What's happened
Washington's quarterback injuries lead to Josh Johnson starting against Dallas, both teams eliminated from playoffs. Meanwhile, streaming giants face a holiday NFL tripleheader with backup players, including Kansas City’s Oladokun, highlighting a season of injuries and unexpected lineups.
What's behind the headline?
The NFL's injury-riddled season has forced teams to rely on backup quarterbacks, diminishing the quality of play and increasing unpredictability. Washington's decision to start journeyman Josh Johnson exemplifies the depth of the injury crisis, especially at quarterback. The season's focus on backups underscores the importance of player health and the unpredictable nature of football. Simultaneously, the streaming platforms' holiday NFL coverage, featuring lesser-known players like Oladokun, highlights the league's diminished star power this season. This shift impacts viewer engagement and raises questions about the league's future star development and injury management strategies. The season's chaos will likely influence team strategies and broadcasting approaches in upcoming years, emphasizing resilience and adaptability in a league increasingly defined by injuries.
What the papers say
The NY Post highlights the significance of the Cowboys and Commanders' rivalry despite both teams missing the playoffs, emphasizing the impact of injuries on team performance and betting lines. AP News provides detailed context on Washington's injury situation, including quarterback replacements and key player absences, illustrating the season's injury toll. The NY Post also discusses the unique challenges faced by streaming platforms like Netflix, which expected high-profile games but are instead delivering backup players, reflecting broader issues in the league's health and star power this season. These contrasting perspectives underscore the season's overarching theme: injuries have reshaped the NFL landscape, affecting teams, broadcasters, and fans alike.
How we got here
Both Washington and Dallas are out of playoff contention, with Washington's season hampered by injuries to Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota. The NFL's Week 17 features backup quarterbacks stepping in due to injuries, reflecting a season heavily impacted by player health issues. Meanwhile, streaming services like Netflix face a rare holiday NFL schedule filled with backup players, as the league's injury crisis continues to reshape game lineups.
Go deeper
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