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NFL category, Page 56

Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff, dies at 88
Dolphins to host Bills with a chance to win AFC East, start playoffs at home 
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...
NFL fines Panthers owner David Tepper $300,000 for tossing drink at Jaguars fans 
The NFL has fined Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper $300,000 for tossing a drink at fans in Jacksonville toward the end of a game on Sunday. The league called Tepper’s conduct “unacceptable” in a statement released Tuesday. “All NFL personnel are expected to conduct themselves at all times in ways...
John Harbaugh has reason to dance after another dominant performance by the Ravens 
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The more grueling the task, the better the Baltimore Ravens have looked this season, so it was only fair that coach John Harbaugh decided to let loose with a little dancing in the locker room. “I thought I was smooth, rolling. Then, my daughter showed me...
Jets releasing 4-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook with 1 game left in season
The New York Jets are waiving running back Dalvin Cook before the final game of the season, according to Cook’s agents, LAA Sports & Entertainment. The 28-year-old Cook had a disappointing tenure with the Jets, who signed the four-time Pro Bowl selection to a one-year deal worth $7 million —...
Frank Ryan, the last quarterback to lead the Cleveland Browns to an NFL title, has died at 87
CLEVELAND — Frank Ryan, the quarterback who led the Cleveland Browns to their last NFL title in 1964, has died. He was 87. The team said Ryan died Monday at a nursing home in Connecticut. There was no immediate cause of death given, but Ryan’s son, Frank Ryan Jr., told...
Analysis: officials, coaches had crucial Week 17 calls that could have huge playoff ramifications
The NFL is approaching the 5-year anniversary of a non-call on a blatant pass interference in the NFC championship game that helped the Rams advance to the Super Bowl over the Saints. It’s a black eye the league would like to forget, a difficult task in a season that’s been...
Fired-up Lions coach Dan Campbell insists he has moved on from loss to Cowboys
DETROIT — Dan Campbell’s passion has been on display since the moment he was hired as coach of the Detroit Lions, famously saying at his opening news conference nearly three years ago that his teams would kick in teeth and bite kneecaps of opponents. Campbell has screamed with joy, and...
Christian McCaffrey will miss 49ers’ regular-season finale, should return for playoffs
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — NFL leading rusher Christian McCaffrey will miss San Francisco’s regular-season finale with a mild calf strain but should be ready to return for the playoffs. McCaffrey got hurt in Sunday’s 27-10 victory at Washington that helped the 49ers clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC...
With playoffs clinched, Browns may rest QB Joe Flacco, other starters for finale vs. Bengals 
CLEVELAND — The Browns are in both the playoffs and an unusual spot: They can treat their regular-season finale like a preseason game. With a wild-card berth already locked up, Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski indicated Monday he may rest some starters, including red-hot quarterback Joe Flacco, for Sunday’s final regular-season...
Jaguars hope to get QB Trevor Lawrence, WR Christian Kirk back for finale
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars could get quarterback Trevor Lawrence and receiver Christian Kirk back for their regular-season finale at Tennessee, a game that will help determine the AFC South. Lawrence missed Sunday’s 26-0 drubbing of Carolina because of a sprained throwing shoulder, ending a streak of 51 consecutive...
Analysis: Cowboys got all the breaks while Ravens and 49ers were big winners, locking up No. 1 seeds
The Dallas Cowboys got another big victory without taking the field Sunday. The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers took care of business to make sure they get an extra week of rest. The NFL’s playoff picture is clearer with one week to go. Nine teams are in. Five spots...
Harrison Butker hits 6 field goals, kicks Chiefs to AFC West title with win over Bengals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have grown accustomed to wrapping up the AFC West by the middle of December. Turns out they’re perfectly fine with clinching it on New Year’s Eve. Amid an up-and-down season in which the Chiefs have been forced to rely on their defense...
Panthers owner David Tepper tosses drink into visiting stands late in 26-0 loss to Jaguars 
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Panthers owner and Pittsburgh native David Tepper threw the contents of a drink into the visiting crowd near the end of Carolina’s 26-0 loss at Jacksonville on Sunday. Tepper’s reaction came after rookie Bryce Young was intercepted with less than 3 minutes to play. It was unclear...
NFL Week 17: Brock Purdy bounces back, 49ers clinch the NFC’s top seed by beating Commanders
LANDOVER, Md. — Minutes after rolling to a 27-10 victory at Washington, the San Francisco 49ers watched the final minute of Philadelphia’s game at Arizona together in the visiting locker room. A loud cheer erupted when the Eagles lost to Arizona in stunning fashion. After Brock Purdy threw two touchdown...
Lamar Jackson’s perfect passer rating helps Ravens rout Dolphins to clinch top seed in AFC 
BALTIMORE — In what may have been his final bid for the MVP award, Lamar Jackson threw for 321 yards and five touchdowns, finishing with a perfect passer rating and helping the Baltimore Ravens clinch the top seed in the AFC with a 56-19 rout of the Miami Dolphins on...
Cowboys deny Lions on 2-point try to hold on to 20-19 win
ARLINGTON, Texas — Dak Prescott threw for 345 yards and two touchdowns, and the Dallas Cowboys stopped the Detroit Lions on the third try of a 2-point conversion with 23 seconds remaining, preserving a 20-19 victory to extend their home winning streak to 16 games Saturday night. On the first...
Analysis: QB Joe Flacco’s improbable comeback has Browns eyeing playoff run
CLEVELAND — In a surreal moment seemingly clipped from a Disney movie, Joe Flacco stood on the field and posed for a family photo with his wife, Dana, and their five children as delirious Browns fans serenaded them with chants of “M-V-P, M-V-P.” Welcome to Cleveland. Or in Flacco’s case,...
Vikings turn to Jaren Hall again in latest spin of QB carousel
EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have switched starting quarterbacks for the fourth time in nine weeks, handing the offense again to rookie Jaren Hall with two must-win games left for making the playoffs. Coach Kevin O’Connell announced Thursday that Hall will start Sunday against Green Bay, benching Nick Mullens...
Bills’ Von Miller: Domestic abuse allegations against him ‘100% false’
Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller on Thursday disputed the allegations that he assaulted his pregnant girlfriend, calling them “100% false” and “blown out of proportion.” Addressing the media for the first time since turning himself into police in suburban Dallas on Nov. 30, Miller indicated something happened between him...
Texans QB C.J. Stroud says he’ll start Sunday vs. Titans after recovering from concussion
HOUSTON — Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said Thursday that he will start this weekend against the Tennessee Titans after missing two games recovering from a concussion. “It’s great being back,” Stroud said. Stroud was injured in a Dec. 10 loss to the Jets when his head bounced off the turf...
Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander suspended 1 game for actions during coin toss at Carolina
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander has been suspended by the team for Sunday night’s must-win showdown against Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings. The decision stems from, but wasn’t limited to, Alexander appointing himself a captain for the Packers’ 33-30 Christmas Eve win at Carolina....
Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates headline 15-player finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame 
First-time candidates Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates joined nine returning finalists who advanced to the final stage of voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2024. Peppers and Gates were announced Wednesday as finalists in their first year of eligibility. They will be joined on the 15-player...
Broncos bench QB Russell Wilson and will turn to Jarrett Stidham, AP source says 
The Denver Broncos are benching quarterback Russell Wilson in a move that could have major ramifications for his future and theirs. Although the move keeps open the team’s options next year and, ultimately, could save the Broncos $37 million, coach Sean Payton on Wednesday called the switch to journeyman Jarrett...


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