Tampa Bay (4-6) was two games over .500 and challenging for the NFC South lead a month ago before falling in succession against Baltimore (41-31), Atlanta (31-26), Kansas City (30-24 in overtime) and San Francisco (23-20).

The Giants (2-8) have lost five in a row and are also coming off a bye.

Quarterback Tommy DeVito will make his first start of the season and seventh of his two-year career after the Giants announced the benching of Daniel Jones this week after an overtime loss to the woeful Panthers.

"Tommy Cutlets" has a career passer rating of 89.2, with eight touchdowns and three interceptions. The 2023 undrafted free agent is 3-3 as a starter.

"Those are never easy conversations," Giants coach Brian Daboll said. "[I've] got a lot of respect for all three of those guys. After evaluating a bunch of things and looking at a lot of tape and being around Tommy last year where he created a little bit of a spark for us, that's the reason why we're going with Tommy."

DeVito had been the third-string quarterback but Daboll chose him over backup Drew Lock.

Tampa Bay's potent offense figures to heap even more pressure on DeVito and running back Tyrone Tracy, who has 545 yards and three rushing touchdowns as the Giants' only viable option.

Rookie Malik Nabers (607 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns) and Darius Slayton (469, 1) could provide inviting targets for DeVito against a Bucs pass defense that has allowed 20 aerial scores this season, which ranks fifth worst in the NFL.

The Giants, meanwhile, have excelled in red-zone defense and rank second in sacks (36).

Tampa Bay (4-6) is the only team in the NFL to pass for more than 300 yards and rush for 100 more on four different occasions. The Bucs, led by a committee of Bucky Irving (492 yards, four touchdowns), Rachaad White (306; 1) and Sean Tucker (186; 1) have rushed for more than 100 yards seven times.

Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield has been an offensive dynamo. Fourth among Bucs rushers with 192 yards and two scores, he's third in the NFL in touchdown passes (24), total touchdowns (26) and fifth in passer rating (103.6).

Mayfield could get back a key contributor on Sunday. Wide receiver Mike Evans, who went down with a hamstring injury in Week 7, returned to practice on Wednesday. Evans had 335 yards and six receiving touchdowns before the injury.

Slayton was a full participant on Wednesday as he recovers from a concussion. The wide receiver left the Giants' Week 9 loss to the Commanders and wasn't able to gain clearance to travel to the Giants' Week 10 loss in Germany to the Panthers.

Bucs cornerback Zyon McCollum, who departed the 49ers loss with a hamstring injury, did not practice on Wednesday.

All-Pro left tackle Tristin Wirfs, who sprained an MCL in the loss to the 49ers, worked on the sideline with trainers.

Bucs coach Todd Bowles said it is "going to be close" for both players to play on Sunday.

Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (wrist) was a limited participant on Wednesday.

Since 2013, New England is 2-9 against the Dolphins in Miami Gardens, Fla., where the Patriots will attempt to pick up a rare win on Sunday afternoon.

First-year coach Jerod Mayo has been in the thick of New England's struggles in the Sunshine State. He spent his entire playing career (2008-15) with the Patriots, then served as inside linebackers coach from 2019-23 before taking over at the helm.

Mayo is making sure that New England (3-8) leaves the past in the past come Sunday, though.

"First and foremost, I won't address it with the guys as far as the struggles that we've had in Miami, even though they're probably listening to me right now," Mayo said. "But what I will say is every game is unique. ... It's a tough place to play. It's not that it's super loud or anything like that.

"We just haven't been able to get over the hump."

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in this year's draft, has given Mayo a reason to believe that New England can turn the corner against Miami (4-6). Maye continued to take steps in the right direction by completing 29 of 39 passes for 282 yards, two touchdowns and one interception during a 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday.

Dolphins signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa has been impressed with what he has seen from the 22-year-old Maye so far and is eager to go up against him.

"I respect his game. I respect his game a lot," Tagovailoa said. "He's a rookie, so there's gonna be bumps within his journey. But you see a lot of flashes of things that he can do, not just inside the pocket, outside of the pocket as well.

"I got a lot of respect for him, and looking forward to competing against him."

Tagovailoa most recently threw for 288 yards and three scores on 28-for-36 passing Miami's 34-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday. One of his favorite targets was former New England tight end Jonnu Smith, who hauled in six catches for 101 yards and two TDs.

Miami has rattled off back-to-back wins on the heels of a three-game losing streak that began after a 15-10 victory against the Patriots in Week 5.

"We're looking to go out there and play the plays with what they've presented us over the years," Tagovailoa said, referring to the Dolphins' familiarity with New England's game plan. "If we need to adjust in any way, we'll adjust."

Cornerback Kendall Fuller (concussion) and offensive tackle Terron Armstead (knee) missed Miami's practice on Wednesday. Six Dolphins were limited, including star wideout Tyreek Hill (wrist) and cornerback Jalen Ramsey (knee).

Defensive end Deatrich Wise (foot), offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (shoulder) and defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy (neck) did not practice for the Patriots on Wednesday. Safety Kyle Dugger was among those limited -- due to an ankle injury -- and defensive end Keion White (knee) also failed to practice in full.

Those seemingly rank in no particular order for the Packers (8-3), although they don't shy from living at least partially in the past ahead of a Week 12 showdown.

Host San Francisco eliminated Green Bay 24-21 in the NFC divisional playoffs last season, scoring 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.

"That's what you've got to sit with all offseason, is going back, watching the game, trying to see what you could have done better," Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. "What you could have done differently in that game. ... Just knowing that's the team that knocked us out, we're definitely hungry for this game."

Ditto for San Francisco. The 49ers fell to 5-5 after last week's 20-17 home loss to Seattle, done in by Geno Smith's 13-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds to play.

Still only a game behind NFC West-leading Arizona, the reigning conference champion 49ers are just 1-3 in division play and can ill afford to lose more ground.

A visit to AFC East leader Buffalo awaits after the trip to Green Bay.

The good news: the 49ers anticipate the return of some key contributors. Cornerback Charvarius Ward, who missed the past two games following the death of his 1-year-old daughter, practiced Wednesday. Tight end George Kittle also is eager to play after a nagging hamstring injury sidelined him against the Seahawks.

"Very excited," he said. "Can't pass up playing the Packers, so no, I will be out there for sure."

San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy is day-to-day with right shoulder soreness, but coach Kyle Shanahan said Purdy is on track to play.

Shanahan and Packers head coach Matt LaFleur have been fierce competitors since twice working together, first as low-level assistants with the Texans in 2008, then on the so-called "dream team" staff in Washington that included Sean McVay and two seasons with the Falcons (2015, 2016) where LaFleur was quarterbacks coach and Shanahan called the plays.

Shanahan scored the most recent win over LaFleur in January. Green Bay has won seven of the past eight regular-season meetings between the franchises.

But the familiarity and shared-brain approach to offense that has the coaches completed each other's play calls has led to some tight games. The past three at Lambeau Field were all decided by three points.

Green Bay, which hosts a home game on Thanksgiving next Thursday, is starting a run of three games in 12 days. They'll play back-to-back Thursday games. Their Week 14 game is at Detroit.

That might make it good news for LaFleur that surprising contributors have emerged of late.

Packers wideout Christian Watson had a career-best 150 receiving yards on only four catches during last week's 20-19 road win against the Chicago Bears. His diving 60-yard reception in the fourth quarter put the Packers in position for Love's go-ahead, 1-yard scoring run with 2:59 to play.

Watson entered the game with eight catches for 83 yards over his previous three contests, but LaFleur assured Watson remains a "big part" of the attack.

"He's a guy who's got every measurable known to man in terms of the size, the speed, and it's not like those were easy plays he was making," LaFleur said. "He was making tough, contested catches."

San Francisco will aim to generate more pressure against Love than the Bears, who sacked him just once. The 49ers collected four sacks against the Seahawks, with Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd contributing 1.5 apiece.

Bosa (hip/oblique) didn't practice Wednesday but 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said this week "there's just as good of a chance for him to not play as play."

Recent regular-season history between the Packers and 49ers at Lambeau Field has favored Green Bay.

The Packers have won seven of their past eight home games against the 49ers and are 22-11 versus San Francisco at home all-time. Green Bay leads the series 34-28-1.

The Lions head into Indiana on Sunday with an eight-game winning streak, their longest since their first season in Detroit in 1934. They carved up Jacksonville 52-6, while scoring touchdowns on their first seven possessions last week.

"They're tough on all three phases, and it shows," Steichen said. "It definitely shows. All those guys are flying around, making plays. They're having fun doing it."

Led by Jared Goff, Detroit (9-1) leads the NFL in points scored (33.6 per game) and point differential (plus-159) this season. Goff bounced back from a five-interception outing in Houston by throwing for 412 yards and four touchdowns against the hapless Jaguars.

Top target Amon-Ra St. Brown caught 11 passes for a season-high 161 yards and two touchdowns. St. Brown has a receiving touchdown in eight straight games.

And the running back duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs has combined to rush for almost 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns. The powerful Montgomery has found the end zone 10 times, including twice against Jacksonville.

"He's a throwback. There are throwback principles about him, and I mean that with all due respect," head coach Dan Campbell said. "His running style is -- it's rare. David is just different, and he's downhill, doesn't give up, first guy, he's not going to let him tackle him, continues to churn his legs, and just violent, violent, never give up, never going down."

The lightning-quick Gibbs is averaging 6.0 yards per carry and has eight rushing touchdowns. His one reception last week went for 54 yards.

"To me, they're the perfect combination," Campbell said.

Indianapolis is scoring just 21.5 points per game and has reached the 30-point mark only one time, in a 37-34 loss at Jacksonville. The Colts rallied to beat the New York Jets last week in the return of super-sized quarterback Anthony Richardson.

But Detroit isn't just any opponent. The Lions established a new franchise record for points in a six-game stretch last week with 232.

"Their offense is super-powered, so we're going to have to do our part, and we're excited for it," receiver Michael Pittman said.

The Colts (5-6) reinstated Richardson in the lineup and snapped a three-game losing streak. In the 28-27 victory, Richardson passed for one touchdown and ran for two more, including the go-ahead score with 46 seconds left.

"Very encouraged," Steichen said of Richardson's outing. "I think when you go through a three-game stretch like we had and you go on the road and get a win, and winning in the two-minute drive, you get some momentum -- the confidence. Obviously, coming back at home, we've got to continue that momentum and carry that confidence into this week. We're looking forward to it."

Richardson wasn't picked off in 30 attempts, though he fumbled twice and the Jets recovered one of them. He has fumbled eight times this season and lost three of them.

They'll be facing a much tougher opponent this week, though one of the Lions' top defenders, linebacker Alex Anzalone, sustained a broken forearm on Sunday and was placed on injured reserve.

"Just seeing the toughness from our team. We're definitely trying to carry that over because we know we're getting ready to play a physical team," Richardson said. "So, they're going to bring it to us. We got to bring it to them. But just trusting my guys each and every play, like I did in that fourth quarter, and just trust in my ability. I feel like I'm a decent football player, and I like to make plays out there."

Detroit tight end Sam LaPorta missed Sunday's game with a shoulder injury but could return this week. He was listed as a full participant in Wednesday's walk-through.

The Colts listed only offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann (knee) as a non-participant in their walk-through on Wednesday.

The Panthers (3-7) have won two games in a row and are coming off an open week.

The Chiefs (9-1) don't have a winning streak for the first time since January. They lost last weekend at Buffalo, though they share the best record in the NFL with the Detroit Lions.

The Chiefs are bound to be paying attention to more details after a rare disappointment for the two-time reigning Super Bowl champions.

"Try to use this as a spark so that we can be a better football team in the end," Mahomes said of the loss to the Bills.

Mahomes said the Chiefs are keeping perspective after their first defeat since Christmas Day 2023 (20-14 to the Las Vegas Raiders).

"The undefeated thing was cool, but that's not our ultimate goal," he said.

Kansas City lost back-to-back games once last season but not during their 14-3 season in 2022. They dropped two in a row once in 2021 and finished 12-5 but ran up a 14-2 record in 2020 without losing consecutive games.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said the focus clicked quickly from Buffalo to the Panthers without players discussing being undefeated.

"I don't really hear a lot of that talk from them or think they care too much about that, other than exhausting yourself the best you can to prepare yourself for that team there that week." Reid said. "Then you get to a point where you say, 'Listen, I've done everything I possibly can. Here's a product.' And you go play."

Mahomes challenges defenses in multiple ways even operating with an offense dented by injuries. There's a chance running back Isiah Pacheco (broken leg) returns from injured reserve, but Reid said that decision wouldn't be made until late in the week.

Pacheco's hard-charging style commands a team approach to tackling, but Carolina doesn't want to distract from intent to keep Mahomes under wraps.

With defensive backs doing better at formation identification, the Panthers are giving themselves a stronger chance to be effective at the back end.

"And making plays when the ball comes to them," first-year coach Dave Canales said. "So a lot of growth there."

The Panthers are sticking with Bryce Young at quarterback, something that was expected given a couple of victories since he returned to the first-string role.

"This is about the continued progress," Canales said. "Bryce looks more and more confident."

With a quarterback who's still trying to settle in and bolster production, the Panthers expect that the Chiefs will dial up some defensive packages to test Young's ability to handle different looks.

"We just have to be prepared for those answers," Canales said. "They're going to have variety, (so) let's do our best stuff as fast that we can to try to put a little bit of stress on them."

The Panthers won't be overconfident by any stretch. They're aware of what the Chiefs are all about.

"I feel like we just got to tighten up our details even more knowing that they're coming in to find a way to win," Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn said.

The Panthers were without starting left guard Damien Lewis because of illness Wednesday, but otherwise the team's list of available players should be growing.

Receiver Adam Thielen is expected to be in action for the first time since September as he comes off a hamstring ailment.

Perhaps the biggest development that has been brewing for a few weeks is that running back Jonathan Brooks (knee) should be set for his NFL debut.

"I have really high hopes for him playing this Sunday," Canales said. "Particularly with Miles (Sanders) out (ankle), to give us another running back in there with Chuba (Hubbard)."

But he and fellow return-from-IR candidate Charles Omenihu have some work to do, head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday.

"We'll see. Kind of go through the practice week, see where we're at the end of this week, and we'll go from there," Reid said. "But yeah, just have to see. (It's a) day-by-day type thing."

Pacheco had 34 carries for 135 yards when he fractured the fibula in his right leg in a Week 2 meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals.

While the Chiefs opened the 21-day window for Pacheco and Omenihu last week, Reid immediately ruled out playing either one at Buffalo. He's keeping the door open for one or both to show they're ready to play in the Week 12 game in Charlotte, but he's not going to let Pacheco determine his return date without medical input.

"He's a spark plug now, emotionally," Reid said. "He's something that way and he's worked his tail off to get to the point that he's at now. We've got to keep an eye on him that way. He would have played three weeks ago if he had his choice, but that's sometimes how it goes. I appreciate that mentality. That's what's helped him get to this point."

Omenihu remains on the physically unable to perform list and is working toward a comeback from an ACL tear in the AFC Championship game.

Reid said injured wide receiver Hollywood Brown, who caused a stir by posting a clock emoji on his X account, isn't ready to practice.

"Making very good progress, (I) can't tell you when he'll be back," Reid said. "He's another one who is excited to get back out here and get going. So, I appreciate the way he's approached the whole thing."

Brown suffered a dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint that sent him to the hospital from a preseason game in August.

Swift rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers but was limited to 57 percent of the team's offensive snaps.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said he's hopeful Swift will be ready to play Sunday against the visiting Minnesota Vikings (8-2).

Eberflus also said offensive lineman Ryan Bates (concussion protocol) and defensive back Elijah Hicks (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.

Swift, 25, has rushed for 635 yards and five touchdowns in 10 starts this season, his first in Chicago. He also has 28 catches for 243 yards.

Swift earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2023 with Philadelphia, rushing for 1,049 yards and five TDs.

Evans and Chris Godwin (ankle) were injured in the same 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 21. Godwin, still the team leader with 50 receptions, is out for the year.

Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield said Evans looked good and is positive about his chances of getting back in the lineup this week when the Buccaneers (4-6) play at the New York Giants (2-8).

"You guys know: Mike's a pro. He's going to do everything he can to get back out there with us and fight for this team as we take it one game at a time," Mayfield said Wednesday.

Evans jumps back into the lineup as the team's leader with six touchdown receptions. However, his 10-season streak of 1,000-yard campaigns is in peril.

With 336 yards in 2024, he'll need to average 95 yards per game in the final seven games.

"The streak, yeah, it's important to us, but he cares about winning," Mayfield said. "He's a huge part of this offense when he's there, so I think that'll come naturally. But I've been in the situation where you're trying to force-feed the ball to a guy and that's not how this offense works especially.

Titans head coach Bill Callahan also said Wednesday that cornerback L'Jarius Snead (quad) has been ruled out for a sixth straight game.

The Titans (2-8) are preparing for their game at the Houston Texans (7-4) on Sunday.

Ridley, 29, had four catches for 58 yards last week, giving him 36 catches for 541 yards and three touchdowns on the season.

Spears was injured late in Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He'll have to be cleared from the concussion protocol to play against the Texans.

Spears, 23, rushed three times for 0 yards and caught 2 passes for eight yards on Sunday. In seven games this season, he has 161 yards one touchdown on 43 carries and 17 receptions for 88 tards.

Callahan also said that tackle Leroy Watson (back) is not expected back this week and that the team will open the practice window for cornerback Chido Awuzie (groin) next week.

Sneed, 27, hasn't played since an Oct. 13 loss to visiting Indianapolis. He has 23 tackles in five games (all starts) this season.

He is in his first season with the Titans after a March trade from the Chiefs. Kansas City had picked him in the fourth round of the 2020 draft out of Louisiana Tech.

Boyle, signed by the Giants to their practice squad on Tuesday, took snaps ahead of Jones during Wednesday's practice. Head coach Brian Daboll told reporters he hasn't decided whether Jones or Boyle will be QB3 this week.

Daboll on Monday announced that Tommy DeVito will start for the Giants (2-8) on Sunday against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Drew Lock will be his backup, demoting Jones to third string.

At play is a $23 million injury guarantee should Jones play and get hurt. It all but foreshadows that Jones has played his last game in a Giants uniform.

This season, Jones has completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 2,070 yards and eight touchdowns against seven interceptions. The 27-year-old is in the second year of a four-year, $160 million contract. He is due to earn $30 million in base salary in 2025, with $12 million fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the league season.

Boyle, 30, has appeared in 22 career games, going 0-5 as a starter. He's thrown for 1,087 yards with four touchdowns against 12 interceptions.

In a corresponding move made in advance, the team waived OL Charlie Heck on Monday, then re-signed him to the practice squad on Tuesday.

Williams, 27, who signed a two-year contract worth $30 million with the Cardinals in March, was injured early in his first game with the club in Week 1 against the Bills. He played 22 offensive snaps in the loss at Buffalo before sustaining the injury on the final play of the first quarter.

Kelvin Beachum started at right tackle in eight of the nine games Williams missed, missing Week 3 himself with an injury.

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has not determined if Williams will return to the starting lineup on Sunday.

A first-round pick (No. 11 overall) in 2019, Williams has started all 60 games he's played with the Cincinnati Bengals and Cardinals.

Head coach Nick Sirianni said Huff should be able to return before the end of the regular season.

He's been bothered by a wrist issue since Nov. 3, hurt during pregame warmups ahead of Philadelphia's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He tried to play but was limited to six snaps.

"I can't say enough of how he battled through all those different things. I really admire the way he battled through and played with that cast on," Sirianni said Wednesday.

Huff signed a $51 million deal to join the Eagles in free agency after a career-best 10 sacks with the New York Jets in 2023.

The Eagles (8-2) haven't lost since September and have 28 sacks this season with 2.5 from Huff and stronger contributions from his competition at the position. Josh Sweat leads the team with 6.0 sacks and Nolan Smith has 3.5.

Rookie Jalyx Hunt played a season-high 25 snaps at Dallas. He was the 94th pick in the 2024 draft and could be in line for a larger role while Huff recovers.

"We really like our room," Sirianni said of divvying out Huff's reps. "They've been playing at a really high level. We obviously drafted Jalyx because we liked his skill set. He's been doing a lot of good things on special teams."

Vinatieri, Kuechly, Manning, Terrell Suggs, Earl Thomas and Marshal Yanda are the first-time candidates who last played in 2019 in the pool of semifinalists, which will be reduced to 15 by the end of the current season.

Holt is a semifinalist for the 12th time and nine-time semifinalists Hines Ward and Darren Woodson have been debated by Selection Committee the second-longest. Woodson was first a semifinalist in 2015; Ward joined the list in 2017.

Offensive linemen Richmond Webb, who retired following the 2002 season, is also a first-time semifinalist.

2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Modern-Era nominee semifinalists

Eric Allen, CB -- 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders

Times as a Semifinalist: 5 - 2021-25

Jared Allen, DE -- 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers

Times as a Semifinalist: 5 - 2021-25

Willie Anderson, T -- 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens

Times as a Semifinalist: 5 - 2021-25

Anquan Boldin, WR -- 2003-09 Arizona Cardinals, 2010-12 Baltimore Ravens, 2013-15 San Francisco 49ers, 2016 Detroit Lions

Times as a Semifinalist: 4 - 2022-25

Jahri Evans, G -- 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers

Times as a Semifinalist: 3 - 2023-25

Antonio Gates, TE -- 2003-2018 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers

Times as a Semifinalist: 2 - 2024-25

James Harrison, LB -- 2002-2012, 2014-17 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2013 Cincinnati Bengals, 2017 New England Patriots

Times as a Semifinalist: 3 - 2023-25

Rodney Harrison, S -- 1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-08 New England Patriots

Times as a Semifinalist: 4 - 2021, 2023-25)

Torry Holt, WR -- 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars

Times as a Semifinalist: 11 - 2015-2025)

Luke Kuechly, LB -- 2012-19 Carolina Panthers

Times as a Semifinalist: 1 - 2025)

Eli Manning, QB -- 2004-2019 New York Giants

Times as a Semifinalist: 1 - 2025

Robert Mathis, DE/LB -- 2003-2016 Indianapolis Colts

Times as a Semifinalist: 4 - 2022-25

Steve Smith Sr., WR -- 2001-2013 Carolina Panthers, 2014-16 Baltimore Ravens

Times as a Semifinalist: 4 - 2022-25

Terrell Suggs, LB/DE -- 2003-2018 Baltimore Ravens, 2019 Arizona Cardinals, 2019 Kansas City Chiefs

Times as a Semifinalist: 1 - 2025

Fred Taylor, RB -- 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots

Times as a Semifinalist: 6 - 2020-25

Earl Thomas, DB -- 2010-18 Seattle Seahawks, 2019 Baltimore Ravens

Times as a Semifinalist: 1 - 2025

Adam Vinatieri, PK -- 1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2019 Indianapolis Colts

Times as a Semifinalist: 1 - 2025

Hines Ward, WR -- 1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers

Times as a Semifinalist: 9 - 2017-2025

Ricky Watters, RB -- 1992-94 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-97 Philadelphia Eagles, 1998-2001 Seattle Seahawks

Times as a Semifinalist: 5 - 2020, 2022-25

Reggie Wayne, WR -- 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts

Times as a Semifinalist: 6 - 2020-25)

Richmond Webb, T -- 1990-2000 Miami Dolphins, 2001-02 Cincinnati Bengals

Times as a Semifinalist: 1 - 2025

Vince Wilfork, DT -- 2004-2014 New England Patriots, 2015-16 Houston Texans

Times as a Semifinalist: 4 - 2022-25

Steve Wisniewski, G -- 1989-2001 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders

Times as a Semifinalist: 2 - 2014, 2025

Darren Woodson, S -- 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys

Times as a Semifinalist: 9 - 2015, 2017, 2019-2025

Marshal Yanda, G/T -- 2007-2019 Baltimore Ravens

Times as a Semifinalist: 1 - 2025

Yet team owner Woody Johnson reportedly sought another huge move that didn't happen: the benching of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The Athletic reported Tuesday that Johnson advocated a QB change in a Sept. 29 meeting.

Per the report, Johnson brought together a group of coaches and front office staffers in the wake of a 10-9 home loss to the Denver Broncos that dropped the Jets' record to 2-2.

Johnson advocated installing Tyrod Taylor at quarterback in place of Rodgers, according to The Athletic. Douglas and the coaches, including Saleh, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and Jeff Ulbrich, then the defensive coordinator, now the interim head coach, reportedly were shocked by the suggestion, with one participant asking Johnson if he was being serious.

The meeting ended with the idea being dismissed.

Rodgers, a 40-year-old veteran who is a four-time NFL Most Valuable Player, has started every game this season for the 3-8 Jets. He has completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 2,442 yards and 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions.

Last year, his first with New York, Rodgers sustained a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon early in the opening game.

In his career, largely with the Green Bay Packers (2005-22), Rodgers has a 151-83-1 record as a starter with 61,497 passing yards, 492 passing touchdowns and 112 interceptions.

Taylor, 35, went 2-3 as a starter for the Jets last year. A former Pro Bowl performer with the Buffalo Bills who also has played for the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and New York Giants, Taylor owns a career 28-28-1 record in a starting role.

This season, Taylor has completed 6 of 8 passes for 36 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.

Wilson is starting to feel like he might be part of something special as the Steelers prepare for a meeting with the host Cleveland Browns on Thursday night, but he also doesn't want Pittsburgh to get ahead of itself.

"I definitely think that we have a chance (to make a deep playoff run)," said Wilson, who has played in two Super Bowls. "I think the biggest thing for us is continuing to just take each week as the most important week of it all.

"I think that it's not really even just the week, it's just the day, it's just the moments in between. I think the greatest teams, the greatest players, in any sport, especially the teams I've been on, is the moment -- it's never too far away. It's right here, right now. And you're just locked into that."

The Steelers (8-2) have certainly been locked in. They are currently riding a five-game winning streak, most recently edging the Baltimore Ravens 18-16 on Sunday.

Chris Boswell booted six field goals against Baltimore, while Wilson completed 23 of 36 passes for 205 yards and an interception.

Meanwhile, Cleveland (2-8) continues to go through the wringer. The Browns ended up on the wrong end of a 35-14 blowout while facing the host New Orleans Saints on Sunday, marking their seventh loss in the past eight games.

Cleveland now has to go up against one of the most unforgiving defenses in the league. Browns quarterback Jameis Winston is determined to direct a fundamentally sound performance against Pittsburgh, which allows the second-fewest points per game in the NFL (16.2).

"It's precision passing. Getting the ball out on time. Elite operation and just doing our job. It's the simple things," Winston said. "This team (the Steelers) is not going to try and fool you. They're going to line up and say, 'Give us your best, we're going to give you our best.'"

Winston threw for 395 yards and two touchdowns on 30-for-46 passing in the setback against New Orleans, with Jerry Jeudy hauling in six catches for 142 yards and a score. Star running back Nick Chubb continued to struggle since his return from a knee injury that cut his 2023 season short, finishing with 50 yards on 11 carries.

Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski is looking forward to the challenge that Pittsburgh presents.

"Great challenge playing the Steelers on Thursday night," Stefanski said. "Well-coached team, great players on offense, defense and special teams, so we have to have a great week here to get ready for that game."

The Browns could be without standout defensive end Myles Garrett, who missed practice on Tuesday because of a hip injury. Wide receiver Elijah Moore (shoulder), guard Joel Bitonio (pectoral) and cornerbacks Denzel Ward (ribs/ankle) and Greg Newsome II (shoulder) were among those limited during the session.

Linebacker Alex Highsmith is dealing with an ankle issue and missed the Steelers' practice on Tuesday. Cornerback Cory Trice Jr. (hamstring) participated in full.

A member of the Cardinals' practice squad, Bailey, 27, has appeared in one game this season, a 17-15 home win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 21. He played 73 percent (16) of the special teams snaps and none on defense.

The Cincinnati Bengals selected Bailey in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Purdue. He played in 60 games (four starts) for the Bengals and had 73 tackles, 0.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and four passes defended.

Arizona re-signed offensive lineman Charlie Heck, who had been released from the active roster, to the practice squad to fill Bailey's spot on Tuesday. Starting right tackle Jonah Williams (knee) is expected to be activated from injured reserve by Wednesday, his deadline for returning to the active roster to play this season.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa celebrated a sack of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield in Week 10 by performing President-elect Donald Trump's signature dance that has gone viral.

He was joined this past weekend by Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers, Tennessee wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Detroit defenders Za'Darius Smith and Malcolm Rodriguez showing off their renditions following big plays.

"There's no issue with a celebratory dance such as what took place (Sunday) or the previous week with the 49ers on November 10," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Front Office Sports. "It's up to the networks to cover them as they see fit."

NFL rules allow for players to celebrate so long as they're not excessive and don't feature violent or sexually suggestive acts. Players are also not allowed to wear printed hats or clothing that promote their political opinions, and Bosa was fined $11,255 for wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat on the field.

However, the "Trump Dance" is not considered a political statement by the league.

Stars in other sports have also displayed the dance since the election two weeks ago, including UFC champion Jon Jones and U.S. Men's National Team soccer player Christian Pulisic, who celebrated with the dance following a goal against Jamaica on Monday night.

Bowers said he came up with the idea to celebrate a touchdown on Sunday with the "Trump Dance" after seeing Jones do it during the UFC event the previous night.

"I've seen everyone do it," Bowers said, per USA Today. "I watched the UFC fight last night and Jon Jones did it. I like watching UFC, so I saw it and thought it was cool."

On Tuesday, the President-elect posted a message to his Truth Social account reading, "TRUMP DANCE SWEEPS THE NATION," accompanied by a video compilation of NFL players doing their celebrations.

A stranger to the postseason since last securing a spot in the 2015 season, the Broncos (6-5) are ahead of the Indianapolis Colts (5-6) and Miami Dolphins (4-6) in the conference wild-card race. Denver is effectively two games behind the current No. 6 seed because of a head-to-head loss to the Baltimore Ravens (7-4).

Denver's most recent postseason appearance came in Super Bowl 50 in 2016, when Peyton Manning -- in his final career game -- and the Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers.

Resurgent Washington, led by first-year head coach Dan Quinn, holds the No. 7 seed in the NFC through 11 weeks.

To move up from that spot, the Commanders (7-4) would need to overtake the Green Bay Packers (7-3) and Minnesota Vikings (8-2), who trail NFC North-leading and NFC No. 1 seed Detroit (9-1).

Washington last won a playoff game after the 2005 regular season and has lost four straight postseason games since (following the regular seasons of 2007, 2012, 2015 and 2020), all in the wild-card round.

Current NFL playoff picture:

AFC

1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1)

2. Buffalo Bills (9-2)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2)

4. Houston Texans (7-4)

5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)

6. Baltimore Ravens (7-4)

7. Denver Broncos (6-5)

NFC

1. Detroit Lions (9-1)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)

3. Arizona Cardinals (6-4)

4. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)

5. Minnesota Vikings (8-2)

6. Green Bay Packers (7-3)

7. Washington Commanders (7-4)

Jacksonville enters its bye week at 2-9 with a tiebreaker edge over the Cleveland Browns (2-8).

Cleveland is No. 2 in the current draft order by a slim margin over a pack of teams with the same record: the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans.

New England (3-8) and the New York Jets (3-8) are slotted sixth and seventh in front of the Carolina Panthers (3-7), Dallas Cowboys (3-7) and Cincinnati Bengals (4-7) in the top 10.

The Titans and Jaguars play each other twice, including Week 17, and the Jets are at Jacksonville on Dec. 15, one week before Raiders-Jaguars in Las Vegas.

All 32 teams play 17 regular-season games, meaning the 2024 season is more than 50 percent complete for every club but all teams have at least six games remaining on the schedule.

The Jaguars selected No. 1 in 2020, drafted Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and again in 2021. Jacksonville's surprise pick was defensive end Travon Walker in a decision that came down to two pass rushers. They passed on Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who went No. 2 to the Lions.

The Giants picked in the top six -- LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers was picked No. 6 -- in 2024 for the third time since drafting offensive tackle Andrew Thomas fourth in 2020. Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (fifth, 2022) and offensive lineman Evan Neal (seventh, 2022) are New York's other recent top-10 selections.

"You don't need to worry about anybody in that locker room giving everything they've got and more and how bad they feel when they get beat on a play or get beat in a quarter or the whole game, at all," Jones said Monday following the Cowboys' seventh loss of the season. "I don't ever worry about that."

Jones said he regrets pulling the plug too soon on head coaches in the past, including firing Wade Phillips after a 1-7 start in 2010.

"I've regretted that. That's the music I'm listening to," Jones said.

There are no plans for an in-season move involving head coach Mike McCarthy in Dallas, where the Cowboys (3-7) are winless at home by a league-worst margin of minus-118.

McCarthy said "it's frustrating for everybody" to accumulate losses, but he knows the only thing that might save his job when his contract runs out in January is ending the season with a string of wins.

"There is good coming out of this," McCarthy said Monday night. "You don't see it because we're not winning games, but there's young men that are getting an opportunity to do more and I do believe it'll pay forward. It needs to hurry the hell up, because we need it in six days."

The Cowboys went 12-5 last season and discussed a path to the Super Bowl throughout the offseason. Expectations did not match the current reality.

Jones said he's counting on the Cowboys sticking together through what he described as tough times, similar to Dallas going 1-15 his first year as owner in 1989.

"And we've had other tough years. And this one, we didn't anticipate the record. And the way we're playing right now, we wouldn't have anticipated that," Jones said. "But, not, this isn't -- y'all have heard me tell these old stories until you're sick -- but not, you stay in this league long enough, you'll have times like this."

Jones, of course, could change his mind with the Cowboys in the midst of three games in 11 days. Their 34-10 loss in primetime to the Texans on Monday night was the third consecutive home loss by a margin of at least three touchdowns. The Cowboys also suffered a 34-6 loss to the NFC East-leading Eagles and began their current five-game losing streak with a 47-9 spanking at the hands of the Detroit Lions.

Dallas has a quick turnaround for Week 12 against former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who quickly righted the ship with the Washington Commanders (7-4).

"This is it, man. We got seven losses. We've got to go. Backs against the wall. We got to fight, scratch and claw. We've got to do everything we can to go win the next game," McCarthy said. "That's where my mind's at. That's what I'm going to coach and that's the expectation. We've got to win."

The Cowboys are in the spotlight for their traditional Thanksgiving Day game in what is set up as a matchup of backup quarterbacks -- Cooper Rush for Dallas and Tommy DeVito for the New York Giants -- and play again on "Monday Night Football" 11 days later against the Cincinnati Bengals.