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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Barcelona are set to move for Chelsea’s David Luiz after having their transfer ban lifted as they launch an appeal, .
The Catalan club have long been linked with a move for the Brazil international, who has been used sparingly since Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge.
The 27 year old has started just fifteen games in the Premier League so far this season, and could well be moved on when the transfer window reopens.
Barca are eyeing a replacement for Carlos Puyol, who is set to end his time at the Nou Camp in the summer, and see Luiz as an ideal man to fill the void.
Chelsea played out a goalless draw against Atletico Madrid in the Calderon in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final yesterday evening and the Blues, who won the com…
England manager Roy Hodgson says Tuesday s friendly with Scotland will serve his side well in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
Clashes between the neighbouring nations are often fiercely contested affairs, with England claiming a 3-2 victory when they last met at Wembley in August 2013.
But asked whether there was ever such thing as a friendly against Scotland, Hodgson said: Why not? I don t really know why not? The game at Wembley last year was fantastic for us, we had to pull out all the stops.
For me that s the type of friendly you want.
Qualifying has to be our be-all and end-all, but in between we are trying to find fixtures that will test us, give us a flavour of matches to come.
I won t go down the obvious route of we don t like the …
Iran champions Sepahan are on the brink of a third consecutive title.
Sepahan kept their three-point lead at the top of the league with one game to play despite a 0-0 Isfahan derby draw with Zob Ahan on Sunday.
In the penultimate round of fixtures, Sepahan could only manage a goalless draw with the 2010 AFC Champions League runners-up. However, second-placed Tractor Sazi failed to capitalise on Sepahan s slip-up after drawing 0-0 with relegated bottom club Mes Sarcheshme.
Meanwhile, third-placed Esteghlal kept alive their remote title hopes after a 2-1 win away to Sanat Naft moved them level on points with second-placed Tractor Sazi.
Sepahan can clinch their fourth Iranian title when they host Mes Sarcheshme on Friday, with any result enough to guarantee…
Chelsea will aim to recover from seeing their unbeaten start to 2014-15 end when they host Sporting Lisbon in the UEFA Champions League.
Jose Mourinho s side tasted defeat for the first time this season on Saturday, going down 2-1 at Newcastle United in the Premier League.
That ended a club-record-equalling 23-match unbeaten run, which stretched back into the 2013-14 campaign.
Chelsea s previous loss came in the semi-final second leg of last season s Champions League, when Atletico Madrid came away from Stamford Bridge with a 3-1 success back in April.
Having already secured progress to the last 16 as winners of Group G, Chelsea face a Sporting side who need a point to clinch their own qualification on Wednesday.
And goalkeeper Thibaut Court…
Gareth Southgate praised the ruthlessness of Bukayo Saka after his starring role in England s 2-0 win over Ukraine.
England made it six points from two Euro 2024 qualifiers with a routine win at Wembley on Sunday.
Saka, a leading light in Arsenal s challenge for the Premier League title, supplied the assist for Harry Kane s opener in the 37th minute.
He then made it 2-0 three minutes later by bending a magnificent long-range strike into the top-right corner, his eighth goal for the Three Lions.
It is a top-level finish [from Saka], Southgate told Channel 4.
That is the ruthless part he has added to his game in the last 18 months or so. There were times you weren t sure he was going to finish, but now he has that confidence in front of goal.
Romelu Lukaku is giving excellent signals following a timely return to form, according to Inter head coach Simone Inzaghi.
The Belgium international has scored just four goals for the Nerazzurri since returning on loan from Chelsea last June.
Two of those have come in his last four appearances including the winner in the first leg of Inter s Champions League last-16 tie with Porto.
The striker is just one goal away from becoming only the fourth player to score 50 times in Serie A and the Premier League, after Gianfranco Zola, Edin Dzeko and Cristiano Ronaldo.
We know his value, he came from a problematic period, and now he is giving excellent signals, Inzaghi said of Lukaku during his press conference ahead of Inter s clash with Spezia on Friday.
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Competition: Serie A
Market: Torino to beat Benevento
Odds:
Serie A returns this weekend for yet another massive round of games as the competition continues to simmer away nicely. Every side will be desperate to pick up a win, with the three points crucial to the season-long objectives of every team, be it for survival or for the European places. With this in mind, Torino host Benevento on Sunday.
Torino have been in good form this season and they are looking to climb up the table and into the European places. After 21 games they have won six, drawn 11 and lost four, scoring 29 goals and conceding 28 times. In their last five games they have managed to win once, while they have drawn once and lost three times, which has seen them onto 29 points…
I have always liked Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe. He comes across as an intelligent guy, who talks sense when it comes to football. The Cherries boss also seems to be honest as well.
His no BS personality is a breath of fresh air in the Premier League, where bosses spend so much time playing mind games. Apart from his obvious good character traits, there is the fact that he is a good football manager too.
I have to admit I was starting to lose faith in Eddie a few weeks ago. However, the last few Bournemouth games culminating in last night’s excellent 3-0 win at champions Chelsea has made me a believer in the highly rated Cherries boss.
His football philosophy admirable
Howe has never changed his football philosophy. He helped the Cherries to promotion …
Bayern Munich left-back Diego Contento has signed a contract extension with the Bavarians until June 2016.
The defender s previous deal was to expire in 12 months, and a number of clubs were closely monitoring Contento s situation.
However, the 22-year-old has moved to end all speculation about his future by signing a three-year extension to his existing contract.
Contento is a product of the Bayern youth academy, and made his official first team debut in February 2010.
The former Germany Under-20 starlet has made 47 competitive appearances for Bayern to date.
The defender faces stiff competition from Austria international David Alaba for the position of left-back at the Bavarian giants.
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Japan s national team manager Alberto Zaccheroni has agreed to a contract extension, according to reports.
According to sources from within the Japan Football Association (JFA), the Italian s term at the helm of the Samurai Blue will be extended by one year, with another one-year extension depending on the team reaching the 2014 World Cup.
Zaccheroni s previous contract was due to expire in August, but his extension means he will lead the team throughout Cup qualifying as well as the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil.
The Italian took over Japan following the 2010 World Cup, beginning his tenure with a 1-0 win against a Lionel Messi-led Argentina that October. Just five months later, Japan captured the 2011 Asian Cup after defeating Australia in extra-time.
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