Caleb Williams looks like rookie QB in his debut, but a winning one at least
CHICAGO — Making his NFL debut with the Chicago Bears, Caleb Williams looked like a rookie quarterback. Except he won. Williams passed for just 93 yards Sunday, and Chicago’s offense struggled against Tennessee. But Williams had no turnovers, and the Bears used their defense and special teams to rally for...
A season of high expectations begins with a thud for the Atlanta Falcons
ATLANTA — A season of high expectations began with a thud for the Atlanta Falcons. Kirk Cousins struggled in his debut, hardly looking like a $180 million quarterback. Mercedes-Benz Stadium was sold out but sounded more like Pittsburgh South at times. And even with the Steelers forced to go with...
Dak Prescott leads Cowboys to romp over Browns
CLEVELAND — Dak Prescott threw a touchdown pass hours after agreeing to a four-year, $240 million contract with Dallas, and the Cowboys’ defense roughed up Deshaun Watson in his return, throttling the Cleveland Browns, 33-17, in their opener Sunday. Prescott’s deal makes him the first player to average $60 million...
NFL Week 1: Jason Sanders makes 52-yard field goal as time expires and Dolphins rally past JaguarsVideo
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — For the Miami Dolphins, the day started with chaos and ended with celebration. Jason Sanders nailed a 52-yard field goal as time expired, and the Dolphins — on probably one of the more bizarre days in their history, one where two players were placed in handcuffs...
Patriots win Jerod Mayo’s debut as coach, beating mistake-prone Bengals 16-10Video
CINCINNATI — Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 120 yards and a first-quarter touchdown, Joey Slye kicked three field goals and the New England Patriots won Jerod Mayo’s debut as coach, beating the mistake-prone Cincinnati Bengals, 16-10, on Sunday. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who got the starting nod for the Patriots over first-round...
Rap megastar Kendrick Lamar will headline the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show
LOS ANGELES — Kendrick Lamar will pop out on the NFL’s biggest stage next year: The Grammy winner will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Sunday that Lamar would lead the halftime festivities from the Caesars Superdome...
Ja’Marr Chase, awaiting a contract extension, active for the Bengals’ opener vs Pats
CINCINNATI — Ja’Marr Chase is active for Cincinnati’s game against the Patriots on Sunday, although fellow receiver Tee Higgins is out with a hamstring injury. Chase was a “hold-in” for most of the preseason as he awaits a contract extension. He practiced Thursday and Friday and was listed by the...
Dak Prescott, Cowboys agree on record contract at $60 million per year
Dak Prescott has a new contract with the Dallas Cowboys hours before their season opener at Cleveland. The star quarterback and the Cowboys agreed on a $240 million, four-year contract, the first in NFL history to average $60 million per season, a person with knowledge of the deal told The...
Tyreek Hill is briefly detained for a traffic violation ahead of Dolphins’ season openerVideo
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Tyreek Hill of the Miami Dolphins was handcuffed and placed face down on a street outside the team’s stadium after he was stopped for speeding and reckless driving Sunday morning before the Dolphins’ first game of the season, an incident that left the star wide receiver...
Barkley scores 3 TDs as Eagles beat Packers 34-29 in Brazil. Packers’ Love injured in final minuteVideo
SAO PAULO — Saquon Barkley scored three touchdowns in his debut for Philadelphia, leading the Eagles past the Green Bay Packers, 34-29, on Friday night in the first NFL game in South America. Packers quarterback Jordan Love limped off the field with assistance after getting injured with 6 seconds left....
Browns’ Myles Garrett relishing chance to face hometown Cowboys
BEREA, Ohio — Myles Garrett was raised in Texas, where faith, family and football are intertwined, to revere the Dallas Cowboys. Growing up in Arlington, basically in the shadow cast by their famed five-pointed star, Garrett watched the Cowboys play Sundays and Thanksgivings on TV. He developed a deep affection...
Ja’Marr Chase says he’s close to an extension with Bengals and whether he plays is his decisionVideo
CINCINNATI — Ja’Marr Chase said he and the Cincinnati Bengals are close to an agreement on a contract extension, with the star wide receiver adding Friday that it’s his decision whether he plays Sunday against visiting New England. Chase held out most of the preseason and returned to workouts two...
Analysis: Xavier Worthy gives Chiefs offense another dangerous dimensionVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs selected Xavier Worthy in the first round of the NFL Draft in April with the expectation that the speedy wide receiver out of Texas would give their offense some much-needed pop. It took Worthy five plays in a season-opening 27-20 win over...
Reports: Dolphins All-Pro CB Jalen Ramsey gets 3-year extension worth $24.1M per yearVideo
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and the Miami Dolphins agreed on a three-year, $72.3 million contract extension, according to multiple reports Friday. NFL Network first reported the deal that will pay Ramsey $24.1 million per year and make him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, reached just...
Chiefs hold off Ravens when review overturns a TD on final play of NFL’s season openerVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes threw for 291 yards and a touchdown, and the Kansas City defense kept Lamar Jackson and the Ravens out of the end zone on three heart-stopping plays in the final seconds, allowing the Chiefs to begin the pursuit of a record third straight Super...
Aaron Rodgers might have ‘a little smirk’ before his 5th snap in Jets’ openerVideo
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Robert Saleh chuckled as a reporter finished asking a question that was no laughing matter a year ago. Did the New York Jets coach think he — and perhaps the rest of the franchise — might exhale a bit when Aaron Rodgers and the offense reach...
Sao Paulo beefs up security for Brazil’s 1st ever NFL game as players raise crime concerns
SAO PAULO — Sao Paulo state’s government said it will deploy hundreds of police officers and provide escorts for team buses for Friday’s NFL game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers after some players expressed concern about playing in Brazil. Security operations for the game in Sao...
Ravens visit Chiefs for AFC title game rematch in Thursday night NFL openerVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs will spend a few minutes before their season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night celebrating their latest Super Bowl triumph. Former players will return to Arrowhead Stadium, and team owner Clark Hunt will help raise their latest championship banner high...
Bills safety Damar Hamlin will start season opener against CardinalsVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — A year after making the cut to successfully resume his football career following a near-death experience, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin reached a new plateau in his comeback in being selected a season-opening starter on Wednesday. Coach Sean McDermott announced the news by saying Hamlin will...
Reports: Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II gets new deal worth $24M per year
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II on Wednesday agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $96 million with $77.5 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports. The $24 million-per-year average vaults Surtain past Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. ($21.025 million) and Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire...
New rules led to more kickoff returns, no hip-drop tackle penalties in preseason
The early returns on the NFL’s new kickoff rules are in from the preseason, and the result is a significant increase in returns. Owners voted this spring to overhaul the kickoff, hoping to revive a play that had little action last season after most kicks resulted in no returns while...
Falcons add 3rd QB ahead of season opener, signing Nathan Peterman to practice squadVideo
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons added a third quarterback ahead of their season opener, signing former Pitt standout Nathan Peterman to the practice squad Tuesday. Peterman provides some insurance behind starter Kirk Cousins and backup Michael Penix Jr. after the Falcons dealt third-stringer Taylor Heinicke to the Los...
Brandon Aiyuk returns to 49ers practice with a new contract after making the process ‘difficult’Video
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brandon Aiyuk’s first choice during his lengthy contract dispute with the 49ers that featured social media outbursts, a trade request and an awkward “hold in” was to remain in San Francisco. The 49ers never wanted to part ways with their star receiver, either. So what took...
The Chiefs seek the 1st Super Bowl threepeat after 8 previous back-to-back champs fell short
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs will try to do what Tom Brady, Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw couldn’t during their Hall of Fame careers. After winning back-to-back Super Bowls, Mahomes and the Chiefs now are aiming to become the first team ever to win three straight. Kansas City...
Browns sign 20-year stadium rights deal with Huntington Bank as they position for possible new home
CLEVELAND — As they position themselves for a possible new domed stadium, the Cleveland Browns are renaming their current one. The NFL team on Tuesday announced a 20-year agreement with Huntington National Bank, a partnership that includes naming rights. Cleveland’s lakefront stadium will now be called Huntington Bank Field. The...
