There are just three weeks left in the NFL regular season, and many teams are dealing with injuries - with some already looking ahead to the offseason. The playoff push is here for some teams, but those eliminated are at least taking a look at what the offseason could hold. With that in mind, here are all the latest news and rumors from around the league:
Dareus guarantees Bills win over Browns
The Buffalo Bills are reeling, having lost five of their last seven games, but they expect to get back to winning on Sunday when they take on the Cleveland Browns. In fact, Marcell Dareus has guaranteed they will win.
DT Marcell Dareus said it's "a guarantee" the #Bills will not become the first team to lose to the #Browns this season.
— Vic Carucci (@viccarucci) December 14, 2016
Sammy Watkins wouldn't exactly go that far when talking to reporters, but he did express that the Bills know they need to play with a sense of urgency.
"We know if we lose, something crazy might happen immediately. We need to go out there and win this game," Watkins said. "I want to move forward. I don't want to keep going through all this craziness, changing [offensive coordinators]. That kills the players, the team and the organization. ... I feel the coaches we have, they can do it. It's all on the talent. We as a team, as a culture need to [do] whatever it takes to win."
As for the Browns, there are having fun with the guarantee:
Joe Thomas on #Bills Dareus guaranteeing they won't be first to lose to #Browns pic.twitter.com/qzhwt0I7Fq
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) December 14, 2016
The game will kick off at 1:00 pm ET on Sunday on CBS.
Colts expected to keep Pagano, Grigson
With a 6-7 record and sitting in third place in the division, it appeared to be a foregone conclusion that Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano and general manager Ryan Grigson were on the hot seat - especially after both were nearly fired after missing the playoffs last season.
However, that doesn't appear to be the case. Owner Jim Irsay says that he plans to have both back with the team in 2017.
“Honestly, at the end of every season, we sit down and review where we’re at,” Irsay told USA TODAY Sports. “I don’t have any anticipation of change. There’s no plan of that. We’ll evaluate everything. I will.
“Look, if you can improve your franchise, even if you’re doing well, you’re going to make that move. You just are — at least I am. It’s about winning and winning the right way and trying to sustain success over a large period of time. We’re used to being in the playoffs. This is the first time in almost 20 years we (wouldn’t have) made the playoffs in back-to-back years. That’s extremely disappointing.
“We hold out the hope we can win three, though, and get everything to fall our way.”
Indianapolis faces the Vikings in Minnesota before hitting the road again for a Week 16 matchup against the Oakland Raiders. They will close the season at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Forte to play through torn meniscus
New York Jets running back Matt Forte was diagnosed with a torn meniscus on Wednesday, but he suspects that he has been playing with it all year. Because of that, he expects to play on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini.
Forte said he's hoping to avoid surgery in the offseason because he had been pain-free until last Sunday. He said it was hyperextended at the start of the game and he wound up playing only the first two series in the Jets' 23-17 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers.
"It hadn't been bothering me, so what I think happened Sunday is I re-aggravated it and it swelled up on me and all that stuff," Forte told ESPN.com Wednesday. "I've been working with them in the trainer's room. The swelling is going down, so it feels a lot better."
Forte has rushed for 792 yards and seven touchdowns on 214 carries this season.
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