Saints win 20-10 in Philly, deny Eagles top spot in NFCVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Hurts held a clipboard, wore a headset and paced the sideline with the same the look of consternation on his face as furious Philly fans in the stands as their stress tightened in another Eagles loss without the franchise quarterback. Hurts and the Eagles didn’t like what...
Kyle Dugger’s INT return helps Patriots upend fading DolphinsVideo
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — His team clutching a two-point lead, the ball on the 1-yard line and the season in the balance, Mac Jones decided to improvise. Facing third-and-goal, the Patriots quarterback looked to his left and saw a Dolphins defense guarding against a run and linebacker Duke Riley spread out...
Seahawks keep playoff hopes alive with win, eliminate JetsVideo
SEATTLE — Geno Smith threw two first-half touchdowns, Kenneth Walker III rushed for 133 yards and the Seattle Seahawks kept alive their postseason hopes with a 23-6 win Sunday that eliminated the New York Jets from playoff contention. Seattle (8-8) snapped a three-game losing streak and ensured its Week 18...
Tom Brady-Mike Evans connection lifts Bucs to NFC South titleVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are headed back to the playoffs, confident they’re still capable of making this a special season. Brady threw for 432 yards and three long touchdowns to Mike Evans, and Bucs (8-8) erased a double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit for the second week...
Bills-Bengals showdown highlighted by Josh Allen vs. Joe BurrowVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Had he not been traded to Buffalo two months ago, Bills running back Nyheim Hines knows exactly where he would have been Monday night. Hynes would be glued to his TV watching the first of what could be many-more-to-come duels between two of the NFL’s rising...
Wentz throws 3 INTs, Commanders blown out 24-10 by BrownsVideo
LANDOVER, Md. — Carson Wentz threw three interceptions after getting the starting quarterback job back, defensive miscues added up and the Washington Commanders’ playoff hopes took a major hit with a 24-10 loss Sunday to the Cleveland Browns. Wentz was 16 of 28 for 143 yards, and the offense gained...
NBC’s ‘Sunday Night Football’ rolls with new broadcast crew
LOS ANGELES — Broadcast crews sometimes face the same challenges as the NFL teams they cover. Both adjust to personnel changes, schedule adjustments and study game tapes. Although NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” featured new faces in the booth and production truck before the season started, the broadcasts continue to deliver...
Bucs’ Gabbert, brothers rescue people in Tampa chopper crash
TAMPA, Fla. — Buccaneers backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert became an unexpected hero Thursday when a helicopter crashed into Hillsborough Bay in Tampa. He and his two brothers were cruising nearby on jet skis, checking out from afar some of the sail boats at a yacht club, when they heard a...
Tua Tagovailoa officially out with concussion at New England
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has officially been ruled out for Sunday’s game at New England after suffering a concussion in Miami’s Christmas Day loss to Green Bay. Miami coach Mike McDaniel said Friday that Tagovailoa is still in the NFL’s concussion protocol and is day to day as he focuses...
QB Lamar Jackson misses 10th straight practice as Ravens prep for SteelersVideo
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson missed his 10th straight practice Wednesday, renewing concerns he could be sidelined for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jackson hasn’t practiced or played since he injured his knee in the Ravens’ Week 13 win over the Denver Broncos, a span of three-plus weeks. Asked...
Retiring J.J. Watt grateful for fans, teammates, staffVideo
TEMPE, Ariz. — J.J. Watt has always had a love for the common man, even though he looks more like Superman. So it’s fitting that the funniest anecdote from the retirement news conference of one of the best defensive players in NFL history featured a little-known Arizona Cardinals teammate, rookie...
Commanders turn to Carson Wentz to start Week 17 game vs. BrownsVideo
ASHBURN, Va. — Carson Wentz is set to start at quarterback for the Washington Commanders on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. The team on Wednesday announced coach Ron Rivera’s decision to switch from Taylor Heinicke to Wentz for what amounts to a must-win game in the NFC wild-card race. “Where...
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel says Tua Tagovailoa suffered concussion in loss to Packers
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained his second concussion of the season in last week’s loss to Green Bay, Miami coach Mike McDaniel confirmed Wednesday. Tagovailoa has not been officially ruled out for Sunday’s pivotal game at New England, though it’s unknown when the Dolphins will see...
Raiders bench QB Derek Carr, will start Jarrett Stidham for final 2 games
HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has missed only three games in nine years, all because of injury. Now, for the first time, he won’t play because of what coach Josh McDaniels said Wednesday were offensive performance reasons. McDaniels not only will start Jarrett Stidham the final...
Cardinals’ J.J. Watt indicates he’ll retire at end of season
TEMPE, Ariz. — J.J. Watt could be a terrifying presence on a football field, hunting opposing quarterbacks with unparalleled ferocity, particularly during the early 2010s with the Houston Texans. But the 6-foot-5, 288-pounder also could be a joyful fan favorite, playing catch on the sideline with young fans in the...
Jets’ White cleared by docs, will start at QB on SundayVideo
Mike White is back at quarterback for the New York Jets. And just in time, with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. White was cleared by team doctors and will start Sunday in Seattle after he missed the Jets’ past two games while dealing with broken ribs suffered in...
Analysis: Safely in playoffs, Ravens turn focus to division titleVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens have clinched a postseason berth. Coach John Harbaugh indicated that would have no impact on Lamar Jackson’s status. “Players play when they’re healthy and ready to go. That’s really all we do,” Harbaugh said after Baltimore’s 17-9 win over Atlanta on Saturday. “When...
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa in concussion protocol again
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has returned to the NFL’s concussion protocol, Miami coach Mike McDaniel said Monday. Tagovailoa was experiencing symptoms when he met with team doctors Monday, though McDaniel said it is unclear if Tagovailoa was concussed in Sunday’s 26-20 loss to Green Bay. Tagovailoa...
Analysis: Bengals win 7th straight but still seek consistencyVideo
CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow succinctly summarized the wild inconsistency displayed by the Bengals offense Saturday. “First half was about as good as it gets,” the Cincinnati quarterback said. “And then after that, we kind of shot ourselves in the foot over and over and over again.” Burrow couldn’t seem to...
Analysis: Loss in bitter cold leaves Browns outside playoffs once againVideo
CLEVELAND — There’s nothing left for the Cleveland Browns to accomplish this season, another failed one in a long line of malfunctions for one of the NFL’s most inept franchises. Since 1999, they’ve had three winning seasons. Count ’em, three. They are masters of dysfunction, however, and coach Kevin Stefanski...
Randy Gregory, Oday Aboushi suspended 1 game for punchesVideo
NEW YORK — Broncos linebacker Randy Gregory and Rams offensive lineman Oday Aboushi were suspended one game each for exchanging punches after Los Angeles’ 51-14 win over Denver on Sunday. NFL Vice President of Football Operations Jon Runyan issued the suspensions Monday for violations of unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness...
Denver Broncos fire rookie head coach Nathaniel Hackett
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos fired first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett on Monday with two games left in the season. Team owner and CEO Greg Penner said he’ll lead the search for a new coach with assistance from GM George Paton, in whom he expressed confidence while announcing Hackett’s dismissal....
Analysis: NFL playoff picture tightens up after Week 16
Minshew Mania is on hold. The Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t wrap up the NFC East and the No. 1 seed with their backup quarterback, tightening the playoff picture in a wide-open conference. The Eagles (13-2) need only one more win to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs but a 40-34 loss...
Rams, Bucs, Packers earn wins on same day in upside down NFC
Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers led comeback wins, and the Los Angeles Rams dominated Russell Wilson and the Broncos. It was a triumphant Christmas for the Buccaneers, Packers and Rams as many figured it would be when the schedule was released in May. The NFC’s top three preseason Super Bowl...
Browns eliminated from playoff contention after Saints rally for victory
CLEVELAND — Without a roof over their heads, the Saints went outside and handled the frightful weather — and the Browns. They’re still in the playoff mix. Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill each had touchdown runs and New Orleans left its comfortable dome and withstood Cleveland’s arctic-like conditions in a...
