Bengals defense leads way to win over Browns in opener
CLEVELAND — Cincinnati’s defense came up with two second-half turnovers, including DJ Turner’s interception with 1 minutes, 24 seconds remaining, and the Bengals held on for a 17-16 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The Bengals — playing their first game under new defensive coordinator Al Golden — got...
NFL preview: Eagles seek repeat behind Saquon Barkley; Chiefs eye bouncebackVideo
Saquon Barkley, Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles are built for a repeat championship. Can they do it? That’s one of the top storylines entering the 2025 season. Barkley is coming off a record-setting season, Hurts proved doubters wrong and coach Nick Sirianni earned redemption when the...
Justin Herbert outduels Patrick Mahomes, Chargers beat Chiefs in Sao Paulo
Justin Herbert threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns in outdueling Patrick Mahomes, and the Los Angeles Chargers beat Kansas City, 27-21, on Friday night in Sao Paulo, snapping a seven-game skid to the Chiefs. The NFL’s second game played in South America was streamed on YouTube, with Brazilian soccer...
Chiefs draw more fans in Brazil, but some disappointed Taylor Swift nowhere to be seen
SAO PAULO, Brazil — The Kansas City Chiefs’ red and white dominated in the stands at NeoQuimica Arena on Friday night during their season-opening game against the Los Angeles Chargers, though even some of the local supporters couldn’t hide their frustration that Taylor Swift was nowhere to be seen after...
Analysis: Commanders’ Jayden Daniels in best position among 7 second-year QBsVideo
Tom Brady, Kurt Warner, Russell Wilson and Ben Roethlisberger won Super Bowls in their second season in the NFL. Several other quarterbacks took big leaps in Year 2. Joe Burrow and Brock Purdy led their teams to conference championships. So did Dan Marino and Colin Kaepernick. Patrick Mahomes went to...
Jalen Carter awaits discipline from the NFL, which made sportsmanship a priority
The NFL made it clear before the season that sportsmanship would be a point of emphasis. Jalen Carter provided the first example of misconduct. Now, he awaits discipline from the league. With tens of millions watching the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles taking on the rival Dallas Cowboys, Carter...
Jets fan hall of famer Method Man predicts win vs. Steelers
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Cliff Smith Jr. was still a few years away from being known as Method Man and helping Wu-Tang Clan take the hip-hop world by storm when he got hooked on what became one of his life’s biggest passions. Rooting for the New York Jets. “I think...
Eagles edge Cowboys in wild, lightning-delayed NFL season opener
PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Hurts rushed for two touchdowns for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, who lost their hot-tempered star defender for spitting on Dak Prescott, then withstood a rare weather delay and needed a late stop to beat the Dallas Cowboys, 24-20, in a wild start to the NFL...
WR Tee Higgins relishing chance to be back with BengalsVideo
CINCINNATI — For the first time in three years, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins enters the season without his contract situation on his mind. In 2023 and 2024, he wasn’t able to work out a contract extension with the Bengals leading up to the start of the season. He...
Eagles’ Jalen Carter ejected for spitting on Cowboys’ Dak PrescottVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected moments after a pregame Super Bowl championship celebration for spitting on Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott. Carter was tossed six seconds into Thursday night’s NFL season opener for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Eagles were hit with a 15-yard penalty before the first...
Myles Garrett’s status for Browns’ opener uncertain after missing practiceVideo
BEREA, Ohio — Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett did not practice Thursday because of a hip injury, leaving his status for Cleveland’s season opener Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals questionable. Garrett was not listed on Wednesday’s injury report. His status for the game could become clearer Friday when the...
Jets’ Garrett Wilson appreciative of Aaron Rodgers, but they haven’t talked since he leftVideo
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Garrett Wilson and Aaron Rodgers were able to connect quite a few times during games with the New York Jets. There were also plenty of lengthy conversations off the field during their two seasons together. “Obviously, I got the opportunity to play with a living legend...
Just 1 question remains for Lamar Jackson doubters
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — For a second straight year, Lamar Jackson is completing the same cycle. A spectacular season ends with an agonizing playoff loss. Then months later, Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are given a chance to avenge that defeat when they face the same opponent again in Week...
NFL Draft retention rates reveal best, worst teams at keeping picks
Building a team through the draft is a consistent mantra from almost every NFL team because getting cost-controlled young players in a salary-capped league is crucial to success. Pulling that off isn’t as easy with the draft often looking like a crapshoot, with some widely heralded prospects taken in the...
Veteran WR Amari Cooper retires 9 days after signing with RaidersVideo
HENDERSON, Nev. — Five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper retired Thursday, a little more than a week after signing a one-year contract to return to the Las Vegas Raiders. Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said Cooper called coach Pete Carroll on Thursday morning and gave him the news. “It’s...
Bengals QB Joe Burrow feels stronger this year going into opener at ClevelandVideo
CINCINNATI — For the first time in his NFL career, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow completed a training camp that wasn’t impacted by any injury or pandemic. That gives him more confidence entering his sixth NFL season. “I think I’m in a good spot,” Burrow said. “I think I’ve been...
Cam Ward era debuts for the Titans in their season opener at Denver
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans have done everything possible so rookie quarterback Cam Ward is as ready as possible to start the season opener against the Denver Broncos. Time’s up Sunday. “All that’s left to do is to go do it and prove it, and I’m looking forward to...
Joe Flacco to start for Browns at age 40, joining unique group of NFL QBs
BEREA, Ohio — Joe Flacco is already part of an esteemed group as a Super Bowl-winning quarterback. On Sunday, he will join another club when he takes the field for the Cleveland Browns against the Cincinnati Bengals. Flacco, who turned 40 on Jan. 16, spent last season with the Colts....
Russell Wilson brings leadership and quarterback stability to the New York Giants
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Russell Wilson is known for his “moon ball” deep throws and brings Super Bowl-winning experience to the New York Giants, who know all about what the veteran quarterback can do on the field. That’s why they signed him. Since he arrived, Wilson has shown something off...
What Super Bowl ceremony? Eagles insist championship is behind them going into opener against Dallas
PHILADELPHIA — Nick Sirianni is the son of a high school football coach, using what he learned from his dad into his own successful coaching career, first in college, then eventually in the NFL. Sirianni is a bit of a coaching lifer, and knows intricate details about the game. So...
NFLPA interim boss David White says 18-game regular season is ‘not inevitable’
An 18-game NFL season that once seemed inevitable is no longer a certainty. David White, the interim executive director of the NFL Players Association, told The Associated Press he hasn’t had any conversations with the league about expanding the length of the regular season, which increased to 17 games in...
Jets offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker faces injury setback before season opener vs. Steelers, AP source says
New York Jets right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker has an injury that could sideline him for the season opener and perhaps longer, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The news came just four days before the Jets open their season against Aaron Rodgers and...
Saquon Barkley rated No. 1 player in the NFL by his peers after dominant debut season with Eagles
PHILADELPHIA — Saquon Barkley’s historic 2024 season, his first with the Eagles, saw him rush for an NFL record 2,504 yards between the regular and postseasons. Barkley broke off long touchdown runs, hurdled backward over a defender, and ran the Eagles all the way to the Super Bowl while winning...
Depreciating value of NFL running back contracts dismays Hall of Famer Thurman Thomas
Thurman Thomas’ voice rose with a bubbling intensity, expressing dismay over how the running back position has depreciated in value in today’s NFL. It’s bad enough for the Hall of Famer to see how disposable the game’s top running backs have become, with Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry...
Al Golden prepares for regular-season debut as Bengals defensive coordinator
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden has been in coaching for 30 years. When Cincinnati opens its season Sunday at the Cleveland Browns, Golden will call defensive plays in the NFL for the first time. “I’m excited,” Golden said. “Ready to go. It’s been a collaborative effort on...
