Bengals fire defensive coordinator, 3 other assistants after missing playoffsVideo
CINCINNATI — The defensive issues that contributed to the Cincinnati Bengals missing the playoffs led to major changes on Monday, when four assistants were fired, three on that side of the ball. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo was dismissed along with linebackers coach James Bettcher, defensive line coach Marion Hobby and...
Mike McCarthy ‘absolutely’ wants to return as Cowboys coach, owner Jerry Jones still not definitiveVideo
ARLINGTON, Texas — Mike McCarthy says he “absolutely” wants to return as the coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones has dropped multiple hints that McCarthy, a Greenfield native, would be back, but the team owner was far from definitive about McCarthy’s future after a 23-19 loss to Washington on...
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has medical setback, clouds future with team
BEREA, Ohio — Deshaun Watson’s future as Cleveland’s quarterback is more uncertain. Browns general manager Andrew Berry said Monday that Watson suffered a setback in his recovery from an Achilles tendon rupture, and the team doesn’t know if or when he’ll be available in 2025. “We’ll know more in the...
Giants owner says GM Joe Schoen, coach Brian Daboll are staying put after 3-14 season
The New York Giants are sticking with general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll. Owner and team president John Mara announced Monday that he and co-owner Steve Tisch decided to move forward with the Giants’ current leadership even after a 3-14 season that ranks among the franchise’s worst. “Now...
Jaguars fire coach Doug Pederson, keep GM Trent Baalke after ‘best team assembled’ wins just 4 games
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Doug Pederson is out as Jacksonville’s head coach after the franchise’s “best team assembled” won just four games. Jaguars owner Shad Khan fired Pederson on Monday, a day after a 26-23 loss at Indianapolis in overtime. It was the team’s 18th loss in its last 23 games....
Mike McCarthy ‘absolutely’ wants to return as Cowboys coach, owner Jerry Jones still not definitiveVideo
ARLINGTON, Texas — Mike McCarthy says he “absolutely” wants to return as the coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones has dropped multiple hints that McCarthy would be back, but the team owner was far from definitive about McCarthy’s future after a 23-19 loss to Washington on Sunday closed out...
Patriots fire coach Jerod Mayo shortly after his 1st season endsVideo
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots fired coach Jerod Mayo on Sunday after one season, beginning another reboot for the franchise just a year after it parted with longtime coach Bill Belichick. Owner Robert Kraft announced the firing in a statement shortly after New England closed its 4-13 season...
NFL Week 18: Mike Evans reaches 1,000 yards receiving, Buccaneers clinch NFC South with win over SaintsVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — Baker Mayfield used his legs and arm to help the Tampa Bay Buccaneers clinch their fourth straight NFC South title while putting Mike Evans over 1,000 yards receiving. Mayfield fired a 32-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan for the go-ahead score and then scrambled 28 yards for...
Browns fire OC Ken Dorsey, O-line coach Andy Dickerson
BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns quickly began trying to fix a brutal, broken 2024 season. There’s no shortage of items needing repair. Hours after finishing with a loss at Baltimore in the finale of a season that was expected to carry into the playoffs, coach Kevin Stefanski fired offensive...
Flowers’ injury a concern for the Ravens after their AFC North-clinching victory over Cleveland
BALTIMORE — Baltimore’s division-clinching victory over Cleveland was about as routine as expected. Except for one second-quarter play that could be a major problem for the Ravens’ dynamic offense. Zay Flowers, the team’s top receiver, went down with a knee injury and didn’t return to the game Saturday. Coach John...
Packers WR Christian Watson leaves with knee injury and QB Jordan Love is also hurt
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson was carted into the locker room and quarterback Jordan Love hurt his throwing elbow in the second quarter Sunday against the Chicago Bears. The Packers announced in the second quarter that both players were questionable to return, but they...
Lamar Jackson, 1st member of 4,000-900 club, looks toward playoff run
BALTIMORE — Lamar Jackson capped a sensational regular season with a rather ordinary performance. It was still plenty good enough to set a pair of NFL records and lead the Baltimore Ravens to a second straight AFC North title. Jackson completed 16 of 32 passes for 217 yards and two...
Ravens wrap up AFC North with rout of Browns; WR Zay Flowers leaves with injuryVideo
BALTIMORE — The road to a division title was bumpy for the Baltimore Ravens, who started 0-2, faced a schedule packed with playoff teams and had to rally from a two-game deficit with four to play. Having overcome all that, Lamar Jackson is looking ahead to the most important challenges...
Chargers ‘D’ looks to finish with fewest points allowed in NFL
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Jesse Minter’s turnaround of the Los Angeles Chargers’ defense has the unit on the verge of something the franchise hasn’t done in 61 seasons: allowing the fewest points in the league. The playoff-bound Chargers (10-6) go into Sunday’s regular-season finale at Las Vegas allowing an NFL-low...
Broncos look to extend franchise sack record
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos lead the NFL with a franchise-record 58 sacks, a number they aim to bolster Sunday when Carson Wentz fills in for Patrick Mahomes with the Kansas City Chiefs resting some of their stars ahead of the playoffs. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph promised a more...
Jared Verse’s strong rookie season yields Rams’ only Pro Bowler
LOS ANGELES — Jared Verse made the Pro Bowl on Thursday, an engagement the Los Angeles Rams rookie outside linebacker hopes to avoid with a lengthy playoff run. That’s not the only commitment Verse would like to get out of, having challenged fellow rookie Braden Fiske that whoever ended up...
Here’s Kelce! Retired Eagles great Jason Kelce tries his hand as late-night TV hostVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Jason Kelce chatted with the Linc — yes, the concrete and steel of the Philadelphia Eagles’ home stadium answered him with a pep talk — before the retired All-Pro lineman toured the city in his Eagles helmet car all while dressed in his Super Bowl parade Mummer’s costume....
Bucs safety, Pitt and Central Valley product Jordan Whitehead injured in car accident, out Sunday
TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Jordan Whitehead was injured in a car accident Saturday and will not play against the Saints on Sunday. The Buccaneers placed Whitehead on the reserve/non-football injury list and signed safety Ryan Neal from the practice squad. Whitehead, a Pitt and Central Valley product,...
Ar’Darius Washington has been right in the middle of Baltimore’s late-season improvement on defenseVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Before Baltimore’s game at Houston on Christmas Day became a rout, the Ravens’ defense was put to the test. It was fourth-and-goal from the 4-yard line, and on a swing pass to Joe Mixon, safety Ar’Darius Washington swooped in unblocked, stopping the running back along the...
Vikings’ passing attack keeps ascending thanks to former Pitt star Jordan AddisonVideo
EAGAN, Minn. — Jordan Addison lined up in the slot and ran a simple 5-yard hitch route for the Minnesota Vikings last week in the third quarter against Green Bay, selling his complete stop so well that Packers safety Javon Bullard relaxed his coverage for a costly second. Addison suddenly...
On Football: Baker Mayfield’s success in Tampa Bay has turned him into a coach-builderVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — Baker Mayfield revived his career in Tampa Bay and became a coach-builder in the process. Mayfield’s success with the Buccaneers in 2023 helped Dave Canales become head coach of the Carolina Panthers after just one season as an offensive coordinator. Mayfield has played even better under Liam...
Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa ‘unlikely’ to play Sunday against Jets
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is expected to miss his second straight game when the Miami Dolphins travel to face the New York Jets on Sunday in a matchup with playoff implications, coach Mike McDaniel said Friday. Backup quarterback Tyler “Snoop” Huntley is again in line to start...
Jets interview Mike Vrabel Ron Rivera for coach, ESPN analyst Louis Riddick for GM
The New York Jets interviewed former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel on Friday for their coaching vacancy. Vrabel is the second known coaching candidate to meet with the Jets, who announced they completed their interview with him. New York also spoke to former Washington and Carolina coach Ron Rivera on...
Ravens vs. Browns is expected to be a mismatch. So is Jackson vs. ZappeVideo
There are many reasons Baltimore has a chance to win a division title this week while Cleveland is near the bottom of the league. For example, consider the matchup at quarterback. Lamar Jackson is in the mix for his third MVP award and second in a row, with a chance...
Bailey Zappe to start at quarterback for Browns’ season finale in Baltimore
BEREA, Ohio — Bailey Zappe will be quarterback No. 4 and No. 40 for the Browns. He was selected by coach Kevin Stefanski to start Saturday’s season finale at Baltimore, making him the fourth quarterback to start this season and the 40th since Cleveland returned to the NFL as an...
