Covid-19 changed NFL in 2020; some shifts are permanentVideo
Through plenty of potholes, seas of empty seats and enough piped-in crowd noise to make broadcasts sound like sitcom laugh tracks, the NFL is about to put the wacky and worrisome 2020 season in its rearview. A final slate of games Sunday will determine the other half of the expanded...
Emmanuel Sanders, Saints looking like good match as playoffs nearVideo
NEW ORLEANS — It’s apparently no accident Saints receiver Emmanuel Sanders is wrapping up his first season in New Orleans with a chance to reach his fourth Super Bowl — all with different teams. “I just think I positioned myself on good teams,” Sanders said after practice on Wednesday. “If...
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa will start at Bills, but will he finish?Video
MIAMI — The Miami Dolphins need a good game Sunday to ensure they get to keep playing, and that’s especially true for Tua Tagovailoa. With another dud, the rookie quarterback might be watching the final minutes from the sideline again as Miami tries to clinch a playoff berth at Buffalo....
Bills’ dynamic duo of Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs ‘just scratching the surface’
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Receiver Stefon Diggs isn’t content with how he and quarterback Josh Allen have teamed up to rewrite several pages of the Buffalo Bills’ single-season record book. Acquired in a trade with Minnesota in March, Diggs likes to remind people this is only the dynamic duo’s first...
Bills’ rout of Patriots punctuates breakthrough seasonVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Don’t let the Buffalo Bills’ polite talk about how the Patriots were merely the next opponent on their schedule fool you. For the team’s longest-serving players who have known mostly failure when facing New England, Buffalo’s 38-9 primetime beatdown of the Patriots on Monday, bore the...
Titans’ Derrick Henry poised to repeat as NFL’s rushing leaderVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Derrick Henry has been running into lots of NFL records, and now he is a game away from joining another exclusive group. Only six men have led the NFL in rushing in consecutive seasons since the league went to a 16-game season, and no one has managed...
Browns add 2 more players to crowded covid-19 list ahead of game with SteelersVideo
CLEVELAND — With their biggest game in years just days away, the Cleveland Browns added two more players to their lengthy covid-19 list. Starting safety Andrew Sendejo and rookie tight end Harrison Bryant were placed on the list Tuesday, giving Cleveland eight players on the list. It is not yet...
No preseason, no problem as NFL rookies shine in strange yearVideo
Facing fourth-and-goal at the 1 in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams, the New York Jets turned to veteran Frank Gore — along with rookie Mekhi Becton. The critical play called for Gore to run behind Becton, a 6-foot-7, 363-pound left tackle and the 11th overall pick in...
Bills earn 1st sweep of Patriots since ’99 with 38-9 winVideo
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Josh Allen passed for four touchdowns and the Buffalo Bills became the first AFC East foe to sweep the season series with the New England Patriots in two decades with a 38-9 victory on Monday night. A week after unseating the Patriots as AFC East division champions,...
Surging Ravens in playoffs with win against BengalsVideo
BALTIMORE — A year ago, the Baltimore Ravens already had wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs as they headed toward the final week of the regular season. Baltimore rested many of its starters in that meaningless finale, a luxury derived from its stature as the team...
Browns ‘sloppy’ despite opportunity to clinch AFC playoff berthVideo
CLEVELAND — The Browns had handled so many of 2020’s obstacles, navigating the coronavirus minefield and overcoming injuries while becoming one of the NFL’s biggest surprises. In 24 hours, it all fell apart. They fumbled. Sunday’s 23-16 loss to the New York Jets, which came after Cleveland lost six players...
49ers-Cards game draws 11.2 million viewers onlineVideo
LOS ANGELES — Saturday’s game between the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals set a record for the largest audience to stream an NFL game. The game, which primarily was streamed on Amazon Prime Video and Twitch, delivered an estimated 11.2 viewers and had an average minute audience of 4.8...
Browns’ covid contact players eligible to return Thursday
CLEVELAND — Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said some of the players who missed Sunday’s loss because of covid-19 protocols will be eligible to return to practice Thursday as Cleveland prepares to play the Steelers with a playoff spot riding on the outcome. The Browns (10-5) were beaten 23-16 by the...
Washington releases 2019 1st-round pick Dwayne Haskins
Washington released 2019 first-round pick Dwayne Haskins on Monday, less than 24 hours after he committed three turnovers in a loss to Carolina and in the aftermath of another violation of pandemic protocols. Haskins started in place of injured quarterback Alex Smith despite being disciplined for breaking covid-19 rules by...
NFL moves Washington-Philadelphia game to season finale
NEW YORK — The Washington Football Team’s pursuit of the NFC East title will have to wait until the final game of the regular season. The NFL has moved Washington’s game at Philadelphia next Sunday to prime time. Washington (6-9) is tied with Dallas for the division lead, but holds...
Davante Adams shines in snow as Packers trounce Titans
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams created a picturesque atmosphere as they connected for three touchdown passes on a snow-covered Lambeau Field. The Green Bay Packers teammates would love the opportunity to produce plenty of similar scenes next month by staying home throughout the NFC playoffs. Rodgers...
Frustrated J.J. Watt unleashes postgame tirade about effortVideo
HOUSTON — Frustration boiled over for star J.J. Watt after the Houston Texans dropped their fourth straight game on Sunday. Samaje Perine ran for two touchdowns, including a 3-yard score late, to give the Cincinnati Bengals their first road win in more than two years with a 37-31 victory over...
Brian Daboll’s success with Bills puts him on head coaching radarVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Brian Daboll should immediately remove Bills receivers Cole Beasley and Stefon Diggs from his list of potential references if Buffalo’s offensive coordinator hopes to land a head-coaching job any time soon. For entirely selfish reasons, Beasley and Diggs weren’t prepared this week to provide Daboll glowing...
NFL week 16 roundup: Chiefs clinch No. 1 seed when Falcons’ Koo misses late FGVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — All season, the prolific Kansas City offense had been putting the Chiefs in position to capture the No. 1 seed in the playoffs. It took their defense — and some good fortune — to finally clinch it. Patrick Mahomes threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus...
Browns fumble away chance to clinch playoff berth with loss to JetsVideo
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Baker Mayfield coughed up the ball — and the Cleveland Browns’ chances to wrap up a playoff spot. After a 23-16 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday, the Browns will need to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday if they’re going to end the...
Surging Ravens get jump on Giants, roll to easy victoryVideo
BALTIMORE — Lamar Jackson directed four scoring drives during the decisive first half, and the surging Baltimore Ravens beat the New York Giants, 27-13, on Sunday to gain control of their own fate in the AFC playoff chase. Baltimore’s fourth straight victory, combined with Pittsburgh’s win over Indianapolis, lifted the...
Late touchdown lifts Bengals over Texans for 1st road win since 2018Video
HOUSTON — Samaje Perine ran for two touchdowns, including a 3-yard score late, to give the Cincinnati Bengals their first road win in more than two years with a 37-31 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday. The Texans were driving after Perine’s second score when Deshaun Watson was sacked...
Dolphins stun Raiders to move step closer to playoffs
LAS VEGAS — With a defender dragging him down by his facemask, Ryan Fitzpatrick still managed to launch the pass that might have saved the Miami Dolphins’ season. Just a little more FitzMagic. Fitzpatrick’s desperation heave to Mack Hollins set up Jason Sanders’ 44-yard field goal as the Dolphins drove...
Third-string QB C.J. Beathard throws 3 TDs as 49ers stun CardinalsVideo
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Third-string quarterback C.J. Beathard threw three touchdown passes, Jeff Wilson ran for 183 yards and the San Francisco 49ers dealt a brutal blow to the Arizona Cardinals’ playoff hopes by defeating them 20-12 on Saturday. Beathard was making his first start since 2018 and was 1-9 as...
Tom Brady-led Bucs roll past Lions, end 13-year playoff droughtVideo
DETROIT — Tom Brady threw four touchdown passes in the only half he needed to play and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went on to rout the Detroit Lions, 47-7, on Saturday, sealing a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2007. The Bucs (10-5) set a franchise record...
