t a decision I ve taken lightly …
The Women’s Super League and Championship are preparing to break free from the Football Association after the top two tiers unanimously agreed to be governed by a new, independent body from next season.
Former Nike and Citigroup executive Nikki Doucet has been appointed to lead the organisation, NewCo, effective immediately, and will oversee plans for all 24 clubs to move into the new governance structure ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
Each club who participates in the WSL and Championship will act as shareholders under the NewCo model, which has long been in the works and is seen as an important step in growing what an independent review concluded this summer has potential to become a billion-pound domestic women’s football industry within 10 years.
The and…
Best Odds: 4/7
Bookmaker:
Looking to lay down another Group B marker and put one foot in the knockout stage, England will meet the USA on Friday night at the Al Bayt Stadium.
England
Starting with England, while the Three Lions might have opened this year s World Cup in the midst of an extended blip, Gareth Southgate s men laid down a real marker earlier in the week. Putting on a thumping display in Doha as they breezed their way to a 6-2 romp against Iran, the European giants will be desperate to use that as a platform to build on. Tipped as the leading contender to claim top spot in Group B, England will now be hoping to find some stability at the back. Signing off their pre-World Cup preparations with an action-packed 3-3 draw against Germany during Septembe…
Carlos Queiroz has demanded Jurgen Klinsmann resign from his FIFA position after making a string of accusations about Iran s World Cup team, labelling the German s comments a disgrace .
Iran head coach Queiroz reacted after his team were accused by Klinsmann of having worked the referee during the 2-0 win against Wales on Friday.
Working as a BBC pundit, Klinsmann suggested Iran getting to the match officials and pushing the boundaries of acceptability was part of their culture .
In response, Queiroz suggested California-based Klinsmann s outrageous remarks stemmed from his American/German background.
He said Klinsmann should visit Iran s training camp to learn more about the team, but must step down from FIFA s World Cup technical study group beforehand.…
Liverpool and Manchester City are doing battle for the Premier League title and both sides also remain in the hunt for the Champions League.
The Reds face Porto on Wednesday, holding a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping for a repeat of their rampant 5-0 victory at Estadio do Dragao in last season s round of 16 a game in which Sadio Mane starred.
City, meanwhile, host Tottenham, with Pep Guardiola s side having to comeback from a 1-0 deficit, though Mauricio Pochettino will have to do without Harry Kane, who was injured in the first leg.
Here are some essential Opta Facts as we close in on the business end of the competition.
Porto v Liverpool
3 Mane scored a hat-trick for Liverpool versus Porto last term…
St Johnstone have signed Kerr Smith on loan and striker Benjamin Kimpioka on a permanent deal, subject to international clearance.
Aston Villa announced 19-year-old Scottish central defender Kerr has signed a new contract before making the loan switch back north for the remainder of the season.
Saints also confirmed 23-year-old Swedish forward Kimpioka, who previously had a spell at Sunderland, has joined on an 18-month contract from AIK.
Smith will join up with Craig Levein’s squad immediately, although St Johnstone’s cinch Premiership game against Dundee at Dens Park has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
He began his senior career with Dundee United and made 12 first-team appearances, making his debut at Ibrox at the age of 16, before signi…
Thomas Tuchel hopes to have a fully-fit Chelsea squad for the EFL Cup final against Liverpool after Hakim Ziyech and Mateo Kovacic recovered from knocks, while Reece James could also return.
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Chelsea are seeking their fourth trophy under Tuchel, having already won the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.
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Having joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig last summer, Christopher Nkunku missed a large chunk of the season so far through a knee injury. He recovered in time to appear in the final three games of 2023, but now he is injured again, and manager Mauricio Pochettino has expressed concern about the situation with the 26-year-old forward.
I am a little worried with the situation
Mauricio Pochettino on Christopher Nkunku s hip injury, who recently returned to the squad after a long-term injury and is now set for another period on the sidelines
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews)
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