Philly building trolls Bears’ kicker’s missed game-winning field goal
“Doink.” Chicago Bears kicker Cody Parkey missed a game-winning field goal in the final seconds against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon. And everyone in Philly is celebrating and piling on. Parkey’s kick struck the left goal post and then bounced off the bottom of the post failing to go...
Even in era of offense, NFL playoffs come down to defense
The NFL’s wild weekend of wild-card games demonstrated that even in this age of explosive offenses, defense still dominates in the playoffs and it often comes down to a toe, a few fingers or even a 40-year-old hamstring. Kicker Sebastian Janikowski’s season — and maybe career — ended when he...
Sarah Thomas to become first woman to officiate NFL playoff game
NFL official Sarah Thomas is set to be the first women to officiate a NFL playoff game on Sunday. Thomas will work the Los Angeles Chargers - New England Patriots matchup in Foxborough, Mass., joining Ron Torbert’s crew as a down judge, according to Football Zebras. Thomas became the first...
Chiefs’ struggling defense preps for Colts’ potent offense
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs defense had been hearing all season about how bad it has been and how it was the biggest threat to an offensive juggernaut falling short of the Super Bowl. Then, the Chiefs shut down the Oakland Raiders in Week 17. Now, the...
Reports: Matt LaFleur accepts offer to become Packers coach
NASHVILLE — The Green Bay Packers are turning to fast-rising offensive whiz Matt LaFleur to aid Aaron Rodgers and end a two-year absence from the postseason. LaFleur accepted an offer Monday to become the next head coach of the Packers, according to a person familiar with the decision. The person...
NFL wild-card round ratings up 12 percent over last year
The NFL’s strong regular season of TV ratings continued into its opening weekend of the postseason. The league said on Monday that there was an average of 28.4 million viewers for the four wild-card round games, which is a 12 percent increase over last year. The Philadelphia Eagles game against...
NFL officially rules Parkey’s missed FG as block; Penn Hills grad gets hand on it
PHILADELPHIA — Cody Parkey got an excuse he probably won’t use. Parkey’s missed 43-yard field goal in the final seconds that gave the Philadelphia Eagles a 16-15 upset win over the Chicago Bears in Sunday’s wild-card playoff game officially was ruled a block by the NFL. Video showed Philadelphia’s Treyvon...
Browns interview Colts’ Matt Eberflus after wild-card playoff win
CLEVELAND — Matt Eberflus has a past with the Browns. Maybe he’ll have a future as well. One day after his Indianapolis defense held quarterback Deshaun Watson and Houston’s offense to just seven points in an AFC wild-card win, Eberflus became the sixth candidate to interview for Cleveland’s open coaching...
Nick Foles leads Eagles to 16-15 upset of Bears
CHICAGO — Nick Foles hit Golden Tate with a 2-yard touchdown pass on fourth down with 56 seconds remaining against the NFL’s stingiest defense, lifting the Philadelphia Eagles past the Chicago Bears 16-15 on Sunday in the final wild-card game. Former Eagles kicker Cody Parkey hit the left upright and...
Colts off, running through playoffs with strong ground game
INDIANAPOLIS — Frank Reich stuck with his old-school philosophy even when the Indianapolis Colts were losing games in September and early October. The Indianapolis Colts first-year coach insisted even in an increasingly pass-happy league, a balanced offense would turn them into real AFC contenders. Over the past 11 weeks, the...
Chargers hold off Lamar Jackson, Ravens in playoff opener
BALTIMORE — The Los Angeles Chargers kept Lamar Jackson grounded, and by the time the rookie got the passing game going it was too late for the Baltimore Ravens. Michael Badgley kicked five field goals, and Los Angeles harassed and hounded Jackson during a 23-17 victory Sunday in the opening...
Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys power past Seahawks in wild-card game
ARLINGTON, Texas — Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 137 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, and the Dallas Cowboys hung on for a 24-22 wild-card win over the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night. The playoff win by the Cowboys (11-6) was the first for Elliott and quarterback Dak...
After big jump, Bears look to KO defending champion Eagles
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Not long after he was hired, Matt Nagy watched the Super Bowl with his wife at a bar near the Chicago Bears practice facility. His good friend Doug Pederson was coaching the Philadelphia Eagles to their first Super Bowl championship. The place was just about empty....
Ravens, Chargers ready for rematch in wild-card game
BALTIMORE — It’s been six years since the Ravens hosted a playoff game, so forgive Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda for forgetting protocol regarding the distribution of tickets. “Somebody was asking me if we got tickets during the playoff games, and I couldn’t really remember,” he said this week. “I...
Colts cruises past Texans, earn date with top-seeded Chiefs
HOUSTON — A year ago at this time Andrew Luck was at home struggling with an injured shoulder that cost him the entire season. On Saturday he wrote a happy ending to the latest chapter of his comeback season, throwing for 222 yards and two touchdowns and the Indianapolis Colts...
All 12 NFL playoff coaches have ties to Bill Walsh, Bill Parcells
There is no denying the impact on the coaching world that Bill Walsh and Bill Parcells have had. The hard evidence is apparent again as the NFL playoffs begin. All 12 of the coaches have some sort of tie-in to either three-time Super Bowl champion Walsh or two-time winner Parcells....
Previewing Sunday’s NFL wild-card games
Sunday’s NFL wild-card games feature two teams with 12-4, the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Chargers. The Philadelphia Eagles’ visit to Soldier Field brings back memories of the teams’ “Fog Bowl” playoff game on Dec. 31, 1988. The Chargers, despite a better record, head on the road to face the...
Previewing Saturday’s AFC wild-card playoff games
AFC South Division rivals Indianapolis and Houston square off in the opening game of the NFL playoffs Saturday, while prime time is reserved for the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks. Here is a breakdown of the games. INDIANAPOLIS (10-6) at HOUSTON (11-5) Sunday, 4:35 p.m., ESPN OPENING LINE — Texans...
Texans, Colts meet in playoffs after turning around seasons
HOUSTON — Saturday’s wild-card game between the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts is a matchup that seemed improbable early this season after Houston dropped its first three games and the Colts limped to a 1-5 start. Instead of letting their tough starts lead to disappointing years, these teams that both...
Dak Prescott seeks 1st playoff win as Cowboys host Seahawks
ARLINGTON, Texas — Russell Wilson won a wild-card game with Seattle as a rookie, a Super Bowl in his second season and another NFC championship the third time around. The best Dak Prescott can hope for with the Dallas Cowboys is to join Wilson on that list of title winners...
Former NFL Pro Bowl players try curling with Olympic goal
Defensive lineman Jared Allen retired from the NFL in 2015 and wasn’t ready to give up on the competition he’d come to enjoy as a five-time All-Pro. His solution: The Olympics. The problem: He didn’t compete in any Olympic sports. Less than a year later, Allen and three other former...
Rams’ Aaron Donald only unanimous pick for NFL All-Pro; Steelers’ Pouncey named 2nd team
NEW YORK — Patrick Mahomes and three other Kansas City Chiefs players made The Associated Press 2018 NFL All-Pro Team on Friday. They were joined by the first rookie teammates since 1965 — Colts guard left Quenton Nelson and linebacker Darius Leonard. Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, a Pitt graduate,...
Patriots assistant Brian Flores interviews for Dolphins’ head job
MIAMI — New England Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores is the first candidate to interview for the Miami Dolphins’ coaching job. Miami is seeking a replacement for Adam Gase, who was fired Monday after three seasons. Flores, who met Friday with the Dolphins, has been a Patriots assistant for 11...
Ex-Steelers lineman Alan Faneca a finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame
For the fourth consecutive year, former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Alan Faneca is a finalist for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The six-time All-Pro guard was announced Thursday as one of the 15 finalists for the Hall’s Class of 2019. First-time eligibles Tony Gonzalez, Ed Reed and...
Redskins’ Reuben Foster has domestic violence charge dropped
TAMPA, Fla. — Prosecutors have decided not to pursue a domestic violence charge against Washington Redskins linebacker Reuben Foster, though the NFL continues to review the matter. Prosecutors in Tampa, Florida, filed a notice of termination of prosecution on Wednesday. The notice states that the first-degree misdemeanor battery charge is...
