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...
NFL Week 16: Lions secure 1st division title since 1993 with win over VikingsVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — The Detroit Lions clinched their first division title in 30 years, using two rushing touchdowns from Jahmyr Gibbs and 106 receiving yards and a third-quarter go-ahead score by Amon-Ra St. Brown to overtake the injury-ravaged Minnesota Vikings 30-24 on Sunday. Ifeatu Melifonwu picked off Minnesota’s Nick Mullens at...
Amari Cooper has franchise-record 265 yards receiving to lead Browns to win over TexansVideo
HOUSTON — Amari Cooper set a franchise record with 265 yards receiving and scored two touchdowns and a 2-point conversion to move the Cleveland Browns closer to a playoff berth with a 36-22 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday. Cooper’s performance moved him atop the Browns’ record book ahead...
Josh Allen accounts for 3 touchdowns as Bills escape with victory over Chargers
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Josh Allen continues to reach milestones in his sixth NFL season, but he’s more concerned about getting the Buffalo Bills back into the playoffs. Allen did his part Saturday night by rushing for two TDs and throwing for one, but it took a 29-yard field goal by...
Cowboys, Dolphins seek to cement contender status with win
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — At various times this season, the Miami Dolphins and the Dallas Cowboys have looked like contenders or pretenders. Both teams are 10-4, have offenses and defense ranked near the top of the league and have taken care of lesser competition — sometimes winning by eye-popping margins....
Michael Pittman Jr. speaks out on hit from Steelers’ Damontae Kazee
INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. did not appreciate the violence of a hit he took from Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee until he saw video of the play. Pittman, the Colts’ leading receiver, cleared the concussion protocol Friday and was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game at...
Raheem Mostert’s journey to Dolphins’ touchdown record is one of persistence and drive
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert grew up idolizing Ricky Williams. He and his brother wore Williams’ No. 34. In last Sunday’s win over the New York Jets, when Mostert scored the first of his two touchdowns, he broke Williams’ single-season Dolphins rushing touchdowns record. The...
Giants sign veteran kicker Mason Crosby after placing Cade York on injured reserve
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Veteran kicker Mason Crosby signed Friday with the New York Giants, who have been hit hard by injuries at the position. Cade York was expected to kick for the Giants in Monday’s game at Philadelphia but instead he was placed on injured reserve with a quad...
Browns LB Anthony Walker Jr. has surgery; status unclear past Sunday
BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns starting linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. had arthroscopic knee surgery, knocking him out of Sunday’s game at Houston and putting his playing status in question as Cleveland aims for a playoff berth. The team said Friday that Walker, one of the captains, had the procedure Thursday,...
Matthew Stafford’s Rams start strong, hold off Saints 30-22 to surge forward in NFC playoff raceVideo
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Matthew Stafford passed for 328 yards and two touchdowns, rookie Puka Nacua had nine catches for a career-high 164 yards and a score and the Los Angeles Rams surged forward in the NFC playoff race with a 30-22 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night....
RB Saquon Barkley, Giants aim to end road skid in Philadelphia
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Saquon Barkley enjoys taking the trip down the New Jersey Turnpike to play the Philadelphia Eagles. Facing the Eagles (10-4) is always a challenge. Driving into Lincoln Financial Field, the fans will scream and throw things at the New York Giants team bus, and that’s just...
Matchup between Browns and Texans will likely be Flacco vs. Keenum with Watson and Stroud injuredVideo
HOUSTON — When the NFL schedule was released in May, the game between the Browns and Texans on Sunday was expected to be an intriguing matchup. Deshaun Watson, Houston’s former star quarterback, would square off for Cleveland against rookie C.J. Stroud, the Texans’ new franchise signal caller. As these teams...
Report: New England footballs deflated, but don’t blame Patriots this time
The special teams footballs used in Sunday’s game between Kansas City and New England reportedly were underinflated — not by the Patriots, this time — an ironic throwback to the Deflategate scandal that captivated the football world for parts of three seasons and led to penalties against the team and...
Baltimore’s defense faces its biggest test yet when the Ravens take on Brock Purdy and the 49ersVideo
It’s one of the biggest debates of the 2023 NFL season: Brock Purdy, superstar or game manager? His next opponent already sounds convinced of the answer. “Seems like he gets a lot of hate from the stuff that I see. I don’t know why,” Baltimore cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “You...
Joe Flacco giving the Browns a steady presence and leadership with a playoff spot in reach
BEREA, Ohio — Joe Flacco looks much different, younger and a little less like his new coach. The beard is gone. “It was a mess,” said the Browns’ freshly-shaven quarterback. While his facial hair may have been a bit unkempt, and made him a taller lookalike to Browns coach Kevin...
Trevor Lawrence still in concussion protocol as Jaguars prepare to play without star QB
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Trevor Lawrence was in the facility but still in the NFL’s concussion protocol Wednesday, leaving the Jacksonville Jaguars preparing to play without their star quarterback for the first time in three seasons. Coach Doug Pederson said Lawrence is “progressing well” but declined to speculate on Lawrence’s chances...
Jets QB Aaron Rodgers activated from IR as next step in rehab. He won’t play again until next seasonVideo
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers will remain on the practice field to continue working on his return for the New York Jets but for next season. Coach Robert Saleh announced Wednesday the four-time NFL MVP was being activated from the injured reserve list, a move that’s merely the next...
