Tag

Special Teams

All articles tagged with #special teams

sports1 hour ago•16 min saved

Rams Fire Mevis, Sign Grupe After Overtime Kicking Collapse

The Los Angeles Rams released kicker Harrison Mevis and signed Blake Grupe from the New York Jets' practice squad on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The decision followed a 37-34 overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday, where Mevis missed two field goals, including a blocked game-winning attempt. Head coach Sean McVay criticized his special teams unit for costing the team the game, leading to the immediate personnel change to stabilize the Rams' 2-3 record.

via NBC Sports|

#blake-grupe #harrison-mevis #los-angeles-rams

nfl2 hours ago•1 min saved

Rams Replace Kicker Mevis with Grupe After Overtime Loss to Bills

The Los Angeles Rams have released kicker Harrison Mevis and signed Blake Grupe from the New York Jets' practice squad following a 37-34 overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills. Mevis missed two field goals in the defeat, including a blocked game-winning attempt, prompting head coach Sean McVay to overhaul the special teams unit. The move aims to stabilize the Rams' struggling kicking game, which has been a significant factor in their 2-3 start.

via NBC Sports|

#blake-grupe #harrison-mevis #los-angeles-rams

nfl5 hours ago•1 min saved

Rams Cut Mevis, Sign Grupe After Overtime Disaster

The Los Angeles Rams have released kicker Harrison Mevis and signed Blake Grupe from the New York Jets' practice squad. This move follows Mevis's two missed field goals in a 37-34 overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills, including a blocked attempt that would have won the game. Mevis is currently last in the league with a 55.6% field goal percentage. The Rams are seeking a more reliable kicker to stabilize their special teams unit, which has struggled significantly this season.

via Turf Show Times|

#blake-grupe #harrison-mevis #los-angeles-rams

sports7 hours ago

Shanahan retains Cowing as punt returner despite costly fumble against Seattle

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that wide receiver Jacob Cowing will retain his role as the team's primary punt returner following a critical fumble against the Seattle Seahawks. Although Cowing lost the ball in the first quarter, leading to a Seattle touchdown, Shanahan cited the lack of a clear alternative on the roster and Cowing's other contributions as reasons to keep him. The 49ers won the game 32-29, but the incident highlighted ongoing special teams struggles.

via Niners Wire|

#jacob-cowing #kyle-shanahan #san-francisco-49ers

sports10 hours ago•35 min saved

Rams' McVay Blames Blocked Kick for Overtime Loss to Bills

The Los Angeles Rams lost 37-34 to the Buffalo Bills in overtime after a blocked field goal attempt by kicker Harrison Mevis. Coach Sean McVay expressed intense frustration, citing special teams errors and his own decision to settle for a long kick instead of going for a touchdown on the final drive.

via NFL.com|

#buffalo-bills #los-angeles-rams #nfl

sports1 day ago•0 min saved

Sirianni’s Kickoff Blunder Exposes Eagles’ Roster and Strategic Decline

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni accepted full responsibility for a critical strategic error that cost his team a 19-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. With eight seconds remaining, Sirianni chose to kick off in-play rather than take a touchback, allowing Jacksonville to score a game-winning field goal. The decision highlighted deep-seated issues with the Eagles' special teams unit and roster depth, as the team had already suffered a nullified 90-yard kickoff return earlier in the game due to special teams penalties. This loss dropped the Eagles to 2-3, marking their first three-game losing streak since 2021, and intensified scrutiny over the team's direction and coaching stability.

via NBC Sports|

#jacksonville-jaguars #nfl #nick-sirianni

nfl8 days ago•2 min saved

Dolphins Fall to Vikings 15-10, Extending Winless Start to Four Games

The Miami Dolphins lost their fourth consecutive game, falling 15-10 to the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday. Despite a late defensive surge that recorded the team's first four sacks of the season, Miami’s special teams unit committed critical errors, including three muffed kicks, that proved decisive. The loss highlights the struggles of the Dolphins' new coaching staff under Jeff Hafley, who is now 0-4, while the Vikings remain undefeated at 4-0.

via Sports Illustrated|

#2026-nfl-draft #jeff-hafley #miami-dolphins

sports9 days ago•8 min saved

Kings Seek Special Teams Redemption Against Sharks in San Jose

The Los Angeles Kings face the San Jose Sharks on October 3, seeking a bounce-back after a season-opening loss to Colorado. The Kings, currently 0-1, will start goaltender Anton Forsberg and feature a 11-forward, 7-defenseman lineup, marking the season debuts for Corey Perry and Erik Gustafsson. Special teams performance is the primary focus, as LA struggled with power play efficiency and penalty kills in their opener. The Sharks, 1-0, aim to leverage their speed against an aging Kings roster.

via LA Kings Insider|

#anton-forsberg #la-kings #nhl

sports17 days ago•3 min saved

Flyers Use Preseason Finale to Test New Power Play and Roster Depth

The Philadelphia Flyers concluded their preseason slate with a 5-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, but the game served as a critical dress rehearsal for the regular season opener. Key developments included the assignment of Cole Knuble and other players to the AHL, the debut of a new top power play unit, and continued evaluation of defensemen David Jiricek and Simon Benoit. While the Flyers struggled with puck possession in earlier games, they aimed to establish a more aggressive forecheck against Washington before facing the Pittsburgh Penguins on September 30.

via NHL.com|

#nhl-preseason #philadelphia-flyers #roster-moves

nfl18 days ago•5 min saved

Lions-Jets Week 3 Clash Hinges on Scheme Mismatches and Special Teams Recovery

The Detroit Lions and New York Jets meet in Week 3, with Detroit favored by 6.5 points. Analysts predict Detroit will exploit New York’s aggressive defensive scheme by using movement blocking and 11 personnel sets to neutralize their pass rush. Conversely, Detroit aims to stop New York’s run-heavy offense using base defensive formations. Meanwhile, the Jets are focused on correcting special teams errors from their previous loss, particularly after punter Isaiah Williams muffed two punts against Green Bay.

via Pride Of Detroit|

#aaron-glenn #dan-campbell #detroit-lions

sports20 days ago•4 min saved

Lions Prep for Jets: Offensive Line Strength Meets Special Teams Chaos

The Detroit Lions prepare for a Week 3 matchup against the New York Jets, focusing on the Jets' improved offensive line and inconsistent special teams. While New York's pass blocking is elite, their run game has struggled, and coaching decisions in their recent loss to Green Bay drew criticism. Detroit News highlights the tactical familiarity between the teams, noting that Lions coach Dan Campbell understands Jets head coach Aaron Glenn's tendencies.

via Pride Of Detroit|

#aaron-glenn #detroit-lions #new-york-jets

sports1 month ago

Trey Smack's Power Kicks Signal Packers' Special Teams Turnaround

Green Bay Packers rookie kicker Trey Smack is poised for his NFL debut after a strong preseason, where he demonstrated significant leg power by converting multiple long-range field goals. While some critics initially mocked the team for drafting a kicker, analysts argue that Smack’s ability to handle high-leverage situations could solve a long-standing special teams deficiency. Fantasy football experts currently favor veteran Harrison Butker, but Smack’s consistent performance in recent weeks suggests he may become a reliable starter.

via Acme Packing Company|

#fantasy-football #green-bay-packers #nfl-kicker

sports1 month ago•14 min saved

Rams and Packers Face a Hidden Achilles Heel: Fixing Special Teams

An Athletic feature argues the Rams and Packers squandered MVP-caliber seasons due to chronic neglect of special teams, with costly playoff miscues like blocked kicks and muffed punts tied to coaching turnover and roster decisions. It shows how practice time, player allocation, and organizational philosophy have left the third phase behind, even as high-profile acquisitions signal a renewed emphasis. With the Rams adding Garrett and the Packers pursuing similar upgrades, McVay and LaFleur are prioritizing special teams in 2026 to cure a systemic flaw and live up to preseason Super Bowl expectations.

via The New York Times|

#coaching #nfl #packers

sports1 month ago•6 min saved

K-State opens Collin Klein era with 71-3 beatdown of Nicholls

K-State opened the 2026 season with a 71-3 rout of Nicholls under first-year head coach Collin Klein, as nine players scored touchdowns, Avery Johnson threw for 199 yards and three scores, Rodney Fields ran for 101 yards, and Brandon White returned a punt 65 yards for a TD. The defense held Nicholls to 2.1 yards per play, marking a dominant performance and a return to the program’s special-teams swagger, with an eye toward Washington State in the next game.

via Wichita Eagle|

#avery-johnson #college-football #kansas-state-wildcats

sports1 month ago•2 min saved

Patriots’ Visual Illusion During Field Goals Sparks Buzz

The Patriots reportedly used the Gillette Stadium video scoreboard to display the uprights when opponents lined up for field goals, creating a visual distraction for kickers. The tactic is clever and has drawn discussion, though its effectiveness is uncertain and could invite scrutiny or weather-related variables, making it a notable example of on-field gamesmanship.

via Bleacher Report|

#field-goals #gamesmanship #new-england-patriots