NFL category, Page 271
Nick Foles leads Eagles to 16-15 upset of Bears
CHICAGO — Nick Foles hit Golden Tate with a 2-yard touchdown pass on fourth down with 56 seconds remaining against the NFL’s stingiest defense, lifting the Philadelphia Eagles past the Chicago Bears 16-15 on Sunday in the final wild-card game. Former Eagles kicker Cody Parkey hit the left upright and...
Colts off, running through playoffs with strong ground game
INDIANAPOLIS — Frank Reich stuck with his old-school philosophy even when the Indianapolis Colts were losing games in September and early October. The Indianapolis Colts first-year coach insisted even in an increasingly pass-happy league, a balanced offense would turn them into real AFC contenders. Over the past 11 weeks, the...
Chargers hold off Lamar Jackson, Ravens in playoff opener
BALTIMORE — The Los Angeles Chargers kept Lamar Jackson grounded, and by the time the rookie got the passing game going it was too late for the Baltimore Ravens. Michael Badgley kicked five field goals, and Los Angeles harassed and hounded Jackson during a 23-17 victory Sunday in the opening...
Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys power past Seahawks in wild-card game
ARLINGTON, Texas — Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 137 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, and the Dallas Cowboys hung on for a 24-22 wild-card win over the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night. The playoff win by the Cowboys (11-6) was the first for Elliott and quarterback Dak...
After big jump, Bears look to KO defending champion Eagles
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Not long after he was hired, Matt Nagy watched the Super Bowl with his wife at a bar near the Chicago Bears practice facility. His good friend Doug Pederson was coaching the Philadelphia Eagles to their first Super Bowl championship. The place was just about empty....
Ravens, Chargers ready for rematch in wild-card game
BALTIMORE — It’s been six years since the Ravens hosted a playoff game, so forgive Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda for forgetting protocol regarding the distribution of tickets. “Somebody was asking me if we got tickets during the playoff games, and I couldn’t really remember,” he said this week. “I...
Colts cruises past Texans, earn date with top-seeded Chiefs
HOUSTON — A year ago at this time Andrew Luck was at home struggling with an injured shoulder that cost him the entire season. On Saturday he wrote a happy ending to the latest chapter of his comeback season, throwing for 222 yards and two touchdowns and the Indianapolis Colts...
All 12 NFL playoff coaches have ties to Bill Walsh, Bill Parcells
There is no denying the impact on the coaching world that Bill Walsh and Bill Parcells have had. The hard evidence is apparent again as the NFL playoffs begin. All 12 of the coaches have some sort of tie-in to either three-time Super Bowl champion Walsh or two-time winner Parcells....
Previewing Sunday’s NFL wild-card games
Sunday’s NFL wild-card games feature two teams with 12-4, the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Chargers. The Philadelphia Eagles’ visit to Soldier Field brings back memories of the teams’ “Fog Bowl” playoff game on Dec. 31, 1988. The Chargers, despite a better record, head on the road to face the...
Previewing Saturday’s AFC wild-card playoff games
AFC South Division rivals Indianapolis and Houston square off in the opening game of the NFL playoffs Saturday, while prime time is reserved for the Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks. Here is a breakdown of the games. INDIANAPOLIS (10-6) at HOUSTON (11-5) Sunday, 4:35 p.m., ESPN OPENING LINE — Texans...
Texans, Colts meet in playoffs after turning around seasons
HOUSTON — Saturday’s wild-card game between the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts is a matchup that seemed improbable early this season after Houston dropped its first three games and the Colts limped to a 1-5 start. Instead of letting their tough starts lead to disappointing years, these teams that both...
Dak Prescott seeks 1st playoff win as Cowboys host Seahawks
ARLINGTON, Texas — Russell Wilson won a wild-card game with Seattle as a rookie, a Super Bowl in his second season and another NFC championship the third time around. The best Dak Prescott can hope for with the Dallas Cowboys is to join Wilson on that list of title winners...
Former NFL Pro Bowl players try curling with Olympic goal
Defensive lineman Jared Allen retired from the NFL in 2015 and wasn’t ready to give up on the competition he’d come to enjoy as a five-time All-Pro. His solution: The Olympics. The problem: He didn’t compete in any Olympic sports. Less than a year later, Allen and three other former...
Rams’ Aaron Donald only unanimous pick for NFL All-Pro; Steelers’ Pouncey named 2nd team
NEW YORK — Patrick Mahomes and three other Kansas City Chiefs players made The Associated Press 2018 NFL All-Pro Team on Friday. They were joined by the first rookie teammates since 1965 — Colts guard left Quenton Nelson and linebacker Darius Leonard. Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, a Pitt graduate,...
Patriots assistant Brian Flores interviews for Dolphins’ head job
MIAMI — New England Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores is the first candidate to interview for the Miami Dolphins’ coaching job. Miami is seeking a replacement for Adam Gase, who was fired Monday after three seasons. Flores, who met Friday with the Dolphins, has been a Patriots assistant for 11...
Ex-Steelers lineman Alan Faneca a finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame
For the fourth consecutive year, former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Alan Faneca is a finalist for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The six-time All-Pro guard was announced Thursday as one of the 15 finalists for the Hall’s Class of 2019. First-time eligibles Tony Gonzalez, Ed Reed and...
Redskins’ Reuben Foster has domestic violence charge dropped
TAMPA, Fla. — Prosecutors have decided not to pursue a domestic violence charge against Washington Redskins linebacker Reuben Foster, though the NFL continues to review the matter. Prosecutors in Tampa, Florida, filed a notice of termination of prosecution on Wednesday. The notice states that the first-degree misdemeanor battery charge is...
NFL picks Caesars as its first official casino sponsor
The NFL is officially embracing the world of legalized sports gambling, announcing Thursday it has signed a deal with Caesars Entertainment Corp. as the league’s first official casino sponsor. The deal starts immediately, with Caesars using its brand at casino properties and events like this year’s playoffs and at Super...
Browns interview former Colts, Lions coach Jim Caldwell
CLEVELAND — Jim Caldwell spent a year away from the NFL, and while he was gone, the Browns found a franchise quarterback. Maybe he’ll get to coach Baker Mayfield. Caldwell, who led Indianapolis to the Super Bowl and made Detroit respectable, became the second candidate to interview with Browns general...
Modern NFL makes it harder for dominant defenses to lead way to title
From Pittsburgh’s Steel Curtain in the 1970s to Chicago’s Monsters of the Midway in the ’80s to Seattle’s Legion of Boom more recently, dominant defenses have often been the story of the NFL postseason. High-powered offenses might generate the highlights, the fantasy points and victories in the regular season. But...
Gregg Williams interviews with Browns after strong interim run
CLEVELAND — Gregg Williams had his interview with the Browns, who were impressed by his leadership as coach in the second half this season. Williams went 5-3 as Cleveland’s interim coach after taking over when Hue Jackson was fired on Oct. 29. The 60-year-old Williams is the first candidate to...
Manish Mehta: Le’Veon Bell’s ex-teammates rave about controversial star
Le’Veon Bell’s decision to sit out this season rather than play on a $14.5 million franchise tag has prompted folks to question his character, competitiveness and motivation. The impending free-agent superstar running back has become radioactive to uninformed outsiders, a mercurial talent ready to cash in and check out. Memo...
Bengals at crossroads: Familiarity or something new?
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown must decide whether to bring in another newcomer to coach his team or return to his pattern of trusting someone he already knows well. Whoever gets the job will inherit a roster on the cusp of significant change. Brown parted ways with coach...
