NFL category, Page 179

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said on Monday night that he will not receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, saying “remaining true to the people, team and country I love outweigh the benefits of any individual award.” In a one-paragraph statement, the six-time Super Bowl winning coach did not...

CLEVELAND — Nervously sitting in front of a TV while secluded in his basement at home, coach Kevin Stefanski watched his Browns’ shocking playoff win — the team’s first in 26 years — like one of the team’s many long-suffering, faithful fans. His phone turned off, Stefanski, who was isolated...

NEW ORLEANS — Drew Brees will get to celebrate his 42nd birthday by preparing for a playoff game that will also feature the one active NFL quarterback older than him. Brees completed 28 of 39 passes for 265 yards, connecting with Michael Thomas and Latavius Murray for touchdowns, and the...

SEATTLE — For all the success through the years, there is an indisputable fact Russell Wilson, Pete Carroll and the rest of the Seattle Seahawks more veteran players can’t avoid. Since the Seahawks’ loss to New England in the Super Bowl in February 2015, their playoff performances have been complete...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Lamar Jackson finally has his first postseason victory — and on the road, no less. Combine that with Baltimore smothering 2,000-yard rusher Derrick Henry, and the Ravens look playoff tough. Jackson ran for 136 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown, and threw for 179 more as the Ravens...

SEATTLE — A lot of Cam Akers churning yards on the ground and mostly a great defense has the Los Angeles Rams moving on in the NFC playoffs at the expense of the division-foe Seattle Seahawks. Akers rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown, Darious Williams returned Russell Wilson’s interception...

NEW ORLEANS — Saints linebacker Demario Davis’ largely productive NFL career also has had its share of disappointing, teachable moments. Losing seasons with the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns helped Davis cherish recent postseason opportunities with New Orleans. And in the playoffs, Davis has experienced excruciating losses in each...

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Quarterback Josh Allen and safety Micah Hyde teamed up to make the Buffalo Bills’ losing past history. Now do you Bill-ieve? In a season in which the Bills busted numerous slumps, Allen became Buffalo’s first starter in a quarter century to win a playoff game. And...

So often, uneasy is the head that wears the crown. Yet the Kansas City Chiefs followed their first Super Bowl title in half a century by posting the NFL’s best record at 14-2, earning the AFC’s only first-round bye in the expanded playoff format. The Chiefs didn’t dominate teams as...

The NFC playoff field features the usual cast of quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Russell Wilson. Now there’s also Tom Brady, who tormented the AFC field for two decades in New England. The NFC field features two teams with non-winning records: the Bears (8-8) and Washington (7-9), the...

The odds are stacked against the Cleveland Browns as they prepare for their first playoff game in 18 years. Let’s go through a quick list … — The Browns have yet to practice this week because of their ongoing covid-19 issues. — Kevin Stefanski won’t be able to coach them...

Cleveland Browns receiver Rashard Higgins and rookie left tackle Jedrick Wills were cited for drag racing by police Tuesday morning in Westlake, Ohio. According to an incident report and court records, the players were stopped in the suburb about 10 miles from the team’s headquarters. The report said a marijuana...

For the eight NFL teams guaranteed to host at least one game in the playoffs this month, the comfort of familiar surroundings can’t hurt their quest to reach the Super Bowl. Staying in the same time zone and avoiding airplanes and hotels ought to help players stay fresh. For the...

RENTON, Wash. — When Jamal Adams and Carlos Dunlap each made it clear to their former employers they wanted out, part of the reason was so they could experience the postseason. For Adams, he wanted to get there for the first time. For Dunlap, he wanted another chance at a...