Dorian Thompson-Robinson doesn’t settle any Browns QB questions in 1st start of seasonVideo
CINCINNATI — Dorian Thompson-Robinson didn’t put to rest any questions about the Browns’ long-term future at quarterback with his performance Sunday. Making his first start of the season and fourth of his career, the second-year player was sacked five times and threw two interceptions in Cleveland’s 24-6 loss to the...
NFL Week 16: Michael Penix wins debut as Atlanta QB as Falcons drill hapless Giants
ATLANTA — Michael Penix Jr. won his debut as Atlanta’s starting quarterback, thanks largely to a defense that returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns, and the Falcons bolstered their playoff hopes by handing the hapless New York Giants their franchise-record 10th straight loss, 34-7 on Sunday. Jessie Bates and...
Burrow throws 3 TD passes and Bengals keep playoff hopes alive with 24-6 victory over BrownsVideo
CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow threw three touchdown passes, including one as he was falling to the turf, and the Cincinnati Bengals kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 24-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The Bengals (7-8) need to win their last two games and get some...
Texans WR Tank Dell released from hospital
HOUSTON — Houston Texans receiver Tank Dell was released after an overnight stay in the hospital and was traveling back to Houston on Sunday after suffering a severe knee injury in Saturday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Coach DeMeco Ryans provided the update Sunday but didn’t have many details...
Joe Burrow throws 3 TDs, Bengals keep playoff hopes alive
CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase keep putting up extraordinary numbers, but the Cincinnati Bengals still need help to reach the playoffs. Burrow threw three touchdown passes, including one as he was falling to the turf, and the Bengals kept their slim postseason hopes alive with a 24-6 victory...
Jalen Hurts leaves with a concussion as the Eagles’ winning streak ends at 10
LANDOVER, Md. — Jalen Hurts was concussed minutes into the game and ruled out after evaluation, Kenny Pickett played like a backup quarterback and the Philadelphia Eagles’ winning streak is over. Hurts was ruled out early in a 36-33 loss at the Washington Commanders on Sunday after his head slammed...
Patrick Mahomes throws for TD, runs for score in Chiefs win
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes knew he could run on the ankle he sprained last week. The bigger concern for the Chiefs quarterback was how he would stop, when all the weight and pressure and momentum would land squarely upon it. The solution against Houston was simple: Mahomes didn’t...
Diontae Johnson, who the Ravens said refused to enter a game earlier this month, has been waivedVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore waived wide receiver Diontae Johnson on Friday after a brief and troubled stint with the team in which the Ravens said he refused to enter a game against Philadelphia. Johnson received a one-game suspension for that, missing last weekend’s win over the New York Giants....
Justin Herbert TD passes, rare free kick spark Chargers to comeback win over Broncos
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Justin Herbert passed for 284 yards and two touchdowns, including a go-ahead 19-yarder to Derius Davis early in the fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Chargers got closer to wrapping up a playoff spot by rallying past the Denver Broncos, 34-27, on Thursday night. The Chargers’ comeback...
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, WR Marquise Brown expected to play SaturdayVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is expected to play against Houston on Saturday, less than a week after suffering a high-ankle sprain in a win over Cleveland, and he will likely have wide receiver Marquise Brown available for the first time in a regular-season game. Chiefs coach...
Dorian Thompson-Robinson wants to be Browns’ answer at QB
BEREA, Ohio — Dorian Thompson-Robinson won’t be satisfied with just being a fill-in piece to the Cleveland Browns’ confounding quarterback puzzle. He wants to be a permanent one. Not just the short-term fix. The long-term answer. With the team’s future at QB so unsettled, Thompson-Robinson, who will start this week...
Chiefs may have best veteran backup QB yet in Carson Wentz
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Former NFL quarterback Nick Foles still remembers when he was launching his new apparel company with retired punter Pat O’Donnell, and they decided to send some “Dad SZN” merch to some of their old pals in various locker rooms. The package he sent to Kansas City...
Falcons name rookie Michael Penix Jr. starter, bench Kirk Cousins
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons are turning to rookie Michael Penix Jr. as their starting quarterback and benching veteran Kirk Cousins as they fight for their first playoff berth since 2017. Coach Raheem Morris announced the decision in a statement Tuesday night. “After review we have made the decision Michael...
All-Pro safety Budda Baker signs 3-year deal with Cardinals
TEMPE, Ariz. — Two-time All-Pro safety Budda Baker signed a three-year deal on Tuesday to stay with the Arizona Cardinals through the 2027 season. The 28-year-old Baker’s deal is worth $54 million and includes $30 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network and ESPN. Baker has been a mainstay for the...
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes plans to play vs. Texans despite high-ankle sprainVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is preparing to play against Houston on Saturday, unless his ailing ankle puts the two-time MVP in such a precarious position that he can’t protect himself or he “puts the football team in a bad position.” Mahomes suffered a mild high-ankle sprain...
Reports: Browns bench QB Jameis Winston, will start Dorian Thompson-RobinsonVideo
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns are starting quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson on Sunday in Cincinnati with the switch coming after Jameis Winston threw three more interceptions, according to multiple reports. Winston, who took over Cleveland’s starting job in October when Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending injury, was benched after throwing his...
Falcons struggle past Raiders to keep pace in division race
LAS VEGAS — Kirk Cousins threw his first touchdown pass in five weeks and the Atlanta Falcons did just enough Monday night to beat the struggling Las Vegas Raiders, 15-9, and keep pace in the NFC South race. Trying to pull off a late comeback, Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder lofted...
Vikings smother Bears to win 7th straight, move into tie for division lead
MINNEAPOLIS — Aaron Jones and Cam Akers had touchdown runs in the second half to complement a smothering performance by the Minnesota defense, and the Vikings moved into a tie for first place in the NFC North on Monday night by beating the Chicago Bears, 30-12, for their seventh consecutive...
Analysis: Surging Eagles shove aside injuries, celebrate victory over SteelersVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley both played through injuries that served more as minor inconveniences than long-term concerns for the Eagles. Injuries heal. So, it turns out, do bruised egos and hard feelings caused by criticism and gossip spread not by fans, social media tolls or sports talk...
Analysis: Joe Burrow, Bengals maintain slim playoff hopes after sloppy winVideo
CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow keeps throwing touchdown passes, and the Cincinnati Bengals have won two in a row for just the second time this season. However, the star quarterback was far from happy with the effort. “It was too sloppy, we had too many penalties, too many procedural penalties. I...
Analysis: Browns mulling another switch at QB after Jameis Winston throws 3 more picksVideo
CLEVELAND — Jameis Winston’s third interception Sunday — No. 8 in three games — was the last Browns coach Kevin Stefanski could stomach. He benched Winston. Maybe for good. With three games left in this dreadful season for Cleveland, Stefanski said Monday that he’s still working through plans at quarterback...
Analysis: Lamar Jackson looks almost flawless vs. Giants as Ravens turn focus to SteelersVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — A talking to from his mother seemed to bring out the best in Lamar Jackson. After a loss to Philadelphia earlier this month, Jackson said his mom cursed him out, telling him he missed opportunities to run. That wasn’t a problem in Sunday’s 35-14 victory over...
Clemson’s Swinney can’t wait for Belichick’s positive impact on the Atlantic Coast ConferenceVideo
CLEMSON, S.C. — Practice plans. Film breakdowns. Travel bookings. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney had his focus split several ways getting ready to face No. 4 Texas in the College Football Playoff. Still, Swinney had enough time to follow how Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Belichick joined the ACC as North Carolina’s...
Analysis: NFL can’t revise the onside kick fast enough for Dan CampbellVideo
The NFL already was planning to explore the onside kick before Dan Campbell made a regrettable decision to try one at an unusual time. Detroit’s ultra-aggressive coach called for an onside kick with the Lions trailing the Bills by 10 points and 12 minutes remaining. Buffalo’s Mack Hollins recovered the...
Dolphins’ Grant DuBose has movement in extremities after scary hit to the head vs. Texans
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins wide receiver Grant DuBose remained in the hospital but had movement in all extremities after being stretchered off the field following a scary helmet-to-helmet hit against the Houston Texans on Sunday. In an update Monday morning, the Dolphins said DuBose remained at a local...
