Saints rally past Eagles to reach NFC title game
NEW ORLEANS — When the New Orleans Saints finally found their rhythm, they marched one step closer to the Super Bowl. Using a dominant ball-control offense and a few gambles that paid off, the Saints got two touchdown passes from Drew Brees and two interceptions from Marcus Lattimore in a...
Rams run past Cowboys into NFC championship
LOS ANGELES — C.J. Anderson rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns, and Todd Gurley rushed for 115 more yards and another TD in the Los Angeles Rams’ first playoff victory in 14 years, 30-22 over the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round Saturday night. Gurley and Anderson punished the...
Ready Freddie: Kitchens hired by Browns after offensive run
CLEVELAND — Freddie Kitchens had something on his coaching resume no other candidate could match. He made Baker Mayfield a better quarterback. Kitchens, who helped Mayfield turn his rookie season into a record-breaking one during an impressive eight-game stint as the Browns offensive coordinator, on Saturday was named Cleveland’s 17th...
Chiefs roll past Colts, reach AFC title gameVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes picked apart the Colts in his postseason debut, the Chiefs defense answered their chorus of critics with a stout performance, and Kansas City rolled to a 31-13 victory over Indianapolis in the divisional round Saturday to end 25 years of playoff frustration. Mahomes threw...
Sean Payton: Playoff stakes more important than perceived slightsVideo
NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton dismisses the premise the Philadelphia Eagles could derive extra motivation from the widespread perception New Orleans ran up the score on them when they met in November. “My question would be: We’re all playing hard in these divisional playoff games, right?”...
Philip Rivers, Chargers look to end dominance by Tom Brady, PatriotsVideo
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady typically shrugs off any mention of records or milestones he sets. But even he had to chuckle at the one he and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers will mark when they meet in Sunday’s divisional playoffs. Brady, who will be 41 years and 163...
Previewing Sunday’s NFL divisional playoff games
Is this the year Philip Rivers finally gets past the New England Patriots? Is the speculation of the Patriots’ demise premature? Can Nick Foles continue his Cinderella story with the Philadelphia Eagles in their matchup at New Orleans? Here’s a look at Sunday’s NFL divisional playoff games: LOS ANGELES CHARGERS...
Previewing Saturday’s NFL playoff games
Former local college football standouts Aaron Donald and Tavon Austin take center stage Saturday in the NFL playoffs. Donald’s Los Angeles Rams face Austin’s Dallas Cowboys in the NFC divisional round. The winner faces the winner of the Philadelphia Eagles-New Orleans Saints game, which will be played Sunday. A look...
Rams, Cowboys seek long-awaited postseason breakthroughsVideo
LOS ANGELES — As if the pressure of playing for the Los Angeles Rams’ first playoff victory in 14 years wasn’t enough, Todd Gurley carries an extra imperative into the Coliseum on Saturday night. “Basically, everybody I know hates the Cowboys,” the Rams’ All-Pro running back said. “They’ve been hitting...
Colts hope history repeats vs. Chiefs; K.C. hopes to reverse fortunes
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Given the postseason history involving Indianapolis and Kansas City over the years, Andrew Luck and the Colts have every reason to feel confident heading to Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday. The Chiefs have every reason to believe they are due. Four times the teams have met in...
Offensive star power headlines Colts-Chiefs showdown
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Eric Ebron has seen the forecast for Saturday’s divisional playoff game between the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs, where even the most optimistic of meteorologists are pegging the chances of rain or snow at about 50 percent. It doesn’t bother him. The Colts tight end...
Did Tyler Boyd perform beyond his contract terms?
The Cincinnati Bengals caught a bargain with Tyler Boyd this season. The former Pitt and Clairton star is one of five NFL finalists for the VIZIO Top Value Performer trophy. The award is given to the NFL player whose on-field performance most exceeds the value of his contract. Boyd, who...
Rams’ Whitworth looking for 1st playoff win in 8th trip
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Seven trips to the postseason and no wins can wear on a person. Los Angeles Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth has managed to keep his sense of humor. “This is the furthest I’ve been in the playoffs, even though we didn’t play last week,” Whitworth said....
Bruce Arians confident Buccaneers not far from playoff contention
TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay’s bid to lure Bruce Arians out of retirement and back to the NFL included a pitch from baseball manager Joe Maddon. The 66-year-old Arians, a longtime Steelers offensive coordinator, grew up in York, not far from Maddon’s hometown of Hazelton. He and the Chicago Cubs...
Cowboys’ playoff trip to Rams is L.A. reunion for Tavon Austin
FRISCO, Texas — Tavon Austin’s fresh start with the Dallas Cowboys wasn’t much different than the stale final season the versatile receiver endured with the Los Angeles Rams. The difference is Austin has a chance to change the feeling — against his former team, in the divisional round of the...
Jets turn to ex-Dolphins coach Adam Gase to lead team
NEW YORK — The New York Jets hired former Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase as their head coach Wednesday night, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press. Gase was 23-26 in three seasons with Miami, including a playoff game in 2016, before being fired last week. It...
Patriots defense aims to win ‘mind game’ with crafty Philip Rivers
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers said thinking about how to defend against the Los Angeles Chargers has kept him up at night. “Over the bye, I had a dream about not setting the edge,” Flowers said this week. “I woke up, and it was a nightmare.” New...
Nick Foles knows time with Eagles likely nearing end
PHILADELPHIA — Nick Foles is in a unique situation, a Super Bowl MVP trying to lead his team to a second straight championship knowing he most likely will play somewhere else next season. Nothing about what Foles has done for the Philadelphia Eagles is ordinary. “I’m not worried about the...
Browns pick offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens as next coach
CLEVELAND — The Browns didn’t have to go far to find their new coach. Freddie Kitchens was already in the building. The 44-year-old Kitchens, who had a dazzling eight-week run as the team’s interim offensive coordinator, is finalizing a contract to become Cleveland’s ninth coach since the franchise’s 1999 rebirth,...
Kansas RB Pooka Williams granted diversion in battery case
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas running back Pooka Williams has been granted diversion in a domestic battery case. The Kansas City Star reports Williams appeared in court Wednesday. If he successfully completes diversion, the domestic battery charge would be kept off his record. An affidavit alleges that Williams punched an 18-year-old...
Arizona Cardinals hire ex-Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury
PHOENIX — The Arizona Cardinals have hired former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury as their head coach, a move aimed at providing guidance for young quarterback Josh Rosen and resuscitating the worst offense in the NFL. The Cardinals announced the hiring Tuesday after a long interview earlier in the day,...
Eagles are different team since worst loss by a champion
PHILADELPHIA — When the Philadelphia Eagles went to New Orleans in Week 11, their leaders lost their composure before the team lost the game. Carson Wentz walked off the field punching at the air after throwing one of his three interceptions, an uncharacteristic display of frustration by the third-year quarterback....
While teams seek next Sean McVay, he begins playoff run with Rams
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Most NFL teams with a head coaching vacancy this winter seem to be looking for the next Sean McVay. The original is still hard at work for the Los Angeles Rams, hoping to justify his enormous influence on the football world with a big postseason run....
Former Steelers offensive coordinator Arians hired as Buccaneers coach
TAMPA, Fla. — Bruce Arians is the latest coach entrusted to transform the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers into winners. The 66-year-old came out of a one-year retirement Tuesday to fill the team’s fifth coaching vacancy in a decade. Arians replaces Dirk Koetter, who was dismissed Dec. 30 after leading the...
Plum product Pat McAfee finding way around broadcast booth
INDIANAPOLIS — Pat McAfee watched those two agonizing bounces in Chicago on Sunday and immediately tried to put Cody Parkey’s missed field goal in perspective. He thought about the 27 death threats he received after missing a couple of costly kicks during one game in college. He felt horribly for...
