Analysis: Cowboys got all the breaks while Ravens and 49ers were big winners, locking up No. 1 seeds
The Dallas Cowboys got another big victory without taking the field Sunday. The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers took care of business to make sure they get an extra week of rest. The NFL’s playoff picture is clearer with one week to go. Nine teams are in. Five spots...
Harrison Butker hits 6 field goals, kicks Chiefs to AFC West title with win over Bengals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have grown accustomed to wrapping up the AFC West by the middle of December. Turns out they’re perfectly fine with clinching it on New Year’s Eve. Amid an up-and-down season in which the Chiefs have been forced to rely on their defense...
Panthers owner David Tepper tosses drink into visiting stands late in 26-0 loss to JaguarsVideo
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Panthers owner and Pittsburgh native David Tepper threw the contents of a drink into the visiting crowd near the end of Carolina’s 26-0 loss at Jacksonville on Sunday. Tepper’s reaction came after rookie Bryce Young was intercepted with less than 3 minutes to play. It was unclear...
NFL Week 17: Brock Purdy bounces back, 49ers clinch the NFC’s top seed by beating Commanders
LANDOVER, Md. — Minutes after rolling to a 27-10 victory at Washington, the San Francisco 49ers watched the final minute of Philadelphia’s game at Arizona together in the visiting locker room. A loud cheer erupted when the Eagles lost to Arizona in stunning fashion. After Brock Purdy threw two touchdown...
Lamar Jackson’s perfect passer rating helps Ravens rout Dolphins to clinch top seed in AFCVideo
BALTIMORE — In what may have been his final bid for the MVP award, Lamar Jackson threw for 321 yards and five touchdowns, finishing with a perfect passer rating and helping the Baltimore Ravens clinch the top seed in the AFC with a 56-19 rout of the Miami Dolphins on...
Cowboys deny Lions on 2-point try to hold on to 20-19 win
ARLINGTON, Texas — Dak Prescott threw for 345 yards and two touchdowns, and the Dallas Cowboys stopped the Detroit Lions on the third try of a 2-point conversion with 23 seconds remaining, preserving a 20-19 victory to extend their home winning streak to 16 games Saturday night. On the first...
Analysis: QB Joe Flacco’s improbable comeback has Browns eyeing playoff run
CLEVELAND — In a surreal moment seemingly clipped from a Disney movie, Joe Flacco stood on the field and posed for a family photo with his wife, Dana, and their five children as delirious Browns fans serenaded them with chants of “M-V-P, M-V-P.” Welcome to Cleveland. Or in Flacco’s case,...
Vikings turn to Jaren Hall again in latest spin of QB carousel
EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have switched starting quarterbacks for the fourth time in nine weeks, handing the offense again to rookie Jaren Hall with two must-win games left for making the playoffs. Coach Kevin O’Connell announced Thursday that Hall will start Sunday against Green Bay, benching Nick Mullens...
Bills’ Von Miller: Domestic abuse allegations against him ‘100% false’
Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller on Thursday disputed the allegations that he assaulted his pregnant girlfriend, calling them “100% false” and “blown out of proportion.” Addressing the media for the first time since turning himself into police in suburban Dallas on Nov. 30, Miller indicated something happened between him...
Texans QB C.J. Stroud says he’ll start Sunday vs. Titans after recovering from concussion
HOUSTON — Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said Thursday that he will start this weekend against the Tennessee Titans after missing two games recovering from a concussion. “It’s great being back,” Stroud said. Stroud was injured in a Dec. 10 loss to the Jets when his head bounced off the turf...
Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander suspended 1 game for actions during coin toss at Carolina
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander has been suspended by the team for Sunday night’s must-win showdown against Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings. The decision stems from, but wasn’t limited to, Alexander appointing himself a captain for the Packers’ 33-30 Christmas Eve win at Carolina....
Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates headline 15-player finalists for Pro Football Hall of FameVideo
First-time candidates Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates joined nine returning finalists who advanced to the final stage of voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2024. Peppers and Gates were announced Wednesday as finalists in their first year of eligibility. They will be joined on the 15-player...
Broncos bench QB Russell Wilson and will turn to Jarrett Stidham, AP source saysVideo
The Denver Broncos are benching quarterback Russell Wilson in a move that could have major ramifications for his future and theirs. Although the move keeps open the team’s options next year and, ultimately, could save the Broncos $37 million, coach Sean Payton on Wednesday called the switch to journeyman Jarrett...
Joe Flacco faces Jets, his former team, with chance to push surging Browns into AFC playoffsVideo
CLEVELAND — Joe Flacco’s short stint with the Cleveland Browns has been stunning, storybook, almost unbelievable. Like everyone else, the New York Jets have watched him from afar and maybe wondered what might have been. On Thursday night, Flacco, who in just over a month has revived his career while...
Analysis: Lamar Jackson, Ravens stand alone with NFL’s best record
A few days as an underdog brought out the best in Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens now stand alone with the NFL’s best record after their defense swarmed Brock Purdy and Jackson weaved his way around and through the San Francisco 49ers in a 33-19 win Monday...
Analysis: Christmas rough on Super Bowl contenders except for Ravens
The Chiefs lost again. The Eagles struggled against the lowly Giants. The 49ers were embarrassed at home. Christmas Day was rough on Super Bowl contenders except for the Ravens. Lamar Jackson boosted his MVP chances, and Baltimore made a major statement with a convincing 33-19 victory over San Francisco in...
Joe Flacco’s revival in Cleveland has the Browns on the verge of clinching a playoff spotVideo
BEREA, Ohio — When they signed Joe Flacco in near desperation last month, the Cleveland Browns hoped the veteran quarterback could keep them in the playoff mix. They needed someone to settle things down amid mounting injuries and uncertainty. Expectations were tempered when Flacco arrived. Four games later, they’re untethered....
Analysis: Seahawks have playoff destiny in their control after 2nd straight dramatic victory
RENTON, Wash. — With two weeks left in the regular season, the Seattle Seahawks are in control of their postseason fate. In some ways, that seems unthinkable. Seattle was in a tailspin just a month ago, losing four straight games for the first time under Pete Carroll. It’s been a...
Siemian to start again at QB for Jets on Thursday night with Wilson still out with concussionVideo
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Trevor Siemian will start a second consecutive game at quarterback for the New York Jets with Zach Wilson still in the concussion protocol. Coach Robert Saleh ruled Wilson out Tuesday as the Jets prepare to face the Browns in Cleveland on Thursday night. Siemian was 27...
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence now dealing with sprained throwing shoulder
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder, but coach Doug Pederson says he could practice later this week. Pederson says Lawrence “is progressing” and “he’s a little bit sore.” “Doing better today than he did yesterday,” Pederson said Tuesday. “We’ll...
Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins out this week; QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson goes on IR
CLEVELAND — It’s only fitting the Browns will try to clinch a playoff berth with a new kicker. Nothing has been routine this season in Cleveland. Dustin Hopkins will miss Thursday night’s game against the New York Jets — and maybe longer — because of a left hamstring injury he...
Brock Purdy’s 4 interceptions doom the 49ers in loss to the Ravens
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers seemed poised for another fast start when two big passes to George Kittle moved them into the red zone on the opening drive. What happened next set the tone for the rest of the game. Purdy threw an interception...
Eagles end 3-game skid, keep NFC East title hopes alive with win over Giants
PHILADELPHIA — Yes, of course, Jalen Hurts and coach Nick Sirianni heard the booming chants that echoed throughout the Linc from Eagles fans fed up with the pass-heavy offense that stalled in the second half. “Run the ball! Run the ball!” “I think I’d hear that, too, even if I...
Raiders stun sloppy Chiefs with 2 defensive TDs in victory
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Las Vegas got a pair of defensive touchdowns for the second straight week, including a pick-6 of the struggling Patrick Mahomes, and the resurgent Raiders held off the sloppy Kansas City Chiefs, 20-14, on Monday to keep their slim postseason hopes alive. Big defensive tackle Bilal...
Analysis: Shortcomings of Bengals, backup QB Jake Browning were apparent in blowout by Steelers
CINCINNATI — The Bengals’ confidence and playoff hopes came crashing down in Pittsburgh two days before Christmas. Cincinnati had won three straight games to sneak back into the playoff picture. But the Bengals badly needed to beat the Steelers on Saturday to stay there. Instead, Cincinnati (8-7) took a thorough...
