Kansas RB Pooka Williams granted diversion in battery case
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas running back Pooka Williams has been granted diversion in a domestic battery case. The Kansas City Star reports Williams appeared in court Wednesday. If he successfully completes diversion, the domestic battery charge would be kept off his record. An affidavit alleges that Williams punched an 18-year-old...
Arizona Cardinals hire ex-Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury
PHOENIX — The Arizona Cardinals have hired former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury as their head coach, a move aimed at providing guidance for young quarterback Josh Rosen and resuscitating the worst offense in the NFL. The Cardinals announced the hiring Tuesday after a long interview earlier in the day,...
Eagles are different team since worst loss by a champion
PHILADELPHIA — When the Philadelphia Eagles went to New Orleans in Week 11, their leaders lost their composure before the team lost the game. Carson Wentz walked off the field punching at the air after throwing one of his three interceptions, an uncharacteristic display of frustration by the third-year quarterback....
While teams seek next Sean McVay, he begins playoff run with Rams
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Most NFL teams with a head coaching vacancy this winter seem to be looking for the next Sean McVay. The original is still hard at work for the Los Angeles Rams, hoping to justify his enormous influence on the football world with a big postseason run....
Former Steelers offensive coordinator Arians hired as Buccaneers coach
TAMPA, Fla. — Bruce Arians is the latest coach entrusted to transform the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers into winners. The 66-year-old came out of a one-year retirement Tuesday to fill the team’s fifth coaching vacancy in a decade. Arians replaces Dirk Koetter, who was dismissed Dec. 30 after leading the...
Plum product Pat McAfee finding way around broadcast booth
INDIANAPOLIS — Pat McAfee watched those two agonizing bounces in Chicago on Sunday and immediately tried to put Cody Parkey’s missed field goal in perspective. He thought about the 27 death threats he received after missing a couple of costly kicks during one game in college. He felt horribly for...
Philly building trolls Bears’ kicker’s missed game-winning field goal
“Doink.” Chicago Bears kicker Cody Parkey missed a game-winning field goal in the final seconds against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon. And everyone in Philly is celebrating and piling on. Parkey’s kick struck the left goal post and then bounced off the bottom of the post failing to go...
Even in era of offense, NFL playoffs come down to defense
The NFL’s wild weekend of wild-card games demonstrated that even in this age of explosive offenses, defense still dominates in the playoffs and it often comes down to a toe, a few fingers or even a 40-year-old hamstring. Kicker Sebastian Janikowski’s season — and maybe career — ended when he...
Sarah Thomas to become first woman to officiate NFL playoff game
NFL official Sarah Thomas is set to be the first women to officiate a NFL playoff game on Sunday. Thomas will work the Los Angeles Chargers - New England Patriots matchup in Foxborough, Mass., joining Ron Torbert’s crew as a down judge, according to Football Zebras. Thomas became the first...
Chiefs’ struggling defense preps for Colts’ potent offense
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs defense had been hearing all season about how bad it has been and how it was the biggest threat to an offensive juggernaut falling short of the Super Bowl. Then, the Chiefs shut down the Oakland Raiders in Week 17. Now, the...
Reports: Matt LaFleur accepts offer to become Packers coach
NASHVILLE — The Green Bay Packers are turning to fast-rising offensive whiz Matt LaFleur to aid Aaron Rodgers and end a two-year absence from the postseason. LaFleur accepted an offer Monday to become the next head coach of the Packers, according to a person familiar with the decision. The person...
NFL wild-card round ratings up 12 percent over last year
The NFL’s strong regular season of TV ratings continued into its opening weekend of the postseason. The league said on Monday that there was an average of 28.4 million viewers for the four wild-card round games, which is a 12 percent increase over last year. The Philadelphia Eagles game against...
NFL officially rules Parkey’s missed FG as block; Penn Hills grad gets hand on it
PHILADELPHIA — Cody Parkey got an excuse he probably won’t use. Parkey’s missed 43-yard field goal in the final seconds that gave the Philadelphia Eagles a 16-15 upset win over the Chicago Bears in Sunday’s wild-card playoff game officially was ruled a block by the NFL. Video showed Philadelphia’s Treyvon...
Browns interview Colts’ Matt Eberflus after wild-card playoff win
CLEVELAND — Matt Eberflus has a past with the Browns. Maybe he’ll have a future as well. One day after his Indianapolis defense held quarterback Deshaun Watson and Houston’s offense to just seven points in an AFC wild-card win, Eberflus became the sixth candidate to interview for Cleveland’s open coaching...
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...
