Commanders who went through ‘darkness’ savor playoffs
ASHBURN, Va. — Tress Way does not like using the word “darkness” to describe the losing he has endured over the past decade as Washington’s longest-tenured player because of the fun he has had along the way. The two-time Pro Bowl punter even got to take part in a couple...
NHL postpones L.A. Kings’ home game against Calgary due to wildfires, while NFL monitors situation
LOS ANGELES — The NHL postponed the Los Angeles Kings’ home game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday with several massive wildfires still burning across the greater Los Angeles area. The Kings and Flames were scheduled to play Wednesday night at the Kings’ downtown arena. The NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers...
Jets interview Rex Ryan, who led franchise to its last playoff appearance, for head coaching job
Rex Ryan has returned to the New York Jets — for an interview, at least. The former Jets coach and current ESPN analyst, who led the franchise to its last playoff appearance to cap the 2010 season, met with the team Tuesday about its head coaching vacancy. Ryan went 50-52,...
Raiders fire coach Antonio Pierce after he goes 4-13 in lone full season
HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders fired Antonio Pierce on Tuesday after just one season as their full-time coach, the latest in a line of coaching changes over the past several years. “We appreciate Antonio’s leadership, first as an interim head coach and this past season as the head...
NFL playoffs feature veteran running backs producing successful second acts with new teams
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Those veteran running backs who changed addresses in the offseason have given themselves a chance to showcase the difference they can make in the postseason. Plenty of contenders capitalized on a crowded market by adding proven ball carriers. The moves paid major dividends. Now players such...
Titans fire GM Ran Carthon after 2 seasons despite big spending spree
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — General manager Ran Carthon paid the price for the Tennessee Titans going 9-25 in his two seasons. The Titans introduced Carthon as the franchise’s first Black general manager in January 2023, and he helped the franchise hire a new coach in Brian Callahan a year later. A...
Week 18 settles playoff field and draft order but also served as the last chance to reach bonuses
DENVER — It’s not about the money until it is. The final weekend of the NFL regular season brought the usual intrigue over which teams would clinch the final playoff spots — the Buccaneers and Broncos — and who would get the No. 1 overall draft pick — the Titans...
NFL coaching searches have complicated rules about timing and interviews
The overlap of the NFL playoffs and coaching search season will have many of the league’s top assistants pulling double duty this month. While 14 teams are deep into playoff preparations with hopes of winning a Super Bowl, there are five teams that had disappointing campaigns that have led to...
Tyreek Hill’s frustration becomes main issue for Dolphins heading into offseasonVideo
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Tyreek Hill spoke glowingly about his situation in Miami just three months ago, amid speculation that the star receiver could be traded from the Dolphins to a contending team. “We’ve got a beautiful team here, and I want to be a part of it,” Hill said...
Bengals fire defensive coordinator, 3 other assistants after missing playoffsVideo
CINCINNATI — The defensive issues that contributed to the Cincinnati Bengals missing the playoffs led to major changes on Monday, when four assistants were fired, three on that side of the ball. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo was dismissed along with linebackers coach James Bettcher, defensive line coach Marion Hobby and...
Mike McCarthy ‘absolutely’ wants to return as Cowboys coach, owner Jerry Jones still not definitiveVideo
ARLINGTON, Texas — Mike McCarthy says he “absolutely” wants to return as the coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones has dropped multiple hints that McCarthy, a Greenfield native, would be back, but the team owner was far from definitive about McCarthy’s future after a 23-19 loss to Washington on...
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has medical setback, clouds future with team
BEREA, Ohio — Deshaun Watson’s future as Cleveland’s quarterback is more uncertain. Browns general manager Andrew Berry said Monday that Watson suffered a setback in his recovery from an Achilles tendon rupture, and the team doesn’t know if or when he’ll be available in 2025. “We’ll know more in the...
Giants owner says GM Joe Schoen, coach Brian Daboll are staying put after 3-14 season
The New York Giants are sticking with general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll. Owner and team president John Mara announced Monday that he and co-owner Steve Tisch decided to move forward with the Giants’ current leadership even after a 3-14 season that ranks among the franchise’s worst. “Now...
Jaguars fire coach Doug Pederson, keep GM Trent Baalke after ‘best team assembled’ wins just 4 games
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Doug Pederson is out as Jacksonville’s head coach after the franchise’s “best team assembled” won just four games. Jaguars owner Shad Khan fired Pederson on Monday, a day after a 26-23 loss at Indianapolis in overtime. It was the team’s 18th loss in its last 23 games....
Mike McCarthy ‘absolutely’ wants to return as Cowboys coach, owner Jerry Jones still not definitiveVideo
ARLINGTON, Texas — Mike McCarthy says he “absolutely” wants to return as the coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones has dropped multiple hints that McCarthy would be back, but the team owner was far from definitive about McCarthy’s future after a 23-19 loss to Washington on Sunday closed out...
Patriots fire coach Jerod Mayo shortly after his 1st season endsVideo
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots fired coach Jerod Mayo on Sunday after one season, beginning another reboot for the franchise just a year after it parted with longtime coach Bill Belichick. Owner Robert Kraft announced the firing in a statement shortly after New England closed its 4-13 season...
NFL Week 18: Mike Evans reaches 1,000 yards receiving, Buccaneers clinch NFC South with win over SaintsVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — Baker Mayfield used his legs and arm to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinch their fourth straight NFC South title while putting Mike Evans over 1,000 yards receiving. Mayfield fired a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan for the go-ahead score and then scrambled 28 yards for...
Browns fire OC Ken Dorsey, O-line coach Andy Dickerson
BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns quickly began trying to fix a brutal, broken 2024 season. There’s no shortage of items needing repair. Hours after finishing with a loss at Baltimore in the finale of a season that was expected to carry into the playoffs, coach Kevin Stefanski fired offensive...
Flowers’ injury a concern for the Ravens after their AFC North-clinching victory over Cleveland
BALTIMORE — Baltimore’s division-clinching victory over Cleveland was about as routine as expected. Except for one second-quarter play that could be a major problem for the Ravens’ dynamic offense. Zay Flowers, the team’s top receiver, went down with a knee injury and didn’t return to the game Saturday. Coach John...
Packers WR Christian Watson leaves with knee injury and QB Jordan Love is also hurt
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson was carted into the locker room and quarterback Jordan Love hurt his throwing elbow in the second quarter Sunday against the Chicago Bears. The Packers announced in the second quarter that both players were questionable to return, but they...
Lamar Jackson, 1st member of 4,000-900 club, looks toward playoff run
BALTIMORE — Lamar Jackson capped a sensational regular season with a rather ordinary performance. It was still plenty good enough to set a pair of NFL records and lead the Baltimore Ravens to a second straight AFC North title. Jackson completed 16 of 32 passes for 217 yards and two...
Ravens wrap up AFC North with rout of Browns; WR Zay Flowers leaves with injuryVideo
BALTIMORE — The road to a division title was bumpy for the Baltimore Ravens, who started 0-2, faced a schedule packed with playoff teams and had to rally from a two-game deficit with four to play. Having overcome all that, Lamar Jackson is looking ahead to the most important challenges...
Chargers ‘D’ looks to finish with fewest points allowed in NFL
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Jesse Minter’s turnaround of the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense has the unit on the verge of something the franchise hasn’t done in 61 seasons: allowing the fewest points in the league. The playoff-bound Chargers (10-6) go into Sunday’s regular-season finale at Las Vegas allowing an NFL-low...
Broncos look to extend franchise sack record
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos lead the NFL with a franchise-record 58 sacks, a number they aim to bolster Sunday when Carson Wentz fills in for Patrick Mahomes with the Kansas City Chiefs resting some of their stars ahead of the playoffs. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph promised a more...
Jared Verse’s strong rookie season yields Rams’ only Pro Bowler
LOS ANGELES — Jared Verse made the Pro Bowl on Thursday, an engagement the Los Angeles Rams rookie outside linebacker hopes to avoid with a lengthy playoff run. That’s not the only commitment Verse would like to get out of, having challenged fellow rookie Braden Fiske that whoever ended up...
