26CornerBlitz

Let's overreact to Week 16: Has Nick Foles overtaken Carson Wentz? Dan Graziano, ESPN Staff Writer Nick Foles deserves to be the Eagles' starting quarterback, even once Carson Wentz is healthy Is this really happening again? Is Foles really stepping in for an injured Wentz in December and leading the Eagles to important victories? Everyone's favorite Napoleon Dynamite lookalike completed 35 of 49 passes for 471 yards and four touchdowns in a game the Eagles needed to win in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. He beat the first-place Texans at home one week after beating the first-place Rams on the road. The Eagles can still make the playoffs if they win next week and the Vikings lose to the Bears. And if they get in, the defending Super Bowl champs are loaded with guys who know what it takes to win big games in January. Foles, the reigning Super Bowl MVP, is one of them. Graziano's verdict: OVERREACTION. This is the perfect example of "don't get fooled by the small sample size." Foles may be the perfect backup quarterback, since you know he can step in if needed and win you a few games -- even if one of those games is the Super Bowl. But did we forget about how he started the season? Have we not yet learned our lesson about Foles and consistency? Was there something about the way Wentz was playing before he got hurt that should lead the Eagles to doubt their long-term commitment to him? If anything, the way Foles is finishing this season provides the Eagles, who should have traded him last year when he was at all-time-high value, a second chance to get something in return. Of course, if he leads them to a second straight Super Bowl title, that's going to be a hard sell to the fan base. But the people who run the Eagles are a patient, big-picture bunch, and the bet here is that they're still all-in on Wentz for the long term. As they should be.

Pagano is Hoping to Get Another Shot at Coaching Former Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano was a guest on the "Rapsheet and Friends" podcast, marking a rare appearance since the Colts fired him after a 4-12 record in 2017. A well-rested Pagano, who has been working with the league as a consultant, touched on a variety of subjects, including a hope to return to the sidelines armed with experiences.

His family might well be a big part of the consideration.

Film Room: Lorenzo Alexander (3:03) In this week's episode of Inside the Film Room, HC Sean McDermott and Steve Tasker break down LB Lorenzo Alexander's top plays from the Week 16 game against the New England Patriots.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Kyle Williams is in no rush to determine his future. And the Buffalo Bills aren’t going to push the defensive tackle into making a decision about returning for a 14th season any time soon in what’s become an annual game of wait and see when it comes to the team’s respected leader and longest-tenured active player. “Do you want to read the transcript back from last year,” Williams said with a laugh on Wednesday. He was referring to the noncommittal responses he provided to the same questions a year ago before signing a one-year contract in March. And Williams’ comments were hardly different after the 2016 season, when he briefly contemplated retirement before electing to return in February for what was the final season of his three-year contract. The same applies this time, with Williams and the Bills (5-10) preparing to close out the season hosting Miami (7-8) on Sunday. Sure, the 35-year-old said, the thought of his future has briefly crossed his mind. And no, Williams isn’t going to share even a hint as to which way he’s leaning because it would only be a distraction. Otherwise, no timetable and no commitment. “I think whenever the decision comes out will be the appropriate time,” Williams said, appreciating how little he was divulging. It’s a stance the Bills fully respect, and a topic general manager Brandon Beane has no intention of broaching with the season coming to a close. “I’m not going to grab him on Monday and say, ‘Hey, Kyle, do you want to play?’” Beane told The Associated Press. “I think you’ve got to let him get away, let the body calm down, the mind, and then decide.” That said, Beane is more than open to having Williams return, and said the decision is essentially up to the player.

Coaching Candidates: Lots of Potential First-Timers By Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport NFL.com As a number of NFL teams contemplate final decisions on potential head-coaching changes, they must ask whether they can really get an upgrade over their incumbent coach. So, keep this in mind: Numerous NFL executives and other sources familiar with coaching searches have said in recent weeks they feel this is the thinnest pool of candidates in years, if not decades. It's not a surprise to see the Baltimore Ravens announce they're sticking with a Super Bowl winner in John Harbaugh, and no one should be shocked to hear the Carolina Panthers are leaning against making a change as we enter the regular season's final weekend. Harbaugh would've instantly been one of the hottest candidates, as would Ron Rivera if he came available. That doesn't mean good head coaches won't emerge from this group. There just aren't as many clear-cut, qualified choices that teams will race to hire, and decision makers might end up digging deeper to find the right person. The two teams with head-coaching vacancies already, the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers, both intend to conduct a large number of interviews -- perhaps a dozen, if not more, sources say. Last year, 27 different coaches interviewed for seven head-coaching vacancies, according to our database. The following is a list of names most likely to come up as interview targets this time around, listed alphabetically within each category. (Note: It does not include any current head coaches who have not yet been fired.)

Lorenzo Alexander: "Too Much Passion About What We Do" (4:23) LB Lorenzo Alexander talks about the importance of finishing out the season strong.

NFL Week 17 Game Capsules

12-26: Trevor Sikkema with Schopp & Sal on WGR (21:04) .@TampaBayTre joins Schopp & Sal now to talk some 2019 NFL Draft, Josh Allen, and Tyree Jackson! Sikkema - If Dwayne Haskins (Ohio State) declares, you're going to have multiple teams fighting to draft him. Not sure that'll be worth the investment like it was last year. Sikkema on the rookie QBs - It's really been best case scenario. Baker Mayfield has changed the culture in Cleveland. Darnold has been fine. I think he's shown progression. Josh Allen had struggles early on, but he's learned on the fly and rolled with some punches. Sikkema - Josh Rosen is tough. Basically no offensive line in front of him. He shows flashes at times, but it's been a rough year for him. Sikkema - Since Lamar Jackson has taken over, they've built a good offense around him. They'll start to make things a little more complicated for him. Sikkema on LB Josh Allen - This year they had Josh Allen just go off the edge and be a straight pass rusher this year. He was great. I'd hope they wouldn't pass on him just because he has the same name as the QB.

Miami Dolphins (7-8) Limited – S Walt Aikens (hand) – LB Kiko Alonso (knee/ hamstring) – DT Ziggy Hood (hamstring) – CB Xavien Howard (knee) – QB Ryan Tannehill (shoulder/ ankle) – OT Laremy Tunsil (knee) Did Not Practice – WR Danny Amendola (knee) – DE Andre Branch (knee) – S TJ McDonald (ankle) Injured Reserve – DE William Hayes (ACL) – C Daniel Kilgore (arm) – TE MarQueis Gray (ACL) – OL Josh Sitton (shoulder) – WR Albert Wilson (hip) – C Jake Brendel (knee) – CB Cordrea Tankersley (ACL) – QB Luke Falk (wrist) – LB Chase Allen (foot) – DT Vincent Taylor (foot) – TE AJ Derby (foot) – WR Jakeen Grant (ACL) – RB Frank Gore (foot) – WR Travis Rudeolph (ACL) Notes: Miami head coach Adam Gase said if Howard has “any pain” he won’t play vs. Bills. McDonald and Alonso did did not play last week. Amendola had a “veteran rest day” of sorts. Buffalo Bills (5-10) Limited – CB Ryan Lewis (concussion) Did Not Practice – WR Deonte Thompson (toe) – LB Julian Stanford (ankle) Notes: Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said Chris Ivory would practice in full (shoulder). Injured Reserve – RB Taiwan Jones (neck) – P Cory Carter (ACL) – C Russell Bodine (leg) – P Corey Bojorquez (shoulder) – LB Matt Milano (leg) – CB Taron Johnson (shoulder) – RB Marcus Murphy (elbow)

It would be a two year extension that lowers his cap number for 2019 with him possibly being released after the season. Just spit balling as it might not happen at all with cap money not being an issue in '19 or '20. Regardless, he'll be back next season.

This could quite possibly be the case with him signing some kind of "extension" with a lower cap hit for 2019.