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...
Alvin Kamara’s 6 TDs ties NFL record as Saints beat VikingsVideo
NEW ORLEANS — Alvin Kamara tied an NFL record by running for six touchdowns in a game and finished with a career-high 155 yards rushing to help New Orleans beat the Minnesota Vikings, 52-33, on Friday and clinch a fourth straight NFC South title. Wearing different colored shoes — one...
Tom Brady-led Bucs can clinch playoff spot with win over LionsVideo
DETROIT — Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are rolling into the Motor City with a chance to clinch a spot in the playoffs. “This is why we play, to put your team in a place and give yourself an opportunity to compete for a championship,” Brady said. The...
Dolphins move past Raiders in rebuilding processVideo
Coach Brian Flores started the rebuilding process in Miami a year after Jon Gruden did the same in his return to the Raiders. Both coaches traded away big-name players for premium draft picks and reshaped the roster in hopes of reviving once-proud franchises. While Flores arrived a year later than...
Cardinals pushing for playoffs in home game vs. 49ersVideo
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals are in the middle of the playoff race for the first time in years, while the San Francisco 49ers have been eliminated from the postseason a year after playing in the Super Bowl. Saturday’s game between the two teams is yet another example of...
Top-ranked Rams defense not bothered by only 2 Pro Bowl picksVideo
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams have the NFL’s No. 1 total defense, No. 1 pass defense and No. 2 rushing defense. Aaron Donald’s group is second in the NFL in sacks and third-down conversion percentage, third in points allowed and fifth in takeaways. By almost any collective measure,...
Behind the screen: How networks have adjusted to airing NFL
Fred Gaudelli wasn’t worried if NBC could successfully air “Sunday Night Football” games in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. His bigger concern was if the NFL could make it through the season. So far, both things have happened. Even though games may look the same, most of the processes...
Bengals get shot of confidence in stunning win over SteelersVideo
CINCINNATI — Few saw what the Cincinnati Bengals were capable of Monday night, least of all the playoff-bound Pittsburgh Steelers. The Bengals got their third win of the season, this one on a primetime stage against a hated divisional rival that was looking to stop a two-game skid and get...
Analysis: With Tom Brady on verge of playoffs with Bucs, Patriots doneVideo
Three AFC East teams won in Week 15 — yes, even the Jets. The one defeat, by the Patriots, was historic. For the first time since the 2008 season, New England will not make the playoffs, nor win the division. For the first time since 2000, the opening year of...
Packers, Seahawks, Ravens, Chiefs have 7 Pro Bowlers eachVideo
Led by their star quarterbacks, the Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers had seven players each selected to the Pro Bowl. The Baltimore Ravens also had seven players chosen. Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes joins Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Houston’s Deshaun Watson as the AFC quarterbacks. For the...
