NFL SOAP BOX WEEKLY REPORTS- 2.18.24

1. Sunday February 18, 2024 COAST TO COAST & BEYOND GridironGoose@msn.com
2024 NFL 1ST ROUND DRAFT ORDER
As of February 16, 2024
2023
PK TEAM REC
1 Chicago Bears (from Panthers) 7-10
2 Washington Commanders 4-13
3 New England Patriots 4-13
4 Arizona Cardinals 4-13
5 Los Angeles Chargers 5-12
6 New York Giants 6-11
7 Tennessee Titans 6-11
8 Atlanta Falcons 7-10
9 Chicago Bears 7-10
10 New York Jets 7-10
11 Minnesota Vikings 7-10
12 Denver Broncos 8-9
13 Las Vegas Raiders 8-9
14 New Orleans Saints 9-8
15 Indianapolis Colts 9-8
16 Seattle Seahawks 9-8
17 Jacksonville Jaguars 9-8
18 Cincinnati Bengals 9-8
19 Los Angeles Rams 10-7
20 Pittsburgh Steelers 10-7
21 Miami Dolphins 11-6
22 Philadelphia Eagles 11-6
23 Houston Texans (from Browns) 10-7
24 Dallas Cowboys 12-5
25 Green Bay Packers 9-8
26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-8
27 Arizona Cardinals (from Texans) 4-13
28 Buffalo Bills 11-6
29 Detroit Lions 12-5
30 Baltimore Ravens 13-4
31 San Francisco 49ers 12-5
32 Kansas City Chiefs 11-6
Who should the Bears pick with the 1st overall draft
choice? USC QB Caleb Williams, Georgia TE Brock
Bowers, or OSU State WR Marvin Harrison, Jr.?
COURTESY: NFL COMMUNICATIONS
CBS Sports’ Presentation of Super Bowl LVIII is Most-Watched
Telecast in History with 123.4 Million Viewers Across
Platforms
120.0 Million Viewers Watched on CBS – Largest Audience Ever for
Single Network
LAS VEGAS — CBS Sports’ coverage of Super Bowl LVIII, which
featured the Kansas City Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime victory over the San
Francisco 49ers, delivered the most-watched telecast in history with a
Total Audience Delivery of 123.4 million average viewers across all
platforms, including the CBS Television Network, Paramount+,
Nickelodeon, Univision, and CBS Sports and NFL digital properties,
including NFL+. Viewership figures are based on Nielsen Fast National
data and Adobe Analytics.
Record-Setting Viewership
• Super Bowl LVIII is the most-watched program ever, averaging 123.4
million viewers across all platforms, up +7% versus last year’s Super
Bowl which was the previous record (115.1 million).
• More than 200 million viewers (202.4) watched all-or-part of Super
Bowl LVIII across all networks, the highest unduplicated total audience
in history and up +10% versus last year’s Super Bowl (183.6 million).
• Univision averaged more than 2.2 million viewers, the highest Super
Bowl viewership on record for a Spanish-language network.
CBS Leads the Way with Largest Audience Ever for Single Network
• Super Bowl LVIII on CBS led the way with 120.0 million viewers, the
largest audience in history for a single network.
• Super Bowl LVIII capped off a record-setting season for CBS Sports.
The “NFL ON CBS” scored the most-watched regular season since the
NFL returned to CBS in 1998 as well as the Network’s best postseason
viewership since 1998.

2. Miami had 10 different players on the 2023 roster that
combined for 33 Pro Bowl appearances, including six this year,
the most by a Dolphins team since 2002.
WR Tyreek Hill has the most with eight – each season of his
career. CB Jalen Ramsey has gone to seven straight Pro
Bowls, T Terron Armstead has been selected five times. CB
Xavien Howard has gone on four occasions, CB Justin Bethel
has three Pro Bowl nods. LB Bradley Chubb has gone twice. P
Jake Bailey was a Pro Bowl selection in 2020. And three
Dolphins earned their first Pro Bowl selection in 2023 in FB
Alec Ingold, RB Raheem Mostert and QB Tua Tagovailoa.
Head Coach MIKE MCDANIEL became just the third coach in
Dolphins history to make the playoffs in each of his first two
seasons at the helm, joining Hall of Famer Don Shula (1970-
71) and Dave Wannstedt (2000-01).
Miami’s offensive plays and the offense made big strides since
2022. Here is a look at how the offense performed the year
before McDaniel’s arrival (2021) compared to the two seasons
McDaniel has been at the helm.
In 2023, Miami led the league in total offense (401.3) for the
first time in 30 years. The team also led the league in passing
offense (265.5), yards per carry (5.1) and quarterback hits
allowed (59).
McDaniel has helped Tagovailoa improve from 28th in passer
rating in his first two NFL seasons (2020-21) to second in his
last two (2022-23)…With 4,624 yards, Tagovailoa led the NFL
in passing yards in 2023. He became the first Dolphins player
since QB Dan Marino in 1992 to do so…The Dolphins have re-
written the record book in two seasons under McDaniel. Since
he arrived in 2022, the Dolphins have broken six team and 13
individual records.
The Dolphins led the NFL in all kinds of explosive play metrics,
including most plays of 10+ yards (255), and 50+ yards (12).
They were third in most plays of 25+ yards (46).
The Dolphins were 9-0 in 2023 when holding opponents to 20
points or less and 10-1 when scoring 21+ points. Miami
finished the season 11-1 in games they led at halftime and 7-3
in games they scored first.
Miami allowed quarterback hits on only 59 drop backs and
surrendered just 31.0 sacks in 2023, despite starting 12
different offensive line combinations. The 12 different comb-
inations were second-most in the NFL behind the N.Y. Jets’ 13.
Miami’s 31.0 sacks allowed were tied for the fourth fewest in
the NFL while the 56 QB hits allowed were the lowest in the
NFL by a significant margin.
For the first time in team history, the Dolphins had a 4,000-yard
passer, a 1,000-yard rusher and two 1,000-yard receivers in
the same season. Miami accomplished all of this before the
end of Week 16, with two full games still remaining.
Miami led the NFL in total offense (401.3) and ranked 10th in
the league in total defense (318.3). The last time the Dolphins
led the NFL in total offense was 1994 and the last time they
were top 10 in total defense was 2010.
RB DE’VON ACHANE totaled 103 carries for 800 yards in
2023, averaging 7.8 yards per carry. It was the best rushing
average of any running back in NFL history with a minimum of
100 carries in a season. Achane finished the season with
touchdowns in back-to-back weeks at Baltimore and vs.
Buffalo, and had nine scores (seven rushing, two receiving) in
his first six games. The nine touchdowns tied RB Gale Sayers
for the second-most by a player in his first six career games in
NFL history. Only RB Eric Dickerson had more (10).
WR TYREEK HILL was named first-team All-Pro for the fifth
time in his career, as he was a unanimous selection at wide
receiver. Hill was also named first-team All-Pro in 2016 (punt
returner), 2018 (flex), 2020 (wide receiver) and 2022 (wide
receiver). Hill was one of three unanimous first-team
selections, receiving all 50 first-place votes. The others were
San Francisco RB Christian McCaffrey and San Francisco LB
Fred Warner.
The Dolphins finished the season with 56.0 sacks and 131
quarterback hits. The 56.0 sacks shattered the previous team
record of 49.0. The 56.0 sacks were third in the NFL.
The Dolphins posted a 7-2 mark in home games in 2023, and
the defense played a big part in the success at Hard Rock
Stadium.
The Dolphins defense allowed just 13 offensive touchdowns in
nine home games in 2023. Miami’s 14.2 points allowed on
defense per home game was third in the NFL.
Miami allowed just 78.4 rushing yards per game at home,
which was best in the NFL by more than five yards per game.
The Dolphins also ranked in the top 10 at home in first downs
allowed (T-6th, 17.2) and third-down conversions (7th, 34.5).
DT ZACH SIELER signed a contract extension prior to the
2023 season and had the best year of his career. His 10.0
sacks were third-most among all NFL defensive tackles this
season and the most by a defensive tackle in Dolphins history.
LB DAVID LONG, JR. signed with Miami as an unrestricted
free agent from Tennessee in 2023 and made an immediate
impact with the Dolphins.In 2023, Long started all 17 games for
the first time in his career and led the team with 110 tackles
(62 solo). It is the first 100-tackle season of his career
B Xavien Howard is a four-time Pro Bowl player (2018, 2020-
22) and recorded one interception and 12 passes defensed in
2023 and joins Philadelphia CB James Bradberry as the only
NFL players with 12+ passes defensed in each of the past four
seasons (2020-23). Howard’s 29 career interceptions are tied
for fourth in Dolphins history and are the most in the NFL since
2017.

3. Producing the NFL's best regular season record (13-4), the
2023 AFC North Champion Ravens earned a No. 1 playoff
seed. By doing so, the Ravens clinched the AFC's top
postseason spot for the second time (also 2019) in franchise
history. Additionally, the campaign marked Baltimore’s first
division title since 2019 and the fifth (also 2011-12, 2018-19)
under Coach Harbaugh.
In the 2023 regular season, the Ravens tallied an NFL-record
10 victories vs. teams that finished with a winning record, and
they posted six wins over playoff teams.
The 2023 Ravens also ranked No. 1 in the NFL in both point
differential (+203) and turnover margin (+12, tied w/ NYG).
During the John Harbaugh Era (since 2008) Baltimore has
rushed for at least 100 rushing yards in 183 games, ranking
No. 2 in the NFL (Car. - 185). The Ravens' 128 outings with at
least 125 rushing yards, 89 with at least 150 rushing yards and
39 with at least 200 rushing yards each mark the NFL's most.
In addition, (since 2008) when rushing for at least 125 yards,
the Ravens have produced a 99-29 record and Baltimore is 69-
20 when rushing for at least 150 yards and 34-5 when tallying
at least 200 yards under Coach Harbaugh.
Offensively, Baltimore ranked No. 4 in scoring (28.4 ppg) and
No. 6 in total yards (370.4), averaging a NFL-high 156.5
rushing yards per game.
The Ravens' offense ranked fourth in scoring (28.4 ppg) and
sixth in yards per game (370.4) in 2023, with both marks
ranking Top 5 in single-season history.
Baltimore tied (2019 and 2020) for its most 30-point games in a
single season, reaching that mark in eight games. The team's
six games with at least 400 yards gained tied (2012, 2014,
2018 and 2020) for the second-most such single season
occurrences in franchise history, trailing only the 2019
campaign (eight).
Led by QB LAMAR JACKSON in rushing yards (821) and RB
GUS EDWARDS in rushing TDs (13), Baltimore's ground game
racked up an NFL-high 2,661 yards (156.5 ypg) and franchise-
record 26 TDs.
First-team All-Pro QB Lamar Jackson produced the NFL's
fourth best rating (102.7), throwing for 3,678 yards (career
high), 24 TDs and just 7 INTs. He added 821 rushing yards
and 5 TDs to become the only QB in NFL history with multiple
seasons (also 2019 MVP campaign) reaching the incredible
3,000/800 milestone.
The electrifying WR ZAY FLOWERS set rookie franchise
marks in catches (77) and receiving yards (858), adding 6 total
TDs (5 receiving & 1 rushing).
RB Gus Edwards tallied 810 rushing yards and 13 TDs
(second most in Ravens single-season history).
Standout TE MARK ANDREWS recorded 45 catches for 544
yards and 6 TDs before being injured (ankle) in Week 11,
however, TE Isaiah Likely stepped up admirably in Andrews'
absence, finishing with 30 catches for 411 yards and 5 TDs.
Under John Harbaugh, the Ravens have posted a Top 5
scoring defense in 10 of his 16 seasons at the helm, including
the No. 1 unit (16.5 ppg allowed) in 2023. Additionally,
Baltimore has boasted 12 Top 10 defenses (yards allowed per
game) with Harbaugh as head coach, including the No. 6 unit
(301.4) in 2023. The Ravens have also had 10 Top 10 red
zone defenses during Harbaugh's tenure as head coach,
including the No. 2 unit (40.8%) in 2023.
During Harbaugh's 16 full seasons as head coach, Baltimore's
defense has ranked in the Top 10 in third-down defense on 11
occasions, including the No. 7 mark (36.4%) in 2023.
Defensively, Baltimore became the first team in league history
to finish a season ranking No. 1 in each of the following
categories: points allowed (16.5 ppg), sacks (60) and
takeaways (31, tied w/ NYG).
Led by All-Pros S KYLE HAMILTON, DT JUSTIN
MADUBUIKE, ILB PATRICK QUEEN and ILB ROQUAN
SMITH, the Ravens allowed the league's sixth-fewest yards
(301.4 ypg). Madubuike posted a team-high 13 sacks (most
among NFL interior linemen), while impactful veteran free
agent additions OLB JADEVEON CLOWNEY (9.5) and OLB
KYLE VAN NOY (9) ranked second and third, respectively,
contributing to Baltimore's single season franchise-tying (2006)
60 QB drops. S GENO STONE posted the NFL's second-most
INTs (7), helping Baltimore limit foes to a league-low 74.6
passer rating.
ILB Patrick Queen (133) and ILB Roquan Smith (158) formed
the NFL's only duo to each post at least 130 tackles in 2023.
Smith's 158 tackles marked the NFL's sixth most, while
Queen's 133 ranked 16th. On 11/12/23 vs. Cle., Smith (21)
became the second Ravens defender in franchise history (also
LB Ray Lewis) to register at least 20 tackles in a game.
Sixteen Ravens defenders registered at least 1 sack and
contributed to the unit's league-leading and franchise-record-
tying 60 QB takedowns in 2023. Only Detroit (18) had more
defenders notch at least 1 sack. Additionally, only Baltimore
(DE/OLB Jadeveon Clowney, DT Justin Madubuike and OLB
Kyle Van Noy) and Miami were home to three 9+ sack
defenders, a trio of Ravens only outmatched by Baltimore's
2006 quartet (Trevor Pryce, Bart Scott, Terrell Suggs and
Adalius Thomas) of 9+ sack defenders.
There have been 72 combined Pro Bowls earned by the 31
Ravens tabbed in the first round from 1996-23. These
selections have also earned multiple POTY Awards, an NFL
MVP honor, two Super Bowl MVPs and three HOF inductions.
www.BaltimoreRavens.com

4. The New Orleans Saints closed out the 2023 season winning
four of their last five games - including their final three contests
at the Caesars Superdome - to finish 9-8. The club was in
playoff contention until the final week, but ended up on the
outside of a postseason berth in a divisional tiebreaker with the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) and Wild Card tiebreakers with
the Green Bay Packers (9-8) and Seattle Seahawks (9-8).
New Orleans finished among league leaders in several
important team categories. The Black and Gold improved from
an NFL ranking of 31st in 2022 (–11) to being tied for third in
2023 (+11) in turnover ratio. The Saints averaged 23.6 points
per game, ranked ninth in the NFL and surrendered only 19.2
points per game, ranked eighth.
Offensively, New Orleans was led by QB Derek Carr, whose
3,878 passing yards were the most by a Saint since Drew
Brees in 2018. In his first season in Black and Gold, Carr
completed 375-of-548 passes (68.4%) with 25 touchdowns to
just eight interceptions and a 97.7 passer rating.
Over the last six games, Carr was 131-of-176 (league-best
74.4%) for 1,343 yards with an NFL-best 15 touchdowns, only
three picks and a league-high 117.2 passer rating.
The passing game was charged on the receiving end by
second-year WR Chris Olave, who led the team with 87
receptions for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns. He paired with
second-year teammate Rashid Shaheed, who caught 46
passes for 719 yards (15.6 avg.) with five touchdowns.
Shaheed was selected to the Pro Bowl as a return specialist
and as first-team Associated Press All-Pro as a punt returner,
returning 25 punts for 339 yards (13.6 avg.) with a 76-yard
touchdown.
A diverse rushing attack with three players gaining over 300
yards was led by RB Alvin Kamara, who had 694 yards rushing
and five touchdowns in 14 games and led all NFC running
backs in receiving with 75 grabs for 466 yards with one
touchdown, leading the team with 1,160 total yards from
scrimmage. Kamara became the franchise’s leader in total
yards from scrimmage (10,048), total touchdowns (78) and
rushing touchdowns (54) in 2023. QB Taysom Hill tied
Shaheed and Kamara for the team lead in touchdowns with
six, carrying 81 times for 401 yards (5.0 avg.) with four
touchdowns, catching a career high 33 passes for 291 yards
with two TDs and completing 6-of-11 passes for 83 yards with
one TD.
The New Orleans defense also played a significant role in
sparking the Saints’ late season rally. Over the final five
contests, the unit held opponents to an average of 14.4 points
per game, the NFL’s lowest total over that period and finished
ranked eighth over the whole season. CB Paulson Adebo and
S Tyrann Mathieu tied for the team lead with four interceptions
apiece with Adebo leading the team with six takeaways and 18
passes defensed. Adebo’s pass defense total ranked third in
the NFL, while the team’s cumulative 99 pass breakups led the
league.
Up front, the defense was led by a breakout performance by
DE Carl Granderson, who led the team with 8.5 sacks and one
fumble recovery. Rookie DT Bryan Bresee, the team’s first
round pick, recorded 4.5 sacks and six passes defensed.
LB Demario Davis led the defense with 121 tackles, becoming
only the second Saint to have at least 100 stops in six
consecutive seasons, ranking second on the team with 6.5
sacks. He earned AP All Pro honors for the fifth straight
season. LB Pete Werner finished second on the team with 94
stops and tied for the team lead with two fumble recoveries.
The Saints special teams shined again in 2023. In addition to
Shaheed finishing third in the NFL in punt return average, the
coverage units helped New Orleans finish first in the league in
opponent punt return average, while giving their defense the
second-best starting point after kickoffs (24.2).
The Saints finished second in the NFC South with a 9-8 record
in 2023. In addition to playing each NFC South opponent twice
in 2024, the Saints will play one game against each of the AFC
West and NFC East teams. As the second-place finisher in the
NFC South, the Saints will also play the second-place team of
the NFC West (Los Angeles Rams) and the NFC North (Green
Bay Packers), as well as a 17th game, hosting the second
place team in the AFC North (Cleveland Browns).
Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay
Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas
Raiders, L.A. Rams, Philadelphia Eagles & Washington
Commanders.
Road: Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers,
Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs,
L.A. Chargers & New York Giants.
Saints players come from 25 states, Australia and Canada. Of
the players on the team’s roster, California (QB Derek Carr, DE
Isaiah Foskey, DE Carl Granderson, DB Jordan Howden, WR
Chris Olave, QB Jake Haener, FB Adam Prentice WR/RS
Rashid Shaheed and RB Jamaal Williams) claims the most
with ten.
After finishing 31st in the NFL at –11 in 2022, New Orleans
finished the 2023 season tied for third in turnover ratio at +11.
New Orleans won the turnover ratio battle in eight games in
2023 and posted a 6-2 record in those contests
After finishing tied for 31st in the NFL in 2022 with only 14
takeaways, New Orleans more than doubled that figure in 2023
with 29 forced turnovers on defense and special teams,
ranking fourth in the NFL.
The Saints have the second-best regular season record in the
NFC and fifth-best in the National Football League since 2006.
Since 2009, New Orleans’ 149-93 regular season record is
ranked second in the NFC and fourth in the National Football
League.