Mike Tanier
@miketanier.bsky.social
Writer/Editor/Founder of Too Deep Zone: Subscriber-supported gonzo NFL journalism. Former NFL writer for Football Outsiders, Bleacher Report, the New York Times, Sports on Earth and other publications, some of which still exist!
President of ALL Footballs. But the eligible candidate must be a football over the age of 35.
What if it’s President of THE Football?
January 6, 2026 at 5:22 PM
President of ALL Footballs. But the eligible candidate must be a football over the age of 35.
The swiftness with which the Commanders went from the smartest people on earth to the firing line should send chills down the spine of any team who achieved sudden success under a new coaching regime with the help of a soft schedule and/or some miracle wins this year.
The #Commanders have parted ways with OC Kliff Kingsbury and DC Joe Whitt Jr., per source.
January 6, 2026 at 5:12 PM
The swiftness with which the Commanders went from the smartest people on earth to the firing line should send chills down the spine of any team who achieved sudden success under a new coaching regime with the help of a soft schedule and/or some miracle wins this year.
Kliff Kingsbury is Mike McDaniel on Panera Charged Lemonade.
January 6, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Kliff Kingsbury is Mike McDaniel on Panera Charged Lemonade.
Archduke of Derp was the alternate title.
Rap: Matt Ryan to interview for newly created President of Football Post position with Falcons later this week.
January 6, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Archduke of Derp was the alternate title.
Reposted by Mike Tanier
Did you miss the final 2025 regular-season commentary yesterday?
Final regular-season DVOA ratings and commentary!
-- Updated DAVE for playoff teams adjusted for Week 18
-- Seattle and the Rams dominate vs. Top 10 schedules
-- Tons of historical tables
ftnfantasy.com/nfl/final-20...
-- Updated DAVE for playoff teams adjusted for Week 18
-- Seattle and the Rams dominate vs. Top 10 schedules
-- Tons of historical tables
ftnfantasy.com/nfl/final-20...
Final 2025 DVOA Ratings
The Seahawks finish No. 1 for the year in DVOA with the Rams close behind. We've got all the historical data plus weighted ratings entering the playoffs!
ftnfantasy.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Did you miss the final 2025 regular-season commentary yesterday?
Reposted by Mike Tanier
This year’s first episode of our podcast Assembly Required is out now. I hope you’ll take a listen wherever you get your podcasts.
January 6, 2026 at 3:09 PM
This year’s first episode of our podcast Assembly Required is out now. I hope you’ll take a listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Kafka's gonna replace Nagy as Andy Reid's OC.
Interim job gave Mike Kafka confidence he can be an NFL coach. Now, he will wait to see if the #NYGiants give him that chance. www.bigblueview.com/new-york-gia...
Mike Kafka awaits interview, ‘much more confident’ he can be an NFL head coach
Your best source for quality New York Giants news, rumors, analysis, stats and scores from the fan perspective.
www.bigblueview.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Kafka's gonna replace Nagy as Andy Reid's OC.
Reposted by Mike Tanier
DVOA playoff odds are now updated! We have the Seahawks as our SB favorites with a 15.4% chance of the Super Bowl XLVIII rematch with the Denver Broncos.
ftnfantasy.com/nfl/dvoa-pla...
ftnfantasy.com/nfl/dvoa-pla...
NFL Playoff Picture: Odds to Win Super Bowl LX
NFL playoff picture odds to win Super Bowl LIX based on DVOA and 25,000 weekly simulations.
ftnfantasy.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:57 PM
DVOA playoff odds are now updated! We have the Seahawks as our SB favorites with a 15.4% chance of the Super Bowl XLVIII rematch with the Denver Broncos.
ftnfantasy.com/nfl/dvoa-pla...
ftnfantasy.com/nfl/dvoa-pla...
I am on board with this, because it would be great for my career.
w/ Stefan ski out, Browns should hire Deion,.. Just for the drama
January 6, 2026 at 2:00 PM
I am on board with this, because it would be great for my career.
Oh yeah, it's January 6th. I will never forget fixing dinner for my family, opening up my phone to check Wild Card injury reports/NFL coaching carousel news, and facing the bone-chilling possibility that democracy was being toppled by right-wing extremist assholes.
January 6, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Oh yeah, it's January 6th. I will never forget fixing dinner for my family, opening up my phone to check Wild Card injury reports/NFL coaching carousel news, and facing the bone-chilling possibility that democracy was being toppled by right-wing extremist assholes.
"The Patriots offense contains a little helium, but their defense talks like Alvin and the Chipmunks. Opponents that can put up a fight and have reasonably healthy offensive lines can beat them. The Chargers only meet half of those criteria."
miketanier.substack.com/p/afc-playof...
miketanier.substack.com/p/afc-playof...
AFC Playoff Preview Extravaganza: Road Warriors
The Chargers-Patriots Hobbyhorse Bowl. The Bills-Jaguars Chaos Bowl. And a ritualistic slaughter of XXX by the Texans defense. Get your previews here!
miketanier.substack.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:25 PM
"The Patriots offense contains a little helium, but their defense talks like Alvin and the Chipmunks. Opponents that can put up a fight and have reasonably healthy offensive lines can beat them. The Chargers only meet half of those criteria."
miketanier.substack.com/p/afc-playof...
miketanier.substack.com/p/afc-playof...
"I shall give Morton and Sheppard a 2-day head start into the woods with one canteen each. They have earned that. May the strong prevail."
Dan Campbell when asked about changes to come to start the offseason:
"I'm going to need a little bit here. I'm going to need a few days here."
"I'm going to need a little bit here. I'm going to need a few days here."
January 5, 2026 at 6:54 PM
"I shall give Morton and Sheppard a 2-day head start into the woods with one canteen each. They have earned that. May the strong prevail."
Reposted by Mike Tanier
“The path is clearer than ever, but while the road to the Super Bowl will be a winding one away from Orchard Park for the Bills, if it ends with Allen hoisting the Lombardi, he may need to send his measurements in for that Gold Jacket.”
mattlombardonfl.substack.com/p/the-eagles...
mattlombardonfl.substack.com/p/the-eagles...
The Eagles' Keys to a Super Bowl Repeat, the Quarterbacks' Legacies Who Will Be Defined by These Playoffs | 4 Downs
The NFL Playoffs are more wide open than ever, with personal histories about to be rewritten.
mattlombardonfl.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:23 PM
“The path is clearer than ever, but while the road to the Super Bowl will be a winding one away from Orchard Park for the Bills, if it ends with Allen hoisting the Lombardi, he may need to send his measurements in for that Gold Jacket.”
mattlombardonfl.substack.com/p/the-eagles...
mattlombardonfl.substack.com/p/the-eagles...
Reposted by Mike Tanier
Russell Wilson waiting until Black Monday to claim he was playing through a hamstring injury all season:
January 5, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Russell Wilson waiting until Black Monday to claim he was playing through a hamstring injury all season:
Reposted by Mike Tanier
I'm sorry for harping on this, but EPA does *not* show that Stafford and Maye had the same schedule strength this year.
The average EPA/dropback for the 17 pass defenses faced by the Rams was .061 (14th hardest).
The average for the pass defenses faced by the Patriots was .104 (easiest).
The average EPA/dropback for the 17 pass defenses faced by the Rams was .061 (14th hardest).
The average for the pass defenses faced by the Patriots was .104 (easiest).
January 5, 2026 at 6:16 PM
I'm sorry for harping on this, but EPA does *not* show that Stafford and Maye had the same schedule strength this year.
The average EPA/dropback for the 17 pass defenses faced by the Rams was .061 (14th hardest).
The average for the pass defenses faced by the Patriots was .104 (easiest).
The average EPA/dropback for the 17 pass defenses faced by the Rams was .061 (14th hardest).
The average for the pass defenses faced by the Patriots was .104 (easiest).
Anything I planned to write about the Dolphins this week now feels inadequate.
So far, six candidates have been named for the Dolphins' GM opening and THREE of them have been in San Francisco since before Mike McDaniel was hired.
It's smelling more and more like this fuckshit absentee owner of ours is leaning towards keeping this terrible head coach.
It's smelling more and more like this fuckshit absentee owner of ours is leaning towards keeping this terrible head coach.
January 5, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Anything I planned to write about the Dolphins this week now feels inadequate.
"Matthew Stafford is outstanding so long as you follow the Gremlins rules: never get him wet, and don’t feed him MVP hype after Week 15."
NFC Playoff Previews!!!
miketanier.substack.com/p/nfc-playof...
NFC Playoff Previews!!!
miketanier.substack.com/p/nfc-playof...
NFC Playoff Preview Extravaganza: Anyone Can Win This (Except the Panthers)!
49ers at Eagles. Packers-Bears III. Rams at (making sure I wasn't hallucinating all weekend) Panthers? Alrighty, then. Come get your NFC playoff previews!
miketanier.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:01 PM
"Matthew Stafford is outstanding so long as you follow the Gremlins rules: never get him wet, and don’t feed him MVP hype after Week 15."
NFC Playoff Previews!!!
miketanier.substack.com/p/nfc-playof...
NFC Playoff Previews!!!
miketanier.substack.com/p/nfc-playof...
Reposted by Mike Tanier
Quick Reads with the best and worst players of Week 18 by DYAR. Longer Quick Reads covering the whole year will come tomorrow along with DVOA commentary later today!
ftnfantasy.com/nfl/week-18-...
ftnfantasy.com/nfl/week-18-...
Week 18 Quick Reads: Rhamondre Runs Hard
Rhamondre Stevenson and Ray Davis were among the big stars of Week 18 according to our DYAR metrics.
ftnfantasy.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Quick Reads with the best and worst players of Week 18 by DYAR. Longer Quick Reads covering the whole year will come tomorrow along with DVOA commentary later today!
ftnfantasy.com/nfl/week-18-...
ftnfantasy.com/nfl/week-18-...
Oh that's right, there's a team called the Arizona Cardinals!
BREAKING: The Cardinals are firing Jonathan Gannon, per source.
Gannon compiled a 15-36 record over three seasons and zero playoff appearances.
Gannon compiled a 15-36 record over three seasons and zero playoff appearances.
January 5, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Oh that's right, there's a team called the Arizona Cardinals!
Reposted by Mike Tanier
OK, @miketanier.bsky.social asks for this one, so here's the final list of the easiest schedules by average DVOA of opponent.
As I've said, note that the top two teams here made the Super Bowl despite beating up on easy schedules.
As I've said, note that the top two teams here made the Super Bowl despite beating up on easy schedules.
January 5, 2026 at 4:53 PM
OK, @miketanier.bsky.social asks for this one, so here's the final list of the easiest schedules by average DVOA of opponent.
As I've said, note that the top two teams here made the Super Bowl despite beating up on easy schedules.
As I've said, note that the top two teams here made the Super Bowl despite beating up on easy schedules.
Reposted by Mike Tanier
Catch up on Halford & Brough with Mike Halford & @sadclubcommish.bsky.social
- Sam Cosentino talks Canada getting knocked out by Czechia at the #WorldJuniors
- @miketanier.bsky.social chats #NFL Week 18
- @kevinisingoal.bsky.social around the #Canucks
🎧 sprtsnt.ca/3TQMxKh
- Sam Cosentino talks Canada getting knocked out by Czechia at the #WorldJuniors
- @miketanier.bsky.social chats #NFL Week 18
- @kevinisingoal.bsky.social around the #Canucks
🎧 sprtsnt.ca/3TQMxKh
January 5, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Catch up on Halford & Brough with Mike Halford & @sadclubcommish.bsky.social
- Sam Cosentino talks Canada getting knocked out by Czechia at the #WorldJuniors
- @miketanier.bsky.social chats #NFL Week 18
- @kevinisingoal.bsky.social around the #Canucks
🎧 sprtsnt.ca/3TQMxKh
- Sam Cosentino talks Canada getting knocked out by Czechia at the #WorldJuniors
- @miketanier.bsky.social chats #NFL Week 18
- @kevinisingoal.bsky.social around the #Canucks
🎧 sprtsnt.ca/3TQMxKh
Reposted by Mike Tanier
wins are not a QB stat but it is a coaching stat. Zac Taylor has gone 17-16 over three years when Joe Burrow starts in the middle of Burrow's prime
January 5, 2026 at 3:36 PM
wins are not a QB stat but it is a coaching stat. Zac Taylor has gone 17-16 over three years when Joe Burrow starts in the middle of Burrow's prime
"Expect chaos. Expect the unexpected. There is simply no way the Bills and Jaguars can both be normal at the same time."
AFC Playoff Previews!
miketanier.substack.com/p/afc-playof...
AFC Playoff Previews!
miketanier.substack.com/p/afc-playof...
AFC Playoff Preview Extravaganza: Road Warriors
The Chargers-Patriots Hobbyhorse Bowl. The Bills-Jaguars Chaos Bowl. And a ritualistic slaughter of XXX by the Texans defense. Get your previews here!
miketanier.substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:37 PM
"Expect chaos. Expect the unexpected. There is simply no way the Bills and Jaguars can both be normal at the same time."
AFC Playoff Previews!
miketanier.substack.com/p/afc-playof...
AFC Playoff Previews!
miketanier.substack.com/p/afc-playof...
I read this as "Sorry, upcoming." It still works.
Joe Schoen is staying as #NYGiants GM. Story upcoming
January 5, 2026 at 3:32 PM
I read this as "Sorry, upcoming." It still works.