Ravens now in the AFC North driver’s seat after 3 convincing wins in 11-day stretch
Now Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens can rest a bit. They’ve certainly earned it. Baltimore’s 31-2 rout of Houston on Wednesday capped a sweep of a grueling stretch of three games in 11 days. Baltimore looked like a Super Bowl contender while handling the Giants, Steelers and Texans. A...
Lamar Jackson breaks NFL QB rushing record, accounts for 3 TDs as Ravens rout TexansVideo
HOUSTON — Lamar Jackson broke the NFL career rushing record for quarterbacks in the Baltimore Ravens’ victory over the Houston Texans on Wednesday. A highlight came when Jackson dashed 48 yards for a touchdown on a run where he reached a career-best top speed of 21.25 mph. “I was jogging,”...
Beyoncé’s performance highlights Netflix’s NFL debut on Christmas DayVideo
Beyoncé provided more excitement than either game during Netflix’s NFL debut on Christmas Day. Riding into her halftime appearance on a white horse, the 32-time Grammy winner rocked her hometown Houston crowd with a nearly 13-minute performance on Wednesday. She surprised fans by bringing along Shaboozey to perform “Sweet Honey...
Players have mixed feelings about being on the road on Christmas as NFL adds more holiday games
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Asked if there was any special meaning to playing on Christmas for a second straight season, Lamar Jackson paused for several seconds before answering. That said it all. “I mean, it is,” he finally replied, trying to be diplomatic. “That means we’re good. But at the...
1,000-yard rushers are keeping pace with 1,000-yard receivers for a change in the NFL
Led by free-agent bargains Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry, the number of big-play running backs is rivaling the number of high-production wide receivers for a change. With two weeks remaining in the season, there are 11 players who have reached the 1,000-yard milestone in both rushing and receiving, a far...
NFL on Netflix: Christmas Day games are a 1st for streaming giant
Netflix will have one of its biggest days Wednesday since the site launched in 1998 when it airs two NFL games for the first time. “NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix” begins with a two-hour pregame show at 11 a.m., before Pittsburgh hosts Kansas City. Baltimore faces Houston in the second...
Ex-Eagles player pleads guilty to federal fraud charges related to pandemic aid programs
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Former Philadelphia Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood Jr. has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges after he was accused of submitting fraudulent tax returns and applications for hundreds of thousands of dollars in covid-19 pandemic aid programs. The signed plea agreement was approved Friday by a federal...
NFL players who use platform to share their faith say it’s their duty to spread their love of Jesus
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Jake Bates was standing on the turf in his hometown of Houston when asked to reflect on an unlikely journey from learning how to sell bricks to making game-winning kicks for the Detroit Lions. Bates used his platform as an NFL player to spread his love...
Hobbled Texans will try to deal blow to Ravens’ AFC North title hopesVideo
HOUSTON — For a second straight season, the Houston Texans will be without Tank Dell to end the regular season and for the playoffs after the dynamic receiver suffered another major injury. Coach DeMeco Ryans revealed the details of the injury Monday before announcing that Dell (torn ACL, dislocated kneecap)...
Former NFL great Michael Vick introduced as Norfolk State’s football coach
NORFOLK, Va. — To shouts of “Coach” and “Let’s go Spartans,” Michael Vick was introduced Monday as Norfolk State’s football coach, a homecoming for the former NFL star and a splashy, attention-grabbing hire for a program that has struggled in recent years. Vick, who grew up about 30 minutes away...
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...
