DETROIT — They’re certainly not friends.

But they are well-acquainted. And one of the things Dan Campbell talked about as his Detroit Lions team prepared to face the division-rival Minnesota Vikings on Sunday was all the ways that familiarity could lead to contempt.

Or lament.

The more times you face an opponent, the harder it is to keep ...Read more

Well, that didn’t take long, did it?

Chris Grier had barely cleaned out his office, and work has begun cleaning up the larger mess.

Philadelphia gets Jaelan Phillips, one of the good guys, in its quest for another Super Bowl. The Miami Dolphins get a third-round pick in their quest to make chicken salad from this failed season.

And so ...Read more

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — When it reigns …

With their thrilling Game 7 victory in Toronto on Saturday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers delivered two rings in two seasons and I know you, L.A., I know you want more. I know you want to pour it on.

Guess what? So do the Rams, who walked off the SoFi Stadium field Sunday to Randy Newman’s “I Love L...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers defense was impressive Sunday, as it dominated the high-powered Indianapolis Colts offense. That, in large part, is why they won 27-20 in a game most people had them pegged to lose.

The defense forced six turnovers, had five sacks, rendered Jonathan Taylor irrelevant and made Daniel Jones of the Colts look...Read more

LOS ANGELES — A bad situation on the Chargers offensive line just got worse, as the team announced Monday that standout left tackle Joe Alt will undergo season-ending ankle surgery.

Alt, who missed three games earlier in the season because of an ankle injury, re-injured the same ankle during Sunday's victory at the Tennessee Titans when ...Read more

Add defensive end Mykel Williams to the lengthy San Francisco 49ers injury list, as the rookie first round draft pick sustained a torn ACL Sunday in a 34-24 road win over the New York Giants.

The news was first reported by ESPN. Coach Kyle Shanahan, scheduled to speak to local media later Monday afternoon, said after the game the fear was ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Pass-rush help is on its way to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The team is acquiring Jaelan Phillips from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick, a league source confirmed to The Philadelphia Inquirer on Monday morning.

The move comes ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline in an attempt to bolster the Eagles’ pass...Read more

Just when it seemed the Washington Commanders' night couldn't get much worse, it actually got much, much worse.

With his team trailing the Seattle Seahawks by 31 points midway through the fourth quarter Sunday night, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a gruesome injury to his non-throwing arm that will likely keep him off the field ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Puka Nacua returned to the Rams' lineup in spectacular fashion, catching a touchdown pass, amassing nearly 100 yards receiving and picking up key yardage on a fourth-down jet sweep during a victory over the New Orleans Saints.

But that rushing play, which ended with a crushing hit, came with a cost.

On Monday, Nacua was ...Read more

LANDOVER, Md. — At times it was almost hard to tell which was piling up quicker during the first half Sunday night against the Washington Commanders — points scored by the Seattle Seahawks or consecutive completions thrown by quarterback Sam Darnold.

All that really mattered to the Seahawks is that they added up to one of the team’s most ...Read more

HOUSTON — I don’t believe in Santa Claus. But, by golly, I believe in Bo Chapman Nix.

The Easter Bunny? Fuzzy-wuzzy fraud. The Tooth Fairy? Fake chews. But if a game is within 19 points at the start of the fourth quarter, just watch the Bo-ller Coaster go to work. Just watch him find a way.

“I think a really good issue to have is when ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Don’t start planning any parades just yet. Hold off on those February travel plans to Santa Clara, Calif.

The Los Angeles Rams still have a long way to go make the playoffs and advance to the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium.

Their 34-10 victory on Sunday over the struggling New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium was no revelation ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — Quarterback Geno Smith’s pass on a 2-point conversion attempt was batted away and fell incomplete, and the Las Vegas Raiders lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-29 in overtime at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.

Tight end Brock Bowers scored a touchdown with 16 seconds remaining in overtime and coach Pete Carroll elected to go for a...Read more

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 28-21 on Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium. With the loss, Kansas City enters the bye week at 5-4.

Here are some immediate observations from the Chiefs’ Week 9 NFL loss:

Turning point: Kincaid sets the tone — and formula

Buffalo entered Week 9 with a very clear ...Read more

The Carolina Panthers rode their defense and rushing attack to a 16-13 upset win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Even with returning quarterback Bryce Young underwhelming in the passing game, the Panthers were still able to match last year’s win total in just nine games, moving to 5-4 on the season with a second ...Read more

Initial thoughts from the Denver Broncos’ 18-15 win over the Houston Texans in Week 9 at NRG Stadium:

— Fourth-quarter magic: Deadlines spur action. The Broncos are procrastinators, teasing and angering fans with long bouts of ineffectiveness. But bring on the fourth quarter, and Denver goes full throttle. The Broncos improved to 4-0 this ...Read more

CINCINNATI — Caleb Williams connected with rookie tight end Colston Loveland over the middle of the field in the waning seconds of Sunday’s game. It looked as if Loveland had enough yardage to get the Chicago Bears into field-goal range.

But Loveland wasn’t done.

Loveland bounced off a would-be tackler and took it to the house for a 58-...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Just when it looked as if the Steelers were down for the count, they got up off the mat and came out swinging.

With a cornerback playing free safety, a strong safety who had been in town for all of three days and a secondary down to seven healthy bodies, the Steelers stifled the highest-scoring team in the NFL, the one that sat ...Read more

DETROIT — Before Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings had lost five straight games to the Detroit Lions, matching their longest losing streak to Detroit in franchise history. They hadn’t beaten the Lions at Ford Field since the 2020 season, and they entered Sunday as 8 1/2-point underdogs.

It set the stage for the biggest upset victory of Kevin O�...Read more

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The San Francisco 49ers looked headed for a stress-free win even before the fourth quarter began Sunday.

Music blared on the MetLife Stadium speakers during a television timeout, and 49ers tight end George Kittle encouraged fans behind the end zone to dance with him.

The crowd obliged, and the 49ers would eventually ...Read more