TAMPA, Fla. — It felt like an epic collapse. It looked like an epic collapse.

And on Sunday, it officially became an epic collapse.

With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sitting at home watching helplessly, they were eliminated from the NFL playoffs when the Atlanta Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints 19-17, handing the NFC South division title to ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — Facing a Green Bay Packers team that had little to play for, the Minnesota Vikings got the win they wanted to finish the 2025 season above .500 at 9-8. For the third straight week, they finished the game with Max Brosmer at quarterback because of an injury to J.J. McCarthy.

The quarterback took himself out in the third quarter ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The job isn’t finished. Not even close. But, man … what an achievement.

While the nation saw the Seahawks win the NFC West and secure a first-round bye Saturday, 12s saw the conclusion of the most astounding regular season in franchise history.

This was not a team seen as a threat to sit atop the conference when the...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Seahawks walked into Levi’s Stadium on Saturday afternoon hoping it would be the first of two times they will play here over the next five weeks.

They spent the next three hours showing just why they may indeed be back for the Super Bowl on Feb. 8, with a 13-3 win over the 49ers in a showdown for the NFC West title...Read more

CHICAGO — Offensive play callers have been dubbed innovators, gurus or geniuses over the last couple of decades for their ability to develop intricate passing attacks.

It has put many of those designers on the fast track to head coaching opportunities as many teams searching for their next leader are on a quest to find the next great ...Read more

CHICAGO — Kevin Byard III remembers how badly the Chicago Bears lost to the Detroit Lions in Week 2, but also how, in the aftermath, Ben Johnson didn’t lose it.

Johnson, the former Lions offensive coordinator, was humbled by his ex-team 52-21 at Ford Field, stumbling to an 0-2 start as a first-time head coach.

“There’s TVs around this ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Matthew Stafford remains among the frontrunners for the NFL most valuable player award, though his status took a hit after a three-interception performance in a defeat by the Atlanta Falcons.

On Sunday, the Rams' veteran quarterback gets a final shot at making his case when he plays against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium....Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — So, the Tampa Bay Bucaneers survive to live another day. Or, perhaps a half day.

Tampa Bay hung on to beat the Carolina Panthers 16-14 in a miserable, rain-soaked afternoon Saturday to keep its hopes alive for a fifth consecutive NFC South championship. It could be for moot, however, if the Falcons beat the New Orleans Saints in...Read more

If the Steelers lose to the Ravens on "Sunday Night Football" and miss the playoffs, DK Metcalf will always be remembered for his role in the team's downfall.

No one will remember he led the team in receiving yards or touchdowns. The lasting image will be Metcalf putting his hands on Detroit Lions fan Ryan Kennedy, an act that resulted in a ...Read more

McCarthy back for one more; Packers‘ starters will sit: With Green Bay locked into the NFC’s No. 7 seed, the Packers are expected to rest many of their starters to preserve them for the start of the playoffs. Quarterback Clayton Tune, who entered the Packers’ last game after backup Malik Willis aggravated his right shoulder injury, will ...Read more

It was a premeditated plan, born from a performance on a January night in Baltimore in which the Steelers had something happen to them that was foreign to their proud culture.

They got pushed around like a shopping cart by the neighborhood bully.

So, after their 28-14 playoff loss to the division-rival Ravens on Jan. 11, 2024, a game in which ...Read more

When Saints nose tackle Broderick Bunkley suffered a season-ending quadriceps injury in 2013, he told then-teammate and rookie John Jenkins to not give New Orleans a reason to bring someone else in.

Thirteen years and seven teams later, it has proven to be sage advice. On Friday, the Ravens signed Jenkins to a one-year extension, the team ...Read more

Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt, in his first public comments since the incident that sent him to a local hospital Dec. 10, cleared up some of the questions around his partially collapsed lung and said Friday that he’s excited to return to the field Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens.

According to Watt, it was a member of the ...Read more

FOXBORO, Mass. — Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore spoke publicly Friday for the first time since being charged with misdemeanor assault and battery on a family/household member.

Barmore took questions from a throng of reporters for more than a minute in front of his locker, but did not address the charge.

Asked if he would like to...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — If the Jan. 4 game is fullback C.J. Ham’s last as a Viking, he’s not going to miss the opportunity to absorb every moment.

What a fitting end it could be: a home game against the rival Green Bay Packers with more relatives and friends — about 30 — expected at U.S. Bank Stadium than the Duluth native typically hosts.

...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles were going through their ball security drills at practice Thursday when running backs coach Jemal Singleton chimed in.

Many starters will get the day off Sunday in the season finale vs. the Washington Commanders. So Singleton wanted to offer a reminder: For some Eagles who will take the field Sunday, their last time ...Read more

FOXBORO, Mass. — A fierce debate is raging for NFL MVP, with one more game for Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and Rams QB Matthew Stafford to make their cases to voters.

Stafford’s candidacy took a big hit Monday night, when the 11-5 Rams fell on a national stage, 27-24, to the Falcons in a contest in which Stafford went just 22-of-38 with...Read more

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Sometimes Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel walks around the team facility carrying a wooden baseball bat in menacing fashion. Occasionally McDaniel will take the bat to a team meeting. The bat has meaning.

“I think it’s a reminder to be violently present in everything you do,” fullback Alec Ingold said. “I think it�...Read more

CHICAGO — In the navy and orange afterglow of Sunday’s shootout loss to the San Francisco 49ers — the kind of ballgame your father’s Chicago Bears and his father’s aren’t accustomed to being in — there was a sentiment that the offense truly has arrived.

Caleb Williams, who has made significant strides in the second half of the ...Read more