Dolphins stun Patriots, denying New England first-round bye
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick never have made the Super Bowl while playing in the wild-card playoff round. They will have to make some more franchise history to win another NFL title. It wasn’t quite like last season’s “Miami Miracle” loss. It...
Andy Dalton enjoys fond farewell in leading Bengals over Browns
CINCINNATI — Andy Dalton threw for a touchdown and ran for another Sunday in his farewell as a franchise quarterback — a Joe Burrow banner in the upper deck reminded him what comes next — and the Cincinnati Bengals ended one of their most miserable seasons with a 33-23 victory...
Son of Detroit Lions WR Marvin Jones dies
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The son of Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones has died. The Lions announced the death of Jones’ son, Marlo, in a statement Saturday night, and Jones posted a message on Instagram. “We miss you already buddy and will forever love you,” Jones said in his...
NFL inactives: Saints seek 1st-round playoff bye despite defensive injuries
The New Orleans Saints will be without three injured players in their secondary — including cornerback Eli Apple and safeties Vonn Bell and Marcus Williams — as they seek a first-round playoff bye with a win over Carolina on Sunday combined with a loss or tie by the 49ers or...
Titans shift to playoff mode in finale vs. TexansVideo
HOUSTON — Though there are several ways the Tennessee Titans could secure a playoff berth Sunday, they’re intent on doing it by beating the Houston Texans so they don’t have to rely on anyone else. “The focus and the mentality is that now we’re playing playoff games,” coach Mike Vrabel...
Ex-Steeler Antonio Brown gets workout with New Orleans Saints
Mr. Big Chest is in the Big Easy — at least for one day. Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, who is a free agent while the NFL investigates sexual misconduct claims against him, spent Friday at a tryout conducted by the New Orleans Saints. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported...
NFL playoffs: Six teams still battling for first-round bye
Six teams are still fighting for three important spots to ease their path to the Super Bowl. While 10 teams have clinched playoff spots entering Week 17, only the Baltimore Ravens (13-2) have earned a first-round bye. The Ravens secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed for the first time in...
Commentary: Why Chiefs would create serious challenges for Ravens in postseasonVideo
Now that the Ravens have secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC and home-field advantage in the playoffs, there should be another wish on coach John Harbaugh’s Christmas list: Please don’t play the Kansas City Chiefs. Of all the other AFC teams that already have earned playoff spots, Kansas...
Marshawn Lynch’s return provides spark for Seahawks locker roomVideo
RENTON, Wash. — When Marshawn Lynch played his last game for Seattle in January 2016, a playoff loss to the Carolina Panthers, the idea of him ever wearing a Seahawks uniform again seemed preposterous. Yet here was Lynch on Tuesday going through his first practice with Seattle in nearly four...
Division champion Packers proud of another not-so-pretty winVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — The first time the Green Bay Packers formally gathered in the spring, new coach Matt LaFleur presented the goal of reclaiming the NFC North. Division titles are standard preseason talking points around the NFL, and for the past quarter-century they’ve been the minimum expectation for the Packers. Considering...
Patriots DE, Thomas Jefferson grad Chase Winovich pays school’s lunch debt
New England Patriots rookie defensive end Chase Winovich hasn’t forgotten his roots in Thomas Jefferson High School’s Jaguar country. As a special treat just before the holidays, Winovich, 24, paid for the entire free and reduced lunch debt of 96 students in the West Jefferson Hills School District. “The district...
Packers beat Vikings, clinch NFC North titleVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — Aaron Jones rushed for 154 yards and two second-half touchdowns, Za’Darius Smith had five tackles for loss to lead a stifling performance Green Bay’s defense, and the Packers became NFC North champions by beating the Minnesota Vikings, 23-10, on Monday night. The Packers (12-3) made Matt LaFleur the...
Beast Mode returns? Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks on verge of reunionVideo
RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks could be reuniting with former star running back Marshawn Lynch, coach Pete Carroll said during his radio show on Monday. Carroll said Lynch is flying to Seattle and will undergo a physical later Monday. Seattle is in desperate need of running backs after Chris...
Bengals officially NFL’s worst, clinch top pick in next draftVideo
CINCINNATI — The Bengals have secured the top pick in next year’s draft. All that is left is a send-off for the quarterback who had a hand in their best — and most frustrating — moments in the past decade. Andy Dalton gets to wrap up his tenure as the...
First Call: Steeler fan’s quick change goes viral; Browns collapse official in ClevelandVideo
In Monday’s “First Call,” a Steelers fan pulls off an epic quick change. The Browns meltdown continues. We take a look at Will Grier’s debut with Carolina and Saquon Barkley’s huge day. Way to come prepared Here’s one Steelers fan who planned ahead. He was ready to cheer for Devlin...
Saints set more records in win against TitansVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Last week, Drew Brees took his latest turn writing his name into the NFL record book. Now, Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas has grabbed his piece of league history with the most catches in a single season. For now, those records are mere guideposts to where the...
Dolphins survive late collapse and beat Bengals in overtimeVideo
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — A laugher became a thriller for the Miami Dolphins, and they needed overtime to beat the Cincinnati Bengals. Miami gave up 16 points in the final 29 seconds of regulation but regrouped, and Jason Sanders kicked a 37-yard field goal as time expired for a 38-35...
NFL Week 16 review: Saints chasing NFC’s top seed rally to beat TitansVideo
NASHVILLE — Drew Brees threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns and Alvin Kamara ran for two TDs as the New Orleans Saints kept their chase of the NFC’s No. 1 seed alive by rallying from a 14-point deficit to beat the Tennessee Titans 38-28 Sunday. The Saints (12-3) had...
Ravens win 11th straight, clinch top seed in AFC playoffsVideo
CLEVELAND — The road to the Super Bowl in the AFC goes through Baltimore, where its MVP candidate will be waiting. Lamar Jackson threw three touchdown passes — two to tight end Mark Andrews late in the first half — and rushed for 103 yards as the Ravens won their...
Patriots beat Bills 24-17, win 11th straight AFC East crownVideo
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady appeared for his postgame media session with an ice pack on his right elbow. Bill Belichick was sporting a brand new AFC East championship hat. The New England Patriots had things a little tougher this year, but they came out on top again. Brady passed...
Bills out to end Patriots’ run of AFC East dominanceVideo
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — For years, the Buffalo Bills have been one of three chasers in the AFC East, annually trying and failing to knock the New England Patriots from their decade-long run atop the division. Buffalo enters its Week 16 matchup with New England clinging to its best hope in...
Jerry Rice leads 10 wide receivers on NFL’s all-time teamVideo
Career receiving leader Jerry Rice is among nine Pro Football Hall of Famers selected to the NFL’s All-Time Team on Friday night. Rice, who holds nearly every major receiving record, is joined by one active player, Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald (Pitt), now in his 16th season. A select panel of NFL...
Jamal Adams expects more Pro Bowls, wants to stay with Jets
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Jamal Adams insisted he was excited, even if his toned-down reaction to making his second straight Pro Bowl didn’t quite match last year’s emotional moment. The New York Jets safety was home relaxing Tuesday when he received the news — an announcement that a year earlier...
A.J. Green done for season, won’t practice if Bengals tag himVideo
CINCINNATI — The Bengals kept receiver A.J. Green on the active roster all season, hoping he could return from ankle surgery and put some life back into their foundering offense. Turns out that was wishful thinking. Green said Wednesday he has decided not to try to play in either of...
Odell Beckham on future with Browns: ‘I’m not going anywhere’Video
BEREA, Ohio — Tired about speculation over his future, Browns star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said Wednesday he doesn’t want to leave Cleveland after one frustrating season. Beckham dismissed reports he is unhappy with the Browns and said he’s committed to helping the team win. “It’s done. It’s over...
