Analysis: Eagles in world of hurt, uncertainty after 3-game losing streak
PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Hurts might have the answer why the once-mighty Eagles have slid from 10-1 and the top of the NFC to 10-4 and fighting for a division title amid a three-game losing streak. A streak in which they failed to score more than 19 points. A streak that...
Longtime Chiefs offensive lineman Ed Budde dies at age 83
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ed Budde, who spent 14 years playing along the offensive line of the Kansas City Chiefs and helped the franchise win its first Super Bowl with a victory over Minnesota in 1970, died Tuesday. He was 83. The family announced his death through a statement issued...
Backup QBs on display across NFL as teams push toward postseason
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Joe Flacco was at home a month ago, all but ready to accept his 15-year NFL career might be over. Then came a phone call from his agent with an invitation to a workout with the Cleveland Browns. A commercial flight and practice squad deal later,...
Falcons again benching QB Desmond Ridder; Taylor Heinicke to start vs. Colts
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons are removing quarterback Desmond Ridder from the starting job for the second time this season after his continued turnover woes in the team’s latest loss. Taylor Heinicke was listed as the starter in the updated depth chart released by the team Tuesday for this week’s...
Aaron Rodgers’ return will come next season with Jets out of playoff hunt
Aaron Rodgers’ quest to make an improbable return this season for the New York Jets appears over. The 40-year-old quarterback said during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday he’s not yet 100% healthy in his recovery from a torn left Achilles tendon and is still a...
Drew Lock’s late TD pass rallies Seahawks to victory over sliding EaglesVideo
SEATTLE — Drew Lock threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba with 28 seconds left to cap a 92-yard drive, and the Seattle Seahawks stunned the Philadelphia Eagles 20-17 on Monday night, ending a four-game skid and getting back into NFC playoff contention. Seattle (7-7) rallied behind its backup...
Analysis: AFC-leading Ravens to be tested in Christmas showdown at San Francisco
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are playoff bound, and by the time this month is over, they should have a good sense of what the competition will be like in the postseason. The Ravens grinded out a 23-7 victory at Jacksonville on Sunday night to...
Analysis: Browns overcoming major injuries, defying odds while stacking up wins
CLEVELAND — “Only in Cleveland” is a catchphrase attached to the many negative moments in the city’s checkered sports history. The Browns are changing its meaning this season. On Sunday, they pulled off another improbable win — their sixth by four points or less — by rallying for 13 points...
Chiefs WR, New Kensington native Skyy Moore goes on IR with knee injury
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs placed wide receiver Skyy Moore on injured reserve Monday, ending what had been a disappointing second season for the New Kensington native who was a 2022 second-round draft pick. Chiefs coach Andy Reid said earlier in the day that Moore had some...
Analysis: QB Jake Browning, Bengals in thick of playoff race with Steelers up next
CINCINNATI — Quarterback Jake Browning has the Bengals still in the AFC playoff race, and his story is one of the most surprising in the NFL this season. After spending the past four seasons on practice squads, the 27-year-old Browning was an underwhelming choice to lead the Bengals after franchise...
Ravens beat mistake-prone Jaguars 23-7 for 4th consecutive victory and clinch AFC playoff spot
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Lamar Jackson was sacked, or so it seemed. Jacksonville Jaguars pass rusher Dawuane Smoot had Jackson in his grasp — until he didn’t. The Baltimore Ravens star quarterback spun away from Smoot, rolled right and lofted a pass toward the goal line. Tight end Isaiah Likely outmaneuvered...
NFL roundup: Texans come back to edge Titans in OT
Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 54-yard field goal as time expired in overtime, and the Houston Texans rallied from a 13-point deficit without C.J. Stroud to beat the Tennessee Titans, 19-16, on Sunday. The Texans (8-6) entered the day one spot outside of the AFC’s seven-team playoff field. They kept pace...
Joe Flacco passes for 374 yards as banged-up Browns rally past Bears
CLEVELAND — For Myles Garrett, there’s no explanation for the Browns’ strange season. It’s been crazy, zany, wild and weird. “Who could have wrote this story?” Cleveland’s star defensive end asked. “Not even Dr. Seuss. It doesn’t get more abstract than what we’ve gone through.” Joe Flacco passed for 374...
Jared Goff throws 5 TD passes as NFC North-leading Lions bounce back, beat Broncos
DETROIT — Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions bounced back and took a step toward ending a six-season playoff drought. Goff matched a career high with five touchdown passes, three to rookie tight end Sam LaPorta, and Detroit routed the Denver Broncos, 42-17, on Saturday night. “Our superpower is how...
Tee Higgins’ savvy play, Evan McPherson’s field goal lift Bengals
CINCINNATI — Tee Higgins made a savvy goal-line move to score a touchdown and force overtime, and Evan McPherson made a 29-yard field goal to seal a 27-24 victory Saturday for Cincinnati over the Minnesota Vikings, keeping the Bengals’ playoff hopes alive without their star quarterback. Higgins caught a 21-yard...
Chargers fire coach Brandon Staley, general manager Tom Telesco in midst of disappointing season
The Los Angeles Chargers fired coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco on Friday morning after one of the worst losses in franchise history. The Chargers made the playoffs last season but are one of this year’s biggest disappointments at 5-9, with losses in five of their last six...
Raiders set franchise scoring record in rout of hapless Chargers
LAS VEGAS — Four days after losing 3-0, the Las Vegas Raiders scored 42 points by halftime, didn’t let the Los Angeles Chargers cross midfield until the third quarter and rolled to a record-setting 63-21 victory on Thursday night. The Raiders set a franchise scoring record, topping the team’s 59-14...
Ravens, Jaguars square off in matchup of AFC division leaders
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t fared very well against the NFL’s elite defenses this season. They’re 0-3 against Cleveland (ranked first), San Francisco (seventh) and Kansas City (sixth), and they’ve failed to top 300 yards against any of them. It’s a hurdle the Jaguars (8-5) need to overcome...
Myles Garrett, Browns continue playoff chase with home game against Bears
CLEVELAND — Two years ago, Justin Fields made his NFL start on the road. It was far more miserable than memorable. Blame Myles Garrett. Chicago’s quarterback remembers nearly everything about his first game with the Bears in 2021 — the excitement, playing again in Ohio, the bruises. “And then of...
Bengals will try to stay in playoff picture vs. Vikings in matchup of 7-6 teams
CINCINNATI — The winner of Saturday’s game between the Vikings and Bengals will stay in the crowded playoff picture — at least for now. The loser could be in trouble. The matchup of the 7-6 teams — both relying on backup quarterbacks to get them to the playoffs — is...
QB Joe Flacco signs 1-year, $4.05M deal with Browns
BEREA, Ohio — Joe Flacco is officially signed and sealed with Cleveland. He has already delivered. Flacco got a one-year, $4.05 million contract — loaded with incentives — on Thursday from the Browns, who brought in the veteran quarterback last month while in emergency mode after losing starter Deshaun Watson...
Dak Prescott, Maxx Crosby, Khalil Mack among 8 finalists for Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award
NEW YORK — Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, Los Angeles Chargers three-time All-Pro edge rusher Khalil Mack and Las Vegas Raiders two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby are among the eight finalists for the ninth annual Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. Each NFL team nominated one of its players for...
Key defensive players Grant Delpit, Ogbo Okoronkwo out for Browns
BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland’s top-ranked defense took two big hits Wednesday. The Browns lost safety Grant Delpit, who had groin surgery and went on injured reserve, for the rest of the regular season and coach Kevin Stefanski said end Ogbo Okoronkwo has a pectoral injury that will likely sideline him...
Patriots’ Bill Belichick deflects questions about coaching future
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick declined to discuss his future Wednesday amid a report that owner Robert Kraft had already decided to fire the six-time Super Bowl champion after the season. Asked repeatedly whether he would be back, or wanted to be back, or whether he’d...
NFL approves regular-season game for Brazil in 2024 in further international expansion
IRVING, Texas — The NFL is adding Brazil as its first regular-season destination in South America next year. An increase in the number of international games by 2025 means other new cities are on the way. The league said Wednesday at the owners meetings in the Dallas area the 2024...
