Commanders fire coach Ron Rivera as new ownership begins making changes
ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders fired coach Ron Rivera on Monday, the first move of many expected by new owners as they put their stamp on the NFL franchise they bought last year. The decision came a day after the Commanders’ season-ending 38-10 home loss to division-rival Dallas. “As...
Analysis: Bills, Cowboys were the NFL’s biggest winners in Week 18, securing the No. 2 seeds
On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here. Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys made sure they’ll start the playoffs at home, where they’re undefeated. Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills are going home with a division title...
Falcons fire coach Arthur Smith hours after completing 3rd straight 7-10 season
ATLANTA — Arthur Smith, who inherited a rebuilding project in his first NFL head coaching job and failed to lift Atlanta from its playoff drought, was fired late Sunday night, hours after completing his third straight losing season with the Falcons. Smith, the 41-year-old son of FedEx founder Fred Smith,...
Josh Allen rallies Bills for win over Dolphins; Buffalo secures No. 2 seed in AFC
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Josh Allen threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Dawson Knox midway through the fourth quarter, and the Buffalo Bills won their fourth straight AFC East title, rallying past the Miami Dolphins 21-14 on Sunday night. Allen made things difficult for the Bills with three turnovers in...
NFL Week 18: Trevor Lawrence stopped short of goal line as Jags eliminated from playoff race in loss to TitansVideo
NASHVILLE — Trevor Lawrence had every chance to play the Jacksonville Jaguars into the playoffs for a second straight year as the AFC South champs. He wound up stopped short of the goal line with 7:13 left, and he also turned the ball over on downs with 1:47 left as...
With Browns resting starters for the playoffs, motivated Bengals win 31-14 to finish above .500
CINCINNATI — With a mostly meaningless loss to the Bengals in the books, the Browns could turn their attention to preparing for their first playoff game in three years. Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski rested most of his starters Sunday in a 31-14 loss to Cincinnati. The Browns will play at...
Texans wrap up playoff spot with victory over Colts
INDIANAPOLIS — Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud made all the right calls in the biggest game of his NFL career to help the Houston Texans secure a playoff spot. Stroud threw for 264 yards and two scores, Devin Singletary scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 3-yard TD run with 6 minutes,...
Texans’ C.J. Stroud overcame tough childhood, now hopes to inspire others
HOUSTON — C.J. Stroud’s rookie campaign has been so remarkable that he’s turned around the Houston Texans and restored hope among fans in a city that had all but given up on this franchise after three dreadful and often embarrassing seasons. The polished quarterback and first-year coach DeMeco Ryans have...
Ravens officially add RB Dalvin Cook, signing him to practice squad
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens signed running back Dalvin Cook to their practice squad Friday. The team also announced it was putting cornerback Daryl Worley on injured reserve and signing linebacker Jeremiah Moon to the active roster. The Ravens elevated defensive back Andrew Adams and tight end Ben...
Browns’ David Njoku rises from problem child to consummate pro
BEREA, Ohio — David Njoku once demanded to be traded by the Cleveland Browns. Actually, he did it two or three times — in the same season. Looking back, the complex tight end, who was just 20 when he entered the NFL, is almost amused he wanted out of Cleveland....
Baker Mayfield, with sore ribs, plans to start Buccaneers’ must-win finale against Panthers
TAMPA, Fla. — Baker Mayfield’s sore ribs won’t stop the Tampa Bay quarterback from trying to help the Buccaneers clinch a division title and playoff berth in Sunday’s regular-season finale at Carolina. Mayfield, injured when he took a late hit in the closing minutes of last week’s 23-13 home loss...
Long after Super Bowl clash, Harbaugh brothers soaring again
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Eleven years after turning the Super Bowl into one of football’s most memorable family reunions, John and Jim Harbaugh are again at the forefront of the sport. This time, the two coaches are chasing different prizes — and won’t be in each other’s way. John Harbaugh’s...
Dalvin Cook is joining the NFL-best Ravens after being waived by the JetsVideo
Dalvin Cook is joining the Baltimore Ravens for a playoff run after being waived by the New York Jets. The move, confirmed by Cook’s agents with LAA Sports & Entertainment to the Associated Press on Thursday, came after Cook cleared waivers and became a free agent. NFL Network first reported...
4-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook signs with Ravens for playoffs
BALTIMORE — Free agent running back Dalvin Cook is signing with the Ravens for the playoffs, his agent confirmed to The Baltimore Sun on Thursday. Cook, 28, parted ways with the Jets on Tuesday after less than a year in New York. Baltimore was one of at least two teams...
Fire at home of Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill started by child playing with cigarette lighter
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A fire at the $6.9 million home owned by Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill was started by a child playing with a cigarette lighter in a bedroom, a fire official said Thursday. “It was an accidental fire,” Davie Fire Marshal Robert Taylor told The Associated Press....
Alabama linebacker Chris Braswell declares for NFL draft
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama linebacker Chris Braswell is heading into the NFL draft. Braswell joined fellow linebacker Dallas Turner and offensive tackle JC Latham in announcing plans to leave the Crimson Tide for the NFL. He announced his decision in a post Thursday on Instagram. “Throughout my tenure at UA,...
Brock Purdy, Tua Tagovailoa were selected to their 1st Pro Bowl as the starting quarterbacksVideo
Brock Purdy and Tua Tagovailoa were selected to their first Pro Bowl as the starting quarterbacks for their respective conferences. It’s the first time the two starting QBs are first-time picks since the 1999 season when Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner were chosen. Purdy was...
Firefighters put out large fire at the home of Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek HillVideo
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill and his family are safe after fire rescue crews responded to a large fire at his South Florida home Wednesday afternoon. The house, which is located in Southwest Ranches about 30 miles northwest of Miami, was shown Wednesday on local station...
Lamar Jackson to be held out of Ravens’ regular-season finale. Tyler Huntley set to start at QBVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Lamar Jackson again is missing the end of the regular season, except this time it’s a good sign for the Baltimore Ravens. Jackson will not play in Baltimore’s finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend, coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday. Harbaugh said Tyler Huntley will start...
Browns resting QB Joe Flacco, other starters for finale against Bengals
BEREA, Ohio — Joe Flacco will sit out the regular-season finale at Cincinnati — along with some other regulars — to rest for the playoffs. Cleveland will go with Jeff Driskel, a franchise-record fifth quarterback to start for the team this season. Coach Kevin Stefanski said the Browns have earned...
Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes to sit regular-season finale vs. Chargers with AFC West secured
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes will sit out the Kansas City Chiefs’ regular-season finale against the Chargers on Sunday in Los Angeles with their eighth straight AFC West title secured and the No. 3 seed in the playoffs already locked up. The Chiefs can do no better or worse...
The 49ers have a rare quartet of 1,000-yard players. Dolphins and Lions could do the same.
The San Francisco 49ers and their deep group of playmakers accomplished a rare feat. They soon could have company from the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions. Tight end George Kittle became the latest Niners player to eclipse 1,000 yards from scrimmage this season, joining Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo...
Dolphins to host Bills with a chance to win AFC East, start playoffs at homeVideo
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins will be in the playoffs no matter what, but there’s plenty at stake in their showdown with AFC East rival Buffalo on Sunday night. The Dolphins’ chances at earning the AFC’s top seed ended when they were blown out at Baltimore last weekend....
Analysis: Surprising Colts control playoff destiny entering showdown with Texans
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts weren’t supposed to be here, playing a prime-time game in Week 18 with a chance to make the playoffs. Not with a rookie quarterback who then suffered a season-ending injury that forced Indy (9-7) to rely on a veteran backup for its final 12 games....
Analysis: Bills overcome deficiencies, missteps to set up showdown at Miami for AFC East title
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Don’t count the Buffalo Bills out of — or into — the playoffs just yet. This has, after all, been a team that’s not made much appear easy this season. It’s remarkable that the Bills (10-6) have made made it this far. They’ve won four straight...