49ers turned to Cardinals fans in Arizona’s win vs. Eagles: ‘Get ’em, Kyler Murray!’
The Arizona Cardinals’ Week 17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles was a massive W for head coach Jonathan Gannon and the organization as a whole. The victory also meant a whole lot to the San Francisco 49ers, as made clear in Netflix’s “Receiver” series.
The sixth episode centered around the 49ers’ quest for the No. 1 seed in the NFC and the home-field advantage and first-round bye that come with it. But with the Eagles (11-4) right on the heels of the 49ers (11-4) entering the penultimate week of the regular season, San Francisco needed a win and a Philadelphia loss to secure the No. 1 spots having already beat the birds earlier in the year.
Jared Goff for MVP? Mike McCarthy for Coach of the Year? Long-shot picks for major NFL awards in 2024
The prospect Josh Allen wanted Buffalo to draft could make his mark immediately as the Bills’ lead receiver. Coleman’s superior size, athleticism and leaping ability make him a tough matchup for cornerbacks tasked with guarding him on the perimeter. Though it will take some time for the No. 33 overall pick to adapt to the pro game, Coleman’s natural playmaking ability should enable him to make key contributions while working through rookie growing pains.
If Coleman earns Allen’s trust early in the season with a few spectacular grabs on 50/50 balls in the red zone, the Michigan State/Florida State product could swipe the award from one of the ballyhooed quarterbacks expected to walk away with the trophy.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Despite sharing the stage with blockbuster free-agent signee Patrick Queen, the rookie linebacker could emerge as one of the headliners of Pittsburgh’s stout defense as a tackling machine with exceptional instincts.
Wilson is a big-play specialist with unique skills as a pass rusher and coverage player. The 6-foot-4, 233-pounder who blazed a 4.43 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine is a menacing presence all over the field, demanding that opponents pay close attention to his whereabouts on every play. Given the freedom to run and chase behind a stellar front line, Wilson should stuff the stat sheet as a dominant playmaker on Mike Tomlin’s defense.