Led by Chiefs-Bills thriller, NFL divisional round averages record 40 million viewers
LOS ANGELES — Last weekend’s four NFL divisional round playoff games averaged 40.0 million viewers on television and digital platforms, the highest on record dating back to 1988. The viewer average is a 7% increase over last year and a 5% jump from two years ago. Sunday night’s game between...
49ers look to get over NFC title game hurdle after losing past 2 years
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The most taxing part of getting to the precipice of the Super Bowl only to fall short might be the long journey just to return to that stage for another shot. Offseason workouts, followed by training camp, a 17-game season and then the early rounds of...
NFL selects veteran referee Bill Vinovich to lead officiating crew for Super Bowl
NEW YORK — Veteran referee Bill Vinovich will lead the officiating crew for the Super Bowl next month in Las Vegas. The NFL announced Tuesday that Vinovich will work his third Super Bowl and be joined by a crew that includes umpire Terry Killens, down judge Patrick Holt, line judge...
Titans agree to hire Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as head coach, AP source saysVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans have agreed to hire Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as their head coach, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press on Monday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been finalized. Callahan replaces...
Now 1 win from a Super Bowl, the Ravens face a big hurdle in Patrick Mahomes and the ChiefsVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Yes, John Harbaugh will cop to having some Taylor Swift songs on his phone. Aside from that, he wasn’t playing along when asked about his next opponent’s celebrity fan. “I haven’t been distracted by that at all,” Harbaugh said. “It hasn’t really crossed my mind at...
Eagles plan to interview coach with ties to Philadelphia
According to a report from ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler, the Philadelphia Eagles will be conducting an interview with former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell. While Fowler’s report doesn’t explicitly state Caldwell is being interviewed for the defensive coordinator position, the Eagles are in need of filling that...
Browns GM says he would ‘absolutely love’ to re-sign Flacco, even as Watson’s backup
BEREA, Ohio — Joe Flacco’s short, surprising stint with the Browns could lead to a second season in Cleveland — maybe as Deshaun Watson’s backup. General manager Andrew Berry said Monday that he would “absolutely love” to re-sign the 39-year-old Flacco, who went 4-1 as a starter and helped the...
Chiefs defense continues to overcome mistakes as their march to a Super Bowl defense continues
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Everyone seems to keep waiting for the problems that have plagued the Kansas City Chiefs all season to be their downfall. The dropped passes. The turnovers. The penalties. But one thing has yet to fail them: their defense. It showed up again in Sunday night’s 27-24...
Travis Kelce scores twice, Chiefs beat Bills in Buffalo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Travis Kelce caught two touchdown passes from Patrick Mahomes, and the Kansas City Chiefs advanced to their sixth straight AFC championship game with a 27-24 win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. Isiah Pacheco scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 4-yard run 40 seconds into...
Jordan Love’s strong 1st season as Packers QB ends with interception
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — For all that went well in Jordan Love’s first season as the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, the end proved disappointing. The Packers are headed home after a crushing playoff loss. Love threw his second interception of the game with Green Bay trying to...
Jared Goff throws 2 TD passes, Lions advance to NFC title game
DETROIT — Jared Goff threw two touchdown passes, and the Detroit Lions beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-23, in a divisional-round playoff game Sunday, lifting the long-suffering franchise into the NFC championship for the first time in 32 years and just the second time in franchise history. The Lions (14-5)...
49ers stage 4th-quarter rally to put away pesky Packers
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brock Purdy’s throws were off target all night. The San Francisco defense kept giving up big plays. There were even a couple of special teams blunders. Just when it seemed like the top-seeded 49ers might be sent home in their first playoff game, they did something...
Lamar Jackson, Ravens pull away to beat Texans, reach AFC title game
BALTIMORE — Lamar Jackson threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores, and the Baltimore Ravens pulled away in the second half for a 34-10 win over the Houston Texans on Saturday to advance to the AFC championship game. On one of his most productive rushing days of the...
Josh Allen, Bills hope home-field edge will help them avoid another playoff loss to Chiefs
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — As much respect Josh Allen has for friend and occasional offseason golf partner Patrick Mahomes, the Buffalo Bills quarterback still can’t forget when his Kansas City Chiefs rival got the last laugh at his expense. The two were teammates in a made-for-TV golf event in June...
C.J. Stroud shows poise beyond his years in leading Texans
HOUSTON — Rookie C.J. Stroud impressed fans across the country with his poise and calmness in leading the Houston Texans to a win over the Cleveland Browns in his playoff debut. Though the performance was eye-opening to many, for those in Houston who know him best, it was just what...
Lions finally giving fans, including Eminem, chance to cheer for winner
DETROIT — Eminem stood alongside Pro Football Hall of Famers Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson before the Detroit Lions hosted a playoff game for the first time in three decades, soaking up an electric atmosphere at Ford Field. “The energy in the building was amazing,” Johnson said in a phone...
Ravens tight end Mark Andrews won’t play in playoff opener against Texans
BALTIMORE — Mark Andrews’ return to the Ravens’ lineup will have to wait a little longer. Baltimore did not activate the tight end from injured reserve Friday, meaning he will be unavailable when the Ravens host the Houston Texans in Saturday’s divisional round playoff game at M&T Bank Stadium. Andrews,...
Ravens ready to give Dalvin Cook a shot, but there’s no telling what to expect
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Even John Harbaugh isn’t sure what to expect from Dalvin Cook this weekend. The Baltimore coach sounds ready to put him on the field and find out. “It’s new. We haven’t seen him out there,” Harbaugh told reporters Thursday. “Just like you guys haven’t seen him,...
Atlanta Falcons complete 2nd interview with former Patriots coach Bill Belichick
ATLANTA — Bill Belichick completed his second coaching interview with the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, moving closer to joining the franchise that endured its biggest disappointment with him on the opposite sideline. The Falcons also met virtually with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, but all eyes were on Belichick...
Raiders hire Antonio Pierce as coach, remove ‘interim’ tag
Las Vegas Raiders players lobbied for Antonio Pierce to be the full-time head coach since he stepped in as the interim at midseason. On Friday, Pierce officially got the gig. The Raiders announced the hiring of Pierce as their new coach, crossing out the word “interim” in a post on...
John Harbaugh, with mix of love and old-school rigor, has Ravens set for playoff run
Anxiety percolated behind the scenes. How could it not? Lamar Jackson, the superstar quarterback around whom the Baltimore Ravens had shaped their roster and their plans, asked to be traded. John Harbaugh, entering his 16th season as the team’s coach, faced the prospect of starting over at the most important...
Packers QB Jordan Love offers different challenge for 49ers from past playoffs
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers had plenty of success going up against the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs when Aaron Rodgers was running the show. The Niners knocked Rodgers and the Packers out of the playoffs four times, including twice in the previous four seasons. While...
Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, Texans’ C.J. Stroud ready for rematch
BALTIMORE — When Lamar Jackson and C.J. Stroud faced off in Week 1 back in September, it was not a good representation of how those two would play this season. Jackson threw an early interception. Each quarterback lost a fumble. Stroud was sacked five times and Jackson four. “I haven’t...
Mike McCarthy sells belief in playoff breakthrough that has eluded Cowboys
FRISCO, Texas — Mike McCarthy sifted through several versions of selling his belief that the Dallas Cowboys can find a level of postseason success that has eluded the storied franchise for nearly three decades. The coach faced reporters a day after a meeting with owner and general manager Jerry Jones...
Falcons plan for 2nd interview with Bill Belichick after talking with Eagles’ Brian Johnson
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons are planning for a second interview with Bill Belichick after talking with Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson for the head coaching vacancy on Thursday. Belichick made the Falcons his first known interview Monday since leaving the New England Patriots. Belichick won a record six...
