NFL
Bengals QB Joe Burrow and Rams QB Matthew Stafford Talk About Each Other at Super Bowl LVI Virtual Press Conferences
As the Bengals and Rams continue their preparations for Super Bowl LVI, the teams took time out to speak with the media at today’s virtual press conferences. Bengals Quarterback Joe Burrow has the opportunity to become the first overall number one pick to lead his team to the Super Bowl in his second season. Meanwhile, Rams Quarterback Matthew Stafford, the first selection in the 2009 draft, has spent twelve seasons with the Lions before enjoying postseason success with the Rams. There has only been one previous Super Bowl featuring two overall number one drafted Quarterbacks. That was six years ago, when Peyton Manning and the Broncos defeated Cam Newton and the Panthers.
Among the interesting discussions today, the two Quarterbacks commented on each other. Burrow was a teenager when Stafford got drafted. Burrow shared his memories of Stafford on the field. “I always enjoyed watching him. The Lions always played on Thanksgiving, so I got to see him play with my family all around. I always thought he didn’t always get the credit he deserved for what he was doing. He was one of the best players in the league for his entire career and just because they didn’t have the team success in the playoffs, it overshadowed what he was doing as a player.”
Rams QB Matthew Stafford
Stafford spoke about the Bengals QB. “Joe Burrow is a really talented guy, great competitor, very even keeled, throws great, moves around great. I think he does a great job for a young player. I’ve been a fan of his since he was at LSU. I love the way he plays, I love the way he competed there, and that’s just done nothing but carry over into this league. He’s in this game because he’s willed that team to a bunch of wins and that’s an impressive thing for a guy his age.”
The Bengals Quarterback also discussed the team’s arrival in Los Angeles yesterday afternoon. “It’s a little different now that we’re out here. It’s a little tougher to eliminate all the distractions, but I think our guys are doing a pretty good job of that. We haven’t had any practice yet, so I’m excited to get out to practice today. We just finished up our first walk through, so once we get into the practice schedule of a normal game week, I think it will be easier.
Burrow also shared his advice for young “up and comers” joining the NFL from the draft. He advised, “Eliminate all the distractions, focus on what got you to this point, and that was playing football.”
Bengals Cornerback Eli Apple commented on his experiences in the NFL that led to this moment. “It’s been a long journey with trials and tribulations, just learning the game. Just putting that work in, to get to where I am now. It’s the process.” He also added, reflecting on being released by the Panthers, “Charlotte was another great learning experience for me, as well. It feels great to have this opportunity to do your best so you can win. Charlotte was just tough, being hurt all the time, and they didn’t get the real me out there.”
Bengals CB Eli Apple
Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor shared what he felt was the most important strength a Quarterback needs to have in the NFL. “Mental toughness. You’re gonna face a lot of adversity and a lot of difficult moments. It’s easy when you’re at practice, seven on seven, and preseason games, but when the season really matters, your mental toughness is gonna be challenged. You gotta be thorough with your process, you gotta be consistent with your process, and I think those are areas where Joe (Burrow) really excels.”
Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor
Rams Quarterback Matthew Stafford was asked about the advantages and distractions of playing at home. “We don’t have to travel which is nice. There’s probably some guys with a few more family members in town, but I think the organization did a great job helping us find spots to put those families so that we can continue to create as much of a normal atmosphere as we possibly can and to continue to get ready to play this game on Sunday. We are the away team in our home stadium, but it is nice to have some of the comforts of home. But we still gotta go out there and play the game. We gotta go out there and earn it.”
At today’s press conference, Rams Head Coach Sean McVay spoke with what sounded like a very sore throat. When asked about this, he commented, “I feel great. I just sound like s—t.”
Rams Head Coach Sean McVay
Coach McVay shared the message he’s giving his players this week. “I think we try to have a normal weekly rhythm and routine. You don’t minimize what a great opportunity has been earned by both teams. And so, you wanna take in the magnitude of the opportunity, but not make it too big to where any of our guys are overwhelmed. Trust your preparation, trust your process. The nerves are good. You know, this pressure is a privilege. But you do acknowledge what a great opportunity it is to try to finish in the right way, but you want to keep a normal rhythm and routine as far as our preparation goes.”
The Rams have moved tomorrow’s practice to the Rose Bowl. Florida National News is in Los Angeles to cover Super Bowl LVI. Stay tuned for coverage leading up to the big game on Sunday, 2/13.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) lost to the Seattle Seahawks (4-2) 20-12 at EverBank Stadium today. Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence was sacked seven times during the game.
The Jaguars were the first to score, on a Trevor Lawrence 21 yard touchdown pass to WR Brian Thomas Jr. K Cam Little missed his first ever point after touchdown, so the Jaguars were up 6-0 at the end of the first quarter. Little had held a perfect record of making his extra points, not just with the Jags, but even in college and high school.
In the second quarter, K Jason Myers kicked a 24 yard field goal for the Seahawks. Seattle added a 61 yard touchdown pass from QB Sam Darnold to WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and with Myers’ XP, the Seahawks were up 10-6. Cam Little missed a 50 yard field goal attempt for the Jaguars with a minute to go before the half. Myers added a 53 yard field goal shortly after, to put the Seahawks ahead 13-6 at halftime.
In the third quarter, the Vikings added another touchdown pass by Darnold for 11 yards to WR Cooper Kupp, followed by Myers’ XP. Late in the quarter, a Trevor Lawrence 54 yard touchdown pass to Brian Thomas Jr. was nullified by an offside penalty called against rookie WR/CB Travis Hunter. The Seahawks led 20-6 at the end of the third quarter.
On the first drive of the fourth, Trevor Lawrence completed a 26 yard touchdown pass to WR Tim Patrick, but WR Bhayshul Tuten missed a two point conversion attempt, to narrow the Jags’ deficit to 20-12. Myers later made a 27 yard field goal for Seattle that was reversed because of a holding penalty by the Jaguars’ DE Dawuane Smoot, but the final score remained 20-12.
Trevor Lawrence finished with 258 passing yards and 2 TDs. Travis Etienne Jr. led the Jaguars’ rushing with 27 yards. Brian Thomas Jr. was the leading receiver with 90 yards and 1 TD. Today’s attendance was 61,056.
Earlier this week, the Jaguars traded CB Tyson Campbell and a seventh round 2026 draft pick to the Cleveland Browns for CB Greg Newsome II and a sixth round 2026 pick.
The Jaguars helped to spread the word about fighting cancer through early detection and risk reduction as part of the NFL’s Crucial Catch initiative. Pink ribbons were handed out to fans before the game in the Fan Entertainment Zone, along with customizable “I Stand For” signs, in support of those who have been impacted by cancer.
Jaguars help spread the word about fighting cancer through the NFL’s Crucial Catch initiative. Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News
The Jaguars travel to London to play the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Oct. 19 at Wembley Stadium. Kickoff is at 9:30 a.m. The Jags have a bye week after that followed by road games against the Raiders and the Texans before returning to EverBank Stadium on Nov. 16 to face the Los Angeles Chargers. Be sure to follow www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1) came back late in the game to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) 31-28. Today’s game marked the Jaguars’ 13th Monday Night Football appearance in Jacksonville, improving their all-time MNF record to 8-5 at home.
ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown Crew Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News
The Chiefs were the first to put points on the board, with a QB Patrick Mahomes 2 yard touchdown pass to TE Travis Kelce, followed by the extra point from K Harrison Butker. The score remained 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, the Jaguars went for it on 4th and 1, but QB Trevor Lawrence was called for fumbling the ball as he tried to run up the middle for a touchdown. Officials reviewed the play which looked like a possible touchdown on the stadium replay, but the fumble ruling stood. On the next series, the Chiefs’ drive finished with Mahomes running 9 yards for a touchdown, followed by another Butker XP. But Lawrence’s 3 yard touchdown pass to WR Parker Washington, followed by K Cam Little’s extra point narrowed the gap. Just before halftime, LB Foye Oluokun got his 500th tackle as a Jaguar. The Chiefs led 14-7 heading into halftime.
In the third quarter, fans cheered loudly when Jaguars two-way rookie phenom WR Travis Hunter caught a 44 yard pass from Trevor Lawrence. Hunter followed with a 1 yard reception, but the scoring drive ended four plays later as Lawrence ran 10 yards for a touchdown followed by Little’s XP, tying the game. Late in the third quarter, LB Devin Lloyd intercepted a Patrick Mahomes pass and ran it 99 yards for a “pick six,” followed by Little’s XP, putting the Jags ahead 21-14.
In the fourth, a Trevor Lawrence pass intended for Parker Washington was intercepted by CB Trent McDuffie. That set up Chiefs’ RB Kareem Hunt, who ran up the middle for a 5 yard touchdown, followed by Butker’s XP to tie the game. Cam Little’s 52 yard field goal later put the Jags up 24-21. But Hunt ran for another 2 yard touchdown, and with Butker’s XP, the Chiefs pulled ahead 28-24, with just 1:45 remaining. Trevor Lawrence wowed the crowd leading an impressive drive downfield. A pass interference call set up a Trevor Lawrence 1 yard touchdown run, and with Little’s XP, the Jaguars pulled ahead 31-28 with just 23 seconds to go. The Chiefs were unable to score on a Patrick Mahomes end of the game Hail Mary, securing the Jaguars’ victory.
Donna Kelce came to Jacksonville to see her sons. Travis plays for the Chiefs, while Jason is now part of ESPN’s Monday Night Countdown crew. Mama Kelce also wore a Taylor Swift inspired cap, in support of her future daughter-in-law.
Trevor Lawrence finished with 221 passing yards and one TD. Travis Etienne Jr. Trevor Lawrence led the Jaguars’ rushing with 54 yards and two TDs. Brian Thomas Jr. was the leading receiver with 80 yards. Today’s attendance was 69,329.
Also at today’s game, the Jaguars showed off the first part of their major stadium renovations. The first of four new grand staircases opened, leading fans to the main concourse. Construction on the Jaguars’ $1.4 billion dollar Stadium of the Future will continue through August 2028. Click here to see video of the official opening of the new grand staircase: Grand Staircase
The Jaguars take on the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Oct. 12 at 1:00 p.m. The Jags then travel to London to play the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Oct. 19 at Wembley Stadium. Be sure to follow www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12) beat the Tennessee Titans (3-13) 20-13 on a rainy afternoon, as Jacksonville remained under a tornado watch for much of the game. Today’s game was the team’s annual “fan appreciation game,” celebrating the fans’ support of the Jaguars all season long, and for the past 30 years.
The Jaguars’ first drive ended with a 48 yard K Cam Little field goal. But neither team managed to score during the rest of the first quarter, as the score remained 3-0.
In the second quarter, Jaguars LB Devin Lloyd intercepted a QB Mason Rudolph pass intended for RB Julius Chestnut, which excited the hometown fans. The Jags capitalized on that opportunity, as QB Mac Jones threw a 2 yard touchdown pass to WR Parker Washington, followed by Cam Little’s extra point, to extend their lead to 10-0. Little later added a 44 yard field goal, but the Titans scored their first points of the game at the end of the second quarter on K Matthew Wright’s 39 yard field goal. The Jaguars were ahead 13-3 at the half.
QB Mac Jones and QB Mason Rudolph (Photo credit: Mike Brodsky, Florida National News)
Midway through the third quarter, Mason Rudolph completed a 8 yard touchdown pass to TE Nick Vannett, followed by Matthew Wright’s extra point, narrowing the Jags’ lead to 13-10, which remained the score heading into the fourth.
Midway through the fourth, Mac Jones found WR Brian Thomas Jr. in the end zone for an 11 yard touchdown, followed by Little’s XP, to put them ahead 20-10. Matthew Wright’s 28 yard field goal moved the Titans within a touchdown at 20-13, just before the two-minute warning. The Titans had one final drive to score, but were stopped by the Jaguars defense.
DE Travon Walker’s sack today moved him into the top 10 in franchise history with 23.0, breaking his tie with Marcus Stroud and Bobby McCray. Brian Thomas Jr. also tied WR Randy Moss’ NFL rookie record of eight games with at least 60 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
Mac Jones finished with 174 yards and two TDs. Travis Etienne Jr. led the Jaguars’ rushing with 49 yards. Brian Thomas Jr. was the leading receiver with 91 yards and 1 TD. Today’s attendance was 61,995.
The Jaguars head to Indianapolis to face the Colts on Sunday, 1/5. Kickoff time has not yet been announced for this final game of the season. Be sure to follow www.FloridaSportsChannel.com and www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.
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