Eagles host 49ers in wild-card round as they seek a repeat Super Bowl title
PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles declared from the first day of training camp and throughout another season that included an NFC East title that the word “repeat” is not part of the locker-room vernacular for the 2024 Super Bowl champions. “We’re not defending nothing,” offensive lineman Jordan Mailata said. However the...
Dolphins fire Mike McDaniel, the quirky, inventive coach who they once viewed as their future
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins fired coach Mike McDaniel on Thursday following a 7-10 season in which Miami missed the playoffs for the second straight year. The decision ends McDaniel’s four-year tenure in Miami, a period defined by soaring expectations that ultimately went unfulfilled. “After careful evaluation and...
Analysis: Stakes high as Ravens move on from stability of John Harbaugh era
In three decades of existence, the Baltimore Ravens have had two primary owners, two general managers and three coaches. Stability like that is hard to achieve in the NFL and should not be taken for granted. Now the franchise heads down an uncertain path after firing John Harbaugh. It’s a...
Josh Allen says he knows where he needs to improve as Bills prepare for playoff opener vs. Jags
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Josh Allen’s sore right foot feels better, and the Bills quarterback’s mind is refreshed as Buffalo prepares to open the playoffs on the road for the first time in six years. With the exception of a game-opening handoff in a regular season-ending 35-8 win over the...
Why 2025 is the year of the 1st-round quarterback in the NFL
The 2025 NFL season was dominated by first-round quarterbacks with old veterans like Matthew Stafford and a new generation featuring Drake Maye and Caleb Williams taking center stage. The playoffs should be no different with a record-tying 12 of the 14 teams that qualified for the postseason set to use...
Ravens fire longtime coach John Harbaugh after season-ending loss to SteelersVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — John Harbaugh has been fired after 18 seasons as the Baltimore Ravens’ coach. Owner Steve Bisciotti said Tuesday he relieved Harbaugh of his duties after the Ravens were one of the league’s most disappointing teams this season. They went 8-9 and missed the playoffs after entering...
Kliff Kingsbury, Joe Whitt Jr. are gone from Commanders
Coordinators Kliff Kingsbury and Joe Whitt Jr. are both gone from coach Dan Quinn’s staff with the Washington Commanders after a 5-12 season, a team official with knowledge of the moves told the Associated Press on Tuesday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the staff...
Joe Burrow’s Bengals face plenty of questions after missing playoffs for 3rd straight yearVideo
CINCINNATI — While the Cincinnati Bengals looked as if they were on track to being an AFC powerhouse in 2022, they’re now facing their third straight season outside of the playoffs. The Bengals have kept their core of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins intact. But not much else...
Texans’ defense sets franchise records, prepares for Steelers in playoffs
HOUSTON — The Houston Texans wrapped up the best defensive season in franchise history with a win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Now the Texans (12-5) will look to build on that stellar performance when they open the playoffs next Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Houston’s ferocious defense,...
Ravens have a lot to ask themselves after a season with Super Bowl hopes ended with an 8-9 record
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — A few months ago, the question was whether the Baltimore Ravens finally could perform in the playoffs like they had in the regular season. Instead, the heartache simply came earlier. From Week 1 at Buffalo — when they blew a 15-point lead in the final four...
Raiders fire Pete Carroll after 3-14 season, will look for a new coach for 3rd straight year
HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders fired Pete Carroll on Monday after just one year, meaning they will enter their third consecutive season with a new coach in charge. Carroll expressed high hopes upon taking over, saying he was used to double-digit victories and he expected the same in...
Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon fired following dismal 3rd season that ended with 3-14 record
TEMPE, Ariz. — Jonathan Gannon’s once-promising head coaching tenure with the Arizona Cardinals is done following a dismal third season that started with high expectations but quickly collapsed thanks to injuries, embarrassing gaffes and a long string of losses that became increasingly noncompetitive. Now the franchise is preparing for a...
Browns fire 2-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski after 6 seasons
BEREA, Ohio — Kevin Stefanski led the Cleveland Browns to two playoff appearances in his first four seasons as head coach. However, with only eight wins the past two seasons, owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam will be making their sixth coaching hire since purchasing the franchise in 2012. Stefanski was...
Panthers, Dave Canales celebrate Falcons’ win that gave Carolina the NFC South title
ATLANTA — The Carolina Panthers are NFC South champions, and they have the Atlanta Falcons to thank. Carolina could have clinched the division Saturday, but a 16-14 loss at Tampa Bay put the fate of the NFC South in the hands of the two teams that had only pride for...
Falcons fire coach Raheem Morris, GM Terry Fontenot hours after finishing 8-9 seasonVideo
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons fired coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot on Sunday night, announcing the moves hours after the team completed its second straight 8-9 finish under Morris and eighth consecutive losing season. Morris said after Sunday’s 19-17 win over the New Orleans Saints that he...
Szmyt’s field goal on last play gives Browns win over Bengals
CINCINNATI — Myles Garrett wanted to get his 23rd sack and set the NFL’s single-season record in a victory. Shedeur Sanders and Andre Szmyt did their part to make sure that became a reality. After Ja’Marr Chase’s 4-yard touchdown catch gave Cincinnati an 18-17 advantage with 1:29 remaining, Sanders directed...
NFL Week 18: Dee Alford’s red-zone pick saves Falcons’ win over Saints, giving NFC South title to Panthers
ATLANTA — Dee Alford’s red-zone interception stopped a potential go-ahead drive by New Orleans, and the Atlanta Falcons beat the Saints 19-17 on Sunday to give the NFC South title to the Carolina Panthers. By closing the season with four consecutive wins, the Falcons (8-9) finished in a three-way tie...
Myles Garrett gets sack No. 23 to set NFL single-season recordVideo
CINCINNATI — Cleveland Browns All-Pro pass rusher Myles Garrett set the NFL’s single-season sack record, reaching No. 23 for the season with 5:09 remaining during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Garrett sacked Joe Burrow for a 6-yard loss on first-and-10 at the Browns 45-yard line....
Seahawks secure No. 1 seed in NFC by stomping 49ers
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Zach Charbonnet scored on a 27-yard run in the first quarter, and Seattle shut down the high-powered San Francisco offense in a 13-3 victory over the 49ers on Saturday night that secured the No. 1 seed for the Seahawks in the NFC playoffs. Seattle (14-3) won...
Mayfield, Buccaneers beat Panthers, stay alive in chase for NFC South title
TAMPA, Fla. — The winner of the NFC South will have a losing record and be crowned at home watching on television. Baker Mayfield threw a touchdown pass to Cade Otton, Chase McLaughlin kicked three field goals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers avoided elimination with a sloppy 16-14 victory over...
QB Joe Flacco appreciates his chance to play for Bengals
CINCINNATI — After opening the season as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns facing the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Flacco will close the season as the backup for the Bengals as they face the Browns on Sunday. Flacco was dealt to the Bengals in October and made six starts for...
Browns’ Myles Garrett will try to break NFL sacks record in finale against Bengals and Joe Burrow
CINCINNATI — Myles Garrett has sacked Joe Burrow plenty of times in the six seasons since Burrow was the top overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020. That’s why it would be fitting if the Cleveland Browns All-Pro pass rusher takes down the Bengals quarterback Sunday to tie or...
Former baseball player Lenny Dykstra faces drug charges after New Year’s Day traffic stop
Retired professional baseball player Lenny Dykstra faces charges after Pennsylvania State Police said a trooper found drugs and paraphernalia in his possession during a traffic stop on New Year’s Day. Dykstra, 62, was a passenger when the vehicle was pulled over by a trooper with the Blooming Grove patrol unit...
Ravens’ Lamar Jackson responds to questions about injury, future entering Steelers game
BALTIMORE — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson emerged from the field house like a phoenix Thursday in Owings Mills, his back contusion protected by a flak jacket and teammates and coaches energized by his presence on an otherwise bitterly cold afternoon. The two-time NFL MVP’s full participation in practice for a...
Dolphins hire Troy Aikman as a consultant in general manager search
MIAMI — The Dolphins hired ESPN NFL analyst and former Dallas Cowboys star quarterback Troy Aikman as a consultant to assist in their general manager search, a league source said Thursday. Aikman, who recently began working in the role, will remain ESPN’s lead NFL commentator while assisting owner Stephen Ross...
